Part 16 (2/2)
They found the colonel, usually so genial, very much out of humor. At first Ronie feared that he had done something to arouse this uncommon state of mind on the part of his superior.
”Sergeant Rand,” greeted the colonel, brusquely, giving our hero a t.i.tle quite unexpected to him, ”I have sent for you to see if your Yankee ingenuity and courage cannot help me out of this difficulty.”
”I am at your service, colonel,” replied Ronie, with a military salute, ”and I am sure my friend here is equally as faithful.”
”Ay, ay, Colonel Marchand; where Ronie Rand leads I----”
”Sergeant Rand, if you please, Senor Greenland,” interrupted the officer. ”I will now explain what I want of you.”
Though taken somewhat aback by this greeting, our twain bowed and waited respectfully for the other to explain.
”In the first place,” began the colonel, ”I need not tell you how I have been buffeted about for the last ten days. It has set my teeth on edge. On every hand my scouts have been baffled by these scoundrels of the bush, who make a farce of war and style themselves 'Sons of Liberty!' Word comes in that they are everywhere successful, and that Castro is discouraged. I know better than the last. He is not that kind of a man. But enough of that. What I want of you is simply this: Take as many men with you as you wish, and reconnoiter the country as far as you think best, and report to me as often as possible. Are you willing to undertake this hazardous mission?”
”I am willing to do my duty, Colonel Marchand.”
”Ay, ay, colonel,” added Jack.
”Spoken like true soldiers. I know I can depend on you. Now name the number of men you want to go with you, and I will have them detailed at once. Remember you are to have command of the squad, with your friend as deputy.”
”I a.s.sure you, colonel, we appreciate the honor. I think three men will be sufficient. A small body of men can go where a large one would be likely to attract attention.”
”Good! My scouts dare not stir out of their hammocks without an army is at their heels. How soon can you be ready to report, sergeant?”
”In half an hour, colonel.”
”Thank you, sergeant. That will give me time to detain [Transcriber's note: detail?] the men, and I will see that you have the best in the regiment. By the way, sergeant, I wish to say that I have received as yet no reply from General Castro, but I probably shall before you get back. I would also add that I expect to move to Baracoa in the morning, where I shall await news from you.”
”Well, Jack, what do you think of this?” asked Ronie, as soon as they had left the presence of Colonel Marchand.
”Looks as if we were going to taste of real warfare,” replied Jack. ”I can't say that I am sorry, for as long as we cannot go ahead with our work it will serve to break the monotony.”
”If I only knew that mother was safely at home, and Harrie was with us, I really think I should enjoy it. If there was only some way I could get a letter sent to her, I would write to mother in New York, hit or miss.”
”Perhaps the colonel will have a chance to get it to the capital,”
suggested Jack. ”If you want to write it, I will see that everything is got in readiness for our start.”
”You are very kind. I think I will do it. It will certainly do no harm.”
So Ronie wrote his letter to his mother, describing briefly his recent experiences, and speaking particularly of the portrait he had picked up. He had to make his letter short, for he not only prepared that, but he ate a hasty meal, which Jack had prepared, and with his faithful companion presented himself at the commander's tent in exactly half an hour.
”I am glad to find you so punctual,” remarked the colonel. ”Yes, I will send your letter along at the first opportunity. Here are the men who are to accompany you. I wish you success, but I do not believe I need to caution you to move cautiously. You have been here long enough to know something of the character of these bush rebels.”
In this brusque manner Colonel Marchand saw them depart, though he did not return to his papers until they had disappeared beyond the line of forest vegetation which encircled the clearing in the shadows of the mountains. His eye trained upon the spot where he had last seen them after they had vanished for several minutes, he finally turned back, saying, under his breath:
”I hope I shall not be disappointed in them as I have the others who have gone before them.”
<script>