"What do you mean ?" he asked.
"I mean," replied the other, coolly rolling a cigarette as he spoke, "that you have shown yourself to be about as fit for the duty you have undertaken as a babe in arms.

Did you not, upon landing, waste a whole hour of precious darkness during which you might have gained a safe distance from the always-guarded coast?
Did you not allow yourself to be betrayed by your horse, and captured without resistance?
Did you not lose your despatches at the outset, and almost your life as well?
Are you not at this moment densely ignorant of the route you are to travel, and of how to meet the enemies you will encounter on every hand?
"Yes, my friend, brave and resolute as you may be, you are also but a babe in your undertaking.

Your only forethought lay in securing the countersign of the Junta, which has for the moment saved your life, since I should certainly have caused you to be shot but for it.

Also, if I had not discovered you, the Spanish hawks who patrol the coast would have had you in their clutches a few minutes later.

Nor do you at this moment know how to find your way to Holguin, much less to Santiago." "But," argued Ridge, whose self-conceit and confidence in his own ability to carry out the mission he had so bravely undertaken were rapidly oozing away, "I have a good map of the country, a good horse, plenty of money with which to hire guides, am well armed, and could make a good fight if necessary.