Part 19 (1/2)
Meanwhile we will guard the prisoner.”
The governor nearly choked with anger, and threatened violently that as soon as the colonel returned he would have us all shot. However, as it was evident that the soldiers would obey my orders, he raised no further objection to our taking Santiago away.
”By St. Philip,” exclaimed the major, ”the room was hot! Are you a magician, Crawford?”
”Upon my word I begin to think so. At any rate, I possess a magical key.”
”Which has saved our lives,” observed Jose grimly.
”And I suspect,” laughed Santiago, ”that once upon a time it unlocked the door of a prison cell! But won't those natives suffer for this?”
”I don't think so. They are too strong, and their chief has more power in Peru than the viceroy and San Martin combined.”
”You know him, then?”
”Yes, and so does Jose. He has done me good service, for which I am grateful, though I could never like the man. But here we are at the house. The good folk will wonder at our bringing an uninvited guest.”
Fortunately a room had been set apart for us, so we could talk at our ease. I was burning to tell Jose about my father, but first of all we had to come to an understanding with Santiago. This time he made no demur at giving his parole. ”In fact,” said he gaily, ”you have forced my hand, and I have no choice.”
”So much the better,” remarked Jose; ”we may as well be comfortable together till the colonel arrives.”
”And after that we may be hanged comfortably together!” laughed the major. ”How do you like the prospect?”
”I can trust Miller. He is an honourable man, and will do what is right. It is Crawford who will suffer for inciting the troops to mutiny.”
”Jose,” said I presently, ”I haven't told you that Major Mariano is an old friend of mine.”
”And at one time his jailer,” interrupted Santiago. ”That ought to make him feel grateful.”
”Oh,” exclaimed Jose, ”you are the captain Jack has often talked about!
Well, I'm glad we have been able to do a little for you.”
”This morning while we were waiting for your precious doctor,” I continued, ”he told me a very startling piece of news.”
”Yes?” said Jose.
”About my father.”
Jose sprang to his feet, demanding fiercely, ”What do you know of Senor Crawford, major? Don Eduardo came to his end by foul means: he was not slain by the government, but by some one who hoped to profit by his death.”
”According to the major's information, he was not slain at all,” I said, and proceeded to relate the story.
Jose listened attentively to every word, and then asked Santiago innumerable questions. Like myself, he displayed great excitement, but I judged from his expression that he entertained little hope of my father being still alive.
”The truth is,” said he, ”Don Eduardo had made numerous powerful enemies both in public and private life; and as we all know, any stick is good enough to beat a dog with. Besides, he owned vast estates, and--”
”Go on!” laughed Santiago as Jose hesitated; ”the king's party put him to death in order to seize them!”
”No, no,” said Jose hotly; ”I don't tar all Spaniards with the same brush. Still, they aren't all saints either, and I say some of them killed him under cloak of the government. And some day,” he added, ”I will prove it. As to his being alive, I think there is small chance of it.--And Jack, my boy, I would not mention the matter to your mother.”