Part 22 (1/2)
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL CASTRO.
A soldier's first duty is always to obey his superior in command. Upon hearing of General Castro's return to La Guayra, Ronie immediately abandoned his search, leaving his companions to carry it on, while he sought the president. He found him without difficulty, for he was already besieged with callers. But our hero had only to send in his pa.s.sport from Colonel Marchand to receive an urgent request to come at once.
He was a little disappointed in the personal appearance of the man who had become so prominent in the affairs, and whose name he had heard spoken more often than any dozen others since he had come to Venezuela.
He was below medium height, of rather slight build, and moved with a limp in one limb, caused by a wound he had received in battle. His eye was the feature which bespoke most the man, and as Ronie stood before him he seemed to read him at a glance.
”Sergeant Rand,” he greeted, in a hearty manner, which quickly won the American boy's friends.h.i.+p, ”I welcome you gladly to La Guayra. Colonel Marchand sends his message by you?”
”Here are your dispatches, General Castro. I trust they will prove valuable to you.”
”Be seated, sergeant, while I read them.”
Ten minutes of silence followed, during which Ronie had ample time to study the man before him, who seemed absorbed in the written messages just placed in his hands. Then he laid the last one down, and said:
”If I am not mistaken, you are the young American the colonel spoke of in such laudable terms in his last. It seems by what he says now that you have not let your reputation suffer by more recent conduct. It was your friend I sent to have liberated from the penitentiary at San Carlos, was it not?”
”It was, general.”
”Is he in La Guayra?”
”He is.”
”I wish he had come with you, for I am heartily glad to meet two such allies in a time when the whole world seems against me. Forgive me for saying that, as I would not have you think I distrust your own republic. But tell me of what you have seen in the West, Sergeant Rand. I am glad to get such information as I believe you can give me of the hotbed of rebellion in my poor country. Take your time, and do not be afraid to speak of yourself.”
Then Ronie described such portions of the events that had come under his observation as he thought the other would be pleased to hear, referring to himself very modestly, while General Castro listened with great interest, now and then asking some question or expressing admiration at the conduct of Colonel Marchand and his regiment. He was especially pleased with the rout given El Capitan at the estate of Don Isadora, and he made Ronie describe the affair so minutely that he was forced to speak of the part he had taken.
”I have heard nothing so pleasing,” said the president. ”You shall be rewarded for your gallant conduct. I am again saying that I am sorry this friend, or these American friends of yours, did not accompany you here. I will send for them.”
”I am afraid you will not find them readily, as they are in search of a man in La Guayra that we want to find very much.” Then he hastened to add: ”But this is a personal matter, General Castro, and you will pardon me for introducing it to you. I did not intend to.”
”What concerns my comrades, concerns me,” cried Castro, with possibly more vehemence than he had intended. ”Tell me all about it, Sergeant Rand.”
Thus urged, Ronie explained what he knew in regard to his mother, the president listening attentively to every word. When he had finished, the latter said:
”Sergeant, this is a grave matter. To say nothing of my feelings for you, I cannot afford to let this affair escape my notice. It might easily be construed to mean an offense against your government. Have you communicated with Minister Bowen?”
”No, General Castro.”
”I should advise you to do so as early as may be. But in the meantime we will leave no stone unturned to find her.”
”You are very kind, general. What would you suggest that we do first?”
”Find the man who had her photograph, and make him tell all he knows.”
”I have regretted, general, that we did not return and do that.”
”You were hardly prepared to do it, as I understand your condition.”
”True, General Castro. We were glad to escape with our lives, and we have been kept escaping ever since.”
”You have proved lively enough in the race. You spoke of that young De Caprian. What do you know of him?”