Part 25 (2/2)
”Now, men,” he said, when the four survivors had joined him, ”shall we keep together or try to make our way separately?”
The men consulted together, and then said that they thought they would have more chance of making their way south were they to separate. Stephen was glad of this decision, which, he had no doubt was arrived at from the fear that if they were taken, and he was recognized to be an Englishman, it would make their treatment worse than it would otherwise be. He himself much preferred to go alone; he had no authority over these men, and five men together were more likely to attract attention than one alone. Looking across the river they saw a number of people on the opposite bank. They were evidently inhabitants of the town, who, having seen the s.h.i.+p running for sh.o.r.e, had come down to watch her fate, and to give any a.s.sistance in their power. Stephen saw that they were waving their hands for them to make up the bank, where there might be a ferry-boat to take them over. He pointed this out to the men, and said, ”I am afraid we shall be pursued ere long. Of course, at present they take us for their own people; but when they see that we do not cross, they will suspect the truth, and will send over to see whether we have taken shelter in some village there may be on this side. When they hear that we have not done so, they will guess that we are Chilians, and there will be a hot pursuit for us. We will walk together for a little way along the bank as if going in the direction that they point to. They are not likely to stay long where they are; some will go back to the town now that there is nothing to see, others will no doubt remain on the bank to collect wreckage that may be washed ash.o.r.e, a few may go on to the ferry and wait there for us. If there are any boats in the river you may be sure they will soon put out to collect floating casks and bales.”
The little crowd was indeed just beginning to break up, and after going a short distance Stephen and his companions left the river and started south. After going two or three hundred yards they shook hands and separated, the sailors striking more inland, while Stephen took for the present a course that ran parallel with the sea-coast. It was already growing dark, and Stephen was worn out with the excitement of the day, so that after going on for an hour, he lay down in a clump of trees and went to sleep. It was broad daylight when he awoke, and on walking to the edge of the trees he saw a village a few hundred yards in front of him. He made a long detour to pa.s.s it, and was proceeding along a well-beaten path when he heard the sound of horses' hoofs behind, and looking round saw four Spanish troopers riding towards him. Escape was out of the question, and he walked quietly on in the faint hope that they might pa.s.s without stopping him. This, however, was improbable; his hair was matted with sea water, his clothes still wet-his whole appearance too evidently that of a s.h.i.+pwrecked man. They stopped when they reached him.
”You are one of the men who were cast ash.o.r.e last night?” a sergeant said.
”I am,” Stephen replied frankly.
”My orders are to take you back to San Carlos. Where are your companions?”
”I do not know,” Stephen replied. ”We separated at once; I went my way and they went theirs.”
”You are a Chilian,” the man said; ”anyone can tell it by your speech.”
Stephen by this time spoke the language so fluently indeed that he could have pa.s.sed as a native. There was, however, sufficient difference between the dialects of Peru and Chili for it to be seen at once that he was not a Peruvian. He did not reply directly to the question.
”We were on a trader,” he said. ”The captain and four of the men were lost; five of us gained the sh.o.r.e. We were not on an armed s.h.i.+p, and cannot be considered enemies.”
”The whole race of you are enemies,” the sergeant said. ”You are rebels and traitors every one of you. Gomez, do you and Martinez take this man back to San Carlos, and hand him over to the governor. I will ride on with Sancho and see if we can come up with the other fellows; as there are half a dozen parties out in search we are pretty sure to lay hands on them before nightfall.”
On the way back Stephen, as he walked between the two hors.e.m.e.n, debated whether it would be better to allow them to remain under the impression that he was a Chilian, or declare himself an English officer. In the former case he would most likely be shot without ceremony, in the latter he might probably be sent up to Callao or Lima. It might make no difference in his fate, but at least might delay it; and if he could but manage to communicate his position to Lord Cochrane, the latter would certainly take instant steps to offer one or more of the many Spanish officers who were prisoners in his hands in exchange for him, or would threaten that if any harm came to him he would give no quarter to Spanish officers in future. At any rate the latter seemed to promise him the better chance, and accordingly when on his arrival at San Carlos he was taken before the governor, he replied boldly to the question, ”Who are you?”
”I am Lieutenant Stephen Embleton, flag officer to Admiral Cochrane.”
The words created a sensation among the officers standing behind the governor.
”You dare to say this!” the governor exclaimed furiously.
”I am giving a simple answer to your question, senor,” Stephen said quietly. ”When we ask the Spanish officers who fall into our hands what their names are, they reply as I have done, truthfully, and they are treated as I expect to be treated, honourably; especially as I have not been captured by you when in arms, but have simply had the misfortune to be s.h.i.+pwrecked on your coast.”
The quiet tone of the reply had its effect. The officers spoke a few words together in a low tone, and the governor said more calmly than he had before spoken:
”How am I to know that this story is true?”
”I have no means of proving it now,” Stephen replied; ”but if I am taken to Callao, a message sent to Lord Cochrane under a flag of truce would speedily bring back a letter verifying my story.”
”But how did you come to be on board that craft that was wrecked?”
”I was wounded, senor, at the action in the port of Callao. A splinter caused by a shot from one of your batteries struck me when on the deck of the _Esmeralda_. I was sent down to Valparaiso. Your surgeon can examine me and will find that the wound has but lately healed. Being anxious to rejoin my s.h.i.+p as soon as possible, I did not wait for a s.h.i.+p of war going up, but took pa.s.sage in a Chilian trader.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: STEPHEN IS BOUND AND BROUGHT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR OF SAN CARLOS.]
”Doubtless conveying stores to the Chilian fleet,” the governor remarked.
”She may have had stores of that kind on board,” Stephen said, ”but that was no affair of mine. I simply took a pa.s.sage in her, and paid for it.
The admiral is expecting me, and will, I am sure, be ready to exchange an officer of superior rank for me.”
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