S
So it was that the daring native came up the plateau, saluted the first sentinel whom he saw, and brusquely announced that he had immediate business with Captain Navarro. The latter was in one of the large lower apartments engaged with his evening meal. When word was brought to him, he sprang up and hastened outside, where Martella was standing erect, like a true soldier of the Atlamalcan army, and saluted him.
“Do you come from General Yozarro?” was the inquiry.
“Directly from him,” was the unblushing response.
“What are his commands?”
“That I bring the American Señorita to him without delay.”
“Where is the General? I am expecting him any hour.”
“You know I am one of the firemen on thegunboat; it lies against the shore where we stopped last night when the Señoritas were brought here.”
This was the critical moment. If Captain Navarro had learned of the desertion of Martella, the life of the latter was not worth a moment’s purchase, but in reality he knew nothing of it. The Captain, well aware of the ferocious temper of the Dictator, stood in as abject awe of him as did every other citizen of Atlamalco. But as the two conversed, the wits of the officer gradually returned to him.
“Where is the escort of the Señorita?”
“Standing before you.”
“You do not come alone?”
“I do—”
“But how is it the General himself does not come?”
“Perhaps the Captain would like to put that question to General Yozarro.”
“I shall be pleased to read your order.”
“The only order I bear has just been given to you.”
“Impossible! General Yozarro would never do a thing like that.”
“Perhaps you would like to say that also to the General. But I will save you thetrouble; I will tell him myself that you refuse to do as commanded.”
Martella turned to move off, but the Captain caught his arm.
“No, no, no, Martella! You must not do that; you see the dilemma I am in; if I make a mistake, it will cost me my life.”
“It is with you whether you shall make a mistake or not; I have done my duty.”
He made again as if to go, but the officer would not permit it. The moment had come for Martella to play his trump card. The two were standing within hearing of several soldiers who, in accordance with the loose discipline of the army, made no attempt to hide that they were listening. Lowering his voice, the messenger said:
“Step aside one moment, Captain; I have something for your private ear.”
When they were beyond hearing of the group, the soldier spoke in a guarded voice:
“Are you blind, Captain? Do you not see which way the wind blows? General Yozarro does not wish his relative, Señorita Estacardo to come to him, because she would be troublesome; you know of some of the General’s conquests among the other sex; he is in love withthe beautiful Señorita from the North, but she has friends and he must protect every step. If he sent you a written order, it might return to vex him, when the relatives of the Señorita call upon him to explain, but what does he care for poor devils like us upon whom he will be able to lay the blame of a misunderstanding? He will be able to swear that it was all a blunder of others. I respectfully suggested that a written order would be asked for by you, for you are an excellent officer who insists that everything shall be done in the order of true discipline. You know the temper of the General; he swore at me and declared that if you dared hesitate, he would have you shot. Then he cooled down and told me to explain if you asked questions. I have done so, when in the case of another officer whom he esteemed less, the favor would have been refused.”
“You relieve me inexpressibly by your words, though I must look upon it as strange that you come alone. I am curious to know what you will say tola Americana, if she refuses to go with you, as she is almost sure to do.”
“Do you think the General has forgottenanything? Is he not too much of a veteran in the affairs of the heart? I am to tell the Señorita that her brother is waiting on the gunboat to receive her; she started last night for Zalapata to meet him, and she is impatient over the delay. You must be sure she will hasten to obey the request.”
Captain Navarro was not wholly free from misgiving.
“I can understand that the General may have reasons of his own for not coming himself for the Señorita, but I do not understand why her brother does not hasten to her.”
“Heard you not that he was ill with fever and needs his sister to nurse him?”
For the first time in the interview the Captain laughed.
“I beg you, Martella, not to hint to the General how stupid I was.”
“Be assured I shall not. You know how many things we see which we must not see, and of late I have had many chances to view such things on the gunboat. I shall say to the General that you were as prompt and obedient as you always are to do his bidding, and that he has no better officer in his army than you.”
“And you shall not be forgotten, Martella;I will order the horse saddled for the Señorita.”
Each minute added to the tension of the situation. Martella did not doubt that General Yozarro was on the way to the Castle, and more than likely was quite near. He was likely to arrive at any moment. He glanced stealthily around, determined, if he saw him or any of his escort, to make a break for it, with the chances a hundred to one against saving his neck.
Every nerve was tugging for haste, yet the first sign of impatience would ruin everything. He wished inexpressibly that the young woman should appear and that they could start at once without waiting for the pony. But that, from the nature of the circumstances, could not be. With superb coolness and courage, he said:
“While the horse is preparing, I will go and ask her to make ready; I hope,” he added with a light laugh, “that she will not ask too many questions. Where shall I find her?”
“The room of the Señoritas is in the second story facing the north; a light is burning within.”
Without any injunction to the Captain tomake haste, Martella saluted, and walked deliberately into the building, where no questions were asked, since he had been seen in converse with the officer and no one doubted that he came direct from General Yozarro.
Suppose, what was quite likely, that suspicion should again enter the brain of the Captain, when he gained time to think over the extraordinary situation? Suppose, what was also likely, that General Yozarro should arrive while the bogus messenger was inside the Castle? He would be caught like a rat in a trap.
And yet knowing all these things, Martella gave not the first evidence of hurry. He went up the stone steps with dignified tread, knocked at the right door, and was admitted to the apartment, where, as we know, he explained to the two young women the remarkable errand on which he had come.
T
There was not a doubt in the mind of Miss Starland when she read the few pencilled lines handed to her by the deserter. She was too familiar with the handwriting to be mistaken. She passed the paper to her companion.
“You must not hesitate,” said the latter, the moment she caught its meaning; “go at once.”
“Will you come with me?”
“No; I am not asked to do so. I can be of no help, andIhave nothing to fear from my uncle, General Yozarro.”
Little preparation was needed. Attired in the light, gauzy material of the tropics, it only remained for her to adjust her hat and to catch up the reticule containing a few indispensable articles. Still she lingered, impressed by the importance of the step she was about to take.
Martella stood like a statue, but the tension had become almost intolerable.
“Shall I retire till the Señorita is ready?” he respectfully asked.
“There is no necessity; I have simply to go with you.”
“May I then be permitted to say that not a moment must be thrown away? General Yozarro is expected, and if we linger it will be too late.”
Just then the alert ears of the man heard an unusual stir below.
“I fear he has come; we must not stay.”
He lowered his voice to a whisper and could not repress signs of agitation. In the trying instant he decided upon his course of action. He would go down stairs, and in the excitement, try to slip outside. Then he would make a dash for life, with the chances still a hundred to one against success.
The friends embraced affectionately, and the Señorita gently pushed the other through the door which she opened.
“God and the saints be with you! Linger not another second.”
Martella stepped outside, replaced his hat and with his deliberate walk, led the waydown the stairs, which were dimly lighted by the lamp below. Sternly repressing all signs of haste, he slipped his right hand under his jacket and rested it on the handle of his knife.
“They shall have a fight for it!” he muttered; “if the General is within reach, my knife shall find his heart.”
But the flurry that had startled him was not caused by the arrival of General Yozarro. It was due to the natural curiosity over the departure of one of the young women, which had become known, when the saddled pony was brought to the front of the Castle where Captain Navarro was waiting, with one of his soldiers holding the bridle. Whatever the officer may have thought, it was evident there was no change in his intentions.
Miss Starland walked lightly forward, fastening her reticule to her girdle, so as to leave her hands free, bowed to the Captain, who snapped off his hat, replaced it, and, slightly stooping, took the tiny foot for a moment in his hand, and assisted her to the saddle and reached the reins to her. She said “Adios!” to him and the others gathered round, whereat there was a general uncovering. Martella saluted and with his former dignified tread,walked toward the edge of the plateau, in the direction of the trail leading to the river from which he had come. The most wrenching effort of his life was to restrain himself from breaking into a lope and calling upon his charge to do the same with her horse. He succeeded by a supreme effort.
It was a hundred yards to the point where the bit of level land dipped, and half the distance was passed, when Captain Navarro called:
“Stop, Martella! Wait!”
The man instantly halted, thrusting his hand under his jacket and closing his iron fingers about the handle of his weapon. Matters had gone too far for any drawing back. It was now to keep on or fight to the death, for he had no doubt that the officer had changed his mind and meant to hold both until the arrival of General Yozarro.
“I will pause to hear what he speaks,” he said in a low voice to the wondering young woman; “your horse knows the trail; keep on; you have not far to go to meet your brother and his friend.”
She had checked the pony, but twitched the rein and he walked steadily toward the darkness,leaving the grim Atlamalcan to have it out with Captain Navarro. The latter was approaching fast and came up panting slightly from the exertion.
“Martella, you will not forget to remind General Yozarro that I was quick to obey his command, as soon as you gave it to me?”
“Have no fear, Captain.”
In the immeasurable relief and the dread of awaking distrust, the deserter punished himself. Instead of immediately following his charge, he remained facing the officer. It seemed wise to indulge in some pointless converse.
The Captain looked inquiringly at him, not understanding the cause of his hesitation.
“Is there anything more you would say to me, Captain? Though I have lingered longer than I expected, I can afford a few more minutes.”
“No, no, except to repeat that you shall be remembered by me. I am sorry that I detained you; it is best you should make haste.”
“Then, if you are sure, I will follow the Señorita, but I can wait a brief while longer, Captain.”
It was the latter who now showed nervousness,though the strain upon him was not a tenth of what the other suffered.
“Off with you! Do you not see that you may lose the Señorita?”
The pony with its rider was passing from view below the margin of the plateau, and the man now made the haste that looked natural. Although the trail was easily followed, his place was in advance. While gliding past the stirrup, he said:
“We have been fortunate, Señorita, but much danger still threatens.”
S
Something prompted Martella to turn his head and look back. Not Captain Navarro alone, but two of the soldiers had come to the head of the path and stood out in clear relief in the strong moonlight, looking after the vanishing couple. Martella grimly thought:
“The Captain is not easy in his mind, but it is now too late for him to stop me.”
A little way down the trail, under the shadow of the deep foliage, stood the two men who were awaiting the coming of the messenger and young woman. The time, brief as it was, had been trying to the last degree to Major Jack Starland, who came forward into the moonlight and approached the halted pony, which pricked his ears and showed some timidity. But the rider readily controlled him.
“Halloa, Jack!”
“My dear Warrenia!”
He reached up and pressed the small gloved hand and the grasp was warmly returned.
“General Yozarro seems to have forgotten to be a gentleman,” she said.
“He never was one; if I ever meet the scoundrel I shall slap his face, if his whole army is looking on.”
“Then I hope you will never meet.”
The party was stationary, though still near enough to the Castle to justify uneasiness.
“Where are we going, Jack?”
“To the river; we have a boat there, in which we shall sail to Zalapata, there to stay till the yacht returns, and then good bye to this infernal country forever.”
“And none will be gladder than I; but what of General Yozarro? Martella told me he is expected every minute at the Castle.”
“No one knows better than our good friend, but what of it?”
“Which route will he be likely to take,—by land or the river?”
The question did not seem to have occurred to Major Starland, who turned to Martella for an answer.
“I think he will come by the gunboat and land where we did.”
“Then there is a good chance of meeting him and his party?”
“Nothing is more likely; we must not forget to prepare for them, for they may be close at hand.”
“What do you suggest?”
“I will walk far enough in advance to give warning. When I see or hear aught of them, I will whistle like this.”
He illustrated and added:
“When that falls upon your ears, you will make haste to turn off into the wood.”
“But there are many places where we cannot turn off, without taking a plunge down a precipice.”
“Then run back till you find one.”
Martella now strode down the path, which was so deeply shadowed that he quickly slipped from view.
“With your permission, Major, I will follow next, keeping a short way in advance of the Señorita and the horse. You may take the front or rear, as you think best.”
“I will keep at the bridle. I cannot see that danger threatens from the Castle, and surely we are well guarded in front.”
There was no call for delay and the processionmoved in the order named, the guide being so well to the fore that only at intervals was a glimpse caught of the shadowy form, where the moonlight flooded the winding trail, which gradually descended until it reached the Rio Rubio to the northward. The three composing the main party did not speak, for all their senses were centred in those of sight and hearing. It had been in the mind of Miss Starland to propose that her pony should be dismissed. The task of walking was nothing to her, and the animal was really an incumbrance, but she saw as yet no objection against utilizing him: the necessity of parting with him might come at any time.
Past the murmuring waterfall, along the rocky face of the towering precipice, with fleeting glimpses of the myriad monkeys eternally flitting through the tropical forest, with the discords of nocturnal animals, and the squawking and cries of disturbed birds of a hundred different species, amid the soft moonlight and deep shadows, our friends threaded their way, listening and peering into the gloom, their hopes high, and yet with misgiving in every heart.
Half the distance was traversed, when thepony stepped around a projecting bend of the trail, which sloped abruptly along the face of the mountain wall. Major Starland paused and with a gentle pressure of the bridle rein checked the animal.
“Some distance must be passed before the path broadens,” he said; “I hope we shall not hear Martella’s signal when half-way thither.”
Captain Guzman had also paused as if with the same thought. He was twenty paces in advance, but did not speak.
“Shall we wait for a few minutes?” asked Miss Starland.
“It will avail nothing; the passage must be made.”
“But Martella will be farther away and that will help.”
“He may go so far that we shall not hear his signal.”
Nevertheless, they remained motionless for a few minutes until Captain Guzman was seen to move forward again. The delay was fortunate, for a hundred yards down the trail, the three were suddenly thrilled by the vibrant whistle, whose echo came back from the oppositecliffs. Captain Guzman whirled and came running back.
“Hurry! Not a moment is to be lost!”
The trail was narrow, but an expert animal could turn.
“Don’t take the risk!” commanded the Major excitedly; “give me your hand and dismount.”
“I can do it; let me alone.”
Without hesitation, she jerked the head of the pony around, so as to face the appalling slope, and, speaking firmly to him, continued pulling strongly on the bit.
“It is madness! You will both be carried over.”
But she gave no heed. The intelligent animal pressed his haunches against the rocky wall, and began carefully turning. His four hoofs were set close together, the front ones on the very edge of the abyss, over which his head projected, and down which the dirt began crumbling. The support of one hoof yielded and he sank partly sideways. The Major uttered an angry exclamation and tried to snatch his sister from the saddle. She resisted and not for a second did she lose her superb nerve. The horse saved both by partlyrearing, and with his fore legs in air swung round as if on a pivot and set his feet down again on firm earth, with his nose pointed toward the Castle. She twitched the rein and spoke sharply. He broke into a gallop up the path, with the indignant officer running at his heels, and Guzman close behind him.
“’Twas the maddest folly I ever saw, but heavens! what nerve!”
Brief as was the distance, when they reached the summit of the trail, Martella dashed up after them.
“I saw him!” he said excitedly; “he came on the gunboat and has several officers with him; they will pass within a few minutes.”
Miss Starland now took the hand of her brother and dropped lightly to the ground.
“It was quite interesting, Jack: I hope you weren’t scared.”
“My heart was in my mouth; I gave you up; if you had gone over, it would have been your own fault.”
“But I didn’t go over.”
Martella seized the bridle, pulling so hard that the pony’s head was drawn horizontal. A rod or two and they reached the broadening path and turned abruptly off among the treesand undergrowth. Where the vegetation was so profuse and dense, a little way was sufficient to hide them from any one passing over the path.
As always, Martella assumed the lead, the horse still reluctantly following with the others around and behind him. Suddenly the beast refused to go farther.
“What’s the trouble?” asked the Major.
“Something has frightened him,” suggested Captain Guzman.
The guide was savagely stamping. Then he stopped and tugged again at the rein. The horse dragged back but allowed himself to be drawn a little farther. All came to a pause, grouping themselves together, where one was hardly visible to the others.
“What was it?” asked the Major, in a whisper, of Martella.
“He smelled a serpent in front of us, and I stamped him to death.”
“Was it venomous?” the American was prompted to ask.
“I think it was a coral snake, but he was not large.”
“If he had bitten you?”
“Pardon me, Major, he did not.”
“There may be others near us.”
“Perhaps; their bite is sure death; we must be ready to crush them under our feet—hist! here come General Yozarro and the officers.”
T
There were six of them, all coming out as clearly in the powerful moonlight as if the sun were in the heavens. The stout form of General Yozarro was at the front, walking at a moderate pace up the slope.
The moment he entered the field of vision, Major Starland heard Martella gasp, as if catching his breath. Then the American felt a hand upon his rifle, as if the other were trying to draw it from his grasp.
“My chance can never be better,” whispered the deserter.
“I will not allow murder to be done; a brave man would not ask it.”
The native loosened his straining grip upon the weapon, and all silently peered from the gloom at the procession filing past. None of the spectators spoke, but each caught the sounds of fitful conversation among the Atlamalcans. No one could have been more generousthan the Dictator in the way of imprecations, which was no cause for surprise to Miss Starland.
Until the purchase of the tugboat, General Yozarro had usually passed between his capital and the Castle of Rest on horseback. Now, however, he preferred the water route, although it compelled him to walk a difficult mile.
At the moment when the rear of the procession was opposite our friends, who were breathlessly watching from their hiding place, the pony suddenly threw up his head and emitted a resounding whinny that could have been heard a mile away.
“That means a fight!” exclaimed the Major, tightening his grasp on his rifle; “be ready, Captain and Martella!”
The moment the alarming cry echoed among the mountains, General Yozarro and his friends stopped and stared in the direction of the disturbance. Martella was the only one with the quickness of resource to meet the crisis. In a twinkling, he slipped the bridle of the horse over his head, unfastened the cinch and flung the saddle to the ground. Then, pointing the nose of the animal towardthe trail, he gave his haunch a pinch like the nipping of a fire ant. The animal responded with a snort and leap, and then trotted to the group who stared at him in astonishment.
The Major and the Captain caught the shrewdness of the action. By driving out the horse without any belongings, he gave the impression that he was an estray, probably cropping the herbage, when disturbed by the approach of strangers. He had not been ridden long enough to show the marks of bridle or saddle, unless examined closely, which was not likely to be the case.
“They may learn the truth,” whispered Martella; “be ready!”
The animal slowed his pace and walked snuffing suspiciously to the waiting company. When one of the officers reached out to grasp his forelock, he flirted his head away. The brute preferred his freedom to serving a master.
Some natural surprise was expressed that he should be wandering alone, so far from the Castle, and the listening friends heard General Yozarro suggest that it might be worth while to look farther. They were about to do so when he changed his mind.
“Captain Navarro is not careful with his horses: I must remind him to have a better care of my property.”
With this observation, the General resumed the lead and almost immediately the party disappeared, vastly to the relief of our friends. Martella waited only until they were beyond sight, when he led the way back to the trail.
There was no further call for him to act as advance scout, though he again placed himself at the head of the little company. He could readily have captured the horse and offered to do so, but Miss Starland refused the favor, saying it was a grateful relief to walk, after having been so long in doors. Accordingly the pony was left to himself.
The situation had changed. The danger was transferred to the rear, though it was not likely to threaten for some time to come. General Yozarro would not dream of the truth until he reached the Castle. There he would quickly learn that the cunning of the deserter had drawn the American Señorita from his custody and probably taken her beyond reach. It would require less than an hour for him to go toCastillo Descanso, andonly a short time to hasten back over the trail to the river.
Would he do so?
This was the question Major Starland asked himself, while tramping directly behind his sister. Such a thing would be so daring an outrage that it seemed improbable. What excuse could he offer when coming into the presence of the two American visitors for so high-handed an interference with their rights? Hitherto he had shown a fulsome obsequiousness to both, and acted the part of a high-toned gentleman. How could he throw off that courtesy which seemed a part of his nature, and still forbid their going and coming as they pleased?
Doubtless the Major would have convinced himself that what he mentally outlined was not to be feared from the Dictator, except for a most important fact that obtruded itself: the presence of Martella, the deserter, with the company of fugitives, as they must now regard themselves. That would justify him in pursuing the ingrate to the uttermost confines of his dominion, and to make his shelter by General Bambos acasus belli, especially if the message left with the engineer of the tugboathad been delivered. Acting under this pretext, Yozarro would be able to bring the man’s companions within his power, with the opportunity of carrying out the plans he had formed respecting them. His infatuation had destroyed his tact, judgment and sense, of which his furnishment had never been great.
Strange that one of the most likely contingencies of the peculiar situation did not present itself to any one until it flashed upon Major Starland, while threading the mountain trail and when near its termination. General Yozarro’s tugboat must have come ashore directly behind the catboat of his predecessors. He would recognize the smaller craft, and know that the American had gone to the Castle to join his sister, no doubt with the intention of bringing her away. He must have destroyed the usefulness of the catboat and thus estopped the flight of the fugitives by that means.
While such action on his part would appear to have been certain, yet it did not accord with his conduct when on the way toCastillo Descanso. The sight of the pony would have told him the truth, and he would have been certain to make an investigation on the spot.But that was not done, nor was there anything in the words or manner of the Atlamalcans to show that he held a suspicion of the real situation.
“Martella must have thought of all this, yet he did not show it by word or act.”
Walking briskly, they soon passed up a slight incline, descended another and arrived within a short distance of the Rio Rubio. Then, for the first time, the officer recalled that the trail bifurcated like the river itself. One fork turned to the right, which led to where the sailboat had been secured. Without pausing, Martella turned down this, and a few minutes later all stood on the river’s margin.
T
There nestled their boat with no sign of having been visited during their absence. Its prow was drawn well up the bank, and the sail lay in a roll on the boom and at the foot of the single mast with everything snug. Martella hastily examined every portion of the hull, stepping into the water to do so, and finally said with a grin:
“None of them saw it.”
“That is better fortune than I expected. Providence has been kind to us, but where istheirboat, Martella?”
They listened for the blowing off of steam, but, save for the never silent sounds from the forest and jungle, all was silent.
“It is not far away; General Yozarro made the landing above and passed up the other trail to where it joins this one. It was lucky, for, had he come here, as he did last night, he must have seen our boat. He would havecrippled it, and when he met the horse along the trail, he would have known we were near. There is no need of undue haste, and if you do not care, I will visit the gunboat.”
“Are you not running great risk?”
“The only ones there are the engineer and two firemen; I have nothing to fear from them.”
“You have my permission.”
The vegetation and foliage were so intricate that, instead of taking the shorter distance, the native loped back over the trail to the forking, and then went down the other to the river’s edge. As he expected, he found the tug lying against the shore. In a country where wood is superabundant and coal almost unknown, the former was used exclusively on the craft. A large quantity was always piled at the front, some of the kinds belonging to the most valuable exports, with such a close grain that it gave out as fervid heat as the mineral itself. Instead of maintaining a high pressure of steam, the engineer allowed it to sink. The return of General Yozarro was not looked for under several hours, and with so much resinous wood at hand, the furnace could be quickly fired up. It was a saving all round to letthe steam moderate, which explains why our friends heard nothing of the craft sleeping less than thirty rods away.
Despite the confidence of Martella, he knew his venture was not wholly free from risk, and in the face of his comradeship with the crew, it was not unlikely that they would seek to win the good will of the Dictator by delivering the deserter to him. If there were others beside the engineer and firemen on board, it would be imprudent to the last degree to entrust himself to them. He therefore spent considerable time in reconnoitering.
Moving stealthily here and there, and peering out from the shadows, he soon made out the form of a man seated on the gunwale at the front, doubtless in quest of coolness. He was smoking a cigarette and something in his appearance was so familiar that the deserter called, in a guarded voice:
“Valentin, is that you?”
The man looked sharply around and removed the cigarette from between his lips.
“Martella!” he replied in the same careful voice.
“Who else is on the boat?”
“Only Juarez and Dominguez.”
He had mentioned the names of the two firemen.
“Is it safe for me to join you in a smoke?”
“For a little while only.”
Martella came out in the moonlight, moved softly up the plank which connected the boat with the shore, and seating himself beside his old acquaintance, lit a cigarette. They talked for some minutes, as if no cloud had come between them, and then the visitor, heeding the warning of the engineer, bade him good bye and hurried back to his friends, who were becoming impatient over his absence.
Major Starland and the others noted that the deserter was in high spirits, but no one could understand why this should be the case.
“It is as I thought,” said Martella; “the gunboat landed General Yozarro and the officers who have gone to the Castle.”
“We knew that before.”
“And he did not dream of the presence of our boat so near. Things would have been different had he known it.”
“I may add, Martella, that that information is not new to us.”
“But some things are new. The only oneson the boat are the engineer and two firemen. There will be no trouble about it.”
“Trouble about what?”
“Capturing the boat; the crew will make no resistance, for it is not intended that they shall do any fighting. If they do, we can defeat them easily.”
“So you have a plan for capturing that old tug of General Yozarro? What do you think of it, Captain?”
“It can be done with little trouble as Martella says. I was thinking of the same thing while he was away. It would be a fine trick to play on General Yozarro.”
“And I should be glad to help, but it will not do.”
“Why not?”
“Despite what General Yozarro said, the two republics are not at war. If they were, the capture would make your fortune. As it is, it would bring your ruin. General Bambos would be obliged not only to disavow the act, but to punish you for the offence.”
“I was thinking,” said Martella, “that perhaps the Major would be willing to take the responsibility.”
“I admit that the temptation is strong, and,were not Miss Starland’s interests at stake, nothing would please me more than to capture that wheezy tug and scuttle it, but it may bring unpleasant consequences to her and therefore is not to be thought of.”
Captain Guzman said these words were wise, and Martella was compelled reluctantly to accept the situation, though it irked him. The sail of the boat was hoisted, Miss Starland was given a seat at the stern, and the men united to shove the craft into deeper water.
“There is little wind,” observed the Captain, “but it is favoring and we ought to be at Zalapata soon after daylight.”
The two natives placed themselves at the bow, and the Major as usual, took charge of the tiller, thus bringing himself close to his sister. The wooded shore so blanketed the catboat, that Martella took up a pole to push the craft out into the stream. Soon, enough impulse caught the sail to give headway, and they moved slowly out toward the middle of the river. Martella laid down the pole, and seated himself, still grinning.
“Major, I have pleasing news for you,” he chuckled.
“I am listening.”
“The engineer gave my message to General Yozarro.”
“He did! It is fortunate for you that you and he did not meet.”
“More fortunate forhimthan forme,” was the significant comment.
T
The sailboat crept slowly out into the middle of the river, the breeze being so light that only a faint rippling was heard at the bow, and the craft hardly answered her helm. Major Starland had noted that the wind was not favorable, and he was compelled to tack toward the northern shore. He ran close in and was cheered by a freshening of the breeze which added perceptibly to the speed.
“At this rate,” said his sister, “we shall not reach Zalapata till tomorrow is well advanced.”
“It cannot matter, for there is no special need of haste.”
“Suppose, when General Yozarro returns, he pursues us?”
“It is not impossible; it will be easy for him to overhaul such a slow-sailing boat as this, but he dare not offer us harm. Are we not free born Americans, and will not our government be quick to punish such an offence?”
“You must not forget that the South American is an idiot, for, had he not been, he would not have dared to forbid my leaving the Castle.”
“Since a long sail is before us, why not let me adjust a couch for you to sleep?”
“Sleep! As if I could sleep at such a time as this! I had all I needed last evening when in prison.”
It will be remembered that Captain Guzman and Martella were seated at the bow, facing those at the stern. Thus the moonlit river beyond was in clear view, and the sombre, motionless form of the tugboat could be made out where it snuggled against the southern bank. The deserter was speaking in low tones to the Captain, when he uttered an exclamation which caused the officer to turn his gaze to the rear.
That which the former fireman saw was a number of sparks mingling with the heavy vapor that was beginning to tumble out of the smokestack. The next moment both saw that the craft was heading out into the river.
“General Yozarro and his officers have returned!” called Martella; “the firemen arecramming the furnace with wood; they mean to pursue us!”
Jack Starland and his sister looked behind them. The Atlamalcan had spoken the truth. The time seemed much too short for the party to have made the journey to the Castle and back. In fact, it was impossible for them to have done so, but there could be no doubt that they were all on the tugboat. The explanation instantly flashed upon Martella.
“Captain Navarro suspected the truth some time after we left and hurried to take us to the Castle again. Some news may have reached him, or his own sense told him of my trick. He met the General on the way.”
Such undoubtedly was the fact. Had our friends suspected aught of that nature, they would not have frittered away the precious minutes as they had done.
Meanwhile, the resinous wood flung into the furnace of the tugboat was doing its work. From the single smokestack poured the murky vapor, sprinkled with crimson sparks which were tossed right and left high in air, to drop hissing into the water. In the moonlight, a snowy winrow at the bow showed that the tug was plowing ahead with fast increasing speed.Capable of making a dozen miles an hour, she was already doing her best, and coming up with the sailboat hand over hand.
Only a few minutes were given the fugitives in which to decide what to do. A straight away race was hopeless, for the pursuer, now no more than an eighth of a mile distant, was sure to overhaul them in a very brief time.
“I am inclined to let General Yozarro come up with us,” said the Major; “I have no fear of his molesting me or Miss Starland, and I am rather curious to hear what he has to say for himself. We are in our own boat, or at least not in his, and we have committed no crime against the Atlamalcan Republic, whatever that name means.”
“You must not think for an instant of such a thing,” said his sister with great earnestness.
“Why not? Do you hold him in fear?”
“No; but he will take vengeance upon Martella, who has served us so faithfully.”
“Great heavens! I never thought of that; and he will be as merciless with Captain Guzman for having helped Martella.”
“And withyoufor crossing his path.”
“With me! I long for a meeting with him;but, Captain,” added the American, raising his voice; “it will not do for you and Martella to be on board when General Yozarro overtakes us.”
“I think you are right,” replied the Captain; “the General and I have never loved each other, and even General Bambos would not object strongly if it is proposed to shoot me for aiding an Atlamalcan to desert from his navy.”
Martella said nothing, but no one understood the situation better than he.
“I will head the boat for the southern shore, where you two can look out for yourselves.”
“I am afraid you will not have the time to reach it.”
“Itmustbe done!”
The American had pushed the tiller sharply round, and the boat was speeding diagonally for the bank. The change of course gave her a fairer wind, but the tug was coming up so fast that it looked as if she must head off the fugitives. Full steam had been put on, and our affrighted friends, when they looked back, saw the tumbling foam at the bow, the spreading wake streaming fanlike to the rear, and the dark figures crowding forward, amidwhom it was easy to believe they discerned the form of General Yozarro cursing the engineer for not attaining better speed.
“If we cannot make it,” said Martella to the Captain, “we must jump over and swim.”
“We cannot swim any faster than we are going now, and the water abounds with enemies.”
“None is so treacherous as Yozarro; I at least will try it; I can let myself over softly and make so long a dive that perhaps he will not notice me.”
“Wait a few minutes, Martella, for I do not like your plan.”
The brief interval decided the question. It seemed that the sailboat might touch land before the pursuer could interpose to head them off. Martella decided to take his chances with the others.
The tug was now so near that Yozarro called:
“Stop or we’ll blow you out of the water!”
“Blow and be hanged!” called back Major Jack; “if you fire on an American citizen, your nuisance of a republic will be wiped off the earth.”
“You have a deserter with you; I demand his surrender.”
Therein shone the cunning of General Yozarro. If an American was fired upon in Atlamalcan waters for carrying off a deserter, it was little satisfaction our citizen would be able to obtain. Without hesitation, Major Starland shouted:
“We have the man; come and get him!”