Part 41 (1/2)
”Toas I am paid for the days we spend upon the road”
”Very well,” said Cliffe, taking out a handful of silver ”Do you know Don Martin Sarmiento?”
The peon looked doubtful, and Cliffe saw that, as he had suspected, the fellow had sos with the President's enemies
”Don Martin is known to led the silver and aardly explained that he was no longer a friend of the President's and wished to see Sarmiento as soon as he could
For a time the muleteer did not speak; then he looked up with an air of decision
”It may be difficult, senor, but ill try,” he said, and jerking the pack-mule's bridle abruptly left the road
They passed through a coffee plantation and a field of sugar-cane, and then as they reached thick forest the muleteer stopped and indicated the road that wound in loops down the hillside
”It is well the President should think we have gone that way,” he remarked with a smile ”He has, no doubt, been told hoe left the town”
Cliffe looked back across the wide sweep of sun-scorched country to the shi+ning streak on the horizon His path led into the ht of Grahame and wondered where he was Cliffe felt sure theto suspect what business Grahauide about the _Enchantress_, but the fellow did not seem to understand, and it was obvious that he had not heard of Grahaed into the steae filled with giant, creeper-festooned trees, and the guideinto the shadow that shut in the winding track It appeared that his caution was justified, for presently a hoarse voice bade them halt, and as they pulled up two ht
For soestures and pointing to Cliffe; and then he went on with one while the other sat doatching the American, with his rifle across his knees It was very hot, for the sun struck down through an opening in the branches, but although the perspiration dripped frolad that hisoff the flies
At last souard told hih the man followed at a short distance, as if to prevent his escape A few hundred yards farther on, the gorge widened into a level hollow, and Cliffe saw that he was in a camp
It was not marked by military order Men of various shades of color lay about, sarettes Some were barefooted, and ood rifles lay ready to their hands They looked ine they had been drilled, but while their attitudes were slackly negligent, their faces were resolute In the background, cli vines, rolled up the steep hillside It was very hot, and the huled with the sound of drowsy voices
Two men, better dressed than the others, came forward, and Cliffe dismounted and followed thearettes
”Now, senor, you will tell us why you came here,” said one
Cliffe had not expected to be addressed in good English, and he looked at the man with surprise
The Spaniard s to serve one's country is that one finds it safer to live somewhere else But ill keep to the point”
”I a for Don Martin Sarmiento,” Cliffe said ”I expect you knohere he is”
”That is so, but it would be difficult to reach hiht In fact, it is hard to see e ought to do with you, but it ht help if you told us what your business is with Don Martin”
”I guess you're surprised I should want to see him,” Cliffe remarked with some dryness