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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Up the Forked River, by Edward Sylvester Ellis
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Up the Forked River
+       Or, Adventures in South America
+
+
+Author: Edward Sylvester Ellis
+
+
+
+Release Date: September 2, 2009  [eBook #29892]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UP THE FORKED RIVER***
+
+
+E-text prepared by D Alexander and the Project Gutenberg Online
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+
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+
+
+
+Strange Adventure Series.--No. 2.
+
+UP THE FORKED RIVER
+
+Or,
+
+Adventures in South America
+
+by
+
+SEWARD D. LISLE,
+
+Author of "TEDDY AND TOWSER," etc., etc.
+
+Illustrated
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Philadelphia:
+Henry T. Coates & Co.
+
+Copyrighted, 1904,
+by
+Henry T. Coates & Co.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "I AM BETRAYED--SINK THE TUG."]
+
+
+
+
+UP THE FORKED RIVER
+
+OR
+
+ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AMERICA
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+Two friends were seated in the private office of Rowland & Starland,
+Montgomery Street, San Francisco, not long ago, discussing a subject
+in which both were much interested.
+
+Each gentleman was past three-score, but they were well preserved, of
+rugged health, well to do and prosperous. They had got on for many
+years without so much as a shadow of difference between them. They had
+made the tour of Europe together, had engaged in many an outing and
+now as the evening of life was drawing on, they took matters with that
+complacency and comfort which was creditable to their good sense and
+which was warranted by their circumstances.
+
+Mr. Thomas Starland, the junior partner, removed his cigar, leaned
+back in his chair, and, looking kindly into the face of his friend,
+said:
+
+"Teddy, you came to California a number of years before I did."
+
+The other, who was in a reminiscent mood, smoked in silence for a
+minute or so, looking up to the ceiling, and, when he replied, it was
+as if communing with himself:
+
+"Yes; it is close upon half a century. How times flies! I was a small
+boy, and I often wonder how it was Providence took such good care of
+me."
+
+"True, you were a young lad, but you had the best of companions."
+
+"That is hardly correct, so far at least as one was concerned. When I
+left home in the East to join my father, who had come to California
+ahead of me, my companion was an Irishman named Micky McGuigan, who
+was as green as I."
+
+"I have heard you speak of another comrade--a four-footed one."
+
+"Ah, yes, our dog Towser, one of the most faithful and intelligent
+brutes that ever lived. He died long ago of old age and I have showed
+my gratitude and love for his memory by placing a monument over his
+remains. Micky--peace to the memory of the good fellow--has also
+rested in the tomb for years, and it was not long after that my good
+father followed him,--so of all my companions on my first coming to
+the Pacific coast, not one remains."
+
+"You could hardly have passed safely through the many dangers without
+the help of others," suggested Mr. Starland.
+
+"I admit that. No braver man than Micky McGuigan ever lived. He had
+the traditional Irishman's love of a fight and he got plenty of it.
+But, Tom, our perils began, as you know, before we touched foot in
+California. Off the southern coast our steamer, the _Western Star_,
+was sunk in a collision. Teddy and I were left on the uninhabited
+coast (so far as white people are concerned), without so much as even
+a gun or pistol. Finding ourselves marooned, we struck into the
+interior, stole a couple of guns and some ammunition (what's the use
+of denying it at this late day?) from some Indians, and then went it
+blindly."
+
+"I recall something of a partnership you made with an experienced
+miner."
+
+"Yes; good fortune brought us together, and it was a lucky thing
+indeed for us that we were picked up by Jo Harman, who piloted us
+through no end of dangers. We spent weeks in hunting for gold in what
+was then one of the wildest regions in the world."
+
+"How did you make out?"
+
+"We picked up a few particles, just enough to keep hope alive, but, in
+the end, had to give it up and take our chances in the diggings like
+the rest of the fortune hunters."
+
+"Well, Teddy, we have proved that there are other ways of getting
+treasure than by digging in the earth for it."
+
+"Yes, though it takes digging in any circumstances, and we had as hard
+times, at the beginning, as any of those who now dwell on Nob Hill."
+
+From the above brief conversation, you will recall the principal
+character whom you met in the story of "Teddy and Towser." The lad who
+passed through more than one trying adventure had become a man well
+along in middle life. After settling in California, he made it his
+home. He married a lady of Spanish descent, to whom a single child was
+born,--Warrenia, now a miss almost out of her teens. Although Mr.
+Starland was younger than his partner and married later in life, his
+son Jack was several years the elder of the daughter of Mr. Rowland.
+
+Since these two young people have much to do in the chapters that
+follow, the reader must be given a clear understanding of them and
+their peculiar relation to each other.
+
+While the parents had been partners in prosperity, they were also
+united in affliction, for each had lost his wife by death, when the
+children were small. Neither married again, for they had loved their
+life companions too deeply and profoundly to think seriously of trying
+to replace them.
+
+Another minor but curious coincidence must be noted. Years after the
+marriage of the partners, Mr. Starland employed a Spanish priest to
+trace the genealogy of his wife, who felt a strong curiosity in the
+matter. In doing so, he discovered that several generations earlier,
+during the time of the Spanish settlement of the Southwest, the
+ancestors of Mrs. Starland and Mrs. Rowland were related. This was
+surprising but peculiarly pleasing to both families. Because of this
+remote relationship, so triturated indeed that it had really vanished
+into nothingness, Jack Starland and Warrenia Rowland called
+themselves cousins.
+
+It was just like the headstrong, impulsive, mischievous youth to go
+still further. He hinted that the priest had not told the whole truth,
+having been bribed to suppress it by the father of Warrenia, for
+mysterious reasons, which he dared not divulge. What did this young
+hopeful do but insist that he and Warrenia were brother and sister!
+The idea, grotesquely impossible on the face of it, caused no end of
+merriment and ridicule, but Jack stubbornly maintained his claim. He
+declared further that the real name of Warrenia was the same as his
+own,--that is Starland. He often addressed her as Miss Starland, and
+she, with her fun-loving disposition, pretended to agree with him.
+When together, they almost invariably spoke to or of each other as
+brother and sister, and there were not lacking those who believed they
+were actually thus related.
+
+The odd whim gave the parents no little amusement and they too at
+times humored it. The very absurdity of the fancy gave it its
+comicality.
+
+You can understand how deeply each parent loved his child. Nothing
+seemed more natural than that the son and daughter should become man
+and wife when they grew up, though neither father as yet had made any
+reference to such an event which would have been pleasing to both and
+eminently fit in every respect.
+
+Jack and Warrenia grew to maturity as if they really were brother and
+sister. She was sent East to attend one of the most famous young
+ladies' schools in the country. Jack was on the point of entering
+Harvard, when he received an appointment to West Point. There under
+the strict regulations he gained few opportunities of seeing his
+"sister." When he did so, it was when she and some of her classmates,
+under proper chaperonage visited the model military institution on the
+banks of the Hudson.
+
+Jack was graduated in time to take part in our war with Spain. He won
+a fine reputation at San Juan Hill, and would have received his well
+merited promotion, but when a Major by brevet, he resigned to become
+interested in his father's business, which was growing to a degree
+that new blood and vigor were required for its full development.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+Perhaps Jack Starland's most noticeable trait in boyhood was his
+fondness for the water. He was a magnificent swimmer and learned to
+handle a small boat with the skill of a veteran sailor. Some of his
+dare-devil exploits in cruising among the Farallones and down the
+coast caused his father great concern. He placed such severe
+restrictions upon the lad that he rebelled. One day he slipped out of
+the house, went down to the wharf and engaged to go as cabin boy on a
+South Sea whaler. At the critical moment, however, his conscience
+asserted itself and he drew back. His father never knew of this
+particular episode in the life of his son. Had it been carried out, it
+would have broken the parent's heart.
+
+It was shortly after this that Jack received his appointment to the
+Military Academy. He had told his "sister" Warrenia of his narrow
+escape from playing the part of a fool and ingrate, and naturally she
+was horrified.
+
+"There never would have been the slightest excuse for such folly and
+wickedness," said she, as the two sat in a palace car of the overland
+train, flying eastward; "you have the kindest of fathers and you can
+never do enough to repay your obligations to him."
+
+"I admit all that," replied the young man smiling, "but what's the use
+of rubbing it in when I _didn't_ run away?"
+
+"But you started to do so," she persisted.
+
+"And stopped in time: what was wrong in _that_?"
+
+"It was wrong that you should have had a minute when you seriously
+intended to commit the crime."
+
+"Commit the crime!" he repeated, with a reproving look; "perhaps it
+would have been a crime, but I'm not so sure about that."
+
+"I am; Jack I'm ashamed of you."
+
+"So am I; but don't forget that I was younger then than now."
+
+"Yes; two or three months; persons sometimes grow a good deal in that
+period."
+
+"They may not grow so much in stature, but they do in sense."
+
+"I have heard of such instances, but I do not remember to have met
+any."
+
+"Come now, sister," laughed the youth who admired his friend's
+brilliancy, "I beg you to let up; I confess all you have charged; I am
+a base villain, for whom hanging would be too good; you will be filled
+with remorse when I become General of the army and you recall all the
+harsh words you have said of me."
+
+"_When_ you become General I will mourn my cruelty in sackcloth and
+ashes. But I am willing to change the subject. Let us drop the past
+and talk of the future. Your term at West Point I believe is four
+years."
+
+"Provided I'm not 'found' as the expression goes. But I'm not really
+admitted as yet, though I passed the preliminary examination before
+leaving home and won my appointment in a competitive contest. The
+decisive examination will take place at the Point when I get there; I
+understand it is severe, but I am quite confident."
+
+"You always were, no matter what issue was involved."
+
+Since we have already learned that all went well with the young man,
+it is not necessary to repeat the speculation of the couple as they
+steamed eastward. Jack did enter the Military Academy, and, as I have
+said, made a creditable record for himself. Warrenia Rowland at the
+same time became a student in the famous young ladies' seminary, to
+which further reference will be made later, and the two were graduated
+within a few weeks of each other.
+
+It would be supposed that the military career upon which Major Jack
+Starland entered would have extinguished his love of boating and the
+water, but it did not. Could he have chosen his profession it would
+have been that of the navy, and he would have entered the Academy at
+Annapolis, but that could not be arranged and he threw his whole
+energies into the military work.
+
+Now it chanced that Jack's room mate and intimate friend was the son
+of a prominent ship builder in the East. This youth was as fond of the
+sea as the young Californian. In one respect he was more fortunate,
+for his father had presented him with a superb yacht, with which he
+had cruised up and down the Atlantic coast and made a trip or two to
+the West Indies. I may as well add that this same yacht was placed at
+the disposal of our government at the opening of the war with Spain
+and did good service in scouting in Cuban waters.
+
+The cadets at West Point have only one vacation during their four
+years' course; that comes at the end of two years and lasts for a
+couple of months. Jack Starland made a flying visit home and then
+accepted the invitation of his room mate to go on a cruise with him in
+his yacht. It being in the summer time, the craft headed northward and
+visited Newport, Bar Harbor and several other noted resorts on the
+Atlantic seaboard.
+
+The excursion was a continual delight to both young men, who, as you
+are aware, must have been fine specimens of physical vigor, or they
+would not have been in the Military Academy. Jack wrote such a glowing
+account of his holiday that his father's heart was touched. He read
+the letter to his partner who remarked:
+
+"A good sailor was spoiled when Jack became a soldier."
+
+"I never knew a lad with a stronger liking for a nautical life.
+Nothing would have delighted him more than to become a sailor. What
+makes me respect Jack, is that with all this overwhelming fondness for
+a sailor's life, he has had too much good sense to yield to it. He has
+never asked me to allow him to go to sea, but has always placed my
+wishes first. Do you know, Teddy, that even when a headlong, impetuous
+youngster, he must have withstood temptation with Roman firmness. Of
+course for the last year or two no thought of going contrary to my
+desires has ever entered his mind."
+
+(Ah, fond parent, you are but a single example of multitudes of
+fathers, who have kept their eyes closed to what was going on within
+touch of their hands.)
+
+"A father is a poorer judge of his children than others. My love for
+Jack is hardly second to yours, but I am not blind to his faults. I am
+glad to say that he hasn't any more of them than he is entitled to
+have. No father ever had a more obedient son; judging the boy
+therefore, in cold blood, I must say I agree fully with you. If
+anybody had suggested to Jack when a boy that he should go contrary to
+your wishes or run away, he would have made it a _casus belli_."
+
+(From which remark, it would appear that the father of a boy is not
+always the only one who makes an error concerning the youth.)
+
+"What I'm getting at, Teddy, is this: the reading of that letter from
+Jack has caused me to decide upon a piece of extravagance. I'm going
+to present him with a handsome yacht."
+
+"It will cost you a tidy sum, Tom."
+
+"I know that, but it will be a good investment. He may not have many
+opportunities for enjoying it while he is an officer of the army, but
+unless we have war very soon, Jack will follow the example of many
+others who have been educated at West Point and resign, holding
+himself at the disposal of the government whenever needed. Of course
+his ultimate destination is here, in our business, in this office, and
+the yacht will come in handy during his vacation times."
+
+"And probably add to the number of his vacations."
+
+"Which will be well; for it can be said of few of our business men
+that they have more vacations than are necessary or good for them."
+
+"May I give you a suggestion, Tom?"
+
+"I am always glad to receive anything of the kind from you."
+
+"We can make as good yachts on this side of the continent as in the
+shipyards of the East. Nevertheless, purchase Jack's yacht in the
+East."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"To bring it through the Golden Gate, he will have to come around Cape
+Horn."
+
+"A pretty risky voyage,--one that tests the staunchness of a boat and
+the seamanship of the captain."
+
+"True, and make it a condition that Jack himself shall bring the yacht
+to California."
+
+"It shall be done,--nothing will delight the young rascal more."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+The reputation of the Misses Credell's Young Ladies' Seminary was
+international and the halo of its history was sanctified by time. It
+was founded by the grandmother of the estimable sisters, one of the
+foremost educators of her day, and one who took up the profession of
+teaching through love for it, since her wealth made her independent
+for life.
+
+At the period when the institution rises before us, its students
+represented the four quarters of the globe. There were young women
+fitting for the missionary field in India and China; the daughters of
+eminent financiers in England, Germany, France and Spain, those whose
+parents' influence was felt in distant climes, including several from
+the revolution-pestered republics of South America.
+
+Manuela Estacardo was the only child of the deceased sister of
+President Pedro Yozarro, Dictator of Atlamalco. She was a brilliant
+daughter of the tropics, gifted in mind and person, with the midnight
+eyes and hair, the dark complexion, classical features, small white
+teeth and faultless form rarely seen except in the fervid sunlight of
+the low latitudes. Positive and negative electricity draw together,
+which perhaps explains why the two most devoted intimates at the
+seminary were Señorita Estacardo and Warrenia Rowland. The latter was
+a true product of the North, with blue eyes, pink skin, hair like the
+floss of the ripening corn, and a figure as perfect as her sister's of
+the South, while the mental gifts in one were equalled in the other.
+
+The friendship of these two began with their first meeting, and
+continued unrippled to the sad day of gladness when they were
+graduated. Manuela spent most of her vacations in the home of Warrenia
+in California, and the promise had been solemnly given by the latter
+that she would visit her friend after her return to her distant home
+under the equator. The story of this sweet comradeship cannot be told
+in a fractional part of its fulness. To prevent any misunderstanding,
+however, on the part of the reader, let it be known that though Major
+Jack Starland and the Señorita were often together, and they became
+the warmest of friends, there never was and there never could be any
+tenderer feeling between them. And this was true for the best of
+reasons: the dark-eyed Señorita had pledged her heart to a certain
+young officer of her own country. Both were as loyal in their
+affections as is the magnet to the pole and there was no possible room
+for complications.
+
+When Mr. Starland presented the handsome yacht to his son Jack,
+neither he nor his partner Mr. Rowland dreamed of the strange
+consequences that were to follow. Jack resigned his commission in the
+army, his yacht, which he had named the Warrenia, in honor of his
+"sister," was returned to him with the thanks of the United States
+government, and he was then ready to carry out the stipulation of his
+father, that he should bring the craft around Cape Horn to San
+Francisco. Her usefulness when in the naval service, required her
+presence in the Atlantic, but she was now free to go whither her owner
+willed. Thus the perilous voyage had been postponed for a few years.
+
+Manuela Estacardo had returned to her home in tropical America, and
+she and her dearest friend, Warrenia Rowland, were never laggard in
+their correspondence. The South American insisted that Warrenia should
+make her long-promised visit, and the daughter of the North was eager
+to do so. The journey, however, was so long and difficult that no
+practicable way presented itself until in a twinkling, as may be said,
+the path was cleared by the decision of Major Starland to double Cape
+Horn with his yacht.
+
+What was to prevent his taking Warrenia as a passenger, ascend the
+Amazon to the home of Manuela and pay that cherished visit? The plan
+was so simple that every one to whom it was mentioned wondered why it
+was not thought of before. Aunt Cynthia would accompany her niece as
+chaperon, and the pause would cause little delay in the voyage. What
+matter if it did, for time was of no special consequence, and a few
+weeks, one way or the other, were not worth taking into account.
+
+When Mr. Rowland proposed to his partner that a condition of the gift
+of the yacht to his son ought to be the severe test of a voyage under
+the latter's direction around Cape Horn, he never imagined that his
+daughter was to share the danger. But he could not ask that the young
+man of whom he was so fond should be compelled to face a peril of that
+nature in which he would refuse his daughter a share. It cost him a
+pang to yield, but he did so without murmur, and fondly kissed her
+good bye, with never a thought of the remarkable experience she would
+be called upon to pass through.
+
+As for good Aunt Cynthia, she was wholly ignorant of what in the most
+favorable circumstances was inevitable. The smothering temperature,
+the plague of insect life and the actual dangers from the character of
+the natives themselves, were wholly unknown and unsuspected by her.
+Had she understood one-half the truth, not even her love for her niece
+would have impelled her to leave her comfortable home, nor would she
+ever have given her consent that Warrenia should engage in any such
+wild, foolhardy undertaking. But Aunt Cynthia's education had been of
+the early fashionable kind, which furnished only the smallest modicum
+of knowledge. You may be sure that the younger ones, who knew a good
+deal more about the country and the people, took care not to enlighten
+her when they answered her numerous inquiries.
+
+However, all was satisfactorily arranged and Señorita Estacardo was
+thrown into transports of delight by the receipt of a letter saying
+that by the time it reached the young woman, a Miss Rowland would be
+out on the ocean in the charge of their old friend, Major Jack
+Starland, and well on their way to the home of the Señorita, where
+they intended to make a good long visit, before resuming their long
+voyage around the southern point of the continent and then up the
+western coast to San Francisco.
+
+Ascending the mighty Amazon to the mouth of the Rio Rubio, known also
+as the Forked River, the yacht reached the home of Señorita Estacardo,
+who, it need not be said, gave the most joyous welcome to the girl
+whom she loved more than any one else in the wide world.
+
+Before reaching its present destination, the _Warrenia_ came to the
+little republic of Zalapata, where a pause was made for two or three
+days, during which the Major and the young ladies called upon General
+Bambos, the President and Dictator, who treated them with the utmost
+consideration. Later, he became the guest of Major Starland on the
+yacht, upon which he spent most of his time while the Americans lay
+off that quaint town. The susceptible heart of the bulky South
+American crackled into flame on the first sight of the northern
+beauty, though he smothered the secret so well that none except the
+young woman herself suspected it and with her it was scarcely more
+than a suspicion.
+
+From Zalapata the yacht steamed to Atlamalco, the home of Manuela
+Estacardo. There the party was received by the other impressionable
+type of the tropics, General Pedro Yozarro, who left nothing undone to
+make their visit pleasant in the highest degree. The novelty of her
+experience was its chief enjoyment to Miss Rowland, who found a thrill
+in the life, with its conditions the opposite of those to which she
+had always been accustomed. She and her aunt were received into the
+household of General Yozarro, who immediately became their humble
+slave. Since the death of his wife and sister, the latter taking place
+shortly after the return of his niece, Manuela, the latter had been
+the head of the household and its retinue of servants.
+
+The Señorita had been told the agreement between Major Starland and
+Miss Rowland, which was that during their visit to this part of the
+world, they were to be known as brother and sister. She was to be
+addressed as Miss Warrenia Starland. Her hostess faithfully carried
+out the wishes of her friend.
+
+"It was Jack's proposition," explained Warrenia; "he seems never able
+to get over that absurd fancy of his boyhood that we are really
+brother and sister, when in fact we do not bear the slightest relation
+to each other. I wanted him to use my name, but he is so stubborn he
+wouldn't agree to it. You know there is some similarity in our names,
+but he said it would be much more convenient for me to take his."
+
+"There are several good reasons why you should do so," said the
+Señorita with a meaning smile; "one of which is that you will grow
+accustomed to it."
+
+"But what advantage is there in that?"
+
+"It will come easier when you _do_ make the change."
+
+"I can't pretend to misunderstand you, but I am sure that will never
+take place; neither Jack nor I has such a thought."
+
+"How do you know what his thoughts are?"
+
+"Would he not have told me long ago?"
+
+"Hasn't he done so?"
+
+"Not so much as by a hint. It has really been as brother and sister
+between us. He has always accepted that relation and so have I."
+
+"You give no reason why it should not soon assume a tenderer and
+closer nature; I believe it will; I shall be delighted."
+
+"Ah, my dear Manuela, I know your heart, but we of the North do not
+make love as you of the tropics. One of these days, Jack will meet the
+right woman."
+
+"I believe he met her years ago."
+
+"Meaning me, but you are mistaken."
+
+"How is it with _you_?"
+
+"I am still heart free. I won't deny that I have met one or two with
+whom I was pleased, but it was nothing more."
+
+"Because your love has gone elsewhere; it went long ago; you may think
+I am mistaken, my darling Warrenia, but you will soon find I am not."
+
+Then both laughed, kissed and talked of other things.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+General Fernando De Bambos, President and Dictator of Zalapata, had
+summoned one of the most momentous councils of war in the history of
+the Republic. Those present were our old friend, Major Jack Starland,
+who was a guest of the General, and Captain Alfredo Guzman, Chief of
+Staff. The other leaders sulked because they were not invited to the
+conference, but General Bambos dared not trust them with the important
+matters that were oppressing his ponderous brain and had troubled him
+for weeks.
+
+The meeting was held in the upper room of the east wing of the palace,
+safely removed from eavesdroppers, two armed guards on the outside of
+the door adding to the isolation of the council. General Bambos,
+though short of stature, weighed an eighth of a ton. His uniform
+gleamed with blue, scarlet and gold, and the crimson sash around his
+waist, with its gilt tassels almost touching the floor, was six
+inches nearer his head in front than at the rear. His crimson
+countenance was set off by a prodigious mustache, the waxed ends of
+which, when he grinned, tickled his temples. He was short-breathed,
+asthmatic and possessed a tempestuous temper. The big curved sword at
+his side flipped the ground when he strode to and fro, as was his
+custom while agitated, though during his calmer moods, the formidable
+weapon swung fairly clear of the floor.
+
+Captain Guzman, Aide and Chief of Staff, was swarthy, deliberate and
+cool, and of moderate stature. He had proved himself a good soldier in
+more than one fight with their neighbors in that breeding-nest of
+revolutions.
+
+At the present time, the _Warrenia_ was absent for a few days at San
+Luis, down the river, while Jack Starland was the honored guest of
+General Bambos, who was eager to secure his valuable military ability
+for the republic. He really knew nothing of the young American's
+experience in military matters, but he was not ignorant of the bravery
+of his people, and had learned how completely they crushed Spain in
+the late war. When he heard the youth addressed as "Major" he was
+immediately fired with the ambition to gain him as an ally, in the new
+revolution that was impending.
+
+"Comrades," said the General, as he heaved ponderously to his feet,
+addressing the two who sat at the table, listening expectantly to him,
+"you will agree with me that golden opportunities come to nations as
+well as to men. Such an opportunity has opened to the Republic of
+Zalapata."
+
+As he spoke, he leaned forward with his hands resting on the table,
+and the chubby fingers doubled in upon the palms. His huge mustache
+twitched, and his little black eyes shone upon the placid countenance
+of Captain Guzman, lolling in his chair at the farther end and
+languidly smoking a cigarette. The Captain calmly met the flickering
+glare and the General shifted it to Major Starland on his right, who
+was looking through the open window on the other side of the
+apartment, as if the blue sky, with its fleecy clouds, framed by the
+opening, was all that interested him. None the less, he was thinking
+hard and not a word escaped him.
+
+"I repeat that such an opportunity has now opened to the Republic of
+Zalapata."
+
+The thin husky voice climbed several notes of the register, and the
+right hand of the speaker thumped so hard on the table that it shook.
+The noise would have been considerable, had not the impact been dulled
+by the fleshy cushion that smothered the knuckles of the orator.
+
+Without stirring a muscle, Major Starland glanced sideways at the face
+of the General, who swung his head around like a turtle peeping from
+his shell and stared again at Captain Guzman. The latter snatched his
+cigarette from his lips and nodded quickly several times.
+
+General Bambos swung back to the upright poise, or rather went a
+little beyond it since his bulky protuberance in front gave him
+the appearance of leaning backward. The deepening crimson of his
+countenance showed the profundity of his anger.
+
+"How much longer shall we submit to the insults of that infamous
+tyrant, President Yozarro of the Republic of Atlamalco. Actuated by my
+fervent love of peace, my affection for my people, and my ardent
+desire for their happiness, I have acquiesced in wrong, vainly hoping
+that a sense of justice would restrain the oppressor from going too
+far. But he mistakes our calmness for fear, until every man of
+intelligence clearly perceives that unless resistance is made,--not
+simple resistance alone, but aggressive protest, the grand, glorious
+Republic of Zalapata will become a mere appanage of Atlamalco. I have
+remonstrated with General Yozarro, and in return he treats me with
+contumely and insult. My nature revolts, my blood is stirred--"
+
+To make more emphatic the ebullition of his circulation, General
+Bambos abruptly stopped speaking and snatched out his perfumed silk
+handkerchief from beneath the partly unbuttoned breast of his coat,
+and mopped his lumpy forehead. He had carefully conned his oration,
+but his surging emotion would not give him pause. The climax leaped
+from him. At the highest reach of his vibrant, staccato voice, he
+shouted:
+
+"The time has come to draw the sword!"
+
+Grasping the top of his scabbard with his left hand, and the handle
+of his sword with his right, he made a curving swing upward, while
+drawing the blade from its nestling place. There was always difficulty
+in doing this, since when the arm was extended to its limit, two or
+three inches of the point of the weapon remained in the sheath. The
+only way to overcome the hitch was to push downward and backward with
+the hand which inclosed the upper part of the scabbard. In his
+excitement, the General forgot this necessity, and, with the right arm
+extended to the highest elevation, the weapon was not free from the
+incumbrance at the other end. He tugged, swore under his breath and
+grew purple of countenance.
+
+[Illustration: "THE TIME HAS COME TO DRAW THE SWORD."]
+
+Major Starland, without the shadow of a smile, looked at the lower
+hand of the General and nodded meaningly. The other recovered his wits
+at the same moment, liberated the blade by the method indicated, and
+flourished it so far aloft that the keen point nipped the ceiling.
+
+"The time has come to draw the sword! Liberty, justice, equality and
+right is the war cry of the patriots of Zalapata!"
+
+Carefully adjusting his weapon so that it would not interfere, the
+General sagged down in his chair, and puffing from his exertion and
+excitement, looked into the faces of his friends to signify that he
+was now ready to listen to their sentiments. A brief silence followed,
+and then Major Starland said in an even voice:
+
+"I have learned of some of the insults received from General Yozarro,
+Dictator of the Republic to the west, but I am not clear as to the
+last outrage: may I be enlightened?"
+
+He looked invitingly at Captain Guzman, who silently puffed for a
+minute or so before speaking:
+
+"A month ago, the single boat which constitutes the navy of President
+Yozarro was engaged in target practice; one of the shots passed over
+the boundary and struck the dwelling of a citizen of Zalapata,
+smashing in a side-wall and scaring the family to that extent that
+they are still a-tremble. Complaint was made to President Yozarro, who
+treated the complainant with contempt. Then appeal was had to
+President Bambos, who despatched a messenger to Yozarro, demanding
+damages and an apology, and the salutation of our flag. What answer
+did the tyrant send? He kicked the messenger down the steps of his
+palace, bidding him to tell our revered President that if he or
+anyone else came to him on a similar errand, he would ram him down the
+throat of one of his cannon and fire at the palace of General Bambos."
+
+"But that threat is idle," gravely remarked Major Starland.
+
+"Why?" demanded President Bambos.
+
+"Neither he nor you have any ordnance big enough to allow a man to
+serve as a charge for it."
+
+"A quibble!" commented the Captain; "it does not lessen the deadly
+nature of the insult."
+
+"What is the amount of the claim?"
+
+General Bambos nodded to the Captain to answer.
+
+"Forty-two _pesos_."
+
+"Ah-um!" mused the American, who picked up a pencil from the table and
+made a few figures on a blotting pad; "the present value of a _peso_
+is twenty-eight cents. That would make the total damage eleven dollars
+and seventy-six cents in the currency of my country. Does President
+Yozarro refuse to pay this claim?"
+
+"He not only refuses to pay the just demand," thundered the President,
+"but accompanies his refusal with an unpardonable insult."
+
+"No one can deny that you have cause for indignation, but knowing how
+deeply you have the good of your people and country at heart, General,
+I would ask whether there is not some way of settling the dispute
+without going to war."
+
+"Explain yourself," said the President severely, for, having set his
+heart on having war, he did not mean to be bluffed out of it.
+
+"Why not refer the dispute to The Hague Tribunal of Arbitration?"
+
+"What good could come from that?"
+
+"Suppose it decided in your favor and ordered General Yozarro to pay
+the claim?"
+
+"That wouldn't wipe out the insult."
+
+"But, if he was ordered to apologize?"
+
+"He wouldn't do it."
+
+"How do you know he wouldn't?"
+
+"Don't I know the man better than The Hague Tribunal or anyone else
+knows him?"
+
+"If you have so clear a case against President Yozarro, the decision
+is sure to be in your favor."
+
+"You forget, Sir, that The Hague has insulted the Republic of
+Zalapata through its President."
+
+"I was not aware of that."
+
+"When the members assembled a short time ago, I sent a representative
+with a request that he be permitted to act as one of them. Do you know
+what reply was made? They said they had never heard of the Republic of
+Zalapata."
+
+"In other words, they told you to make a reputation first. Quite
+natural, under the circumstances. Nevertheless, I would beg to insist
+that the proper course is to refer this quarrel to The Hague Tribunal,
+unless the President of the United States can be induced to act as
+arbitrator. More than likely he will settle the wrangle by paying the
+claim out of his own pocket."
+
+"You mistake your man!" roared General Bambos; "you fail to see that
+that would relieve General Yozarro from punishment for his insults and
+outrages against Zalapata. It would encourage him to continue his
+infamous course, since our powerful neighbor on the north would
+relieve him from all penalty. Moreover, it would display a fatal
+timidity on the part of the United States regarding their pet
+idol,--the Monroe Doctrine. Such a subterfuge cannot be permitted."
+
+"I had thought of offering to pay the bill myself."
+
+With fine sarcasm, General Bambos said: "I am glad you are provided
+with a surfeit of funds. Perhaps you will be willing to float our last
+loan?"
+
+"That depends upon its size; if it isn't more than a few hundred
+dollars I am quite ready to give you a lift."
+
+"I must decline to permit any more quibbling."
+
+"Will you consent that I shall close the incident by paying this claim
+against President Yozarro of the Republic of Atlamalco?"
+
+"I do if you will agree to enforce the other conditions."
+
+"What are they?"
+
+"That he shall apologize, salute our flag and pledge himself never
+again to turn his gun in the direction of our boundary line."
+
+"You have added impossible terms, General, for you would bind him to
+make no resistance in the event of your going to war with him."
+
+"And don't you perceive on your part that there is nothing to
+arbitrate? This talk of arbitration is very fine for the one who is in
+the wrong. Suppose a set of employees refuse to work any longer unless
+their wages are doubled. The employer, knowing it means his ruin,
+refuses, and the strikers demand that the dispute shall be referred to
+arbitration. Is that just?--is it common sense?"
+
+"Not on the part of the employees. But your supposition is hardly
+supposable; the employers would incur no risk in agreeing to
+arbitration, since no committee on earth would fail to decide in their
+favor, after the whole truth was made clear to them. I have noticed
+that it is generally the one who is in the wrong who refuses to
+arbitrate. At the same time, I concede that there can be no such thing
+as forced arbitration. Every employer or capitalist has the right to
+run his own business to suit himself, just as any man, or set of men,
+have the right to quit work and to try to persuade their friends to
+quit with them; but, your pardon, General; we are wandering from the
+question."
+
+"A suggestion I was about to make. When you reflect that a respectful
+demand has been made upon President Yozarro for the payment of a just
+claim, and that he brutally refuses, what would you advise, most wise
+and honored Sir?"
+
+"I have offered to pay the claim myself."
+
+"Your offer is declined, since you cannot enforce all the conditions."
+
+"I have named arbitration."
+
+"And I have pointed out the impossible folly of such a thing."
+
+"Admitting that President Yozarro refuses to comply with the decision
+of The Hague Tribunal, you will not only be free to carry out your
+original intention, but you will be justified before the world."
+
+"No more than I shall be justified now, for many of the Atlamalcans
+themselves condemn the course of their President."
+
+"Why not make one more appeal to him?"
+
+"How shall I shape my message? Whom shall I send to bear it to him?"
+
+"I will be the messenger."
+
+"And be returned to me from the throat of a cannon?"
+
+"I will take my chances on that; if they have a gun capacious enough
+to expedite matters in that fashion, the journey certainly will not
+be a monotonous one. You forget one thing, General."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"My sister is the guest of President Yozarro; I am anxious to see her;
+this gives me the opportunity."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+Major Jack Starland decided to make his ambassadorial trip to the
+Atlamalcan Republic by water instead of land, and to take as his
+companion, Captain Guzman, though there would have seemed to be slight
+choice between the two routes.
+
+The Rio Rubio, flowing from the foot of the Andes, eastward to the
+Atlantic, forks a few miles to the westward of Atlamalco, the two
+branches reuniting twenty leagues to the eastward. The island thus
+formed is twenty miles across the widest part, and tapers to the east
+and west. As if nature aimed to provide for two distinct communities,
+a precipitous mountain spur, which sprawls several hundred miles north
+and south, ribs the territory almost mathematically in the centre, and
+tumbles onward, broken and disjointed, to the shores of the Caribbean
+Sea. The rumors that gold and diamonds are awaiting garnering in the
+wild solitudes have roused the earth hunger of more than one powerful
+nation, but the grim dragon that crouches in the pulsing jungles, on
+whose forehead flames the legend, "MONROE DOCTRINE," sends them
+scudding back across the seas.
+
+The western half of the island forms the Republic of Atlamalco, whose
+President and Dictator is General Pedro Yozarro; the eastern half
+constitutes Zalapata, with General Fernando de Bambos at its head. The
+name "republic," as applied to the peppery provinces has as much
+appropriateness as if given to Russia or China. The respective
+population of the two republics is about the same, and but for the
+whimsical, intense jealousy that is the most marked peculiarity of
+South American countries, the two might grow rich, prosperous and of
+considerable strength, for no region on the globe is more favored in
+the way of climatic and natural resources.
+
+Major Starland understood the delicate tensity of the relations
+between Zalapata and Atlamalco. They had been at war before, with the
+advantage at times on one side and then on the other, the final result
+being no decisive change in their mutual strength or in their
+combative propensities. The addition of a "gunboat" to the power of
+Atlamalco naturally made her more aggressive and demonstrative.
+President Bambos dreamed of acquiring two similar engines of war, when
+he would proceed to wipe his hated rival off the earth; but the loan
+which he tried to float remained inert and the northern barbarians,
+whose shipyards send forth most of the navies of the world, insisted
+upon cash or security as preliminary to laying the keels of the
+Zalapatan fleet. The project therefore hung fire. Though the craft
+that roamed up and down the bifurcated river was referred to as a
+gunboat, it was simply an American tug, some seventy-five feet in
+length, of the same tonnage and with a single six-pounder mounted fore
+and another aft. From New York it had sneaked southward, so far as
+possible, through the inland passage to the Gulf of Mexico and then
+puffed across the Caribbean and so on to the Rio Rubio and thence to
+its destination.
+
+As intimated, Major Starland had the choice of two routes to the
+western Republic: one by mule path or trail through the Rubio
+Mountains, and the other by boat, fifty miles up the Rio Rubio: he
+chose the latter.
+
+On the morning following the council of war, he and his swarthy
+friend, Captain Guzman, hoisted sail on their little catboat, at the
+wharf of the capital, and catching the favoring breeze, curved out
+into the stream, which was half a mile wide, and began their voyage
+against a moderate current. Old campaigners like them needed little
+luggage. The native officer took none at all, while the Major's was in
+a small hand bag, which he had brought from his yacht, twenty miles
+away at San Luis.
+
+The American seated himself at the stern, where he controlled the
+tiller, while the native lounged on the front seat smoking his eternal
+cigarette. Behind them the pretty little capital, with its five
+thousand inhabitants, distributed mostly in adobe huts, shabby and of
+small dimensions, gradually sank out of sight, and finally vanished
+behind a bend in the river. To the right, stretched the immense
+undulating plain of exuberant forest, with its tropical luxuriance,
+its smothering climate and its overwhelming animal life. The banks on
+either hand were flat, and so low that a continuous east wind often
+brought an overflow of the shores for leagues inland. Here and there
+the bamboo or adobe hut of a native peeped from the rank foliage, and
+the naked or half-dressed occupants stared stupidly at the craft as it
+skimmed past. The head of the family lolled on the bank, or in the
+shade beside his home and smoked; the stolid wife slouched hither and
+thither like an automaton, plodding at her work or perhaps scratching
+the ground, that it might laugh a harvest, though oftener her work lay
+in fighting off the prodigious growth which threatened to strangle
+everybody and everything. She took her turn at smoking, while the
+youngsters, most of them without a thread of clothing, frolicked and
+tumbled in the simple delight of existence. But all these were such
+common sights to the voyageurs that they gave them no more than
+passing attention.
+
+Captain Guzman was not a talkative man. He preferred to lounge, to
+smoke, to fight, or to think. Major Starland had plenty of thinking to
+do and little work. Having guided the craft out into the middle of the
+stream, he rested the tiller between his elbow and side and held the
+boat to its course, while he also lazily puffed at his cigar. He
+glanced from side to side, like one who was familiar with the scenery
+and he figured out that if the breeze held, they would reach Atlamalco
+early on the morrow, for he did not mean to continue the voyage after
+darkness had set in.
+
+No one, however, can sail for a mile over the tropical waters of South
+America without a striking experience with its myriad animal life. The
+swarms of fish often clog the progress of vessels. Numerous tiny
+thumps against the prow of the boat told of the miniature collisions,
+and, looking over the side, the American saw more fish than water.
+They varied in length from a few inches to a couple of feet or more.
+Recognizing one vicious species, he caught up a pole and thrust an end
+into the current. Instantly fierce snaps followed, and when he drew
+out the dripping stick, its extremity was gouged as if with dagger
+stabs.
+
+"What little demons those caribs are!" he said, holding up the pole
+for the Captain to see. The native nodded his head and silently smoked
+on. Had either of them trailed his hand in the current alongside the
+boat, a finger would have been nipped off in a flash by those
+concentrated sharks.
+
+There was a rush like that of the Atlamalcan tugboat and an immense
+alligator surged up from the muddy depths, and kept pace with the
+craft, as though tied to it. His piggish eyes surveyed the two men as
+if meditating the crushing of the boat and its occupants in one
+terrific crunch, like the hippopotamus of the Nile. He partly opened
+and smacked his jaws, in anticipation, and slightly increasing his
+speed, passed forward to the prow.
+
+Finally Captain Guzman showed an interest in matters. Sitting up, he
+drew his revolver from the belt around his waist, aimed quickly and
+fired. The bullet darted into the nearer eye and ripped through what
+little brain the saurian possessed. With a snort, it whirled, darted
+several rods out into the stream, and then spun round and round, as if
+caught in the vortex of a whirlpool. Slight in one sense as was the
+wound, it was mortal and quickly drew the attention of other
+alligators, who seemed to be projected upward from the ooze of the
+river, and assailed their unfortunate comrade with remorseless
+ferocity. In a twinkling he was torn piecemeal by the cannibals,
+whose taste of blood set aflame their rapacity. Had they known enough
+they might have smashed the boat with their tails or rolled it over
+with their snouts; but, unaware of their own strength, they kept up
+their wild darting to and fro and were soon left behind.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+The Captain resumed his lolling posture, placed another cartridge in
+his revolver and lit a fresh cigarette. By and by his eyes closed and
+Major Starland saw that he slept. The American arose to his feet,
+yawned and stretched his arms over his head, holding the tiller in
+place between his knees.
+
+"Unless I am alert I shall fall asleep too, and then the mischief will
+be to pay. It isn't prudent to disturb these creatures, but to hold a
+position of armed neutrality. If the fools don't know their power, it
+isn't wise to set them investigating."
+
+To the right on the mainland, the low flat plain extended to the limit
+of vision. The tall, reedy grass came down to the edge of the water,
+and the nodding plumes showed for some distance out in the stream.
+Several miles in advance, on the same shore, the dark green mass of a
+forest buffeted against the soft sky, the species of trees being
+innumerable and so closely wedged in many places, that not even the
+attenuated Captain Guzman could have forced his way through except by
+scrambling from limb to limb.
+
+The southern bank was similar, but far to the westward, the rugged
+outline of the Rubio Mountains rose in the sky and wore the soft blue
+tint of the sea of clear atmosphere. Beyond the mountains, snuggled
+the Republic of Atlamalco which was the destination of the American.
+
+On the northern bank, two-score wild cattle that had been browsing on
+the succulent grass, loafed down to the river and waded out till the
+current bathed their sides. They sought the water for its coolness at
+this oppressive period of the day and to escape the billions of insect
+pests that at times make life a torment. Their tails, whose bushy tips
+flirted the water in showers over their heads and backs, were never
+idle. Some of them kept edging outward until no more than their
+spines, horns, ears, and the upper part of their heads remained in
+sight.
+
+The leader of the herd was a magnificent black bull, who stood on the
+bank and bellowed at the boat sailing past, as if challenging it to a
+fight to the finish. He was afraid of nothing on earth and revelled in
+a battle which would allow him to display his tremendous prowess,
+power and wrath.
+
+Seeing that the boat paid no heed to his thunderous challenge, the
+bull galloped sideways and backward to shore, and trotted along its
+bank, looking at the craft, thrusting out his snout and calling for it
+to come ashore and have it out with him. Major Starland picked up his
+Krag-Jorgensen from where it leaned beside his feet and sighted at the
+bull, into whose bellowing there seemed to intrude a regretful note
+over the ignoring of his challenge.
+
+"It's a pretty good distance, but I can drop you so quickly you would
+never know what did it, and, being that you wouldn't know, where's the
+satisfaction to either of us? I'll be hanged if I uncrown such a noble
+monarch in that pot fashion!"
+
+The weapon was laid down and the Major resumed his seat and care of
+the tiller. At this time the bull was standing on a slight rise of
+ground, just clear of the water with Major Starland contemplating the
+superb fellow. Something dark and sinuous suddenly darted out like a
+black streak of lightning from the mud just in front of the animal and
+the cry of the bull changed to one of frenzy. He was scared at last.
+
+Still bellowing, he planted his four hoofs rigidly in the mud, and
+leaned so far backward that his legs were inclined at a sharp angle.
+His feet sank slowly and he yielded a short, reluctant step. Then he
+paused and putting forth his great strength gradually moved the hoofs,
+one after the other, backward. He strove mightily to continue his
+retreat, but the uplifted fore foot was instantly jammed down again,
+and the utmost he could do was to hold his own.
+
+The black thing which had flashed out from the mud a few paces away
+was the head of a gigantic anaconda that had hidden itself in the
+slime and was waiting for cow or bull to come within reach. The
+instant the king of the herd did so, the head shot from its
+concealment and the teeth were snapped together in the cartilage of
+the animal's nose. Then the serpent began drawing its victim forward
+with terrific power. The bull knew his peril and resisted to the last
+ounce of his strength.
+
+But the reptile was a fool. Had it voluntarily freed itself, or
+allowed the bull to get clear of the enveloping mushy earth, it could
+have whirled its entire length around the quadruped and mashed it to
+pulp. But the Atlamalcan tugboat, if tied by a hawser to the reptile
+could not have drawn it forth, for it will allow itself to be pulled
+asunder before yielding. Nor can any conceivable power induce the
+serpent to let go, its unshakable resolve being to draw its prey
+within its folds, instead of meeting its victim.
+
+It was a veritable tug of war, and the sympathies of Major Starland
+were wholly on the side of the bull. Slipping a bit of rope over the
+tiller to hold it in place, he knelt on one knee and sighted with the
+utmost care. The six or eight feet of the reptile which was clear of
+the mud had been stretched to nearly double its natural length by the
+furious pulling of the bull, and was as tense as a violin string and
+so attenuated as to be hardly one-half its ordinary diameter. The
+American aimed at a point just back of the head and the bullet sped
+true. Perhaps, as is sometimes the case, the serpent's body would have
+yielded in the end, but the missile expedited matters. It snapped
+apart, the bull with another bellow whirled about and galloped up the
+bank and away, with the appendage dangling and flapping from his nose,
+there to hang until it sloughed off.
+
+The report of the rifle awakened Captain Guzman, who sat up, but did
+not understand all that had taken place until it was explained to him.
+Then the two partook of the lunch they had brought with them. When the
+brief twilight closed over forest and stream, they had passed
+three-fourths of the distance between the respective capitals of the
+republics. Night had fully come, however, before the boat was sheered
+toward the mainland, and drawing it up the bank beyond the reach of
+the current, the two stepped out and walked a short way to a hut that
+had caught their notice some time before.
+
+Here, strange to say, the native man and wife had only two children,
+both boys, six or eight years of age, naked and not ashamed. Captain
+Guzman, who spoke Spanish as well as the American, explained that they
+desired food and lodging for the night. The husband told them they
+were welcome, while the slatternly helpmate said nothing, but did her
+part with commendable diligence. No fire was burning, nor was one
+started, though the cinders on the outside showed that food was
+sometimes cooked after the manner of civilized peoples. No table,
+chairs or furniture were seen, while the floor was of smooth, hard
+earth. A large, earthen bowl was nearly filled with a mixture of
+tomatoes, onions, olives and several kinds of fruit chopped together.
+This was set outside on the ground, between the two guests, who ate
+and were filled.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+Through the hot pulsing of the tropical midnight, with its myriad
+throbbings of animal life, came the sound of husky coughing, steadily
+growing more distinct, until the two men seated on the outside of the
+native hut, on a fallen tree, smoking and listening, identified it as
+the voice of the Atlamalcan tugboat, named for its owner, _General
+Yozarro_. In the vivid moonlight, a dim mass assumed form up the
+river, the sparks tumbling from its small smokestack helping to locate
+the craft, which constituted the navy of the little Tabascan republic.
+The puffing grew louder, the throbbing of the screw, and the rush of
+the foamy water from the bow struck the ear more clearly, and the
+outlines of the craft were marked as it rushed past, near the middle
+of the river, with the starred, triangular flag of Atlamalco wiggling
+from the staff which upreared itself like a needle from the stern.
+
+In the flood of illumination every part of the vessel was plainly
+seen: the wheelhouse and even the outlines of the captain at the
+wheel, the upper deck, the gleam of the one cannon at the front near
+the pile of wood, and the other at the rear, as well as the forms of
+several men in sombreros lounging here and there, as if playing the
+part of sentinels, though there was no earthly call for any service of
+that nature.
+
+So distinct was everything, that Major Starland saw the Captain reach
+upward, grasp a cord and pull down. The hoarse throb of the steam
+whistle awoke the echoes along shore and as it rolled through the
+forests and jungles caused hundreds of denizens of the solitude to
+wonder what sort of new beast was coming among them.
+
+Gradually the boat grew hazy and indistinct, but the throbbing of the
+engine and the soft wash of the current lingered long after the craft
+itself had faded from view.
+
+"It may be that President Yozarro is afraid President Bambos will
+forget he has a navy," suggested the American.
+
+"He does not mean to attack him, I am sure."
+
+"He has no cause for doing so, which is generally the reason why these
+wasps sting their neighbors. If they waited for a just cause there
+would be eternal peace. Ah, my yacht is not due for several days! I
+would it were here."
+
+"What would you do, Major?"
+
+"Declare on the side of General Bambos; I shouldn't ask better sport
+than to blow that crab out of the water."
+
+"Is General Bambos a better friend of yours, Major, than General
+Yozarro?"
+
+"I count neither as a friend, but Yozarro has my sister as his guest,
+though she has overstayed her time. I may be wrong, but I am not
+convinced that she is a willing visitor."
+
+"He holds also the gunboat that we saw pass but a short time ago."
+
+"And I have a yacht with a single gun; with that my crew would make as
+short work of the _General Yozarro_ as we did with the Spanish fleets
+at Manila and Santiago."
+
+Captain Guzman shrugged his shoulders and smoked in silence.
+
+"My boat will be here in two or three days. Then I shall ask no help
+from Bambos or any one else in this part of the world."
+
+"Why not wait, Major? Who knows that if your sister is restored to you
+through the help of General Bambos, you may not have to ask General
+Yozarro to help you make _him_ give her up?"
+
+It was a contingency of which Major Starland had not thought. Prudence
+told him to be patient till the coming of the _Warrenia_, with her
+crew of a dozen men, beside the captain. Three of the crew had fought
+against Spain and would welcome a scrap with the Atlamalcan navy.
+
+But the American was restless. He carried a pretext for calling upon
+General Yozarro, and his anxiety would not allow him to remain
+quiescent. That night as he slept in the hammock which he had brought
+from his boat and swung in front of the native hut, he heard as in a
+dream, the puffing of the tug on its return to Atlamalco. He did not
+rouse himself to look at her, as she glided past in the moonlight, but
+it was a great relief to know that she had gone back. President
+Yozarro was so proud of his navy that most of the voyages up and down
+the Rio Rubio were taken for his personal pleasure. He would be at
+home, therefore, on the morrow when his American visitor presented
+himself.
+
+And such was the case. The forenoon was no more than half gone, when
+the small sailing craft rounded to at the wharf in front of the native
+town, and Major Starland leaped ashore. It was agreed that Captain
+Guzman should await his return to the pier. The alert American noted
+everything. The tug seemed to be crouching beside the wharf, a hundred
+feet distant, like a bull dog waiting for some one to venture nigh
+enough for him to leap forward and bury his fangs in his throat. But
+no steam was up, and the war craft, like everything else, was adrowse
+and sleeping.
+
+The city of Atlamalco sprawled over half a square mile, the most
+ancient dwellings being made of adobe, squat of form and with only a
+single story. The more pretentious were of a species of bamboo, of
+large proportions, and, although divided into a number of apartments,
+they too consisted of but a single story, like most houses in an
+earthquake country. They were of flimsy make, for the climate was
+generally oppressive, and the narrow streets were fitted only for the
+passage of footmen and animals with their burdens. The swarthy, untidy
+inhabitants are among the laziest on earth, for, where nature is so
+lavish, the necessity for laborious toil is wanting. The avenues
+leading to the wharf slope gently upward, winding in and out, and
+mingling in seemingly inextricable confusion.
+
+Pen cannot describe the vegetable exuberance of this portion of South
+America. Sugar, coffee, cocoa, rice, tobacco, maize, wheat, ginger,
+mandioc, yams, sarsaparilla, and tropical fruits beyond enumeration
+smother one another in the fierce fight for life. The chief dependence
+of the people is upon mandioc, manioc, or cassava, which the natives
+accept as a direct gift from the prophet Sunè. This, however, is not
+the place to dwell upon the endless variety of trees and the fauna and
+flora of that extraordinary country.
+
+Major Starland left his rifle in charge of Captain Guzman, and, with
+his revolver at command, strolled up the main street. The hottest part
+of the day being near, few of the people were astir or visible. Most
+of them were asleep within doors, their siesta beginning before the
+mid-day meal and lasting long afterward.
+
+A single pony came stumbling forward at the first turn of the street,
+so heaped over with bundles that little more than his head, ears and
+front legs below the knees were in sight. His driver, swarthy,
+long-haired, and in sombrero, slouched at the side of the animal,
+whacking his haunches now and then, swearing at him in mongrel
+Spanish, to both of which the brute paid no more heed than to the tiny
+flies that nipped in vain at his armor-like hide.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+A few paces after the second turn brought the American to the palace
+of President Yozarro,--a long, low, bamboo structure, standing on
+slightly rising ground, where it could catch what little air sometimes
+caressed the town at this time of day. The largest apartment at the
+rear was the cabinet or council room of the Dictator and President,
+since the open windows on that side were sure to receive the cool
+breath of the mountains when it stole through the open windows.
+
+The American officer was fortunate in the time of his call. In the
+long hall he met two men in uniform, well advanced in years and
+stooping in an unmilitary way, whom he recognized as the leading
+officers and counsellors of President Yozarro. It was manifest that
+they had been holding a conference. The Major saluted them as he
+passed down the hall to where a guard stood outside the door, musket
+in hand.
+
+"Will you say to his Excellency that Major Starland desires to speak
+with him?" asked our friend in excellent Spanish. The Major did not
+send in his card, for, truth to tell, he had none printed in the
+language of the country, and he knew the other possessed no knowledge
+of English.
+
+The guard tapped on the door and disappeared for a minute. When he
+came back, he held the door open and nodded to the visitor. Major
+Starland, hat in hand, passed within with brisk, military step,
+saluted and awaited the pleasure of the President of the Atlamalcan
+Republic.
+
+The latter was seated behind a large desk at the farther side of the
+room, smoking a cigarette and facing the visitor. He was of short
+stature and lacked the protuberant rotundity of President Bambos. Like
+him his mustache was of glossy blackness and was waxed to needle-like
+points, but the hair of General Yozarro was cropped and there was a
+white sprinkling about the temples and behind the ears. This, with the
+crows' feet and wrinkles, showed that he was fully ten years the
+senior of his brother President. He was in European dress, his coat,
+waistcoat and trousers being of spotless white duck, his linen
+irreproachable, his feet inclosed in patent leathers, and a diamond of
+eight or ten carats scintillated in his snowy shirt front. He had been
+heard to boast that this remarkable gem had been taken from the
+mountains of his own province.
+
+The moment his glittering black eyes rested upon the trim figure of
+the American he rose and gracefully waved him to a seat on his right.
+Thanking him for his courtesy, Major Starland walked briskly thither,
+sat down, crossed his legs, cleared his throat and expressed his
+pleasure at seeing his distinguished friend looking so well. President
+Yozarro returned the compliment in the flowery language of his
+country, and asked the caller to do him the great honor of telling him
+in what way he could serve him. He assured him that it would be the
+joy of his heart, if his humble aid would be accepted by one whom he
+held in such warm friendship and lofty esteem.
+
+While thus overwhelming his caller, President Yozarro snatched up his
+cigarette box from his desk and held it out to the American, who
+accepted the courtesy with thanks, lighted the wisp of fragrant
+tobacco to which, as we know, he was unaccustomed, and sat back at
+ease.
+
+"Your Excellency, I come from President Bambos."
+
+"I am delighted to welcome you, and how is my esteemed brother?"
+
+"Never better; when he told me of a slight misunderstanding, I
+volunteered to lay the matter before you, knowing how willing you
+would be to listen patiently, and aware too of your deep sense of
+justice."
+
+"You do me honor, my good friend," replied President Yozarro, bowing
+and smiling so broadly that his white teeth gleamed through his
+mustache. "I am eager as always to right any wrong and to correct any
+misunderstanding."
+
+"Three days ago when your excellent gunboat was at target practice, on
+the Rio Rubio, one of the shots injured the dwelling of a citizen of
+Zalapata."
+
+"It grieves me to learn that," replied the President, as if the
+episode was wholly new to him; "I am impatient to do what I can to
+repair the carelessness of my gunner: will it please you to have him
+shot, as a warning to others to be more careful?"
+
+"By no means; the payment of the slight sum--only forty-two
+_pesos_--with an expression of regret, will more than satisfy
+President Bambos."
+
+"I shall hasten to comply with so moderate and just a demand: will you
+be good enough to convey this statement to my esteemed brother?"
+
+Considering the moderate sum involved, it would seem that President
+Yozarro might well have closed the incident by passing over the amount
+to the ambassador, but, since he made no offer to do so, the
+ambassador could not in common courtesy remind him of it. The
+Atlamalcan Republic had its own methods and red tape ruled there as
+elsewhere.
+
+"I am sure that President Bambos could ask nothing more, and I shall
+take pleasure in repeating your gracious words to him."
+
+President Yozarro bowed, smiled, muttered "_Gracias_," and lit another
+cigarette.
+
+"I beg your Excellency that I may have the privilege of a few words
+with my sister, Miss Starland, who came ashore from my yacht last week
+to visit her friend Señorita Estacardo, and whom it has not been my
+pleasure to see since then."
+
+"My good friend makes another request which it shall be my delight to
+grant," replied President Yozarro, with his bland smile, as he crossed
+his shapely legs, leaned back and blew the puffs of his cigarette
+toward the ceiling.
+
+Major Starland felt that he was getting on swimmingly. He had already
+decided to hand over to President Bambos the amount of the damages for
+the injury to the property of one of his citizens, quite content to
+place it to his personal account of profit and loss. Uneasy over the
+prolonged absence of Miss Starland, he would quickly arrange matters
+with her during the impending interview.
+
+"I have a pleasant surprise for you," said the President, after his
+caller had expressed his acknowledgments; "the Señorita made known so
+warm a wish to see her brother that I hastened to take her, as she and
+I supposed, to him."
+
+"I do not understand your Excellency."
+
+"She is now at Zalapata, whither she went in our gunboat."
+
+"When?"
+
+"Last night; we must have met on the way, for you could scarcely have
+made the voyage between the capitals since sunrise."
+
+This remark explained that night trip of the _General Yozarro_, whose
+going the Major had seen and whose returning he had heard.
+
+"Yes," added his host; "she had but to make known her wish, when she
+and her friend Señorita Manuela, my niece, became my guests on my
+gunboat, and were landed at Zalapata last evening, where she will be
+disappointed to find you absent, though your meeting will be deferred
+but a short time."
+
+With many acknowledgments, Major Starland bade President Yozarro good
+bye, passed out into the hall and hurried down the street to the
+wharf, where Captain Guzman was placidly awaiting him. The same
+drowsiness that he had noted on his arrival, brooded over everything,
+and no time was lost in casting off and heading down the river.
+
+But during the absence of the American, the Captain had had a visitor,
+who did not step ashore, but helped in getting the boat under way, and
+showed by his action, that he meant to remain with them, if they did
+not object thereto.
+
+"Who is he?" asked Starland, at the first opportunity to speak
+privately to his friend.
+
+"Martella, a deserter from President Yozarro."
+
+"That won't do, Captain; I cannot permit him to go with us."
+
+"Not so, Major; he is more valuable than you think; he will tell you
+something you ought to know."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+The little craft was fairly under way, and with favoring wind and
+current, ought to reach Zalapata in the course of ten or twelve hours.
+Martella, the new recruit, so to speak, seeing there was nothing just
+then for him to do, sat down at the bow of the boat and smoked his
+cigarette, while Captain Guzman kept company with Major Starland at
+the stern.
+
+"Two years ago, when there was war between Atlamalco and Zalapata,"
+explained the native officer, "we captured a party of raiders in the
+mountains and shot them all excepting one. He was Martella, who, being
+wounded, was saved at my prayer. Since then we have been friends."
+
+"He ought to be your life friend if there is any such thing as
+gratitude in his nature."
+
+"I have been to see him and he comes to see me. Martella is one who
+speaks the truth."
+
+"I was not aware that--barring yourself--there was any man in this
+part of the world who had that virtue."
+
+"What did President Yozarro tell you?" asked the Captain so bluntly
+that the American resented it.
+
+"You have no warrant for asking that question."
+
+"Pardon me, Major; I do not ask to know what he said about the claim
+of President Bambos, for I already know that."
+
+"You do! Well, what was it?"
+
+"He said he would pay the amount of the claim and asked you to tell
+President Bambos he is very sorry."
+
+"You are right; that is what he said."
+
+"But he did not pay you the money; and, begging pardon again, Major,
+you intended to pay it yourself to President Bambos, as if it came
+from General Yozarro."
+
+"You would be called a mind reader, Captain, in my country, for you
+are right in everything you say. It will spoil his game, however, if
+General Bambos is as keen as you."
+
+"If he is, he will not let you discover it; he is determined to go to
+war against General Yozarro, and no matter what you do, you cannot
+prevent it, unless----"
+
+"Unless what?"
+
+"You take away the cause of his making war."
+
+"The cause! You speak in riddles."
+
+Instead of directly replying, the Captain asked the startling
+question:
+
+"You inquired of General Yozarro about the Señorita, your sister: what
+answer did he make to you?"
+
+"You have not forgotten the tugboat we saw pass down the river last
+night; I heard it returning to Atlamalco."
+
+"So also did I."
+
+"On its first voyage, it carried my sister as one of the passengers,
+she not knowing I had left Zalapata, and she is there awaiting my
+coming."
+
+Captain Guzman, sitting at the elbow of the American, gazed off toward
+the wooded plain as if in reverie. His words did not seem to be
+addressed to any one, but were as if he communed with himself:
+
+"Five hours after the gunboat went up the river, it passed where we
+were resting on its way back to Atlamalco. The distance from where we
+were to Zalapata is eighty miles and to make the trip the boat would
+need eight or ten hours."
+
+"What the mischief are you driving at? General Yozarro told me he took
+the lady thither."
+
+Captain Guzman withdrew his gaze from the shore, and looking calmly in
+the face of Major Starland, said:
+
+"General Yozarro lied."
+
+"How can you know that?"
+
+"Do you not see that the gunboat could not do what he said it did? But
+Martella here was on the boat and knows all."
+
+"Call him, that I may question him."
+
+"No need of that; I have questioned him; I know that your real
+business with General Yozarro was to meet the Señorita, your sister,
+and I know all that Martella knows."
+
+"And what is that?"
+
+"Señoritas Starland and Estacardo were passengers on the boat, but ten
+miles down the river they went ashore, and, under the escort of two
+soldiers, set out for the summer home of General Yozarro."
+
+"Where is that?"
+
+"A mile from the river among the mountains; the air there is cooler
+than at Atlamalco, and General Yozarro spends much of the hot season
+at _Castillo Descanso_, or 'Castle of Rest.' Señorita Estacardo is his
+niece; he is a widower; he loves your sister and he hopes by his
+kindness and attention to win her for his wife, and to do this, he
+sees he must keep you and her apart as long as he can."
+
+"The infernal scoundrel! She shall die before wedding him!"
+
+"He knows how you feel: that is why he strives to keep you apart."
+
+"He'll have a good time in doing it! Do you know the path that leads
+to the summer quarters of this precious dog?"
+
+"Well enough to guide you thither, but Martella knows it better than
+I."
+
+"Can he be hired to guide us thither?"
+
+"No, for he will do so without pay."
+
+"I shall join General Bambos in his war against Yozarro, and we'll
+make him pay dear for his deviltry."
+
+"Do you prefer the friendship of General Bambos to that of General
+Yozarro?"
+
+"I don't care a picayune for either, but I will use one against the
+other."
+
+"You forget that there is no choice between the good will of the two.
+When you came up the forked river you first called at Zalapata."
+
+"What of it?"
+
+"General Bambos was a guest on your yacht."
+
+"Yes."
+
+"He met Señorita Starland; he has a wife and several children, but he
+loves the Señorita as much as does General Yozarro."
+
+"What a couple of wretches! Do you tell me that _that_ is why he means
+to go to war with General Yozarro?"
+
+"That is his reason; I could not tell you before; his claim for
+damages is a pretext; he hopes to defeat General Yozarro and to compel
+him to give up the Señorita. Neither he nor General Yozarro cares for
+you, whom they regard as an obstacle; they will be glad to put you out
+of the way."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+All this seemed incredible and yet a little reflection convinced Major
+Starland that the sagacious native was right. The American had two
+treacherous enemies to meet in the Dictators who professed to be his
+friends.
+
+"I will go back to Atlamalco; I will call the dog to account; what
+will he dare say for himself?"
+
+"I am sure," observed the soft-voiced Captain, "that Major Starland
+will not be so unwise as that."
+
+"Why will it be unwise?"
+
+"General Yozarro will not see you when you return."
+
+"He dare not refuse! I will bring up my yacht and lay his confounded
+town under tribute."
+
+"He has a gunboat."
+
+"All you folks refer to that tub as a gunboat, when it is only an old
+tug, which he has painted over and fitted up with a couple of
+six-pounders. It is not worth taking into consideration: I will force
+myself into his presence and compel him to undo what he has done and
+to beg my pardon on his knees."
+
+The Captain indulged in his expressive shrug and smoked in silence. He
+was giving the American a few minutes in which to regain his poise.
+The American did so.
+
+"Why did Martella leave his service?" he abruptly asked.
+
+"General Yozarro caused his brother to be shot, because he ran the
+gunboat aground the other day. It was upon a mound formed under water
+one night by the forked river, which no one could see. The boat was
+not injured, but he shot Martella's brother, who was the pilot.
+Martella, therefore, hates him."
+
+"No more than I do. Had I known what you have told me when talking
+with him this forenoon, I should have put a bullet through his
+carcass."
+
+"There are better ways than that; let us go to the home of General
+Yozarro in the mountains and bring away the Señorita; Martella will go
+with us."
+
+"He will be shot as a deserter if taken prisoner."
+
+"He won't be taken prisoner; perhaps, too, he may gain the chance to
+slay General Yozarro; it will delight his heart if he can do so."
+
+"No more than it will delight mine; talk with him, Captain; if he will
+help me through with this business, he will never regret it."
+
+Captain Guzman made his way past the sail to the bow where the native
+was sitting, gazing thoughtfully back over the stream they were
+leaving behind them. He turned his head as his friend approached, and
+the two talked in low tones, both seemingly calm, though each was
+stirred by strong emotion. Then the Captain came back to the American,
+who, with his hand on the tiller, was holding the boat to her course.
+He ran in quite close to the southern shore and was studying the Rubio
+Mountains, whose craggy crests were visible in the sky throughout the
+whole voyage between the capitals of the republics. He was consumed
+with resentment that anyone had dared to hold the daughter of an
+American citizen a guest without her consent,--in other words a
+prisoner, as if she were a criminal. Manifestly there was a
+"sovereign remedy" for all this. The great United States Government
+would not permit the outrage, and any wrong done to one of its people
+would cost the miserable offender dear.
+
+But the leading Republic of the world lay many leagues to the
+northward. It would take weeks to bring a naval vessel thence, and
+certainly a number of days before one could come from the nearest
+port. Meanwhile, the hours were of measureless value. The Major ground
+his teeth when he thought he had allowed his yacht to pass down the
+river to San Luis, with the understanding that she need not return for
+several days. There was no way, however, of getting word to Captain
+Winton, who could not suspect the urgent necessity for his presence in
+this part of the land of abominations.
+
+"Martella will be glad to go with us; he says we should go ashore just
+this side of the point of land ahead."
+
+"He doesn't seem to have any weapons with him," remarked the Major,
+scrutinizing the fellow, who was looking at him with a curiously
+intent expression.
+
+"He could not bring his musket, but he has a knife under his coat,
+and none knows better how to use it."
+
+"Bring him here."
+
+Guzman motioned to his friend, who rose to his feet, touching a
+forefinger to the front of his sombrero, and skilfully picked his
+course along the careening boat.
+
+"Take the tiller for a few minutes, Captain."
+
+The moment Martella came within reach, the American extended his hand
+and addressed him in his native tongue:
+
+"The Captain says you are ready to show us the way to _Castillo
+Descanso_, where Señoritas Estacardo and Starland are staying."
+
+Martella nodded his head several times and said eagerly, "_Si, si,
+si._"
+
+"Are you certain they are there?"
+
+"I am not, but I think so."
+
+"The deuce! Captain, I thought you said he was certain."
+
+"So he is,--as certain as one can be; he saw them go ashore last night
+and start inland under the escort of two soldiers, and heard them say
+they were going to _Castillo Descanso_; isn't that true, Martella?"
+
+"It is true, but perhaps they did not arrive there."
+
+"Oh, hang it!--that is as near right as one can be. Show the Captain
+where to direct the boat and we'll soon set things humming."
+
+Martella pointed out the spot, and Guzman, who was an expert
+navigator, turned the prow inward, while the Major lowered the sail,
+and they rounded to at a place where all were able to leap ashore dry
+shod. The craft was carefully made fast, and leaving what slight
+luggage they had behind, they were ready to press inland without loss
+of time. The leader carried his rifle and belt full of cartridges and
+his revolver; the Captain his revolver, while the private was armed
+only with a long frightful knife, which he kept, so far as possible,
+out of sight under his jacket.
+
+Standing beside one another for a minute or two, the American asked
+his guide:
+
+"Did General Yozarro start for this point when he left Atlamalco in
+his tug?"
+
+"I heard him say he intended to take the Señorita to Zalapata to meet
+her brother, and Señorita Estacardo went along to bear her company."
+
+"That's what the villain told _me_; did he pass beyond this point?"
+
+"He did so for several miles."
+
+"What cause did he give for turning back?"
+
+"He said war was about to break out between the republics; I heard
+that much, but I was one of the firemen and could not hear all; he
+said afterward that he discovered something ahead which caused him to
+turn back in haste."
+
+"What was it?"
+
+"Nothing, for there was nothing to see."
+
+"He planned it from the first to deceive the Señoritas."
+
+"You speak the truth, but why should he take the pains to do that,
+when he might have gone overland and made the halt in the mountains?"
+
+It was Captain Guzman who answered:
+
+"Such a journey would have been long and hard for the Señoritas; the
+voyage is far more pleasant."
+
+"Why did he start at night?"
+
+"It was easier for him to see the danger which was not there, or for
+him to make the Señoritas believe he saw it."
+
+"General Yozarro is devilish sly; let us go."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+Since every one in tropical America called Warrenia Rowland by the
+surname of Major Jack Starland and the two were accepted as brother
+and sister we will do the same for the present, and thus avoid
+possible confusion.
+
+These two had been on the Forked River but a short time, when they
+awoke to a most unpleasant fact, in addition to that which has already
+been mentioned. While the climate was wholesome enough to those
+accustomed to it, it was highly dangerous to visitors. The air was
+damp, oppressive and miasmatic, probably because of the rank
+vegetation that grew everywhere. Still further, the insect pests were
+intolerable at times. Several cases of illness among the crew of the
+yacht, though fortunately none was fatal, alarmed Aunt Cynthia and
+caused some uneasiness on the part of Major Starland, as well as of
+Captain Winton. In the circumstances, the Major felt warranted in
+urging the plea of business as a legitimate one for haste in leaving
+the detestable country.
+
+It has been intimated that after Miss Starland had been delivered over
+to her dearest friend, the yacht dropped down the river to Zalapata,
+and left Jack there. Captain Winton, who was a cousin of Aunt Cynthia,
+intended to steam some twenty miles farther eastward to the city of
+San Luis, where a few needed supplies would be taken aboard. Then the
+boat would return to Zalapata for its owner, and continue on to
+Atlamalco, there to receive the young woman for the homeward voyage.
+
+Major Jack Starland was considerate enough to decide to remain most of
+the time at the capital of General Bambos, knowing the school mates
+would wish to devote the all too-brief period to each other.
+Consequently he would only be in the way. The Major gave no specific
+instructions to Captain Winton, but left much to his discretion. It
+was intimated to him that he might return to Atlamalco in the course
+of a few days,--an elastic term which might be halved or doubled
+without any blame attaching to the skipper.
+
+General Bambos was delighted for the time with the companionship of a
+man who had received the thorough military training of his visitor.
+Ignorant as most of the prominent South Americans are, the majority
+have heard of West Point, and all know something of the courage and
+achievements of the greatest nation in all the world. The General
+consulted often with his guest and Major Starland never did, or rather
+never attempted to do, a more praiseworthy thing than when he strove
+to impress upon the bulky Dictator the folly and crime of war.
+
+"It was truthfully characterized by our General Sherman as 'hell'; it
+has been the curse of the ages and brought misery and death to
+millions, besides turning back the hands on the dial of progress for
+centuries. Shun it as you would the pestilence that stalks at
+noonday."
+
+Such discourse is thrown away upon the South American leader to whom
+revolutions are as the breath of his life. General Bambos blandly
+smiled and cordially agreed with the wise sentiments, but laid the
+blame eternally on the other fellow. If _he_ would only do that which
+is just, wars would cease and blessed peace would brood forever over
+all nations and peoples.
+
+Major Starland took another tack. There had been hostilities between
+Zalapata and Atlamalco in the past, with no special advantage accruing
+to either side. On the whole perhaps the latter Republic had been the
+gainer, since the last treaty ceded to General Yozarro a small strip
+of territory on which _Castillo Descanso_ stood, the same having been
+a bone of contention for a long time.
+
+The purchase of a tugboat by General Yozarro had unquestionably tipped
+the scales in his favor. The American did his best to show Bambos this
+fact and to warn him that in case of another war between the
+republics, Zalapata was sure to be the chief sufferer. Bambos could
+not gainsay this and he was now seeking to balance things, by floating
+a loan which was to be used in arming his troops with modern weapons.
+He made a tempting offer to Major Starland to enter his service,
+agreeing to pay him an enormous salary in gold, though one might well
+question where he was to obtain a fractional part of it, and to place
+him in supreme command of the military forces of the Republic.
+
+While the American was illimitably the superior in mentality to the
+gross Dictator, he failed to perceive an important truth, which did
+not become clear to him until after his plain talk with Captain
+Guzman. The great object of the obese nuisance in warring against
+Yozarro was to place Miss Starland under deep obligations to him,
+though he was too cunning to intimate anything of that nature. When
+Jack Starland kindly but firmly declined his offer, he feared that he
+would become an obstacle to his scheme; and although he hid any such
+feeling, he would have been glad to have him disappear from the stage
+of action. What galled Bambos was the fact that the American lady was
+the guest of his rival, who he knew would do his utmost to woo and win
+her. To bring to naught anything of that nature, he determined to wage
+war against Yozarro and shatter the opportunity that fortune had
+placed in the hands of that detested individual. It cannot be said
+that the logic of Bambos was of the best, but it must be remembered
+that the gentle passion plays the mischief with numskulls as well as
+with men of wisdom.
+
+Such in brief was the situation, when Major Jack Starland yielded to
+his growing unrest over the visit of his sister to her friend. He had
+learned that General Yozarro was a widower--though as in the case of
+Bambos that would have made little difference in his wayward
+promptings--and he decided that it would be well to shorten the visit
+of Miss Starland or to bear her company, so long as she stayed in
+Atlamalco. He would be welcomed by the young women themselves, and,
+although Yozarro might wish him to the uttermost parts of the earth,
+he, too, would be gracious. So the sail of the American and Captain
+Guzman up the forked river becomes clear to the reader.
+
+Never was mortal man more infatuated with woman than was General
+Yozarro, from the moment he first laid eyes on the "Flower of the
+North," as he poetically named her. His passion was too absorbing to
+be concealed, and in the sanctity of their apartments the niece
+rallied her friend on the conquest she had made.
+
+"But it is the very one I do not wish to make," protested the annoyed
+American; "I like General Yozarro, chiefly because he is your
+relative, but absolutely my feeling can never go beyond that."
+
+"I thought your heart had not wandered elsewhere."
+
+"It has not, and it can never pass to him, my dear Manuela."
+
+"May I not say that you might go farther and fare worse? He is one of
+the kindest-hearted of men, is wealthy and would always be your
+slave."
+
+"You name the very quality I cannot tolerate in the one whom I love; I
+care nothing for wealth, for I do not need it; I want no man to be my
+slave, and I shall never marry any one who is not an American like
+myself."
+
+"But many of your young women marry titles abroad."
+
+"And too often hate themselves afterward for doing so. Misery and
+wretchedness generally follow, for there is something unnatural in
+such a union, with nothing of love on either side. Then, too, your
+uncle is double my age, and it is impossible--utterly impossible for
+me to return any affection on his part, if it really exists."
+
+"There can be no doubt of _that_," replied the impulsive Atlamalcan,
+throwing her arms around her friend and affectionately kissing her.
+"Be assured I shall never urge you to do anything contrary to your own
+pure nature. More than that, I shall take the first opportunity to
+impress upon General Yozarro the hopelessness of any love he may feel
+toward you."
+
+"That is just like your true self!" exclaimed the American, returning
+the ardent caresses of her friend; "my stay with you is to be too
+brief to allow any such cloud to come between us. Much as I hate to
+cause you distress, Manuela, I shall not stay another day if he
+persists in forcing his attentions upon me."
+
+"Have no fear of that. He is too good, too considerate, too honorable
+to bring pain to any one. He will be grieved when I tell him the
+truth, as I shall lose no time in doing, and will hasten to repair the
+injustice. So let us kiss again, and say and think no more about it."
+
+True to her promise, Señorita Estacardo took the first occasion to
+explain frankly the situation to her uncle. He listened thoughtfully,
+admitted his grief that his new-born hope should be crushed, but
+declared he would accept the facts like an honorable man and take
+every pains that their visitor should not be annoyed in any way by
+him.
+
+Nothing could have been more delightful than the few days that
+followed. General Yozarro took his niece and her friend on several
+voyages down the Rio Rubio, and far enough westward to give her
+glimpses of the magnificent fauna and flora of that interesting
+region. There were times when the exuberance of vegetation and
+foliage, the sweep of the mighty waters, and the superabundance of
+animal life filled her with awe and a certain fear, but her wonder
+never abated. The guns on the craft were fired several times for her
+entertainment, but the General prudently refrained from pointing out
+the target until he had made sure where the missile had struck, when
+he found no difficulty in doing so.
+
+No knight of the Crusades could have been more attentive to her
+slightest wish. Indeed he was so gracious and thoughtful that she felt
+at times a certain compunction. She wished she could give her
+affection to one who possessed so many admirable qualities, but
+compressing her lips, she shook her head and said again and again:
+"It can never be."
+
+Now and then spots showed on the sun. She caught glimpses of the
+volcano-like nature of the man, when some of the crew or his people
+displeased him. She was horrified to overhear some words which made
+known the shooting of the brother of Martella for a trifling fault,
+and she learned, too, of Yozarro's ferocious cruelties to others,
+including some who had been taken prisoners in honorable warfare.
+Underneath that suave, smiling exterior lurked Satan himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+But the fly was still in the ointment. General Yozarro showed in
+innumerable ways that his passion swayed him more absolutely, if
+possible, than before. It appeared in the touch of his hand when
+assisting Miss Starland to mount or alight from her horse on which she
+rode with her friends through the picturesque country that surrounded
+the capital,--in the glance of his ardent black eyes, in the sigh
+which he pretended to try to keep from her, and in the many hints
+which he dropped of his lonely life since the death of his wife. The
+young woman could not touch upon these themes, lest he accept it as
+encouragement; so she contented herself with parrying them. She began
+to long for the time when she should turn her back upon Atlamalco
+forever.
+
+On a certain balmy forenoon, General Yozarro, his niece and Miss
+Starland rode out from the town and over the trail leading into the
+Rubio Mountains. They were on their way to _Castillo Descanso_, which
+had been the cause of much fighting between the republics, and which
+had finally fallen into the possession of the Dictator of Atlamalco.
+It was a considerable way in the mountains and stood upon an elevation
+that brought it out in clear view from the capital.
+
+"It is fully three centuries old," explained Señorita Estacardo to her
+friend, "and is unlike anything I have ever seen in this part of the
+world. I suppose there are plenty of similar buildings along the Rhine
+and perhaps on your own Hudson, which has been called the Rhine of
+America."
+
+"How came it to be built?"
+
+"I can only repeat the legends that have come down to us. Some great
+pirate or general of Spain or Portugal--I don't know which--came up
+the river in quest of gold mines of which he had heard stories from
+the natives. You know that the first Spaniards who crossed the ocean
+to our continent cared more for gold than any or everything else, and
+stopped at no crimes to obtain it."
+
+"That was the case with many other nations."
+
+"Well, this buccaneer landed his crew here and tramped inland to the
+mountains, where the gold was reported to be. He took with him several
+hundred native prisoners to work the mines. He is said to have been
+very successful, and while his slaves were digging in the mountains,
+he set many others to work building him a home.
+
+"Oh, there was no element of romance lacking, for he brought with him
+a young and beautiful bride and it was for her that the Castle was
+built. He must have learned from Columbus, Balboa, Pizarro and the
+other early explorers that the worm sometimes turns and that it was
+wise for him to make his position safe against any revolt of the
+Indians. So the house which you are about to visit was put up. It is
+of solid stone and three stories high,--something almost unknown in an
+earthquake country like ours."
+
+"But what became of this fine old gentleman?"
+
+"I declare I forgot that. He lived there for years and then found that
+the danger against which he had made such full preparations was not
+the one that threatened him. The natives did not revolt, though why
+they did not I do not understand, for he treated them like beasts of
+burden and killed many in mere wantonness. It was his own men who rose
+against him. They had gathered a great deal of gold, but grew
+homesick. They hated the country and begged him again and again to
+leave or allow them to go, since they had enough wealth for all. He
+swore that not one should depart till the store of gold was increased
+ten-fold. Then, and not until then, would he weigh anchor, spread sail
+and pass down the river to the ocean and so homeward.
+
+"Well, although I suppose the men were able to gather more gold, it is
+not to be supposed they could have gotten as much as he wished. So
+they took the shortest way to close up the business. They killed the
+captain and his bride, carried aboard ship all the wealth they had
+collected, set sail and passed out from further chronicle. What do you
+think of the story, Warrenia?"
+
+"It has the true flavor and makes me anxious to look through the
+Castle."
+
+General Yozarro, who was riding in advance along the narrow trail, and
+listening to the words of his niece at the rear, called over his
+shoulder:
+
+"That privilege shall be yours in a brief time, Miss Starland; I am
+glad you are interested."
+
+"How could any one help it? Is the Castle yours, General?"
+
+"Yes; it may be said to be a part of the spoils of war. The boundary
+line between Atlamalco and Zalapata runs through these mountains, but
+its precise course has never been defined. The Castle rightfully
+belonged to Atlamalco, but General Bambos claimed that it stood on his
+territory. Since he was deaf to argument and reason nothing remained
+but to refer it to the arbitrament of arms, with the result that
+General Bambos is quite sure not to open the dispute again."
+
+"Did those visitors of the long ago take away all the gold in the
+mountains?"
+
+"That is quite impossible."
+
+"Why do _you_ not dig or mine for what is left?"
+
+"I have thought of that, but it seems wise to wait until I gain some
+one to share my lonely life with me."
+
+"Would it not be more considerate to finish the work before that time,
+so that you both will be at leisure to enjoy it? How much better than
+waging war with your neighbors!"
+
+"I have sufficient gold for me and mine. You mean it would be better
+for my neighbors to refrain from waging war against me. I made a
+religious vow long since never to go to war except in the defence of
+my rights, and that you know is one's solemn duty."
+
+It was the same old argument that General Bambos had used in
+discussing the question with Major Jack Starland.
+
+The young woman made no reply, for she saw it would be useless, and
+her escort added:
+
+"Your counsel is good, Miss Starland, but suppose General Bambos
+should construe such action on my part as unfriendly?"
+
+"Surely he cannot do so, unless you enter his territory, and that I am
+sure you have no thought of doing."
+
+"You know not the perfidy of that man," was the commentary of the
+Dictator, his words inspired by jealousy.
+
+When the Castle of Rest was reached it justified all that Señorita
+Estacardo had said of it, though it lacked moat and drawbridge and the
+other feudal accessories. It was of massive rock and stone, sixty or
+more feet in length and almost as broad. The lowest floor consisted
+of two large rooms, with broad openings instead of doors, rough and
+unfurnished and with walls several feet in thickness. At the time of
+its building, it would have resisted any armament that could have been
+brought to bear against it. The crevices between the stones throughout
+the structure had been filled with clay or adobe, which in the course
+of centuries had hardened to the consistency of rock itself. The
+second and third stories contained each four apartments, whose walls
+were of less thickness, but the whole constituted a veritable
+Gibraltar. Sloping stone steps connected each story, but only the
+rooms of the second contained anything in the nature of furniture.
+
+It was evident that General Yozarro had given this portion recent
+attention, for the windows, tall, narrow and paneless, had been
+screened by netting with the finest of meshes, though none can be fine
+enough to wholly exclude the infinitesimal insects like the
+coloradilla, or red flea, whose bite is as the point of a red hot
+needle, the sand fly, and other devilish insects beyond enumeration.
+Matting was spread on the smooth stone floors, there were imported
+chairs of costly make, stands, a bureau and much of what constitutes
+the appointments of a modern residence in a tropical country. The
+doors were made of a species of wood, beautifully carved, but showing
+no effects of the tooth of time, except in the gray faded color, for
+paint had never touched them. They were powerful enough to defy a
+battering ram, fitted with enormous locks and heavy bars that could be
+slipped into the massive iron receptacles.
+
+"Had that old buccaneer been given notice of the attack by his men,"
+said Miss Starland, when the building had been inspected from top to
+bottom, "he might have shut himself in one of these rooms and bade
+them do their worst."
+
+"Perhaps he did," suggested General Yozarro.
+
+"And yet the legend says he fell."
+
+"Starvation and thirst are enemies to whom the bravest must
+surrender."
+
+"It looks, General, as if you had been rejuvenating this fine old
+Castle."
+
+"I have done so to a certain extent in honor of your coming. Besides I
+thought my niece would find a stay here pleasant during the
+oppressive weather and I prepared it partly for her. You observe how
+much cooler it is here than in the capital."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+All had observed this fact which was natural. The elevation of the
+structure, which was open to every breeze that fluttered through the
+mountains, made it one of the most comfortable places in that part of
+the world. Another thing had been noted by the young women. Two armed
+sentinels were pacing outside, and two more came forward from the
+lower apartments and saluted the General and his party. They relieved
+one another at regular intervals, and three of them had their wives
+domiciled on the second floor. These were slatterns, not wholly
+lacking in a certain comeliness, and eyed the visitors with shy
+curiosity. The latter spoke to them in Spanish, to which they smiled
+and replied in soft, awed monosyllables, and respectfully watched the
+movements of the young women.
+
+General Yozarro descended the lower stairs, leaving his young friends
+on the second floor, where they lingered a few minutes to admire the
+view from the windows. The broad, wooded plain, stretching to the
+verge of vision, the town nestling in the lowlands a few miles away,
+the sweep of the river, and the cloudless blue sky formed a picture
+that would always linger in the memory of all whose privilege it was
+to look upon them.
+
+The two turned to descend the steps, when the Señorita missed one of
+her gloves. Hurriedly glancing about her, she said:
+
+"I must have dropped it in the story above; I'll run up and search,
+while you may find it below or on the outside."
+
+She darted off like a bird, and Miss Starland moved down the sloping
+steps which gave back not the slightest sound. The female servants had
+preceded her, so that for a brief time she was alone. She reached the
+lower floor, and was passing through the opening leading out doors,
+when she heard some one speaking in a low, but excited voice. She
+paused and discovered that he was swearing frightfully, the passion of
+the speaker being the more fearful because of the repression of the
+tones. With a shock which cannot be described, she recognized the
+voice as General Yozarro's, and, more shameful than all, he was
+addressing one of the women.
+
+In her distress, and determined not to hear the words, Miss Starland
+softly ran up the steps and was looking through the rooms again for
+the missing glove, when her friend, with a glowing smile, came down
+holding it up in her hand. Both laughed over the insignificant
+incident, and Miss Starland took care as they descended that her own
+merriment continued. General Yozarro, thus warned, finished his
+imprecations, and met them with his usual smiles and graciousness. In
+his snowy suit, sombrero in hand, he was the acme of cool politeness
+and courtesy. Had not Miss Starland identified his voice unmistakably,
+she could not have believed what her ears had told her.
+
+That one revelation, however, did its work. She was resolved to leave
+Atlamalco on the first opportunity and never to set foot within the
+Republic again. She had come to look upon this man with a mortal
+horror, for, under the mask of chivalry, he carried the blackest of
+hearts.
+
+The return ride was trying to the last degree. General Yozarro seemed
+to have forgotten his promise to his niece, and tortured her friend
+with attentions which filled her with resentment. When he assisted her
+to dismount, he pressed her hand for an instant until the rings on her
+fingers dented the flesh and almost caused her to cry out with pain.
+He uttered endearing expressions in a voice so low that no ears except
+those for which they were intended heard them, and they gave no heed.
+Her friend seemed to see nothing of all this, though she must have
+been aware of it.
+
+The irrepressible lover, more hopelessly enmeshed than ever, insisted
+upon their visitor sitting with him and his niece on the piazza in the
+moonlight, but in desperation, she pleaded a headache--when she had
+never suffered therefrom--and kept her room.
+
+"And Jack never dreams of anything of this kind," was her thought; "he
+is only a few miles away, and I shall insist that I be taken to him on
+the morrow."
+
+Having made her resolution, she carried it out. At the table, which
+was set in the large back room of General Yozarro's city house, and
+provided with the choicest fruits and every delicacy that the fertile
+republic could furnish, she made known her wish. She longed to see
+her brother on an important matter, and begged that she might be taken
+to him with the least possible delay. The others expressed their
+regret, and the General offered to send for her relative.
+
+"The one who goes to take the message can as well take me along," said
+she, determined to force the point.
+
+"Do you expect to remain with him long?" inquired the General.
+
+"I know of nothing to prevent our coming back quite soon."
+
+"Your wish is my command; I shall be very busy today on important
+matters. Suppose we take the ride to Zalapata on my gunboat this
+evening?"
+
+"That will be delightful!" exclaimed the niece, and though it was not
+the exact arrangement her friend wished, she could offer no objection
+and it was so agreed.
+
+Thus it came to pass that the _General Yozarro_ steamed past Major
+Jack Starland and Captain Guzman, while the two sat smoking in front
+of the native's hut on the northern shore of the Rio Rubio, without
+either party suspecting how near they were to each other.
+
+The long day gave General Yozarro abundant time to perfect his schemes
+which were carried out with precision and a faultless nicety of
+detail.
+
+Two miles beyond the hut, while the young women were partaking of
+refreshments in the Captain's room, which had been specially fitted
+for their reception, he came to them in great agitation.
+
+"I have just discovered that General Bambos has obtained a boat
+somewhere and is descending the river with the undoubted purpose of
+attacking Atlamalco."
+
+"Let us hasten back ahead of him," said his startled niece, who like
+her friend was in dismay over the tidings.
+
+"It will never do to flee before him; he must be kept from reaching
+our capital; a battle with him is a necessity."
+
+"With us on board?"
+
+"I do not see how it can be helped--but hold! I will land you here and
+send you to _Castillo Descanso_, where you will be beyond all harm.
+Ah! that is it! That is it!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+The tug rounded to and approached the shore so close that by running
+out the gangplank, the young women were readily assisted to land. They
+were nervously eager, for there was no saying when the hostile craft
+would appear and open fire, since its crew and leader must be unaware
+of the presence of the noncombatants.
+
+General Yozarro could not have been more thoughtful. He was profuse in
+his regrets because it was necessary to subject them to this
+inconvenience, and he assured both over and over again that everything
+would be done for their comfort.
+
+"You know the Castle is prepared for your stay, which I hope will be
+brief; I shall see that nothing is neglected and you will hear from me
+tomorrow."
+
+The three were standing for a minute or two on the bank, having but
+little luggage to take with them, since, when they left Atlamalco
+nothing like this had been dreamed of by the two.
+
+"But, General," said the Señorita, "it is a mile to the Castle; how
+are we to reach there alone and at night?"
+
+Before he answered, two men came silently out of the gloomy wood. They
+were in the uniform of soldiers, and one of them, saluting, said:
+
+"General, we have the horses saddled and waiting."
+
+"That is fortunate; I will assist you to mount."
+
+This time he did not press the hand of Miss Starland, when with his
+slight help, she vaulted into the saddle, nor did he sigh or give
+expression to anything sentimental. The time was too critical for
+anything like that. He waved them farewell, hurried aboard over the
+plank, which was quickly drawn in, and the screw of the tugboat began
+churning the muddy water, as she circled slowly about and headed up
+stream.
+
+The young women, being mounted, looked apprehensively out over the
+moonlit stream, expecting and dreading the coming of the other boat
+which was to fire the opening gun of another senseless and vicious
+conflict between the peppery republics. The situation, however, was
+too dangerous for them to wait more than a few minutes, and one of the
+soldiers, doffing his sombrero, spoke with the utmost deference:
+
+"I will lead the way and your horse will follow. My comrade will walk
+at the rear; be assured there is no danger."
+
+Each man carried a musket and the one who had spoken turned inland.
+The horse of the American followed, the gait of all being the ordinary
+walk. The Señorita was only a few steps behind her, while the second
+soldier silently stalked at the rear. The American noticed that they
+were following a clearly marked path or trail, which soon began
+descending, then climbed upward, and wound around and between rocks,
+the gloom in some places being so deep that she caught only shadowy
+glimpses of the guide in front, as he plodded onward like one familiar
+with his course. At times there were openings where the light was like
+that at mid-day. She might well have trembled had not her animal been
+sure-footed, for they had penetrated no more than a few hundred
+yards, when the little procession began threading along the face of a
+mass of rocks, where the path was so narrow that she felt the swish of
+her skirts against the mountain wall, and on her right it sloped
+downward perpendicularly, until what seemed a bottomless pit was
+hidden in a pool of gloom. A misstep by any member of the party would
+have sent him or her to instant destruction. But the animals and men
+moved confidently, though the pace was slow. Evidently, with the
+exception of the women, all were familiar, not only with this method
+of traveling, but with this particular route.
+
+As soon as our friends had become accustomed to the work, the thoughts
+of both reverted to the river, and they listened with shrinking
+foreboding for the sound of the guns that would mark the opening of
+the fight between the two craft. General Yozarro had declared that he
+would not permit the boat of his enemy to reach the capital, and he
+intimated that as soon as he was released from the care of the ladies,
+he would be quick to open the naval battle.
+
+"He steamed up stream," reflected Miss Starland, "but he will not go
+far; he is seeking a favorable position near by and the conflict will
+be a fierce one."
+
+But the minutes passed and the silence was unbroken. Naught but the
+myriad voices of the jungle thrummed into her ears and she found
+herself wondering what the explanation of the continued silence could
+be. Had General Yozarro changed his mind and hastened to his capital,
+with the decision to offer defence there? She could not believe it. It
+seemed more probable that he had hurried down the river toward
+Zalapata to meet his antagonist, who may have turned and fled to his
+own town. Even this looked unlikely, but it was the only explanation
+that presented itself. She would have liked to converse with her
+friend, but the circumstances were unfavorable. The continual shifting
+of conditions compelled her to keep a firm seat and rein and to watch
+every step of her horse.
+
+As the minutes passed and they penetrated farther into the interior,
+without hearing the boom of the gun, a disquieting question forced
+itself upon her. How did it come about that when she and her friend
+were put ashore, two soldiers were awaiting them, with properly
+saddled animals? It could not have been accident or coincidence. They
+must have been there by order of General Yozarro, who intended from
+the first that the landing should be made. No other theory was
+reasonable. Had any doubt lingered, it would have been removed by the
+silence of the armed craft.
+
+This question inevitably suggested the other as to the reason why
+General Yozarro had adopted so extraordinary a policy. Had he wished
+to send the two to the Castle, there was not the shadow of a
+difficulty in doing so, by the simplest and most direct means. As we
+know, they had already visited the gloomy building and would not have
+hesitated to accompany him again. Why all this mystery of landing them
+from the boat at night and sending them into the mountains in charge
+of two of his soldiers?
+
+The thoughts that thronged upon the American were too perplexing for
+solution, and she resolutely put them away for a more convenient
+season. When she and her comrade could sit down and talk in quietude,
+they might formulate the explanation which at present was beyond
+reach.
+
+One resolution, however, had crystallized: she would lose no time or
+opportunity in getting beyond the domain of General Yozarro and would
+never again willingly enter it. She had had more than enough of
+Zalapata as well as Atlamalco, and yearned for the return of Jack's
+yacht, when they could flit from a country which she had come to
+detest unutterably. She dearly loved Manuela and could not reconcile
+herself to the thought of losing her companionship forever; but from
+this time forward, the American must voyage to the country which had
+been her home for years, and where she could be assured of respectful
+treatment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+Suddenly her plodding pony stood still, with a slight neigh and ears
+erect. They were at that moment winding around the face of a
+precipice, with the wall on the left rising to a height of a hundred
+feet or more, and sloping downward on the right into a gorge of
+Stygian blackness. The path was a yard or over in width, so there was
+plenty of foothold, and the halt could not be due to any lack of that
+nature.
+
+The guide was motionless, a dozen paces in advance. Something seemed
+to have caught his notice and caused him to hesitate. Peering beyond
+his head in the vivid moonlight, Miss Starland discerned a crouching
+form, lithe and sinewy, and resembling a huge hound. It had been
+approaching from the opposite direction, when it was checked by sight
+of the man. A growl pierced the stillness, as it stood lashing its
+sides with its long tail. Then it began inching forward with intent
+to attack the obstacle in its path. The latter maintained his
+stationary pose, but at sight of the beast stealthily creeping upon
+him, he raised his gun to his shoulder, took a quick aim and fired.
+
+[Illustration: AN OBSTACLE IN THE PATH.]
+
+The space was short and the shot sped true. Upon receiving the bullet,
+the beast emitted a rasping screech and leaped directly upward, as if
+impelled from a springboard, and falling on its side, rolled over the
+edge of the precipice, down which it sped, clawing, snarling and
+bringing the loose dirt streaming after it, until it vanished in the
+gloomy depths and all became as it was before.
+
+The soldier coolly reloaded his gun, without stirring from his
+position, turned his head and said in a conversational tone: "Come on;
+all is well." Then he resumed his walk, and the pony of Miss Starland,
+as if all had been clear to him from the first, plodded onward.
+
+"Do you know what that animal was?" called the Señorita from the rear.
+
+"How should I know anything about him?"
+
+"It was a jaguar."
+
+"Said to be one of the most dangerous animals of your country."
+
+"I hope you have no fear of that particular one."
+
+"No, but there must be others."
+
+"They are not plentiful in these mountains; at any rate, the guide
+will take good care of you."
+
+A few minutes later, the procession began descending the trail, which
+broadened and was partly hidden by undergrowth and trees, that lined
+the sides and overshadowed the party at intervals. Several times Miss
+Starland had heard an odd chattering, which she could not identify,
+but which did not disturb the others. This showed that the soldiers
+understood and so long as that was the case, she need not be disturbed
+in mind.
+
+In the lowest part of the valley-like depression, where she could
+catch only dim glimpses of her guide, she was dreadfully startled by
+an object alighting like a feather on her horse directly in front. It
+was so close that she instantly saw it was a monkey, which in pure
+mischief had dropped from one of the branches and perched itself on
+the shoulders of the pony. Looking round at her it chattered and
+seemed on the point of climbing upon her head when she struck it so
+sharp a cuff that it toppled over sideways from the horse upon the
+trail, down which it went clawing and chattering its anger; but,
+though, it dropped from sight, it must be believed it suffered no
+harm, because of its own nimbleness.
+
+Her friend saw enough to understand what had taken place and called
+out:
+
+"I hope you are not frightened, Warrenia; the little fellow meant no
+harm."
+
+"But I do not wish his company; you are welcome to it."
+
+"I care little either way, but they are revengeful, and when you cuff
+the next one's ears, don't do it too hard, or it may rouse the others
+to attack you; heigho! here's another!" exclaimed the Señorita, as one
+of the agile creatures bounded from somewhere upon her horse and
+whisked out of sight again.
+
+A soft murmur stole through the night, and gradually increased in
+depth of volume, until when the party rounded a bend in the trail,
+they came upon the cause. To the right and a hundred feet above them,
+a sheet of crystalline water poured over the edge of the rocks and
+tumbled into the valley below, whence it wound its course to the Rio
+Rubio, only a short distance away. The falls were twenty feet in
+width, with a descent perhaps twice as great, and in the moonlight
+they looked like a motionless sheen of silver, which might have been
+believed to be the case but for the churning of the snowy foam below.
+From this a fleecy mist was continually ascending, and a little way
+above, it displayed a faint rainbow, whose exquisitely delicate beauty
+caused an exclamation of delight from the visitor who saw the picture
+for the first time in her life.
+
+But to the escort it was a familiar sight, and they gave it only a
+glance, as they trudged onward. They were unemotional automata, who
+knew nothing except to obey the orders of their terrible chief. He had
+commanded them to give safe conduct to the young women to the Castle,
+and that was their sole task. So far as the American was aware, not a
+word had been spoken by the man at the rear, and the guide opened his
+lips only when necessary.
+
+Several times while pressing over the trail, they had caught sight of
+the stone structure, and noted the twinkling of the lights from the
+upper story. Making another turn, and climbing a slight ascent, they
+came to the small plateau on which it stood, only a few rods in
+advance.
+
+Proof again appeared that this journey had been pre-arranged. Instead
+of two guards, some eight or ten men were patrolling and lounging on
+the outside of the grim building. One of these came forward and spoke
+for several minutes, in low tones, with the guide. A call was made to
+the man at the rear and he advanced and took part in the conversation.
+
+The ponies halted of their own accord. While Miss Starland was waiting
+and wondering, her friend dropped lightly from the saddle and came to
+her side.
+
+"Give me your hand, Warrenia; we are done riding for tonight."
+
+The next moment the two young women stood beside each other on the
+ground. Naturally the Señorita took charge of her guest and led the
+way through the broad opening to the lower part of the Castle, where a
+native woman was standing. Manuela recognized her as a servant of her
+uncle's household, and addressed her by name. She replied that their
+apartment was ready and conducted the two into the lower division of
+the building, which was dimly lit up by a lamp fastened to a bracket
+in the wall. Still under the lead of Juanita, as she was called, the
+couple passed up the steps to the principal apartment, which they had
+inspected the day before.
+
+"You will wish to be together," said the servant with a broad smile,
+"and this is your home, so long as you honor the Castle with your
+company."
+
+"Yes, we shall stay together," the Señorita hastened to say, slipping
+her arm under that of her friend, who pressed it affectionately. "You
+may leave us now, Juanita, and when we want you, we will call."
+
+The apartment was the one that had been provided with conveniences and
+appointments, such as two young ladies were likely to need, even to
+the little knick-knacks that are considered indispensable by them. A
+glance around the room, in the mellow light of the lamp on the mantel,
+showed nothing lacking.
+
+"It seems to have been specially prepared for us," said the Señorita.
+
+"And that, my dear friend, is the one thing that troubles me; I do not
+understand it; do you?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+Señorita Estacardo drew her chair beside the snowy couch and faced her
+friend, who did the same regarding her. Reaching out her hand, she
+lovingly inclosed that of Miss Starland, just as she used to do in the
+dear old days at the Seminary. The American young woman leaned forward
+and kissed the dark cheek, and for a minute they sat without speaking.
+Then with the black eyes gazing into the blue ones, the owner of the
+former said in a voice, scarcely above a whisper:
+
+"Warrenia, I do not understand it."
+
+"And, Manuela, I'm afraid I do."
+
+"Tell me, then."
+
+"Surely you have a suspicion. Why should we mince matters? He has
+forgotten his pledge to you and is more resolute than before."
+
+"I fear you are right. The thought has been growing upon me ever since
+we left the boat. Need I tell you that you are no more shocked and
+grieved than I?"
+
+"No, nothing that mind can conceive will ever throw a shadow upon your
+loyalty and goodness. I have known you too long and too well for me to
+have room for such an injustice."
+
+The other's answer to this was to throw her arms impulsively around
+the neck of her friend and to kiss her again and again, murmuring:
+
+"Thank you and bless you! I can never be the angel that you are and I
+would gladly die for you."
+
+There were no tears in the eyes of either; they were too brave for
+that. It was the American who spoke when they became more composed:
+
+"We are agreed upon the one thing, and, therefore, must be right. But
+you can aid me to clear up several points that trouble me. Why did
+General Yozarro put us ashore and send us here?"
+
+"I suspect his reason for that. You know he has spoken of sending us
+to the Castle to spend a few days of the hot weather. He had the
+preparations made and this room fitted for us. We should have come
+here today, but for your change of mind. You demanded to go to
+Zalapata and he could not refuse. His plan that you should come to the
+Castle was not changed, but he had to seem to defer to your wishes. To
+have come directly here would have been a plain disregard of them, so
+he spent the day in planning this deception, and carried it out
+without the least difficulty."
+
+"Must he not have seen that when we went ashore and found the escort
+waiting with ponies, we should see that the whole thing was
+pre-arranged? In no other way could it have come about."
+
+"True, but when we understood it all it would be too late to do us any
+good."
+
+"What of his story that General Bambos had sent a boat up the river to
+attack Atlamalco?"
+
+"It was pure invention."
+
+"We certainly have heard no sounds of a battle between the boats."
+
+"Because there has been none. He saw no more of a hostile fleet than
+did we, for none exists; he has gone back to Atlamalco."
+
+"I suppose he will be here tomorrow with some cunning falsehood to
+explain why the conflict did not take place. He will say he gave
+chase to the enemy, who fled without firing a shot, but how can I
+pretend to believe him?"
+
+"There is no call for any such pretense. If he tries further
+deception, ask him to make clear how the two soldiers were waiting on
+shore with horses. If he makes a reasonable explanation of that, he
+has more ingenuity than I ever supposed."
+
+"We can have no trouble in convicting him, but, Manuela, my dread is
+that it will not help matters, but rather make them worse. I must
+confess that his conduct is beyond my comprehension."
+
+"It is not beyond mine."
+
+"What is your theory?"
+
+"It is not a theory but a fact. My uncle is so hopelessly in love with
+you that his ordinary common sense has left him."
+
+"It may be as you say, but much remains that is unaccountable to me."
+
+"I see little that is not made clear by what I have said. You and I
+know that when a man becomes as blindly infatuated as he, his conduct
+violates reason and the simplest prudence and he does things that
+would be absurd in a child. Frightened by the prospect of losing you,
+he gave all his thoughts and energies to preventing it. This was the
+only method that suggested itself, and we cannot deny, my dear friend,
+that it has been quite successful up to this point."
+
+"But of what possible avail can it be to him? Idiot that he is, he
+must know that this situation can last but a short time. Jack will
+find it out within twenty-four hours, and General Yozarro must know
+what will happen _then_."
+
+"Dearest Warrenia, you do not see as much in this as I. What stronger
+proof can I give of my love to you than to say that we must separate
+and you must leave this part of the world with the least possible
+delay? Your own loveliness is your peril. It ought to be your greatest
+protection, but it is not. I would that your yacht was in the river
+this very hour and that we could make haste to it, for you are in
+greater danger than you suspect."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+The cheek of the American blanched, and she looked earnestly at her
+friend, as if she did not take in the full meaning of her words. She
+spoke in a whisper:
+
+"Tell me what you mean."
+
+The other rose from her chair, walked across the room to the closed
+door, and turned the big key in the massive lock. Then she lifted the
+ponderous bar and dropped it into place.
+
+"It may not be necessary," she said, as she came back, sat down and
+took the hand which she had released; "for though some of the servants
+may be in the next room, or in the hall outside, none can hear what we
+say. It will do no harm, however, to be certain. If you could have
+your wish you would be in Zalapata tonight?"
+
+"Most assuredly I should."
+
+"Because the Major is there, but if he chanced to be away, your
+situation would be no better than at Atlamalco."
+
+"I am certain it would be a thousand-fold better."
+
+"I am afraid, dear friend from the North, that I see some things
+clearer than you; General Bambos is just as much infatuated with your
+loveliness as General Yozarro."
+
+"But he has a wife and family!" was the horrified exclamation of Miss
+Starland.
+
+"That makes not the slightest difference to him."
+
+An expression of unutterable scorn darkened the face of the American.
+
+"Impossible as it seems, Manuela, I must believe you. How can you live
+here?" she asked with impulsive disgust; "you cannot trust _any_ man
+in this country."
+
+"Ah, my dear Warrenia, they are not all alike; I certainly know _one_
+who is different from the two we have been talking about."
+
+And the dark countenance became delightfully darker, and was aglow
+with the radiance of perfect love and trust.
+
+"I am glad to assure you I believe every word you say; I forgot
+Captain Ramon Ortega, the brave officer and faultless gentleman,
+whose greatest good fortune is to come when he wins you."
+
+"And his good fortune will be no greater than mine; but, Warrenia, to
+leave the most winsome of subjects for the most hateful, you will be
+safer at Zalapata with Major Jack, but neither of you will be secure
+until you are on the yacht and beyond reach of General Bambos, as well
+as of General Yozarro. I could almost advise you to wait here, and yet
+something whispers it will not do."
+
+"But how am I to leave? It will not do to attempt the journey alone to
+Zalapata, and what way is there of sending word thither?"
+
+"Why shall we not have our ponies brought up and ride direct to the
+capital? They are here already, with proper saddles. We can start
+tomorrow after breaking fast, and we should reach the capital by
+nightfall."
+
+"Do you know the route?"
+
+"As well as the walks around the old Seminary, where we spent the
+happiest days of our lives; I have gone over it many times in my
+girlhood and have done so since coming home."
+
+"Neither of us carries any firearms and we must face danger."
+
+"I was never in any danger, though I suppose there must be more or
+less of it. I shouldn't like to meet a jaguar, tiger cat or zaratu,
+but we might do so without any harm coming to us."
+
+"What of the serpents?"
+
+"The big ones are near the streams and in the marshy country; we have
+a few coral snakes with their black heads and ringed bodies, but we
+are as safe from them without as with firearms. This part of the world
+is not so much infested as others. If I have no hesitation in making
+the venture should you feel any?"
+
+"I do not; shall we take an escort?"
+
+"It would seem we ought to do so, but I believe it best to have none."
+
+"For what reason?"
+
+"They would be soldiers of General Yozarro."
+
+The significance of these words was not lost upon the other, who
+hastened to say:
+
+"Let us go alone."
+
+They sat communing until the night was far advanced. Their plans for
+the morrow may be summarized in what has been stated. Both believed
+that no special risk would be run in venturing upon a journey of
+something more than twenty miles by daylight, without firearms or
+escort. As a rule, strangers had little to fear in passing through any
+section of either republic, and there were several native huts along
+the trail, where the Señorita had obtained refreshment and secured
+lodging on some of the journeys that were begun too late in the day to
+be completed before nightfall. Although she was always in the company
+of others, it was not on account of any misgiving or fear on her part.
+
+Very rarely or never was a wheeled vehicle seen either in Zalapata or
+Atlamalco, and the connecting roads were naturally no more than simple
+trails; but all of these were so clearly marked that there was no
+cause for even a stranger losing his way. While the bifurcation of the
+river made the water communication between the republics more
+convenient, many preferred the overland journey. The ride through the
+craggy mountains, whose width may be roughly given as less than half a
+dozen miles, was romantic and easy enough when made on the back of a
+horse.
+
+The strange, disturbing situation in which Miss Starland found herself
+kept her awake long after the gentle breathing of her friend at her
+side told her she was unconscious. The conditions were so singular and
+so alarming that at times she was mystified and doubted the wisdom of
+the course they had decided upon. She could not believe that the path
+was as free from danger as the Señorita supposed. None the less, she
+was resolved to make the venture. There was one comforting feature
+about it all: if they were followed and brought back under some
+pretext by the soldiers of General Yozarro, no unpleasant consequences
+would result therefrom to them. The man would be ready with some
+plausible justification of his course, but would be as effusive in his
+courtesy as ever. Finally the sorely troubled one slept.
+
+Neither awoke until the sunlight streamed through the narrow windows,
+and then the two were roused by the knocking on the outer door, and
+the call of Juanita that she was waiting with their food. She was
+admitted and the meal on the broad silver tray was set on the stand in
+the middle of the apartment. Nothing could have been more appetizing,
+in that smothering climate, consisting as it did wholly of fruit, and
+delicious cocoa, including prepared rice, mandioc and cassava, the
+last being the most popular food in that part of the world.
+
+Juanita having left the meal, courtesied, called down the blessings of
+the saints upon the visitors, and, assuring them that it would be her
+happiness to come whenever wanted and to act the part of slave all her
+life to them, went away, and once more our friends were alone. The
+Señorita did not fasten the door, for there was no call to do so, and
+in due time, the two drew up their chairs and partook of the food with
+the zest of youth and health. There was abundance for both and they
+fully enjoyed it. By and by, Juanita returned and removed the remains
+of the repast.
+
+Miss Starland walked to each of the narrow windows in turn and gazed
+out over the surrounding country. One of the openings gave a view of
+the Rio Rubio, as it wound to the eastward, until its reunion and
+onward flow to the Atlantic. She descried a catboat leaning far over
+and skimming up stream toward Atlamalco, and a canoe, in which were
+two natives, was observed, as one of the occupants swung his paddle
+like an American Indian and drove the tiny craft toward the northern
+shore. But as her vision roved up and down the river, she failed to
+see that for which she longed above everything else. The yacht which
+had brought her to this part of the world was still absent. In neither
+direction could she catch a glimpse of Atlamalco or Zalapata. The
+other window opened to the south, or toward the mountains, where the
+view had no interest for her.
+
+As she had done before, she remarked upon the massiveness of the walls
+and the straightness of the window openings.
+
+"They are so narrow that we could not force ourselves through."
+
+"Our old buccaneer friend must have had them made thus on purpose.
+Suppose some of those who hated him--which means all the
+others--should have become strong enough to clamber up the walls
+on the outside,--was it not well to make it impossible for them
+to enter the Castle?"
+
+The matter, however, was of slight interest to our friends and they
+hurried their preparations for the journey. The Señorita donned her
+hat and led the way down the steps to the outside. To both it looked
+as if the number of guards had been increased during the night, for
+more than a dozen were in sight, without regarding those who had lain
+down to rest. The young women were saluted by all as they appeared,
+and the soldiers whom they recognized as their escort of the night
+before, came forward to learn their wishes.
+
+"Carlos, the ponies that brought us here are still with you?"
+
+"They are, Señorita."
+
+"Have them saddled and brought out; we are to ride to Zalapata today,
+and wish to make an early start."
+
+The man removed his hat, bowed and spoke with the utmost respect:
+
+"I am grieved not to hasten to comply with your commands; but we have
+orders from General Yozarro that the Señoritas are to remain here till
+he comes, which will be in a few hours, I think. It fills my heart
+with sorrow, but as a soldier, the Señorita knows that no choice is
+left to me."
+
+And this time, he made two obesiances,--one for each of the dumfounded
+young women.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+The two looked at each other in speechless amaze. This was a direct
+interference with their personal freedom, the first either had known.
+
+The Señorita was the first to find speech. Addressing the soldier, she
+said:
+
+"You say this is the order of General Yozarro?"
+
+"Were it not, I should not dare utter the words."
+
+"What is his reason for the command?"
+
+It was essentially a feminine question, but the soldier did not
+hesitate with the reply:
+
+"War impends between Zalapata and Atlamalco; we are expecting at
+almost any hour an attack upon _Castillo Descanso_; the Señorita
+observes the armed force that has been placed here by General Yozarro;
+he cannot allow the Señoritas the danger of falling into the hands of
+the perfidious General Bambos and his barbarians."
+
+It was on the tongue of Miss Starland to declare that she would prefer
+a hundred times that eventuality to remaining in charge of the
+Atlamalcans, but instead, her companion said what was in the minds of
+both:
+
+"The order of General Yozarro may apply to me, but cannot apply to my
+friend who owes no allegiance to Atlamalco or Zalapata. She comes from
+the Great Republic of the North, and no one elsewhere has the right to
+say yea or nay to her."
+
+"It distresses me very much, Señorita Estacardo, that special weight
+was laid by General Yozarro upon the order as affecting _la
+Americana_."
+
+And looking toward the latter, he again removed his hat and bowed low,
+instead of contenting himself with the military salute that would have
+been the proper thing under the circumstances. The soldier was above
+the ordinary native in intelligence.
+
+His words showed the futility of further argument. Without a word, but
+throwing back her head with a scornful gesture, the Señorita nodded to
+her friend to accompany her back into the gloomy building. Silently
+and slowly the two went up the sloping stone steps and re-entered the
+room which they had left a few minutes before. The Señorita locked the
+door and the two faced each other.
+
+"What do you make of it, Manuela?"
+
+"Only one thing can be made of it; it is as I said; General Yozarro is
+determined you shall remain here for some time to come and he gives no
+more thought to the foolhardiness of his action than if he were a
+child too young to walk."
+
+"What of the story of a war between the republics?"
+
+"I do not believe a word of it."
+
+"Meantime, what are we to do?"
+
+"Sit down, fold our hands and be good; but," she added with a flash of
+her eyes, "that is the last thing to do; I long to meet my uncle face
+to face. It is the first time he ever offered such an insult to the
+daughter of his dead sister and to her friend. I hope he will not
+delay his coming."
+
+"I wish to be present when you meet; I, too, shall have something to
+say, which I do not think he will soon forget."
+
+But the hours wore slowly away and General Yozarro came not. Was he
+not shrinking from her whose fiery temper he well knew? Which of the
+two did he fear the most? The northerner may have been of cooler
+blood, but her anger, when once set aflame, was all the more profound.
+She abominated the man with his sleek smile, his oily manner and his
+tempestuous profanity when he thought himself beyond her hearing. She
+could not think that the other Dictator, with all his stupidity and
+grossness, was one-half as wicked as he. Were she free to do so, she
+would not hesitate to throw herself upon his protection.
+
+"Where can Jack be?" she asked after the mid-day repast, and when the
+two had talked over every phase of the situation for the twentieth
+time. "Surely he must soon learn of this and he will be quick to call
+General Yozarro to account."
+
+"I place little hope on that; do not forget, my dear Warrenia, that
+the Major is only one man against hundreds."
+
+"But what of the yacht?"
+
+"It is many miles away; no one can say when it will return; remember,
+too, General Yozarro's gunboat."
+
+The lip of the American curled with contempt.
+
+"Let them meet and it will be Manila Bay over again on a small scale.
+I only wish Captain Winton knew of this! He would sink the miserable
+craft or chase her to the foot of the Andes."
+
+In the momentary reaction, Señorita Estacardo smiled:
+
+"You have full faith in your countrymen."
+
+"So have _you_; so has every one who knows them, and who does not? So
+will General Yozarro and his barbarians, if they ever rouse the anger
+of my people. But why do we speculate? It seems we can do nothing but
+wait. Manuela, can we not steal away when night comes?"
+
+"I have asked myself that question, but I cannot see any hope of doing
+it. Neither of us can leave without being observed; guards will be on
+all sides and we shall be turned back as we were this morning. Let us
+go to the upper part of the Castle and look over the country. It may
+avail nothing, but it will be a relief to this monotony."
+
+They climbed to the rooms above, which, as we know, were copies of
+those they had just left, with the narrow windows on all sides. The
+Señorita walked to the opening on the south which commanded a view of
+the densely wooded mountains that stretched clear across the island
+to the main branch of the Rio Rubio. She expected to see nothing in
+that direction of interest and made the survey because her companion
+passed to the windows on the north.
+
+"Come to me!" called the American; "here is something strange."
+
+The Señorita was at her side on the instant. Looking across the mile
+of rugged country to where the northern stream wound its way, they saw
+a small sailboat speeding to the eastward, the moderate breeze causing
+it to careen far to one side. Its prow cut the curling water and the
+foam spread out like a fan in its wake.
+
+"If we had a glass we might study it closely," said Miss Starland
+regretfully, as she scrutinized the craft.
+
+"I don't think there is anything of the kind in the Castle, but it can
+make little difference. The boat is a strange one to us, and whoever
+is guiding it is no concern of ours."
+
+"Probably you are right, but it looks to me as if there are two or
+three aboard,--ah! there are three and they are heading toward shore.
+They must land near where we left the boat last night."
+
+"And what of that?"
+
+"It looks as if they are coming to the Castle; they will soon be
+here!"
+
+"That does not seem likely to me; the only ones whom we expect are
+General Yozarro and his friends, and so long as he has the larger
+craft, he will not use such a puny boat as that."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel,
+whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept
+straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight
+by the tops of the trees. The three men had certainly approached land,
+though it could not be said they had left the boat.
+
+"What do you make of it?" asked Miss Starland.
+
+"Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will
+soon pass out again and continue on their way."
+
+"Let us keep watch."
+
+They did so, and when an hour had passed and the sun was low in the
+sky, the craft had failed to appear. Far to the westward, a thin,
+dark, shadowy line lay motionless against the horizon, too far off to
+be identified.
+
+"I think it is the smoke of the gunboat," said the Señorita; "General
+Yozarro means to come to the Castle over the same course we followed."
+
+They looked long and anxiously, but the horizontal streak of vapor
+gradually faded without bringing the craft into view. The tug had
+steamed in the opposite direction, or there had been a change of mind
+and the fires were banked or allowed to go out.
+
+Miss Starland was still gazing, hoping and dreading the appearance of
+the craft, when her friend pressed her arm and asked in a hurried
+undertone:
+
+"Do you see him?"
+
+She indicated a point in the trail no more than a furlong distant,
+where it emerged around a mass of rocks, between the Castle and the
+waterfall. The path just there was so narrow as to permit the passage
+of only a single person or animal. Withdrawing her gaze from the
+distance, she made out the form of a man, standing at the curve. He
+was motionless, and evidently studying the Castle.
+
+His dress and swarthy countenance, plainly visible in the sunlight,
+showed that he was a native, who, for some reason, felt a peculiar
+interest in the grim structure. He may have stood thus for some
+minutes before the Señorita observed him, but he remained for a brief
+while longer, so stationary that he might well have been taken for a
+figure of stone.
+
+"Do you know him?" asked the American.
+
+"Only that he is an Atlamalcan; he wears the blue jacket; that of the
+Zalapatans is red,--the two tints being the distinguishing features of
+their uniforms; you observe he is dressed the same as our guards."
+
+"Have you ever seen him before?"
+
+"He is too far off for me to observe his countenance clearly, but, so
+far as I can say, he is a stranger. I think he is a member of our
+guard."
+
+"Why then is he not with them? What is his object in going out there
+and posing in that way?"
+
+"I wish I could answer your questions. Perhaps our captain suspects we
+are dreaming of escape and he has sent out guards to watch the Castle
+from all sides."
+
+"It seems more likely to me that he came from the small boat; he may
+be a messenger from General Yozarro."
+
+"If so, his action is inexplicable. If a messenger, he would hurry to
+the Castle and deliver his message."
+
+"Perhaps he has done so and is going away."
+
+While all was conjecture, the man moved. It was then noted that he
+carried no gun though he doubtless had smaller weapons. He turned
+slowly about, facing the other way, strode a dozen steps or so and
+then passed from sight. Thinking he might appear again the two watched
+the spot for the following half hour, during which he was not seen
+again. Then, looking in the direction of Atlamalco they were unable to
+detect any trace of the finger of smoke which had faded out and which
+they thought might come to view again.
+
+"General Yozarro may have sailed further up the river," suggested the
+Señorita.
+
+"What could he hope to accomplish by that, except to run away from
+General Bambos?"
+
+"He may turn into the main stream, where it bifurcates, and come down
+to the junction, when he can steam up to Zalapata."
+
+"Let us stop speculating about him. Just now I am more interested in
+the stranger, and, as sure as I live, there he is again!"
+
+The brief twilight was already closing in, when the form of a
+man--presumably the one whom they had already noted--came into view at
+the point where he was first observed. Instead of pausing as before,
+he continued to advance toward the plateau on which stood the Castle.
+His pace was an ordinary one, showing neither haste nor hesitation. It
+was a striking proof of the shortness of the tropical twilight that
+although the flickering figure steadily drew nearer, it as steadily
+grew more indistinct. When his head and shoulders rose over the edge
+of the plateau, it was almost impossible to see his countenance,
+though no doubt remained that he was an Atlamalcan soldier. A little
+closer approach and he was hidden from the sight of the watchers in
+the upper story.
+
+The interior was now so dark that they descended to where the lamp
+supported by the bracket at the side of the wall, was lighted. At the
+same moment, the knock of the servant Juanita sounded, and she brought
+their evening meal. The Señorita questioned her and she said that a
+soldier had just arrived and was talking to Captain Navarro of the
+guard, but she knew nothing of his errand.
+
+The two friends were in a flutter, and, tarrying only long enough to
+partake slightly, they hastened to their lookout. They waited and
+looked for a considerable time, but saw nothing of the stranger in
+whom they were so much interested.
+
+When it had become wholly dark, they passed to the living apartment,
+which was moderately illuminated by the lamp. The gloom outside would
+continue until the moon appeared, when the light would be as vivid
+almost as mid-day.
+
+Suddenly some one knocked on the door. The peculiar sound showed that
+it was not a servant claiming admission. Señorita Estacardo sprang up,
+turned the key and drew open the massive structure for a few inches.
+Then she recoiled at sight of the soldier in the blue jacket standing
+before her, bowing low with hat in hand.
+
+After his "_buenas noches_," he uttered the amazing words:
+
+"I have come for the American Señorita."
+
+"Who are you?"
+
+He stepped softly inside, pushed the door shut and placed his finger
+to his lips as a warning for them to be cautious. The young women were
+frightened by his presumption, and the Señorita was about to command
+him to leave, when, bowing low, he handed a slip of paper to her.
+
+"It is for the other Señorita," he explained.
+
+The wondering young woman took the paper and handed it to her friend,
+who had come forward. Moving a little aside, so as to stand under the
+lamp, she saw her name pencilled on the outside in a familiar
+handwriting, and unfolding the slip, she read:
+
+     "You can trust the bearer fully; he is our friend; do
+     exactly as he tells you, and do it quickly, for there is not
+     a moment to lose.
+
+                         "Jack Starland."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+It will be recalled that the catboat, in which Major Jack Starland was
+descending the river in company with Captain Guzman and the Atlamalcan
+deserter, Martella, landed them at the spot where the young women had
+left the tug the night before, the cause for which action on their
+part has been made clear. This took place early in the afternoon, and,
+under the guidance of Martella, the three started inland over the
+trail that had been followed by the two ponies less than four and
+twenty hours before.
+
+While all doubt of the presence of his sister at the Castle had been
+removed, the young American officer did a big lot of thinking when
+tracing the path through the mountains. He felt certain that when
+General Yozarro sent the two thither under escort, he had arranged to
+prevent their leaving until it should suit his pleasure. It followed,
+therefore, that despite the outrage, it was necessary for Starland to
+act with great prudence. He had only two companions and he placed
+little reliance on the Atlamalcan. To attempt to bluff matters with
+such an insignificant force would be the height of folly. One
+man-of-war from the United States would find it child's play to blow
+these miserable little republics off the face of the earth, and when
+his government should be appealed to, it would be certain to bring
+down a heavy hand upon the offenders; but days and weeks must pass
+before that could be brought about, and there was no saying what
+deviltry would be wrought in the meantime. If ever there was call for
+hurry and the display of the wisdom of the serpent it was now.
+
+When therefore the three drew near the plateau on which the Castle
+stood, the Major said:
+
+"You and I, Captain, will wait here while Martella goes forward and
+learns how the land lies."
+
+"If the Señoritas are restrained of their liberty by only five or six
+Atlamalcans, why should we hesitate?"
+
+"We shall not, if such proves to be the fact; but if there are more,
+it is not well to attack until that is the only means left. It will be
+little trouble for Martella to learn the truth."
+
+"Do you mean that he shall make himself known?"
+
+"If necessary; what objection is there to that?"
+
+"He is a deserter from the service of General Yozarro, who will show
+him no mercy if he once lays hand on him."
+
+"It cannot be generally known as yet; I understand he merely came away
+with you, as if for a visit; he will be safe for several days. Such is
+my view; am I right, Martella?"
+
+"Perhaps so, but I am not afraid of the risk."
+
+"I do not wish you to run into unnecessary danger, but you need no
+instruction from me; make all haste."
+
+The native strode from them at an even pace until he was shut from
+sight by the bend in the trail. We know what he then did. He did
+not think it wise to reveal himself at the time and made his
+reconnoissance therefore from a distance. It did not take him long
+to learn that the Castle was guarded by a dozen men at least and
+probably by more. This was reported to his friends on his return.
+
+"That puts a different face on matters," was the comment of the
+American; "it would be madness to attack such a force when we have
+only one rifle among us."
+
+Until now Major Starland had held slight opinion of the courage and
+ability of the deserter, but the latter straightway made a proposal
+whose daring fairly took away his breath.
+
+"Señor the Major may have been right when he said my desertion would
+not be known for several days, but he mistook when he thought I had
+made no mention of it. I told Valentin Herrera, the engineer of the
+gunboat, before I left; I asked him to tell General Yozarro with word
+from me that if I ever gained a chance I should kill him just as
+surely as he killed my brother. The engineer promised to bear the
+message to General Yozarro and I doubt not that it will be repeated
+to him before the sun sets."
+
+"Martella, you're a fool!"
+
+"Perhaps," replied the native with a grin and shrug; "but Señor the
+Major does not reflect that General Yozarro would have me shot for
+leaving the boat without his permission. He can do no more with me
+than that,--why should I rob myself of the pleasure of sending him an
+insulting message?"
+
+"In other words, you might as well be in for a sheep as a lamb. Very
+well; have you any plan to offer?"
+
+"I will go to Captain Navarro of the guard and tell him I come as a
+messenger from General Yozarro, who is waiting with the gunboat to
+take the Señoritas to Atlamalco, and he must not delay in obeying the
+command."
+
+The American looked at him in amazement.
+
+"Have you the nerve for that, Martella?"
+
+"I await only your permission."
+
+"I cannot permit you to run such risk; better that I should go myself
+and make the demand upon Captain Navarro."
+
+"The captain has been warned not to permit any such thing, on his
+life. You know that though General Yozarro may be aware I have left
+his service, it is not likely to be known to Captain Navarro."
+
+"It is a fearful risk, Martella. You are a good deal braver than I
+thought; I accept your offer; but you have no acquaintance with the
+ladies; they will not come away with you."
+
+"You can write me a few lines to hand to the American Señorita that
+will explain it all to her."
+
+Major Starland had a feeling that it was hardly right to allow this
+simple hearted fellow to sacrifice himself in this manner. He turned
+to Captain Guzman, who was silently smoking a cigarette.
+
+"What do you think of it?"
+
+"It is the only plan that will succeed and there is no certainty that
+it will not fail. But let it be tried."
+
+"Will the captain of the guard obey a verbal order which it is
+proposed to say is sent by General Yozarro?"
+
+Martella lifted his shoulders.
+
+"If he refuses we shall be no worse off than before."
+
+"We shall not, but you're likely to be. However, here goes!"
+
+He whipped out his note book and hastily penned the few lines that
+have already been revealed.
+
+"God go with you, Martella! You are a valiant man; I can hardly
+believe you will succeed, but the need is desperate."
+
+The deserter quietly shoved the little fold of paper in his pocket,
+close to his terrible knife, and without another word passed up the
+trail, his friends following him as far as was thought prudent. It was
+not well for them to be seen by any of the guard, since it must draw
+suspicion to the plan.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+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 the gunboat; 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 the trouble; 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 with the
+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 to _la Americana_, if she refuses to go with you, as she is almost
+sure to do."
+
+"Do you think the General has forgotten anything? 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 to make 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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+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, and _I_ have
+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 way down 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."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+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 procession moved 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 the pony 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 opposite cliffs.
+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 partly rearing, 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 trees and 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."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+
+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
+generous than 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 toward the 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 to
+_Castillo Descanso_, and only 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 a _casus belli_, especially if the message left with the
+engineer of the tugboat had 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 to _Castillo
+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.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+
+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 is _their_ boat, 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 have crippled 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 let
+the 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 ones on 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 for _him_ than for _me_," was the significant comment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+
+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 are cramming 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 with _you_ for 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."
+
+"It _must_ be 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, amid whom 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!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+
+General Yozarro's red-hot temper burst into uncontrollable flame, and
+he committed a blunder which allowed the game to flit when it was
+within his grasp. To the consternation of every one, he gave an
+instant order to fire upon the sailboat. The officers protested, but
+the Dictator was irrestrainable. He hurried down from the upper deck
+and ordered two sailors to train the gun at the front on the little
+craft. The better to accomplish this, he shouted to the Captain to
+slacken speed, so as not to distract the aim of the gunners.
+
+For a minute or two Major Starland could not believe what he heard,
+but the movements on board the tug left no doubt of the frightful
+purpose of the raging creature on the larger boat. Holding the tiller
+steady and keeping the head of the small craft straight toward shore,
+the Major said to his sister:
+
+"If they hit us, it will be by accident; you would better stoop your
+head."
+
+She instantly obeyed and he leaned forward himself, so as to offer as
+small a target as possible. Captain Guzman and Martella sat
+motionless, watching the tug rushing down upon them and ready to leap
+ashore the instant they came within reach.
+
+All a-tremble with the intensity of his rage, General Yozarro stood to
+the rear and beside the six-pounder whose muzzle was pointed toward
+the little boat. He measured with his eye when the right instant came,
+and snapped the lanyard. A spout of smoke and flame shot from the
+muzzle and the boom rolled across the river and was echoed from the
+further shore, as the solid missile sped on its errand.
+
+Barely more than a hundred yards separated the two craft, when the
+explosion came. General Yozarro had aimed to sink the other boat,
+reckless of the lives he sacrificed. It may have been and it probably
+was because he took the best aim he could, that the ball missed the
+catboat by twenty feet and crashed harmlessly into the jungle beyond.
+
+The delay caused by the slackening speed of the tug gave our friends
+the chance they were prompt to use. Not the slightest change had been
+made in the course of the craft, whose prow the next moment impinged
+sharply against the shore, and Captain Guzman and Martella sprang out.
+Instead of running away, however, they seized the gunwale and tugged
+to draw the bow up the bank.
+
+Grasping the hand of his sister, Major Starland dashed after them.
+They had the length of the boat to travel, but quickly did it and
+joined their friends on land.
+
+"Why do you dally?" he called angrily; "if you wait another minute,
+you will be taken! Off with you!"
+
+"Fret not about us," was the gruff response of Martella; "attend to
+the Señorita, and we'll look after ourselves."
+
+The great fear in the minds of all was that General Yozarro would fire
+the rear gun. It would take a few minutes to bring it to bear, and,
+although neither he nor his men knew how to aim to hit, an accident
+might result in harm. The passing seconds were of measureless value.
+
+But, before the tug could veer, a gleam of returning reason came to
+the ruffian. He had done an outrageous thing, but providentially
+without evil consequences. It would not do for him to repeat the
+crime. He might claim, as doubtless he meant to claim, that the first
+shot was fired as a warning to bring the smaller craft to, though in
+all his life he never tried harder to destroy and kill.
+
+He shouted to the Captain to head for land, and the officer did so
+with a skill born of experience. In rounding to, he narrowly missed
+smashing the smaller boat.
+
+Now, through one of those coincidences which occur oftener in this
+life than is supposed, the catboat had touched shore at the opening of
+a clearly-marked trail, leading into the interior. It was pure chance
+or providence, for even Martella knew nothing of the path, which was
+one of many that wound down to the river. It was his intention to
+plunge into the jungle with no other thought than that of immediately
+finding a hiding place for his friends and himself, when he happened
+upon the path. Yielding to impulse, he called out the fact and told
+the others to follow, as he hurried up the slight incline.
+
+But a few paces told him this would never do, for their pursuers would
+be right behind them. He abruptly stopped.
+
+"We must turn off," he said, "and let them pass us."
+
+"They may not do so," suggested Starland.
+
+"They will not know where to look for us."
+
+He began picking a course among the matted vegetation, unmindful of
+the dangers that might threaten. Miss Starland went next, then her
+brother, and then Captain Guzman. They penetrated no more than twenty
+feet, when, at a whispered word from Martella, all halted, and, as
+they had done earlier in the evening, watched for their pursuers to
+pass. In this instance, however, the path was so screened that nothing
+could be seen, and our friends depended wholly upon their sense of
+hearing.
+
+Less than ten minutes elapsed between the landing of the two parties.
+General Yozarro was the first to set foot on shore, and, noting the
+trail, he started up it on a lope, with the others hurrying after him.
+Their footsteps were heard by the crouching fugitives, who were unable
+to see a single shadowy form.
+
+"How long will they keep that up?" asked Major Starland when the last
+had gone by.
+
+"Not long," answered Captain Guzman; "they know the Señorita cannot
+travel fast, and that, if we took the trail, they must quickly come up
+with us."
+
+"Failing to overtake us, what will they do next?"
+
+But for the darkness, the Captain would have been seen to shrug his
+shoulders. It was the deserter who spoke:
+
+"They can do nothing but wait."
+
+"Martella, I am now ready to join you in capturing the tugboat."
+
+"_Esta buena! Esta buena!_" whispered the delighted fellow; "it makes
+no difference, if there is more risk, for we do not know how many they
+have left behind."
+
+"Hang the risk! Lead on!"
+
+In his eagerness, Martella took no pains to hide the noise of tearing
+through the jungle, and the next moment they emerged into the trail
+again. The Major had already instructed his sister to stay at the
+rear, with the Captain directly in front of her. There was likely to
+be sharp fighting, and she must keep out of it.
+
+"When we rush aboard, remain on the bank till I call to you."
+
+She promised to do as told, and the three men, their heads bent
+forward, went down the trail at the double quick, she readily keeping
+pace with them. The brief distance was quickly passed, and the three
+drew together on the edge of the river, just within the shadow.
+
+"The Captain is in the pilot house," whispered Martella, indicating
+the figure of a man who had seated himself; "but I don't think there
+are any others beside the engineer and firemen."
+
+"Leave the Captain to me," said the American, who sprang into the
+moonlight and led the way up the gang plank with the two at his heels.
+In his left hand was his rifle and in his right his revolver.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+
+In his haste General Yozarro had given no orders to secure the tugboat
+in place, nor was there need of doing so. The water was deep enough to
+permit the craft to lie against the bank, where it was held by the
+gentle turning of the screw. With a few more vigorous revolutions, the
+prow would have gouged into the bank, or taken the boat into the river
+on the proper direction of the wheel.
+
+Running across the gangplank, with a firearm in each hand, Major
+Starland bounded up the few steps leading to the upper deck. The
+Captain of the boat was seated in the pilot house, calmly smoking a
+cigarette while he waited. His gaze being turned dreamily toward the
+river, he saw nothing of the intruder, or, if he heard his footsteps,
+he was not disturbed. His awakening came, when the athletic American
+strode forward and thrust a revolver through the window of the pilot
+house.
+
+"Do as I tell you and you won't be hurt; try to do different and I'll
+blow your brains out!"
+
+These words, uttered in Spanish, were to the point. Without them, the
+action of the officer would have made his meaning clear. The Captain
+was cooler and braver than any of his countrymen. He did not stir, but
+looking into the face of the other, removed his cigarette and said:
+
+"I shall be pleased, Señor, to be told in what way I can serve you."
+
+"You shall learn in a moment; at present continue smoking, and hold
+yourself ready for orders."
+
+He bowed and with a smile that showed his even white teeth, replied:
+
+"I am happy to do as you say."
+
+"Are you armed?"
+
+"I am the Captain of this boat; General Yozarro does not allow me to
+attend to any other duty; I have no weapon on me; would you prefer to
+search me?"
+
+"I accept your word."
+
+The Major turned to look for Guzman and Martella. The sound of voices
+showed that they were on the boat.
+
+[Illustration: "A DARING CAPTURE."]
+
+"Warrenia," he called, "come aboard!"
+
+She was alert and moved quickly up the plank.
+
+"Now, Captain, steam out into the river."
+
+"Pardon me, do you not wish the gangplank drawn in?"
+
+"We have no time; do not wait."
+
+The Captain was on his feet, one hand resting on a spoke of the wheel,
+while the other gripped the curved piece of brass, which being drawn
+upward twice sent an order to the engineer to back the boat. Major
+Starland stood listening with some misgiving, for he did not know how
+things had gone below. The response, however, indicated that all was
+well, for almost on the instant, the screw began churning, and the
+boat slowly receded, allowing the gangplank, after being drawn askew,
+to drop with a splash into the water.
+
+Knowing the purpose of their leader, Guzman and Martella had hurried
+into the engine room, where Valentin Herrera, the engineer, was found
+dozing. The place was smotheringly hot, and below, the firemen were
+asleep, so used to it that they would have slumbered in tophet itself.
+
+There was consternation for a moment, but it did not take the
+visitors long to impress upon the men that the boat had been captured
+and that their lives depended upon their prompt acceptance of the
+changed conditions.
+
+"How many are with you?" asked the engineer, who knew his former
+fireman so well that he did not feel much personal fear of him.
+
+"Enough to hold you all at our mercy."
+
+"You know Captain Ortega is in the wheelhouse."
+
+"Major Starland has attended to him."
+
+"I have heard no pistol shot."
+
+"The Captain is a wise man and has surrendered; Valentin, I want to
+make General Yozarro angrier than before," added Martella with a grin.
+
+"He cannot be any angrier than he has been ever since I gave him your
+message; but I accept the situation. He cannot condemn his men for
+being overpowered when he leaves them no weapons with which to fight.
+You needn't fret about the firemen or me--"
+
+Just then the gong clinked in response to the switching in the pilot
+house above.
+
+"That means go back."
+
+"I wouldn't wait, Valentin; our leader, _el Americano_, is impatient,
+and is quick to use the revolver he carries."
+
+"It is my duty to obey orders," commented the engineer, with another
+grin, as he made the necessary shifting of cranks and levers to set
+the machinery to plunging and swinging. The drowsy firemen cared
+little for what was going on over their heads and slouchily threw
+wood into the furnace.
+
+"It is my wish to go to Zalapata," Major Starland explained to the
+Captain of the tug; "General Yozarro set out to take my sister there
+last night, but seems to have changed his mind, for he brought her
+only part way. We will now complete the journey."
+
+"At the highest speed, Señor?"
+
+The American did not catch the significance of this question, but
+accidentally he made the best answer.
+
+"There is no haste necessary; we shall be able to reach there soon
+after sunrise; you know how fast to go; am I understood?"
+
+"Perfectly, Señor."
+
+Feeling himself master of the craft, Starland now went back into the
+Captain's cabin to see his sister, whom he found seated in the
+quarters which had been occupied by her and the Señorita Estacardo
+the evening before. Although this species of craft are not intended
+to carry passengers, outside the necessary equipment, General Yozarro
+had caused the small compartment to be fitted up and furnished
+suitably for the entertainment of guests. The swinging lamp was
+lighted overhead, and the bottles, glasses and fragments of cigarettes
+showed how the Dictator and his friends had spent most of the time in
+coming from Atlamalco.
+
+Miss Starland was flustered and nervous, but the cool self possession
+of her brother greatly reassured her.
+
+"That was a clever trick we played upon the scamp," said he with a
+smile.
+
+"What do you intend to do with the boat?"
+
+"Take you to Zalapata; it would serve him right if I scuttled it, but
+I will turn it over to Bambos to keep or destroy as he pleases--"
+
+She was about to speak, when shouts and calls caused both to hurry
+outside. As might have been anticipated, General Yozarro and his party
+had speedily returned and had halted on the edge of the river, the
+President shouting his orders for Captain Ortega to return at once.
+The Major, standing beside the pilot house, could not deny himself
+the pleasure of answering for the other.
+
+"The Captain is under my orders; he cannot obey you."
+
+"That is my boat!" howled General Yozarro; "return at once or suffer
+the consequences of your thievery."
+
+"I'll suffer the consequences, but I am only borrowing it for a little
+while; you did not seem to be able to deliver Miss Starland to
+Zalapata, and I will do it myself; I place at your disposal the small
+boat we left behind."
+
+"I shall make known your crime to your government," shouted the
+Dictator, for nothing better to say.
+
+"I shall be glad; perhaps it would be better to lay it before The
+Hague Tribunal. The whole world will be interested in learning what a
+cowardly wretch calls himself President of the Atlamalcan Republic."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+
+It is quite probable that General Yozarro felt himself unequal to the
+situation, for he said nothing more. He could plainly be seen standing
+out in front of his friends, who, he noted, were busy at something.
+They were hoisting the sail of the catboat and the whole party
+scrambled aboard, as it was shoved from shore. Their weight sank the
+craft low, but it buoyed them safely, and the smaller craft began its
+pursuit of the larger one, somewhat after the manner of a handcar
+chasing a locomotive.
+
+As before, there was no comparison in their speed, despite the fact
+that the tug had slowed down considerably. Major Starland ordered the
+Captain to hold their relative position. His contempt for the ruffian
+Dictator was so deep that he could not forbear exulting over him.
+
+The men in the fire room knew that they had no choice except to obey
+the orders sent down to them. No responsibility could attach to them,
+and the American would visit fearful punishment upon any disobedience
+or treachery.
+
+Guzman and Martella came to the upper deck, where Major Starland was
+holding converse with Captain Ortega.
+
+"I wish," said the Major, speaking too low for the Captain to hear
+him, "you would find out how many are in the boat yonder. I make it
+six."
+
+The three gave several minutes to scrutiny and agreed there were
+seven, which was more than had been supposed.
+
+"And all are heavily armed, some with pistols and some with swords; if
+they should come alongside, they could give us a pretty fight."
+
+Captain Guzman took it upon himself to say:
+
+"General Yozarro and Captain Sepulveda--if he is there--are the
+biggest cowards in the Atlamalcan army, but the others are fighters. I
+know three of them who are worse than tiger cats. They are eager for a
+chance to attack us."
+
+"And they should have it, but for two reasons: it will be too great a
+trial for my sister. We could beat them off, except for the danger in
+our rear."
+
+The two looked inquiringly at the American.
+
+"That Captain at the wheel is one of the bravest of men. He is devoted
+to General Yozarro, or at least holds him in fear; the moment he
+gained a chance to strike a blow for him he would strike hard, no
+matter at what risk to himself."
+
+"He carries no arms; he has no chance."
+
+"He may know where he can lay hand on a weapon; if he attacked us
+behind, while we were repelling boarders--as I am sure he would--the
+jig would be up. So I have ordered him to keep the present distance
+between us and their boat. After awhile, we shall pull away from
+them."
+
+There was no driving off the uneasiness regarding Captain Ortega.
+Starland sauntered over to the pilot house, and, with assumed
+carelessness, kept furtive watch of the man. He could see nothing
+suspicious in his deportment. He had flung away his cigarette, and
+both hands were upon the spokes of the wheel, which now and then were
+shifted slightly as cause arose. He peered keenly ahead, for the
+bifurcated river has its treacherous places, like our own Mississippi,
+and he who guides so large a craft in its current has need to keep his
+wits about him. The moonlight gave a fine view of the broad stream,
+and the Captain seemed to feel no interest in anything else.
+
+"I don't know whether he is up to mischief or not," reflected the
+American; "if he is, he is mighty sly. Let him try to play me false
+and I won't hesitate a minute to shoot him."
+
+The Major looked toward the other boat, which instead of trailing
+directly at the rear, was following a parallel course, about half way
+between the tug and the southern shore, and some two hundred yards to
+the rear. Filled with so many men, the craft looked like a variegated
+bouquet floating down the muddy Rio Rubio.
+
+It was the fact that General Yozarro maintained a pursuit which,
+in the nature of things, was hopeless, that caused Major Starland
+misgiving. It must be that the Dictator was counting upon some move
+in his favor by the Captain of the tug, which held the former to
+his course, and the latter was biding his time. Studying hard, the
+American could think of no scheme which promised the slightest success
+in this direction, but none the less, he was convinced that something
+was on foot, and that it could be frustrated only by alertness on his
+own part.
+
+In this uncomfortable frame of mind, he came down from the upper deck
+and followed his two friends forward, where they were leaning against
+the pile of wood near the gun. Both were smoking and occasionally
+glancing up at the pilot house, as if they too were apprehensive of
+the man, whose head and shoulders were in sight. He had resumed
+smoking and the tip of his cigarette glowed in the moonlight.
+
+The three stood for a few minutes without speaking, when Martella
+straightened up and asked in a low voice:
+
+"Have you noticed, Major, that our speed has increased within the last
+few minutes?"
+
+The American looked off over the water and then at the shore, but
+could see nothing to enlighten him.
+
+"The other boat is falling behind," said Captain Guzman.
+
+Glancing at the smaller craft, all doubt was instantly removed. The
+tug was steadily drawing away from it.
+
+"Captain," he called, looking up at the pilot house; "we are going too
+fast; slacken your speed."
+
+"As you please, Señor; I beg your pardon."
+
+The signal was sent down to the engineer, who quickly brought about a
+diminution in the progress of the tug.
+
+"Probably it was unintentional--"
+
+At that moment, all felt a jar through the craft, accompanied by such
+a rapid slackening of pace that the three took an involuntary step
+forward.
+
+"We've run aground!" exclaimed Starland.
+
+"There's no doubt of it," calmly added Martella.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+
+"It was done purposely!" added the American, placing his hand on his
+revolver. Glancing up from where he stood, the head and shoulders of
+Captain Ortega were in fair sight through the lowered slide at the
+front of the pilot house. He made no attempt to elude the bullet that
+he must have expected.
+
+But prudence told the American to wait. The services of the other were
+too valuable for the time to be thrown away, even though the man was
+under suspicion. Besides, there was one chance in a hundred that the
+mishap was unintentional.
+
+Hardly had the motion of the boat ceased, when the double clinking of
+the gong in the engine room sounded, accompanied by the jangling of
+the bell, which called upon the engineer to reverse instantly at full
+speed. The water at the stern was threshed into muddy foam, but the
+craft did not slide off the incline up which it had partly glided.
+
+"Give her full head!" called Major Starland.
+
+"We are doing so, Señor!" replied the placid Captain.
+
+"Your life depends on getting the boat off."
+
+The other made no reply, but with the hand on the pulse of his
+patient, as may be said, he noted all the symptoms. He was seen to
+turn and look in the direction of the catboat, as if he expected
+something from that. He was not disappointed.
+
+General Yozarro and his friends were quick to note the mishap that had
+befallen the tug and they headed their craft toward it. They meant to
+board, and, despite the bravery of the defenders they were quite
+certain to succeed, since, as has been shown, the "house was divided
+against itself."
+
+The American dashed to the stern, calling upon Guzman to follow. It
+took them but a moment to turn the muzzle of the gun so that it bore
+directly upon the catboat.
+
+"If you come any nearer, I'll blow you out of water!"
+
+Then the Major added a bit of information which perhaps was
+superfluous:
+
+"We Americans always hit what we aim at."
+
+General Yozarro saw that it would never do. He was heard to speak
+sharply to the man at the tiller, and the small boat immediately
+veered off. Daring as some of the inmates might be, they had not the
+courage to advance straight against the throat of a gaping
+six-pounder.
+
+"Martella, take charge of the other gun!" called the Major to the
+deserter, who, as quick as himself to note the danger, had stepped
+to the side of the second piece of ordnance. The two half-circles
+commanded by these included the whole horizon, a fact which General
+Yozarro and his comrades were not likely to forget.
+
+It would seem that it was impossible for Captain Ortega, with the aid
+of the engineer, to effect any change in the position of the tugboat,
+while it stuck to the submerged bank, like a bull ramming its head
+against a stone wall. Instead of staying motionless the stern swung
+slowly to the right and then to the left, as if trying to wriggle its
+nose out of the mud. This caused the muzzle of the cannon to wabble,
+sometimes being directed straight at the sailboat, and sometimes to
+one side of it. But the gun was so easily shifted that the American
+could readily perfect the aim whenever he chose, and that would be
+done the instant the enemy tried to run in upon him.
+
+There was a fighting chance for the Atlamalcans. They were so near
+that by fiddling back and forth they might by a sudden dash close in.
+Most likely, had the wind been strong they would have tried this, but
+the breeze remained so soft that quick action was impossible. The
+situation was so critical that Major Starland warned the others of
+what was certain to follow an attempt to board.
+
+"General Yozarro, I hold a repeating rifle in my hand; you are in
+clear view; just before firing the cannon, I shall shoot you, and when
+I pull trigger, you'll drop!"
+
+The Dictator was on his feet about to summon the others to surrender,
+with threats of the consequences that would follow a refusal. The
+words of the American threw him into a panic and in his haste to
+scramble back, he tumbled over the man directly behind him, not
+ceasing his frantic efforts till he was cowering at the stern.
+
+The laugh of the American was heard, before he called out:
+
+"I'll pick you out, no matter where you are in the boat, but I sha'n't
+fire till you try to run in on us. We'll rake you fore and aft, and if
+you don't believe what I say, all you have to do is to test me."
+
+The General could be heard consulting with his officers. Evidently the
+counsels were divided and some favored making the rush, despite its
+danger, for, as has been shown, not all of them were poltroons, but
+that awful threat of the American had done what it was intended to
+do. Had General Yozarro followed his own promptings, he would have
+withdrawn, but he lacked the courage to do that, and in his dilemma
+tried diplomacy.
+
+"Major Starland, I have naught against you, though you have stolen my
+property, but I have the right to demand that you surrender the
+deserter with you. Do that, and we will trouble you no more."
+
+"You are not troubling me in the least; I'm enjoying this, though it
+doesn't seem to give you much amusement. However, you may as well save
+your words regarding the noble Martella, who has served us so well. He
+has cast his fate with us and I consider him worth a thousand such as
+you."
+
+There was really no call for the General to keep up the conversation
+and he subsided. The action of the current steadily bore his boat
+forward, but the helmsman shied off toward the northern bank, and bye
+and bye, was farther down stream than the tug. Either one or the other
+of the six-pounders carefully followed the relative change of
+position, and an eighth of a mile below the smaller craft glided out
+of sight around a sweeping bend in the river.
+
+All this time the screw of the tugboat was viciously churning, but the
+prow held fast. Once or twice a trembling of the hull seemed to show a
+partial lessening of the hold, but nothing more.
+
+The danger of boarding having passed for the time, Major Starland
+returned to the cabin to speak to his sister. She had understood
+everything that had taken place and needed no cheering. Then he
+rejoined Captain Guzman and Martella at the front.
+
+"We are free of the General for awhile."
+
+"But there is no saying for how long," remarked the Captain.
+
+"What do you think he means to do?"
+
+"I cannot guess, unless it is to keep on to Zalapata and to appeal to
+General Bambos."
+
+"Which is likely to be bad for you, Captain, unless Bambos is anxious
+after all to go to war, as he pretended the other day."
+
+"I think," said Martella, "he means to get more men and attack the
+boat."
+
+"But where will he get the men from? He is a long way from Atlamalco."
+
+"Yet not very far from _Castillo Descanso_, where he has quite a force
+as you know."
+
+"That will take many hours and we shall not stay here forever."
+
+"There is no saying how long it will be."
+
+"I must have a few words with the Captain."
+
+Major Starland immediately left the lower deck and climbed to the
+pilot house, where the executive of the tugboat, having nothing
+pressing on his hands, had sat down on the stool placed there for his
+convenience and was smoking another cigarette. Looking around, as he
+heard the footsteps, he touched his forefinger to his hat and said:
+
+"_Buenas noches_, Señor! We are still fast."
+
+"That cannot be disputed."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+
+The American leaned on the bottom of the slide, with his face scarcely
+two feet from the other, and with the revolver at his hip within
+instant reach.
+
+"Captain Ortega, will you answer a question truly?"
+
+"That depends upon the question, Señor; if I answer at all, it shall
+be truly, but I may choose to leave it unanswered."
+
+"Did you run this boat aground on purpose?"
+
+Captain Ortega took two or three complacent whiffs, gazed off over the
+moonlit river and then removing the wisp of tobacco from between his
+lips, smiled, and looking into the face before him, coolly replied:
+
+"I did, Señor."
+
+"It was after my warning to you."
+
+"Begging pardon, Señor, it could not well have been before."
+
+"What did you hope to accomplish?"
+
+"To help General Yozarro to recover his boat."
+
+"How?"
+
+"I expected him to dash forward and board."
+
+"He lacked the courage to attempt it."
+
+"I am sorry to agree with you."
+
+"But he was wise; I kept one of the guns continually bearing upon him
+and would have blown him and his men to kingdom come."
+
+Again the Captain puffed his cigarette. He looked dreamily down the
+river where the sailing craft had passed from sight.
+
+"You would not have harmed General Yozarro or anyone in the boat."
+
+"You are insulting, Captain; I could not have missed them."
+
+"The port gun had no charge in it!"
+
+"Good heavens! is that the truth?" demanded the astounded American.
+
+"You have only to examine the piece for yourself to learn that it is."
+
+"Did General Yozarro know it?"
+
+The Captain puffed several times so hard that the point of fire
+touched his mustache, then he impatiently flung the bit out of the
+window. Superbly self-possessed as he was, he could not conceal his
+anger.
+
+"How could he help knowing it, when by his own orders the charge was
+withdrawn before we left Atlamalco? What his whim was I didn't ask and
+do not care."
+
+"Knowing that, why did he hesitate?"
+
+"Because," replied Captain Ortega with a sneer, "he feared you might
+have learned the truth, and reloaded the gun. I had no way of telling
+him different."
+
+"Why did you not tell _me_?"
+
+Looking straight in the eyes of the American, the Captain said:
+
+"I am an Atlamalcan!"
+
+"And the best of the lot! But, Captain, did you not fear I would carry
+out my threat of shooting you when you ran the boat aground?"
+
+"I expected you to _try_ to do so, but I, too, should have done some
+shooting also."
+
+"You told me you were unarmed."
+
+"And when I said I had no weapon on me, it was the truth, but I did
+not tell you that I did not know where to lay hand on a revolver
+whenever it should become necessary."
+
+"I respect your frankness; I can suspect your plan, but may I not hear
+it from your own lips?"
+
+"I was on guard, and had you raised your weapon when standing below, I
+should have fired my own first, and pardon me, Señor, I should not
+have missed. Your two friends were also in fair range and would have
+received my attention in the same moment."
+
+"I must consider it fortunate that I did not act on my impulse, for at
+no time did I fear anything of that nature from you. Having refrained,
+what then was your plan?"
+
+"I had not a doubt that General Yozarro would board, having every
+reason to believe the port gun was empty, without any such thought on
+your part. The moment he tried to do so, I should have left the wheel
+and done what I could to help him; I think I should have been able to
+give him some assistance, Señor--I beg your pardon, I think I heard
+you called Major."
+
+"Little doubt you would; it was that I feared more than anything else,
+though I doubted your having a pistol. My fear of you was my chief
+reason for trying to frighten them off from boarding."
+
+Captain Ortega seemed to think the subject entertaining, for he lit
+another cigarette--first offering the box to the American--crossed his
+legs, leaned back at his leisure, looked smilingly up in the
+American's face, and said in an even voice:
+
+"It may be treason, Major, but General Yozarro is a coward! He spoiled
+everything by refusing to attack, when nearly every man in his boat
+was eager for it. When I was on the point of calling to him that the
+gun was empty, he tumbled back in the boat at your threat. I was so
+filled with contempt that I vowed I would give him no help; I shall do
+nothing more to aid him, for, after I opened the door, he was too
+scared to enter it. To prove I am in earnest, Major, I now surrender
+my only weapon."
+
+With which he drew out a beautiful silver-mounted revolver from under
+his loose jacket and extended it, with the muzzle turned toward
+himself, to the wondering American.
+
+"I decline to take it, provided you will give me your parole to remain
+neutral in whatever may occur while I am on this craft."
+
+"You have my pledge," said the Captain, shoving the weapon back.
+
+"Can you tell me what General Yozarro is likely to do?"
+
+"I can, but to do so, would be a violation of my neutrality."
+
+"A fair hit!" laughed the American; "I spoke without thought, but it
+will not touch the question of neutrality if you tell me how much
+longer we are likely to remain fast in the mud."
+
+"You may be aware that we feel the ocean tide to some extent in this
+part of the Rio Rubio. Some time beyond midnight, if we do not drive
+farther upon the shoal, the tide will lift us clear. You may not have
+noticed, Major, that the screw has been driving us forward most of
+the time, instead of backward. It is doing so now, but with your
+permission, I will order the engineer to reverse."
+
+"Well, I'll be hanged! I heard you do that a good while ago."
+
+"That signal was for _your_ benefit; there was another sent down the
+tube for the private ear of the engineer which you did not hear."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+
+Major Starland thrust his hand through the window of the pilot house.
+
+"Give me the pleasure, Captain."
+
+The other smilingly returned the pressure. Each saluted and the
+American passed back into the cabin, where his sister awaited him.
+He explained the situation.
+
+"Do you know who he is, Jack?"
+
+"I believe his name is Captain Ramon Ortega."
+
+"Have you never heard it before?"
+
+"It seems to have a familiar sound, but I cannot identify it."
+
+"He is the betrothed of Manuela."
+
+"Why didn't I remember it? I can't help admiring the fellow, for he is
+the soul of honor."
+
+"She could have told you that."
+
+"You and he are acquaintances, but he does not seem to recognize you."
+
+"He cannot fail to know me, for we have met, but I think he prefers to
+be a stranger, while our relations are so peculiar. He will not allow
+me to leave without a few words."
+
+"Great heavens! I came near shooting him, but I guess it wasn't any
+nearer than he came to shooting me. He is as brave as he is high
+minded."
+
+The young woman had removed the remnants of the feast left by General
+Yozarro and his guests so that the small, richly furnished apartment
+looked tidy and attractive. She reclined on the silken covered lounge
+placed against the side of the cabin, and her brother bade her good
+night and returned to his comrades, seated at the front and talking in
+low tones. To them the Major told of his talk with Captain Ortega.
+
+"You do not doubt what he told you, Major?" said Guzman inquiringly.
+
+"It is impossible."
+
+"General Yozarro has not a braver or more honorable officer in his
+army. Three years ago, when we were at war with Atlamalco, and neither
+republic owned a fleet, we had a fight with three hundred Atlamalcans
+in the mountains. Each force was about the same and it was one of the
+hottest fights I ever saw, for the respective forces were commanded by
+Generals Bambos and Yozarro."
+
+"Did each take a personal part in it?"
+
+"Yes," replied Captain Guzman with a grin and shrug of the shoulders,
+"that is to say, so far as directing matters was concerned. I saw
+Bambos peeping out from behind a big rock, swinging his sword,
+shouting and yawping till he seemed ready to burst, but taking good
+care when the bullets were whistling near that he was out of reach. I
+didn't see anything of Yozarro, but--"
+
+"I did," interrupted Martella; "he was in a deep hollow and made sure
+his head never rose a half inch above the edge. He did his part too in
+bellowing orders, but I don't suppose he commanded any more attention
+than Bambos, Captain."
+
+"Both forces fought independently of their leaders."
+
+"You commanded yours, Captain, and did it well."
+
+"Not so well as Captain Ortega, for it was that thundergust flank
+movement which drove us headlong out of the mountains, with some of
+the men never halting till they reached Zalapata. Captain Ortega and
+no one else won that battle."
+
+"General Yozarro knows his worth," said Martella; "he would have made
+him a general long ago if it was not that he is jealous of him. He
+is the only one I know who doesn't fear General Yozarro. They often
+quarrel, for the Captain is plain of speech to every one. Yozarro has
+announced that he means to make him admiral of the fleet which he
+intends to build up. That I suppose is why he has placed him in charge
+of the gunboat, so that he shall have all the training and experience
+he can."
+
+"How does he feel toward you, Martella?"
+
+The native gave his usual shrug and grinned.
+
+"I know enough to keep away from him. He will never forgive me for
+deserting. He knows my grievance and may pity me, but he would be glad
+to shoot me, if he had a fair excuse for doing so. I don't mean to
+tempt him, even if he has given you his pledge of neutrality and is
+the most honorable of men. If General Yozarro finds fault with him, it
+will be just like Captain Ortega to say right before all the other
+officers 'I gave you a chance, but you had not the courage to use it
+and I would not waste any more effort on you.'"
+
+None of the three could make a satisfactory forecast of the policy of
+General Yozarro. It seemed to the American that he might be able to
+secure two or three pieces of cannon and open a bombardment of the
+boat from the shore, but this presupposed an unreasonable delay.
+Captain Guzman said:
+
+"He has no way of getting cannon this side of Atlamalco, and that
+would take a day or two; he has no wish to destroy his own property,
+and, if he had such a wish, he couldn't do it, for only by accident
+would he hit the boat."
+
+"That squelches my theory, which I didn't believe in myself. I'll have
+another talk with the Captain, though his sense of honor isn't likely
+to allow him to say much."
+
+It was beyond midnight and the two were conversing in a friendly way,
+but without anything important being said, when they looked in each
+other's face with a pleased expression. A welcome fact had become
+known to both at the same moment.
+
+"The boat is moving," whispered the American.
+
+With the screw motionless, she had been lifted clear by the tide and
+now swung clear. The Captain drew out his watch and held it so the
+moonlight lit up the face.
+
+"There is no reaching Zalapata until toward noon, provided we get
+there with this gunboat, Major."
+
+The significant intonation and smile which accompanied these words
+puzzled the American, who would have given much to have had them
+explained. But it was useless to question the Captain and the only
+comfort was in the thought that he was an honorable foe.
+
+"Now for Zalapata!" he added.
+
+"I assume, Captain, that you are familiar with all the windings and
+dangers of the river."
+
+"Didn't I prove it by running aground? But there will be no more
+mishaps of that nature while I hold the wheel."
+
+"Your pledge is sufficient," remarked the American, who again passed
+to the lower deck and joined his friends. He told them of the curious
+remark of Captain Ortega, but none of the three could guess his
+meaning.
+
+"The only thing that is certain," said Captain Guzman, "is that
+General Yozarro and the rest are somewhere down the river and we
+shall hear more from them."
+
+No one felt any disposition to sleep and none really needed rest. The
+engineer and firemen caught cat naps whenever they could. Captain
+Ortega was probably in the same state with his three male passengers.
+His duties did not require long runs as a rule, but the present demand
+having arisen, he was equal to twenty hours or more at a stretch.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+
+The tropical night wore away and the growing light in the east showed
+that day was dawning. With the exception of the men who wrought below,
+Miss Starland was the only one who slept during those monotonous
+hours, but she was astir early, and with the help of Martella set
+about preparing the morning meal for the crew and passengers. General
+Yozarro could be counted upon to carry a well stocked larder, and
+little solid food is required in so warm a country. Many of the fish
+in the bifurcated river are of delicious flavor, but rice and fruit
+form the principal diet. She prepared coffee and the first food that
+was ready was taken below by Martella for the men who did the hardest
+work.
+
+"The Captain must not be forgotten, Martella; will you carry a tray to
+him?"
+
+"Not for all the gold in the Rubio Mountains; you told me you allowed
+him to keep his pistol."
+
+"True, as you said, it isn't best to tempt him too far; I will take
+his food to him."
+
+"Permit me to do so," interposed Captain Guzman, who thereupon
+performed the pleasing task. Ortega was first invited to come to the
+cabin to join them, but he replied that his duties required him to
+remain in the pilot house. The delicate feeling that prompted his
+refusal was understood by the brother and sister.
+
+Just as the meal was finished, all were startled by the hoarse,
+tremulous whistle overhead. Two long blasts sounded, and the clink of
+the little brass lever was heard as it dropped back to its resting
+place against the sounding tube.
+
+"What does that mean?" asked Major Starland, who the next moment
+bounded to his feet and hurried to the Captain, with Guzman at his
+heels.
+
+"Captain, what is the cause of that signal; have you so soon forgotten
+your neutrality?"
+
+"It is a salutation to the steamer just coming round the bend.
+Listen!"
+
+A sepulchral tremolo rumbled across the water, and the topmast of a
+craft was discerned gliding along over the stunted tops of the timber
+growing on the projecting point of land which for the moment shut the
+hull from view. From the highest point fluttered the most beautiful
+flag ever bathed in the sunlight of heaven. It seemed to be bounding
+forward as if borne at the head of a charging regiment.
+
+"By heavens!" exclaimed the happy American, to whom the answering
+signal was one of the most familiar sounds on earth; "that's the
+_Warrenia_, my own yacht!"
+
+"I am pleased to know it," said Captain Ortega.
+
+Miss Starland was scarcely behind the others in climbing to the upper
+deck. The Captain lifted his hat, they smiled at each other, but there
+was no other sign of recognition.
+
+First the clean cut prow, with the pretty flag of the Triton Navy
+dallying from the staff, then the graceful hull and the peak with the
+flag of our country streaming in the gale created by its own motion,
+and the whole magnificent craft steamed round the bend and headed
+toward the tugboat. With dancing eyes centered upon the thrilling
+picture, our friends saw a snowy puff shoot upward from the brass
+cylinder and the old welcome signal shuddered across the water.
+
+"Will the Señorita oblige me by replying?" asked Captain Ortega. The
+radiant young woman, with a smile and inclination of her head, but
+with no further evidence that they were acquaintances, stepped into
+the door that the Captain opened for her, and grasping the cord
+answered the boat named for herself. Then, thanking the courteous
+officer, she passed out again and excitedly waved her handkerchief at
+a lady who was seen standing in front of the others at the bow.
+
+"That's Aunt Cynthia! There! she has raised her glass! She knows me!
+Bless her dear heart!"
+
+The woman had recognized her niece and her handkerchief was also
+a-flutter. An understanding was had through the signalling of the
+whistles and the two craft rapidly approached each other. Major
+Starland swung his hat in greeting, again the whistles bellowed
+across the decreasing space and all was gladness and joy.
+
+While they were yet too far apart to converse readily, the Major had
+noted another form near the pilot house, a little to one side of Aunt
+Cynthia. It was bulky and broad, was in gorgeous uniform of blue and
+gilt, with the golden sash high up in front and low at the back, and
+the point of his scabbard touching the deck.
+
+"What the mischief is General Bambos doing there?"
+
+"Probably he is a self-invited guest," suggested Captain Guzman.
+
+"True, and I can afford to welcome him; it is fortunate that the yacht
+took aboard new supplies at San Luis."
+
+The tinkling of signal bells and the reversing of screws and the
+shifting over of wheels brought the two boats so nearly alongside that
+conversation became facile among all parties. Holding off the _General
+Yozarro_, Captain Ortega waited to know the wishes of his chief
+passenger, who now became the supreme authority on both crafts.
+
+Under the manipulation of the adepts at the respective wheels, the
+boats were laid beside each other and the gangplank of the yacht
+connected the two. Miss Starland was the first to run across and was
+clasped in the arms of her delighted relative. Then her brother,
+Captain Guzman and Martella followed. General Bambos bowed as nearly
+to the deck as he could, with his plumed hat sweeping the air, and
+expressed his happiness at meeting the charming young American
+Señorita again. Then, while the boats remained lashed, he asked an
+explanation of the situation, which was a mystery to him as it was to
+nearly all the others.
+
+Major Starland took it upon himself to enlighten him and his friends,
+doing so with a succinctness that left no doubt in the mind of any
+one. The broad face grew solemn, when he succeeded at last in
+comprehending the remarkable story.
+
+"You will permit me to say, Major, that you have committed a serious
+international offence."
+
+"And I am prepared to bear all the consequences of my crime."
+
+"They are likely to be graver than you seem to think; it is your duty,
+first of all, to apologize--"
+
+"Apologize to that scoundrel of a Yozarro! I'll see him hanged first!"
+
+"You will not deny that it is your honorable duty to restore the
+Atlamalcan navy to my excellent compatriot, General Yozarro."
+
+"You seem to be concerned for the brother with whom, only a day or
+two ago, you were eager to go to war. I don't want that old tub which
+he calls a gunboat; he is welcome to it; Atlamalco holds a single
+solitary gentleman, Captain Ramon Ortega, who is up there at the
+wheel, and he is at liberty to take the boat back to his chief with my
+compliments, and that chief may go hang."
+
+"But that will hardly do; you took it by force from him and should
+return it in person. It is the only way by which an international
+complication can be prevented."
+
+Yielding to an impulse inspired by the humor of the situation, Major
+Starland said:
+
+"Very well; I'll take it upon myself to deliver the _General Yozarro_
+to its owner with my own hands."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+
+Major Jack Starland carried out his thoughtlessly formed plan. I fear
+it must be conceded that his motive was not a wholly chivalrous one.
+He saw the chance for humiliating the man for whom he felt only
+unmitigated contempt. He had not a whit of respect for the pompous
+Bambos, but the ponderous nuisance had not insulted him and his
+unpardonably. No doubt had the opportunity come to the President of
+the Zalapatan Republic, he would have acted with similar dishonor, but
+in the affairs of this world, men are judged by their deeds instead of
+their motives. Only One can be unerring in his judgments.
+
+"General Bambos and I will go aboard the tugboat and steam up the
+river till we find Yozarro. We may have to go to Atlamalco, but it
+makes no difference; the _Warrenia_ will act as our escort, and I
+shall make sure the affair is conducted in the highest style of the
+art. I don't wish to involve my government in the broil."
+
+Accordingly, after everything had been explained to Captain Winton of
+the yacht, the American officer and the General walked beside each
+other across the gangplank, which bowed threateningly under the
+unusual weight, the support was drawn in, and both craft began moving
+at moderate speed up the bifurcated river. The _Warrenia_ dropped a
+little way to the rear, and held thus while the two ascended the
+stream.
+
+Excusing himself for a few minutes, the Major left the General in the
+cabin and went forward for a few words with Captain Ortega, who,
+cigarette in mouth, smilingly saluted and welcomed him.
+
+"You understand, Captain, the arrangement that has been made?"
+
+"I heard what was said; you have agreed to turn over this boat in
+person to General Yozarro."
+
+The American nodded.
+
+"You will permit me to say, Major, that you have done a foolish thing.
+When you left the gunboat as you did, I was free to pick up the
+General and that should have been the end of the affair."
+
+"True, but I am quite willing to feed his vanity to the extent
+demanded by General Bambos; but I wish to say, Captain, that I am in
+the dark as to where we shall find your President. He sailed down the
+river ahead of us, but the yacht saw nothing of him, when it seems he
+should have been met, and we have not observed him on our way."
+
+"Pardon me, Major, you should say 'I,' not 'we.'"
+
+"Do you know where General Yozarro is?"
+
+"I have known for several hours; I believe my status has been changed
+by the late occurrences and I may speak freely."
+
+"Unquestionably; no cause remains for further secrets between us."
+
+"Then I may say that some hours ago, when you stood where you are now
+standing, discussing this question with me, my eyes were resting on
+General Yozarro."
+
+"You astonish me, Captain; be more explicit."
+
+"I knew when he sailed out of sight around the bend in the river, that
+he would not go far. He did not. He ran to the southern bank, lowered
+his sail, and pulled the boat so far under the overhanging vegetation
+that neither you nor your friends noted it. Knowing where to look, I
+was more fortunate. The General signalled to me to come to land, so
+that he and his men could attack you."
+
+"Why did you not do so? Yet it would have been your death warrant to
+have made the attempt."
+
+"That was not the reason why I did not go to him; I had given the
+General one opportunity, and was too impatient with him to provide a
+second. But, more than that, you had my parole."
+
+"True; I had forgotten that. May I ask what you think General
+Yozarro's plan is?"
+
+"He does not understand why I refused to obey his signal, and there
+will be a hot quarrel over it when we meet. He expects me to return,
+sooner or later, for he must know that the purpose of yourself is to
+reach Zalapata with the Señorita, after which I shall be at liberty to
+return to Atlamalco. I shall, therefore, find him not far from where I
+saw him a few hours ago."
+
+"I beg to renew the assurances of my distinguished consideration,
+Captain," said the American, saluting and passing back to the cabin.
+
+The massive Dictator of the Zalapatan Republic was puffing and
+striding to and fro over the short length of the cabin, the point of
+his scabbard titillating against the floor, for his steps, though of
+moderate length for an ordinary man, were long for a person of his
+build. His face was redder than ever, and it was clear that he was
+agitated over some great question that was wriggling through his
+brain.
+
+When he wheeled and faced the American, he whipped off his plumed hat
+and sagged down upon the lounge at the side of the cabin. It creaked
+but held.
+
+"Pardon me, General, you seem disturbed in mind," remarked the young
+officer, drawing up a stool and seating himself opposite.
+
+"I _am_ disturbed, Major; nothing in all the world could have happened
+to cause me greater regret."
+
+"You refer to the affair of last night; I cannot see that you have any
+concern with that."
+
+"Captain Guzman was involved with you."
+
+"If you are so afraid of offending General Yozarro, you can easily
+disavow the act of your officer, though he deserves all praise for
+what he did."
+
+"Be assured that I shall disavow his crime in the strongest terms,
+and, if General Yozarro demands it, the Captain shall be severely
+punished."
+
+"The other day, when you were talking with him and me, you were hot
+for war against Atlamalco."
+
+"True, but since then I have received a great light."
+
+The amazed American waited to catch a ray himself, but it came not and
+he said:
+
+"I delivered your message to General Yozarro yesterday."
+
+"And he received it graciously?"
+
+"Most graciously; there was no hint about sending me back to you from
+the muzzle of one of his cannon; he begged me to assure you he would
+have your complaint investigated and would do his utmost to meet your
+demands."
+
+"What I might have expected from my noble compatriot!" exclaimed the
+Dictator with greasy unctuosity; "I was sure of it."
+
+"But you did not look for such magnanimity, when in council with
+Captain Guzman and me. May I ask to what is due this marked change
+of sentiment on your part?"
+
+General Bambos lifted himself to his feet and swung across the cabin
+several times, finally crashing back to his former seat on the vexed
+lounge.
+
+"You have heard of General Simon Bolivar?" was his unexpected
+question.
+
+"Who has not? He was the great Liberator, born in Venezuela in 1783,
+who freed Peru, which then became Bolivia, and was rejected by
+Colombia, because she did not know how to appreciate his greatness.
+His was the finest character ever produced by South America."
+
+"I am glad to hear that you appreciate him," said General Bambos, his
+small black eyes glowing.
+
+"The greatest compliment ever paid General Bolivar was when he was
+called the South American Washington. _He_ is the standard by which
+the world's heroes are measured."
+
+"You have many heroes in the United States; I have read of Abraham
+Lincoln: how does _he_ compare with Washington?"
+
+"The two stand side by side, and sometimes it is hard to see which is
+foremost. One was the creator and the other the preserver of his
+nation."
+
+"How do _I_ compare with Washington and Lincoln?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+
+The question for the moment took away the breath of the American. He
+looked into the crimson, flabby countenance and wondered if the man
+was in earnest. He was. By great effort, Major Starland held back the
+laugh tugging at the corners of his mouth.
+
+"Well," said he, pulling himself together and speaking slowly,
+"perhaps you come, say within a thousand miles of each. I don't see
+how the distance can be shortened."
+
+"That depends upon the place you give others," blandly observed the
+Dictator, who accepted the rating as a compliment; "where do you place
+General Bolivar?"
+
+"I should have to make careful calculation; he might come within a
+mile or two, but remember that the modern world has not yet produced
+the peer of George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, nor do I see any
+signs that she is likely to do so. Have you been figuring on a
+comparison yourself?"
+
+"I am too modest to claim to stand on the same plane with either of
+your great heroes, but reflection convinces me that I have been
+selected by heaven to be the successor of General Simon Bolivar."
+
+"Inasmuch as to when?" said the Major gravely.
+
+"I beg pardon; I do not understand your question, Major."
+
+"I wait for you to explain _your_ meaning: what is your ambition?"
+
+"It is to form a grand confederation of South American states; as you
+know, our continent is divided into no end of petty republics. Why
+should they not unite into one powerful, resistless whole?"
+
+"The only obstacle is themselves; each country is so jealous of every
+other that it prefers to fight rather than to fuse. Zalapata and
+Atlamalco are illustrations; they are continually quarreling and at
+war over trifles that would shame a couple of schoolboys."
+
+"All that is ended; henceforth General Yozarro and I are brothers,
+and the two republics will join hands in the path of progress. Our
+example will be quickly followed by Venezuela, by Colombia, by
+Ecuador, by Bolivia, by Brazil and all the states down to and
+including Patagonia. Will not that be the grandest confederation
+the world ever saw?"
+
+"Undoubtedly--when it is formed. Is the conception your own, General?"
+
+"It is; it has been forming in my mind for weeks and months; more than
+once I was in despair, and not until last evening did the splendor of
+the scheme burst upon me in all its fulness."
+
+"You are dreaming what others dreamed before you, but the only one
+who made a fair start toward its realization was Simon Bolivar, and
+he died disappointed and brokenhearted. I suppose the first step will
+be to send ambassadors, or whatever you choose to call them, to the
+different republics of South America, proposing a meeting of
+representatives to consider the great scheme?"
+
+"That will be the first step. It will take some time for a full
+exchange of views, and a committee will be named from each government
+to draw up the plan for confederation."
+
+"Your scheme contemplates that this union shall be a republic, like my
+own country?"
+
+"No other form can flourish in the clear sunlight of liberty of South
+America."
+
+"Not the least important step, after the plan has been formulated,
+will be the choice of the Chief Magistrate; who should he be?"
+
+The American knew what was coming, but the enjoyment of prodding the
+bulky ignoramus was none the less exquisite.
+
+"The thoughts of all would naturally turn to the man who originated
+the grand scheme; they would feel profound gratitude, and inquire
+whether he is competent to carry out the plan and make the dream a
+realization; an immense majority will insist that the responsibility
+and honor shall go to him."
+
+"And in that case you would be the man?"
+
+The little head wabbled forward on the short neck.
+
+"There can be no forecasting the whims of the public; the hero of
+today is the traitor of tomorrow, and vice versa; suppose some one
+other than you should be fixed upon; suppose General Yozarro should
+be called to the head of the confederation?"
+
+The crimson countenance became more crimson; the breaths shifted to
+pants, and the tiny eyes twinkled with a sinister light.
+
+"Impossible! Such an outrage can never be."
+
+"Let us assume that it does come about; it is best, you know, to
+consider all sides of an important question."
+
+"I would never consent! I would withdraw from the union! I would
+shatter the whole scheme, if I were treated with such shameless
+ingratitude."
+
+"You forget that each republic would bring forth its own particular
+crop of favorite sons, and you would stand no more chance of selection
+than I. You declare yourself warmly in favor of the confederation;
+which do you place the higher,--the beneficent scheme itself or your
+own ambition?"
+
+"It is not ambition, sir, but simple justice that I demand _and will
+have_!"
+
+"Do you consider yourself the only man on the South American continent
+qualified to be the president of such a union?"
+
+"By no means; there are plenty beside me, but none with such paramount
+claims to the honor."
+
+"Admitting this, our own Washington or Lincoln, or any one of our
+leaders, was ready at all times to lay down his office for the good of
+his country; that, and only that spirit, is true patriotism; I don't
+believe there are ten native men between Nicaragua and the Straits
+of Magellan, who have ever experienced the feeling. Your strongest
+republics refuse to pay their just debts, and when England, Germany
+and some of the European Powers try to compel them to be honest, they
+bellow over the Monroe Doctrine and are ready to fight the United
+States because she won't come down and help them play the defaulter.
+
+"No, General; the first step toward the success of your scheme is an
+impossible one; that is, the reconstruction and making over of the
+_genus_ South American. When somewhere a so-called republic is
+set up, and a President elected for a term strictly defined by its
+Constitution, the President refuses to go out of office at the close
+of that term and starts a revolution. Several others with a similar
+ambition do the same, and there you have the normal republic in this
+part of the world. Atlamalco, Zalapata and most of your governments
+are simply world's nuisances."
+
+"Your statements, sir, are not only false but insulting; I have more
+faith in my patriotic countrymen than you, for I know them better;
+they are brave, unselfish, long suffering----"
+
+General Bambos had progressed thus far in his speech, when he emitted
+a rasping shriek, clapped his hand behind him and made so tremendous a
+leap that his crown bumped against the ceiling of the cabin. At the
+same time, the tenor of his remarks abruptly changed, and he danced
+and rubbed with pain. One of the pestilent "fire ants" of his country
+had managed to snuggle among the crevices of the lounge, and its nip
+was like that of a red hot pair of pincers.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+
+The fire ant of the tropics does not merely bite into the animal or
+person who disturbs it, but bites out, as may be said. It abstracts a
+fragment of one's anatomy, so that, had General Bambos been placed on
+a delicate pair of scales immediately before and after his nipping,
+there would have been an appreciable difference in his weight. Since
+Major Starland himself had suffered from the fierce little pest, he
+understood what had befallen the other. He tried to express his
+sympathy, but instead, threw back his head and gave way to merriment.
+
+The victim was suffering too much from his hurt to pay heed to the
+laughter which must have struck him as untimely, but no doubt he would
+have turned on the American, had not the hoarse whistle of the tugboat
+sounded, and brought him hurrying from the cabin. They were nearing
+the bend of the river around which the Major had seen the catboat
+containing General Yozarro and his friends disappear. That Captain
+Ortega was right in what he said was proved by the emergence of the
+smaller craft from under the heavy foliage along shore. In answer to
+the signal of the tug, it glided out from shelter, propelled by two of
+the men with poles. The sail was not hoisted, for the wind had fallen
+to a calm. The Captain turned to meet the catboat, for he knew the
+depth of the water permitted him to run close to the bank, but he
+halted when a few rods away and waited for the other to come up.
+
+General Yozarro could not be expected fully to understand the changed
+conditions, with the American yacht steaming forward a short way
+behind his own boat. Captain Ortega called out a brief explanation,
+and the men continued poling until the smaller craft lay alongside the
+larger one. General Bambos, holding to a stanchion with one hand,
+reached down with the other and helped his illustrious compatriot to
+climb upon his own property, the others following more nimbly, until
+all had transferred themselves, and the catboat was made fast by one
+of the crew.
+
+The President of Zalapata, saluting and bowing low, conducted the
+other dignitary to the cabin, with the officers trailing after
+them. For the moment, Major Starland found his situation a trifle
+embarrassing. General Yozarro scowled savagely at him, but the others
+paid scant attention. There was some crowding, for it will be
+remembered that the apartment was of slight size. The American waited
+till a lull came in the conversation and then, with an elaborate
+military salute, said:
+
+"General Yozarro, I have the honor of returning to you the boat which
+necessity compelled me to borrow last night."
+
+The General had seated himself on the lounge, at the risk of suffering
+the same mishap which had befallen his neighbor and still kept him
+slyly rubbing the injured part. He was too overflowing with rage to
+make any pretence to the courtesy which marked their previous chats.
+His prodigious mustache bristled, his thick lips trembled and his
+black eyes gleamed threateningly. He glared at the American, standing
+among his own officers, who made what room they could for him in the
+restricted space, and when he could command his tumultuous feelings,
+he spoke:
+
+"You come to surrender the boat! You surrender yourself also, _el
+Americano_!"
+
+"Well, hardly; I stayed aboard at the suggestion of my friend, General
+Bambos, that this thing might be done in due and ancient form.
+American citizens are not in the habit of surrendering at the demand
+or whim of any South American nobody."
+
+Removing his hat, the Major bowed low and smiled.
+
+"Does he speak the truth?" bluntly asked General Yozarro, turning to
+Bambos. The face of the American flushed at the slur, but he held
+himself in hand.
+
+"He does; he remained at my request," said General Bambos with a nod.
+
+"There were others who took part in this crime; one of them was
+Captain Guzman of your staff, General."
+
+"I need not assure you, General, that it was without my knowledge; I
+disavow what he did and will reprimand him; if Your Excellency demands
+it, I will have him shot."
+
+"Not much!" muttered Major Starland, loud enough for all to hear; "is
+that the way you reward one of your bravest officers, General Bambos?"
+
+"I rule in Zalapata without the aid of _los Americanos_," was the
+freezing reply.
+
+"And without the aid of common gratitude and decency,--_that_ is
+evident."
+
+"I will take the matter into consideration," said General Yozarro,
+whose brain was not nimble enough to decide the simplest question
+off-hand. "At present, I do not demand the death of Captain Guzman,
+but I thank you for your words, General, which is only one of the many
+proofs I have received of your disinterested friendship."
+
+If the countenance of General Bambos had not already been as crimson
+as it could well be, he would have blushed. He saluted and muttered
+something about the pleasure he felt in deserving the regard of his
+distinguished compatriot.
+
+General Yozarro strove to restrain his anger, but it was plain to
+every one that he was seething with rage. While Major Starland was
+wondering what could be the cause, the explosion came:
+
+"One of my men, the basest of wretches, deserted my service yesterday
+and allied himself to Captain Guzman and to you. He sent me the most
+shockingly insulting of messages; since he is not on this boat, he
+must be on the other."
+
+"Such is the fact, General," replied the Major, compressing his lips,
+but looking straight into the eyes of the other.
+
+"He must be surrendered to me."
+
+"I receive no orders from you; you murdered the brother of Martella,
+though he had done nothing wrong; the message he sent to you was not
+respectful perhaps, but it was better than you deserved; Martella has
+done me and mine the best of service, and he shall never be
+surrendered to you."
+
+The fury of General Yozarro threatened to suffocate him. He rose to
+his feet and the others glanced apprehensively at the face of the man
+who had dared to defy the terrible Dictator, and who folded his arms
+and still looked him calmly in the eye.
+
+"_El Americano_, you are here on my boat and here you will stay till
+that deserter takes your place. I give you the choice; if he is not
+turned over to me to be shot, you shall be shot in his stead."
+
+With all his contempt for this man, Jack Starland had never dreamed
+of anything like this. The words of Captain Ortega came back to him.
+There was a certain shadowy strength in the position of General
+Yozarro. No flag of truce had been called into use, and the American,
+after having forcibly captured the boat of the other, had voluntarily
+placed himself in his power, following the suggestion of General
+Bambos and his own impulses.
+
+It was Bambos who broke the oppressive hush by saying to him:
+
+"The words of General Yozarro are just; comply with what he demands,
+and he will be glad to restore you to your friends; am I not correct,
+General?"
+
+"I suppose so," was the sour response.
+
+"Then my answer is that I'll see the whole gang of you hanged first!
+You don't get Martella without the biggest fight of your lives, and
+you don't keep me on this old tub without a bigger fight; I'm not
+afraid of the whole pack of jail birds of you!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+
+"Arrest him!" commanded General Yozarro, speaking directly to Colonel
+Carlos Del Valle, his chief of staff, standing next to the American;
+"put him in irons."
+
+The officer addressed reached out his hand to lay on the shoulder of
+Jack Starland, who, at that instant, recalled the knockout blow he had
+given Cadet Hillman of the First Class, one memorable spring morning
+at old Fort Putnam, West Point. It was the same lightning-like stroke
+which crashed into the face of the colonel and sent him staggering and
+toppling back to the opposite side of the cabin. Then, whipping out
+his revolver, Starland backed from the cabin, ran down the steps to
+the bow of the boat, and before any one suspected his purpose, shouted
+to his own executive officer:
+
+"Captain Winton, I am betrayed! Open fire, and sink this tug!"
+
+Then he wheeled about and with leveled weapon, added:
+
+"I will kill the first man who attempts to lay a finger on me!"
+
+General Yozarro and his officers showed more promptitude than would
+have been expected. Seeing that a conflict was inevitable, they set
+out to win by their own quickness. Their armament was heavier than
+that of the American yacht,--that is to say, though his pieces carried
+smaller missiles, he had two of them, while that of the _Warrenia_ was
+a brass saluting twelve-pounder.
+
+The port gun was slewed around and pointed at the other craft, now
+within twenty-five yards, and in a twinkling it bore fairly.
+
+"Fire!" shouted the excited General, too savage to regard the usual
+preliminaries.
+
+Major Starland shuddered, for he saw the gun seemingly directed true
+and knew it must do great destruction on his yacht. The gunner snapped
+the lanyard, but a dull click followed and there was no discharge.
+
+General Yozarro uttered an oath and Captain Ortega called from the
+pilot house:
+
+"That is the one which was not loaded!"
+
+Jack Starland had forgotten the fact in the flurry of the moment. He
+smiled and looked across at his own boat. Captain Winton did not throw
+away a second. He signalled to the engine room, quickly veered, and
+the brass twelve-pounder was pointed fairly at the tug. Meantime, by
+working frantically, the gunners quickly loaded the piece on the
+Atlamalcan craft and swung it around to bear on the other.
+
+"Look out for the Major!" called Captain Winton; "he is standing at
+the front."
+
+While the native gunners were awaiting the critical second, there was
+a white puff, a red belch of flame, and a thunderous report rolled
+over the river and against the shores. A smashing sound, the
+splintering of wood and a number of yells followed, the ball having
+torn its way through the cabin and splashed into the river beyond.
+
+In this crisis, General Yozarro displayed unexpected coolness. General
+Bambos hurriedly sagged down behind the pile of wood at the front, as
+if mortally hurt, but he was merely taking precautions against
+becoming so.
+
+"Quick!" roared General Yozarro; "sink their boat!"
+
+The haste was unwise, for the gunners were not wholly lacking in
+skill, but they were flustered by the furious orders of their brutal
+chief, and fired sooner than they intended. It would have seemed
+that with so brief a distance separating the combatants a miss was
+impossible; but the heavy missile only grazed the foremast, dropping
+somewhere among the trees on the southern shore.
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted the delighted Major, swinging his hat; "let the good
+work go on! Keep it up! The Stars and Stripes forever!"
+
+Colonel Del Valle had recovered from the fierce blow that sent him
+spinning across the cabin and was aflame with anger. He, too, had a
+revolver, and, heedless of the wild turmoil and confusion, in which a
+half dozen were injured by the flying splinters, he sneaked forward
+toward the hurrahing American. He raised his hand tremulous with fury,
+and sighting as well as he could through his watery, bloody eyes, let
+fly.
+
+The crack of the weapon amid the tumult caused Major Starland to turn
+like a flash. He saw he had forgotten himself, and that in all
+probability he had a fight on his hands.
+
+"I don't want to kill you, Colonel, but you need a lesson."
+
+The officer was backing away, when at the flash of the other weapon,
+he uttered a howl and skurried into the cabin with his right arm
+dangling useless. The American saw his pistol fall, and darting
+forward, picked it up. He now had two revolvers, and with only a
+single empty chamber in each. He backed against the pile of wood, to
+prevent any one getting behind him, and confronted the mob. Moreover,
+it was necessary that his friends should see where he was in order to
+avoid harming him.
+
+A gun on each boat had been fired, and it now became a race as to
+which could reload and fire again. The American won, because of a
+slight advantage at the start. No attempt was made on the tugboat
+to bring the second piece into action. The captains of each craft
+displayed admirable skill. Captain Winton tried to keep out of range
+of his enemy, but Captain Ortega swung around so as to hold him in
+direct line all the time.
+
+Starland's mate and one of his seamen were handling the cannon on the
+yacht. The latter had served at Manila and knew his business. As cool
+as if taking part in the naval maneuvers, he waited until sure the
+second shot would do the business. Without giving heed to the crew
+striving desperately to bring the other gun to bear, he crouched till
+the gun was pointed exactly right and then blazed away.
+
+He had aimed at the screw of the tugboat and he struck it so fairly
+that the stem snapped off and the blades dropped to the bottom of the
+river. This was at the suggestion of the mate, who, not wishing to
+kill any one, only sought to put the other craft out of action.
+
+It was done. The tug was as helpless as a log, but not until Captain
+Ortega called from the pilot house, making known the nature of the
+disaster, did General Yozarro understand the mortal injury his navy
+had received.
+
+"Bully!" shouted the Major; "put the next shot through her boiler!
+Don't mind me! I can swim and don't care for a little thing like being
+blown up!"
+
+General Bambos heard the terrifying news and climbed tremblingly to
+his feet.
+
+"Don't let them fire again! We shall all be killed!"
+
+"Only one thing can save you," replied the Major aglow with the light
+of triumphant battle; "run up the white flag! The next shot will send
+you to kingdom come!"
+
+It was General Yozarro, who, catching the panic, whipped out his white
+silken handkerchief, and standing within arm's length of his prisoner,
+excitedly fluttered it aloft.
+
+"Cease firing!" commanded Major Starland; "they have surrendered!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+
+The notice was in the nick of time. The gun on the yacht was loaded
+and trained again, and, had it been fired, would have played the
+mischief on the Atlamalcan boat.
+
+Captain Winton began edging the _Warrenia_ toward the other, with the
+purpose of running alongside and receiving its submission. Reading his
+intention, Major Starland called:
+
+"Don't do that! You can't trust these scoundrels! They will board!"
+
+"That's what we want 'em to do!" called back the captain.
+
+"I'd like it too, but we have ladies to look after; send a boat to
+take off General Yozarro and me."
+
+In the midst of the hubbub and confusion, Captain Ortega was seen
+to lean out of the window of the pilot house, quickly level his
+revolver and fire in the direction of the American. It looked like
+a deliberate attempt to assassinate the unsuspecting officer before
+anyone could interfere. Jack Starland did not observe the act, but the
+cry of a man alongside of him caused him to turn his head. Taking
+advantage of the confusion, one of General Yozarro's officers had
+slipped behind the American unnoticed by him, and was stealing upon
+him with drawn knife. The two Generals could not have failed to see
+him, but neither interposed. A few seconds more and the weapon would
+have been driven into the back of Starland. Captain Ortega, however,
+sent his bullet straight and true, the miscreant falling dead in his
+tracks.
+
+Still leaning out of the window, with smoking pistol in hand, Captain
+Ortega, as cool as ever, made himself heard above the din:
+
+"You mustn't forget down there that we have surrendered!"
+
+The wheel being useless, he now came out of the pilot house and stood
+like a general overlooking and directing his forces.
+
+It was begun and ended, as may be said, in the twinkling of an eye.
+Jack Starland did not forget the lesson. He was yet in the midst of
+as treacherous a lot of wretches as so many Apaches. He edged farther
+forward with his glances alternating between his own craft and the
+excited throng near him, and so alert that further interference in
+his behalf was unnecessary.
+
+Looking up to Captain Ortega, he caught his eye and saluted:
+
+"Thank you with all my heart!"
+
+The other returned the salute but did not speak. His weapon was still
+in his hand and not a movement below eluded him. Generals Bambos
+and Yozarro were standing beside each other, the latter with his
+handkerchief still in his hand, though he ceased to flutter it, since
+the necessity had passed. Now and then the two spoke in low tones, for
+the turmoil was succeeded by a hush that was impressive.
+
+The order of Major Jack was obeyed on board his own boat. Holding the
+yacht so that, like the other, it drifted with the current, the tender
+was lowered, and two seamen entered and began rowing toward the
+motionless tug. With slow, even strokes and without any sign of
+misgiving, they rounded to alongside. Major Starland shoved one
+revolver in his pocket, where it could be instantly drawn, and held
+the other ready for any emergency.
+
+"You first, General," he said bowing to the leader who had
+surrendered.
+
+Holding back, he sullenly asked:
+
+"Why should I go aboard your vessel?"
+
+"In accordance with the rules of civilized warfare, of which, of
+course, you know nothing. For the first time in your life you will be
+among gentlemen, and, therefore, need feel no fear."
+
+With ill grace, the Dictator stepped carefully down and seated himself
+at the bow of the smaller boat.
+
+"And now myself," was the good natured remark of the American, as he
+lightly followed. It was a trying moment, for he half expected a shot
+in the back, even though it would have meant the death of General
+Yozarro and the destruction of the tugboat. Captain Ortega must have
+feared something of the kind, for he stepped to the edge of the upper
+deck, leaned forward with his revolver grasped and kept a keen watch
+upon every man. It is not impossible that his vigilance averted a
+tragedy.
+
+With the same even stroke, the small boat was rowed across the brief,
+intervening space, and the mate, Dick Horton, reached down, took the
+hand of the General and gave so lusty a pull that he stumbled forward
+and barely saved himself from sprawling on his hands and knees. The
+next instant Jack sprang among his friends, who crowded around,
+grasped his hands and showered him with congratulations.
+
+During the flurry, Aunt Cynthia and Miss Starland had been kept beyond
+reach of harm, but they were now among the group that welcomed the
+owner of the pretty craft.
+
+"Had you wished to give them the safest place," said he, "you should
+have let them stand at the bow in plain sight."
+
+"Only the fear of a possible accident prevented that being done,"
+replied the mate.
+
+When General Yozarro saw the young woman in the laughing, happy
+company, he took off his hat, bowed low and said with his old-time
+obsequiousness:
+
+"The pain of this meeting is turned to delight by the sight once more
+of your beauteous countenance and your charming self."
+
+Looking him in the eyes, she measured her words:
+
+"_Que V. se atreva á dirigirse á mi, es el mayor insulto de mi vida._"
+
+The face crimsoned as if from the sting of a whiplash across the eyes,
+and those of the bystanders who understood the words, broke into a
+thrilling murmur of applause. General Yozarro tried to hide his
+repulse by turning to Major Starland:
+
+"I have come aboard this vessel at your command; what do you desire of
+me?"
+
+"Your sword."
+
+The Dictator meekly drew the blade from its scabbard and extended the
+hilt toward the American, who recoiled.
+
+"I refuse it; keep it; and take with you the remembrance that the most
+dangerous thing mortal man can fool with is an American."
+
+"Are you through?"
+
+"I am, and I hope never to look upon your face again."
+
+"_Mal rayo te parta!_ Your wish is reciprocated; I will return to my
+boat."
+
+"_Adios_, General Yozarro!"
+
+The sullen fellow made no reply, and was assisted over the side and
+rowed back to the crippled tug by the two sailors who had brought him
+away. During the unique interview, the crew and officers crowded the
+gunwale and watched proceedings with the keenest interest. Among them
+was the bulky General Bambos.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+
+It may be thought that the most galling experience of General Yozarro
+was the scarifying repulse of Miss Starland, when he presumed to
+address her; but unknown to all except the author of the insult and
+himself, he was compelled to taste a deeper dreg in the cup of
+wormwood and gall. While he paused, facing the group of Americans, a
+man on the outer fringe succeeded in catching his eye and made the
+most taunting grimace conceivable. He repeated it several times, the
+last being accompanied by a flirt of the forefinger across the throat
+to signify that that was the way he would like to serve the murderous
+tyrant. The man who thus grossly insulted him was Martella, the
+deserter, who chuckled with delight when he heard the stinging answer
+given to General Yozarro by Miss Starland. The others were too
+interested in what was going on before them to observe the by-play.
+General Yozarro set his teeth, and took consolation in the thought:
+
+"General Bambos will give him to me and I will punish him; I will do
+the same with Captain Guzman for aiding the foul ingrate."
+
+But the Dictator never did either. Jack Starland was not the one to
+forget the service of his friends. He had no trouble in persuading
+Martella to engage himself as one of the firemen on the _Warrenia_,
+for wages that were three-fold what he had received--when he did
+receive them which was not often--in his own country. Something in the
+nature of a compromise was made with Captain Guzman. He could not be
+induced to go so far as the great Republic of the North, but halted at
+Caracas.
+
+"I am so accustomed to revolutions," said he with a grin and shrug,
+"that I should die of weariness in your noble country, but here I
+shall have all that my heart craves."
+
+"It has much that look," replied Major Starland, as he shook him by
+the hand, after compelling him to accept a generous _douceur_ from
+himself and Miss Starland.
+
+Returning from this digression, the small boat was kept under careful
+survey until it returned from the _General Yozarro_. Some feared that
+a musket shot might be fired at the seamen, for the Atlamalcan is
+hot-headed and reckless, and the fully loaded saluting gun was kept
+pointed.
+
+"If I have to fire again," grimly said the mate, "I shall send the
+ball through her boiler, and sink the whole gang."
+
+Fortunately the necessity did not arise. The most prominent form on
+the tug was that of Captain Ramon Ortega, standing in front of the
+pilot house on the upper deck. Pistol in hand, his watchfulness no
+doubt prevented any treacherous act, for all who knew him knew his
+unflinching sense of honor and his personal bravery. When the peril
+passed, he put away his weapon and stood with hands thrust in the
+side pockets of his light jacket.
+
+Up went the hand of Miss Starland and she fluttered aloft her
+handkerchief.
+
+"I see no reason why he should not recognize me as a friend _now_,"
+she explained to the Major at her side.
+
+The other saw her and lifted his hat and bowed low. Jack Starland did
+the same and called a cheery good bye to him.
+
+"He is the foremost gentleman of the Atlamalcan Republic, and
+Señorita Manuela will secure a prize in him."
+
+"No greater than he will secure in her; but what is to become of
+them?"
+
+"Of whom?"
+
+"Their boat is so injured that they are helpless."
+
+"No doubt General Yozarro will be able to float another loan big
+enough to provide his navy with a new screw; until then, he may limp
+along as best he can."
+
+At this moment, Mate Horton came forward with the same question.
+
+"We might tow them down to Zalapata, even with General Bambos on
+board, but I am not impressed that it is my duty. Let them drift with
+the current and they will bump up somewhere. It is well that they
+should have a few hours for meditation. Besides, they have the tender
+and catboat and can send ashore for help, if they need it. No; I shall
+have nothing more to do with the gang; they must look out for
+themselves."
+
+Captain Winton emitted a resounding blast from the whistle, to which
+the tug responded, and steamed down the river. His intention was to
+maintain a moderate speed, passing Zalapata without stop, and to make
+the first halt at San Luis, which ought to be reached some time during
+the night.
+
+The Captain did not forget one important fact. While he had been
+fortunate in ascending the forked river, he had the slightest possible
+knowledge of it. The utmost circumspection was necessary on his part.
+The stream was broad and deep, but it had its snags, its "sawyers"
+like the Mississippi, and its dangerous shoals and shallow places. An
+experienced pilot can generally locate such spots by the crinkling
+circles at the surface, but there was a certain risk which would
+baffle even Captain Ortega. Below San Luis, the river so broadened
+and deepened, and was so comparatively free from obstructions that
+practically all peril would be left behind.
+
+Captain Winton strove unremittingly to keep the channel, though that
+was not always possible. His good fortune in coming up the stream gave
+him confidence of making the down trip in safety. Fifteen minutes
+after expressing this belief to Major Starland, the bow of the yacht
+suddenly rose several feet, there was a quick slackening of speed and
+the boat settled to rest. No one needed to be told what it meant: the
+_Warrenia_ had run upon a mud bank and was fast.
+
+"Captain Ortega's performance over again!" said Major Starland, "with
+the exception that he did it on purpose and I don't think you did."
+
+"I am somewhat of the same opinion myself," growled the Captain, "but
+here we must stay for several hours at the least."
+
+An instant investigation showed that the yacht had suffered no injury.
+She was staunchly built, and the impact was like that of a solid body
+against yielding cotton. Had the mud been rock or compact earth the
+result must have been disastrous.
+
+The screw was kept viciously going, but it could not drag the boat
+off. Then the crew toiled for an hour shifting what was movable to the
+stern, but without result. Next, an anchor was carried a hundred feet
+up stream and imbedded in the oozy bed of the river, while sturdy arms
+on board tugged at the connecting hawser by means of a windlass, with
+the screw desperately helping, but the hull would not yield an inch.
+Finally the efforts were given up. Nothing remained but to wait till
+the rising tide should lift the mountainous burden and swing it free.
+
+When the accident occurred, the tug had been left far out of sight in
+the winding stream, but about the middle of the afternoon it slowly
+drifted into view around a sweeping bend. The fact of its coming
+sideways showed that it was swayed wholly by the current.
+
+"That is curious," remarked the puzzled Major to Mate Horton; "why
+don't they anchor, or pole to land, or tow the tug ashore with the
+smaller boats? There is no need of letting the vessel become a
+derelict simply because she has lost her screw."
+
+The interest of those on the yacht naturally centred in the gradually
+approaching craft, which was closely scanned through the various
+glasses. Miss Starland stood beside her brother, her instrument
+leveled, while he used only his unaided eyes. After a time he
+remarked:
+
+"That boat seems to be moving slowly."
+
+"It isn't moving at all."
+
+She handed the binocular to him, and a moment after pointing it, he
+exclaimed:
+
+"You are right; it looks as if they did not care for a closer
+acquaintance."
+
+Mate Horton joined them. He had noticed the same thing.
+
+"What do you make of it, Major?"
+
+He glanced at Miss Starland and then at his friend without speaking.
+She caught the by-play.
+
+"Don't be afraid to speak before me; you do not seem to have noticed
+something else about the boat yonder."
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"It has a good many more men on board than when we parted company with
+it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+
+Major Jack Starland flashed up the glass and studied the other craft.
+
+"By Jove! you are right; where do you suppose they came from, Dick?"
+
+"The General must have established communication with his friends soon
+after we left him; he certainly has a strong crew."
+
+"That means he intends to attack us; it looks as if there is to be a
+naval battle between an American yacht and the navy of the Atlamalcan
+Republic."
+
+It was Miss Starland who said this without a trace of excitement, and
+as if the impending struggle was of only passing interest.
+
+"She is right," observed the mate; "it is hard to tell which has the
+advantage with one crippled and the other hard aground."
+
+"They will wait till night and then come at us in their small boats.
+As nearly as I can make out, they have all of twenty men on board.
+What is your opinion, Miss Starland?"
+
+She pointed the glass again for several minutes before replying:
+
+"There are nearer forty, for it is certain that some are keeping out
+of sight. I suppose they are well armed, and it seems to me we are in
+a bad situation."
+
+"There's no denying it," remarked her brother with a grave face; "they
+will wait till night and then dash upon us from several sides at the
+same time; the hour or two before the moon rises will be their
+opportunity."
+
+"But why," was the natural feminine inquiry, "does General Yozarro
+molest us? He has always claimed to be your friend, and, until today,
+has treated us both with courtesy. What pretext can he offer for his
+course?"
+
+"While there is little in his excuse, it will doubtless be that the
+owner of this yacht captured his flimsy tug which he persists in
+calling a gunboat, or rather that I stole it, for which offence he
+means to punish me."
+
+"Will he not in the end have to reckon with our government?"
+
+"Yes, but he must first reckon with _us_; the affair is a ridiculous
+one in which to involve the United States, and I shall not feel proud
+of my part, if forced to make the appeal; but General Yozarro will
+find it is no child's play in which he engages when he attacks us. We
+have not a very full supply of small arms on board, but we shall make
+things lively for him."
+
+When night closed in, the relative position of the two craft was
+unchanged. Every possible preparation was made on the yacht, for there
+could be no doubt of the hostile intentions of the Atlamalcans. A
+small boat was seen to leave its side and pass to the southern shore.
+Followed through the glasses, it disclosed two seamen swaying the
+oars, but when it returned after a brief absence, it held six
+passengers. The crew of the crippled tug was fast growing and General
+Yozarro had certainly made good use of his time.
+
+The twelve-pounder of the _Warrenia_ was loaded to the muzzle. Six
+rifles were distributed among the men, several of whom had revolvers
+and all knives. Lookouts were placed at all points. The conviction was
+that during the brief period of gloom before the rising of the moon,
+two or three or possibly more small boats, crowded with armed men,
+would dash simultaneously upon the grounded craft and strive
+desperately to board her.
+
+The sanguinary fight that impended, with the certain loss of life on
+both sides, could be averted by a surrender, which calm judgment would
+have justified under the peculiar circumstances, but it was not
+strange that even Miss Starland and Aunt Cynthia hinted nothing of
+that nature. As for the officers and crew, they eagerly awaited the
+conflict with a band whom they despised. Although greatly outnumbered,
+not one doubted their ability to repel the attempt to board. There was
+only one condition that they would have changed; that was the presence
+of the ladies. They could be safeguarded during the fight, but it
+would have been better had they been far away. Such absence, however,
+was impossible and no one referred to it.
+
+But the naval battle never took place. When all the defenders were
+alert and on edge, it was observed that the yacht was floating. The
+disappointment was felt keenly even by the bellicose cook. There
+was a general peering into the gloom in the hope of discerning the
+approaching boats, and a sigh when they failed to appear.
+
+"It sometimes takes more courage to run away than to fight," said
+Major Starland with a laugh; "therefore we shall run away."
+
+He called his orders to Captain Winton, who, having shaken off the
+clutch of the mud, turned the prow of the craft so as to flank the
+obstruction, and signalled the engineer to go ahead at moderate speed.
+At the same time, he sent out a reverberating blast from the whistle,
+which the Atlamalcans might accept as a parting salute.
+
+The yacht steamed carefully down the river, and in the early hours of
+the morning passed Zalapata, where a few lights twinkled, and then
+proceeded toward the more pretentious town of San Luis. The only ones
+awake on the _Warrenia_ were those whose duties required them to be
+alert, and Captain Winton, knowing that General Bambos was absent,
+held the whistle mute as he went by.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+If the yacht _Warrenia_ and its crew and passengers had been called
+upon to pass through a series of stirring incidents while in tropical
+America, a rare and most gratifying experience now came to them. The
+weather remained calm and the run to the southern extremity of the
+continent was as smooth and tranquil as it had been across the
+Caribbean Sea. When the neighborhood of Cape Horn was reached, Major
+Starland, in order to keep his pledge with his father, took the wheel.
+Captain Winton lit his pipe, sat down in the pilot house and grimly
+waited until his services were necessary.
+
+But not for an hour were they required, except now and then, in the
+way of simple relief. He had passed that danger region more than once,
+but never had he seen it so free of storm and rough weather. There was
+not a single moment when the yacht was in the slightest danger. In
+fact, to emphasize the wonderful, summer-like calmness of those
+usually turbulent waters, which are the dread of veteran navigators,
+Miss Starland held the spokes of the wheel for several hours. Such
+good fortune is not likely to come to a navigator once in a score of
+times.
+
+When the yacht steamed out of the wide mouth of the Amazon and headed
+southward, the assumed relationship between Major Starland and his
+"sister" was dropped. There was no call to keep it up, since every one
+on board knew the truth.
+
+The _Warrenia_ was well up the western coast of South America and
+steaming rapidly toward the city of the Golden Gate. Hardly a breath
+of air rippled the bright waters, and the sky overhead was brilliant
+with its myriads of stars, whose gleam was intensified in the soft
+crystalline atmosphere.
+
+Major Starland was seated on a camp chair, where he and Miss Rowland
+were sheltered from the wind created by the motion of the yacht. She
+hardly needed the gaudily-colored zarape wrapped about her shoulders.
+They had been talking of their strange experiences, of Manuela
+Estacardo, of Captain Ortega and of those whose memories were much
+less pleasant.
+
+You can imagine the trend of that low, delightful conversation, for
+the scene, the surroundings, the time, indeed all the circumstances
+tended to draw them closer. What was said was too sacred in its
+nature, for us to quote in full: the conclusion is enough.
+
+"Warrenia, you have played the sister for some weeks to perfection.
+You must have become accustomed to hearing yourself called 'Miss
+Starland;' it certainly has a familiar sound by this time."
+
+"Yes," she replied, ceasing her efforts to disengage her hand from the
+fingers that had made it prisoner; "it could not well be otherwise.
+You know there is quite a similarity in our names."
+
+"What I wish to ask, Sweetheart, is whether you will not agree to make
+a slight change in the term by which you were addressed so long."
+
+"In what way?" she asked, as if she did not know what was coming.
+
+"Instead of being 'Miss Starland,' will you not consent that your
+correct name shall be 'Mrs. Starland?'"
+
+At first she begged for time in which to consider the proposition, but
+Jack was always headlong and presumptuous, as you know, and he
+insisted, and what could she do but consent? And among all the friends
+the two most pleased were "Teddy" Rowland and his partner, Tom
+Starland, when they heard the good news.
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors;
+otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's
+words and intent.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UP THE FORKED RIVER***
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