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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36492-8.txt b/36492-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..53aa827 --- /dev/null +++ b/36492-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8331 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Kidnapped President, by Guy Boothby + +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: The Kidnapped President + +Author: Guy Boothby + +Illustrator: Stanley L. Wood + +Release Date: June 22, 2011 [EBook #36492] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have + been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal + signs=. + + + + + [Illustration: "'STOP!'"] + + + + + THE + + KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT + + BY + + GUY BOOTHBY + + AUTHOR OF + + 'DR. NIKOLA,' 'A BID FOR FORTUNE,' 'THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL,' + ETC. + + ILLUSTRATIONS BY STANLEY L. WOOD + + _LONDON_ + + WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED + + NEW YORK AND MELBOURNE + + 1902 + + + + +'THE KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT' + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +I suppose to every man, at some period in his life, there comes some +adventure upon which, in after life, he is destined to look back with +a feeling that is very near akin to astonishment. Somebody has said +that adventures are to the adventurous. In my case I must confess that +I do not see how the remark applies. I was certainly fourteen years at +sea, but in all that time, beyond having once fallen overboard in +Table Bay, and, of course, the great business of which it is the +purpose of this book to tell you, I cannot remember any circumstance +that I could dignify with the title of an adventure. The sailor's +calling in these times of giant steamships is so vastly different from +what it was in the old days of sailing ships and long voyages that, +with the most ordinary luck, a man might work his way up the ratlines +from apprentice to skipper with little less danger than would be met +with in a London merchant's office. Though I was not aware of it, +however, I was destined to have an adventure, stirring enough to +satisfy the most daring, before my seafaring life came to an end. + +How well I remember the day on which I was appointed fourth officer of +the ocean liner _Pernambuco_, running from London to South America. I +should here remark that I held a second officer's certificate, but I +was, nevertheless, glad enough to take what I could get, in the hope +of being able to work my way up to something better. It was not a bad +rise, when all was said and done, to leave a ramshackle old tub of a +tramp for the comparatively luxurious life of a mail boat; much +jollier merely to run out to the Argentine and back, instead of +dodging at a snail's pace from port to port all round the world. Then +again there was the question of society. It was pleasanter in every +respect to have pretty girls to flirt with on deck, and to sit beside +one at meals, than to have no one to talk to save a captain who was in +an intoxicated state five days out of seven, a grumpy old chief mate, +and a Scotch engineer, who could recite anything Burns ever wrote, +backwards or forwards, as you might choose to ask him for it. When I +had been six months on board the _Pernambuco_, I was made third +officer; at the end of the year I signed my name on the pay-sheet as +second. Eventually I got my Master's Certificate, and became chief +officer. Now everybody knows, or ought to know, that the duties of +chief officer on board a big liner, and, for the matter of that, on +any other boat, are as onerous as they are varied. In the first place, +he is the chief executive officer of the ship, and is held +responsible, not only for its appearance, but also for the proper +working of the crew. It is a position that requires consummate tact. +He must know when to see things and when not to see them, must be able +to please the passengers, and yet protect the interests of his owners, +must, and this is not the least important fact, be able to keep his +men constantly employed, yet not earn for himself the reputation of +being too hard a task-master. Finally, he has to see that all the +credit for what he does is not appropriated by himself, but goes to +increase the _kudos_ of his commanding officer. If the latter is a +gentleman, and can appreciate his officers' endeavours at their real +value, matters will in all probability go smoothly; on the other hand, +however, if the captain is a bully, then the chief officer is likely +to wish himself elsewhere, or at least that he was the holder of some +other rank. This was my case on my last and most memorable voyage in +the service of a particular Company that every one knows, but which, +for various reasons, shall be nameless. + +I had never met Captain Harveston until he joined us in dock on the +day previous to sailing, but I had heard some scarcely complimentary +remarks about him from men who had sailed with him. I must confess, +therefore, that I was prepared to dislike him. In appearance he was as +unlike a sailor as a man could well be, was a great dandy in his +dress, and evidently looked upon himself as an undoubted lady-killer. +So far as I was concerned, he had hardly set foot on the vessel before +he commenced finding fault. A ship in dock, before the passengers come +aboard, and while the thousand and one preparations are being made for +a voyage, is seldom an example of tidiness. Surely a skipper, who had +been at sea for thirty years, must have realized this; for some +reason, however, best known to himself, it pleased Captain Harveston +to inaugurate our acquaintance by telling me that he liked a "spic and +span ship," and that he judged his officers by what he saw of their +work. + +"You shall have nothing to complain of as soon as I get the workmen +out, sir," I replied, a bit nettled at being called over the coals +upon such a trumpery matter. + +"I trust I shall not," he answered superciliously, and then strutted +down the bridge to his own cabin, which was just abaft the +chart-room. + +As it turned out, the Isle of Wight was scarcely astern before the +trouble began. Young Herberts, our second officer, was the first to +get a wigging, and Harrison, the fourth, quickly followed suit. I felt +sure my time would not be long in coming, and I was not wrong. On the +second day out, and during my watch below, I was talking to the purser +in his cabin, when the fourth officer appeared to inform me that the +captain wished to see me on the promenade deck. Thither I made my way, +to find him seated there with a number of lady passengers round him. + +"Surely he is not going to be nasty before these ladies," I said to +myself as I approached him. + +I discovered, however, that this was exactly what he was going to do. + +"Mr. Helmsworth," he began, "I am told that you have refused the +passengers the use of the bull-board." + +"Indeed, sir, I have not," I replied. "I informed one of the gentlemen +who spoke to me about it that I would have it brought up directly we +were clear of the Channel. As a rule we never produce it until we're +out of the Bay. I had Captain Pomeroy's instructions to that effect." + +"I am captain of this vessel now," he returned. "Please see that the +board is brought on deck at once. I must ask you for the future to do +all that lies in your power to promote the pleasure of the passengers. +It is a duty I have a right to expect of my officers." + +"Very good, sir," I answered and walked away. + +From that day forward I saw that my service under Captain Harveston +was likely to be a short one, and, indeed, by the time we reached +Buenos Ayres, I felt as if I could throw up my appointment altogether. +He was never satisfied, never pleased, and did nothing but grumble and +find fault from morning until night. + +After the usual fortnight's stay at the capital of the Argentine, we +commenced our homeward voyage. Our first port of call was Rio, where +Harveston and the third officer came to loggerheads. By this time the +whole ship's company had taken his measure, and I fancy he must have +known it. Being of a petty disposition, he attributed this to me, and +accordingly laid himself out to make my life aboard as disagreeable as +it was possible for him to do. How bitterly I regretted the loss of my +old skipper, who had been kindness and consideration itself, I must +leave you to imagine. + +And now I must turn from a narration of my own misfortunes during +that miserable voyage to give you a description of a man, whose +personality is destined to play such an important part in my +narrative. He joined us at Rio, and was one of the last passengers to +come aboard. He was a Spaniard, and, as could be seen at a glance, a +well-bred one at that. He called himself Don Guzman de Silvestre. He +was very tall; I should say some inches over six feet, with the +darkest of dark eyes and hair, aquiline features, and a small pointed +beard, that he had a habit of stroking when thinking. Taken +altogether, a more romantic personality could scarcely be imagined, +and as he came up the gangway, I told myself that he was the best +figure of a man I had seen for some considerable time. When he asked +me at what hour we should sail, I noticed that he spoke English +perfectly, and in a musical voice that was very pleasant to listen to. +Before we had been many days at sea, he and I had had several talks +upon all sorts of subjects, considerably to Captain Harveston's +annoyance, for the latter did not approve of his officers being on +anything like friendly terms with the passengers. Having no desire to +quarrel with my chief, I endeavoured, as far as possible, to keep out +of his way, but for some reason this only had the effect of incensing +him more against me. + +We were a full ship on the homeward voyage, and, as we generally did +a lot of painting between Barbadoes and Madeira, I found my time +pretty well taken up. It was in connection with this painting that the +climax came. We had left the West Indies behind us, and at the time +were steering a straight course for Madeira. The men, when the +incident I am about to describe happened, were at work on the port +rails of the promenade deck. One of them, who had been outside the +rail, climbed over, pot in hand, to obey an order I had given him. At +the moment that he did so, the long Atlantic swell caused the vessel +to give a big roll, and before he could save himself, he was flying +across the deck towards a chair in which a lady was seated. They came +into violent collision, with the result that the pot of white paint +was deposited in her lap. I hastened to her assistance, and did all +that was possible at the moment to remedy the mishap. Fortunately for +the man, who was overcome by the magnitude of the catastrophe, she +took the accident in excellent part. + +"You must not blame the man," she said to me. "It was not his fault. I +shall have to sue the ocean for damages." + +Then with a laugh she went below to change her attire. + +As ill luck would have it, just after she had disappeared, the +skipper emerged from the companion, and saw the splashes of paint. + +"What's the meaning of this, sir?" he asked, turning on me angrily. + +"One of the men met with an accident, sir," I replied. "The roll of +the ship caused him to upset the paint-pot." + +"You should not put that class of fellow to do such work," he +returned, oblivious to the fact that he was committing the +unpardonable sin of admonishing an officer before the men. "You seem +to have no discrimination at all, Mr. Helmsworth." + +With that he walked away, leaving me to chew my cud of humiliation in +silence. After luncheon I received an order to go to the captain's +cabin. I could see that I was in for more trouble, but could not guess +what. One thing was very evident; he was in a towering rage. + +"How is it, Mr. Helmsworth," he began, when I had entered the cabin +and had closed the door, "that you deliberately kept things from me +this morning that it was your duty to tell me?" + +"I am not aware that I have kept anything back from you, sir," I +replied, as civilly as I knew how, for I had no desire to lose my +temper. "If it is with regard to the tiller of the port quarter +boat----" + +"It has nothing whatever to do with the port quarter boat," he +answered savagely. "I want to know how it was that you did not tell me +about that lady's dress being spoilt this morning. You should have +reported the matter to me. Had it not been for my steward, I should +have known nothing whatsoever about it." + +"I did not think it worth while to trouble you with it, sir," I +replied. "It was a pure accident, and Miss Burgess forgave the man, +and admitted that he was not to blame." + +"Accident or no accident," he retorted, "you should have informed me +of the circumstance. I consider you sadly wanting in your duty, Mr. +Helmsworth. Of late, your manner has been most disrespectful to me, +and I tell you to your face, sir, that your ship is a disgrace to any +chief officer." + +"I am sorry you should say that," I answered, endeavouring to keep my +temper; "I have always had the reputation of turning my ship out well. +If you will point out anything that is wrong, I will at once have it +rectified." + +"Don't bandy words with me, sir," he stormed. "I am not used to it +from my officers. I repeat that your ship is a disgrace to any chief +officer, and I shall take care that the matter is duly reported to the +Board as soon as we reach London." + +"Perhaps you will be good enough to tell me what you consider wrong, +sir?" + +"Everything," he answered. "I thought yesterday I pointed out to you a +hole in the after awning." + +"You did, sir, and it has been repaired. I put the sail-maker on to it +at once." + +He rose from his chair with a look of triumph on his face. + +"Kindly step aft with me," he said, "and let us examine it for +ourselves." + +Feeling confident that what I had said was correct, I gladly +accompanied him, but to my horror, when we reached the place in +question, there was the rent gaping at us without a stitch in it. + +"I regret exceedingly that you should consider it necessary to cover +your negligence by telling me what is not true," he said in a voice so +loud that some of the second-class passengers could hear it. + +This was more than I could swallow. + +"I'll not be called a liar by you, Captain Harveston, or by any man +living," I retorted, feeling that I would have given something to have +been able to have knocked him down. "If you will send for the +sail-maker, he will inform you that I gave him orders to do it this +morning. It is no fault of mine that he has neglected his duty." + +"It is the fault of no one else, sir," returned the captain. "If you +kept the men up to their work, this would not have been left undone. I +shall be careful to enter this occurrence in the log-book." + +So saying he stalked majestically away, and I went in search of the +sail-maker. The man, it appeared, had intended doing the work, but had +been called away to something else, and had forgotten it. After that, +I returned to my own cabin, and sat down to think the matter over. +There could be no sort of doubt that I was in an exceedingly +unenviable position. I could quite see that if Harveston reported me, +the Board would be likely to believe his version of the story, and +even if they did not consider me quite as negligent as he was +endeavouring to make me, they would probably argue that I was not all +I might be, on the basis that there can be no smoke without fire. +Whatever else might be said, a reputation for slovenliness and +untruthfulness would be scarcely likely to help me in my career. From +that day forward matters went from bad to worse. It seemed impossible +for me to do right, however hard I might try. What was more annoying, +I began to feel that, not content with disliking me himself, the +captain was endeavouring to set the passengers against me also. + +During the run across the Atlantic I had, as I have said, several +long talks with Don Guzman de Silvestre. The man interested me +immensely. What his profession was I could not ascertain, but from +numberless little remarks he let fall, I gathered that he was the +possessor of considerable wealth. Certainly he had seen a variety of +strange life. Were it not that he narrated his adventures with an air +of truth that left no room for doubt, it would have been impossible to +have believed him. He had seen fighting in Mexico, in Nicaragua, in +Brazil, and with Balmaceda in Chili. + +"I suppose in South America there will be Revolutions until the end of +Time," I remarked one evening, as we sat talking together in my cabin. + +"I should say it is more than likely," he answered, taking his cigar +from his mouth and holding it between his long, slim fingers. "If you +take specimens of all the most excitable races in the world and graft +them on stock even more excitable than themselves, what can you +expect? In such countries Might must always be Right, and the weakest +will go to the wall." + +"I shouldn't care much about being President in that description of +place," I returned. "It's a case of being in power and popular to-day, +unpopular and assassinated to-morrow." + +"There is certainly a large amount of risk in this," the Don replied +meditatively. "And yet men are always to be found desirous of taking +up the reins of government." + +I could not help wondering whether he had ever felt the ambition he +spoke of. + +"I remember meeting a man in Paris some years ago," he continued after +a few moments' silence, "who was what one might call a world's +vagabond. He had been a soldier in French Africa, a shearer in +Australia, a miner at the Cape, a stockbroker in New York, and several +other things. When I met him, he was, as I have said, in Paris, and +practically starving. He could speak half the languages of the world +well enough to be thought a native, was absolutely fearless; indeed, +taken altogether he was about as devil-may-care a sort of fellow as I +had ever met in my life. Three years later he was Dictator of one of +the South American Republics we have been speaking of." + +"And where is he now?" + +"At the end of six months another man came upon the scene, won the +favour of the Standing Army, and began to make trouble for those in +power, with the result that my friend had to vacate his office, also +the country, at remarkably short notice. Some day he will go back and +endeavour to unseat the individual who supplanted him. The latter +gained his place by treachery, but if he is not careful he will lose +it by something else." + +"Your friend is a man who does not forget an injury then?" I remarked, +with a well-defined suspicion that he was speaking of himself. + +"I rather fancy he is," he replied. "At any rate, I am quite certain +he is not one who forgives." + +Then he changed the conversation by inquiring how long I had been at +sea, and what countries I had visited. With some of them he professed +to be acquainted. + +"It is rather impertinent of me to say so," he said, looking round to +see that there was no one near the door, "but I am afraid you and your +captain are not on the best of terms." + +"I am sorry to say that we are not," I answered, and stopped there, +for I had no desire to discuss the matter with him. + +"You hold a Master's Certificate, do you not?" he inquired. + +I answered in the affirmative, and once more he was silent. + +"I suppose you would have no objection to shipping as captain," he +went on after a long pause, "if the opportunity ever presented +itself?" + +"Most certainly I should not," I replied, with a laugh. "I fear, +however, it will be some time before I shall have such an +opportunity." + +"In this line, perhaps," he said, "but I suppose, if you had an offer +from another firm, you would accept it?" + +"I should feel very much inclined to do so," I said, wondering at the +same time what he was driving at. + +"Are you married?" + +"No," I replied, "but I hope to be as soon as I can afford it. So far +as I can see, however, that event, like the captainship, is a long way +off. The good old days when skippers made money are past, and +now-a-days, what with entertaining and one thing and another, it's as +much as a man can do to make both ends meet. Sometimes I'm afraid they +don't meet at all. I wish some kind friend would come along and offer +me a comfortable shore billet on anything like pay--it would do him +good to see me jump at it." + +"That may come yet," he replied, and then he rose and bade me +good-night. + +A few evenings later, and as we were approaching the English Channel, +he again spoke to me on the subject. His persistent recurrence to it +gave me a feeling that there was something behind it all. But what +that something was I had no sort of idea. I was destined to find out, +however, even sooner than I imagined. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Four days later we reached England, and one of the most unpleasant +voyages I have ever made was at an end. Having seen everything right +on board, I left the ship. Captain Harveston had not said good-bye to +me, and for this reason I did not consider it necessary that I should +go out of my way to be civil to him. That the man intended doing me a +mischief I felt certain, but what form his enmity would take I could +only conjecture. The entry was in the log-book, and some action would +be taken of it without a doubt. + +From London I took the train to Salisbury, intending to walk out to my +home at Falstead, one of the loveliest if not _the_ loveliest of all +the Wiltshire villages with which I am acquainted. It was delightful +to think that in a few hours I should see Molly, my pretty sweetheart, +again, and in her gentle company, and that of my dear old mother (my +father had been dead many years), endeavour to forget for a fortnight +the worries and troubles that had been my portion during the past two +months. Molly, I must tell you, or Miss Mary Wharton, was a lady of +much importance at Falstead. She was an orphan, and her father had +been the Vicar of the hamlet for nearly fifty years. When her parents +died she had received an offer of a home in London, but she could not +find it in her heart to leave the place in which she had been born, so +she remained on in the capacity of village schoolmistress and +organist, loved by the children, consulted by the mothers, and +respected by every one. My father had been the local medico, and I had +known Molly all my life. We had played together as children, had +received our first lessons together, had fallen in love later, and +were engaged when I was twenty-three and she two years my junior. + +It was nearly four o'clock when I reached Salisbury and started on my +five miles' tramp to the village. My luggage I left to be brought on +next day by the carrier, taking with me a small hand-bag containing +sufficient for my immediate needs. I can remember the time when those +five miles had seemed to me the longest walking in all the world; now, +however, after so many weeks of sea, the green lanes, varied with open +stretches of down, were beautiful beyond compare. Every turn of the +road brought to light some spot of interest. I crossed the old stone +bridge at the entrance to the village, and noted the place where I had +caught my first trout, and further on, as I passed a certain stile, +upon which hundreds of initials had been carved, recalled the fact +that it was there I had fought Nathaniel Burse, the village bully, +and, unlike the heroes of most romances, had received a sound drubbing +for my pains. + +About a quarter of a mile from my mother's cottage I overtook the +worthy Vicar, who, as he informed me, had been to pay a visit to a +farm on the Downs. + +"Let me be the first to offer you a hearty welcome home," he said. +"You seem to have been away for a shorter time than ever this voyage." + +"It has certainly not seemed so to me," I answered, and with a +considerable amount of truth. "I am the more glad to be back. How is +the village?" + +"By the village, I suppose you mean Miss Wharton, do you not?" said +the old fellow with a chuckle. "She is wonderfully well, and I fancy +is looking forward to your return. Your mother keeps well also, I saw +her yesterday." + +We walked on together until I could see ahead of us the little +ivy-covered house in which I had been born. At the gate I bade the +kindly old gentleman good-bye and entered, to be received on the +threshold by Molly and my mother. For the next few minutes I had to +submit, and I will leave you to imagine whether I did so willingly or +not, to such a kissing and hugging as the average man seldom receives. +Then I was escorted to the little drawing-room and given my favourite +chair, while Molly made tea and my mother sat beside me and +affectionately stroked my hand. Could you have seen Molly at that +moment, you would have declared her to be the true picture of an +English woman. + +As you have probably observed by this time, I am not much of a hand at +describing people, but I must endeavour to give you some idea of what +my sweetheart was like. In the first place she was tall, possibly five +feet nine inches. Her eyes were blue, and her hair a rich nut-brown. +On the day of my arrival she was dressed in white, with a white belt +round her shapely waist; while on the third finger of her left hand +was the ring I had bought for her at Salisbury after our engagement +was announced. Even now, though ten years have elapsed, I can feel the +joy of that home-coming. I sat sipping my tea, and eating slice after +slice of real Wiltshire bread-and-butter in a whirl of enchantment. +Of course Molly remained to supper with us, and if afterwards we went +for a stroll down the shadowy lanes as far as Bellam Woods, where you +can stand on the hill and look down the valley to Salisbury, five +miles away, who shall blame us? + +The next three days were about as happy, so far as I am concerned, as +a man could wish to spend. Fortunately it was holiday time with Molly, +and in consequence she and I were inseparable from morning until +night. We fished together, went for long walks together, and on the +third day I borrowed the Vicar's pony-cart and drove her into +Salisbury. Alas! however, that day was destined to end in very +different fashion to what it had begun. Having returned the pony-cart +to the vicarage, we strolled home together. My mother's +maid-of-all-work had brought in the letters that had arrived by +evening mail, and on the little table in the hall was one addressed to +me. I turned it over, to discover upon the back of the envelope the +monogram of the Company--my employers. With a heart full of +forebodings I opened it. It was very brief, and read as follows-- + + "DEAR SIR, + + "I am desired by the Chairman to inform you that the Board will + be glad if you will make it convenient to be present at their + meeting on Friday next at three o'clock. + + "I am, + "Yours very truly, + "J. HOPKINSON, Secretary." + +"What does it mean, Dick?" Molly asked. "Why do they want to see you? +I think it is very unkind of them to spoil your holiday by taking you +away when you only have such a short time at home." + +"I am afraid it means trouble," I answered. "Captain Harveston and I +did not get on very well together, and I expect he has been making +complaints against me at head-quarters. He threatened to do so." + +"Then he is a very unjust man," said my sweetheart, her eyes flashing. +"And I should like to tell him so!" + +That the letter worried me a good deal I am not going to deny. My +bread-and-butter depended upon the Company's good opinion, and if I +lost that I should certainly lose my position too. On the appointed +day I bade my dear ones farewell, walked into Salisbury, and caught +the train to London, reaching the Company's offices, which were in +Leadenhall Street, about a quarter of an hour before the meeting was +due to take place. A liveried porter showed me into the waiting-room, +where I remained for something like twenty minutes, kicking my heels +impatiently, and wondering what the end of the business would be. Then +the door opened and the Secretary entered. + +"The Board will see you now, Mr. Helmsworth," he said, and I +accordingly followed him to the room in which the meetings of the +Company took place. There I discovered a full Meeting. The Chairman +was seated at the head of the table--a dignified, portly +personage--while on either side of him were ranged the Directors, who +I could see regarded me with some curiosity as I entered. + +"Mr. Helmsworth," said the Chairman, after the Secretary had returned +to his place, "we have requested your presence to-day in order to +inform you that Captain Harveston has felt it his duty to make a +serious complaint to us of your conduct during the voyage which has +just ended. To be candid, he charges you with general neglect of duty, +of insulting conduct towards himself, and, I regret to add, of +untruthfulness. We thought it better that you should have an +opportunity of hearing these charges, and giving you a chance of +defending yourself, should you care to do so. It is needless for me to +add how much the Board regrets that such a report should have been +made against you. What have you to say?" + +"All I can say, sir," I replied, advancing to the bottom of the table, +and taking up my position there, "is that the report has not a word of +truth in it. It is a malicious invention on the part of Captain +Harveston, and, if he were here, I should tell him so." + +"Come, come, Mr. Helmsworth, you must not talk like that," said the +Chairman; "Captain Harveston has been a long time in our service, and +we have never known him act unjustly to any one. Would it not be +better to admit that there is _some_ truth in what he says, and then +to leave it to the clemency of the Board, to deal with as they may +consider fair?" + +"I am afraid, sir," I replied, "with all due respect to yourself and +the Board, that I cannot submit to being declared neglectful of my +duties, or allow myself to be called untruthful when I know the charge +to be unjust. For some reason, I cannot say what, Captain Harveston +took a dislike to me before the voyage commenced, and this report is +the outcome of that dislike." + +I then proceeded to explain what had happened; pointed out that while +the dock workmen were engaged upon the ship, and she was of necessity +in an untidy condition, Captain Harveston had complained of her lack +of orderliness. I referred to the paint incident, and commented upon +the fact that he had charged me with concealing what had happened +from him. With regard to the ship being in an untidy state throughout +the voyage, I stated that I was prepared to bring witnesses to prove +that she was as perfect as it was possible for a ship to be. If a +little of the gloss had worn off by the time we reached the Thames, I +explained that it was due to the fact that we had experienced very +rough weather in the Bay and also coming up Channel. The charge of +untruthfulness I dismissed as being both petty and absurd. Towards the +end of my remarks I had some difficulty in restraining my temper, for +I could see that the Board was still inclined to side with the captain +against me. Perhaps my manner was not submissive enough to please +them. At any rate when they asked me to withdraw for a few minutes +while they discussed the matter, I began to feel that my case was, so +far as they were concerned, a hopeless one. After ten minutes' absence +I was recalled. + +"Mr. Helmsworth," the Chairman began in his dignified way, polishing +his glasses with his pocket-handkerchief as he spoke, "we have most +carefully gone into the matter, and have arrived at the conclusion +that, taking into consideration the length of time you have been in +the Company's service, and the fact that there have never been any +complaints against you hitherto, we should be justified in permitting +you an opportunity of retrieving any little error you may have +committed. If, therefore, you will agree to apologize to Captain +Harveston, and will promise to do your best in the future, I may say +on behalf of the Board, that we are prepared to allow this most +painful matter to drop." + +This was more than I had bargained for. I had at least hoped that they +would have given orders that I should be confronted with my accuser, +and that I should be allowed to call witnesses in my own defence. + +"With all due respect, gentlemen," I said, with perhaps more freedom +than I should have used, "I cannot submit to such a thing. Captain +Harveston has brought these charges against me for some reason best +known to himself. It seems to me, if only in common fairness, that he +should be called upon to prove them, and if he is unable to do so, to +apologize to me for the wrong he has done me. I declare most +emphatically that I am innocent, and, if you will allow me, I will +prove it. I am sure my brother officers will be able to convince you +as to my ability, and to the state of the ship. The Dock +Superintendent should also be able to do the same." + +"Unfortunately the Dock Superintendent has confirmed the captain's +opinion," said the Chairman. + +To my chagrin, I remembered then that the Dock Superintendent and I +had had a quarrel some years before, and also that he was a great +friend of the captain's. It was not likely, therefore, that he would +side with me. + +"If the Dock Superintendent says that, I suppose I must submit," I +answered. "Nevertheless, I contend that neither he nor Captain +Harveston is speaking the truth." + +"Dear me, dear me," said one of the Directors, "this is really not the +sort of behaviour to which we are accustomed. Why not take the +Chairman's advice, Mr. Helmsworth, and apologize to your captain? I am +quite sure that he would bear no malice to you, and the matter could +then be amicably settled." + +This had the same effect upon me as the waving of a red flag is said +to have upon an angry bull. + +"I shall certainly not apologize," I answered. "Captain Harveston is +in the wrong, and I refuse to have anything more to do with him." + +"In that case, I am afraid the consequences will be serious," said the +Chairman. "We should be loath to lose your services, Mr. Helmsworth, +particularly after your long service, but unless you apologize to +Captain Harveston, we have no other course open to us." + +"I shall not do that," I returned, "and in case of my dismissal I +assure you I shall immediately take what proceedings the law allows +me, in order to prove that I have been slandered most grossly." + +The Board stared at me in amazement. Was it possible, they were +doubtless asking themselves, that a miserable chief officer dared to +beard them in this fashion? + +"What proceedings you take against Captain Harveston are no concern of +ours, after you have quitted our employment," said the Chairman, "but +if you will be well advised, you will think twice before you invoke +the assistance of the law." + +"I am to understand, therefore," I said, "that I am dismissed." + +"No, no," the Chairman replied; "we will not go as far as that, we +will call it a resignation." + +"Allow me then to wish you good-day, gentlemen," I said, and bowing I +walked out of the room. "You will, doubtless, hear from me later." + +"A pretty market I have brought my pigs to," I said to myself, as I +walked down Leadenhall Street, after leaving the offices of the +Company. "Poor little Molly, this will be a sad blow to her. It looks +as if my marriage is now further off than ever." + +How little I guessed then that the interview I had just had, had +brought it closer than if the trouble with Harveston had never +occurred. Acting on the resolve I had made while waiting for the +Board's decision, I made my way in the direction of High Holborn. The +old lawyer who had conducted what little legal business my father had +required, and who had arranged my mother's affairs after his death, +had an office in one of the curious old Inns of Court in that +neighbourhood. I determined to lay the case before him and to act +according to the advice he gave me. On reaching the office I had the +satisfaction of finding him at home. The clerk, who received me, was +as old as his employer, and I believe had served him for upwards of +forty years. His memory for faces must have been a good one, for he +recognized me at once, although several years had elapsed since I had +last called upon him. + +"Mr. Winzor is in his office, Mr. Helmsworth," he said, "and, if you +will be good enough to wait for a moment, I will place your name +before him." He disappeared, and presently returned and requested me +to follow him. + +The old lawyer received me most cordially and invited me to take a +seat. He asked after my mother's health, then took a pinch of snuff, +looked at me fixedly, and then took another. After this he inquired in +what way he could serve me. I thereupon placed the case before him. + +"This is a matter," he said, after a pause of about a minute, "that +will require very careful consideration. It is plain that the captain +in question is a vindictive man. His reason for being so bitter +against you is difficult to understand, but we have the best of +evidence before us that it does exist. It's one thing, however, to be +unjustly treated, and quite another to go to law about it. In a +somewhat lengthy career, it has always been my endeavour to impress +one thing upon my clients--Don't go to law if you can possibly avoid +it. Doubtless were you to take the case into court we could produce +sufficient evidence from your brother officers and the petty officers +of the ship to prove that you did your duty, and also that you were a +conscientious officer. But, even supposing you won the day, how would +you stand?" + +"I should have reinstated my character," I replied somewhat sharply, +for the old man's manner grated upon me. + +"And apart from the question of character, how much better off would +you be?" he asked. "The fact of your calling the officers of the ship +would put the Company to a considerable amount of inconvenience and +expense, which they would naturally resent. It would also have the +effect of putting them in an antagonistic attitude towards yourself, +which, at present, they do not appear anxious to take up. The case +would attract some attention, the various shipping companies would +read it, and, should you apply to them for a position, I fear you +would find them averse to taking an officer who, you must forgive my +plain speaking, was ready to invoke the aid of the law to settle his +disputes with his captain and his employers. Do you see my +contention?" + +"Yes, I see it," I replied; "but, surely, you don't mean to say that I +am to have this injustice done me and say nothing about it?" + +"I am afraid I do not see what else to advise you to do," he replied. +"I think you have been badly treated, but, upon my word, though if I +were in your place I should doubtless feel as you do, I should drop +the matter, and, to quote a familiar Stock Exchange expression, 'cut +the losses.'" + +This was not at all what I had expected, and boiling over as I was, +the advice he gave me was most unpalatable. He must have seen this, +for he tapped me gently on the arm. + +"Master Richard," he said, as if he were talking to a school-boy, "I +am an old man and you are a young one. Youth is proverbially +hot-headed, while Age is apt to stand off, and looks at things from +afar. I pledge you my word that, in giving you this advice, I am +acting as I deem best for your welfare. There is an old saying to the +effect that 'there are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of +it,' and I fancy the same remark can be made to apply to the vessels +sailing upon that sea. Now will you leave the matter in my hands?" + +"Most willingly," I replied, "provided I am not going to continue to +be suspected of being a malingerer and a liar." + +"Sir Alexander Godfrey, the Chairman of the Company," he went on, "is +a personal friend of my own, and if you will allow me, I will make a +point of calling upon him to-morrow in order to have a chat with him +upon the subject. I cannot promise, but I think I shall be able to +induce him to persuade his brother Directors to either look over the +matter, or at any rate to make sure that you leave the Company's +service without any stain upon your character." + +"But to do that I must be proved innocent." + +The old man smiled a crafty smile. + +"When you are as old as I am," he said, "you will have discovered that +there are ways and ways of doing things. Leave it to me to arrange and +I fancy you will be satisfied with the result." + +"Let it be so, then," I replied. + +"I am not a vain man," he said, "but I will say that I do not think +you could do better. Now tell me how the pretty Miss Molly is." + +"She is very well indeed," I replied, "but I fancy this news will be a +disappointment to her." + +"Not a bit of it," he answered. "It's just at such times as these that +the real woman comes out. Egad! you youngsters think you understand +women, but, bless my heart, you don't! And now you just trot back to +Wiltshire, and give my kindest remembrances to your mother, and, well, +if you like, you can give a kiss to Miss Molly for me. Tell her not to +bother herself; that I will see you out of this affair all right. I am +very glad, my lad, that you came to me. When you are in trouble I hope +you will always do so. Your father and I were old friends, and--well, +I am not going to say anything further, but I'll tell you this; if I +had met your mother before your father did----" + +He stopped suddenly and tapped his snuff-box upon the table, then he +rose from his chair, shook me by the hand, and told me he would write +me immediately he had anything of importance to tell me. + +I took this as a signal for dismissal, and thanking him for his +advice, left him. Twenty minutes later I caught the three o'clock +express at Waterloo, and in something under two hours was back in +Wiltshire once more. + +Molly met me half-way out of Salisbury, and her loving sympathy +cheered me more than anything else could have done. + +"Don't be miserable about it," she said, when I had told her +everything; "there are plenty of ships in the world, and lots of +owners who will value your services more than this Company seems to +have done. Remember, I believe in you with my whole heart, dear, and +if it is decreed that we are not to be married for some time to come, +then we must wait with all patience until that happy day shall dawn. +When you've had a little more holiday, you can begin to look about you +for something else." + +Could any man have wished for a braver sweetheart? Alas! however, +matters were not destined at first to turn out as happily as she had +prophesied. I applied to firm after firm, but my efforts in every case +were entirely unsuccessful. At last I began to think that if my luck +did not mend very soon, I should have to pocket my pride and ship as +second or third officer, hoping by perseverance and hard work to get +back to my old position later on. This eventually I decided to do, but +even then I was not successful. The only line which could offer me +anything was in the Russian grain trade, and the best berth they had +vacant was that of third officer. As may be supposed, this was a bit +of a come-down for my pride, and before accepting it, for I had run up +to London to interview the firm in question, I returned to Falstead to +talk it over with my sweetheart. On my reaching home my mother greeted +me with an air of importance. + +"A gentleman has been to see you this afternoon," she said, "a tall, +handsome man. He did not leave his name, but he said you would +probably remember him, as he had met you on board the _Pernambuco_. He +is staying at the George, and is most anxious to see you." + +"I met a good many people on board the _Pernambuco_," I said a little +bitterly. "A lot of them were tall and handsome. I wonder who he can +be?" + +She shook her head. + +"You say that he is staying at the George," I continued. "Very well, +when I have had my tea, I will go down and find out who he is." + +In due course I reached the little inn at the end of the village +street. The proprietress, old Mrs. Newman, had known me since I was so +high, and upon my entering her carefully-sanded parlour, she bustled +out of her little room at the back to greet me. I inquired whether +she had a strange gentleman staying in the house, and she answered in +the affirmative. + +"He is smoking a cigar in the bower at the end of the garden," she +answered. "If you want to see him you will find him there." + +I knew the place in question, and, passing through the house, made my +way down the garden towards the little summer-house in question. +Seated in it, looking just the same as when I had last seen him, was +the Spaniard, Don Guzman de Silvestre. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +On seeing me Don Guzman sprang to his feet and held out his hand. + +"My dear friend," he cried, "it is very good of you to come here. I +called at your house this afternoon, to learn that you were in London, +but that you were expected back this evening. Doubtless you are +surprised at seeing me, but when I tell you everything, I fancy your +wonderment will cease. Won't you sit down and let me offer you a +cigar? A more delightful spot than your village I have never met +with." + +I accepted his cigar, and seated myself in the wicker chair he pushed +forward for my accommodation. What he was doing in our quiet +neighbourhood I could not for the life of me imagine. But when I +remembered the questions he had put to me on board the _Pernambuco_, I +began to feel my hopes rising. It would be a stroke of luck indeed if +he were to offer me a good berth, just at the moment when I needed it +so badly. + +"And so our mutual acquaintance, Captain Harveston, played you a +shabby trick after all?" he remarked after a short pause. + +"He could not very well have done me a greater injury," I replied. +"What is worse, I fear he has not only lost me my berth, but that he +has prejudiced other owners against me. Did the ship strike you as +being in a badly-kept condition when you were on board?" + +"I never saw one better managed in my life," he answered. "At the same +time I must confess that I am not sorry that Harveston has got you +your discharge." + +"As matters stand with me just now, that's not a particularly civil +thing to say, is it?" I inquired with some asperity, for, if the truth +must be confessed, I was not in a very good humour. + +"My friend, I mean it in all kindness," he answered, "and presently I +will tell you why. Do you remember that story I told you on board, +about my acquaintance who had played the vagabond all over the world?" + +"The man who was President of one of the Republics of South America?" +I inquired. + +"Exactly, the same man." + +"I recollect the story perfectly," I replied. "But what makes you +speak of that man?" + +"Well, what I am going to say to you concerns that man. He has a very +strong notion that if he could only get his rival out of the country +in question, he might manage to win his way back to his old position." + +"But will the other allow himself to be enticed out of the country? +That seems to me to be the question. Besides, it's one of the rules of +the game, is it not, that the President shall never cross the Border?" + +"That is certainly so, but circumstances alter cases. In this affair, +if the man cannot be induced to go out of his own free-will, others +must make him do so." + +"Rather a risky concern, I should fancy." + +"Everything in this world possesses some element of risk," he replied, +"whether it is a question of buying Mexican Rails or English Consols, +backing a racehorse, or going a long railway journey. In this affair +there is a little more than usual, perhaps; at the same time the +reward is great." + +"On the other hand, supposing you fail," I returned, "what then? You +would probably find yourself, in a remarkably short space of time, +standing against a wall, with your eyes bandaged, and half-a-dozen +rifles preparing to pump lead into you. Have you taken that fact into +your calculations?" + +"I have not omitted to think of it," he replied gravely, as if it +were a point worthy of consideration. "Still, that is not what I am +concerned about just at present." + +"But what have I to do with this?" I inquired, for, though it seems +wonderful now that I should not have thought of it, I had not the very +faintest notion of what he was driving at then. + +"If you like, you can have a good deal to do with it," he answered, +blowing a cloud of smoke into the air, and bestowing an approving +glance at his exquisitely made boots. "I think when I had the pleasure +of meeting you on board the _Pernambuco_, you told me that you were +engaged to be married?" + +"I certainly am _engaged_," I answered, "but when I shall be able to +get married is another and a very different matter. I've lost my +position, and with it has gone my hope of soon being made a skipper. I +can't very well risk matrimony on the pay of a third officer of a +grain boat, can I?" + +"I should say that it would hardly be prudent," he answered. "May I +ask what capital you would require to start married life upon?" + +"I should be perfectly happy if I had three hundred a year," I +replied. "I'm not a man with big notions, and I fancy that sum would +meet our wants." + +"Capitalized at three per cent., shall we say ten thousand pounds? You +are certainly not of a grasping nature, Mr. Helmsworth!" + +"It would be all the same if I were," I answered. "At the present +moment I stand as much chance of getting ten thousand pounds as I do +of getting a million." + +"I am not quite so sure of that," he said, speaking very slowly. Then +he looked at me out of half-closed eyes, and eventually added: "What +if I were in a position to put in your way the sum you want?" + +I stared at him in surprise. Then I grew distrustful. Experience has +taught me that our fellow-man does not pay away ten thousand pounds +unless he is very certain of getting a good return for his generosity. + +"I should be inclined to think that you were jesting with me," I +replied, when I had recovered from the astonishment his remark had +caused me. + +"No, no; don't say that," he answered. "I assure you I am not jesting +at all. I very rarely do so. I say definitely that it is in my power +to put that sum of money in your way. That is, of course, provided you +care to earn it." + +"How am I to do that? That may make all the difference." + +"Oh, you needn't look so scared," he returned; "the matter is a very +simple one. All I require in exchange for the ten thousand pounds is +your co-operation in a certain political act." + +"Ah, I understand," I replied, as the truth dawned upon me. "The +ex-President of the South American Republic, whom you call your +friend, is in reality yourself, and you want me to help you get back +your position. Is that not so?" + +He nodded. + +"Yes," he answered, "and I pay you the compliment of saying that I +think you are just the man to bring that result about. I have not +arrived at this decision haphazard. I watched you very closely on +board the _Pernambuco_, and I have made inquiries about you since. It +is a piece of my usual good fortune that you should happen to be +disengaged at this particular time. Had you not been, I should have +made you an offer, in the hope of having been able to induce you to +leave the Company's service, and to join me. That would have been +unfortunate, and it might very probably have given rise to suspicion, +and suspicion is the one thing of all others I am naturally anxious to +avoid. In England they do not appreciate the subtleties of South +American politics, and in consequence they are apt to look at things +in a wrong light. Would you have any objection to assisting me to +regain my former position?" + +"It all depends upon what you want me to do," I replied. "I have had +no experience in such affairs, and am afraid I should make a poor +conspirator." + +"There is no need for you to be a conspirator at all," he said, with +one of his quiet laughs, "that is to say, not in the sense you mean. +All I am going to ask of you is the exercise of a little diplomacy, +and some of that nautical skill which I am so well aware you possess." + +"In other words, you want me to assist in the deportation of your +rival from the country, whose chief he at present is." + +"You've hit the mark exactly," he returned. "That is just what I +_want_ you to do, and it is for this that I am willing to pay the sum +of ten thousand pounds, which will enable you to marry the girl of +your heart. Now let me hear what you think." + +"I scarcely know what answer to give you," I replied. "I have never +dreamt that I should be asked such a question. It is all so +unexpected." + +"Is there not an English saying to the effect that it is the +unexpected always happens?" he inquired. "I want to have your decision +as quickly as possible, for the reason that, if you don't like the +thought of taking on the work, I must find somebody else who does. I +think I know your character as well as any man can do, and I am +certain I can trust you." + +I thanked him for the compliment he paid me, and then informed him +that, before I could give him a definite answer, I must hear more of +his scheme. + +"I am afraid it would take rather too long to tell you just now," he +replied, when he had consulted his watch. "Won't you dine with me? We +could talk the matter over more thoroughly afterwards. I suppose the +landlady can give us some sort of a meal?" + +As it was the evening on which Molly had her choir practice, and I +knew that I should not see her until ten o'clock, I accepted his +invitation, on the condition that I should be allowed to go home first +in order to acquaint my mother of my intention. He agreed to this, and +I thereupon left him and went off on my errand. As I walked down the +quiet little street, I thought of the curious proposal the Don had +made to me. It seemed almost impossible that I, quiet Dick Helmsworth, +should be asked to undertake the abduction of a South American +President. So far, I knew next to nothing of Don Guzman's scheme; but +I had a very fair idea of the risk I should be called upon to run. Ten +thousand pounds was a very large sum; but would it be large enough to +compensate me for what I should have to undergo, should my attempt +prove unsuccessful, and I find myself in captivity? Then there was +another question. What would Molly say when she heard of it? Would she +approve, or should I refrain from telling her anything about it? This +was a point I felt that demanded most earnest consideration. Entering +the house, I informed my mother of the invitation I had received to +dine with Don Guzman. + +"It will do you good, my boy," she said instantly. "You want a little +cheering up after the troubles you have had lately. Who is the +gentleman?" + +I informed her that I had met him on my last voyage, that he was a +Spaniard, and also that he was presumably very wealthy. + +"I have only known one Spaniard in my life," the old lady continued, +"and I cannot say that I liked him. Your father did not consider him +trustworthy. But there, your gentleman may be quite a different sort +of person." + +On my way back to the inn I pondered over my mother's words. She had +all an old Englishwoman's innate distrust of foreigners; but her +innocent little remark had set my imagination working. What if Don +Guzman should be hoodwinking me, and that there was more behind his +offer than I imagined? I then and there made up my mind not to take a +step forward until I should be thoroughly convinced as to his _bonâ +fides_. + +On reaching the inn, I was informed by Mrs. Newman that the Don, or +the foreign gentleman, as she styled him, was awaiting me in the +coffee-room. Thither I repaired, to discover the table laid and my +host standing at the window looking out upon the garden. He received +me with much politeness, and we presently sat down to our meal +together. During its progress nothing was said regarding the scheme we +had discussed an hour before. The Don did the honours of the table +with the greatest courtesy, and in numerous little ways showed me that +whatever else he might be, he was certainly a keen judge of Human +Character. As I have already remarked, he had travelled in well-nigh +every country, and if his own accounts were to be believed, he had met +with some strange people, and some still stranger adventures. + +Our meal at an end, he proposed that we should go for a stroll, and to +this I assented. We accordingly left the inn, and walked down the main +street past the ancient village church, until we came to the stone +bridge that spans the river. It was a glorious evening; the sunset had +been a brilliant one, and the last faint tints still lingered in the +sky. Under the bridge the river stole noiselessly on its way to the +sea; the swallows darted up and down its glassy surface as if they +were resolved to make the most of the waning daylight; while, soft and +low, from across the meadow came the music of the church organ, where +Molly was instructing her boys in the music for the coming Sunday. It +was an evening I shall remember as long as I can recollect anything, +if only because of the strange events which might almost be said to +have dated from it. + +"I hope you have been favourably considering my scheme," said Don +Guzman, when we had seated ourselves on the stone balustrading of the +bridge, and I was idly dropping stones into the stream below. + +"Yes, I've certainly given the matter my consideration," I replied, +"but I want to hear something more of your plans, and to know exactly +what will be required of me, before I shall be able to give you a +definite decision. Remember, beyond the mere fact that you want to get +this man out of the country, I know nothing whatsoever of the +business." + +"I promised you an explanation, and you shall have it," he said. "Of +course, before I begin, I can rely upon your treating the matter as +strictly confidential, can I not? You can see for yourself the +position I should be placed in were you not to do so." + +"Most assuredly," I replied. "I pledge you my word that whatever you +may say to me regarding this matter shall go no further." + +"In that case I will begin. First and foremost, let me inform you that +the country in question is the Republic of Equinata. As doubtless you +are aware, it is a most prosperous and fruitful one; indeed, I know of +no other that I like so well. I lived some of the most pleasant years +of my life there, and should in all probability be residing there now +if it were not for the treachery of the man whom I thought to be my +friend, who became my adviser, and eventually ended in ousting me from +my position and assuming the reins of Government himself. The name of +that man is Manuel Fernandez; he is about fifty years of age, of iron +physique, and I will do him the credit of saying, of indomitable +courage. His subjects do not love him, but they fear him, which is +much more to the point. Whether I was loved or not I am unable to +state, but the fact remains that a large number of the population are +most anxious that I should return to them to take up my former +position. This I am very anxious to do, but I do not see how I am to +accomplish it unless the present President is out of the way. +Doubtless I could enter the country by stealth, and sow the seeds of +another Revolution, which might, or might not, be successful. But +there would always be the danger of Fernandez discovering my +whereabouts and putting me out of the way. Now, my idea is this, if we +could only manage to get him out of the country, I could return, rally +my friends about me, prove his flight, and proclaim myself Dictator. +That done, even should he return in the end, I should be prepared for +him." + +"But how do you propose to get him out of the country?" + +"That's exactly what I want you to manage," he answered. "With the +plan I have in my mind, and a little care, it should not be a +difficult matter. This is my scheme. Lying at a certain port on the +Florida coast is a large steam-yacht, of upwards of a thousand tons. +She is the property of an old friend and sympathizer of mine in the +United States. He has offered to lend her to me for the purpose in +hand. Now, if you are willing to assist me, you might go out to the +West Indies, join her at Barbadoes, and board her in the capacity of a +rich Englishman. You steam away to Equinata, and go ashore, in order +to study the customs of her people. Most naturally you would call upon +the President to pay your respects. You are invited to call again, in +the end you strike up a friendship, then one evening he dines with you +on board, or perhaps you meet him somewhere, and then--well, I will +leave the rest to your imagination." + +Here he looked at me meaningly, and I gathered what his thoughts were. + +"And what is to happen to him then?" + +"After that you steam away to a certain small island the name of which +I will give you, land him, and place him with some people who will +take charge of him until such a time as shall be agreed upon. It +should not be a difficult matter, should it?" + +"No, as you put it, it is simplicity itself," I replied; "but what +about the officers and men of the yacht? How will you prevent them +from talking? And, what is more, will they assist in the scheme?" + +"They will be most carefully chosen for the work," the other replied. +"You need have no fear that they will give trouble. Now what do you +say?" + +"I do not know what answer to make. Supposing I am caught? What would +happen then?" + +"You will stand a very good chance of being shot offhand," he +answered; "but that, of course, is your own risk. It will depend +entirely upon how you go to work." + +"It would be running a terrible risk," I answered. "I have the girl I +am going to marry to think of." + +"If you succeed, you will be able to marry her on your return to +England," he replied. "Surely _that_ counts for something." + +"It counts for everything," I replied. "That's the temptation; if it +were not for that, I'd have nothing to do with it. I must have time, +however, to consider the matter." + +"By all means," he answered, "but don't be any longer than you can +help. As I said a few minutes ago, if you don't care about undertaking +it, I must find some one else. Time presses." + +"In case I do take it on, when will it be necessary for me to start?" +I asked. + +"The sooner the better," he replied. "If you can see your way to doing +so, I should like you to leave by next week's mail boat for Barbadoes, +where the yacht will meet you." + +"Will it satisfy you if I give you my answer to-morrow morning?" I +asked. + +"Yes, to-morrow morning will suit me admirably," he answered. "And if +you decide in the affirmative, my cheque for five thousand pounds +shall be handed you at once, and the remainder on the day you deliver +the President to the representative whom I shall appoint. Do you +consider that proposition a fair one?" + +"Very fair indeed," I replied. "I could not wish for anything more +so." + +Then we strolled back along the road until we reached the lych-gate of +the churchyard. Here I bade him good-night, and he continued his walk. +On my part, I made my way into the church, and seated myself in one of +the pews until the practice should be finished. From where I sat I +could catch a glimpse of my darling's pretty figure at the organ in +the chancel, the light from the two candles on either side illumining +her face. When the practice was at an end, she dismissed her boys and +came down to join me. Then, bidding the old verger a good-night, we +made our way home together. She inquired how I had enjoyed my dinner, +and what my friend had had to say to me. This put me in rather a +dilemma, for, of course, having given my word, I could say nothing to +her regarding the subject of our conversation. I explained, however, +that he had come down to consult me on some important business +connected with Central America, and that he had proposed that I should +go over and transact it for him. + +"He, at least, must have great faith in your ability then, Dick," said +my sweetheart. "I am prepared to like him, even though he does +monopolize your society. I know you will transact the business +beautifully, and then perhaps it may lead to something really good for +you." She paused for a moment, and then added a little nervously, +"When will you have to start?" + +"Next week, if I go at all," I replied; "but I have not yet decided +whether or not I shall accept his offer." + +"You must act as your own judgment dictates," she continued. "I know +that whatever you decide to do will be right." + +All things considered, I was not quite so certain of this myself, and +for a moment I was tempted to declare I would have nothing whatsoever +to do with it. But the money and the knowledge that it would mean a +wife and happiness for me, if I succeeded, was a temptation I could +not resist. + +As may be imagined, I did not sleep very much that night, but tumbled +and tossed upon my bed, turning the momentous question over and over +in my mind in maddening reiteration. There was one side of it that was +unpleasantly suggestive. I had to remember that, if I were caught, no +power on earth could save me. My own Government would certainly not +interfere in such a matter, while Don Guzman would, far from taking +any responsibility, in all probability, repudiate entirely any +connection with me and the affair. Then, from this, back I came again +in the circle of argument to the one absorbing question of the money. +Five thousand down, and five thousand when I handed over the +President. It would be a fortune to me. If I had it, I need never go +to sea again, and Molly would be my---- + +"Yes, by Jove," I said to myself as I sprang from my bed, "I'll do it! +Come what may, I'll do it, and chance the risk." + +Having arrived at this resolve, I had my tub, ate my breakfast, and +after I had smoked a meditative pipe in the garden, and had given the +matter a bit more consideration, set off for the inn where Don Guzman +was staying. He had only just risen, and was about to begin his +breakfast when I entered the room. + +"Well," he said, as we shook hands, "what news have you for me?" + +"I have come _to accept your proposal_," I said. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +"I am indeed glad you have decided to help me," Don Guzman de +Silvestre replied, when he heard my reply. "I felt certain you would +accept, and I assure you I shall value your co-operation. Would it be +possible for you to leave England on Wednesday next?" + +"If it comes to that I must make it possible," I answered. "From what +you said to me last night, I gather that there is no time to be lost." + +"The sooner we get to work the better," he returned. "I will send a +cipher message to the States this morning, to ask my friend to have +the yacht in readiness. If you leave London on the sixteenth you +should reach Barbadoes on the twenty-ninth. The yacht will meet you +there, and from the moment you set foot on board her, you may regard +her as your own private property to use as you will. You will find her +captain a most reliable man, and he will receive orders to do his +utmost to assist you. He will discharge all expenses, and will be +held responsible for the working of the vessel and the crew. You will, +of course, be known on board by another name, which we must arrange, +and you will be supposed to be a young Englishman, of immense wealth, +whose particular hobby is yachting. In order to sustain the fiction, +it will be necessary for you to have a large and varied outfit, which +I think you had better order to-day. I shall leave England a week +after you do, and shall go direct to the island, where you are to hand +the President over to me." + +"But you have not told me the name of that island yet," I answered. + +He took a map from his pocket and unfolded it upon the table. Then +placing his finger on a small dot in the Caribbean Sea, some distance +from the Republic of Equinata, he continued-- + +"There it is! It is called San Diaz, and is a picturesque little +place. The man who owns it is monarch of all he surveys. If we can +once get Fernandez there, all will be well. No vessels call at the +island, and, unless he likes to attempt a long swim, which I should be +the last to prevent, I fancy he will find some difficulty in returning +to the mainland." + +Another thought flashed through my mind. + +"Before we go any further," I said, "there is one thing I should say +to you. It is this. Before I take any hand in the business, I must +have your positive assurance that no violence will be used towards the +man you are so anxious to secure. I could not be a party to anything +of that sort, nor could I possibly deliver him to you if I thought you +meant to do him any ill." + +"I will give you the assurance for which you ask most willingly," my +companion replied without hesitation. "I merely desire to keep +Fernandez out of Equinata for a time, that is to say, while I +reinstate myself in my old position." + +When I was satisfied on this point, we discussed various other details +connected with the scheme, and the part I was to play in it. It was +certainly a big business. + +"So far as I am concerned," said Silvestre, "I'm going to be selfish +enough to say that I think it is a pity you are going to be married. +As President of the Republic, I could make your fortune for you in a +very short time. You wouldn't care to bring your wife out to Equinata +and settle down there, I suppose. I'd like to have a man beside me +whom I felt sure I could trust." + +"Many thanks for the compliment you pay me," I replied. "I fear, +however, South American politics are a little too uncertain for my +taste." + +"Well, perhaps you are right," he answered meditatively, as if he +were considering the matter; "but you must at least admit that, as +compared with the House of Commons, there is some life in them." + +"I should be inclined to substitute the word 'death' for 'life,'" I +returned, thinking of the stories I had been told of the thousands who +had perished during the last Revolution. "And now I must go. I have +all my work cut out for me if I am to sail on Wednesday." + +"Before you leave me," he remarked, "I had better give you this!" + +So saying, he took from his pocket a Russian leather case. From it he +produced a draft on a London banking firm, which he handed to me. It +was for no less a sum than six thousand pounds. This was more than I +had expected to receive. I therefore asked his reason for adding the +extra amount. + +"It is for your expenses," he replied. "For many reasons it would be +better that I should not be brought into the business. You had, +therefore, better book your passage yourself. You will also have to +get the outfit of which I spoke just now. That will cost a good deal. +What is left should suffice for your other expenses, which, in your +capacity of a rich young Englishman, you will probably find heavy." + +This was generous treatment, and I said as much. + +"Not at all," he answered. "Believe me, I am only too glad to do it. I +count myself lucky in having secured your services, and I am willing +to pay for that good fortune. Well, now that I have arranged matters +with you, I shall return to London and set the ball rolling in the +various directions. If you could make it convenient to meet me on +Monday next, I could then tell you how matters progressed, and we +could discuss future proceedings together. Here is my address." + +With that he handed me his card, which I placed carefully in my +pocket-book with the cheque. After that, having promised to call upon +him on the day mentioned, I bade him good-bye, and returned to my own +home. + +Great indeed was my mother's consternation on learning that she was to +lose me again so soon. She had counted, she declared, upon having me +for another month at least. Molly tried to be brave, but the effort +was not a conspicuous success. + +"Never mind, darling," I said, "we must put the best face we can upon +it. It is a fine chance for me. If I am successful, we shall be able +to be married when I return, and I shall then be able to give up the +sea. So we must cheer up and look forward to that." + +"It should be very important business you are to be engaged upon if +you will be able to do that," she answered, looking up at me with her +trusting, loving eyes. + +"It is most important," I answered. "The biggest thing I have ever had +to do with. Some day, perhaps, I may be able to let you know more +about it, but at present my lips are sealed." + +"Tell me nothing but what you wish, dear," she answered, like the good +little woman she was. "I am quite content to wait." + +After lunch she walked into Salisbury with me, and did her shopping, +while I visited the bank, where I paid in my cheque, and then went on +to the tailor's to arrange about my outfit. It is doubtful whether the +firm in question had ever had such an order before, and for once in my +life I took rank as a person of importance in their eyes. They would +have been more surprised, I fancy, had they known the reason of my +wanting it all! The next thing to be done was to telegraph for a +passage to Barbadoes. This I did in my own name, and, as the +transaction was with my old firm, I could well imagine the surprise my +communication would cause them. A letter I had already written +followed the wire, and conveyed the passage money. After that the +matter was settled. I had nothing to do now but to make the most of my +time with my mother and Molly, before it should be necessary for me +to leave for London. + +When that day arrived I walked into Salisbury and took the train to +Waterloo. Thence I made my way to the fashionable hotel at which +Guzman de Silvestre was staying. He was in the act of going out as I +entered, but on seeing me he led me back to his sitting-room and +carefully closed the door. + +"I am very glad indeed to see you," he said, placing a chair for me as +he spoke. "I trust your preparations are progressing satisfactorily?" + +"Everything is prepared," I answered. "I shall join the vessel on +Wednesday morning in the docks. The receipt for my passage money +arrived this morning." + +"It does me good to meet so expeditious a person," he remarked, with a +smile. "I, on my side, have not been idle. I have received a cable +from the folk in Florida to the effect that the yacht will reach +Barbadoes on the twenty-sixth, where she will await your arrival. +After that I leave the conduct of affairs in your hands entirely." + +"I trust I shall be able to carry it through," I answered. "I only +wish I had a little more confidence in my ability to succeed." + +"You'll manage it, never fear," Silvestre replied. "I am as certain +that I shall one day see Fernandez coming ashore at San Diaz, as I am +of eating my dinner to-night." + +"And that reminds me," I hastened to remark, "that there is still one +thing that puzzles me." + +"And what may that be?" he inquired. "Don't hesitate to ask any +questions you may think of. This is no time for half confidences." + +"I want to know why, with all your experience, and the number of men +you have met, you should have selected me for this business. Surely +you could have discovered hundreds of others better fitted for the +work." + +"To be candid with you," he returned, "I chose you because I liked the +look of you. You seemed to be just the sort of man I wanted. I won't +deny that I know lots of men who might have been able to carry it +through successfully had it come to a pinch, but the chances are that +they might have failed in some little thing, and that would have given +rise to suspicion. I wanted an Englishman, and one possessed of the +manners and appearance of a gentleman. Allow me to pay you the +compliment of saying that in my opinion you combine both these +qualifications." + +"It is very good of you to say so," I replied, "but I don't quite see +what the appearance of a gentleman has to do with the question." + +"I will explain," he said. "Fernandez, as I have already told you, is +an adventurer himself. He knows the type, and, for that reason, would +be quick to detect a brother hawk. One suspicion would give rise to +another, and then, you may rest assured, the attempt to remove him +would be frustrated. Now you can see why I want some one who can play +the part and yet not rouse his suspicions." + +"And so I am to be a gentleman in manners and appearances--and yet be +a traitor in reality. I don't know that I consider it altogether a +nice part to be called upon to play." + +"You must settle that with your own conscience," he answered, with one +of his peculiar smiles. "Call it an act of political expediency, and +thus settle all qualms." + +After that I put a few further questions to him concerning certain +contingencies that might occur in the event of the President obtaining +an inkling of what was toward. When all this was arranged, I left him, +at the same time promising to call upon him on Wednesday for final +instructions. + +From the hotel I drove to Mr. Winzor's offices in High Holborn. He was +not in at the moment, but when I returned, half-an-hour or so later, I +found him ready to receive me. + +"Well, young gentleman," he began, after we had greeted each other, +"and what can I do for you to-day. No more legal troubles, I hope?" + +"I have come to you on two errands," I replied. "In the first place I +want to know what you have done concerning Harveston and the Company?" + +"I have received a letter from the former gentleman this morning," he +answered, turning over some papers on the table as he spoke. "Let me +see, where is it? Ah! here it is! In it he states that, while he has +not the least desire to damage your reputation, or to prejudice your +career, he cannot retract what he has said, or withdraw what was +entered in the ship's log. The charge of untruthfulness, he admits, +might be reconsidered, and he is also willing to suppose that your +neglect of the ship might be due to a certain slackness which was +engendered by the easy-going habits of your late commander. In +conclusion, he begs to assure me that he has never, at any time, +entertained the least feeling of animosity for yourself, but that, in +reporting the matter to the Company, he merely acted in the manner +that he deemed to be consistent with his duty." + +"A preposterous letter in every sense of the word," I cried angrily. +"Not content with injuring me, he must endeavour to reflect on Captain +Pomeroy, who is dead. Never mind, I'll be even with him yet--the +hound." + +The old gentleman permitted a dry smile to appear on his face. + +"I am glad at least to observe," he said, "that you have abandoned +your notion of taking immediate action against him." + +"It would be impossible for me to do so, even if I had any desire that +way," I replied. "The fact is, I am leaving England for South America +on Wednesday next, and don't quite know when I shall be back. And that +brings me to the second portion of the business upon which I desire to +consult you." + +"Am I to understand that you have obtained another situation?" he +inquired. "And, pray, what line of steamships are you now going to +serve?" + +"I am not serving any line of steamships," I replied. "I am going out +on private business, and I want you, if you will be so kind, to take +charge of a certain letter I have written, and which I desire shall be +opened by the person to whom it is addressed, in the event of my not +returning within a year. One never knows what may happen in that part +of the world to which I am now going. Here is the letter." + +So saying I produced the epistle I had written on the previous +evening, and which was addressed to my mother and Molly jointly. The +old gentleman took it and turned it over and over in his hands. + +"I hope you are not going to get into any mischief," he said. "I +mistrust that part of the world. And now what else is there I can do +for you?" + +"I want you," I replied, "to draw up my will. I have some little +property that I should like to leave to Molly and my mother. It is not +very much, but it would doubtless prove useful, should anything befall +me." + +"We will hope that nothing will happen to you," said the lawyer. "At +the same time I will draw up your will with pleasure. What have you to +leave?" + +When the old boy discovered the amount of my fortune his face +betrayed his astonishment. Knowing that I had not been left anything +by my father, I could see that he was anxious to question me +concerning the manner in which I had accumulated this amount. +Fortunately for my reputation for truthfulness, however, he repressed +his inquisitiveness. + +"It is a very creditable sum for a young man to have got together," he +remarked. "Much may be done with five thousand pounds. It may interest +you to know that I myself started with my articles and not a penny +more than a hundred guineas to my name. To-day, however, I fancy--but +there, I understand that you wish this amount, in the event of your +death, to be divided equally between your mother and Miss Molly. And +supposing that one survives the other?" + +"In that case the whole amount must pass to the survivor!" + +He promised me that the document should be drawn up and forwarded to +me for my signature without delay, whereupon I shook him by the hand +and bade him good-bye. My one thought now was to get back to Falstead +as quickly as possible. I grudged every hour I spent away from it. +Perhaps it was the dangerous nature of my enterprise that was +accountable for it; at any rate, I know that I was dreading the +leave-taking that was ahead of me more than I had ever done before. No +one could say what the next few weeks would have in store for me, and, +as it happened, that very night I was fated to have a dream that was +scarcely calculated to add to my peace of mind. + +It seemed to me that I was standing in a large yard, walled in on +every side. Some tropical foliage was to be seen above the walls. At +my feet was a large hole which I knew to be a grave. A squad of +slovenly soldiers, clad in a uniform I had never before seen, were +leaning on their rifles, some little distance away, watching me, while +their officer consulted his watch. Then he shut it with a snap and +nodded to me. I was about to throw down the handkerchief I held in my +hand, when there was a cry and Molly appeared before me. Running +towards me, she threw her arms about my neck. Knowing that at any +moment the men might fire, I tried to put her aside. But she only +clung the tighter. Every moment I expected to hear the rattle of +rifles, but it seemed an age before it came. Then the soldiers fired, +and Molly and I fell together, down, down, down, and I awoke with a +start, to find myself sitting up in bed, my face bathed in +perspiration. Never had I had such a dream before. More than +twenty-four hours went by before I could get the effect it produced +out of my mind. Molly noticed my condition after breakfast and asked +what ailed me. + +"Cannot you guess, darling?" I asked, having no intention of telling +her the truth. "Is it likely that I could be anything but depressed, +when I am leaving you for I cannot say how long?" + +"But you will be in no danger, and you will come back to me before +very long, will you not?" she said, looking at me seriously, as if she +were afraid I was hiding something from her. + +"Of course, dear," I replied. "Every man, however, has to take his +chance of something befalling him when he puts to sea. I might go to +the end of the world--risk my life in a thousand different ways--only +to return to England to be knocked down in the Strand by a runaway +cab. I might go to the North Pole and come back safely, to fall +through the ice and be drowned in the Vicarage pond. You mustn't be +angry with me, dear," I continued, "if I am a little downcast. Let us +try to think of the day when I shall return to make you my bride. Oh, +how happy we shall be then!" + +"Happy indeed," she answered. "God grant that day may come soon. I +shall pray for you always, Dick, and ask Him to send my darling back +to me, safe and sound." + +We walked as far as Welkam Bridge and then home again across the +meadows to lunch. By the time we reached the house I had somewhat +recovered my spirits--but they were destined to fall to zero again +before the day was at an end. It was a sad little party that sat down +to dinner that evening. My mother could scarcely restrain her +tears--Molly tried to be cheerful and failed in the attempt; as for +myself--though I joked on every conceivable subject, save that of +foreign travel--my heart was heavy as lead, and my face, I'll be +bound, was as solemn as that of an undertaker's mute. For the reason +that I felt it would be too much for her to leave it until the last +moment, Molly and I bade each other good-bye that evening. + +Next morning I rose early, breakfasted at seven, very much in the same +state of mind, I should say, as a man who is about to be led to +execution, and at eight o'clock gave my dear old mother one last kiss, +and left the house with a lump in my throat that came near to choking +me. I can see my mother's tear-stained face at the window even now, as +I waved my hand to her before turning the corner of the village +street. Little did I dream then how much I was to go through before I +should see that beloved countenance again. + +When the last house of the village was behind me, I mended my pace and +struck out for Salisbury. It was a bright morning; the birds sang in +the hedges, the cattle grazed peacefully in the meadows, indeed, all +nature seemed happy but myself. I turned the corner of the Ridge Farm, +and, passing through the chalk cutting, began the descent of the hill +that, when you have left the cross roads and the gipsy's grave behind +you, warns you that you are half-way into town. As everybody who knows +the neighbourhood is aware, there is at the foot a picturesque +cottage, once the residence of the turnpike keeper, and, a hundred +yards or so on the other side again, a stile, which commences the +footpath across the fields to Mellerton. I was thinking, as I +approached it, of the last time I had walked that way with Molly, and +was wondering how long it would be before I should do so again, when, +as I drew near the stile, I became aware of a girlish figure leaning +against the rail. My heart gave a leap within me, and I cried out, +"Molly, can it be you?" Yet it was Molly sure enough. + +"Oh, Dick, dear," she faltered, as I approached her, "do not be angry +with me. I could not stay away. I felt that I must see the last of +you!" + +It was impossible for me to be angry with her, even though, as she +told me later, she had breakfasted at six o'clock, and had been +waiting at the stile for me since seven. However, I satisfied myself +by promising her a good wigging when I came home again, and then we +set off together. How short the remainder of that walk seemed, I must +leave you to imagine. It appeared scarcely to have commenced before we +had left the country and were in the quaint old streets of Salisbury, +making our way towards the railway station. We must have walked +somewhat slowly, for, when we reached it, I found that I had only five +minutes to spare. Over the parting that took place when the train put +in an appearance I must draw a veil. + +Punctually at half-past eleven the train steamed into Waterloo and +disgorged its passengers upon the platform. I immediately engaged a +cab and drove direct to Silvestre's hotel, where, for upwards of +half-an-hour, I was closeted in close confabulation with him. Then I +bade him good-bye, for it was part of our arrangement that he should +not accompany me to the ship, and, having done so, returned to my cab +and bade the man drive me to the railway station, where I was to take +the train to the docks. By three o'clock I was on board, and +endeavouring to convince myself that I was only a passenger, and not +in any way connected with the working of the vessel. At a quarter to +four we were steaming down the river, and my one and only adventure +had commenced. + +How was it destined to end? was the question I asked myself. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +It was a new experience to me to find myself at sea as a passenger, to +have no watches to keep, and no round of irksome duties to perform. It +was a pleasant change to be able to turn into one's bunk at ten +o'clock and to enjoy a good night's rest, after being used to leaving +it at midnight in order to go up and pace a cold and cheerless bridge +for four long hours at a time. I had a vague premonition that I should +be recognized as soon as I arrived on board. Strangely enough this +proved to be the case, for I had no sooner set foot on the promenade +deck, before a well-known voice hailed me. + +"Hulloa, Dick Helmsworth," it said. "What on earth brings you aboard +this hooker?" + +I turned and recognized the speaker as an old shipmate, who, like +myself, had once sailed with Harveston. But, more fortunate than +myself, he had managed to retain his billet after so doing. In reply +to his question I informed him that I was proceeding to Barbadoes on +private business, and that I profoundly hoped I had abandoned the sea +as a profession. From him I learnt the names of the various officers +of the boat. For more reasons than one I was glad to hear that they +were unknown to me, and also that there was only one first-class +passenger for Barbadoes. He proved to be an old French priest, and +from what I saw of him, I gathered that he would not be likely to +remember me, or, indeed, any one else, when once he had left the +vessel. + +A good passage down Channel and a smooth crossing of the Bay carried +us well on our way. We reached Madeira in due course, and afterwards +settled down for the voyage across the Atlantic. Among other things, I +had to familiarize myself with the character I was about to portray. +To be a rich young Englishman, with a passion for yachting, would not +at first thought seem a difficult part to play. It was not as easy, +however, as it would appear. In order that it might come the more +naturally to me, I determined to cultivate a manner while on board. I +accordingly spoke with a somewhat affected drawl, interlarded my +speech with "Reallies," "Bah Joves," "Don't you know," and other +exotic flowers of speech, until my old friend Kirby, the chief +officer, found occasion to remonstrate with me. + +"What on earth has come over you, Dick?" he cried. "You're as +affected as a school-girl. You'll have to come back to sea, my lad, or +you'll be developing into a masher of the worst type. It's very +evident that lying in at night don't suit you. You ought to be back on +the bridge again, standing your watch like a man." + +"Not if I know it," I replied. "I've had enough of that sort of thing +to last me a lifetime. Wait until you come into a bit of money, my +boy, and then you'll see how nice it feels to watch others work." + +"Egad! I wish I could," he answered. "I'd never trouble the briny +again. Give me a cottage somewhere in the country, with a bit of +garden, and some fowls to look after, and I wouldn't change places +with the Czar of all the Russias." + +Two days before we were due to reach Barbadoes, I made a resolve. +This, in due course, took me along the alley-way to the barber's shop. +As soon as the passenger whose hair he had been cutting departed, I +seated myself in the vacated chair, and when the barber asked me what +he could do for me, I put up my hand to my moustache. + +"Take this off," I said. + +The man gazed at me in astonishment. My moustache was a heavy one, and +it was plain that he thought me mad to want to get rid of it. + +"You don't mean to say, sir, that you want me to take it off," he +remarked, as if he had not heard aright. + +"That's exactly what I _do_ mean," I replied. "I want it out of the +way." + +He thereupon took up his scissors and began his work of destruction, +but in a half-hearted fashion. When he had finished I sat up and +looked at myself in the glass. You may believe me or not, when I tell +you that I scarcely recognized the face I saw there. + +"If I were to meet you in the street, my lad, I should pass you by," I +said to myself. Then to the barber I added: "What a change it makes in +my appearance." + +"It makes you look a different man, sir," the barber replied. "There's +not many gentlemen would have sacrificed a nice moustache like that." + +I paid him, and, when I left the shop, went to my cabin. Once there, I +unlocked my trunk, and took from it a smart yachting cap and a leather +case, containing various articles I had purchased in London. One of +these was an eye-glass, which, after several attempts, I managed to +fix in my eye. Then, striking an attitude, I regarded myself in the +mirror above the washstand. + +"Good-day, Mr. George Trevelyan," I muttered. "I'm very pleased to +make your acquaintance." + +"Really, bah Jove, that's awfully good of you to say so," I answered +in my assumed voice. "I hope, bah Jove, we shall be very good friends +for the time that we're destined to spend together." + +"That will only be until we get back to Barbadoes," Dick Helmsworth +replied. "After that, Mr. George Trevelyan, you can clear out as soon +as you please. From that day forward I shall hope never to set eyes on +you again." + +I thereupon placed the eye-glass in its case, put the cap back in the +trunk, and relocked the latter. After that I went on deck to receive +the chaff I knew would be showered upon me by my fellow-passengers. + +Two days later, that is to say, on the twenty-ninth of the month, we +reached the island of Barbadoes and came to anchor in the harbour of +Bridgetown. When I had collected my baggage, I bade my friends on +board good-bye and made my way ashore. I had already carefully +searched the shipping, but I could see no sign of any yacht, such as I +had been led to expect I should find awaiting me there. I did not +worry myself very much about it, however, knowing that her captain had +been furnished with my address, and feeling sure that he would +communicate with me as soon as he arrived. On landing I drove to the +Imperial Hotel and engaged rooms in my own name. I had intended +adopting my assumed cognomen on quitting the ship, but to my dismay I +learnt that some of the passengers had also come ashore and were due +to lunch at my hotel. To have entered my name as Trevelyan upon the +books, and have been addressed as Helmsworth in the hearing of the +proprietor, might have sowed the seeds of suspicion in his mind. And +this I was naturally anxious not to do. Later in the day the +passengers returned to the steamer, and she continued her voyage. As I +watched her pass out of the bay I wondered whether I should ever see +her again. Before it would be possible for me to do so, many very +strange adventures would in all probability have happened to me. + +On my return to the hotel, I inquired for the proprietor, who +presently came to me in the verandah. + +"I expected to have met a friend here," I said, "a Mr. Trevelyan. I am +given to understand, however, that he has not yet arrived?" + +"There is no one staying in the hotel at present of that name," he +replied. "There was a Mr. Trevelyan here last year, but, if my memory +serves me, he was a clergyman." + +"I'm afraid it cannot have been the same person," I said, with a +smile. "By the way, should any one happen to call, and inquire for +him, I should be glad if you would give instructions that he is to see +me." + +"I will do so with pleasure," the other replied. "At the same time +perhaps I had better reserve a room for your friend?" + +"You need not do that," I answered. "There is no knowing when he will +be here. It is just possible I may pick him up in Jamaica." + +Having thus put matters on a satisfactory footing I prepared to wait +patiently until news should reach me from Captain Ferguson. Though I +sat in the verandah of the hotel and carefully scrutinized every one +who entered, I went to bed that night without seeing any person who at +all answered the description I had been given of him. I spent the +following morning partly in the verandah of the hotel, and partly +searching the harbour for the yacht. I returned to lunch, however, +without having discovered her. In the afternoon I went for a short +stroll, leaving word at the hotel that, should any one call to see me, +he or she had better wait, for I should be back in an hour. When I +returned I questioned the head waiter, but he assured me that no one +had called to see either Mr. Trevelyan or myself. Once more darkness +fell, and once more after dinner I sat in the verandah smoking. The +evening was far advanced, and once more I was beginning to contemplate +turning in, feeling certain that Ferguson would not put in an +appearance that night, when a short, stout individual came briskly up +the steps and entered the building. He was dressed entirely in white, +and had a broad-brimmed Panama hat upon his head. He might have passed +for a merchant or a planter, but something, I cannot say what, +instinctively told me that he belonged to the seafaring profession. +After a few moments he reappeared again, this time accompanied by the +head waiter. + +"This gentleman," the latter began, addressing me, "wishes to see Mr. +Trevelyan. I told him that we had no one of that name staying at the +hotel, but that you were Mr. Trevelyan's friend." + +"That is certainly so," I said. "I presume you are Captain Ferguson?" + +"That is my name," the other replied, and when the servant had +disappeared, he continued: "May I ask whom I am addressing?" + +"My name is Helmsworth," I answered in a low voice, at the same time +motioning him to be seated. "A certain gentleman of the name of +Silvestre, however, thinks I had better be known by the name of the +person whom the waiter informed you had not yet arrived in the +island." + +"In that case you are Mr. Trevelyan," he said in a whisper, drawing +his chair a little closer to mine as he did so, and closely +scrutinizing me. "Perhaps you have something for me?" + +"I have a letter," I replied, thinking at the same time that I had +seen his face somewhere before. "What have you for me?" + +"This," he replied laconically, and in his turn produced a small +silver coin, which he handed to me. + +I rose from my chair and carried it down the verandah as far as the +hall door. The light there enabled me to see that it was stamped with +the name of Equinata. I thereupon returned to the captain, and handed +him the letter Don Guzman had given me for him. + +"And where is the yacht?" I inquired. + +"In the harbour," he replied. "We got in at dark, and she is coaling +now as fast as we can get the stuff aboard. When will you be ready to +start?" + +"Whenever you please," I replied. "The sooner we are out of this place +the better for all people concerned." + +"Would nine o'clock to-morrow morning be convenient to you?" + +"It would suit me admirably. How am I to get my traps aboard?" + +"If you will have them sent down to the wharf I will arrange the +rest," he answered. "The boat for Santa Lucia will be in shortly after +daylight, and the hotel folk will naturally suppose that you have gone +aboard her. Of course you understand, Mr. Helms--Mr. Trevelyan, I +mean, that in this matter I am acting under your orders, and that I +shall endeavour to do all in my power to bring the business upon which +we are engaged to a satisfactory conclusion." + +"You quite understand what is required of me?" I asked. + +"Perfectly," he answered. "My instructions have been most complete." + +"And what do you think of it?" + +"I think you will have all your work cut out for you," he replied. +"Don Fernandez is as sharp as a weasel and as cunning as a fox. But +perhaps it would be better for us to say no more upon the matter, at +least at present. We can talk it over if we want to, with greater +safety, on board. And now, if you don't mind, I'll bid you good-night. +I've got a lot of work to get through before we leave to-morrow +morning." + +We shook hands, and after he had promised to have a boat ready for me +at nine o'clock next morning, he bade me good-night and left me. + +From the little I had seen of him, I liked the look of the man. He +had a resolute air about him, and it struck me that in him I had found +one who was likely to prove himself a useful ally. But where on earth +had I seen him before? For the life of me I could not remember. +Lighting another cigar, I seated myself, and once more pondered over +the matter. When the cigar was finished I retired to my room to fall +asleep directly I was in bed, and to dream that I was abducting the +Chairman and Directors of my old Company, and that I was flying +through the air with them in a balloon built on the principles of a +motor-car. + +Next morning I was astir early, had had my breakfast, had paid my +bill, and had seen my trunks on their way to the wharf, before a +quarter to nine. On my arrival at the water's side, however, there was +no sign of any yacht's boat. Some distance out I could perceive the +Inter-Colonial mail steamer with a crowd of boats about her, and a +dozen cables or so distant from her a handsome white yacht, which, I +gathered, was to be my home for the next few weeks. I had just +rewarded the porters, who had brought my luggage down, and had sent +them about their business, when a neat gig, pulled by four men and +steered by a fifth, came into view round the end of the jetty. Pulling +up at the steps below me, the coxswain touched his hat and inquired +whether he was addressing Mr. Trevelyan. Upon my answering in the +affirmative, two of his men jumped ashore, and carried my baggage down +to the boat. I thereupon took my place in the stern and we set off. + +"That, I presume, is the _Cynthia_, lying astern of the mail-boat?" I +said to the coxswain, as we pulled out into the harbour. + +"Yes, sir, that's the _Cynthia_," he replied. "When you get a bit +closer, sir, you'll say she's as fine a craft as you'd see in a long +day's sail." + +He certainly spoke the truth. The vessel in question could scarcely +have been less than a thousand tons. (As a matter of fact that was her +tonnage.) To my thinking, however, she was somewhat heavily sparred +for her size, but the coxswain hastened to assure me a better sea-boat +could not be found. + +Captain Ferguson met me at the gangway, and saluted me as if I were +really owner of the vessel and not a make-believe, such as I really +was. + +"You will find your cabin prepared for you," he said. "If you will +permit me I'll show you to it." + +Then, going on ahead, he conducted me into the main companion, and +through an elegant saloon to a large and most comfortable cabin, +evidently built and intended for the owner. It was a gorgeous affair. +Indeed, the luxury of the vessel, what I had seen of it, astonished +me. I had overhauled many yachts in my time, but had never seen one +like this before. She was as spic and span as if she had only just +left the builder's hands. + +When I had seen my baggage arranged, I ascended to the deck, where I +found Captain Ferguson in the act of getting under weigh. Ten minutes +or so later, our anchor was aboard and we were steaming slowly out of +the harbour. In an hour the island lay like a black dot upon the +horizon behind us, and a few minutes later had vanished altogether. I +was seated in the cabin with Captain Ferguson at the time, and when he +rang the bell and ordered the servant who answered it to bring up a +bottle of champagne, we pledged each other in it, and drank to the +success of our enterprise. + +"It's a small world, sir," he said at last, as he set down his glass, +"and few of us really understand _how_ small it is. I wonder what +you'll say when you hear what I've got to tell you. I remember once +being in Hong Kong. It was in the wet season, and I was on my way out +to Japan to meet a boat in Nagasaki, that I was to take over on behalf +of the Company I was then serving. On the evening of my arrival in +Hong Kong I went ashore to dine with some friends, and didn't start to +come off to the mail-boat until pretty late. When I did I hired a +sampan and told one of the crew where my ship was. Thinking that he +understood, I took my place under the covered arrangement that those +boats have, and away we went. Perhaps I may have been a bit drowsy +after the festivities of the evening. I'll not say anything about +that, either way. The fact, however, remains, that we had not gone +very far before I became conscious that there was something wrong. It +seemed to me as if the tilt, or cover, under which I was sitting, was +coming down upon me. I sprang to my feet and endeavoured to push it +up, giving a shout as I did so." + +All this time I had been listening to him with ill-concealed +impatience. As I have already remarked, it had struck me on the +previous evening that I had seen the man's face somewhere before. + +"I think I can tell you the rest," I interrupted. "A ship's boat +happened to be passing at the moment, and, on hearing your shout, she +came alongside and a couple of men in her sprang aboard the sampan. I +was one of those men. We bowled over the owner of the craft, and +pulled you out from under the cover, just as you were about done for. +Good heavens! I thought I recognized you last night at the hall door, +and now you bring that adventure back to my mind, I remember you +perfectly." + +"And I you," he answered. "I've been puzzling my brains about your +face all night. You had a moustache then, but I should know you now +again. I don't think, Mr. Trevelyan, you will find me go into this +business any the less warmly for what you did for me that night." + +"You were right when you declared it to be a small world," I said. +"Fancy our meeting again and on such an errand as this." + +I then proceeded to question him concerning the officers and men under +his charge. + +"My chief officer," he said, "is a man of the name of Burgin. He has +seen a good deal of rough-and-tumble work in various parts of the +world, and, as I have satisfactorily proved, can be thoroughly relied +on when it comes to a pinch. The second is a young fellow of the name +of Brownlow. He took part in the last Cuban expedition, and had a bit +of fighting afterwards in the Philippines. The crew number thirty all +told, and have been most carefully selected. I have tested them in +every way, and feel sure they can be reckoned upon to do their duty. +Now perhaps you'd like to have a look round the vessel? You've seen +next to nothing of her yet." + +He accordingly conducted me over the yacht from stem to stern, until I +was familiar with every detail. If I were to pose as a young +Englishman whose hobby was yachting, I could scarcely have had a finer +craft wherewith to indulge my fancy. She was a Clyde-built vessel of, +as I have already said, exactly a thousand tons; her length was not +far short of two hundred and fifty feet. Her engine-room was +amidships, and was as perfectly fitted as everything else. The +drawing-room was a model of beauty, while the saloon was capable of +seating at least fifty persons. The quarters of the officers and crew +left nothing to be desired on the score of comfort. Only on one +question was the captain at all reticent, and that was concerning the +identity of the yacht's owner. Her papers, I discovered, were made out +in my name, or rather, I should say, in my assumed name, but whether +she was the property of Silvestre, or of somebody else, I was never +able to ascertain. + +Though Silvestre had informed me that, from the moment I set foot on +board, I should be considered the yacht's owner, I had not attached +any great importance to the remark. I soon discovered, however, that +there was more in it than I supposed. For instance, when I was told +that evening that dinner was upon the table, I made my way to my +cabin, prepared myself for it, and entered the saloon to find that I +was expected to dine in solitary grandeur. Two men-servants were +present to wait upon me, but there was no sign of the captain. + +"Where is Captain Ferguson?" I inquired of one of the men when I had +waited some two or three minutes for him to put in an appearance. + +"He dines in the officers' mess, sir," the man replied. + +Resolving to remedy this state of things on the morrow, and feeling +that it was of no use my sending for him that night, I proceeded with +my dinner without further remark. Accustomed as I was to good living +on board a mail-boat, I can only say that, in all my experience, I had +never met with anything like the meal that was served to me that +evening. If Silvestre had given orders that my comfort was to be +studied, he had certainly been carefully obeyed. When I rose from the +table I went to my cabin, changed my coat, filled a pipe, and mounted +with it to the bridge. Ferguson met me by the chart-room door, and +expressed the hope that I had been made comfortable. I told him that +the only fault I had to find was on the score of company, and went on +to say that I expected him for the future to take his meals with me. + +"It would be out of place for a captain to dine with his owner until +he is invited to do so," he said, with a laugh. "However, if you wish +it, I shall be very pleased to do so in the future." + +I remember that it was a beautiful night; the sea was like glass, and +the great stars overhead were reflected in the deep as in a mirror. As +I smoked my pipe I thought of Molly, and wondered what she was doing +at that moment. That I was a trifle homesick I will not deny. At ten +o'clock Ferguson invited me to his cabin, and for about an hour we sat +there discussing the business that lay before us. He had never visited +Equinata before, but he was conversant with the character of the +country. Having procured a chart from a locker, he made me aware of +the whereabouts of the President's palace; showed me where he thought +it would be best for the yacht to lie, and various other details that +had struck him as being applicable to the case in hand. + +"And now one other question: What do you know of Fernandez himself?" I +inquired, when he had rolled up the chart and replaced it in the +locker. + +"Only what I have heard," he replied. "He is an exceedingly clever +man, and as unscrupulous as any president who has ruled in South +America, not excluding our friend Silvestre. It is quite certain that +if he has the least suspicion of what we are after, ours is likely to +be a short shrift. I presume you thought the whole business out well +before you embarked upon it?" + +I answered to the effect that I had given it all due consideration, +and that whatever chances there might be I was prepared to take them. +There was one question, however, that I had been desirous of putting +to him ever since I had been on board, and now that we were alone +together I resolved to ask it, and to risk his refusal to reply. + +"With regard to Don Guzman de Silvestre," I said, "what do you know of +him?" + +Somewhat to my surprise he was quite frank with me. + +"I know very little of him," he answered, "except that I owe my +present position to him. Of one thing, however, I am aware, and that +is the fact that he is not a man to be trifled with." + +After a while I bade him good-night, and left him to go below to my +cabin. Before entering the companion, however, I leant upon the +bulwarks and gazed across the sea. Scarcely a sound broke the +stillness of the night; the monotonous pacing of the officer of the +watch, the look-out's cry, "All's well," and the throbbing of the +engines, were all that broke the silence. I went over my talk with +Ferguson again. After what he had said it appeared to me that the +task I had undertaken was an almost hopeless one. One little mistake +and my life would pay the forfeit. Failure seemed certain, and in that +case what would happen to Molly and my mother? They would hope against +hope, waiting for the man who would never return. I told myself that I +was a fool ever to have had anything to do with the business. What was +Don Guzman de Silvestre and his ambition to me? Why should I risk my +life and my dear one's happiness for the sake of a paltry ten thousand +pounds? In sheer disgust I turned on my heel and went to my cabin. +Whatever my thoughts may have been on deck, they certainly did not +trouble me very much below. I slept like a top all night, and when I +came on deck next morning I had well-nigh forgotten my melancholy +musings of the previous evening. + +For the next four days our life scarcely varied. I read and smoked on +deck, chatted with Ferguson, improved my acquaintance with the other +officers, and counted the days until we should reach our destination. +As you may suppose, it was a welcome moment when the skipper announced +that we were only a matter of ten hours' steaming from the Republic of +Equinata. Next morning a faint smudge was discernible on the horizon +straight ahead of us; by breakfast-time this had taken to itself the +appearance of land, and when I returned to the bridge after my meal, a +range of mountain peaks were plainly to be seen. By ten o'clock we +were near enough to discern the entrance to the harbour, and by +half-past we were steaming in between the heads, to drop our anchor in +the bay. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +La Gloria, the chief port and capital of the Republic of Equinata, is +charmingly situated on the west side of an admirably shaped bay, and +is land-locked, save for a distance of about half-a-mile. It boasts a +population numbering upwards of thirty thousand, of which only some +ten or twelve thousand are white, the remainder being half-castes, +quadroons, mulattoes, and negroes unadulterated. The city possesses +some fine buildings, notable among which is the Cathedral of San +Pedro, a handsome edifice, though somewhat damaged by the earthquake +of '83. The Houses of Parliament are also imposing structures, as +befits a land where every man is a politician, and no boy knows what +may be in store for him. There is also the President's palace, and, of +course, an opera house, and equally of course a long stretch of +barracks, where the soldiers would seem to spend their time smoking +cigarettes and hatching plots against their superiors. + +As we passed through the Heads and entered the harbour, it struck me I +had never looked upon a fairer scene. The blue waters of the bay, the +white houses peeping out from amid the wealth of foliage, and the +mountains rising tier upon tier behind, made up as pretty a picture as +the eye of man could desire to dwell upon. We had scarcely come to +anchor before a boat put off to us, pulled by four stalwart niggers, +and carrying a much-uniformed official, who sat beside the coxswain. +He proved to be the health officer--a voluble little Spaniard, with a +magnificent idea of his own importance. As soon as his boat was +alongside he ran up the ladder to the gangway with the agility of a +monkey, and made his way to the place where Captain Ferguson was +waiting to receive him. During the years I had been in the South +American trade, I had managed to pick up a considerable smattering of +Spanish, enough at any rate to make myself understood by the Dons. I +was not nearly so fluent with it, however, as was Ferguson, who, I +soon discovered, could talk the lingo as well as any swell of Aragon. +As soon as they had transacted their business, the latter brought the +health officer along to the saloon whither I had descended, and where +I was introduced to him as the owner of the yacht. + +"You possess a most beautiful vessel, señor," he said, bowing before +me as if he would never be able to straighten his back again. + +"And you a most beautiful harbour and city," I replied, resolved not +to be outdone in the matter of compliments. + +"Am I to believe that this can be your first visit to Equinata, +señor?" he asked as if in astonishment. + +"Yes, my first," I replied in my best Trevelyan manner. "I can assure +you, however, that I am charmed with it, most charmed." + +"Ah, you must wait until you have been ashore," he continued, "then +you will indeed be surprised. The Plaza, the Almeda, the Opera House, +and the President's palace. Ah!" Here he paused and gave an airy wave +of his hand as if to signify that, when I should come to view these +wonders, I might indeed describe the city as being beautiful; until +then, however, I could not pretend to any real notion of its glories. + +"I shall be delighted to make its acquaintance," I returned, "and also +to pay my respects to your most illustrious President, who, I hear, is +beloved by all his people." + +"Ah, the good President," said the little man, but without any great +enthusiasm. "And his niece--the beautiful Señorita Dolores. I raise my +glass to the most beautiful woman in Equinata." Thereupon, with his +eyes turned to the deck above, he drank solemnly to the health of the +lady of whose existence I then heard for the first time. + +A little more desultory conversation followed, in the course of which +I managed to extract from him, in a roundabout way, a quantity of +information of which I stood in need. Then the little man hoisted +himself out of his chair, and with a regret born of a bottle and a +half of excellent champagne, stated his intention of returning to the +shore once more. Having fired another salvo of compliments at me, he +carried this plan into effect, and we saw no more of him. Half-an-hour +later the Harbour Master and the Chief Customs official arrived, drank +more champagne, with which you may be sure I liberally plied them, +smoked a number of cigars, praised their city, their country, and +their excellent selves, but did nothing in the way of performing their +business, and in their turn departed for the shore. Then I lunched, +spent an hour in meditation in an easy-chair under the awning, and +then, having ordered a boat, prepared to set off on a tour of +inspection of the capital. + +The landing-place at La Gloria is, or was, very similar to that of +most other South American seaports. That is to say, at some distant +date, harbour works on a very large scale had been commenced, but for +some reason had never been completed. Possibly a Revolution may have +been accountable for the stoppage of the work, or the President, or +Minister of Public Works, may have decamped with the funds. At any +rate all there was to show for the money voted was one substantially +built wharf, the commencement of a pier, and a quantity of uncut +stone, which still remained, moss-covered and weather-worn, just where +the contractors had dumped it down. + +I landed at the wharf, and immediately dispatched the boat back to the +yacht. Trustworthy though the crew might be, I had no desire that they +should hang about the sea front and talk to the inhabitants. Then, +leaving the wharf, I made my way into the town. + +It was a picturesque place of the true Central American type. The +Calle de San Pedro, which cuts the town proper in half, is a handsome +thoroughfare, and contains numerous fine shops, warehouses, and +merchants' offices. Indeed, the scene in the street on that particular +afternoon was a most bright and animated one, and would not have +discredited Rio or Buenos Ayres. Half-a-mile or so further on the +street in question enters the Great Square, in which stand the +Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, the Law Courts, and, more +important than all, so far as I was concerned, the President's palace. +The centre is laid out as a public garden, and possesses a band-stand +and many fine statues of the heroes of Equinata in impossible garbs +and more impossible attitudes. Seating myself on a bench in this +garden, I took careful stock of my surroundings. Opposite me was the +President's palace, with a sentry lounging on either side of the +gates. While I watched the latter were opened, and a handsome carriage +drove in and pulled up before the massive portico of the palace. After +that the gates were closed once more. + +I do not mind confessing that at this point in my adventure I was at a +loss to know how to proceed. I might visit the palace and inscribe my +name in the visitors' book, but, so far as I could see, that would not +do very much to help me. I consulted the card I had brought with me, +and on which was written the name and address of the man to whom, so +Silvestre had informed me at our last meeting, I was to look for +assistance. His name was Don José de Hermaños, and his address was No. +13 in the Calle de San Juan. Before leaving the yacht I had taken the +precaution to make myself familiar with the quarter in which the +street was situated, and had ascertained that it commenced at the +Houses of Parliament and ran straight through the western portion of +the city, towards the foot of the mountains. I accordingly made my +way thither, and having discovered it, proceeded in search of the +house in which the mysterious Don José resided, or had his place of +business. Greatly to my surprise it proved to be a wine merchant's +shop, and I accordingly entered the little square _patio_ and looked +about me. On the left was what was evidently the office, and in it an +old man, engaged on some mysterious manipulation of an empty cask. I +addressed him in my best Spanish, but he took no sort of notice of me. +I called to him again with the same result. Then having satisfied +myself that the old fellow was deaf, I touched him on the shoulder +with my stick. This had the desired effect, for he jumped quickly +round and stared at me in amazement. + +A more comical countenance than he possessed I don't remember ever to +have seen. He was a mulatto, and, if one might judge from his +appearance, some sixty years of age. He asked me in Spanish who I +desired to see, and I replied to the best of my ability that I was in +search of a gentleman named Hermaños. From the signs the other made I +gathered that the latter was not at home. I endeavoured to question +him concerning him, but the old fellow was either naturally dense, or, +for some reason best known to himself, pretended not to understand. In +another moment I should have left the place in despair, but, just as +I was making up my mind to do so, the sound of a footstep in the +_patio_ outside attracted my attention. I turned to find myself face +to face with a tall, well-proportioned stranger, with a black beard +and a pair of bristling moustaches. The old mulatto forsook his task +and handed the other the card I had given him. He glanced at it, then +looked up from it to me, after which he politely returned it to me, +saying as he did so-- + +"You desire to see Don Hermaños, señor?" + +"That is what has brought me here," I answered. + +"You come from our neighbours across the frontier, perhaps?" he +continued, still eyeing me critically. + +"On the contrary, I have come by sea," I replied. "I am an Englishman, +as you have doubtless already observed, and my yacht is anchored in +the harbour." + +"In that case permit me to welcome you most heartily to Equinata," he +returned, but without any great show of enthusiasm. "Perhaps you will +accompany me to my private office, where I shall be pleased indeed to +be of any service I can to you." + +I followed him across the _patio_ to a door on the further side. This +he opened, and when I had passed into the room, he followed my example +and closed it carefully after him. + +"How am I to know that you are the gentleman whom I have been led to +expect?" he began, when I had seated myself and he had offered me a +cigar. "As wine of that particular vintage is very difficult to +obtain, you must see yourself that I have to be most careful that I do +not make the mistake of giving information concerning it to the wrong +person." + +I thereupon took my watch from my pocket, opened the case, and took a +small piece of paper--which Silvestre had also given me at our last +meeting--from it. This I handed to the man before me, who read what +was written upon it very carefully, and then tore it up into tiny +fragments. + +"I am quite satisfied," he said, "and now to arrange the matter you +desire." Then, dropping his voice almost to a whisper, he continued, +"Of course I recognize the fact that you would not have been chosen +for the work had you not been considered a person most likely to +accomplish it. Nevertheless, I feel sure that you can have but a very +small notion how dangerous it is likely to prove. The man in question +mistrusts everybody, and should but a breath of suspicion attach +itself to you, you would be in the cartel to-night, and most probably +in your grave to-morrow morning. Though my opinions have not changed +in a single particular, I am not at all certain that it is wise of me +to mix myself up in it. However, I don't see exactly in what way I am +to get out of it." + +It struck me that the latter portion of his speech was spoken more to +himself than to me. + +"Before we go any further, it would perhaps be as well that I should +convince myself that you are Don Hermaños," I said, for so far I had +had no proof of his identity. + +He did not answer me, but crossed to a writing-table on the other side +of the room, and, unlocking a drawer, took from it a book. Turning to +a certain page, he showed me a series of portraits of the prominent +politicians of Equinata. One was a likeness of himself, and underneath +was printed his name in full--Don José de Hermaños, Minister of Mines. +I expressed myself as being quite satisfied. + +"And now," I continued, "will you be good enough to tell me how you +propose to introduce me to the Pres----"--here he held up his hand as +if in expostulation--"to the individual whose acquaintance I am so +anxious to make?" + +"As you may suppose, I have been thinking of that," he replied, "and I +have come to the conclusion that it would be better for me not to be +personally concerned in it. As it is, I am not at all certain in my +own mind that he looks upon me with a favourable eye. I have a +friend, however, with whom he is on terms of the greatest friendship. +Through this friend I will have you presented. It would be better in +the meantime if you will call at the palace and inscribe your name in +the visitors' book, according to custom. After that I will make it my +business to see my friend, and to arrange the matter with him. From +that moment, if you will permit me, I will retire from the business +altogether." + +"You do not care about taking the responsibility of my endeavours, I +suppose?" I said. + +"Exactly, señor," he answered. "You have guessed correctly. To be +quite frank with you, I am afraid of being shot. I have seen the +gentleman we are discussing deal with his enemies on various +occasions, and his behaviour impressed me with a desire to keep my +head out of the lion's mouth." + +"May I ask in what capacity you intend introducing me to your friend?" +I went on. "Is it quite wise, do you think, to import a third party +into the transaction?" + +"There will be no third party," he answered. "There will only be my +friend and yourself. As I understand the situation, you are a rich +Englishman, travelling in our country. You have given me an order for +some wine for your yacht, and as the leading wine merchant of the +city, and having the reputation of our country at stake, I am anxious +to do my best for you. I also desire, for the same reason, that you +should enjoy your stay. What could be more natural than that I should +introduce you to a friend who is also one of our most prominent +citizens? You need not fear, señor, that I shall be foolish enough to +compromise either you or myself." + +From what I had so far seen of him I could quite believe the latter +portion of his remark. If all Silvestre's supporters were of the same +calibre, it struck me that he would experience some little difficulty +in regaining his lost position. Hermaños was certainly as rank a +coward as I had met for many a long day. + +"In that case, I will make my way to the palace now, and write my name +in the visitors' book. But how, and when, shall I hear from you?" + +"I will communicate with you to-night," he said. "I shall be sending +you some wine and cigars on board, which I hope you will accept, and I +will word the note that accompanies them, so that you will be able to +read between the lines. It would be as well, I imagine, that we should +not meet again." + +From the way he said this I could see he was as anxious to get rid of +me as he was to preserve his incognito. I accordingly thanked him for +his assistance, and bade him farewell. + +Recrossing the little _patio_, I passed into the street once more, and +retraced my steps to the Great Square. Having reached it, I made my +way through the garden to the President's palace. The sentries still +slouched beside the gate as I had first seen them. So far as I could +tell, their only object in life was to see how near sleep they could +go without actually dozing off. Then I entered the palace grounds, and +walked up the drive to the marble portico, where I entered my name in +the book placed there for that purpose. I had already practised the +new Trevelyan signature, and was by this time able to write it with +something of a flourish. This momentous act accomplished, I left the +palace and returned to the yacht, feeling that, although I had not so +far made any very important headway in the conduct of my enterprise, I +had at least set the machinery in motion. + +Summoning Ferguson to the smoking-room, I gave him an account of all +that had transpired, furnishing him at the same time with my opinion +of Don José de Hermaños. + +"It only bears out what I said to you the other night," he observed. +"When a man dabbles in Revolutions he is apt to burn his fingers. It +is very plain that this man Hermaños, to use a popular saying, has +taken the length of the President's foot, and as a natural consequence +he is most anxious to keep out of its way, lest he should be crushed +by it. I don't know that I altogether blame him. He has calculated +exactly how much he has to gain, which may not be very much, and he is +also aware that if he fails, he has everything to lose." + +He then proceeded to inform me that the yacht had been an object of +considerable interest to many of the inhabitants of La Gloria that +afternoon. It is doubtful whether such a handsome craft had ever been +seen in those waters before. + +"If only we can get things into proper trim ashore, they shall have an +opportunity of admiring her even more than they do now, and for other +reasons," I said. "We must have an At Home on board, and invite the +polite society of the capital." + +An hour or so before sundown, the same curious individual whom I had +seen manipulating the cask in Hermaños' office, made his appearance +alongside in a boat. He brought with him a case of wine and a small +box wrapped in paper. I rewarded him, and dispatched him to the shore +once more. Then returning to the smoking-room with the smaller parcel +in my hand, I opened it to discover what I had expected I should find +there, a box of cigars and a note carefully placed inside. It was not +a very long epistle, and informed me that it gave the wine merchant +the greatest pleasure to comply with my esteemed instructions, and to +forward me a sample box of the cigars, concerning which his good +friend, General Sagana, had spoken so highly. Should more be required, +his agent would do himself the honour of waiting upon me on the +following morning to learn my wishes. That was all! + +"That means, of course, that General Sagana is the agent," I said to +myself. "Well, let him come as soon as he pleases. He will find me +quite ready to receive him." + +Next morning I was enjoying the cool breeze under the bridge awning, +when the second mate came up to inform me that a shore boat was +approaching the accommodation ladder. Rising from my chair I glanced +over the side to discover that what he had said was correct. A large +boat pulled by six men was approaching the yacht. In the stern, seated +beside the coxswain, was one of the most curious little specimens of a +soldier one would be likely to find in a day's march. His height could +not have exceeded five feet, but what he lacked in stature he made up +in self-importance. He was attired in full uniform, even to the extent +of spurs and a sword. A helmet with plumes was perched upon his head, +while upwards of a dozen crosses decorated his breast. His face was +small and puckered into a thousand wrinkles; his eyebrows were large, +bushy, and snow-white; while a fierce moustache of the same colour +curled up in corkscrew twists until it nearly touched his eyes. As +soon as the boat was alongside, he ascended the ladder to the deck. + +"Have I the honour of addressing the most illustrious Señor +_Travillion_?" he inquired, after a wrestle with the name, from which +he imagined he had emerged victorious. Upon my answering in the +affirmative, he made me a sweeping bow that was so irresistibly comic +that I had some difficulty in restraining a smile. Then he +continued--"Señor, I have the honour to salute you, and to offer you a +hearty welcome to our beautiful country. Permit me to introduce myself +to you. I am General Sagana, of the army of the Republic of Equinata." + +He said this with as much pride as if his name would rank in history +with those of Napoleon and Wellington. + +"I am deeply honoured by your visit," I replied. "Allow me to conduct +you to a cool spot under the awning." + +An hour later, when he left the yacht, we were on the best of terms. +Moreover, I had arranged that that selfsame afternoon I should pay a +visit of respect to Madame Sagana and her daughters, who, as I +gathered from his words, existed only until they should have the +extreme felicity of making my acquaintance. + +"You must be prepared to stay with us for a long time," he cried, with +a cordiality born of the best part of two bottles of Perrier-Jouet. +"Ah! believe me, we shall not let you go so easily. We are hospitable, +we of Equinata. Farewell, then, señor, until we meet this afternoon." + +Then he bowed once more in his best style, descended to his boat, +seated himself in the stern, and bade his men row him ashore with all +speed, as there was business of importance toward. + +That afternoon, bearing in mind the importance of the occasion, I once +more made a most careful toilet, and having done so, returned to the +city. Hiring a vehicle of the cab description, I bade the driver +convey me to the residence of the most illustrious General Sagana. In +a whirl of dust, and accompanied by a swarm of beggar boys, we set +off, and in something less than a quarter of an hour found ourselves +drawn up before an elegant residence in what might have been described +as the suburbs of the town. After I had paid and dismissed my +charioteer, I rang the curious old bell I found hanging on the wall +before me, and when it was answered, followed the servant into a +charming _patio_, in which a fountain played, and from thence into a +large and lofty room, where, to my dismay, a considerable number of +people were assembled. It was fortunate for me that I am not easily +abashed. Had this been the case, I should most probably have furnished +the fashionable world of Equinata with a poor idea of the behaviour of +an Englishman of wealth and position. At the moment of my entrance, +the little General was paying considerable attention to a matronly +lady who was so tightly squeezed into her chair that it seemed she +would never be able to move from it again. Observing me, however, he +left her, and hastened forward to greet me, after which he led me +across the room to present me to his wife and daughters. The former +was a small, though more wizened, edition of her husband; the latter, +however, were handsome girls of the true Spanish type. Half-a-dozen +other presentations followed, after which I was at liberty to make +myself as agreeable as circumstances permitted and my knowledge of the +Spanish language would allow. Had only the General's daughters been +present, this would not have been such a very difficult matter, for +the very few minutes I spent in their company were sufficient to show +me that they were both past mistresses of the art of flirting. We +were progressing famously, when the door opened, and the ancient +man-servant who had admitted me, and who was older and even more +wizened than his master or mistress, said something in a low voice to +the General, who immediately hurried out of the room. A whisper ran +through the company, but what its purport was I could not discover. +All doubt, however, was presently set at rest when the General +returned, escorting with great pomp a tall, handsome man, the +possessor of a fine head and a singularly clever face. He saluted my +hostess and her daughters with considerable ceremony, bowed gravely to +the remainder of the company, and then looked at me, as if wondering +who I could be. + +"Permit me, your Excellency," said the General with one of his +flourishes, "to have the honour of presenting to you Señor Travillion +from England, who, like so many others, has heard of the glories of +Equinata, and has now come to our country in order that he may see +them for himself." + +Long before he had finished his harangue, I had realized that the man +standing before me was none other than the famous President +Fernandez--Silvestre's mortal enemy, and the man I was being paid to +abduct. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +As soon as I realized the identity of the man before me, you may be +sure I did my utmost to appear at my best to him. So much, I knew, +depended on his first impression. + +"I am exceedingly pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Trevelyan," +said the President, in a voice that struck me as being distinctly +pleasant. "I fancy I saw your yacht from a distance this afternoon. +She is a handsome craft, and, if I am not mistaken, was built on the +Clyde. Am I right in my conjecture?" + +For a moment I felt inclined to ask myself how it was this man was +able to discriminate between a boat built on the Thames and another +built on the Clyde. I subdued the inclination, however, and fell back +upon my Trevelyan manner. + +"Quite right," I answered. "She hails from the Clyde, and, like most +boats launched on that river, she is a credit to her builders. I don't +know that I have ever met with a better. I hope I may be able to +induce your Excellency to pay her a visit, in order that you may +inspect her for yourself." + +"It will give me great pleasure to do so," he answered, and when he +had conversed with me for a few moments longer, he left me in order to +pay his respects to a lady at the further end of the room. I was not +sorry for this, as it gave me an opportunity of observing him a little +more closely. He was certainly a remarkable-looking man, and each time +I glanced at him the conclusion was more forcibly borne upon me that +he was one with whom it would be better to be on friendly terms than +anything else. Although there was an apparent kindliness in his +manner, one could not help feeling that it was only the velvet glove +masking the iron hand concealed below. + +He remained in the room for upwards of half-an-hour and then took his +departure, not, however, until he had crossed to me once more and had +repeated his desire to visit the yacht, in order that he might inspect +her more closely. + +"As I said just now, I shall be delighted to show her to you," I +hastened to reply, and thereupon suggested that he should breakfast +with me on board the next day, and that with his permission I would +include General Sagana and his family in the invitation. + +"You are most hospitable, Señor Trevelyan," he answered, "and if you +will allow me I will also bring my niece, the Señorita Dolores de +Perera. I am sure she will be most pleased to make your acquaintance." + +"I shall be more than honoured," I replied, in my best manner, feeling +that at last I was making real headway. "Would eleven o'clock suit +your Excellency's convenience?" + +"Admirably," he returned. "Let us then say _au revoir_ until eleven +o'clock to-morrow." + +I promised that a boat should meet them at the wharf, and then bowing +to the ladies, and accompanied by General Sagana, he left the room. +When the General returned he complimented me warmly upon the success I +had made with the President. + +"A most remarkable man, Señor Travillion," he continued, twirling his +enormous moustaches, "the most remarkable man Equinata has yet +produced. His career has, indeed, been an extraordinary one in every +way." + +"Indeed?" I answered, with an endeavour to conceal the interest I was +taking in what he said. "May I ask whom he succeeded?" + +For a moment the situation possessed a flavour of embarrassment. I was +not aware that the General had been one of Silvestre's principal +adherents, and that it was only when he discovered the fact that +affairs were not as they should be with his master that he had +transferred his allegiance to the stronger party. + +"His predecessor was a certain Don Guzman de Silvestre," the old +gentleman replied, but in a tone that suggested two things to me; +first, that he was not aware of my connection with the man in +question, and secondly, that the subject was a decidedly distasteful +one to him. Realizing this I did not attempt to pursue it further. + +Having formally invited my hostess and host and their daughters to my +little _déjeuner_ on the following day, I bade them farewell and took +my departure. It was evident that my visit had been appreciated, and +that some importance was attached to it, for I found the General's +private carriage waiting outside to convey me back to the wharf. I was +careful to thank him for the courtesy he had extended to me, and then +drove off. + +When I retired to rest that night, it was with the feeling that my day +had not been altogether wasted. Behind it, however, was a decided +impression that President Fernandez was by no means the sort of man to +be caught napping, and that, if I wished to trap him, it would be +necessary for me to have all my wits about me. Moreover, I fancied +that when I _did_ catch him, I should find him a somewhat difficult +captive to tame. As is very often the case in such matters, one +apparently inconsequent remark of his haunted me more than anything +else that had fallen from his lips. Why had he declared the yacht to +be a Clyde-built boat? Was it only a statement made haphazard, or had +he some previous knowledge of the craft in question? The mere thought +that he might know anything of her past made me anxious beyond +measure. The possibilities were that he did not, but the fact that he +might have an inkling of my intention was sufficient to prevent me +from sleeping and to cause me to tumble and toss in my bed, hour after +hour, endeavouring to find some satisfactory solution to the problem. +"I have seen what he can do to those who offend him," Hermaños had +said to me, "and I confess the picture did not please me." At the same +time I could not believe that it was possible that the President had +any idea of the real reason of my presence in Equinata. The secret had +been so jealously guarded that it could not have leaked out. These +thoughts, however, did not prevent me from looking forward with the +greatest possible interest to the festivity of the morrow. Immediately +on my arrival on board, I called Ferguson to a consultation. He +forthwith interviewed the chief cook, and the result was the +preparation of a repast that promised to equal anything ever seen in +Equinata before. + +As you may suppose, the following morning was a busy one with us. The +arrangements were most elaborate. Flowers were procured from the +shore, and with them the saloons were decorated. A string band was +engaged to play on the bridge during the repast, and in the +President's honour the yacht was hung with bunting. + +Half-an-hour before my guests were due to arrive, I descended to my +cabin and made my toilet. I had scarcely returned to the deck before I +was informed by the chief mate, who was on the look-out, that the +boats we expected were putting off from the shore. Ferguson stood +beside me and watched them come alongside. Out of compliment to the +President he had caused the flag of Equinata to be hoisted, and had +drawn up a Guard of Honour from the crew on either side of the +gangway. The first boat to come alongside contained the President, his +_aide-de-camp_, and a lady, whom I argued must be none other than his +niece, the Señorita Dolores de Perera. The President was the first to +set foot upon the deck, and, as he did so, the band struck up the +National Air of Equinata. His Excellency shook me warmly by the hand, +and then, turning to the lady who accompanied him, presented me to +her. I have met some very beautiful women in my time, but I am +doubtful whether I have ever seen one who could compare with the lady +I then had before me. She was slightly above the middle height, with +raven hair and dark flashing eyes, and carried herself with the grace +that is so characteristic of her nationality. Her manner towards me +was distinctly cordial, and under its influence I began to think that +our luncheon was not destined to be as dull an affair as I had feared +it might be. I escorted them to a cool spot under the awning, and then +prepared to receive my other guests. Upon their arrival, we proceeded +to the saloon for lunch. That the President was impressed, I could +plainly see. He paid me many compliments upon the beauty of the yacht, +and vowed that, when times improved in Equinata, he would have just +such another built for his own private use. + +"How I envy you your lot, Señor Trevelyan!" remarked the Señorita +Dolores, when we had seated ourselves at the table, and as she said +it, she threw a beaming glance at me. "How beautiful it must be to +skim over the seas like a bird, to be always seeing new countries, and +receiving new impressions. Yours must be an ideal life, if ever there +were one." + +"I fear you have omitted to take into your calculations the existence +of Custom House officials, the engagement of crews, and the fact that +a yacht, however beautiful, needs coaling, in order to be able to +properly perform her functions. There are also storms to mar one's +pleasure, Port Dues, Harbour Regulations, Quarantine, and a thousand +and one other little matters that, though not important in themselves, +are, nevertheless, sufficient to play the part of crumpled rose-leaves +in your bed of happiness." + +"But in these seas you have all smooth sailing. You came here +from----?" + +She asked the question so innocently that I felt sure it was without +any sinister intention. + +"From Havana to Key West, and thence to Jamaica, Barbadoes, and so to +Equinata!" + +"And your plans after leaving here?" + +"I have scarcely formed any plans yet," I answered, and then I added +with a fair amount of truth, "You see, Señorita, it all depends upon +circumstances. I may go on to Rio, thence to Buenos Ayres, and perhaps +round the Horn to the Pacific Islands, or I may return to England at +once." + +"While we remain on here leading our humdrum life," said the +President, toying with his champagne glass as he spoke, "and ending +the year almost as we began it, seeing few strangers and interested +only in our own little mediocre affairs." + +"I fear your Excellency must speak ironically," I said. "What grander +or more interesting occupation can there be in the world, than the +work of building up a new country, a country which may ultimately take +its place among the greatest of the earth? While I am fluttering like +a butterfly from place to place, you are guiding, helping, and +benefiting your fellow-man, and through him the entire human race." + +"You are an idealist, I perceive, Señor Trevelyan," the President +returned, with one of his peculiar smiles. "Unfortunately for your +theory, my fellow-man does not always wish to be benefited, as your +words would lead one to suppose. To my thinking he is very like that +noble animal, the horse, who, while being capable of great things, +must first learn the principles of subjection. What say you, General +Sagana?" + +"I agree with your Excellency," replied the General with some little +embarrassment, though why he should have felt it I could not at the +time understand. + +I turned to the Señorita Dolores. + +"You are deeply interested in politics, of course, Señorita?" I said, +as innocently as I knew how. + +"No, I do not mind admitting that I take no sort of interest in +politics," she answered. "I find it better for many reasons not to do +so. So long as I am not publicly insulted in the streets, and the mob +do not attempt to shoot my uncle, or to come to the palace and break +our windows, I am content to let whichever party pleases hold the +reins of power. But there, I feel sure, Señor Trevelyan, you did not +come to Equinata to talk politics. We must discover a way of amusing +you, and of making your time pass pleasantly while you are with us, +without that!" + +As she said this, she glanced down the table at the two daughters of +General Sagana, who returned her smile with a look that said as +plainly as any words could speak, that if they were given the +opportunity, they would take care that my time was spent as pleasantly +as possible. + +All things taken into consideration, my little _déjeuner_ was a +decided success, and the affability of the President, when the ladies +had withdrawn, helped to confirm me in this opinion. Nothing could +have exceeded his geniality. He narrated several amusing incidents +connected with his past life, and once even unbent so far as to +comment on a certain act connected with the reign of his predecessor. + +"Silvestre was a clever man; a very clever man," he said; "but, as +events proved, entirely wanting in a proper appreciation of his +position. Had he used his opportunities as he might have done, he +would, in all probability, be occupying the position he held then and +which I hold to-day." + +"And may I ask what has become of him?" I inquired, not without some +curiosity as to what his answer would be. + +The President, however, shook his head. + +"No one seems to have any idea where he is," he said. "After the last +crisis he disappeared from Equinata, but where he went I cannot tell +you. Very probably he is dead. Men of his calibre do not, as a rule, +make old bones." + +His manner was so open, his speech so frank, that my suspicions that +he was aware of my errand in his capital were fast dying away. + +Later on we left the saloon and joined the ladies on deck. A cool wind +was blowing, and it was very pleasant under the awnings. After +half-an-hour's conversation, followed by an inspection of the yacht, +the President declared his intention of returning to the shore. The +boats were accordingly ordered alongside, whereupon, having thanked me +for my hospitality, the President and the Señorita, attended by their +_aide-de-camp_, the latter a great lady-killer, took their departure. +General Sagana and his party followed suit a little later, and then I +was free to discuss the success of our entertainment with Ferguson. + +"If all goes on as it is doing now," I said, lighting a fresh cigar, +and handing my case to him, "it should not prove a very difficult +matter to inveigle him on board to dinner some night, when we might +settle the affair once and for all." + +"Unfortunately, the chances are a hundred to one that, if he came, he +would bring an _aide_ with him, as he did to-day. What should we do +then?" + +"Take the _aide_ to the island with us," I replied promptly. "One more +prisoner would make little or no difference to Silvestre." + +Next morning I was the recipient of an invitation from the President +to dine at the palace on the Thursday following. Needless to say, I +hastened to accept, and in due course presented myself at his +Excellency's magnificent abode. I was met in the hall by the +_aide-de-camp_ who had breakfasted with us on board the yacht, and by +him was conducted to the great drawing-room where the President and +his niece were receiving their guests. Some thirty or forty people +were present, among the number being General Sagana and Madame, and +their two fair daughters, who welcomed me like old friends. The +President took the General's wife in to dinner, while, for some reason +best known to them, I was permitted the honour of escorting the +Señorita. + +"So you have not grown tired of Equinata yet, Señor Trevelyan?" said +my fair companion, as we made our way in our turn along the stately +hall in the direction of the dining-room. + +"On the contrary, I grow more charmed with it every day," I replied. +"Who could help liking it, when its citizens are so hospitable to +strangers?" + +"Before you praise us, remember that you set us a charming example," +she continued. "It will be long before I forget the pleasant morning +we spent on board your yacht. I can assure you that my uncle also +looks back on it with the greatest pleasure." + +"I trust it may not be the last time he will visit her," I answered, +with more truth than is usually attachable to an idle compliment. + +The room in which we dined was a magnificent apartment, furnished with +a grandeur that gave it an almost regal dignity. The President's +_chef_ was evidently a treasure, for the dinner could scarcely have +been excelled. During its progress the President addressed himself on +several occasions to me, and invited me to accompany him on a visit to +some celebrated copper mines in the neighbourhood, also to a review of +the troops which was to take place in the Great Square in a week's +time. As may be supposed, I was quick to accept both invitations. + +"And at the end of the week there is to be a grand ball at the Opera +House," the Señorita continued, when her uncle had finished speaking. +"It is in aid of the convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and is +one of our recognized gaieties of the year. I wonder if we shall be +able to persuade you to be present?" + +"I shall be more than delighted," I replied. "That is, of course, +provided I am not compelled to leave Equinata in the meantime." + +"You must not leave us too soon," she said, and then paused and +examined her plate attentively. I was about to answer her, when her +attention was attracted by her neighbour on her right, and I was +accordingly left to my own thoughts. + +I looked down the long table, glittering with glass and plate, and as +I did so, I endeavoured to apprize the value of my extraordinary +position. Who at that board could have guessed the errand in Equinata +of the man whom, doubtless, so many of them envied for his wealth and +for his magnificent floating home? I could not help wondering what my +own feelings would have been had I known only three months or so +before, when I was standing watch as a mail-boat officer, that in a +few short weeks I should be the honoured guest of the President of the +Republic of Equinata, and the presumptive owner of a yacht valued at +upwards of a hundred thousand pounds. + +I looked across the room and examined the pictures hanging upon the +walls. That exactly opposite me riveted my attention. I felt that I +could not be mistaken as to the likeness. It was the portrait of Don +Guzman de Silvestre, and the artist had managed to depict him to the +life. How it called me back to other days! As I looked at it, I seemed +to be sitting in the old inn garden at Falstead, listening to his +instructions for the campaign, and wondering how long Molly would be +at the choir practice. + +"You have suddenly become very silent, Señor Trevelyan," said the +Señorita, rousing me from my reverie. + +"I was thinking that I shall often look back with pleasure upon this +evening," I replied. + +The look she gave me would probably have encouraged many men to embark +on a course of the maddest flirtation. I, however, was adamant. + +"In reality," she said, "I suppose you are like all the other visitors +we have, and, as soon as you are away from Equinata, you will forget +us altogether." + +"I assure you I shall never forget your beautiful city as long as I +live," I answered, and with more truth than she imagined. + +She threw a quick glance at me and then, looking down the +dinner-table, gave the signal to the ladies to rise. I must confess +here that the Señorita interested me very strangely. At first I had +thought her merely a very beautiful woman, well fitted by nature to +perform the difficult task asked of her; it was not long, however, +before I came to have a somewhat better understanding of her real +abilities. In what light I regard her now, you will be able to realize +for yourself when you have read my story. + +As had been arranged, three days after the dinner I have just +described, I accompanied the President and a considerable party to the +famous copper mines in the mountain range that began behind the city +and extended well-nigh to the further limit of the Republic. We were +only absent three days, yet in that short space of time I was +permitted an opportunity of studying the real character and +personality of Equinata's ruler more closely than I had yet done. At +first I must confess I had been prepared to dislike him, but little by +little, so gradually indeed that I scarcely noticed the change, I +found that he was managing to overcome my prejudices. Under the +influence of these new impressions I also began to see my own part of +the business in a new light. From what Silvestre had said to me, I had +up to that time regarded him as a traitor to his friends, and as a +tyrant and enemy to his country. I now discovered that he was neither +the one nor the other. He ruled according to his lights, and if he +held his people in an iron grip, it was for the good and sufficient +reason that he knew their character, and the sort of government they +required. My own position, when I came to overhaul it properly, I +discovered to be by no means edifying. I accepted his hospitality and +his kindnesses, yet I was only waiting my chance to prove myself a +traitor of the worst kind. I was posing as his friend, yet at the same +time was preparing to prove myself his worst enemy. Such thoughts as +these kept me company by day and night, and made me regard myself with +a contempt such as I had never dreamed of before. And yet I knew that, +at any hazard, I must go through with it. Had I not taken Silvestre's +money and pledged myself to serve him? Therefore I could not draw +back. + +On our return to the city from the mountains, I was present at the +review of the troops in the Great Square, and witnessed the +redoubtable army of Equinata, headed by General Sagana, as you may +suppose in the fullest of full uniforms, march by and salute its +chief. That ceremony over, I returned to the yacht to while away the +hours as best I could until it should be time to dress for the great +ball that was to take place at the Opera House that evening. + +Having rigged myself out for the occasion, I was rowed ashore, and, as +I had plenty of time to spare, I determined to walk to the Great +Square in preference to taking a cab. To do this it was necessary for +me to pass a certain fashionable _café_, whose little tables decorated +the broad pavement outside. At one of these tables two men were +seated, playing dominoes as they sipped their coffee. One of them +looked up at me as I passed. As my eyes fell on his face I gave a +start, for I recognized him instantly as a well-known Rio merchant, +who had made several voyages with me in the old _Pernambuco_, and with +whom I had been on the most friendly terms. He stared at me as if he +thought he ought to know my face, but, I suppose on account of the +absence of my moustache, could not quite remember where he had seen it +last. + +I hurried on, with my heart in my mouth, as the saying has it, but I +had not gone very far ere I heard some one bustling after me. A few +seconds later a hand was laid upon my arm, and I turned to find the +individual I had seen seated at the table standing before me. + +"Ten t'ousand pardons, señor," he began in English, "but am I mistaken +if I say your name is 'Elmsworth?" + +I had to make up my mind. + +"I'm afraid you're making some little mistake," I replied, and then +added what was worse than a lie, that is to say, a half-truth, "I know +no one of the name of 'Elmsworth." + +"Den I must beg of you ten t'ousand more bardons," he continued. "I +t'ought you vas one of mine old vriends dot I vas at sea mit. Forgive +me dat I interrupt you in your valk." + +I willingly forgave him and passed on. + +The question that kept me company for the rest of the evening was--Had +my assurance satisfied him? If not, what would he be likely to do? + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +So long as I may live I shall never forget the ball at which I was +present that night. The scene was gay beyond description. All the Rank +and Fashion of La Gloria, and one might almost say of Equinata, were +assembled there. When the dancing had been in progress for some time, +the President and the Señorita Dolores put in an appearance and were +received by the committee to the strains of the National Air. I must +confess that Fernandez made a most imposing figure, with his broad +ribbon of the Order of La Gloria, and his wealth of foreign +decorations. As for his companion, it would be difficult for a mere +male mortal to find words in which to describe the picture she +presented. As soon as it was permissible I crossed the room to her and +humbly asked her for a dance. She was graciously pleased to give me +one, and presently we found ourselves circling round the room together +to the music of a long swinging waltz, excellently played. Afterwards +I escorted her from the ball-room into the balcony. It was a lovely +night, and so still, that in the pauses of the music the sound of the +waves upon the beach could be distinctly heard, though more than a +mile away. I procured my companion's mantilla for her, with which she +draped her head and neck, with characteristic grace. Never, I am +inclined to believe, had she looked lovelier than she did at that +moment, and when she leant upon the balustrading of the balcony, and +looked across the city towards the mountains, behind which the moon +was rising, I vowed that I had never beheld a fairer picture. Few men +could have stood beside her then and not have felt the fascination of +her presence. + +"Señor Trevelyan," she said meditatively, in a voice that was as low +and musical as the deep notes of a guitar, "what a strange thing is +life! You and I stand here together now. Out of the infinite you hold +my attention for minutes that never can be recalled. Later we shall +separate, and then you will go your way, and I shall go mine. In all +probability we shall never meet again--yet through Eternity our +destinies will be linked, like the strands of a rope, by the +remembrance of a few minutes' conversation on a certain moonlight +night in Equinata." + +I must confess that this sudden seriousness on her part puzzled me +considerably. A moment before she had been all gaiety, a few seconds +later she was gravity personified. The change was so instantaneous +that I found it difficult to follow her. + +"I am afraid I must be very obtuse," I stammered, "but I cannot say +that I have quite caught your meaning." + +"I am not sure that I know it myself," she replied. "The beauty of the +night has taken hold of me. The rising of the moon always has a +curious effect upon me. I am afraid you will think me very absurd, but +people say I have a strange way of looking at things. I was thinking +of our life. Consider for a moment how much we are governed by Chance. +We meet some one we like, some one whom we believe might prove a good +friend if ever occasion should arise. He, or she, crosses our path, +tarries perhaps for a moment with us, and then vanishes, never to be +seen by us again." + +"But we have the consolation of recollection left us," I replied, more +impressed than ever by her curious mood. "Every day we put away +impressions in memory's store-house--mental photographs, may I call +them--which will conjure up the Past for us in fifty years' time if +need be. Think of the impression I am receiving at this moment. It +will never be effaced. The scent of the orange blossoms, the glorious +moonlight, the music of the ball-room yonder, and you leaning upon the +balustrading looking down upon the sleeping city. The picture will +still be with me even though I have the misfortune to be many thousand +miles from La Gloria. In fifty years' time I may be in an English +village, in a Chinese seaport, or on the South African Karroo; then +the shimmer of the moonlight on a leaf--a chance strain of music--even +a piece of black lace, like that of your mantilla--will be sufficient +to bring the whole scene before my mind's eye. In a flash I shall be +transported to this balcony, and you will be standing beside me once +more." + +It seemed to me that she gave a little shiver as I said this. + +"If your mental photographs are to be so vivid," she continued, "what +a sorry figure I shall cut in them, if through all time I continue to +talk as I have been doing to-night." Then changing her manner, she +went on, "I fear you will soon grow tired of Equinata." + +"That could never be," I replied. "I only wish it were in my power to +stay longer." + +"When do you think it will be necessary for you to leave?" she +inquired, as if the question were one of the utmost importance. + +"It is difficult to say," I answered. "I am afraid, however, it will +not be many more days. I have received information concerning some +rather important business that may possibly necessitate my leaving for +Europe almost immediately." + +"I am sorry to hear that," she said meditatively. "We had looked +forward to enjoying the pleasure of your society for some time to +come." + +She spoke as if I were an old friend whom she feared to lose. Had a +stranger been present, he or she would have found it difficult to +believe that a fortnight before we had never set eyes on each other. +There are many men in the world who, had they been in my place, would +doubtless have been charmed, and perhaps more than charmed, by the +interest she displayed in my doings. She was a vastly pretty woman, +dangerously pretty in fact, but even her tender interest in my affairs +was not sufficient to shake my equilibrium. Ten minutes or so later we +returned to the ball-room, and I surrendered her to the partner who +came to claim her. Having done so, I was walking towards the further +end of the room, when the President accosted me. He was in a most +affable mood, and was evidently disposed for a chat. + +"You do not appear to be dancing very much, Señor Trevelyan," he said, +dropping into English, as was his wont when we were alone together. +"Is it possible you feel inclined for a cigar?" + +"I am more than inclined," I replied, "I am pining for one. I never +was much of a dancing man. The hard sort of life I have been compelled +to lead has not permitted me much opportunity for practising that +graceful art." + +The words had no sooner escaped my lips than I realized what a slip I +had made. So far as he was aware, I was, to all intents and purposes, +a rich young Englishman, and should be without a care in the world. It +would therefore seem to him strange that I should not have had much +chance of perfecting my knowledge of the terpsichorean art. + +"I mean to say," I went on, as we made our way across the grand lobby +to the smoking-room, "that after I left school, I was for some time +abroad, and--well, the fact of the matter is, I never laid myself out +very much for ladies' society." + +"I think I understand," he replied gravely. "Like myself, you prefer +to look for your amusements in other directions. Your passion for the +sea I can quite appreciate, but I think, were I in your place, I +should prefer a somewhat larger craft than your yacht. A mail-boat, +for instance, such as the _Pernambuco_--or the _Amantillado_ would +come somewhat nearer the mark." + +There was nothing remarkable in what he said, and his voice never for +a second rose above its customary pitch. Nevertheless, I looked at him +in overwhelming astonishment. It seemed to me his words were spoken +with a deliberate intent, and were meant to have a definite value +placed upon them. It was not the first time I had had the impression +forced upon me, and it was not a pleasant one, I can assure you, that +he had become aware of the real reason for my presence in Equinata. I +hastened to abandon the subject of the sea, and directed the +conversation into another channel. The result, however, was very much +the same. We thereupon discussed the possibilities of a European war, +which at that moment seemed not improbable. + +"Power," he returned, _à propos_ of a remark of mine, "is in my +opinion precisely a question of temperament. Your London crowd is well +trained and will stand what would drive a Neapolitan or a French mob +to violence. Such speeches are delivered in your parks on Sundays as +would prove in these latitudes as intoxicating as brandy. I have known +a Revolution started by an ill-timed jest, a city wrecked, and a +thousand lives lost in consequence. Talking of Revolutions, have you +ever had the misfortune to be called upon to take part in one?" + +Once more my suspicions were aroused. + +"Good gracious, no!" I cried. "What makes you ask me such a question? +Do I look like the sort of person who would be likely to have to do +with such affairs?" + +He glanced at me for a moment over the top of the cigar which he had +taken from his mouth and was holding between his long slim fingers, as +if to enjoy the beautiful aroma. + +"I was merely venturing an inquiry," he continued, in the same quiet +fashion as before. "If you have not, you should try the experiment. +Believe me, there is a very fair amount of excitement to be got out of +it, particularly if you have not the good fortune to be on the winning +side. You have met Don Guzman de Silvestre, of course?" + +"Don Guzman de who?" I asked, as if I had not quite caught the name. + +"My predecessor," the President replied. "I thought that probably you +might have come across him in your travels. He knocks about the +Continent a good deal, and I am told he is well known at the various +ports at which the mail-boats touch." + +The situation was momentarily getting beyond me. I felt that I could +not stand much more of it. He had referred to the _Pernambuco_, and +had recommended me to try my hand at a Revolution; he had mentioned +Don Guzman de Silvestre, and now he was speaking of the ports at which +the South American mail-boats call, and implying that I was familiar +with them. What did it all mean? Was it only a matter of chance, or +was he aware of my identity, and only biding his time to rise and +upset all my calculations? I think you will agree with me in saying +that it was not a pleasant position for a man to be placed in! + +"I remember," he went on, "on one occasion smoking a cigar with Don +Guzman de Silvestre in this very balcony--he was sitting exactly where +you are now. Though he thought I was not aware of it, I happened to +know that he was at that time hatching a plot that he hoped would +upset my calculations, turn me out of my palace, and make him +President in my stead. He had been laying his plans for months, and +was quite sure that they would succeed!" + +"And the result?" + +"The result was that it failed. If he had not managed to escape when +he did, I am afraid his life would have paid the forfeit. In spite of +the advice I gave you just now, interference in Revolutions in +Equinata is not an amusement I should recommend to every one." + +"I trust I may never be called upon to try it," I replied fervently. + +"I hope you will not," he returned, without looking at me. "It's an +unprofitable speculation unless you are certain of your cards. The +strongest, of course, wins, and the loser generally goes to the wall." + +I thought I understood to what wall he referred. + +A few moments' silence followed his last speech. The President was the +first to break it by referring to what he hoped would be the future of +his country. It was evident that he firmly believed in it and its +capabilities. Then, rising from his chair, he bade me "good-night" +with an abruptness that was almost disconcerting. + +When he had gone, and I had finished my cigar, I returned to the +ball-room in time to meet the Presidential party as they were leaving. + +"Good-night, Señor Trevelyan," said the señorita. "The Little Sisters +are indebted to you for your most generous contribution. In their name +I thank you." + +"And I am equally indebted to them for the pleasure I have been +permitted to enjoy this evening," I replied. + +She bowed to me, and passed on, on her uncle's arm, towards the +entrance. When they had departed I obtained my hat and cloak, and in +my turn left the building. During the last ten minutes my spirits had +been dropping down and down until they reached zero. Never since I had +consented to Don Guzman's plan had my business in Equinata seemed so +hazardous or indeed so despicable to me. I felt that I would have +given anything never to have set eyes on my tempter, or to have +listened to his invidious proposal. However, I am not going to +moralize. I've my story to tell, and tell it I must, and in as few +words as possible. + +When I left the Opera House, the moon was sailing in a cloudless sky, +and, in consequence, the streets were almost as light as day. It was a +little after midnight, and I had not ordered the boat to meet me at +the wharf until one o'clock. I had therefore plenty of time at my +disposal. As I passed out of the Great Square and entered the Calle de +San Pedro, the cathedral clock chimed the quarter past the hour. I +strolled leisurely along, so that it was half-past by the time I +reached the wharf. Then I lighted another cigar, and, seating myself +on a stone block, prepared to await the arrival of the boat. I had +perhaps been seated there ten minutes, when, suddenly, and before I +could do anything to protect myself, a bag or cloth, I could not tell +which, was thrown over my head, and my arms were pinioned from behind. +Then a voice said in Spanish, "Lift him up, and bring him along. +There's not a moment to lose." Thereupon a man took hold of my +shoulders and another my legs, and I felt myself being carried along, +though in what direction I could not of course tell. A few seconds +later, however, I was dumped down on the wooden floor of what was +evidently a cart. The crack of a whip followed, and we were off at a +brisk pace somewhere--but where? The bag by this time was coming near +to stifling me. It had been pulled so tight round my head that it was +only with the greatest difficulty I could breathe. Eventually, I +suppose, I must have lost consciousness, for I have no recollection of +anything that happened until I opened my eyes to find myself lying on +the floor of a small, bare room, through the grated windows of which +the moonlight was streaming in. Thank goodness, the bag was gone, but +my head ached consumedly, and I felt about as sick and wretched as a +man could well be. + + [Illustration: "I felt about as sick and wretched as a man could + well be."] + +After a while I sat up, and endeavoured to puzzle out my position. +Where was I? Who was it had made me prisoner? Was it a simple act of +brigandage, having plunder for its motive, or had the President +discovered the plot against him and ordered my arrest? Not one of the +questions could I answer. In the hope of being able to solve the +problem of my whereabouts, however, I got on to my feet and +endeavoured to look out of the window, only to discover that it was +out of my reach, and that I was too weak to draw myself up to it. I +therefore seated myself on the floor once more, for the room or cell, +whichever I cared to call it, was destitute of furniture, and resigned +myself to my miserable thoughts. + +To use a stage expression, it was a pretty market I had brought my +pigs to! I had felt so confident that my errand was not known, and +that I should succeed in getting safely out of the country, that I had +neglected the most simple precautions, and in consequence here I was a +prisoner, with the pleasing possibility ahead of me of either having +my throat cut by a common murderer before the night was past, or, what +was more probable, of being propped against a wall and shot by +President Fernandez' soldiers at daybreak. The mere knowledge that I +was still alive, and that my watch, chain, and money had not been +taken from me, pointed to the fact that I was a prisoner of the State, +and not of a private individual. All things considered, it would be +difficult to say which would prove the worse fate. + +Putting aside for the moment the question as to whose captive I was, I +examined my watch, and discovered that it was just half-past one. Only +an hour had elapsed since the episode on the wharf--to me, however, +it seemed an Eternity. After a while, feeling stronger, I got on to my +feet again, and began to pace the room. I also tried the door, only to +find it locked. They had got me fast enough. So much was certain. The +next time, I told myself, I crossed the threshold, it would in all +probability be to be haled to a place of execution. For upwards of an +hour I paced the room, calling myself a fool and idiot, and every +other name I could think of, for having allowed myself to be drawn +into such an affair. I recalled that quiet evening at Falstead, when +the idea of the adventure had appeared so attractive to me, and, as I +did so, it seemed to me I could hear Molly's gentle voice saying: "Act +as you think best, dear! I know that it will be all right then." I had +certainly acted on my own judgment, and here I was in consequence! + +I was still thinking of Falstead when a sharp cry reached me from the +yard outside, followed by a prolonged scuffling noise. Then there was +a heavy fall, another, and yet another. After that all was silence +once more. + +"What on earth is the matter?" I asked myself. "It sounded like a +struggle of some sort. Can they by any chance have captured Ferguson, +and have brought him here to be my fellow-prisoner?" + +A few moments later some one approached my door. A key was placed in +the lock and turned, then the door opened, and a man, carrying a +lantern, entered quickly, closing the door behind him. The upper half +of his face was hidden by a black mask. My astonishment may be +imagined when, after he had removed it, I discovered that he was none +other than Don José de Hermaños. + +"Hush!" he began, holding up his hand as a sign to me not to speak. "I +want you to listen to what I have to say, and not to interrupt me +until I have finished. In the first place, let me inform you that the +President has discovered everything! While you were talking to him +to-night at the ball, he knew why you were in Equinata, and, what is +more, had already laid his plans to effect your arrest. The reason why +he did it so secretly, and why you were not taken to the regular +cartel, is because he does not want, for reasons of his own, to +attract public attention just at present. I was warned in time, but +was unable to communicate with you. Now, by a stratagem, we have +overpowered your gaolers, and you are free!" + +"But where am I?" I asked, in the same low voice. + +"In the old cartel on the outskirts of the town," Hermaños replied. +"Now I want you to pay attention to what I am about to say to you. +There is still time to retrieve matters, if we go the proper way to +work about it. The President, when he left the ball to-night--and now +you will be able to understand his reasons for leaving so early--drove +out to consult with General Mopaxus, who is lying ill at his house six +miles distant on the road to Sarbassa. The road in question is hilly, +and it will take him at least an hour to get there. We will say that +he remains with the General an hour. In that case, he should not reach +the Capital until four o'clock at the earliest. Word must be sent to +the captain of the yacht to shift his moorings and to have a boat +ashore at the little bay of Horejos at three o'clock. Horejos is three +miles outside the city, and Fernandez will have to pass through the +village on his way home. We must catch him at any hazard." + +"How many men have you with you?" + +"Seven," he replied. + +"Can they be relied upon?" + +"To the death! They know that their own safety depends upon getting +Fernandez out of the way. Four of them he has suspected for some time +past. They would prefer to shoot him, and so make sure of him, but as +there are definite orders against that, they feel that the next best +thing they can do is to get him out of the country. And between +ourselves, that is exactly my own case." + +"And what about the Guards here?" + +"They are safe for the present," he answered. "But no time must be +lost, for it is more than likely that at daybreak others will come to +take their places." + +"And how am I to communicate with Ferguson?" + +He fumbled in his pocket for a moment. + +"Here is a sheet of paper, an envelope, and a pencil. He knows your +writing, of course. When you have written it, one of my men shall take +it aboard. If he has to get steam up, there is not any too much time +for him to do so. Every moment is of the utmost importance." + +I forthwith pencilled a hasty note to the captain, bidding him get up +steam, weigh anchor, and have a boat ashore in Horejos Bay at three +o'clock, and stand by to leave Equinata at latest by four o'clock. +This note I handed to Hermaños, and when I had done so, followed him +from the cell. + +Once outside, I found myself in a large yard, illuminated by the +bright moonlight. I looked about me for the bodies of my captors, but +was informed by my companion that they had been securely bound and +placed in an adjoining cell. On hearing our steps, six figures +appeared from the shadow of the wall. They did not speak, but at a +sign from Hermaños, one went on ahead and opened the gates, whereupon +two of them passed out. After an interval of some thirty seconds, two +more disappeared in the same mysterious fashion, the remaining pair +making themselves scarce when the same duration of time had elapsed. + +"Now it is our turn," Hermaños whispered. "With the exception of the +man who has gone to the yacht, each company will proceed to the +rendezvous by different routes through the city. Fernandez has spies +everywhere, and we must be careful that our behaviour does not attract +their attention. To that end I have brought this poncho and hat for +you." + +I had noticed a bundle upon the ground, and had wondered what it might +be. My own hat had disappeared, goodness only knows where. So placing +the sombrero on my head, I pulled the poncho over my shoulders, and +then we, in our turn, left the cartel. + +As Hermaños had said, the lock-up was on the outskirts of the city, +and the locality through which he led me was quite unknown to me. + +What was the end of our adventure to be? + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +It was evident to me that Hermaños had laid his plans most carefully, +for some hundred and fifty to two hundred yards from the gate, we +found a vehicle of the _volante_ description awaiting our coming. We +entered it, and the driver, without asking for instructions, set off +at a sharp pace. We had proceeded some distance before Don José spoke. + +"I hope you understand, Señor Trevelyan," he said at last, "what a +serious risk I am running on your account?" + +"Many thanks," I replied. "I am afraid, however, you do me too much +honour. I fancy if it had only been a question of _my_ safety, I +should have had to appeal to you for some time before I should have +had your assistance." + +I spoke out of the bitterness of my heart, half expecting that my +words would offend him. To my surprise, however, they did not do so. +He only laughed in a quiet way, and then lapsed into silence once +more. The carriage rattled through the silent streets, and at length +passed out into the open country on the other side. So far we had not +attracted attention. Eventually we pulled up at the foot of a steep +hill, one side of which was formed by the mountain, the other looking +down upon a stretch of plain, beyond which again was the open sea. + +"We must climb this hill," said Hermaños, "and when we have descended +it again we shall be at the rendezvous. Let us hope Fernandez has not +made his appearance yet." + +We accordingly alighted from the vehicle, and, when we had seen it +return citywards, began to climb the steep ascent. At the summit, and +just before the hill begins to descend on the other side, were three +palms. When we reached these my companion uttered a low and peculiar +whistle. It was answered from the shadow, and a moment later a figure +emerged from the darkness and stood before us. Hermaños went to him +and said something in an undertone which I did not hear. + +"It's all right," he remarked when he returned to me. "Fernandez has +not returned yet. They are watching for him in the valley below, and +we had better join them." + +"With all my heart," I replied, for, as you may suppose, I was eager +to have the business over and done with. + +We accordingly descended the hill in the direction indicated. The road +here was little better than a cart-track, and one that I should have +been very sorry to drive along on a dark night. In the moonlit valley +below could be seen the little fishing village of Horejos. I examined +my watch and discovered that it wanted twenty minutes to three +o'clock. Needless to say, I profoundly hoped that Ferguson had +received my message, and that we should find the boat awaiting us. + +When we reached the foot of the hill, it was to discover that the road +ran between two walls of rock. Blasting operations were accountable at +this point for the existence of the track, which would otherwise have +been impassable. On the top of the rock on the right, and continuing +up the hill-side, was a thick wood, in which it would have been +possible for some hundreds of men to have lain concealed. Behind the +rock on the other side was a gentle slope continuing to within a few +dozen yards of the shore. All things considered, a better place for +the work we had in hand could scarcely have been imagined. It would +have been out of the question for two carriages to have passed +abreast, owing to the width of the road; and one glance was sufficient +to show me that it would be quite possible for a determined man to +bring a vehicle to a standstill at such a spot. That Hermaños was in +a state of considerable trepidation regarding his share in the +business I could see. From what he had already said to me I gathered +that, had he not advanced so far in the business, he would even at the +eleventh hour have drawn back. Had he been left to himself, he would +doubtless have allowed General Fernandez' rule to continue without +bothering himself about Silvestre. Unfortunately, however, Silvestre +had obtained too great a hold upon him, and, in consequence, in order +to cover the shortcomings of his own past, he had been compelled to +take up arms at the very juncture when he was most desirous of +remaining quietly in the background. Who the men with him were I had +no sort of idea, nor did he inform me. That they were desperate like +himself I could very well imagine. + +When we reached the spot just described, Hermaños again gave utterance +to the low and peculiar whistle I have already mentioned. This whistle +was answered by another, and then a voice from the darkness said in +Spanish, "All is well! He has not passed yet!" + +A moment later a man scrambled down the bank and stood before us. He +wore a poncho, and had a broad-brimmed sombrero. + +"No sign of him yet, Luiz?" Hermaños said. + +"No, there is no sign yet, señor," the other replied. "But he can't +be long now. In another hour it will begin to grow light, and if he +does not come before daybreak, then our opportunity will be gone." + +"When he comes, what do you propose to do?" I inquired. + +"I thought that when the carriage arrives here some of us would appear +in the road and stop the horses, while you go to the door and cover +the President with your revolver." + +I should here remark that when Hermaños had handed me the hat and +poncho, he had also given me a heavy Colt's revolver. + +"And having done that?" I asked, more for the sake of seeing what he +would say than for any other reason. + +"March him down by the path yonder to the sea, put him into the boat, +and take him out to the yacht," he answered. "After that you can do +with him as you please." + +"I trust the boat has arrived," I said. "Is there no way of finding +out? We ought to make sure of that!" + +"I will send a man to see," he replied, and then ordered the +individual named Luiz to go to the beach and discover whether the boat +was there. + +The fellow made off; and after he had left us we walked a little +further down the road and seated ourselves upon the bank. A quarter +of an hour passed, during which time we discussed everything but the +business before us. Then the messenger returned with the information +that the boat was waiting for us, a couple of hundred yards or so +away, in charge of the chief officer. + +"So far, all is well," I said, and as I spoke the sound of wheels +reached us from the distance. + +"He is coming," Hermaños exclaimed, springing to his feet; then, +turning to the man who had just returned from the beach, he cried: +"Call the others, Luiz!" + +His voice shook with excitement. The words had scarcely left his lips +before Luiz gave a loud whistle. In response to it three other men +made their appearance from the wood. + +"Hermaños," I said, taking control of affairs, as the party began to +don their masks, "you and two of your men had better stand here to +stop the horses." Then turning to the others, I continued: "You two, +follow me; and, if you don't want to be recognized, let me do whatever +talking there is to be done." + +The noise made by the approaching carriage could now be distinctly +heard. At most it could not be more than a quarter of a mile away. My +heart was beating like a sledge-hammer. Closer and closer came the +vehicle, then it turned the corner, and we could plainly see its +lights. In a very few minutes it would be upon us. Without exception +we had all drawn back into the shadow of the cliff, so that they could +have no idea of our presence. Descending the little decline, the +carriage entered the cleft between the rocks. The lights from the +vehicle flashed like angry eyes upon us. + +"Stop!" I cried in Spanish, and as I did so Hermaños and his two +companions sprang into the centre of the road. The driver of the +carriage, seeing the revolvers pointed at him, pulled up his horses so +suddenly that they fell back upon their haunches. Meanwhile I had +sprung to the carriage-door and had opened it. "General Fernandez," I +cried, "you are my prisoner. I am armed, and if you move hand or foot, +I give you warning, I shall shoot you." + +Meanwhile one of my companions had taken a lamp from the socket and +had turned it upon the interior of the carriage. By its light I was +enabled to convince myself that we had made no mistake. Fernandez was +seated in the corner nearest me, and, to my great astonishment, the +Señorita was beside him. I will do the President the justice of saying +that, at such a trying moment, he comported himself like a brave man. +His voice was as calm as ever I had heard it when he addressed me. + +"Ah! so it's you, Señor Trevelyan, is it?" he said. "I thought I had +stopped your little game! What's the meaning of this?" + +"It means that the scheme you did your best to frustrate has succeeded +after all," I answered. "But I have no time to spare. I must therefore +ask you to alight without further parley. Let me assure you it would +be no use your attempting to resist. There are six of us here, and we +are all armed." + +"It is evident, then, that you have the advantage of me," he +continued, still with the same imperturbable good-humour. "Well, what +must be must, I suppose," and with that he descended from the carriage +and stepped into the road. + +Before I could stop her the Señorita had done the same. + +"Where you go I follow," she said, addressing the President. "I am +sure we can rely upon Señor Trevelyan's doing us no harm." + +"If you do as I ask you not a hair of your head shall be harmed, +Señorita," I replied. Then turning to the President once more, I +added: "Before we proceed further it would, perhaps, be as well to +make sure that you are not armed, General! We cannot afford to run any +risk." + +Fernandez gave a short laugh as he took a revolver from his pocket and +handed it to me. + +"I was going to use this upon you as soon as I had an opportunity," +he said. "I see, however, that I am not to be permitted to do so!" + +I turned to the coachman. + +"Now, off you go!" I cried. "If you stop anywhere between here and the +palace I'll take care that you hear about it later. You can tell them, +when you get there, that the President and the Señorita have gone into +the country for a change of air, and that you don't quite know when +they will be back." + +The man did not answer, but looked at Fernandez as if for +instructions. Seeing that the other did not speak, he whipped up his +horses and drove off without another word, leaving his master and +mistress prisoners with us. + +"Now we in our turn will be off," I said, as he disappeared over the +brow of the hill. "I must ask you, Señor President, to be good enough +to walk ahead. The Señorita and I will follow you." + +It was a silent little party that made its way down the hill-side +towards the beach. First walked the President with an armed man on +either side of him, his niece and myself followed next, whilst +Hermaños and two of his fellow-conspirators brought up the rear. No +one would have imagined that, only a few hours before, the Señorita +and I had been waltzing round the ball-room at La Gloria as partners, +or that the President and I had been seated amicably together +discussing the politics of Equinata in all apparent friendliness. I +must say in common fairness that, even under these trying +circumstances, the Señorita behaved herself with as much coolness as +did her fellow-prisoner. Not once did she flinch or show the least +sign of fear. + +The path from the road to the shore was an exceedingly rough one, +little better in fact than a goat-track, and as the Señorita was still +wearing her light dancing-shoes, it must have been an unenviable +experience for her. Once her dress was caught by a cactus leaf, and I +stopped to extricate it for her. I hoped that my action might break +the silence that had so far characterized our march. + +"Thank you, señor," she said gravely, and, without another word, +continued her walk. + +"Señorita," I said at last, "I can quite understand how angry you must +feel with me. I suppose it is only natural that you should be. Yet, +strange though it may appear, I cannot help feeling ashamed." + +"I am not angry, señor," she replied. "My only regret is that we +should have been so weak as to have made such a miscalculation. I +thought my uncle had caused you to be arrested?" + +"He certainly did have me arrested, but I managed to escape," I +answered. "Doubtless, if your uncle had had his way, he would have had +me shot at daybreak." + +"It is more than likely," she replied, still with the same gravity. +"And all things considered, I am not at all sure it would not have +been better for the happiness of Equinata could this event have taken +place." + +After such a speech there was not much to be said, so we continued our +walk in silence. Ten minutes later we reached the beach, walked along +it for a hundred yards or so, and then found ourselves beside the +yacht's gig, which had been pulled up on the shore to await our +coming. As soon as they saw us the boat's crew, led by the chief +officer, made their appearance from a hollow in the sand-hills where +they had been concealed. + +"Permit me to help you into the boat," I said to the Señorita, moving +towards it as I spoke. "When you are on board we can push her out into +deeper water." + +She accordingly took my hand and stepped into the boat, after which +the men ran it into the water. + +"Now, Mr. President," I continued, "if you will be so kind as to get +in, I think we had better be moving." + +He hesitated for a moment. + +"Before we do so, might I have a word with you in private, Señor +Trevelyan?" he said. "I will not detain you more than a few moments." + +I answered in the affirmative, and we moved a few paces away together. +To make sure that he played no trick upon me, I took my revolver from +my pocket and carried it somewhat ostentatiously in my hand. He +noticed the precaution and gave utterance to one of his peculiar +laughs. + +"You need have no fear," he said. "I shall not run away. My heart, as +you may have heard, is a little weak, and I am afraid a sharp run on +this sand would not tend to improve it. Let us talk here. Now, Señor +Trevelyan, I am going to put a very simple question to you. I very +naturally presume that you have been well paid by my rival, Don Guzman +de Silvestre, to effect my capture and deportation?" + +"It is scarcely necessary for me to admit that fact," I answered. +"Yes! All things considered, I am _very_ well paid." + +"Needless to remark," he continued, "I have no desire to leave +Equinata. Nor am I anxious to find myself in my old enemy's hands. The +question I wish to put to you, therefore, is this: What would your +price be to let me go?" + +"I cannot answer that question," I replied, "and for the simple reason +that I am unable to let you go at all." + +"I should be willing to pay a large sum in cash, and, what is more, I +would give you a substantial guarantee that, if you would leave La +Gloria to-morrow, I would let you depart in peace." + +"I am very sorry, General Fernandez," I said, "but I am afraid you +have made some little mistake in your estimation of my character. I +will be perfectly candid with you, and will admit that, if I could +live the past few weeks over again, I should not be treating you as I +am doing to-night. However, I have accepted Don Guzman's offer, and I +have taken his money. For that reason I cannot take yours, nor can I +let you go, glad as I should be to do so. I wonder what you would have +done with me, had I not had the good fortune to escape from the cartel +to-night?" + +"I can tell you exactly," he answered. "You would have shared your +quarters with some of your fellow-conspirators, and I should have shot +you in the morning. Experience has taught me that there is nothing +like dispatch in these matters. Strike home, and strike hard, is my +motto." + +"So I have been given to understand," I replied dryly. "And now let us +return to the boat." + +"You are still determined not to let me go?" he said. "What do you +say to an offer of twenty thousand pounds, in English money?" + +"I could not do it for fifty thousand," I replied. "Come along, sir, +the dawn will soon be here, and I am anxious to be out of Equinata +before it comes." + +He gave a little shrug of the shoulders as I spoke, and then moved +towards the boat. + +"One more question," he said before we joined the others. "Where are +you going to take me?" + +"I shall hope to be able to show you that in a very short time," I +answered. "For the present, however, it must remain a secret. Now, +sir, into the boat, if you please." + +Before he got in he turned to Don José de Hermaños, who was standing +with his friends by the water's edge. + +"Farewell, Don José," he said, as genially as if he were addressing a +valued acquaintance. "I wonder whether you and I are destined to meet +again? As you are aware, I have a good memory for both friends and +enemies! I once imagined that you and I would have been able to work +together. I believe we should have done so, had not you committed +yourself too deeply to my rival before I was able to bring my +influence to bear upon you. I should put that mask in my pocket if I +were you. You forget that you have a mole upon your chin." + +The man he addressed stepped back a pace as if he had been struck. He +had disguised himself so carefully that he thought detection was +impossible. Nevertheless, he had omitted to conceal a disfigurement on +the lower portion of his countenance that was sufficient to reveal his +identity to any one at all acquainted with him. His astonishment may +have accounted for his failure to reply to the other's speech. + +The President having taken his place beside the Señorita, I prepared +to follow him, but before doing so I held out my hand to Hermaños. + +"Good-bye, my friend," I said. "I owe you something for what you have +done for me to-night. I don't suppose we shall ever meet again, but, +if we do, I trust it may be under happier auspices." + +"I never want to see your face again," he replied, with a candour that +was somewhat remarkable. Then, lowering his voice to a whisper, he +continued: "For your own safety's sake, take care that you never come +back to Equinata. I cannot help thinking that it would have been +better if we had shot him out of hand. I fancy you will agree with me +before you have done." + +His voice must have travelled further than he intended, for the +President heard it and uttered a quiet laugh. + +"Always the same, always the same," he said mockingly. "You know what +ought to be done, but you don't do it. As somebody has said, you let +'I would' wait upon 'I dare!'" + +At the same moment a sob escaped the Señorita. This decided me, and +springing into the boat I gave the order to shove off. The crew stood +up and pushed with their oars, and a moment later we were afloat. When +the men sat down and bent to their work I glanced back at the little +group of dark figures on the beach watching us. After a few minutes +they were lost against the dark background, and I turned my head to +search for the yacht. Already the sky was paling preparatory to the +dawn, and I knew that, if we did not hasten, we should scarcely be +clear of the coast by daylight. At last we reached the yacht, and +pulled up at the accommodation ladder. + +"Allow me to help you, Señorita," I said, springing out and giving her +my hand. + +Presently we stood together on the deck. Ferguson raised his cap, and +I could see that he was more than surprised at seeing a lady standing +before him. + +"We will get away from here as soon as possible, Mr. Ferguson, if you +please," I said. "I want to be clear of La Gloria before daylight." + +"Everything is ready, sir," he replied, "and as soon as we have got +the boat aboard I'll give the order for full steam ahead." + +"In the meantime," I said, turning to the Señorita, "permit me to +escort you to the saloon. Doubtless you are ready for some supper +after your long drive." + +I was determined that my coolness should equal hers. Nothing was to be +gained by acting the part of the stern gaoler. We accordingly passed +along the deck to the saloon. The electric bell summoned the attentive +chief steward, to whom I gave orders that a meal should be prepared +for us immediately. + +I cannot attempt to make you understand how beautiful the Señorita +looked as she divested herself of her cloak and seated herself on the +luxurious divan that ran round the saloon. It must be remembered that +she had driven out from the city dressed just as she had been at the +ball, and as this thought crossed my mind I was struck with wonderment +as to what she would do for wearing apparel on board. She could not +spend the day in a low-necked dress, and with no stronger footgear +than a pair of white satin dancing-shoes. However, I postponed +consideration of the subject for the moment. Presently the steward +reappeared, the cloth was laid, and a meal placed upon the table. My +message from the cartel had given them time to prepare it, I suppose; +at any rate, it was as delightful a little supper as any one could +wish to partake of. We sat down to it, as strange a trio as you would +discover in a very long day's sail. + +Fernandez still wore his ribbon and orders; the Señorita, as I have +already observed, was in evening dress with a _collet_ of diamonds +round her neck. I also was attired just as I had been at the ball, +though my raiment was somewhat dishevelled by my encounter with the +Presidential Forces on the wharf. We had scarcely sat down at the +table before the throbbing of the propellor announced the fact that we +were under way. Almost involuntarily I looked at the President. + +"Our voyage has commenced," he said. "I drink to your health, Señor +Trevelyan!" + +I drew a long deep breath of relief. It was something to know that we +were leaving Equinata at last, and that I had got the President +aboard. Since his treatment of me that evening, I felt no remorse for +having captured him. He had admitted that he would have shot me +without compunction had I remained in his power. He could scarcely +blame me, therefore, if I experienced a feeling of delight in having +turned the tables upon him. + +"I must say your employer is by no means niggardly to you," remarked +Fernandez, when the servants had withdrawn. "As you do not provide +it, I suppose it is not a breach of good manners to observe that this +wine is excellent, while the cooking is all that can be desired." +Then, with a little sigh, whether real or assumed, he continued: "My +own _chef_ will now, I suppose, be obliged to seek another situation. +And in some respects he was unrivalled. Well, well, it's the fortune +of war!" + +"Señor Trevelyan, is there no way of arranging for our return to +Equinata?" asked the Señorita, leaning a little forward and placing +one dainty hand upon my coat-sleeve, while she looked pleadingly into +my face. + +"I am afraid not," I replied. "Don Fernandez and I have already +discussed that matter together, and have come to the conclusion that +it is impossible." + +She rose from her chair. I thought she was going to break down, but +she managed to retain her composure. + +"If you will allow me, I think I will retire to my cabin," she said. + +I rang the bell for the steward and inquired what state-room had been +set aside for the lady. He informed me, and I immediately begged +permission to conduct her thither. She bade her uncle good-night and +we set off together. When she reached the door she turned to me. + +"I feel sure you will be sorry some day for the part you have played +to-night," she remarked. "Why should you wish to take us away from the +country in which we were so happy, and for which we have done so +much?" + +"For the simple reason that I am not my own master," I replied. "I am +a paid servant, and must do as I am ordered." + +She heaved a heavy sigh, and then, without another word, turned and +entered the cabin. I thereupon returned to the saloon to find that +Fernandez had left it and had gone on deck. I discovered him upon the +bulwarks opposite the smoking-room entrance. He had just lit a cigar, +and was doubtless meditating on his position. The yacht was cleaving +her way through the water, and already the lights of La Gloria lay far +behind us. + +"What are you thinking of, General?" I inquired as I took my position +alongside him. + +"I was thinking how I could manage to outwit you," he replied. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +It was with a feeling of profound thankfulness that I turned into my +bunk that morning. The clattering of feet on deck, and the slapping of +the water against the sides, greeted my ears like the sweetest music. +Only a few hours before I had deemed myself as good as a dead man. I +had been the prisoner of a man without the bowels of compassion, and, +what was worse, I knew that I had proved myself a traitor, and had not +the ghost of a chance of effecting my escape. Now, however, I was free +once more, and in a few days my mission to Equinata would be +accomplished; after which I should be at liberty to return to England, +to marry Molly, and to settle down to a very different life to that +which I had been leading for the past few weeks. When I fell asleep, +it was to dream that I was back at Falstead once more. I was smoking a +pipe in the front garden, and Molly, seated in the shade of our +favourite tree, was reading me an account of a terrible revolution +that had taken place in the Republic of Equinata. + +"The President, José de Hermaños is his name," she said, "has been +assassinated. It appears that he married the niece of his predecessor, +General Fernandez!" + +That would have been strange enough in all conscience! + +Owing, I suppose, to the lateness of my retiring, I was not very early +astir, and when I reached the deck I made my way up to the bridge. It +was the second mate's watch, but I had not been there very long before +Captain Ferguson left his cabin and joined us. Thereupon the mate, +with a knowledge of what was correct under such circumstances, crossed +to the other side of the bridge, leaving us free to talk together +concerning the events of the previous night. + +"You don't know what a fright I had, Mr. Trevelyan," said the captain. +"I sent a boat ashore as directed, and after waiting an hour and a +half it returned to report that you had not put in an appearance. I +had quite made up my mind that you had been captured." + +"As a matter of fact, I was," I replied, and proceeded to give him an +outline of my adventures during the evening. + +"This will be the last of this sort of business for me," he said, +when he heard me out. "The game is far from being worth the candle. I +wonder what the end of it all will be? From what I gathered when +ashore, and also from what you have told me, I have come to the +conclusion that whatever Don Silvestre's ambition may be, he has lost +his hold upon Equinata. If he is fool enough to return, I fancy he +will find that the other's party is still too strong for him. The part +of a President of a South American Republic is not an easy one to +play." + +"The wonder to me is that they ever get any one to play it at all," I +answered. "Thank goodness, however, we have fulfilled our portion of +the contract; we have got Fernandez, and that's all that can be +expected of us." + +"I think I understood you to say that the lady who accompanies him is +a relative?" + +"She is his niece, and a very beautiful woman." + +"If you were to ask me, I should say that I was more afraid of her +than of him. Stand by and keep your eye open for squalls, would be my +motto if I had to deal with her." + +"You may be very sure that I will do that," I replied. "I think I know +the length of her ladyship's foot." + +I thought of the time we had spent together in the balcony of the +Opera House, and how strangely her seriousness had affected me. It +was difficult to believe that it had all been a mere piece of acting. + +Half-an-hour or so later, when I had left the bridge and had walked +aft, Fernandez made his appearance on deck. + +"Good-morning, señor," I said, with a bow to him. "In compliment to +you we are favoured with a delightful morning." + +"Delightful indeed," he replied, throwing a glance over the stern. "We +are well on our way, I suppose, and steering due north, I observe. Let +me see, if I am not mistaken, that should be in the direction of----" +Here he looked at me interrogatively, as if he expected me to answer +his question. + +"In the direction of New York, shall we say?" I answered. "If we +continue as we are going long enough, I have no doubt we shall see the +Goddess of Liberty holding her torch aloft." + +"The illustration is scarcely a pleasing one," he returned, "since I +am a prisoner. The Goddess of Liberty has not done very much for me. +But there, nothing is to be gained by repining! I have been in worse +positions than this before to-day, and have always managed to get out +of them with some sort of credit to myself." + +"I hope you may do so in this instance," I answered, "but not while I +have the charge of you." + +He looked at me steadily for a few seconds. + +"Do you know, Señor Trevelyan," he said at last, "I have come to the +conclusion that I like you. I did not do so at first, but my opinion +of you has changed." + +"I am very glad to hear you say so," I replied; "but I confess I can +scarcely see why you should have changed your mind regarding myself. +If there is one man in the world whom I despise, it is myself." + +"And I fancy I can understand why," he continued, still with the same +grave look upon his face. "You must not, however, think badly of +yourself, for I can assure you, you have managed this business +remarkably well. The plot was excellently arranged. There is one +thing, however, that puzzles me; that is, how Hermaños managed to +overcome the Guards at the cartel? I quite imagined that the men were +to be relied on." + +"I cannot give you any information on that point," I replied, knowing +that it was useless to endeavour to conceal the fact that Hermaños was +present on that occasion. "I had no knowledge of the affair until the +door was opened and I discovered that I was free." + +"Some day I shall hope to be even with our friend Hermaños," Fernandez +replied, more to himself than to me. "I have always had my suspicions +about the man, but I never dreamt that he would rise to such a height +as he has done in this affair. I deemed him a coward throughout." + +"And a coward he is," I answered. "He is scheming now to save his own +neck." + +"The most dangerous conspirator you can have to deal with," Fernandez +remarked. "Such a man lacks the saving grace of Ambition. He who risks +his life for fame and fortune must have something good in him, but the +individual who embarks upon a conspiracy, and who would throw over and +denounce his friends on finding that his own participation in the plot +is about to be discovered, is neither fish, flesh, nor fowl. There was +a time when I could have had Hermaños for the holding up of a finger, +but I wanted men of firmer metal, men like yourself, for instance." + +"You pay me a great compliment," I answered. "Unfortunately, however, +we met too late in the day. My services were already bespoken." + +At that moment a steward approached him with a cup of chocolate and a +roll. + +"This is luxury in bondage," he remarked as he took it. Then, with a +smile, he added: "If you had been breakfasting in the cartel this +moment, I should probably have only allowed you bread and water." + +"With a dozen bullets in my body to help me digest it," I thought to +myself. + +It was considerably past ten o'clock before the Señorita made her +appearance on deck. The question of her attire had occurred to me +earlier, and, in consequence, I had procured for her a cloth +pilot-coat from the third mate, who, as fortune had it, was only a +little fellow, and had placed it at her door. This she now wore, and +though the garment was somewhat incongruous, when the rest of her +attire was taken into consideration, the effect was by no means +unbecoming. On leaving the companion she looked about her, and then +ran her eye along the sky-line, as if in the hope of being able to +discover her whereabouts. The yacht was pitching a little at the time, +but I noticed that she balanced herself as cleverly as any old sailor +could have done. She bade us good-morning, but did not take the chair +I offered her. + +"I wonder what they are doing at the palace," she said, more to her +uncle than to myself. "I hope they will not forget to feed my poor +little birds. I wonder if I shall ever see them again?" + +"So long as there is life there is hope," replied the President. "Is +that not so, Señor Trevelyan?" + +"I believe so," I answered. "Who knows but that you may be back in La +Gloria again before many months are past. Who is likely to be +appointed President in your absence?" + +"General Sagana," Fernandez returned; "and, by the way, he was the man +who introduced you to me. I must endeavour to remember that fact when +next he and I meet!" + +The expression on his face as he said this was not altogether a +pleasant one. + +Hour after hour we steamed steadily on our course. The day was warm, +the sea as smooth as glass, and the sky a perfect blue. We passed two +vessels, but signalled neither. By midday our run totalled a hundred +and twenty-five miles, a very fair record, all things considered. As +for my passengers and myself we spent the greater part of the day +under the for'ard awning, where we amused ourselves and each other as +best we could. Had any stranger looked in upon us, he or she would +have found it difficult to realize our respective positions. I had not +the appearance of a gaoler, and no one would have guessed that the +President, leaning back in his chair, cigar in mouth, was the head of +an influential country and an abducted citizen. + +The memory of our dinner that evening will never be effaced from my +mind. It forms one of a number of strange mental pictures connected +with that more than extraordinary time. The Señorita, who had +discarded the pea-jacket I have already referred to, appeared in all +the bravery of her previous evening's apparel. The President had +perforce to follow her example, and though he had discarded his +ribbon, he still wore his orders. I on my part, out of compliment to +them, dressed myself with great care, while Captain Ferguson, who +shared the meal with us, had also made an elaborate toilet. The +beautiful saloon, the noiseless servants, the lavish table +decorations, the excellent _menu_, and the rare wines, all combined to +play their parts in a scene that must almost be without a parallel. +After dinner we adjourned to the deck above, where we seated ourselves +and smoked until bed-time. + +It would have been instructive to have known what thoughts were +passing in the minds of the various members of our party as we men lay +in our chairs upon the deck. That the Señorita was really the +President's niece I do not, and shall never believe. I have my own +reasons for making this statement, and they are fairly conclusive. The +President himself was an adventurer of the most determined +description. Ferguson was a sea captain and but little better--(he was +a married man, so I discovered later, and his wife kept a small girls' +school in a village near Plymouth), while I--well, you know all there +is to tell so far as I am concerned, so I need say no more on that +subject. Taken altogether, however, we were a queer quartette. + +At ten o'clock the Señorita declared herself sleepy and retired to her +cabin, Ferguson went up to the bridge to see how things were there, +while the President and I started to patrol the deck. In the hour that +followed I learnt more of his past life than I had ever known before. +I knew very well that his career had been an extraordinary one, but I +had never dreamt that it had been so strange as his telling made it +appear. He was born in a village near Madrid. His parents were poor +but of noble birth. In due course he entered the army, but after a +time the life of a private soldier disgusted him, and he exchanged the +profession of arms for that of an assistant to a sugar planter on the +island of St. Vincent. An unfortunate love affair with the planter's +daughter threw him upon the world again, penniless. From the island he +drifted to the mainland of South America, saw a good deal of +Revolutionary fighting, and for the first time tried his hand at the +fascinating game of politics. The result was by no means satisfactory, +for he had the misfortune to throw in his lot with the losing side. +After a certain particularly stubborn battle he was captured and +condemned to be shot--a foretaste of the fate he had arranged for me. +At the last moment, however, the sentence was commuted to penal +servitude for life, and he was sent to the mines. Eventually he was +liberated and took service with the man who, up to that time, had been +his greatest enemy. He climbed the ladder of fame, and in time he +managed to win a fair amount of power in the land; another Revolution, +however, cast this power to the winds, and sent him flying post-haste +to the islands of the Pacific. In one way and another he enlarged his +experience there, saw life as a trader, a pearler, and an agent for +the native labour traffic as he euphemistically termed it. At last he +found himself on board a schooner returning to Valparaiso. It was then +that he first met Silvestre, and for some considerable time the two +men were on the most friendly terms. Fernandez, who had been warned as +to what was shortly to happen, discovered a post for the time being as +a clerk to an auctioneer. Then came the big Revolution--Fernandez +chose the winning side, Silvestre the losing. The latter departed to +Equinata--which country at that time was just coming into +notice--while his friend remained in Chili to derive what profit he +could for himself from his loyalty to the party he had assisted into +Power. + +"As soon as I had saved sufficient money, however," he continued, "I +quitted the Republic and, after one or two other adventures with which +I will not trouble you, found myself stranded in Equinata. To my +astonishment I discovered that my old partner Silvestre had made the +best use of his time there, and by an extraordinary manipulation of +circumstances had managed to become a person of considerable +importance in the Republic. So far as I was concerned, however, there +was another _hegira_, and this time at a somewhat short notice. I next +visited the United States, afterwards crossed the Atlantic to Europe, +and, after an absence of some three years, found myself once more in +La Gloria. When I reached that country I discovered that a strange +change had taken place. Silvestre, who, though he had held a position +of some importance when I was last in Equinata, had shown no sign of +any great ability, was now President, and had even greater ambitions. +Needless to say I threw in my lot with him and----" + +"Eventually ousted him from his position?" I put in. "I have heard +that part of the story from the man himself." + +"Yes, I confess I did oust him," he answered, taking his cigar from +his mouth and knocking the ash off against the rail. "The victory is +to the strongest, and if Silvestre had been stronger than I--well--he +would have won. As it was, he fled the country. Whereupon I picked up +the reins of Government, played the game as I thought it should be +played, and now find myself and all my plans upset, I trust you will +forgive my plain speaking, by a man who only a few months ago was +chief officer on board a South American mail-boat. Who can say what +the next chapter of the story will be?" + +"Well, you have had a very good innings, and I don't see that you have +any right to complain." + +"Perhaps not," he replied. "But don't run away with the idea that, +because you've trapped me, I am beaten. I'm a long way off that! +Believe me, I know exactly how far you are concerned in the business, +and I tell you this, if you are wise, you will be advised by me, and +drop out of it as soon as you can. The time will come when Don Guzman +de Silvestre and I will have to settle accounts together, and if you +are a prudent man you will have balanced your books with him and have +departed long before that." + +"I think I am very well able to take care of myself," I remarked. + +"Ah! We all think that! Sometimes, however, we find we are wrong." + +A few moments later he bade me good-night and retired to his cabin. I +accompanied him so far as the saloon companion entrance and then +returned to my chair on deck. I had not been there many minutes before +Ferguson joined me. + +"We shall have to keep a sharp look-out on our friend, Don Fernandez," +he said, after he had lit a cigar. "I don't trust him a little bit." + +"How so?" I inquired. "What has he been up to now?" + +"Nothing very much that I know of," the captain replied, "but I have a +sort of notion that he has been endeavouring to sound some of the men +as to the chance of seizing the boat. He has said nothing outright, +but Reston (the boatswain) tells me he dropped a hint to him that a +large reward would be forthcoming if he and his niece were helped +ashore again. He has a most persuasive manner, unlimited wealth, and +there's not very much, I fancy, that he would stop at." + +"I suppose you can place implicit trust in your officers and crew?" I +said. + +"Implicit trust," he answered. "But with a man like Fernandez aboard +one cannot take too many precautions." + +"You are right," I replied. "At the same time, I must admit that I +like the man. More, perhaps, than I do--well, another gentleman with +whom we are both acquainted." + +Ferguson understood my meaning. + +"I understand," he replied. "And what's more I agree with you." + +When we had chatted for upwards of an hour I bade him good-night, and +went below to my cabin to fall asleep and dream that Fernandez had +seized the boat and was going to make me walk the plank at daylight. + +In two days we were due to arrive at the island. From the progress we +were making, and from the glimpse I had of the chart, it struck me +that we should reach San Diaz between six and seven o'clock in the +evening. + +At four o'clock on the following afternoon I was standing at the +taffrail, looking at the frothing wake astern, and thinking of +something very far removed from Equinata and her President. As a +matter of fact I was wondering how long it would be before I should +see Falstead again, and what sort of welcome I should receive from +Molly and my mother on my return, when I caught the sound of a light +footstep behind me. I turned my head to discover the Señorita. She +came and stood beside me resting her jewelled hands upon the rail. It +did not take me long to become aware that she was in one of her +curious moods. Her manner was most persuasive and seductive to a +degree, and once or twice I found myself admiring her beauty, and for +the moment forgetting how dangerous a woman she was. + +"I am afraid, Señorita," I said, "that since we danced together in the +Opera House I have fallen woefully in your estimation." + +"Why should that be so?" she answered. "I admire your resource, and +however much I may deplore it, cannot help but admire the cleverness +with which you carried out your scheme, in spite of the opposition you +received. Had you been working for us I should have offered you my +heartiest congratulations, but since we are the victims of your skill, +you can scarcely expect me to be so magnanimous. Oh! Señor Trevelyan, +how I wish I could have persuaded you to side with us. But you had +already cast in your lot with the enemy. At one time I had almost +begun to think that I was deceived in you, but the other night when +you refused my uncle's bribe I realized your real character. To a man +of such enterprise as you possess anything is possible. Have you never +experienced a longing for power yourself? If I were a man, my ambition +would be limitless. As it is, I can only admire what I see of it in +others!" + +Recalling that conversation now, it seems as plain to me as daylight +that she was doing her best to hoodwink me. I must confess, however, +that at the time I failed entirely to see through her motive. As I +have said before she was a beautiful woman, and she had the advantage +of also being an extremely clever one. No one will ever know the +temptations she placed before me that evening, and I think it says +something for my love for Molly--not to mention my sense of duty to +Silvestre, that I did not give way to her. By some mysterious means +she had discovered the bond that existed between Ferguson and myself; +she knew also that I was all-powerful aboard the yacht, and if she did +not prevail upon me to turn the boat's head about and convey them back +to Equinata, well, it was certainly not for want of trying. I proved +adamant, however, and when at last she left me and went below it must +have been with the consciousness that she had not only failed in her +scheme but had done herself harm into the bargain. + +"You have had the pleasure of my niece's company for some considerable +time," said Fernandez, when I joined him some minutes later. "I hope +you have had a pleasant and instructive conversation!" + +There was a scarcely-concealed sneer in his voice that I did not fail +to notice. + +"The Señorita has been endeavouring to undermine my loyalty to +Silvestre," I said, blurting out the truth without fear of the +consequences. "She has promised me, on your behalf, all sorts of +rewards if I will turn traitor and run the boat back to La Gloria." + +"And I gather from your tone that she was not successful," he replied. +"You are a very pillar of rectitude, my friend." + +"What is more," I continued, ignoring his sneer, and making up my mind +to let him have it from the shoulder while I was about it, "I hear +from Captain Ferguson that you have been endeavouring to tamper with +the crew. I should be sorry, señor, to be compelled to confine you to +your cabin for the rest of the voyage, but if this sort of thing +continues I fear there will be no other course left open to me." + +"You surely would not have me neglect an opportunity when it presents +itself?" he returned, still with the same curious smile upon his face. +"I have as much right to try to help myself out of this hole as you +had to get me into it. However, as your men appear to be as immaculate +and bribe-proof as their leaders, I will give you my assurance that I +will not tamper with their honour again. Will that satisfy you?" + +"As long as you stick to it," I replied. "But I warn you that I shall +keep a strict watch upon you, and if you play me false you know what +you may expect." + +From that moment I had no more trouble with either of them. The +Señorita adopted a haughty air towards me. The President, on the other +hand, made himself even more agreeable to me than he had been before. + +One day later, and, as I expected, a little before sun-down, a small +speck appeared upon the horizon. This gradually increased in size +until it developed into a small densely-wooded island. + +"That," said Ferguson, who was standing beside me on the bridge, "is +San Diaz!" + +"And, thank goodness, our destination!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +The island of San Diaz is some fifteen miles long by eight wide. From +end to end it is densely wooded; in fact, a large proportion of its +area is still primeval forest. The population numbers only a few +hundreds, and the majority of the inhabitants are black. For the most +part they are a retiring race. How they live, or what they live upon, +would at first glance seem difficult to understand; but they appear to +enjoy life in their harmless way, and, being cut off from certain +doubtful blessings of our so-called Civilization, they generally +manage to elude the clutches of old Boney for a longer space of time +than do their brethren in better known and more popular climes. + +As I observed at the close of the preceding chapter, I was on the +bridge with Ferguson when we first sighted the island. After a close +consultation of the chart that he held in his hand, he put his helm +up, and hugged the shore for a distance of something like five miles. +Then, finding himself at the entrance of a fair-sized bay, he turned +in and prepared to seek an anchorage. The view from the deck at that +moment was a very pleasing one. First the blue water of the bay, then +a white beach, after which the ground began to ascend until it +reached, in a somewhat precipitous slope, a plateau at an elevation of +something like two hundred feet above sea-level. On this plateau, +nestling among the trees, stood a long white house, with several +smaller buildings clustered round it. As we watched, the report of a +firearm reached us from the settlement, followed by another and yet +another in quick succession. It was the signal I had arranged for with +Silvestre, and it proclaimed the fact that he was aware of our +arrival. + +"I'm a bit distrustful about the soundings," said Ferguson, as we +steamed slowly in. "This chart is no sort of good. However, I don't +think we can do much harm here." + +Then holding up his hand to the chief mate, who was in charge of the +anchor on the fo'c'sle-head, he signalled to him to let go. The roar +of the cable through the hawse-hole followed, and a few seconds later +the yacht was at anchor. When the vessel was stationary I descended +the ladder from the bridge to find the President and the Señorita +leaning on the port-bulwarks attentively studying the shore. Still +Fernandez showed no sign of any sort of trepidation. Yet he must have +realized how dangerous was his position. He had admitted that he had +done Silvestre a great wrong, and he could scarcely fail to be aware +that the latter, having him at his mercy, would be certain to +retaliate. Yet here he was chattering as coolly with the Señorita as +if he were sitting on the terrace at his palace in La Gloria. The man +was the possessor of an iron nerve which nothing could shake. +Moreover, as he had informed me on another occasion, he was a +fatalist. + +"What is arranged will certainly happen," he had then remarked to me. +"If I am to be assassinated in the street, it is quite certain I shall +not be drowned at sea. If I am to die in my bed, it will not be on the +battlefield. Why should I worry myself if the end is ordained for me?" + +When he had seen everything secure, Ferguson left the bridge and +joined us. + +"Are you going ashore, Mr. Trevelyan," he inquired, "or will you wait +on board until they send out to us?" + +"I think it would be better to wait," I replied. + +"If I am not mistaken, they are launching a boat now," Fernandez +remarked. + +What he said was correct. Several men had descended the steep path +from the plateau already mentioned, and were even then running a boat +across the sands towards the water. When she was afloat, they hung +about her as if not certain what to do next. A few seconds later, +however, a man, dressed in white, appeared from among the trees and +joined them. He entered the boat, whereupon it began to move towards +us. As she approached I noticed that she was pulled by four stalwart +negroes, and that the man steering her was not Silvestre as I had +expected, but a younger man, and a mulatto. As soon as the boat +reached the ladder, he sprang nimbly on to the grating and ran up to +us. + +"Señor Trevelyan!" he said, looking from one to the other of us as if +to discover whom he should address. + +"That is my name," I answered. "Have you a message for me?" Before he +replied, he took me on one side. + +"Don Guzman de Silvestre is not well," he said. "He bids me say, +however, that you had better bring your prisoner up to the house +without delay." + +"He is not aware, of course, that a lady has accompanied us?" I +remarked. + +The other shook his head, and then turned his eyes in the direction of +the spot where the Señorita was standing. + +"He will not be pleased," he said. + +I felt that I would give something to know what preparations Silvestre +had made for Fernandez' reception; but I did not put any questions to +the messenger, feeling that in all probability his master had given +orders to him to be silent. + +"Can you carry four people in the boat?" I inquired, going to the side +and looking down at the craft in question. + +"Half-a-dozen, if you wish," he answered; "she will not sink with us." + +I thereupon went back to the President. + +"If you are quite ready, I think we will land at once," I said. "It +will be dark very soon." + +He shrugged his shoulders, and remarked that he would go below and +fetch his cloak. The Señorita suggested that she should follow his +example. Fearing that there was a possible chance of their outwitting +me at the last moment, I declared that I could not hear of their +taking so much trouble, and thereupon despatched one of the stewards +in search of the articles in question. When they were brought on deck, +we descended to the boat alongside and started for the shore. + +As soon as we reached it, I sprang from the boat and helped the +Señorita to disembark. Then, guided by the half-caste, whose name I +discovered was Manuel, we set to work to climb the steep ascent to the +buildings I had seen from the yacht. If the descent at Horejos had +been steep, this was ten times more so. The path, if path it could be +called, was one long climb, and wound its way in and out through the +thick undergrowth in a most disconcerting and leg-wearying fashion. + +At last, when the whole party were out of breath, and the Señorita +quite exhausted, we tottered on to the plateau on which the houses +were situated. The principal building, that in the centre, was a long +low affair surrounded, so far as I could see, by a broad verandah; +that to the left was plainly the servants' quarters, while the +ramshackle huts, still further away, were probably the dwellings of +the native hands. Crossing the open space, Manuel led us towards the +largest building. The place was much fallen to decay, but it was still +quite habitable. French windows opened from the rooms into the +verandah, and towards one of these we were conducted. Opening it, and +standing in the entrance, he signed to the President and the Señorita +to pass into the room. I followed them, and when he had entered, he +carefully closed the windows after us. We found ourselves in a large +room, having a polished floor, whitewashed walls, and a raftered roof, +the latter without a ceiling. A large table stood in the centre of +the room, there were half-a-dozen curious chairs scattered about, +while in the corner beside the door was a wicker-couch, upon which a +man was stretched out at full length. One glance was sufficient to +tell me that he was Don Guzman de Silvestre, but so changed that, had +I not expected to see him, I doubt if I should have recognized him. +His face was pinched and haggard, his eyes shone with an unnatural +brilliance, while his hands trembled as if with the palsy. + +"Welcome, Trevelyan, I congratulate you," he cried, as I entered the +room. "You have fulfilled your mission admirably." Then, turning to +his old enemy, he continued: "And so, my dear Fernandez, we meet +again, do we? It is long since we last saw each other. But, stay, who +is the lady? What is she doing here?" + +I gave him the necessary information, whereupon he raised himself upon +his couch. + +"I am more than honoured," he remarked. "I did not anticipate such a +pleasure. I presume, Trevelyan, you could not catch one without the +other? Was not that so?" + +In reply, I admitted that it was, whereupon he bade Manuel move a +chair forward for the Señorita, then, turning to Fernandez, he began +once more. + +"Yes, it is certainly a long time since we had the pleasure of +meeting," he said. "Let me see, I wonder if I can recall the day. It +was the anniversary of the battle of Pladova, was it not? I had +arranged to preside at a banquet that evening in celebration of the +great event. You called upon me in the morning, professing great +friendship. Prior to that you had undermined all my officials, and had +arranged that, at the conclusion of the banquet, I was to be arrested, +whereupon you were to proclaim yourself Dictator." + +"I am glad to observe that, however poor your health may be, your +memory is as good as ever," Fernandez replied. "You have described the +situation exactly." + +"Yes," Silvestre continued, "I have an excellent memory! Unfortunately +for your scheme, however, I happened to hear of it in time. At the +last moment a sudden indisposition kept me at the palace, and +prevented my being present at the dinner. So anxious were you +concerning the state of my health that you called at the palace later +to inquire after my welfare, only to find that I had taken time by the +forelock and had effected my escape. It was a pity, for I fancy you +would have found it more profitable to have shot me, and so have put +me out of harm's way at once." + +"It certainly was rather a pity we could not do so," said the +President, "but you can have your revenge now. What are your +intentions regarding myself?" + +"I must take time to think that matter over," Silvestre replied. "The +account I have to settle with you is a long one, and I am not the man, +as you know, to do things in a hurry." + +I saw the Señorita look at him with a light in her eyes like that of a +beautiful trapped animal. She was trying to appear calm, but from the +way in which she laced and interlaced her fingers, I could see the +strain under which she was labouring. + +"If there is likely to be anything disagreeable," said Fernandez, "I +should be glad if you would get it over at once. Nothing is to be +gained by delaying matters." + +"As I said just now, I must have time to think it over," the other +replied. "Upon one thing, however, you can make up your mind, you will +never see Equinata again." + +"At the present moment it certainly does not seem very probable that I +shall," Fernandez answered, still with the same good-humour. "And now +with regard to another matter! What are your intentions concerning +this lady?" + +He made a movement with his hands towards the Señorita as he spoke. + +"She shall, of course, be treated with all due consideration and +respect," Silvestre returned. "Let that content you!" + +He turned to Manuel, who was standing at the window, and bade him call +the guards into the room. The latter accordingly made his way into the +verandah, and shouted something in a dialect with which I was not +familiar. In response to his summons, four gigantic negroes, armed +with rifles (they had evidently been waiting somewhere in the +immediate vicinity) stalked into the room. Without waiting for +instructions, they took their places on either side of Fernandez. My +first fear was that they were going to dispatch the ex-President there +and then. Silvestre must have realized what was passing in my mind, +for he laughed and said: + +"You need have no fear, my friend. I am not going to do him any +violence. Let him be conveyed to the hut," he continued to Manuel, +"and be sure that the door is locked when you come away. Place a +sentry over him, and bring me the key. Allow me to wish you +good-evening, Don Fernandez, and may pleasant dreams attend your +slumbers." + +The Señorita had risen, and had taken a step towards Silvestre. She +tried to speak, but failed in the attempt. At last she sank back in +her chair with an ashen face, and then Fernandez was led away. + +"Trevelyan, my dear fellow, may I ask you to be so good as to go to +that door and clap your hands twice," said Silvestre, when the other +had disappeared. + +I did so, and after a few moments had elapsed an elderly negress, +whose curly hair was almost snow-white, put in an appearance. In all +my experience of the African race I had never seen so hideous a +creature. + +"Palmyre," Silvestre began, "take this lady to a room and prepare it +for her." Then to the Señorita he continued: "If there is anything I +can do to promote your comfort, pray command me. I deeply regret that +my health is not sufficiently good to permit of my attending to +matters myself. Doubtless you will be gracious enough to take the will +for the deed." + +She did not answer, but followed Palmyre from the room. When they had +disappeared Silvestre turned to me. + +"You have managed the affair most excellently, friend Helmsworth," he +said. "I congratulate you heartily. Now tell me exactly what happened. +Remember I have no knowledge of your doings since we bade each other +good-bye in London." + +I thereupon set to work and gave him a description of my adventures. + +"You certainly had a narrow escape of it in the cartel," he remarked +when I had finished. "Had Hermaños not rescued you so opportunely, +Fernandez would have shot you without remorse. I wish, however, that +you had not been compelled to bring the Señorita with you. But perhaps +it was for the best. If you had left her behind, she would have made +mischief. You must have had a queer voyage with those two. I wonder +what your sweetheart in England would have said, could she have looked +in upon you?" + +"We will leave her out of the question, if you don't mind," I said +quietly. + +There was a time when I had liked and even admired the man, but two or +three things I had heard during my stay in Equinata, and the fiendish +pleasure he had just taken in gibing at his fallen enemy, had produced +in me a feeling that was very near akin to loathing. + +"Don Guzman," I began, more seriously than I had yet spoken, "I trust +you will bear in mind the promise you gave me in England!" + +"And what promise was that?" he asked suspiciously. + +"You gave me your most positive assurance that no violence of any sort +should be used towards the man who is now in your power!" + +"And I am not aware that I have said that any violence would be used," +he answered angrily. "What makes you think that I want to harm him? +Didn't I tell you that my only desire is to keep him out of harm's way +until I have once more grasped the reins of government in Equinata? +Your part of the business is finished, and to-morrow I will pay you +the reward I promised you. Hand me up that quinine, there's a good +fellow. I've suffered agonies from this cursed fever for the last +three days. It's just my luck to be struck down just at the moment +when it is necessary for me to be most active!" + +I helped him to a dose of the medicine. + +"Where will you live during the time you are here?" he asked at last. +"Ashore or on board the yacht?" + +"I should prefer the yacht if----" + +"If you thought you could depend on my not knocking those miserable +beggars on the head in the meantime, I suppose? Come, come," he +continued with a laugh, "if you go on like this, I shall begin to +think that the ex-President's niece has proved herself more dangerous +than I at first imagined." + +Then, doubtless seeing from my face that he was venturing on dangerous +ground, he made haste to appease me. + +"Don't take offence at a harmless jest, my dear fellow," he said. "You +know very well I don't mean it." + +Then, vowing that he was too ill to talk any more just then, he bade +me good-bye, promising to see me on the morrow, if I would come up. +Before I went, however, I had a proposition to make to him. I did not +like to leave the Señorita in his hands, so I begged that he would +allow her to return to the yacht, giving as an excuse the plea that +she would enjoy greater comfort there. + +"There is not the least necessity," he replied. "She will be very well +taken care of here. Just for the present I prefer to have the lady +under my own eye. Sailors are impressionable beings, and there is no +telling what ideas she might put into their heads. Remember me to +Ferguson and the others, and be sure to be up here by eleven in the +morning. Good-night!" + +I thereupon left him and returned by the path to the beach below. The +niggers who had brought us ashore had departed, so taking my boat-call +from my pocket I blew a shrill blast upon it. They must have heard me +on the yacht, for a boat was immediately lowered and sent off to fetch +me. Arriving on board I went in search of Ferguson, to whom I stated +that I did not at all like the look of things ashore. I communicated +to him my fear that Silvestre, in spite of the assurance he had given +me to the contrary, contemplated doing some mischief to Fernandez. + +"I should not be at all surprised if he did," my companion replied. +"The two men have a lot to settle between them, and Silvestre is not +the sort of man to forget or to forgive an injury." + +"But he gave me his word of honour, when I undertook the task of +getting the President out of the country, that he only meant to keep +him locked up until all chance of his upsetting matters in Equinata +was past and done with." + +"They say that promises, like pie-crust," Ferguson returned, "are made +to be broken. I wonder what Silvestre's promises are like? Heigho! I +shall be thankful when I have done with the whole concern." + +"And when do you think that will be?" + +"When I have landed Don Guzman on the mainland," he replied. "Then I +have to take this vessel back to a certain northern port, and to hand +her over to a man who is to meet her there. After that, old England, +and, if Allah wills, a life of an entirely different description." + +Next morning I returned to the house on the hill, to find Silvestre's +health much improved, and his prisoners, as he found early occasion to +inform me, still alive. + +"The lady," he said, "treated me to a pretty specimen of her temper +last night. She wouldn't leave her room, and declined to eat her food. +Realizing that it was not the least use arguing with her, I left her +to her own devices. Her condition, I understand, has somewhat improved +this morning." + +Presently he produced from his pocket a bundle of bank-notes, which he +handed to me. + +"Here is the payment I promised you for your work in Bank of England +notes," he said. "Just run your eye over them, will you, and see that +the amount is right?" + +A few moments' investigation convinced me that the notes in question +amounted to the value of five thousand pounds. As I dropped the bundle +into the inside pocket of my coat, I reflected that it would be a big +sum to carry about with me continually. As I had no safer place, +however, I had to put up with it. + +"And now there's a question I want to put to you," I said. "My work is +at an end, so when will it be possible for me to leave for England?" + +"You can go when you like," he answered. "You will find that I am +prepared to stick to my side of the contract as faithfully as you have +done to yours. Shall we say the day after to-morrow? If that will suit +you, the yacht can take you across to Cuba, drop you on the coast +after dark, and you can then find your way to Santiago, or elsewhere, +as you please." + +"The day after to-morrow will suit me admirably," I replied. "As you +may suppose, I am all anxiety to get home. And when do _you_ propose +sailing for Equinata?" + +"When the yacht returns," he answered. "I desire to get to business as +soon as possible." + +"And do you still think that you will be successful in your +enterprise?" + +"Why not?" he asked. "I have run the risk before, and I am going to do +so again. I've got some powerful friends at my back, and with one or +two of my worst enemies, Fernandez and his niece, for instance, out of +the way, I am fairly confident I shall be able to manage it. I suppose +it would be no use asking you to come with me? I could make it worth +your while to do so." + +"I would not go with you for all the money in the world," I answered. +"I have had enough of Equinata to last me a lifetime. I never want to +see the place again." + +"Our tastes differ, I see; for I am as anxious to settle there for the +remainder of my existence as you are to remain away from it." + +That afternoon I went for a somewhat lengthy stroll through the +island. I was ill at ease, and I wanted to make up my mind, if +possible, as to how I should act with regard to Fernandez and the +Señorita. Common humanity forbade that I should callously leave the +island and abandon them to the fate I felt sure awaited them. Yet how +could I remain, and what good could I do if I did so? I knew that in +his heart Ferguson was well disposed towards me, but even if he were +would he dare to interfere? And again, if he did would the others take +sides with us or with Silvestre? By the time I reached the beach once +more I had come to no sort of decision. For the time being I gave the +matter up as a bad job. I was in the act of stepping into the boat +that was to take me on board, when a shout from the wood behind +attracted my attention. It emanated from Ferguson. When he reached the +boat I noticed that he was deathly pale, and that there was a look in +his eyes I had never seen there before. + +"What is the matter?" I asked. "You look as if you had seen a ghost!" + +"Hush! I'll tell you when we get on board," he replied. "It would be +impossible to do so now." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Of one thing you may be sure; that was the fact that I was more than +anxious to hear what Ferguson had to tell me. That the man was very +much upset I could see, while the hint he had given me in the boat, +concerning certain tidings he had to tell me, frightened me beyond +measure. Immediately on reaching the yacht I took him to the saloon +and poured him out a stiff glass of grog. He drank it off, and when he +had done so, seemed the better for it. + +"Now come along to the chart-room," I said, "and let me hear what you +have to say. We shall be alone there, and I gathered from your manner +that what you have to tell me will not bear the presence of +eavesdroppers." + +"Come along then," he replied. "Let us go up there at once, I shall +not rest happy until I have shared this with you." + +We accordingly left the saloon and ascended to the bridge. Once in the +chart-room, and when we had shut the door carefully behind us, I +seated myself on the chart locker, while Ferguson took possession of +the couch. + +"Now then, go ahead," I said. "What have you discovered?" + +"It's the most fiendish plot I ever heard of," he replied. "I would +not have believed a man could have thought of anything so vile. If I +had not chanced to stray where I did no one would have been the wiser. +And then----" He stopped abruptly, as if the thought were too much for +him. + +"But you have not told me yet what it is you have heard," I continued, +with some sort of impatience. + +He rose and went to the door, opened it, looked outside, and then +returned once more to his place on the couch. + +"This afternoon, as you know," he began, leaning forward on his seat, +as if he were desirous that no one but myself should hear, "I went +ashore to see Silvestre. He was anxious, he said, to consult me +concerning the business of taking you to Cuba, and also about the +landing of himself and the others on the Equinata coast. I had a long +talk with him, during which he was all graciousness and condescension. +Butter wouldn't have melted in his mouth. He praised all the services +we had rendered him. You can have no idea how pleasant he was. When he +became President, I was to have command, if I wished it, of an +Equinata man-o'-war, etc., and above all others I was to be his +trusted naval adviser. No post could be too big for me." + +"It sounds very nice, but he also endeavoured to advise me to return +with him," I said. + +"And what reply did you give him?" Ferguson inquired. + +"I gave him to understand that I would not go back to Equinata for all +the money in the world," I said. "I had had quite enough of the place +to last me a lifetime." + +"That was my reply exactly," Ferguson replied. "The next time they see +me there of my own free will, they may treat me as they please." + +"Well, never mind that, continue your story," I returned. "What is it +you have discovered?" + +"Well, after I left Silvestre, I had the misfortune--or the good +fortune--as you may consider it, to miss my way. How I came to do so I +am unable to say. It is sufficient that I did. You know how thick the +jungle is up there! Well! instead of taking the track that brings one +down to where we embark, I branched off to the left, and found myself +stranded in as thick a bit of scrub as ever I have seen in my life. It +was hot enough to roast the scalp on your head, and I was just +beginning to think of turning back, when I heard a voice come from +thick bushes on my right. 'Hulloa, what on earth is he doing there?' +I said to myself, for I recognized it as belonging to Manuel, the +half-caste. The words I heard him utter made me more than a bit +suspicious." + +"What was it he said?" I inquired. + +"'You can do it easily, nobody will ever find out,'" Ferguson replied. +"'But I can't, I can't,' a woman's voice answered. It was old Palmyre, +the negress, who spoke. 'You'd better do it, or he'll cut your throat +as he would a pig's,' Manuel continued. 'Why do you argue about the +matter? You know very well that you are out here gathering the herbs +yourself.' 'But their spirits will haunt me,' cried the old woman. +That made me all attention, you may be sure. The half-caste uttered an +oath in reply. The spirit that would haunt him would have to be a +fairly potent one. 'What does it matter,' he went on; 'you will be +well paid for it.' For a few seconds nothing more was said, but as I +listened I heard something that sounded very like a sob. Whatever he +was trying to persuade the old negress to do, it was very plain that +she did not relish the job. Presently she whispered, 'When must it be +done?' 'As soon as Silvestre leaves in the yacht,' the other replied. +'What difficulty is there in it? All you have to do is to stew the +herbs and to slip them into their food. You'll be a rich woman for +the rest of your life.' After that they moved further away from me, +and I came down to the boat." + +"Good heavens!" I cried, the awful truth coming to me in a flash. +"Silvestre intends to poison them." + +"There is not much doubt about that," said Ferguson. "When you are out +of the way and he has left for Equinata, the Señorita and President +will never trouble him or any one else again. And as far as I can see +nothing can save them!" + +"It's too horrible! It's devilish," I cried, springing to my feet. "He +took his oath to me that not a hair of their heads should be harmed." + +"He wished you to take his words literally, you see," Ferguson +returned. "He said nothing about giving each of them a dose of poison. +Look at the matter from his point of view. As long as they live they +are his enemies and he is not safe. He owes Fernandez a deadly grudge +and he means to pay it." + +"But what is to be done? We cannot let them be murdered in cold blood. +Human nature couldn't stand that. And yet if he knows that we are +aware of his plot, he will take means to prevent our interfering and +kill them out of hand. For God's sake, Ferguson, advise me!" + +"I don't see exactly what we can do," he replied sorrowfully. +"Silvestre has got us in a cleft stick and we can't help ourselves." + +"But surely you are not going to stand by and allow him to carry out +his fiendish plot?" I returned hotly. "I can't believe that of you!" + +"But you don't know what Silvestre is," said Ferguson, not daring to +meet my eyes. "It would be madness to thwart him." + +"If I don't know what he is," I retorted, "I at least know what I am. +I brought these unfortunate people here. He shall not harm them, if it +costs me all I have on earth, even life itself. And what is more, if +you're a man you'll help me." + +"But what can I do?" he answered helplessly. "I have always been +considered a fairly plucky fellow. I must confess, however, that this +business is too much for me. I've a wife and family to think of, you +know!" + +"Your wife would despise you above all living men if she knew that you +were a party to the murder of that woman," I answered. + +He scratched his chin and looked at me in a perplexed way. It was +evident to me that I must not expect very much assistance from him. + +"To my mind a man ought to think of his wife and children before +anything else," he said at last, in a tone of apology. "If anything +happens to me what is to become of them? I'm beginning to think I was +a fool to have told you anything about it!" + +"Not a bit of it," I answered. "There, at least, you did an honest +action. Don't spoil it by drawing back." + +This only elicited his old query. + +"But what can we do?" + +"We must get them out of the island before Silvestre can do them a +mischief," I replied. + +"And pray how is that to be done?" + +"A way must be found," I answered. "Surely it should not be so very +difficult. Remember, Ferguson, I did you a good turn once. Repay it +now by helping me to save them. If they die, their deaths will be at +our doors. For my part, if that happens I shall never know a moment's +peace again, or be able to look an honest man or woman in the face. I +worked for Silvestre because I had given him my promise to do so, and +had taken his money; he has repaid it by breaking his oath to me. By +jove! whether I am bound to him or not, I will prevent him from +carrying out this terrible crime." + +I could see that, and also realized, that whatever Ferguson's desire +might be to help me, he was not willing to run any great risks +himself. + +"I must have time to think it over," he said. "In the meantime keep +your own counsel. If a hint of this gets about we are done for." + +I did not reply, but left him and went below to my cabin, where I +threw myself down on my bunk and set to work to try and think the +question out. What a fool I had been to mix myself up in the matter at +all. One moment's thought should have told me that Silvestre was not +the sort of man to have any mercy upon his enemy. A dozen plans for +effecting the escape of the President and Señorita formed themselves +in my mind, only to be thrown aside at once as useless. Then the gong +sounded for dinner and I made my way to the saloon. I had just set +foot inside the companion, when a voice I knew so well, and had now +learned to hate, greeted me. + +"Good-evening, my friend," said Silvestre cheerily. "I have come +aboard to be your guest this evening. As my fever has left me, I +thought a little sea air and congenial society would do me no harm. +Shall we go in to dinner?" + +For a moment I was so surprised at seeing him that I could not answer. +I followed him, however, to the saloon, where I found that three +places had been laid. A few minutes later Ferguson made his appearance +and we sat down to our meal. As we did so I shot a glance at the +other's face. It was plain from the expression upon it that +Silvestre's presence had alarmed him considerably. + +"We should really have invited the Señorita to join us," said +Silvestre, as he spread his serviette over his knees. "Señor +Fernandez, I regret to say, is suffering from a slight attack of fever +to-day. I have prescribed for him, however, and trust he will be +himself shortly." + +As he said this I glanced sharply at him. Was he commencing his awful +crime already? The mere thought of it was sufficient to take my +appetite away. Had I been able to follow my own inclinations, I should +have laid down my knife and fork and have risen from the table without +touching another morsel. Prudence, however, bade me remain where I +was. I shot a glance at Ferguson, to find him wiping his face with his +handkerchief. Silvestre was also watching him. + +"The evening is very hot," said the captain, by way of excuse, "very +hot indeed." + +"I agree with you," Silvestre returned dryly. "If I am not mistaken, +we shall have a thunderstorm later." + +During the remainder of the repast Silvestre continued to converse in +very much his usual fashion. He did not refer again, however, to the +prisoners. At ten o'clock he left for the shore, but before he did so, +he bade me be ready to start for Cuba on the following afternoon. I +tried to invent an excuse for remaining longer, but one would not come +to my hand. + +"Needless to say I am anxious to get on to Equinata with all +dispatch," said Silvestre. "I cannot do so until I have carried out my +promise to you." + +"Why not go first and let the yacht come back for me?" I suggested. "I +am in no particular hurry." + +"I could not dream of such a thing," he answered politely. "It would +be better for you to go at once. Indeed, I have this evening given the +necessary instructions to Ferguson." + +After that there was nothing more to be said. + +As he went down the accommodation ladder an idea occurred to me. His +boat was not more than a dozen lengths from the yacht's side before I +had made my way up the ladder to the bridge and had entered the +chart-room. Above the chart-locker was a shelf on which were kept the +books of reference needful for the navigation of the yacht. In a fever +of impatience I ran my eye along them until I came upon the volume I +wanted. To consult the index and discover a certain island was a +question of a few moments. I read what the book had to say regarding +it, but I was not greatly relieved by so doing. Communication with the +island was evidently only a matter of chance. I thereupon took the +chart of that particular part of the Carribean Sea and studied it +attentively. The nearest island to San Diaz was that of Asturia, +distant something like a day and a half's steam. It was comforting to +learn that numerous trading boats touched there. Let me go at once, as +Silvestre had proposed, and, instead of proceeding to Cuba, induce +Ferguson to put into this island. If luck favoured me, I could charter +a vessel there and return to San Diaz to rescue the President and the +Señorita. Having once thought of this plan, I was eager to put it into +execution. I determined, however, to say nothing to Ferguson until the +morrow, and only then when we were well out at sea. Friendly though +the little man was to me, I had seen enough of him to feel sure that +it would need but little pressure from Silvestre to undermine that +friendship. + +Next morning I left the yacht and went ashore to bid Silvestre +farewell. I could very well have dispensed with this ceremony, but I +was afraid of arousing his suspicions. I found him seated in the +verandah of his house when I arrived, a cigar in his mouth, and a book +in his hand. He greeted me pleasantly enough. As I looked at him I +could not help recalling the evening when I had seen him seated in the +little summerhouse of the inn at Falstead. How many things had +happened since that memorable afternoon! + +He rose to receive me and held out his hand. + +"I wonder whether we shall ever see each other again, Helmsworth?" he +said, when I had seated myself. "You have done me a great service, and +in the name of the people of Equinata I thank you for it. You will +return to Falstead at once, I suppose," he went on, after a short +pause, "marry the girl of your heart, and settle down to shire life. I +wonder what my fate will be?" + +I thought that if Fernandez managed to escape, I could hazard a very +good guess. Before leaving him I touched upon the old subject, in +order to see what his reply would be. + +"I presume you will not permit me to say farewell to your prisoners," +I said. + +"It would not be wise," he answered. "Fernandez, as I told you last +night, is down with fever, and the Señorita is not in the best of +tempers just now. However, I will convey all sorts of kind messages to +them from you when next I see them." + +I rose from my chair. + +"Don Guzman," I began, trying to speak calmly, "you are not playing me +false, are you? If any harm should befall Fernandez and his niece, +remember you will have all Civilization against you." + +At this he fairly lost his temper. + +"_Madre de Dios_, man," he cried, "do you want to make me angry with +you? Why do you harp so continually on this string? I have told you, +and reiterated the fact, that I do not intend to harm them. If I did, +don't you think I should have done so ere this? What's more, Mr. +Helmsworth, let me just give you a word of advice. When you return to +England, be sure you keep a silent tongue in your head. I can be a +good friend, and a particularly bitter enemy. I've a long arm, and +when I strike I strike deep. But there, my dear fellow, don't let us +quarrel at the time we're about to say farewell to each other. We must +part friends. Is it time for you to go? Then good-bye, and may good +fortune go with you." + +When I left him I made my way towards the path leading to the beach. +As I crossed the open space in front of the house, I turned my eyes in +the direction of the hut where Fernandez was confined. One of the +gigantic negroes that I had seen on the day of our arrival at the +island was standing on guard, rifle in hand, before it. Silvestre, I +knew, was watching me from the verandah, so there was no chance of +being able to communicate with the prisoner. I accordingly continued +my walk down to the beach. Two hours later the yacht was steaming out +of harbour, and so far as Silvestre knew, I was on my way to England +_viâ_ Cuba. + +As I have already observed, it is a day and a half's steam from San +Diaz to the nearest island--Asturia. The latter is, if anything, +slightly bigger than its neighbour. It is certainly more prosperous. +Lying in the track of ships it has a number of visitors, and trade is +consequently fairly brisk--the principal exports being a peculiar +species of hard wood, and a small quantity of sugar, for which product +the soil is well adapted. + +It was not until we had been several hours at sea that I broached the +subject that was uppermost in my mind to Ferguson. For reasons already +stated I was by no means certain how he would receive it. Would his +friendship for myself be sufficiently strong to stand the test? +However, the matter had to be decided, one way or the other, and what +was more there was no time to be lost. I accordingly took advantage of +the opportunity that presented itself, and came to business. He heard +me out in silence, but there was an expression upon his face that told +me he was not particularly in love with my proposal. Indeed, between +ourselves, I don't see how he could have been. + +"Look here, Mr. Helmsworth Trevelyan, or Trevelyan +Helmsworth--whatever you please to call yourself--as I understand it +you are asking me to do a thing I have never done before. In other +words you are asking me to go back upon the man whose money I am +taking." + +"Oh! come, now----" + +"Just one moment before you reply. Let me put it in my own way, and +you can work it out as you like afterwards. I can't see for myself +that there is any other construction to be placed upon your proposal. +You'll admit, I suppose, that Silvestre is my employer? I am here to +run this boat according to his orders, and my instructions are to take +you to Cuba and to land you there. You want me to disregard them, and +to drop you at Asturia." + +"But surely----" + +"Hold hard until I have finished. You know that I'm not a particular +squeamish fellow. I've done a good many things that a number of people +wouldn't even look at; but--and mark you this 'but' is fairly +important, if I've got to choose between you and Silvestre--friendship +steps in and Silvestre goes to the wall. At the same time I don't mind +confessing that it's far from a nice position you have placed me in. +The world won't be big enough for me to hide in when it comes to +getting away from Silvestre. And when you come to think I've a wife +and family at home all depending upon me, I'll leave you to figure out +how much you value Fernandez' life at." + +This was a way of looking at the question that I had not foreseen. + +"But I cannot go away and leave the man there to be murdered," I +began. "Flesh and blood wouldn't allow that." + +"Very well, then let us say no more about it. It's settled that I run +into Asturia and that you go ashore there." + +"And after that?" + +"I shall go on to Cuba!" + +"Give me all the time you can," I said. "I've a big bit of work before +me when I get back to the island." + +"And I wish you joy of it." + +Darkness had fallen when we reached the island. I was anxious, +however, to lose no time, and determined to land at once. Immediately +on dropping anchor, therefore, I asked Ferguson to put me ashore. This +he willingly consented to do, and in due course I found myself with my +baggage on the beach. When I had seen the boat depart, I made my way +into the town. It was a queer little place, built on the side of a +hill, and with, so far as I could see, a very sparse white population. + +From a negro boy I inquired my way to the principal hotel, if there +should happen to be more than one. He grinned expansively and offered +to conduct me to it. It proved to be only a short distance away and +faced the sea-front. I rewarded the boy, entered it, and made my way +into the bar. The landlord was a Spaniard, and about as villainous a +specimen of his race as I'd ever seen. I told him I had just arrived, +and that I was anxious to charter a schooner at once, and inquired +whether he could help me in the matter, promising to reward him +liberally should he do so. + +As it happened, he declared that he knew of exactly the sort of vessel +I wanted. I inquired the owner's name and asked the landlord where she +could be seen. + +"She's anchored about a couple of cables from the pier, señor," he +replied, "and she is the property of my good friend, Maxime Blonde. +Maxime was lamenting to me only this evening that, having no cargo, he +must return to Martinique empty." + +"Where can I find him?" + +"On board, señor." Then, scenting business, he continued: "If you wish +it, I will escort you to him." + +To this I willingly agreed, and then, when he had called his wife to +take charge of the saloon, and a negro to accompany him, we made our +way to the pier. A boat was soon discovered, and in her, rowed by the +negro, we set off for the _La Belle Josephine_ of Martinique. + +She proved to be a small fore-and-aft schooner of about fifty tons, +nattily built, so far as I was able to judge in the darkness, and very +well suited to my purpose. + +"Maxime, Maxime Blonde," screeched the hotel keeper, "a señor to see +you on business. Come forth!" + +"What now?" cried a voice from the cabin aft. "Who is it calls Maxime +at this time of night?" + +The hotel keeper went aft and explained matters. Presently he returned +and invited me to follow him to the cabin. Of all the dirty holes it +has been my misfortune to enter this was certainly the worst. Straw, +paper, and banana peel littered the floor. On the right-hand side of +the cabin was a narrow bunk, upon which a small, shrivelled-up mulatto +was seated. He explained that he was Monsieur Maxime, and that he was +owner and captain of the vessel. Being unable to bear the closeness of +the cabin I suggested that we should do our business on deck, and +thither the little man followed me. In something under a quarter of an +hour my arrangements were made with him, and it was settled that we +should sail for San Diaz at daybreak. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Of our voyage from the island of Asturia to San Diaz there is little +to chronicle. _La Belle Josephine_, as far as her sailing capabilities +were concerned, was all that her owner and captain had described her +to be. On the other hand, her dirt and slovenliness were exactly what +I had been led to expect it would be from my first inspection of the +cabin. To sleep in it, or to eat my meals there, was out of +the question. How the Señorita would manage, when she came +aboard--provided I was able to get her away from the island--I could +not imagine. + +Monsieur Maxime's navigation, I soon discovered, was of the most +elementary description. However, perhaps by luck, and perhaps by a +measure of good judgment, he managed to pick up the island about noon +on the third day after leaving Asturia. + +Fearing that Silvestre might have some one on the look-out, I bade +Maxime keep the schooner out of sight of land until nightfall. Then +we put in, and brought up in a small bay some five miles from the +settlement. Immediately it was dark I went ashore, bidding the hands +take the boat back, and when they got there to keep a sharp ear for my +whistle. + +Fortunately for what I had in hand, it was a dark night, so dark +indeed that I could scarcely see the boat when I had walked a dozen +paces from it. What the jungle would be like I could not imagine. + +When the boat had disappeared I set off along the beach in the +direction of the settlement. How I was going to reach the house +without attracting the attention of its inmates, and what I was going +to do when I got there, were two points about which I did not trouble +myself very much at that time. My lucky star had so far been in the +ascendant, that I was trusting to it to continue so. I knew very well +that it was a desperate enterprise I was embarking upon, for should +Silvestre discover me, my shrift was likely to be as short as that +which Fernandez had so obligingly arranged for me in La Gloria. At +last, when I reached the eastern side of the bay, that in which the +yacht had anchored, I turned towards the jungle and prepared to enter +it. I knew I was in for some hard work, but I did not imagine that it +would prove so difficult as I found it to be. The dense mass of +creeper that twined from tree to tree barred my progress at every +step. I had to climb, to twist, to crawl, in places unable to see more +than a few inches ahead, scratched by aloes and thorny bushes, +buffeted by low branches, and more than once tripped up and thrown +heavily to the ground by logs and other obstacles. How long it took me +to reach the plateau I cannot say, but I could scarcely have been less +than an hour upon the road. Yet the distance was certainly not more +than a quarter of a mile. Somewhat to my astonishment the plateau was +all darkness; not a light showed from the house, not a sound came from +the huts. With a stealth that would have done credit to a Sioux or an +Apache, I crept through the bushes towards the block-house in which +Fernandez had been confined when I had left the island. A sudden fear +had come over me that, during my absence, Silvestre might have done +away with him. If no sentry stood at the door I should believe this to +be the case. Closer and still closer I crept to it. At last I was only +a few yards distant from it. I was about to move forward on my hands +and knees in order to obtain a better view, when a guttural cough +reached me, coming, so it seemed, from only a few yards away. So close +was it, indeed, that I sprang back, fearing lest the man who uttered +it would become aware of my presence. Then the grounding of a +rifle-butt on the stones before the hut door reached me, and afforded +me indisputable evidence that the general was still imprisoned there. + +At first a wild notion came into my head that I might be able to +overpower the negro sentry, and, having done so, to free Fernandez. A +moment's reflection, however, told me that in all probability he would +prove more than a match for me, while he might also have time to fire +his rifle and so to give the alarm. More important still, even if I +did have the good luck to overcome him, I should not be able to get +into the hut, as Silvestre kept the key. + +"No," I said to myself, "I must try again to-morrow night, and then +I'll bring the two men with me." + +Creeping back as carefully as I had come, I reached the beach once +more as tired as if I had walked a dozen miles through heavy ground. +Going to the water's edge, I gave a shrill whistle, and then sat +myself down to await the boat's arrival. It was not long in coming, +and in less than a quarter of an hour I was back on board the +schooner. Calling up Monsieur Maxime, I bade him get sail on her and +put to sea once more. He seemed a little surprised, I fancy, and was +about to demur. A brief remonstrance on my part, however, sufficed to +put him on good terms with me again. + +The next day was spent out of sight of the island, but as soon as +darkness fell we were back once more and anchored in the bay. By this +time, as you may suppose, I had perfected my scheme as far as +possible, and knew exactly what I was going to do. + +To my delight the night proved as dark as its predecessor. When, after +some difficulty, I reached the shore, with the two men who had +volunteered to assist me, the wind was driving the sand upon the beach +in clouds, and was howling most dismally among the trees of the +jungle. + +"We couldn't have chosen a better night," I said to my companions, as +we hurried along. "With the elements in our favour, however, we shall +have to be very careful how we act." + +We made our way down the beach as I had done on the previous night, +and climbed the hill as before. Neither of the men had had any +previous experience of jungle-work, but they were to have some now +which would be sufficient to last them all their lives. More than once +they followed my example and went sprawling in the darkness, while +once the taller of the pair managed to get his foot entangled in a +mass of creeper, and it required all my efforts, and those of his +companion, to release him. + +"Lord bless us, sir," the other whispered in my ear, "I hope there are +no snakes about. This seems just the sort of place to find them." + +"You needn't be afraid," I replied. "I have been assured that there is +not a snake on the island." + +"I'm glad of that," I heard him mutter. "I don't cotton to snakes +nohow." + +At last we reached the plateau, whereupon I bade both men remain where +they were while I went to reconnoitre. Then, dropping on to my hands +and knees, I crept forward until I was on the edge of the jungle. It +was the same place from which I had watched the sentry on the previous +night. Either he or one of his comrades was there now, for I could +just see his dark figure standing at the corner of the hut. Across the +plateau streamed a bright light from the sitting-room of the house, +while the faint tinkling of some native instrument reached my ears +from the group of huts beyond. Having taken my observations, I crept +back again to my companions. + +As may be supposed, I had already instructed them in their duties. In +consequence, each had brought with him a hank of thin rope, while I +had placed two or three carefully made canvas gags in my pocket in +case their services should be required. The idea I had in my mind was +that we should creep up to the hut from behind. The two men would then +take the right-hand side and make their way round the building with as +little noise as possible, while I was to imitate them on the left. +When I reached the sentry I was to saunter slowly up to him as if it +were the most natural thing in the world for me to be there. Before he +could recover from his astonishment at seeing me, they were to spring +upon him and make him secure--I obtaining possession of his rifle +before he could fire it. + +"Come along," I whispered, "and don't make a sound as you love your +lives." + +Scarcely daring to breathe, I led them from the jungle and across the +open space that separated us from the hut. Having gained its shelter, +we paused to prepare for the struggle. + + [Illustration: "One had clutched him by the throat."] + +Since I had left England I had been in some tight places, but I had +never felt so nervous as I did at that moment. There was so much to be +thought of, so much to be provided for, and yet so much to be left to +chance. What if the sentry did not prove as surprised as I hoped he +would be? Suppose the men did not come up in time and gave him an +opportunity of discharging his rifle, what would our fate be then? But +it did not improve matters thinking of what might happen. I had to +carry out my portion of the scheme and leave the rest to Fate. So, +having seen the men ready with their ropes in their hands, I calmly +strolled round the side of the hut towards the spot where the sentry +was standing. It seemed to me that on the outcome of those few steps I +was staking all that was worth having in the world--Molly's happiness, +my mother's, Fernandez' and the Señorita Dolores' lives, and in all +probability my own. Then I turned the corner and the giant figure of +the negro was before me. He looked up and saw me, uttered an +exclamation of surprise, and then took a step forward as if to make +sure of my identity. + +"Have you a light for my cigar, friend?" I inquired, as coolly as I +could force myself to speak. + +As I said it the two figures of my companions appeared round the +further corner. Before the man could reply they had thrown themselves +upon him; one had clutched him by the throat, while the other pinioned +his hands behind him. Springing forward, I seized the rifle he had +dropped. The man made a desperate struggle for his liberty, but we +were too much for him, and almost before he could realize what had +happened, we had got him on the other side of the hut, where we could +make him secure and do with him as we might think best. In almost +less time than it takes to tell, my two companions had lashed him so +securely that it was impossible for him to move hand or foot or, what +was more important still, to cry out. + +"So far so good," I said, rising from my knees, where I had been +kneeling beside the prostrate man. "He will give us no more trouble. +Now you, Williams, take his rifle and stand sentry in front of that +door, while Matthews and I go across to the house and see what we can +do with Silvestre. We've got to find that key somehow." + +Williams took the rifle and proceeded to the front of the hut, where +he stood in very much the same attitude as the negro had adopted. Then +Matthews and I, in our turn, made our way quietly back to the jungle, +and through it towards the spot where it approached nearest the house. +The light was still streaming from Silvestre's window, and once, as we +waited, I heard the sound of his laugh. It was evident from this that +he was not alone. + +"Now, Matthews," I said, "what we have to do is to get across to that +verandah without any one seeing us. If we are caught, remember our +lives will pay the penalty." + +"I hope we shan't be caught then, sir," the man replied. + +The night was as still as the grave; the music had ceased at the huts, +and not a sound came from the house towards which we were making our +way. At last we reached the verandah and ascended the two steps that +led up to it. Silvestre's sitting-room was now only a few yards +distant. Would it be possible for us to reach it without giving him +warning of our approach? Fortunately for us, the floor of the verandah +was of earth, beaten hard, and for this reason, unless we were more +than usually careless, the odds were in our favour. Keeping as close +to the wall of the house as possible, we approached the window, which +was open. As we did so, Silvestre spoke again. + +"Well, I have given you plenty of time to think it over," he remarked. +"What have you to say?" + +"Only that I refuse," the Señorita replied, for she was his companion. +"You could not expect me to do anything else." + +"Think well what you are doing," the other continued, and as he said +it I advanced a couple of steps. "You know that when I say a thing I +mean it. I tell you plainly Fernandez' life is not worth an hour's +purchase. He chose to come between me and my ambition, and I have +tossed him aside as I should have done a straw. When he is out of the +way Equinata will listen to me, and when she has observed how I deal +with such as oppose me, I don't think she will make any more mistakes. +I know that you are dangerous, but I fancy I can manage you. Give me +the information I require, and I'll spare you and perhaps do more. Why +should you bother yourself about Fernandez?" + +"Do you think I have no heart?" + +"I suppose you have about as much as any other woman," was the +sneering reply. "Come, Señorita, you must admit that my patience has +held out pretty well. But you mustn't overstrain it. Give me the +information I require and I, on my side, will pledge myself to send +you to Europe, and also to allow Fernandez to remain here in safety, +provided he passes his word never to return to Equinata or to molest +me further. I cannot make you a fairer offer than that, and I am +afraid I am foolish to do so much." + +"And if I refuse to accept your terms?" + +"Then I shoot Fernandez at daybreak, and when the yacht returns sail +away, leaving you here in Palmyre's charge. I am afraid you would find +the life a trifle lonely after La Gloria." + +Knowing as I did what his real intentions were, I was able to form a +very fair estimate of the man's villainy. What the information could +be that he was so anxious to obtain from her I could not imagine. I +had not much time, however, to think about it, for as the thought +flashed through my brain I heard some one rise from a chair and cross +the room, then Silvestre's voice continued, in a more persuasive tone +than he had used before: "Señorita, you and I together could govern +that country as it has never been ruled before. I know who are my +friends there, and I am also acquainted with my enemies. The first I +shall take care to render even more loyal than they were before, the +others I shall deal with in such a fashion that they will give no more +trouble. Come, make up your mind. Go home to Europe for a year until I +have everything in order and then come out and join me. Who knows what +happiness may be in store for us? What have you to say to my +proposal?" + +"I cannot," she answered in a heart-broken voice; "and yet, oh Heaven! +I cannot let you kill him." + +"You must decide one way or the other," he said remorselessly, "and +you'd also better be quick about it. My patience is well nigh +exhausted." + +There was another interval of silence. + +"Will you let me see Señor Fernandez for a moment before I give you my +answer?" she pleaded. + +"Not for an instant," he replied. "You must have known what answer I +should give you when you put the question. I know Señor Fernandez too +well to allow you two to meet. I see it is half-past ten! Now I will +give you five minutes in which to make up your mind, and if you don't +tell me what I want to know then, I will carry out my threat and +Fernandez will finish his career at daybreak." + +She uttered a piteous little cry, followed by an appeal for mercy. + +"Don't talk to me of mercy," he answered. "What mercy did he show me? +What mercy would he have for me if our positions were reversed? He +would have shot me like a dog. Bear the fact in mind, Señorita, that +if he comes to an untimely end you will be responsible for it!" + +There was another pause. + +"Time is flying. You have only four minutes left!" + +It was impossible that I could listen to this sort of talk unmoved. He +had the unfortunate woman at his mercy, and I knew him well enough by +this time to feel convinced that as soon as he had extracted his +information from her he would throw his promises to the wind, and +carry out the infamous project of which Manuel had spoken to Palmyre. +He knew well that even if he killed Fernandez and allowed her to go +free she would begin to intrigue against him. His insinuation that she +should return from Europe to him in Equinata was only a subterfuge to +prevent her becoming suspicious as to his real intentions. + +"Three minutes gone!" + +The Señorita said nothing in reply, but although I could not see her I +could very well imagine the agony she was suffering. The memory of the +night we had spent together in the balcony of the Opera House at La +Gloria came back to me. Then I took my revolver from my pocket, and +gave the magazine a turn to see that it was in working order. + +Once more Silvestre spoke. + +"Time is up," he said. "I will call Palmyre and give the necessary +orders about Fernandez." + +"No, no," she cried in the expostulation of despair. "Take my +life--kill me! But for the Blessed Virgin's sake, let him go free." + +"Will you give me the information?" was Silvestre's reply. + +The Señorita uttered a little cry as if she were suffering physical +pain. + +"And send them to their deaths? No, no, I should be less than human if +I were to do that." + +"Fernandez will be less than human if you do not," was the other's +brutal response. "Permit me, and I will call Palmyre." + +As he said this, I turned to the man behind me and signalled that I +was about to enter the room. Then, revolver in hand, I strode in. + +"That will do, Silvestre," I cried, covering him with the revolver as +I approached him. + +"Good heavens! you here?" he shouted, as if he found it difficult to +believe the evidence of his own eyes. The Señorita was leaning against +the table with a look of bewildered astonishment upon her face. + +"As you see, I have returned," I answered. "But I have not time to +discuss that matter with you now. I give you fair warning that if you +speak again I shall shoot. Sit down in that chair and put your hands +behind you!" + +With an oath Silvestre complied with my request. + +Turning to Matthews, I signed to him to carry out the work we had +previously arranged. In less time than it takes to tell, Don Guzman de +Silvestre was securely fastened in his chair, a gag had been placed in +his mouth, and it was then out of his power to do any mischief. From +the expression upon his face I could gather some notion of what his +feelings were. It was very evident that if I should have the +misfortune to fall into his hands again I should be likely to +receive but little mercy from him. As soon as he was secure, and I had +abstracted the key of the block-house from his pocket, I turned to the +lady. + + [Illustration: "'I give you fair warning that if you speak again I + shall shoot.'"] + +"Come, Señorita," I whispered, "you had better prepare for departure. +If we are to release the President and to get away before daylight +there is not much time to be lost." + +"I am quite ready to leave," she replied. + +"Then be good enough to accompany this man, and be very careful to +keep in the shadow of the house," I returned. "Above all, see that you +do not make a sound. I want to have a few words alone with Silvestre." + +Matthews led the way from the room and, with one last look at the man +in the chair, the Señorita followed him. + +When I had seen her turn the corner of the verandah, I approached +Silvestre, who glared at me as though he hoped the fire in his eyes +might consume me. + +"Don Guzman," I began, speaking in a low voice, "before I take leave +of you, I want to let you know why I have played this trick upon you. +You will remember that at Falstead you gave me your assurance that if +I helped you to secure Fernandez you would do him no harm. And yet you +have given orders that, as soon as you had left the island for +Equinata, the Señorita and her uncle were to be poisoned. I +distinctly heard you tell the former that the latter would die at +daybreak. I am afraid you will find yourself mistaken in your +prophecy. By daybreak Fernandez should be well on his way back to +Equinata. There is one other matter before I go. Here is the last +money you gave me." So saying, I threw upon the table the roll of +notes he had handed to me before I left the island for Asturia. + +A hideous scowl was the only response I received. + +Then, when I had placed my revolver in my pocket, I made my way down +the verandah in the direction of Fernandez' prison. To my delight I +discovered that no change had taken place there. The giant negro still +lay where we had placed him, while my own man stood sentry before the +door. + +Bidding the Señorita and Matthews remain concealed, I crept quietly +forward. The plateau was as silent as the grave, while the only light +to be seen was that which streamed from the window of the room we had +just left. + +I had passed through some momentous moments in the past six months, +but I do not think that, in the whole course of this extraordinary +affair, I experienced anything like the sensation that took possession +of me as I made my way towards the door of the hut. I had begun by +taking service under Silvestre; I had carried out his instructions to +the best of my ability; I had found him a traitor, and now, here I +was, throwing him over and rendering assistance to the other side. +What was the end of it all to be? Should I escape with Fernandez, or +would Silvestre catch us before we could reach the boat? + +Signing to the sailor to stand aside, I placed the key in the lock. As +I opened the door a voice, which I instantly recognized, said as +calmly as though its owner were addressing me in the President's study +at La Gloria: + +"So it's you, Trevelyan, is it? I had an idea you'd come round to my +way of thinking. I heard your scuffle with the sentry. I suppose you +managed to overpower him?" + +I answered him in a whisper that his conjecture was correct. + +"You must get up at once," I continued hurriedly. "There is no time to +spare. The Señorita is waiting for you in the jungle, and I have a +schooner in the bay." + +"But I can't get up," he replied. "Our worthy friend, Silvestre, has +taken good care of that." + +"The deuce, he has!" said I. "What do you mean by that?" + +"I mean that I am chained to the leg of the bed," Fernandez returned. +"Before you can release me you must have the key of the padlock." + +In a flash I realized what a fool I had been. It had never struck me, +when searching Silvestre's pockets, to find out whether he had any +other key in his possession. Now we were in a pretty fix. It seemed as +if I had defeated Silvestre only to give him a very fair opportunity +of turning the tables upon me. At any other time I should have sworn +at the contrariness of my luck; now, however, I had too much upon my +mind to have time to seek relief in that direction. It was a problem +that any man might have been excused for feeling diffident about. The +Señorita was concealed in the scrub; the lives of Matthews and his +companions depended upon my prompt and successful treatment of the +difficulty, and the only possible way I could see of accomplishing +that was to return to the room in which I had left Silvestre, and, +once there, to overhaul him in the hopes of discovering the +all-important key. This time, however, the risk would be increased a +thousandfold. It was only too probable that the old negress Palmyre, +or the half-caste Manuel, would have entered to find their master in +the lamentable condition I had left him; in which case, for all the +good I could do, I might just as well take my revolver, shoot myself +and Fernandez, and so bring the whole desperate affair to a +conclusion. + +"You are quite sure, I suppose," I remarked, "that Silvestre has the +key upon his person?" + +"Quite," he answered. "He has been kind enough to dangle it before my +eyes every time he has visited me. Only this afternoon he wittily +described it as the isthmus connecting the continents of Equinata and +Death!" + +That was Fernandez all over. Even when my heart was beating like a +wheat-flail in my breast with terror, and when every moment I expected +to see Silvestre make his appearance in the doorway, he must have his +joke. + +"Well," I said at last, "I suppose there is nothing for it but for me +to return to the house and to endeavour to obtain possession of the +key. Heaven alone knows whether I shall be successful. In the meantime +the Señorita had better make her way down to the shore. You will of +course keep very quiet until I return." + +"You may depend upon my doing that," he replied. "You will find me +here when you return." + +Without another word I left the hut and crept round it to the spot +where the Señorita and the faithful Matthews were anxiously waiting +for me. So dark was it in the jungle that I could see nothing of them, +and it was not until I called to them that I could discover their +whereabouts. Then, drawing the lady a little on one side, I hastened +to explain the situation to her. + +"You will find the key hanging round his neck," she said in a fierce +whisper. "If you only knew what a miserable part it has played in my +life of late, you would easily understand how familiar I am with its +hiding-place." + +I did not reply, but, turning to Matthews, bade him escort the +Señorita down the hillside to the shore, where they were to await our +coming. When they departed I began my journey to the house. The light +still shone from Silvestre's window, though the remainder of the +building was in complete darkness. Revolver in hand I crept carefully +along until I reached the steps leading to the verandah. These I +ascended, and eventually reached the room in question. Every creak of +the boards brought my heart into my mouth; and yet, if Silvestre had +been discovered and released by Manuel or Palmyre, why had he not come +in search of us? That he was no coward I knew too well. + +When I reached the open window I was able to obtain a glimpse of the +room. It may be imagined with what delight I assured myself that +Silvestre was still there and, what was more, lying just as I had left +him. Softly I crept in and approached him. I could fancy the +satisfaction he had felt when he had witnessed my departure before +without the key of the padlock which fastened Fernandez' fetters to +the bed. From the way he glared at me, when he became aware of my +presence, it was evident that he realized that I had come to rectify +my mistake. As quickly as I could do it, and without wasting any words +upon him, I unfastened the collar of his shirt to discover, suspended +on a string round his neck, that tiny talisman that, at that moment, +was worth more to me than anything else in the world. To take +possession of it was the work of a second, and then I once more +tiptoed towards the verandah. I had barely reached it, however, when I +heard the door, communicating with the central passage of the house +open, and looking back I saw Palmyre enter the room. + +As I arrived at the end of the verandah I heard a shrill scream, and +as I heard it realized the fact that, unless I could succeed in +releasing Fernandez within the next few minutes, all was lost, and +that I should, in all human probability, never see old England again! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +To say that I made my way from the house to the hut in which Fernandez +was imprisoned with as much speed as I could command, would be to +express my meaning very inadequately. As soon as I realized the fact +that the trick I had played upon Silvestre was discovered, I threw +prudence to the winds, and ran as I had not done for years across the +plateau towards the building in question. The sailor was still on +guard at the door, which was open, while the negro lay bound just +where we had thrown him down. + +"Stand by, they're after us!" I cried, regardless of who might hear. + +With that I plunged headlong into the dark hut, shouting to Fernandez +as I did so to prepare the padlock for the key. South American +politics produce some curious incidents, but I am not sure that they +could find another to equal that which I am now so inadequately +attempting to describe. + +Dropping on my knees beside the bed, I felt about for the chain and, +running my hand along it, at length obtained possession of the +padlock, inserted the key, and in a trice the President was free. + +"By this time they must have released Silvestre," I whispered. "For +heaven's sake let us get away from here!" + +"Nobody could be more willing to do that than myself," the other +answered, springing from the bed as he spoke, and coming in violent +contact with myself, whom he could not see. "You are in command, so +you had better lead the way." + +Bidding him follow me, I hastened out of the hut, ordered the sailor +to accompany us, and plunged into the jungle. As we did so a shout +from the house proclaimed the fact that Silvestre was free once more +and thirsting for vengeance. We had not stumbled forward many paces +before other shouts followed, showing that he had called Manuel and +his gang to his assistance. + +A very small percentage of the readers of my story have, I trust, been +called upon to run for their lives through a West Indian jungle in the +dead of night. Those who have done so, however, will be able to +understand the sufferings of the wretched trio who stumbled, reeled, +scraped, and fought their way down from the plateau to the shore. The +darkness was opaque, the obstacles so multifarious, that never for a +moment did we seem to have a yard's clear going. Take a sack, a +three-legged, and an obstacle race, throw in a game of blind-man's +buff, in which you are the blind man, and you will have some faint +idea of our difficulties. + +Once, from the hill behind us, the sound of a shot reached us, though +what its meaning was, I could not even conjecture. At last, wearied to +the point of dropping, our faces streaming with perspiration, our +flesh cut and bruised, we emerged from the forest and stood upon the +seashore. Unfortunately, in our haste, we had not steered as true a +course as we would have desired, and instead of coming out in the +centre of the little bay where the schooner's boat had been ordered to +await us, we found ourselves at the end of the small promontory which +separated the bay from that in which the settlement was situated. This +was unfortunate in more ways than one, but it could not be helped. The +worst part of it was that we could not see the boat or the figures of +the Señorita or Matthews. + +"Look! what is that?" cried the President at last, pointing along the +beach to the left. "Is it a man?" + +I have fairly good eyes, but I must confess that I could see nothing +that in any way resembled a human figure in the direction he +indicated. He, however, seemed positive that he was right; so, +realizing that we could do no good by remaining where we were, we +hurried along the beach without further loss of time. We had not +proceeded more than fifty yards, however, when the crack of a rifle +came from the scrub on our left. If it were aimed at me, the man who +fired it was certainly a very fair marksman, for the bullet whistled +by within a few inches of my head. It was plain that Silvestre, or at +least one of his myrmidons, were not very far behind us. We were +destined soon to be convinced as to their numbers and also as to their +identity. For the sound of the shot had scarcely died away before +three men emerged from the jungle, and Silvestre's voice called upon +us to throw up our arms, and then added that unless we did so we +should be shot down without mercy. I could well believe this, and I +also knew the sort of mercy we should be likely to receive should we +allow ourselves to fall into his hands. The fate he had arranged for +Fernandez and his niece would be nothing to the cruelty he would +practise upon us. + +"_Nombre de Dios!_" cried the President, "why haven't I a weapon of +some sort!" + +He was destined to have one somewhat sooner than he imagined, for as +he finished speaking another rifle-shot rang out, and instantly my +revolver fell from my hand and I realized that I had been shot +through the forearm. The President coolly stooped and picked up the +weapon. + +"Look, sir, look, there's the boat!" cried the sailor a few seconds +later. + +Sure enough there it was, but unfortunately a considerable distance +ahead. + +"There's nothing left but to run for it," I cried. "Come on!" + +With that we took to our heels and scurried along the beach. +Silvestre, as soon as he became aware of our intentions, sent a volley +after us, doubtless meant as an inducement to heave-to. We paid no +attention, however. Though we did not look round we knew that they +were after us; but we had a fair start, and if only they did not +manage to hit us, there was the bare possibility of our reaching the +boat in time. Already I could see Matthews standing knee-deep in the +water in order to keep the little craft afloat. He shouted to +encourage us. Then there came another shout from our left, and three +other figures ran down between ourselves and the boat we were striving +so hard to reach. All three were armed, and in the man in the middle, +when he called upon us to surrender, I recognized the blackguardly +half-caste Manuel. For the moment it looked as if our case were +hopeless. + +It is at such moments that all the inventive faculties in one's +possession hasten to one's aid. Had I been permitted half a day to +think the question out, I should probably never have hit upon a plan +half as promising as that which then flashed through my mind. The men +in front were little more than a couple of dozen paces away; Silvestre +and his party were perhaps a hundred yards behind, and were every +moment coming closer. The thought had scarcely occurred to me before +the crack of rifles sounded from behind. Fortunately none of us were +hit. + +"Down! down!" I cried to my companions. "Let them suppose that they +have winged us!" + +As I spoke we all threw ourselves with one accord upon our faces on +the sand. As I expected, the men in front immediately jumped to the +conclusion that we had been shot by their friends behind. They +accordingly rushed forward to make sure of us. My ruse must have +dawned upon Fernandez, for, to this day, I am certain that I heard a +chuckle escape him. Almost at the same moment Manuel ran up to us, his +two companions being only a few yards distant. + +"Shoot them," I whispered; and as I spoke I saw Fernandez roll over on +his side and raise his right arm. His revolver gave three vicious +little cracks, and one by one each man stopped, performed a curious +spin, and then fell forward on the sand. + +I don't know that I am a particularly imaginative man. As a matter of +fact my friends have on several occasions informed me that I am a +somewhat prosaic individual. All I know is that at that moment, though +why I should have done so, no one, least of all myself, will ever be +able to tell (for I have never participated in a hunt in my life), I +let out a wild "yoicks" and sprang to my feet. + +"Make for the boat!" cried Fernandez. + +Without a word I did as I was directed. The boat was now only a matter +of some fifty yards ahead. How I covered this distance I shall never +be able to understand. All I do know is that when I reached the spot +where Matthews was standing, I came an ignominious cropper at the +water's edge. The fact was I was done for, wholly and completely done +for. It may seem an absurd statement to make, but I will leave it to +the charity of my readers to remember that I had been through a great +deal that night, and also that a shattered arm does not add to one's +strength. + +At that moment Fernandez rose to a moral height, far above that I had +expected to find in him. Turning to Matthews, who, as I have said, was +standing knee-deep in the water, keeping the boat afloat, he cried: +"Hold the boat steady while we get Señor Trevelyan in." + +I was so far done for that he must have thought I was dead; +nevertheless, and although Silvestre and his men were by this time +little more than thirty yards behind us, he did not abandon me, but +with the other man's assistance picked me up, then waded with me into +the water and dropped me into the boat, where I lay like a log. I +heard Fernandez order Matthews and the other man into the boat, and +then wondered what was going to happen next. I saw the Señorita half +rise from her seat in the stern. She uttered a little cry. Then I +heard a swish of water alongside, as if the boat were being turned +round. + +"Take care, Silvestre," cried Fernandez, "there's Equinata at the end +of my barrel, and a good deal more beside." + +What Silvestre said in reply I do not pretend to know. All I can say +is that I heard the sharp crack of his revolver, followed by a laugh +from Fernandez, and a wild shriek that might have been anything, but +which told me nothing. A moment later, and just as I was feeling as if +nothing in the world mattered to me, I was conscious of some one +saying: "Pull up, my lads, we'll get away yet!" At the same instant a +soft hand touched my cheek, and a low voice whispered: "May the +saints be merciful to you!" Then I lost consciousness. + +When I recovered my senses I was lying off the top of the main hatch +of the schooner. Fernandez was standing near me, but it was impossible +to see his face. + +Lying on my back I could not tell what was happening. I could, +however, hear Monsieur Maxime arranging sundry nautical details with +his crew, and with all his accustomed fluency. The little man had +accepted the position from his own standpoint, which, as you may be +sure, was theatrical to a degree. As I have since heard, he avers +that, had it not been for his influence and exertions at that +momentous time, the President of Equinata would never have returned to +his country at all. For this reason he is looked upon as a hero in +Martinique to this day. + +"Heaven be praised you are not dead, señor," said a very soft voice, +and, on turning my head, I found the Señorita seating herself beside +me. + +It was some few minutes after dawn, and in the dim light her face +looked very wan and haggard. Allowing for the wear and tear of time +and the exigencies of a most anxious and untoward experience, she was +dressed very much the same as she had been when she left the +ball-room at La Gloria on the night on which I had effected their +capture. But the woman in her extraordinary beauty was still the same. +She was certainly one female in a thousand, and he would have been a +curious individual who could have shown himself insensible to her +fascinations. Then Fernandez turned his head, saw her bending over me, +and came over and also seated himself beside me. + +"Dear friend," he began, in a voice that was full of kindliness, "I am +not going to attempt to thank you for all that you have done for me. +For the present it is sufficient for me to do what I can to mitigate +your sufferings. I won't deny that there have been people who have +doubted my medical ability; I am about to prove to you, however, that +I am more capable than they suppose." + +So saying, he removed the wrappings from my arm and commenced +operations. The bullet, it seemed, had shattered the bone, and was +fortunately now lying quite close to the surface. To extract it was +the work of a few painful minutes, after which the limb was set and +bound up. That accomplished I was at liberty to rise from the hatch. + +All this time our behaviour towards each other was as diffident as +could well be imagined. For once the President had dropped his +cynicism, while the Señorita regarded me with eyes that overflowed +with gratitude. + +The island had long since disappeared below the horizon, and now the +little schooner was cleaving her way through the water under the +influence of a capital breeze. Escorted by the Señorita I made my way +aft. + +Monsieur Maxime himself was at the wheel, presenting a curious figure +as he hung upon the spokes. I found a shady spot for the Señorita, and +then walked across to where the President was standing before the +taffrail. + +"I want you to tell me everything," I said. "How did you manage to +effect our escape? Remember, I know nothing of what occurred after you +placed me in the boat." + +"There's not very much to tell," he answered. "I might mention, +however, that Silvestre and the half-caste will give no further +trouble." + +"You shot Silvestre, then?" + +"I did," he replied, "and I don't know that I ever enjoyed doing +anything so much. It was a close thing between us. Look here!" + +He pointed to his left ear, on the lobe of which was a small scar. + +"It couldn't have been much closer, could it?" he remarked. "My luck, +however, stood by me as usual." Then in a lower and more kindly tone, +he added: "My luck and the luck of Equinata!" + +For a few moments we stood side by side thinking our thoughts in +silence. I recalled the day when I had first seen the dead man in Rio, +and also that never-to-be-forgotten afternoon on which he had made the +proposal to me that was destined to cost him his life on the beach of +an island in the Carribean Sea and to return me to Equinata a wounded +and ruined man. + +At last Fernandez turned to me and, placing his hand upon my shoulder, +looked me full and fair in the face. + +"Trevelyan--Helmsworth--Helmsworth--Trevelyan--whatever your name may +be, you have put upon me a debt of gratitude I shall never be able to +repay. I must confess, however, that I cannot quite understand what it +was that so suddenly made you change sides. I offered you excellent +terms on the beach on the night that I fell into your hands, and I +repeated it on board the yacht. You were a pillar of rectitude then. +When, therefore, the game had been played and your employer had won, +why did you so suddenly come to my rescue? I think I know you well +enough by this time to feel sure that your conversion was due to no +mercenary motive." + +"You may make your mind easy on that score," I replied. "It was not a +question of money." + +"Then will you tell me why you did it? Silvestre, when his chance +came, would doubtless have proved himself an excellent patron, of +course providing it didn't suit his book to put you out of the way!" + +"That's exactly it," I replied. "You have put the matter in a +nutshell." + +"I am afraid I am dense enough not to be able to grasp your meaning," +he returned. + +"You suggest that it might possibly have suited his book to have put +me out of the way. Well, that is why I threw in my lot with you. It +would make rather a long story, but I will endeavour to tell it to you +as briefly as I can. When I agreed with Silvestre in England to effect +your----" + +I paused for a moment with a little embarrassment. Fernandez' eyes +twinkled. + +"Shall we say _deportation_?" he inquired. + +"To effect your deportation! I did so upon his giving me his word of +honour that no harm should happen to you. I had no objection to his +keeping you a prisoner as long as he pleased----" + +"Which he certainly did. Proceed!" + +"I have already confessed to you that had I known you first I would +not have undertaken the work; but I was out of employment----" + +"The mail steamer _Pernambuco_--stormy interview with the Board of +Directors in London--meeting with Silvestre in the garden of the Inn +at Falstead--five thousand pounds down--and five thousand when I +should be handed over to him----" + +He laughed good-humouredly as he noticed my almost overwhelming +surprise. + +"My dear fellow, to rule a country like Equinata one must possess a +faculty for obtaining information. Allow me to frankly admit that I +was conversant with Mr. Trevelyan's history and of his acquaintance +with ex-President Silvestre, when he made his appearance in his +beautiful yacht in the harbour of La Gloria. But in telling you this I +am interrupting your narrative. Pray proceed! You remarked, I think, +that you were out of employment." + +"I was; and the money offered me by Silvestre was too tempting to be +refused. I came, I saw you, and as you know, I conquered. I handed you +over to Silvestre, as I had contracted to do, and once more secured +from him his promise that, with the exception of imprisonment, no harm +should befall you. It was then agreed that I should leave the island +at once in the yacht for Cuba, _en route_ for England. The money +promised me for the work I had done was handed to me, and I left +Silvestre." + +"But you could not have reached Cuba in the time?" + +"I did not attempt to do so. A certain conversation I had with Captain +Ferguson changed all my plans." + +"And the purport of that conversation?" + +"It appears that Ferguson had by chance overheard the half-caste, +Manuel, discussing with the negress, Palmyre, certain instructions +they had received from Silvestre. Immediately the yacht returned from +conveying me from Cuba it would appear that Silvestre was to set sail +for Equinata, and as soon as he was out of the way you and the +Señorita were to be poisoned by Palmyre." + +"Good heavens! The cowardly scoundrel!" + +For the first time since I had known Fernandez I saw a look of fear +pass over his face. It was not until later that I learnt that +assassination by poisoning was the one thing in the world he dreaded. + +"Well," he went on when he had regained his composure, "what happened +after that?" + +"I arranged with Ferguson that, instead of taking me on to Cuba, he +should drop me at Asturia. I was fortunate enough to secure this +schooner, and hurried back in her--in the hope of effecting your +release. The rest you know!" + +He nodded. + +"Yes," he said, "the rest I know!" + +He turned away from me almost abruptly, and stood for some moments +looking down at the bubbling water under the counter. When he +addressed me again it was in quite his old manner. + +"We live in an extraordinary world," he remarked. "You plot to +separate me from my country and end by restoring me to it. Silvestre +agrees to make your fortune and finished by placing you in a worse +position than you were before. Even the Señorita yonder has found +things turn out contrary to her expectations. On the night of the now +famous ball at La Gloria, she was by no means satisfied, so I was +given to understand, with her ball dress; yet that strange taskmaster, +Force of Circumstances, has decreed that she should wear it, without +intermission, longer than any festive costume ever purchased?" + +"And what of yourself?" + +"Ah! My case is perhaps stranger still. I began by looking upon you as +my enemy and end by finding you my staunchest friend. I imagined that +I had you in my power, and a few hours later found myself in yours. +Silvestre bought your services for ten thousand pounds--I get them for +nothing." + +If ever there was a strange voyage it was that one. The schooner +herself was a very fair sea boat; that, however, was about all that +could be said in her favour. It was her cabin accommodation that +proved most trying. After the first attempt the Señorita declared +emphatically that nothing could induce her to sleep in it again. +Monsieur Maxime might say what he pleased, she declared, but her mind +was made up. It was offered to the President, but he declined. As for +myself, I had already tried it on the voyage from Asturia, and had no +desire to repeat the experiment. + +The living on board was but little better. Monsieur Maxime was wont to +declare that the cook, Adolphe, was a past master of the culinary art. +In this statement, I fear, he somewhat exaggerated; indeed, had I not +laid in a stock of provisions before setting out, I dare not think how +we should have fared. + +On one occasion the Señorita had the temerity to explore his galley. +She emerged with a white face and a settled determination to partake +no more of his _ragouts_, _bouillons_, etc. + +"Really," she observed to me, "one scarcely knows where to go on board +this wretched vessel. The cabin is too terrible, and as for that +kitchen----" + +She made an expressive gesture with her hands as if to express her +horror of the place in question. + +The same evening I was destined to have a somewhat curious interview +with the Señorita. We had partaken of our evening meal, such as it +was, and had gone forward into the bows to enjoy the cooler air there. +It was a perfect night, and surely no mortal man could have desired a +fairer companion than I had then. We settled ourselves down +comfortably, and, having obtained her permission, I lit a cigar. I do +not know why I should have done so, but I could not help feeling that +I was booked for a sentimental scene. Some men would doubtless have +welcomed it. For myself, however, I must confess, that I dreaded it. +The Señorita was dangerous always, and never more so than when +inclined to be sentimental. + +"Señor Trevelyan," she began, when we had been seated some minutes, +and had talked of the beauty of the evening, the freshness of the +breeze and a hundred different subjects, "you of course know that +there was a time when I was your avowed enemy?" + +"I am afraid I must say that I _do_ know it," I answered, "and I +should add that you were justified. No one could wonder at your +distaste for me." + +"Oh, I don't mean that," she cried, with a little protesting movement +of her hands. "For see how nobly you have behaved since. No, do not +interrupt me. I want to say what is in my mind, for I know that I owe +you an apology. It was all my fault. I hoped to have won you to our +side." She paused for a moment. "Unfortunately, I did not know that +you were already in love!" + +"Then the information the President gave her was not altogether +complete," I said to myself. And on thinking it over since I have +often been struck by the omission of this one, and probably the most +important factor in the whole affair. For the fact cannot be denied +that had it not been for my love for Molly, and the consequent desire +to make money, I should, in all probability, not have embarked upon +the matter at all. + +"Señorita," I returned, "I fear I stand before you in an altogether +despicable light, so far as my time in Equinata is concerned. The +pitiful part of the whole business is that, had it to be gone over +again, I should probably act as I have done. However, I have shot my +bolt, and, though I managed to hit the bull's-eye, that is to say, I +succeeded in capturing the President, I have failed to receive the +prize. Let that be my punishment." + +"But you mustn't talk of punishment," she cried. "You are mistaking my +meaning. Do you think that I am here to reproach you? No, no, far from +that! What I want to suggest is that you should permit us to show our +gratitude. Had it not been for you Equinata would never have seen +General Fernandez again, and I should not be here with you now. How +grateful the President is you can see for yourself. Why should you not +stay in Equinata? It is destined to be a great country. There are +always opportunities for the man who can seize them. You are that man. +Why not try? Would _my_ help count for nothing?" + +As she said this she drew a little closer to me. The perfume of her +hair was as intoxicating as the finest wine. + +"Think! think!" she continued. "Fernandez cannot rule for ever. He +might not last a year even. Then----" + +She was so close to me that her lips almost touched my face. + +"Don't you think we had better be walking aft?" I said. "Your _uncle_ +is probably wondering where we are!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Between ten and eleven o'clock on one never-to-be-forgotten evening, +the _La Belle Josephine_ sailed into the harbour of La Gloria, and +dropped her anchor a short distance from the old coal hulk. Who that +witnessed the arrival of that tiny craft imagined the important part +she had played in the destiny of that small but exceedingly excitable +Republic? For my part I know that as I stood on deck and watched +Monsieur Maxime take her in between the heads, and scientifically +bring her to her anchorage, I found myself experiencing a series of +emotions, the like of which I have never before known. The President +stood on my right, the Señorita on my left, and as we watched the +twinkling lights ashore, I fancy all three of us recalled the eventful +morning when we had said good-bye to the town under such very +different circumstances. Our arrival had evidently been signalled from +the forts, for we had scarcely dropped our anchor before a hail from +the bows announced the fact that the harbour-master's boat was +approaching. + +Most men, I suppose, have at some time of their lives a touch of the +theatrical. For myself at that moment I was distinctly desirous of +giving a dramatic turn to the situation. The plot of my drama is an +exciting one. The President of the Republic is missing; the supposed +villain is believed to have abducted him. Time goes by. A mysterious +vessel enters the harbour at the dead of night, when, to the amazement +of every one, the missing President is found to be on board, and the +man who has saved him, and has brought him back to the nation he loves +so well, turns out to be the very individual who is supposed to have +wrought his ruin. What situation could have been more thrilling? I had +already walked a short distance along the deck, but as soon as I +recognized in the boat coming alongside the pompous little official +who had boarded the yacht with so much ceremony on the occasion of my +first appearance in the country, I changed my mind, and hastened back +to the President! + +"What does your Excellency desire?" I inquired. "Would you prefer the +news of your return to reach the city at once, or would you rather +that it should be announced in the morning?" + +"It is immaterial to me," he replied. Then he added quickly, "No! No! +On the contrary, it is most material. There is a considerable amount +of business to be transacted first!" + +I could guess what was passing in his mind. + +"Yes, to-morrow morning would certainly be better," he continued +reflectively. + +"In that case," I replied, "it would be as well for you to retire with +the Señorita to the cabin. From what I know of our friends who are now +coming aboard, the secret of your arrival would not be a secret many +minutes after they got ashore." + +"You are still in command, Señor Trevelyan," the President returned, +with one of his short laughs. "Permit me, Dolores, to escort you to +the saloon. I trust that you will not keep us there longer than you +can help." + +"If you will permit me I shall join you there myself as soon as I have +given instructions to Monsieur Maxime," I replied. "For several +reasons I have no desire to be recognized in Equinata at present." + +Having seen them depart to the miserable little hole aft, I went +forward to Monsieur Maxime, and gave him his orders in a low voice. +After that I rejoined my friends. From what we could hear of the +conversation that followed, the port officials were in by no means +good tempers, and poor Maxime was roundly taken to task for putting in +an appearance at such an hour, for giving them the trouble of boarding +his vessel, and, it would appear, for his remissness in having no +cases of infectious disease on board. After about a quarter of an hour +the officials departed as they had come, that is to say, grumbling. +When the sound of their oars had died away we left the cabin. + +"Now the question to be decided is how to get ashore without +attracting attention," said Fernandez. "If they recognize me in the +streets, the news will be all over the city by breakfast-time." + +"Maxime must put us ashore further down the bay," I replied. "If we +are discovered we shall then only run the risk of being taken for +smugglers." + +I had heard Fernandez boast of the completeness and efficiency of his +coastguard service. This was certainly a good opportunity of putting +it to the test. + +Fernandez agreed to the arrangement, and, as soon as all was quiet +ashore, we began our preparations for leaving the schooner. A boat was +lowered, and four of Monsieur Maxime's ebony crew took their places in +her. Then we bade the owner good-night, ordered him to call at the +palace on the morrow for his reward, and in our turn descended to the +boat. + +It was an exquisite night, and so still that we could distinctly hear +the ripple of the waves upon the beach, more than half-a-mile away. +Carrying out the plan we had arranged we did not make for the shore +near the city, but steered a course more to the south, in the +direction of the little fishing village where we had captured the +President. At last the boat's nose touched the shore, and the men +leapt out and pulled her out of the water on to the beach. I landed, +and gave my hand to the Señorita, who sprang nimbly ashore; the +President followed. + +"Welcome back to Equinata, your Excellency," I said, with a bow. + +For once his composure deserted him. He did not answer me, but turning +his back upon us, walked for a short distance along the beach. When he +rejoined us he was himself again. In the meantime I had ordered the +men to take the boat back to the schooner, and had promised them that +a liberal reward should be sent them in the morning. After that we +took council together as to how we should reach the city. It would be +impossible for the Señorita to walk so far in the shoes she was then +wearing; there was also the risk of the President and Señorita being +recognized to be considered. We were still discussing this momentous +question when a noise behind us attracted our attention. We +immediately turned to find three men hastening towards us. They wore +the uniform of the Equinata Coastguard Service, and the individual in +the centre was plainly an officer. + +"Confound them," I muttered to myself, "they're smarter than I +imagined. If I'm not mistaken, this will upset our plans, and the +President's arrival will be known after all." + +This was not the case, however. Their appearance was destined to prove +a blessing in disguise. + +"What brings you ashore, señors, at such an hour?" the officer +inquired, addressing me. "And what boat was it that landed you?" + +I was about to invent some story, but the President, with his +customary quickness, had grasped the situation, and was prepared to +make capital out of it. + +"A word with you in private, señor," he said, addressing the officer +before him. "I fancy I can satisfy you as to our honesty." + +The other threw a glance at the Señorita, bowed, and acquiesced. They +walked a few paces together, and though I could hear the President's +voice, I could not catch anything of what he said. Their conversation +lasted something like five minutes, after which they rejoined us. + +"Our friend here," said Fernandez, "quite understands the situation, +and has kindly offered to arrange matters for us." + +The officer bowed with ceremonious respect to the Señorita. Then to me +he said, with a pomposity that was almost ludicrous-- + +"Señor, Equinata thanks you for the service you have rendered her." + +Then, having invited us to follow him, and bidding his men continue +their patrol, he led us across the beach by a rough footpath to the +high road above. + +"If your Excellency will do me the honour to wait here," he said, "I +will hasten to the house of my friend, Señor Rodriguez Cardaja, and +obtain from him the loan of a carriage in which to convey you to the +palace." + +"We will await your return," answered the President. "I may, of +course, rely upon your impressing the necessity of silence upon Señor +Cardaja?" + +"He will be as silent as the grave, Excellency," the other returned, +and added somewhat inconsequently, "we are old friends!" + +Then, begging us to excuse him, he hastened on his errand. + +"I trust he will not be long obtaining the carriage," said Fernandez, +offering me a cigar, and lighting one himself. "As I said a short +time ago, I have a large amount of business to get through before +daylight. Dolores, my dear, I fancy you will not be sorry to exchange +that dress for another." + +"If you knew how I hate it," she replied passionately, "and yet--" she +stopped suddenly, and I fancied that she shivered. "Oh, how glad I am +to be back!" + +A long silence fell upon us, which was eventually broken by the sound +of carriage-wheels. A few moments later a lumbering vehicle made its +appearance round the side of the hill. To our surprise it was driven +by the lieutenant himself. He explained that he had not brought his +friend's coachman, having regard to the desire for secrecy expressed +by the President. He would himself drive us into the Capital, and +return the carriage to his friend afterwards. Then we took our places +in it and set off. During the journey the officer informed us of all +that had transpired in the country during our absence. General Sagana, +it appeared, had assumed the office of President--much against his +will--while Hermaños and his band of patriots boldly announced the +return of Silvestre to power. + +"Hermaños and I must discuss the matter together," said the President +quietly, and I fancied I could see the smile upon his face as he said +it. + +In something under half-an-hour we reached the palace. We descended +from the vehicle at a side door, thanked the lieutenant for the +services he had rendered us, and then watched him drive off on his +return journey. So far matters had prospered excellently; but I am +prepared to admit that I did not quite see what was going to happen +next. Fernandez, however, seemed to have made up his mind. Taking a +bunch of keys from his pocket, as calmly as if he were only returning +after a short stroll, he approached the door and opened it. A small +gas-jet illumined the vestibule. We entered and softly closed the door +after us. From the vestibule we passed into a narrow passage, which in +its turn communicated with the great hall and the State apartments. +Surely never had the ruler of a country returned to his palace in a +more unostentatious fashion. We made our way through the great glass +doors into the magnificent entrance hall, between the lines of +statuary, and finally entered the President's private study. So far +our presence in the house had not been discovered. General Sagana, his +wife and daughters, their _aides-de-camp_ and secretaries, to say +nothing of the household, were all in bed and doubtless asleep. + +"I wonder if the Gas Company, which, by the way, my dear Trevelyan, is +capitalized almost exclusively by Englishmen, realizes what an +important part it is playing in the history of Equinata," Fernandez +remarked, as he applied a match to one of the jets. "Now, if you have +no objection, we will proceed to business. It would be a pity to +disturb the family of Sagana; they will know everything in due course. +Dolores, you may remember that there is an excellent sofa in your +boudoir. Permit me to conduct you thither!" + +Before replying she looked at me, and there was something in her +glance that I was at a loss to understand. She was tired, draggled, +and altogether different to her real self, and, strange to say, there +was also a curious hunted look in her eyes for which I could not +account. She seemed to be appealing to me, and yet I was not conscious +of any reason why she should do so. However, she rose and went away +with the President, leaving me alone in the room. + +It was a fine apartment, hung with the portraits of many past +Presidents. I looked from one to the other, as if in the hope of +gathering information from them. But they only regarded me with stony +indifference, as if the fate of Equinata was a thing in which they no +longer took any interest. + +It would be difficult to express in words my feelings at that moment. +As a matter of fact, I knew that I was between two fires. I had gone +out of my way to save Fernandez; at the same time, unless I allowed +him to reward me, which I was determined not to do, I had lost all I +possessed (for I was resolved not to keep the first five thousand +pounds of Silvestre's money) in the world. I must begin life over +again, in which case my marriage with Molly was as far off as ever. I +was aware of Fernandez' friendship, so far as I was concerned, yet I +knew him well enough to feel sure that he would repay old scores +against Hermaños and his other enemies. That being so, could I stand +by and let them be punished, when, but for me, they would have escaped +scot-free. It was not a cheerful outlook for any of us. + +A few minutes later Fernandez returned. + +"Now to business," he said. "Do me the favour of seating yourself at +that writing-table." + +I did so, wondering, and he placed a sheet of notepaper before me. + +"I want you to write to Señor Hermaños, asking him to come to the +palace with all haste. Tell him that the rightful President has +returned, and at the same time request him to bring his friends with +him to welcome him!" + +"One moment," I said. "Before I do that I must know your intentions. I +am going to speak plainly, General Fernandez! You must remember that +I have already had experience of the manner in which Presidents of +Equinata deal with their rivals." + +He was not in the least put out by my candour. On the contrary, he +laughed good-humouredly. + +"You need not be afraid," he said. "I am not going to harm them. As a +matter of fact I intend making them very good friends--not for to-day, +but for all time. What assurance can I give you?" + +I could not see that there was any. What was more, I could not see how +my refusal to write the letter could save Hermaños, if Fernandez were +determined to be revenged on him. I accordingly took up my pen and did +as he requested. When I had finished, he read the letter carefully, +possibly to make sure that I had not said anything in it that might +serve as a warning to the conspirators. Would his ruse succeed? Would +Hermaños fall into such a very simple trap? The mere fact that +Silvestre had not written it himself would surely make him suspicious. +Fernandez, however, evidently thought otherwise. When I had addressed +the envelope he placed the letter inside, and then, begging me to +excuse him once more, left the room. When he returned a quarter of an +hour later, he informed me that he had dispatched the letter by a +trustworthy messenger. + +"You should have seen the worthy Antoine's face when I woke him," he +said. "He thought he was looking at a ghost. In an hour or so our +friends should be here." + +To while away the time of waiting we made a raid upon the palace +larder, carried the spoil we obtained there to the smaller +dining-room, where presently the curious spectacle might have been +observed of a lady in a sadly-dilapidated ball-dress, the President of +the Republic of Equinata, and your humble servant, demolishing cold +chicken with considerable gusto. + +Our meal was barely finished before the door opened and a little +grey-haired man entered the room. He was Antoine, the old major-domo +of the household, who had served more Presidents than any other +official in Equinata. + +"Well, Antoine, what is it?" the President inquired. + +"They are coming, your Excellency," said the little man. + +"And they do not suspect?" + +"No, Excellency," the other replied. "I told Señor Hermaños that if he +desired to be the first to welcome President Silvestre, he must make +haste." + +"Excellent! Immediately they arrive, meet them yourself, and conduct +them to the small audience chamber. I will receive them there!" + +Half-an-hour or so later, and just as we had finished our second +bottle of champagne, Antoine again made his appearance to inform us +that Hermaños and his companions had arrived and were awaiting an +interview in the room above mentioned. I saw Fernandez' mouth twitch +and then set firm; there was also an ominous twinkle in his eyes as he +said-- + +"Come with me, my friend, and we will interview them." + +"You will remember the promise you have given me?" I said, laying my +hand upon his arm. + +"You will find that I shall keep it," he replied curtly. + +I followed him from the room along the hall to a door on the right, at +which Antoine was waiting. + +"Have my instructions concerning the guard been obeyed?" he asked in a +low voice before he turned the handle. + +"They have, Excellency," Antoine replied. + +Then we passed into the room. + +If I live to be a hundred I shall not forget the scene that followed. +Hermaños was standing on the opposite side of the room, and grouped +about him were three men whom, to the best of my knowledge, I had +never seen before. It is possible they might have been Hermaños' +assistants on that memorable night when we had secured the President, +but as they then wore masks I cannot speak on that point with any +degree of certainty. + +The light in the room was not particularly good, and for a moment I +thought that Hermaños did not realize who it was that entered the +room. Had he done so he would scarcely have taken those two or three +quick steps forward. When he grasped the situation his surprise was +overwhelming. + +"Fernandez?" I heard him mutter, as if he were thunderstruck. + +His companions also seemed taken aback. + +"Ah, my dear Hermaños," said the President genially, "and so we meet +again. Gentlemen, I am delighted to find you here to welcome me." + +"We've been tricked," cried Hermaños hoarsely. Then fixing his eyes on +me, he continued, "So you've turned traitor, after all, señor? I +congratulate you on the facility with which you change sides." + +"Pardon me," interposed the President, "but I cannot permit you to +insult my friend. I owe more to Señor Trevelyan than I can say, and +when you have heard the story I have to tell, I fancy you, and +Equinata with you, will regard his behaviour in the light that I do. +But before we say anything about that, let us endeavour to come to an +understanding of our relative positions." + +He paused for a moment to allow his audience to appreciate his words. + +Then he went on-- + +"I cannot forget that you, Hermaños, are one of the gentlemen to whom +I owe my abduction. The complicity of your companions I have yet to +discover. Now for such an offence what is the punishment to be? My +only desire is to be just." + +I felt really sorry for Hermaños at that moment. He was familiar with +the form that Fernandez' justice usually took. + +"Come, come, my friend, why do you not answer me?" said the President +banteringly. "You know how Silvestre would have acted under similar +circumstances. What am I to do? Shall I call in the guard, have you +arrested, and shot at sunrise, or shall I let you go free? You know my +reputation, I think, and surely even a President should live up to +that?" + +"We are in your power and cannot help ourselves," the unfortunate +Hermaños replied. + +"I am very much afraid you cannot," the President returned. "You +should have thought of that, however, before you took to kidnapping +the head of your country. You were never a man, Hermaños, who could +make up his mind!" + +Once more the President paused, and looked from one to the other of +the wretched men before him. + +"Don't play with us," cried one of the others. "If you have made up +your mind to shoot us, do so, but don't keep us in suspense." + +"Forgive me, it was remiss of me," Fernandez replied with dangerous +politeness. "Antoine." + +The door was opened immediately, and the major-domo appeared. + +"Call up the Guards," said the President. + +Antoine disappeared, to return a few moments later with the officer of +the Guard and his men. + +"Take these gentlemen to the cartel," said the President, "and stand +guard over them until daylight. I will send you word within an hour as +to what you are to do with them. In the meantime I hold you +responsible for their safety." + +I was altogether unprepared for this move. Was Fernandez about to +break his promise to me? It certainly looked very much like it. I was +on the point of expostulating, when the door opened and the Señorita +entered hurriedly. She glanced from one to the other of us with a +frightened expression upon her face. Then she turned to Fernandez. + +"What is the meaning of this?" she asked, holding out her hands to him +as if in supplication. + +"Forgive me, my dear, but I think it would be better if you leave us," +the President replied. "I shall be very happy to give you full +particulars later." + +"No, no," she cried. "Señor Hermaños, you helped to bring this trouble +upon us, and--ah! I see it all. Why are you here at this hour, and +what is the meaning of the Guard?" Then turning to the President she +continued, "Oh, sir, are we never to be free from this sort of thing? +Is it impossible for us all to be friends?" + +"It certainly seems difficult," Fernandez replied. "Thanks to Señor +Hermaños and his friends, I have passed through an extremely dangerous +and unpleasant crisis. Had matters gone as they intended they should +do, by this time I should have been in my grave. Fortune favoured me, +however, and now I have returned to my own. Who can blame me if I +repay those who would have worked my ruin?" + +Turning to the captain of the Guard, he bade him remove his prisoners. +On hearing this the Señorita completely broke down. She fell on her +knees at the President's feet and implored him to forgive. Whether it +was a mere matter of acting and had all been previously arranged, as I +am sometimes tempted to believe, or whether it was genuine, I am not +in a position to say. Whatever else it may have been, however, it was +at least effective. Then I saw my opportunity and took advantage of +it. + +"Your Excellency must forgive me if I interfere," I said. "There seems +one point, however, that has escaped your attention. If Señor Hermaños +and his companions are to be held guilty for your abduction, it is +only fit and proper that I, who was the leading spirit in it, should +take my place with them. If they are to be shot then I must share +their fate." + +My decision seemed to stagger them. He looked from me to them and then +back again. Then he laughed outright, but I could not help thinking +that his merriment lacked sincerity. + +"You are certainly an extraordinary man, my dear Trevelyan. You abduct +me and then save my life. You rejoice at being friends with me again +and then ask me to shoot you. It seems to me, Hermaños, that you are +fortunate in your advocates. The Señorita, to whom I can deny nothing, +pleads for you; Señor Trevelyan, to whom I owe my life, refuses to let +you die unless he dies too. I should be more than human to resist!" +Then, waving his hand to the captain of the Guard, who had been +watching us with a puzzled expression upon his face, he continued, +"Well, well, since it must be, let it be so! You can leave us." + +The captain retired with his men, and a somewhat awkward silence fell +upon us. There was still a look of pleading upon the Señorita's face. +The President, however, seemed thoughtful. It was evident that he had +no desire to forego his vengeance. He paced the room for a few +minutes, while we watched him with anxious faces. Heaven alone knows +what Hermaños and his friends were thinking of, but I know very well +what I thought, and I can assure you, my dear reader, I was far from +happy. At last he stopped, and, after a momentary pause, faced +Hermaños. + +"Hermaños," he said, "you threw in your lot with my enemies, and you +could not blame me if I made you answer for so doing. I certainly +intended to do so; but I suppose we are none of us infallible, and +with such pleading in your favour, I have nothing left me but to +surrender. From this moment you are free. I give you your lives, +gentlemen! Is it possible, since Silvestre is dead, for you to give me +your allegiance? Now, shall we shake hands, endeavour to forget the +past, and live only to promote the happiness of the country, for which +we have risked so much?" + +One by one they advanced and solemnly shook Fernandez by the hand. +Then, at a signal from the President, Antoine left the room, to +appear a moment later with a tray of glasses and two bottles of +champagne. + +"Gentlemen," cried Fernandez, holding his glass aloft, "I give you the +toast, 'Peace and prosperity to the fair State of Equinata.'" + +When they had departed, Fernandez turned to me with a queer smile upon +his face. + +"I don't think they will trouble us again," he said. + +I did not reply! What I was thinking was that I would have given +something to have heard their conversation as they crossed the +Square! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Strange to say, the populace of La Gloria did not appear to trouble +themselves very much, either one way or the other, concerning their +President's re-appearance. The officials, however, were, as behoved +them, considerably more demonstrative. They were well acquainted with +Fernandez' temper, and, like sagacious mortals, realized that it would +be wiser for them to allow him to suppose that, whatever their own +private opinions might be, they desired no better leader than himself. +With Hermaños, and his fellow-conspirators, he was not likely, as he +observed, to have very much trouble. They professed to have seen the +error of their ways, and were as enthusiastic in Fernandez' praise as +they had hitherto been in his detriment. As for my own part in this +singular business I allowed Fernandez to tell the story in his own +fashion. This he did, to such good purpose that in a very short time I +found myself the hero of La Gloria, an honour with which I could very +well have dispensed. Monsieur Maxime and his crew were most liberally +rewarded by the President, as were Matthews and his fellow-sailor. +They remained in Equinata for a short time, but what became of them +later I cannot say. + +"My dear Trevelyan," said Fernandez to me one morning, "I really +intend that we should have a serious talk together. Now you know that +whenever I have broached the subject of a recompense to you for the +trouble you have taken, you have invariably put me off with some +excuse or another, but I will be denied no longer. Forgive me if I say +I am well acquainted with the state of your finances." + +"It is not a fine prospect, is it?" I said, with a laugh. + +"If you had stood by Silvestre and had left me to my fate, you would +have been a comparatively rich man. And even if you did turn the +tables upon Silvestre, why were you so quixotic as to hand him back +the money?" + +"I think you can guess," I answered. "If you can't, I am afraid I must +leave you to work the problem out." + +"And if you would not take _his_ money, why should you be equally +particular in my case? It is only fair that I should recompense you +for the inestimable service you have rendered me." + +"I am afraid that it is impossible," I answered, for, as I have +already said, I had long since made up my mind upon this subject. + +Fernandez endeavoured to press me, but I remained adamant. Nothing he +could do or say would induce me to change my mind. I knew that it was +only by adhering to my resolution that I could salve my conscience. I +had still sufficient money of my own left to pay for my passage to +England. + +Important as the capital of Equinata may appear in the eyes of its +inhabitants, it is, nevertheless, scarcely so prominent in the +maritime world as certain other places I could mention on the South +American coast. It was true I could wait for the monthly mail-steamer +which would connect with a branch line at La Guayra, or I might take +one of the small trading-boats and proceed along the coast until I +could find a vessel bound for Europe. But having had sufficient of +trading schooners in _La Belle Josephine_ to last me a lifetime, I +eventually made up my mind to await the coming of the mail-boat, +which, if all went well, would put in an appearance in a fortnight's +time. + +During that fortnight I was permitted a further opportunity of +studying the character of the Señorita under another aspect. Since her +return to La Gloria she seemed to have undergone a complete change. +Her temper was scarcely alike for two days at a time. She was +capricious, wilful, easily made angry; then she would veer round, and +be tender, repentant and so anxious to please, that it was impossible +to be vexed with her. + +"The President will miss you very much when you leave us," she said to +me on the evening before my departure, as we stood together on the +marble terrace overlooking the palace gardens. + +It was a lovely night, and the air was filled with the scent of the +orange blossom. I do not think my companion had ever looked more +beautiful than she did at that moment. Indeed her beauty seemed to me +to be almost unearthly. + +"I fancy every one likes to feel that he or she will be missed," I +answered. "You may be sure I shall often think of Equinata. Perhaps +some day I may be able to return." + +"Who knows where we shall be then?" she replied gloomily. + +"What do you mean?" I asked in a tone of surprise. "You will, of +course, be here, leading the Social Life of Equinata as you do now!" + +"I am afraid that even now you do not realize how quickly affairs +change in South America," she replied. "Some one else may manage to +catch the Public Fancy, there will be a Revolution and we shall go out +of power--perhaps to our graves!" + +"I cannot believe that. In any case your uncle would take care your +safety is assured!" + +She gave a little impatient tap with her foot upon the stones. + +"Of course he would protect me if he could," she answered, "but he +might not be able to do anything. Had you not come to our rescue on +that island, what use would his protection have been to me? How do I +know that we may not be situated like that again? Oh, I am tired of +this life--tired--tired!" + +Almost before I knew what had happened she was leaning on the +balustrading, sobbing as if her heart would break. I was so taken by +surprise, that for a moment I did not know what to say, or do, to +comfort her. Then I went forward and placed my hand gently upon her +shoulder. + +"Señorita," I said, "is there anything I can do to help you?" + +"No, no," she answered. "You can do nothing! Leave me to my misery. +Does it matter to you, or to any one, what becomes of me?" + +"It must matter a good deal to your friends," I replied. + +"Friends?" she cried, facing me once more and speaking with a scorn +impossible to describe. "I have no friends. The women hate and fear +me, the men cringe to me because of my influence with the President. +Even he may grow tired of me before long, and then----" + +I allowed this speech to pass uncommented on. At the same time I +wished the President would make his appearance and put an end to what +was becoming a rather dangerous _tête-à-tête_. When she spoke again it +was in a fierce whisper. + +"Do you remember that night when we stood together in the balcony of +the Opera House, and talked of ambition and of what a man might rise +to? Señor Trevelyan, I tell you this, if I loved a man I could help +him to rise to anything. Do you hear me? To anything!" + +There was only one way to treat the matter, and before I answered her +I knew perfectly well what the result would be. + +"Enviable man!" was all I said. + +She drew herself up to her full height. Then, turning on her heel, she +made her way swiftly towards the house. My silly compliment had +succeeded where expostulation or reserve would have failed. + +Next morning the mail-boat which was to carry me away from Equinata +made her appearance in the harbour. She was to sail at midday, and up +to eleven o'clock I had seen nothing of the Señorita. About ten +minutes before I left the palace, however, she made her appearance in +the President's study. Her face was somewhat paler than usual, and +though she endeavoured to lead me to suppose that she had forgotten +our conversation on the previous evening, I could see that the memory +of it still weighed heavily upon her. The President had declared his +intention of personally escorting me on board the steamer, and at the +last moment, not a little to my surprise, the Señorita decided to +accompany him. We accordingly set off, and in due course reached the +vessel, a miserable packet of some six hundred tons, whose captain, on +hearing of our arrival, hastened forward to receive his distinguished +guests. After he had paid his respects he offered to show the Señorita +the saloon, and thus gave me a few minutes alone with the President. + +"It is needless for me to say how sorry I am that you are going," said +the latter. "I wish I could have persuaded you to stay with us. But I +suppose you know your own business best. Remember this, however! +Should you ever need a friend, there is one in La Gloria to whom you +can always turn!" + +I thanked him and promised that I would not forget, and then the +Señorita rejoined us. We had only time to exchange a few words before +the whistle sounded for strangers to leave the ship. + +"Good-bye," said the President, giving me his hand. "Think sometimes +of Equinata." + +"You may be sure I shall do that," I answered, with a glance at the +white town ashore. + +Then the Señorita in her turn held out her little hand. I took it, and +as I did so looked into her eyes. + +"Good-bye," she said, and in a low voice added:--"May the Saints +protect you." + +Then she followed the President to the gangway. A quarter of an hour +later we were steaming between the Heads, and in half-an-hour La +Gloria was out of sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +It was a cold and foggy day in November when the steamer which I had +boarded in Barbadoes reached the Thames. I had been absent from +England more than four months, and the veriest glutton for excitement +could not have desired more than had fallen to my lot. + +Having bade my fellow-passengers good-bye, I caught the first +available train to town only to discover, when I reached Fenchurch +Street, that I should have some considerable time to wait at Waterloo +before I could get on to Salisbury. I accordingly cast about me for a +way of employing my time. This resolved itself in a decision to call +upon my old friend, Mr. Winzor, in order to obtain from him the letter +I had entrusted to his charge. As I made my way along the crowded +streets I could not help contrasting them to the sun-bathed +thoroughfares of La Gloria. In my mind's eye I could see again the +happy-go-lucky _cafés_ on the tree-shaded pavement, the white houses +with their green shutters; and, behind the city, the mountains +towering up, peak after peak, into the azure sky. + +At last I turned into the street I remembered so well, and approached +the office of my old friend. I ascended the steps and pushed open the +glass door. Somewhat to my surprise a strange clerk accosted me. When +I inquired for Mr. Winzor, the surprised look upon the youth's face +told me that something unusual had happened. + +"Don't you know that he is dead?" he inquired. + +"Dead?" I cried, in genuine consternation. "Good heavens! you don't +mean that!" + +"He died more than six weeks ago," the young man replied. "He had some +papers to sign in that room, and when his chief clerk went in to get +them he found the old gentleman stone dead." + +I was more distressed than I could say at this news. The little lawyer +had been a kindly friend to me, and also to my mother. + +Thanking the clerk for his information I left the office and made my +way to Waterloo. There I took the train to Salisbury, and, on arrival +at the cathedral city, set out for Falstead. + +At this last stage of my story I will not weary you with a long +description of my home coming. Let it suffice that I at last reached +the village and found myself approaching the house of my childhood. +The tiny gate had scarcely closed behind me when the front-door opened +and my mother hastened to greet me. + +When we reached her little drawing-room I questioned her concerning +Molly. + +"I expect her every moment," said my mother. + +As she spoke the click of the gate caused me to go to the window with +all speed. + +Shall I describe what followed? Would it interest you to know how +Molly and I greeted each other? I think not. I will inform you, +however, that I was more than repaid for all I had been through by the +way in which I was received. + +Later in the evening we went for a walk together. + +"Dick, dear," said my sweetheart, "you have not told me how your +venture prospered." + +This was the question I had been dreading. + +"It has not prospered at all," I said. "The fact is, I have made +nothing out of it. I am ashamed to say so, but I am poorer than when I +left England four months ago." + +To my surprise she received my information with perfect equanimity. + +"But I am afraid you don't understand what it means to me, darling," I +said. "And, before we go any further, I am going to tell you the +whole story. Though it may make you think differently of me, I feel +that I should let you know all." + +I thereupon set to work and told her everything, from the moment of my +first meeting with Silvestre on board the _Pernambuco_ to my return to +Falstead that evening. I finished with the information that there was +still upwards of five thousand pounds of Silvestre's money to my +credit in the Salisbury bank. I told her that it was my intention not +to keep a halfpenny of it, but to send it anonymously to a London +hospital. + +"And I think you would be right, Dick," the sweet girl answered. "Do +not keep it. It would only bring us bad luck. And now, what about our +marriage?" + +I shook my head. + +"I fear, dear, we shall have to go on waiting," I said. "I must try +and get another berth, but whether or not I shall be able to do so +Heaven only knows." + +"Dick, dear," she said, slipping her arm through mine as she spoke, "I +cannot keep the secret from you any longer. I ought to have told you +before." + +"And what is this wonderful secret?" I inquired. + +"I doubt whether I look it, Dick, but I am a very rich woman." + +"A rich woman!" I cried incredulously. "What do you mean by that?" + +For the moment I thought she was joking, but one glance at her face +showed me that she was serious. + +"I mean what I say," she answered. "I am a very rich woman. When poor +old Mr. Winzor died he left me all his fortune--nearly forty thousand +pounds." + +I could scarcely contain my astonishment. + +"Was it not good of him?" she continued. "Forty thousand pounds at +three per cent. is twelve hundred pounds a year, is it not?" + +Even then I was too much surprised by her information to be able to +realize the change that had taken place in Molly's position. + +"Are you not glad, dear?" she said at last. + +"Yes, yes," I replied, "but I cannot quite understand it yet. It seems +too good to be true." + +"We shall be able to do so much with it," she said, drawing closer to +me and lifting her sweet face to mine. + +"I am luckier than I deserve to be," I answered. + +And doubtless, my dear reader, you will say it was the truth. + + * * * * * + +Molly and I have been married five years. We have a boy of three, and +a baby girl who promises to be the manager of her mother. We lead a +very quiet life in a house we have built for ourselves on the +outskirts of Falstead. There is not a happier man in the world than I +am, nor has any man a sweeter wife. So far I have not returned to +Equinata. As a matter of fact I do not suppose that I shall ever do +so, for grievous changes have occurred there. As all the world is +aware, Fernandez was assassinated while reviewing his troops on the +Grand Plaza, two years after I left, while Sagana met with the same +untimely fate a year later. Immediately on hearing the news I made +inquiries as to the whereabouts of the Señorita, only to hear that she +had fled the country and had entered a convent in the neighbourhood of +Rio. + +Perhaps she is happier there! + +THE END + +_Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London & Bungay._ + + + + +_Popular 6/= Novels._ + + _By S. R. CROCKETT_. + JOAN OF THE SWORD HAND Illustrated by FRANK RICHARDS. + + _By STANLEY WEYMAN_. + MY LADY ROTHA Illustrated by J. WILLIAMSON. + + _By MAX PEMBERTON_. + PRO PATRIÂ Illustrated by A. FORESTIER. + + _By B. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM_. + THE SURVIVOR Illustrated by STANLEY L. WOOD. + + _By HAMILTON DRUMMOND_, Author of "A Man of His Age," "For the + Religion," &c. + THE SEVEN HOUSES With Frontispiece by A. 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WOOD + + =19 M. or N.= Illustrated by ADOLF THIEDE + + =20 The Queen's Maries.= Illustrated by LUCY E. KEMP-WELCH + + =21 General Bounce.= Illustrated by FRANCES EWAN + + =22 Digby Grand.= Illustrated by J. AMBROSE WALTON + + =23 The Interpreter.= Illustrated by LUCY E. KEMP-WELCH + + =24 Good for Nothing.= Illustrated by G. P. JACOMB HOOD + + =25 Bones and I.= Illustrated by A. FORESTIER + + + + +2/= Copyright Novels. + +_Crown 8vo, Litho Picture Boards, Cloth Backs._ + +The Novels included are by some of the most noted authors of the +day, beautifully printed and produced. + + =1 The Curse of Clement Waynflete.= By BERTRAM MITFORD. + Illustrated by STANLEY L. WOOD. + + =2 The Crime and the Criminal.= By RICHARD MARSH. Illustrated + by HAROLD PIFFARD. + + =3 Captain Shannon.= By COULSON KERNAHAN. Illustrated by F. S. + WILSON. + + =4 Chronicles of Martin Hewitt.= By ARTHUR MORRISON. Illustrated + by D. MURRAY SMITH. + + =5 "The Queen of Night."= By HEADON HILL. Illustrated by HAROLD + PIFFARD. + + =6 A Man's Foes.= By E. H. STRAIN. Illustrated by A. FORESTIER. + + =7 A Secret Service.= By WILLIAM LE QUEUX. Illustrated by HAROLD + PIFFARD. + + =8 A Veldt Official.= By BERTRAM MITFORD. Illustrated by STANLEY + L. WOOD. + + =9 Woman, the Mystery.= By HENRY HERMAN. Illustrated by GEORGE + HUTCHINSON. + + =10 Martin Hewitt, Investigator.= By ARTHUR MORRISON. + Illustrated by SIDNEY PAGET. + + =11 A Stolen Life.= By M. MCDONNELL BODKIN. Illustrated by + FRANCES EWAN. + + =12 A Social Highwayman.= By E. P. TRAIN. Illustrated by F. + MCKERNAN. + + =13 The Datchet Diamonds.= By RICHARD MARSH. Illustrated by + STANLEY L. WOOD. + + =14 At Midnight.= By ADA CAMBRIDGE. Illustrated by P. FRENZENY + and others. + + =15 Lady Turpin.= By HENRY HERMAN. Illustrated by STANLEY L. + WOOD. + + =16 Adventures of Martin Hewitt.= By ARTHUR MORRISON. Illustrated + by T. S. C. CROWTHER. + + =17 The Expiation of Wynne Palliser.= By BERTRAM MITFORD. + Illustrated by STANLEY L. WOOD. + + =18 A Sensational Case.= By ALICE MAUD MEADOWS. Illustrated by + ST. CLAIR SIMMONS. + + =19 The Dorrington Deed Box.= By ARTHUR MORRISON. Illustrated by + STANLEY L. WOOD, &c. + + =20 The Right Sort.= By MRS. E. KENNARD. Illustrated by EDGAR + GIBERNE. + + =21 Beacon Fires.= By HEADON HILL. Illustrated by STANLEY L. + WOOD. + + =22 Fordham's Feud.= By BERTRAM MITFORD. Illustrated by STANLEY + L. WOOD. + + =23 The Dwarf's Chamber.= By FERGUS HUME. Illustrated by PERCY F. + S. SPENCE. + + =24 The Voyage of the "Pulo Way."= By W. CARLTON DAWE. + Illustrated by J. AMBROSE WALTON. + + =25 Lord Edward Fitzgerald.= By M. MCDONNELL BODKIN. Illustrated + by LEONARD LINSDELL. + + =26 The Unseen Hand.= By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by ST. + CLAIR SIMMONS. + + =27 The Crime of a Christmas Toy.= By HENRY HERMAN. Illustrated + by GEORGE HUTCHINSON. + + =28 The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings.= By Mrs. L. T. MEADE. + Illustrated by SIDNEY PAGET. + + =29 Out from the Night.= By ALICE MAUD MEADOWS. Illustrated by T. + W. HENRY. + + =30 The Rebels.= By M. MCDONNELL BODKIN. Illustrated by J. + AMBROSE WALTON. + + =31 The Last Stroke.= By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. + + =32 A Master of Mysteries.= By Mrs. L. T. MEADE. Illustrated by + J. AMBROSE WALTON. + + =33 The Eye of Fate.= By ALICE MAUD MEADOWS. + + =34 A Bear Squeeze.= By M. MCDONNELL BODKIN. + + =35 £19,000.= By BURFORD DELANNOY. + + =36 Willow, the King.= By J. C. SNAITH. + + =37 The Man and His Kingdom.= By E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM. + + =38 The Sanctuary Club.= By Mrs. L. T. MEADE. + + =39 Between the Lines.= By BURFORD DELANNOY. + + =40 The Man of the Moment.= By MORICE GERARD. + + =41 Caged.= By HEADON HILL. + + =42 Under Fate's Wheel.= By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. + + =43 Margate Murder Mystery.= By BURFORD DELANNOY. + + + + +The Minerva Library. + +NEW SERIES. + +_Large Crown 8vo, Art Linen, Extra Gilt, Fully Illustrated, 2s._ + + _VOLUME I._ + + =Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa. Including a + sketch of sixteen years' residence in the Interior of Africa.= + With portrait and full-page plates. By DAVID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D., + D.C.L. + + _VOLUME II._ + + =A Journal of Researches into the Natural History and Geology of + the Countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. "Beagle" round + the World.= By CHARLES DARWIN, M.A., F.R.S., Author of "Coral + Reefs," "The Descent of Man," etc. Containing a biographical + introduction by G. T. BETTANY, M.A., B.Sc., with portrait of + Darwin, and other illustrations. + + _VOLUME III._ + + =Life and Correspondence of Thomas Arnold, D.D.= some time + Head-master of Rugby School, and Regius Professor of Modern + History in the University of Oxford. By ARTHUR PENRHYN STANLEY, + D.D., Dean of Westminster. With a portrait of Dr. Arnold, and + other illustrations. + + _VOLUME IV._ + + =Travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro. With an Account of the + Native Tribes, and Observations on the Climate, Geology, and + Natural History of the Amazon Valley.= By ALFRED RUSSEL WALLACE, + LL.D., Author of "Darwinism," "The Malay Archipelago," etc., etc. + With a biographical introduction by G. T. BETTANY, M.A., B.Sc., + portrait of the Author, and other illustrations. + + _VOLUME V._ + + =Macaulay's Essays, Historical and Literary, from the "Edinburgh + Review."= By LORD MACAULAY, Essayist, Politician, and Historian. + With a biographical introduction by G. T. BETTANY, M.A., B.Sc. + Fully illustrated from portraits. + + _VOLUME VI._ + + =Lavengro: The Scholar, The Priest, The Gipsy.= By GEORGE BORROW, + Author of "The Bible in Spain," etc., etc. With introductory + notes by THEODORE WATTS-DUNTON. 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Illustrated from photographs. + + _VOLUME XV._ + + =Cromwell's Letters and Speeches.= By THOMAS CARLYLE. + Illustrated. + + _VOLUME XVI._ + + =On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection.= By + CHARLES DARWIN, M.A., F.R.S., etc. Illustrated from photographs. + + _VOLUME XVII._ + + =Bacon's Essays; Civil and Moral Advancement of Learning; Novum + Organum, etc.= With biographical introduction by G. T. BETTANY, + M.A., B.Sc. Illustrated from photographs. + + + + + THE + Windsor Library + OF + FAMOUS BOOKS. + +_Large Crown 8vo, Cloth Gilt. Each with Four Illustrations._ 1s. 6d. + +A remarkable feature of the world of fiction is that the yearly +increasing supply of fresh romances, by both new and established +authors, has no effect on the unfailing popularity of the recognised +masterpieces. The demand for attractive editions of these books has +never been greater than it is to-day, and it is to meet this want that +the publishers are issuing this new series. The volumes are well +printed from clear type on good paper, tastefully bound in a design +that will grace the bookshelf, and splendidly illustrated. In a word, +for value, it is the best and cheapest series that has ever been +placed on the market. + + =1 Pickwick Papers= CHARLES DICKENS + + =2 David Copperfield= CHARLES DICKENS + + =11 Vanity Fair= W. M. THACKERAY + + =12 The History of Pendennis= W. M. THACKERAY + + =16 Westward Ho!= CHARLES KINGSLEY + + =17 Hypatia= CHARLES KINGSLEY + + =21 It is Never too Late to Mend= CHAS. READE + + =26 Jane Eyre= CHARLOTTE BRONTË + + =27 Shirley= CHARLOTTE BRONTË + + =31 Ivanhoe= SIR WALTER SCOTT + + =32 Old Mortality= SIR WALTER SCOTT + + =41 The Last Days of Pompeii= LORD LYTTON + + =42 The Last of the Barons= LORD LYTTON + + =43 Harold= LORD LYTTON + + =46 The Three Musketeers= ALEXANDRE DUMAS + + =47 The Count of Monte Cristo= ALEXANDRE DUMAS + + =51 Cranford= MRS. GASKELL + + =52 Mary Barton= MRS. GASKELL + + =56 Autocrat of the Breakfast Table= O. W. HOLMES + + =61 Charles O'Malley= CHARLES LEVER + + =62 Jack Hinton= CHARLES LEVER + + =71 The Toilers of the Sea= VICTOR HUGO + + =72 The Hunchback of Notre Dame= VICTOR HUGO + + =76 John Halifax, Gentleman= MRS. CRAIK + + =81 Adam Bede= GEORGE ELIOT + + =86 Geoffry Hamlyn= HENRY KINGSLEY + + =91 Katerfelto= G. J. WHYTE-MELVILLE + + =92 The Gladiators= G. J. WHYTE-MELVILLE + + =96 A Study in Scarlet= A. CONAN DOYLE + + =98 Out of the Hurly Burly= MAX ADELER + + =103 In Strange Company= GUY BOOTHBY + + =109 Orley Farm= ANTHONY TROLLOPE + + =115 Danesbury House= MRS. HENRY WOOD + + =120 Ben Hur= LEW WALLACE + + + + + Some Magazines are + MERELY MASCULINE ... + Others are + FRIVOLOUSLY FEMININE. + + ... THE ... + + WINDSOR + + _Stands alone as + The Illustrated Magazine + for Men and Women._ + +=ITS STORIES=--Serial and Short alike--are by the leading +Novelists of the day; =Its Articles=, ranging over every branch +of our complex modern life, are by recognised Specialists; =Its +Illustrations= represent the high-water mark of current +Black-and-White Art. + +These features combine to make =The Windsor's= contents, month by +month, a popular theme for conversation in circles that are weary +of the trivialities of the common-place periodicals. + +In addition to its strong interest for =MEN and WOMEN=, the +=Windsor= makes a feature of publishing the Best Studies of +=Child-Life= that the modern cult of youth has yet produced in +fictional literature. + +_The WINDSOR'S recent and present Contributors Include:--_ + + Rudyard Kipling + Mrs. F. A. Steel + S. R. Crockett + Cutcliffe Hyne + Max Pemberton + Hall Caine + E. 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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: The Kidnapped President + +Author: Guy Boothby + +Illustrator: Stanley L. Wood + +Release Date: June 22, 2011 [EBook #36492] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="tnbox"> +<p>Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p>Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have +been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p></div> +<div class="figcenter" > +<img src="images/gs01b.png" width="365" height="600" alt=""'STOP!'"" /> +<p class="caption">"'STOP!'"<br /> +(<a href="#page_162">Page 162.</a>)</p></div> + +<h1>THE<br /> +KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT</h1> +<p class="p6 center"><small>BY</small></p> +<p class="center"><big>GUY BOOTHBY</big></p> + +<p class="center"><small>AUTHOR OF</small></p> +<p class="center"><small>'DR. NIKOLA,' 'A BID FOR FORTUNE,' 'THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL,'</small></p> +<p class="center"><small>ETC.</small></p> + +<p class="center p6">ILLUSTRATIONS BY STANLEY L. WOOD</p> + +<p class="center p6">LONDON</p> + +<p class="center"><big>WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED</big></p> +<p class="center">NEW YORK AND MELBOURNE</p> + +<p class="center">1902</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<h2>'THE KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT'</h2> +<hr class="l15" /> + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p>I suppose to every man, at some period in his +life, there comes some adventure upon which, in +after life, he is destined to look back with a feeling +that is very near akin to astonishment. Somebody +has said that adventures are to the adventurous. +In my case I must confess that I do not see +how the remark applies. I was certainly fourteen +years at sea, but in all that time, beyond +having once fallen overboard in Table Bay, and, +of course, the great business of which it is the +purpose of this book to tell you, I cannot remember +any circumstance that I could dignify +with the title of an adventure. The sailor's +calling in these times of giant steamships is so +vastly different from what it was in the old days +of sailing ships and long voyages that, with the +most ordinary luck, a man might work his way<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_8" id="page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +up the ratlines from apprentice to skipper with +little less danger than would be met with in a +London merchant's office. Though I was not +aware of it, however, I was destined to have an +adventure, stirring enough to satisfy the most +daring, before my seafaring life came to an end.</p> + +<p>How well I remember the day on which I +was appointed fourth officer of the ocean liner +<i>Pernambuco</i>, running from London to South +America. I should here remark that I held a +second officer's certificate, but I was, nevertheless, +glad enough to take what I could get, in the hope +of being able to work my way up to something +better. It was not a bad rise, when all was said +and done, to leave a ramshackle old tub of a tramp +for the comparatively luxurious life of a mail +boat; much jollier merely to run out to the +Argentine and back, instead of dodging at a +snail's pace from port to port all round the +world. Then again there was the question of +society. It was pleasanter in every respect to have +pretty girls to flirt with on deck, and to sit beside +one at meals, than to have no one to talk to +save a captain who was in an intoxicated state +five days out of seven, a grumpy old chief mate, +and a Scotch engineer, who could recite anything +Burns ever wrote, backwards or forwards, as you +might choose to ask him for it. When I had +been six months on board the <i>Pernambuco</i>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_9" id="page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +I was made third officer; at the end of the year +I signed my name on the pay-sheet as second. +Eventually I got my Master's Certificate, and +became chief officer. Now everybody knows, or +ought to know, that the duties of chief officer on +board a big liner, and, for the matter of that, on +any other boat, are as onerous as they are varied. +In the first place, he is the chief executive officer +of the ship, and is held responsible, not only for +its appearance, but also for the proper working of +the crew. It is a position that requires consummate +tact. He must know when to see things +and when not to see them, must be able to please +the passengers, and yet protect the interests of +his owners, must, and this is not the least important +fact, be able to keep his men constantly +employed, yet not earn for himself the reputation +of being too hard a task-master. Finally, +he has to see that all the credit for what he +does is not appropriated by himself, but goes to +increase the <i>kudos</i> of his commanding officer. If +the latter is a gentleman, and can appreciate his +officers' endeavours at their real value, matters +will in all probability go smoothly; on the other +hand, however, if the captain is a bully, then +the chief officer is likely to wish himself elsewhere, +or at least that he was the holder of some +other rank. This was my case on my last and +most memorable voyage in the service of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_10" id="page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +particular Company that every one knows, but +which, for various reasons, shall be nameless.</p> + +<p>I had never met Captain Harveston until he +joined us in dock on the day previous to sailing, +but I had heard some scarcely complimentary +remarks about him from men who had sailed +with him. I must confess, therefore, that I was +prepared to dislike him. In appearance he was +as unlike a sailor as a man could well be, was a +great dandy in his dress, and evidently looked +upon himself as an undoubted lady-killer. So +far as I was concerned, he had hardly set foot on +the vessel before he commenced finding fault. A +ship in dock, before the passengers come aboard, +and while the thousand and one preparations are +being made for a voyage, is seldom an example +of tidiness. Surely a skipper, who had been at +sea for thirty years, must have realized this; for +some reason, however, best known to himself, it +pleased Captain Harveston to inaugurate our +acquaintance by telling me that he liked a "spic +and span ship," and that he judged his officers +by what he saw of their work.</p> + +<p>"You shall have nothing to complain of as +soon as I get the workmen out, sir," I replied, a +bit nettled at being called over the coals upon +such a trumpery matter.</p> + +<p>"I trust I shall not," he answered superciliously, +and then strutted down the bridge<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_11" id="page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +to his own cabin, which was just abaft the +chart-room.</p> + +<p>As it turned out, the Isle of Wight was scarcely +astern before the trouble began. Young Herberts, +our second officer, was the first to get a +wigging, and Harrison, the fourth, quickly +followed suit. I felt sure my time would not +be long in coming, and I was not wrong. On +the second day out, and during my watch below, +I was talking to the purser in his cabin, when +the fourth officer appeared to inform me that +the captain wished to see me on the promenade +deck. Thither I made my way, to find him +seated there with a number of lady passengers +round him.</p> + +<p>"Surely he is not going to be nasty before +these ladies," I said to myself as I approached +him.</p> + +<p>I discovered, however, that this was exactly +what he was going to do.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Helmsworth," he began, "I am told +that you have refused the passengers the use of +the bull-board."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, sir, I have not," I replied. "I informed +one of the gentlemen who spoke to me about it +that I would have it brought up directly we were +clear of the Channel. As a rule we never produce +it until we're out of the Bay. I had +Captain Pomeroy's instructions to that effect."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_12" id="page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am captain of this vessel now," he returned. +"Please see that the board is brought on deck at +once. I must ask you for the future to do all that +lies in your power to promote the pleasure of the +passengers. It is a duty I have a right to expect +of my officers."</p> + +<p>"Very good, sir," I answered and walked +away.</p> + +<p>From that day forward I saw that my service +under Captain Harveston was likely to be a +short one, and, indeed, by the time we reached +Buenos Ayres, I felt as if I could throw up my +appointment altogether. He was never satisfied, +never pleased, and did nothing but grumble and +find fault from morning until night.</p> + +<p>After the usual fortnight's stay at the capital +of the Argentine, we commenced our homeward +voyage. Our first port of call was Rio, where +Harveston and the third officer came to loggerheads. +By this time the whole ship's company +had taken his measure, and I fancy he must have +known it. Being of a petty disposition, he attributed +this to me, and accordingly laid himself +out to make my life aboard as disagreeable as it +was possible for him to do. How bitterly I +regretted the loss of my old skipper, who had +been kindness and consideration itself, I must +leave you to imagine.</p> + +<p>And now I must turn from a narration of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_13" id="page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +own misfortunes during that miserable voyage to +give you a description of a man, whose personality +is destined to play such an important part +in my narrative. He joined us at Rio, and was +one of the last passengers to come aboard. He +was a Spaniard, and, as could be seen at a glance, +a well-bred one at that. He called himself Don +Guzman de Silvestre. He was very tall; I should +say some inches over six feet, with the darkest of +dark eyes and hair, aquiline features, and a small +pointed beard, that he had a habit of stroking +when thinking. Taken altogether, a more +romantic personality could scarcely be imagined, +and as he came up the gangway, I told myself +that he was the best figure of a man I had seen +for some considerable time. When he asked me +at what hour we should sail, I noticed that he +spoke English perfectly, and in a musical voice +that was very pleasant to listen to. Before we +had been many days at sea, he and I had had +several talks upon all sorts of subjects, considerably +to Captain Harveston's annoyance, for the +latter did not approve of his officers being on +anything like friendly terms with the passengers. +Having no desire to quarrel with my chief, I +endeavoured, as far as possible, to keep out of +his way, but for some reason this only had the +effect of incensing him more against me.</p> + +<p>We were a full ship on the homeward voyage,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_14" id="page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +and, as we generally did a lot of painting +between Barbadoes and Madeira, I found my +time pretty well taken up. It was in connection +with this painting that the climax came. We +had left the West Indies behind us, and at the +time were steering a straight course for Madeira. +The men, when the incident I am about to +describe happened, were at work on the port +rails of the promenade deck. One of them, who +had been outside the rail, climbed over, pot in +hand, to obey an order I had given him. At +the moment that he did so, the long Atlantic +swell caused the vessel to give a big roll, and +before he could save himself, he was flying across +the deck towards a chair in which a lady was +seated. They came into violent collision, with +the result that the pot of white paint was +deposited in her lap. I hastened to her +assistance, and did all that was possible at the +moment to remedy the mishap. Fortunately for +the man, who was overcome by the magnitude of +the catastrophe, she took the accident in excellent +part.</p> + +<p>"You must not blame the man," she said to +me. "It was not his fault. I shall have to sue +the ocean for damages."</p> + +<p>Then with a laugh she went below to change +her attire.</p> + +<p>As ill luck would have it, just after she had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_15" id="page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +disappeared, the skipper emerged from the +companion, and saw the splashes of paint.</p> + +<p>"What's the meaning of this, sir?" he asked, +turning on me angrily.</p> + +<p>"One of the men met with an accident, sir," I +replied. "The roll of the ship caused him to +upset the paint-pot."</p> + +<p>"You should not put that class of fellow to do +such work," he returned, oblivious to the fact +that he was committing the unpardonable sin of +admonishing an officer before the men. "You +seem to have no discrimination at all, Mr. +Helmsworth."</p> + +<p>With that he walked away, leaving me to chew +my cud of humiliation in silence. After luncheon +I received an order to go to the captain's cabin. +I could see that I was in for more trouble, but +could not guess what. One thing was very +evident; he was in a towering rage.</p> + +<p>"How is it, Mr. Helmsworth," he began, when +I had entered the cabin and had closed the door, +"that you deliberately kept things from me this +morning that it was your duty to tell me?"</p> + +<p>"I am not aware that I have kept anything back +from you, sir," I replied, as civilly as I knew how, +for I had no desire to lose my temper. "If it +is with regard to the tiller of the port quarter +boat——"</p> + +<p>"It has nothing whatever to do with the port<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_16" id="page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +quarter boat," he answered savagely. "I want +to know how it was that you did not tell me +about that lady's dress being spoilt this morning. +You should have reported the matter to me. +Had it not been for my steward, I should have +known nothing whatsoever about it."</p> + +<p>"I did not think it worth while to trouble you +with it, sir," I replied. "It was a pure accident, +and Miss Burgess forgave the man, and admitted +that he was not to blame."</p> + +<p>"Accident or no accident," he retorted, "you +should have informed me of the circumstance. +I consider you sadly wanting in your duty, Mr. +Helmsworth. Of late, your manner has been +most disrespectful to me, and I tell you to your +face, sir, that your ship is a disgrace to any +chief officer."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you should say that," I answered, +endeavouring to keep my temper; "I have +always had the reputation of turning my ship +out well. If you will point out anything that +is wrong, I will at once have it rectified."</p> + +<p>"Don't bandy words with me, sir," he stormed. +"I am not used to it from my officers. I repeat +that your ship is a disgrace to any chief officer, +and I shall take care that the matter is duly reported +to the Board as soon as we reach London."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will be good enough to tell me +what you consider wrong, sir?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_17" id="page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Everything," he answered. "I thought +yesterday I pointed out to you a hole in the +after awning."</p> + +<p>"You did, sir, and it has been repaired. I put +the sail-maker on to it at once."</p> + +<p>He rose from his chair with a look of triumph +on his face.</p> + +<p>"Kindly step aft with me," he said, "and let +us examine it for ourselves."</p> + +<p>Feeling confident that what I had said was +correct, I gladly accompanied him, but to my +horror, when we reached the place in question, +there was the rent gaping at us without a stitch +in it.</p> + +<p>"I regret exceedingly that you should consider +it necessary to cover your negligence by +telling me what is not true," he said in a voice +so loud that some of the second-class passengers +could hear it.</p> + +<p>This was more than I could swallow.</p> + +<p>"I'll not be called a liar by you, Captain +Harveston, or by any man living," I retorted, +feeling that I would have given something to +have been able to have knocked him down. "If +you will send for the sail-maker, he will inform +you that I gave him orders to do it this morning. +It is no fault of mine that he has neglected his +duty."</p> + +<p>"It is the fault of no one else, sir," returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_18" id="page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +the captain. "If you kept the men up to their +work, this would not have been left undone. I +shall be careful to enter this occurrence in the +log-book."</p> + +<p>So saying he stalked majestically away, and I +went in search of the sail-maker. The man, it +appeared, had intended doing the work, but had +been called away to something else, and had +forgotten it. After that, I returned to my own +cabin, and sat down to think the matter over. +There could be no sort of doubt that I was in an +exceedingly unenviable position. I could quite +see that if Harveston reported me, the Board +would be likely to believe his version of the +story, and even if they did not consider me quite +as negligent as he was endeavouring to make me, +they would probably argue that I was not all I +might be, on the basis that there can be no smoke +without fire. Whatever else might be said, a +reputation for slovenliness and untruthfulness +would be scarcely likely to help me in my career. +From that day forward matters went from bad +to worse. It seemed impossible for me to do +right, however hard I might try. What was +more annoying, I began to feel that, not content +with disliking me himself, the captain was +endeavouring to set the passengers against me +also.</p> + +<p>During the run across the Atlantic I had, as I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_19" id="page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +have said, several long talks with Don Guzman +de Silvestre. The man interested me immensely. +What his profession was I could not ascertain, +but from numberless little remarks he let fall, I +gathered that he was the possessor of considerable +wealth. Certainly he had seen a variety of +strange life. Were it not that he narrated his +adventures with an air of truth that left no room +for doubt, it would have been impossible to have +believed him. He had seen fighting in Mexico, +in Nicaragua, in Brazil, and with Balmaceda in +Chili.</p> + +<p>"I suppose in South America there will be +Revolutions until the end of Time," I remarked +one evening, as we sat talking together in my +cabin.</p> + +<p>"I should say it is more than likely," he +answered, taking his cigar from his mouth and +holding it between his long, slim fingers. "If +you take specimens of all the most excitable +races in the world and graft them on stock even +more excitable than themselves, what can you +expect? In such countries Might must always +be Right, and the weakest will go to the wall."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't care much about being President +in that description of place," I returned. "It's +a case of being in power and popular to-day, +unpopular and assassinated to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"There is certainly a large amount of risk in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_20" id="page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +this," the Don replied meditatively. "And yet +men are always to be found desirous of taking +up the reins of government."</p> + +<p>I could not help wondering whether he had +ever felt the ambition he spoke of.</p> + +<p>"I remember meeting a man in Paris some +years ago," he continued after a few moments' +silence, "who was what one might call a world's +vagabond. He had been a soldier in French +Africa, a shearer in Australia, a miner at the +Cape, a stockbroker in New York, and several +other things. When I met him, he was, as +I have said, in Paris, and practically starving. +He could speak half the languages of the +world well enough to be thought a native, was +absolutely fearless; indeed, taken altogether +he was about as devil-may-care a sort of fellow +as I had ever met in my life. Three years later +he was Dictator of one of the South American +Republics we have been speaking of."</p> + +<p>"And where is he now?"</p> + +<p>"At the end of six months another man came +upon the scene, won the favour of the Standing +Army, and began to make trouble for those in +power, with the result that my friend had to +vacate his office, also the country, at remarkably +short notice. Some day he will go back and +endeavour to unseat the individual who supplanted +him. The latter gained his place by<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_21" id="page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +treachery, but if he is not careful he will lose it +by something else."</p> + +<p>"Your friend is a man who does not forget an +injury then?" I remarked, with a well-defined +suspicion that he was speaking of himself.</p> + +<p>"I rather fancy he is," he replied. "At any +rate, I am quite certain he is not one who +forgives."</p> + +<p>Then he changed the conversation by inquiring +how long I had been at sea, and what countries +I had visited. With some of them he professed +to be acquainted.</p> + +<p>"It is rather impertinent of me to say so," he +said, looking round to see that there was no one +near the door, "but I am afraid you and your +captain are not on the best of terms."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say that we are not," I answered, +and stopped there, for I had no desire to discuss +the matter with him.</p> + +<p>"You hold a Master's Certificate, do you not?" +he inquired.</p> + +<p>I answered in the affirmative, and once more +he was silent.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you would have no objection to +shipping as captain," he went on after a long +pause, "if the opportunity ever presented itself?"</p> + +<p>"Most certainly I should not," I replied, with +a laugh. "I fear, however, it will be some time +before I shall have such an opportunity."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_22" id="page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In this line, perhaps," he said, "but I +suppose, if you had an offer from another firm, +you would accept it?"</p> + +<p>"I should feel very much inclined to do so," I +said, wondering at the same time what he was +driving at.</p> + +<p>"Are you married?"</p> + +<p>"No," I replied, "but I hope to be as soon as +I can afford it. So far as I can see, however, +that event, like the captainship, is a long way off. +The good old days when skippers made money +are past, and now-a-days, what with entertaining +and one thing and another, it's as much as a man +can do to make both ends meet. Sometimes I'm +afraid they don't meet at all. I wish some kind +friend would come along and offer me a comfortable +shore billet on anything like pay—it would +do him good to see me jump at it."</p> + +<p>"That may come yet," he replied, and then +he rose and bade me good-night.</p> + +<p>A few evenings later, and as we were approaching +the English Channel, he again spoke to me +on the subject. His persistent recurrence to it +gave me a feeling that there was something +behind it all. But what that something was I +had no sort of idea. I was destined to find +out, however, even sooner than I imagined.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_23" id="page_23">[Pg 23]</a></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p>Four days later we reached England, and one +of the most unpleasant voyages I have ever made +was at an end. Having seen everything right +on board, I left the ship. Captain Harveston +had not said good-bye to me, and for this +reason I did not consider it necessary that I +should go out of my way to be civil to him. +That the man intended doing me a mischief +I felt certain, but what form his enmity would +take I could only conjecture. The entry was in +the log-book, and some action would be taken of +it without a doubt.</p> + +<p>From London I took the train to Salisbury, +intending to walk out to my home at Falstead, +one of the loveliest if not <i>the</i> loveliest of all the +Wiltshire villages with which I am acquainted. +It was delightful to think that in a few hours I +should see Molly, my pretty sweetheart, again, +and in her gentle company, and that of my dear +old mother (my father had been dead many<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_24" id="page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +years), endeavour to forget for a fortnight the +worries and troubles that had been my portion +during the past two months. Molly, I must tell +you, or Miss Mary Wharton, was a lady of much +importance at Falstead. She was an orphan, +and her father had been the Vicar of the hamlet +for nearly fifty years. When her parents died +she had received an offer of a home in London, +but she could not find it in her heart to leave +the place in which she had been born, so she +remained on in the capacity of village schoolmistress +and organist, loved by the children, consulted +by the mothers, and respected by every +one. My father had been the local medico, and +I had known Molly all my life. We had played +together as children, had received our first lessons +together, had fallen in love later, and were +engaged when I was twenty-three and she two +years my junior.</p> + +<p>It was nearly four o'clock when I reached +Salisbury and started on my five miles' tramp to +the village. My luggage I left to be brought on +next day by the carrier, taking with me a small +hand-bag containing sufficient for my immediate +needs. I can remember the time when those +five miles had seemed to me the longest walking +in all the world; now, however, after so many +weeks of sea, the green lanes, varied with open +stretches of down, were beautiful beyond compare.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_25" id="page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +Every turn of the road brought to light +some spot of interest. I crossed the old stone +bridge at the entrance to the village, and noted +the place where I had caught my first trout, and +further on, as I passed a certain stile, upon which +hundreds of initials had been carved, recalled the +fact that it was there I had fought Nathaniel +Burse, the village bully, and, unlike the heroes +of most romances, had received a sound drubbing +for my pains.</p> + +<p>About a quarter of a mile from my mother's +cottage I overtook the worthy Vicar, who, as he +informed me, had been to pay a visit to a farm +on the Downs.</p> + +<p>"Let me be the first to offer you a hearty +welcome home," he said. "You seem to have +been away for a shorter time than ever this +voyage."</p> + +<p>"It has certainly not seemed so to me," I +answered, and with a considerable amount of +truth. "I am the more glad to be back. How +is the village?"</p> + +<p>"By the village, I suppose you mean Miss +Wharton, do you not?" said the old fellow with +a chuckle. "She is wonderfully well, and I +fancy is looking forward to your return. Your +mother keeps well also, I saw her yesterday."</p> + +<p>We walked on together until I could see ahead<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_26" id="page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +of us the little ivy-covered house in which I had +been born. At the gate I bade the kindly old +gentleman good-bye and entered, to be received +on the threshold by Molly and my mother. For +the next few minutes I had to submit, and I will +leave you to imagine whether I did so willingly or +not, to such a kissing and hugging as the average +man seldom receives. Then I was escorted to the +little drawing-room and given my favourite chair, +while Molly made tea and my mother sat beside +me and affectionately stroked my hand. Could +you have seen Molly at that moment, you would +have declared her to be the true picture of an +English woman.</p> + +<p>As you have probably observed by this +time, I am not much of a hand at describing +people, but I must endeavour to give you some +idea of what my sweetheart was like. In the +first place she was tall, possibly five feet nine +inches. Her eyes were blue, and her hair a rich +nut-brown. On the day of my arrival she was +dressed in white, with a white belt round her +shapely waist; while on the third finger of her +left hand was the ring I had bought for her at +Salisbury after our engagement was announced. +Even now, though ten years have elapsed, I can +feel the joy of that home-coming. I sat sipping +my tea, and eating slice after slice of real Wiltshire +bread-and-butter in a whirl of enchantment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_27" id="page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +Of course Molly remained to supper with us, and +if afterwards we went for a stroll down the +shadowy lanes as far as Bellam Woods, where +you can stand on the hill and look down the +valley to Salisbury, five miles away, who shall +blame us?</p> + +<p>The next three days were about as happy, +so far as I am concerned, as a man could wish +to spend. Fortunately it was holiday time with +Molly, and in consequence she and I were inseparable +from morning until night. We fished +together, went for long walks together, and on +the third day I borrowed the Vicar's pony-cart +and drove her into Salisbury. Alas! however, +that day was destined to end in very different +fashion to what it had begun. Having returned +the pony-cart to the vicarage, we strolled home +together. My mother's maid-of-all-work had +brought in the letters that had arrived by +evening mail, and on the little table in the hall +was one addressed to me. I turned it over, to +discover upon the back of the envelope the monogram +of the Company—my employers. With +a heart full of forebodings I opened it. It was +very brief, and read as follows—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>,</p> + +<p>"I am desired by the Chairman to +inform you that the Board will be glad if you<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_28" id="page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +will make it convenient to be present at their +meeting on Friday next at three o'clock.</p> + +<p><span class="i4">"I am,</span><br /> +<span class="i6">"Yours very truly,</span><br /> +<span class="smcap i8">J. Hopkinson</span>, Secretary."</p> +</div> + +<p>"What does it mean, Dick?" Molly asked. +"Why do they want to see you? I think it is +very unkind of them to spoil your holiday by +taking you away when you only have such a +short time at home."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid it means trouble," I answered. +"Captain Harveston and I did not get on very +well together, and I expect he has been making +complaints against me at head-quarters. He +threatened to do so."</p> + +<p>"Then he is a very unjust man," said my +sweetheart, her eyes flashing. "And I should +like to tell him so!"</p> + +<p>That the letter worried me a good deal I am +not going to deny. My bread-and-butter depended +upon the Company's good opinion, and +if I lost that I should certainly lose my position +too. On the appointed day I bade my dear ones +farewell, walked into Salisbury, and caught the +train to London, reaching the Company's offices, +which were in Leadenhall Street, about a quarter +of an hour before the meeting was due to take +place. A liveried porter showed me into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_29" id="page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +waiting-room, where I remained for something +like twenty minutes, kicking my heels impatiently, +and wondering what the end of the +business would be. Then the door opened and +the Secretary entered.</p> + +<p>"The Board will see you now, Mr. Helmsworth," +he said, and I accordingly followed him to +the room in which the meetings of the Company +took place. There I discovered a full Meeting. +The Chairman was seated at the head of the table—a +dignified, portly personage—while on either +side of him were ranged the Directors, who I could +see regarded me with some curiosity as I entered.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Helmsworth," said the Chairman, after +the Secretary had returned to his place, "we +have requested your presence to-day in order to +inform you that Captain Harveston has felt it +his duty to make a serious complaint to us of +your conduct during the voyage which has just +ended. To be candid, he charges you with +general neglect of duty, of insulting conduct +towards himself, and, I regret to add, of untruthfulness. +We thought it better that you should +have an opportunity of hearing these charges, +and giving you a chance of defending yourself, +should you care to do so. It is needless for +me to add how much the Board regrets that such +a report should have been made against you. +What have you to say?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_30" id="page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All I can say, sir," I replied, advancing to +the bottom of the table, and taking up my +position there, "is that the report has not a +word of truth in it. It is a malicious invention +on the part of Captain Harveston, and, if he were +here, I should tell him so."</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Mr. Helmsworth, you must not +talk like that," said the Chairman; "Captain +Harveston has been a long time in our service, +and we have never known him act unjustly to +any one. Would it not be better to admit that +there is <i>some</i> truth in what he says, and then +to leave it to the clemency of the Board, to deal +with as they may consider fair?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid, sir," I replied, "with all due +respect to yourself and the Board, that I cannot +submit to being declared neglectful of my duties, +or allow myself to be called untruthful when I +know the charge to be unjust. For some reason, +I cannot say what, Captain Harveston took a +dislike to me before the voyage commenced, and +this report is the outcome of that dislike."</p> + +<p>I then proceeded to explain what had happened; +pointed out that while the dock workmen +were engaged upon the ship, and she was +of necessity in an untidy condition, Captain +Harveston had complained of her lack of orderliness. +I referred to the paint incident, and commented +upon the fact that he had charged me<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_31" id="page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +with concealing what had happened from him. +With regard to the ship being in an untidy state +throughout the voyage, I stated that I was prepared +to bring witnesses to prove that she was +as perfect as it was possible for a ship to be. If +a little of the gloss had worn off by the time we +reached the Thames, I explained that it was due +to the fact that we had experienced very rough +weather in the Bay and also coming up Channel. +The charge of untruthfulness I dismissed as being +both petty and absurd. Towards the end of my +remarks I had some difficulty in restraining my +temper, for I could see that the Board was still +inclined to side with the captain against me. +Perhaps my manner was not submissive enough +to please them. At any rate when they asked +me to withdraw for a few minutes while they +discussed the matter, I began to feel that my +case was, so far as they were concerned, a hopeless +one. After ten minutes' absence I was +recalled.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Helmsworth," the Chairman began in +his dignified way, polishing his glasses with his +pocket-handkerchief as he spoke, "we have most +carefully gone into the matter, and have arrived +at the conclusion that, taking into consideration +the length of time you have been in the Company's +service, and the fact that there have +never been any complaints against you hitherto,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_32" id="page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +we should be justified in permitting you an +opportunity of retrieving any little error you +may have committed. If, therefore, you will +agree to apologize to Captain Harveston, and +will promise to do your best in the future, I +may say on behalf of the Board, that we are prepared +to allow this most painful matter to drop."</p> + +<p>This was more than I had bargained for. I +had at least hoped that they would have given +orders that I should be confronted with my +accuser, and that I should be allowed to call +witnesses in my own defence.</p> + +<p>"With all due respect, gentlemen," I said, +with perhaps more freedom than I should have +used, "I cannot submit to such a thing. Captain +Harveston has brought these charges against me +for some reason best known to himself. It seems +to me, if only in common fairness, that he should +be called upon to prove them, and if he is unable +to do so, to apologize to me for the wrong he has +done me. I declare most emphatically that I +am innocent, and, if you will allow me, I will +prove it. I am sure my brother officers will be +able to convince you as to my ability, and to the +state of the ship. The Dock Superintendent +should also be able to do the same."</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately the Dock Superintendent +has confirmed the captain's opinion," said the +Chairman.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_33" id="page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>To my chagrin, I remembered then that the +Dock Superintendent and I had had a quarrel +some years before, and also that he was a great +friend of the captain's. It was not likely, therefore, +that he would side with me.</p> + +<p>"If the Dock Superintendent says that, I +suppose I must submit," I answered. "Nevertheless, +I contend that neither he nor Captain +Harveston is speaking the truth."</p> + +<p>"Dear me, dear me," said one of the Directors, +"this is really not the sort of behaviour to which +we are accustomed. Why not take the Chairman's +advice, Mr. Helmsworth, and apologize to +your captain? I am quite sure that he would +bear no malice to you, and the matter could then +be amicably settled."</p> + +<p>This had the same effect upon me as the +waving of a red flag is said to have upon an +angry bull.</p> + +<p>"I shall certainly not apologize," I answered. +"Captain Harveston is in the wrong, and I refuse +to have anything more to do with him."</p> + +<p>"In that case, I am afraid the consequences +will be serious," said the Chairman. "We +should be loath to lose your services, Mr. +Helmsworth, particularly after your long service, +but unless you apologize to Captain Harveston, +we have no other course open to us."</p> + +<p>"I shall not do that," I returned, "and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_34" id="page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +case of my dismissal I assure you I shall immediately +take what proceedings the law allows +me, in order to prove that I have been slandered +most grossly."</p> + +<p>The Board stared at me in amazement. Was +it possible, they were doubtless asking themselves, +that a miserable chief officer dared to +beard them in this fashion?</p> + +<p>"What proceedings you take against Captain +Harveston are no concern of ours, after you +have quitted our employment," said the Chairman, +"but if you will be well advised, you will +think twice before you invoke the assistance of +the law."</p> + +<p>"I am to understand, therefore," I said, "that +I am dismissed."</p> + +<p>"No, no," the Chairman replied; "we will not +go as far as that, we will call it a resignation."</p> + +<p>"Allow me then to wish you good-day, +gentlemen," I said, and bowing I walked out +of the room. "You will, doubtless, hear from +me later."</p> + +<p>"A pretty market I have brought my pigs +to," I said to myself, as I walked down Leadenhall +Street, after leaving the offices of the +Company. "Poor little Molly, this will be a +sad blow to her. It looks as if my marriage is +now further off than ever."</p> + +<p>How little I guessed then that the interview<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_35" id="page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +I had just had, had brought it closer than if +the trouble with Harveston had never occurred. +Acting on the resolve I had made while waiting +for the Board's decision, I made my way in the +direction of High Holborn. The old lawyer +who had conducted what little legal business +my father had required, and who had arranged +my mother's affairs after his death, had an +office in one of the curious old Inns of Court +in that neighbourhood. I determined to lay the +case before him and to act according to the +advice he gave me. On reaching the office I +had the satisfaction of finding him at home. +The clerk, who received me, was as old as his +employer, and I believe had served him for +upwards of forty years. His memory for faces +must have been a good one, for he recognized +me at once, although several years had elapsed +since I had last called upon him.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Winzor is in his office, Mr. Helmsworth," +he said, "and, if you will be good enough to +wait for a moment, I will place your name before +him." He disappeared, and presently returned +and requested me to follow him.</p> + +<p>The old lawyer received me most cordially +and invited me to take a seat. He asked +after my mother's health, then took a pinch +of snuff, looked at me fixedly, and then took +another. After this he inquired in what way<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_36" id="page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +he could serve me. I thereupon placed the case +before him.</p> + +<p>"This is a matter," he said, after a pause of +about a minute, "that will require very careful +consideration. It is plain that the captain in +question is a vindictive man. His reason for +being so bitter against you is difficult to understand, +but we have the best of evidence before +us that it does exist. It's one thing, however, +to be unjustly treated, and quite another to go +to law about it. In a somewhat lengthy career, +it has always been my endeavour to impress one +thing upon my clients—Don't go to law if you +can possibly avoid it. Doubtless were you to +take the case into court we could produce sufficient +evidence from your brother officers and +the petty officers of the ship to prove that you +did your duty, and also that you were a conscientious +officer. But, even supposing you won +the day, how would you stand?"</p> + +<p>"I should have reinstated my character," I +replied somewhat sharply, for the old man's +manner grated upon me.</p> + +<p>"And apart from the question of character, +how much better off would you be?" he asked. +"The fact of your calling the officers of the ship +would put the Company to a considerable amount +of inconvenience and expense, which they would +naturally resent. It would also have the effect<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_37" id="page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +of putting them in an antagonistic attitude +towards yourself, which, at present, they do not +appear anxious to take up. The case would +attract some attention, the various shipping +companies would read it, and, should you apply +to them for a position, I fear you would find +them averse to taking an officer who, you must +forgive my plain speaking, was ready to invoke +the aid of the law to settle his disputes with +his captain and his employers. Do you see my +contention?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see it," I replied; "but, surely, you +don't mean to say that I am to have this injustice +done me and say nothing about it?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I do not see what else to advise +you to do," he replied. "I think you have +been badly treated, but, upon my word, though +if I were in your place I should doubtless feel +as you do, I should drop the matter, and, to +quote a familiar Stock Exchange expression, 'cut +the losses.'"</p> + +<p>This was not at all what I had expected, and +boiling over as I was, the advice he gave me +was most unpalatable. He must have seen this, +for he tapped me gently on the arm.</p> + +<p>"Master Richard," he said, as if he were +talking to a school-boy, "I am an old man and +you are a young one. Youth is proverbially +hot-headed, while Age is apt to stand off, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_38" id="page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +looks at things from afar. I pledge you my +word that, in giving you this advice, I am +acting as I deem best for your welfare. There +is an old saying to the effect that 'there are +as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it,' +and I fancy the same remark can be made to +apply to the vessels sailing upon that sea. Now +will you leave the matter in my hands?"</p> + +<p>"Most willingly," I replied, "provided I am +not going to continue to be suspected of being a +malingerer and a liar."</p> + +<p>"Sir Alexander Godfrey, the Chairman of the +Company," he went on, "is a personal friend +of my own, and if you will allow me, I will +make a point of calling upon him to-morrow +in order to have a chat with him upon the +subject. I cannot promise, but I think I shall +be able to induce him to persuade his brother +Directors to either look over the matter, or at +any rate to make sure that you leave the +Company's service without any stain upon your +character."</p> + +<p>"But to do that I must be proved innocent."</p> + +<p>The old man smiled a crafty smile.</p> + +<p>"When you are as old as I am," he said, +"you will have discovered that there are ways +and ways of doing things. Leave it to me to +arrange and I fancy you will be satisfied with +the result."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_39" id="page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let it be so, then," I replied.</p> + +<p>"I am not a vain man," he said, "but I will +say that I do not think you could do better. +Now tell me how the pretty Miss Molly is."</p> + +<p>"She is very well indeed," I replied, "but +I fancy this news will be a disappointment to +her."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it," he answered. "It's just +at such times as these that the real woman +comes out. Egad! you youngsters think you +understand women, but, bless my heart, you +don't! And now you just trot back to Wiltshire, +and give my kindest remembrances to +your mother, and, well, if you like, you can give +a kiss to Miss Molly for me. Tell her not to +bother herself; that I will see you out of this +affair all right. I am very glad, my lad, that +you came to me. When you are in trouble I +hope you will always do so. Your father and I +were old friends, and—well, I am not going to +say anything further, but I'll tell you this; +if I had met your mother before your father +did——"</p> + +<p>He stopped suddenly and tapped his snuff-box +upon the table, then he rose from his +chair, shook me by the hand, and told me he +would write me immediately he had anything +of importance to tell me.</p> + +<p>I took this as a signal for dismissal, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_40" id="page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +thanking him for his advice, left him. Twenty +minutes later I caught the three o'clock express +at Waterloo, and in something under two hours +was back in Wiltshire once more.</p> + +<p>Molly met me half-way out of Salisbury, +and her loving sympathy cheered me more than +anything else could have done.</p> + +<p>"Don't be miserable about it," she said, when +I had told her everything; "there are plenty +of ships in the world, and lots of owners who +will value your services more than this Company +seems to have done. Remember, I believe +in you with my whole heart, dear, and if it is +decreed that we are not to be married for some +time to come, then we must wait with all patience +until that happy day shall dawn. When you've +had a little more holiday, you can begin to look +about you for something else."</p> + +<p>Could any man have wished for a braver +sweetheart? Alas! however, matters were not +destined at first to turn out as happily as she +had prophesied. I applied to firm after firm, +but my efforts in every case were entirely +unsuccessful. At last I began to think that if +my luck did not mend very soon, I should have +to pocket my pride and ship as second or third +officer, hoping by perseverance and hard work +to get back to my old position later on. This +eventually I decided to do, but even then I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_41" id="page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +not successful. The only line which could offer +me anything was in the Russian grain trade, and +the best berth they had vacant was that of third +officer. As may be supposed, this was a bit of a +come-down for my pride, and before accepting +it, for I had run up to London to interview the +firm in question, I returned to Falstead to talk it +over with my sweetheart. On my reaching home +my mother greeted me with an air of importance.</p> + +<p>"A gentleman has been to see you this afternoon," +she said, "a tall, handsome man. He +did not leave his name, but he said you would +probably remember him, as he had met you on +board the <i>Pernambuco</i>. He is staying at the +George, and is most anxious to see you."</p> + +<p>"I met a good many people on board the +<i>Pernambuco</i>," I said a little bitterly. "A lot +of them were tall and handsome. I wonder who +he can be?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head.</p> + +<p>"You say that he is staying at the George," +I continued. "Very well, when I have had my +tea, I will go down and find out who he is."</p> + +<p>In due course I reached the little inn at the +end of the village street. The proprietress, old +Mrs. Newman, had known me since I was so high, +and upon my entering her carefully-sanded +parlour, she bustled out of her little room at +the back to greet me. I inquired whether she<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_42" id="page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +had a strange gentleman staying in the house, +and she answered in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>"He is smoking a cigar in the bower at the +end of the garden," she answered. "If you +want to see him you will find him there."</p> + +<p>I knew the place in question, and, passing +through the house, made my way down the +garden towards the little summer-house in +question. Seated in it, looking just the same +as when I had last seen him, was the Spaniard, +Don Guzman de Silvestre.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_43" id="page_43">[Pg 43]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p>On seeing me Don Guzman sprang to his feet +and held out his hand.</p> + +<p>"My dear friend," he cried, "it is very good of +you to come here. I called at your house this +afternoon, to learn that you were in London, +but that you were expected back this evening. +Doubtless you are surprised at seeing me, but +when I tell you everything, I fancy your wonderment +will cease. Won't you sit down and let me +offer you a cigar? A more delightful spot than +your village I have never met with."</p> + +<p>I accepted his cigar, and seated myself in the +wicker chair he pushed forward for my accommodation. +What he was doing in our quiet +neighbourhood I could not for the life of me +imagine. But when I remembered the questions +he had put to me on board the <i>Pernambuco</i>, I +began to feel my hopes rising. It would be a +stroke of luck indeed if he were to offer me a +good berth, just at the moment when I needed +it so badly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_44" id="page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And so our mutual acquaintance, Captain +Harveston, played you a shabby trick after all?" +he remarked after a short pause.</p> + +<p>"He could not very well have done me a +greater injury," I replied. "What is worse, I +fear he has not only lost me my berth, but that +he has prejudiced other owners against me. Did +the ship strike you as being in a badly-kept +condition when you were on board?"</p> + +<p>"I never saw one better managed in my life," +he answered. "At the same time I must confess +that I am not sorry that Harveston has got you +your discharge."</p> + +<p>"As matters stand with me just now, that's +not a particularly civil thing to say, is it?" I +inquired with some asperity, for, if the truth +must be confessed, I was not in a very good +humour.</p> + +<p>"My friend, I mean it in all kindness," he +answered, "and presently I will tell you why. +Do you remember that story I told you on +board, about my acquaintance who had played +the vagabond all over the world?"</p> + +<p>"The man who was President of one of the +Republics of South America?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"Exactly, the same man."</p> + +<p>"I recollect the story perfectly," I replied. +"But what makes you speak of that man?"</p> + +<p>"Well, what I am going to say to you concerns<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_45" id="page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +that man. He has a very strong notion +that if he could only get his rival out of the +country in question, he might manage to win his +way back to his old position."</p> + +<p>"But will the other allow himself to be enticed +out of the country? That seems to me to be +the question. Besides, it's one of the rules of +the game, is it not, that the President shall never +cross the Border?"</p> + +<p>"That is certainly so, but circumstances alter +cases. In this affair, if the man cannot be induced +to go out of his own free-will, others must +make him do so."</p> + +<p>"Rather a risky concern, I should fancy."</p> + +<p>"Everything in this world possesses some +element of risk," he replied, "whether it is a +question of buying Mexican Rails or English +Consols, backing a racehorse, or going a long +railway journey. In this affair there is a little +more than usual, perhaps; at the same time the +reward is great."</p> + +<p>"On the other hand, supposing you fail," I +returned, "what then? You would probably find +yourself, in a remarkably short space of time, +standing against a wall, with your eyes bandaged, +and half-a-dozen rifles preparing to pump lead +into you. Have you taken that fact into your +calculations?"</p> + +<p>"I have not omitted to think of it," he replied<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_46" id="page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +gravely, as if it were a point worthy of consideration. +"Still, that is not what I am concerned +about just at present."</p> + +<p>"But what have I to do with this?" I +inquired, for, though it seems wonderful now +that I should not have thought of it, I had not +the very faintest notion of what he was driving +at then.</p> + +<p>"If you like, you can have a good deal to do +with it," he answered, blowing a cloud of smoke +into the air, and bestowing an approving glance +at his exquisitely made boots. "I think when +I had the pleasure of meeting you on board the +<i>Pernambuco</i>, you told me that you were engaged +to be married?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly am <i>engaged</i>," I answered, "but +when I shall be able to get married is another +and a very different matter. I've lost my +position, and with it has gone my hope of soon +being made a skipper. I can't very well risk +matrimony on the pay of a third officer of a +grain boat, can I?"</p> + +<p>"I should say that it would hardly be prudent," +he answered. "May I ask what capital you +would require to start married life upon?"</p> + +<p>"I should be perfectly happy if I had three +hundred a year," I replied. "I'm not a man +with big notions, and I fancy that sum would +meet our wants."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_47" id="page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Capitalized at three per cent., shall we say +ten thousand pounds? You are certainly not of +a grasping nature, Mr. Helmsworth!"</p> + +<p>"It would be all the same if I were," I +answered. "At the present moment I stand as +much chance of getting ten thousand pounds as +I do of getting a million."</p> + +<p>"I am not quite so sure of that," he said, +speaking very slowly. Then he looked at me +out of half-closed eyes, and eventually added: +"What if I were in a position to put in your +way the sum you want?"</p> + +<p>I stared at him in surprise. Then I grew +distrustful. Experience has taught me that +our fellow-man does not pay away ten thousand +pounds unless he is very certain of getting a +good return for his generosity.</p> + +<p>"I should be inclined to think that you were +jesting with me," I replied, when I had recovered +from the astonishment his remark had caused +me.</p> + +<p>"No, no; don't say that," he answered. "I +assure you I am not jesting at all. I very rarely +do so. I say definitely that it is in my power to +put that sum of money in your way. That is, +of course, provided you care to earn it."</p> + +<p>"How am I to do that? That may make all +the difference."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you needn't look so scared," he returned;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_48" id="page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +"the matter is a very simple one. All I require +in exchange for the ten thousand pounds is your +co-operation in a certain political act."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I understand," I replied, as the truth +dawned upon me. "The ex-President of the +South American Republic, whom you call your +friend, is in reality yourself, and you want me to +help you get back your position. Is that not so?"</p> + +<p>He nodded.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he answered, "and I pay you the +compliment of saying that I think you are just +the man to bring that result about. I have not +arrived at this decision haphazard. I watched +you very closely on board the <i>Pernambuco</i>, and +I have made inquiries about you since. It is +a piece of my usual good fortune that you +should happen to be disengaged at this particular +time. Had you not been, I should have made +you an offer, in the hope of having been able to +induce you to leave the Company's service, and to +join me. That would have been unfortunate, and +it might very probably have given rise to suspicion, +and suspicion is the one thing of all others I am +naturally anxious to avoid. In England they +do not appreciate the subtleties of South American +politics, and in consequence they are apt to look +at things in a wrong light. Would you have +any objection to assisting me to regain my +former position?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_49" id="page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It all depends upon what you want me to +do," I replied. "I have had no experience in +such affairs, and am afraid I should make a poor +conspirator."</p> + +<p>"There is no need for you to be a conspirator +at all," he said, with one of his quiet laughs, +"that is to say, not in the sense you mean. +All I am going to ask of you is the exercise of a +little diplomacy, and some of that nautical skill +which I am so well aware you possess."</p> + +<p>"In other words, you want me to assist in the +deportation of your rival from the country, whose +chief he at present is."</p> + +<p>"You've hit the mark exactly," he returned. +"That is just what I <i>want</i> you to do, and it is +for this that I am willing to pay the sum of ten +thousand pounds, which will enable you to marry +the girl of your heart. Now let me hear what +you think."</p> + +<p>"I scarcely know what answer to give you," I +replied. "I have never dreamt that I should +be asked such a question. It is all so unexpected."</p> + +<p>"Is there not an English saying to the effect +that it is the unexpected always happens?" he +inquired. "I want to have your decision as +quickly as possible, for the reason that, if you +don't like the thought of taking on the work, I +must find somebody else who does. I think I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_50" id="page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +know your character as well as any man can do, +and I am certain I can trust you."</p> + +<p>I thanked him for the compliment he paid me, +and then informed him that, before I could give +him a definite answer, I must hear more of his +scheme.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid it would take rather too long to +tell you just now," he replied, when he had +consulted his watch. "Won't you dine with +me? We could talk the matter over more +thoroughly afterwards. I suppose the landlady +can give us some sort of a meal?"</p> + +<p>As it was the evening on which Molly had her +choir practice, and I knew that I should not see +her until ten o'clock, I accepted his invitation, +on the condition that I should be allowed to go +home first in order to acquaint my mother of my +intention. He agreed to this, and I thereupon +left him and went off on my errand. As I +walked down the quiet little street, I thought of +the curious proposal the Don had made to me. +It seemed almost impossible that I, quiet Dick +Helmsworth, should be asked to undertake the +abduction of a South American President. So +far, I knew next to nothing of Don Guzman's +scheme; but I had a very fair idea of the risk I +should be called upon to run. Ten thousand +pounds was a very large sum; but would it be +large enough to compensate me for what I should<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_51" id="page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +have to undergo, should my attempt prove unsuccessful, +and I find myself in captivity? Then +there was another question. What would Molly +say when she heard of it? Would she approve, +or should I refrain from telling her anything +about it? This was a point I felt that demanded +most earnest consideration. Entering the house, +I informed my mother of the invitation I had +received to dine with Don Guzman.</p> + +<p>"It will do you good, my boy," she said +instantly. "You want a little cheering up after +the troubles you have had lately. Who is the +gentleman?"</p> + +<p>I informed her that I had met him on my last +voyage, that he was a Spaniard, and also that he +was presumably very wealthy.</p> + +<p>"I have only known one Spaniard in my life," +the old lady continued, "and I cannot say that +I liked him. Your father did not consider him +trustworthy. But there, your gentleman may +be quite a different sort of person."</p> + +<p>On my way back to the inn I pondered over +my mother's words. She had all an old +Englishwoman's innate distrust of foreigners; +but her innocent little remark had set my imagination +working. What if Don Guzman should be +hoodwinking me, and that there was more behind +his offer than I imagined? I then and there +made up my mind not to take a step forward<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_52" id="page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +until I should be thoroughly convinced as to his +<i>bonâ fides</i>.</p> + +<p>On reaching the inn, I was informed by Mrs. +Newman that the Don, or the foreign gentleman, +as she styled him, was awaiting me in the coffee-room. +Thither I repaired, to discover the table +laid and my host standing at the window looking +out upon the garden. He received me with +much politeness, and we presently sat down to +our meal together. During its progress nothing +was said regarding the scheme we had discussed +an hour before. The Don did the honours of +the table with the greatest courtesy, and in +numerous little ways showed me that whatever +else he might be, he was certainly a keen judge +of Human Character. As I have already +remarked, he had travelled in well-nigh every +country, and if his own accounts were to be +believed, he had met with some strange people, +and some still stranger adventures.</p> + +<p>Our meal at an end, he proposed that we +should go for a stroll, and to this I assented. +We accordingly left the inn, and walked down +the main street past the ancient village church, +until we came to the stone bridge that spans +the river. It was a glorious evening; the sunset +had been a brilliant one, and the last faint tints +still lingered in the sky. Under the bridge the +river stole noiselessly on its way to the sea; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_53" id="page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +swallows darted up and down its glassy surface +as if they were resolved to make the most of +the waning daylight; while, soft and low, from +across the meadow came the music of the church +organ, where Molly was instructing her boys in +the music for the coming Sunday. It was an +evening I shall remember as long as I can +recollect anything, if only because of the strange +events which might almost be said to have +dated from it.</p> + +<p>"I hope you have been favourably considering +my scheme," said Don Guzman, when we had +seated ourselves on the stone balustrading of +the bridge, and I was idly dropping stones into +the stream below.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've certainly given the matter my +consideration," I replied, "but I want to hear +something more of your plans, and to know +exactly what will be required of me, before I +shall be able to give you a definite decision. +Remember, beyond the mere fact that you want +to get this man out of the country, I know +nothing whatsoever of the business."</p> + +<p>"I promised you an explanation, and you shall +have it," he said. "Of course, before I begin, +I can rely upon your treating the matter as +strictly confidential, can I not? You can see +for yourself the position I should be placed in +were you not to do so."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_54" id="page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Most assuredly," I replied. "I pledge you +my word that whatever you may say to me +regarding this matter shall go no further."</p> + +<p>"In that case I will begin. First and foremost, +let me inform you that the country in question +is the Republic of Equinata. As doubtless you +are aware, it is a most prosperous and fruitful one; +indeed, I know of no other that I like so well. +I lived some of the most pleasant years of my +life there, and should in all probability be residing +there now if it were not for the treachery of +the man whom I thought to be my friend, who +became my adviser, and eventually ended in +ousting me from my position and assuming the +reins of Government himself. The name of +that man is Manuel Fernandez; he is about +fifty years of age, of iron physique, and I will +do him the credit of saying, of indomitable +courage. His subjects do not love him, but +they fear him, which is much more to the +point. Whether I was loved or not I am +unable to state, but the fact remains that a large +number of the population are most anxious that +I should return to them to take up my former +position. This I am very anxious to do, but I do +not see how I am to accomplish it unless the +present President is out of the way. Doubtless +I could enter the country by stealth, and sow +the seeds of another Revolution, which might,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_55" id="page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +or might not, be successful. But there would +always be the danger of Fernandez discovering +my whereabouts and putting me out of the way. +Now, my idea is this, if we could only manage +to get him out of the country, I could return, +rally my friends about me, prove his flight, and +proclaim myself Dictator. That done, even +should he return in the end, I should be +prepared for him."</p> + +<p>"But how do you propose to get him out of +the country?"</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what I want you to manage," +he answered. "With the plan I have in my +mind, and a little care, it should not be a difficult +matter. This is my scheme. Lying at a certain +port on the Florida coast is a large steam-yacht, +of upwards of a thousand tons. She is the +property of an old friend and sympathizer of +mine in the United States. He has offered to +lend her to me for the purpose in hand. Now, if +you are willing to assist me, you might go out to +the West Indies, join her at Barbadoes, and board +her in the capacity of a rich Englishman. You +steam away to Equinata, and go ashore, in order +to study the customs of her people. Most naturally +you would call upon the President to pay +your respects. You are invited to call again, in +the end you strike up a friendship, then one +evening he dines with you on board, or perhaps<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_56" id="page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +you meet him somewhere, and then—well, I will +leave the rest to your imagination."</p> + +<p>Here he looked at me meaningly, and I +gathered what his thoughts were.</p> + +<p>"And what is to happen to him then?"</p> + +<p>"After that you steam away to a certain +small island the name of which I will give you, +land him, and place him with some people who +will take charge of him until such a time as +shall be agreed upon. It should not be a difficult +matter, should it?"</p> + +<p>"No, as you put it, it is simplicity itself," I +replied; "but what about the officers and men +of the yacht? How will you prevent them from +talking? And, what is more, will they assist in +the scheme?"</p> + +<p>"They will be most carefully chosen for the +work," the other replied. "You need have no +fear that they will give trouble. Now what do +you say?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know what answer to make. Supposing +I am caught? What would happen then?"</p> + +<p>"You will stand a very good chance of being +shot offhand," he answered; "but that, of course, +is your own risk. It will depend entirely upon +how you go to work."</p> + +<p>"It would be running a terrible risk," I +answered. "I have the girl I am going to +marry to think of."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_57" id="page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If you succeed, you will be able to marry her +on your return to England," he replied. "Surely +<i>that</i> counts for something."</p> + +<p>"It counts for everything," I replied. "That's +the temptation; if it were not for that, I'd have +nothing to do with it. I must have time, +however, to consider the matter."</p> + +<p>"By all means," he answered, "but don't +be any longer than you can help. As I said +a few minutes ago, if you don't care about +undertaking it, I must find some one else. +Time presses."</p> + +<p>"In case I do take it on, when will it be +necessary for me to start?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"The sooner the better," he replied. "If you +can see your way to doing so, I should like you +to leave by next week's mail boat for Barbadoes, +where the yacht will meet you."</p> + +<p>"Will it satisfy you if I give you my answer +to-morrow morning?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to-morrow morning will suit me admirably," +he answered. "And if you decide in the +affirmative, my cheque for five thousand pounds +shall be handed you at once, and the remainder +on the day you deliver the President to the +representative whom I shall appoint. Do you +consider that proposition a fair one?"</p> + +<p>"Very fair indeed," I replied. "I could not +wish for anything more so."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_58" id="page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then we strolled back along the road until we +reached the lych-gate of the churchyard. Here +I bade him good-night, and he continued his +walk. On my part, I made my way into the +church, and seated myself in one of the pews +until the practice should be finished. From +where I sat I could catch a glimpse of my +darling's pretty figure at the organ in the chancel, +the light from the two candles on either side +illumining her face. When the practice was at +an end, she dismissed her boys and came down to +join me. Then, bidding the old verger a good-night, +we made our way home together. She +inquired how I had enjoyed my dinner, and +what my friend had had to say to me. This put +me in rather a dilemma, for, of course, having +given my word, I could say nothing to her +regarding the subject of our conversation. I +explained, however, that he had come down to +consult me on some important business connected +with Central America, and that he had proposed +that I should go over and transact it for +him.</p> + +<p>"He, at least, must have great faith in your +ability then, Dick," said my sweetheart. "I am +prepared to like him, even though he does monopolize +your society. I know you will transact +the business beautifully, and then perhaps it may +lead to something really good for you." She<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_59" id="page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +paused for a moment, and then added a little +nervously, "When will you have to start?"</p> + +<p>"Next week, if I go at all," I replied; "but I +have not yet decided whether or not I shall +accept his offer."</p> + +<p>"You must act as your own judgment dictates," +she continued. "I know that whatever you +decide to do will be right."</p> + +<p>All things considered, I was not quite so +certain of this myself, and for a moment I was +tempted to declare I would have nothing whatsoever +to do with it. But the money and the +knowledge that it would mean a wife and happiness +for me, if I succeeded, was a temptation +I could not resist.</p> + +<p>As may be imagined, I did not sleep very +much that night, but tumbled and tossed upon +my bed, turning the momentous question over +and over in my mind in maddening reiteration. +There was one side of it that was unpleasantly +suggestive. I had to remember that, if I were +caught, no power on earth could save me. My +own Government would certainly not interfere +in such a matter, while Don Guzman would, far +from taking any responsibility, in all probability, +repudiate entirely any connection with me and +the affair. Then, from this, back I came again +in the circle of argument to the one absorbing +question of the money. Five thousand down,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_60" id="page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +and five thousand when I handed over the +President. It would be a fortune to me. If +I had it, I need never go to sea again, and +Molly would be my——</p> + +<p>"Yes, by Jove," I said to myself as I sprang +from my bed, "I'll do it! Come what may, I'll +do it, and chance the risk."</p> + +<p>Having arrived at this resolve, I had my tub, +ate my breakfast, and after I had smoked a +meditative pipe in the garden, and had given +the matter a bit more consideration, set off for +the inn where Don Guzman was staying. He +had only just risen, and was about to begin his +breakfast when I entered the room.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, as we shook hands, "what +news have you for me?"</p> + +<p>"I have come <i>to accept your proposal</i>," I +said.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_61" id="page_61">[Pg 61]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p>"I am indeed glad you have decided to help +me," Don Guzman de Silvestre replied, when +he heard my reply. "I felt certain you would +accept, and I assure you I shall value your co-operation. +Would it be possible for you to leave +England on Wednesday next?"</p> + +<p>"If it comes to that I must make it possible," +I answered. "From what you said to me last +night, I gather that there is no time to be +lost."</p> + +<p>"The sooner we get to work the better," he +returned. "I will send a cipher message to the +States this morning, to ask my friend to have the +yacht in readiness. If you leave London on the +sixteenth you should reach Barbadoes on the +twenty-ninth. The yacht will meet you there, +and from the moment you set foot on board her, +you may regard her as your own private property +to use as you will. You will find her +captain a most reliable man, and he will receive +orders to do his utmost to assist you. He will<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_62" id="page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +discharge all expenses, and will be held responsible +for the working of the vessel and the +crew. You will, of course, be known on board +by another name, which we must arrange, and +you will be supposed to be a young Englishman, +of immense wealth, whose particular hobby is +yachting. In order to sustain the fiction, it +will be necessary for you to have a large and +varied outfit, which I think you had better order +to-day. I shall leave England a week after you +do, and shall go direct to the island, where you +are to hand the President over to me."</p> + +<p>"But you have not told me the name of that +island yet," I answered.</p> + +<p>He took a map from his pocket and unfolded +it upon the table. Then placing his finger on a +small dot in the Caribbean Sea, some distance +from the Republic of Equinata, he continued—</p> + +<p>"There it is! It is called San Diaz, and is a +picturesque little place. The man who owns it +is monarch of all he surveys. If we can once get +Fernandez there, all will be well. No vessels call +at the island, and, unless he likes to attempt a long +swim, which I should be the last to prevent, I +fancy he will find some difficulty in returning to +the mainland."</p> + +<p>Another thought flashed through my mind.</p> + +<p>"Before we go any further," I said, "there is +one thing I should say to you. It is this.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_63" id="page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +Before I take any hand in the business, I must +have your positive assurance that no violence +will be used towards the man you are so anxious +to secure. I could not be a party to anything of +that sort, nor could I possibly deliver him to +you if I thought you meant to do him any ill."</p> + +<p>"I will give you the assurance for which you +ask most willingly," my companion replied +without hesitation. "I merely desire to keep +Fernandez out of Equinata for a time, that is to +say, while I reinstate myself in my old position."</p> + +<p>When I was satisfied on this point, we discussed +various other details connected with the +scheme, and the part I was to play in it. It was +certainly a big business.</p> + +<p>"So far as I am concerned," said Silvestre, +"I'm going to be selfish enough to say that I +think it is a pity you are going to be married. +As President of the Republic, I could make your +fortune for you in a very short time. You +wouldn't care to bring your wife out to Equinata +and settle down there, I suppose. I'd like to +have a man beside me whom I felt sure I could +trust."</p> + +<p>"Many thanks for the compliment you pay +me," I replied. "I fear, however, South +American politics are a little too uncertain for +my taste."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps you are right," he answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_64" id="page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +meditatively, as if he were considering the +matter; "but you must at least admit that, as +compared with the House of Commons, there is +some life in them."</p> + +<p>"I should be inclined to substitute the word +'death' for 'life,'" I returned, thinking of the +stories I had been told of the thousands who had +perished during the last Revolution. "And now +I must go. I have all my work cut out for me if +I am to sail on Wednesday."</p> + +<p>"Before you leave me," he remarked, "I had +better give you this!"</p> + +<p>So saying, he took from his pocket a Russian +leather case. From it he produced a draft on a +London banking firm, which he handed to me. +It was for no less a sum than six thousand +pounds. This was more than I had expected +to receive. I therefore asked his reason for +adding the extra amount.</p> + +<p>"It is for your expenses," he replied. "For +many reasons it would be better that I should +not be brought into the business. You had, +therefore, better book your passage yourself. +You will also have to get the outfit of which I +spoke just now. That will cost a good deal. +What is left should suffice for your other +expenses, which, in your capacity of a rich +young Englishman, you will probably find +heavy."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_65" id="page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<p>This was generous treatment, and I said as +much.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," he answered. "Believe me, I +am only too glad to do it. I count myself lucky +in having secured your services, and I am willing +to pay for that good fortune. Well, now that I +have arranged matters with you, I shall return +to London and set the ball rolling in the various +directions. If you could make it convenient to +meet me on Monday next, I could then tell you +how matters progressed, and we could discuss +future proceedings together. Here is my address."</p> + +<p>With that he handed me his card, which I +placed carefully in my pocket-book with the +cheque. After that, having promised to call +upon him on the day mentioned, I bade him +good-bye, and returned to my own home.</p> + +<p>Great indeed was my mother's consternation +on learning that she was to lose me again so +soon. She had counted, she declared, upon +having me for another month at least. Molly +tried to be brave, but the effort was not a +conspicuous success.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, darling," I said, "we must put +the best face we can upon it. It is a fine chance +for me. If I am successful, we shall be able to +be married when I return, and I shall then be +able to give up the sea. So we must cheer up +and look forward to that."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_66" id="page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It should be very important business you are +to be engaged upon if you will be able to do +that," she answered, looking up at me with her +trusting, loving eyes.</p> + +<p>"It is most important," I answered. "The +biggest thing I have ever had to do with. Some +day, perhaps, I may be able to let you know +more about it, but at present my lips are sealed."</p> + +<p>"Tell me nothing but what you wish, dear," +she answered, like the good little woman she was. +"I am quite content to wait."</p> + +<p>After lunch she walked into Salisbury with +me, and did her shopping, while I visited the +bank, where I paid in my cheque, and then went +on to the tailor's to arrange about my outfit. It +is doubtful whether the firm in question had ever +had such an order before, and for once in my life +I took rank as a person of importance in their +eyes. They would have been more surprised, I +fancy, had they known the reason of my wanting +it all! The next thing to be done was to telegraph +for a passage to Barbadoes. This I did in +my own name, and, as the transaction was with +my old firm, I could well imagine the surprise +my communication would cause them. A letter +I had already written followed the wire, and +conveyed the passage money. After that the +matter was settled. I had nothing to do now +but to make the most of my time with my<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_67" id="page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +mother and Molly, before it should be necessary +for me to leave for London.</p> + +<p>When that day arrived I walked into Salisbury +and took the train to Waterloo. Thence I +made my way to the fashionable hotel at which +Guzman de Silvestre was staying. He was in +the act of going out as I entered, but on seeing +me he led me back to his sitting-room and carefully +closed the door.</p> + +<p>"I am very glad indeed to see you," he said, +placing a chair for me as he spoke. "I trust +your preparations are progressing satisfactorily?"</p> + +<p>"Everything is prepared," I answered. "I +shall join the vessel on Wednesday morning in +the docks. The receipt for my passage money +arrived this morning."</p> + +<p>"It does me good to meet so expeditious a +person," he remarked, with a smile. "I, on my +side, have not been idle. I have received a cable +from the folk in Florida to the effect that the +yacht will reach Barbadoes on the twenty-sixth, +where she will await your arrival. After that +I leave the conduct of affairs in your hands +entirely."</p> + +<p>"I trust I shall be able to carry it through," +I answered. "I only wish I had a little more +confidence in my ability to succeed."</p> + +<p>"You'll manage it, never fear," Silvestre +replied. "I am as certain that I shall one day<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_68" id="page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +see Fernandez coming ashore at San Diaz, as +I am of eating my dinner to-night."</p> + +<p>"And that reminds me," I hastened to remark, +"that there is still one thing that puzzles me."</p> + +<p>"And what may that be?" he inquired. +"Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may +think of. This is no time for half confidences."</p> + +<p>"I want to know why, with all your experience, +and the number of men you have met, +you should have selected me for this business. +Surely you could have discovered hundreds of +others better fitted for the work."</p> + +<p>"To be candid with you," he returned, "I +chose you because I liked the look of you. You +seemed to be just the sort of man I wanted. I +won't deny that I know lots of men who might +have been able to carry it through successfully +had it come to a pinch, but the chances are that +they might have failed in some little thing, and +that would have given rise to suspicion. I +wanted an Englishman, and one possessed of +the manners and appearance of a gentleman. +Allow me to pay you the compliment of saying +that in my opinion you combine both these +qualifications."</p> + +<p>"It is very good of you to say so," I replied, +"but I don't quite see what the appearance of a +gentleman has to do with the question."</p> + +<p>"I will explain," he said. "Fernandez, as I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_69" id="page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +have already told you, is an adventurer himself. +He knows the type, and, for that reason, would +be quick to detect a brother hawk. One suspicion +would give rise to another, and then, you may +rest assured, the attempt to remove him would +be frustrated. Now you can see why I want +some one who can play the part and yet not +rouse his suspicions."</p> + +<p>"And so I am to be a gentleman in manners +and appearances—and yet be a traitor in reality. +I don't know that I consider it altogether a nice +part to be called upon to play."</p> + +<p>"You must settle that with your own conscience," +he answered, with one of his peculiar +smiles. "Call it an act of political expediency, +and thus settle all qualms."</p> + +<p>After that I put a few further questions to him +concerning certain contingencies that might occur +in the event of the President obtaining an inkling +of what was toward. When all this was arranged, +I left him, at the same time promising to call +upon him on Wednesday for final instructions.</p> + +<p>From the hotel I drove to Mr. Winzor's offices +in High Holborn. He was not in at the moment, +but when I returned, half-an-hour or so later, I +found him ready to receive me.</p> + +<p>"Well, young gentleman," he began, after we +had greeted each other, "and what can I do for +you to-day. No more legal troubles, I hope?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_70" id="page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have come to you on two errands," I replied. +"In the first place I want to know what you have +done concerning Harveston and the Company?"</p> + +<p>"I have received a letter from the former +gentleman this morning," he answered, turning +over some papers on the table as he spoke. +"Let me see, where is it? Ah! here it is! In +it he states that, while he has not the least desire +to damage your reputation, or to prejudice your +career, he cannot retract what he has said, or +withdraw what was entered in the ship's log. +The charge of untruthfulness, he admits, might be +reconsidered, and he is also willing to suppose +that your neglect of the ship might be due to a +certain slackness which was engendered by the +easy-going habits of your late commander. In +conclusion, he begs to assure me that he has +never, at any time, entertained the least feeling +of animosity for yourself, but that, in reporting +the matter to the Company, he merely acted in +the manner that he deemed to be consistent with +his duty."</p> + +<p>"A preposterous letter in every sense of the +word," I cried angrily. "Not content with +injuring me, he must endeavour to reflect on +Captain Pomeroy, who is dead. Never mind, +I'll be even with him yet—the hound."</p> + +<p>The old gentleman permitted a dry smile to +appear on his face.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_71" id="page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I am glad at least to observe," he said, +"that you have abandoned your notion of taking +immediate action against him."</p> + +<p>"It would be impossible for me to do so, even +if I had any desire that way," I replied. "The +fact is, I am leaving England for South America +on Wednesday next, and don't quite know when +I shall be back. And that brings me to the +second portion of the business upon which I +desire to consult you."</p> + +<p>"Am I to understand that you have obtained +another situation?" he inquired. "And, pray, +what line of steamships are you now going to +serve?"</p> + +<p>"I am not serving any line of steamships," I +replied. "I am going out on private business, +and I want you, if you will be so kind, to take +charge of a certain letter I have written, and +which I desire shall be opened by the person to +whom it is addressed, in the event of my not +returning within a year. One never knows what +may happen in that part of the world to which I +am now going. Here is the letter."</p> + +<p>So saying I produced the epistle I had written +on the previous evening, and which was addressed +to my mother and Molly jointly. The +old gentleman took it and turned it over and +over in his hands.</p> + +<p>"I hope you are not going to get into any<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_72" id="page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +mischief," he said. "I mistrust that part of the +world. And now what else is there I can do for +you?"</p> + +<p>"I want you," I replied, "to draw up my will. +I have some little property that I should like to +leave to Molly and my mother. It is not very +much, but it would doubtless prove useful, should +anything befall me."</p> + +<p>"We will hope that nothing will happen to +you," said the lawyer. "At the same time I +will draw up your will with pleasure. What +have you to leave?"</p> + +<p>When the old boy discovered the amount of +my fortune his face betrayed his astonishment. +Knowing that I had not been left anything by my +father, I could see that he was anxious to question +me concerning the manner in which I had +accumulated this amount. Fortunately for my +reputation for truthfulness, however, he repressed +his inquisitiveness.</p> + +<p>"It is a very creditable sum for a young man +to have got together," he remarked. "Much +may be done with five thousand pounds. It +may interest you to know that I myself started +with my articles and not a penny more than a +hundred guineas to my name. To-day, however, +I fancy—but there, I understand that you wish +this amount, in the event of your death, to be +divided equally between your mother and Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_73" id="page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +Molly. And supposing that one survives the +other?"</p> + +<p>"In that case the whole amount must pass to +the survivor!"</p> + +<p>He promised me that the document should +be drawn up and forwarded to me for my +signature without delay, whereupon I shook +him by the hand and bade him good-bye. My +one thought now was to get back to Falstead +as quickly as possible. I grudged every hour +I spent away from it. Perhaps it was the +dangerous nature of my enterprise that was +accountable for it; at any rate, I know that I +was dreading the leave-taking that was ahead of +me more than I had ever done before. No one +could say what the next few weeks would have +in store for me, and, as it happened, that very +night I was fated to have a dream that was scarcely +calculated to add to my peace of mind.</p> + +<p>It seemed to me that I was standing in a large +yard, walled in on every side. Some tropical +foliage was to be seen above the walls. At my +feet was a large hole which I knew to be a grave. +A squad of slovenly soldiers, clad in a uniform I +had never before seen, were leaning on their +rifles, some little distance away, watching me, +while their officer consulted his watch. Then he +shut it with a snap and nodded to me. I was +about to throw down the handkerchief I held in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_74" id="page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +my hand, when there was a cry and Molly +appeared before me. Running towards me, she +threw her arms about my neck. Knowing that at +any moment the men might fire, I tried to put her +aside. But she only clung the tighter. Every +moment I expected to hear the rattle of rifles, +but it seemed an age before it came. Then the +soldiers fired, and Molly and I fell together, +down, down, down, and I awoke with a start, to +find myself sitting up in bed, my face bathed in +perspiration. Never had I had such a dream +before. More than twenty-four hours went by +before I could get the effect it produced out of +my mind. Molly noticed my condition after +breakfast and asked what ailed me.</p> + +<p>"Cannot you guess, darling?" I asked, having +no intention of telling her the truth. "Is it +likely that I could be anything but depressed, +when I am leaving you for I cannot say how +long?"</p> + +<p>"But you will be in no danger, and you will +come back to me before very long, will you +not?" she said, looking at me seriously, as if +she were afraid I was hiding something from +her.</p> + +<p>"Of course, dear," I replied. "Every man, +however, has to take his chance of something +befalling him when he puts to sea. I might go +to the end of the world—risk my life in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_75" id="page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +thousand different ways—only to return to +England to be knocked down in the Strand by +a runaway cab. I might go to the North Pole +and come back safely, to fall through the ice and +be drowned in the Vicarage pond. You mustn't +be angry with me, dear," I continued, "if I am +a little downcast. Let us try to think of the +day when I shall return to make you my bride. +Oh, how happy we shall be then!"</p> + +<p>"Happy indeed," she answered. "God grant +that day may come soon. I shall pray for you +always, Dick, and ask Him to send my darling +back to me, safe and sound."</p> + +<p>We walked as far as Welkam Bridge and then +home again across the meadows to lunch. By +the time we reached the house I had somewhat +recovered my spirits—but they were destined to +fall to zero again before the day was at an end. +It was a sad little party that sat down to dinner +that evening. My mother could scarcely restrain +her tears—Molly tried to be cheerful and failed +in the attempt; as for myself—though I joked +on every conceivable subject, save that of foreign +travel—my heart was heavy as lead, and my +face, I'll be bound, was as solemn as that of an +undertaker's mute. For the reason that I felt it +would be too much for her to leave it until the +last moment, Molly and I bade each other good-bye +that evening.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_76" id="page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>Next morning I rose early, breakfasted at seven, +very much in the same state of mind, I should +say, as a man who is about to be led to execution, +and at eight o'clock gave my dear old +mother one last kiss, and left the house with a +lump in my throat that came near to choking me. +I can see my mother's tear-stained face at the +window even now, as I waved my hand to her +before turning the corner of the village street. +Little did I dream then how much I was to +go through before I should see that beloved +countenance again.</p> + +<p>When the last house of the village was behind +me, I mended my pace and struck out for Salisbury. +It was a bright morning; the birds sang +in the hedges, the cattle grazed peacefully in the +meadows, indeed, all nature seemed happy but +myself. I turned the corner of the Ridge Farm, +and, passing through the chalk cutting, began +the descent of the hill that, when you have left +the cross roads and the gipsy's grave behind you, +warns you that you are half-way into town. As +everybody who knows the neighbourhood is +aware, there is at the foot a picturesque cottage, +once the residence of the turnpike keeper, and, a +hundred yards or so on the other side again, a +stile, which commences the footpath across the +fields to Mellerton. I was thinking, as I approached +it, of the last time I had walked that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_77" id="page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +way with Molly, and was wondering how long it +would be before I should do so again, when, as I +drew near the stile, I became aware of a girlish +figure leaning against the rail. My heart gave +a leap within me, and I cried out, "Molly, +can it be you?" Yet it was Molly sure enough.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Dick, dear," she faltered, as I approached +her, "do not be angry with me. I could not stay +away. I felt that I must see the last of you!"</p> + +<p>It was impossible for me to be angry with her, +even though, as she told me later, she had breakfasted +at six o'clock, and had been waiting at the +stile for me since seven. However, I satisfied myself +by promising her a good wigging when I came +home again, and then we set off together. How +short the remainder of that walk seemed, I must +leave you to imagine. It appeared scarcely to +have commenced before we had left the country +and were in the quaint old streets of Salisbury, +making our way towards the railway station. +We must have walked somewhat slowly, for, +when we reached it, I found that I had only five +minutes to spare. Over the parting that took +place when the train put in an appearance I +must draw a veil.</p> + +<p>Punctually at half-past eleven the train +steamed into Waterloo and disgorged its +passengers upon the platform. I immediately +engaged a cab and drove direct to Silvestre's<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_78" id="page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +hotel, where, for upwards of half-an-hour, I was +closeted in close confabulation with him. Then +I bade him good-bye, for it was part of our +arrangement that he should not accompany me +to the ship, and, having done so, returned to my +cab and bade the man drive me to the railway +station, where I was to take the train to the +docks. By three o'clock I was on board, and +endeavouring to convince myself that I was only +a passenger, and not in any way connected with +the working of the vessel. At a quarter to +four we were steaming down the river, and my +one and only adventure had commenced.</p> + +<p>How was it destined to end? was the question +I asked myself.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_79" id="page_79">[Pg 79]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p>It was a new experience to me to find myself +at sea as a passenger, to have no watches to keep, +and no round of irksome duties to perform. It +was a pleasant change to be able to turn into one's +bunk at ten o'clock and to enjoy a good night's +rest, after being used to leaving it at midnight +in order to go up and pace a cold and cheerless +bridge for four long hours at a time. I had a +vague premonition that I should be recognized +as soon as I arrived on board. Strangely enough +this proved to be the case, for I had no sooner +set foot on the promenade deck, before a well-known +voice hailed me.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa, Dick Helmsworth," it said. "What +on earth brings you aboard this hooker?"</p> + +<p>I turned and recognized the speaker as an old +shipmate, who, like myself, had once sailed with +Harveston. But, more fortunate than myself, he +had managed to retain his billet after so doing. +In reply to his question I informed him that I +was proceeding to Barbadoes on private business,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_80" id="page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +and that I profoundly hoped I had abandoned +the sea as a profession. From him I learnt the +names of the various officers of the boat. For +more reasons than one I was glad to hear that +they were unknown to me, and also that there +was only one first-class passenger for Barbadoes. +He proved to be an old French priest, and from +what I saw of him, I gathered that he would not +be likely to remember me, or, indeed, any one +else, when once he had left the vessel.</p> + +<p>A good passage down Channel and a smooth +crossing of the Bay carried us well on our +way. We reached Madeira in due course, and +afterwards settled down for the voyage across +the Atlantic. Among other things, I had to +familiarize myself with the character I was about +to portray. To be a rich young Englishman, +with a passion for yachting, would not at first +thought seem a difficult part to play. It was +not as easy, however, as it would appear. In +order that it might come the more naturally to +me, I determined to cultivate a manner while on +board. I accordingly spoke with a somewhat +affected drawl, interlarded my speech with +"Reallies," "Bah Joves," "Don't you know," +and other exotic flowers of speech, until my old +friend Kirby, the chief officer, found occasion to +remonstrate with me.</p> + +<p>"What on earth has come over you, Dick?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_81" id="page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +he cried. "You're as affected as a school-girl. +You'll have to come back to sea, my lad, or +you'll be developing into a masher of the worst +type. It's very evident that lying in at night +don't suit you. You ought to be back on the +bridge again, standing your watch like a man."</p> + +<p>"Not if I know it," I replied. "I've had +enough of that sort of thing to last me a lifetime. +Wait until you come into a bit of money, +my boy, and then you'll see how nice it feels to +watch others work."</p> + +<p>"Egad! I wish I could," he answered. "I'd +never trouble the briny again. Give me a cottage +somewhere in the country, with a bit of garden, +and some fowls to look after, and I wouldn't change +places with the Czar of all the Russias."</p> + +<p>Two days before we were due to reach Barbadoes, +I made a resolve. This, in due course, took me +along the alley-way to the barber's shop. As +soon as the passenger whose hair he had been +cutting departed, I seated myself in the vacated +chair, and when the barber asked me what he +could do for me, I put up my hand to my +moustache.</p> + +<p>"Take this off," I said.</p> + +<p>The man gazed at me in astonishment. My +moustache was a heavy one, and it was plain that +he thought me mad to want to get rid of it.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say, sir, that you want<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_82" id="page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +me to take it off," he remarked, as if he had not +heard aright.</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what I <i>do</i> mean," I replied. +"I want it out of the way."</p> + +<p>He thereupon took up his scissors and began +his work of destruction, but in a half-hearted +fashion. When he had finished I sat up and +looked at myself in the glass. You may believe +me or not, when I tell you that I scarcely +recognized the face I saw there.</p> + +<p>"If I were to meet you in the street, my lad, +I should pass you by," I said to myself. Then to +the barber I added: "What a change it makes +in my appearance."</p> + +<p>"It makes you look a different man, sir," the +barber replied. "There's not many gentlemen +would have sacrificed a nice moustache like that."</p> + +<p>I paid him, and, when I left the shop, went +to my cabin. Once there, I unlocked my trunk, +and took from it a smart yachting cap and a +leather case, containing various articles I had +purchased in London. One of these was an eye-glass, +which, after several attempts, I managed +to fix in my eye. Then, striking an attitude, +I regarded myself in the mirror above the +washstand.</p> + +<p>"Good-day, Mr. George Trevelyan," I +muttered. "I'm very pleased to make your +acquaintance."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_83" id="page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Really, bah Jove, that's awfully good of +you to say so," I answered in my assumed +voice. "I hope, bah Jove, we shall be very +good friends for the time that we're destined to +spend together."</p> + +<p>"That will only be until we get back to +Barbadoes," Dick Helmsworth replied. "After +that, Mr. George Trevelyan, you can clear out +as soon as you please. From that day forward +I shall hope never to set eyes on you again."</p> + +<p>I thereupon placed the eye-glass in its case, +put the cap back in the trunk, and relocked the +latter. After that I went on deck to receive the +chaff I knew would be showered upon me by my +fellow-passengers.</p> + +<p>Two days later, that is to say, on the twenty-ninth +of the month, we reached the island of +Barbadoes and came to anchor in the harbour +of Bridgetown. When I had collected my baggage, +I bade my friends on board good-bye and +made my way ashore. I had already carefully +searched the shipping, but I could see no sign +of any yacht, such as I had been led to expect +I should find awaiting me there. I did not +worry myself very much about it, however, +knowing that her captain had been furnished +with my address, and feeling sure that he +would communicate with me as soon as he +arrived. On landing I drove to the Imperial<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_84" id="page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +Hotel and engaged rooms in my own name. I +had intended adopting my assumed cognomen +on quitting the ship, but to my dismay I +learnt that some of the passengers had also +come ashore and were due to lunch at my +hotel. To have entered my name as Trevelyan +upon the books, and have been addressed as +Helmsworth in the hearing of the proprietor, +might have sowed the seeds of suspicion in his +mind. And this I was naturally anxious not to +do. Later in the day the passengers returned +to the steamer, and she continued her voyage. +As I watched her pass out of the bay I wondered +whether I should ever see her again. Before it +would be possible for me to do so, many very +strange adventures would in all probability have +happened to me.</p> + +<p>On my return to the hotel, I inquired for +the proprietor, who presently came to me in +the verandah.</p> + +<p>"I expected to have met a friend here," I said, +"a Mr. Trevelyan. I am given to understand, +however, that he has not yet arrived?"</p> + +<p>"There is no one staying in the hotel at +present of that name," he replied. "There +was a Mr. Trevelyan here last year, but, if my +memory serves me, he was a clergyman."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid it cannot have been the same +person," I said, with a smile. "By the way,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_85" id="page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +should any one happen to call, and inquire +for him, I should be glad if you would give +instructions that he is to see me."</p> + +<p>"I will do so with pleasure," the other replied. +"At the same time perhaps I had better reserve +a room for your friend?"</p> + +<p>"You need not do that," I answered. +"There is no knowing when he will be here. +It is just possible I may pick him up in +Jamaica."</p> + +<p>Having thus put matters on a satisfactory +footing I prepared to wait patiently until news +should reach me from Captain Ferguson. Though +I sat in the verandah of the hotel and carefully +scrutinized every one who entered, I went to +bed that night without seeing any person who +at all answered the description I had been given +of him. I spent the following morning partly +in the verandah of the hotel, and partly searching +the harbour for the yacht. I returned to +lunch, however, without having discovered her. +In the afternoon I went for a short stroll, leaving +word at the hotel that, should any one call to +see me, he or she had better wait, for I should +be back in an hour. When I returned I questioned +the head waiter, but he assured me that +no one had called to see either Mr. Trevelyan +or myself. Once more darkness fell, and once +more after dinner I sat in the verandah smoking.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_86" id="page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +The evening was far advanced, and once +more I was beginning to contemplate turning +in, feeling certain that Ferguson would not put +in an appearance that night, when a short, stout +individual came briskly up the steps and entered +the building. He was dressed entirely in white, +and had a broad-brimmed Panama hat upon his +head. He might have passed for a merchant or +a planter, but something, I cannot say what, +instinctively told me that he belonged to the +seafaring profession. After a few moments he +reappeared again, this time accompanied by the +head waiter.</p> + +<p>"This gentleman," the latter began, addressing +me, "wishes to see Mr. Trevelyan. I told +him that we had no one of that name staying at +the hotel, but that you were Mr. Trevelyan's friend."</p> + +<p>"That is certainly so," I said. "I presume +you are Captain Ferguson?"</p> + +<p>"That is my name," the other replied, and +when the servant had disappeared, he continued: +"May I ask whom I am addressing?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Helmsworth," I answered in a +low voice, at the same time motioning him to +be seated. "A certain gentleman of the name +of Silvestre, however, thinks I had better be +known by the name of the person whom the +waiter informed you had not yet arrived in the +island."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_87" id="page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In that case you are Mr. Trevelyan," he said +in a whisper, drawing his chair a little closer to +mine as he did so, and closely scrutinizing me. +"Perhaps you have something for me?"</p> + +<p>"I have a letter," I replied, thinking at the +same time that I had seen his face somewhere +before. "What have you for me?"</p> + +<p>"This," he replied laconically, and in his turn +produced a small silver coin, which he handed +to me.</p> + +<p>I rose from my chair and carried it down the +verandah as far as the hall door. The light there +enabled me to see that it was stamped with the +name of Equinata. I thereupon returned to the +captain, and handed him the letter Don Guzman +had given me for him.</p> + +<p>"And where is the yacht?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"In the harbour," he replied. "We got in +at dark, and she is coaling now as fast as we can +get the stuff aboard. When will you be ready to +start?"</p> + +<p>"Whenever you please," I replied. "The +sooner we are out of this place the better for +all people concerned."</p> + +<p>"Would nine o'clock to-morrow morning be +convenient to you?"</p> + +<p>"It would suit me admirably. How am I to +get my traps aboard?"</p> + +<p>"If you will have them sent down to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_88" id="page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +wharf I will arrange the rest," he answered. +"The boat for Santa Lucia will be in shortly +after daylight, and the hotel folk will naturally +suppose that you have gone aboard her. Of +course you understand, Mr. Helms—Mr. Trevelyan, +I mean, that in this matter I am acting +under your orders, and that I shall endeavour +to do all in my power to bring the business +upon which we are engaged to a satisfactory +conclusion."</p> + +<p>"You quite understand what is required of +me?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly," he answered. "My instructions +have been most complete."</p> + +<p>"And what do you think of it?"</p> + +<p>"I think you will have all your work cut +out for you," he replied. "Don Fernandez is +as sharp as a weasel and as cunning as a fox. +But perhaps it would be better for us to say +no more upon the matter, at least at present. +We can talk it over if we want to, with greater +safety, on board. And now, if you don't mind, +I'll bid you good-night. I've got a lot of +work to get through before we leave to-morrow +morning."</p> + +<p>We shook hands, and after he had promised +to have a boat ready for me at nine o'clock next +morning, he bade me good-night and left me.</p> + +<p>From the little I had seen of him, I liked<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_89" id="page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +the look of the man. He had a resolute air +about him, and it struck me that in him I had +found one who was likely to prove himself a +useful ally. But where on earth had I seen +him before? For the life of me I could not +remember. Lighting another cigar, I seated +myself, and once more pondered over the matter. +When the cigar was finished I retired to my +room to fall asleep directly I was in bed, and to +dream that I was abducting the Chairman and +Directors of my old Company, and that I was +flying through the air with them in a balloon +built on the principles of a motor-car.</p> + +<p>Next morning I was astir early, had had my +breakfast, had paid my bill, and had seen my +trunks on their way to the wharf, before a +quarter to nine. On my arrival at the water's +side, however, there was no sign of any yacht's +boat. Some distance out I could perceive the +Inter-Colonial mail steamer with a crowd of +boats about her, and a dozen cables or so distant +from her a handsome white yacht, which, +I gathered, was to be my home for the next +few weeks. I had just rewarded the porters, +who had brought my luggage down, and had +sent them about their business, when a neat +gig, pulled by four men and steered by a fifth, +came into view round the end of the jetty. +Pulling up at the steps below me, the coxswain<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_90" id="page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +touched his hat and inquired whether he was +addressing Mr. Trevelyan. Upon my answering +in the affirmative, two of his men jumped +ashore, and carried my baggage down to the +boat. I thereupon took my place in the stern +and we set off.</p> + +<p>"That, I presume, is the <i>Cynthia</i>, lying astern +of the mail-boat?" I said to the coxswain, as we +pulled out into the harbour.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, that's the <i>Cynthia</i>," he replied. +"When you get a bit closer, sir, you'll say +she's as fine a craft as you'd see in a long day's +sail."</p> + +<p>He certainly spoke the truth. The vessel in +question could scarcely have been less than a +thousand tons. (As a matter of fact that was +her tonnage.) To my thinking, however, she +was somewhat heavily sparred for her size, but +the coxswain hastened to assure me a better +sea-boat could not be found.</p> + +<p>Captain Ferguson met me at the gangway, +and saluted me as if I were really owner of the +vessel and not a make-believe, such as I really +was.</p> + +<p>"You will find your cabin prepared for you," +he said. "If you will permit me I'll show you +to it."</p> + +<p>Then, going on ahead, he conducted me into +the main companion, and through an elegant<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_91" id="page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +saloon to a large and most comfortable cabin, +evidently built and intended for the owner. It +was a gorgeous affair. Indeed, the luxury of +the vessel, what I had seen of it, astonished +me. I had overhauled many yachts in my time, +but had never seen one like this before. She +was as spic and span as if she had only just left +the builder's hands.</p> + +<p>When I had seen my baggage arranged, I +ascended to the deck, where I found Captain +Ferguson in the act of getting under weigh. +Ten minutes or so later, our anchor was aboard +and we were steaming slowly out of the harbour. +In an hour the island lay like a black dot upon +the horizon behind us, and a few minutes later +had vanished altogether. I was seated in the +cabin with Captain Ferguson at the time, and +when he rang the bell and ordered the servant +who answered it to bring up a bottle of champagne, +we pledged each other in it, and drank +to the success of our enterprise.</p> + +<p>"It's a small world, sir," he said at last, as +he set down his glass, "and few of us really +understand <i>how</i> small it is. I wonder what +you'll say when you hear what I've got to tell +you. I remember once being in Hong Kong. +It was in the wet season, and I was on my way +out to Japan to meet a boat in Nagasaki, that +I was to take over on behalf of the Company I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_92" id="page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +was then serving. On the evening of my arrival +in Hong Kong I went ashore to dine with some +friends, and didn't start to come off to the mail-boat +until pretty late. When I did I hired a +sampan and told one of the crew where my ship +was. Thinking that he understood, I took my +place under the covered arrangement that those +boats have, and away we went. Perhaps I may +have been a bit drowsy after the festivities of +the evening. I'll not say anything about that, +either way. The fact, however, remains, that +we had not gone very far before I became +conscious that there was something wrong. It +seemed to me as if the tilt, or cover, under +which I was sitting, was coming down upon +me. I sprang to my feet and endeavoured to +push it up, giving a shout as I did so."</p> + +<p>All this time I had been listening to him +with ill-concealed impatience. As I have already +remarked, it had struck me on the previous evening +that I had seen the man's face somewhere +before.</p> + +<p>"I think I can tell you the rest," I interrupted. +"A ship's boat happened to be passing +at the moment, and, on hearing your shout, she +came alongside and a couple of men in her sprang +aboard the sampan. I was one of those men. +We bowled over the owner of the craft, and +pulled you out from under the cover, just as<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_93" id="page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +you were about done for. Good heavens! I +thought I recognized you last night at the hall +door, and now you bring that adventure back to +my mind, I remember you perfectly."</p> + +<p>"And I you," he answered. "I've been +puzzling my brains about your face all night. +You had a moustache then, but I should know +you now again. I don't think, Mr. Trevelyan, +you will find me go into this business any the +less warmly for what you did for me that +night."</p> + +<p>"You were right when you declared it to be +a small world," I said. "Fancy our meeting +again and on such an errand as this."</p> + +<p>I then proceeded to question him concerning +the officers and men under his charge.</p> + +<p>"My chief officer," he said, "is a man of the +name of Burgin. He has seen a good deal of +rough-and-tumble work in various parts of the +world, and, as I have satisfactorily proved, can +be thoroughly relied on when it comes to a +pinch. The second is a young fellow of the +name of Brownlow. He took part in the last +Cuban expedition, and had a bit of fighting +afterwards in the Philippines. The crew number +thirty all told, and have been most carefully +selected. I have tested them in every way, and +feel sure they can be reckoned upon to do their +duty. Now perhaps you'd like to have a look<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_94" id="page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +round the vessel? You've seen next to nothing +of her yet."</p> + +<p>He accordingly conducted me over the yacht +from stem to stern, until I was familiar with +every detail. If I were to pose as a young +Englishman whose hobby was yachting, I could +scarcely have had a finer craft wherewith to +indulge my fancy. She was a Clyde-built vessel +of, as I have already said, exactly a thousand +tons; her length was not far short of two +hundred and fifty feet. Her engine-room was +amidships, and was as perfectly fitted as everything +else. The drawing-room was a model of +beauty, while the saloon was capable of seating +at least fifty persons. The quarters of the officers +and crew left nothing to be desired on the score +of comfort. Only on one question was the +captain at all reticent, and that was concerning +the identity of the yacht's owner. Her papers, +I discovered, were made out in my name, or +rather, I should say, in my assumed name, but +whether she was the property of Silvestre, or of +somebody else, I was never able to ascertain.</p> + +<p>Though Silvestre had informed me that, from +the moment I set foot on board, I should be considered +the yacht's owner, I had not attached +any great importance to the remark. I soon +discovered, however, that there was more in it +than I supposed. For instance, when I was told<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_95" id="page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +that evening that dinner was upon the table, I +made my way to my cabin, prepared myself for +it, and entered the saloon to find that I was +expected to dine in solitary grandeur. Two men-servants +were present to wait upon me, but there +was no sign of the captain.</p> + +<p>"Where is Captain Ferguson?" I inquired of +one of the men when I had waited some two or +three minutes for him to put in an appearance.</p> + +<p>"He dines in the officers' mess, sir," the man +replied.</p> + +<p>Resolving to remedy this state of things on +the morrow, and feeling that it was of no use my +sending for him that night, I proceeded with my +dinner without further remark. Accustomed as +I was to good living on board a mail-boat, I can +only say that, in all my experience, I had never +met with anything like the meal that was served +to me that evening. If Silvestre had given +orders that my comfort was to be studied, he +had certainly been carefully obeyed. When I +rose from the table I went to my cabin, changed +my coat, filled a pipe, and mounted with it to +the bridge. Ferguson met me by the chart-room +door, and expressed the hope that I had been +made comfortable. I told him that the only +fault I had to find was on the score of company, +and went on to say that I expected him for the +future to take his meals with me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_96" id="page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It would be out of place for a captain to +dine with his owner until he is invited to do so," +he said, with a laugh. "However, if you wish it, +I shall be very pleased to do so in the future."</p> + +<p>I remember that it was a beautiful night; the +sea was like glass, and the great stars overhead +were reflected in the deep as in a mirror. As I +smoked my pipe I thought of Molly, and wondered +what she was doing at that moment. That +I was a trifle homesick I will not deny. At ten +o'clock Ferguson invited me to his cabin, and +for about an hour we sat there discussing the +business that lay before us. He had never +visited Equinata before, but he was conversant +with the character of the country. Having procured +a chart from a locker, he made me aware +of the whereabouts of the President's palace; +showed me where he thought it would be best +for the yacht to lie, and various other details +that had struck him as being applicable to the +case in hand.</p> + +<p>"And now one other question: What do you +know of Fernandez himself?" I inquired, when +he had rolled up the chart and replaced it in the +locker.</p> + +<p>"Only what I have heard," he replied. "He is +an exceedingly clever man, and as unscrupulous +as any president who has ruled in South America, +not excluding our friend Silvestre. It is quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_97" id="page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +certain that if he has the least suspicion of what +we are after, ours is likely to be a short shrift. I +presume you thought the whole business out +well before you embarked upon it?"</p> + +<p>I answered to the effect that I had given it +all due consideration, and that whatever chances +there might be I was prepared to take them. +There was one question, however, that I had +been desirous of putting to him ever since I had +been on board, and now that we were alone +together I resolved to ask it, and to risk his +refusal to reply.</p> + +<p>"With regard to Don Guzman de Silvestre," I +said, "what do you know of him?"</p> + +<p>Somewhat to my surprise he was quite frank +with me.</p> + +<p>"I know very little of him," he answered, +"except that I owe my present position to him. +Of one thing, however, I am aware, and that is +the fact that he is not a man to be trifled with."</p> + +<p>After a while I bade him good-night, and left +him to go below to my cabin. Before entering the +companion, however, I leant upon the bulwarks +and gazed across the sea. Scarcely a sound broke +the stillness of the night; the monotonous pacing +of the officer of the watch, the look-out's cry, +"All's well," and the throbbing of the engines, +were all that broke the silence. I went over my +talk with Ferguson again. After what he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_98" id="page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +said it appeared to me that the task I had undertaken +was an almost hopeless one. One little +mistake and my life would pay the forfeit. +Failure seemed certain, and in that case what +would happen to Molly and my mother? They +would hope against hope, waiting for the man +who would never return. I told myself that I +was a fool ever to have had anything to do +with the business. What was Don Guzman de +Silvestre and his ambition to me? Why should +I risk my life and my dear one's happiness for +the sake of a paltry ten thousand pounds? In +sheer disgust I turned on my heel and went +to my cabin. Whatever my thoughts may have +been on deck, they certainly did not trouble me +very much below. I slept like a top all night, +and when I came on deck next morning I had +well-nigh forgotten my melancholy musings of +the previous evening.</p> + +<p>For the next four days our life scarcely varied. +I read and smoked on deck, chatted with Ferguson, +improved my acquaintance with the other +officers, and counted the days until we should +reach our destination. As you may suppose, it was +a welcome moment when the skipper announced +that we were only a matter of ten hours' steaming +from the Republic of Equinata. Next morning +a faint smudge was discernible on the horizon +straight ahead of us; by breakfast-time this had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_99" id="page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +taken to itself the appearance of land, and when +I returned to the bridge after my meal, a range +of mountain peaks were plainly to be seen. By +ten o'clock we were near enough to discern the +entrance to the harbour, and by half-past we +were steaming in between the heads, to drop our +anchor in the bay.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_100" id="page_100">[Pg 100]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p>La Gloria, the chief port and capital of the +Republic of Equinata, is charmingly situated on +the west side of an admirably shaped bay, and is +land-locked, save for a distance of about half-a-mile. +It boasts a population numbering upwards +of thirty thousand, of which only some ten or +twelve thousand are white, the remainder being +half-castes, quadroons, mulattoes, and negroes +unadulterated. The city possesses some fine +buildings, notable among which is the Cathedral +of San Pedro, a handsome edifice, though somewhat +damaged by the earthquake of '83. The +Houses of Parliament are also imposing structures, +as befits a land where every man is a +politician, and no boy knows what may be in +store for him. There is also the President's +palace, and, of course, an opera house, and +equally of course a long stretch of barracks, +where the soldiers would seem to spend their +time smoking cigarettes and hatching plots +against their superiors.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_101" id="page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> + +<p>As we passed through the Heads and entered +the harbour, it struck me I had never looked +upon a fairer scene. The blue waters of the bay, +the white houses peeping out from amid the +wealth of foliage, and the mountains rising tier +upon tier behind, made up as pretty a picture as +the eye of man could desire to dwell upon. We +had scarcely come to anchor before a boat put off +to us, pulled by four stalwart niggers, and carrying +a much-uniformed official, who sat beside the +coxswain. He proved to be the health officer—a +voluble little Spaniard, with a magnificent +idea of his own importance. As soon as his boat +was alongside he ran up the ladder to the gangway +with the agility of a monkey, and made his +way to the place where Captain Ferguson was +waiting to receive him. During the years I +had been in the South American trade, I had +managed to pick up a considerable smattering of +Spanish, enough at any rate to make myself +understood by the Dons. I was not nearly so +fluent with it, however, as was Ferguson, who, +I soon discovered, could talk the lingo as well as +any swell of Aragon. As soon as they had +transacted their business, the latter brought the +health officer along to the saloon whither I had +descended, and where I was introduced to him +as the owner of the yacht.</p> + +<p>"You possess a most beautiful vessel, señor,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_102" id="page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +he said, bowing before me as if he would never +be able to straighten his back again.</p> + +<p>"And you a most beautiful harbour and city," +I replied, resolved not to be outdone in the +matter of compliments.</p> + +<p>"Am I to believe that this can be your first +visit to Equinata, señor?" he asked as if in +astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my first," I replied in my best Trevelyan +manner. "I can assure you, however, +that I am charmed with it, most charmed."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you must wait until you have been +ashore," he continued, "then you will indeed be +surprised. The Plaza, the Almeda, the Opera +House, and the President's palace. Ah!" Here +he paused and gave an airy wave of his hand as +if to signify that, when I should come to view +these wonders, I might indeed describe the city +as being beautiful; until then, however, I could +not pretend to any real notion of its glories.</p> + +<p>"I shall be delighted to make its acquaintance," +I returned, "and also to pay my respects +to your most illustrious President, who, I hear, +is beloved by all his people."</p> + +<p>"Ah, the good President," said the little man, +but without any great enthusiasm. "And his +niece—the beautiful Señorita Dolores. I raise +my glass to the most beautiful woman in +Equinata." Thereupon, with his eyes turned to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_103" id="page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +the deck above, he drank solemnly to the health +of the lady of whose existence I then heard for +the first time.</p> + +<p>A little more desultory conversation followed, +in the course of which I managed to extract from +him, in a roundabout way, a quantity of information +of which I stood in need. Then the +little man hoisted himself out of his chair, and +with a regret born of a bottle and a half of +excellent champagne, stated his intention of returning +to the shore once more. Having fired +another salvo of compliments at me, he carried +this plan into effect, and we saw no more of him. +Half-an-hour later the Harbour Master and the +Chief Customs official arrived, drank more champagne, +with which you may be sure I liberally +plied them, smoked a number of cigars, praised +their city, their country, and their excellent +selves, but did nothing in the way of performing +their business, and in their turn departed for the +shore. Then I lunched, spent an hour in meditation +in an easy-chair under the awning, and +then, having ordered a boat, prepared to set off +on a tour of inspection of the capital.</p> + +<p>The landing-place at La Gloria is, or was, very +similar to that of most other South American +seaports. That is to say, at some distant date, +harbour works on a very large scale had been +commenced, but for some reason had never been<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_104" id="page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +completed. Possibly a Revolution may have been +accountable for the stoppage of the work, or the +President, or Minister of Public Works, may +have decamped with the funds. At any rate all +there was to show for the money voted was one +substantially built wharf, the commencement of +a pier, and a quantity of uncut stone, which still +remained, moss-covered and weather-worn, just +where the contractors had dumped it down.</p> + +<p>I landed at the wharf, and immediately dispatched +the boat back to the yacht. Trustworthy +though the crew might be, I had no +desire that they should hang about the sea front +and talk to the inhabitants. Then, leaving the +wharf, I made my way into the town.</p> + +<p>It was a picturesque place of the true Central +American type. The Calle de San Pedro, which +cuts the town proper in half, is a handsome +thoroughfare, and contains numerous fine shops, +warehouses, and merchants' offices. Indeed, the +scene in the street on that particular afternoon +was a most bright and animated one, and would +not have discredited Rio or Buenos Ayres. Half-a-mile +or so further on the street in question +enters the Great Square, in which stand the +Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, the Law +Courts, and, more important than all, so far as +I was concerned, the President's palace. The +centre is laid out as a public garden, and possesses<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_105" id="page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +a band-stand and many fine statues of the +heroes of Equinata in impossible garbs and more +impossible attitudes. Seating myself on a bench +in this garden, I took careful stock of my surroundings. +Opposite me was the President's +palace, with a sentry lounging on either side +of the gates. While I watched the latter were +opened, and a handsome carriage drove in and +pulled up before the massive portico of the +palace. After that the gates were closed once +more.</p> + +<p>I do not mind confessing that at this point in +my adventure I was at a loss to know how to +proceed. I might visit the palace and inscribe +my name in the visitors' book, but, so far as +I could see, that would not do very much to +help me. I consulted the card I had brought +with me, and on which was written the name +and address of the man to whom, so Silvestre +had informed me at our last meeting, I was to +look for assistance. His name was Don José de +Hermaños, and his address was No. 13 in the +Calle de San Juan. Before leaving the yacht +I had taken the precaution to make myself +familiar with the quarter in which the street +was situated, and had ascertained that it commenced +at the Houses of Parliament and ran +straight through the western portion of the city, +towards the foot of the mountains. I accordingly<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_106" id="page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +made my way thither, and having discovered +it, proceeded in search of the house in +which the mysterious Don José resided, or had +his place of business. Greatly to my surprise it +proved to be a wine merchant's shop, and I +accordingly entered the little square <i>patio</i> and +looked about me. On the left was what was +evidently the office, and in it an old man, engaged +on some mysterious manipulation of an +empty cask. I addressed him in my best +Spanish, but he took no sort of notice of me. +I called to him again with the same result. Then +having satisfied myself that the old fellow was +deaf, I touched him on the shoulder with my +stick. This had the desired effect, for he jumped +quickly round and stared at me in amazement.</p> + +<p>A more comical countenance than he possessed +I don't remember ever to have seen. He was +a mulatto, and, if one might judge from his +appearance, some sixty years of age. He asked +me in Spanish who I desired to see, and I replied +to the best of my ability that I was in search +of a gentleman named Hermaños. From the +signs the other made I gathered that the latter +was not at home. I endeavoured to question +him concerning him, but the old fellow was +either naturally dense, or, for some reason best +known to himself, pretended not to understand. +In another moment I should have left the place<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_107" id="page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +in despair, but, just as I was making up my +mind to do so, the sound of a footstep in the +<i>patio</i> outside attracted my attention. I turned +to find myself face to face with a tall, well-proportioned +stranger, with a black beard and +a pair of bristling moustaches. The old mulatto +forsook his task and handed the other the card I +had given him. He glanced at it, then looked +up from it to me, after which he politely returned +it to me, saying as he did so—</p> + +<p>"You desire to see Don Hermaños, señor?"</p> + +<p>"That is what has brought me here," I answered.</p> + +<p>"You come from our neighbours across the +frontier, perhaps?" he continued, still eyeing me +critically.</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, I have come by sea," I +replied. "I am an Englishman, as you have +doubtless already observed, and my yacht is +anchored in the harbour."</p> + +<p>"In that case permit me to welcome you most +heartily to Equinata," he returned, but without +any great show of enthusiasm. "Perhaps you +will accompany me to my private office, where I +shall be pleased indeed to be of any service I can +to you."</p> + +<p>I followed him across the <i>patio</i> to a door on +the further side. This he opened, and when +I had passed into the room, he followed my +example and closed it carefully after him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_108" id="page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How am I to know that you are the gentleman +whom I have been led to expect?" he began, +when I had seated myself and he had offered me +a cigar. "As wine of that particular vintage is +very difficult to obtain, you must see yourself +that I have to be most careful that I do not +make the mistake of giving information concerning +it to the wrong person."</p> + +<p>I thereupon took my watch from my pocket, +opened the case, and took a small piece of paper—which +Silvestre had also given me at our last +meeting—from it. This I handed to the man +before me, who read what was written upon it +very carefully, and then tore it up into tiny +fragments.</p> + +<p>"I am quite satisfied," he said, "and now to +arrange the matter you desire." Then, dropping +his voice almost to a whisper, he continued, +"Of course I recognize the fact that you would +not have been chosen for the work had you not +been considered a person most likely to accomplish +it. Nevertheless, I feel sure that you can +have but a very small notion how dangerous it is +likely to prove. The man in question mistrusts +everybody, and should but a breath of suspicion +attach itself to you, you would be in the cartel +to-night, and most probably in your grave to-morrow +morning. Though my opinions have +not changed in a single particular, I am not at<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_109" id="page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +all certain that it is wise of me to mix myself up +in it. However, I don't see exactly in what +way I am to get out of it."</p> + +<p>It struck me that the latter portion of his +speech was spoken more to himself than to +me.</p> + +<p>"Before we go any further, it would perhaps +be as well that I should convince myself that +you are Don Hermaños," I said, for so far I had +had no proof of his identity.</p> + +<p>He did not answer me, but crossed to a +writing-table on the other side of the room, and, +unlocking a drawer, took from it a book. Turning +to a certain page, he showed me a series of +portraits of the prominent politicians of Equinata. +One was a likeness of himself, and underneath +was printed his name in full—Don José de Hermaños, +Minister of Mines. I expressed myself +as being quite satisfied.</p> + +<p>"And now," I continued, "will you be good +enough to tell me how you propose to introduce +me to the Pres——"—here he held up his hand +as if in expostulation—"to the individual whose +acquaintance I am so anxious to make?"</p> + +<p>"As you may suppose, I have been thinking +of that," he replied, "and I have come to the +conclusion that it would be better for me not to +be personally concerned in it. As it is, I am +not at all certain in my own mind that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_110" id="page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +looks upon me with a favourable eye. I have +a friend, however, with whom he is on terms +of the greatest friendship. Through this friend +I will have you presented. It would be +better in the meantime if you will call at +the palace and inscribe your name in the +visitors' book, according to custom. After that +I will make it my business to see my friend, and +to arrange the matter with him. From that +moment, if you will permit me, I will retire +from the business altogether."</p> + +<p>"You do not care about taking the responsibility +of my endeavours, I suppose?" I said.</p> + +<p>"Exactly, señor," he answered. "You have +guessed correctly. To be quite frank with you, +I am afraid of being shot. I have seen the +gentleman we are discussing deal with his enemies +on various occasions, and his behaviour impressed +me with a desire to keep my head out of the +lion's mouth."</p> + +<p>"May I ask in what capacity you intend +introducing me to your friend?" I went on. +"Is it quite wise, do you think, to import a +third party into the transaction?"</p> + +<p>"There will be no third party," he answered. +"There will only be my friend and yourself. +As I understand the situation, you are a rich +Englishman, travelling in our country. You +have given me an order for some wine for your<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_111" id="page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +yacht, and as the leading wine merchant of the +city, and having the reputation of our country at +stake, I am anxious to do my best for you. I +also desire, for the same reason, that you should +enjoy your stay. What could be more natural +than that I should introduce you to a friend who +is also one of our most prominent citizens? You +need not fear, señor, that I shall be foolish enough +to compromise either you or myself."</p> + +<p>From what I had so far seen of him I could +quite believe the latter portion of his remark. +If all Silvestre's supporters were of the same +calibre, it struck me that he would experience +some little difficulty in regaining his lost position. +Hermaños was certainly as rank a coward as I +had met for many a long day.</p> + +<p>"In that case, I will make my way to the +palace now, and write my name in the visitors' +book. But how, and when, shall I hear from +you?"</p> + +<p>"I will communicate with you to-night," he +said. "I shall be sending you some wine and +cigars on board, which I hope you will accept, +and I will word the note that accompanies them, +so that you will be able to read between the lines. +It would be as well, I imagine, that we should +not meet again."</p> + +<p>From the way he said this I could see he +was as anxious to get rid of me as he was to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_112" id="page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +preserve his incognito. I accordingly thanked +him for his assistance, and bade him farewell.</p> + +<p>Recrossing the little <i>patio</i>, I passed into the +street once more, and retraced my steps to the +Great Square. Having reached it, I made +my way through the garden to the President's +palace. The sentries still slouched beside the +gate as I had first seen them. So far as I +could tell, their only object in life was to see +how near sleep they could go without actually +dozing off. Then I entered the palace grounds, +and walked up the drive to the marble portico, +where I entered my name in the book placed +there for that purpose. I had already practised +the new Trevelyan signature, and was by this +time able to write it with something of a flourish. +This momentous act accomplished, I left the +palace and returned to the yacht, feeling that, +although I had not so far made any very important +headway in the conduct of my enterprise, +I had at least set the machinery in motion.</p> + +<p>Summoning Ferguson to the smoking-room, I +gave him an account of all that had transpired, +furnishing him at the same time with my opinion +of Don José de Hermaños.</p> + +<p>"It only bears out what I said to you the +other night," he observed. "When a man +dabbles in Revolutions he is apt to burn his +fingers. It is very plain that this man Hermaños,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_113" id="page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +to use a popular saying, has taken the +length of the President's foot, and as a natural +consequence he is most anxious to keep out of +its way, lest he should be crushed by it. I don't +know that I altogether blame him. He has +calculated exactly how much he has to gain, +which may not be very much, and he is also +aware that if he fails, he has everything to lose."</p> + +<p>He then proceeded to inform me that the +yacht had been an object of considerable interest +to many of the inhabitants of La Gloria that +afternoon. It is doubtful whether such a handsome +craft had ever been seen in those waters +before.</p> + +<p>"If only we can get things into proper trim +ashore, they shall have an opportunity of admiring +her even more than they do now, and for +other reasons," I said. "We must have an At +Home on board, and invite the polite society of +the capital."</p> + +<p>An hour or so before sundown, the same curious +individual whom I had seen manipulating the +cask in Hermaños' office, made his appearance +alongside in a boat. He brought with him a +case of wine and a small box wrapped in paper. +I rewarded him, and dispatched him to the shore +once more. Then returning to the smoking-room +with the smaller parcel in my hand, I +opened it to discover what I had expected I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_114" id="page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +should find there, a box of cigars and a note +carefully placed inside. It was not a very long +epistle, and informed me that it gave the +wine merchant the greatest pleasure to comply +with my esteemed instructions, and to forward +me a sample box of the cigars, concerning which +his good friend, General Sagana, had spoken so +highly. Should more be required, his agent +would do himself the honour of waiting upon me +on the following morning to learn my wishes. +That was all!</p> + +<p>"That means, of course, that General Sagana +is the agent," I said to myself. "Well, let him +come as soon as he pleases. He will find me +quite ready to receive him."</p> + +<p>Next morning I was enjoying the cool breeze +under the bridge awning, when the second mate +came up to inform me that a shore boat was +approaching the accommodation ladder. Rising +from my chair I glanced over the side to discover +that what he had said was correct. A large boat +pulled by six men was approaching the yacht. +In the stern, seated beside the coxswain, was one +of the most curious little specimens of a soldier +one would be likely to find in a day's march. +His height could not have exceeded five feet, but +what he lacked in stature he made up in self-importance. +He was attired in full uniform, +even to the extent of spurs and a sword. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_115" id="page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +helmet with plumes was perched upon his head, +while upwards of a dozen crosses decorated his +breast. His face was small and puckered into +a thousand wrinkles; his eyebrows were large, +bushy, and snow-white; while a fierce moustache +of the same colour curled up in corkscrew twists +until it nearly touched his eyes. As soon as the +boat was alongside, he ascended the ladder to +the deck.</p> + +<p>"Have I the honour of addressing the most +illustrious Señor <i>Travillion</i>?" he inquired, after +a wrestle with the name, from which he imagined +he had emerged victorious. Upon my answering +in the affirmative, he made me a sweeping bow +that was so irresistibly comic that I had some +difficulty in restraining a smile. Then he continued—"Señor, +I have the honour to salute +you, and to offer you a hearty welcome to our +beautiful country. Permit me to introduce myself +to you. I am General Sagana, of the army of the +Republic of Equinata."</p> + +<p>He said this with as much pride as if his name +would rank in history with those of Napoleon and +Wellington.</p> + +<p>"I am deeply honoured by your visit," I +replied. "Allow me to conduct you to a cool +spot under the awning."</p> + +<p>An hour later, when he left the yacht, we +were on the best of terms. Moreover, I had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_116" id="page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +arranged that that selfsame afternoon I should +pay a visit of respect to Madame Sagana and her +daughters, who, as I gathered from his words, +existed only until they should have the extreme +felicity of making my acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"You must be prepared to stay with us for a +long time," he cried, with a cordiality born of +the best part of two bottles of Perrier-Jouet. +"Ah! believe me, we shall not let you go so +easily. We are hospitable, we of Equinata. +Farewell, then, señor, until we meet this +afternoon."</p> + +<p>Then he bowed once more in his best style, +descended to his boat, seated himself in the +stern, and bade his men row him ashore with +all speed, as there was business of importance +toward.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, bearing in mind the importance +of the occasion, I once more made a most +careful toilet, and having done so, returned to +the city. Hiring a vehicle of the cab description, +I bade the driver convey me to the residence of +the most illustrious General Sagana. In a whirl +of dust, and accompanied by a swarm of beggar +boys, we set off, and in something less than a +quarter of an hour found ourselves drawn up before +an elegant residence in what might have been +described as the suburbs of the town. After I +had paid and dismissed my charioteer, I rang the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_117" id="page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +curious old bell I found hanging on the wall +before me, and when it was answered, followed +the servant into a charming <i>patio</i>, in which a +fountain played, and from thence into a large and +lofty room, where, to my dismay, a considerable +number of people were assembled. It was fortunate +for me that I am not easily abashed. +Had this been the case, I should most probably +have furnished the fashionable world of Equinata +with a poor idea of the behaviour of an Englishman +of wealth and position. At the moment of +my entrance, the little General was paying considerable +attention to a matronly lady who was +so tightly squeezed into her chair that it seemed +she would never be able to move from it again. +Observing me, however, he left her, and hastened +forward to greet me, after which he led me across +the room to present me to his wife and daughters. +The former was a small, though more wizened, +edition of her husband; the latter, however, +were handsome girls of the true Spanish type. +Half-a-dozen other presentations followed, after +which I was at liberty to make myself as agreeable +as circumstances permitted and my knowledge +of the Spanish language would allow. Had +only the General's daughters been present, this +would not have been such a very difficult matter, +for the very few minutes I spent in their company +were sufficient to show me that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_118" id="page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +were both past mistresses of the art of flirting. +We were progressing famously, when the door +opened, and the ancient man-servant who had +admitted me, and who was older and even more +wizened than his master or mistress, said something +in a low voice to the General, who immediately +hurried out of the room. A whisper ran +through the company, but what its purport was +I could not discover. All doubt, however, was +presently set at rest when the General returned, +escorting with great pomp a tall, handsome man, +the possessor of a fine head and a singularly +clever face. He saluted my hostess and her +daughters with considerable ceremony, bowed +gravely to the remainder of the company, and +then looked at me, as if wondering who I could +be.</p> + +<p>"Permit me, your Excellency," said the +General with one of his flourishes, "to have the +honour of presenting to you Señor Travillion from +England, who, like so many others, has heard of +the glories of Equinata, and has now come to +our country in order that he may see them for +himself."</p> + +<p>Long before he had finished his harangue, I +had realized that the man standing before me +was none other than the famous President +Fernandez—Silvestre's mortal enemy, and the +man I was being paid to abduct.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_119" id="page_119">[Pg 119]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p>As soon as I realized the identity of the man +before me, you may be sure I did my utmost to +appear at my best to him. So much, I knew, +depended on his first impression.</p> + +<p>"I am exceedingly pleased to make your +acquaintance, Mr. Trevelyan," said the President, +in a voice that struck me as being distinctly +pleasant. "I fancy I saw your yacht from a +distance this afternoon. She is a handsome craft, +and, if I am not mistaken, was built on the +Clyde. Am I right in my conjecture?"</p> + +<p>For a moment I felt inclined to ask myself +how it was this man was able to discriminate +between a boat built on the Thames and another +built on the Clyde. I subdued the inclination, +however, and fell back upon my Trevelyan +manner.</p> + +<p>"Quite right," I answered. "She hails from +the Clyde, and, like most boats launched on that +river, she is a credit to her builders. I don't +know that I have ever met with a better. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_120" id="page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +hope I may be able to induce your Excellency to +pay her a visit, in order that you may inspect +her for yourself."</p> + +<p>"It will give me great pleasure to do so," he +answered, and when he had conversed with me +for a few moments longer, he left me in order to +pay his respects to a lady at the further end of +the room. I was not sorry for this, as it gave +me an opportunity of observing him a little more +closely. He was certainly a remarkable-looking +man, and each time I glanced at him the conclusion +was more forcibly borne upon me that he +was one with whom it would be better to be +on friendly terms than anything else. Although +there was an apparent kindliness in his manner, +one could not help feeling that it was only the +velvet glove masking the iron hand concealed +below.</p> + +<p>He remained in the room for upwards of half-an-hour +and then took his departure, not, however, +until he had crossed to me once more and +had repeated his desire to visit the yacht, in +order that he might inspect her more closely.</p> + +<p>"As I said just now, I shall be delighted to +show her to you," I hastened to reply, and thereupon +suggested that he should breakfast with me +on board the next day, and that with his permission +I would include General Sagana and his +family in the invitation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_121" id="page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are most hospitable, Señor Trevelyan," +he answered, "and if you will allow me I will +also bring my niece, the Señorita Dolores de +Perera. I am sure she will be most pleased to +make your acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"I shall be more than honoured," I replied, in +my best manner, feeling that at last I was making +real headway. "Would eleven o'clock suit +your Excellency's convenience?"</p> + +<p>"Admirably," he returned. "Let us then say +<i>au revoir</i> until eleven o'clock to-morrow."</p> + +<p>I promised that a boat should meet them at +the wharf, and then bowing to the ladies, and +accompanied by General Sagana, he left the +room. When the General returned he complimented +me warmly upon the success I had made +with the President.</p> + +<p>"A most remarkable man, Señor Travillion," +he continued, twirling his enormous moustaches, +"the most remarkable man Equinata has yet +produced. His career has, indeed, been an extraordinary +one in every way."</p> + +<p>"Indeed?" I answered, with an endeavour to +conceal the interest I was taking in what he said. +"May I ask whom he succeeded?"</p> + +<p>For a moment the situation possessed a flavour +of embarrassment. I was not aware that the +General had been one of Silvestre's principal +adherents, and that it was only when he discovered<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_122" id="page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +the fact that affairs were not as they should +be with his master that he had transferred his +allegiance to the stronger party.</p> + +<p>"His predecessor was a certain Don Guzman +de Silvestre," the old gentleman replied, but in a +tone that suggested two things to me; first, that +he was not aware of my connection with the man +in question, and secondly, that the subject was a +decidedly distasteful one to him. Realizing this +I did not attempt to pursue it further.</p> + +<p>Having formally invited my hostess and host +and their daughters to my little <i>déjeuner</i> on the +following day, I bade them farewell and took my +departure. It was evident that my visit had +been appreciated, and that some importance was +attached to it, for I found the General's private +carriage waiting outside to convey me back to +the wharf. I was careful to thank him for the +courtesy he had extended to me, and then drove +off.</p> + +<p>When I retired to rest that night, it was with +the feeling that my day had not been altogether +wasted. Behind it, however, was a decided impression +that President Fernandez was by no +means the sort of man to be caught napping, +and that, if I wished to trap him, it would be +necessary for me to have all my wits about me. +Moreover, I fancied that when I <i>did</i> catch him, +I should find him a somewhat difficult captive<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_123" id="page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +to tame. As is very often the case in such +matters, one apparently inconsequent remark of +his haunted me more than anything else that +had fallen from his lips. Why had he declared +the yacht to be a Clyde-built boat? Was it +only a statement made haphazard, or had he +some previous knowledge of the craft in question? +The mere thought that he might know +anything of her past made me anxious beyond +measure. The possibilities were that he did not, +but the fact that he might have an inkling +of my intention was sufficient to prevent me +from sleeping and to cause me to tumble and +toss in my bed, hour after hour, endeavouring to +find some satisfactory solution to the problem. +"I have seen what he can do to those who +offend him," Hermaños had said to me, +"and I confess the picture did not please me." +At the same time I could not believe that it was +possible that the President had any idea of the +real reason of my presence in Equinata. The +secret had been so jealously guarded that it could +not have leaked out. These thoughts, however, +did not prevent me from looking forward with +the greatest possible interest to the festivity of +the morrow. Immediately on my arrival on +board, I called Ferguson to a consultation. He +forthwith interviewed the chief cook, and the +result was the preparation of a repast that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_124" id="page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +promised to equal anything ever seen in Equinata +before.</p> + +<p>As you may suppose, the following morning +was a busy one with us. The arrangements +were most elaborate. Flowers were procured +from the shore, and with them the saloons were +decorated. A string band was engaged to play +on the bridge during the repast, and in the +President's honour the yacht was hung with +bunting.</p> + +<p>Half-an-hour before my guests were due to +arrive, I descended to my cabin and made my +toilet. I had scarcely returned to the deck +before I was informed by the chief mate, who +was on the look-out, that the boats we expected +were putting off from the shore. Ferguson stood +beside me and watched them come alongside. +Out of compliment to the President he had +caused the flag of Equinata to be hoisted, and +had drawn up a Guard of Honour from the crew +on either side of the gangway. The first boat +to come alongside contained the President, his +<i>aide-de-camp</i>, and a lady, whom I argued must +be none other than his niece, the Señorita Dolores +de Perera. The President was the first to set +foot upon the deck, and, as he did so, the band +struck up the National Air of Equinata. His +Excellency shook me warmly by the hand, and +then, turning to the lady who accompanied him,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_125" id="page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +presented me to her. I have met some very +beautiful women in my time, but I am doubtful +whether I have ever seen one who could compare +with the lady I then had before me. She was +slightly above the middle height, with raven hair +and dark flashing eyes, and carried herself with +the grace that is so characteristic of her nationality. +Her manner towards me was distinctly +cordial, and under its influence I began to think +that our luncheon was not destined to be as dull +an affair as I had feared it might be. I escorted +them to a cool spot under the awning, and then +prepared to receive my other guests. Upon their +arrival, we proceeded to the saloon for lunch. +That the President was impressed, I could +plainly see. He paid me many compliments +upon the beauty of the yacht, and vowed that, +when times improved in Equinata, he would +have just such another built for his own private +use.</p> + +<p>"How I envy you your lot, Señor Trevelyan!" +remarked the Señorita Dolores, when we had +seated ourselves at the table, and as she said it, +she threw a beaming glance at me. "How +beautiful it must be to skim over the seas like +a bird, to be always seeing new countries, and +receiving new impressions. Yours must be an +ideal life, if ever there were one."</p> + +<p>"I fear you have omitted to take into your<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_126" id="page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +calculations the existence of Custom House +officials, the engagement of crews, and the fact +that a yacht, however beautiful, needs coaling, in +order to be able to properly perform her functions. +There are also storms to mar one's pleasure, +Port Dues, Harbour Regulations, Quarantine, +and a thousand and one other little matters that, +though not important in themselves, are, nevertheless, +sufficient to play the part of crumpled +rose-leaves in your bed of happiness."</p> + +<p>"But in these seas you have all smooth sailing. +You came here from——?"</p> + +<p>She asked the question so innocently that I +felt sure it was without any sinister intention.</p> + +<p>"From Havana to Key West, and thence to +Jamaica, Barbadoes, and so to Equinata!"</p> + +<p>"And your plans after leaving here?"</p> + +<p>"I have scarcely formed any plans yet," I +answered, and then I added with a fair amount +of truth, "You see, Señorita, it all depends upon +circumstances. I may go on to Rio, thence to +Buenos Ayres, and perhaps round the Horn to +the Pacific Islands, or I may return to England +at once."</p> + +<p>"While we remain on here leading our humdrum +life," said the President, toying with his +champagne glass as he spoke, "and ending the year +almost as we began it, seeing few strangers and +interested only in our own little mediocre affairs."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_127" id="page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I fear your Excellency must speak ironically," +I said. "What grander or more interesting +occupation can there be in the world, than the +work of building up a new country, a country +which may ultimately take its place among the +greatest of the earth? While I am fluttering +like a butterfly from place to place, you are +guiding, helping, and benefiting your fellow-man, +and through him the entire human race."</p> + +<p>"You are an idealist, I perceive, Señor +Trevelyan," the President returned, with one of +his peculiar smiles. "Unfortunately for your +theory, my fellow-man does not always wish to +be benefited, as your words would lead one to +suppose. To my thinking he is very like that +noble animal, the horse, who, while being capable +of great things, must first learn the principles of +subjection. What say you, General Sagana?"</p> + +<p>"I agree with your Excellency," replied the +General with some little embarrassment, though +why he should have felt it I could not at the +time understand.</p> + +<p>I turned to the Señorita Dolores.</p> + +<p>"You are deeply interested in politics, of +course, Señorita?" I said, as innocently as I +knew how.</p> + +<p>"No, I do not mind admitting that I take no +sort of interest in politics," she answered. "I +find it better for many reasons not to do so. So<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_128" id="page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +long as I am not publicly insulted in the streets, +and the mob do not attempt to shoot my uncle, +or to come to the palace and break our windows, +I am content to let whichever party pleases hold +the reins of power. But there, I feel sure, +Señor Trevelyan, you did not come to Equinata +to talk politics. We must discover a way of +amusing you, and of making your time pass +pleasantly while you are with us, without that!"</p> + +<p>As she said this, she glanced down the table +at the two daughters of General Sagana, who +returned her smile with a look that said as plainly +as any words could speak, that if they were given +the opportunity, they would take care that my +time was spent as pleasantly as possible.</p> + +<p>All things taken into consideration, my little +<i>déjeuner</i> was a decided success, and the affability +of the President, when the ladies had withdrawn, +helped to confirm me in this opinion. Nothing +could have exceeded his geniality. He narrated +several amusing incidents connected with his +past life, and once even unbent so far as to comment +on a certain act connected with the reign +of his predecessor.</p> + +<p>"Silvestre was a clever man; a very clever +man," he said; "but, as events proved, entirely +wanting in a proper appreciation of his position. +Had he used his opportunities as he might have +done, he would, in all probability, be occupying<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_129" id="page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +the position he held then and which I hold +to-day."</p> + +<p>"And may I ask what has become of him?" I +inquired, not without some curiosity as to what +his answer would be.</p> + +<p>The President, however, shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No one seems to have any idea where he is," +he said. "After the last crisis he disappeared +from Equinata, but where he went I cannot tell +you. Very probably he is dead. Men of his +calibre do not, as a rule, make old bones."</p> + +<p>His manner was so open, his speech so frank, +that my suspicions that he was aware of my +errand in his capital were fast dying away.</p> + +<p>Later on we left the saloon and joined the +ladies on deck. A cool wind was blowing, and it +was very pleasant under the awnings. After +half-an-hour's conversation, followed by an inspection +of the yacht, the President declared his +intention of returning to the shore. The boats +were accordingly ordered alongside, whereupon, +having thanked me for my hospitality, the +President and the Señorita, attended by their +<i>aide-de-camp</i>, the latter a great lady-killer, took +their departure. General Sagana and his party +followed suit a little later, and then I was free +to discuss the success of our entertainment with +Ferguson.</p> + +<p>"If all goes on as it is doing now," I said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_130" id="page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +lighting a fresh cigar, and handing my case to +him, "it should not prove a very difficult matter +to inveigle him on board to dinner some night, +when we might settle the affair once and for all."</p> + +<p>"Unfortunately, the chances are a hundred to +one that, if he came, he would bring an <i>aide</i> with +him, as he did to-day. What should we do +then?"</p> + +<p>"Take the <i>aide</i> to the island with us," I +replied promptly. "One more prisoner would +make little or no difference to Silvestre."</p> + +<p>Next morning I was the recipient of an invitation +from the President to dine at the palace on +the Thursday following. Needless to say, I +hastened to accept, and in due course presented +myself at his Excellency's magnificent abode. +I was met in the hall by the <i>aide-de-camp</i> who +had breakfasted with us on board the yacht, and +by him was conducted to the great drawing-room +where the President and his niece were +receiving their guests. Some thirty or forty +people were present, among the number being +General Sagana and Madame, and their two fair +daughters, who welcomed me like old friends. +The President took the General's wife in to dinner, +while, for some reason best known to them, I was +permitted the honour of escorting the Señorita.</p> + +<p>"So you have not grown tired of Equinata +yet, Señor Trevelyan?" said my fair companion,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_131" id="page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +as we made our way in our turn along the stately +hall in the direction of the dining-room.</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, I grow more charmed with +it every day," I replied. "Who could help +liking it, when its citizens are so hospitable to +strangers?"</p> + +<p>"Before you praise us, remember that you set +us a charming example," she continued. "It +will be long before I forget the pleasant morning +we spent on board your yacht. I can assure you +that my uncle also looks back on it with the +greatest pleasure."</p> + +<p>"I trust it may not be the last time he will +visit her," I answered, with more truth than is +usually attachable to an idle compliment.</p> + +<p>The room in which we dined was a magnificent +apartment, furnished with a grandeur that gave +it an almost regal dignity. The President's <i>chef</i> +was evidently a treasure, for the dinner could +scarcely have been excelled. During its progress +the President addressed himself on several occasions +to me, and invited me to accompany him +on a visit to some celebrated copper mines in the +neighbourhood, also to a review of the troops +which was to take place in the Great Square in a +week's time. As may be supposed, I was quick +to accept both invitations.</p> + +<p>"And at the end of the week there is to be +a grand ball at the Opera House," the Señorita<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_132" id="page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +continued, when her uncle had finished speaking. +"It is in aid of the convent of the Little Sisters +of the Poor, and is one of our recognized gaieties +of the year. I wonder if we shall be able to +persuade you to be present?"</p> + +<p>"I shall be more than delighted," I replied. +"That is, of course, provided I am not compelled +to leave Equinata in the meantime."</p> + +<p>"You must not leave us too soon," she said, +and then paused and examined her plate attentively. +I was about to answer her, when her +attention was attracted by her neighbour on her +right, and I was accordingly left to my own +thoughts.</p> + +<p>I looked down the long table, glittering with +glass and plate, and as I did so, I endeavoured +to apprize the value of my extraordinary position. +Who at that board could have guessed the errand +in Equinata of the man whom, doubtless, so +many of them envied for his wealth and for his +magnificent floating home? I could not help +wondering what my own feelings would have +been had I known only three months or so +before, when I was standing watch as a mail-boat +officer, that in a few short weeks I should be the +honoured guest of the President of the Republic +of Equinata, and the presumptive owner of a +yacht valued at upwards of a hundred thousand +pounds.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_133" id="page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>I looked across the room and examined the +pictures hanging upon the walls. That exactly +opposite me riveted my attention. I felt that +I could not be mistaken as to the likeness. It +was the portrait of Don Guzman de Silvestre, +and the artist had managed to depict him to the +life. How it called me back to other days! As +I looked at it, I seemed to be sitting in the old +inn garden at Falstead, listening to his instructions +for the campaign, and wondering how long +Molly would be at the choir practice.</p> + +<p>"You have suddenly become very silent, Señor +Trevelyan," said the Señorita, rousing me from +my reverie.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking that I shall often look back +with pleasure upon this evening," I replied.</p> + +<p>The look she gave me would probably have +encouraged many men to embark on a course +of the maddest flirtation. I, however, was +adamant.</p> + +<p>"In reality," she said, "I suppose you are +like all the other visitors we have, and, as soon +as you are away from Equinata, you will forget +us altogether."</p> + +<p>"I assure you I shall never forget your +beautiful city as long as I live," I answered, and +with more truth than she imagined.</p> + +<p>She threw a quick glance at me and then, +looking down the dinner-table, gave the signal<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_134" id="page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +to the ladies to rise. I must confess here that +the Señorita interested me very strangely. At +first I had thought her merely a very beautiful +woman, well fitted by nature to perform the +difficult task asked of her; it was not long, +however, before I came to have a somewhat +better understanding of her real abilities. In +what light I regard her now, you will be able to +realize for yourself when you have read my story.</p> + +<p>As had been arranged, three days after the +dinner I have just described, I accompanied the +President and a considerable party to the famous +copper mines in the mountain range that began +behind the city and extended well-nigh to the +further limit of the Republic. We were only +absent three days, yet in that short space of +time I was permitted an opportunity of +studying the real character and personality of +Equinata's ruler more closely than I had yet +done. At first I must confess I had been +prepared to dislike him, but little by little, so +gradually indeed that I scarcely noticed the +change, I found that he was managing to overcome +my prejudices. Under the influence of +these new impressions I also began to see my +own part of the business in a new light. From +what Silvestre had said to me, I had up to that +time regarded him as a traitor to his friends, and +as a tyrant and enemy to his country. I now<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_135" id="page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +discovered that he was neither the one nor the +other. He ruled according to his lights, and if +he held his people in an iron grip, it was for the +good and sufficient reason that he knew their +character, and the sort of government they +required. My own position, when I came to +overhaul it properly, I discovered to be by no +means edifying. I accepted his hospitality and +his kindnesses, yet I was only waiting my chance +to prove myself a traitor of the worst kind. I +was posing as his friend, yet at the same time +was preparing to prove myself his worst enemy. +Such thoughts as these kept me company by day +and night, and made me regard myself with a +contempt such as I had never dreamed of before. +And yet I knew that, at any hazard, I must +go through with it. Had I not taken Silvestre's +money and pledged myself to serve him? Therefore +I could not draw back.</p> + +<p>On our return to the city from the mountains, +I was present at the review of the troops in the +Great Square, and witnessed the redoubtable army +of Equinata, headed by General Sagana, as you +may suppose in the fullest of full uniforms, march +by and salute its chief. That ceremony over, I +returned to the yacht to while away the hours +as best I could until it should be time to dress +for the great ball that was to take place at the +Opera House that evening.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_136" id="page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having rigged myself out for the occasion, I +was rowed ashore, and, as I had plenty of time +to spare, I determined to walk to the Great +Square in preference to taking a cab. To do +this it was necessary for me to pass a certain +fashionable <i>café</i>, whose little tables decorated the +broad pavement outside. At one of these tables +two men were seated, playing dominoes as they +sipped their coffee. One of them looked up at +me as I passed. As my eyes fell on his face +I gave a start, for I recognized him instantly +as a well-known Rio merchant, who had made +several voyages with me in the old <i>Pernambuco</i>, +and with whom I had been on the most friendly +terms. He stared at me as if he thought he +ought to know my face, but, I suppose on account +of the absence of my moustache, could not quite +remember where he had seen it last.</p> + +<p>I hurried on, with my heart in my mouth, as +the saying has it, but I had not gone very far +ere I heard some one bustling after me. A few +seconds later a hand was laid upon my arm, +and I turned to find the individual I had seen +seated at the table standing before me.</p> + +<p>"Ten t'ousand pardons, señor," he began +in English, "but am I mistaken if I say your +name is 'Elmsworth?"</p> + +<p>I had to make up my mind.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid you're making some little mistake,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_137" id="page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +I replied, and then added what was +worse than a lie, that is to say, a half-truth, "I +know no one of the name of 'Elmsworth."</p> + +<p>"Den I must beg of you ten t'ousand more +bardons," he continued. "I t'ought you vas one +of mine old vriends dot I vas at sea mit. Forgive +me dat I interrupt you in your valk."</p> + +<p>I willingly forgave him and passed on.</p> + +<p>The question that kept me company for the +rest of the evening was—Had my assurance +satisfied him? If not, what would he be likely +to do?</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_138" id="page_138">[Pg 138]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p>So long as I may live I shall never forget the +ball at which I was present that night. The +scene was gay beyond description. All the Rank +and Fashion of La Gloria, and one might almost +say of Equinata, were assembled there. When +the dancing had been in progress for some time, +the President and the Señorita Dolores put in an +appearance and were received by the committee +to the strains of the National Air. I must +confess that Fernandez made a most imposing +figure, with his broad ribbon of the Order of La +Gloria, and his wealth of foreign decorations. +As for his companion, it would be difficult for +a mere male mortal to find words in which to +describe the picture she presented. As soon as +it was permissible I crossed the room to her +and humbly asked her for a dance. She was +graciously pleased to give me one, and presently +we found ourselves circling round the room +together to the music of a long swinging waltz, +excellently played. Afterwards I escorted her<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_139" id="page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +from the ball-room into the balcony. It was a +lovely night, and so still, that in the pauses of +the music the sound of the waves upon the +beach could be distinctly heard, though more +than a mile away. I procured my companion's +mantilla for her, with which she draped her head +and neck, with characteristic grace. Never, I +am inclined to believe, had she looked lovelier +than she did at that moment, and when she +leant upon the balustrading of the balcony, and +looked across the city towards the mountains, +behind which the moon was rising, I vowed +that I had never beheld a fairer picture. Few +men could have stood beside her then and not +have felt the fascination of her presence.</p> + +<p>"Señor Trevelyan," she said meditatively, in +a voice that was as low and musical as the deep +notes of a guitar, "what a strange thing is +life! You and I stand here together now. +Out of the infinite you hold my attention for +minutes that never can be recalled. Later we +shall separate, and then you will go your way, +and I shall go mine. In all probability we shall +never meet again—yet through Eternity our +destinies will be linked, like the strands of a +rope, by the remembrance of a few minutes' +conversation on a certain moonlight night in +Equinata."</p> + +<p>I must confess that this sudden seriousness on<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_140" id="page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +her part puzzled me considerably. A moment +before she had been all gaiety, a few seconds +later she was gravity personified. The change +was so instantaneous that I found it difficult to +follow her.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I must be very obtuse," I +stammered, "but I cannot say that I have quite +caught your meaning."</p> + +<p>"I am not sure that I know it myself," she +replied. "The beauty of the night has taken +hold of me. The rising of the moon always has +a curious effect upon me. I am afraid you will +think me very absurd, but people say I have +a strange way of looking at things. I was +thinking of our life. Consider for a moment +how much we are governed by Chance. We +meet some one we like, some one whom we +believe might prove a good friend if ever occasion +should arise. He, or she, crosses our path, tarries +perhaps for a moment with us, and then vanishes, +never to be seen by us again."</p> + +<p>"But we have the consolation of recollection +left us," I replied, more impressed than ever by +her curious mood. "Every day we put away +impressions in memory's store-house—mental +photographs, may I call them—which will conjure +up the Past for us in fifty years' time if need +be. Think of the impression I am receiving at +this moment. It will never be effaced. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_141" id="page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +scent of the orange blossoms, the glorious moonlight, +the music of the ball-room yonder, and you +leaning upon the balustrading looking down +upon the sleeping city. The picture will still be +with me even though I have the misfortune to be +many thousand miles from La Gloria. In fifty +years' time I may be in an English village, in a +Chinese seaport, or on the South African Karroo; +then the shimmer of the moonlight on a leaf—a +chance strain of music—even a piece of black +lace, like that of your mantilla—will be sufficient +to bring the whole scene before my mind's +eye. In a flash I shall be transported to this +balcony, and you will be standing beside me +once more."</p> + +<p>It seemed to me that she gave a little shiver +as I said this.</p> + +<p>"If your mental photographs are to be so +vivid," she continued, "what a sorry figure I +shall cut in them, if through all time I continue +to talk as I have been doing to-night." Then +changing her manner, she went on, "I fear you +will soon grow tired of Equinata."</p> + +<p>"That could never be," I replied. "I only +wish it were in my power to stay longer."</p> + +<p>"When do you think it will be necessary for +you to leave?" she inquired, as if the question +were one of the utmost importance.</p> + +<p>"It is difficult to say," I answered. "I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_142" id="page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +afraid, however, it will not be many more +days. I have received information concerning +some rather important business that may possibly +necessitate my leaving for Europe almost +immediately."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to hear that," she said meditatively. +"We had looked forward to enjoying +the pleasure of your society for some time to +come."</p> + +<p>She spoke as if I were an old friend whom she +feared to lose. Had a stranger been present, he +or she would have found it difficult to believe +that a fortnight before we had never set eyes on +each other. There are many men in the world +who, had they been in my place, would doubtless +have been charmed, and perhaps more than +charmed, by the interest she displayed in my +doings. She was a vastly pretty woman, dangerously +pretty in fact, but even her tender interest +in my affairs was not sufficient to shake my +equilibrium. Ten minutes or so later we returned +to the ball-room, and I surrendered her +to the partner who came to claim her. Having +done so, I was walking towards the further end +of the room, when the President accosted me. +He was in a most affable mood, and was evidently +disposed for a chat.</p> + +<p>"You do not appear to be dancing very much, +Señor Trevelyan," he said, dropping into English,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_143" id="page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +as was his wont when we were alone together. +"Is it possible you feel inclined for a cigar?"</p> + +<p>"I am more than inclined," I replied, "I am +pining for one. I never was much of a dancing +man. The hard sort of life I have been compelled +to lead has not permitted me much opportunity +for practising that graceful art."</p> + +<p>The words had no sooner escaped my lips than +I realized what a slip I had made. So far as he +was aware, I was, to all intents and purposes, a +rich young Englishman, and should be without +a care in the world. It would therefore seem +to him strange that I should not have had +much chance of perfecting my knowledge of +the terpsichorean art.</p> + +<p>"I mean to say," I went on, as we made our +way across the grand lobby to the smoking-room, +"that after I left school, I was for some time +abroad, and—well, the fact of the matter is, I +never laid myself out very much for ladies' +society."</p> + +<p>"I think I understand," he replied gravely. +"Like myself, you prefer to look for your amusements +in other directions. Your passion for the +sea I can quite appreciate, but I think, were I in +your place, I should prefer a somewhat larger +craft than your yacht. A mail-boat, for instance, +such as the <i>Pernambuco</i>—or the <i>Amantillado</i> +would come somewhat nearer the mark."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_144" id="page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was nothing remarkable in what he said, +and his voice never for a second rose above its +customary pitch. Nevertheless, I looked at him +in overwhelming astonishment. It seemed to +me his words were spoken with a deliberate +intent, and were meant to have a definite value +placed upon them. It was not the first time I +had had the impression forced upon me, and it +was not a pleasant one, I can assure you, that he +had become aware of the real reason for my +presence in Equinata. I hastened to abandon +the subject of the sea, and directed the conversation +into another channel. The result, +however, was very much the same. We thereupon +discussed the possibilities of a European +war, which at that moment seemed not improbable.</p> + +<p>"Power," he returned, <i>à propos</i> of a remark +of mine, "is in my opinion precisely a question +of temperament. Your London crowd is well +trained and will stand what would drive a +Neapolitan or a French mob to violence. Such +speeches are delivered in your parks on Sundays +as would prove in these latitudes as intoxicating +as brandy. I have known a Revolution started +by an ill-timed jest, a city wrecked, and a +thousand lives lost in consequence. Talking of +Revolutions, have you ever had the misfortune +to be called upon to take part in one?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_145" id="page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>Once more my suspicions were aroused.</p> + +<p>"Good gracious, no!" I cried. "What makes +you ask me such a question? Do I look like the +sort of person who would be likely to have to do +with such affairs?"</p> + +<p>He glanced at me for a moment over the top +of the cigar which he had taken from his mouth +and was holding between his long slim fingers, +as if to enjoy the beautiful aroma.</p> + +<p>"I was merely venturing an inquiry," he +continued, in the same quiet fashion as before. +"If you have not, you should try the experiment. +Believe me, there is a very fair amount +of excitement to be got out of it, particularly +if you have not the good fortune to be on the +winning side. You have met Don Guzman de +Silvestre, of course?"</p> + +<p>"Don Guzman de who?" I asked, as if I had +not quite caught the name.</p> + +<p>"My predecessor," the President replied. "I +thought that probably you might have come +across him in your travels. He knocks about +the Continent a good deal, and I am told he +is well known at the various ports at which the +mail-boats touch."</p> + +<p>The situation was momentarily getting beyond +me. I felt that I could not stand much more +of it. He had referred to the <i>Pernambuco</i>, and +had recommended me to try my hand at a Revolution;<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_146" id="page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +he had mentioned Don Guzman de Silvestre, +and now he was speaking of the ports at which +the South American mail-boats call, and implying +that I was familiar with them. What did it all +mean? Was it only a matter of chance, or was +he aware of my identity, and only biding his +time to rise and upset all my calculations? I +think you will agree with me in saying that it +was not a pleasant position for a man to be +placed in!</p> + +<p>"I remember," he went on, "on one occasion +smoking a cigar with Don Guzman de Silvestre +in this very balcony—he was sitting exactly +where you are now. Though he thought I was +not aware of it, I happened to know that he was +at that time hatching a plot that he hoped would +upset my calculations, turn me out of my palace, +and make him President in my stead. He had +been laying his plans for months, and was quite +sure that they would succeed!"</p> + +<p>"And the result?"</p> + +<p>"The result was that it failed. If he had not +managed to escape when he did, I am afraid his +life would have paid the forfeit. In spite of the +advice I gave you just now, interference in +Revolutions in Equinata is not an amusement I +should recommend to every one."</p> + +<p>"I trust I may never be called upon to try +it," I replied fervently.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_147" id="page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope you will not," he returned, without +looking at me. "It's an unprofitable speculation +unless you are certain of your cards. The +strongest, of course, wins, and the loser generally +goes to the wall."</p> + +<p>I thought I understood to what wall he referred.</p> + +<p>A few moments' silence followed his last +speech. The President was the first to break it +by referring to what he hoped would be the +future of his country. It was evident that he +firmly believed in it and its capabilities. Then, +rising from his chair, he bade me "good-night" +with an abruptness that was almost disconcerting.</p> + +<p>When he had gone, and I had finished my +cigar, I returned to the ball-room in time +to meet the Presidential party as they were +leaving.</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Señor Trevelyan," said the +señorita. "The Little Sisters are indebted to +you for your most generous contribution. In +their name I thank you."</p> + +<p>"And I am equally indebted to them for the +pleasure I have been permitted to enjoy this +evening," I replied.</p> + +<p>She bowed to me, and passed on, on her uncle's +arm, towards the entrance. When they had +departed I obtained my hat and cloak, and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_148" id="page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +my turn left the building. During the last ten +minutes my spirits had been dropping down +and down until they reached zero. Never since +I had consented to Don Guzman's plan had my +business in Equinata seemed so hazardous or +indeed so despicable to me. I felt that I would +have given anything never to have set eyes on +my tempter, or to have listened to his invidious +proposal. However, I am not going to moralize. +I've my story to tell, and tell it I must, and in +as few words as possible.</p> + +<p>When I left the Opera House, the moon was +sailing in a cloudless sky, and, in consequence, +the streets were almost as light as day. It +was a little after midnight, and I had not +ordered the boat to meet me at the wharf +until one o'clock. I had therefore plenty of +time at my disposal. As I passed out of the +Great Square and entered the Calle de San Pedro, +the cathedral clock chimed the quarter past the +hour. I strolled leisurely along, so that it was +half-past by the time I reached the wharf. Then +I lighted another cigar, and, seating myself on +a stone block, prepared to await the arrival of +the boat. I had perhaps been seated there ten +minutes, when, suddenly, and before I could do +anything to protect myself, a bag or cloth, I +could not tell which, was thrown over my head, +and my arms were pinioned from behind. Then<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_149" id="page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> +a voice said in Spanish, "Lift him up, and bring +him along. There's not a moment to lose." +Thereupon a man took hold of my shoulders and +another my legs, and I felt myself being carried +along, though in what direction I could not of +course tell. A few seconds later, however, I was +dumped down on the wooden floor of what was +evidently a cart. The crack of a whip followed, +and we were off at a brisk pace somewhere—but +where? The bag by this time was coming near to +stifling me. It had been pulled so tight round my +head that it was only with the greatest difficulty +I could breathe. Eventually, I suppose, I must +have lost consciousness, for I have no recollection +of anything that happened until I opened my +eyes to find myself lying on the floor of a small, +bare room, through the grated windows of which +the moonlight was streaming in. Thank goodness, +the bag was gone, but my head ached consumedly, +and I felt about as sick and wretched +as a man could well be.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/gs02b.png" width="378" height="600" alt=""I felt about as sick and wretched as a man could well be."" /> +<p class="caption">"I felt about as sick and wretched as a man could well be."</p> +</div> + +<p>After a while I sat up, and endeavoured to +puzzle out my position. Where was I? Who +was it had made me prisoner? Was it a simple +act of brigandage, having plunder for its motive, +or had the President discovered the plot against +him and ordered my arrest? Not one of the +questions could I answer. In the hope of being +able to solve the problem of my whereabouts,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_150" id="page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +however, I got on to my feet and endeavoured to +look out of the window, only to discover that it +was out of my reach, and that I was too weak to +draw myself up to it. I therefore seated myself +on the floor once more, for the room or cell, whichever +I cared to call it, was destitute of furniture, +and resigned myself to my miserable thoughts.</p> + +<p>To use a stage expression, it was a pretty +market I had brought my pigs to! I had felt +so confident that my errand was not known, and +that I should succeed in getting safely out of the +country, that I had neglected the most simple +precautions, and in consequence here I was a +prisoner, with the pleasing possibility ahead of me +of either having my throat cut by a common murderer +before the night was past, or, what was +more probable, of being propped against a wall +and shot by President Fernandez' soldiers at +daybreak. The mere knowledge that I was still +alive, and that my watch, chain, and money had +not been taken from me, pointed to the fact +that I was a prisoner of the State, and not of +a private individual. All things considered, it +would be difficult to say which would prove the +worse fate.</p> + +<p>Putting aside for the moment the question as to +whose captive I was, I examined my watch, and +discovered that it was just half-past one. Only +an hour had elapsed since the episode on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_151" id="page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +wharf—to me, however, it seemed an Eternity. +After a while, feeling stronger, I got on to my +feet again, and began to pace the room. I also +tried the door, only to find it locked. They had +got me fast enough. So much was certain. +The next time, I told myself, I crossed the +threshold, it would in all probability be to be +haled to a place of execution. For upwards of +an hour I paced the room, calling myself a fool +and idiot, and every other name I could think of, +for having allowed myself to be drawn into +such an affair. I recalled that quiet evening at +Falstead, when the idea of the adventure had +appeared so attractive to me, and, as I did so, it +seemed to me I could hear Molly's gentle voice +saying: "Act as you think best, dear! I know +that it will be all right then." I had certainly +acted on my own judgment, and here I was in +consequence!</p> + +<p>I was still thinking of Falstead when a sharp +cry reached me from the yard outside, followed +by a prolonged scuffling noise. Then there was +a heavy fall, another, and yet another. After +that all was silence once more.</p> + +<p>"What on earth is the matter?" I asked +myself. "It sounded like a struggle of some +sort. Can they by any chance have captured +Ferguson, and have brought him here to be my +fellow-prisoner?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_152" id="page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + +<p>A few moments later some one approached my +door. A key was placed in the lock and turned, +then the door opened, and a man, carrying +a lantern, entered quickly, closing the door +behind him. The upper half of his face was +hidden by a black mask. My astonishment may +be imagined when, after he had removed it, I +discovered that he was none other than Don +José de Hermaños.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" he began, holding up his hand as a +sign to me not to speak. "I want you to listen +to what I have to say, and not to interrupt me +until I have finished. In the first place, let me +inform you that the President has discovered +everything! While you were talking to him +to-night at the ball, he knew why you were in +Equinata, and, what is more, had already laid his +plans to effect your arrest. The reason why he +did it so secretly, and why you were not taken +to the regular cartel, is because he does not +want, for reasons of his own, to attract public +attention just at present. I was warned in +time, but was unable to communicate with you. +Now, by a stratagem, we have overpowered your +gaolers, and you are free!"</p> + +<p>"But where am I?" I asked, in the same low +voice.</p> + +<p>"In the old cartel on the outskirts of the +town," Hermaños replied. "Now I want you to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_153" id="page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +pay attention to what I am about to say to you. +There is still time to retrieve matters, if we +go the proper way to work about it. The +President, when he left the ball to-night—and +now you will be able to understand his reasons +for leaving so early—drove out to consult with +General Mopaxus, who is lying ill at his +house six miles distant on the road to Sarbassa. +The road in question is hilly, and it will +take him at least an hour to get there. We +will say that he remains with the General an +hour. In that case, he should not reach the +Capital until four o'clock at the earliest. Word +must be sent to the captain of the yacht to shift +his moorings and to have a boat ashore at the +little bay of Horejos at three o'clock. Horejos +is three miles outside the city, and Fernandez +will have to pass through the village on his way +home. We must catch him at any hazard."</p> + +<p>"How many men have you with you?"</p> + +<p>"Seven," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Can they be relied upon?"</p> + +<p>"To the death! They know that their own +safety depends upon getting Fernandez out of +the way. Four of them he has suspected for +some time past. They would prefer to shoot +him, and so make sure of him, but as there are +definite orders against that, they feel that the +next best thing they can do is to get him out<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_154" id="page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +of the country. And between ourselves, that +is exactly my own case."</p> + +<p>"And what about the Guards here?"</p> + +<p>"They are safe for the present," he answered. +"But no time must be lost, for it is more than +likely that at daybreak others will come to take +their places."</p> + +<p>"And how am I to communicate with +Ferguson?"</p> + +<p>He fumbled in his pocket for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Here is a sheet of paper, an envelope, and +a pencil. He knows your writing, of course. +When you have written it, one of my men shall +take it aboard. If he has to get steam up, there +is not any too much time for him to do so. +Every moment is of the utmost importance."</p> + +<p>I forthwith pencilled a hasty note to the +captain, bidding him get up steam, weigh anchor, +and have a boat ashore in Horejos Bay at three +o'clock, and stand by to leave Equinata at latest +by four o'clock. This note I handed to Hermaños, +and when I had done so, followed him +from the cell.</p> + +<p>Once outside, I found myself in a large yard, +illuminated by the bright moonlight. I looked +about me for the bodies of my captors, but was +informed by my companion that they had been +securely bound and placed in an adjoining cell. +On hearing our steps, six figures appeared from<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_155" id="page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +the shadow of the wall. They did not speak, +but at a sign from Hermaños, one went on +ahead and opened the gates, whereupon two of +them passed out. After an interval of some +thirty seconds, two more disappeared in the same +mysterious fashion, the remaining pair making +themselves scarce when the same duration of +time had elapsed.</p> + +<p>"Now it is our turn," Hermaños whispered. +"With the exception of the man who has gone +to the yacht, each company will proceed to the +rendezvous by different routes through the city. +Fernandez has spies everywhere, and we must +be careful that our behaviour does not attract +their attention. To that end I have brought +this poncho and hat for you."</p> + +<p>I had noticed a bundle upon the ground, and +had wondered what it might be. My own hat +had disappeared, goodness only knows where. So +placing the sombrero on my head, I pulled the +poncho over my shoulders, and then we, in our +turn, left the cartel.</p> + +<p>As Hermaños had said, the lock-up was on the +outskirts of the city, and the locality through +which he led me was quite unknown to me.</p> + +<p>What was the end of our adventure to be?</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_156" id="page_156">[Pg 156]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p>It was evident to me that Hermaños had laid +his plans most carefully, for some hundred and +fifty to two hundred yards from the gate, we +found a vehicle of the <i>volante</i> description awaiting +our coming. We entered it, and the driver, +without asking for instructions, set off at a sharp +pace. We had proceeded some distance before +Don José spoke.</p> + +<p>"I hope you understand, Señor Trevelyan," he +said at last, "what a serious risk I am running +on your account?"</p> + +<p>"Many thanks," I replied. "I am afraid, however, +you do me too much honour. I fancy if it +had only been a question of <i>my</i> safety, I should +have had to appeal to you for some time before +I should have had your assistance."</p> + +<p>I spoke out of the bitterness of my heart, half +expecting that my words would offend him. To +my surprise, however, they did not do so. He +only laughed in a quiet way, and then lapsed +into silence once more. The carriage rattled<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_157" id="page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +through the silent streets, and at length passed +out into the open country on the other side. So +far we had not attracted attention. Eventually +we pulled up at the foot of a steep hill, one side +of which was formed by the mountain, the other +looking down upon a stretch of plain, beyond +which again was the open sea.</p> + +<p>"We must climb this hill," said Hermaños, +"and when we have descended it again we shall +be at the rendezvous. Let us hope Fernandez +has not made his appearance yet."</p> + +<p>We accordingly alighted from the vehicle, +and, when we had seen it return citywards, +began to climb the steep ascent. At the summit, +and just before the hill begins to descend on the +other side, were three palms. When we reached +these my companion uttered a low and peculiar +whistle. It was answered from the shadow, +and a moment later a figure emerged from the +darkness and stood before us. Hermaños went +to him and said something in an undertone +which I did not hear.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," he remarked when he returned +to me. "Fernandez has not returned yet. They +are watching for him in the valley below, and we +had better join them."</p> + +<p>"With all my heart," I replied, for, as you +may suppose, I was eager to have the business +over and done with.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_158" id="page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> + +<p>We accordingly descended the hill in the +direction indicated. The road here was little +better than a cart-track, and one that I should +have been very sorry to drive along on a dark +night. In the moonlit valley below could be +seen the little fishing village of Horejos. I examined +my watch and discovered that it wanted +twenty minutes to three o'clock. Needless to +say, I profoundly hoped that Ferguson had received +my message, and that we should find the +boat awaiting us.</p> + +<p>When we reached the foot of the hill, it was to +discover that the road ran between two walls of +rock. Blasting operations were accountable at +this point for the existence of the track, which +would otherwise have been impassable. On the +top of the rock on the right, and continuing up +the hill-side, was a thick wood, in which it would +have been possible for some hundreds of men to +have lain concealed. Behind the rock on the +other side was a gentle slope continuing to within +a few dozen yards of the shore. All things considered, +a better place for the work we had in +hand could scarcely have been imagined. It +would have been out of the question for two +carriages to have passed abreast, owing to the +width of the road; and one glance was sufficient +to show me that it would be quite possible for a +determined man to bring a vehicle to a standstill<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_159" id="page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +at such a spot. That Hermaños was in a state +of considerable trepidation regarding his share in +the business I could see. From what he had +already said to me I gathered that, had he not +advanced so far in the business, he would even +at the eleventh hour have drawn back. Had he +been left to himself, he would doubtless have +allowed General Fernandez' rule to continue +without bothering himself about Silvestre. Unfortunately, +however, Silvestre had obtained too +great a hold upon him, and, in consequence, in +order to cover the shortcomings of his own past, +he had been compelled to take up arms at the +very juncture when he was most desirous of +remaining quietly in the background. Who the +men with him were I had no sort of idea, nor +did he inform me. That they were desperate +like himself I could very well imagine.</p> + +<p>When we reached the spot just described, +Hermaños again gave utterance to the low and +peculiar whistle I have already mentioned. This +whistle was answered by another, and then a +voice from the darkness said in Spanish, "All is +well! He has not passed yet!"</p> + +<p>A moment later a man scrambled down the +bank and stood before us. He wore a poncho, +and had a broad-brimmed sombrero.</p> + +<p>"No sign of him yet, Luiz?" Hermaños said.</p> + +<p>"No, there is no sign yet, señor," the other<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_160" id="page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +replied. "But he can't be long now. In another +hour it will begin to grow light, and if he does +not come before daybreak, then our opportunity +will be gone."</p> + +<p>"When he comes, what do you propose to +do?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"I thought that when the carriage arrives +here some of us would appear in the road and +stop the horses, while you go to the door and +cover the President with your revolver."</p> + +<p>I should here remark that when Hermaños +had handed me the hat and poncho, he had also +given me a heavy Colt's revolver.</p> + +<p>"And having done that?" I asked, more +for the sake of seeing what he would say than +for any other reason.</p> + +<p>"March him down by the path yonder to the +sea, put him into the boat, and take him out +to the yacht," he answered. "After that you +can do with him as you please."</p> + +<p>"I trust the boat has arrived," I said. "Is +there no way of finding out? We ought to make +sure of that!"</p> + +<p>"I will send a man to see," he replied, and +then ordered the individual named Luiz to go +to the beach and discover whether the boat was +there.</p> + +<p>The fellow made off; and after he had +left us we walked a little further down the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_161" id="page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +road and seated ourselves upon the bank. A +quarter of an hour passed, during which time we +discussed everything but the business before us. +Then the messenger returned with the information +that the boat was waiting for us, a couple of +hundred yards or so away, in charge of the chief +officer.</p> + +<p>"So far, all is well," I said, and as I spoke +the sound of wheels reached us from the distance.</p> + +<p>"He is coming," Hermaños exclaimed, springing +to his feet; then, turning to the man who +had just returned from the beach, he cried: +"Call the others, Luiz!"</p> + +<p>His voice shook with excitement. The words +had scarcely left his lips before Luiz gave a loud +whistle. In response to it three other men made +their appearance from the wood.</p> + +<p>"Hermaños," I said, taking control of affairs, +as the party began to don their masks, "you and +two of your men had better stand here to stop +the horses." Then turning to the others, I continued: +"You two, follow me; and, if you don't +want to be recognized, let me do whatever +talking there is to be done."</p> + +<p>The noise made by the approaching carriage +could now be distinctly heard. At most it could +not be more than a quarter of a mile away. My +heart was beating like a sledge-hammer. Closer +and closer came the vehicle, then it turned the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_162" id="page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +corner, and we could plainly see its lights. +In a very few minutes it would be upon us. +Without exception we had all drawn back into +the shadow of the cliff, so that they could have +no idea of our presence. Descending the little +decline, the carriage entered the cleft between +the rocks. The lights from the vehicle flashed +like angry eyes upon us.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" I cried in Spanish, and as I did so +Hermaños and his two companions sprang into +the centre of the road. The driver of the carriage, +seeing the revolvers pointed at him, pulled +up his horses so suddenly that they fell back +upon their haunches. Meanwhile I had sprung to +the carriage-door and had opened it. "General +Fernandez," I cried, "you are my prisoner. I +am armed, and if you move hand or foot, I give +you warning, I shall shoot you."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile one of my companions had taken a +lamp from the socket and had turned it upon +the interior of the carriage. By its light I was +enabled to convince myself that we had made no +mistake. Fernandez was seated in the corner +nearest me, and, to my great astonishment, the +Señorita was beside him. I will do the President +the justice of saying that, at such a trying +moment, he comported himself like a brave man. +His voice was as calm as ever I had heard it +when he addressed me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_163" id="page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah! so it's you, Señor Trevelyan, is it?" +he said. "I thought I had stopped your little +game! What's the meaning of this?"</p> + +<p>"It means that the scheme you did your +best to frustrate has succeeded after all," I +answered. "But I have no time to spare. I +must therefore ask you to alight without further +parley. Let me assure you it would be no use +your attempting to resist. There are six of us +here, and we are all armed."</p> + +<p>"It is evident, then, that you have the advantage +of me," he continued, still with the same +imperturbable good-humour. "Well, what must +be must, I suppose," and with that he descended +from the carriage and stepped into the road.</p> + +<p>Before I could stop her the Señorita had done +the same.</p> + +<p>"Where you go I follow," she said, addressing +the President. "I am sure we can rely upon +Señor Trevelyan's doing us no harm."</p> + +<p>"If you do as I ask you not a hair of your +head shall be harmed, Señorita," I replied. Then +turning to the President once more, I added: +"Before we proceed further it would, perhaps, +be as well to make sure that you are not armed, +General! We cannot afford to run any risk."</p> + +<p>Fernandez gave a short laugh as he took a +revolver from his pocket and handed it to me.</p> + +<p>"I was going to use this upon you as soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_164" id="page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +as I had an opportunity," he said. "I see, +however, that I am not to be permitted to do +so!"</p> + +<p>I turned to the coachman.</p> + +<p>"Now, off you go!" I cried. "If you stop +anywhere between here and the palace I'll take +care that you hear about it later. You can tell +them, when you get there, that the President +and the Señorita have gone into the country for +a change of air, and that you don't quite know +when they will be back."</p> + +<p>The man did not answer, but looked at Fernandez +as if for instructions. Seeing that the +other did not speak, he whipped up his horses +and drove off without another word, leaving his +master and mistress prisoners with us.</p> + +<p>"Now we in our turn will be off," I said, as +he disappeared over the brow of the hill. "I +must ask you, Señor President, to be good +enough to walk ahead. The Señorita and I will +follow you."</p> + +<p>It was a silent little party that made its way +down the hill-side towards the beach. First +walked the President with an armed man on +either side of him, his niece and myself followed +next, whilst Hermaños and two of his fellow-conspirators +brought up the rear. No one would +have imagined that, only a few hours before, the +Señorita and I had been waltzing round the ball-room<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_165" id="page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +at La Gloria as partners, or that the President +and I had been seated amicably together +discussing the politics of Equinata in all apparent +friendliness. I must say in common fairness +that, even under these trying circumstances, +the Señorita behaved herself with as much coolness +as did her fellow-prisoner. Not once did +she flinch or show the least sign of fear.</p> + +<p>The path from the road to the shore was an +exceedingly rough one, little better in fact than +a goat-track, and as the Señorita was still wearing +her light dancing-shoes, it must have been an +unenviable experience for her. Once her dress +was caught by a cactus leaf, and I stopped to extricate +it for her. I hoped that my action might +break the silence that had so far characterized +our march.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, señor," she said gravely, and, +without another word, continued her walk.</p> + +<p>"Señorita," I said at last, "I can quite understand +how angry you must feel with me. I suppose +it is only natural that you should be. Yet, +strange though it may appear, I cannot help +feeling ashamed."</p> + +<p>"I am not angry, señor," she replied. "My +only regret is that we should have been so weak +as to have made such a miscalculation. I thought +my uncle had caused you to be arrested?"</p> + +<p>"He certainly did have me arrested, but I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_166" id="page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +managed to escape," I answered. "Doubtless, if +your uncle had had his way, he would have had +me shot at daybreak."</p> + +<p>"It is more than likely," she replied, still with +the same gravity. "And all things considered, +I am not at all sure it would not have been +better for the happiness of Equinata could this +event have taken place."</p> + +<p>After such a speech there was not much to +be said, so we continued our walk in silence. +Ten minutes later we reached the beach, walked +along it for a hundred yards or so, and then +found ourselves beside the yacht's gig, which +had been pulled up on the shore to await our +coming. As soon as they saw us the boat's +crew, led by the chief officer, made their appearance +from a hollow in the sand-hills where they +had been concealed.</p> + +<p>"Permit me to help you into the boat," I said +to the Señorita, moving towards it as I spoke. +"When you are on board we can push her out +into deeper water."</p> + +<p>She accordingly took my hand and stepped +into the boat, after which the men ran it into +the water.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr. President," I continued, "if you +will be so kind as to get in, I think we had +better be moving."</p> + +<p>He hesitated for a moment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_167" id="page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Before we do so, might I have a word with +you in private, Señor Trevelyan?" he said. "I +will not detain you more than a few moments."</p> + +<p>I answered in the affirmative, and we moved +a few paces away together. To make sure that +he played no trick upon me, I took my revolver +from my pocket and carried it somewhat ostentatiously +in my hand. He noticed the precaution +and gave utterance to one of his peculiar laughs.</p> + +<p>"You need have no fear," he said. "I shall +not run away. My heart, as you may have +heard, is a little weak, and I am afraid a sharp +run on this sand would not tend to improve it. +Let us talk here. Now, Señor Trevelyan, I am +going to put a very simple question to you. I +very naturally presume that you have been well +paid by my rival, Don Guzman de Silvestre, to +effect my capture and deportation?"</p> + +<p>"It is scarcely necessary for me to admit that +fact," I answered. "Yes! All things considered, +I am <i>very</i> well paid."</p> + +<p>"Needless to remark," he continued, "I have +no desire to leave Equinata. Nor am I anxious +to find myself in my old enemy's hands. The +question I wish to put to you, therefore, is this: +What would your price be to let me go?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot answer that question," I replied, +"and for the simple reason that I am unable to +let you go at all."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_168" id="page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I should be willing to pay a large sum in +cash, and, what is more, I would give you a substantial +guarantee that, if you would leave La +Gloria to-morrow, I would let you depart in +peace."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry, General Fernandez," I said, +"but I am afraid you have made some little +mistake in your estimation of my character. I +will be perfectly candid with you, and will admit +that, if I could live the past few weeks over +again, I should not be treating you as I am +doing to-night. However, I have accepted Don +Guzman's offer, and I have taken his money. +For that reason I cannot take yours, nor can I +let you go, glad as I should be to do so. I +wonder what you would have done with me, had +I not had the good fortune to escape from the +cartel to-night?"</p> + +<p>"I can tell you exactly," he answered. "You +would have shared your quarters with some of +your fellow-conspirators, and I should have shot +you in the morning. Experience has taught me +that there is nothing like dispatch in these +matters. Strike home, and strike hard, is my +motto."</p> + +<p>"So I have been given to understand," I +replied dryly. "And now let us return to the +boat."</p> + +<p>"You are still determined not to let me go?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_169" id="page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +he said. "What do you say to an offer of +twenty thousand pounds, in English money?"</p> + +<p>"I could not do it for fifty thousand," I +replied. "Come along, sir, the dawn will soon +be here, and I am anxious to be out of Equinata +before it comes."</p> + +<p>He gave a little shrug of the shoulders as I +spoke, and then moved towards the boat.</p> + +<p>"One more question," he said before we joined +the others. "Where are you going to take me?"</p> + +<p>"I shall hope to be able to show you that in a +very short time," I answered. "For the present, +however, it must remain a secret. Now, sir, into +the boat, if you please."</p> + +<p>Before he got in he turned to Don José de +Hermaños, who was standing with his friends by +the water's edge.</p> + +<p>"Farewell, Don José," he said, as genially as +if he were addressing a valued acquaintance. "I +wonder whether you and I are destined to meet +again? As you are aware, I have a good memory +for both friends and enemies! I once imagined +that you and I would have been able to work +together. I believe we should have done so, had +not you committed yourself too deeply to my +rival before I was able to bring my influence to +bear upon you. I should put that mask in my +pocket if I were you. You forget that you have +a mole upon your chin."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_170" id="page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>The man he addressed stepped back a pace as +if he had been struck. He had disguised himself +so carefully that he thought detection was impossible. +Nevertheless, he had omitted to conceal +a disfigurement on the lower portion of his countenance +that was sufficient to reveal his identity +to any one at all acquainted with him. His +astonishment may have accounted for his failure +to reply to the other's speech.</p> + +<p>The President having taken his place beside +the Señorita, I prepared to follow him, but before +doing so I held out my hand to Hermaños.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, my friend," I said. "I owe you +something for what you have done for me to-night. +I don't suppose we shall ever meet again, +but, if we do, I trust it may be under happier +auspices."</p> + +<p>"I never want to see your face again," he +replied, with a candour that was somewhat remarkable. +Then, lowering his voice to a whisper, +he continued: "For your own safety's sake, take +care that you never come back to Equinata. I +cannot help thinking that it would have been +better if we had shot him out of hand. I fancy +you will agree with me before you have done."</p> + +<p>His voice must have travelled further than he +intended, for the President heard it and uttered +a quiet laugh.</p> + +<p>"Always the same, always the same," he said<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_171" id="page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +mockingly. "You know what ought to be done, +but you don't do it. As somebody has said, +you let 'I would' wait upon 'I dare!'"</p> + +<p>At the same moment a sob escaped the +Señorita. This decided me, and springing into +the boat I gave the order to shove off. The +crew stood up and pushed with their oars, and a +moment later we were afloat. When the men +sat down and bent to their work I glanced back +at the little group of dark figures on the beach +watching us. After a few minutes they were lost +against the dark background, and I turned my +head to search for the yacht. Already the sky +was paling preparatory to the dawn, and I knew +that, if we did not hasten, we should scarcely +be clear of the coast by daylight. At last we +reached the yacht, and pulled up at the accommodation +ladder.</p> + +<p>"Allow me to help you, Señorita," I said, +springing out and giving her my hand.</p> + +<p>Presently we stood together on the deck. +Ferguson raised his cap, and I could see that he +was more than surprised at seeing a lady standing +before him.</p> + +<p>"We will get away from here as soon as +possible, Mr. Ferguson, if you please," I said. +"I want to be clear of La Gloria before daylight."</p> + +<p>"Everything is ready, sir," he replied, "and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_172" id="page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +as soon as we have got the boat aboard I'll give +the order for full steam ahead."</p> + +<p>"In the meantime," I said, turning to the +Señorita, "permit me to escort you to the saloon. +Doubtless you are ready for some supper after +your long drive."</p> + +<p>I was determined that my coolness should +equal hers. Nothing was to be gained by acting +the part of the stern gaoler. We accordingly +passed along the deck to the saloon. The electric +bell summoned the attentive chief steward, to +whom I gave orders that a meal should be +prepared for us immediately.</p> + +<p>I cannot attempt to make you understand how +beautiful the Señorita looked as she divested +herself of her cloak and seated herself on the +luxurious divan that ran round the saloon. It +must be remembered that she had driven out +from the city dressed just as she had been at the +ball, and as this thought crossed my mind I was +struck with wonderment as to what she would +do for wearing apparel on board. She could not +spend the day in a low-necked dress, and with +no stronger footgear than a pair of white satin +dancing-shoes. However, I postponed consideration +of the subject for the moment. Presently +the steward reappeared, the cloth was laid, and +a meal placed upon the table. My message +from the cartel had given them time to prepare<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_173" id="page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +it, I suppose; at any rate, it was as delightful a +little supper as any one could wish to partake +of. We sat down to it, as strange a trio as you +would discover in a very long day's sail.</p> + +<p>Fernandez still wore his ribbon and orders; +the Señorita, as I have already observed, was in +evening dress with a <i>collet</i> of diamonds round +her neck. I also was attired just as I had been +at the ball, though my raiment was somewhat +dishevelled by my encounter with the Presidential +Forces on the wharf. We had scarcely sat +down at the table before the throbbing of the +propellor announced the fact that we were +under way. Almost involuntarily I looked at +the President.</p> + +<p>"Our voyage has commenced," he said. "I +drink to your health, Señor Trevelyan!"</p> + +<p>I drew a long deep breath of relief. It +was something to know that we were leaving +Equinata at last, and that I had got the President +aboard. Since his treatment of me that +evening, I felt no remorse for having captured +him. He had admitted that he would have shot +me without compunction had I remained in his +power. He could scarcely blame me, therefore, +if I experienced a feeling of delight in having +turned the tables upon him.</p> + +<p>"I must say your employer is by no means +niggardly to you," remarked Fernandez, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_174" id="page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +the servants had withdrawn. "As you do not +provide it, I suppose it is not a breach of good +manners to observe that this wine is excellent, +while the cooking is all that can be desired." +Then, with a little sigh, whether real or assumed, +he continued: "My own <i>chef</i> will now, I suppose, +be obliged to seek another situation. And +in some respects he was unrivalled. Well, well, +it's the fortune of war!"</p> + +<p>"Señor Trevelyan, is there no way of arranging +for our return to Equinata?" asked the +Señorita, leaning a little forward and placing one +dainty hand upon my coat-sleeve, while she +looked pleadingly into my face.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not," I replied. "Don +Fernandez and I have already discussed that +matter together, and have come to the conclusion +that it is impossible."</p> + +<p>She rose from her chair. I thought she was +going to break down, but she managed to retain +her composure.</p> + +<p>"If you will allow me, I think I will retire to +my cabin," she said.</p> + +<p>I rang the bell for the steward and inquired +what state-room had been set aside for the lady. +He informed me, and I immediately begged permission +to conduct her thither. She bade her +uncle good-night and we set off together. When +she reached the door she turned to me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_175" id="page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I feel sure you will be sorry some day for +the part you have played to-night," she remarked. +"Why should you wish to take us away from +the country in which we were so happy, and for +which we have done so much?"</p> + +<p>"For the simple reason that I am not my own +master," I replied. "I am a paid servant, and +must do as I am ordered."</p> + +<p>She heaved a heavy sigh, and then, without +another word, turned and entered the cabin. I +thereupon returned to the saloon to find that +Fernandez had left it and had gone on deck. I +discovered him upon the bulwarks opposite the +smoking-room entrance. He had just lit a cigar, +and was doubtless meditating on his position. +The yacht was cleaving her way through the +water, and already the lights of La Gloria lay +far behind us.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking of, General?" I +inquired as I took my position alongside him.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking how I could manage to outwit +you," he replied.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_176" id="page_176">[Pg 176]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<p>It was with a feeling of profound thankfulness +that I turned into my bunk that morning. The +clattering of feet on deck, and the slapping of the +water against the sides, greeted my ears like the +sweetest music. Only a few hours before I had +deemed myself as good as a dead man. I had been +the prisoner of a man without the bowels of compassion, +and, what was worse, I knew that I had +proved myself a traitor, and had not the ghost of +a chance of effecting my escape. Now, however, +I was free once more, and in a few days my +mission to Equinata would be accomplished; +after which I should be at liberty to return to +England, to marry Molly, and to settle down to +a very different life to that which I had been +leading for the past few weeks. When I fell +asleep, it was to dream that I was back at Falstead +once more. I was smoking a pipe in the +front garden, and Molly, seated in the shade of +our favourite tree, was reading me an account of<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_177" id="page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +a terrible revolution that had taken place in the +Republic of Equinata.</p> + +<p>"The President, José de Hermaños is his +name," she said, "has been assassinated. It +appears that he married the niece of his predecessor, +General Fernandez!"</p> + +<p>That would have been strange enough in all +conscience!</p> + +<p>Owing, I suppose, to the lateness of my +retiring, I was not very early astir, and when I +reached the deck I made my way up to the +bridge. It was the second mate's watch, but I +had not been there very long before Captain Ferguson +left his cabin and joined us. Thereupon +the mate, with a knowledge of what was correct +under such circumstances, crossed to the other +side of the bridge, leaving us free to talk +together concerning the events of the previous +night.</p> + +<p>"You don't know what a fright I had, Mr. +Trevelyan," said the captain. "I sent a boat +ashore as directed, and after waiting an hour and +a half it returned to report that you had not put +in an appearance. I had quite made up my mind +that you had been captured."</p> + +<p>"As a matter of fact, I was," I replied, and +proceeded to give him an outline of my adventures +during the evening.</p> + +<p>"This will be the last of this sort of business<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_178" id="page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +for me," he said, when he heard me out. "The +game is far from being worth the candle. I +wonder what the end of it all will be? From what +I gathered when ashore, and also from what you +have told me, I have come to the conclusion that +whatever Don Silvestre's ambition may be, he +has lost his hold upon Equinata. If he is fool +enough to return, I fancy he will find that the +other's party is still too strong for him. The +part of a President of a South American Republic +is not an easy one to play."</p> + +<p>"The wonder to me is that they ever get any +one to play it at all," I answered. "Thank +goodness, however, we have fulfilled our portion +of the contract; we have got Fernandez, and +that's all that can be expected of us."</p> + +<p>"I think I understood you to say that the +lady who accompanies him is a relative?"</p> + +<p>"She is his niece, and a very beautiful woman."</p> + +<p>"If you were to ask me, I should say that I +was more afraid of her than of him. Stand by +and keep your eye open for squalls, would be my +motto if I had to deal with her."</p> + +<p>"You may be very sure that I will do that," +I replied. "I think I know the length of her +ladyship's foot."</p> + +<p>I thought of the time we had spent together +in the balcony of the Opera House, and how +strangely her seriousness had affected me. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_179" id="page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +was difficult to believe that it had all been a +mere piece of acting.</p> + +<p>Half-an-hour or so later, when I had left the +bridge and had walked aft, Fernandez made his +appearance on deck.</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, señor," I said, with a bow to +him. "In compliment to you we are favoured +with a delightful morning."</p> + +<p>"Delightful indeed," he replied, throwing a +glance over the stern. "We are well on our +way, I suppose, and steering due north, I observe. +Let me see, if I am not mistaken, that should be +in the direction of——" Here he looked at me +interrogatively, as if he expected me to answer +his question.</p> + +<p>"In the direction of New York, shall we say?" +I answered. "If we continue as we are going +long enough, I have no doubt we shall see the +Goddess of Liberty holding her torch aloft."</p> + +<p>"The illustration is scarcely a pleasing one," +he returned, "since I am a prisoner. The Goddess +of Liberty has not done very much for me. +But there, nothing is to be gained by repining! +I have been in worse positions than this before +to-day, and have always managed to get out of +them with some sort of credit to myself."</p> + +<p>"I hope you may do so in this instance," I +answered, "but not while I have the charge of +you."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_180" id="page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>He looked at me steadily for a few seconds.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Señor Trevelyan," he said at +last, "I have come to the conclusion that I like +you. I did not do so at first, but my opinion +of you has changed."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to hear you say so," I replied; +"but I confess I can scarcely see why you should +have changed your mind regarding myself. If +there is one man in the world whom I despise, it +is myself."</p> + +<p>"And I fancy I can understand why," he continued, +still with the same grave look upon his +face. "You must not, however, think badly of +yourself, for I can assure you, you have managed +this business remarkably well. The plot was +excellently arranged. There is one thing, however, +that puzzles me; that is, how Hermaños +managed to overcome the Guards at the cartel? +I quite imagined that the men were to be relied +on."</p> + +<p>"I cannot give you any information on that +point," I replied, knowing that it was useless to +endeavour to conceal the fact that Hermaños +was present on that occasion. "I had no knowledge +of the affair until the door was opened and +I discovered that I was free."</p> + +<p>"Some day I shall hope to be even with our +friend Hermaños," Fernandez replied, more to +himself than to me. "I have always had my<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_181" id="page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +suspicions about the man, but I never dreamt +that he would rise to such a height as he has +done in this affair. I deemed him a coward +throughout."</p> + +<p>"And a coward he is," I answered. "He is +scheming now to save his own neck."</p> + +<p>"The most dangerous conspirator you can +have to deal with," Fernandez remarked. "Such +a man lacks the saving grace of Ambition. He +who risks his life for fame and fortune must have +something good in him, but the individual who +embarks upon a conspiracy, and who would throw +over and denounce his friends on finding that +his own participation in the plot is about to be +discovered, is neither fish, flesh, nor fowl. There +was a time when I could have had Hermaños +for the holding up of a finger, but I wanted +men of firmer metal, men like yourself, for +instance."</p> + +<p>"You pay me a great compliment," I answered. +"Unfortunately, however, we met too late in the +day. My services were already bespoken."</p> + +<p>At that moment a steward approached him +with a cup of chocolate and a roll.</p> + +<p>"This is luxury in bondage," he remarked as +he took it. Then, with a smile, he added: "If +you had been breakfasting in the cartel this +moment, I should probably have only allowed +you bread and water."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_182" id="page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> + +<p>"With a dozen bullets in my body to help me +digest it," I thought to myself.</p> + +<p>It was considerably past ten o'clock before the +Señorita made her appearance on deck. The +question of her attire had occurred to me earlier, +and, in consequence, I had procured for her a +cloth pilot-coat from the third mate, who, as fortune +had it, was only a little fellow, and had +placed it at her door. This she now wore, and +though the garment was somewhat incongruous, +when the rest of her attire was taken into consideration, +the effect was by no means unbecoming. +On leaving the companion she looked +about her, and then ran her eye along the sky-line, +as if in the hope of being able to discover +her whereabouts. The yacht was pitching a +little at the time, but I noticed that she balanced +herself as cleverly as any old sailor could have +done. She bade us good-morning, but did not +take the chair I offered her.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what they are doing at the palace," +she said, more to her uncle than to myself. "I +hope they will not forget to feed my poor little +birds. I wonder if I shall ever see them again?"</p> + +<p>"So long as there is life there is hope," replied +the President. "Is that not so, Señor +Trevelyan?"</p> + +<p>"I believe so," I answered. "Who knows +but that you may be back in La Gloria again<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_183" id="page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +before many months are past. Who is likely to +be appointed President in your absence?"</p> + +<p>"General Sagana," Fernandez returned; "and, +by the way, he was the man who introduced you +to me. I must endeavour to remember that fact +when next he and I meet!"</p> + +<p>The expression on his face as he said this was +not altogether a pleasant one.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour we steamed steadily on our +course. The day was warm, the sea as smooth +as glass, and the sky a perfect blue. We passed +two vessels, but signalled neither. By midday +our run totalled a hundred and twenty-five miles, +a very fair record, all things considered. As for +my passengers and myself we spent the greater +part of the day under the for'ard awning, where +we amused ourselves and each other as best we +could. Had any stranger looked in upon us, he +or she would have found it difficult to realize our +respective positions. I had not the appearance +of a gaoler, and no one would have guessed that +the President, leaning back in his chair, cigar in +mouth, was the head of an influential country +and an abducted citizen.</p> + +<p>The memory of our dinner that evening will +never be effaced from my mind. It forms one +of a number of strange mental pictures connected +with that more than extraordinary time. +The Señorita, who had discarded the pea-jacket<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_184" id="page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +I have already referred to, appeared in all the +bravery of her previous evening's apparel. The +President had perforce to follow her example, +and though he had discarded his ribbon, he still +wore his orders. I on my part, out of compliment +to them, dressed myself with great care, +while Captain Ferguson, who shared the meal +with us, had also made an elaborate toilet. +The beautiful saloon, the noiseless servants, the +lavish table decorations, the excellent <i>menu</i>, and +the rare wines, all combined to play their parts +in a scene that must almost be without a parallel. +After dinner we adjourned to the deck above, +where we seated ourselves and smoked until +bed-time.</p> + +<p>It would have been instructive to have known +what thoughts were passing in the minds of +the various members of our party as we men +lay in our chairs upon the deck. That the +Señorita was really the President's niece I do +not, and shall never believe. I have my own +reasons for making this statement, and they +are fairly conclusive. The President himself +was an adventurer of the most determined +description. Ferguson was a sea captain and +but little better—(he was a married man, so I +discovered later, and his wife kept a small girls' +school in a village near Plymouth), while I—well, +you know all there is to tell so far as I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_185" id="page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +am concerned, so I need say no more on that +subject. Taken altogether, however, we were a +queer quartette.</p> + +<p>At ten o'clock the Señorita declared herself +sleepy and retired to her cabin, Ferguson went +up to the bridge to see how things were there, +while the President and I started to patrol the +deck. In the hour that followed I learnt more +of his past life than I had ever known before. +I knew very well that his career had been an +extraordinary one, but I had never dreamt that +it had been so strange as his telling made it +appear. He was born in a village near Madrid. +His parents were poor but of noble birth. In +due course he entered the army, but after a +time the life of a private soldier disgusted him, +and he exchanged the profession of arms for +that of an assistant to a sugar planter on the +island of St. Vincent. An unfortunate love +affair with the planter's daughter threw him +upon the world again, penniless. From the +island he drifted to the mainland of South +America, saw a good deal of Revolutionary +fighting, and for the first time tried his hand +at the fascinating game of politics. The result +was by no means satisfactory, for he had the +misfortune to throw in his lot with the losing +side. After a certain particularly stubborn +battle he was captured and condemned to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_186" id="page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +shot—a foretaste of the fate he had arranged +for me. At the last moment, however, the +sentence was commuted to penal servitude for +life, and he was sent to the mines. Eventually +he was liberated and took service with the +man who, up to that time, had been his greatest +enemy. He climbed the ladder of fame, and +in time he managed to win a fair amount of +power in the land; another Revolution, however, +cast this power to the winds, and sent him flying +post-haste to the islands of the Pacific. In one +way and another he enlarged his experience there, +saw life as a trader, a pearler, and an agent +for the native labour traffic as he euphemistically +termed it. At last he found himself on board a +schooner returning to Valparaiso. It was then +that he first met Silvestre, and for some considerable +time the two men were on the most +friendly terms. Fernandez, who had been +warned as to what was shortly to happen, +discovered a post for the time being as a clerk +to an auctioneer. Then came the big Revolution—Fernandez +chose the winning side, Silvestre +the losing. The latter departed to Equinata—which +country at that time was just coming into +notice—while his friend remained in Chili to +derive what profit he could for himself from his +loyalty to the party he had assisted into Power.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I had saved sufficient money,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_187" id="page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +however," he continued, "I quitted the Republic +and, after one or two other adventures with +which I will not trouble you, found myself +stranded in Equinata. To my astonishment I +discovered that my old partner Silvestre had +made the best use of his time there, and by +an extraordinary manipulation of circumstances +had managed to become a person of considerable +importance in the Republic. So far as I was concerned, +however, there was another <i>hegira</i>, and +this time at a somewhat short notice. I next +visited the United States, afterwards crossed the +Atlantic to Europe, and, after an absence of some +three years, found myself once more in La +Gloria. When I reached that country I discovered +that a strange change had taken +place. Silvestre, who, though he had held a +position of some importance when I was last +in Equinata, had shown no sign of any great +ability, was now President, and had even greater +ambitions. Needless to say I threw in my lot +with him and——"</p> + +<p>"Eventually ousted him from his position?" +I put in. "I have heard that part of the story +from the man himself."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I confess I did oust him," he answered, +taking his cigar from his mouth and knocking +the ash off against the rail. "The victory is to +the strongest, and if Silvestre had been stronger<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_188" id="page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +than I—well—he would have won. As it was, +he fled the country. Whereupon I picked up +the reins of Government, played the game as I +thought it should be played, and now find myself +and all my plans upset, I trust you will +forgive my plain speaking, by a man who only +a few months ago was chief officer on board +a South American mail-boat. Who can say +what the next chapter of the story will be?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you have had a very good innings, +and I don't see that you have any right to +complain."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," he replied. "But don't run +away with the idea that, because you've trapped +me, I am beaten. I'm a long way off that! +Believe me, I know exactly how far you are +concerned in the business, and I tell you this, +if you are wise, you will be advised by me, and +drop out of it as soon as you can. The time +will come when Don Guzman de Silvestre and +I will have to settle accounts together, and if +you are a prudent man you will have balanced +your books with him and have departed long +before that."</p> + +<p>"I think I am very well able to take care +of myself," I remarked.</p> + +<p>"Ah! We all think that! Sometimes, however, +we find we are wrong."</p> + +<p>A few moments later he bade me good-night<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_189" id="page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +and retired to his cabin. I accompanied him so +far as the saloon companion entrance and then +returned to my chair on deck. I had not been +there many minutes before Ferguson joined +me.</p> + +<p>"We shall have to keep a sharp look-out on +our friend, Don Fernandez," he said, after he +had lit a cigar. "I don't trust him a little +bit."</p> + +<p>"How so?" I inquired. "What has he been +up to now?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing very much that I know of," the +captain replied, "but I have a sort of notion +that he has been endeavouring to sound some +of the men as to the chance of seizing the boat. +He has said nothing outright, but Reston (the +boatswain) tells me he dropped a hint to him +that a large reward would be forthcoming if he +and his niece were helped ashore again. He has +a most persuasive manner, unlimited wealth, and +there's not very much, I fancy, that he would +stop at."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you can place implicit trust in +your officers and crew?" I said.</p> + +<p>"Implicit trust," he answered. "But with a +man like Fernandez aboard one cannot take too +many precautions."</p> + +<p>"You are right," I replied. "At the same +time, I must admit that I like the man. More,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_190" id="page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +perhaps, than I do—well, another gentleman +with whom we are both acquainted."</p> + +<p>Ferguson understood my meaning.</p> + +<p>"I understand," he replied. "And what's +more I agree with you."</p> + +<p>When we had chatted for upwards of an hour +I bade him good-night, and went below to my +cabin to fall asleep and dream that Fernandez +had seized the boat and was going to make me +walk the plank at daylight.</p> + +<p>In two days we were due to arrive at the +island. From the progress we were making, +and from the glimpse I had of the chart, it +struck me that we should reach San Diaz +between six and seven o'clock in the evening.</p> + +<p>At four o'clock on the following afternoon I +was standing at the taffrail, looking at the +frothing wake astern, and thinking of something +very far removed from Equinata and her +President. As a matter of fact I was wondering +how long it would be before I should see +Falstead again, and what sort of welcome I +should receive from Molly and my mother on +my return, when I caught the sound of a light +footstep behind me. I turned my head to +discover the Señorita. She came and stood +beside me resting her jewelled hands upon the +rail. It did not take me long to become aware +that she was in one of her curious moods.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_191" id="page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +Her manner was most persuasive and seductive +to a degree, and once or twice I found myself +admiring her beauty, and for the moment +forgetting how dangerous a woman she was.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid, Señorita," I said, "that since +we danced together in the Opera House I have +fallen woefully in your estimation."</p> + +<p>"Why should that be so?" she answered. +"I admire your resource, and however much I +may deplore it, cannot help but admire the +cleverness with which you carried out your +scheme, in spite of the opposition you received. +Had you been working for us I should have +offered you my heartiest congratulations, but +since we are the victims of your skill, you can +scarcely expect me to be so magnanimous. Oh! +Señor Trevelyan, how I wish I could have persuaded +you to side with us. But you had already +cast in your lot with the enemy. At one time +I had almost begun to think that I was deceived +in you, but the other night when you refused +my uncle's bribe I realized your real character. +To a man of such enterprise as you possess anything +is possible. Have you never experienced +a longing for power yourself? If I were a man, +my ambition would be limitless. As it is, I can +only admire what I see of it in others!"</p> + +<p>Recalling that conversation now, it seems as +plain to me as daylight that she was doing her<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_192" id="page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +best to hoodwink me. I must confess, however, +that at the time I failed entirely to see through +her motive. As I have said before she was a +beautiful woman, and she had the advantage of +also being an extremely clever one. No one will +ever know the temptations she placed before me +that evening, and I think it says something for +my love for Molly—not to mention my sense of +duty to Silvestre, that I did not give way to her. +By some mysterious means she had discovered the +bond that existed between Ferguson and myself; +she knew also that I was all-powerful aboard +the yacht, and if she did not prevail upon me +to turn the boat's head about and convey them +back to Equinata, well, it was certainly not for +want of trying. I proved adamant, however, +and when at last she left me and went below +it must have been with the consciousness that +she had not only failed in her scheme but had +done herself harm into the bargain.</p> + +<p>"You have had the pleasure of my niece's +company for some considerable time," said +Fernandez, when I joined him some minutes +later. "I hope you have had a pleasant and +instructive conversation!"</p> + +<p>There was a scarcely-concealed sneer in his +voice that I did not fail to notice.</p> + +<p>"The Señorita has been endeavouring to +undermine my loyalty to Silvestre," I said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_193" id="page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +blurting out the truth without fear of the consequences. +"She has promised me, on your +behalf, all sorts of rewards if I will turn traitor +and run the boat back to La Gloria."</p> + +<p>"And I gather from your tone that she was +not successful," he replied. "You are a very +pillar of rectitude, my friend."</p> + +<p>"What is more," I continued, ignoring his +sneer, and making up my mind to let him have +it from the shoulder while I was about it, "I +hear from Captain Ferguson that you have +been endeavouring to tamper with the crew. +I should be sorry, señor, to be compelled to +confine you to your cabin for the rest of the +voyage, but if this sort of thing continues I +fear there will be no other course left open to +me."</p> + +<p>"You surely would not have me neglect an +opportunity when it presents itself?" he returned, +still with the same curious smile upon +his face. "I have as much right to try to help +myself out of this hole as you had to get me +into it. However, as your men appear to be +as immaculate and bribe-proof as their leaders, +I will give you my assurance that I will not +tamper with their honour again. Will that satisfy +you?"</p> + +<p>"As long as you stick to it," I replied. "But +I warn you that I shall keep a strict watch upon<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_194" id="page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +you, and if you play me false you know what +you may expect."</p> + +<p>From that moment I had no more trouble with +either of them. The Señorita adopted a haughty +air towards me. The President, on the other +hand, made himself even more agreeable to me +than he had been before.</p> + +<p>One day later, and, as I expected, a little +before sun-down, a small speck appeared upon +the horizon. This gradually increased in size +until it developed into a small densely-wooded +island.</p> + +<p>"That," said Ferguson, who was standing +beside me on the bridge, "is San Diaz!"</p> + +<p>"And, thank goodness, our destination!"</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_195" id="page_195">[Pg 195]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<p>The island of San Diaz is some fifteen miles +long by eight wide. From end to end it is +densely wooded; in fact, a large proportion of +its area is still primeval forest. The population +numbers only a few hundreds, and the majority +of the inhabitants are black. For the most part +they are a retiring race. How they live, or what +they live upon, would at first glance seem difficult +to understand; but they appear to enjoy life +in their harmless way, and, being cut off from +certain doubtful blessings of our so-called Civilization, +they generally manage to elude the +clutches of old Boney for a longer space of time +than do their brethren in better known and +more popular climes.</p> + +<p>As I observed at the close of the preceding +chapter, I was on the bridge with Ferguson when +we first sighted the island. After a close consultation +of the chart that he held in his hand, +he put his helm up, and hugged the shore for +a distance of something like five miles. Then,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_196" id="page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +finding himself at the entrance of a fair-sized +bay, he turned in and prepared to seek an +anchorage. The view from the deck at that +moment was a very pleasing one. First the +blue water of the bay, then a white beach, after +which the ground began to ascend until it +reached, in a somewhat precipitous slope, a +plateau at an elevation of something like two +hundred feet above sea-level. On this plateau, +nestling among the trees, stood a long white +house, with several smaller buildings clustered +round it. As we watched, the report of a firearm +reached us from the settlement, followed +by another and yet another in quick succession. +It was the signal I had arranged for with +Silvestre, and it proclaimed the fact that he +was aware of our arrival.</p> + +<p>"I'm a bit distrustful about the soundings," +said Ferguson, as we steamed slowly in. "This +chart is no sort of good. However, I don't think +we can do much harm here."</p> + +<p>Then holding up his hand to the chief mate, +who was in charge of the anchor on the fo'c'sle-head, +he signalled to him to let go. The roar of +the cable through the hawse-hole followed, and a +few seconds later the yacht was at anchor. When +the vessel was stationary I descended the ladder +from the bridge to find the President and the +Señorita leaning on the port-bulwarks attentively<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_197" id="page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +studying the shore. Still Fernandez showed no +sign of any sort of trepidation. Yet he must have +realized how dangerous was his position. He +had admitted that he had done Silvestre a great +wrong, and he could scarcely fail to be aware +that the latter, having him at his mercy, +would be certain to retaliate. Yet here he was +chattering as coolly with the Señorita as if he +were sitting on the terrace at his palace in La +Gloria. The man was the possessor of an iron +nerve which nothing could shake. Moreover, as +he had informed me on another occasion, he was +a fatalist.</p> + +<p>"What is arranged will certainly happen," he +had then remarked to me. "If I am to be +assassinated in the street, it is quite certain I +shall not be drowned at sea. If I am to die in +my bed, it will not be on the battlefield. Why +should I worry myself if the end is ordained for +me?"</p> + +<p>When he had seen everything secure, Ferguson +left the bridge and joined us.</p> + +<p>"Are you going ashore, Mr. Trevelyan," he +inquired, "or will you wait on board until they +send out to us?"</p> + +<p>"I think it would be better to wait," I replied.</p> + +<p>"If I am not mistaken, they are launching a +boat now," Fernandez remarked.</p> + +<p>What he said was correct. Several men had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_198" id="page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +descended the steep path from the plateau already +mentioned, and were even then running a boat +across the sands towards the water. When she was +afloat, they hung about her as if not certain what +to do next. A few seconds later, however, a +man, dressed in white, appeared from among the +trees and joined them. He entered the boat, +whereupon it began to move towards us. As +she approached I noticed that she was pulled by +four stalwart negroes, and that the man steering +her was not Silvestre as I had expected, but a +younger man, and a mulatto. As soon as the +boat reached the ladder, he sprang nimbly on to +the grating and ran up to us.</p> + +<p>"Señor Trevelyan!" he said, looking from +one to the other of us as if to discover whom +he should address.</p> + +<p>"That is my name," I answered. "Have you +a message for me?" Before he replied, he took +me on one side.</p> + +<p>"Don Guzman de Silvestre is not well," he +said. "He bids me say, however, that you had +better bring your prisoner up to the house without +delay."</p> + +<p>"He is not aware, of course, that a lady has +accompanied us?" I remarked.</p> + +<p>The other shook his head, and then turned +his eyes in the direction of the spot where the +Señorita was standing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_199" id="page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He will not be pleased," he said.</p> + +<p>I felt that I would give something to know +what preparations Silvestre had made for Fernandez' +reception; but I did not put any questions +to the messenger, feeling that in all probability +his master had given orders to him to +be silent.</p> + +<p>"Can you carry four people in the boat?" I +inquired, going to the side and looking down at +the craft in question.</p> + +<p>"Half-a-dozen, if you wish," he answered; +"she will not sink with us."</p> + +<p>I thereupon went back to the President.</p> + +<p>"If you are quite ready, I think we will land +at once," I said. "It will be dark very soon."</p> + +<p>He shrugged his shoulders, and remarked that +he would go below and fetch his cloak. The +Señorita suggested that she should follow his +example. Fearing that there was a possible +chance of their outwitting me at the last moment, +I declared that I could not hear of their taking +so much trouble, and thereupon despatched one +of the stewards in search of the articles in question. +When they were brought on deck, we +descended to the boat alongside and started for +the shore.</p> + +<p>As soon as we reached it, I sprang from the +boat and helped the Señorita to disembark. +Then, guided by the half-caste, whose name I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_200" id="page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +discovered was Manuel, we set to work to climb +the steep ascent to the buildings I had seen from +the yacht. If the descent at Horejos had been +steep, this was ten times more so. The path, +if path it could be called, was one long climb, +and wound its way in and out through the thick +undergrowth in a most disconcerting and leg-wearying +fashion.</p> + +<p>At last, when the whole party were out of +breath, and the Señorita quite exhausted, we +tottered on to the plateau on which the houses +were situated. The principal building, that in +the centre, was a long low affair surrounded, so +far as I could see, by a broad verandah; that to +the left was plainly the servants' quarters, while +the ramshackle huts, still further away, were +probably the dwellings of the native hands. +Crossing the open space, Manuel led us towards +the largest building. The place was much fallen +to decay, but it was still quite habitable. French +windows opened from the rooms into the verandah, +and towards one of these we were conducted. +Opening it, and standing in the entrance, he +signed to the President and the Señorita to pass +into the room. I followed them, and when he +had entered, he carefully closed the windows +after us. We found ourselves in a large room, +having a polished floor, whitewashed walls, and +a raftered roof, the latter without a ceiling. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_201" id="page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +large table stood in the centre of the room, there +were half-a-dozen curious chairs scattered about, +while in the corner beside the door was a wicker-couch, +upon which a man was stretched out at +full length. One glance was sufficient to tell +me that he was Don Guzman de Silvestre, but so +changed that, had I not expected to see him, I +doubt if I should have recognized him. His face +was pinched and haggard, his eyes shone with an +unnatural brilliance, while his hands trembled +as if with the palsy.</p> + +<p>"Welcome, Trevelyan, I congratulate you," +he cried, as I entered the room. "You have +fulfilled your mission admirably." Then, turning +to his old enemy, he continued: "And so, my +dear Fernandez, we meet again, do we? It is +long since we last saw each other. But, stay, +who is the lady? What is she doing here?"</p> + +<p>I gave him the necessary information, whereupon +he raised himself upon his couch.</p> + +<p>"I am more than honoured," he remarked. +"I did not anticipate such a pleasure. I presume, +Trevelyan, you could not catch one without +the other? Was not that so?"</p> + +<p>In reply, I admitted that it was, whereupon +he bade Manuel move a chair forward for the +Señorita, then, turning to Fernandez, he began +once more.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is certainly a long time since we had<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_202" id="page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> +the pleasure of meeting," he said. "Let me see, +I wonder if I can recall the day. It was the +anniversary of the battle of Pladova, was it not? +I had arranged to preside at a banquet that +evening in celebration of the great event. You +called upon me in the morning, professing great +friendship. Prior to that you had undermined +all my officials, and had arranged that, at the +conclusion of the banquet, I was to be arrested, +whereupon you were to proclaim yourself +Dictator."</p> + +<p>"I am glad to observe that, however poor your +health may be, your memory is as good as ever," +Fernandez replied. "You have described the +situation exactly."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Silvestre continued, "I have an excellent +memory! Unfortunately for your scheme, +however, I happened to hear of it in time. +At the last moment a sudden indisposition kept +me at the palace, and prevented my being +present at the dinner. So anxious were you +concerning the state of my health that you called +at the palace later to inquire after my welfare, +only to find that I had taken time by the forelock +and had effected my escape. It was a pity, +for I fancy you would have found it more profitable +to have shot me, and so have put me out of +harm's way at once."</p> + +<p>"It certainly was rather a pity we could not<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_203" id="page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +do so," said the President, "but you can have +your revenge now. What are your intentions +regarding myself?"</p> + +<p>"I must take time to think that matter over," +Silvestre replied. "The account I have to settle +with you is a long one, and I am not the man, +as you know, to do things in a hurry."</p> + +<p>I saw the Señorita look at him with a light in +her eyes like that of a beautiful trapped animal. +She was trying to appear calm, but from the +way in which she laced and interlaced her fingers, +I could see the strain under which she was +labouring.</p> + +<p>"If there is likely to be anything disagreeable," +said Fernandez, "I should be glad if you +would get it over at once. Nothing is to be +gained by delaying matters."</p> + +<p>"As I said just now, I must have time to +think it over," the other replied. "Upon one +thing, however, you can make up your mind, +you will never see Equinata again."</p> + +<p>"At the present moment it certainly does not +seem very probable that I shall," Fernandez +answered, still with the same good-humour. +"And now with regard to another matter! +What are your intentions concerning this lady?"</p> + +<p>He made a movement with his hands towards +the Señorita as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"She shall, of course, be treated with all due<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_204" id="page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +consideration and respect," Silvestre returned. +"Let that content you!"</p> + +<p>He turned to Manuel, who was standing at the +window, and bade him call the guards into the +room. The latter accordingly made his way into +the verandah, and shouted something in a dialect +with which I was not familiar. In response to +his summons, four gigantic negroes, armed with +rifles (they had evidently been waiting somewhere +in the immediate vicinity) stalked into the room. +Without waiting for instructions, they took their +places on either side of Fernandez. My first fear +was that they were going to dispatch the ex-President +there and then. Silvestre must have +realized what was passing in my mind, for he +laughed and said:</p> + +<p>"You need have no fear, my friend. I am +not going to do him any violence. Let him be +conveyed to the hut," he continued to Manuel, +"and be sure that the door is locked when you +come away. Place a sentry over him, and bring +me the key. Allow me to wish you good-evening, +Don Fernandez, and may pleasant dreams +attend your slumbers."</p> + +<p>The Señorita had risen, and had taken a step +towards Silvestre. She tried to speak, but failed +in the attempt. At last she sank back in her +chair with an ashen face, and then Fernandez +was led away.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_205" id="page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Trevelyan, my dear fellow, may I ask you to +be so good as to go to that door and clap your +hands twice," said Silvestre, when the other had +disappeared.</p> + +<p>I did so, and after a few moments had elapsed +an elderly negress, whose curly hair was almost +snow-white, put in an appearance. In all my +experience of the African race I had never seen +so hideous a creature.</p> + +<p>"Palmyre," Silvestre began, "take this lady +to a room and prepare it for her." Then to the +Señorita he continued: "If there is anything I can +do to promote your comfort, pray command me. +I deeply regret that my health is not sufficiently +good to permit of my attending to matters +myself. Doubtless you will be gracious enough +to take the will for the deed."</p> + +<p>She did not answer, but followed Palmyre +from the room. When they had disappeared +Silvestre turned to me.</p> + +<p>"You have managed the affair most excellently, +friend Helmsworth," he said. "I congratulate +you heartily. Now tell me exactly what happened. +Remember I have no knowledge of your +doings since we bade each other good-bye in +London."</p> + +<p>I thereupon set to work and gave him a +description of my adventures.</p> + +<p>"You certainly had a narrow escape of it in<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_206" id="page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +the cartel," he remarked when I had finished. +"Had Hermaños not rescued you so opportunely, +Fernandez would have shot you without remorse. +I wish, however, that you had not been compelled +to bring the Señorita with you. But +perhaps it was for the best. If you had left her +behind, she would have made mischief. You +must have had a queer voyage with those two. +I wonder what your sweetheart in England would +have said, could she have looked in upon you?"</p> + +<p>"We will leave her out of the question, if you +don't mind," I said quietly.</p> + +<p>There was a time when I had liked and even +admired the man, but two or three things I +had heard during my stay in Equinata, and the +fiendish pleasure he had just taken in gibing at +his fallen enemy, had produced in me a feeling +that was very near akin to loathing.</p> + +<p>"Don Guzman," I began, more seriously than +I had yet spoken, "I trust you will bear in mind +the promise you gave me in England!"</p> + +<p>"And what promise was that?" he asked +suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"You gave me your most positive assurance +that no violence of any sort should be used +towards the man who is now in your power!"</p> + +<p>"And I am not aware that I have said that +any violence would be used," he answered angrily. +"What makes you think that I want to harm<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_207" id="page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +him? Didn't I tell you that my only desire is +to keep him out of harm's way until I have +once more grasped the reins of government in +Equinata? Your part of the business is finished, +and to-morrow I will pay you the reward I +promised you. Hand me up that quinine, there's +a good fellow. I've suffered agonies from this +cursed fever for the last three days. It's just +my luck to be struck down just at the moment +when it is necessary for me to be most active!"</p> + +<p>I helped him to a dose of the medicine.</p> + +<p>"Where will you live during the time you are +here?" he asked at last. "Ashore or on board +the yacht?"</p> + +<p>"I should prefer the yacht if——"</p> + +<p>"If you thought you could depend on my not +knocking those miserable beggars on the head +in the meantime, I suppose? Come, come," he +continued with a laugh, "if you go on like this, +I shall begin to think that the ex-President's +niece has proved herself more dangerous than +I at first imagined."</p> + +<p>Then, doubtless seeing from my face that he +was venturing on dangerous ground, he made +haste to appease me.</p> + +<p>"Don't take offence at a harmless jest, my +dear fellow," he said. "You know very well I +don't mean it."</p> + +<p>Then, vowing that he was too ill to talk any<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_208" id="page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +more just then, he bade me good-bye, promising +to see me on the morrow, if I would come up. +Before I went, however, I had a proposition +to make to him. I did not like to leave the +Señorita in his hands, so I begged that he would +allow her to return to the yacht, giving as an +excuse the plea that she would enjoy greater +comfort there.</p> + +<p>"There is not the least necessity," he replied. +"She will be very well taken care of here. Just +for the present I prefer to have the lady under +my own eye. Sailors are impressionable beings, +and there is no telling what ideas she might put +into their heads. Remember me to Ferguson +and the others, and be sure to be up here by +eleven in the morning. Good-night!"</p> + +<p>I thereupon left him and returned by the path +to the beach below. The niggers who had brought +us ashore had departed, so taking my boat-call +from my pocket I blew a shrill blast upon it. +They must have heard me on the yacht, for a +boat was immediately lowered and sent off to +fetch me. Arriving on board I went in search +of Ferguson, to whom I stated that I did not at +all like the look of things ashore. I communicated +to him my fear that Silvestre, in spite of +the assurance he had given me to the contrary, +contemplated doing some mischief to Fernandez.</p> + +<p>"I should not be at all surprised if he did,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_209" id="page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +my companion replied. "The two men have a +lot to settle between them, and Silvestre is +not the sort of man to forget or to forgive an +injury."</p> + +<p>"But he gave me his word of honour, when I +undertook the task of getting the President out +of the country, that he only meant to keep him +locked up until all chance of his upsetting matters +in Equinata was past and done with."</p> + +<p>"They say that promises, like pie-crust," +Ferguson returned, "are made to be broken. +I wonder what Silvestre's promises are like? +Heigho! I shall be thankful when I have done +with the whole concern."</p> + +<p>"And when do you think that will be?"</p> + +<p>"When I have landed Don Guzman on the +mainland," he replied. "Then I have to take +this vessel back to a certain northern port, and +to hand her over to a man who is to meet her +there. After that, old England, and, if Allah +wills, a life of an entirely different description."</p> + +<p>Next morning I returned to the house on the +hill, to find Silvestre's health much improved, +and his prisoners, as he found early occasion to +inform me, still alive.</p> + +<p>"The lady," he said, "treated me to a pretty +specimen of her temper last night. She wouldn't +leave her room, and declined to eat her food. +Realizing that it was not the least use arguing<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_210" id="page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +with her, I left her to her own devices. Her +condition, I understand, has somewhat improved +this morning."</p> + +<p>Presently he produced from his pocket a bundle +of bank-notes, which he handed to me.</p> + +<p>"Here is the payment I promised you for your +work in Bank of England notes," he said. "Just +run your eye over them, will you, and see that +the amount is right?"</p> + +<p>A few moments' investigation convinced me +that the notes in question amounted to the value +of five thousand pounds. As I dropped the +bundle into the inside pocket of my coat, I +reflected that it would be a big sum to carry +about with me continually. As I had no safer +place, however, I had to put up with it.</p> + +<p>"And now there's a question I want to put +to you," I said. "My work is at an end, so +when will it be possible for me to leave for +England?"</p> + +<p>"You can go when you like," he answered. +"You will find that I am prepared to stick to +my side of the contract as faithfully as you have +done to yours. Shall we say the day after +to-morrow? If that will suit you, the yacht +can take you across to Cuba, drop you on the +coast after dark, and you can then find your way +to Santiago, or elsewhere, as you please."</p> + +<p>"The day after to-morrow will suit me admirably,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_211" id="page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +I replied. "As you may suppose, I +am all anxiety to get home. And when do <i>you</i> +propose sailing for Equinata?"</p> + +<p>"When the yacht returns," he answered. "I +desire to get to business as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>"And do you still think that you will be +successful in your enterprise?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" he asked. "I have run the risk +before, and I am going to do so again. I've got +some powerful friends at my back, and with one +or two of my worst enemies, Fernandez and his +niece, for instance, out of the way, I am fairly +confident I shall be able to manage it. I suppose +it would be no use asking you to come with me? +I could make it worth your while to do so."</p> + +<p>"I would not go with you for all the money +in the world," I answered. "I have had enough +of Equinata to last me a lifetime. I never want +to see the place again."</p> + +<p>"Our tastes differ, I see; for I am as anxious +to settle there for the remainder of my existence +as you are to remain away from it."</p> + +<p>That afternoon I went for a somewhat lengthy +stroll through the island. I was ill at ease, and +I wanted to make up my mind, if possible, as to +how I should act with regard to Fernandez and +the Señorita. Common humanity forbade that I +should callously leave the island and abandon +them to the fate I felt sure awaited them. Yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_212" id="page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +how could I remain, and what good could I do +if I did so? I knew that in his heart Ferguson +was well disposed towards me, but even if he +were would he dare to interfere? And again, +if he did would the others take sides with us +or with Silvestre? By the time I reached the +beach once more I had come to no sort of decision. +For the time being I gave the matter up as a bad +job. I was in the act of stepping into the boat +that was to take me on board, when a shout from +the wood behind attracted my attention. It +emanated from Ferguson. When he reached the +boat I noticed that he was deathly pale, and that +there was a look in his eyes I had never seen +there before.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" I asked. "You look +as if you had seen a ghost!"</p> + +<p>"Hush! I'll tell you when we get on board," +he replied. "It would be impossible to do so +now."</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_213" id="page_213">[Pg 213]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<p>Of one thing you may be sure; that was the +fact that I was more than anxious to hear what +Ferguson had to tell me. That the man was +very much upset I could see, while the hint he +had given me in the boat, concerning certain +tidings he had to tell me, frightened me beyond +measure. Immediately on reaching the yacht +I took him to the saloon and poured him out a +stiff glass of grog. He drank it off, and when +he had done so, seemed the better for it.</p> + +<p>"Now come along to the chart-room," I said, +"and let me hear what you have to say. We +shall be alone there, and I gathered from your +manner that what you have to tell me will not +bear the presence of eavesdroppers."</p> + +<p>"Come along then," he replied. "Let us go +up there at once, I shall not rest happy until +I have shared this with you."</p> + +<p>We accordingly left the saloon and ascended +to the bridge. Once in the chart-room, and +when we had shut the door carefully behind<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_214" id="page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +us, I seated myself on the chart locker, while +Ferguson took possession of the couch.</p> + +<p>"Now then, go ahead," I said. "What have +you discovered?"</p> + +<p>"It's the most fiendish plot I ever heard of," +he replied. "I would not have believed a man +could have thought of anything so vile. If I +had not chanced to stray where I did no one +would have been the wiser. And then——" +He stopped abruptly, as if the thought were +too much for him.</p> + +<p>"But you have not told me yet what it is +you have heard," I continued, with some sort +of impatience.</p> + +<p>He rose and went to the door, opened it, +looked outside, and then returned once more +to his place on the couch.</p> + +<p>"This afternoon, as you know," he began, +leaning forward on his seat, as if he were desirous +that no one but myself should hear, "I went +ashore to see Silvestre. He was anxious, he said, +to consult me concerning the business of taking +you to Cuba, and also about the landing of himself +and the others on the Equinata coast. I had a +long talk with him, during which he was all +graciousness and condescension. Butter wouldn't +have melted in his mouth. He praised all the +services we had rendered him. You can have +no idea how pleasant he was. When he became<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_215" id="page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +President, I was to have command, if I wished +it, of an Equinata man-o'-war, etc., and above +all others I was to be his trusted naval adviser. +No post could be too big for me."</p> + +<p>"It sounds very nice, but he also endeavoured +to advise me to return with him," I said.</p> + +<p>"And what reply did you give him?" Ferguson +inquired.</p> + +<p>"I gave him to understand that I would not +go back to Equinata for all the money in the +world," I said. "I had had quite enough of the +place to last me a lifetime."</p> + +<p>"That was my reply exactly," Ferguson replied. +"The next time they see me there of my own +free will, they may treat me as they please."</p> + +<p>"Well, never mind that, continue your story," +I returned. "What is it you have discovered?"</p> + +<p>"Well, after I left Silvestre, I had the misfortune—or +the good fortune—as you may consider +it, to miss my way. How I came to do so I +am unable to say. It is sufficient that I did. +You know how thick the jungle is up there! +Well! instead of taking the track that brings +one down to where we embark, I branched off to +the left, and found myself stranded in as thick a +bit of scrub as ever I have seen in my life. It +was hot enough to roast the scalp on your head, +and I was just beginning to think of turning +back, when I heard a voice come from thick<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_216" id="page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +bushes on my right. 'Hulloa, what on earth is +he doing there?' I said to myself, for I recognized +it as belonging to Manuel, the half-caste. The +words I heard him utter made me more than a +bit suspicious."</p> + +<p>"What was it he said?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"'You can do it easily, nobody will ever find +out,'" Ferguson replied. "'But I can't, I can't,' +a woman's voice answered. It was old Palmyre, +the negress, who spoke. 'You'd better do it, or +he'll cut your throat as he would a pig's,' Manuel +continued. 'Why do you argue about the matter? +You know very well that you are out here gathering +the herbs yourself.' 'But their spirits will +haunt me,' cried the old woman. That made +me all attention, you may be sure. The +half-caste uttered an oath in reply. The spirit +that would haunt him would have to be a fairly +potent one. 'What does it matter,' he went on; +'you will be well paid for it.' For a few seconds +nothing more was said, but as I listened I heard +something that sounded very like a sob. Whatever +he was trying to persuade the old negress +to do, it was very plain that she did not relish +the job. Presently she whispered, 'When must +it be done?' 'As soon as Silvestre leaves in +the yacht,' the other replied. 'What difficulty is +there in it? All you have to do is to stew the +herbs and to slip them into their food. You'll be<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_217" id="page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +a rich woman for the rest of your life.' After that +they moved further away from me, and I came +down to the boat."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" I cried, the awful truth +coming to me in a flash. "Silvestre intends to +poison them."</p> + +<p>"There is not much doubt about that," said +Ferguson. "When you are out of the way +and he has left for Equinata, the Señorita and +President will never trouble him or any one else +again. And as far as I can see nothing can save +them!"</p> + +<p>"It's too horrible! It's devilish," I cried, +springing to my feet. "He took his oath to +me that not a hair of their heads should be +harmed."</p> + +<p>"He wished you to take his words literally, +you see," Ferguson returned. "He said nothing +about giving each of them a dose of poison. +Look at the matter from his point of view. As +long as they live they are his enemies and he +is not safe. He owes Fernandez a deadly grudge +and he means to pay it."</p> + +<p>"But what is to be done? We cannot let +them be murdered in cold blood. Human nature +couldn't stand that. And yet if he knows that +we are aware of his plot, he will take means to +prevent our interfering and kill them out of +hand. For God's sake, Ferguson, advise me!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_218" id="page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't see exactly what we can do," he +replied sorrowfully. "Silvestre has got us in +a cleft stick and we can't help ourselves."</p> + +<p>"But surely you are not going to stand by +and allow him to carry out his fiendish plot?" +I returned hotly. "I can't believe that of +you!"</p> + +<p>"But you don't know what Silvestre is," said +Ferguson, not daring to meet my eyes. "It +would be madness to thwart him."</p> + +<p>"If I don't know what he is," I retorted, "I +at least know what I am. I brought these +unfortunate people here. He shall not harm +them, if it costs me all I have on earth, even +life itself. And what is more, if you're a man +you'll help me."</p> + +<p>"But what can I do?" he answered helplessly. +"I have always been considered a fairly plucky +fellow. I must confess, however, that this business +is too much for me. I've a wife and family +to think of, you know!"</p> + +<p>"Your wife would despise you above all living +men if she knew that you were a party to the +murder of that woman," I answered.</p> + +<p>He scratched his chin and looked at me in a +perplexed way. It was evident to me that I +must not expect very much assistance from him.</p> + +<p>"To my mind a man ought to think of his +wife and children before anything else," he said<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_219" id="page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +at last, in a tone of apology. "If anything +happens to me what is to become of them? I'm +beginning to think I was a fool to have told you +anything about it!"</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it," I answered. "There, at +least, you did an honest action. Don't spoil it +by drawing back."</p> + +<p>This only elicited his old query.</p> + +<p>"But what can we do?"</p> + +<p>"We must get them out of the island before +Silvestre can do them a mischief," I replied.</p> + +<p>"And pray how is that to be done?"</p> + +<p>"A way must be found," I answered. "Surely +it should not be so very difficult. Remember, +Ferguson, I did you a good turn once. Repay +it now by helping me to save them. If they die, +their deaths will be at our doors. For my part, +if that happens I shall never know a moment's +peace again, or be able to look an honest man +or woman in the face. I worked for Silvestre +because I had given him my promise to do so, +and had taken his money; he has repaid it by +breaking his oath to me. By jove! whether I +am bound to him or not, I will prevent him from +carrying out this terrible crime."</p> + +<p>I could see that, and also realized, that +whatever Ferguson's desire might be to help +me, he was not willing to run any great risks +himself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_220" id="page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I must have time to think it over," he said. +"In the meantime keep your own counsel. If a +hint of this gets about we are done for."</p> + +<p>I did not reply, but left him and went below +to my cabin, where I threw myself down on my +bunk and set to work to try and think the question +out. What a fool I had been to mix myself up +in the matter at all. One moment's thought +should have told me that Silvestre was not the +sort of man to have any mercy upon his enemy. +A dozen plans for effecting the escape of the +President and Señorita formed themselves in my +mind, only to be thrown aside at once as useless. +Then the gong sounded for dinner and I made +my way to the saloon. I had just set foot inside +the companion, when a voice I knew so well, and +had now learned to hate, greeted me.</p> + +<p>"Good-evening, my friend," said Silvestre +cheerily. "I have come aboard to be your guest +this evening. As my fever has left me, I thought +a little sea air and congenial society would do me +no harm. Shall we go in to dinner?"</p> + +<p>For a moment I was so surprised at seeing +him that I could not answer. I followed him, +however, to the saloon, where I found that +three places had been laid. A few minutes later +Ferguson made his appearance and we sat down +to our meal. As we did so I shot a glance at +the other's face. It was plain from the expression<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_221" id="page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +upon it that Silvestre's presence had +alarmed him considerably.</p> + +<p>"We should really have invited the Señorita +to join us," said Silvestre, as he spread his +serviette over his knees. "Señor Fernandez, I +regret to say, is suffering from a slight attack +of fever to-day. I have prescribed for him, +however, and trust he will be himself shortly."</p> + +<p>As he said this I glanced sharply at him. +Was he commencing his awful crime already? +The mere thought of it was sufficient to take my +appetite away. Had I been able to follow my +own inclinations, I should have laid down my +knife and fork and have risen from the table +without touching another morsel. Prudence, +however, bade me remain where I was. I shot +a glance at Ferguson, to find him wiping his +face with his handkerchief. Silvestre was also +watching him.</p> + +<p>"The evening is very hot," said the captain, +by way of excuse, "very hot indeed."</p> + +<p>"I agree with you," Silvestre returned dryly. +"If I am not mistaken, we shall have a thunderstorm +later."</p> + +<p>During the remainder of the repast Silvestre +continued to converse in very much his usual +fashion. He did not refer again, however, to the +prisoners. At ten o'clock he left for the shore, +but before he did so, he bade me be ready to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_222" id="page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +start for Cuba on the following afternoon. I +tried to invent an excuse for remaining longer, +but one would not come to my hand.</p> + +<p>"Needless to say I am anxious to get on to +Equinata with all dispatch," said Silvestre. "I +cannot do so until I have carried out my promise +to you."</p> + +<p>"Why not go first and let the yacht come back +for me?" I suggested. "I am in no particular +hurry."</p> + +<p>"I could not dream of such a thing," he +answered politely. "It would be better for you +to go at once. Indeed, I have this evening given +the necessary instructions to Ferguson."</p> + +<p>After that there was nothing more to be said.</p> + +<p>As he went down the accommodation ladder +an idea occurred to me. His boat was not more +than a dozen lengths from the yacht's side before +I had made my way up the ladder to the +bridge and had entered the chart-room. Above +the chart-locker was a shelf on which were kept +the books of reference needful for the navigation +of the yacht. In a fever of impatience I ran +my eye along them until I came upon the +volume I wanted. To consult the index and +discover a certain island was a question of a few +moments. I read what the book had to say +regarding it, but I was not greatly relieved +by so doing. Communication with the island<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_223" id="page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +was evidently only a matter of chance. I +thereupon took the chart of that particular part +of the Carribean Sea and studied it attentively. +The nearest island to San Diaz was that of +Asturia, distant something like a day and a half's +steam. It was comforting to learn that numerous +trading boats touched there. Let me go at once, +as Silvestre had proposed, and, instead of proceeding +to Cuba, induce Ferguson to put into +this island. If luck favoured me, I could charter +a vessel there and return to San Diaz to rescue +the President and the Señorita. Having once +thought of this plan, I was eager to put it +into execution. I determined, however, to say +nothing to Ferguson until the morrow, and only +then when we were well out at sea. Friendly +though the little man was to me, I had seen +enough of him to feel sure that it would need +but little pressure from Silvestre to undermine +that friendship.</p> + +<p>Next morning I left the yacht and went +ashore to bid Silvestre farewell. I could very +well have dispensed with this ceremony, but I +was afraid of arousing his suspicions. I found +him seated in the verandah of his house when I +arrived, a cigar in his mouth, and a book in his +hand. He greeted me pleasantly enough. As +I looked at him I could not help recalling the +evening when I had seen him seated in the little<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_224" id="page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +summerhouse of the inn at Falstead. How many +things had happened since that memorable afternoon!</p> + +<p>He rose to receive me and held out his hand.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether we shall ever see each +other again, Helmsworth?" he said, when I had +seated myself. "You have done me a great +service, and in the name of the people of +Equinata I thank you for it. You will return +to Falstead at once, I suppose," he went on, after +a short pause, "marry the girl of your heart, and +settle down to shire life. I wonder what my +fate will be?"</p> + +<p>I thought that if Fernandez managed to +escape, I could hazard a very good guess. +Before leaving him I touched upon the old +subject, in order to see what his reply would be.</p> + +<p>"I presume you will not permit me to say +farewell to your prisoners," I said.</p> + +<p>"It would not be wise," he answered. +"Fernandez, as I told you last night, is down +with fever, and the Señorita is not in the best of +tempers just now. However, I will convey all +sorts of kind messages to them from you when +next I see them."</p> + +<p>I rose from my chair.</p> + +<p>"Don Guzman," I began, trying to speak +calmly, "you are not playing me false, are you? +If any harm should befall Fernandez and his<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_225" id="page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +niece, remember you will have all Civilization +against you."</p> + +<p>At this he fairly lost his temper.</p> + +<p>"<i>Madre de Dios</i>, man," he cried, "do you +want to make me angry with you? Why do you +harp so continually on this string? I have told +you, and reiterated the fact, that I do not intend +to harm them. If I did, don't you think I +should have done so ere this? What's more, +Mr. Helmsworth, let me just give you a word +of advice. When you return to England, be +sure you keep a silent tongue in your head. I +can be a good friend, and a particularly bitter +enemy. I've a long arm, and when I strike I +strike deep. But there, my dear fellow, don't +let us quarrel at the time we're about to say +farewell to each other. We must part friends. +Is it time for you to go? Then good-bye, and +may good fortune go with you."</p> + +<p>When I left him I made my way towards the +path leading to the beach. As I crossed the +open space in front of the house, I turned my +eyes in the direction of the hut where Fernandez +was confined. One of the gigantic negroes that +I had seen on the day of our arrival at the island +was standing on guard, rifle in hand, before it. +Silvestre, I knew, was watching me from the +verandah, so there was no chance of being able<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_226" id="page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +to communicate with the prisoner. I accordingly +continued my walk down to the beach. Two +hours later the yacht was steaming out of +harbour, and so far as Silvestre knew, I was on +my way to England <i>viâ</i> Cuba.</p> + +<p>As I have already observed, it is a day and a +half's steam from San Diaz to the nearest island—Asturia. +The latter is, if anything, slightly +bigger than its neighbour. It is certainly more +prosperous. Lying in the track of ships it has +a number of visitors, and trade is consequently +fairly brisk—the principal exports being a peculiar +species of hard wood, and a small quantity +of sugar, for which product the soil is well +adapted.</p> + +<p>It was not until we had been several hours at +sea that I broached the subject that was uppermost +in my mind to Ferguson. For reasons +already stated I was by no means certain how +he would receive it. Would his friendship for +myself be sufficiently strong to stand the test? +However, the matter had to be decided, one way +or the other, and what was more there was no +time to be lost. I accordingly took advantage +of the opportunity that presented itself, and +came to business. He heard me out in silence, +but there was an expression upon his face that +told me he was not particularly in love with my<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_227" id="page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +proposal. Indeed, between ourselves, I don't +see how he could have been.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Mr. Helmsworth Trevelyan, or +Trevelyan Helmsworth—whatever you please to +call yourself—as I understand it you are asking +me to do a thing I have never done before. In +other words you are asking me to go back upon +the man whose money I am taking."</p> + +<p>"Oh! come, now——"</p> + +<p>"Just one moment before you reply. Let me +put it in my own way, and you can work it out +as you like afterwards. I can't see for myself +that there is any other construction to be placed +upon your proposal. You'll admit, I suppose, +that Silvestre is my employer? I am here to +run this boat according to his orders, and my +instructions are to take you to Cuba and to land +you there. You want me to disregard them, and +to drop you at Asturia."</p> + +<p>"But surely——"</p> + +<p>"Hold hard until I have finished. You know +that I'm not a particular squeamish fellow. I've +done a good many things that a number of +people wouldn't even look at; but—and mark +you this 'but' is fairly important, if I've got +to choose between you and Silvestre—friendship +steps in and Silvestre goes to the wall. At the +same time I don't mind confessing that it's far<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_228" id="page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +from a nice position you have placed me in. +The world won't be big enough for me to hide in +when it comes to getting away from Silvestre. +And when you come to think I've a wife and +family at home all depending upon me, I'll leave +you to figure out how much you value Fernandez' +life at."</p> + +<p>This was a way of looking at the question that +I had not foreseen.</p> + +<p>"But I cannot go away and leave the man +there to be murdered," I began. "Flesh and +blood wouldn't allow that."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then let us say no more about it. +It's settled that I run into Asturia and that you +go ashore there."</p> + +<p>"And after that?"</p> + +<p>"I shall go on to Cuba!"</p> + +<p>"Give me all the time you can," I said. +"I've a big bit of work before me when I get +back to the island."</p> + +<p>"And I wish you joy of it."</p> + +<p>Darkness had fallen when we reached the +island. I was anxious, however, to lose no time, +and determined to land at once. Immediately +on dropping anchor, therefore, I asked Ferguson +to put me ashore. This he willingly consented +to do, and in due course I found myself with +my baggage on the beach. When I had seen<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_229" id="page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +the boat depart, I made my way into the town. +It was a queer little place, built on the side +of a hill, and with, so far as I could see, a +very sparse white population.</p> + +<p>From a negro boy I inquired my way to the +principal hotel, if there should happen to be +more than one. He grinned expansively and +offered to conduct me to it. It proved to be +only a short distance away and faced the sea-front. +I rewarded the boy, entered it, and made +my way into the bar. The landlord was a +Spaniard, and about as villainous a specimen of +his race as I'd ever seen. I told him I had just +arrived, and that I was anxious to charter a +schooner at once, and inquired whether he could +help me in the matter, promising to reward +him liberally should he do so.</p> + +<p>As it happened, he declared that he knew of +exactly the sort of vessel I wanted. I inquired +the owner's name and asked the landlord where +she could be seen.</p> + +<p>"She's anchored about a couple of cables from +the pier, señor," he replied, "and she is the property +of my good friend, Maxime Blonde. Maxime +was lamenting to me only this evening that, +having no cargo, he must return to Martinique +empty."</p> + +<p>"Where can I find him?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_230" id="page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> + +<p>"On board, señor." Then, scenting business, +he continued: "If you wish it, I will escort you +to him."</p> + +<p>To this I willingly agreed, and then, when he +had called his wife to take charge of the saloon, +and a negro to accompany him, we made our +way to the pier. A boat was soon discovered, +and in her, rowed by the negro, we set off for +the <i>La Belle Josephine</i> of Martinique.</p> + +<p>She proved to be a small fore-and-aft schooner +of about fifty tons, nattily built, so far as I +was able to judge in the darkness, and very +well suited to my purpose.</p> + +<p>"Maxime, Maxime Blonde," screeched the +hotel keeper, "a señor to see you on business. +Come forth!"</p> + +<p>"What now?" cried a voice from the cabin +aft. "Who is it calls Maxime at this time of +night?"</p> + +<p>The hotel keeper went aft and explained +matters. Presently he returned and invited me +to follow him to the cabin. Of all the dirty +holes it has been my misfortune to enter this +was certainly the worst. Straw, paper, and +banana peel littered the floor. On the right-hand +side of the cabin was a narrow bunk, upon which +a small, shrivelled-up mulatto was seated. He +explained that he was Monsieur Maxime, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_231" id="page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +that he was owner and captain of the vessel. +Being unable to bear the closeness of the cabin I +suggested that we should do our business on +deck, and thither the little man followed me. +In something under a quarter of an hour my +arrangements were made with him, and it was +settled that we should sail for San Diaz at daybreak.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_232" id="page_232">[Pg 232]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<p>Of our voyage from the island of Asturia to +San Diaz there is little to chronicle. <i>La Belle +Josephine</i>, as far as her sailing capabilities were +concerned, was all that her owner and captain +had described her to be. On the other hand, her +dirt and slovenliness were exactly what I had +been led to expect it would be from my first +inspection of the cabin. To sleep in it, or to +eat my meals there, was out of the question. +How the Señorita would manage, when she came +aboard—provided I was able to get her away +from the island—I could not imagine.</p> + +<p>Monsieur Maxime's navigation, I soon discovered, +was of the most elementary description. +However, perhaps by luck, and perhaps by a +measure of good judgment, he managed to pick +up the island about noon on the third day after +leaving Asturia.</p> + +<p>Fearing that Silvestre might have some one on +the look-out, I bade Maxime keep the schooner +out of sight of land until nightfall. Then we<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_233" id="page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +put in, and brought up in a small bay some five +miles from the settlement. Immediately it was +dark I went ashore, bidding the hands take the +boat back, and when they got there to keep a +sharp ear for my whistle.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for what I had in hand, it was a +dark night, so dark indeed that I could scarcely +see the boat when I had walked a dozen paces +from it. What the jungle would be like I could +not imagine.</p> + +<p>When the boat had disappeared I set off along +the beach in the direction of the settlement. +How I was going to reach the house without +attracting the attention of its inmates, and what +I was going to do when I got there, were two +points about which I did not trouble myself very +much at that time. My lucky star had so far +been in the ascendant, that I was trusting to it +to continue so. I knew very well that it was a +desperate enterprise I was embarking upon, for +should Silvestre discover me, my shrift was +likely to be as short as that which Fernandez +had so obligingly arranged for me in La Gloria. +At last, when I reached the eastern side of the +bay, that in which the yacht had anchored, I turned +towards the jungle and prepared to enter it. I +knew I was in for some hard work, but I did +not imagine that it would prove so difficult as I +found it to be. The dense mass of creeper that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_234" id="page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +twined from tree to tree barred my progress at +every step. I had to climb, to twist, to crawl, +in places unable to see more than a few inches +ahead, scratched by aloes and thorny bushes, +buffeted by low branches, and more than once +tripped up and thrown heavily to the ground by +logs and other obstacles. How long it took me +to reach the plateau I cannot say, but I could +scarcely have been less than an hour upon the +road. Yet the distance was certainly not more +than a quarter of a mile. Somewhat to my +astonishment the plateau was all darkness; not +a light showed from the house, not a sound came +from the huts. With a stealth that would have +done credit to a Sioux or an Apache, I crept +through the bushes towards the block-house in +which Fernandez had been confined when I had +left the island. A sudden fear had come over me +that, during my absence, Silvestre might have +done away with him. If no sentry stood at the +door I should believe this to be the case. Closer +and still closer I crept to it. At last I was only +a few yards distant from it. I was about to +move forward on my hands and knees in order +to obtain a better view, when a guttural cough +reached me, coming, so it seemed, from only a +few yards away. So close was it, indeed, that I +sprang back, fearing lest the man who uttered it +would become aware of my presence. Then the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_235" id="page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +grounding of a rifle-butt on the stones before +the hut door reached me, and afforded me indisputable +evidence that the general was still +imprisoned there.</p> + +<p>At first a wild notion came into my head that +I might be able to overpower the negro sentry, +and, having done so, to free Fernandez. A +moment's reflection, however, told me that in +all probability he would prove more than a match +for me, while he might also have time to fire his +rifle and so to give the alarm. More important +still, even if I did have the good luck to overcome +him, I should not be able to get into the hut, as +Silvestre kept the key.</p> + +<p>"No," I said to myself, "I must try again +to-morrow night, and then I'll bring the two +men with me."</p> + +<p>Creeping back as carefully as I had come, I +reached the beach once more as tired as if I +had walked a dozen miles through heavy ground. +Going to the water's edge, I gave a shrill whistle, +and then sat myself down to await the boat's +arrival. It was not long in coming, and in less +than a quarter of an hour I was back on board +the schooner. Calling up Monsieur Maxime, I +bade him get sail on her and put to sea once +more. He seemed a little surprised, I fancy, +and was about to demur. A brief remonstrance<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_236" id="page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +on my part, however, sufficed to put him on +good terms with me again.</p> + +<p>The next day was spent out of sight of the +island, but as soon as darkness fell we were back +once more and anchored in the bay. By this +time, as you may suppose, I had perfected my +scheme as far as possible, and knew exactly what +I was going to do.</p> + +<p>To my delight the night proved as dark as +its predecessor. When, after some difficulty, I +reached the shore, with the two men who had +volunteered to assist me, the wind was driving +the sand upon the beach in clouds, and was +howling most dismally among the trees of the +jungle.</p> + +<p>"We couldn't have chosen a better night," I +said to my companions, as we hurried along. +"With the elements in our favour, however, we +shall have to be very careful how we act."</p> + +<p>We made our way down the beach as I had +done on the previous night, and climbed the hill +as before. Neither of the men had had any +previous experience of jungle-work, but they +were to have some now which would be sufficient +to last them all their lives. More than once +they followed my example and went sprawling +in the darkness, while once the taller of the +pair managed to get his foot entangled in a mass<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_237" id="page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +of creeper, and it required all my efforts, and +those of his companion, to release him.</p> + +<p>"Lord bless us, sir," the other whispered in +my ear, "I hope there are no snakes about. +This seems just the sort of place to find them."</p> + +<p>"You needn't be afraid," I replied. "I have +been assured that there is not a snake on the +island."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of that," I heard him mutter. "I +don't cotton to snakes nohow."</p> + +<p>At last we reached the plateau, whereupon I +bade both men remain where they were while I +went to reconnoitre. Then, dropping on to my +hands and knees, I crept forward until I was +on the edge of the jungle. It was the same +place from which I had watched the sentry on +the previous night. Either he or one of his +comrades was there now, for I could just see +his dark figure standing at the corner of the hut. +Across the plateau streamed a bright light from +the sitting-room of the house, while the faint +tinkling of some native instrument reached my +ears from the group of huts beyond. Having +taken my observations, I crept back again to +my companions.</p> + +<p>As may be supposed, I had already instructed +them in their duties. In consequence, each had +brought with him a hank of thin rope, while I +had placed two or three carefully made canvas<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_238" id="page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +gags in my pocket in case their services should be +required. The idea I had in my mind was that +we should creep up to the hut from behind. The +two men would then take the right-hand side and +make their way round the building with as little +noise as possible, while I was to imitate them on +the left. When I reached the sentry I was to +saunter slowly up to him as if it were the most +natural thing in the world for me to be there. +Before he could recover from his astonishment at +seeing me, they were to spring upon him and +make him secure—I obtaining possession of his +rifle before he could fire it.</p> + +<p>"Come along," I whispered, "and don't make +a sound as you love your lives."</p> + +<p>Scarcely daring to breathe, I led them from +the jungle and across the open space that +separated us from the hut. Having gained its +shelter, we paused to prepare for the struggle.</p> + +<p>Since I had left England I had been in +some tight places, but I had never felt so +nervous as I did at that moment. There was +so much to be thought of, so much to be +provided for, and yet so much to be left to +chance. What if the sentry did not prove as +surprised as I hoped he would be? Suppose the +men did not come up in time and gave him an +opportunity of discharging his rifle, what would +our fate be then? But it did not improve<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_239" id="page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +matters thinking of what might happen. I had +to carry out my portion of the scheme and +leave the rest to Fate. So, having seen the +men ready with their ropes in their hands, I +calmly strolled round the side of the hut towards +the spot where the sentry was standing. +It seemed to me that on the outcome of those +few steps I was staking all that was worth +having in the world—Molly's happiness, my +mother's, Fernandez' and the Señorita Dolores' +lives, and in all probability my own. Then I +turned the corner and the giant figure of the +negro was before me. He looked up and saw +me, uttered an exclamation of surprise, and then +took a step forward as if to make sure of my +identity.</p> + +<p>"Have you a light for my cigar, friend?" I +inquired, as coolly as I could force myself to speak.</p> + +<p>As I said it the two figures of my companions +appeared round the further corner. +Before the man could reply they had thrown +themselves upon him; one had clutched him by +the throat, while the other pinioned his hands +behind him. Springing forward, I seized the rifle +he had dropped. The man made a desperate +struggle for his liberty, but we were too much +for him, and almost before he could realize what +had happened, we had got him on the other side +of the hut, where we could make him secure and<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_240" id="page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +do with him as we might think best. In almost +less time than it takes to tell, my two companions +had lashed him so securely that it was +impossible for him to move hand or foot or, +what was more important still, to cry out.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/gs03b.png" width="378" height="600" alt=""One had clutched him by the throat."" /> +<p class="caption">"One had clutched him by the throat."</p> +</div> + +<p>"So far so good," I said, rising from my knees, +where I had been kneeling beside the prostrate +man. "He will give us no more trouble. Now +you, Williams, take his rifle and stand sentry in +front of that door, while Matthews and I go +across to the house and see what we can do +with Silvestre. We've got to find that key +somehow."</p> + +<p>Williams took the rifle and proceeded to the +front of the hut, where he stood in very much +the same attitude as the negro had adopted. +Then Matthews and I, in our turn, made our way +quietly back to the jungle, and through it towards +the spot where it approached nearest the +house. The light was still streaming from +Silvestre's window, and once, as we waited, I +heard the sound of his laugh. It was evident +from this that he was not alone.</p> + +<p>"Now, Matthews," I said, "what we have to +do is to get across to that verandah without any +one seeing us. If we are caught, remember our +lives will pay the penalty."</p> + +<p>"I hope we shan't be caught then, sir," the +man replied.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_241" id="page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p> + +<p>The night was as still as the grave; the music +had ceased at the huts, and not a sound came +from the house towards which we were making +our way. At last we reached the verandah +and ascended the two steps that led up to it. +Silvestre's sitting-room was now only a few yards +distant. Would it be possible for us to reach it +without giving him warning of our approach? +Fortunately for us, the floor of the verandah was +of earth, beaten hard, and for this reason, unless +we were more than usually careless, the odds +were in our favour. Keeping as close to the +wall of the house as possible, we approached the +window, which was open. As we did so, Silvestre +spoke again.</p> + +<p>"Well, I have given you plenty of time to +think it over," he remarked. "What have you +to say?"</p> + +<p>"Only that I refuse," the Señorita replied, for +she was his companion. "You could not expect +me to do anything else."</p> + +<p>"Think well what you are doing," the other +continued, and as he said it I advanced a couple +of steps. "You know that when I say a thing +I mean it. I tell you plainly Fernandez' life +is not worth an hour's purchase. He chose to +come between me and my ambition, and I have +tossed him aside as I should have done a straw. +When he is out of the way Equinata will listen<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_242" id="page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +to me, and when she has observed how I deal +with such as oppose me, I don't think she will +make any more mistakes. I know that you are +dangerous, but I fancy I can manage you. Give +me the information I require, and I'll spare you +and perhaps do more. Why should you bother +yourself about Fernandez?"</p> + +<p>"Do you think I have no heart?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose you have about as much as +any other woman," was the sneering reply. +"Come, Señorita, you must admit that my +patience has held out pretty well. But you +mustn't overstrain it. Give me the information +I require and I, on my side, will pledge myself +to send you to Europe, and also to allow +Fernandez to remain here in safety, provided he +passes his word never to return to Equinata or +to molest me further. I cannot make you a +fairer offer than that, and I am afraid I am +foolish to do so much."</p> + +<p>"And if I refuse to accept your terms?"</p> + +<p>"Then I shoot Fernandez at daybreak, and +when the yacht returns sail away, leaving you +here in Palmyre's charge. I am afraid you +would find the life a trifle lonely after La Gloria."</p> + +<p>Knowing as I did what his real intentions +were, I was able to form a very fair estimate of +the man's villainy. What the information could +be that he was so anxious to obtain from her<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_243" id="page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +I could not imagine. I had not much time, +however, to think about it, for as the thought +flashed through my brain I heard some one +rise from a chair and cross the room, then +Silvestre's voice continued, in a more persuasive +tone than he had used before: "Señorita, you +and I together could govern that country as it +has never been ruled before. I know who are +my friends there, and I am also acquainted with +my enemies. The first I shall take care to render +even more loyal than they were before, the others +I shall deal with in such a fashion that they will +give no more trouble. Come, make up your +mind. Go home to Europe for a year until I +have everything in order and then come out and +join me. Who knows what happiness may be +in store for us? What have you to say to my +proposal?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot," she answered in a heart-broken +voice; "and yet, oh Heaven! I cannot let you +kill him."</p> + +<p>"You must decide one way or the other," he +said remorselessly, "and you'd also better be +quick about it. My patience is well nigh +exhausted."</p> + +<p>There was another interval of silence.</p> + +<p>"Will you let me see Señor Fernandez for +a moment before I give you my answer?" she +pleaded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_244" id="page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not for an instant," he replied. "You must +have known what answer I should give you when +you put the question. I know Señor Fernandez +too well to allow you two to meet. I see it is +half-past ten! Now I will give you five minutes +in which to make up your mind, and if you don't +tell me what I want to know then, I will carry +out my threat and Fernandez will finish his +career at daybreak."</p> + +<p>She uttered a piteous little cry, followed by +an appeal for mercy.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk to me of mercy," he answered. +"What mercy did he show me? What mercy +would he have for me if our positions were +reversed? He would have shot me like a dog. +Bear the fact in mind, Señorita, that if he comes +to an untimely end you will be responsible for +it!"</p> + +<p>There was another pause.</p> + +<p>"Time is flying. You have only four minutes +left!"</p> + +<p>It was impossible that I could listen to this +sort of talk unmoved. He had the unfortunate +woman at his mercy, and I knew him well +enough by this time to feel convinced that as +soon as he had extracted his information from +her he would throw his promises to the wind, +and carry out the infamous project of which +Manuel had spoken to Palmyre. He knew well<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_245" id="page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> +that even if he killed Fernandez and allowed her +to go free she would begin to intrigue against +him. His insinuation that she should return +from Europe to him in Equinata was only a subterfuge +to prevent her becoming suspicious as to +his real intentions.</p> + +<p>"Three minutes gone!"</p> + +<p>The Señorita said nothing in reply, but although +I could not see her I could very well +imagine the agony she was suffering. The memory +of the night we had spent together in the +balcony of the Opera House at La Gloria came +back to me. Then I took my revolver from my +pocket, and gave the magazine a turn to see that +it was in working order.</p> + +<p>Once more Silvestre spoke.</p> + +<p>"Time is up," he said. "I will call Palmyre +and give the necessary orders about Fernandez."</p> + +<p>"No, no," she cried in the expostulation of +despair. "Take my life—kill me! But for the +Blessed Virgin's sake, let him go free."</p> + +<p>"Will you give me the information?" was +Silvestre's reply.</p> + +<p>The Señorita uttered a little cry as if she were +suffering physical pain.</p> + +<p>"And send them to their deaths? No, no, I +should be less than human if I were to do +that."</p> + +<p>"Fernandez will be less than human if you do<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_246" id="page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +not," was the other's brutal response. "Permit +me, and I will call Palmyre."</p> + +<p>As he said this, I turned to the man behind +me and signalled that I was about to enter the +room. Then, revolver in hand, I strode in.</p> + +<p>"That will do, Silvestre," I cried, covering +him with the revolver as I approached him.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens! you here?" he shouted, as if +he found it difficult to believe the evidence of +his own eyes. The Señorita was leaning against +the table with a look of bewildered astonishment +upon her face.</p> + +<p>"As you see, I have returned," I answered. +"But I have not time to discuss that matter with +you now. I give you fair warning that if you +speak again I shall shoot. Sit down in that +chair and put your hands behind you!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/gs04b.png" width="382" height="600" alt=""'I give you fair warning that if you speak again I shall shoot.'"" /> +<p class="caption">"'I give you fair warning that if you speak again I shall shoot.'"</p> +</div> + +<p>With an oath Silvestre complied with my +request.</p> + +<p>Turning to Matthews, I signed to him to carry +out the work we had previously arranged. In +less time than it takes to tell, Don Guzman de +Silvestre was securely fastened in his chair, a gag +had been placed in his mouth, and it was then +out of his power to do any mischief. From the +expression upon his face I could gather some +notion of what his feelings were. It was very +evident that if I should have the misfortune to +fall into his hands again I should be likely to<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_247" id="page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +receive but little mercy from him. As soon as +he was secure, and I had abstracted the key of +the block-house from his pocket, I turned to +the lady.</p> + +<p>"Come, Señorita," I whispered, "you had +better prepare for departure. If we are to release +the President and to get away before daylight +there is not much time to be lost."</p> + +<p>"I am quite ready to leave," she replied.</p> + +<p>"Then be good enough to accompany this +man, and be very careful to keep in the shadow +of the house," I returned. "Above all, see that +you do not make a sound. I want to have a few +words alone with Silvestre."</p> + +<p>Matthews led the way from the room and, +with one last look at the man in the chair, the +Señorita followed him.</p> + +<p>When I had seen her turn the corner of the +verandah, I approached Silvestre, who glared at +me as though he hoped the fire in his eyes might +consume me.</p> + +<p>"Don Guzman," I began, speaking in a low +voice, "before I take leave of you, I want to let +you know why I have played this trick upon +you. You will remember that at Falstead you +gave me your assurance that if I helped you +to secure Fernandez you would do him no +harm. And yet you have given orders that, as +soon as you had left the island for Equinata, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_248" id="page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +Señorita and her uncle were to be poisoned. I +distinctly heard you tell the former that the +latter would die at daybreak. I am afraid you +will find yourself mistaken in your prophecy. +By daybreak Fernandez should be well on his +way back to Equinata. There is one other +matter before I go. Here is the last money you +gave me." So saying, I threw upon the table +the roll of notes he had handed to me before I +left the island for Asturia.</p> + +<p>A hideous scowl was the only response I +received.</p> + +<p>Then, when I had placed my revolver in my +pocket, I made my way down the verandah in +the direction of Fernandez' prison. To my +delight I discovered that no change had taken +place there. The giant negro still lay where we +had placed him, while my own man stood sentry +before the door.</p> + +<p>Bidding the Señorita and Matthews remain +concealed, I crept quietly forward. The plateau +was as silent as the grave, while the only light +to be seen was that which streamed from the +window of the room we had just left.</p> + +<p>I had passed through some momentous moments +in the past six months, but I do not think that, +in the whole course of this extraordinary affair, +I experienced anything like the sensation that +took possession of me as I made my way towards<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_249" id="page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +the door of the hut. I had begun by taking +service under Silvestre; I had carried out his +instructions to the best of my ability; I had +found him a traitor, and now, here I was, throwing +him over and rendering assistance to the +other side. What was the end of it all to be? +Should I escape with Fernandez, or would +Silvestre catch us before we could reach the +boat?</p> + +<p>Signing to the sailor to stand aside, I placed +the key in the lock. As I opened the door a +voice, which I instantly recognized, said as +calmly as though its owner were addressing me +in the President's study at La Gloria:</p> + +<p>"So it's you, Trevelyan, is it? I had an idea +you'd come round to my way of thinking. I +heard your scuffle with the sentry. I suppose +you managed to overpower him?"</p> + +<p>I answered him in a whisper that his conjecture +was correct.</p> + +<p>"You must get up at once," I continued hurriedly. +"There is no time to spare. The Señorita +is waiting for you in the jungle, and I have a +schooner in the bay."</p> + +<p>"But I can't get up," he replied. "Our worthy +friend, Silvestre, has taken good care of that."</p> + +<p>"The deuce, he has!" said I. "What do +you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>"I mean that I am chained to the leg of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_250" id="page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +bed," Fernandez returned. "Before you can +release me you must have the key of the +padlock."</p> + +<p>In a flash I realized what a fool I had been. +It had never struck me, when searching Silvestre's +pockets, to find out whether he had any +other key in his possession. Now we were in +a pretty fix. It seemed as if I had defeated +Silvestre only to give him a very fair opportunity +of turning the tables upon me. At any +other time I should have sworn at the contrariness +of my luck; now, however, I had too much +upon my mind to have time to seek relief in that +direction. It was a problem that any man might +have been excused for feeling diffident about. +The Señorita was concealed in the scrub; the +lives of Matthews and his companions depended +upon my prompt and successful treatment of the +difficulty, and the only possible way I could see +of accomplishing that was to return to the room +in which I had left Silvestre, and, once there, to +overhaul him in the hopes of discovering the +all-important key. This time, however, the risk +would be increased a thousandfold. It was only +too probable that the old negress Palmyre, or +the half-caste Manuel, would have entered to +find their master in the lamentable condition I +had left him; in which case, for all the good I +could do, I might just as well take my revolver,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_251" id="page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +shoot myself and Fernandez, and so bring the +whole desperate affair to a conclusion.</p> + +<p>"You are quite sure, I suppose," I remarked, +"that Silvestre has the key upon his person?"</p> + +<p>"Quite," he answered. "He has been kind +enough to dangle it before my eyes every time +he has visited me. Only this afternoon he wittily +described it as the isthmus connecting the +continents of Equinata and Death!"</p> + +<p>That was Fernandez all over. Even when my +heart was beating like a wheat-flail in my breast +with terror, and when every moment I expected +to see Silvestre make his appearance in the +doorway, he must have his joke.</p> + +<p>"Well," I said at last, "I suppose there is +nothing for it but for me to return to the house +and to endeavour to obtain possession of the +key. Heaven alone knows whether I shall be +successful. In the meantime the Señorita had +better make her way down to the shore. You +will of course keep very quiet until I return."</p> + +<p>"You may depend upon my doing that," he +replied. "You will find me here when you +return."</p> + +<p>Without another word I left the hut and crept +round it to the spot where the Señorita and the +faithful Matthews were anxiously waiting for +me. So dark was it in the jungle that I could +see nothing of them, and it was not until I called<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_252" id="page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +to them that I could discover their whereabouts. +Then, drawing the lady a little on one side, I +hastened to explain the situation to her.</p> + +<p>"You will find the key hanging round his +neck," she said in a fierce whisper. "If you +only knew what a miserable part it has played +in my life of late, you would easily understand +how familiar I am with its hiding-place."</p> + +<p>I did not reply, but, turning to Matthews, +bade him escort the Señorita down the hillside to +the shore, where they were to await our coming. +When they departed I began my journey to the +house. The light still shone from Silvestre's +window, though the remainder of the building +was in complete darkness. Revolver in hand I +crept carefully along until I reached the steps +leading to the verandah. These I ascended, and +eventually reached the room in question. Every +creak of the boards brought my heart into my +mouth; and yet, if Silvestre had been discovered +and released by Manuel or Palmyre, why had +he not come in search of us? That he was no +coward I knew too well.</p> + +<p>When I reached the open window I was able +to obtain a glimpse of the room. It may be +imagined with what delight I assured myself +that Silvestre was still there and, what was +more, lying just as I had left him. Softly I +crept in and approached him. I could fancy the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_253" id="page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +satisfaction he had felt when he had witnessed +my departure before without the key of the padlock +which fastened Fernandez' fetters to the +bed. From the way he glared at me, when +he became aware of my presence, it was +evident that he realized that I had come to +rectify my mistake. As quickly as I could do +it, and without wasting any words upon him, I +unfastened the collar of his shirt to discover, +suspended on a string round his neck, that tiny +talisman that, at that moment, was worth more +to me than anything else in the world. To take +possession of it was the work of a second, and +then I once more tiptoed towards the verandah. +I had barely reached it, however, when I heard +the door, communicating with the central passage +of the house open, and looking back I saw +Palmyre enter the room.</p> + +<p>As I arrived at the end of the verandah I heard +a shrill scream, and as I heard it realized the +fact that, unless I could succeed in releasing +Fernandez within the next few minutes, all was +lost, and that I should, in all human probability, +never see old England again!</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_254" id="page_254">[Pg 254]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<p>To say that I made my way from the house to +the hut in which Fernandez was imprisoned with +as much speed as I could command, would be to +express my meaning very inadequately. As soon +as I realized the fact that the trick I had played +upon Silvestre was discovered, I threw prudence +to the winds, and ran as I had not done for +years across the plateau towards the building +in question. The sailor was still on guard at +the door, which was open, while the negro lay +bound just where we had thrown him down.</p> + +<p>"Stand by, they're after us!" I cried, regardless +of who might hear.</p> + +<p>With that I plunged headlong into the dark +hut, shouting to Fernandez as I did so to prepare +the padlock for the key. South American politics +produce some curious incidents, but I am +not sure that they could find another to equal +that which I am now so inadequately attempting +to describe.</p> + +<p>Dropping on my knees beside the bed, I felt<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_255" id="page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +about for the chain and, running my hand along +it, at length obtained possession of the padlock, +inserted the key, and in a trice the President +was free.</p> + +<p>"By this time they must have released Silvestre," +I whispered. "For heaven's sake let us +get away from here!"</p> + +<p>"Nobody could be more willing to do that than +myself," the other answered, springing from the +bed as he spoke, and coming in violent contact +with myself, whom he could not see. "You are +in command, so you had better lead the way."</p> + +<p>Bidding him follow me, I hastened out of the +hut, ordered the sailor to accompany us, and +plunged into the jungle. As we did so a shout +from the house proclaimed the fact that Silvestre +was free once more and thirsting for vengeance. +We had not stumbled forward many paces before +other shouts followed, showing that he had called +Manuel and his gang to his assistance.</p> + +<p>A very small percentage of the readers of my +story have, I trust, been called upon to run for +their lives through a West Indian jungle in the +dead of night. Those who have done so, however, +will be able to understand the sufferings of +the wretched trio who stumbled, reeled, scraped, +and fought their way down from the plateau to the +shore. The darkness was opaque, the obstacles +so multifarious, that never for a moment did we<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_256" id="page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +seem to have a yard's clear going. Take a sack, +a three-legged, and an obstacle race, throw in a +game of blind-man's buff, in which you are the +blind man, and you will have some faint idea of +our difficulties.</p> + +<p>Once, from the hill behind us, the sound of a +shot reached us, though what its meaning was, I +could not even conjecture. At last, wearied to the +point of dropping, our faces streaming with perspiration, +our flesh cut and bruised, we emerged +from the forest and stood upon the seashore. +Unfortunately, in our haste, we had not steered +as true a course as we would have desired, and +instead of coming out in the centre of the little +bay where the schooner's boat had been ordered +to await us, we found ourselves at the end of the +small promontory which separated the bay from +that in which the settlement was situated. This +was unfortunate in more ways than one, but it +could not be helped. The worst part of it was +that we could not see the boat or the figures of +the Señorita or Matthews.</p> + +<p>"Look! what is that?" cried the President +at last, pointing along the beach to the left. "Is +it a man?"</p> + +<p>I have fairly good eyes, but I must confess +that I could see nothing that in any way +resembled a human figure in the direction he +indicated. He, however, seemed positive that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_257" id="page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +he was right; so, realizing that we could do no +good by remaining where we were, we hurried +along the beach without further loss of time. +We had not proceeded more than fifty yards, +however, when the crack of a rifle came from the +scrub on our left. If it were aimed at me, the +man who fired it was certainly a very fair marksman, +for the bullet whistled by within a few +inches of my head. It was plain that Silvestre, +or at least one of his myrmidons, were not very +far behind us. We were destined soon to be +convinced as to their numbers and also as to +their identity. For the sound of the shot had +scarcely died away before three men emerged +from the jungle, and Silvestre's voice called upon +us to throw up our arms, and then added that +unless we did so we should be shot down without +mercy. I could well believe this, and I also knew +the sort of mercy we should be likely to receive +should we allow ourselves to fall into his hands. +The fate he had arranged for Fernandez and his +niece would be nothing to the cruelty he would +practise upon us.</p> + +<p>"<i>Nombre de Dios!</i>" cried the President, +"why haven't I a weapon of some sort!"</p> + +<p>He was destined to have one somewhat sooner +than he imagined, for as he finished speaking +another rifle-shot rang out, and instantly my +revolver fell from my hand and I realized that<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_258" id="page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +I had been shot through the forearm. The +President coolly stooped and picked up the +weapon.</p> + +<p>"Look, sir, look, there's the boat!" cried the +sailor a few seconds later.</p> + +<p>Sure enough there it was, but unfortunately +a considerable distance ahead.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing left but to run for it," I +cried. "Come on!"</p> + +<p>With that we took to our heels and scurried +along the beach. Silvestre, as soon as he +became aware of our intentions, sent a volley +after us, doubtless meant as an inducement +to heave-to. We paid no attention, however. +Though we did not look round we knew that +they were after us; but we had a fair start, +and if only they did not manage to hit us, +there was the bare possibility of our reaching +the boat in time. Already I could see Matthews +standing knee-deep in the water in order to +keep the little craft afloat. He shouted to +encourage us. Then there came another shout +from our left, and three other figures ran down +between ourselves and the boat we were striving +so hard to reach. All three were armed, and in +the man in the middle, when he called upon us +to surrender, I recognized the blackguardly half-caste +Manuel. For the moment it looked as if +our case were hopeless.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_259" id="page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> + +<p>It is at such moments that all the inventive +faculties in one's possession hasten to one's aid. +Had I been permitted half a day to think the +question out, I should probably never have hit +upon a plan half as promising as that which then +flashed through my mind. The men in front +were little more than a couple of dozen paces +away; Silvestre and his party were perhaps a +hundred yards behind, and were every moment +coming closer. The thought had scarcely occurred +to me before the crack of rifles sounded from +behind. Fortunately none of us were hit.</p> + +<p>"Down! down!" I cried to my companions. +"Let them suppose that they have winged +us!"</p> + +<p>As I spoke we all threw ourselves with one +accord upon our faces on the sand. As I expected, +the men in front immediately jumped +to the conclusion that we had been shot by their +friends behind. They accordingly rushed forward +to make sure of us. My ruse must have dawned +upon Fernandez, for, to this day, I am certain +that I heard a chuckle escape him. Almost at +the same moment Manuel ran up to us, his two +companions being only a few yards distant.</p> + +<p>"Shoot them," I whispered; and as I spoke I +saw Fernandez roll over on his side and raise his +right arm. His revolver gave three vicious little +cracks, and one by one each man stopped, performed<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_260" id="page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +a curious spin, and then fell forward on +the sand.</p> + +<p>I don't know that I am a particularly imaginative +man. As a matter of fact my friends +have on several occasions informed me that I +am a somewhat prosaic individual. All I know +is that at that moment, though why I should +have done so, no one, least of all myself, will ever +be able to tell (for I have never participated in a +hunt in my life), I let out a wild "yoicks" and +sprang to my feet.</p> + +<p>"Make for the boat!" cried Fernandez.</p> + +<p>Without a word I did as I was directed. The +boat was now only a matter of some fifty yards +ahead. How I covered this distance I shall +never be able to understand. All I do know +is that when I reached the spot where Matthews +was standing, I came an ignominious cropper +at the water's edge. The fact was I was done +for, wholly and completely done for. It may +seem an absurd statement to make, but I will +leave it to the charity of my readers to remember +that I had been through a great deal that night, +and also that a shattered arm does not add to +one's strength.</p> + +<p>At that moment Fernandez rose to a moral +height, far above that I had expected to find in +him. Turning to Matthews, who, as I have said, +was standing knee-deep in the water, keeping<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_261" id="page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +the boat afloat, he cried: "Hold the boat steady +while we get Señor Trevelyan in."</p> + +<p>I was so far done for that he must have +thought I was dead; nevertheless, and although +Silvestre and his men were by this time little +more than thirty yards behind us, he did not +abandon me, but with the other man's assistance +picked me up, then waded with me into the +water and dropped me into the boat, where I lay +like a log. I heard Fernandez order Matthews +and the other man into the boat, and then +wondered what was going to happen next. I +saw the Señorita half rise from her seat in the +stern. She uttered a little cry. Then I heard a +swish of water alongside, as if the boat were +being turned round.</p> + +<p>"Take care, Silvestre," cried Fernandez, "there's +Equinata at the end of my barrel, and a good deal +more beside."</p> + +<p>What Silvestre said in reply I do not pretend +to know. All I can say is that I heard the sharp +crack of his revolver, followed by a laugh from +Fernandez, and a wild shriek that might have +been anything, but which told me nothing. A +moment later, and just as I was feeling as if +nothing in the world mattered to me, I was +conscious of some one saying: "Pull up, my +lads, we'll get away yet!" At the same instant +a soft hand touched my cheek, and a low voice<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_262" id="page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +whispered: "May the saints be merciful to +you!" Then I lost consciousness.</p> + +<p>When I recovered my senses I was lying off +the top of the main hatch of the schooner. +Fernandez was standing near me, but it was +impossible to see his face.</p> + +<p>Lying on my back I could not tell what was +happening. I could, however, hear Monsieur +Maxime arranging sundry nautical details with +his crew, and with all his accustomed fluency. +The little man had accepted the position from +his own standpoint, which, as you may be sure, +was theatrical to a degree. As I have since +heard, he avers that, had it not been for his +influence and exertions at that momentous time, +the President of Equinata would never have +returned to his country at all. For this reason +he is looked upon as a hero in Martinique to +this day.</p> + +<p>"Heaven be praised you are not dead, señor," +said a very soft voice, and, on turning my head, +I found the Señorita seating herself beside +me.</p> + +<p>It was some few minutes after dawn, and in +the dim light her face looked very wan and +haggard. Allowing for the wear and tear of +time and the exigencies of a most anxious and +untoward experience, she was dressed very much +the same as she had been when she left the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_263" id="page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +ball-room at La Gloria on the night on which +I had effected their capture. But the woman +in her extraordinary beauty was still the same. +She was certainly one female in a thousand, and +he would have been a curious individual who +could have shown himself insensible to her +fascinations. Then Fernandez turned his head, +saw her bending over me, and came over and +also seated himself beside me.</p> + +<p>"Dear friend," he began, in a voice that was +full of kindliness, "I am not going to attempt +to thank you for all that you have done for me. +For the present it is sufficient for me to do +what I can to mitigate your sufferings. I won't +deny that there have been people who have +doubted my medical ability; I am about to +prove to you, however, that I am more capable +than they suppose."</p> + +<p>So saying, he removed the wrappings from +my arm and commenced operations. The bullet, +it seemed, had shattered the bone, and was +fortunately now lying quite close to the surface. +To extract it was the work of a few painful +minutes, after which the limb was set and bound +up. That accomplished I was at liberty to rise +from the hatch.</p> + +<p>All this time our behaviour towards each other +was as diffident as could well be imagined. For +once the President had dropped his cynicism,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_264" id="page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +while the Señorita regarded me with eyes that +overflowed with gratitude.</p> + +<p>The island had long since disappeared below +the horizon, and now the little schooner was +cleaving her way through the water under the +influence of a capital breeze. Escorted by the +Señorita I made my way aft.</p> + +<p>Monsieur Maxime himself was at the wheel, +presenting a curious figure as he hung upon the +spokes. I found a shady spot for the Señorita, +and then walked across to where the President +was standing before the taffrail.</p> + +<p>"I want you to tell me everything," I said. +"How did you manage to effect our escape? +Remember, I know nothing of what occurred +after you placed me in the boat."</p> + +<p>"There's not very much to tell," he answered. +"I might mention, however, that Silvestre and +the half-caste will give no further trouble."</p> + +<p>"You shot Silvestre, then?"</p> + +<p>"I did," he replied, "and I don't know +that I ever enjoyed doing anything so much. +It was a close thing between us. Look +here!"</p> + +<p>He pointed to his left ear, on the lobe of +which was a small scar.</p> + +<p>"It couldn't have been much closer, could +it?" he remarked. "My luck, however, stood +by me as usual." Then in a lower and more<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_265" id="page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +kindly tone, he added: "My luck and the luck +of Equinata!"</p> + +<p>For a few moments we stood side by side +thinking our thoughts in silence. I recalled the +day when I had first seen the dead man in Rio, +and also that never-to-be-forgotten afternoon +on which he had made the proposal to me that +was destined to cost him his life on the +beach of an island in the Carribean Sea and to +return me to Equinata a wounded and ruined +man.</p> + +<p>At last Fernandez turned to me and, placing +his hand upon my shoulder, looked me full and +fair in the face.</p> + +<p>"Trevelyan—Helmsworth—Helmsworth—Trevelyan—whatever +your name may be, you +have put upon me a debt of gratitude I shall +never be able to repay. I must confess, however, +that I cannot quite understand what it was +that so suddenly made you change sides. I +offered you excellent terms on the beach on +the night that I fell into your hands, and I +repeated it on board the yacht. You were a +pillar of rectitude then. When, therefore, the +game had been played and your employer had won, +why did you so suddenly come to my rescue? +I think I know you well enough by this time +to feel sure that your conversion was due to no +mercenary motive."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_266" id="page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You may make your mind easy on that +score," I replied. "It was not a question of +money."</p> + +<p>"Then will you tell me why you did it? +Silvestre, when his chance came, would doubtless +have proved himself an excellent patron, +of course providing it didn't suit his book to +put you out of the way!"</p> + +<p>"That's exactly it," I replied. "You have +put the matter in a nutshell."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I am dense enough not to be +able to grasp your meaning," he returned.</p> + +<p>"You suggest that it might possibly have +suited his book to have put me out of the +way. Well, that is why I threw in my lot +with you. It would make rather a long story, +but I will endeavour to tell it to you as briefly +as I can. When I agreed with Silvestre in +England to effect your——"</p> + +<p>I paused for a moment with a little +embarrassment. Fernandez' eyes twinkled.</p> + +<p>"Shall we say <i>deportation</i>?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"To effect your deportation! I did so +upon his giving me his word of honour that +no harm should happen to you. I had no +objection to his keeping you a prisoner as long +as he pleased——"</p> + +<p>"Which he certainly did. Proceed!"</p> + +<p>"I have already confessed to you that had I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_267" id="page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +known you first I would not have undertaken +the work; but I was out of employment——"</p> + +<p>"The mail steamer <i>Pernambuco</i>—stormy interview +with the Board of Directors in London—meeting +with Silvestre in the garden of the +Inn at Falstead—five thousand pounds down—and +five thousand when I should be handed over +to him——"</p> + +<p>He laughed good-humouredly as he noticed +my almost overwhelming surprise.</p> + +<p>"My dear fellow, to rule a country like +Equinata one must possess a faculty for obtaining +information. Allow me to frankly admit that +I was conversant with Mr. Trevelyan's history +and of his acquaintance with ex-President +Silvestre, when he made his appearance in his +beautiful yacht in the harbour of La Gloria. +But in telling you this I am interrupting your +narrative. Pray proceed! You remarked, I +think, that you were out of employment."</p> + +<p>"I was; and the money offered me by +Silvestre was too tempting to be refused. I +came, I saw you, and as you know, I conquered. +I handed you over to Silvestre, as I +had contracted to do, and once more secured +from him his promise that, with the exception of +imprisonment, no harm should befall you. It +was then agreed that I should leave the island +at once in the yacht for Cuba, <i>en route</i> for<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_268" id="page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +England. The money promised me for the +work I had done was handed to me, and I left +Silvestre."</p> + +<p>"But you could not have reached Cuba in +the time?"</p> + +<p>"I did not attempt to do so. A certain +conversation I had with Captain Ferguson +changed all my plans."</p> + +<p>"And the purport of that conversation?"</p> + +<p>"It appears that Ferguson had by chance +overheard the half-caste, Manuel, discussing +with the negress, Palmyre, certain instructions +they had received from Silvestre. Immediately +the yacht returned from conveying me from +Cuba it would appear that Silvestre was to set +sail for Equinata, and as soon as he was out of +the way you and the Señorita were to be poisoned +by Palmyre."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens! The cowardly scoundrel!"</p> + +<p>For the first time since I had known Fernandez +I saw a look of fear pass over his face. It was +not until later that I learnt that assassination +by poisoning was the one thing in the world he +dreaded.</p> + +<p>"Well," he went on when he had regained his +composure, "what happened after that?"</p> + +<p>"I arranged with Ferguson that, instead of +taking me on to Cuba, he should drop me at +Asturia. I was fortunate enough to secure this<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_269" id="page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +schooner, and hurried back in her—in the +hope of effecting your release. The rest you +know!"</p> + +<p>He nodded.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "the rest I know!"</p> + +<p>He turned away from me almost abruptly, +and stood for some moments looking down at +the bubbling water under the counter. When +he addressed me again it was in quite his old +manner.</p> + +<p>"We live in an extraordinary world," he +remarked. "You plot to separate me from +my country and end by restoring me to it. +Silvestre agrees to make your fortune and +finished by placing you in a worse position +than you were before. Even the Señorita yonder +has found things turn out contrary to her +expectations. On the night of the now famous +ball at La Gloria, she was by no means satisfied, +so I was given to understand, with her +ball dress; yet that strange taskmaster, Force of +Circumstances, has decreed that she should wear +it, without intermission, longer than any festive +costume ever purchased?"</p> + +<p>"And what of yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! My case is perhaps stranger still. I +began by looking upon you as my enemy and +end by finding you my staunchest friend. I +imagined that I had you in my power, and a<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_270" id="page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +few hours later found myself in yours. Silvestre +bought your services for ten thousand pounds—I +get them for nothing."</p> + +<p>If ever there was a strange voyage it was that +one. The schooner herself was a very fair sea +boat; that, however, was about all that could +be said in her favour. It was her cabin accommodation +that proved most trying. After the +first attempt the Señorita declared emphatically +that nothing could induce her to sleep in it +again. Monsieur Maxime might say what he +pleased, she declared, but her mind was made +up. It was offered to the President, but he +declined. As for myself, I had already tried it +on the voyage from Asturia, and had no desire +to repeat the experiment.</p> + +<p>The living on board was but little better. +Monsieur Maxime was wont to declare that the +cook, Adolphe, was a past master of the culinary +art. In this statement, I fear, he somewhat +exaggerated; indeed, had I not laid in a stock +of provisions before setting out, I dare not think +how we should have fared.</p> + +<p>On one occasion the Señorita had the temerity +to explore his galley. She emerged with a white +face and a settled determination to partake no +more of his <i>ragouts</i>, <i>bouillons</i>, etc.</p> + +<p>"Really," she observed to me, "one scarcely +knows where to go on board this wretched<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_271" id="page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +vessel. The cabin is too terrible, and as for +that kitchen——"</p> + +<p>She made an expressive gesture with her +hands as if to express her horror of the place +in question.</p> + +<p>The same evening I was destined to have a +somewhat curious interview with the Señorita. +We had partaken of our evening meal, such as +it was, and had gone forward into the bows to +enjoy the cooler air there. It was a perfect +night, and surely no mortal man could have +desired a fairer companion than I had then. +We settled ourselves down comfortably, and, +having obtained her permission, I lit a cigar. I +do not know why I should have done so, but I +could not help feeling that I was booked for a +sentimental scene. Some men would doubtless +have welcomed it. For myself, however, I must +confess, that I dreaded it. The Señorita was +dangerous always, and never more so than when +inclined to be sentimental.</p> + +<p>"Señor Trevelyan," she began, when we had +been seated some minutes, and had talked of +the beauty of the evening, the freshness of the +breeze and a hundred different subjects, "you +of course know that there was a time when I +was your avowed enemy?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I must say that I <i>do</i> know it," +I answered, "and I should add that you were<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_272" id="page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +justified. No one could wonder at your distaste +for me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't mean that," she cried, with a +little protesting movement of her hands. "For +see how nobly you have behaved since. No, +do not interrupt me. I want to say what is in +my mind, for I know that I owe you an apology. +It was all my fault. I hoped to have won +you to our side." She paused for a moment. +"Unfortunately, I did not know that you were +already in love!"</p> + +<p>"Then the information the President gave her +was not altogether complete," I said to myself. +And on thinking it over since I have often been +struck by the omission of this one, and probably +the most important factor in the whole +affair. For the fact cannot be denied that +had it not been for my love for Molly, and the +consequent desire to make money, I should, in all +probability, not have embarked upon the matter +at all.</p> + +<p>"Señorita," I returned, "I fear I stand before +you in an altogether despicable light, so far as +my time in Equinata is concerned. The pitiful +part of the whole business is that, had it to be +gone over again, I should probably act as I +have done. However, I have shot my bolt, and, +though I managed to hit the bull's-eye, that is +to say, I succeeded in capturing the President,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_273" id="page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> +I have failed to receive the prize. Let that be +my punishment."</p> + +<p>"But you mustn't talk of punishment," she +cried. "You are mistaking my meaning. Do +you think that I am here to reproach you? +No, no, far from that! What I want to suggest +is that you should permit us to show our +gratitude. Had it not been for you Equinata +would never have seen General Fernandez again, +and I should not be here with you now. How +grateful the President is you can see for yourself. +Why should you not stay in Equinata? +It is destined to be a great country. There +are always opportunities for the man who can +seize them. You are that man. Why not try? +Would <i>my</i> help count for nothing?"</p> + +<p>As she said this she drew a little closer to me. +The perfume of her hair was as intoxicating as +the finest wine.</p> + +<p>"Think! think!" she continued. "Fernandez +cannot rule for ever. He might not last a year +even. Then——"</p> + +<p>She was so close to me that her lips almost +touched my face.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think we had better be walking +aft?" I said. "Your <i>uncle</i> is probably +wondering where we are!"</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_274" id="page_274">[Pg 274]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<p>Between ten and eleven o'clock on one +never-to-be-forgotten evening, the <i>La Belle +Josephine</i> sailed into the harbour of La Gloria, +and dropped her anchor a short distance from +the old coal hulk. Who that witnessed the +arrival of that tiny craft imagined the important +part she had played in the destiny of that small +but exceedingly excitable Republic? For my +part I know that as I stood on deck and watched +Monsieur Maxime take her in between the heads, +and scientifically bring her to her anchorage, I +found myself experiencing a series of emotions, +the like of which I have never before known. +The President stood on my right, the Señorita +on my left, and as we watched the twinkling +lights ashore, I fancy all three of us recalled the +eventful morning when we had said good-bye to +the town under such very different circumstances. +Our arrival had evidently been signalled from +the forts, for we had scarcely dropped our anchor<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_275" id="page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +before a hail from the bows announced the fact +that the harbour-master's boat was approaching.</p> + +<p>Most men, I suppose, have at some time of +their lives a touch of the theatrical. For myself +at that moment I was distinctly desirous of +giving a dramatic turn to the situation. The +plot of my drama is an exciting one. The +President of the Republic is missing; the supposed +villain is believed to have abducted him. +Time goes by. A mysterious vessel enters the +harbour at the dead of night, when, to the +amazement of every one, the missing President +is found to be on board, and the man who has +saved him, and has brought him back to the +nation he loves so well, turns out to be the very +individual who is supposed to have wrought his +ruin. What situation could have been more +thrilling? I had already walked a short distance +along the deck, but as soon as I recognized in +the boat coming alongside the pompous little +official who had boarded the yacht with so much +ceremony on the occasion of my first appearance +in the country, I changed my mind, and hastened +back to the President!</p> + +<p>"What does your Excellency desire?" I +inquired. "Would you prefer the news of your +return to reach the city at once, or would you +rather that it should be announced in the +morning?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_276" id="page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is immaterial to me," he replied. Then +he added quickly, "No! No! On the contrary, +it is most material. There is a considerable +amount of business to be transacted first!"</p> + +<p>I could guess what was passing in his +mind.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to-morrow morning would certainly be +better," he continued reflectively.</p> + +<p>"In that case," I replied, "it would be as +well for you to retire with the Señorita to the +cabin. From what I know of our friends who +are now coming aboard, the secret of your arrival +would not be a secret many minutes after they +got ashore."</p> + +<p>"You are still in command, Señor Trevelyan," +the President returned, with one of his short +laughs. "Permit me, Dolores, to escort you to +the saloon. I trust that you will not keep us +there longer than you can help."</p> + +<p>"If you will permit me I shall join you there +myself as soon as I have given instructions +to Monsieur Maxime," I replied. "For several +reasons I have no desire to be recognized in +Equinata at present."</p> + +<p>Having seen them depart to the miserable +little hole aft, I went forward to Monsieur +Maxime, and gave him his orders in a low voice. +After that I rejoined my friends. From what we +could hear of the conversation that followed, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_277" id="page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +port officials were in by no means good tempers, +and poor Maxime was roundly taken to task for +putting in an appearance at such an hour, for +giving them the trouble of boarding his vessel, +and, it would appear, for his remissness in having +no cases of infectious disease on board. After +about a quarter of an hour the officials departed +as they had come, that is to say, grumbling. +When the sound of their oars had died away we +left the cabin.</p> + +<p>"Now the question to be decided is how to +get ashore without attracting attention," said +Fernandez. "If they recognize me in the streets, +the news will be all over the city by breakfast-time."</p> + +<p>"Maxime must put us ashore further down +the bay," I replied. "If we are discovered we +shall then only run the risk of being taken for +smugglers."</p> + +<p>I had heard Fernandez boast of the completeness +and efficiency of his coastguard service. +This was certainly a good opportunity of putting +it to the test.</p> + +<p>Fernandez agreed to the arrangement, and, as +soon as all was quiet ashore, we began our preparations +for leaving the schooner. A boat was +lowered, and four of Monsieur Maxime's ebony +crew took their places in her. Then we bade +the owner good-night, ordered him to call at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_278" id="page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +palace on the morrow for his reward, and in +our turn descended to the boat.</p> + +<p>It was an exquisite night, and so still that we +could distinctly hear the ripple of the waves +upon the beach, more than half-a-mile away. +Carrying out the plan we had arranged we did +not make for the shore near the city, but steered +a course more to the south, in the direction of +the little fishing village where we had captured +the President. At last the boat's nose touched +the shore, and the men leapt out and pulled her +out of the water on to the beach. I landed, +and gave my hand to the Señorita, who sprang +nimbly ashore; the President followed.</p> + +<p>"Welcome back to Equinata, your Excellency," +I said, with a bow.</p> + +<p>For once his composure deserted him. He +did not answer me, but turning his back upon +us, walked for a short distance along the beach. +When he rejoined us he was himself again. +In the meantime I had ordered the men to take +the boat back to the schooner, and had promised +them that a liberal reward should be sent them +in the morning. After that we took council +together as to how we should reach the city. It +would be impossible for the Señorita to walk so +far in the shoes she was then wearing; there was +also the risk of the President and Señorita being +recognized to be considered. We were still<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_279" id="page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +discussing this momentous question when a noise +behind us attracted our attention. We immediately +turned to find three men hastening +towards us. They wore the uniform of the +Equinata Coastguard Service, and the individual +in the centre was plainly an officer.</p> + +<p>"Confound them," I muttered to myself, +"they're smarter than I imagined. If I'm not +mistaken, this will upset our plans, and the +President's arrival will be known after all."</p> + +<p>This was not the case, however. Their appearance +was destined to prove a blessing in disguise.</p> + +<p>"What brings you ashore, señors, at such an +hour?" the officer inquired, addressing me. +"And what boat was it that landed you?"</p> + +<p>I was about to invent some story, but the +President, with his customary quickness, had +grasped the situation, and was prepared to make +capital out of it.</p> + +<p>"A word with you in private, señor," he said, +addressing the officer before him. "I fancy I +can satisfy you as to our honesty."</p> + +<p>The other threw a glance at the Señorita, +bowed, and acquiesced. They walked a few +paces together, and though I could hear the +President's voice, I could not catch anything of +what he said. Their conversation lasted something +like five minutes, after which they rejoined +us.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_280" id="page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Our friend here," said Fernandez, "quite +understands the situation, and has kindly offered +to arrange matters for us."</p> + +<p>The officer bowed with ceremonious respect +to the Señorita. Then to me he said, with a +pomposity that was almost ludicrous—</p> + +<p>"Señor, Equinata thanks you for the service +you have rendered her."</p> + +<p>Then, having invited us to follow him, and +bidding his men continue their patrol, he led us +across the beach by a rough footpath to the high +road above.</p> + +<p>"If your Excellency will do me the honour to +wait here," he said, "I will hasten to the house +of my friend, Señor Rodriguez Cardaja, and +obtain from him the loan of a carriage in which +to convey you to the palace."</p> + +<p>"We will await your return," answered the +President. "I may, of course, rely upon your +impressing the necessity of silence upon Señor +Cardaja?"</p> + +<p>"He will be as silent as the grave, Excellency," +the other returned, and added somewhat inconsequently, +"we are old friends!"</p> + +<p>Then, begging us to excuse him, he hastened +on his errand.</p> + +<p>"I trust he will not be long obtaining the +carriage," said Fernandez, offering me a cigar, +and lighting one himself. "As I said a short<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_281" id="page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +time ago, I have a large amount of business to +get through before daylight. Dolores, my dear, +I fancy you will not be sorry to exchange that +dress for another."</p> + +<p>"If you knew how I hate it," she replied +passionately, "and yet—" she stopped suddenly, +and I fancied that she shivered. "Oh, how +glad I am to be back!"</p> + +<p>A long silence fell upon us, which was eventually +broken by the sound of carriage-wheels. +A few moments later a lumbering vehicle made its +appearance round the side of the hill. To our +surprise it was driven by the lieutenant himself. +He explained that he had not brought his friend's +coachman, having regard to the desire for secrecy +expressed by the President. He would himself +drive us into the Capital, and return the carriage +to his friend afterwards. Then we took our places +in it and set off. During the journey the officer +informed us of all that had transpired in the +country during our absence. General Sagana, it +appeared, had assumed the office of President—much +against his will—while Hermaños and his +band of patriots boldly announced the return +of Silvestre to power.</p> + +<p>"Hermaños and I must discuss the matter +together," said the President quietly, and I +fancied I could see the smile upon his face as he +said it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_282" id="page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p> + +<p>In something under half-an-hour we reached +the palace. We descended from the vehicle +at a side door, thanked the lieutenant for the +services he had rendered us, and then watched +him drive off on his return journey. So far +matters had prospered excellently; but I am +prepared to admit that I did not quite see what +was going to happen next. Fernandez, however, +seemed to have made up his mind. Taking +a bunch of keys from his pocket, as calmly as if +he were only returning after a short stroll, he +approached the door and opened it. A small +gas-jet illumined the vestibule. We entered +and softly closed the door after us. From the +vestibule we passed into a narrow passage, which +in its turn communicated with the great hall and +the State apartments. Surely never had the +ruler of a country returned to his palace in a +more unostentatious fashion. We made our way +through the great glass doors into the magnificent +entrance hall, between the lines of statuary, and +finally entered the President's private study. +So far our presence in the house had not been +discovered. General Sagana, his wife and +daughters, their <i>aides-de-camp</i> and secretaries, +to say nothing of the household, were all in +bed and doubtless asleep.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if the Gas Company, which, by the +way, my dear Trevelyan, is capitalized almost<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_283" id="page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +exclusively by Englishmen, realizes what an +important part it is playing in the history of +Equinata," Fernandez remarked, as he applied +a match to one of the jets. "Now, if you have +no objection, we will proceed to business. It +would be a pity to disturb the family of Sagana; +they will know everything in due course. +Dolores, you may remember that there is an +excellent sofa in your boudoir. Permit me to +conduct you thither!"</p> + +<p>Before replying she looked at me, and there +was something in her glance that I was at a +loss to understand. She was tired, draggled, +and altogether different to her real self, and, +strange to say, there was also a curious hunted +look in her eyes for which I could not account. +She seemed to be appealing to me, and yet I +was not conscious of any reason why she should +do so. However, she rose and went away with +the President, leaving me alone in the room.</p> + +<p>It was a fine apartment, hung with the +portraits of many past Presidents. I looked from +one to the other, as if in the hope of gathering +information from them. But they only regarded +me with stony indifference, as if the fate of +Equinata was a thing in which they no longer +took any interest.</p> + +<p>It would be difficult to express in words my +feelings at that moment. As a matter of fact, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_284" id="page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +knew that I was between two fires. I had gone +out of my way to save Fernandez; at the same +time, unless I allowed him to reward me, which +I was determined not to do, I had lost all I +possessed (for I was resolved not to keep the +first five thousand pounds of Silvestre's money) +in the world. I must begin life over again, in +which case my marriage with Molly was as far +off as ever. I was aware of Fernandez' friendship, +so far as I was concerned, yet I knew him +well enough to feel sure that he would repay old +scores against Hermaños and his other enemies. +That being so, could I stand by and let them be +punished, when, but for me, they would have +escaped scot-free. It was not a cheerful outlook +for any of us.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Fernandez returned.</p> + +<p>"Now to business," he said. "Do me the +favour of seating yourself at that writing-table."</p> + +<p>I did so, wondering, and he placed a sheet of +notepaper before me.</p> + +<p>"I want you to write to Señor Hermaños, +asking him to come to the palace with all haste. +Tell him that the rightful President has returned, +and at the same time request him to bring his +friends with him to welcome him!"</p> + +<p>"One moment," I said. "Before I do that +I must know your intentions. I am going to +speak plainly, General Fernandez! You must<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_285" id="page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +remember that I have already had experience of +the manner in which Presidents of Equinata deal +with their rivals."</p> + +<p>He was not in the least put out by my +candour. On the contrary, he laughed good-humouredly.</p> + +<p>"You need not be afraid," he said. "I am +not going to harm them. As a matter of fact I +intend making them very good friends—not for +to-day, but for all time. What assurance can I +give you?"</p> + +<p>I could not see that there was any. What +was more, I could not see how my refusal to +write the letter could save Hermaños, if Fernandez +were determined to be revenged on him. I +accordingly took up my pen and did as he requested. +When I had finished, he read the letter +carefully, possibly to make sure that I had not +said anything in it that might serve as a warning +to the conspirators. Would his ruse succeed? +Would Hermaños fall into such a very simple +trap? The mere fact that Silvestre had not +written it himself would surely make him suspicious. +Fernandez, however, evidently thought +otherwise. When I had addressed the envelope +he placed the letter inside, and then, +begging me to excuse him once more, left the +room. When he returned a quarter of an hour<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_286" id="page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +later, he informed me that he had dispatched +the letter by a trustworthy messenger.</p> + +<p>"You should have seen the worthy Antoine's +face when I woke him," he said. "He thought +he was looking at a ghost. In an hour or so our +friends should be here."</p> + +<p>To while away the time of waiting we made a +raid upon the palace larder, carried the spoil we +obtained there to the smaller dining-room, where +presently the curious spectacle might have been +observed of a lady in a sadly-dilapidated ball-dress, +the President of the Republic of Equinata, +and your humble servant, demolishing cold +chicken with considerable gusto.</p> + +<p>Our meal was barely finished before the door +opened and a little grey-haired man entered the +room. He was Antoine, the old major-domo of +the household, who had served more Presidents +than any other official in Equinata.</p> + +<p>"Well, Antoine, what is it?" the President +inquired.</p> + +<p>"They are coming, your Excellency," said the +little man.</p> + +<p>"And they do not suspect?"</p> + +<p>"No, Excellency," the other replied. "I told +Señor Hermaños that if he desired to be the first +to welcome President Silvestre, he must make +haste."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_287" id="page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Excellent! Immediately they arrive, meet +them yourself, and conduct them to the small +audience chamber. I will receive them there!"</p> + +<p>Half-an-hour or so later, and just as we had +finished our second bottle of champagne, Antoine +again made his appearance to inform us that +Hermaños and his companions had arrived and +were awaiting an interview in the room above +mentioned. I saw Fernandez' mouth twitch +and then set firm; there was also an ominous +twinkle in his eyes as he said—</p> + +<p>"Come with me, my friend, and we will +interview them."</p> + +<p>"You will remember the promise you have +given me?" I said, laying my hand upon his +arm.</p> + +<p>"You will find that I shall keep it," he replied +curtly.</p> + +<p>I followed him from the room along the hall +to a door on the right, at which Antoine was +waiting.</p> + +<p>"Have my instructions concerning the guard +been obeyed?" he asked in a low voice before +he turned the handle.</p> + +<p>"They have, Excellency," Antoine replied.</p> + +<p>Then we passed into the room.</p> + +<p>If I live to be a hundred I shall not forget the +scene that followed. Hermaños was standing on +the opposite side of the room, and grouped about<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_288" id="page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +him were three men whom, to the best of my +knowledge, I had never seen before. It is possible +they might have been Hermaños' assistants on +that memorable night when we had secured the +President, but as they then wore masks I cannot +speak on that point with any degree of certainty.</p> + +<p>The light in the room was not particularly +good, and for a moment I thought that Hermaños +did not realize who it was that entered the room. +Had he done so he would scarcely have taken +those two or three quick steps forward. When +he grasped the situation his surprise was overwhelming.</p> + +<p>"Fernandez?" I heard him mutter, as if he +were thunderstruck.</p> + +<p>His companions also seemed taken aback.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear Hermaños," said the President +genially, "and so we meet again. Gentlemen, I +am delighted to find you here to welcome me."</p> + +<p>"We've been tricked," cried Hermaños hoarsely. +Then fixing his eyes on me, he continued, "So +you've turned traitor, after all, señor? I congratulate +you on the facility with which you +change sides."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," interposed the President, "but +I cannot permit you to insult my friend. I +owe more to Señor Trevelyan than I can say, +and when you have heard the story I have to +tell, I fancy you, and Equinata with you, will<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_289" id="page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +regard his behaviour in the light that I do. But +before we say anything about that, let us endeavour +to come to an understanding of our +relative positions."</p> + +<p>He paused for a moment to allow his audience +to appreciate his words.</p> + +<p>Then he went on—</p> + +<p>"I cannot forget that you, Hermaños, are one +of the gentlemen to whom I owe my abduction. +The complicity of your companions I have yet to +discover. Now for such an offence what is the +punishment to be? My only desire is to be +just."</p> + +<p>I felt really sorry for Hermaños at that +moment. He was familiar with the form that +Fernandez' justice usually took.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, my friend, why do you not +answer me?" said the President banteringly. +"You know how Silvestre would have acted +under similar circumstances. What am I to +do? Shall I call in the guard, have you +arrested, and shot at sunrise, or shall I let you +go free? You know my reputation, I think, and +surely even a President should live up to that?"</p> + +<p>"We are in your power and cannot help ourselves," +the unfortunate Hermaños replied.</p> + +<p>"I am very much afraid you cannot," the +President returned. "You should have thought +of that, however, before you took to kidnapping<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_290" id="page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +the head of your country. You were never a +man, Hermaños, who could make up his mind!"</p> + +<p>Once more the President paused, and looked +from one to the other of the wretched men +before him.</p> + +<p>"Don't play with us," cried one of the others. +"If you have made up your mind to shoot us, do +so, but don't keep us in suspense."</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, it was remiss of me," Fernandez +replied with dangerous politeness. "Antoine."</p> + +<p>The door was opened immediately, and the +major-domo appeared.</p> + +<p>"Call up the Guards," said the President.</p> + +<p>Antoine disappeared, to return a few moments +later with the officer of the Guard and his +men.</p> + +<p>"Take these gentlemen to the cartel," said +the President, "and stand guard over them until +daylight. I will send you word within an hour +as to what you are to do with them. In the +meantime I hold you responsible for their safety."</p> + +<p>I was altogether unprepared for this move. +Was Fernandez about to break his promise to +me? It certainly looked very much like it. I +was on the point of expostulating, when the +door opened and the Señorita entered hurriedly. +She glanced from one to the other of us with a +frightened expression upon her face. Then she +turned to Fernandez.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_291" id="page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of this?" she asked, +holding out her hands to him as if in supplication.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me, my dear, but I think it would +be better if you leave us," the President replied. +"I shall be very happy to give you full particulars +later."</p> + +<p>"No, no," she cried. "Señor Hermaños, you +helped to bring this trouble upon us, and—ah! +I see it all. Why are you here at this hour, and +what is the meaning of the Guard?" Then +turning to the President she continued, "Oh, +sir, are we never to be free from this sort of +thing? Is it impossible for us all to be friends?"</p> + +<p>"It certainly seems difficult," Fernandez +replied. "Thanks to Señor Hermaños and his +friends, I have passed through an extremely +dangerous and unpleasant crisis. Had matters +gone as they intended they should do, by this +time I should have been in my grave. Fortune +favoured me, however, and now I have returned +to my own. Who can blame me if I repay +those who would have worked my ruin?"</p> + +<p>Turning to the captain of the Guard, he bade +him remove his prisoners. On hearing this the +Señorita completely broke down. She fell on +her knees at the President's feet and implored +him to forgive. Whether it was a mere +matter of acting and had all been previously +arranged, as I am sometimes tempted to believe,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_292" id="page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +or whether it was genuine, I am not in a position +to say. Whatever else it may have been, however, +it was at least effective. Then I saw my +opportunity and took advantage of it.</p> + +<p>"Your Excellency must forgive me if I interfere," +I said. "There seems one point, however, +that has escaped your attention. If Señor +Hermaños and his companions are to be held +guilty for your abduction, it is only fit and proper +that I, who was the leading spirit in it, should +take my place with them. If they are to be +shot then I must share their fate."</p> + +<p>My decision seemed to stagger them. He +looked from me to them and then back again. +Then he laughed outright, but I could not +help thinking that his merriment lacked +sincerity.</p> + +<p>"You are certainly an extraordinary man, my +dear Trevelyan. You abduct me and then save +my life. You rejoice at being friends with me +again and then ask me to shoot you. It seems +to me, Hermaños, that you are fortunate in your +advocates. The Señorita, to whom I can deny +nothing, pleads for you; Señor Trevelyan, to +whom I owe my life, refuses to let you die unless +he dies too. I should be more than human to +resist!" Then, waving his hand to the captain +of the Guard, who had been watching us with a +puzzled expression upon his face, he continued,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_293" id="page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +"Well, well, since it must be, let it be so! +You can leave us."</p> + +<p>The captain retired with his men, and a somewhat +awkward silence fell upon us. There was +still a look of pleading upon the Señorita's face. +The President, however, seemed thoughtful. It +was evident that he had no desire to forego his +vengeance. He paced the room for a few minutes, +while we watched him with anxious faces. Heaven +alone knows what Hermaños and his friends were +thinking of, but I know very well what I thought, +and I can assure you, my dear reader, I was far +from happy. At last he stopped, and, after a +momentary pause, faced Hermaños.</p> + +<p>"Hermaños," he said, "you threw in your lot +with my enemies, and you could not blame me if +I made you answer for so doing. I certainly +intended to do so; but I suppose we are none +of us infallible, and with such pleading in your +favour, I have nothing left me but to surrender. +From this moment you are free. I give you +your lives, gentlemen! Is it possible, since +Silvestre is dead, for you to give me your +allegiance? Now, shall we shake hands, endeavour +to forget the past, and live only to +promote the happiness of the country, for which +we have risked so much?"</p> + +<p>One by one they advanced and solemnly shook +Fernandez by the hand. Then, at a signal from<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_294" id="page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +the President, Antoine left the room, to appear +a moment later with a tray of glasses and two +bottles of champagne.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," cried Fernandez, holding his +glass aloft, "I give you the toast, 'Peace and +prosperity to the fair State of Equinata.'"</p> + +<p>When they had departed, Fernandez turned to +me with a queer smile upon his face.</p> + +<p>"I don't think they will trouble us again," he +said.</p> + +<p>I did not reply! What I was thinking was +that I would have given something to have +heard their conversation as they crossed the +Square!</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_295" id="page_295">[Pg 295]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p>Strange to say, the populace of La Gloria did +not appear to trouble themselves very much, either +one way or the other, concerning their President's +re-appearance. The officials, however, were, as +behoved them, considerably more demonstrative. +They were well acquainted with Fernandez' +temper, and, like sagacious mortals, realized +that it would be wiser for them to allow him +to suppose that, whatever their own private +opinions might be, they desired no better leader +than himself. With Hermaños, and his fellow-conspirators, +he was not likely, as he observed, to +have very much trouble. They professed to have +seen the error of their ways, and were as enthusiastic +in Fernandez' praise as they had hitherto +been in his detriment. As for my own part +in this singular business I allowed Fernandez +to tell the story in his own fashion. This he +did, to such good purpose that in a very short +time I found myself the hero of La Gloria, an +honour with which I could very well have<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_296" id="page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +dispensed. Monsieur Maxime and his crew were +most liberally rewarded by the President, as were +Matthews and his fellow-sailor. They remained +in Equinata for a short time, but what became +of them later I cannot say.</p> + +<p>"My dear Trevelyan," said Fernandez to me +one morning, "I really intend that we should +have a serious talk together. Now you know +that whenever I have broached the subject of +a recompense to you for the trouble you have +taken, you have invariably put me off with +some excuse or another, but I will be denied +no longer. Forgive me if I say I am well +acquainted with the state of your finances."</p> + +<p>"It is not a fine prospect, is it?" I said, with +a laugh.</p> + +<p>"If you had stood by Silvestre and had left +me to my fate, you would have been a comparatively +rich man. And even if you did turn the +tables upon Silvestre, why were you so quixotic +as to hand him back the money?"</p> + +<p>"I think you can guess," I answered. "If +you can't, I am afraid I must leave you to work +the problem out."</p> + +<p>"And if you would not take <i>his</i> money, why +should you be equally particular in my case? +It is only fair that I should recompense you for +the inestimable service you have rendered me."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that it is impossible," I answered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_297" id="page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +for, as I have already said, I had long since made +up my mind upon this subject.</p> + +<p>Fernandez endeavoured to press me, but I +remained adamant. Nothing he could do or say +would induce me to change my mind. I knew +that it was only by adhering to my resolution +that I could salve my conscience. I had still +sufficient money of my own left to pay for my +passage to England.</p> + +<p>Important as the capital of Equinata may +appear in the eyes of its inhabitants, it is, nevertheless, +scarcely so prominent in the maritime +world as certain other places I could mention on +the South American coast. It was true I could +wait for the monthly mail-steamer which would +connect with a branch line at La Guayra, or I +might take one of the small trading-boats and +proceed along the coast until I could find a vessel +bound for Europe. But having had sufficient of +trading schooners in <i>La Belle Josephine</i> to last +me a lifetime, I eventually made up my mind to +await the coming of the mail-boat, which, if all +went well, would put in an appearance in a +fortnight's time.</p> + +<p>During that fortnight I was permitted a further +opportunity of studying the character of the +Señorita under another aspect. Since her return +to La Gloria she seemed to have undergone a +complete change. Her temper was scarcely alike<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_298" id="page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +for two days at a time. She was capricious, +wilful, easily made angry; then she would veer +round, and be tender, repentant and so anxious +to please, that it was impossible to be vexed with +her.</p> + +<p>"The President will miss you very much when +you leave us," she said to me on the evening +before my departure, as we stood together on +the marble terrace overlooking the palace gardens.</p> + +<p>It was a lovely night, and the air was filled +with the scent of the orange blossom. I do not +think my companion had ever looked more +beautiful than she did at that moment. Indeed +her beauty seemed to me to be almost unearthly.</p> + +<p>"I fancy every one likes to feel that he or she +will be missed," I answered. "You may be sure +I shall often think of Equinata. Perhaps some +day I may be able to return."</p> + +<p>"Who knows where we shall be then?" she +replied gloomily.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" I asked in a tone of +surprise. "You will, of course, be here, leading +the Social Life of Equinata as you do now!"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid that even now you do not realize +how quickly affairs change in South America," +she replied. "Some one else may manage to +catch the Public Fancy, there will be a Revolution +and we shall go out of power—perhaps to our +graves!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_299" id="page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I cannot believe that. In any case your +uncle would take care your safety is assured!"</p> + +<p>She gave a little impatient tap with her foot +upon the stones.</p> + +<p>"Of course he would protect me if he could," +she answered, "but he might not be able to do +anything. Had you not come to our rescue on +that island, what use would his protection have +been to me? How do I know that we may not +be situated like that again? Oh, I am tired of +this life—tired—tired!"</p> + +<p>Almost before I knew what had happened she +was leaning on the balustrading, sobbing as if +her heart would break. I was so taken by +surprise, that for a moment I did not know what +to say, or do, to comfort her. Then I went forward +and placed my hand gently upon her shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Señorita," I said, "is there anything I can +do to help you?"</p> + +<p>"No, no," she answered. "You can do +nothing! Leave me to my misery. Does it +matter to you, or to any one, what becomes of +me?"</p> + +<p>"It must matter a good deal to your friends," +I replied.</p> + +<p>"Friends?" she cried, facing me once more +and speaking with a scorn impossible to describe. +"I have no friends. The women hate and fear +me, the men cringe to me because of my influence<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_300" id="page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> +with the President. Even he may grow tired of +me before long, and then——"</p> + +<p>I allowed this speech to pass uncommented on. +At the same time I wished the President would +make his appearance and put an end to what was +becoming a rather dangerous <i>tête-à-tête</i>. When +she spoke again it was in a fierce whisper.</p> + +<p>"Do you remember that night when we stood +together in the balcony of the Opera House, and +talked of ambition and of what a man might rise +to? Señor Trevelyan, I tell you this, if I loved +a man I could help him to rise to anything. +Do you hear me? To anything!"</p> + +<p>There was only one way to treat the matter, +and before I answered her I knew perfectly well +what the result would be.</p> + +<p>"Enviable man!" was all I said.</p> + +<p>She drew herself up to her full height. Then, +turning on her heel, she made her way swiftly +towards the house. My silly compliment had +succeeded where expostulation or reserve would +have failed.</p> + +<p>Next morning the mail-boat which was to carry +me away from Equinata made her appearance in +the harbour. She was to sail at midday, and +up to eleven o'clock I had seen nothing of the +Señorita. About ten minutes before I left the +palace, however, she made her appearance in the +President's study. Her face was somewhat paler<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_301" id="page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +than usual, and though she endeavoured to lead me +to suppose that she had forgotten our conversation +on the previous evening, I could see that the +memory of it still weighed heavily upon her. +The President had declared his intention of +personally escorting me on board the steamer, +and at the last moment, not a little to my +surprise, the Señorita decided to accompany him. +We accordingly set off, and in due course reached +the vessel, a miserable packet of some six hundred +tons, whose captain, on hearing of our arrival, +hastened forward to receive his distinguished +guests. After he had paid his respects he offered +to show the Señorita the saloon, and thus gave +me a few minutes alone with the President.</p> + +<p>"It is needless for me to say how sorry I am +that you are going," said the latter. "I wish I +could have persuaded you to stay with us. But +I suppose you know your own business best. +Remember this, however! Should you ever +need a friend, there is one in La Gloria to whom +you can always turn!"</p> + +<p>I thanked him and promised that I would not +forget, and then the Señorita rejoined us. We +had only time to exchange a few words before +the whistle sounded for strangers to leave the +ship.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," said the President, giving me his +hand. "Think sometimes of Equinata."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_302" id="page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You may be sure I shall do that," I answered, +with a glance at the white town ashore.</p> + +<p>Then the Señorita in her turn held out her +little hand. I took it, and as I did so looked +into her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," she said, and in a low voice +added:—"May the Saints protect you."</p> + +<p>Then she followed the President to the gangway. +A quarter of an hour later we were steaming +between the Heads, and in half-an-hour La +Gloria was out of sight.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="pagenum"><a name="page_303" id="page_303">[Pg 303]</a></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<p>It was a cold and foggy day in November +when the steamer which I had boarded in Barbadoes +reached the Thames. I had been absent +from England more than four months, and the +veriest glutton for excitement could not have +desired more than had fallen to my lot.</p> + +<p>Having bade my fellow-passengers good-bye, +I caught the first available train to town only to +discover, when I reached Fenchurch Street, that +I should have some considerable time to wait at +Waterloo before I could get on to Salisbury. I +accordingly cast about me for a way of employing +my time. This resolved itself in a decision to +call upon my old friend, Mr. Winzor, in order to +obtain from him the letter I had entrusted to his +charge. As I made my way along the crowded +streets I could not help contrasting them to +the sun-bathed thoroughfares of La Gloria. In +my mind's eye I could see again the happy-go-lucky +<i>cafés</i> on the tree-shaded pavement, the +white houses with their green shutters; and,<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_304" id="page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +behind the city, the mountains towering up, +peak after peak, into the azure sky.</p> + +<p>At last I turned into the street I remembered +so well, and approached the office of my old +friend. I ascended the steps and pushed open the +glass door. Somewhat to my surprise a strange +clerk accosted me. When I inquired for Mr. +Winzor, the surprised look upon the youth's face +told me that something unusual had happened.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know that he is dead?" he +inquired.</p> + +<p>"Dead?" I cried, in genuine consternation. +"Good heavens! you don't mean that!"</p> + +<p>"He died more than six weeks ago," the +young man replied. "He had some papers to +sign in that room, and when his chief clerk +went in to get them he found the old gentleman +stone dead."</p> + +<p>I was more distressed than I could say at this +news. The little lawyer had been a kindly +friend to me, and also to my mother.</p> + +<p>Thanking the clerk for his information I left +the office and made my way to Waterloo. There +I took the train to Salisbury, and, on arrival +at the cathedral city, set out for Falstead.</p> + +<p>At this last stage of my story I will not weary +you with a long description of my home coming. +Let it suffice that I at last reached the village +and found myself approaching the house of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_305" id="page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> +childhood. The tiny gate had scarcely closed +behind me when the front-door opened and my +mother hastened to greet me.</p> + +<p>When we reached her little drawing-room I +questioned her concerning Molly.</p> + +<p>"I expect her every moment," said my +mother.</p> + +<p>As she spoke the click of the gate caused me +to go to the window with all speed.</p> + +<p>Shall I describe what followed? Would it +interest you to know how Molly and I greeted +each other? I think not. I will inform you, +however, that I was more than repaid for all I +had been through by the way in which I was +received.</p> + +<p>Later in the evening we went for a walk +together.</p> + +<p>"Dick, dear," said my sweetheart, "you have +not told me how your venture prospered."</p> + +<p>This was the question I had been dreading.</p> + +<p>"It has not prospered at all," I said. "The +fact is, I have made nothing out of it. I am +ashamed to say so, but I am poorer than when I +left England four months ago."</p> + +<p>To my surprise she received my information +with perfect equanimity.</p> + +<p>"But I am afraid you don't understand what +it means to me, darling," I said. "And, before +we go any further, I am going to tell you the<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_306" id="page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> +whole story. Though it may make you think +differently of me, I feel that I should let you +know all."</p> + +<p>I thereupon set to work and told her everything, +from the moment of my first meeting with +Silvestre on board the <i>Pernambuco</i> to my return +to Falstead that evening. I finished with the +information that there was still upwards of five +thousand pounds of Silvestre's money to my +credit in the Salisbury bank. I told her that +it was my intention not to keep a halfpenny of it, +but to send it anonymously to a London hospital.</p> + +<p>"And I think you would be right, Dick," the +sweet girl answered. "Do not keep it. It would +only bring us bad luck. And now, what about +our marriage?"</p> + +<p>I shook my head.</p> + +<p>"I fear, dear, we shall have to go on waiting," +I said. "I must try and get another berth, but +whether or not I shall be able to do so Heaven +only knows."</p> + +<p>"Dick, dear," she said, slipping her arm +through mine as she spoke, "I cannot keep the +secret from you any longer. I ought to have +told you before."</p> + +<p>"And what is this wonderful secret?" I +inquired.</p> + +<p>"I doubt whether I look it, Dick, but I am a +very rich woman."<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_307" id="page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A rich woman!" I cried incredulously. +"What do you mean by that?"</p> + +<p>For the moment I thought she was joking, +but one glance at her face showed me that +she was serious.</p> + +<p>"I mean what I say," she answered. "I am +a very rich woman. When poor old Mr. Winzor +died he left me all his fortune—nearly forty +thousand pounds."</p> + +<p>I could scarcely contain my astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Was it not good of him?" she continued. +"Forty thousand pounds at three per cent. is +twelve hundred pounds a year, is it not?"</p> + +<p>Even then I was too much surprised by her +information to be able to realize the change +that had taken place in Molly's position.</p> + +<p>"Are you not glad, dear?" she said at last.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," I replied, "but I cannot quite +understand it yet. It seems too good to be +true."</p> + +<p>"We shall be able to do so much with it," she +said, drawing closer to me and lifting her sweet +face to mine.</p> + +<p>"I am luckier than I deserve to be," I +answered.</p> + +<p>And doubtless, my dear reader, you will say +it was the truth.</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<p>Molly and I have been married five years.<span class="pagenum"><a name="page_308" id="page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> +We have a boy of three, and a baby girl who +promises to be the manager of her mother. We +lead a very quiet life in a house we have built +for ourselves on the outskirts of Falstead. There +is not a happier man in the world than I am, nor +has any man a sweeter wife. So far I have not +returned to Equinata. As a matter of fact I do +not suppose that I shall ever do so, for grievous +changes have occurred there. As all the world +is aware, Fernandez was assassinated while reviewing +his troops on the Grand Plaza, two +years after I left, while Sagana met with the +same untimely fate a year later. Immediately +on hearing the news I made inquiries as to the +whereabouts of the Señorita, only to hear that +she had fled the country and had entered a +convent in the neighbourhood of Rio.</p> + +<p>Perhaps she is happier there!</p> + +<p class="center">THE END</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<p class="center"><small><i>Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London & Bungay.</i></small></p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="center f2"><b><i>Popular 6/= Novels.</i></b></p> +<div class="ad"> +<p><i>By S. R. CROCKETT</i>.<br /> +<span class="i2">JOAN OF THE SWORD HAND</span><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Frank Richards</span>.</span></p> + +<p><i>By STANLEY WEYMAN</i>.<br /> +<span class="i2">MY LADY ROTHA</span><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Williamson</span>.</span></p> + +<p><i>By MAX PEMBERTON</i>.<br /> +<span class="i2">PRO PATRIÂ</span><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">A. Forestier</span>.</span></p> + +<p><i>By B. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM</i>.<br /> +<span class="i2">THE SURVIVOR</span><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>.</span></p> + +<p><i>By HAMILTON DRUMMOND</i>, Author of "A Man of His Age," "For the Religion," &c. +<span class="i2">THE SEVEN HOUSES</span><span class="flright">With Frontispiece by <span class="smcap">A. 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SMALE</i>.<br /> +<span class="i2">THE MAYOR OF LITTLEJOY</span><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Will Owen</span>.</span></p> + +<p><i>By ORME AGNUS</i>, Author of "Jan Oxber," "Love In Our Village."<br /> +<span class="i2">ZIKE MOULDOM</span><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Bertha Newcombe</span>.</span></p> + +<p><i>By R. L. JEFFERSON</i>, Author of "A New Ride to Khiva," &c.<br /> +<span class="i2">THE COWARD</span><span class="flright">With Frontispiece by <span class="smcap">G. Demain Hammond</span>.</span></p> + +<p><i>By R. N. STEPHENS</i>, Author of "An Enemy of the King,"<br /> +<span class="i2">THE CONTINENTAL DRAGOON</span><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">H. C. Edwards</span>.</span></p> + +<p><i>By R. N. STEPHENS</i>, Author of "A Gentleman Player," &c.<br /> +<span class="i2">CAPTAIN RAVENSHAW</span><span class="flright">Illustrated.</span></p> + +<p><i>By DONALD MACDONALD</i> (Author of "How we Kept the Flag Flying") <i>and JOHN F. EDGAR</i>.<br /> +<span class="i2">THE WARRIGALS' WELL</span><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Macfarlane</span>.</span></p> + +<p><i>By A. C. GUNTER</i>, Author of "Mr. Barnes of New York," "Miss Nobody," &c.<br /> +<span class="i2">THE FIGHTING TROUBADOUR</span><span class="flright">Illustrated.</span> +</p></div> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<p class="center f2"><b>Novels by Guy Boothby.</b></p> +<div class="ad"> +<p class="center">SPECIAL AND ORIGINAL DESIGNS.<br /></p> + +<p class="center">Each volume attractively Illustrated by Stanley L. Wood and others.<br /></p> + +<p class="center"><i>Crown 8vo, Cloth Gilt, Trimmed Edges</i>, 5s.</p> + +<p>MY STRANGEST CASE</p> +<p>FAREWELL, NIKOLA!</p> +<p>SHEILAH McLEOD</p> +<p>MY INDIAN QUEEN</p> +<p>LONG LIVE THE KING!</p> +<p>A SAILOR'S BRIDE</p> +<p>A PRINCE OF SWINDLERS</p> +<p>A MAKER OF NATIONS</p> +<p>THE RED RAT'S DAUGHTER</p> +<p>LOVE MADE MANIFEST</p> +<p>PHAROS, THE EGYPTIAN</p> +<p>ACROSS THE WORLD FOR A WIFE</p> +<p>THE LUST OF HATE</p> +<p>BUSHIGRAMS</p> +<p>THE FASCINATION OF THE KING</p> +<p>DR. NIKOLA</p> +<p>THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL</p> +<p>A BID FOR FORTUNE; or, Dr. Nikola's Vendetta</p> +<p>IN STRANGE COMPANY: A Story of Chili and +the Southern Seas</p> +<p>THE MARRIAGE OF ESTHER: A Torres Straits +</p></div> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<p class="center f2"><b>Novels by Joseph Hocking.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><i>Crown 8vo, Cloth Gilt, <b>3/6</b> each. Each volume uniform.</i></p> + +<div class="widead"> +<p class="p2"><b>GREATER LOVE.</b><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>LEST WE FORGET.</b><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Barnard +Davis</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>THE PURPLE ROBE.</b><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Barnard +Davis</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>THE SCARLET WOMAN.</b><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Sydney +Cowell</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>THE BIRTHRIGHT.</b><span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Harold Piffard</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>MISTRESS NANCY MOLESWORTH.</b><span class="flright">Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">F. H. Townsend</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>FIELDS OF FAIR RENOWN.</b><span class="flright">With Frontispiece and +Vignette by <span class="smcap">J. Barnard Davis</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>ALL MEN ARE LIARS.</b><span class="flright">With Frontispiece and +Vignette by <span class="smcap">Gordon Browne</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>ISHMAEL PENGELLY: An Outcast.</b><span class="flright">With Frontispiece +and Vignette by <span class="smcap">W. S. Stacey</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>THE STORY OF ANDREW FAIRFAX.</b><span class="flright">With +Frontispiece and Vignette by <span class="smcap">Geo. Hutchinson</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>AND SHALL TRELAWNEY DIE?</b><span class="flright">Illustrated by +<span class="smcap">Lancelot Speed</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>JABEZ EASTERBROOK.</b><span class="flright">With Frontispiece and +Vignette by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>WEAPONS OF MYSTERY.</b><span class="flright">With Frontispiece and +Vignette.</span></p> + +<p><b>ZILLAH.</b><span class="flright">With Frontispiece by <span class="smcap">Powell Chase</span>.</span></p> + +<p><b>THE MONK OF MAR-SABA.</b><span class="flright">With Frontispiece +and Vignette by <span class="smcap">W. S. Stacey</span>.</span></p></div> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="center f1">WORKS BY</p> + +<p class="center f3">E. Phillips Oppenheim.</p> + +<p><b><i>The Illustrated London News</i></b> says:—"Humdrum is the very last word +you could apply to (a tale by) E. P. Oppenheim, which reminds you of one of +those Chinese nests of boxes, one inside the other. You have plot within plot, +wheel within wheel, mystery within mystery, till you are almost dizzy."</p> + +<p><b><i>The British Weekly</i></b> says:—"Mr. Oppenheim has boundless imagination +and distinct skill. He paints in broad, vivid colours; yet, audacious as he is, +he never outsteps the possible. There is good thrilling mystery in his books, +and not a few excellent characters."</p> + +<p> +<b>THE GREAT AWAKENING.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">F. H. Townsend</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>6s.</b></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE SURVIVOR.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>6s.</b></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>A MILLIONAIRE OF YESTERDAY.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>6s.</b></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE MYSTERY OF MR. BERNARD BROWN.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>3s. 6d.</b></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE WORLD'S GREAT SNARE.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Ambrose Walton</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>3s. 6d.</b></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>A DAUGHTER OF THE MARIONIS.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Adolf Thiede</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>3s. 6d.</b></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>THE MAN AND HIS KINGDOM.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Ambrose Walton</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>3s. 6d.</b></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>MYSTERIOUS MR. SABIN.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Ambrose Walton</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, +<b>3s. 6d.</b></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>AS A MAN LIVES.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, +<b>3s. 6d.</b></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>A MONK OF CRUTA.</b><br /> +<span class="i2">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Warne Browne</span>. Crown 8vo, cloth gilt, <b>3s. 6d.</b></span><br /> +</p> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="center"><b>NEW COMPLETE LIBRARY EDITION</b></p> +<p class="center"><b>OF</b></p> + +<p class="center f2"><b>G. J. Whyte-Melville's Novels</b></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Complete in 25 Volumes.</span></p> + +<p class="center"><i>Large Crown 8vo, Cloth Gilt</i>, <b>3s. 6d.</b> <i>each</i>.</p> + +<p>Each volume is well printed from type specially cast, on best antique +paper, illustrated by front-rank artists, and handsomely bound.</p> + +<div class="ad"> + +<p> +<b>1 Katerfelto.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Lucy E. Kemp-Welch</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>2 Cerise.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">G. P. Jacomb Hood</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>3 Sarchedon.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">S. E. Waller</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>4 Songs and Verses and The True Cross.</b> +<span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">S. E. Waller</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>5 Market Harborough and Inside the Bar.</b> +<span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">John Charlton</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>6 Black but Comely.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">S. E. Waller</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>7 Roy's Wife.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">G. P. Jacomb Hood</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>8 Rosine, and Sister Louise.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">G. P. Jacomb Hood</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>9 Kate Coventry.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Lucy E. Kemp-Welch</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>10 The Gladiators.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Ambrose Walton</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>11 Riding Recollections.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">John Charlton</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>12 The Brookes of Bridlemere.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">S. E. Waller</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>13 Satanella.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Lucy E. Kemp-Welch</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>14 Holmby House.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Lucy E. Kemp-Welch</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>15 The White Rose.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">S. E. Waller</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>16 Tilbury Nogo.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>17 Uncle John.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">S. E. Waller</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>18 Contraband.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>19 M. or N.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Adolf Thiede</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>20 The Queen's Maries.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Lucy E. Kemp-Welch</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>21 General Bounce.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Frances Ewan</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>22 Digby Grand.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Ambrose Walton</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>23 The Interpreter.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Lucy E. Kemp-Welch</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>24 Good for Nothing.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">G. P. Jacomb Hood</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>25 Bones and I.</b> <span class="flright">Illustrated by <span class="smcap">A. Forestier</span></span><br /> +</p></div> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="center f2"><b>2/= Copyright Novels.</b></p> + +<p class="center"><i>Crown 8vo, Litho Picture Boards, Cloth Backs.</i></p> +<div class="ad"> +<p class="center">The Novels included are by some of the most noted authors of +the day, beautifully printed and produced.</p> + +<p><b>1 The Curse of Clement Waynflete.</b> By <span class="smcap">Bertram Mitford</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>.</p> + +<p><b>2 The Crime and the Criminal.</b> By <span class="smcap">Richard Marsh</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Harold Piffard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>3 Captain Shannon.</b> By <span class="smcap">Coulson Kernahan</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">F. S. Wilson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>4 Chronicles of Martin Hewitt.</b> By <span class="smcap">Arthur Morrison</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">D. Murray Smith</span>.</p> + +<p><b>5 "The Queen of Night."</b> By <span class="smcap">Headon Hill</span>. Illustrated by +<span class="smcap">Harold Piffard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>6 A Man's Foes.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. H. Strain</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">A. +Forestier</span>.</p> + +<p><b>7 A Secret Service.</b> By <span class="smcap">William Le Queux</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">Harold Piffard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>8 A Veldt Official.</b> By <span class="smcap">Bertram Mitford</span>. Illustrated by +<span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>.</p> + +<p><b>9 Woman, the Mystery.</b> By <span class="smcap">Henry Herman</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">George Hutchinson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>10 Martin Hewitt, Investigator.</b> By <span class="smcap">Arthur Morrison</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Sidney Paget</span>.</p> + +<p><b>11 A Stolen Life.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. McDonnell Bodkin</span>. Illustrated by +<span class="smcap">Frances Ewan</span>.</p> + +<p><b>12 A Social Highwayman.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. P. Train</span>. Illustrated by +<span class="smcap">F. McKernan</span>.</p> + +<p><b>13 The Datchet Diamonds.</b> By <span class="smcap">Richard Marsh</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>.</p> + +<p><b>14 At Midnight.</b> By <span class="smcap">Ada Cambridge</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">P. +Frenzeny</span> and others.</p> + +<p><b>15 Lady Turpin.</b> By <span class="smcap">Henry Herman</span>. Illustrated by +<span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>.</p> + +<p><b>16 Adventures of Martin Hewitt.</b> By <span class="smcap">Arthur Morrison</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">T. S. C. Crowther</span>.</p> + +<p><b>17 The Expiation of Wynne Palliser.</b> By <span class="smcap">Bertram Mitford</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>.</p> + +<p><b>18 A Sensational Case.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Maud Meadows</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">St. Clair Simmons</span>.</p> + +<p><b>19 The Dorrington Deed Box.</b> By <span class="smcap">Arthur Morrison</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>, &c.</p> + +<p><b>20 The Right Sort.</b> By <span class="smcap">Mrs. E. Kennard</span>. Illustrated by +<span class="smcap">Edgar Giberne</span>.</p> + +<p><b>21 Beacon Fires.</b> By <span class="smcap">Headon Hill</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Stanley +L. Wood</span>.</p> + +<p><b>22 Fordham's Feud.</b> By <span class="smcap">Bertram Mitford</span>. Illustrated by +<span class="smcap">Stanley L. Wood</span>.</p> + +<p><b>23 The Dwarf's Chamber.</b> By <span class="smcap">Fergus Hume</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">Percy F. S. Spence</span>.</p> + +<p><b>24 The Voyage of the "Pulo Way."</b> By <span class="smcap">W. Carlton +Dawe</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">J. Ambrose Walton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>25 Lord Edward Fitzgerald.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. McDonnell Bodkin</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Leonard Linsdell</span>.</p> + +<p><b>26 The Unseen Hand.</b> By <span class="smcap">Lawrence L. Lynch</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">St. Clair Simmons</span>.</p> + +<p><b>27 The Crime of a Christmas Toy.</b> By <span class="smcap">Henry Herman</span>. +Illustrated by <span class="smcap">George Hutchinson</span>.</p> + +<p><b>28 The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">L. T. +Meade</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">Sidney Paget</span>.</p> + +<p><b>29 Out from the Night.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Maud Meadows</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">T. W. Henry</span>.</p> + +<p><b>30 The Rebels.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. McDonnell Bodkin</span>. Illustrated by +<span class="smcap">J. Ambrose Walton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>31 The Last Stroke.</b> By <span class="smcap">Lawrence L. Lynch</span>.</p> + +<p><b>32 A Master of Mysteries.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>. Illustrated +by <span class="smcap">J. Ambrose Walton</span>.</p> + +<p><b>33 The Eye of Fate.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alice Maud Meadows</span>.</p> + +<p><b>34 A Bear Squeeze.</b> By <span class="smcap">M. McDonnell Bodkin</span>.</p> + +<p><b>35 £19,000.</b> By <span class="smcap">Burford Delannoy</span>.</p> + +<p><b>36 Willow, the King.</b> By <span class="smcap">J. C. Snaith</span>.</p> + +<p><b>37 The Man and His Kingdom.</b> By <span class="smcap">E. Phillips Oppenheim</span>.</p> + +<p><b>38 The Sanctuary Club.</b> By Mrs. <span class="smcap">L. T. Meade</span>.</p> + +<p><b>39 Between the Lines.</b> By <span class="smcap">Burford Delannoy</span>.</p> + +<p><b>40 The Man of the Moment.</b> By <span class="smcap">Morice Gerard</span>.</p> + +<p><b>41 Caged.</b> By <span class="smcap">Headon Hill</span>.</p> + +<p><b>42 Under Fate's Wheel.</b> By <span class="smcap">Lawrence L. Lynch</span>.</p> + +<p><b>43 Margate Murder Mystery.</b> By <span class="smcap">Burford Delannoy</span>.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="center f2"><b>The Minerva Library.</b></p> + +<p class="center">NEW SERIES.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Large Crown 8vo, Art Linen, Extra Gilt, Fully Illustrated, 2s.</i></p> +<div class="ad"> +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME I.</i></p> + +<p><b>Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa. +Including a sketch of sixteen years' residence in the +Interior of Africa.</b> With portrait and full-page plates. By +<span class="smcap">David Livingstone</span>, LL.D., D.C.L.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME II.</i></p> + +<p><b>A Journal of Researches into the Natural History +and Geology of the Countries visited during the voyage +of H.M.S. "Beagle" round the World.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charles +Darwin</span>, M.A., F.R.S., Author of "Coral Reefs," "The Descent +of Man," etc. Containing a biographical introduction by <span class="smcap">G. T. +Bettany</span>, M.A., B.Sc., with portrait of Darwin, and other +illustrations.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME III.</i></p> + +<p><b>Life and Correspondence of Thomas Arnold, D.D.</b> +some time Head-master of Rugby School, and Regius Professor +of Modern History in the University of Oxford. By <span class="smcap">Arthur +Penrhyn Stanley</span>, D.D., Dean of Westminster. With a +portrait of Dr. Arnold, and other illustrations.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME IV.</i></p> + +<p><b>Travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro. With an +Account of the Native Tribes, and Observations on the +Climate, Geology, and Natural History of the Amazon +Valley.</b> By <span class="smcap">Alfred Russel Wallace</span>, LL.D., Author of +"Darwinism," "The Malay Archipelago," etc., etc. With a +biographical introduction by <span class="smcap">G. T. Bettany</span>, M.A., B.Sc., +portrait of the Author, and other illustrations.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME V.</i></p> + +<p><b>Macaulay's Essays, Historical and Literary, from the +"Edinburgh Review."</b> By <span class="smcap">Lord Macaulay</span>, Essayist, +Politician, and Historian. With a biographical introduction by +<span class="smcap">G. T. Bettany</span>, M.A., B.Sc. Fully illustrated from portraits.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME VI.</i></p> + +<p><b>Lavengro: The Scholar, The Priest, The Gipsy.</b> By +<span class="smcap">George Borrow</span>, Author of "The Bible in Spain," etc., etc. +With introductory notes by <span class="smcap">Theodore Watts-Dunton</span>. Illustrated +from portraits.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME VII.</i></p> + +<p><b>Emerson's Prose Works.</b> The complete Prose Works of +<span class="smcap">Ralph Waldo Emerson</span>. With a critical introduction by +<span class="smcap">G. T. Bettany</span>, M.A., B.Sc., and a portrait of the Author.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME VIII.</i></p> + +<p><b>Coral Reefs, Volcanic Islands, and South American +Geology.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charles Darwin</span>, M.A., F.R.S. With critical +and historical introductions by Professor <span class="smcap">John W. Judd</span>, F.R.S. +With various maps, illustrations, and portrait of the Author.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME IX.</i></p> + +<p><b>The Romany Rye. A Sequel to Lavengro.</b> By <span class="smcap">George +Borrow</span>. Illustrated from old prints and portraits.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME X.</i></p> + +<p><b>The French Revolution: A History.</b> By <span class="smcap">Thomas +Carlyle</span>. With introduction by <span class="smcap">G. T. Bettany</span>, M.A., B.Sc., +and full-page illustrations.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME XI.</i></p> + +<p><b>Sartor Resartus; Heroes and Hero Worship; and +Past and Present.</b> By <span class="smcap">Thomas Carlyle</span>. With Critical +Introduction. Illustrated from photographs.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME XII.</i></p> + +<p><b>Macaulay's Biographical, Critical, and Miscellaneous +Essays and Poems</b>, including "The Lays of Ancient +Rome." With notes and introduction. Illustrated from +photographs.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME XIII.</i></p> + +<p><b>Society in China.</b> By <span class="smcap">Robert K. Douglas</span>, Keeper of +Oriental Books and Manuscripts in the British Museum. Professor +of Chinese at King's College. Illustrated from photographs.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME XIV.</i></p> + +<p><b>The Bible in Spain.</b> By <span class="smcap">George Borrow</span>, Author of +"Lavengro," etc., etc. With biographical introduction by +<span class="smcap">G. T. Bettany</span>, M.A., B.Sc. Illustrated from photographs.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME XV.</i></p> + +<p><b>Cromwell's Letters and Speeches.</b> By <span class="smcap">Thomas +Carlyle</span>. Illustrated.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME XVI.</i></p> + +<p><b>On the Origin of Species: By Means of Natural +Selection.</b> By <span class="smcap">Charles Darwin</span>, M.A., F.R.S., etc. Illustrated +from photographs.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>VOLUME XVII.</i></p> + +<p><b>Bacon's Essays; Civil and Moral Advancement of +Learning; Novum Organum, etc.</b> With biographical +introduction by <span class="smcap">G. T. Bettany</span>, M.A., B.Sc. Illustrated from +photographs.</p></div> + +<hr class="l15" /> +<p class="center">THE<br /> +<span class="f2"><b>Windsor Library</b></span><br /> +OF<br /> +<span class="f1"><i>FAMOUS BOOKS.</i></span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Large Crown 8vo, Cloth Gilt. Each with Four Illustrations.</i> 1s. 6d.</p> +<div class="ad"> +<p>A remarkable feature of the world of fiction is that +the yearly increasing supply of fresh romances, by both +new and established authors, has no effect on the unfailing +popularity of the recognised masterpieces. The demand for +attractive editions of these books has never been greater than +it is to-day, and it is to meet this want that the publishers are +issuing this new series. The volumes are well printed from +clear type on good paper, tastefully bound in a design that will +grace the bookshelf, and splendidly illustrated. In a word, for +value, it is the best and cheapest series that has ever been +placed on the market.</p> +<hr class="l15" /> +<p> +<b>1 Pickwick Papers</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Charles Dickens</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>2 David Copperfield</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Charles Dickens</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>11 Vanity Fair</b><span class="flright"> <span class="smcap">W. M. Thackeray</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>12 The History of Pendennis</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">W. M. Thackeray</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>16 Westward Ho!</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Charles Kingsley</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>17 Hypatia</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Charles Kingsley</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>21 It is Never too Late to Mend</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Chas. Reade</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>26 Jane Eyre</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Charlotte Brontë</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>27 Shirley</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Charlotte Brontë</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>31 Ivanhoe</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Sir Walter Scott</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>32 Old Mortality</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Sir Walter Scott</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>41 The Last Days of Pompeii</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Lord Lytton</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>42 The Last of the Barons</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Lord Lytton</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>43 Harold</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Lord Lytton</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>46 The Three Musketeers</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Alexandre Dumas</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>47 The Count of Monte Cristo</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Alexandre Dumas</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>51 Cranford</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Mrs. Gaskell</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>52 Mary Barton</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Mrs. Gaskell</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>56 Autocrat of the Breakfast Table</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">O. W. Holmes</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>61 Charles O'Malley</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Charles Lever</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>62 Jack Hinton</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Charles Lever</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>71 The Toilers of the Sea</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Victor Hugo</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>72 The Hunchback of Notre Dame</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Victor Hugo</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>76 John Halifax, Gentleman</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Mrs. Craik</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>81 Adam Bede</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">George Eliot</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>86 Geoffry Hamlyn</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Henry Kingsley</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>91 Katerfelto</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">G. J. Whyte-Melville</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>92 The Gladiators</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">G. J. Whyte-Melville</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>96 A Study in Scarlet</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">A. Conan Doyle</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>98 Out of the Hurly Burly</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Max Adeler</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>103 In Strange Company</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Guy Boothby</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>109 Orley Farm</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Anthony Trollope</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>115 Danesbury House</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Mrs. Henry Wood</span></span><br /> +<br /> +<b>120 Ben Hur</b> <span class="flright"><span class="smcap">Lew Wallace</span></span><br /> +</p></div> + +<hr class="l15" /> + +<div class="ad"> +<p>Some Magazines are</p> +<p class="center f1"><b>MERELY MASCULINE ...</b></p> +<p>Others are</p> +<p class="center f1"><b>FRIVOLOUSLY FEMININE.</b></p> +<br /> +<p class="center">... 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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: The Kidnapped President + +Author: Guy Boothby + +Illustrator: Stanley L. Wood + +Release Date: June 22, 2011 [EBook #36492] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT *** + + + + +Produced by Melissa McDaniel, Suzanne Shell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have + been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. + + Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal + signs=. + + + + + [Illustration: "'STOP!'"] + + + + + THE + + KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT + + BY + + GUY BOOTHBY + + AUTHOR OF + + 'DR. NIKOLA,' 'A BID FOR FORTUNE,' 'THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL,' + ETC. + + ILLUSTRATIONS BY STANLEY L. WOOD + + _LONDON_ + + WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED + + NEW YORK AND MELBOURNE + + 1902 + + + + +'THE KIDNAPPED PRESIDENT' + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +I suppose to every man, at some period in his life, there comes some +adventure upon which, in after life, he is destined to look back with +a feeling that is very near akin to astonishment. Somebody has said +that adventures are to the adventurous. In my case I must confess that +I do not see how the remark applies. I was certainly fourteen years at +sea, but in all that time, beyond having once fallen overboard in +Table Bay, and, of course, the great business of which it is the +purpose of this book to tell you, I cannot remember any circumstance +that I could dignify with the title of an adventure. The sailor's +calling in these times of giant steamships is so vastly different from +what it was in the old days of sailing ships and long voyages that, +with the most ordinary luck, a man might work his way up the ratlines +from apprentice to skipper with little less danger than would be met +with in a London merchant's office. Though I was not aware of it, +however, I was destined to have an adventure, stirring enough to +satisfy the most daring, before my seafaring life came to an end. + +How well I remember the day on which I was appointed fourth officer of +the ocean liner _Pernambuco_, running from London to South America. I +should here remark that I held a second officer's certificate, but I +was, nevertheless, glad enough to take what I could get, in the hope +of being able to work my way up to something better. It was not a bad +rise, when all was said and done, to leave a ramshackle old tub of a +tramp for the comparatively luxurious life of a mail boat; much +jollier merely to run out to the Argentine and back, instead of +dodging at a snail's pace from port to port all round the world. Then +again there was the question of society. It was pleasanter in every +respect to have pretty girls to flirt with on deck, and to sit beside +one at meals, than to have no one to talk to save a captain who was in +an intoxicated state five days out of seven, a grumpy old chief mate, +and a Scotch engineer, who could recite anything Burns ever wrote, +backwards or forwards, as you might choose to ask him for it. When I +had been six months on board the _Pernambuco_, I was made third +officer; at the end of the year I signed my name on the pay-sheet as +second. Eventually I got my Master's Certificate, and became chief +officer. Now everybody knows, or ought to know, that the duties of +chief officer on board a big liner, and, for the matter of that, on +any other boat, are as onerous as they are varied. In the first place, +he is the chief executive officer of the ship, and is held +responsible, not only for its appearance, but also for the proper +working of the crew. It is a position that requires consummate tact. +He must know when to see things and when not to see them, must be able +to please the passengers, and yet protect the interests of his owners, +must, and this is not the least important fact, be able to keep his +men constantly employed, yet not earn for himself the reputation of +being too hard a task-master. Finally, he has to see that all the +credit for what he does is not appropriated by himself, but goes to +increase the _kudos_ of his commanding officer. If the latter is a +gentleman, and can appreciate his officers' endeavours at their real +value, matters will in all probability go smoothly; on the other hand, +however, if the captain is a bully, then the chief officer is likely +to wish himself elsewhere, or at least that he was the holder of some +other rank. This was my case on my last and most memorable voyage in +the service of a particular Company that every one knows, but which, +for various reasons, shall be nameless. + +I had never met Captain Harveston until he joined us in dock on the +day previous to sailing, but I had heard some scarcely complimentary +remarks about him from men who had sailed with him. I must confess, +therefore, that I was prepared to dislike him. In appearance he was as +unlike a sailor as a man could well be, was a great dandy in his +dress, and evidently looked upon himself as an undoubted lady-killer. +So far as I was concerned, he had hardly set foot on the vessel before +he commenced finding fault. A ship in dock, before the passengers come +aboard, and while the thousand and one preparations are being made for +a voyage, is seldom an example of tidiness. Surely a skipper, who had +been at sea for thirty years, must have realized this; for some +reason, however, best known to himself, it pleased Captain Harveston +to inaugurate our acquaintance by telling me that he liked a "spic and +span ship," and that he judged his officers by what he saw of their +work. + +"You shall have nothing to complain of as soon as I get the workmen +out, sir," I replied, a bit nettled at being called over the coals +upon such a trumpery matter. + +"I trust I shall not," he answered superciliously, and then strutted +down the bridge to his own cabin, which was just abaft the +chart-room. + +As it turned out, the Isle of Wight was scarcely astern before the +trouble began. Young Herberts, our second officer, was the first to +get a wigging, and Harrison, the fourth, quickly followed suit. I felt +sure my time would not be long in coming, and I was not wrong. On the +second day out, and during my watch below, I was talking to the purser +in his cabin, when the fourth officer appeared to inform me that the +captain wished to see me on the promenade deck. Thither I made my way, +to find him seated there with a number of lady passengers round him. + +"Surely he is not going to be nasty before these ladies," I said to +myself as I approached him. + +I discovered, however, that this was exactly what he was going to do. + +"Mr. Helmsworth," he began, "I am told that you have refused the +passengers the use of the bull-board." + +"Indeed, sir, I have not," I replied. "I informed one of the gentlemen +who spoke to me about it that I would have it brought up directly we +were clear of the Channel. As a rule we never produce it until we're +out of the Bay. I had Captain Pomeroy's instructions to that effect." + +"I am captain of this vessel now," he returned. "Please see that the +board is brought on deck at once. I must ask you for the future to do +all that lies in your power to promote the pleasure of the passengers. +It is a duty I have a right to expect of my officers." + +"Very good, sir," I answered and walked away. + +From that day forward I saw that my service under Captain Harveston +was likely to be a short one, and, indeed, by the time we reached +Buenos Ayres, I felt as if I could throw up my appointment altogether. +He was never satisfied, never pleased, and did nothing but grumble and +find fault from morning until night. + +After the usual fortnight's stay at the capital of the Argentine, we +commenced our homeward voyage. Our first port of call was Rio, where +Harveston and the third officer came to loggerheads. By this time the +whole ship's company had taken his measure, and I fancy he must have +known it. Being of a petty disposition, he attributed this to me, and +accordingly laid himself out to make my life aboard as disagreeable as +it was possible for him to do. How bitterly I regretted the loss of my +old skipper, who had been kindness and consideration itself, I must +leave you to imagine. + +And now I must turn from a narration of my own misfortunes during +that miserable voyage to give you a description of a man, whose +personality is destined to play such an important part in my +narrative. He joined us at Rio, and was one of the last passengers to +come aboard. He was a Spaniard, and, as could be seen at a glance, a +well-bred one at that. He called himself Don Guzman de Silvestre. He +was very tall; I should say some inches over six feet, with the +darkest of dark eyes and hair, aquiline features, and a small pointed +beard, that he had a habit of stroking when thinking. Taken +altogether, a more romantic personality could scarcely be imagined, +and as he came up the gangway, I told myself that he was the best +figure of a man I had seen for some considerable time. When he asked +me at what hour we should sail, I noticed that he spoke English +perfectly, and in a musical voice that was very pleasant to listen to. +Before we had been many days at sea, he and I had had several talks +upon all sorts of subjects, considerably to Captain Harveston's +annoyance, for the latter did not approve of his officers being on +anything like friendly terms with the passengers. Having no desire to +quarrel with my chief, I endeavoured, as far as possible, to keep out +of his way, but for some reason this only had the effect of incensing +him more against me. + +We were a full ship on the homeward voyage, and, as we generally did +a lot of painting between Barbadoes and Madeira, I found my time +pretty well taken up. It was in connection with this painting that the +climax came. We had left the West Indies behind us, and at the time +were steering a straight course for Madeira. The men, when the +incident I am about to describe happened, were at work on the port +rails of the promenade deck. One of them, who had been outside the +rail, climbed over, pot in hand, to obey an order I had given him. At +the moment that he did so, the long Atlantic swell caused the vessel +to give a big roll, and before he could save himself, he was flying +across the deck towards a chair in which a lady was seated. They came +into violent collision, with the result that the pot of white paint +was deposited in her lap. I hastened to her assistance, and did all +that was possible at the moment to remedy the mishap. Fortunately for +the man, who was overcome by the magnitude of the catastrophe, she +took the accident in excellent part. + +"You must not blame the man," she said to me. "It was not his fault. I +shall have to sue the ocean for damages." + +Then with a laugh she went below to change her attire. + +As ill luck would have it, just after she had disappeared, the +skipper emerged from the companion, and saw the splashes of paint. + +"What's the meaning of this, sir?" he asked, turning on me angrily. + +"One of the men met with an accident, sir," I replied. "The roll of +the ship caused him to upset the paint-pot." + +"You should not put that class of fellow to do such work," he +returned, oblivious to the fact that he was committing the +unpardonable sin of admonishing an officer before the men. "You seem +to have no discrimination at all, Mr. Helmsworth." + +With that he walked away, leaving me to chew my cud of humiliation in +silence. After luncheon I received an order to go to the captain's +cabin. I could see that I was in for more trouble, but could not guess +what. One thing was very evident; he was in a towering rage. + +"How is it, Mr. Helmsworth," he began, when I had entered the cabin +and had closed the door, "that you deliberately kept things from me +this morning that it was your duty to tell me?" + +"I am not aware that I have kept anything back from you, sir," I +replied, as civilly as I knew how, for I had no desire to lose my +temper. "If it is with regard to the tiller of the port quarter +boat----" + +"It has nothing whatever to do with the port quarter boat," he +answered savagely. "I want to know how it was that you did not tell me +about that lady's dress being spoilt this morning. You should have +reported the matter to me. Had it not been for my steward, I should +have known nothing whatsoever about it." + +"I did not think it worth while to trouble you with it, sir," I +replied. "It was a pure accident, and Miss Burgess forgave the man, +and admitted that he was not to blame." + +"Accident or no accident," he retorted, "you should have informed me +of the circumstance. I consider you sadly wanting in your duty, Mr. +Helmsworth. Of late, your manner has been most disrespectful to me, +and I tell you to your face, sir, that your ship is a disgrace to any +chief officer." + +"I am sorry you should say that," I answered, endeavouring to keep my +temper; "I have always had the reputation of turning my ship out well. +If you will point out anything that is wrong, I will at once have it +rectified." + +"Don't bandy words with me, sir," he stormed. "I am not used to it +from my officers. I repeat that your ship is a disgrace to any chief +officer, and I shall take care that the matter is duly reported to the +Board as soon as we reach London." + +"Perhaps you will be good enough to tell me what you consider wrong, +sir?" + +"Everything," he answered. "I thought yesterday I pointed out to you a +hole in the after awning." + +"You did, sir, and it has been repaired. I put the sail-maker on to it +at once." + +He rose from his chair with a look of triumph on his face. + +"Kindly step aft with me," he said, "and let us examine it for +ourselves." + +Feeling confident that what I had said was correct, I gladly +accompanied him, but to my horror, when we reached the place in +question, there was the rent gaping at us without a stitch in it. + +"I regret exceedingly that you should consider it necessary to cover +your negligence by telling me what is not true," he said in a voice so +loud that some of the second-class passengers could hear it. + +This was more than I could swallow. + +"I'll not be called a liar by you, Captain Harveston, or by any man +living," I retorted, feeling that I would have given something to have +been able to have knocked him down. "If you will send for the +sail-maker, he will inform you that I gave him orders to do it this +morning. It is no fault of mine that he has neglected his duty." + +"It is the fault of no one else, sir," returned the captain. "If you +kept the men up to their work, this would not have been left undone. I +shall be careful to enter this occurrence in the log-book." + +So saying he stalked majestically away, and I went in search of the +sail-maker. The man, it appeared, had intended doing the work, but had +been called away to something else, and had forgotten it. After that, +I returned to my own cabin, and sat down to think the matter over. +There could be no sort of doubt that I was in an exceedingly +unenviable position. I could quite see that if Harveston reported me, +the Board would be likely to believe his version of the story, and +even if they did not consider me quite as negligent as he was +endeavouring to make me, they would probably argue that I was not all +I might be, on the basis that there can be no smoke without fire. +Whatever else might be said, a reputation for slovenliness and +untruthfulness would be scarcely likely to help me in my career. From +that day forward matters went from bad to worse. It seemed impossible +for me to do right, however hard I might try. What was more annoying, +I began to feel that, not content with disliking me himself, the +captain was endeavouring to set the passengers against me also. + +During the run across the Atlantic I had, as I have said, several +long talks with Don Guzman de Silvestre. The man interested me +immensely. What his profession was I could not ascertain, but from +numberless little remarks he let fall, I gathered that he was the +possessor of considerable wealth. Certainly he had seen a variety of +strange life. Were it not that he narrated his adventures with an air +of truth that left no room for doubt, it would have been impossible to +have believed him. He had seen fighting in Mexico, in Nicaragua, in +Brazil, and with Balmaceda in Chili. + +"I suppose in South America there will be Revolutions until the end of +Time," I remarked one evening, as we sat talking together in my cabin. + +"I should say it is more than likely," he answered, taking his cigar +from his mouth and holding it between his long, slim fingers. "If you +take specimens of all the most excitable races in the world and graft +them on stock even more excitable than themselves, what can you +expect? In such countries Might must always be Right, and the weakest +will go to the wall." + +"I shouldn't care much about being President in that description of +place," I returned. "It's a case of being in power and popular to-day, +unpopular and assassinated to-morrow." + +"There is certainly a large amount of risk in this," the Don replied +meditatively. "And yet men are always to be found desirous of taking +up the reins of government." + +I could not help wondering whether he had ever felt the ambition he +spoke of. + +"I remember meeting a man in Paris some years ago," he continued after +a few moments' silence, "who was what one might call a world's +vagabond. He had been a soldier in French Africa, a shearer in +Australia, a miner at the Cape, a stockbroker in New York, and several +other things. When I met him, he was, as I have said, in Paris, and +practically starving. He could speak half the languages of the world +well enough to be thought a native, was absolutely fearless; indeed, +taken altogether he was about as devil-may-care a sort of fellow as I +had ever met in my life. Three years later he was Dictator of one of +the South American Republics we have been speaking of." + +"And where is he now?" + +"At the end of six months another man came upon the scene, won the +favour of the Standing Army, and began to make trouble for those in +power, with the result that my friend had to vacate his office, also +the country, at remarkably short notice. Some day he will go back and +endeavour to unseat the individual who supplanted him. The latter +gained his place by treachery, but if he is not careful he will lose +it by something else." + +"Your friend is a man who does not forget an injury then?" I remarked, +with a well-defined suspicion that he was speaking of himself. + +"I rather fancy he is," he replied. "At any rate, I am quite certain +he is not one who forgives." + +Then he changed the conversation by inquiring how long I had been at +sea, and what countries I had visited. With some of them he professed +to be acquainted. + +"It is rather impertinent of me to say so," he said, looking round to +see that there was no one near the door, "but I am afraid you and your +captain are not on the best of terms." + +"I am sorry to say that we are not," I answered, and stopped there, +for I had no desire to discuss the matter with him. + +"You hold a Master's Certificate, do you not?" he inquired. + +I answered in the affirmative, and once more he was silent. + +"I suppose you would have no objection to shipping as captain," he +went on after a long pause, "if the opportunity ever presented +itself?" + +"Most certainly I should not," I replied, with a laugh. "I fear, +however, it will be some time before I shall have such an +opportunity." + +"In this line, perhaps," he said, "but I suppose, if you had an offer +from another firm, you would accept it?" + +"I should feel very much inclined to do so," I said, wondering at the +same time what he was driving at. + +"Are you married?" + +"No," I replied, "but I hope to be as soon as I can afford it. So far +as I can see, however, that event, like the captainship, is a long way +off. The good old days when skippers made money are past, and +now-a-days, what with entertaining and one thing and another, it's as +much as a man can do to make both ends meet. Sometimes I'm afraid they +don't meet at all. I wish some kind friend would come along and offer +me a comfortable shore billet on anything like pay--it would do him +good to see me jump at it." + +"That may come yet," he replied, and then he rose and bade me +good-night. + +A few evenings later, and as we were approaching the English Channel, +he again spoke to me on the subject. His persistent recurrence to it +gave me a feeling that there was something behind it all. But what +that something was I had no sort of idea. I was destined to find out, +however, even sooner than I imagined. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Four days later we reached England, and one of the most unpleasant +voyages I have ever made was at an end. Having seen everything right +on board, I left the ship. Captain Harveston had not said good-bye to +me, and for this reason I did not consider it necessary that I should +go out of my way to be civil to him. That the man intended doing me a +mischief I felt certain, but what form his enmity would take I could +only conjecture. The entry was in the log-book, and some action would +be taken of it without a doubt. + +From London I took the train to Salisbury, intending to walk out to my +home at Falstead, one of the loveliest if not _the_ loveliest of all +the Wiltshire villages with which I am acquainted. It was delightful +to think that in a few hours I should see Molly, my pretty sweetheart, +again, and in her gentle company, and that of my dear old mother (my +father had been dead many years), endeavour to forget for a fortnight +the worries and troubles that had been my portion during the past two +months. Molly, I must tell you, or Miss Mary Wharton, was a lady of +much importance at Falstead. She was an orphan, and her father had +been the Vicar of the hamlet for nearly fifty years. When her parents +died she had received an offer of a home in London, but she could not +find it in her heart to leave the place in which she had been born, so +she remained on in the capacity of village schoolmistress and +organist, loved by the children, consulted by the mothers, and +respected by every one. My father had been the local medico, and I had +known Molly all my life. We had played together as children, had +received our first lessons together, had fallen in love later, and +were engaged when I was twenty-three and she two years my junior. + +It was nearly four o'clock when I reached Salisbury and started on my +five miles' tramp to the village. My luggage I left to be brought on +next day by the carrier, taking with me a small hand-bag containing +sufficient for my immediate needs. I can remember the time when those +five miles had seemed to me the longest walking in all the world; now, +however, after so many weeks of sea, the green lanes, varied with open +stretches of down, were beautiful beyond compare. Every turn of the +road brought to light some spot of interest. I crossed the old stone +bridge at the entrance to the village, and noted the place where I had +caught my first trout, and further on, as I passed a certain stile, +upon which hundreds of initials had been carved, recalled the fact +that it was there I had fought Nathaniel Burse, the village bully, +and, unlike the heroes of most romances, had received a sound drubbing +for my pains. + +About a quarter of a mile from my mother's cottage I overtook the +worthy Vicar, who, as he informed me, had been to pay a visit to a +farm on the Downs. + +"Let me be the first to offer you a hearty welcome home," he said. +"You seem to have been away for a shorter time than ever this voyage." + +"It has certainly not seemed so to me," I answered, and with a +considerable amount of truth. "I am the more glad to be back. How is +the village?" + +"By the village, I suppose you mean Miss Wharton, do you not?" said +the old fellow with a chuckle. "She is wonderfully well, and I fancy +is looking forward to your return. Your mother keeps well also, I saw +her yesterday." + +We walked on together until I could see ahead of us the little +ivy-covered house in which I had been born. At the gate I bade the +kindly old gentleman good-bye and entered, to be received on the +threshold by Molly and my mother. For the next few minutes I had to +submit, and I will leave you to imagine whether I did so willingly or +not, to such a kissing and hugging as the average man seldom receives. +Then I was escorted to the little drawing-room and given my favourite +chair, while Molly made tea and my mother sat beside me and +affectionately stroked my hand. Could you have seen Molly at that +moment, you would have declared her to be the true picture of an +English woman. + +As you have probably observed by this time, I am not much of a hand at +describing people, but I must endeavour to give you some idea of what +my sweetheart was like. In the first place she was tall, possibly five +feet nine inches. Her eyes were blue, and her hair a rich nut-brown. +On the day of my arrival she was dressed in white, with a white belt +round her shapely waist; while on the third finger of her left hand +was the ring I had bought for her at Salisbury after our engagement +was announced. Even now, though ten years have elapsed, I can feel the +joy of that home-coming. I sat sipping my tea, and eating slice after +slice of real Wiltshire bread-and-butter in a whirl of enchantment. +Of course Molly remained to supper with us, and if afterwards we went +for a stroll down the shadowy lanes as far as Bellam Woods, where you +can stand on the hill and look down the valley to Salisbury, five +miles away, who shall blame us? + +The next three days were about as happy, so far as I am concerned, as +a man could wish to spend. Fortunately it was holiday time with Molly, +and in consequence she and I were inseparable from morning until +night. We fished together, went for long walks together, and on the +third day I borrowed the Vicar's pony-cart and drove her into +Salisbury. Alas! however, that day was destined to end in very +different fashion to what it had begun. Having returned the pony-cart +to the vicarage, we strolled home together. My mother's +maid-of-all-work had brought in the letters that had arrived by +evening mail, and on the little table in the hall was one addressed to +me. I turned it over, to discover upon the back of the envelope the +monogram of the Company--my employers. With a heart full of +forebodings I opened it. It was very brief, and read as follows-- + + "DEAR SIR, + + "I am desired by the Chairman to inform you that the Board will + be glad if you will make it convenient to be present at their + meeting on Friday next at three o'clock. + + "I am, + "Yours very truly, + "J. HOPKINSON, Secretary." + +"What does it mean, Dick?" Molly asked. "Why do they want to see you? +I think it is very unkind of them to spoil your holiday by taking you +away when you only have such a short time at home." + +"I am afraid it means trouble," I answered. "Captain Harveston and I +did not get on very well together, and I expect he has been making +complaints against me at head-quarters. He threatened to do so." + +"Then he is a very unjust man," said my sweetheart, her eyes flashing. +"And I should like to tell him so!" + +That the letter worried me a good deal I am not going to deny. My +bread-and-butter depended upon the Company's good opinion, and if I +lost that I should certainly lose my position too. On the appointed +day I bade my dear ones farewell, walked into Salisbury, and caught +the train to London, reaching the Company's offices, which were in +Leadenhall Street, about a quarter of an hour before the meeting was +due to take place. A liveried porter showed me into the waiting-room, +where I remained for something like twenty minutes, kicking my heels +impatiently, and wondering what the end of the business would be. Then +the door opened and the Secretary entered. + +"The Board will see you now, Mr. Helmsworth," he said, and I +accordingly followed him to the room in which the meetings of the +Company took place. There I discovered a full Meeting. The Chairman +was seated at the head of the table--a dignified, portly +personage--while on either side of him were ranged the Directors, who +I could see regarded me with some curiosity as I entered. + +"Mr. Helmsworth," said the Chairman, after the Secretary had returned +to his place, "we have requested your presence to-day in order to +inform you that Captain Harveston has felt it his duty to make a +serious complaint to us of your conduct during the voyage which has +just ended. To be candid, he charges you with general neglect of duty, +of insulting conduct towards himself, and, I regret to add, of +untruthfulness. We thought it better that you should have an +opportunity of hearing these charges, and giving you a chance of +defending yourself, should you care to do so. It is needless for me to +add how much the Board regrets that such a report should have been +made against you. What have you to say?" + +"All I can say, sir," I replied, advancing to the bottom of the table, +and taking up my position there, "is that the report has not a word of +truth in it. It is a malicious invention on the part of Captain +Harveston, and, if he were here, I should tell him so." + +"Come, come, Mr. Helmsworth, you must not talk like that," said the +Chairman; "Captain Harveston has been a long time in our service, and +we have never known him act unjustly to any one. Would it not be +better to admit that there is _some_ truth in what he says, and then +to leave it to the clemency of the Board, to deal with as they may +consider fair?" + +"I am afraid, sir," I replied, "with all due respect to yourself and +the Board, that I cannot submit to being declared neglectful of my +duties, or allow myself to be called untruthful when I know the charge +to be unjust. For some reason, I cannot say what, Captain Harveston +took a dislike to me before the voyage commenced, and this report is +the outcome of that dislike." + +I then proceeded to explain what had happened; pointed out that while +the dock workmen were engaged upon the ship, and she was of necessity +in an untidy condition, Captain Harveston had complained of her lack +of orderliness. I referred to the paint incident, and commented upon +the fact that he had charged me with concealing what had happened +from him. With regard to the ship being in an untidy state throughout +the voyage, I stated that I was prepared to bring witnesses to prove +that she was as perfect as it was possible for a ship to be. If a +little of the gloss had worn off by the time we reached the Thames, I +explained that it was due to the fact that we had experienced very +rough weather in the Bay and also coming up Channel. The charge of +untruthfulness I dismissed as being both petty and absurd. Towards the +end of my remarks I had some difficulty in restraining my temper, for +I could see that the Board was still inclined to side with the captain +against me. Perhaps my manner was not submissive enough to please +them. At any rate when they asked me to withdraw for a few minutes +while they discussed the matter, I began to feel that my case was, so +far as they were concerned, a hopeless one. After ten minutes' absence +I was recalled. + +"Mr. Helmsworth," the Chairman began in his dignified way, polishing +his glasses with his pocket-handkerchief as he spoke, "we have most +carefully gone into the matter, and have arrived at the conclusion +that, taking into consideration the length of time you have been in +the Company's service, and the fact that there have never been any +complaints against you hitherto, we should be justified in permitting +you an opportunity of retrieving any little error you may have +committed. If, therefore, you will agree to apologize to Captain +Harveston, and will promise to do your best in the future, I may say +on behalf of the Board, that we are prepared to allow this most +painful matter to drop." + +This was more than I had bargained for. I had at least hoped that they +would have given orders that I should be confronted with my accuser, +and that I should be allowed to call witnesses in my own defence. + +"With all due respect, gentlemen," I said, with perhaps more freedom +than I should have used, "I cannot submit to such a thing. Captain +Harveston has brought these charges against me for some reason best +known to himself. It seems to me, if only in common fairness, that he +should be called upon to prove them, and if he is unable to do so, to +apologize to me for the wrong he has done me. I declare most +emphatically that I am innocent, and, if you will allow me, I will +prove it. I am sure my brother officers will be able to convince you +as to my ability, and to the state of the ship. The Dock +Superintendent should also be able to do the same." + +"Unfortunately the Dock Superintendent has confirmed the captain's +opinion," said the Chairman. + +To my chagrin, I remembered then that the Dock Superintendent and I +had had a quarrel some years before, and also that he was a great +friend of the captain's. It was not likely, therefore, that he would +side with me. + +"If the Dock Superintendent says that, I suppose I must submit," I +answered. "Nevertheless, I contend that neither he nor Captain +Harveston is speaking the truth." + +"Dear me, dear me," said one of the Directors, "this is really not the +sort of behaviour to which we are accustomed. Why not take the +Chairman's advice, Mr. Helmsworth, and apologize to your captain? I am +quite sure that he would bear no malice to you, and the matter could +then be amicably settled." + +This had the same effect upon me as the waving of a red flag is said +to have upon an angry bull. + +"I shall certainly not apologize," I answered. "Captain Harveston is +in the wrong, and I refuse to have anything more to do with him." + +"In that case, I am afraid the consequences will be serious," said the +Chairman. "We should be loath to lose your services, Mr. Helmsworth, +particularly after your long service, but unless you apologize to +Captain Harveston, we have no other course open to us." + +"I shall not do that," I returned, "and in case of my dismissal I +assure you I shall immediately take what proceedings the law allows +me, in order to prove that I have been slandered most grossly." + +The Board stared at me in amazement. Was it possible, they were +doubtless asking themselves, that a miserable chief officer dared to +beard them in this fashion? + +"What proceedings you take against Captain Harveston are no concern of +ours, after you have quitted our employment," said the Chairman, "but +if you will be well advised, you will think twice before you invoke +the assistance of the law." + +"I am to understand, therefore," I said, "that I am dismissed." + +"No, no," the Chairman replied; "we will not go as far as that, we +will call it a resignation." + +"Allow me then to wish you good-day, gentlemen," I said, and bowing I +walked out of the room. "You will, doubtless, hear from me later." + +"A pretty market I have brought my pigs to," I said to myself, as I +walked down Leadenhall Street, after leaving the offices of the +Company. "Poor little Molly, this will be a sad blow to her. It looks +as if my marriage is now further off than ever." + +How little I guessed then that the interview I had just had, had +brought it closer than if the trouble with Harveston had never +occurred. Acting on the resolve I had made while waiting for the +Board's decision, I made my way in the direction of High Holborn. The +old lawyer who had conducted what little legal business my father had +required, and who had arranged my mother's affairs after his death, +had an office in one of the curious old Inns of Court in that +neighbourhood. I determined to lay the case before him and to act +according to the advice he gave me. On reaching the office I had the +satisfaction of finding him at home. The clerk, who received me, was +as old as his employer, and I believe had served him for upwards of +forty years. His memory for faces must have been a good one, for he +recognized me at once, although several years had elapsed since I had +last called upon him. + +"Mr. Winzor is in his office, Mr. Helmsworth," he said, "and, if you +will be good enough to wait for a moment, I will place your name +before him." He disappeared, and presently returned and requested me +to follow him. + +The old lawyer received me most cordially and invited me to take a +seat. He asked after my mother's health, then took a pinch of snuff, +looked at me fixedly, and then took another. After this he inquired in +what way he could serve me. I thereupon placed the case before him. + +"This is a matter," he said, after a pause of about a minute, "that +will require very careful consideration. It is plain that the captain +in question is a vindictive man. His reason for being so bitter +against you is difficult to understand, but we have the best of +evidence before us that it does exist. It's one thing, however, to be +unjustly treated, and quite another to go to law about it. In a +somewhat lengthy career, it has always been my endeavour to impress +one thing upon my clients--Don't go to law if you can possibly avoid +it. Doubtless were you to take the case into court we could produce +sufficient evidence from your brother officers and the petty officers +of the ship to prove that you did your duty, and also that you were a +conscientious officer. But, even supposing you won the day, how would +you stand?" + +"I should have reinstated my character," I replied somewhat sharply, +for the old man's manner grated upon me. + +"And apart from the question of character, how much better off would +you be?" he asked. "The fact of your calling the officers of the ship +would put the Company to a considerable amount of inconvenience and +expense, which they would naturally resent. It would also have the +effect of putting them in an antagonistic attitude towards yourself, +which, at present, they do not appear anxious to take up. The case +would attract some attention, the various shipping companies would +read it, and, should you apply to them for a position, I fear you +would find them averse to taking an officer who, you must forgive my +plain speaking, was ready to invoke the aid of the law to settle his +disputes with his captain and his employers. Do you see my +contention?" + +"Yes, I see it," I replied; "but, surely, you don't mean to say that I +am to have this injustice done me and say nothing about it?" + +"I am afraid I do not see what else to advise you to do," he replied. +"I think you have been badly treated, but, upon my word, though if I +were in your place I should doubtless feel as you do, I should drop +the matter, and, to quote a familiar Stock Exchange expression, 'cut +the losses.'" + +This was not at all what I had expected, and boiling over as I was, +the advice he gave me was most unpalatable. He must have seen this, +for he tapped me gently on the arm. + +"Master Richard," he said, as if he were talking to a school-boy, "I +am an old man and you are a young one. Youth is proverbially +hot-headed, while Age is apt to stand off, and looks at things from +afar. I pledge you my word that, in giving you this advice, I am +acting as I deem best for your welfare. There is an old saying to the +effect that 'there are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of +it,' and I fancy the same remark can be made to apply to the vessels +sailing upon that sea. Now will you leave the matter in my hands?" + +"Most willingly," I replied, "provided I am not going to continue to +be suspected of being a malingerer and a liar." + +"Sir Alexander Godfrey, the Chairman of the Company," he went on, "is +a personal friend of my own, and if you will allow me, I will make a +point of calling upon him to-morrow in order to have a chat with him +upon the subject. I cannot promise, but I think I shall be able to +induce him to persuade his brother Directors to either look over the +matter, or at any rate to make sure that you leave the Company's +service without any stain upon your character." + +"But to do that I must be proved innocent." + +The old man smiled a crafty smile. + +"When you are as old as I am," he said, "you will have discovered that +there are ways and ways of doing things. Leave it to me to arrange and +I fancy you will be satisfied with the result." + +"Let it be so, then," I replied. + +"I am not a vain man," he said, "but I will say that I do not think +you could do better. Now tell me how the pretty Miss Molly is." + +"She is very well indeed," I replied, "but I fancy this news will be a +disappointment to her." + +"Not a bit of it," he answered. "It's just at such times as these that +the real woman comes out. Egad! you youngsters think you understand +women, but, bless my heart, you don't! And now you just trot back to +Wiltshire, and give my kindest remembrances to your mother, and, well, +if you like, you can give a kiss to Miss Molly for me. Tell her not to +bother herself; that I will see you out of this affair all right. I am +very glad, my lad, that you came to me. When you are in trouble I hope +you will always do so. Your father and I were old friends, and--well, +I am not going to say anything further, but I'll tell you this; if I +had met your mother before your father did----" + +He stopped suddenly and tapped his snuff-box upon the table, then he +rose from his chair, shook me by the hand, and told me he would write +me immediately he had anything of importance to tell me. + +I took this as a signal for dismissal, and thanking him for his +advice, left him. Twenty minutes later I caught the three o'clock +express at Waterloo, and in something under two hours was back in +Wiltshire once more. + +Molly met me half-way out of Salisbury, and her loving sympathy +cheered me more than anything else could have done. + +"Don't be miserable about it," she said, when I had told her +everything; "there are plenty of ships in the world, and lots of +owners who will value your services more than this Company seems to +have done. Remember, I believe in you with my whole heart, dear, and +if it is decreed that we are not to be married for some time to come, +then we must wait with all patience until that happy day shall dawn. +When you've had a little more holiday, you can begin to look about you +for something else." + +Could any man have wished for a braver sweetheart? Alas! however, +matters were not destined at first to turn out as happily as she had +prophesied. I applied to firm after firm, but my efforts in every case +were entirely unsuccessful. At last I began to think that if my luck +did not mend very soon, I should have to pocket my pride and ship as +second or third officer, hoping by perseverance and hard work to get +back to my old position later on. This eventually I decided to do, but +even then I was not successful. The only line which could offer me +anything was in the Russian grain trade, and the best berth they had +vacant was that of third officer. As may be supposed, this was a bit +of a come-down for my pride, and before accepting it, for I had run up +to London to interview the firm in question, I returned to Falstead to +talk it over with my sweetheart. On my reaching home my mother greeted +me with an air of importance. + +"A gentleman has been to see you this afternoon," she said, "a tall, +handsome man. He did not leave his name, but he said you would +probably remember him, as he had met you on board the _Pernambuco_. He +is staying at the George, and is most anxious to see you." + +"I met a good many people on board the _Pernambuco_," I said a little +bitterly. "A lot of them were tall and handsome. I wonder who he can +be?" + +She shook her head. + +"You say that he is staying at the George," I continued. "Very well, +when I have had my tea, I will go down and find out who he is." + +In due course I reached the little inn at the end of the village +street. The proprietress, old Mrs. Newman, had known me since I was so +high, and upon my entering her carefully-sanded parlour, she bustled +out of her little room at the back to greet me. I inquired whether +she had a strange gentleman staying in the house, and she answered in +the affirmative. + +"He is smoking a cigar in the bower at the end of the garden," she +answered. "If you want to see him you will find him there." + +I knew the place in question, and, passing through the house, made my +way down the garden towards the little summer-house in question. +Seated in it, looking just the same as when I had last seen him, was +the Spaniard, Don Guzman de Silvestre. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +On seeing me Don Guzman sprang to his feet and held out his hand. + +"My dear friend," he cried, "it is very good of you to come here. I +called at your house this afternoon, to learn that you were in London, +but that you were expected back this evening. Doubtless you are +surprised at seeing me, but when I tell you everything, I fancy your +wonderment will cease. Won't you sit down and let me offer you a +cigar? A more delightful spot than your village I have never met +with." + +I accepted his cigar, and seated myself in the wicker chair he pushed +forward for my accommodation. What he was doing in our quiet +neighbourhood I could not for the life of me imagine. But when I +remembered the questions he had put to me on board the _Pernambuco_, I +began to feel my hopes rising. It would be a stroke of luck indeed if +he were to offer me a good berth, just at the moment when I needed it +so badly. + +"And so our mutual acquaintance, Captain Harveston, played you a +shabby trick after all?" he remarked after a short pause. + +"He could not very well have done me a greater injury," I replied. +"What is worse, I fear he has not only lost me my berth, but that he +has prejudiced other owners against me. Did the ship strike you as +being in a badly-kept condition when you were on board?" + +"I never saw one better managed in my life," he answered. "At the same +time I must confess that I am not sorry that Harveston has got you +your discharge." + +"As matters stand with me just now, that's not a particularly civil +thing to say, is it?" I inquired with some asperity, for, if the truth +must be confessed, I was not in a very good humour. + +"My friend, I mean it in all kindness," he answered, "and presently I +will tell you why. Do you remember that story I told you on board, +about my acquaintance who had played the vagabond all over the world?" + +"The man who was President of one of the Republics of South America?" +I inquired. + +"Exactly, the same man." + +"I recollect the story perfectly," I replied. "But what makes you +speak of that man?" + +"Well, what I am going to say to you concerns that man. He has a very +strong notion that if he could only get his rival out of the country +in question, he might manage to win his way back to his old position." + +"But will the other allow himself to be enticed out of the country? +That seems to me to be the question. Besides, it's one of the rules of +the game, is it not, that the President shall never cross the Border?" + +"That is certainly so, but circumstances alter cases. In this affair, +if the man cannot be induced to go out of his own free-will, others +must make him do so." + +"Rather a risky concern, I should fancy." + +"Everything in this world possesses some element of risk," he replied, +"whether it is a question of buying Mexican Rails or English Consols, +backing a racehorse, or going a long railway journey. In this affair +there is a little more than usual, perhaps; at the same time the +reward is great." + +"On the other hand, supposing you fail," I returned, "what then? You +would probably find yourself, in a remarkably short space of time, +standing against a wall, with your eyes bandaged, and half-a-dozen +rifles preparing to pump lead into you. Have you taken that fact into +your calculations?" + +"I have not omitted to think of it," he replied gravely, as if it +were a point worthy of consideration. "Still, that is not what I am +concerned about just at present." + +"But what have I to do with this?" I inquired, for, though it seems +wonderful now that I should not have thought of it, I had not the very +faintest notion of what he was driving at then. + +"If you like, you can have a good deal to do with it," he answered, +blowing a cloud of smoke into the air, and bestowing an approving +glance at his exquisitely made boots. "I think when I had the pleasure +of meeting you on board the _Pernambuco_, you told me that you were +engaged to be married?" + +"I certainly am _engaged_," I answered, "but when I shall be able to +get married is another and a very different matter. I've lost my +position, and with it has gone my hope of soon being made a skipper. I +can't very well risk matrimony on the pay of a third officer of a +grain boat, can I?" + +"I should say that it would hardly be prudent," he answered. "May I +ask what capital you would require to start married life upon?" + +"I should be perfectly happy if I had three hundred a year," I +replied. "I'm not a man with big notions, and I fancy that sum would +meet our wants." + +"Capitalized at three per cent., shall we say ten thousand pounds? You +are certainly not of a grasping nature, Mr. Helmsworth!" + +"It would be all the same if I were," I answered. "At the present +moment I stand as much chance of getting ten thousand pounds as I do +of getting a million." + +"I am not quite so sure of that," he said, speaking very slowly. Then +he looked at me out of half-closed eyes, and eventually added: "What +if I were in a position to put in your way the sum you want?" + +I stared at him in surprise. Then I grew distrustful. Experience has +taught me that our fellow-man does not pay away ten thousand pounds +unless he is very certain of getting a good return for his generosity. + +"I should be inclined to think that you were jesting with me," I +replied, when I had recovered from the astonishment his remark had +caused me. + +"No, no; don't say that," he answered. "I assure you I am not jesting +at all. I very rarely do so. I say definitely that it is in my power +to put that sum of money in your way. That is, of course, provided you +care to earn it." + +"How am I to do that? That may make all the difference." + +"Oh, you needn't look so scared," he returned; "the matter is a very +simple one. All I require in exchange for the ten thousand pounds is +your co-operation in a certain political act." + +"Ah, I understand," I replied, as the truth dawned upon me. "The +ex-President of the South American Republic, whom you call your +friend, is in reality yourself, and you want me to help you get back +your position. Is that not so?" + +He nodded. + +"Yes," he answered, "and I pay you the compliment of saying that I +think you are just the man to bring that result about. I have not +arrived at this decision haphazard. I watched you very closely on +board the _Pernambuco_, and I have made inquiries about you since. It +is a piece of my usual good fortune that you should happen to be +disengaged at this particular time. Had you not been, I should have +made you an offer, in the hope of having been able to induce you to +leave the Company's service, and to join me. That would have been +unfortunate, and it might very probably have given rise to suspicion, +and suspicion is the one thing of all others I am naturally anxious to +avoid. In England they do not appreciate the subtleties of South +American politics, and in consequence they are apt to look at things +in a wrong light. Would you have any objection to assisting me to +regain my former position?" + +"It all depends upon what you want me to do," I replied. "I have had +no experience in such affairs, and am afraid I should make a poor +conspirator." + +"There is no need for you to be a conspirator at all," he said, with +one of his quiet laughs, "that is to say, not in the sense you mean. +All I am going to ask of you is the exercise of a little diplomacy, +and some of that nautical skill which I am so well aware you possess." + +"In other words, you want me to assist in the deportation of your +rival from the country, whose chief he at present is." + +"You've hit the mark exactly," he returned. "That is just what I +_want_ you to do, and it is for this that I am willing to pay the sum +of ten thousand pounds, which will enable you to marry the girl of +your heart. Now let me hear what you think." + +"I scarcely know what answer to give you," I replied. "I have never +dreamt that I should be asked such a question. It is all so +unexpected." + +"Is there not an English saying to the effect that it is the +unexpected always happens?" he inquired. "I want to have your decision +as quickly as possible, for the reason that, if you don't like the +thought of taking on the work, I must find somebody else who does. I +think I know your character as well as any man can do, and I am +certain I can trust you." + +I thanked him for the compliment he paid me, and then informed him +that, before I could give him a definite answer, I must hear more of +his scheme. + +"I am afraid it would take rather too long to tell you just now," he +replied, when he had consulted his watch. "Won't you dine with me? We +could talk the matter over more thoroughly afterwards. I suppose the +landlady can give us some sort of a meal?" + +As it was the evening on which Molly had her choir practice, and I +knew that I should not see her until ten o'clock, I accepted his +invitation, on the condition that I should be allowed to go home first +in order to acquaint my mother of my intention. He agreed to this, and +I thereupon left him and went off on my errand. As I walked down the +quiet little street, I thought of the curious proposal the Don had +made to me. It seemed almost impossible that I, quiet Dick Helmsworth, +should be asked to undertake the abduction of a South American +President. So far, I knew next to nothing of Don Guzman's scheme; but +I had a very fair idea of the risk I should be called upon to run. Ten +thousand pounds was a very large sum; but would it be large enough to +compensate me for what I should have to undergo, should my attempt +prove unsuccessful, and I find myself in captivity? Then there was +another question. What would Molly say when she heard of it? Would she +approve, or should I refrain from telling her anything about it? This +was a point I felt that demanded most earnest consideration. Entering +the house, I informed my mother of the invitation I had received to +dine with Don Guzman. + +"It will do you good, my boy," she said instantly. "You want a little +cheering up after the troubles you have had lately. Who is the +gentleman?" + +I informed her that I had met him on my last voyage, that he was a +Spaniard, and also that he was presumably very wealthy. + +"I have only known one Spaniard in my life," the old lady continued, +"and I cannot say that I liked him. Your father did not consider him +trustworthy. But there, your gentleman may be quite a different sort +of person." + +On my way back to the inn I pondered over my mother's words. She had +all an old Englishwoman's innate distrust of foreigners; but her +innocent little remark had set my imagination working. What if Don +Guzman should be hoodwinking me, and that there was more behind his +offer than I imagined? I then and there made up my mind not to take a +step forward until I should be thoroughly convinced as to his _bona +fides_. + +On reaching the inn, I was informed by Mrs. Newman that the Don, or +the foreign gentleman, as she styled him, was awaiting me in the +coffee-room. Thither I repaired, to discover the table laid and my +host standing at the window looking out upon the garden. He received +me with much politeness, and we presently sat down to our meal +together. During its progress nothing was said regarding the scheme we +had discussed an hour before. The Don did the honours of the table +with the greatest courtesy, and in numerous little ways showed me that +whatever else he might be, he was certainly a keen judge of Human +Character. As I have already remarked, he had travelled in well-nigh +every country, and if his own accounts were to be believed, he had met +with some strange people, and some still stranger adventures. + +Our meal at an end, he proposed that we should go for a stroll, and to +this I assented. We accordingly left the inn, and walked down the main +street past the ancient village church, until we came to the stone +bridge that spans the river. It was a glorious evening; the sunset had +been a brilliant one, and the last faint tints still lingered in the +sky. Under the bridge the river stole noiselessly on its way to the +sea; the swallows darted up and down its glassy surface as if they +were resolved to make the most of the waning daylight; while, soft and +low, from across the meadow came the music of the church organ, where +Molly was instructing her boys in the music for the coming Sunday. It +was an evening I shall remember as long as I can recollect anything, +if only because of the strange events which might almost be said to +have dated from it. + +"I hope you have been favourably considering my scheme," said Don +Guzman, when we had seated ourselves on the stone balustrading of the +bridge, and I was idly dropping stones into the stream below. + +"Yes, I've certainly given the matter my consideration," I replied, +"but I want to hear something more of your plans, and to know exactly +what will be required of me, before I shall be able to give you a +definite decision. Remember, beyond the mere fact that you want to get +this man out of the country, I know nothing whatsoever of the +business." + +"I promised you an explanation, and you shall have it," he said. "Of +course, before I begin, I can rely upon your treating the matter as +strictly confidential, can I not? You can see for yourself the +position I should be placed in were you not to do so." + +"Most assuredly," I replied. "I pledge you my word that whatever you +may say to me regarding this matter shall go no further." + +"In that case I will begin. First and foremost, let me inform you that +the country in question is the Republic of Equinata. As doubtless you +are aware, it is a most prosperous and fruitful one; indeed, I know of +no other that I like so well. I lived some of the most pleasant years +of my life there, and should in all probability be residing there now +if it were not for the treachery of the man whom I thought to be my +friend, who became my adviser, and eventually ended in ousting me from +my position and assuming the reins of Government himself. The name of +that man is Manuel Fernandez; he is about fifty years of age, of iron +physique, and I will do him the credit of saying, of indomitable +courage. His subjects do not love him, but they fear him, which is +much more to the point. Whether I was loved or not I am unable to +state, but the fact remains that a large number of the population are +most anxious that I should return to them to take up my former +position. This I am very anxious to do, but I do not see how I am to +accomplish it unless the present President is out of the way. +Doubtless I could enter the country by stealth, and sow the seeds of +another Revolution, which might, or might not, be successful. But +there would always be the danger of Fernandez discovering my +whereabouts and putting me out of the way. Now, my idea is this, if we +could only manage to get him out of the country, I could return, rally +my friends about me, prove his flight, and proclaim myself Dictator. +That done, even should he return in the end, I should be prepared for +him." + +"But how do you propose to get him out of the country?" + +"That's exactly what I want you to manage," he answered. "With the +plan I have in my mind, and a little care, it should not be a +difficult matter. This is my scheme. Lying at a certain port on the +Florida coast is a large steam-yacht, of upwards of a thousand tons. +She is the property of an old friend and sympathizer of mine in the +United States. He has offered to lend her to me for the purpose in +hand. Now, if you are willing to assist me, you might go out to the +West Indies, join her at Barbadoes, and board her in the capacity of a +rich Englishman. You steam away to Equinata, and go ashore, in order +to study the customs of her people. Most naturally you would call upon +the President to pay your respects. You are invited to call again, in +the end you strike up a friendship, then one evening he dines with you +on board, or perhaps you meet him somewhere, and then--well, I will +leave the rest to your imagination." + +Here he looked at me meaningly, and I gathered what his thoughts were. + +"And what is to happen to him then?" + +"After that you steam away to a certain small island the name of which +I will give you, land him, and place him with some people who will +take charge of him until such a time as shall be agreed upon. It +should not be a difficult matter, should it?" + +"No, as you put it, it is simplicity itself," I replied; "but what +about the officers and men of the yacht? How will you prevent them +from talking? And, what is more, will they assist in the scheme?" + +"They will be most carefully chosen for the work," the other replied. +"You need have no fear that they will give trouble. Now what do you +say?" + +"I do not know what answer to make. Supposing I am caught? What would +happen then?" + +"You will stand a very good chance of being shot offhand," he +answered; "but that, of course, is your own risk. It will depend +entirely upon how you go to work." + +"It would be running a terrible risk," I answered. "I have the girl I +am going to marry to think of." + +"If you succeed, you will be able to marry her on your return to +England," he replied. "Surely _that_ counts for something." + +"It counts for everything," I replied. "That's the temptation; if it +were not for that, I'd have nothing to do with it. I must have time, +however, to consider the matter." + +"By all means," he answered, "but don't be any longer than you can +help. As I said a few minutes ago, if you don't care about undertaking +it, I must find some one else. Time presses." + +"In case I do take it on, when will it be necessary for me to start?" +I asked. + +"The sooner the better," he replied. "If you can see your way to doing +so, I should like you to leave by next week's mail boat for Barbadoes, +where the yacht will meet you." + +"Will it satisfy you if I give you my answer to-morrow morning?" I +asked. + +"Yes, to-morrow morning will suit me admirably," he answered. "And if +you decide in the affirmative, my cheque for five thousand pounds +shall be handed you at once, and the remainder on the day you deliver +the President to the representative whom I shall appoint. Do you +consider that proposition a fair one?" + +"Very fair indeed," I replied. "I could not wish for anything more +so." + +Then we strolled back along the road until we reached the lych-gate of +the churchyard. Here I bade him good-night, and he continued his walk. +On my part, I made my way into the church, and seated myself in one of +the pews until the practice should be finished. From where I sat I +could catch a glimpse of my darling's pretty figure at the organ in +the chancel, the light from the two candles on either side illumining +her face. When the practice was at an end, she dismissed her boys and +came down to join me. Then, bidding the old verger a good-night, we +made our way home together. She inquired how I had enjoyed my dinner, +and what my friend had had to say to me. This put me in rather a +dilemma, for, of course, having given my word, I could say nothing to +her regarding the subject of our conversation. I explained, however, +that he had come down to consult me on some important business +connected with Central America, and that he had proposed that I should +go over and transact it for him. + +"He, at least, must have great faith in your ability then, Dick," said +my sweetheart. "I am prepared to like him, even though he does +monopolize your society. I know you will transact the business +beautifully, and then perhaps it may lead to something really good for +you." She paused for a moment, and then added a little nervously, +"When will you have to start?" + +"Next week, if I go at all," I replied; "but I have not yet decided +whether or not I shall accept his offer." + +"You must act as your own judgment dictates," she continued. "I know +that whatever you decide to do will be right." + +All things considered, I was not quite so certain of this myself, and +for a moment I was tempted to declare I would have nothing whatsoever +to do with it. But the money and the knowledge that it would mean a +wife and happiness for me, if I succeeded, was a temptation I could +not resist. + +As may be imagined, I did not sleep very much that night, but tumbled +and tossed upon my bed, turning the momentous question over and over +in my mind in maddening reiteration. There was one side of it that was +unpleasantly suggestive. I had to remember that, if I were caught, no +power on earth could save me. My own Government would certainly not +interfere in such a matter, while Don Guzman would, far from taking +any responsibility, in all probability, repudiate entirely any +connection with me and the affair. Then, from this, back I came again +in the circle of argument to the one absorbing question of the money. +Five thousand down, and five thousand when I handed over the +President. It would be a fortune to me. If I had it, I need never go +to sea again, and Molly would be my---- + +"Yes, by Jove," I said to myself as I sprang from my bed, "I'll do it! +Come what may, I'll do it, and chance the risk." + +Having arrived at this resolve, I had my tub, ate my breakfast, and +after I had smoked a meditative pipe in the garden, and had given the +matter a bit more consideration, set off for the inn where Don Guzman +was staying. He had only just risen, and was about to begin his +breakfast when I entered the room. + +"Well," he said, as we shook hands, "what news have you for me?" + +"I have come _to accept your proposal_," I said. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +"I am indeed glad you have decided to help me," Don Guzman de +Silvestre replied, when he heard my reply. "I felt certain you would +accept, and I assure you I shall value your co-operation. Would it be +possible for you to leave England on Wednesday next?" + +"If it comes to that I must make it possible," I answered. "From what +you said to me last night, I gather that there is no time to be lost." + +"The sooner we get to work the better," he returned. "I will send a +cipher message to the States this morning, to ask my friend to have +the yacht in readiness. If you leave London on the sixteenth you +should reach Barbadoes on the twenty-ninth. The yacht will meet you +there, and from the moment you set foot on board her, you may regard +her as your own private property to use as you will. You will find her +captain a most reliable man, and he will receive orders to do his +utmost to assist you. He will discharge all expenses, and will be +held responsible for the working of the vessel and the crew. You will, +of course, be known on board by another name, which we must arrange, +and you will be supposed to be a young Englishman, of immense wealth, +whose particular hobby is yachting. In order to sustain the fiction, +it will be necessary for you to have a large and varied outfit, which +I think you had better order to-day. I shall leave England a week +after you do, and shall go direct to the island, where you are to hand +the President over to me." + +"But you have not told me the name of that island yet," I answered. + +He took a map from his pocket and unfolded it upon the table. Then +placing his finger on a small dot in the Caribbean Sea, some distance +from the Republic of Equinata, he continued-- + +"There it is! It is called San Diaz, and is a picturesque little +place. The man who owns it is monarch of all he surveys. If we can +once get Fernandez there, all will be well. No vessels call at the +island, and, unless he likes to attempt a long swim, which I should be +the last to prevent, I fancy he will find some difficulty in returning +to the mainland." + +Another thought flashed through my mind. + +"Before we go any further," I said, "there is one thing I should say +to you. It is this. Before I take any hand in the business, I must +have your positive assurance that no violence will be used towards the +man you are so anxious to secure. I could not be a party to anything +of that sort, nor could I possibly deliver him to you if I thought you +meant to do him any ill." + +"I will give you the assurance for which you ask most willingly," my +companion replied without hesitation. "I merely desire to keep +Fernandez out of Equinata for a time, that is to say, while I +reinstate myself in my old position." + +When I was satisfied on this point, we discussed various other details +connected with the scheme, and the part I was to play in it. It was +certainly a big business. + +"So far as I am concerned," said Silvestre, "I'm going to be selfish +enough to say that I think it is a pity you are going to be married. +As President of the Republic, I could make your fortune for you in a +very short time. You wouldn't care to bring your wife out to Equinata +and settle down there, I suppose. I'd like to have a man beside me +whom I felt sure I could trust." + +"Many thanks for the compliment you pay me," I replied. "I fear, +however, South American politics are a little too uncertain for my +taste." + +"Well, perhaps you are right," he answered meditatively, as if he +were considering the matter; "but you must at least admit that, as +compared with the House of Commons, there is some life in them." + +"I should be inclined to substitute the word 'death' for 'life,'" I +returned, thinking of the stories I had been told of the thousands who +had perished during the last Revolution. "And now I must go. I have +all my work cut out for me if I am to sail on Wednesday." + +"Before you leave me," he remarked, "I had better give you this!" + +So saying, he took from his pocket a Russian leather case. From it he +produced a draft on a London banking firm, which he handed to me. It +was for no less a sum than six thousand pounds. This was more than I +had expected to receive. I therefore asked his reason for adding the +extra amount. + +"It is for your expenses," he replied. "For many reasons it would be +better that I should not be brought into the business. You had, +therefore, better book your passage yourself. You will also have to +get the outfit of which I spoke just now. That will cost a good deal. +What is left should suffice for your other expenses, which, in your +capacity of a rich young Englishman, you will probably find heavy." + +This was generous treatment, and I said as much. + +"Not at all," he answered. "Believe me, I am only too glad to do it. I +count myself lucky in having secured your services, and I am willing +to pay for that good fortune. Well, now that I have arranged matters +with you, I shall return to London and set the ball rolling in the +various directions. If you could make it convenient to meet me on +Monday next, I could then tell you how matters progressed, and we +could discuss future proceedings together. Here is my address." + +With that he handed me his card, which I placed carefully in my +pocket-book with the cheque. After that, having promised to call upon +him on the day mentioned, I bade him good-bye, and returned to my own +home. + +Great indeed was my mother's consternation on learning that she was to +lose me again so soon. She had counted, she declared, upon having me +for another month at least. Molly tried to be brave, but the effort +was not a conspicuous success. + +"Never mind, darling," I said, "we must put the best face we can upon +it. It is a fine chance for me. If I am successful, we shall be able +to be married when I return, and I shall then be able to give up the +sea. So we must cheer up and look forward to that." + +"It should be very important business you are to be engaged upon if +you will be able to do that," she answered, looking up at me with her +trusting, loving eyes. + +"It is most important," I answered. "The biggest thing I have ever had +to do with. Some day, perhaps, I may be able to let you know more +about it, but at present my lips are sealed." + +"Tell me nothing but what you wish, dear," she answered, like the good +little woman she was. "I am quite content to wait." + +After lunch she walked into Salisbury with me, and did her shopping, +while I visited the bank, where I paid in my cheque, and then went on +to the tailor's to arrange about my outfit. It is doubtful whether the +firm in question had ever had such an order before, and for once in my +life I took rank as a person of importance in their eyes. They would +have been more surprised, I fancy, had they known the reason of my +wanting it all! The next thing to be done was to telegraph for a +passage to Barbadoes. This I did in my own name, and, as the +transaction was with my old firm, I could well imagine the surprise my +communication would cause them. A letter I had already written +followed the wire, and conveyed the passage money. After that the +matter was settled. I had nothing to do now but to make the most of my +time with my mother and Molly, before it should be necessary for me +to leave for London. + +When that day arrived I walked into Salisbury and took the train to +Waterloo. Thence I made my way to the fashionable hotel at which +Guzman de Silvestre was staying. He was in the act of going out as I +entered, but on seeing me he led me back to his sitting-room and +carefully closed the door. + +"I am very glad indeed to see you," he said, placing a chair for me as +he spoke. "I trust your preparations are progressing satisfactorily?" + +"Everything is prepared," I answered. "I shall join the vessel on +Wednesday morning in the docks. The receipt for my passage money +arrived this morning." + +"It does me good to meet so expeditious a person," he remarked, with a +smile. "I, on my side, have not been idle. I have received a cable +from the folk in Florida to the effect that the yacht will reach +Barbadoes on the twenty-sixth, where she will await your arrival. +After that I leave the conduct of affairs in your hands entirely." + +"I trust I shall be able to carry it through," I answered. "I only +wish I had a little more confidence in my ability to succeed." + +"You'll manage it, never fear," Silvestre replied. "I am as certain +that I shall one day see Fernandez coming ashore at San Diaz, as I am +of eating my dinner to-night." + +"And that reminds me," I hastened to remark, "that there is still one +thing that puzzles me." + +"And what may that be?" he inquired. "Don't hesitate to ask any +questions you may think of. This is no time for half confidences." + +"I want to know why, with all your experience, and the number of men +you have met, you should have selected me for this business. Surely +you could have discovered hundreds of others better fitted for the +work." + +"To be candid with you," he returned, "I chose you because I liked the +look of you. You seemed to be just the sort of man I wanted. I won't +deny that I know lots of men who might have been able to carry it +through successfully had it come to a pinch, but the chances are that +they might have failed in some little thing, and that would have given +rise to suspicion. I wanted an Englishman, and one possessed of the +manners and appearance of a gentleman. Allow me to pay you the +compliment of saying that in my opinion you combine both these +qualifications." + +"It is very good of you to say so," I replied, "but I don't quite see +what the appearance of a gentleman has to do with the question." + +"I will explain," he said. "Fernandez, as I have already told you, is +an adventurer himself. He knows the type, and, for that reason, would +be quick to detect a brother hawk. One suspicion would give rise to +another, and then, you may rest assured, the attempt to remove him +would be frustrated. Now you can see why I want some one who can play +the part and yet not rouse his suspicions." + +"And so I am to be a gentleman in manners and appearances--and yet be +a traitor in reality. I don't know that I consider it altogether a +nice part to be called upon to play." + +"You must settle that with your own conscience," he answered, with one +of his peculiar smiles. "Call it an act of political expediency, and +thus settle all qualms." + +After that I put a few further questions to him concerning certain +contingencies that might occur in the event of the President obtaining +an inkling of what was toward. When all this was arranged, I left him, +at the same time promising to call upon him on Wednesday for final +instructions. + +From the hotel I drove to Mr. Winzor's offices in High Holborn. He was +not in at the moment, but when I returned, half-an-hour or so later, I +found him ready to receive me. + +"Well, young gentleman," he began, after we had greeted each other, +"and what can I do for you to-day. No more legal troubles, I hope?" + +"I have come to you on two errands," I replied. "In the first place I +want to know what you have done concerning Harveston and the Company?" + +"I have received a letter from the former gentleman this morning," he +answered, turning over some papers on the table as he spoke. "Let me +see, where is it? Ah! here it is! In it he states that, while he has +not the least desire to damage your reputation, or to prejudice your +career, he cannot retract what he has said, or withdraw what was +entered in the ship's log. The charge of untruthfulness, he admits, +might be reconsidered, and he is also willing to suppose that your +neglect of the ship might be due to a certain slackness which was +engendered by the easy-going habits of your late commander. In +conclusion, he begs to assure me that he has never, at any time, +entertained the least feeling of animosity for yourself, but that, in +reporting the matter to the Company, he merely acted in the manner +that he deemed to be consistent with his duty." + +"A preposterous letter in every sense of the word," I cried angrily. +"Not content with injuring me, he must endeavour to reflect on Captain +Pomeroy, who is dead. Never mind, I'll be even with him yet--the +hound." + +The old gentleman permitted a dry smile to appear on his face. + +"I am glad at least to observe," he said, "that you have abandoned +your notion of taking immediate action against him." + +"It would be impossible for me to do so, even if I had any desire that +way," I replied. "The fact is, I am leaving England for South America +on Wednesday next, and don't quite know when I shall be back. And that +brings me to the second portion of the business upon which I desire to +consult you." + +"Am I to understand that you have obtained another situation?" he +inquired. "And, pray, what line of steamships are you now going to +serve?" + +"I am not serving any line of steamships," I replied. "I am going out +on private business, and I want you, if you will be so kind, to take +charge of a certain letter I have written, and which I desire shall be +opened by the person to whom it is addressed, in the event of my not +returning within a year. One never knows what may happen in that part +of the world to which I am now going. Here is the letter." + +So saying I produced the epistle I had written on the previous +evening, and which was addressed to my mother and Molly jointly. The +old gentleman took it and turned it over and over in his hands. + +"I hope you are not going to get into any mischief," he said. "I +mistrust that part of the world. And now what else is there I can do +for you?" + +"I want you," I replied, "to draw up my will. I have some little +property that I should like to leave to Molly and my mother. It is not +very much, but it would doubtless prove useful, should anything befall +me." + +"We will hope that nothing will happen to you," said the lawyer. "At +the same time I will draw up your will with pleasure. What have you to +leave?" + +When the old boy discovered the amount of my fortune his face +betrayed his astonishment. Knowing that I had not been left anything +by my father, I could see that he was anxious to question me +concerning the manner in which I had accumulated this amount. +Fortunately for my reputation for truthfulness, however, he repressed +his inquisitiveness. + +"It is a very creditable sum for a young man to have got together," he +remarked. "Much may be done with five thousand pounds. It may interest +you to know that I myself started with my articles and not a penny +more than a hundred guineas to my name. To-day, however, I fancy--but +there, I understand that you wish this amount, in the event of your +death, to be divided equally between your mother and Miss Molly. And +supposing that one survives the other?" + +"In that case the whole amount must pass to the survivor!" + +He promised me that the document should be drawn up and forwarded to +me for my signature without delay, whereupon I shook him by the hand +and bade him good-bye. My one thought now was to get back to Falstead +as quickly as possible. I grudged every hour I spent away from it. +Perhaps it was the dangerous nature of my enterprise that was +accountable for it; at any rate, I know that I was dreading the +leave-taking that was ahead of me more than I had ever done before. No +one could say what the next few weeks would have in store for me, and, +as it happened, that very night I was fated to have a dream that was +scarcely calculated to add to my peace of mind. + +It seemed to me that I was standing in a large yard, walled in on +every side. Some tropical foliage was to be seen above the walls. At +my feet was a large hole which I knew to be a grave. A squad of +slovenly soldiers, clad in a uniform I had never before seen, were +leaning on their rifles, some little distance away, watching me, while +their officer consulted his watch. Then he shut it with a snap and +nodded to me. I was about to throw down the handkerchief I held in my +hand, when there was a cry and Molly appeared before me. Running +towards me, she threw her arms about my neck. Knowing that at any +moment the men might fire, I tried to put her aside. But she only +clung the tighter. Every moment I expected to hear the rattle of +rifles, but it seemed an age before it came. Then the soldiers fired, +and Molly and I fell together, down, down, down, and I awoke with a +start, to find myself sitting up in bed, my face bathed in +perspiration. Never had I had such a dream before. More than +twenty-four hours went by before I could get the effect it produced +out of my mind. Molly noticed my condition after breakfast and asked +what ailed me. + +"Cannot you guess, darling?" I asked, having no intention of telling +her the truth. "Is it likely that I could be anything but depressed, +when I am leaving you for I cannot say how long?" + +"But you will be in no danger, and you will come back to me before +very long, will you not?" she said, looking at me seriously, as if she +were afraid I was hiding something from her. + +"Of course, dear," I replied. "Every man, however, has to take his +chance of something befalling him when he puts to sea. I might go to +the end of the world--risk my life in a thousand different ways--only +to return to England to be knocked down in the Strand by a runaway +cab. I might go to the North Pole and come back safely, to fall +through the ice and be drowned in the Vicarage pond. You mustn't be +angry with me, dear," I continued, "if I am a little downcast. Let us +try to think of the day when I shall return to make you my bride. Oh, +how happy we shall be then!" + +"Happy indeed," she answered. "God grant that day may come soon. I +shall pray for you always, Dick, and ask Him to send my darling back +to me, safe and sound." + +We walked as far as Welkam Bridge and then home again across the +meadows to lunch. By the time we reached the house I had somewhat +recovered my spirits--but they were destined to fall to zero again +before the day was at an end. It was a sad little party that sat down +to dinner that evening. My mother could scarcely restrain her +tears--Molly tried to be cheerful and failed in the attempt; as for +myself--though I joked on every conceivable subject, save that of +foreign travel--my heart was heavy as lead, and my face, I'll be +bound, was as solemn as that of an undertaker's mute. For the reason +that I felt it would be too much for her to leave it until the last +moment, Molly and I bade each other good-bye that evening. + +Next morning I rose early, breakfasted at seven, very much in the same +state of mind, I should say, as a man who is about to be led to +execution, and at eight o'clock gave my dear old mother one last kiss, +and left the house with a lump in my throat that came near to choking +me. I can see my mother's tear-stained face at the window even now, as +I waved my hand to her before turning the corner of the village +street. Little did I dream then how much I was to go through before I +should see that beloved countenance again. + +When the last house of the village was behind me, I mended my pace and +struck out for Salisbury. It was a bright morning; the birds sang in +the hedges, the cattle grazed peacefully in the meadows, indeed, all +nature seemed happy but myself. I turned the corner of the Ridge Farm, +and, passing through the chalk cutting, began the descent of the hill +that, when you have left the cross roads and the gipsy's grave behind +you, warns you that you are half-way into town. As everybody who knows +the neighbourhood is aware, there is at the foot a picturesque +cottage, once the residence of the turnpike keeper, and, a hundred +yards or so on the other side again, a stile, which commences the +footpath across the fields to Mellerton. I was thinking, as I +approached it, of the last time I had walked that way with Molly, and +was wondering how long it would be before I should do so again, when, +as I drew near the stile, I became aware of a girlish figure leaning +against the rail. My heart gave a leap within me, and I cried out, +"Molly, can it be you?" Yet it was Molly sure enough. + +"Oh, Dick, dear," she faltered, as I approached her, "do not be angry +with me. I could not stay away. I felt that I must see the last of +you!" + +It was impossible for me to be angry with her, even though, as she +told me later, she had breakfasted at six o'clock, and had been +waiting at the stile for me since seven. However, I satisfied myself +by promising her a good wigging when I came home again, and then we +set off together. How short the remainder of that walk seemed, I must +leave you to imagine. It appeared scarcely to have commenced before we +had left the country and were in the quaint old streets of Salisbury, +making our way towards the railway station. We must have walked +somewhat slowly, for, when we reached it, I found that I had only five +minutes to spare. Over the parting that took place when the train put +in an appearance I must draw a veil. + +Punctually at half-past eleven the train steamed into Waterloo and +disgorged its passengers upon the platform. I immediately engaged a +cab and drove direct to Silvestre's hotel, where, for upwards of +half-an-hour, I was closeted in close confabulation with him. Then I +bade him good-bye, for it was part of our arrangement that he should +not accompany me to the ship, and, having done so, returned to my cab +and bade the man drive me to the railway station, where I was to take +the train to the docks. By three o'clock I was on board, and +endeavouring to convince myself that I was only a passenger, and not +in any way connected with the working of the vessel. At a quarter to +four we were steaming down the river, and my one and only adventure +had commenced. + +How was it destined to end? was the question I asked myself. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +It was a new experience to me to find myself at sea as a passenger, to +have no watches to keep, and no round of irksome duties to perform. It +was a pleasant change to be able to turn into one's bunk at ten +o'clock and to enjoy a good night's rest, after being used to leaving +it at midnight in order to go up and pace a cold and cheerless bridge +for four long hours at a time. I had a vague premonition that I should +be recognized as soon as I arrived on board. Strangely enough this +proved to be the case, for I had no sooner set foot on the promenade +deck, before a well-known voice hailed me. + +"Hulloa, Dick Helmsworth," it said. "What on earth brings you aboard +this hooker?" + +I turned and recognized the speaker as an old shipmate, who, like +myself, had once sailed with Harveston. But, more fortunate than +myself, he had managed to retain his billet after so doing. In reply +to his question I informed him that I was proceeding to Barbadoes on +private business, and that I profoundly hoped I had abandoned the sea +as a profession. From him I learnt the names of the various officers +of the boat. For more reasons than one I was glad to hear that they +were unknown to me, and also that there was only one first-class +passenger for Barbadoes. He proved to be an old French priest, and +from what I saw of him, I gathered that he would not be likely to +remember me, or, indeed, any one else, when once he had left the +vessel. + +A good passage down Channel and a smooth crossing of the Bay carried +us well on our way. We reached Madeira in due course, and afterwards +settled down for the voyage across the Atlantic. Among other things, I +had to familiarize myself with the character I was about to portray. +To be a rich young Englishman, with a passion for yachting, would not +at first thought seem a difficult part to play. It was not as easy, +however, as it would appear. In order that it might come the more +naturally to me, I determined to cultivate a manner while on board. I +accordingly spoke with a somewhat affected drawl, interlarded my +speech with "Reallies," "Bah Joves," "Don't you know," and other +exotic flowers of speech, until my old friend Kirby, the chief +officer, found occasion to remonstrate with me. + +"What on earth has come over you, Dick?" he cried. "You're as +affected as a school-girl. You'll have to come back to sea, my lad, or +you'll be developing into a masher of the worst type. It's very +evident that lying in at night don't suit you. You ought to be back on +the bridge again, standing your watch like a man." + +"Not if I know it," I replied. "I've had enough of that sort of thing +to last me a lifetime. Wait until you come into a bit of money, my +boy, and then you'll see how nice it feels to watch others work." + +"Egad! I wish I could," he answered. "I'd never trouble the briny +again. Give me a cottage somewhere in the country, with a bit of +garden, and some fowls to look after, and I wouldn't change places +with the Czar of all the Russias." + +Two days before we were due to reach Barbadoes, I made a resolve. +This, in due course, took me along the alley-way to the barber's shop. +As soon as the passenger whose hair he had been cutting departed, I +seated myself in the vacated chair, and when the barber asked me what +he could do for me, I put up my hand to my moustache. + +"Take this off," I said. + +The man gazed at me in astonishment. My moustache was a heavy one, and +it was plain that he thought me mad to want to get rid of it. + +"You don't mean to say, sir, that you want me to take it off," he +remarked, as if he had not heard aright. + +"That's exactly what I _do_ mean," I replied. "I want it out of the +way." + +He thereupon took up his scissors and began his work of destruction, +but in a half-hearted fashion. When he had finished I sat up and +looked at myself in the glass. You may believe me or not, when I tell +you that I scarcely recognized the face I saw there. + +"If I were to meet you in the street, my lad, I should pass you by," I +said to myself. Then to the barber I added: "What a change it makes in +my appearance." + +"It makes you look a different man, sir," the barber replied. "There's +not many gentlemen would have sacrificed a nice moustache like that." + +I paid him, and, when I left the shop, went to my cabin. Once there, I +unlocked my trunk, and took from it a smart yachting cap and a leather +case, containing various articles I had purchased in London. One of +these was an eye-glass, which, after several attempts, I managed to +fix in my eye. Then, striking an attitude, I regarded myself in the +mirror above the washstand. + +"Good-day, Mr. George Trevelyan," I muttered. "I'm very pleased to +make your acquaintance." + +"Really, bah Jove, that's awfully good of you to say so," I answered +in my assumed voice. "I hope, bah Jove, we shall be very good friends +for the time that we're destined to spend together." + +"That will only be until we get back to Barbadoes," Dick Helmsworth +replied. "After that, Mr. George Trevelyan, you can clear out as soon +as you please. From that day forward I shall hope never to set eyes on +you again." + +I thereupon placed the eye-glass in its case, put the cap back in the +trunk, and relocked the latter. After that I went on deck to receive +the chaff I knew would be showered upon me by my fellow-passengers. + +Two days later, that is to say, on the twenty-ninth of the month, we +reached the island of Barbadoes and came to anchor in the harbour of +Bridgetown. When I had collected my baggage, I bade my friends on +board good-bye and made my way ashore. I had already carefully +searched the shipping, but I could see no sign of any yacht, such as I +had been led to expect I should find awaiting me there. I did not +worry myself very much about it, however, knowing that her captain had +been furnished with my address, and feeling sure that he would +communicate with me as soon as he arrived. On landing I drove to the +Imperial Hotel and engaged rooms in my own name. I had intended +adopting my assumed cognomen on quitting the ship, but to my dismay I +learnt that some of the passengers had also come ashore and were due +to lunch at my hotel. To have entered my name as Trevelyan upon the +books, and have been addressed as Helmsworth in the hearing of the +proprietor, might have sowed the seeds of suspicion in his mind. And +this I was naturally anxious not to do. Later in the day the +passengers returned to the steamer, and she continued her voyage. As I +watched her pass out of the bay I wondered whether I should ever see +her again. Before it would be possible for me to do so, many very +strange adventures would in all probability have happened to me. + +On my return to the hotel, I inquired for the proprietor, who +presently came to me in the verandah. + +"I expected to have met a friend here," I said, "a Mr. Trevelyan. I am +given to understand, however, that he has not yet arrived?" + +"There is no one staying in the hotel at present of that name," he +replied. "There was a Mr. Trevelyan here last year, but, if my memory +serves me, he was a clergyman." + +"I'm afraid it cannot have been the same person," I said, with a +smile. "By the way, should any one happen to call, and inquire for +him, I should be glad if you would give instructions that he is to see +me." + +"I will do so with pleasure," the other replied. "At the same time +perhaps I had better reserve a room for your friend?" + +"You need not do that," I answered. "There is no knowing when he will +be here. It is just possible I may pick him up in Jamaica." + +Having thus put matters on a satisfactory footing I prepared to wait +patiently until news should reach me from Captain Ferguson. Though I +sat in the verandah of the hotel and carefully scrutinized every one +who entered, I went to bed that night without seeing any person who at +all answered the description I had been given of him. I spent the +following morning partly in the verandah of the hotel, and partly +searching the harbour for the yacht. I returned to lunch, however, +without having discovered her. In the afternoon I went for a short +stroll, leaving word at the hotel that, should any one call to see me, +he or she had better wait, for I should be back in an hour. When I +returned I questioned the head waiter, but he assured me that no one +had called to see either Mr. Trevelyan or myself. Once more darkness +fell, and once more after dinner I sat in the verandah smoking. The +evening was far advanced, and once more I was beginning to contemplate +turning in, feeling certain that Ferguson would not put in an +appearance that night, when a short, stout individual came briskly up +the steps and entered the building. He was dressed entirely in white, +and had a broad-brimmed Panama hat upon his head. He might have passed +for a merchant or a planter, but something, I cannot say what, +instinctively told me that he belonged to the seafaring profession. +After a few moments he reappeared again, this time accompanied by the +head waiter. + +"This gentleman," the latter began, addressing me, "wishes to see Mr. +Trevelyan. I told him that we had no one of that name staying at the +hotel, but that you were Mr. Trevelyan's friend." + +"That is certainly so," I said. "I presume you are Captain Ferguson?" + +"That is my name," the other replied, and when the servant had +disappeared, he continued: "May I ask whom I am addressing?" + +"My name is Helmsworth," I answered in a low voice, at the same time +motioning him to be seated. "A certain gentleman of the name of +Silvestre, however, thinks I had better be known by the name of the +person whom the waiter informed you had not yet arrived in the +island." + +"In that case you are Mr. Trevelyan," he said in a whisper, drawing +his chair a little closer to mine as he did so, and closely +scrutinizing me. "Perhaps you have something for me?" + +"I have a letter," I replied, thinking at the same time that I had +seen his face somewhere before. "What have you for me?" + +"This," he replied laconically, and in his turn produced a small +silver coin, which he handed to me. + +I rose from my chair and carried it down the verandah as far as the +hall door. The light there enabled me to see that it was stamped with +the name of Equinata. I thereupon returned to the captain, and handed +him the letter Don Guzman had given me for him. + +"And where is the yacht?" I inquired. + +"In the harbour," he replied. "We got in at dark, and she is coaling +now as fast as we can get the stuff aboard. When will you be ready to +start?" + +"Whenever you please," I replied. "The sooner we are out of this place +the better for all people concerned." + +"Would nine o'clock to-morrow morning be convenient to you?" + +"It would suit me admirably. How am I to get my traps aboard?" + +"If you will have them sent down to the wharf I will arrange the +rest," he answered. "The boat for Santa Lucia will be in shortly after +daylight, and the hotel folk will naturally suppose that you have gone +aboard her. Of course you understand, Mr. Helms--Mr. Trevelyan, I +mean, that in this matter I am acting under your orders, and that I +shall endeavour to do all in my power to bring the business upon which +we are engaged to a satisfactory conclusion." + +"You quite understand what is required of me?" I asked. + +"Perfectly," he answered. "My instructions have been most complete." + +"And what do you think of it?" + +"I think you will have all your work cut out for you," he replied. +"Don Fernandez is as sharp as a weasel and as cunning as a fox. But +perhaps it would be better for us to say no more upon the matter, at +least at present. We can talk it over if we want to, with greater +safety, on board. And now, if you don't mind, I'll bid you good-night. +I've got a lot of work to get through before we leave to-morrow +morning." + +We shook hands, and after he had promised to have a boat ready for me +at nine o'clock next morning, he bade me good-night and left me. + +From the little I had seen of him, I liked the look of the man. He +had a resolute air about him, and it struck me that in him I had found +one who was likely to prove himself a useful ally. But where on earth +had I seen him before? For the life of me I could not remember. +Lighting another cigar, I seated myself, and once more pondered over +the matter. When the cigar was finished I retired to my room to fall +asleep directly I was in bed, and to dream that I was abducting the +Chairman and Directors of my old Company, and that I was flying +through the air with them in a balloon built on the principles of a +motor-car. + +Next morning I was astir early, had had my breakfast, had paid my +bill, and had seen my trunks on their way to the wharf, before a +quarter to nine. On my arrival at the water's side, however, there was +no sign of any yacht's boat. Some distance out I could perceive the +Inter-Colonial mail steamer with a crowd of boats about her, and a +dozen cables or so distant from her a handsome white yacht, which, I +gathered, was to be my home for the next few weeks. I had just +rewarded the porters, who had brought my luggage down, and had sent +them about their business, when a neat gig, pulled by four men and +steered by a fifth, came into view round the end of the jetty. Pulling +up at the steps below me, the coxswain touched his hat and inquired +whether he was addressing Mr. Trevelyan. Upon my answering in the +affirmative, two of his men jumped ashore, and carried my baggage down +to the boat. I thereupon took my place in the stern and we set off. + +"That, I presume, is the _Cynthia_, lying astern of the mail-boat?" I +said to the coxswain, as we pulled out into the harbour. + +"Yes, sir, that's the _Cynthia_," he replied. "When you get a bit +closer, sir, you'll say she's as fine a craft as you'd see in a long +day's sail." + +He certainly spoke the truth. The vessel in question could scarcely +have been less than a thousand tons. (As a matter of fact that was her +tonnage.) To my thinking, however, she was somewhat heavily sparred +for her size, but the coxswain hastened to assure me a better sea-boat +could not be found. + +Captain Ferguson met me at the gangway, and saluted me as if I were +really owner of the vessel and not a make-believe, such as I really +was. + +"You will find your cabin prepared for you," he said. "If you will +permit me I'll show you to it." + +Then, going on ahead, he conducted me into the main companion, and +through an elegant saloon to a large and most comfortable cabin, +evidently built and intended for the owner. It was a gorgeous affair. +Indeed, the luxury of the vessel, what I had seen of it, astonished +me. I had overhauled many yachts in my time, but had never seen one +like this before. She was as spic and span as if she had only just +left the builder's hands. + +When I had seen my baggage arranged, I ascended to the deck, where I +found Captain Ferguson in the act of getting under weigh. Ten minutes +or so later, our anchor was aboard and we were steaming slowly out of +the harbour. In an hour the island lay like a black dot upon the +horizon behind us, and a few minutes later had vanished altogether. I +was seated in the cabin with Captain Ferguson at the time, and when he +rang the bell and ordered the servant who answered it to bring up a +bottle of champagne, we pledged each other in it, and drank to the +success of our enterprise. + +"It's a small world, sir," he said at last, as he set down his glass, +"and few of us really understand _how_ small it is. I wonder what +you'll say when you hear what I've got to tell you. I remember once +being in Hong Kong. It was in the wet season, and I was on my way out +to Japan to meet a boat in Nagasaki, that I was to take over on behalf +of the Company I was then serving. On the evening of my arrival in +Hong Kong I went ashore to dine with some friends, and didn't start to +come off to the mail-boat until pretty late. When I did I hired a +sampan and told one of the crew where my ship was. Thinking that he +understood, I took my place under the covered arrangement that those +boats have, and away we went. Perhaps I may have been a bit drowsy +after the festivities of the evening. I'll not say anything about +that, either way. The fact, however, remains, that we had not gone +very far before I became conscious that there was something wrong. It +seemed to me as if the tilt, or cover, under which I was sitting, was +coming down upon me. I sprang to my feet and endeavoured to push it +up, giving a shout as I did so." + +All this time I had been listening to him with ill-concealed +impatience. As I have already remarked, it had struck me on the +previous evening that I had seen the man's face somewhere before. + +"I think I can tell you the rest," I interrupted. "A ship's boat +happened to be passing at the moment, and, on hearing your shout, she +came alongside and a couple of men in her sprang aboard the sampan. I +was one of those men. We bowled over the owner of the craft, and +pulled you out from under the cover, just as you were about done for. +Good heavens! I thought I recognized you last night at the hall door, +and now you bring that adventure back to my mind, I remember you +perfectly." + +"And I you," he answered. "I've been puzzling my brains about your +face all night. You had a moustache then, but I should know you now +again. I don't think, Mr. Trevelyan, you will find me go into this +business any the less warmly for what you did for me that night." + +"You were right when you declared it to be a small world," I said. +"Fancy our meeting again and on such an errand as this." + +I then proceeded to question him concerning the officers and men under +his charge. + +"My chief officer," he said, "is a man of the name of Burgin. He has +seen a good deal of rough-and-tumble work in various parts of the +world, and, as I have satisfactorily proved, can be thoroughly relied +on when it comes to a pinch. The second is a young fellow of the name +of Brownlow. He took part in the last Cuban expedition, and had a bit +of fighting afterwards in the Philippines. The crew number thirty all +told, and have been most carefully selected. I have tested them in +every way, and feel sure they can be reckoned upon to do their duty. +Now perhaps you'd like to have a look round the vessel? You've seen +next to nothing of her yet." + +He accordingly conducted me over the yacht from stem to stern, until I +was familiar with every detail. If I were to pose as a young +Englishman whose hobby was yachting, I could scarcely have had a finer +craft wherewith to indulge my fancy. She was a Clyde-built vessel of, +as I have already said, exactly a thousand tons; her length was not +far short of two hundred and fifty feet. Her engine-room was +amidships, and was as perfectly fitted as everything else. The +drawing-room was a model of beauty, while the saloon was capable of +seating at least fifty persons. The quarters of the officers and crew +left nothing to be desired on the score of comfort. Only on one +question was the captain at all reticent, and that was concerning the +identity of the yacht's owner. Her papers, I discovered, were made out +in my name, or rather, I should say, in my assumed name, but whether +she was the property of Silvestre, or of somebody else, I was never +able to ascertain. + +Though Silvestre had informed me that, from the moment I set foot on +board, I should be considered the yacht's owner, I had not attached +any great importance to the remark. I soon discovered, however, that +there was more in it than I supposed. For instance, when I was told +that evening that dinner was upon the table, I made my way to my +cabin, prepared myself for it, and entered the saloon to find that I +was expected to dine in solitary grandeur. Two men-servants were +present to wait upon me, but there was no sign of the captain. + +"Where is Captain Ferguson?" I inquired of one of the men when I had +waited some two or three minutes for him to put in an appearance. + +"He dines in the officers' mess, sir," the man replied. + +Resolving to remedy this state of things on the morrow, and feeling +that it was of no use my sending for him that night, I proceeded with +my dinner without further remark. Accustomed as I was to good living +on board a mail-boat, I can only say that, in all my experience, I had +never met with anything like the meal that was served to me that +evening. If Silvestre had given orders that my comfort was to be +studied, he had certainly been carefully obeyed. When I rose from the +table I went to my cabin, changed my coat, filled a pipe, and mounted +with it to the bridge. Ferguson met me by the chart-room door, and +expressed the hope that I had been made comfortable. I told him that +the only fault I had to find was on the score of company, and went on +to say that I expected him for the future to take his meals with me. + +"It would be out of place for a captain to dine with his owner until +he is invited to do so," he said, with a laugh. "However, if you wish +it, I shall be very pleased to do so in the future." + +I remember that it was a beautiful night; the sea was like glass, and +the great stars overhead were reflected in the deep as in a mirror. As +I smoked my pipe I thought of Molly, and wondered what she was doing +at that moment. That I was a trifle homesick I will not deny. At ten +o'clock Ferguson invited me to his cabin, and for about an hour we sat +there discussing the business that lay before us. He had never visited +Equinata before, but he was conversant with the character of the +country. Having procured a chart from a locker, he made me aware of +the whereabouts of the President's palace; showed me where he thought +it would be best for the yacht to lie, and various other details that +had struck him as being applicable to the case in hand. + +"And now one other question: What do you know of Fernandez himself?" I +inquired, when he had rolled up the chart and replaced it in the +locker. + +"Only what I have heard," he replied. "He is an exceedingly clever +man, and as unscrupulous as any president who has ruled in South +America, not excluding our friend Silvestre. It is quite certain that +if he has the least suspicion of what we are after, ours is likely to +be a short shrift. I presume you thought the whole business out well +before you embarked upon it?" + +I answered to the effect that I had given it all due consideration, +and that whatever chances there might be I was prepared to take them. +There was one question, however, that I had been desirous of putting +to him ever since I had been on board, and now that we were alone +together I resolved to ask it, and to risk his refusal to reply. + +"With regard to Don Guzman de Silvestre," I said, "what do you know of +him?" + +Somewhat to my surprise he was quite frank with me. + +"I know very little of him," he answered, "except that I owe my +present position to him. Of one thing, however, I am aware, and that +is the fact that he is not a man to be trifled with." + +After a while I bade him good-night, and left him to go below to my +cabin. Before entering the companion, however, I leant upon the +bulwarks and gazed across the sea. Scarcely a sound broke the +stillness of the night; the monotonous pacing of the officer of the +watch, the look-out's cry, "All's well," and the throbbing of the +engines, were all that broke the silence. I went over my talk with +Ferguson again. After what he had said it appeared to me that the +task I had undertaken was an almost hopeless one. One little mistake +and my life would pay the forfeit. Failure seemed certain, and in that +case what would happen to Molly and my mother? They would hope against +hope, waiting for the man who would never return. I told myself that I +was a fool ever to have had anything to do with the business. What was +Don Guzman de Silvestre and his ambition to me? Why should I risk my +life and my dear one's happiness for the sake of a paltry ten thousand +pounds? In sheer disgust I turned on my heel and went to my cabin. +Whatever my thoughts may have been on deck, they certainly did not +trouble me very much below. I slept like a top all night, and when I +came on deck next morning I had well-nigh forgotten my melancholy +musings of the previous evening. + +For the next four days our life scarcely varied. I read and smoked on +deck, chatted with Ferguson, improved my acquaintance with the other +officers, and counted the days until we should reach our destination. +As you may suppose, it was a welcome moment when the skipper announced +that we were only a matter of ten hours' steaming from the Republic of +Equinata. Next morning a faint smudge was discernible on the horizon +straight ahead of us; by breakfast-time this had taken to itself the +appearance of land, and when I returned to the bridge after my meal, a +range of mountain peaks were plainly to be seen. By ten o'clock we +were near enough to discern the entrance to the harbour, and by +half-past we were steaming in between the heads, to drop our anchor in +the bay. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +La Gloria, the chief port and capital of the Republic of Equinata, is +charmingly situated on the west side of an admirably shaped bay, and +is land-locked, save for a distance of about half-a-mile. It boasts a +population numbering upwards of thirty thousand, of which only some +ten or twelve thousand are white, the remainder being half-castes, +quadroons, mulattoes, and negroes unadulterated. The city possesses +some fine buildings, notable among which is the Cathedral of San +Pedro, a handsome edifice, though somewhat damaged by the earthquake +of '83. The Houses of Parliament are also imposing structures, as +befits a land where every man is a politician, and no boy knows what +may be in store for him. There is also the President's palace, and, of +course, an opera house, and equally of course a long stretch of +barracks, where the soldiers would seem to spend their time smoking +cigarettes and hatching plots against their superiors. + +As we passed through the Heads and entered the harbour, it struck me I +had never looked upon a fairer scene. The blue waters of the bay, the +white houses peeping out from amid the wealth of foliage, and the +mountains rising tier upon tier behind, made up as pretty a picture as +the eye of man could desire to dwell upon. We had scarcely come to +anchor before a boat put off to us, pulled by four stalwart niggers, +and carrying a much-uniformed official, who sat beside the coxswain. +He proved to be the health officer--a voluble little Spaniard, with a +magnificent idea of his own importance. As soon as his boat was +alongside he ran up the ladder to the gangway with the agility of a +monkey, and made his way to the place where Captain Ferguson was +waiting to receive him. During the years I had been in the South +American trade, I had managed to pick up a considerable smattering of +Spanish, enough at any rate to make myself understood by the Dons. I +was not nearly so fluent with it, however, as was Ferguson, who, I +soon discovered, could talk the lingo as well as any swell of Aragon. +As soon as they had transacted their business, the latter brought the +health officer along to the saloon whither I had descended, and where +I was introduced to him as the owner of the yacht. + +"You possess a most beautiful vessel, senor," he said, bowing before +me as if he would never be able to straighten his back again. + +"And you a most beautiful harbour and city," I replied, resolved not +to be outdone in the matter of compliments. + +"Am I to believe that this can be your first visit to Equinata, +senor?" he asked as if in astonishment. + +"Yes, my first," I replied in my best Trevelyan manner. "I can assure +you, however, that I am charmed with it, most charmed." + +"Ah, you must wait until you have been ashore," he continued, "then +you will indeed be surprised. The Plaza, the Almeda, the Opera House, +and the President's palace. Ah!" Here he paused and gave an airy wave +of his hand as if to signify that, when I should come to view these +wonders, I might indeed describe the city as being beautiful; until +then, however, I could not pretend to any real notion of its glories. + +"I shall be delighted to make its acquaintance," I returned, "and also +to pay my respects to your most illustrious President, who, I hear, is +beloved by all his people." + +"Ah, the good President," said the little man, but without any great +enthusiasm. "And his niece--the beautiful Senorita Dolores. I raise my +glass to the most beautiful woman in Equinata." Thereupon, with his +eyes turned to the deck above, he drank solemnly to the health of the +lady of whose existence I then heard for the first time. + +A little more desultory conversation followed, in the course of which +I managed to extract from him, in a roundabout way, a quantity of +information of which I stood in need. Then the little man hoisted +himself out of his chair, and with a regret born of a bottle and a +half of excellent champagne, stated his intention of returning to the +shore once more. Having fired another salvo of compliments at me, he +carried this plan into effect, and we saw no more of him. Half-an-hour +later the Harbour Master and the Chief Customs official arrived, drank +more champagne, with which you may be sure I liberally plied them, +smoked a number of cigars, praised their city, their country, and +their excellent selves, but did nothing in the way of performing their +business, and in their turn departed for the shore. Then I lunched, +spent an hour in meditation in an easy-chair under the awning, and +then, having ordered a boat, prepared to set off on a tour of +inspection of the capital. + +The landing-place at La Gloria is, or was, very similar to that of +most other South American seaports. That is to say, at some distant +date, harbour works on a very large scale had been commenced, but for +some reason had never been completed. Possibly a Revolution may have +been accountable for the stoppage of the work, or the President, or +Minister of Public Works, may have decamped with the funds. At any +rate all there was to show for the money voted was one substantially +built wharf, the commencement of a pier, and a quantity of uncut +stone, which still remained, moss-covered and weather-worn, just where +the contractors had dumped it down. + +I landed at the wharf, and immediately dispatched the boat back to the +yacht. Trustworthy though the crew might be, I had no desire that they +should hang about the sea front and talk to the inhabitants. Then, +leaving the wharf, I made my way into the town. + +It was a picturesque place of the true Central American type. The +Calle de San Pedro, which cuts the town proper in half, is a handsome +thoroughfare, and contains numerous fine shops, warehouses, and +merchants' offices. Indeed, the scene in the street on that particular +afternoon was a most bright and animated one, and would not have +discredited Rio or Buenos Ayres. Half-a-mile or so further on the +street in question enters the Great Square, in which stand the +Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, the Law Courts, and, more +important than all, so far as I was concerned, the President's palace. +The centre is laid out as a public garden, and possesses a band-stand +and many fine statues of the heroes of Equinata in impossible garbs +and more impossible attitudes. Seating myself on a bench in this +garden, I took careful stock of my surroundings. Opposite me was the +President's palace, with a sentry lounging on either side of the +gates. While I watched the latter were opened, and a handsome carriage +drove in and pulled up before the massive portico of the palace. After +that the gates were closed once more. + +I do not mind confessing that at this point in my adventure I was at a +loss to know how to proceed. I might visit the palace and inscribe my +name in the visitors' book, but, so far as I could see, that would not +do very much to help me. I consulted the card I had brought with me, +and on which was written the name and address of the man to whom, so +Silvestre had informed me at our last meeting, I was to look for +assistance. His name was Don Jose de Hermanos, and his address was No. +13 in the Calle de San Juan. Before leaving the yacht I had taken the +precaution to make myself familiar with the quarter in which the +street was situated, and had ascertained that it commenced at the +Houses of Parliament and ran straight through the western portion of +the city, towards the foot of the mountains. I accordingly made my +way thither, and having discovered it, proceeded in search of the +house in which the mysterious Don Jose resided, or had his place of +business. Greatly to my surprise it proved to be a wine merchant's +shop, and I accordingly entered the little square _patio_ and looked +about me. On the left was what was evidently the office, and in it an +old man, engaged on some mysterious manipulation of an empty cask. I +addressed him in my best Spanish, but he took no sort of notice of me. +I called to him again with the same result. Then having satisfied +myself that the old fellow was deaf, I touched him on the shoulder +with my stick. This had the desired effect, for he jumped quickly +round and stared at me in amazement. + +A more comical countenance than he possessed I don't remember ever to +have seen. He was a mulatto, and, if one might judge from his +appearance, some sixty years of age. He asked me in Spanish who I +desired to see, and I replied to the best of my ability that I was in +search of a gentleman named Hermanos. From the signs the other made I +gathered that the latter was not at home. I endeavoured to question +him concerning him, but the old fellow was either naturally dense, or, +for some reason best known to himself, pretended not to understand. In +another moment I should have left the place in despair, but, just as +I was making up my mind to do so, the sound of a footstep in the +_patio_ outside attracted my attention. I turned to find myself face +to face with a tall, well-proportioned stranger, with a black beard +and a pair of bristling moustaches. The old mulatto forsook his task +and handed the other the card I had given him. He glanced at it, then +looked up from it to me, after which he politely returned it to me, +saying as he did so-- + +"You desire to see Don Hermanos, senor?" + +"That is what has brought me here," I answered. + +"You come from our neighbours across the frontier, perhaps?" he +continued, still eyeing me critically. + +"On the contrary, I have come by sea," I replied. "I am an Englishman, +as you have doubtless already observed, and my yacht is anchored in +the harbour." + +"In that case permit me to welcome you most heartily to Equinata," he +returned, but without any great show of enthusiasm. "Perhaps you will +accompany me to my private office, where I shall be pleased indeed to +be of any service I can to you." + +I followed him across the _patio_ to a door on the further side. This +he opened, and when I had passed into the room, he followed my example +and closed it carefully after him. + +"How am I to know that you are the gentleman whom I have been led to +expect?" he began, when I had seated myself and he had offered me a +cigar. "As wine of that particular vintage is very difficult to +obtain, you must see yourself that I have to be most careful that I do +not make the mistake of giving information concerning it to the wrong +person." + +I thereupon took my watch from my pocket, opened the case, and took a +small piece of paper--which Silvestre had also given me at our last +meeting--from it. This I handed to the man before me, who read what +was written upon it very carefully, and then tore it up into tiny +fragments. + +"I am quite satisfied," he said, "and now to arrange the matter you +desire." Then, dropping his voice almost to a whisper, he continued, +"Of course I recognize the fact that you would not have been chosen +for the work had you not been considered a person most likely to +accomplish it. Nevertheless, I feel sure that you can have but a very +small notion how dangerous it is likely to prove. The man in question +mistrusts everybody, and should but a breath of suspicion attach +itself to you, you would be in the cartel to-night, and most probably +in your grave to-morrow morning. Though my opinions have not changed +in a single particular, I am not at all certain that it is wise of me +to mix myself up in it. However, I don't see exactly in what way I am +to get out of it." + +It struck me that the latter portion of his speech was spoken more to +himself than to me. + +"Before we go any further, it would perhaps be as well that I should +convince myself that you are Don Hermanos," I said, for so far I had +had no proof of his identity. + +He did not answer me, but crossed to a writing-table on the other side +of the room, and, unlocking a drawer, took from it a book. Turning to +a certain page, he showed me a series of portraits of the prominent +politicians of Equinata. One was a likeness of himself, and underneath +was printed his name in full--Don Jose de Hermanos, Minister of Mines. +I expressed myself as being quite satisfied. + +"And now," I continued, "will you be good enough to tell me how you +propose to introduce me to the Pres----"--here he held up his hand as +if in expostulation--"to the individual whose acquaintance I am so +anxious to make?" + +"As you may suppose, I have been thinking of that," he replied, "and I +have come to the conclusion that it would be better for me not to be +personally concerned in it. As it is, I am not at all certain in my +own mind that he looks upon me with a favourable eye. I have a +friend, however, with whom he is on terms of the greatest friendship. +Through this friend I will have you presented. It would be better in +the meantime if you will call at the palace and inscribe your name in +the visitors' book, according to custom. After that I will make it my +business to see my friend, and to arrange the matter with him. From +that moment, if you will permit me, I will retire from the business +altogether." + +"You do not care about taking the responsibility of my endeavours, I +suppose?" I said. + +"Exactly, senor," he answered. "You have guessed correctly. To be +quite frank with you, I am afraid of being shot. I have seen the +gentleman we are discussing deal with his enemies on various +occasions, and his behaviour impressed me with a desire to keep my +head out of the lion's mouth." + +"May I ask in what capacity you intend introducing me to your friend?" +I went on. "Is it quite wise, do you think, to import a third party +into the transaction?" + +"There will be no third party," he answered. "There will only be my +friend and yourself. As I understand the situation, you are a rich +Englishman, travelling in our country. You have given me an order for +some wine for your yacht, and as the leading wine merchant of the +city, and having the reputation of our country at stake, I am anxious +to do my best for you. I also desire, for the same reason, that you +should enjoy your stay. What could be more natural than that I should +introduce you to a friend who is also one of our most prominent +citizens? You need not fear, senor, that I shall be foolish enough to +compromise either you or myself." + +From what I had so far seen of him I could quite believe the latter +portion of his remark. If all Silvestre's supporters were of the same +calibre, it struck me that he would experience some little difficulty +in regaining his lost position. Hermanos was certainly as rank a +coward as I had met for many a long day. + +"In that case, I will make my way to the palace now, and write my name +in the visitors' book. But how, and when, shall I hear from you?" + +"I will communicate with you to-night," he said. "I shall be sending +you some wine and cigars on board, which I hope you will accept, and I +will word the note that accompanies them, so that you will be able to +read between the lines. It would be as well, I imagine, that we should +not meet again." + +From the way he said this I could see he was as anxious to get rid of +me as he was to preserve his incognito. I accordingly thanked him for +his assistance, and bade him farewell. + +Recrossing the little _patio_, I passed into the street once more, and +retraced my steps to the Great Square. Having reached it, I made my +way through the garden to the President's palace. The sentries still +slouched beside the gate as I had first seen them. So far as I could +tell, their only object in life was to see how near sleep they could +go without actually dozing off. Then I entered the palace grounds, and +walked up the drive to the marble portico, where I entered my name in +the book placed there for that purpose. I had already practised the +new Trevelyan signature, and was by this time able to write it with +something of a flourish. This momentous act accomplished, I left the +palace and returned to the yacht, feeling that, although I had not so +far made any very important headway in the conduct of my enterprise, I +had at least set the machinery in motion. + +Summoning Ferguson to the smoking-room, I gave him an account of all +that had transpired, furnishing him at the same time with my opinion +of Don Jose de Hermanos. + +"It only bears out what I said to you the other night," he observed. +"When a man dabbles in Revolutions he is apt to burn his fingers. It +is very plain that this man Hermanos, to use a popular saying, has +taken the length of the President's foot, and as a natural consequence +he is most anxious to keep out of its way, lest he should be crushed +by it. I don't know that I altogether blame him. He has calculated +exactly how much he has to gain, which may not be very much, and he is +also aware that if he fails, he has everything to lose." + +He then proceeded to inform me that the yacht had been an object of +considerable interest to many of the inhabitants of La Gloria that +afternoon. It is doubtful whether such a handsome craft had ever been +seen in those waters before. + +"If only we can get things into proper trim ashore, they shall have an +opportunity of admiring her even more than they do now, and for other +reasons," I said. "We must have an At Home on board, and invite the +polite society of the capital." + +An hour or so before sundown, the same curious individual whom I had +seen manipulating the cask in Hermanos' office, made his appearance +alongside in a boat. He brought with him a case of wine and a small +box wrapped in paper. I rewarded him, and dispatched him to the shore +once more. Then returning to the smoking-room with the smaller parcel +in my hand, I opened it to discover what I had expected I should find +there, a box of cigars and a note carefully placed inside. It was not +a very long epistle, and informed me that it gave the wine merchant +the greatest pleasure to comply with my esteemed instructions, and to +forward me a sample box of the cigars, concerning which his good +friend, General Sagana, had spoken so highly. Should more be required, +his agent would do himself the honour of waiting upon me on the +following morning to learn my wishes. That was all! + +"That means, of course, that General Sagana is the agent," I said to +myself. "Well, let him come as soon as he pleases. He will find me +quite ready to receive him." + +Next morning I was enjoying the cool breeze under the bridge awning, +when the second mate came up to inform me that a shore boat was +approaching the accommodation ladder. Rising from my chair I glanced +over the side to discover that what he had said was correct. A large +boat pulled by six men was approaching the yacht. In the stern, seated +beside the coxswain, was one of the most curious little specimens of a +soldier one would be likely to find in a day's march. His height could +not have exceeded five feet, but what he lacked in stature he made up +in self-importance. He was attired in full uniform, even to the extent +of spurs and a sword. A helmet with plumes was perched upon his head, +while upwards of a dozen crosses decorated his breast. His face was +small and puckered into a thousand wrinkles; his eyebrows were large, +bushy, and snow-white; while a fierce moustache of the same colour +curled up in corkscrew twists until it nearly touched his eyes. As +soon as the boat was alongside, he ascended the ladder to the deck. + +"Have I the honour of addressing the most illustrious Senor +_Travillion_?" he inquired, after a wrestle with the name, from which +he imagined he had emerged victorious. Upon my answering in the +affirmative, he made me a sweeping bow that was so irresistibly comic +that I had some difficulty in restraining a smile. Then he +continued--"Senor, I have the honour to salute you, and to offer you a +hearty welcome to our beautiful country. Permit me to introduce myself +to you. I am General Sagana, of the army of the Republic of Equinata." + +He said this with as much pride as if his name would rank in history +with those of Napoleon and Wellington. + +"I am deeply honoured by your visit," I replied. "Allow me to conduct +you to a cool spot under the awning." + +An hour later, when he left the yacht, we were on the best of terms. +Moreover, I had arranged that that selfsame afternoon I should pay a +visit of respect to Madame Sagana and her daughters, who, as I +gathered from his words, existed only until they should have the +extreme felicity of making my acquaintance. + +"You must be prepared to stay with us for a long time," he cried, with +a cordiality born of the best part of two bottles of Perrier-Jouet. +"Ah! believe me, we shall not let you go so easily. We are hospitable, +we of Equinata. Farewell, then, senor, until we meet this afternoon." + +Then he bowed once more in his best style, descended to his boat, +seated himself in the stern, and bade his men row him ashore with all +speed, as there was business of importance toward. + +That afternoon, bearing in mind the importance of the occasion, I once +more made a most careful toilet, and having done so, returned to the +city. Hiring a vehicle of the cab description, I bade the driver +convey me to the residence of the most illustrious General Sagana. In +a whirl of dust, and accompanied by a swarm of beggar boys, we set +off, and in something less than a quarter of an hour found ourselves +drawn up before an elegant residence in what might have been described +as the suburbs of the town. After I had paid and dismissed my +charioteer, I rang the curious old bell I found hanging on the wall +before me, and when it was answered, followed the servant into a +charming _patio_, in which a fountain played, and from thence into a +large and lofty room, where, to my dismay, a considerable number of +people were assembled. It was fortunate for me that I am not easily +abashed. Had this been the case, I should most probably have furnished +the fashionable world of Equinata with a poor idea of the behaviour of +an Englishman of wealth and position. At the moment of my entrance, +the little General was paying considerable attention to a matronly +lady who was so tightly squeezed into her chair that it seemed she +would never be able to move from it again. Observing me, however, he +left her, and hastened forward to greet me, after which he led me +across the room to present me to his wife and daughters. The former +was a small, though more wizened, edition of her husband; the latter, +however, were handsome girls of the true Spanish type. Half-a-dozen +other presentations followed, after which I was at liberty to make +myself as agreeable as circumstances permitted and my knowledge of the +Spanish language would allow. Had only the General's daughters been +present, this would not have been such a very difficult matter, for +the very few minutes I spent in their company were sufficient to show +me that they were both past mistresses of the art of flirting. We +were progressing famously, when the door opened, and the ancient +man-servant who had admitted me, and who was older and even more +wizened than his master or mistress, said something in a low voice to +the General, who immediately hurried out of the room. A whisper ran +through the company, but what its purport was I could not discover. +All doubt, however, was presently set at rest when the General +returned, escorting with great pomp a tall, handsome man, the +possessor of a fine head and a singularly clever face. He saluted my +hostess and her daughters with considerable ceremony, bowed gravely to +the remainder of the company, and then looked at me, as if wondering +who I could be. + +"Permit me, your Excellency," said the General with one of his +flourishes, "to have the honour of presenting to you Senor Travillion +from England, who, like so many others, has heard of the glories of +Equinata, and has now come to our country in order that he may see +them for himself." + +Long before he had finished his harangue, I had realized that the man +standing before me was none other than the famous President +Fernandez--Silvestre's mortal enemy, and the man I was being paid to +abduct. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +As soon as I realized the identity of the man before me, you may be +sure I did my utmost to appear at my best to him. So much, I knew, +depended on his first impression. + +"I am exceedingly pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Trevelyan," +said the President, in a voice that struck me as being distinctly +pleasant. "I fancy I saw your yacht from a distance this afternoon. +She is a handsome craft, and, if I am not mistaken, was built on the +Clyde. Am I right in my conjecture?" + +For a moment I felt inclined to ask myself how it was this man was +able to discriminate between a boat built on the Thames and another +built on the Clyde. I subdued the inclination, however, and fell back +upon my Trevelyan manner. + +"Quite right," I answered. "She hails from the Clyde, and, like most +boats launched on that river, she is a credit to her builders. I don't +know that I have ever met with a better. I hope I may be able to +induce your Excellency to pay her a visit, in order that you may +inspect her for yourself." + +"It will give me great pleasure to do so," he answered, and when he +had conversed with me for a few moments longer, he left me in order to +pay his respects to a lady at the further end of the room. I was not +sorry for this, as it gave me an opportunity of observing him a little +more closely. He was certainly a remarkable-looking man, and each time +I glanced at him the conclusion was more forcibly borne upon me that +he was one with whom it would be better to be on friendly terms than +anything else. Although there was an apparent kindliness in his +manner, one could not help feeling that it was only the velvet glove +masking the iron hand concealed below. + +He remained in the room for upwards of half-an-hour and then took his +departure, not, however, until he had crossed to me once more and had +repeated his desire to visit the yacht, in order that he might inspect +her more closely. + +"As I said just now, I shall be delighted to show her to you," I +hastened to reply, and thereupon suggested that he should breakfast +with me on board the next day, and that with his permission I would +include General Sagana and his family in the invitation. + +"You are most hospitable, Senor Trevelyan," he answered, "and if you +will allow me I will also bring my niece, the Senorita Dolores de +Perera. I am sure she will be most pleased to make your acquaintance." + +"I shall be more than honoured," I replied, in my best manner, feeling +that at last I was making real headway. "Would eleven o'clock suit +your Excellency's convenience?" + +"Admirably," he returned. "Let us then say _au revoir_ until eleven +o'clock to-morrow." + +I promised that a boat should meet them at the wharf, and then bowing +to the ladies, and accompanied by General Sagana, he left the room. +When the General returned he complimented me warmly upon the success I +had made with the President. + +"A most remarkable man, Senor Travillion," he continued, twirling his +enormous moustaches, "the most remarkable man Equinata has yet +produced. His career has, indeed, been an extraordinary one in every +way." + +"Indeed?" I answered, with an endeavour to conceal the interest I was +taking in what he said. "May I ask whom he succeeded?" + +For a moment the situation possessed a flavour of embarrassment. I was +not aware that the General had been one of Silvestre's principal +adherents, and that it was only when he discovered the fact that +affairs were not as they should be with his master that he had +transferred his allegiance to the stronger party. + +"His predecessor was a certain Don Guzman de Silvestre," the old +gentleman replied, but in a tone that suggested two things to me; +first, that he was not aware of my connection with the man in +question, and secondly, that the subject was a decidedly distasteful +one to him. Realizing this I did not attempt to pursue it further. + +Having formally invited my hostess and host and their daughters to my +little _dejeuner_ on the following day, I bade them farewell and took +my departure. It was evident that my visit had been appreciated, and +that some importance was attached to it, for I found the General's +private carriage waiting outside to convey me back to the wharf. I was +careful to thank him for the courtesy he had extended to me, and then +drove off. + +When I retired to rest that night, it was with the feeling that my day +had not been altogether wasted. Behind it, however, was a decided +impression that President Fernandez was by no means the sort of man to +be caught napping, and that, if I wished to trap him, it would be +necessary for me to have all my wits about me. Moreover, I fancied +that when I _did_ catch him, I should find him a somewhat difficult +captive to tame. As is very often the case in such matters, one +apparently inconsequent remark of his haunted me more than anything +else that had fallen from his lips. Why had he declared the yacht to +be a Clyde-built boat? Was it only a statement made haphazard, or had +he some previous knowledge of the craft in question? The mere thought +that he might know anything of her past made me anxious beyond +measure. The possibilities were that he did not, but the fact that he +might have an inkling of my intention was sufficient to prevent me +from sleeping and to cause me to tumble and toss in my bed, hour after +hour, endeavouring to find some satisfactory solution to the problem. +"I have seen what he can do to those who offend him," Hermanos had +said to me, "and I confess the picture did not please me." At the same +time I could not believe that it was possible that the President had +any idea of the real reason of my presence in Equinata. The secret had +been so jealously guarded that it could not have leaked out. These +thoughts, however, did not prevent me from looking forward with the +greatest possible interest to the festivity of the morrow. Immediately +on my arrival on board, I called Ferguson to a consultation. He +forthwith interviewed the chief cook, and the result was the +preparation of a repast that promised to equal anything ever seen in +Equinata before. + +As you may suppose, the following morning was a busy one with us. The +arrangements were most elaborate. Flowers were procured from the +shore, and with them the saloons were decorated. A string band was +engaged to play on the bridge during the repast, and in the +President's honour the yacht was hung with bunting. + +Half-an-hour before my guests were due to arrive, I descended to my +cabin and made my toilet. I had scarcely returned to the deck before I +was informed by the chief mate, who was on the look-out, that the +boats we expected were putting off from the shore. Ferguson stood +beside me and watched them come alongside. Out of compliment to the +President he had caused the flag of Equinata to be hoisted, and had +drawn up a Guard of Honour from the crew on either side of the +gangway. The first boat to come alongside contained the President, his +_aide-de-camp_, and a lady, whom I argued must be none other than his +niece, the Senorita Dolores de Perera. The President was the first to +set foot upon the deck, and, as he did so, the band struck up the +National Air of Equinata. His Excellency shook me warmly by the hand, +and then, turning to the lady who accompanied him, presented me to +her. I have met some very beautiful women in my time, but I am +doubtful whether I have ever seen one who could compare with the lady +I then had before me. She was slightly above the middle height, with +raven hair and dark flashing eyes, and carried herself with the grace +that is so characteristic of her nationality. Her manner towards me +was distinctly cordial, and under its influence I began to think that +our luncheon was not destined to be as dull an affair as I had feared +it might be. I escorted them to a cool spot under the awning, and then +prepared to receive my other guests. Upon their arrival, we proceeded +to the saloon for lunch. That the President was impressed, I could +plainly see. He paid me many compliments upon the beauty of the yacht, +and vowed that, when times improved in Equinata, he would have just +such another built for his own private use. + +"How I envy you your lot, Senor Trevelyan!" remarked the Senorita +Dolores, when we had seated ourselves at the table, and as she said +it, she threw a beaming glance at me. "How beautiful it must be to +skim over the seas like a bird, to be always seeing new countries, and +receiving new impressions. Yours must be an ideal life, if ever there +were one." + +"I fear you have omitted to take into your calculations the existence +of Custom House officials, the engagement of crews, and the fact that +a yacht, however beautiful, needs coaling, in order to be able to +properly perform her functions. There are also storms to mar one's +pleasure, Port Dues, Harbour Regulations, Quarantine, and a thousand +and one other little matters that, though not important in themselves, +are, nevertheless, sufficient to play the part of crumpled rose-leaves +in your bed of happiness." + +"But in these seas you have all smooth sailing. You came here +from----?" + +She asked the question so innocently that I felt sure it was without +any sinister intention. + +"From Havana to Key West, and thence to Jamaica, Barbadoes, and so to +Equinata!" + +"And your plans after leaving here?" + +"I have scarcely formed any plans yet," I answered, and then I added +with a fair amount of truth, "You see, Senorita, it all depends upon +circumstances. I may go on to Rio, thence to Buenos Ayres, and perhaps +round the Horn to the Pacific Islands, or I may return to England at +once." + +"While we remain on here leading our humdrum life," said the +President, toying with his champagne glass as he spoke, "and ending +the year almost as we began it, seeing few strangers and interested +only in our own little mediocre affairs." + +"I fear your Excellency must speak ironically," I said. "What grander +or more interesting occupation can there be in the world, than the +work of building up a new country, a country which may ultimately take +its place among the greatest of the earth? While I am fluttering like +a butterfly from place to place, you are guiding, helping, and +benefiting your fellow-man, and through him the entire human race." + +"You are an idealist, I perceive, Senor Trevelyan," the President +returned, with one of his peculiar smiles. "Unfortunately for your +theory, my fellow-man does not always wish to be benefited, as your +words would lead one to suppose. To my thinking he is very like that +noble animal, the horse, who, while being capable of great things, +must first learn the principles of subjection. What say you, General +Sagana?" + +"I agree with your Excellency," replied the General with some little +embarrassment, though why he should have felt it I could not at the +time understand. + +I turned to the Senorita Dolores. + +"You are deeply interested in politics, of course, Senorita?" I said, +as innocently as I knew how. + +"No, I do not mind admitting that I take no sort of interest in +politics," she answered. "I find it better for many reasons not to do +so. So long as I am not publicly insulted in the streets, and the mob +do not attempt to shoot my uncle, or to come to the palace and break +our windows, I am content to let whichever party pleases hold the +reins of power. But there, I feel sure, Senor Trevelyan, you did not +come to Equinata to talk politics. We must discover a way of amusing +you, and of making your time pass pleasantly while you are with us, +without that!" + +As she said this, she glanced down the table at the two daughters of +General Sagana, who returned her smile with a look that said as +plainly as any words could speak, that if they were given the +opportunity, they would take care that my time was spent as pleasantly +as possible. + +All things taken into consideration, my little _dejeuner_ was a +decided success, and the affability of the President, when the ladies +had withdrawn, helped to confirm me in this opinion. Nothing could +have exceeded his geniality. He narrated several amusing incidents +connected with his past life, and once even unbent so far as to +comment on a certain act connected with the reign of his predecessor. + +"Silvestre was a clever man; a very clever man," he said; "but, as +events proved, entirely wanting in a proper appreciation of his +position. Had he used his opportunities as he might have done, he +would, in all probability, be occupying the position he held then and +which I hold to-day." + +"And may I ask what has become of him?" I inquired, not without some +curiosity as to what his answer would be. + +The President, however, shook his head. + +"No one seems to have any idea where he is," he said. "After the last +crisis he disappeared from Equinata, but where he went I cannot tell +you. Very probably he is dead. Men of his calibre do not, as a rule, +make old bones." + +His manner was so open, his speech so frank, that my suspicions that +he was aware of my errand in his capital were fast dying away. + +Later on we left the saloon and joined the ladies on deck. A cool wind +was blowing, and it was very pleasant under the awnings. After +half-an-hour's conversation, followed by an inspection of the yacht, +the President declared his intention of returning to the shore. The +boats were accordingly ordered alongside, whereupon, having thanked me +for my hospitality, the President and the Senorita, attended by their +_aide-de-camp_, the latter a great lady-killer, took their departure. +General Sagana and his party followed suit a little later, and then I +was free to discuss the success of our entertainment with Ferguson. + +"If all goes on as it is doing now," I said, lighting a fresh cigar, +and handing my case to him, "it should not prove a very difficult +matter to inveigle him on board to dinner some night, when we might +settle the affair once and for all." + +"Unfortunately, the chances are a hundred to one that, if he came, he +would bring an _aide_ with him, as he did to-day. What should we do +then?" + +"Take the _aide_ to the island with us," I replied promptly. "One more +prisoner would make little or no difference to Silvestre." + +Next morning I was the recipient of an invitation from the President +to dine at the palace on the Thursday following. Needless to say, I +hastened to accept, and in due course presented myself at his +Excellency's magnificent abode. I was met in the hall by the +_aide-de-camp_ who had breakfasted with us on board the yacht, and by +him was conducted to the great drawing-room where the President and +his niece were receiving their guests. Some thirty or forty people +were present, among the number being General Sagana and Madame, and +their two fair daughters, who welcomed me like old friends. The +President took the General's wife in to dinner, while, for some reason +best known to them, I was permitted the honour of escorting the +Senorita. + +"So you have not grown tired of Equinata yet, Senor Trevelyan?" said +my fair companion, as we made our way in our turn along the stately +hall in the direction of the dining-room. + +"On the contrary, I grow more charmed with it every day," I replied. +"Who could help liking it, when its citizens are so hospitable to +strangers?" + +"Before you praise us, remember that you set us a charming example," +she continued. "It will be long before I forget the pleasant morning +we spent on board your yacht. I can assure you that my uncle also +looks back on it with the greatest pleasure." + +"I trust it may not be the last time he will visit her," I answered, +with more truth than is usually attachable to an idle compliment. + +The room in which we dined was a magnificent apartment, furnished with +a grandeur that gave it an almost regal dignity. The President's +_chef_ was evidently a treasure, for the dinner could scarcely have +been excelled. During its progress the President addressed himself on +several occasions to me, and invited me to accompany him on a visit to +some celebrated copper mines in the neighbourhood, also to a review of +the troops which was to take place in the Great Square in a week's +time. As may be supposed, I was quick to accept both invitations. + +"And at the end of the week there is to be a grand ball at the Opera +House," the Senorita continued, when her uncle had finished speaking. +"It is in aid of the convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and is +one of our recognized gaieties of the year. I wonder if we shall be +able to persuade you to be present?" + +"I shall be more than delighted," I replied. "That is, of course, +provided I am not compelled to leave Equinata in the meantime." + +"You must not leave us too soon," she said, and then paused and +examined her plate attentively. I was about to answer her, when her +attention was attracted by her neighbour on her right, and I was +accordingly left to my own thoughts. + +I looked down the long table, glittering with glass and plate, and as +I did so, I endeavoured to apprize the value of my extraordinary +position. Who at that board could have guessed the errand in Equinata +of the man whom, doubtless, so many of them envied for his wealth and +for his magnificent floating home? I could not help wondering what my +own feelings would have been had I known only three months or so +before, when I was standing watch as a mail-boat officer, that in a +few short weeks I should be the honoured guest of the President of the +Republic of Equinata, and the presumptive owner of a yacht valued at +upwards of a hundred thousand pounds. + +I looked across the room and examined the pictures hanging upon the +walls. That exactly opposite me riveted my attention. I felt that I +could not be mistaken as to the likeness. It was the portrait of Don +Guzman de Silvestre, and the artist had managed to depict him to the +life. How it called me back to other days! As I looked at it, I seemed +to be sitting in the old inn garden at Falstead, listening to his +instructions for the campaign, and wondering how long Molly would be +at the choir practice. + +"You have suddenly become very silent, Senor Trevelyan," said the +Senorita, rousing me from my reverie. + +"I was thinking that I shall often look back with pleasure upon this +evening," I replied. + +The look she gave me would probably have encouraged many men to embark +on a course of the maddest flirtation. I, however, was adamant. + +"In reality," she said, "I suppose you are like all the other visitors +we have, and, as soon as you are away from Equinata, you will forget +us altogether." + +"I assure you I shall never forget your beautiful city as long as I +live," I answered, and with more truth than she imagined. + +She threw a quick glance at me and then, looking down the +dinner-table, gave the signal to the ladies to rise. I must confess +here that the Senorita interested me very strangely. At first I had +thought her merely a very beautiful woman, well fitted by nature to +perform the difficult task asked of her; it was not long, however, +before I came to have a somewhat better understanding of her real +abilities. In what light I regard her now, you will be able to realize +for yourself when you have read my story. + +As had been arranged, three days after the dinner I have just +described, I accompanied the President and a considerable party to the +famous copper mines in the mountain range that began behind the city +and extended well-nigh to the further limit of the Republic. We were +only absent three days, yet in that short space of time I was +permitted an opportunity of studying the real character and +personality of Equinata's ruler more closely than I had yet done. At +first I must confess I had been prepared to dislike him, but little by +little, so gradually indeed that I scarcely noticed the change, I +found that he was managing to overcome my prejudices. Under the +influence of these new impressions I also began to see my own part of +the business in a new light. From what Silvestre had said to me, I had +up to that time regarded him as a traitor to his friends, and as a +tyrant and enemy to his country. I now discovered that he was neither +the one nor the other. He ruled according to his lights, and if he +held his people in an iron grip, it was for the good and sufficient +reason that he knew their character, and the sort of government they +required. My own position, when I came to overhaul it properly, I +discovered to be by no means edifying. I accepted his hospitality and +his kindnesses, yet I was only waiting my chance to prove myself a +traitor of the worst kind. I was posing as his friend, yet at the same +time was preparing to prove myself his worst enemy. Such thoughts as +these kept me company by day and night, and made me regard myself with +a contempt such as I had never dreamed of before. And yet I knew that, +at any hazard, I must go through with it. Had I not taken Silvestre's +money and pledged myself to serve him? Therefore I could not draw +back. + +On our return to the city from the mountains, I was present at the +review of the troops in the Great Square, and witnessed the +redoubtable army of Equinata, headed by General Sagana, as you may +suppose in the fullest of full uniforms, march by and salute its +chief. That ceremony over, I returned to the yacht to while away the +hours as best I could until it should be time to dress for the great +ball that was to take place at the Opera House that evening. + +Having rigged myself out for the occasion, I was rowed ashore, and, as +I had plenty of time to spare, I determined to walk to the Great +Square in preference to taking a cab. To do this it was necessary for +me to pass a certain fashionable _cafe_, whose little tables decorated +the broad pavement outside. At one of these tables two men were +seated, playing dominoes as they sipped their coffee. One of them +looked up at me as I passed. As my eyes fell on his face I gave a +start, for I recognized him instantly as a well-known Rio merchant, +who had made several voyages with me in the old _Pernambuco_, and with +whom I had been on the most friendly terms. He stared at me as if he +thought he ought to know my face, but, I suppose on account of the +absence of my moustache, could not quite remember where he had seen it +last. + +I hurried on, with my heart in my mouth, as the saying has it, but I +had not gone very far ere I heard some one bustling after me. A few +seconds later a hand was laid upon my arm, and I turned to find the +individual I had seen seated at the table standing before me. + +"Ten t'ousand pardons, senor," he began in English, "but am I mistaken +if I say your name is 'Elmsworth?" + +I had to make up my mind. + +"I'm afraid you're making some little mistake," I replied, and then +added what was worse than a lie, that is to say, a half-truth, "I know +no one of the name of 'Elmsworth." + +"Den I must beg of you ten t'ousand more bardons," he continued. "I +t'ought you vas one of mine old vriends dot I vas at sea mit. Forgive +me dat I interrupt you in your valk." + +I willingly forgave him and passed on. + +The question that kept me company for the rest of the evening was--Had +my assurance satisfied him? If not, what would he be likely to do? + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +So long as I may live I shall never forget the ball at which I was +present that night. The scene was gay beyond description. All the Rank +and Fashion of La Gloria, and one might almost say of Equinata, were +assembled there. When the dancing had been in progress for some time, +the President and the Senorita Dolores put in an appearance and were +received by the committee to the strains of the National Air. I must +confess that Fernandez made a most imposing figure, with his broad +ribbon of the Order of La Gloria, and his wealth of foreign +decorations. As for his companion, it would be difficult for a mere +male mortal to find words in which to describe the picture she +presented. As soon as it was permissible I crossed the room to her and +humbly asked her for a dance. She was graciously pleased to give me +one, and presently we found ourselves circling round the room together +to the music of a long swinging waltz, excellently played. Afterwards +I escorted her from the ball-room into the balcony. It was a lovely +night, and so still, that in the pauses of the music the sound of the +waves upon the beach could be distinctly heard, though more than a +mile away. I procured my companion's mantilla for her, with which she +draped her head and neck, with characteristic grace. Never, I am +inclined to believe, had she looked lovelier than she did at that +moment, and when she leant upon the balustrading of the balcony, and +looked across the city towards the mountains, behind which the moon +was rising, I vowed that I had never beheld a fairer picture. Few men +could have stood beside her then and not have felt the fascination of +her presence. + +"Senor Trevelyan," she said meditatively, in a voice that was as low +and musical as the deep notes of a guitar, "what a strange thing is +life! You and I stand here together now. Out of the infinite you hold +my attention for minutes that never can be recalled. Later we shall +separate, and then you will go your way, and I shall go mine. In all +probability we shall never meet again--yet through Eternity our +destinies will be linked, like the strands of a rope, by the +remembrance of a few minutes' conversation on a certain moonlight +night in Equinata." + +I must confess that this sudden seriousness on her part puzzled me +considerably. A moment before she had been all gaiety, a few seconds +later she was gravity personified. The change was so instantaneous +that I found it difficult to follow her. + +"I am afraid I must be very obtuse," I stammered, "but I cannot say +that I have quite caught your meaning." + +"I am not sure that I know it myself," she replied. "The beauty of the +night has taken hold of me. The rising of the moon always has a +curious effect upon me. I am afraid you will think me very absurd, but +people say I have a strange way of looking at things. I was thinking +of our life. Consider for a moment how much we are governed by Chance. +We meet some one we like, some one whom we believe might prove a good +friend if ever occasion should arise. He, or she, crosses our path, +tarries perhaps for a moment with us, and then vanishes, never to be +seen by us again." + +"But we have the consolation of recollection left us," I replied, more +impressed than ever by her curious mood. "Every day we put away +impressions in memory's store-house--mental photographs, may I call +them--which will conjure up the Past for us in fifty years' time if +need be. Think of the impression I am receiving at this moment. It +will never be effaced. The scent of the orange blossoms, the glorious +moonlight, the music of the ball-room yonder, and you leaning upon the +balustrading looking down upon the sleeping city. The picture will +still be with me even though I have the misfortune to be many thousand +miles from La Gloria. In fifty years' time I may be in an English +village, in a Chinese seaport, or on the South African Karroo; then +the shimmer of the moonlight on a leaf--a chance strain of music--even +a piece of black lace, like that of your mantilla--will be sufficient +to bring the whole scene before my mind's eye. In a flash I shall be +transported to this balcony, and you will be standing beside me once +more." + +It seemed to me that she gave a little shiver as I said this. + +"If your mental photographs are to be so vivid," she continued, "what +a sorry figure I shall cut in them, if through all time I continue to +talk as I have been doing to-night." Then changing her manner, she +went on, "I fear you will soon grow tired of Equinata." + +"That could never be," I replied. "I only wish it were in my power to +stay longer." + +"When do you think it will be necessary for you to leave?" she +inquired, as if the question were one of the utmost importance. + +"It is difficult to say," I answered. "I am afraid, however, it will +not be many more days. I have received information concerning some +rather important business that may possibly necessitate my leaving for +Europe almost immediately." + +"I am sorry to hear that," she said meditatively. "We had looked +forward to enjoying the pleasure of your society for some time to +come." + +She spoke as if I were an old friend whom she feared to lose. Had a +stranger been present, he or she would have found it difficult to +believe that a fortnight before we had never set eyes on each other. +There are many men in the world who, had they been in my place, would +doubtless have been charmed, and perhaps more than charmed, by the +interest she displayed in my doings. She was a vastly pretty woman, +dangerously pretty in fact, but even her tender interest in my affairs +was not sufficient to shake my equilibrium. Ten minutes or so later we +returned to the ball-room, and I surrendered her to the partner who +came to claim her. Having done so, I was walking towards the further +end of the room, when the President accosted me. He was in a most +affable mood, and was evidently disposed for a chat. + +"You do not appear to be dancing very much, Senor Trevelyan," he said, +dropping into English, as was his wont when we were alone together. +"Is it possible you feel inclined for a cigar?" + +"I am more than inclined," I replied, "I am pining for one. I never +was much of a dancing man. The hard sort of life I have been compelled +to lead has not permitted me much opportunity for practising that +graceful art." + +The words had no sooner escaped my lips than I realized what a slip I +had made. So far as he was aware, I was, to all intents and purposes, +a rich young Englishman, and should be without a care in the world. It +would therefore seem to him strange that I should not have had much +chance of perfecting my knowledge of the terpsichorean art. + +"I mean to say," I went on, as we made our way across the grand lobby +to the smoking-room, "that after I left school, I was for some time +abroad, and--well, the fact of the matter is, I never laid myself out +very much for ladies' society." + +"I think I understand," he replied gravely. "Like myself, you prefer +to look for your amusements in other directions. Your passion for the +sea I can quite appreciate, but I think, were I in your place, I +should prefer a somewhat larger craft than your yacht. A mail-boat, +for instance, such as the _Pernambuco_--or the _Amantillado_ would +come somewhat nearer the mark." + +There was nothing remarkable in what he said, and his voice never for +a second rose above its customary pitch. Nevertheless, I looked at him +in overwhelming astonishment. It seemed to me his words were spoken +with a deliberate intent, and were meant to have a definite value +placed upon them. It was not the first time I had had the impression +forced upon me, and it was not a pleasant one, I can assure you, that +he had become aware of the real reason for my presence in Equinata. I +hastened to abandon the subject of the sea, and directed the +conversation into another channel. The result, however, was very much +the same. We thereupon discussed the possibilities of a European war, +which at that moment seemed not improbable. + +"Power," he returned, _a propos_ of a remark of mine, "is in my +opinion precisely a question of temperament. Your London crowd is well +trained and will stand what would drive a Neapolitan or a French mob +to violence. Such speeches are delivered in your parks on Sundays as +would prove in these latitudes as intoxicating as brandy. I have known +a Revolution started by an ill-timed jest, a city wrecked, and a +thousand lives lost in consequence. Talking of Revolutions, have you +ever had the misfortune to be called upon to take part in one?" + +Once more my suspicions were aroused. + +"Good gracious, no!" I cried. "What makes you ask me such a question? +Do I look like the sort of person who would be likely to have to do +with such affairs?" + +He glanced at me for a moment over the top of the cigar which he had +taken from his mouth and was holding between his long slim fingers, as +if to enjoy the beautiful aroma. + +"I was merely venturing an inquiry," he continued, in the same quiet +fashion as before. "If you have not, you should try the experiment. +Believe me, there is a very fair amount of excitement to be got out of +it, particularly if you have not the good fortune to be on the winning +side. You have met Don Guzman de Silvestre, of course?" + +"Don Guzman de who?" I asked, as if I had not quite caught the name. + +"My predecessor," the President replied. "I thought that probably you +might have come across him in your travels. He knocks about the +Continent a good deal, and I am told he is well known at the various +ports at which the mail-boats touch." + +The situation was momentarily getting beyond me. I felt that I could +not stand much more of it. He had referred to the _Pernambuco_, and +had recommended me to try my hand at a Revolution; he had mentioned +Don Guzman de Silvestre, and now he was speaking of the ports at which +the South American mail-boats call, and implying that I was familiar +with them. What did it all mean? Was it only a matter of chance, or +was he aware of my identity, and only biding his time to rise and +upset all my calculations? I think you will agree with me in saying +that it was not a pleasant position for a man to be placed in! + +"I remember," he went on, "on one occasion smoking a cigar with Don +Guzman de Silvestre in this very balcony--he was sitting exactly where +you are now. Though he thought I was not aware of it, I happened to +know that he was at that time hatching a plot that he hoped would +upset my calculations, turn me out of my palace, and make him +President in my stead. He had been laying his plans for months, and +was quite sure that they would succeed!" + +"And the result?" + +"The result was that it failed. If he had not managed to escape when +he did, I am afraid his life would have paid the forfeit. In spite of +the advice I gave you just now, interference in Revolutions in +Equinata is not an amusement I should recommend to every one." + +"I trust I may never be called upon to try it," I replied fervently. + +"I hope you will not," he returned, without looking at me. "It's an +unprofitable speculation unless you are certain of your cards. The +strongest, of course, wins, and the loser generally goes to the wall." + +I thought I understood to what wall he referred. + +A few moments' silence followed his last speech. The President was the +first to break it by referring to what he hoped would be the future of +his country. It was evident that he firmly believed in it and its +capabilities. Then, rising from his chair, he bade me "good-night" +with an abruptness that was almost disconcerting. + +When he had gone, and I had finished my cigar, I returned to the +ball-room in time to meet the Presidential party as they were leaving. + +"Good-night, Senor Trevelyan," said the senorita. "The Little Sisters +are indebted to you for your most generous contribution. In their name +I thank you." + +"And I am equally indebted to them for the pleasure I have been +permitted to enjoy this evening," I replied. + +She bowed to me, and passed on, on her uncle's arm, towards the +entrance. When they had departed I obtained my hat and cloak, and in +my turn left the building. During the last ten minutes my spirits had +been dropping down and down until they reached zero. Never since I had +consented to Don Guzman's plan had my business in Equinata seemed so +hazardous or indeed so despicable to me. I felt that I would have +given anything never to have set eyes on my tempter, or to have +listened to his invidious proposal. However, I am not going to +moralize. I've my story to tell, and tell it I must, and in as few +words as possible. + +When I left the Opera House, the moon was sailing in a cloudless sky, +and, in consequence, the streets were almost as light as day. It was a +little after midnight, and I had not ordered the boat to meet me at +the wharf until one o'clock. I had therefore plenty of time at my +disposal. As I passed out of the Great Square and entered the Calle de +San Pedro, the cathedral clock chimed the quarter past the hour. I +strolled leisurely along, so that it was half-past by the time I +reached the wharf. Then I lighted another cigar, and, seating myself +on a stone block, prepared to await the arrival of the boat. I had +perhaps been seated there ten minutes, when, suddenly, and before I +could do anything to protect myself, a bag or cloth, I could not tell +which, was thrown over my head, and my arms were pinioned from behind. +Then a voice said in Spanish, "Lift him up, and bring him along. +There's not a moment to lose." Thereupon a man took hold of my +shoulders and another my legs, and I felt myself being carried along, +though in what direction I could not of course tell. A few seconds +later, however, I was dumped down on the wooden floor of what was +evidently a cart. The crack of a whip followed, and we were off at a +brisk pace somewhere--but where? The bag by this time was coming near +to stifling me. It had been pulled so tight round my head that it was +only with the greatest difficulty I could breathe. Eventually, I +suppose, I must have lost consciousness, for I have no recollection of +anything that happened until I opened my eyes to find myself lying on +the floor of a small, bare room, through the grated windows of which +the moonlight was streaming in. Thank goodness, the bag was gone, but +my head ached consumedly, and I felt about as sick and wretched as a +man could well be. + + [Illustration: "I felt about as sick and wretched as a man could + well be."] + +After a while I sat up, and endeavoured to puzzle out my position. +Where was I? Who was it had made me prisoner? Was it a simple act of +brigandage, having plunder for its motive, or had the President +discovered the plot against him and ordered my arrest? Not one of the +questions could I answer. In the hope of being able to solve the +problem of my whereabouts, however, I got on to my feet and +endeavoured to look out of the window, only to discover that it was +out of my reach, and that I was too weak to draw myself up to it. I +therefore seated myself on the floor once more, for the room or cell, +whichever I cared to call it, was destitute of furniture, and resigned +myself to my miserable thoughts. + +To use a stage expression, it was a pretty market I had brought my +pigs to! I had felt so confident that my errand was not known, and +that I should succeed in getting safely out of the country, that I had +neglected the most simple precautions, and in consequence here I was a +prisoner, with the pleasing possibility ahead of me of either having +my throat cut by a common murderer before the night was past, or, what +was more probable, of being propped against a wall and shot by +President Fernandez' soldiers at daybreak. The mere knowledge that I +was still alive, and that my watch, chain, and money had not been +taken from me, pointed to the fact that I was a prisoner of the State, +and not of a private individual. All things considered, it would be +difficult to say which would prove the worse fate. + +Putting aside for the moment the question as to whose captive I was, I +examined my watch, and discovered that it was just half-past one. Only +an hour had elapsed since the episode on the wharf--to me, however, +it seemed an Eternity. After a while, feeling stronger, I got on to my +feet again, and began to pace the room. I also tried the door, only to +find it locked. They had got me fast enough. So much was certain. The +next time, I told myself, I crossed the threshold, it would in all +probability be to be haled to a place of execution. For upwards of an +hour I paced the room, calling myself a fool and idiot, and every +other name I could think of, for having allowed myself to be drawn +into such an affair. I recalled that quiet evening at Falstead, when +the idea of the adventure had appeared so attractive to me, and, as I +did so, it seemed to me I could hear Molly's gentle voice saying: "Act +as you think best, dear! I know that it will be all right then." I had +certainly acted on my own judgment, and here I was in consequence! + +I was still thinking of Falstead when a sharp cry reached me from the +yard outside, followed by a prolonged scuffling noise. Then there was +a heavy fall, another, and yet another. After that all was silence +once more. + +"What on earth is the matter?" I asked myself. "It sounded like a +struggle of some sort. Can they by any chance have captured Ferguson, +and have brought him here to be my fellow-prisoner?" + +A few moments later some one approached my door. A key was placed in +the lock and turned, then the door opened, and a man, carrying a +lantern, entered quickly, closing the door behind him. The upper half +of his face was hidden by a black mask. My astonishment may be +imagined when, after he had removed it, I discovered that he was none +other than Don Jose de Hermanos. + +"Hush!" he began, holding up his hand as a sign to me not to speak. "I +want you to listen to what I have to say, and not to interrupt me +until I have finished. In the first place, let me inform you that the +President has discovered everything! While you were talking to him +to-night at the ball, he knew why you were in Equinata, and, what is +more, had already laid his plans to effect your arrest. The reason why +he did it so secretly, and why you were not taken to the regular +cartel, is because he does not want, for reasons of his own, to +attract public attention just at present. I was warned in time, but +was unable to communicate with you. Now, by a stratagem, we have +overpowered your gaolers, and you are free!" + +"But where am I?" I asked, in the same low voice. + +"In the old cartel on the outskirts of the town," Hermanos replied. +"Now I want you to pay attention to what I am about to say to you. +There is still time to retrieve matters, if we go the proper way to +work about it. The President, when he left the ball to-night--and now +you will be able to understand his reasons for leaving so early--drove +out to consult with General Mopaxus, who is lying ill at his house six +miles distant on the road to Sarbassa. The road in question is hilly, +and it will take him at least an hour to get there. We will say that +he remains with the General an hour. In that case, he should not reach +the Capital until four o'clock at the earliest. Word must be sent to +the captain of the yacht to shift his moorings and to have a boat +ashore at the little bay of Horejos at three o'clock. Horejos is three +miles outside the city, and Fernandez will have to pass through the +village on his way home. We must catch him at any hazard." + +"How many men have you with you?" + +"Seven," he replied. + +"Can they be relied upon?" + +"To the death! They know that their own safety depends upon getting +Fernandez out of the way. Four of them he has suspected for some time +past. They would prefer to shoot him, and so make sure of him, but as +there are definite orders against that, they feel that the next best +thing they can do is to get him out of the country. And between +ourselves, that is exactly my own case." + +"And what about the Guards here?" + +"They are safe for the present," he answered. "But no time must be +lost, for it is more than likely that at daybreak others will come to +take their places." + +"And how am I to communicate with Ferguson?" + +He fumbled in his pocket for a moment. + +"Here is a sheet of paper, an envelope, and a pencil. He knows your +writing, of course. When you have written it, one of my men shall take +it aboard. If he has to get steam up, there is not any too much time +for him to do so. Every moment is of the utmost importance." + +I forthwith pencilled a hasty note to the captain, bidding him get up +steam, weigh anchor, and have a boat ashore in Horejos Bay at three +o'clock, and stand by to leave Equinata at latest by four o'clock. +This note I handed to Hermanos, and when I had done so, followed him +from the cell. + +Once outside, I found myself in a large yard, illuminated by the +bright moonlight. I looked about me for the bodies of my captors, but +was informed by my companion that they had been securely bound and +placed in an adjoining cell. On hearing our steps, six figures +appeared from the shadow of the wall. They did not speak, but at a +sign from Hermanos, one went on ahead and opened the gates, whereupon +two of them passed out. After an interval of some thirty seconds, two +more disappeared in the same mysterious fashion, the remaining pair +making themselves scarce when the same duration of time had elapsed. + +"Now it is our turn," Hermanos whispered. "With the exception of the +man who has gone to the yacht, each company will proceed to the +rendezvous by different routes through the city. Fernandez has spies +everywhere, and we must be careful that our behaviour does not attract +their attention. To that end I have brought this poncho and hat for +you." + +I had noticed a bundle upon the ground, and had wondered what it might +be. My own hat had disappeared, goodness only knows where. So placing +the sombrero on my head, I pulled the poncho over my shoulders, and +then we, in our turn, left the cartel. + +As Hermanos had said, the lock-up was on the outskirts of the city, +and the locality through which he led me was quite unknown to me. + +What was the end of our adventure to be? + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +It was evident to me that Hermanos had laid his plans most carefully, +for some hundred and fifty to two hundred yards from the gate, we +found a vehicle of the _volante_ description awaiting our coming. We +entered it, and the driver, without asking for instructions, set off +at a sharp pace. We had proceeded some distance before Don Jose spoke. + +"I hope you understand, Senor Trevelyan," he said at last, "what a +serious risk I am running on your account?" + +"Many thanks," I replied. "I am afraid, however, you do me too much +honour. I fancy if it had only been a question of _my_ safety, I +should have had to appeal to you for some time before I should have +had your assistance." + +I spoke out of the bitterness of my heart, half expecting that my +words would offend him. To my surprise, however, they did not do so. +He only laughed in a quiet way, and then lapsed into silence once +more. The carriage rattled through the silent streets, and at length +passed out into the open country on the other side. So far we had not +attracted attention. Eventually we pulled up at the foot of a steep +hill, one side of which was formed by the mountain, the other looking +down upon a stretch of plain, beyond which again was the open sea. + +"We must climb this hill," said Hermanos, "and when we have descended +it again we shall be at the rendezvous. Let us hope Fernandez has not +made his appearance yet." + +We accordingly alighted from the vehicle, and, when we had seen it +return citywards, began to climb the steep ascent. At the summit, and +just before the hill begins to descend on the other side, were three +palms. When we reached these my companion uttered a low and peculiar +whistle. It was answered from the shadow, and a moment later a figure +emerged from the darkness and stood before us. Hermanos went to him +and said something in an undertone which I did not hear. + +"It's all right," he remarked when he returned to me. "Fernandez has +not returned yet. They are watching for him in the valley below, and +we had better join them." + +"With all my heart," I replied, for, as you may suppose, I was eager +to have the business over and done with. + +We accordingly descended the hill in the direction indicated. The road +here was little better than a cart-track, and one that I should have +been very sorry to drive along on a dark night. In the moonlit valley +below could be seen the little fishing village of Horejos. I examined +my watch and discovered that it wanted twenty minutes to three +o'clock. Needless to say, I profoundly hoped that Ferguson had +received my message, and that we should find the boat awaiting us. + +When we reached the foot of the hill, it was to discover that the road +ran between two walls of rock. Blasting operations were accountable at +this point for the existence of the track, which would otherwise have +been impassable. On the top of the rock on the right, and continuing +up the hill-side, was a thick wood, in which it would have been +possible for some hundreds of men to have lain concealed. Behind the +rock on the other side was a gentle slope continuing to within a few +dozen yards of the shore. All things considered, a better place for +the work we had in hand could scarcely have been imagined. It would +have been out of the question for two carriages to have passed +abreast, owing to the width of the road; and one glance was sufficient +to show me that it would be quite possible for a determined man to +bring a vehicle to a standstill at such a spot. That Hermanos was in +a state of considerable trepidation regarding his share in the +business I could see. From what he had already said to me I gathered +that, had he not advanced so far in the business, he would even at the +eleventh hour have drawn back. Had he been left to himself, he would +doubtless have allowed General Fernandez' rule to continue without +bothering himself about Silvestre. Unfortunately, however, Silvestre +had obtained too great a hold upon him, and, in consequence, in order +to cover the shortcomings of his own past, he had been compelled to +take up arms at the very juncture when he was most desirous of +remaining quietly in the background. Who the men with him were I had +no sort of idea, nor did he inform me. That they were desperate like +himself I could very well imagine. + +When we reached the spot just described, Hermanos again gave utterance +to the low and peculiar whistle I have already mentioned. This whistle +was answered by another, and then a voice from the darkness said in +Spanish, "All is well! He has not passed yet!" + +A moment later a man scrambled down the bank and stood before us. He +wore a poncho, and had a broad-brimmed sombrero. + +"No sign of him yet, Luiz?" Hermanos said. + +"No, there is no sign yet, senor," the other replied. "But he can't +be long now. In another hour it will begin to grow light, and if he +does not come before daybreak, then our opportunity will be gone." + +"When he comes, what do you propose to do?" I inquired. + +"I thought that when the carriage arrives here some of us would appear +in the road and stop the horses, while you go to the door and cover +the President with your revolver." + +I should here remark that when Hermanos had handed me the hat and +poncho, he had also given me a heavy Colt's revolver. + +"And having done that?" I asked, more for the sake of seeing what he +would say than for any other reason. + +"March him down by the path yonder to the sea, put him into the boat, +and take him out to the yacht," he answered. "After that you can do +with him as you please." + +"I trust the boat has arrived," I said. "Is there no way of finding +out? We ought to make sure of that!" + +"I will send a man to see," he replied, and then ordered the +individual named Luiz to go to the beach and discover whether the boat +was there. + +The fellow made off; and after he had left us we walked a little +further down the road and seated ourselves upon the bank. A quarter +of an hour passed, during which time we discussed everything but the +business before us. Then the messenger returned with the information +that the boat was waiting for us, a couple of hundred yards or so +away, in charge of the chief officer. + +"So far, all is well," I said, and as I spoke the sound of wheels +reached us from the distance. + +"He is coming," Hermanos exclaimed, springing to his feet; then, +turning to the man who had just returned from the beach, he cried: +"Call the others, Luiz!" + +His voice shook with excitement. The words had scarcely left his lips +before Luiz gave a loud whistle. In response to it three other men +made their appearance from the wood. + +"Hermanos," I said, taking control of affairs, as the party began to +don their masks, "you and two of your men had better stand here to +stop the horses." Then turning to the others, I continued: "You two, +follow me; and, if you don't want to be recognized, let me do whatever +talking there is to be done." + +The noise made by the approaching carriage could now be distinctly +heard. At most it could not be more than a quarter of a mile away. My +heart was beating like a sledge-hammer. Closer and closer came the +vehicle, then it turned the corner, and we could plainly see its +lights. In a very few minutes it would be upon us. Without exception +we had all drawn back into the shadow of the cliff, so that they could +have no idea of our presence. Descending the little decline, the +carriage entered the cleft between the rocks. The lights from the +vehicle flashed like angry eyes upon us. + +"Stop!" I cried in Spanish, and as I did so Hermanos and his two +companions sprang into the centre of the road. The driver of the +carriage, seeing the revolvers pointed at him, pulled up his horses so +suddenly that they fell back upon their haunches. Meanwhile I had +sprung to the carriage-door and had opened it. "General Fernandez," I +cried, "you are my prisoner. I am armed, and if you move hand or foot, +I give you warning, I shall shoot you." + +Meanwhile one of my companions had taken a lamp from the socket and +had turned it upon the interior of the carriage. By its light I was +enabled to convince myself that we had made no mistake. Fernandez was +seated in the corner nearest me, and, to my great astonishment, the +Senorita was beside him. I will do the President the justice of saying +that, at such a trying moment, he comported himself like a brave man. +His voice was as calm as ever I had heard it when he addressed me. + +"Ah! so it's you, Senor Trevelyan, is it?" he said. "I thought I had +stopped your little game! What's the meaning of this?" + +"It means that the scheme you did your best to frustrate has succeeded +after all," I answered. "But I have no time to spare. I must therefore +ask you to alight without further parley. Let me assure you it would +be no use your attempting to resist. There are six of us here, and we +are all armed." + +"It is evident, then, that you have the advantage of me," he +continued, still with the same imperturbable good-humour. "Well, what +must be must, I suppose," and with that he descended from the carriage +and stepped into the road. + +Before I could stop her the Senorita had done the same. + +"Where you go I follow," she said, addressing the President. "I am +sure we can rely upon Senor Trevelyan's doing us no harm." + +"If you do as I ask you not a hair of your head shall be harmed, +Senorita," I replied. Then turning to the President once more, I +added: "Before we proceed further it would, perhaps, be as well to +make sure that you are not armed, General! We cannot afford to run any +risk." + +Fernandez gave a short laugh as he took a revolver from his pocket and +handed it to me. + +"I was going to use this upon you as soon as I had an opportunity," +he said. "I see, however, that I am not to be permitted to do so!" + +I turned to the coachman. + +"Now, off you go!" I cried. "If you stop anywhere between here and the +palace I'll take care that you hear about it later. You can tell them, +when you get there, that the President and the Senorita have gone into +the country for a change of air, and that you don't quite know when +they will be back." + +The man did not answer, but looked at Fernandez as if for +instructions. Seeing that the other did not speak, he whipped up his +horses and drove off without another word, leaving his master and +mistress prisoners with us. + +"Now we in our turn will be off," I said, as he disappeared over the +brow of the hill. "I must ask you, Senor President, to be good enough +to walk ahead. The Senorita and I will follow you." + +It was a silent little party that made its way down the hill-side +towards the beach. First walked the President with an armed man on +either side of him, his niece and myself followed next, whilst +Hermanos and two of his fellow-conspirators brought up the rear. No +one would have imagined that, only a few hours before, the Senorita +and I had been waltzing round the ball-room at La Gloria as partners, +or that the President and I had been seated amicably together +discussing the politics of Equinata in all apparent friendliness. I +must say in common fairness that, even under these trying +circumstances, the Senorita behaved herself with as much coolness as +did her fellow-prisoner. Not once did she flinch or show the least +sign of fear. + +The path from the road to the shore was an exceedingly rough one, +little better in fact than a goat-track, and as the Senorita was still +wearing her light dancing-shoes, it must have been an unenviable +experience for her. Once her dress was caught by a cactus leaf, and I +stopped to extricate it for her. I hoped that my action might break +the silence that had so far characterized our march. + +"Thank you, senor," she said gravely, and, without another word, +continued her walk. + +"Senorita," I said at last, "I can quite understand how angry you must +feel with me. I suppose it is only natural that you should be. Yet, +strange though it may appear, I cannot help feeling ashamed." + +"I am not angry, senor," she replied. "My only regret is that we +should have been so weak as to have made such a miscalculation. I +thought my uncle had caused you to be arrested?" + +"He certainly did have me arrested, but I managed to escape," I +answered. "Doubtless, if your uncle had had his way, he would have had +me shot at daybreak." + +"It is more than likely," she replied, still with the same gravity. +"And all things considered, I am not at all sure it would not have +been better for the happiness of Equinata could this event have taken +place." + +After such a speech there was not much to be said, so we continued our +walk in silence. Ten minutes later we reached the beach, walked along +it for a hundred yards or so, and then found ourselves beside the +yacht's gig, which had been pulled up on the shore to await our +coming. As soon as they saw us the boat's crew, led by the chief +officer, made their appearance from a hollow in the sand-hills where +they had been concealed. + +"Permit me to help you into the boat," I said to the Senorita, moving +towards it as I spoke. "When you are on board we can push her out into +deeper water." + +She accordingly took my hand and stepped into the boat, after which +the men ran it into the water. + +"Now, Mr. President," I continued, "if you will be so kind as to get +in, I think we had better be moving." + +He hesitated for a moment. + +"Before we do so, might I have a word with you in private, Senor +Trevelyan?" he said. "I will not detain you more than a few moments." + +I answered in the affirmative, and we moved a few paces away together. +To make sure that he played no trick upon me, I took my revolver from +my pocket and carried it somewhat ostentatiously in my hand. He +noticed the precaution and gave utterance to one of his peculiar +laughs. + +"You need have no fear," he said. "I shall not run away. My heart, as +you may have heard, is a little weak, and I am afraid a sharp run on +this sand would not tend to improve it. Let us talk here. Now, Senor +Trevelyan, I am going to put a very simple question to you. I very +naturally presume that you have been well paid by my rival, Don Guzman +de Silvestre, to effect my capture and deportation?" + +"It is scarcely necessary for me to admit that fact," I answered. +"Yes! All things considered, I am _very_ well paid." + +"Needless to remark," he continued, "I have no desire to leave +Equinata. Nor am I anxious to find myself in my old enemy's hands. The +question I wish to put to you, therefore, is this: What would your +price be to let me go?" + +"I cannot answer that question," I replied, "and for the simple reason +that I am unable to let you go at all." + +"I should be willing to pay a large sum in cash, and, what is more, I +would give you a substantial guarantee that, if you would leave La +Gloria to-morrow, I would let you depart in peace." + +"I am very sorry, General Fernandez," I said, "but I am afraid you +have made some little mistake in your estimation of my character. I +will be perfectly candid with you, and will admit that, if I could +live the past few weeks over again, I should not be treating you as I +am doing to-night. However, I have accepted Don Guzman's offer, and I +have taken his money. For that reason I cannot take yours, nor can I +let you go, glad as I should be to do so. I wonder what you would have +done with me, had I not had the good fortune to escape from the cartel +to-night?" + +"I can tell you exactly," he answered. "You would have shared your +quarters with some of your fellow-conspirators, and I should have shot +you in the morning. Experience has taught me that there is nothing +like dispatch in these matters. Strike home, and strike hard, is my +motto." + +"So I have been given to understand," I replied dryly. "And now let us +return to the boat." + +"You are still determined not to let me go?" he said. "What do you +say to an offer of twenty thousand pounds, in English money?" + +"I could not do it for fifty thousand," I replied. "Come along, sir, +the dawn will soon be here, and I am anxious to be out of Equinata +before it comes." + +He gave a little shrug of the shoulders as I spoke, and then moved +towards the boat. + +"One more question," he said before we joined the others. "Where are +you going to take me?" + +"I shall hope to be able to show you that in a very short time," I +answered. "For the present, however, it must remain a secret. Now, +sir, into the boat, if you please." + +Before he got in he turned to Don Jose de Hermanos, who was standing +with his friends by the water's edge. + +"Farewell, Don Jose," he said, as genially as if he were addressing a +valued acquaintance. "I wonder whether you and I are destined to meet +again? As you are aware, I have a good memory for both friends and +enemies! I once imagined that you and I would have been able to work +together. I believe we should have done so, had not you committed +yourself too deeply to my rival before I was able to bring my +influence to bear upon you. I should put that mask in my pocket if I +were you. You forget that you have a mole upon your chin." + +The man he addressed stepped back a pace as if he had been struck. He +had disguised himself so carefully that he thought detection was +impossible. Nevertheless, he had omitted to conceal a disfigurement on +the lower portion of his countenance that was sufficient to reveal his +identity to any one at all acquainted with him. His astonishment may +have accounted for his failure to reply to the other's speech. + +The President having taken his place beside the Senorita, I prepared +to follow him, but before doing so I held out my hand to Hermanos. + +"Good-bye, my friend," I said. "I owe you something for what you have +done for me to-night. I don't suppose we shall ever meet again, but, +if we do, I trust it may be under happier auspices." + +"I never want to see your face again," he replied, with a candour that +was somewhat remarkable. Then, lowering his voice to a whisper, he +continued: "For your own safety's sake, take care that you never come +back to Equinata. I cannot help thinking that it would have been +better if we had shot him out of hand. I fancy you will agree with me +before you have done." + +His voice must have travelled further than he intended, for the +President heard it and uttered a quiet laugh. + +"Always the same, always the same," he said mockingly. "You know what +ought to be done, but you don't do it. As somebody has said, you let +'I would' wait upon 'I dare!'" + +At the same moment a sob escaped the Senorita. This decided me, and +springing into the boat I gave the order to shove off. The crew stood +up and pushed with their oars, and a moment later we were afloat. When +the men sat down and bent to their work I glanced back at the little +group of dark figures on the beach watching us. After a few minutes +they were lost against the dark background, and I turned my head to +search for the yacht. Already the sky was paling preparatory to the +dawn, and I knew that, if we did not hasten, we should scarcely be +clear of the coast by daylight. At last we reached the yacht, and +pulled up at the accommodation ladder. + +"Allow me to help you, Senorita," I said, springing out and giving her +my hand. + +Presently we stood together on the deck. Ferguson raised his cap, and +I could see that he was more than surprised at seeing a lady standing +before him. + +"We will get away from here as soon as possible, Mr. Ferguson, if you +please," I said. "I want to be clear of La Gloria before daylight." + +"Everything is ready, sir," he replied, "and as soon as we have got +the boat aboard I'll give the order for full steam ahead." + +"In the meantime," I said, turning to the Senorita, "permit me to +escort you to the saloon. Doubtless you are ready for some supper +after your long drive." + +I was determined that my coolness should equal hers. Nothing was to be +gained by acting the part of the stern gaoler. We accordingly passed +along the deck to the saloon. The electric bell summoned the attentive +chief steward, to whom I gave orders that a meal should be prepared +for us immediately. + +I cannot attempt to make you understand how beautiful the Senorita +looked as she divested herself of her cloak and seated herself on the +luxurious divan that ran round the saloon. It must be remembered that +she had driven out from the city dressed just as she had been at the +ball, and as this thought crossed my mind I was struck with wonderment +as to what she would do for wearing apparel on board. She could not +spend the day in a low-necked dress, and with no stronger footgear +than a pair of white satin dancing-shoes. However, I postponed +consideration of the subject for the moment. Presently the steward +reappeared, the cloth was laid, and a meal placed upon the table. My +message from the cartel had given them time to prepare it, I suppose; +at any rate, it was as delightful a little supper as any one could +wish to partake of. We sat down to it, as strange a trio as you would +discover in a very long day's sail. + +Fernandez still wore his ribbon and orders; the Senorita, as I have +already observed, was in evening dress with a _collet_ of diamonds +round her neck. I also was attired just as I had been at the ball, +though my raiment was somewhat dishevelled by my encounter with the +Presidential Forces on the wharf. We had scarcely sat down at the +table before the throbbing of the propellor announced the fact that we +were under way. Almost involuntarily I looked at the President. + +"Our voyage has commenced," he said. "I drink to your health, Senor +Trevelyan!" + +I drew a long deep breath of relief. It was something to know that we +were leaving Equinata at last, and that I had got the President +aboard. Since his treatment of me that evening, I felt no remorse for +having captured him. He had admitted that he would have shot me +without compunction had I remained in his power. He could scarcely +blame me, therefore, if I experienced a feeling of delight in having +turned the tables upon him. + +"I must say your employer is by no means niggardly to you," remarked +Fernandez, when the servants had withdrawn. "As you do not provide +it, I suppose it is not a breach of good manners to observe that this +wine is excellent, while the cooking is all that can be desired." +Then, with a little sigh, whether real or assumed, he continued: "My +own _chef_ will now, I suppose, be obliged to seek another situation. +And in some respects he was unrivalled. Well, well, it's the fortune +of war!" + +"Senor Trevelyan, is there no way of arranging for our return to +Equinata?" asked the Senorita, leaning a little forward and placing +one dainty hand upon my coat-sleeve, while she looked pleadingly into +my face. + +"I am afraid not," I replied. "Don Fernandez and I have already +discussed that matter together, and have come to the conclusion that +it is impossible." + +She rose from her chair. I thought she was going to break down, but +she managed to retain her composure. + +"If you will allow me, I think I will retire to my cabin," she said. + +I rang the bell for the steward and inquired what state-room had been +set aside for the lady. He informed me, and I immediately begged +permission to conduct her thither. She bade her uncle good-night and +we set off together. When she reached the door she turned to me. + +"I feel sure you will be sorry some day for the part you have played +to-night," she remarked. "Why should you wish to take us away from the +country in which we were so happy, and for which we have done so +much?" + +"For the simple reason that I am not my own master," I replied. "I am +a paid servant, and must do as I am ordered." + +She heaved a heavy sigh, and then, without another word, turned and +entered the cabin. I thereupon returned to the saloon to find that +Fernandez had left it and had gone on deck. I discovered him upon the +bulwarks opposite the smoking-room entrance. He had just lit a cigar, +and was doubtless meditating on his position. The yacht was cleaving +her way through the water, and already the lights of La Gloria lay far +behind us. + +"What are you thinking of, General?" I inquired as I took my position +alongside him. + +"I was thinking how I could manage to outwit you," he replied. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +It was with a feeling of profound thankfulness that I turned into my +bunk that morning. The clattering of feet on deck, and the slapping of +the water against the sides, greeted my ears like the sweetest music. +Only a few hours before I had deemed myself as good as a dead man. I +had been the prisoner of a man without the bowels of compassion, and, +what was worse, I knew that I had proved myself a traitor, and had not +the ghost of a chance of effecting my escape. Now, however, I was free +once more, and in a few days my mission to Equinata would be +accomplished; after which I should be at liberty to return to England, +to marry Molly, and to settle down to a very different life to that +which I had been leading for the past few weeks. When I fell asleep, +it was to dream that I was back at Falstead once more. I was smoking a +pipe in the front garden, and Molly, seated in the shade of our +favourite tree, was reading me an account of a terrible revolution +that had taken place in the Republic of Equinata. + +"The President, Jose de Hermanos is his name," she said, "has been +assassinated. It appears that he married the niece of his predecessor, +General Fernandez!" + +That would have been strange enough in all conscience! + +Owing, I suppose, to the lateness of my retiring, I was not very early +astir, and when I reached the deck I made my way up to the bridge. It +was the second mate's watch, but I had not been there very long before +Captain Ferguson left his cabin and joined us. Thereupon the mate, +with a knowledge of what was correct under such circumstances, crossed +to the other side of the bridge, leaving us free to talk together +concerning the events of the previous night. + +"You don't know what a fright I had, Mr. Trevelyan," said the captain. +"I sent a boat ashore as directed, and after waiting an hour and a +half it returned to report that you had not put in an appearance. I +had quite made up my mind that you had been captured." + +"As a matter of fact, I was," I replied, and proceeded to give him an +outline of my adventures during the evening. + +"This will be the last of this sort of business for me," he said, +when he heard me out. "The game is far from being worth the candle. I +wonder what the end of it all will be? From what I gathered when +ashore, and also from what you have told me, I have come to the +conclusion that whatever Don Silvestre's ambition may be, he has lost +his hold upon Equinata. If he is fool enough to return, I fancy he +will find that the other's party is still too strong for him. The part +of a President of a South American Republic is not an easy one to +play." + +"The wonder to me is that they ever get any one to play it at all," I +answered. "Thank goodness, however, we have fulfilled our portion of +the contract; we have got Fernandez, and that's all that can be +expected of us." + +"I think I understood you to say that the lady who accompanies him is +a relative?" + +"She is his niece, and a very beautiful woman." + +"If you were to ask me, I should say that I was more afraid of her +than of him. Stand by and keep your eye open for squalls, would be my +motto if I had to deal with her." + +"You may be very sure that I will do that," I replied. "I think I know +the length of her ladyship's foot." + +I thought of the time we had spent together in the balcony of the +Opera House, and how strangely her seriousness had affected me. It +was difficult to believe that it had all been a mere piece of acting. + +Half-an-hour or so later, when I had left the bridge and had walked +aft, Fernandez made his appearance on deck. + +"Good-morning, senor," I said, with a bow to him. "In compliment to +you we are favoured with a delightful morning." + +"Delightful indeed," he replied, throwing a glance over the stern. "We +are well on our way, I suppose, and steering due north, I observe. Let +me see, if I am not mistaken, that should be in the direction of----" +Here he looked at me interrogatively, as if he expected me to answer +his question. + +"In the direction of New York, shall we say?" I answered. "If we +continue as we are going long enough, I have no doubt we shall see the +Goddess of Liberty holding her torch aloft." + +"The illustration is scarcely a pleasing one," he returned, "since I +am a prisoner. The Goddess of Liberty has not done very much for me. +But there, nothing is to be gained by repining! I have been in worse +positions than this before to-day, and have always managed to get out +of them with some sort of credit to myself." + +"I hope you may do so in this instance," I answered, "but not while I +have the charge of you." + +He looked at me steadily for a few seconds. + +"Do you know, Senor Trevelyan," he said at last, "I have come to the +conclusion that I like you. I did not do so at first, but my opinion +of you has changed." + +"I am very glad to hear you say so," I replied; "but I confess I can +scarcely see why you should have changed your mind regarding myself. +If there is one man in the world whom I despise, it is myself." + +"And I fancy I can understand why," he continued, still with the same +grave look upon his face. "You must not, however, think badly of +yourself, for I can assure you, you have managed this business +remarkably well. The plot was excellently arranged. There is one +thing, however, that puzzles me; that is, how Hermanos managed to +overcome the Guards at the cartel? I quite imagined that the men were +to be relied on." + +"I cannot give you any information on that point," I replied, knowing +that it was useless to endeavour to conceal the fact that Hermanos was +present on that occasion. "I had no knowledge of the affair until the +door was opened and I discovered that I was free." + +"Some day I shall hope to be even with our friend Hermanos," Fernandez +replied, more to himself than to me. "I have always had my suspicions +about the man, but I never dreamt that he would rise to such a height +as he has done in this affair. I deemed him a coward throughout." + +"And a coward he is," I answered. "He is scheming now to save his own +neck." + +"The most dangerous conspirator you can have to deal with," Fernandez +remarked. "Such a man lacks the saving grace of Ambition. He who risks +his life for fame and fortune must have something good in him, but the +individual who embarks upon a conspiracy, and who would throw over and +denounce his friends on finding that his own participation in the plot +is about to be discovered, is neither fish, flesh, nor fowl. There was +a time when I could have had Hermanos for the holding up of a finger, +but I wanted men of firmer metal, men like yourself, for instance." + +"You pay me a great compliment," I answered. "Unfortunately, however, +we met too late in the day. My services were already bespoken." + +At that moment a steward approached him with a cup of chocolate and a +roll. + +"This is luxury in bondage," he remarked as he took it. Then, with a +smile, he added: "If you had been breakfasting in the cartel this +moment, I should probably have only allowed you bread and water." + +"With a dozen bullets in my body to help me digest it," I thought to +myself. + +It was considerably past ten o'clock before the Senorita made her +appearance on deck. The question of her attire had occurred to me +earlier, and, in consequence, I had procured for her a cloth +pilot-coat from the third mate, who, as fortune had it, was only a +little fellow, and had placed it at her door. This she now wore, and +though the garment was somewhat incongruous, when the rest of her +attire was taken into consideration, the effect was by no means +unbecoming. On leaving the companion she looked about her, and then +ran her eye along the sky-line, as if in the hope of being able to +discover her whereabouts. The yacht was pitching a little at the time, +but I noticed that she balanced herself as cleverly as any old sailor +could have done. She bade us good-morning, but did not take the chair +I offered her. + +"I wonder what they are doing at the palace," she said, more to her +uncle than to myself. "I hope they will not forget to feed my poor +little birds. I wonder if I shall ever see them again?" + +"So long as there is life there is hope," replied the President. "Is +that not so, Senor Trevelyan?" + +"I believe so," I answered. "Who knows but that you may be back in La +Gloria again before many months are past. Who is likely to be +appointed President in your absence?" + +"General Sagana," Fernandez returned; "and, by the way, he was the man +who introduced you to me. I must endeavour to remember that fact when +next he and I meet!" + +The expression on his face as he said this was not altogether a +pleasant one. + +Hour after hour we steamed steadily on our course. The day was warm, +the sea as smooth as glass, and the sky a perfect blue. We passed two +vessels, but signalled neither. By midday our run totalled a hundred +and twenty-five miles, a very fair record, all things considered. As +for my passengers and myself we spent the greater part of the day +under the for'ard awning, where we amused ourselves and each other as +best we could. Had any stranger looked in upon us, he or she would +have found it difficult to realize our respective positions. I had not +the appearance of a gaoler, and no one would have guessed that the +President, leaning back in his chair, cigar in mouth, was the head of +an influential country and an abducted citizen. + +The memory of our dinner that evening will never be effaced from my +mind. It forms one of a number of strange mental pictures connected +with that more than extraordinary time. The Senorita, who had +discarded the pea-jacket I have already referred to, appeared in all +the bravery of her previous evening's apparel. The President had +perforce to follow her example, and though he had discarded his +ribbon, he still wore his orders. I on my part, out of compliment to +them, dressed myself with great care, while Captain Ferguson, who +shared the meal with us, had also made an elaborate toilet. The +beautiful saloon, the noiseless servants, the lavish table +decorations, the excellent _menu_, and the rare wines, all combined to +play their parts in a scene that must almost be without a parallel. +After dinner we adjourned to the deck above, where we seated ourselves +and smoked until bed-time. + +It would have been instructive to have known what thoughts were +passing in the minds of the various members of our party as we men lay +in our chairs upon the deck. That the Senorita was really the +President's niece I do not, and shall never believe. I have my own +reasons for making this statement, and they are fairly conclusive. The +President himself was an adventurer of the most determined +description. Ferguson was a sea captain and but little better--(he was +a married man, so I discovered later, and his wife kept a small girls' +school in a village near Plymouth), while I--well, you know all there +is to tell so far as I am concerned, so I need say no more on that +subject. Taken altogether, however, we were a queer quartette. + +At ten o'clock the Senorita declared herself sleepy and retired to her +cabin, Ferguson went up to the bridge to see how things were there, +while the President and I started to patrol the deck. In the hour that +followed I learnt more of his past life than I had ever known before. +I knew very well that his career had been an extraordinary one, but I +had never dreamt that it had been so strange as his telling made it +appear. He was born in a village near Madrid. His parents were poor +but of noble birth. In due course he entered the army, but after a +time the life of a private soldier disgusted him, and he exchanged the +profession of arms for that of an assistant to a sugar planter on the +island of St. Vincent. An unfortunate love affair with the planter's +daughter threw him upon the world again, penniless. From the island he +drifted to the mainland of South America, saw a good deal of +Revolutionary fighting, and for the first time tried his hand at the +fascinating game of politics. The result was by no means satisfactory, +for he had the misfortune to throw in his lot with the losing side. +After a certain particularly stubborn battle he was captured and +condemned to be shot--a foretaste of the fate he had arranged for me. +At the last moment, however, the sentence was commuted to penal +servitude for life, and he was sent to the mines. Eventually he was +liberated and took service with the man who, up to that time, had been +his greatest enemy. He climbed the ladder of fame, and in time he +managed to win a fair amount of power in the land; another Revolution, +however, cast this power to the winds, and sent him flying post-haste +to the islands of the Pacific. In one way and another he enlarged his +experience there, saw life as a trader, a pearler, and an agent for +the native labour traffic as he euphemistically termed it. At last he +found himself on board a schooner returning to Valparaiso. It was then +that he first met Silvestre, and for some considerable time the two +men were on the most friendly terms. Fernandez, who had been warned as +to what was shortly to happen, discovered a post for the time being as +a clerk to an auctioneer. Then came the big Revolution--Fernandez +chose the winning side, Silvestre the losing. The latter departed to +Equinata--which country at that time was just coming into +notice--while his friend remained in Chili to derive what profit he +could for himself from his loyalty to the party he had assisted into +Power. + +"As soon as I had saved sufficient money, however," he continued, "I +quitted the Republic and, after one or two other adventures with which +I will not trouble you, found myself stranded in Equinata. To my +astonishment I discovered that my old partner Silvestre had made the +best use of his time there, and by an extraordinary manipulation of +circumstances had managed to become a person of considerable +importance in the Republic. So far as I was concerned, however, there +was another _hegira_, and this time at a somewhat short notice. I next +visited the United States, afterwards crossed the Atlantic to Europe, +and, after an absence of some three years, found myself once more in +La Gloria. When I reached that country I discovered that a strange +change had taken place. Silvestre, who, though he had held a position +of some importance when I was last in Equinata, had shown no sign of +any great ability, was now President, and had even greater ambitions. +Needless to say I threw in my lot with him and----" + +"Eventually ousted him from his position?" I put in. "I have heard +that part of the story from the man himself." + +"Yes, I confess I did oust him," he answered, taking his cigar from +his mouth and knocking the ash off against the rail. "The victory is +to the strongest, and if Silvestre had been stronger than I--well--he +would have won. As it was, he fled the country. Whereupon I picked up +the reins of Government, played the game as I thought it should be +played, and now find myself and all my plans upset, I trust you will +forgive my plain speaking, by a man who only a few months ago was +chief officer on board a South American mail-boat. Who can say what +the next chapter of the story will be?" + +"Well, you have had a very good innings, and I don't see that you have +any right to complain." + +"Perhaps not," he replied. "But don't run away with the idea that, +because you've trapped me, I am beaten. I'm a long way off that! +Believe me, I know exactly how far you are concerned in the business, +and I tell you this, if you are wise, you will be advised by me, and +drop out of it as soon as you can. The time will come when Don Guzman +de Silvestre and I will have to settle accounts together, and if you +are a prudent man you will have balanced your books with him and have +departed long before that." + +"I think I am very well able to take care of myself," I remarked. + +"Ah! We all think that! Sometimes, however, we find we are wrong." + +A few moments later he bade me good-night and retired to his cabin. I +accompanied him so far as the saloon companion entrance and then +returned to my chair on deck. I had not been there many minutes before +Ferguson joined me. + +"We shall have to keep a sharp look-out on our friend, Don Fernandez," +he said, after he had lit a cigar. "I don't trust him a little bit." + +"How so?" I inquired. "What has he been up to now?" + +"Nothing very much that I know of," the captain replied, "but I have a +sort of notion that he has been endeavouring to sound some of the men +as to the chance of seizing the boat. He has said nothing outright, +but Reston (the boatswain) tells me he dropped a hint to him that a +large reward would be forthcoming if he and his niece were helped +ashore again. He has a most persuasive manner, unlimited wealth, and +there's not very much, I fancy, that he would stop at." + +"I suppose you can place implicit trust in your officers and crew?" I +said. + +"Implicit trust," he answered. "But with a man like Fernandez aboard +one cannot take too many precautions." + +"You are right," I replied. "At the same time, I must admit that I +like the man. More, perhaps, than I do--well, another gentleman with +whom we are both acquainted." + +Ferguson understood my meaning. + +"I understand," he replied. "And what's more I agree with you." + +When we had chatted for upwards of an hour I bade him good-night, and +went below to my cabin to fall asleep and dream that Fernandez had +seized the boat and was going to make me walk the plank at daylight. + +In two days we were due to arrive at the island. From the progress we +were making, and from the glimpse I had of the chart, it struck me +that we should reach San Diaz between six and seven o'clock in the +evening. + +At four o'clock on the following afternoon I was standing at the +taffrail, looking at the frothing wake astern, and thinking of +something very far removed from Equinata and her President. As a +matter of fact I was wondering how long it would be before I should +see Falstead again, and what sort of welcome I should receive from +Molly and my mother on my return, when I caught the sound of a light +footstep behind me. I turned my head to discover the Senorita. She +came and stood beside me resting her jewelled hands upon the rail. It +did not take me long to become aware that she was in one of her +curious moods. Her manner was most persuasive and seductive to a +degree, and once or twice I found myself admiring her beauty, and for +the moment forgetting how dangerous a woman she was. + +"I am afraid, Senorita," I said, "that since we danced together in the +Opera House I have fallen woefully in your estimation." + +"Why should that be so?" she answered. "I admire your resource, and +however much I may deplore it, cannot help but admire the cleverness +with which you carried out your scheme, in spite of the opposition you +received. Had you been working for us I should have offered you my +heartiest congratulations, but since we are the victims of your skill, +you can scarcely expect me to be so magnanimous. Oh! Senor Trevelyan, +how I wish I could have persuaded you to side with us. But you had +already cast in your lot with the enemy. At one time I had almost +begun to think that I was deceived in you, but the other night when +you refused my uncle's bribe I realized your real character. To a man +of such enterprise as you possess anything is possible. Have you never +experienced a longing for power yourself? If I were a man, my ambition +would be limitless. As it is, I can only admire what I see of it in +others!" + +Recalling that conversation now, it seems as plain to me as daylight +that she was doing her best to hoodwink me. I must confess, however, +that at the time I failed entirely to see through her motive. As I +have said before she was a beautiful woman, and she had the advantage +of also being an extremely clever one. No one will ever know the +temptations she placed before me that evening, and I think it says +something for my love for Molly--not to mention my sense of duty to +Silvestre, that I did not give way to her. By some mysterious means +she had discovered the bond that existed between Ferguson and myself; +she knew also that I was all-powerful aboard the yacht, and if she did +not prevail upon me to turn the boat's head about and convey them back +to Equinata, well, it was certainly not for want of trying. I proved +adamant, however, and when at last she left me and went below it must +have been with the consciousness that she had not only failed in her +scheme but had done herself harm into the bargain. + +"You have had the pleasure of my niece's company for some considerable +time," said Fernandez, when I joined him some minutes later. "I hope +you have had a pleasant and instructive conversation!" + +There was a scarcely-concealed sneer in his voice that I did not fail +to notice. + +"The Senorita has been endeavouring to undermine my loyalty to +Silvestre," I said, blurting out the truth without fear of the +consequences. "She has promised me, on your behalf, all sorts of +rewards if I will turn traitor and run the boat back to La Gloria." + +"And I gather from your tone that she was not successful," he replied. +"You are a very pillar of rectitude, my friend." + +"What is more," I continued, ignoring his sneer, and making up my mind +to let him have it from the shoulder while I was about it, "I hear +from Captain Ferguson that you have been endeavouring to tamper with +the crew. I should be sorry, senor, to be compelled to confine you to +your cabin for the rest of the voyage, but if this sort of thing +continues I fear there will be no other course left open to me." + +"You surely would not have me neglect an opportunity when it presents +itself?" he returned, still with the same curious smile upon his face. +"I have as much right to try to help myself out of this hole as you +had to get me into it. However, as your men appear to be as immaculate +and bribe-proof as their leaders, I will give you my assurance that I +will not tamper with their honour again. Will that satisfy you?" + +"As long as you stick to it," I replied. "But I warn you that I shall +keep a strict watch upon you, and if you play me false you know what +you may expect." + +From that moment I had no more trouble with either of them. The +Senorita adopted a haughty air towards me. The President, on the other +hand, made himself even more agreeable to me than he had been before. + +One day later, and, as I expected, a little before sun-down, a small +speck appeared upon the horizon. This gradually increased in size +until it developed into a small densely-wooded island. + +"That," said Ferguson, who was standing beside me on the bridge, "is +San Diaz!" + +"And, thank goodness, our destination!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +The island of San Diaz is some fifteen miles long by eight wide. From +end to end it is densely wooded; in fact, a large proportion of its +area is still primeval forest. The population numbers only a few +hundreds, and the majority of the inhabitants are black. For the most +part they are a retiring race. How they live, or what they live upon, +would at first glance seem difficult to understand; but they appear to +enjoy life in their harmless way, and, being cut off from certain +doubtful blessings of our so-called Civilization, they generally +manage to elude the clutches of old Boney for a longer space of time +than do their brethren in better known and more popular climes. + +As I observed at the close of the preceding chapter, I was on the +bridge with Ferguson when we first sighted the island. After a close +consultation of the chart that he held in his hand, he put his helm +up, and hugged the shore for a distance of something like five miles. +Then, finding himself at the entrance of a fair-sized bay, he turned +in and prepared to seek an anchorage. The view from the deck at that +moment was a very pleasing one. First the blue water of the bay, then +a white beach, after which the ground began to ascend until it +reached, in a somewhat precipitous slope, a plateau at an elevation of +something like two hundred feet above sea-level. On this plateau, +nestling among the trees, stood a long white house, with several +smaller buildings clustered round it. As we watched, the report of a +firearm reached us from the settlement, followed by another and yet +another in quick succession. It was the signal I had arranged for with +Silvestre, and it proclaimed the fact that he was aware of our +arrival. + +"I'm a bit distrustful about the soundings," said Ferguson, as we +steamed slowly in. "This chart is no sort of good. However, I don't +think we can do much harm here." + +Then holding up his hand to the chief mate, who was in charge of the +anchor on the fo'c'sle-head, he signalled to him to let go. The roar +of the cable through the hawse-hole followed, and a few seconds later +the yacht was at anchor. When the vessel was stationary I descended +the ladder from the bridge to find the President and the Senorita +leaning on the port-bulwarks attentively studying the shore. Still +Fernandez showed no sign of any sort of trepidation. Yet he must have +realized how dangerous was his position. He had admitted that he had +done Silvestre a great wrong, and he could scarcely fail to be aware +that the latter, having him at his mercy, would be certain to +retaliate. Yet here he was chattering as coolly with the Senorita as +if he were sitting on the terrace at his palace in La Gloria. The man +was the possessor of an iron nerve which nothing could shake. +Moreover, as he had informed me on another occasion, he was a +fatalist. + +"What is arranged will certainly happen," he had then remarked to me. +"If I am to be assassinated in the street, it is quite certain I shall +not be drowned at sea. If I am to die in my bed, it will not be on the +battlefield. Why should I worry myself if the end is ordained for me?" + +When he had seen everything secure, Ferguson left the bridge and +joined us. + +"Are you going ashore, Mr. Trevelyan," he inquired, "or will you wait +on board until they send out to us?" + +"I think it would be better to wait," I replied. + +"If I am not mistaken, they are launching a boat now," Fernandez +remarked. + +What he said was correct. Several men had descended the steep path +from the plateau already mentioned, and were even then running a boat +across the sands towards the water. When she was afloat, they hung +about her as if not certain what to do next. A few seconds later, +however, a man, dressed in white, appeared from among the trees and +joined them. He entered the boat, whereupon it began to move towards +us. As she approached I noticed that she was pulled by four stalwart +negroes, and that the man steering her was not Silvestre as I had +expected, but a younger man, and a mulatto. As soon as the boat +reached the ladder, he sprang nimbly on to the grating and ran up to +us. + +"Senor Trevelyan!" he said, looking from one to the other of us as if +to discover whom he should address. + +"That is my name," I answered. "Have you a message for me?" Before he +replied, he took me on one side. + +"Don Guzman de Silvestre is not well," he said. "He bids me say, +however, that you had better bring your prisoner up to the house +without delay." + +"He is not aware, of course, that a lady has accompanied us?" I +remarked. + +The other shook his head, and then turned his eyes in the direction of +the spot where the Senorita was standing. + +"He will not be pleased," he said. + +I felt that I would give something to know what preparations Silvestre +had made for Fernandez' reception; but I did not put any questions to +the messenger, feeling that in all probability his master had given +orders to him to be silent. + +"Can you carry four people in the boat?" I inquired, going to the side +and looking down at the craft in question. + +"Half-a-dozen, if you wish," he answered; "she will not sink with us." + +I thereupon went back to the President. + +"If you are quite ready, I think we will land at once," I said. "It +will be dark very soon." + +He shrugged his shoulders, and remarked that he would go below and +fetch his cloak. The Senorita suggested that she should follow his +example. Fearing that there was a possible chance of their outwitting +me at the last moment, I declared that I could not hear of their +taking so much trouble, and thereupon despatched one of the stewards +in search of the articles in question. When they were brought on deck, +we descended to the boat alongside and started for the shore. + +As soon as we reached it, I sprang from the boat and helped the +Senorita to disembark. Then, guided by the half-caste, whose name I +discovered was Manuel, we set to work to climb the steep ascent to the +buildings I had seen from the yacht. If the descent at Horejos had +been steep, this was ten times more so. The path, if path it could be +called, was one long climb, and wound its way in and out through the +thick undergrowth in a most disconcerting and leg-wearying fashion. + +At last, when the whole party were out of breath, and the Senorita +quite exhausted, we tottered on to the plateau on which the houses +were situated. The principal building, that in the centre, was a long +low affair surrounded, so far as I could see, by a broad verandah; +that to the left was plainly the servants' quarters, while the +ramshackle huts, still further away, were probably the dwellings of +the native hands. Crossing the open space, Manuel led us towards the +largest building. The place was much fallen to decay, but it was still +quite habitable. French windows opened from the rooms into the +verandah, and towards one of these we were conducted. Opening it, and +standing in the entrance, he signed to the President and the Senorita +to pass into the room. I followed them, and when he had entered, he +carefully closed the windows after us. We found ourselves in a large +room, having a polished floor, whitewashed walls, and a raftered roof, +the latter without a ceiling. A large table stood in the centre of +the room, there were half-a-dozen curious chairs scattered about, +while in the corner beside the door was a wicker-couch, upon which a +man was stretched out at full length. One glance was sufficient to +tell me that he was Don Guzman de Silvestre, but so changed that, had +I not expected to see him, I doubt if I should have recognized him. +His face was pinched and haggard, his eyes shone with an unnatural +brilliance, while his hands trembled as if with the palsy. + +"Welcome, Trevelyan, I congratulate you," he cried, as I entered the +room. "You have fulfilled your mission admirably." Then, turning to +his old enemy, he continued: "And so, my dear Fernandez, we meet +again, do we? It is long since we last saw each other. But, stay, who +is the lady? What is she doing here?" + +I gave him the necessary information, whereupon he raised himself upon +his couch. + +"I am more than honoured," he remarked. "I did not anticipate such a +pleasure. I presume, Trevelyan, you could not catch one without the +other? Was not that so?" + +In reply, I admitted that it was, whereupon he bade Manuel move a +chair forward for the Senorita, then, turning to Fernandez, he began +once more. + +"Yes, it is certainly a long time since we had the pleasure of +meeting," he said. "Let me see, I wonder if I can recall the day. It +was the anniversary of the battle of Pladova, was it not? I had +arranged to preside at a banquet that evening in celebration of the +great event. You called upon me in the morning, professing great +friendship. Prior to that you had undermined all my officials, and had +arranged that, at the conclusion of the banquet, I was to be arrested, +whereupon you were to proclaim yourself Dictator." + +"I am glad to observe that, however poor your health may be, your +memory is as good as ever," Fernandez replied. "You have described the +situation exactly." + +"Yes," Silvestre continued, "I have an excellent memory! Unfortunately +for your scheme, however, I happened to hear of it in time. At the +last moment a sudden indisposition kept me at the palace, and +prevented my being present at the dinner. So anxious were you +concerning the state of my health that you called at the palace later +to inquire after my welfare, only to find that I had taken time by the +forelock and had effected my escape. It was a pity, for I fancy you +would have found it more profitable to have shot me, and so have put +me out of harm's way at once." + +"It certainly was rather a pity we could not do so," said the +President, "but you can have your revenge now. What are your +intentions regarding myself?" + +"I must take time to think that matter over," Silvestre replied. "The +account I have to settle with you is a long one, and I am not the man, +as you know, to do things in a hurry." + +I saw the Senorita look at him with a light in her eyes like that of a +beautiful trapped animal. She was trying to appear calm, but from the +way in which she laced and interlaced her fingers, I could see the +strain under which she was labouring. + +"If there is likely to be anything disagreeable," said Fernandez, "I +should be glad if you would get it over at once. Nothing is to be +gained by delaying matters." + +"As I said just now, I must have time to think it over," the other +replied. "Upon one thing, however, you can make up your mind, you will +never see Equinata again." + +"At the present moment it certainly does not seem very probable that I +shall," Fernandez answered, still with the same good-humour. "And now +with regard to another matter! What are your intentions concerning +this lady?" + +He made a movement with his hands towards the Senorita as he spoke. + +"She shall, of course, be treated with all due consideration and +respect," Silvestre returned. "Let that content you!" + +He turned to Manuel, who was standing at the window, and bade him call +the guards into the room. The latter accordingly made his way into the +verandah, and shouted something in a dialect with which I was not +familiar. In response to his summons, four gigantic negroes, armed +with rifles (they had evidently been waiting somewhere in the +immediate vicinity) stalked into the room. Without waiting for +instructions, they took their places on either side of Fernandez. My +first fear was that they were going to dispatch the ex-President there +and then. Silvestre must have realized what was passing in my mind, +for he laughed and said: + +"You need have no fear, my friend. I am not going to do him any +violence. Let him be conveyed to the hut," he continued to Manuel, +"and be sure that the door is locked when you come away. Place a +sentry over him, and bring me the key. Allow me to wish you +good-evening, Don Fernandez, and may pleasant dreams attend your +slumbers." + +The Senorita had risen, and had taken a step towards Silvestre. She +tried to speak, but failed in the attempt. At last she sank back in +her chair with an ashen face, and then Fernandez was led away. + +"Trevelyan, my dear fellow, may I ask you to be so good as to go to +that door and clap your hands twice," said Silvestre, when the other +had disappeared. + +I did so, and after a few moments had elapsed an elderly negress, +whose curly hair was almost snow-white, put in an appearance. In all +my experience of the African race I had never seen so hideous a +creature. + +"Palmyre," Silvestre began, "take this lady to a room and prepare it +for her." Then to the Senorita he continued: "If there is anything I +can do to promote your comfort, pray command me. I deeply regret that +my health is not sufficiently good to permit of my attending to +matters myself. Doubtless you will be gracious enough to take the will +for the deed." + +She did not answer, but followed Palmyre from the room. When they had +disappeared Silvestre turned to me. + +"You have managed the affair most excellently, friend Helmsworth," he +said. "I congratulate you heartily. Now tell me exactly what happened. +Remember I have no knowledge of your doings since we bade each other +good-bye in London." + +I thereupon set to work and gave him a description of my adventures. + +"You certainly had a narrow escape of it in the cartel," he remarked +when I had finished. "Had Hermanos not rescued you so opportunely, +Fernandez would have shot you without remorse. I wish, however, that +you had not been compelled to bring the Senorita with you. But perhaps +it was for the best. If you had left her behind, she would have made +mischief. You must have had a queer voyage with those two. I wonder +what your sweetheart in England would have said, could she have looked +in upon you?" + +"We will leave her out of the question, if you don't mind," I said +quietly. + +There was a time when I had liked and even admired the man, but two or +three things I had heard during my stay in Equinata, and the fiendish +pleasure he had just taken in gibing at his fallen enemy, had produced +in me a feeling that was very near akin to loathing. + +"Don Guzman," I began, more seriously than I had yet spoken, "I trust +you will bear in mind the promise you gave me in England!" + +"And what promise was that?" he asked suspiciously. + +"You gave me your most positive assurance that no violence of any sort +should be used towards the man who is now in your power!" + +"And I am not aware that I have said that any violence would be used," +he answered angrily. "What makes you think that I want to harm him? +Didn't I tell you that my only desire is to keep him out of harm's way +until I have once more grasped the reins of government in Equinata? +Your part of the business is finished, and to-morrow I will pay you +the reward I promised you. Hand me up that quinine, there's a good +fellow. I've suffered agonies from this cursed fever for the last +three days. It's just my luck to be struck down just at the moment +when it is necessary for me to be most active!" + +I helped him to a dose of the medicine. + +"Where will you live during the time you are here?" he asked at last. +"Ashore or on board the yacht?" + +"I should prefer the yacht if----" + +"If you thought you could depend on my not knocking those miserable +beggars on the head in the meantime, I suppose? Come, come," he +continued with a laugh, "if you go on like this, I shall begin to +think that the ex-President's niece has proved herself more dangerous +than I at first imagined." + +Then, doubtless seeing from my face that he was venturing on dangerous +ground, he made haste to appease me. + +"Don't take offence at a harmless jest, my dear fellow," he said. "You +know very well I don't mean it." + +Then, vowing that he was too ill to talk any more just then, he bade +me good-bye, promising to see me on the morrow, if I would come up. +Before I went, however, I had a proposition to make to him. I did not +like to leave the Senorita in his hands, so I begged that he would +allow her to return to the yacht, giving as an excuse the plea that +she would enjoy greater comfort there. + +"There is not the least necessity," he replied. "She will be very well +taken care of here. Just for the present I prefer to have the lady +under my own eye. Sailors are impressionable beings, and there is no +telling what ideas she might put into their heads. Remember me to +Ferguson and the others, and be sure to be up here by eleven in the +morning. Good-night!" + +I thereupon left him and returned by the path to the beach below. The +niggers who had brought us ashore had departed, so taking my boat-call +from my pocket I blew a shrill blast upon it. They must have heard me +on the yacht, for a boat was immediately lowered and sent off to fetch +me. Arriving on board I went in search of Ferguson, to whom I stated +that I did not at all like the look of things ashore. I communicated +to him my fear that Silvestre, in spite of the assurance he had given +me to the contrary, contemplated doing some mischief to Fernandez. + +"I should not be at all surprised if he did," my companion replied. +"The two men have a lot to settle between them, and Silvestre is not +the sort of man to forget or to forgive an injury." + +"But he gave me his word of honour, when I undertook the task of +getting the President out of the country, that he only meant to keep +him locked up until all chance of his upsetting matters in Equinata +was past and done with." + +"They say that promises, like pie-crust," Ferguson returned, "are made +to be broken. I wonder what Silvestre's promises are like? Heigho! I +shall be thankful when I have done with the whole concern." + +"And when do you think that will be?" + +"When I have landed Don Guzman on the mainland," he replied. "Then I +have to take this vessel back to a certain northern port, and to hand +her over to a man who is to meet her there. After that, old England, +and, if Allah wills, a life of an entirely different description." + +Next morning I returned to the house on the hill, to find Silvestre's +health much improved, and his prisoners, as he found early occasion to +inform me, still alive. + +"The lady," he said, "treated me to a pretty specimen of her temper +last night. She wouldn't leave her room, and declined to eat her food. +Realizing that it was not the least use arguing with her, I left her +to her own devices. Her condition, I understand, has somewhat improved +this morning." + +Presently he produced from his pocket a bundle of bank-notes, which he +handed to me. + +"Here is the payment I promised you for your work in Bank of England +notes," he said. "Just run your eye over them, will you, and see that +the amount is right?" + +A few moments' investigation convinced me that the notes in question +amounted to the value of five thousand pounds. As I dropped the bundle +into the inside pocket of my coat, I reflected that it would be a big +sum to carry about with me continually. As I had no safer place, +however, I had to put up with it. + +"And now there's a question I want to put to you," I said. "My work is +at an end, so when will it be possible for me to leave for England?" + +"You can go when you like," he answered. "You will find that I am +prepared to stick to my side of the contract as faithfully as you have +done to yours. Shall we say the day after to-morrow? If that will suit +you, the yacht can take you across to Cuba, drop you on the coast +after dark, and you can then find your way to Santiago, or elsewhere, +as you please." + +"The day after to-morrow will suit me admirably," I replied. "As you +may suppose, I am all anxiety to get home. And when do _you_ propose +sailing for Equinata?" + +"When the yacht returns," he answered. "I desire to get to business as +soon as possible." + +"And do you still think that you will be successful in your +enterprise?" + +"Why not?" he asked. "I have run the risk before, and I am going to do +so again. I've got some powerful friends at my back, and with one or +two of my worst enemies, Fernandez and his niece, for instance, out of +the way, I am fairly confident I shall be able to manage it. I suppose +it would be no use asking you to come with me? I could make it worth +your while to do so." + +"I would not go with you for all the money in the world," I answered. +"I have had enough of Equinata to last me a lifetime. I never want to +see the place again." + +"Our tastes differ, I see; for I am as anxious to settle there for the +remainder of my existence as you are to remain away from it." + +That afternoon I went for a somewhat lengthy stroll through the +island. I was ill at ease, and I wanted to make up my mind, if +possible, as to how I should act with regard to Fernandez and the +Senorita. Common humanity forbade that I should callously leave the +island and abandon them to the fate I felt sure awaited them. Yet how +could I remain, and what good could I do if I did so? I knew that in +his heart Ferguson was well disposed towards me, but even if he were +would he dare to interfere? And again, if he did would the others take +sides with us or with Silvestre? By the time I reached the beach once +more I had come to no sort of decision. For the time being I gave the +matter up as a bad job. I was in the act of stepping into the boat +that was to take me on board, when a shout from the wood behind +attracted my attention. It emanated from Ferguson. When he reached the +boat I noticed that he was deathly pale, and that there was a look in +his eyes I had never seen there before. + +"What is the matter?" I asked. "You look as if you had seen a ghost!" + +"Hush! I'll tell you when we get on board," he replied. "It would be +impossible to do so now." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Of one thing you may be sure; that was the fact that I was more than +anxious to hear what Ferguson had to tell me. That the man was very +much upset I could see, while the hint he had given me in the boat, +concerning certain tidings he had to tell me, frightened me beyond +measure. Immediately on reaching the yacht I took him to the saloon +and poured him out a stiff glass of grog. He drank it off, and when he +had done so, seemed the better for it. + +"Now come along to the chart-room," I said, "and let me hear what you +have to say. We shall be alone there, and I gathered from your manner +that what you have to tell me will not bear the presence of +eavesdroppers." + +"Come along then," he replied. "Let us go up there at once, I shall +not rest happy until I have shared this with you." + +We accordingly left the saloon and ascended to the bridge. Once in the +chart-room, and when we had shut the door carefully behind us, I +seated myself on the chart locker, while Ferguson took possession of +the couch. + +"Now then, go ahead," I said. "What have you discovered?" + +"It's the most fiendish plot I ever heard of," he replied. "I would +not have believed a man could have thought of anything so vile. If I +had not chanced to stray where I did no one would have been the wiser. +And then----" He stopped abruptly, as if the thought were too much for +him. + +"But you have not told me yet what it is you have heard," I continued, +with some sort of impatience. + +He rose and went to the door, opened it, looked outside, and then +returned once more to his place on the couch. + +"This afternoon, as you know," he began, leaning forward on his seat, +as if he were desirous that no one but myself should hear, "I went +ashore to see Silvestre. He was anxious, he said, to consult me +concerning the business of taking you to Cuba, and also about the +landing of himself and the others on the Equinata coast. I had a long +talk with him, during which he was all graciousness and condescension. +Butter wouldn't have melted in his mouth. He praised all the services +we had rendered him. You can have no idea how pleasant he was. When he +became President, I was to have command, if I wished it, of an +Equinata man-o'-war, etc., and above all others I was to be his +trusted naval adviser. No post could be too big for me." + +"It sounds very nice, but he also endeavoured to advise me to return +with him," I said. + +"And what reply did you give him?" Ferguson inquired. + +"I gave him to understand that I would not go back to Equinata for all +the money in the world," I said. "I had had quite enough of the place +to last me a lifetime." + +"That was my reply exactly," Ferguson replied. "The next time they see +me there of my own free will, they may treat me as they please." + +"Well, never mind that, continue your story," I returned. "What is it +you have discovered?" + +"Well, after I left Silvestre, I had the misfortune--or the good +fortune--as you may consider it, to miss my way. How I came to do so I +am unable to say. It is sufficient that I did. You know how thick the +jungle is up there! Well! instead of taking the track that brings one +down to where we embark, I branched off to the left, and found myself +stranded in as thick a bit of scrub as ever I have seen in my life. It +was hot enough to roast the scalp on your head, and I was just +beginning to think of turning back, when I heard a voice come from +thick bushes on my right. 'Hulloa, what on earth is he doing there?' +I said to myself, for I recognized it as belonging to Manuel, the +half-caste. The words I heard him utter made me more than a bit +suspicious." + +"What was it he said?" I inquired. + +"'You can do it easily, nobody will ever find out,'" Ferguson replied. +"'But I can't, I can't,' a woman's voice answered. It was old Palmyre, +the negress, who spoke. 'You'd better do it, or he'll cut your throat +as he would a pig's,' Manuel continued. 'Why do you argue about the +matter? You know very well that you are out here gathering the herbs +yourself.' 'But their spirits will haunt me,' cried the old woman. +That made me all attention, you may be sure. The half-caste uttered an +oath in reply. The spirit that would haunt him would have to be a +fairly potent one. 'What does it matter,' he went on; 'you will be +well paid for it.' For a few seconds nothing more was said, but as I +listened I heard something that sounded very like a sob. Whatever he +was trying to persuade the old negress to do, it was very plain that +she did not relish the job. Presently she whispered, 'When must it be +done?' 'As soon as Silvestre leaves in the yacht,' the other replied. +'What difficulty is there in it? All you have to do is to stew the +herbs and to slip them into their food. You'll be a rich woman for +the rest of your life.' After that they moved further away from me, +and I came down to the boat." + +"Good heavens!" I cried, the awful truth coming to me in a flash. +"Silvestre intends to poison them." + +"There is not much doubt about that," said Ferguson. "When you are out +of the way and he has left for Equinata, the Senorita and President +will never trouble him or any one else again. And as far as I can see +nothing can save them!" + +"It's too horrible! It's devilish," I cried, springing to my feet. "He +took his oath to me that not a hair of their heads should be harmed." + +"He wished you to take his words literally, you see," Ferguson +returned. "He said nothing about giving each of them a dose of poison. +Look at the matter from his point of view. As long as they live they +are his enemies and he is not safe. He owes Fernandez a deadly grudge +and he means to pay it." + +"But what is to be done? We cannot let them be murdered in cold blood. +Human nature couldn't stand that. And yet if he knows that we are +aware of his plot, he will take means to prevent our interfering and +kill them out of hand. For God's sake, Ferguson, advise me!" + +"I don't see exactly what we can do," he replied sorrowfully. +"Silvestre has got us in a cleft stick and we can't help ourselves." + +"But surely you are not going to stand by and allow him to carry out +his fiendish plot?" I returned hotly. "I can't believe that of you!" + +"But you don't know what Silvestre is," said Ferguson, not daring to +meet my eyes. "It would be madness to thwart him." + +"If I don't know what he is," I retorted, "I at least know what I am. +I brought these unfortunate people here. He shall not harm them, if it +costs me all I have on earth, even life itself. And what is more, if +you're a man you'll help me." + +"But what can I do?" he answered helplessly. "I have always been +considered a fairly plucky fellow. I must confess, however, that this +business is too much for me. I've a wife and family to think of, you +know!" + +"Your wife would despise you above all living men if she knew that you +were a party to the murder of that woman," I answered. + +He scratched his chin and looked at me in a perplexed way. It was +evident to me that I must not expect very much assistance from him. + +"To my mind a man ought to think of his wife and children before +anything else," he said at last, in a tone of apology. "If anything +happens to me what is to become of them? I'm beginning to think I was +a fool to have told you anything about it!" + +"Not a bit of it," I answered. "There, at least, you did an honest +action. Don't spoil it by drawing back." + +This only elicited his old query. + +"But what can we do?" + +"We must get them out of the island before Silvestre can do them a +mischief," I replied. + +"And pray how is that to be done?" + +"A way must be found," I answered. "Surely it should not be so very +difficult. Remember, Ferguson, I did you a good turn once. Repay it +now by helping me to save them. If they die, their deaths will be at +our doors. For my part, if that happens I shall never know a moment's +peace again, or be able to look an honest man or woman in the face. I +worked for Silvestre because I had given him my promise to do so, and +had taken his money; he has repaid it by breaking his oath to me. By +jove! whether I am bound to him or not, I will prevent him from +carrying out this terrible crime." + +I could see that, and also realized, that whatever Ferguson's desire +might be to help me, he was not willing to run any great risks +himself. + +"I must have time to think it over," he said. "In the meantime keep +your own counsel. If a hint of this gets about we are done for." + +I did not reply, but left him and went below to my cabin, where I +threw myself down on my bunk and set to work to try and think the +question out. What a fool I had been to mix myself up in the matter at +all. One moment's thought should have told me that Silvestre was not +the sort of man to have any mercy upon his enemy. A dozen plans for +effecting the escape of the President and Senorita formed themselves +in my mind, only to be thrown aside at once as useless. Then the gong +sounded for dinner and I made my way to the saloon. I had just set +foot inside the companion, when a voice I knew so well, and had now +learned to hate, greeted me. + +"Good-evening, my friend," said Silvestre cheerily. "I have come +aboard to be your guest this evening. As my fever has left me, I +thought a little sea air and congenial society would do me no harm. +Shall we go in to dinner?" + +For a moment I was so surprised at seeing him that I could not answer. +I followed him, however, to the saloon, where I found that three +places had been laid. A few minutes later Ferguson made his appearance +and we sat down to our meal. As we did so I shot a glance at the +other's face. It was plain from the expression upon it that +Silvestre's presence had alarmed him considerably. + +"We should really have invited the Senorita to join us," said +Silvestre, as he spread his serviette over his knees. "Senor +Fernandez, I regret to say, is suffering from a slight attack of fever +to-day. I have prescribed for him, however, and trust he will be +himself shortly." + +As he said this I glanced sharply at him. Was he commencing his awful +crime already? The mere thought of it was sufficient to take my +appetite away. Had I been able to follow my own inclinations, I should +have laid down my knife and fork and have risen from the table without +touching another morsel. Prudence, however, bade me remain where I +was. I shot a glance at Ferguson, to find him wiping his face with his +handkerchief. Silvestre was also watching him. + +"The evening is very hot," said the captain, by way of excuse, "very +hot indeed." + +"I agree with you," Silvestre returned dryly. "If I am not mistaken, +we shall have a thunderstorm later." + +During the remainder of the repast Silvestre continued to converse in +very much his usual fashion. He did not refer again, however, to the +prisoners. At ten o'clock he left for the shore, but before he did so, +he bade me be ready to start for Cuba on the following afternoon. I +tried to invent an excuse for remaining longer, but one would not come +to my hand. + +"Needless to say I am anxious to get on to Equinata with all +dispatch," said Silvestre. "I cannot do so until I have carried out my +promise to you." + +"Why not go first and let the yacht come back for me?" I suggested. "I +am in no particular hurry." + +"I could not dream of such a thing," he answered politely. "It would +be better for you to go at once. Indeed, I have this evening given the +necessary instructions to Ferguson." + +After that there was nothing more to be said. + +As he went down the accommodation ladder an idea occurred to me. His +boat was not more than a dozen lengths from the yacht's side before I +had made my way up the ladder to the bridge and had entered the +chart-room. Above the chart-locker was a shelf on which were kept the +books of reference needful for the navigation of the yacht. In a fever +of impatience I ran my eye along them until I came upon the volume I +wanted. To consult the index and discover a certain island was a +question of a few moments. I read what the book had to say regarding +it, but I was not greatly relieved by so doing. Communication with the +island was evidently only a matter of chance. I thereupon took the +chart of that particular part of the Carribean Sea and studied it +attentively. The nearest island to San Diaz was that of Asturia, +distant something like a day and a half's steam. It was comforting to +learn that numerous trading boats touched there. Let me go at once, as +Silvestre had proposed, and, instead of proceeding to Cuba, induce +Ferguson to put into this island. If luck favoured me, I could charter +a vessel there and return to San Diaz to rescue the President and the +Senorita. Having once thought of this plan, I was eager to put it into +execution. I determined, however, to say nothing to Ferguson until the +morrow, and only then when we were well out at sea. Friendly though +the little man was to me, I had seen enough of him to feel sure that +it would need but little pressure from Silvestre to undermine that +friendship. + +Next morning I left the yacht and went ashore to bid Silvestre +farewell. I could very well have dispensed with this ceremony, but I +was afraid of arousing his suspicions. I found him seated in the +verandah of his house when I arrived, a cigar in his mouth, and a book +in his hand. He greeted me pleasantly enough. As I looked at him I +could not help recalling the evening when I had seen him seated in the +little summerhouse of the inn at Falstead. How many things had +happened since that memorable afternoon! + +He rose to receive me and held out his hand. + +"I wonder whether we shall ever see each other again, Helmsworth?" he +said, when I had seated myself. "You have done me a great service, and +in the name of the people of Equinata I thank you for it. You will +return to Falstead at once, I suppose," he went on, after a short +pause, "marry the girl of your heart, and settle down to shire life. I +wonder what my fate will be?" + +I thought that if Fernandez managed to escape, I could hazard a very +good guess. Before leaving him I touched upon the old subject, in +order to see what his reply would be. + +"I presume you will not permit me to say farewell to your prisoners," +I said. + +"It would not be wise," he answered. "Fernandez, as I told you last +night, is down with fever, and the Senorita is not in the best of +tempers just now. However, I will convey all sorts of kind messages to +them from you when next I see them." + +I rose from my chair. + +"Don Guzman," I began, trying to speak calmly, "you are not playing me +false, are you? If any harm should befall Fernandez and his niece, +remember you will have all Civilization against you." + +At this he fairly lost his temper. + +"_Madre de Dios_, man," he cried, "do you want to make me angry with +you? Why do you harp so continually on this string? I have told you, +and reiterated the fact, that I do not intend to harm them. If I did, +don't you think I should have done so ere this? What's more, Mr. +Helmsworth, let me just give you a word of advice. When you return to +England, be sure you keep a silent tongue in your head. I can be a +good friend, and a particularly bitter enemy. I've a long arm, and +when I strike I strike deep. But there, my dear fellow, don't let us +quarrel at the time we're about to say farewell to each other. We must +part friends. Is it time for you to go? Then good-bye, and may good +fortune go with you." + +When I left him I made my way towards the path leading to the beach. +As I crossed the open space in front of the house, I turned my eyes in +the direction of the hut where Fernandez was confined. One of the +gigantic negroes that I had seen on the day of our arrival at the +island was standing on guard, rifle in hand, before it. Silvestre, I +knew, was watching me from the verandah, so there was no chance of +being able to communicate with the prisoner. I accordingly continued +my walk down to the beach. Two hours later the yacht was steaming out +of harbour, and so far as Silvestre knew, I was on my way to England +_via_ Cuba. + +As I have already observed, it is a day and a half's steam from San +Diaz to the nearest island--Asturia. The latter is, if anything, +slightly bigger than its neighbour. It is certainly more prosperous. +Lying in the track of ships it has a number of visitors, and trade is +consequently fairly brisk--the principal exports being a peculiar +species of hard wood, and a small quantity of sugar, for which product +the soil is well adapted. + +It was not until we had been several hours at sea that I broached the +subject that was uppermost in my mind to Ferguson. For reasons already +stated I was by no means certain how he would receive it. Would his +friendship for myself be sufficiently strong to stand the test? +However, the matter had to be decided, one way or the other, and what +was more there was no time to be lost. I accordingly took advantage of +the opportunity that presented itself, and came to business. He heard +me out in silence, but there was an expression upon his face that told +me he was not particularly in love with my proposal. Indeed, between +ourselves, I don't see how he could have been. + +"Look here, Mr. Helmsworth Trevelyan, or Trevelyan +Helmsworth--whatever you please to call yourself--as I understand it +you are asking me to do a thing I have never done before. In other +words you are asking me to go back upon the man whose money I am +taking." + +"Oh! come, now----" + +"Just one moment before you reply. Let me put it in my own way, and +you can work it out as you like afterwards. I can't see for myself +that there is any other construction to be placed upon your proposal. +You'll admit, I suppose, that Silvestre is my employer? I am here to +run this boat according to his orders, and my instructions are to take +you to Cuba and to land you there. You want me to disregard them, and +to drop you at Asturia." + +"But surely----" + +"Hold hard until I have finished. You know that I'm not a particular +squeamish fellow. I've done a good many things that a number of people +wouldn't even look at; but--and mark you this 'but' is fairly +important, if I've got to choose between you and Silvestre--friendship +steps in and Silvestre goes to the wall. At the same time I don't mind +confessing that it's far from a nice position you have placed me in. +The world won't be big enough for me to hide in when it comes to +getting away from Silvestre. And when you come to think I've a wife +and family at home all depending upon me, I'll leave you to figure out +how much you value Fernandez' life at." + +This was a way of looking at the question that I had not foreseen. + +"But I cannot go away and leave the man there to be murdered," I +began. "Flesh and blood wouldn't allow that." + +"Very well, then let us say no more about it. It's settled that I run +into Asturia and that you go ashore there." + +"And after that?" + +"I shall go on to Cuba!" + +"Give me all the time you can," I said. "I've a big bit of work before +me when I get back to the island." + +"And I wish you joy of it." + +Darkness had fallen when we reached the island. I was anxious, +however, to lose no time, and determined to land at once. Immediately +on dropping anchor, therefore, I asked Ferguson to put me ashore. This +he willingly consented to do, and in due course I found myself with my +baggage on the beach. When I had seen the boat depart, I made my way +into the town. It was a queer little place, built on the side of a +hill, and with, so far as I could see, a very sparse white population. + +From a negro boy I inquired my way to the principal hotel, if there +should happen to be more than one. He grinned expansively and offered +to conduct me to it. It proved to be only a short distance away and +faced the sea-front. I rewarded the boy, entered it, and made my way +into the bar. The landlord was a Spaniard, and about as villainous a +specimen of his race as I'd ever seen. I told him I had just arrived, +and that I was anxious to charter a schooner at once, and inquired +whether he could help me in the matter, promising to reward him +liberally should he do so. + +As it happened, he declared that he knew of exactly the sort of vessel +I wanted. I inquired the owner's name and asked the landlord where she +could be seen. + +"She's anchored about a couple of cables from the pier, senor," he +replied, "and she is the property of my good friend, Maxime Blonde. +Maxime was lamenting to me only this evening that, having no cargo, he +must return to Martinique empty." + +"Where can I find him?" + +"On board, senor." Then, scenting business, he continued: "If you wish +it, I will escort you to him." + +To this I willingly agreed, and then, when he had called his wife to +take charge of the saloon, and a negro to accompany him, we made our +way to the pier. A boat was soon discovered, and in her, rowed by the +negro, we set off for the _La Belle Josephine_ of Martinique. + +She proved to be a small fore-and-aft schooner of about fifty tons, +nattily built, so far as I was able to judge in the darkness, and very +well suited to my purpose. + +"Maxime, Maxime Blonde," screeched the hotel keeper, "a senor to see +you on business. Come forth!" + +"What now?" cried a voice from the cabin aft. "Who is it calls Maxime +at this time of night?" + +The hotel keeper went aft and explained matters. Presently he returned +and invited me to follow him to the cabin. Of all the dirty holes it +has been my misfortune to enter this was certainly the worst. Straw, +paper, and banana peel littered the floor. On the right-hand side of +the cabin was a narrow bunk, upon which a small, shrivelled-up mulatto +was seated. He explained that he was Monsieur Maxime, and that he was +owner and captain of the vessel. Being unable to bear the closeness of +the cabin I suggested that we should do our business on deck, and +thither the little man followed me. In something under a quarter of an +hour my arrangements were made with him, and it was settled that we +should sail for San Diaz at daybreak. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Of our voyage from the island of Asturia to San Diaz there is little +to chronicle. _La Belle Josephine_, as far as her sailing capabilities +were concerned, was all that her owner and captain had described her +to be. On the other hand, her dirt and slovenliness were exactly what +I had been led to expect it would be from my first inspection of the +cabin. To sleep in it, or to eat my meals there, was out of +the question. How the Senorita would manage, when she came +aboard--provided I was able to get her away from the island--I could +not imagine. + +Monsieur Maxime's navigation, I soon discovered, was of the most +elementary description. However, perhaps by luck, and perhaps by a +measure of good judgment, he managed to pick up the island about noon +on the third day after leaving Asturia. + +Fearing that Silvestre might have some one on the look-out, I bade +Maxime keep the schooner out of sight of land until nightfall. Then +we put in, and brought up in a small bay some five miles from the +settlement. Immediately it was dark I went ashore, bidding the hands +take the boat back, and when they got there to keep a sharp ear for my +whistle. + +Fortunately for what I had in hand, it was a dark night, so dark +indeed that I could scarcely see the boat when I had walked a dozen +paces from it. What the jungle would be like I could not imagine. + +When the boat had disappeared I set off along the beach in the +direction of the settlement. How I was going to reach the house +without attracting the attention of its inmates, and what I was going +to do when I got there, were two points about which I did not trouble +myself very much at that time. My lucky star had so far been in the +ascendant, that I was trusting to it to continue so. I knew very well +that it was a desperate enterprise I was embarking upon, for should +Silvestre discover me, my shrift was likely to be as short as that +which Fernandez had so obligingly arranged for me in La Gloria. At +last, when I reached the eastern side of the bay, that in which the +yacht had anchored, I turned towards the jungle and prepared to enter +it. I knew I was in for some hard work, but I did not imagine that it +would prove so difficult as I found it to be. The dense mass of +creeper that twined from tree to tree barred my progress at every +step. I had to climb, to twist, to crawl, in places unable to see more +than a few inches ahead, scratched by aloes and thorny bushes, +buffeted by low branches, and more than once tripped up and thrown +heavily to the ground by logs and other obstacles. How long it took me +to reach the plateau I cannot say, but I could scarcely have been less +than an hour upon the road. Yet the distance was certainly not more +than a quarter of a mile. Somewhat to my astonishment the plateau was +all darkness; not a light showed from the house, not a sound came from +the huts. With a stealth that would have done credit to a Sioux or an +Apache, I crept through the bushes towards the block-house in which +Fernandez had been confined when I had left the island. A sudden fear +had come over me that, during my absence, Silvestre might have done +away with him. If no sentry stood at the door I should believe this to +be the case. Closer and still closer I crept to it. At last I was only +a few yards distant from it. I was about to move forward on my hands +and knees in order to obtain a better view, when a guttural cough +reached me, coming, so it seemed, from only a few yards away. So close +was it, indeed, that I sprang back, fearing lest the man who uttered +it would become aware of my presence. Then the grounding of a +rifle-butt on the stones before the hut door reached me, and afforded +me indisputable evidence that the general was still imprisoned there. + +At first a wild notion came into my head that I might be able to +overpower the negro sentry, and, having done so, to free Fernandez. A +moment's reflection, however, told me that in all probability he would +prove more than a match for me, while he might also have time to fire +his rifle and so to give the alarm. More important still, even if I +did have the good luck to overcome him, I should not be able to get +into the hut, as Silvestre kept the key. + +"No," I said to myself, "I must try again to-morrow night, and then +I'll bring the two men with me." + +Creeping back as carefully as I had come, I reached the beach once +more as tired as if I had walked a dozen miles through heavy ground. +Going to the water's edge, I gave a shrill whistle, and then sat +myself down to await the boat's arrival. It was not long in coming, +and in less than a quarter of an hour I was back on board the +schooner. Calling up Monsieur Maxime, I bade him get sail on her and +put to sea once more. He seemed a little surprised, I fancy, and was +about to demur. A brief remonstrance on my part, however, sufficed to +put him on good terms with me again. + +The next day was spent out of sight of the island, but as soon as +darkness fell we were back once more and anchored in the bay. By this +time, as you may suppose, I had perfected my scheme as far as +possible, and knew exactly what I was going to do. + +To my delight the night proved as dark as its predecessor. When, after +some difficulty, I reached the shore, with the two men who had +volunteered to assist me, the wind was driving the sand upon the beach +in clouds, and was howling most dismally among the trees of the +jungle. + +"We couldn't have chosen a better night," I said to my companions, as +we hurried along. "With the elements in our favour, however, we shall +have to be very careful how we act." + +We made our way down the beach as I had done on the previous night, +and climbed the hill as before. Neither of the men had had any +previous experience of jungle-work, but they were to have some now +which would be sufficient to last them all their lives. More than once +they followed my example and went sprawling in the darkness, while +once the taller of the pair managed to get his foot entangled in a +mass of creeper, and it required all my efforts, and those of his +companion, to release him. + +"Lord bless us, sir," the other whispered in my ear, "I hope there are +no snakes about. This seems just the sort of place to find them." + +"You needn't be afraid," I replied. "I have been assured that there is +not a snake on the island." + +"I'm glad of that," I heard him mutter. "I don't cotton to snakes +nohow." + +At last we reached the plateau, whereupon I bade both men remain where +they were while I went to reconnoitre. Then, dropping on to my hands +and knees, I crept forward until I was on the edge of the jungle. It +was the same place from which I had watched the sentry on the previous +night. Either he or one of his comrades was there now, for I could +just see his dark figure standing at the corner of the hut. Across the +plateau streamed a bright light from the sitting-room of the house, +while the faint tinkling of some native instrument reached my ears +from the group of huts beyond. Having taken my observations, I crept +back again to my companions. + +As may be supposed, I had already instructed them in their duties. In +consequence, each had brought with him a hank of thin rope, while I +had placed two or three carefully made canvas gags in my pocket in +case their services should be required. The idea I had in my mind was +that we should creep up to the hut from behind. The two men would then +take the right-hand side and make their way round the building with as +little noise as possible, while I was to imitate them on the left. +When I reached the sentry I was to saunter slowly up to him as if it +were the most natural thing in the world for me to be there. Before he +could recover from his astonishment at seeing me, they were to spring +upon him and make him secure--I obtaining possession of his rifle +before he could fire it. + +"Come along," I whispered, "and don't make a sound as you love your +lives." + +Scarcely daring to breathe, I led them from the jungle and across the +open space that separated us from the hut. Having gained its shelter, +we paused to prepare for the struggle. + + [Illustration: "One had clutched him by the throat."] + +Since I had left England I had been in some tight places, but I had +never felt so nervous as I did at that moment. There was so much to be +thought of, so much to be provided for, and yet so much to be left to +chance. What if the sentry did not prove as surprised as I hoped he +would be? Suppose the men did not come up in time and gave him an +opportunity of discharging his rifle, what would our fate be then? But +it did not improve matters thinking of what might happen. I had to +carry out my portion of the scheme and leave the rest to Fate. So, +having seen the men ready with their ropes in their hands, I calmly +strolled round the side of the hut towards the spot where the sentry +was standing. It seemed to me that on the outcome of those few steps I +was staking all that was worth having in the world--Molly's happiness, +my mother's, Fernandez' and the Senorita Dolores' lives, and in all +probability my own. Then I turned the corner and the giant figure of +the negro was before me. He looked up and saw me, uttered an +exclamation of surprise, and then took a step forward as if to make +sure of my identity. + +"Have you a light for my cigar, friend?" I inquired, as coolly as I +could force myself to speak. + +As I said it the two figures of my companions appeared round the +further corner. Before the man could reply they had thrown themselves +upon him; one had clutched him by the throat, while the other pinioned +his hands behind him. Springing forward, I seized the rifle he had +dropped. The man made a desperate struggle for his liberty, but we +were too much for him, and almost before he could realize what had +happened, we had got him on the other side of the hut, where we could +make him secure and do with him as we might think best. In almost +less time than it takes to tell, my two companions had lashed him so +securely that it was impossible for him to move hand or foot or, what +was more important still, to cry out. + +"So far so good," I said, rising from my knees, where I had been +kneeling beside the prostrate man. "He will give us no more trouble. +Now you, Williams, take his rifle and stand sentry in front of that +door, while Matthews and I go across to the house and see what we can +do with Silvestre. We've got to find that key somehow." + +Williams took the rifle and proceeded to the front of the hut, where +he stood in very much the same attitude as the negro had adopted. Then +Matthews and I, in our turn, made our way quietly back to the jungle, +and through it towards the spot where it approached nearest the house. +The light was still streaming from Silvestre's window, and once, as we +waited, I heard the sound of his laugh. It was evident from this that +he was not alone. + +"Now, Matthews," I said, "what we have to do is to get across to that +verandah without any one seeing us. If we are caught, remember our +lives will pay the penalty." + +"I hope we shan't be caught then, sir," the man replied. + +The night was as still as the grave; the music had ceased at the huts, +and not a sound came from the house towards which we were making our +way. At last we reached the verandah and ascended the two steps that +led up to it. Silvestre's sitting-room was now only a few yards +distant. Would it be possible for us to reach it without giving him +warning of our approach? Fortunately for us, the floor of the verandah +was of earth, beaten hard, and for this reason, unless we were more +than usually careless, the odds were in our favour. Keeping as close +to the wall of the house as possible, we approached the window, which +was open. As we did so, Silvestre spoke again. + +"Well, I have given you plenty of time to think it over," he remarked. +"What have you to say?" + +"Only that I refuse," the Senorita replied, for she was his companion. +"You could not expect me to do anything else." + +"Think well what you are doing," the other continued, and as he said +it I advanced a couple of steps. "You know that when I say a thing I +mean it. I tell you plainly Fernandez' life is not worth an hour's +purchase. He chose to come between me and my ambition, and I have +tossed him aside as I should have done a straw. When he is out of the +way Equinata will listen to me, and when she has observed how I deal +with such as oppose me, I don't think she will make any more mistakes. +I know that you are dangerous, but I fancy I can manage you. Give me +the information I require, and I'll spare you and perhaps do more. Why +should you bother yourself about Fernandez?" + +"Do you think I have no heart?" + +"I suppose you have about as much as any other woman," was the +sneering reply. "Come, Senorita, you must admit that my patience has +held out pretty well. But you mustn't overstrain it. Give me the +information I require and I, on my side, will pledge myself to send +you to Europe, and also to allow Fernandez to remain here in safety, +provided he passes his word never to return to Equinata or to molest +me further. I cannot make you a fairer offer than that, and I am +afraid I am foolish to do so much." + +"And if I refuse to accept your terms?" + +"Then I shoot Fernandez at daybreak, and when the yacht returns sail +away, leaving you here in Palmyre's charge. I am afraid you would find +the life a trifle lonely after La Gloria." + +Knowing as I did what his real intentions were, I was able to form a +very fair estimate of the man's villainy. What the information could +be that he was so anxious to obtain from her I could not imagine. I +had not much time, however, to think about it, for as the thought +flashed through my brain I heard some one rise from a chair and cross +the room, then Silvestre's voice continued, in a more persuasive tone +than he had used before: "Senorita, you and I together could govern +that country as it has never been ruled before. I know who are my +friends there, and I am also acquainted with my enemies. The first I +shall take care to render even more loyal than they were before, the +others I shall deal with in such a fashion that they will give no more +trouble. Come, make up your mind. Go home to Europe for a year until I +have everything in order and then come out and join me. Who knows what +happiness may be in store for us? What have you to say to my +proposal?" + +"I cannot," she answered in a heart-broken voice; "and yet, oh Heaven! +I cannot let you kill him." + +"You must decide one way or the other," he said remorselessly, "and +you'd also better be quick about it. My patience is well nigh +exhausted." + +There was another interval of silence. + +"Will you let me see Senor Fernandez for a moment before I give you my +answer?" she pleaded. + +"Not for an instant," he replied. "You must have known what answer I +should give you when you put the question. I know Senor Fernandez too +well to allow you two to meet. I see it is half-past ten! Now I will +give you five minutes in which to make up your mind, and if you don't +tell me what I want to know then, I will carry out my threat and +Fernandez will finish his career at daybreak." + +She uttered a piteous little cry, followed by an appeal for mercy. + +"Don't talk to me of mercy," he answered. "What mercy did he show me? +What mercy would he have for me if our positions were reversed? He +would have shot me like a dog. Bear the fact in mind, Senorita, that +if he comes to an untimely end you will be responsible for it!" + +There was another pause. + +"Time is flying. You have only four minutes left!" + +It was impossible that I could listen to this sort of talk unmoved. He +had the unfortunate woman at his mercy, and I knew him well enough by +this time to feel convinced that as soon as he had extracted his +information from her he would throw his promises to the wind, and +carry out the infamous project of which Manuel had spoken to Palmyre. +He knew well that even if he killed Fernandez and allowed her to go +free she would begin to intrigue against him. His insinuation that she +should return from Europe to him in Equinata was only a subterfuge to +prevent her becoming suspicious as to his real intentions. + +"Three minutes gone!" + +The Senorita said nothing in reply, but although I could not see her I +could very well imagine the agony she was suffering. The memory of the +night we had spent together in the balcony of the Opera House at La +Gloria came back to me. Then I took my revolver from my pocket, and +gave the magazine a turn to see that it was in working order. + +Once more Silvestre spoke. + +"Time is up," he said. "I will call Palmyre and give the necessary +orders about Fernandez." + +"No, no," she cried in the expostulation of despair. "Take my +life--kill me! But for the Blessed Virgin's sake, let him go free." + +"Will you give me the information?" was Silvestre's reply. + +The Senorita uttered a little cry as if she were suffering physical +pain. + +"And send them to their deaths? No, no, I should be less than human if +I were to do that." + +"Fernandez will be less than human if you do not," was the other's +brutal response. "Permit me, and I will call Palmyre." + +As he said this, I turned to the man behind me and signalled that I +was about to enter the room. Then, revolver in hand, I strode in. + +"That will do, Silvestre," I cried, covering him with the revolver as +I approached him. + +"Good heavens! you here?" he shouted, as if he found it difficult to +believe the evidence of his own eyes. The Senorita was leaning against +the table with a look of bewildered astonishment upon her face. + +"As you see, I have returned," I answered. "But I have not time to +discuss that matter with you now. I give you fair warning that if you +speak again I shall shoot. Sit down in that chair and put your hands +behind you!" + +With an oath Silvestre complied with my request. + +Turning to Matthews, I signed to him to carry out the work we had +previously arranged. In less time than it takes to tell, Don Guzman de +Silvestre was securely fastened in his chair, a gag had been placed in +his mouth, and it was then out of his power to do any mischief. From +the expression upon his face I could gather some notion of what his +feelings were. It was very evident that if I should have the +misfortune to fall into his hands again I should be likely to +receive but little mercy from him. As soon as he was secure, and I had +abstracted the key of the block-house from his pocket, I turned to the +lady. + + [Illustration: "'I give you fair warning that if you speak again I + shall shoot.'"] + +"Come, Senorita," I whispered, "you had better prepare for departure. +If we are to release the President and to get away before daylight +there is not much time to be lost." + +"I am quite ready to leave," she replied. + +"Then be good enough to accompany this man, and be very careful to +keep in the shadow of the house," I returned. "Above all, see that you +do not make a sound. I want to have a few words alone with Silvestre." + +Matthews led the way from the room and, with one last look at the man +in the chair, the Senorita followed him. + +When I had seen her turn the corner of the verandah, I approached +Silvestre, who glared at me as though he hoped the fire in his eyes +might consume me. + +"Don Guzman," I began, speaking in a low voice, "before I take leave +of you, I want to let you know why I have played this trick upon you. +You will remember that at Falstead you gave me your assurance that if +I helped you to secure Fernandez you would do him no harm. And yet you +have given orders that, as soon as you had left the island for +Equinata, the Senorita and her uncle were to be poisoned. I +distinctly heard you tell the former that the latter would die at +daybreak. I am afraid you will find yourself mistaken in your +prophecy. By daybreak Fernandez should be well on his way back to +Equinata. There is one other matter before I go. Here is the last +money you gave me." So saying, I threw upon the table the roll of +notes he had handed to me before I left the island for Asturia. + +A hideous scowl was the only response I received. + +Then, when I had placed my revolver in my pocket, I made my way down +the verandah in the direction of Fernandez' prison. To my delight I +discovered that no change had taken place there. The giant negro still +lay where we had placed him, while my own man stood sentry before the +door. + +Bidding the Senorita and Matthews remain concealed, I crept quietly +forward. The plateau was as silent as the grave, while the only light +to be seen was that which streamed from the window of the room we had +just left. + +I had passed through some momentous moments in the past six months, +but I do not think that, in the whole course of this extraordinary +affair, I experienced anything like the sensation that took possession +of me as I made my way towards the door of the hut. I had begun by +taking service under Silvestre; I had carried out his instructions to +the best of my ability; I had found him a traitor, and now, here I +was, throwing him over and rendering assistance to the other side. +What was the end of it all to be? Should I escape with Fernandez, or +would Silvestre catch us before we could reach the boat? + +Signing to the sailor to stand aside, I placed the key in the lock. As +I opened the door a voice, which I instantly recognized, said as +calmly as though its owner were addressing me in the President's study +at La Gloria: + +"So it's you, Trevelyan, is it? I had an idea you'd come round to my +way of thinking. I heard your scuffle with the sentry. I suppose you +managed to overpower him?" + +I answered him in a whisper that his conjecture was correct. + +"You must get up at once," I continued hurriedly. "There is no time to +spare. The Senorita is waiting for you in the jungle, and I have a +schooner in the bay." + +"But I can't get up," he replied. "Our worthy friend, Silvestre, has +taken good care of that." + +"The deuce, he has!" said I. "What do you mean by that?" + +"I mean that I am chained to the leg of the bed," Fernandez returned. +"Before you can release me you must have the key of the padlock." + +In a flash I realized what a fool I had been. It had never struck me, +when searching Silvestre's pockets, to find out whether he had any +other key in his possession. Now we were in a pretty fix. It seemed as +if I had defeated Silvestre only to give him a very fair opportunity +of turning the tables upon me. At any other time I should have sworn +at the contrariness of my luck; now, however, I had too much upon my +mind to have time to seek relief in that direction. It was a problem +that any man might have been excused for feeling diffident about. The +Senorita was concealed in the scrub; the lives of Matthews and his +companions depended upon my prompt and successful treatment of the +difficulty, and the only possible way I could see of accomplishing +that was to return to the room in which I had left Silvestre, and, +once there, to overhaul him in the hopes of discovering the +all-important key. This time, however, the risk would be increased a +thousandfold. It was only too probable that the old negress Palmyre, +or the half-caste Manuel, would have entered to find their master in +the lamentable condition I had left him; in which case, for all the +good I could do, I might just as well take my revolver, shoot myself +and Fernandez, and so bring the whole desperate affair to a +conclusion. + +"You are quite sure, I suppose," I remarked, "that Silvestre has the +key upon his person?" + +"Quite," he answered. "He has been kind enough to dangle it before my +eyes every time he has visited me. Only this afternoon he wittily +described it as the isthmus connecting the continents of Equinata and +Death!" + +That was Fernandez all over. Even when my heart was beating like a +wheat-flail in my breast with terror, and when every moment I expected +to see Silvestre make his appearance in the doorway, he must have his +joke. + +"Well," I said at last, "I suppose there is nothing for it but for me +to return to the house and to endeavour to obtain possession of the +key. Heaven alone knows whether I shall be successful. In the meantime +the Senorita had better make her way down to the shore. You will of +course keep very quiet until I return." + +"You may depend upon my doing that," he replied. "You will find me +here when you return." + +Without another word I left the hut and crept round it to the spot +where the Senorita and the faithful Matthews were anxiously waiting +for me. So dark was it in the jungle that I could see nothing of them, +and it was not until I called to them that I could discover their +whereabouts. Then, drawing the lady a little on one side, I hastened +to explain the situation to her. + +"You will find the key hanging round his neck," she said in a fierce +whisper. "If you only knew what a miserable part it has played in my +life of late, you would easily understand how familiar I am with its +hiding-place." + +I did not reply, but, turning to Matthews, bade him escort the +Senorita down the hillside to the shore, where they were to await our +coming. When they departed I began my journey to the house. The light +still shone from Silvestre's window, though the remainder of the +building was in complete darkness. Revolver in hand I crept carefully +along until I reached the steps leading to the verandah. These I +ascended, and eventually reached the room in question. Every creak of +the boards brought my heart into my mouth; and yet, if Silvestre had +been discovered and released by Manuel or Palmyre, why had he not come +in search of us? That he was no coward I knew too well. + +When I reached the open window I was able to obtain a glimpse of the +room. It may be imagined with what delight I assured myself that +Silvestre was still there and, what was more, lying just as I had left +him. Softly I crept in and approached him. I could fancy the +satisfaction he had felt when he had witnessed my departure before +without the key of the padlock which fastened Fernandez' fetters to +the bed. From the way he glared at me, when he became aware of my +presence, it was evident that he realized that I had come to rectify +my mistake. As quickly as I could do it, and without wasting any words +upon him, I unfastened the collar of his shirt to discover, suspended +on a string round his neck, that tiny talisman that, at that moment, +was worth more to me than anything else in the world. To take +possession of it was the work of a second, and then I once more +tiptoed towards the verandah. I had barely reached it, however, when I +heard the door, communicating with the central passage of the house +open, and looking back I saw Palmyre enter the room. + +As I arrived at the end of the verandah I heard a shrill scream, and +as I heard it realized the fact that, unless I could succeed in +releasing Fernandez within the next few minutes, all was lost, and +that I should, in all human probability, never see old England again! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +To say that I made my way from the house to the hut in which Fernandez +was imprisoned with as much speed as I could command, would be to +express my meaning very inadequately. As soon as I realized the fact +that the trick I had played upon Silvestre was discovered, I threw +prudence to the winds, and ran as I had not done for years across the +plateau towards the building in question. The sailor was still on +guard at the door, which was open, while the negro lay bound just +where we had thrown him down. + +"Stand by, they're after us!" I cried, regardless of who might hear. + +With that I plunged headlong into the dark hut, shouting to Fernandez +as I did so to prepare the padlock for the key. South American +politics produce some curious incidents, but I am not sure that they +could find another to equal that which I am now so inadequately +attempting to describe. + +Dropping on my knees beside the bed, I felt about for the chain and, +running my hand along it, at length obtained possession of the +padlock, inserted the key, and in a trice the President was free. + +"By this time they must have released Silvestre," I whispered. "For +heaven's sake let us get away from here!" + +"Nobody could be more willing to do that than myself," the other +answered, springing from the bed as he spoke, and coming in violent +contact with myself, whom he could not see. "You are in command, so +you had better lead the way." + +Bidding him follow me, I hastened out of the hut, ordered the sailor +to accompany us, and plunged into the jungle. As we did so a shout +from the house proclaimed the fact that Silvestre was free once more +and thirsting for vengeance. We had not stumbled forward many paces +before other shouts followed, showing that he had called Manuel and +his gang to his assistance. + +A very small percentage of the readers of my story have, I trust, been +called upon to run for their lives through a West Indian jungle in the +dead of night. Those who have done so, however, will be able to +understand the sufferings of the wretched trio who stumbled, reeled, +scraped, and fought their way down from the plateau to the shore. The +darkness was opaque, the obstacles so multifarious, that never for a +moment did we seem to have a yard's clear going. Take a sack, a +three-legged, and an obstacle race, throw in a game of blind-man's +buff, in which you are the blind man, and you will have some faint +idea of our difficulties. + +Once, from the hill behind us, the sound of a shot reached us, though +what its meaning was, I could not even conjecture. At last, wearied to +the point of dropping, our faces streaming with perspiration, our +flesh cut and bruised, we emerged from the forest and stood upon the +seashore. Unfortunately, in our haste, we had not steered as true a +course as we would have desired, and instead of coming out in the +centre of the little bay where the schooner's boat had been ordered to +await us, we found ourselves at the end of the small promontory which +separated the bay from that in which the settlement was situated. This +was unfortunate in more ways than one, but it could not be helped. The +worst part of it was that we could not see the boat or the figures of +the Senorita or Matthews. + +"Look! what is that?" cried the President at last, pointing along the +beach to the left. "Is it a man?" + +I have fairly good eyes, but I must confess that I could see nothing +that in any way resembled a human figure in the direction he +indicated. He, however, seemed positive that he was right; so, +realizing that we could do no good by remaining where we were, we +hurried along the beach without further loss of time. We had not +proceeded more than fifty yards, however, when the crack of a rifle +came from the scrub on our left. If it were aimed at me, the man who +fired it was certainly a very fair marksman, for the bullet whistled +by within a few inches of my head. It was plain that Silvestre, or at +least one of his myrmidons, were not very far behind us. We were +destined soon to be convinced as to their numbers and also as to their +identity. For the sound of the shot had scarcely died away before +three men emerged from the jungle, and Silvestre's voice called upon +us to throw up our arms, and then added that unless we did so we +should be shot down without mercy. I could well believe this, and I +also knew the sort of mercy we should be likely to receive should we +allow ourselves to fall into his hands. The fate he had arranged for +Fernandez and his niece would be nothing to the cruelty he would +practise upon us. + +"_Nombre de Dios!_" cried the President, "why haven't I a weapon of +some sort!" + +He was destined to have one somewhat sooner than he imagined, for as +he finished speaking another rifle-shot rang out, and instantly my +revolver fell from my hand and I realized that I had been shot +through the forearm. The President coolly stooped and picked up the +weapon. + +"Look, sir, look, there's the boat!" cried the sailor a few seconds +later. + +Sure enough there it was, but unfortunately a considerable distance +ahead. + +"There's nothing left but to run for it," I cried. "Come on!" + +With that we took to our heels and scurried along the beach. +Silvestre, as soon as he became aware of our intentions, sent a volley +after us, doubtless meant as an inducement to heave-to. We paid no +attention, however. Though we did not look round we knew that they +were after us; but we had a fair start, and if only they did not +manage to hit us, there was the bare possibility of our reaching the +boat in time. Already I could see Matthews standing knee-deep in the +water in order to keep the little craft afloat. He shouted to +encourage us. Then there came another shout from our left, and three +other figures ran down between ourselves and the boat we were striving +so hard to reach. All three were armed, and in the man in the middle, +when he called upon us to surrender, I recognized the blackguardly +half-caste Manuel. For the moment it looked as if our case were +hopeless. + +It is at such moments that all the inventive faculties in one's +possession hasten to one's aid. Had I been permitted half a day to +think the question out, I should probably never have hit upon a plan +half as promising as that which then flashed through my mind. The men +in front were little more than a couple of dozen paces away; Silvestre +and his party were perhaps a hundred yards behind, and were every +moment coming closer. The thought had scarcely occurred to me before +the crack of rifles sounded from behind. Fortunately none of us were +hit. + +"Down! down!" I cried to my companions. "Let them suppose that they +have winged us!" + +As I spoke we all threw ourselves with one accord upon our faces on +the sand. As I expected, the men in front immediately jumped to the +conclusion that we had been shot by their friends behind. They +accordingly rushed forward to make sure of us. My ruse must have +dawned upon Fernandez, for, to this day, I am certain that I heard a +chuckle escape him. Almost at the same moment Manuel ran up to us, his +two companions being only a few yards distant. + +"Shoot them," I whispered; and as I spoke I saw Fernandez roll over on +his side and raise his right arm. His revolver gave three vicious +little cracks, and one by one each man stopped, performed a curious +spin, and then fell forward on the sand. + +I don't know that I am a particularly imaginative man. As a matter of +fact my friends have on several occasions informed me that I am a +somewhat prosaic individual. All I know is that at that moment, though +why I should have done so, no one, least of all myself, will ever be +able to tell (for I have never participated in a hunt in my life), I +let out a wild "yoicks" and sprang to my feet. + +"Make for the boat!" cried Fernandez. + +Without a word I did as I was directed. The boat was now only a matter +of some fifty yards ahead. How I covered this distance I shall never +be able to understand. All I do know is that when I reached the spot +where Matthews was standing, I came an ignominious cropper at the +water's edge. The fact was I was done for, wholly and completely done +for. It may seem an absurd statement to make, but I will leave it to +the charity of my readers to remember that I had been through a great +deal that night, and also that a shattered arm does not add to one's +strength. + +At that moment Fernandez rose to a moral height, far above that I had +expected to find in him. Turning to Matthews, who, as I have said, was +standing knee-deep in the water, keeping the boat afloat, he cried: +"Hold the boat steady while we get Senor Trevelyan in." + +I was so far done for that he must have thought I was dead; +nevertheless, and although Silvestre and his men were by this time +little more than thirty yards behind us, he did not abandon me, but +with the other man's assistance picked me up, then waded with me into +the water and dropped me into the boat, where I lay like a log. I +heard Fernandez order Matthews and the other man into the boat, and +then wondered what was going to happen next. I saw the Senorita half +rise from her seat in the stern. She uttered a little cry. Then I +heard a swish of water alongside, as if the boat were being turned +round. + +"Take care, Silvestre," cried Fernandez, "there's Equinata at the end +of my barrel, and a good deal more beside." + +What Silvestre said in reply I do not pretend to know. All I can say +is that I heard the sharp crack of his revolver, followed by a laugh +from Fernandez, and a wild shriek that might have been anything, but +which told me nothing. A moment later, and just as I was feeling as if +nothing in the world mattered to me, I was conscious of some one +saying: "Pull up, my lads, we'll get away yet!" At the same instant a +soft hand touched my cheek, and a low voice whispered: "May the +saints be merciful to you!" Then I lost consciousness. + +When I recovered my senses I was lying off the top of the main hatch +of the schooner. Fernandez was standing near me, but it was impossible +to see his face. + +Lying on my back I could not tell what was happening. I could, +however, hear Monsieur Maxime arranging sundry nautical details with +his crew, and with all his accustomed fluency. The little man had +accepted the position from his own standpoint, which, as you may be +sure, was theatrical to a degree. As I have since heard, he avers +that, had it not been for his influence and exertions at that +momentous time, the President of Equinata would never have returned to +his country at all. For this reason he is looked upon as a hero in +Martinique to this day. + +"Heaven be praised you are not dead, senor," said a very soft voice, +and, on turning my head, I found the Senorita seating herself beside +me. + +It was some few minutes after dawn, and in the dim light her face +looked very wan and haggard. Allowing for the wear and tear of time +and the exigencies of a most anxious and untoward experience, she was +dressed very much the same as she had been when she left the +ball-room at La Gloria on the night on which I had effected their +capture. But the woman in her extraordinary beauty was still the same. +She was certainly one female in a thousand, and he would have been a +curious individual who could have shown himself insensible to her +fascinations. Then Fernandez turned his head, saw her bending over me, +and came over and also seated himself beside me. + +"Dear friend," he began, in a voice that was full of kindliness, "I am +not going to attempt to thank you for all that you have done for me. +For the present it is sufficient for me to do what I can to mitigate +your sufferings. I won't deny that there have been people who have +doubted my medical ability; I am about to prove to you, however, that +I am more capable than they suppose." + +So saying, he removed the wrappings from my arm and commenced +operations. The bullet, it seemed, had shattered the bone, and was +fortunately now lying quite close to the surface. To extract it was +the work of a few painful minutes, after which the limb was set and +bound up. That accomplished I was at liberty to rise from the hatch. + +All this time our behaviour towards each other was as diffident as +could well be imagined. For once the President had dropped his +cynicism, while the Senorita regarded me with eyes that overflowed +with gratitude. + +The island had long since disappeared below the horizon, and now the +little schooner was cleaving her way through the water under the +influence of a capital breeze. Escorted by the Senorita I made my way +aft. + +Monsieur Maxime himself was at the wheel, presenting a curious figure +as he hung upon the spokes. I found a shady spot for the Senorita, and +then walked across to where the President was standing before the +taffrail. + +"I want you to tell me everything," I said. "How did you manage to +effect our escape? Remember, I know nothing of what occurred after you +placed me in the boat." + +"There's not very much to tell," he answered. "I might mention, +however, that Silvestre and the half-caste will give no further +trouble." + +"You shot Silvestre, then?" + +"I did," he replied, "and I don't know that I ever enjoyed doing +anything so much. It was a close thing between us. Look here!" + +He pointed to his left ear, on the lobe of which was a small scar. + +"It couldn't have been much closer, could it?" he remarked. "My luck, +however, stood by me as usual." Then in a lower and more kindly tone, +he added: "My luck and the luck of Equinata!" + +For a few moments we stood side by side thinking our thoughts in +silence. I recalled the day when I had first seen the dead man in Rio, +and also that never-to-be-forgotten afternoon on which he had made the +proposal to me that was destined to cost him his life on the beach of +an island in the Carribean Sea and to return me to Equinata a wounded +and ruined man. + +At last Fernandez turned to me and, placing his hand upon my shoulder, +looked me full and fair in the face. + +"Trevelyan--Helmsworth--Helmsworth--Trevelyan--whatever your name may +be, you have put upon me a debt of gratitude I shall never be able to +repay. I must confess, however, that I cannot quite understand what it +was that so suddenly made you change sides. I offered you excellent +terms on the beach on the night that I fell into your hands, and I +repeated it on board the yacht. You were a pillar of rectitude then. +When, therefore, the game had been played and your employer had won, +why did you so suddenly come to my rescue? I think I know you well +enough by this time to feel sure that your conversion was due to no +mercenary motive." + +"You may make your mind easy on that score," I replied. "It was not a +question of money." + +"Then will you tell me why you did it? Silvestre, when his chance +came, would doubtless have proved himself an excellent patron, of +course providing it didn't suit his book to put you out of the way!" + +"That's exactly it," I replied. "You have put the matter in a +nutshell." + +"I am afraid I am dense enough not to be able to grasp your meaning," +he returned. + +"You suggest that it might possibly have suited his book to have put +me out of the way. Well, that is why I threw in my lot with you. It +would make rather a long story, but I will endeavour to tell it to you +as briefly as I can. When I agreed with Silvestre in England to effect +your----" + +I paused for a moment with a little embarrassment. Fernandez' eyes +twinkled. + +"Shall we say _deportation_?" he inquired. + +"To effect your deportation! I did so upon his giving me his word of +honour that no harm should happen to you. I had no objection to his +keeping you a prisoner as long as he pleased----" + +"Which he certainly did. Proceed!" + +"I have already confessed to you that had I known you first I would +not have undertaken the work; but I was out of employment----" + +"The mail steamer _Pernambuco_--stormy interview with the Board of +Directors in London--meeting with Silvestre in the garden of the Inn +at Falstead--five thousand pounds down--and five thousand when I +should be handed over to him----" + +He laughed good-humouredly as he noticed my almost overwhelming +surprise. + +"My dear fellow, to rule a country like Equinata one must possess a +faculty for obtaining information. Allow me to frankly admit that I +was conversant with Mr. Trevelyan's history and of his acquaintance +with ex-President Silvestre, when he made his appearance in his +beautiful yacht in the harbour of La Gloria. But in telling you this I +am interrupting your narrative. Pray proceed! You remarked, I think, +that you were out of employment." + +"I was; and the money offered me by Silvestre was too tempting to be +refused. I came, I saw you, and as you know, I conquered. I handed you +over to Silvestre, as I had contracted to do, and once more secured +from him his promise that, with the exception of imprisonment, no harm +should befall you. It was then agreed that I should leave the island +at once in the yacht for Cuba, _en route_ for England. The money +promised me for the work I had done was handed to me, and I left +Silvestre." + +"But you could not have reached Cuba in the time?" + +"I did not attempt to do so. A certain conversation I had with Captain +Ferguson changed all my plans." + +"And the purport of that conversation?" + +"It appears that Ferguson had by chance overheard the half-caste, +Manuel, discussing with the negress, Palmyre, certain instructions +they had received from Silvestre. Immediately the yacht returned from +conveying me from Cuba it would appear that Silvestre was to set sail +for Equinata, and as soon as he was out of the way you and the +Senorita were to be poisoned by Palmyre." + +"Good heavens! The cowardly scoundrel!" + +For the first time since I had known Fernandez I saw a look of fear +pass over his face. It was not until later that I learnt that +assassination by poisoning was the one thing in the world he dreaded. + +"Well," he went on when he had regained his composure, "what happened +after that?" + +"I arranged with Ferguson that, instead of taking me on to Cuba, he +should drop me at Asturia. I was fortunate enough to secure this +schooner, and hurried back in her--in the hope of effecting your +release. The rest you know!" + +He nodded. + +"Yes," he said, "the rest I know!" + +He turned away from me almost abruptly, and stood for some moments +looking down at the bubbling water under the counter. When he +addressed me again it was in quite his old manner. + +"We live in an extraordinary world," he remarked. "You plot to +separate me from my country and end by restoring me to it. Silvestre +agrees to make your fortune and finished by placing you in a worse +position than you were before. Even the Senorita yonder has found +things turn out contrary to her expectations. On the night of the now +famous ball at La Gloria, she was by no means satisfied, so I was +given to understand, with her ball dress; yet that strange taskmaster, +Force of Circumstances, has decreed that she should wear it, without +intermission, longer than any festive costume ever purchased?" + +"And what of yourself?" + +"Ah! My case is perhaps stranger still. I began by looking upon you as +my enemy and end by finding you my staunchest friend. I imagined that +I had you in my power, and a few hours later found myself in yours. +Silvestre bought your services for ten thousand pounds--I get them for +nothing." + +If ever there was a strange voyage it was that one. The schooner +herself was a very fair sea boat; that, however, was about all that +could be said in her favour. It was her cabin accommodation that +proved most trying. After the first attempt the Senorita declared +emphatically that nothing could induce her to sleep in it again. +Monsieur Maxime might say what he pleased, she declared, but her mind +was made up. It was offered to the President, but he declined. As for +myself, I had already tried it on the voyage from Asturia, and had no +desire to repeat the experiment. + +The living on board was but little better. Monsieur Maxime was wont to +declare that the cook, Adolphe, was a past master of the culinary art. +In this statement, I fear, he somewhat exaggerated; indeed, had I not +laid in a stock of provisions before setting out, I dare not think how +we should have fared. + +On one occasion the Senorita had the temerity to explore his galley. +She emerged with a white face and a settled determination to partake +no more of his _ragouts_, _bouillons_, etc. + +"Really," she observed to me, "one scarcely knows where to go on board +this wretched vessel. The cabin is too terrible, and as for that +kitchen----" + +She made an expressive gesture with her hands as if to express her +horror of the place in question. + +The same evening I was destined to have a somewhat curious interview +with the Senorita. We had partaken of our evening meal, such as it +was, and had gone forward into the bows to enjoy the cooler air there. +It was a perfect night, and surely no mortal man could have desired a +fairer companion than I had then. We settled ourselves down +comfortably, and, having obtained her permission, I lit a cigar. I do +not know why I should have done so, but I could not help feeling that +I was booked for a sentimental scene. Some men would doubtless have +welcomed it. For myself, however, I must confess, that I dreaded it. +The Senorita was dangerous always, and never more so than when +inclined to be sentimental. + +"Senor Trevelyan," she began, when we had been seated some minutes, +and had talked of the beauty of the evening, the freshness of the +breeze and a hundred different subjects, "you of course know that +there was a time when I was your avowed enemy?" + +"I am afraid I must say that I _do_ know it," I answered, "and I +should add that you were justified. No one could wonder at your +distaste for me." + +"Oh, I don't mean that," she cried, with a little protesting movement +of her hands. "For see how nobly you have behaved since. No, do not +interrupt me. I want to say what is in my mind, for I know that I owe +you an apology. It was all my fault. I hoped to have won you to our +side." She paused for a moment. "Unfortunately, I did not know that +you were already in love!" + +"Then the information the President gave her was not altogether +complete," I said to myself. And on thinking it over since I have +often been struck by the omission of this one, and probably the most +important factor in the whole affair. For the fact cannot be denied +that had it not been for my love for Molly, and the consequent desire +to make money, I should, in all probability, not have embarked upon +the matter at all. + +"Senorita," I returned, "I fear I stand before you in an altogether +despicable light, so far as my time in Equinata is concerned. The +pitiful part of the whole business is that, had it to be gone over +again, I should probably act as I have done. However, I have shot my +bolt, and, though I managed to hit the bull's-eye, that is to say, I +succeeded in capturing the President, I have failed to receive the +prize. Let that be my punishment." + +"But you mustn't talk of punishment," she cried. "You are mistaking my +meaning. Do you think that I am here to reproach you? No, no, far from +that! What I want to suggest is that you should permit us to show our +gratitude. Had it not been for you Equinata would never have seen +General Fernandez again, and I should not be here with you now. How +grateful the President is you can see for yourself. Why should you not +stay in Equinata? It is destined to be a great country. There are +always opportunities for the man who can seize them. You are that man. +Why not try? Would _my_ help count for nothing?" + +As she said this she drew a little closer to me. The perfume of her +hair was as intoxicating as the finest wine. + +"Think! think!" she continued. "Fernandez cannot rule for ever. He +might not last a year even. Then----" + +She was so close to me that her lips almost touched my face. + +"Don't you think we had better be walking aft?" I said. "Your _uncle_ +is probably wondering where we are!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +Between ten and eleven o'clock on one never-to-be-forgotten evening, +the _La Belle Josephine_ sailed into the harbour of La Gloria, and +dropped her anchor a short distance from the old coal hulk. Who that +witnessed the arrival of that tiny craft imagined the important part +she had played in the destiny of that small but exceedingly excitable +Republic? For my part I know that as I stood on deck and watched +Monsieur Maxime take her in between the heads, and scientifically +bring her to her anchorage, I found myself experiencing a series of +emotions, the like of which I have never before known. The President +stood on my right, the Senorita on my left, and as we watched the +twinkling lights ashore, I fancy all three of us recalled the eventful +morning when we had said good-bye to the town under such very +different circumstances. Our arrival had evidently been signalled from +the forts, for we had scarcely dropped our anchor before a hail from +the bows announced the fact that the harbour-master's boat was +approaching. + +Most men, I suppose, have at some time of their lives a touch of the +theatrical. For myself at that moment I was distinctly desirous of +giving a dramatic turn to the situation. The plot of my drama is an +exciting one. The President of the Republic is missing; the supposed +villain is believed to have abducted him. Time goes by. A mysterious +vessel enters the harbour at the dead of night, when, to the amazement +of every one, the missing President is found to be on board, and the +man who has saved him, and has brought him back to the nation he loves +so well, turns out to be the very individual who is supposed to have +wrought his ruin. What situation could have been more thrilling? I had +already walked a short distance along the deck, but as soon as I +recognized in the boat coming alongside the pompous little official +who had boarded the yacht with so much ceremony on the occasion of my +first appearance in the country, I changed my mind, and hastened back +to the President! + +"What does your Excellency desire?" I inquired. "Would you prefer the +news of your return to reach the city at once, or would you rather +that it should be announced in the morning?" + +"It is immaterial to me," he replied. Then he added quickly, "No! No! +On the contrary, it is most material. There is a considerable amount +of business to be transacted first!" + +I could guess what was passing in his mind. + +"Yes, to-morrow morning would certainly be better," he continued +reflectively. + +"In that case," I replied, "it would be as well for you to retire with +the Senorita to the cabin. From what I know of our friends who are now +coming aboard, the secret of your arrival would not be a secret many +minutes after they got ashore." + +"You are still in command, Senor Trevelyan," the President returned, +with one of his short laughs. "Permit me, Dolores, to escort you to +the saloon. I trust that you will not keep us there longer than you +can help." + +"If you will permit me I shall join you there myself as soon as I have +given instructions to Monsieur Maxime," I replied. "For several +reasons I have no desire to be recognized in Equinata at present." + +Having seen them depart to the miserable little hole aft, I went +forward to Monsieur Maxime, and gave him his orders in a low voice. +After that I rejoined my friends. From what we could hear of the +conversation that followed, the port officials were in by no means +good tempers, and poor Maxime was roundly taken to task for putting in +an appearance at such an hour, for giving them the trouble of boarding +his vessel, and, it would appear, for his remissness in having no +cases of infectious disease on board. After about a quarter of an hour +the officials departed as they had come, that is to say, grumbling. +When the sound of their oars had died away we left the cabin. + +"Now the question to be decided is how to get ashore without +attracting attention," said Fernandez. "If they recognize me in the +streets, the news will be all over the city by breakfast-time." + +"Maxime must put us ashore further down the bay," I replied. "If we +are discovered we shall then only run the risk of being taken for +smugglers." + +I had heard Fernandez boast of the completeness and efficiency of his +coastguard service. This was certainly a good opportunity of putting +it to the test. + +Fernandez agreed to the arrangement, and, as soon as all was quiet +ashore, we began our preparations for leaving the schooner. A boat was +lowered, and four of Monsieur Maxime's ebony crew took their places in +her. Then we bade the owner good-night, ordered him to call at the +palace on the morrow for his reward, and in our turn descended to the +boat. + +It was an exquisite night, and so still that we could distinctly hear +the ripple of the waves upon the beach, more than half-a-mile away. +Carrying out the plan we had arranged we did not make for the shore +near the city, but steered a course more to the south, in the +direction of the little fishing village where we had captured the +President. At last the boat's nose touched the shore, and the men +leapt out and pulled her out of the water on to the beach. I landed, +and gave my hand to the Senorita, who sprang nimbly ashore; the +President followed. + +"Welcome back to Equinata, your Excellency," I said, with a bow. + +For once his composure deserted him. He did not answer me, but turning +his back upon us, walked for a short distance along the beach. When he +rejoined us he was himself again. In the meantime I had ordered the +men to take the boat back to the schooner, and had promised them that +a liberal reward should be sent them in the morning. After that we +took council together as to how we should reach the city. It would be +impossible for the Senorita to walk so far in the shoes she was then +wearing; there was also the risk of the President and Senorita being +recognized to be considered. We were still discussing this momentous +question when a noise behind us attracted our attention. We +immediately turned to find three men hastening towards us. They wore +the uniform of the Equinata Coastguard Service, and the individual in +the centre was plainly an officer. + +"Confound them," I muttered to myself, "they're smarter than I +imagined. If I'm not mistaken, this will upset our plans, and the +President's arrival will be known after all." + +This was not the case, however. Their appearance was destined to prove +a blessing in disguise. + +"What brings you ashore, senors, at such an hour?" the officer +inquired, addressing me. "And what boat was it that landed you?" + +I was about to invent some story, but the President, with his +customary quickness, had grasped the situation, and was prepared to +make capital out of it. + +"A word with you in private, senor," he said, addressing the officer +before him. "I fancy I can satisfy you as to our honesty." + +The other threw a glance at the Senorita, bowed, and acquiesced. They +walked a few paces together, and though I could hear the President's +voice, I could not catch anything of what he said. Their conversation +lasted something like five minutes, after which they rejoined us. + +"Our friend here," said Fernandez, "quite understands the situation, +and has kindly offered to arrange matters for us." + +The officer bowed with ceremonious respect to the Senorita. Then to me +he said, with a pomposity that was almost ludicrous-- + +"Senor, Equinata thanks you for the service you have rendered her." + +Then, having invited us to follow him, and bidding his men continue +their patrol, he led us across the beach by a rough footpath to the +high road above. + +"If your Excellency will do me the honour to wait here," he said, "I +will hasten to the house of my friend, Senor Rodriguez Cardaja, and +obtain from him the loan of a carriage in which to convey you to the +palace." + +"We will await your return," answered the President. "I may, of +course, rely upon your impressing the necessity of silence upon Senor +Cardaja?" + +"He will be as silent as the grave, Excellency," the other returned, +and added somewhat inconsequently, "we are old friends!" + +Then, begging us to excuse him, he hastened on his errand. + +"I trust he will not be long obtaining the carriage," said Fernandez, +offering me a cigar, and lighting one himself. "As I said a short +time ago, I have a large amount of business to get through before +daylight. Dolores, my dear, I fancy you will not be sorry to exchange +that dress for another." + +"If you knew how I hate it," she replied passionately, "and yet--" she +stopped suddenly, and I fancied that she shivered. "Oh, how glad I am +to be back!" + +A long silence fell upon us, which was eventually broken by the sound +of carriage-wheels. A few moments later a lumbering vehicle made its +appearance round the side of the hill. To our surprise it was driven +by the lieutenant himself. He explained that he had not brought his +friend's coachman, having regard to the desire for secrecy expressed +by the President. He would himself drive us into the Capital, and +return the carriage to his friend afterwards. Then we took our places +in it and set off. During the journey the officer informed us of all +that had transpired in the country during our absence. General Sagana, +it appeared, had assumed the office of President--much against his +will--while Hermanos and his band of patriots boldly announced the +return of Silvestre to power. + +"Hermanos and I must discuss the matter together," said the President +quietly, and I fancied I could see the smile upon his face as he said +it. + +In something under half-an-hour we reached the palace. We descended +from the vehicle at a side door, thanked the lieutenant for the +services he had rendered us, and then watched him drive off on his +return journey. So far matters had prospered excellently; but I am +prepared to admit that I did not quite see what was going to happen +next. Fernandez, however, seemed to have made up his mind. Taking a +bunch of keys from his pocket, as calmly as if he were only returning +after a short stroll, he approached the door and opened it. A small +gas-jet illumined the vestibule. We entered and softly closed the door +after us. From the vestibule we passed into a narrow passage, which in +its turn communicated with the great hall and the State apartments. +Surely never had the ruler of a country returned to his palace in a +more unostentatious fashion. We made our way through the great glass +doors into the magnificent entrance hall, between the lines of +statuary, and finally entered the President's private study. So far +our presence in the house had not been discovered. General Sagana, his +wife and daughters, their _aides-de-camp_ and secretaries, to say +nothing of the household, were all in bed and doubtless asleep. + +"I wonder if the Gas Company, which, by the way, my dear Trevelyan, is +capitalized almost exclusively by Englishmen, realizes what an +important part it is playing in the history of Equinata," Fernandez +remarked, as he applied a match to one of the jets. "Now, if you have +no objection, we will proceed to business. It would be a pity to +disturb the family of Sagana; they will know everything in due course. +Dolores, you may remember that there is an excellent sofa in your +boudoir. Permit me to conduct you thither!" + +Before replying she looked at me, and there was something in her +glance that I was at a loss to understand. She was tired, draggled, +and altogether different to her real self, and, strange to say, there +was also a curious hunted look in her eyes for which I could not +account. She seemed to be appealing to me, and yet I was not conscious +of any reason why she should do so. However, she rose and went away +with the President, leaving me alone in the room. + +It was a fine apartment, hung with the portraits of many past +Presidents. I looked from one to the other, as if in the hope of +gathering information from them. But they only regarded me with stony +indifference, as if the fate of Equinata was a thing in which they no +longer took any interest. + +It would be difficult to express in words my feelings at that moment. +As a matter of fact, I knew that I was between two fires. I had gone +out of my way to save Fernandez; at the same time, unless I allowed +him to reward me, which I was determined not to do, I had lost all I +possessed (for I was resolved not to keep the first five thousand +pounds of Silvestre's money) in the world. I must begin life over +again, in which case my marriage with Molly was as far off as ever. I +was aware of Fernandez' friendship, so far as I was concerned, yet I +knew him well enough to feel sure that he would repay old scores +against Hermanos and his other enemies. That being so, could I stand +by and let them be punished, when, but for me, they would have escaped +scot-free. It was not a cheerful outlook for any of us. + +A few minutes later Fernandez returned. + +"Now to business," he said. "Do me the favour of seating yourself at +that writing-table." + +I did so, wondering, and he placed a sheet of notepaper before me. + +"I want you to write to Senor Hermanos, asking him to come to the +palace with all haste. Tell him that the rightful President has +returned, and at the same time request him to bring his friends with +him to welcome him!" + +"One moment," I said. "Before I do that I must know your intentions. I +am going to speak plainly, General Fernandez! You must remember that +I have already had experience of the manner in which Presidents of +Equinata deal with their rivals." + +He was not in the least put out by my candour. On the contrary, he +laughed good-humouredly. + +"You need not be afraid," he said. "I am not going to harm them. As a +matter of fact I intend making them very good friends--not for to-day, +but for all time. What assurance can I give you?" + +I could not see that there was any. What was more, I could not see how +my refusal to write the letter could save Hermanos, if Fernandez were +determined to be revenged on him. I accordingly took up my pen and did +as he requested. When I had finished, he read the letter carefully, +possibly to make sure that I had not said anything in it that might +serve as a warning to the conspirators. Would his ruse succeed? Would +Hermanos fall into such a very simple trap? The mere fact that +Silvestre had not written it himself would surely make him suspicious. +Fernandez, however, evidently thought otherwise. When I had addressed +the envelope he placed the letter inside, and then, begging me to +excuse him once more, left the room. When he returned a quarter of an +hour later, he informed me that he had dispatched the letter by a +trustworthy messenger. + +"You should have seen the worthy Antoine's face when I woke him," he +said. "He thought he was looking at a ghost. In an hour or so our +friends should be here." + +To while away the time of waiting we made a raid upon the palace +larder, carried the spoil we obtained there to the smaller +dining-room, where presently the curious spectacle might have been +observed of a lady in a sadly-dilapidated ball-dress, the President of +the Republic of Equinata, and your humble servant, demolishing cold +chicken with considerable gusto. + +Our meal was barely finished before the door opened and a little +grey-haired man entered the room. He was Antoine, the old major-domo +of the household, who had served more Presidents than any other +official in Equinata. + +"Well, Antoine, what is it?" the President inquired. + +"They are coming, your Excellency," said the little man. + +"And they do not suspect?" + +"No, Excellency," the other replied. "I told Senor Hermanos that if he +desired to be the first to welcome President Silvestre, he must make +haste." + +"Excellent! Immediately they arrive, meet them yourself, and conduct +them to the small audience chamber. I will receive them there!" + +Half-an-hour or so later, and just as we had finished our second +bottle of champagne, Antoine again made his appearance to inform us +that Hermanos and his companions had arrived and were awaiting an +interview in the room above mentioned. I saw Fernandez' mouth twitch +and then set firm; there was also an ominous twinkle in his eyes as he +said-- + +"Come with me, my friend, and we will interview them." + +"You will remember the promise you have given me?" I said, laying my +hand upon his arm. + +"You will find that I shall keep it," he replied curtly. + +I followed him from the room along the hall to a door on the right, at +which Antoine was waiting. + +"Have my instructions concerning the guard been obeyed?" he asked in a +low voice before he turned the handle. + +"They have, Excellency," Antoine replied. + +Then we passed into the room. + +If I live to be a hundred I shall not forget the scene that followed. +Hermanos was standing on the opposite side of the room, and grouped +about him were three men whom, to the best of my knowledge, I had +never seen before. It is possible they might have been Hermanos' +assistants on that memorable night when we had secured the President, +but as they then wore masks I cannot speak on that point with any +degree of certainty. + +The light in the room was not particularly good, and for a moment I +thought that Hermanos did not realize who it was that entered the +room. Had he done so he would scarcely have taken those two or three +quick steps forward. When he grasped the situation his surprise was +overwhelming. + +"Fernandez?" I heard him mutter, as if he were thunderstruck. + +His companions also seemed taken aback. + +"Ah, my dear Hermanos," said the President genially, "and so we meet +again. Gentlemen, I am delighted to find you here to welcome me." + +"We've been tricked," cried Hermanos hoarsely. Then fixing his eyes on +me, he continued, "So you've turned traitor, after all, senor? I +congratulate you on the facility with which you change sides." + +"Pardon me," interposed the President, "but I cannot permit you to +insult my friend. I owe more to Senor Trevelyan than I can say, and +when you have heard the story I have to tell, I fancy you, and +Equinata with you, will regard his behaviour in the light that I do. +But before we say anything about that, let us endeavour to come to an +understanding of our relative positions." + +He paused for a moment to allow his audience to appreciate his words. + +Then he went on-- + +"I cannot forget that you, Hermanos, are one of the gentlemen to whom +I owe my abduction. The complicity of your companions I have yet to +discover. Now for such an offence what is the punishment to be? My +only desire is to be just." + +I felt really sorry for Hermanos at that moment. He was familiar with +the form that Fernandez' justice usually took. + +"Come, come, my friend, why do you not answer me?" said the President +banteringly. "You know how Silvestre would have acted under similar +circumstances. What am I to do? Shall I call in the guard, have you +arrested, and shot at sunrise, or shall I let you go free? You know my +reputation, I think, and surely even a President should live up to +that?" + +"We are in your power and cannot help ourselves," the unfortunate +Hermanos replied. + +"I am very much afraid you cannot," the President returned. "You +should have thought of that, however, before you took to kidnapping +the head of your country. You were never a man, Hermanos, who could +make up his mind!" + +Once more the President paused, and looked from one to the other of +the wretched men before him. + +"Don't play with us," cried one of the others. "If you have made up +your mind to shoot us, do so, but don't keep us in suspense." + +"Forgive me, it was remiss of me," Fernandez replied with dangerous +politeness. "Antoine." + +The door was opened immediately, and the major-domo appeared. + +"Call up the Guards," said the President. + +Antoine disappeared, to return a few moments later with the officer of +the Guard and his men. + +"Take these gentlemen to the cartel," said the President, "and stand +guard over them until daylight. I will send you word within an hour as +to what you are to do with them. In the meantime I hold you +responsible for their safety." + +I was altogether unprepared for this move. Was Fernandez about to +break his promise to me? It certainly looked very much like it. I was +on the point of expostulating, when the door opened and the Senorita +entered hurriedly. She glanced from one to the other of us with a +frightened expression upon her face. Then she turned to Fernandez. + +"What is the meaning of this?" she asked, holding out her hands to him +as if in supplication. + +"Forgive me, my dear, but I think it would be better if you leave us," +the President replied. "I shall be very happy to give you full +particulars later." + +"No, no," she cried. "Senor Hermanos, you helped to bring this trouble +upon us, and--ah! I see it all. Why are you here at this hour, and +what is the meaning of the Guard?" Then turning to the President she +continued, "Oh, sir, are we never to be free from this sort of thing? +Is it impossible for us all to be friends?" + +"It certainly seems difficult," Fernandez replied. "Thanks to Senor +Hermanos and his friends, I have passed through an extremely dangerous +and unpleasant crisis. Had matters gone as they intended they should +do, by this time I should have been in my grave. Fortune favoured me, +however, and now I have returned to my own. Who can blame me if I +repay those who would have worked my ruin?" + +Turning to the captain of the Guard, he bade him remove his prisoners. +On hearing this the Senorita completely broke down. She fell on her +knees at the President's feet and implored him to forgive. Whether it +was a mere matter of acting and had all been previously arranged, as I +am sometimes tempted to believe, or whether it was genuine, I am not +in a position to say. Whatever else it may have been, however, it was +at least effective. Then I saw my opportunity and took advantage of +it. + +"Your Excellency must forgive me if I interfere," I said. "There seems +one point, however, that has escaped your attention. If Senor Hermanos +and his companions are to be held guilty for your abduction, it is +only fit and proper that I, who was the leading spirit in it, should +take my place with them. If they are to be shot then I must share +their fate." + +My decision seemed to stagger them. He looked from me to them and then +back again. Then he laughed outright, but I could not help thinking +that his merriment lacked sincerity. + +"You are certainly an extraordinary man, my dear Trevelyan. You abduct +me and then save my life. You rejoice at being friends with me again +and then ask me to shoot you. It seems to me, Hermanos, that you are +fortunate in your advocates. The Senorita, to whom I can deny nothing, +pleads for you; Senor Trevelyan, to whom I owe my life, refuses to let +you die unless he dies too. I should be more than human to resist!" +Then, waving his hand to the captain of the Guard, who had been +watching us with a puzzled expression upon his face, he continued, +"Well, well, since it must be, let it be so! You can leave us." + +The captain retired with his men, and a somewhat awkward silence fell +upon us. There was still a look of pleading upon the Senorita's face. +The President, however, seemed thoughtful. It was evident that he had +no desire to forego his vengeance. He paced the room for a few +minutes, while we watched him with anxious faces. Heaven alone knows +what Hermanos and his friends were thinking of, but I know very well +what I thought, and I can assure you, my dear reader, I was far from +happy. At last he stopped, and, after a momentary pause, faced +Hermanos. + +"Hermanos," he said, "you threw in your lot with my enemies, and you +could not blame me if I made you answer for so doing. I certainly +intended to do so; but I suppose we are none of us infallible, and +with such pleading in your favour, I have nothing left me but to +surrender. From this moment you are free. I give you your lives, +gentlemen! Is it possible, since Silvestre is dead, for you to give me +your allegiance? Now, shall we shake hands, endeavour to forget the +past, and live only to promote the happiness of the country, for which +we have risked so much?" + +One by one they advanced and solemnly shook Fernandez by the hand. +Then, at a signal from the President, Antoine left the room, to +appear a moment later with a tray of glasses and two bottles of +champagne. + +"Gentlemen," cried Fernandez, holding his glass aloft, "I give you the +toast, 'Peace and prosperity to the fair State of Equinata.'" + +When they had departed, Fernandez turned to me with a queer smile upon +his face. + +"I don't think they will trouble us again," he said. + +I did not reply! What I was thinking was that I would have given +something to have heard their conversation as they crossed the +Square! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +Strange to say, the populace of La Gloria did not appear to trouble +themselves very much, either one way or the other, concerning their +President's re-appearance. The officials, however, were, as behoved +them, considerably more demonstrative. They were well acquainted with +Fernandez' temper, and, like sagacious mortals, realized that it would +be wiser for them to allow him to suppose that, whatever their own +private opinions might be, they desired no better leader than himself. +With Hermanos, and his fellow-conspirators, he was not likely, as he +observed, to have very much trouble. They professed to have seen the +error of their ways, and were as enthusiastic in Fernandez' praise as +they had hitherto been in his detriment. As for my own part in this +singular business I allowed Fernandez to tell the story in his own +fashion. This he did, to such good purpose that in a very short time I +found myself the hero of La Gloria, an honour with which I could very +well have dispensed. Monsieur Maxime and his crew were most liberally +rewarded by the President, as were Matthews and his fellow-sailor. +They remained in Equinata for a short time, but what became of them +later I cannot say. + +"My dear Trevelyan," said Fernandez to me one morning, "I really +intend that we should have a serious talk together. Now you know that +whenever I have broached the subject of a recompense to you for the +trouble you have taken, you have invariably put me off with some +excuse or another, but I will be denied no longer. Forgive me if I say +I am well acquainted with the state of your finances." + +"It is not a fine prospect, is it?" I said, with a laugh. + +"If you had stood by Silvestre and had left me to my fate, you would +have been a comparatively rich man. And even if you did turn the +tables upon Silvestre, why were you so quixotic as to hand him back +the money?" + +"I think you can guess," I answered. "If you can't, I am afraid I must +leave you to work the problem out." + +"And if you would not take _his_ money, why should you be equally +particular in my case? It is only fair that I should recompense you +for the inestimable service you have rendered me." + +"I am afraid that it is impossible," I answered, for, as I have +already said, I had long since made up my mind upon this subject. + +Fernandez endeavoured to press me, but I remained adamant. Nothing he +could do or say would induce me to change my mind. I knew that it was +only by adhering to my resolution that I could salve my conscience. I +had still sufficient money of my own left to pay for my passage to +England. + +Important as the capital of Equinata may appear in the eyes of its +inhabitants, it is, nevertheless, scarcely so prominent in the +maritime world as certain other places I could mention on the South +American coast. It was true I could wait for the monthly mail-steamer +which would connect with a branch line at La Guayra, or I might take +one of the small trading-boats and proceed along the coast until I +could find a vessel bound for Europe. But having had sufficient of +trading schooners in _La Belle Josephine_ to last me a lifetime, I +eventually made up my mind to await the coming of the mail-boat, +which, if all went well, would put in an appearance in a fortnight's +time. + +During that fortnight I was permitted a further opportunity of +studying the character of the Senorita under another aspect. Since her +return to La Gloria she seemed to have undergone a complete change. +Her temper was scarcely alike for two days at a time. She was +capricious, wilful, easily made angry; then she would veer round, and +be tender, repentant and so anxious to please, that it was impossible +to be vexed with her. + +"The President will miss you very much when you leave us," she said to +me on the evening before my departure, as we stood together on the +marble terrace overlooking the palace gardens. + +It was a lovely night, and the air was filled with the scent of the +orange blossom. I do not think my companion had ever looked more +beautiful than she did at that moment. Indeed her beauty seemed to me +to be almost unearthly. + +"I fancy every one likes to feel that he or she will be missed," I +answered. "You may be sure I shall often think of Equinata. Perhaps +some day I may be able to return." + +"Who knows where we shall be then?" she replied gloomily. + +"What do you mean?" I asked in a tone of surprise. "You will, of +course, be here, leading the Social Life of Equinata as you do now!" + +"I am afraid that even now you do not realize how quickly affairs +change in South America," she replied. "Some one else may manage to +catch the Public Fancy, there will be a Revolution and we shall go out +of power--perhaps to our graves!" + +"I cannot believe that. In any case your uncle would take care your +safety is assured!" + +She gave a little impatient tap with her foot upon the stones. + +"Of course he would protect me if he could," she answered, "but he +might not be able to do anything. Had you not come to our rescue on +that island, what use would his protection have been to me? How do I +know that we may not be situated like that again? Oh, I am tired of +this life--tired--tired!" + +Almost before I knew what had happened she was leaning on the +balustrading, sobbing as if her heart would break. I was so taken by +surprise, that for a moment I did not know what to say, or do, to +comfort her. Then I went forward and placed my hand gently upon her +shoulder. + +"Senorita," I said, "is there anything I can do to help you?" + +"No, no," she answered. "You can do nothing! Leave me to my misery. +Does it matter to you, or to any one, what becomes of me?" + +"It must matter a good deal to your friends," I replied. + +"Friends?" she cried, facing me once more and speaking with a scorn +impossible to describe. "I have no friends. The women hate and fear +me, the men cringe to me because of my influence with the President. +Even he may grow tired of me before long, and then----" + +I allowed this speech to pass uncommented on. At the same time I +wished the President would make his appearance and put an end to what +was becoming a rather dangerous _tete-a-tete_. When she spoke again it +was in a fierce whisper. + +"Do you remember that night when we stood together in the balcony of +the Opera House, and talked of ambition and of what a man might rise +to? Senor Trevelyan, I tell you this, if I loved a man I could help +him to rise to anything. Do you hear me? To anything!" + +There was only one way to treat the matter, and before I answered her +I knew perfectly well what the result would be. + +"Enviable man!" was all I said. + +She drew herself up to her full height. Then, turning on her heel, she +made her way swiftly towards the house. My silly compliment had +succeeded where expostulation or reserve would have failed. + +Next morning the mail-boat which was to carry me away from Equinata +made her appearance in the harbour. She was to sail at midday, and up +to eleven o'clock I had seen nothing of the Senorita. About ten +minutes before I left the palace, however, she made her appearance in +the President's study. Her face was somewhat paler than usual, and +though she endeavoured to lead me to suppose that she had forgotten +our conversation on the previous evening, I could see that the memory +of it still weighed heavily upon her. The President had declared his +intention of personally escorting me on board the steamer, and at the +last moment, not a little to my surprise, the Senorita decided to +accompany him. We accordingly set off, and in due course reached the +vessel, a miserable packet of some six hundred tons, whose captain, on +hearing of our arrival, hastened forward to receive his distinguished +guests. After he had paid his respects he offered to show the Senorita +the saloon, and thus gave me a few minutes alone with the President. + +"It is needless for me to say how sorry I am that you are going," said +the latter. "I wish I could have persuaded you to stay with us. But I +suppose you know your own business best. Remember this, however! +Should you ever need a friend, there is one in La Gloria to whom you +can always turn!" + +I thanked him and promised that I would not forget, and then the +Senorita rejoined us. We had only time to exchange a few words before +the whistle sounded for strangers to leave the ship. + +"Good-bye," said the President, giving me his hand. "Think sometimes +of Equinata." + +"You may be sure I shall do that," I answered, with a glance at the +white town ashore. + +Then the Senorita in her turn held out her little hand. I took it, and +as I did so looked into her eyes. + +"Good-bye," she said, and in a low voice added:--"May the Saints +protect you." + +Then she followed the President to the gangway. A quarter of an hour +later we were steaming between the Heads, and in half-an-hour La +Gloria was out of sight. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +It was a cold and foggy day in November when the steamer which I had +boarded in Barbadoes reached the Thames. I had been absent from +England more than four months, and the veriest glutton for excitement +could not have desired more than had fallen to my lot. + +Having bade my fellow-passengers good-bye, I caught the first +available train to town only to discover, when I reached Fenchurch +Street, that I should have some considerable time to wait at Waterloo +before I could get on to Salisbury. I accordingly cast about me for a +way of employing my time. This resolved itself in a decision to call +upon my old friend, Mr. Winzor, in order to obtain from him the letter +I had entrusted to his charge. As I made my way along the crowded +streets I could not help contrasting them to the sun-bathed +thoroughfares of La Gloria. In my mind's eye I could see again the +happy-go-lucky _cafes_ on the tree-shaded pavement, the white houses +with their green shutters; and, behind the city, the mountains +towering up, peak after peak, into the azure sky. + +At last I turned into the street I remembered so well, and approached +the office of my old friend. I ascended the steps and pushed open the +glass door. Somewhat to my surprise a strange clerk accosted me. When +I inquired for Mr. Winzor, the surprised look upon the youth's face +told me that something unusual had happened. + +"Don't you know that he is dead?" he inquired. + +"Dead?" I cried, in genuine consternation. "Good heavens! you don't +mean that!" + +"He died more than six weeks ago," the young man replied. "He had some +papers to sign in that room, and when his chief clerk went in to get +them he found the old gentleman stone dead." + +I was more distressed than I could say at this news. The little lawyer +had been a kindly friend to me, and also to my mother. + +Thanking the clerk for his information I left the office and made my +way to Waterloo. There I took the train to Salisbury, and, on arrival +at the cathedral city, set out for Falstead. + +At this last stage of my story I will not weary you with a long +description of my home coming. Let it suffice that I at last reached +the village and found myself approaching the house of my childhood. +The tiny gate had scarcely closed behind me when the front-door opened +and my mother hastened to greet me. + +When we reached her little drawing-room I questioned her concerning +Molly. + +"I expect her every moment," said my mother. + +As she spoke the click of the gate caused me to go to the window with +all speed. + +Shall I describe what followed? Would it interest you to know how +Molly and I greeted each other? I think not. I will inform you, +however, that I was more than repaid for all I had been through by the +way in which I was received. + +Later in the evening we went for a walk together. + +"Dick, dear," said my sweetheart, "you have not told me how your +venture prospered." + +This was the question I had been dreading. + +"It has not prospered at all," I said. "The fact is, I have made +nothing out of it. I am ashamed to say so, but I am poorer than when I +left England four months ago." + +To my surprise she received my information with perfect equanimity. + +"But I am afraid you don't understand what it means to me, darling," I +said. "And, before we go any further, I am going to tell you the +whole story. Though it may make you think differently of me, I feel +that I should let you know all." + +I thereupon set to work and told her everything, from the moment of my +first meeting with Silvestre on board the _Pernambuco_ to my return to +Falstead that evening. I finished with the information that there was +still upwards of five thousand pounds of Silvestre's money to my +credit in the Salisbury bank. I told her that it was my intention not +to keep a halfpenny of it, but to send it anonymously to a London +hospital. + +"And I think you would be right, Dick," the sweet girl answered. "Do +not keep it. It would only bring us bad luck. And now, what about our +marriage?" + +I shook my head. + +"I fear, dear, we shall have to go on waiting," I said. "I must try +and get another berth, but whether or not I shall be able to do so +Heaven only knows." + +"Dick, dear," she said, slipping her arm through mine as she spoke, "I +cannot keep the secret from you any longer. I ought to have told you +before." + +"And what is this wonderful secret?" I inquired. + +"I doubt whether I look it, Dick, but I am a very rich woman." + +"A rich woman!" I cried incredulously. "What do you mean by that?" + +For the moment I thought she was joking, but one glance at her face +showed me that she was serious. + +"I mean what I say," she answered. "I am a very rich woman. When poor +old Mr. Winzor died he left me all his fortune--nearly forty thousand +pounds." + +I could scarcely contain my astonishment. + +"Was it not good of him?" she continued. "Forty thousand pounds at +three per cent. is twelve hundred pounds a year, is it not?" + +Even then I was too much surprised by her information to be able to +realize the change that had taken place in Molly's position. + +"Are you not glad, dear?" she said at last. + +"Yes, yes," I replied, "but I cannot quite understand it yet. It seems +too good to be true." + +"We shall be able to do so much with it," she said, drawing closer to +me and lifting her sweet face to mine. + +"I am luckier than I deserve to be," I answered. + +And doubtless, my dear reader, you will say it was the truth. + + * * * * * + +Molly and I have been married five years. We have a boy of three, and +a baby girl who promises to be the manager of her mother. We lead a +very quiet life in a house we have built for ourselves on the +outskirts of Falstead. There is not a happier man in the world than I +am, nor has any man a sweeter wife. So far I have not returned to +Equinata. As a matter of fact I do not suppose that I shall ever do +so, for grievous changes have occurred there. As all the world is +aware, Fernandez was assassinated while reviewing his troops on the +Grand Plaza, two years after I left, while Sagana met with the same +untimely fate a year later. Immediately on hearing the news I made +inquiries as to the whereabouts of the Senorita, only to hear that she +had fled the country and had entered a convent in the neighbourhood of +Rio. + +Perhaps she is happier there! + +THE END + +_Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London & Bungay._ + + + + +_Popular 6/= Novels._ + + _By S. R. CROCKETT_. + JOAN OF THE SWORD HAND Illustrated by FRANK RICHARDS. + + _By STANLEY WEYMAN_. + MY LADY ROTHA Illustrated by J. WILLIAMSON. + + _By MAX PEMBERTON_. + PRO PATRIA Illustrated by A. FORESTIER. + + _By B. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM_. + THE SURVIVOR Illustrated by STANLEY L. WOOD. + + _By HAMILTON DRUMMOND_, Author of "A Man of His Age," "For the + Religion," &c. + THE SEVEN HOUSES With Frontispiece by A. 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JACOMB HOOD + + =3 Sarchedon.= Illustrated by S. E. WALLER + + =4 Songs and Verses and The True Cross.= + Illustrated by S. E. WALLER + + =5 Market Harborough and Inside the Bar.= + Illustrated by JOHN CHARLTON + + =6 Black but Comely.= Illustrated by S. E. WALLER + + =7 Roy's Wife.= Illustrated by G. P. JACOMB HOOD + + =8 Rosine, and Sister Louise.= Illustrated by G. P. JACOMB HOOD + + =9 Kate Coventry.= Illustrated by LUCY E. KEMP-WELCH + + =10 The Gladiators.= Illustrated by J. AMBROSE WALTON + + =11 Riding Recollections.= Illustrated by JOHN CHARLTON + + =12 The Brookes of Bridlemere.= Illustrated by S. E. WALLER + + =13 Satanella.= Illustrated by LUCY E. KEMP-WELCH + + =14 Holmby House.= Illustrated by LUCY E. KEMP-WELCH + + =15 The White Rose.= Illustrated by S. E. WALLER + + =16 Tilbury Nogo.= Illustrated by STANLEY L. WOOD + + =17 Uncle John.= Illustrated by S. E. WALLER + + =18 Contraband.= Illustrated by STANLEY L. WOOD + + =19 M. or N.= Illustrated by ADOLF THIEDE + + =20 The Queen's Maries.= Illustrated by LUCY E. KEMP-WELCH + + =21 General Bounce.= Illustrated by FRANCES EWAN + + =22 Digby Grand.= Illustrated by J. AMBROSE WALTON + + =23 The Interpreter.= Illustrated by LUCY E. KEMP-WELCH + + =24 Good for Nothing.= Illustrated by G. P. JACOMB HOOD + + =25 Bones and I.= Illustrated by A. FORESTIER + + + + +2/= Copyright Novels. + +_Crown 8vo, Litho Picture Boards, Cloth Backs._ + +The Novels included are by some of the most noted authors of the +day, beautifully printed and produced. + + =1 The Curse of Clement Waynflete.= By BERTRAM MITFORD. + Illustrated by STANLEY L. WOOD. + + =2 The Crime and the Criminal.= By RICHARD MARSH. Illustrated + by HAROLD PIFFARD. + + =3 Captain Shannon.= By COULSON KERNAHAN. Illustrated by F. S. + WILSON. + + =4 Chronicles of Martin Hewitt.= By ARTHUR MORRISON. Illustrated + by D. MURRAY SMITH. + + =5 "The Queen of Night."= By HEADON HILL. Illustrated by HAROLD + PIFFARD. + + =6 A Man's Foes.= By E. H. STRAIN. Illustrated by A. FORESTIER. + + =7 A Secret Service.= By WILLIAM LE QUEUX. Illustrated by HAROLD + PIFFARD. + + =8 A Veldt Official.= By BERTRAM MITFORD. Illustrated by STANLEY + L. WOOD. + + =9 Woman, the Mystery.= By HENRY HERMAN. Illustrated by GEORGE + HUTCHINSON. + + =10 Martin Hewitt, Investigator.= By ARTHUR MORRISON. + Illustrated by SIDNEY PAGET. + + =11 A Stolen Life.= By M. MCDONNELL BODKIN. Illustrated by + FRANCES EWAN. + + =12 A Social Highwayman.= By E. P. TRAIN. Illustrated by F. + MCKERNAN. + + =13 The Datchet Diamonds.= By RICHARD MARSH. Illustrated by + STANLEY L. WOOD. + + =14 At Midnight.= By ADA CAMBRIDGE. Illustrated by P. FRENZENY + and others. + + =15 Lady Turpin.= By HENRY HERMAN. Illustrated by STANLEY L. + WOOD. + + =16 Adventures of Martin Hewitt.= By ARTHUR MORRISON. Illustrated + by T. S. C. CROWTHER. + + =17 The Expiation of Wynne Palliser.= By BERTRAM MITFORD. + Illustrated by STANLEY L. WOOD. + + =18 A Sensational Case.= By ALICE MAUD MEADOWS. Illustrated by + ST. CLAIR SIMMONS. + + =19 The Dorrington Deed Box.= By ARTHUR MORRISON. Illustrated by + STANLEY L. WOOD, &c. + + =20 The Right Sort.= By MRS. E. KENNARD. Illustrated by EDGAR + GIBERNE. + + =21 Beacon Fires.= By HEADON HILL. Illustrated by STANLEY L. + WOOD. + + =22 Fordham's Feud.= By BERTRAM MITFORD. Illustrated by STANLEY + L. WOOD. + + =23 The Dwarf's Chamber.= By FERGUS HUME. Illustrated by PERCY F. + S. SPENCE. + + =24 The Voyage of the "Pulo Way."= By W. CARLTON DAWE. + Illustrated by J. AMBROSE WALTON. + + =25 Lord Edward Fitzgerald.= By M. MCDONNELL BODKIN. Illustrated + by LEONARD LINSDELL. + + =26 The Unseen Hand.= By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. Illustrated by ST. + CLAIR SIMMONS. + + =27 The Crime of a Christmas Toy.= By HENRY HERMAN. Illustrated + by GEORGE HUTCHINSON. + + =28 The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings.= By Mrs. L. T. MEADE. + Illustrated by SIDNEY PAGET. + + =29 Out from the Night.= By ALICE MAUD MEADOWS. Illustrated by T. + W. HENRY. + + =30 The Rebels.= By M. MCDONNELL BODKIN. Illustrated by J. + AMBROSE WALTON. + + =31 The Last Stroke.= By LAWRENCE L. LYNCH. + + =32 A Master of Mysteries.= By Mrs. L. T. MEADE. Illustrated by + J. AMBROSE WALTON. + + =33 The Eye of Fate.= By ALICE MAUD MEADOWS. + + =34 A Bear Squeeze.= By M. MCDONNELL BODKIN. + + =35 L19,000.= By BURFORD DELANNOY. + + =36 Willow, the King.= By J. C. SNAITH. + + =37 The Man and His Kingdom.= By E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM. + + =38 The Sanctuary Club.= By Mrs. L. T. MEADE. + + =39 Between the Lines.= By BURFORD DELANNOY. + + =40 The Man of the Moment.= By MORICE GERARD. + + =41 Caged.= By HEADON HILL. + + =42 Under Fate's Wheel.= By LAWRENCE L. 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