Part 14 (2/2)
”It is just as well to let them know who is their master,” he said, suddenly using English. ”In these times, when Spain seems to have more and more trouble heaped upon her shoulders, these dogs get uppish and want careful handling. No doubt they wonder what we are doing here. Of course, they know that it is one of our usual expeditions; but do they suspect anything more? Up to this they have been only lukewarm adherents of their brethren in the island, and have not objected to a little burning here and there, for they are making money out of it. But if they were to suspect that you and I have our own private objects in view there would be trouble. Remember, Pedro, we are Spanish irregulars. Now, about this dog of an Englishman. What has been done to capture him?”
”If he escapes us he will be clever,” answered his companion. ”We know that he and the boy will return by a certain path. Thirty paces from the clearing two of our men are posted. They are natives, and are armed with the machete. The boy will be taken to the hacienda, and the other will stay. Yes, Senor Capitan, your orders will be followed in that respect,”
he added significantly. ”That foolish young man who upset our well-laid plans in Florida will disappear, for these black fellows are masters of the art.”
”And what if the mice refuse to walk into your trap?” asked the other.
”How do you know that they have not already taken the alarm, and made the best of their way to Santiago?”
”The better for one if they have, Senor Capitan; but it will not be the case. The young English fool will not desert his friends. See how he supported them in Florida, when he might easily have lain in his bunk and feigned sleep. But he must needs spring up, and come to the rescue, only to receive a bullet. He will act in the same manner this time, and he will suffer death. Madmen must be treated as madmen when they become dangerous to one's safety. But we shall soon know. We will give them a little time longer, and then, if the boy is not brought to the hacienda, I myself will go down this small pathway till it cuts into the larger one. There I will stay, and hide amongst the bushes. If in an hour I do not come to tell you that I have seen them, you may be sure that they have ridden for the town. That would be unfortunate, for we have a score to pay to the Englishman, and it would mean more trouble on another occasion. But, should they have escaped us, we need not fear surprise, for Santiago is far away, and it will be to-morrow morning before they could return with help.”
”Not even then,” said Jose d'Arousta, with a sneer. ”To whom are they to apply for help? No one would listen to the beggarly Englishman, for are not they the same as Americans? At any rate, their sympathies are with these enemies of Spain. We will rest here, take all the money we can lay our hands on, and then return leisurely, conscious that we have done a piece of excellent work. If there should be trouble, we have hosts of friends to prove that we were in Santiago when the attack was made upon the hacienda. You may be sure that the matter would be dropped at once, for the commandant in Santiago has sufficient on his hands already without caring to be troubled about such a trumpery affair. Yes; I have no fears. We will take our ease, and depart with all the gold we can find.”
”Leaving the hacienda in flames, senor?” the half-caste asked eagerly.
”No, certainly not. There you show yourself sadly wanting in thought, Pedro,” Jose d'Arousta replied, with a grim smile. ”Our friends defied us once before; they escaped us in Florida, and now we have them in our toils. But, remember, the crops are just gathered and stored, and very shortly money will be received in exchange. We will leave the hacienda for another time, Pedro. Do you follow me? We will take the very last dollar now by force, returning on a later occasion for a second haul. If we are not satisfied then, it will be easy to set a torch to the hacienda, which is the pride of Senor Brindle's heart.”
”Ha, ha, ha! That is good, Senor Capitan. It is fine!” Pedro answered, with a sn.i.g.g.e.r. ”Of course, we will leave him for another day's sport.”
They walked away towards the hacienda, leaving Hal boiling with wrath and indignation.
”Rob him now and come again, will they!” he muttered angrily. ”We will see about that. The Brindles have been more than good to me, and I will do my utmost for them in return. At any rate, I will put a spoke in Jose d'Arousta's wheel this time. Now, how is it to be done? I'll slip back and talk it over with Gerald, for he is sharp, and may very well be able to help.”
He crept into the darkness of the forest, and, emerging at length upon the path again, he crawled away from the clearing as rapidly as possible.
”Hallo! Is that you?” exclaimed Gerald, starting to his feet as Hal suddenly rose by his side, having given absolutely no evidence of his approach. ”Bother you, old man, you made my heart jump into my mouth.
'Pon my word, you are a regular Red Indian, and I am sure that one of our hands could not have done better. But what have you learned?”
”A good deal, Gerald. Take a seat there on the ground and listen.”
Hal seated himself beside his young companion, and rapidly told him all that had pa.s.sed between Jose and Pedro.
”There, you know all,” he said at last. ”Just stir your brains and tell me what we are to do. We have a number of reckless men to deal with; that you can plainly perceive, for they do not hesitate to arrange for my murder. On our side we can count on twenty-seven negroes, who are faithful, and who will fight if well led, but who, negro-like, may run away if someone does not show them an example.”
”Then why not surround the hacienda and open fire?” said Gerald, eagerly.
”And lose control of our men at once. No; that would not do,” Hal answered quietly. ”Besides, what would those villains do in such circ.u.mstances? I tell you, Gerald, they are brutal enough to kill their captives. Now, look here; our men will fight, if collected together so as to feel one another's support. I have a little plan to propose which I think will settle matters satisfactorily. We are in the minority, and our men are on foot. If we push this gang of ruffians they will fight hard, and we shall not gain our end, which is the rescue of your father and Dora, and of the money in the hacienda. I suggest that we make it impossible for them to take their mules. That will be a simple matter, for we have only to post the negroes beside the shed. Then we will cover the guards who are on watch in the clearing, and will order them to decamp. After that we will deal with the ringleader. Now, old boy, will you command the firing party?”
”Rather! Of course! But what about you, Hal? What will you be doing?”
asked his companion.
”I am going to set the ball rolling, if possible,” answered Hal calmly.
”Jose d'Arousta's head man is bent upon searching for me. We will capture the gentleman, and make so free as to undress him. Then I will take his place, and while he fumes and rages, will march as bold as bra.s.s into the hacienda.”
”What? You are joking, Hal!” exclaimed Gerald, aghast at the boldness of the idea. ”You would be shot for a certainty. You cannot mean it.”
”Oh, yes, I do,” Hal replied quietly. ”And I can a.s.sure you that the risk is far more imaginary than real. Think it over. It is getting dusk already, and, dressed exactly like Pedro, I walk into the hacienda. The other ruffian will almost certainly be alone, and I shall have the advantage of him, for I shall take him by surprise. Do you mean to tell me that I shall not be a match for such a man?”
Hal's eyes glinted strangely in the gloom, and, glancing at him, Gerald was surprised to find that his usually smiling face had a.s.sumed a most severe and determined look.
”By Jove, you will, of course,” he blurted out, extending his hand to grasp Hal's and shake it. ”A match for the fellow! Of course you will be! But it's risky--awfully risky, and I don't like the thought of your going alone.”
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