Part 16 (1/2)
”To tell the truth, I didn't know it,” said Sam.
”Well, you did.”
”But the general planned everything,” said Sam.
”Yes,” said Cleary, ”but I'll tell you more about that. I'm doing some detective work, and I'll have something to tell you in a day or two.
But I wish I'd been with you. I had my kodak all ready. However, they can make up the pictures at home. How's this for headlines?” and he took some notes from his pocket. ”'Great Victory at San Diego. Captain Jinks Turns Defeat into Victory. Hailed as Hero Jinks by the Army.
General Laughter's Plans Carried Out through the Young Hero's Co-operation.' What do you think of that? We'll put the part about the general in small caps, because he's not quite solid with the trust. I'm not going to write up anybody but you and the Mounted Mustangs; those are my orders.”
”How did the Mustangs make out?” asked Sam. ”They were way off on the left, and I haven't heard anything about them.”
”They did very decently,” said Cleary, ”considering they were never under fire before. They kept up pretty well with the regulars, and fortunately they had a regular regiment on each side. They really did well.”
”Did they make any fine cavalry charges?” inquired Sam.
”Cavalry charges! Bless your heart, they didn't have any horses, and it's lucky they didn't. They had their hands full without having to manage any horses!”
CHAPTER VIII
Among the Moritos
[Ill.u.s.tration]
On the following day headquarters were moved into San Diego. Sam was lodged in the town hall with the general, and Cleary got rooms close by. There were rumors of renewed activity on the part of the Cubapinos, but it was thought that their resistance for the future would be of a guerrilla nature. There was, however, one savage tribe to the north which had terrorized a large district of country, and the general decided that it must be subdued. Sam heard of this plan, but did not know whether he would be sent on the expedition or not, and urged Cleary to use his influence so that he might be one of the party.
”I'll manage it for you, old man,” said Cleary, two or three days after the battle. ”I've got the general in a tight place, and all I've got to do is to let him know it and he'll do whatever I want.”
”What do you mean?”
”Why, he had about as much to do with the San Diego fight as the man in the moon.”
”What?”
”Well, I'll tell you the story. I've run down every clue and here it is. You see somehow Colonel Burton got the orders mixed up that morning and addressed every one of them to the wrong general.”
”Is it possible?” exclaimed Sam. ”That explains why they couldn't understand the orders there in the Third Brigade, and why I took all day to find San Diego. I wonder if it's true. Why on earth didn't Gomaldo win then? It must have been a close call.”
”It's plain enough why he didn't win,” said Cleary. ”That chap Garcia was one of his spies, and a clever one too. He got all he could out of you and me, but that wasn't much. Then he had the native servant of the general in his pay. As soon as you left on the night before the battle he cleared out too, and he got a statement from the native servant of all the general intended to do. He got the news to Gomaldo by midnight, and before sunrise the Cubapino forces were ready to meet each of our columns when they advanced. They had ambushes prepared for each of them. If the orders had gone out straight we'd have been cleaned out, that's my opinion. But you see, they all went wrong and the columns advanced along different roads, and poor Gomaldo's plans all went to pot. I believe he had Garcia hanged for deceiving him. You haven't seen the general's servant since the battle, have you?”
”Now that you speak of it, I don't think I have,” said Sam. ”But he's a great general all the same, don't you think so?”
”Of course,” answered Cleary.
”I wonder if all battles are won like that?” said Sam.
”I half think they are,” said his friend. ”And then the generals smile and say, 'I told you so.'”
”Cleary,” said Sam, ”I want you to answer me one question honestly.”