His business had always been between some headquarters or other and some point of destination, and between these points he had no interest.

He and _Uncle Sam_ had a little pride in these matters.

French children with clattering wooden shoes had clustered about him when he paused, old wives had called, "_Vive l'Amerique!_" from windows and, like the post-boy of old, he had enjoyed the prestige which was his.

Should he, Tom Slade, surrender or ask for help in one of these mere incidental places along his line of travel?
_What you got to do, you do_, he had said, and you cannot do it by going half way and then letting some one else do the rest.

He had read the _Message to Garcia_ (as what scout has not), and did that bully messenger--whatever his name was--turn back because the Cuban jungle was too much for him?
_He delivered the message to Garcia_, that was the point.