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Rh "Never mind, it isn't inhuman, and their fights are."

"Fortunes are won and lost on bull- and cockfights. I have heard of thousands of pesetas changing hands as the result of a single contest."

"That makes it all the worse. I don't want to see or hear of such fights," I concluded, and I meant what I said. I think these contests an everlasting disgrace to Spain and every other nation that permits them.

To fill in our time we helped Longley prepare the mid-day meal and enjoyed the best the stock of provisions on hand afforded. Our coffee was native grown, and, seasoned with condensed milk, made as good as drink as the best of Java.

"This island could have a splendid coffee trade if it would only wake up," said Longley. "Just see what the Dutch have done for Java. The Spaniards are away behind the times."

"Spain is a nation of the past," said Dan. "I have heard father say that she will never regain the valuable prestige which she has lost. Her possessions are dropping away one by one, and in time she won't be able to hold even the mother country together."

"It's because she don't trate the people roight," broke in Matt Gory. "She takes ivery cent fer taxes an' church purposes, and they be strapped, an' git nothin' fer it. A mon as has