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diff --git a/36492.txt b/36492.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7798d1e --- /dev/null +++ b/36492.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: 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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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. 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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