Part 15 (1/2)
”Pardon me, Ronie,” Colonel Marchand hastened to say. ”I do not doubt you, but this is no time for explanations here. We have dallied too long already, if we would catch our birds. Go to the rear, you three, under an escort to protect you. Mind you, Lieutenant Garcia, the woman remains with you until I return. We will make short work of the mountain rebels.”
Upon finis.h.i.+ng his brusque orders, Colonel Marchand wheeled smartly about and dashed up the road, followed by his troops, numbering half a hundred or more, Lieutenant Garcia and three privates remaining to look after the two Americans and Senora de Caprian. The lieutenant showed by his reluctance to move on his duty that he was not well pleased with the plan, and he was heard to exclaim under his breath that it was a shame to be cheated of the sport at this juncture. However, he soon recovered his good nature, and, requesting his companions to follow, rode sharply in an opposite direction to that just taken by his superior officer.
About two miles below they came upon a small town, where Lieutenant Garcia ordered a halt until he should receive further orders from Colonel Marchand, or meet him in person. This place, which had been the scene of a stirring skirmish a few days before, was now in the hands of the government troops, which the latter did not hesitate to display in their actions. Though Senora de Caprian was treated with extreme courtesy, Ronie and Jack did not fail to observe that a strict watch was kept over her, and the room a.s.signed her at the house where the little party made its headquarters had a guard stationed outside the door. Of course, our heroes were allowed their liberty, but they were only too glad to improve the interval of waiting for the reappearance of Colonel Marchand by throwing themselves down upon the floor and seeking sleep.
It was broad daylight when they awoke, and the sound of a body of horse outside the building at once attracted their attention. They were soon highly pleased to find that Colonel Marchand had returned. News came to them that he had been successful in his pursuit of El Capitan and his mountain rebels. As anxious as they were to see their old friend, Ronie and Jack deemed it wise to wait until he had sought them.
This did not give over half an hour's suspense before an orderly called upon them to say that the colonel was awaiting them in his headquarters. It is needless to say that they lost no time in obeying this request to see him. They found the genial commander established in one of the smaller buildings of the village, engaged in studying a map of the country. But at sight of them he quickly forgot his chart, and motioned for them to be seated, saying:
”I have sent for you that I might know your story. We have sent the rebels flying back into their mountain caves like rats driven to their holes. They will not dare to show a head for at least twenty-four hours, so I have a half-day's leisure, except that I must prepare my report to send to General Castro. First I want to hear your story, and I suggest you begin at the very beginning, so I may understand its details and know how to act.”
Ronie, acting as spokesman, told their story in as few words as possible from the time they had left Manilla to the present moment, interrupted several times by the impulsive officer, who was both surprised and pleased at the information they gave him.
”By the right hand of Bolivar!” he exclaimed finally, ”you may not be aware of it, but you bear valuable intelligence that I shall take the liberty to forward to General Castro. The character of the _Ban Righ_ or the _Libertador_ has been pretty well known to us, but you make plain some things which have been dark. I can see how Harrie fell under suspicion under the conditions that he was taken prisoner.”
”You can secure his freedom, can you not, Colonel Marchand?”
The colonel was a tall, slender man, with flas.h.i.+ng, black eyes and long mustache, which he was wont to twist very vigorously when he was excited. He gave these a savage twirl now, and, springing to his feet, began to pace to and fro furiously.
”I know what I can do, I can try,” he declared, returning to his seat after pacing back and forth several times. ”If I had been a little more successful up this way, and he himself had not met with so many reverses, I can imagine he might be more willing to grant my request.
But I will try--of course, I will try! I can but fail. If I do,” and here he lowered his voice, ”by the right hand of Bolivar, the sword of Leon Marchand shall be sheathed while Cipriano Castro holds the rein of government.”
Both Ronie and Jack were somewhat taken aback by this speech, which they could see was not a discreet one to make, especially in that place. But the excitement of Colonel Marchand pa.s.sed as quickly as it had arisen, and he resumed, with marked calmness:
”Coming here strangers, as you have, you can have little idea of the real feeling slumbering like a volcano in the hearts of us Venezuelans.
The truth is, our people are the most ungrateful on the face of the earth. All of the revolutions and political plots that have hara.s.sed our country have been almost entirely uncalled for, though I will confess our leaders have made an excuse easy through their eagerness to ”feather their nests,” as you would say. But honest men have ever found little encouragement to remain honest, when the populace stands ready to take up the cry of 'fraud' the moment some disgruntled office seeker utters such a cry to cover his own disappointment. The utterance of the word becomes instantly the battle cry to call the mob to riot and ruin. From a Venezuelan riot a general uprising will follow in a single day, until the country is ravaged far and wide.
This is accounted for mainly by the fact that the population is made up to nine out of ten of Indians, half-breeds and mulattoes, who are naturally ignorant and easily aroused to fight.
”Matos is followed by just such a rabble. He is rich, but not a soldier by training. Still, it was enough that he was brilliant in uniform and pompous in bearing; these, coupled with the rattle of the drum and the tramp of many feet, aroused the mongrel crowd, until the disgruntled rebel found himself tagged by an army of ragged, boisterous, hungry men, who gladly followed him, and follow him still.
We saw an example of the stock in El Capitan's mountain horde. He escaped me only by the skin of his teeth.”
”Here I am making a proclamation of war when I ought to be preparing my dispatch for General Castro. I will use every argument I can for Harrie, as I know he is a n.o.ble boy, and that his imprisonment is unjust and wicked.”
”How about Francisco de Caprian?” asked Ronie, for Colonel Marchand had not hinted of him.
”I can do nothing,” he replied, with a shake of the head. ”The De Caprians are very much in ill-favor just now. However, for your sake I will mention him, and suggest that it will do no harm to set him free.
I think you said he suggested that he was willing to espouse our cause.
By the way, what do you say to a campaign under the ill.u.s.trious Castro, the modern Bolivar of Venezuela? I will mention your willingness, and you can answer me afterward.”
Then Colonel Marchand became very busy with the preparation of his dispatch. When it was finished he called an orderly, who was told to see that it was forwarded to the commander-in-chief with as great promptness as possible.
”Bring me back a reply,” added the colonel, and when he had seen the messenger depart he turned to resume his conversation with Ronie and Jack.
CHAPTER XVII.
A CUNNING RUSE.
”Speaking about joining our forces,” said Colonel Marchand, ”under the circ.u.mstances it will be impossible for me to fulfill my promise to you when I wrote. Neither would it be practicable to carry out plans made under different conditions. Join our army for a while; it will prove a lively vacation for you, and just as soon as this little cloud blows over we will start. We will have the government behind us, too. It is a great undertaking in more senses than one. I expect to become regularly attached to Castro's army within a short time. In fact, I am away now only temporarily. What do you say to becoming comrades under Castro?”
”I should want to consult Harrie before I decided,” replied Ronie.