Ellis Edward Sylvester
Up the Forked River: or, Adventures in South America

CHAPTER XVIII

The two looked at each other in speechless amaze. This was a direct interference with their personal freedom, the first either had known.

The Señorita was the first to find speech. Addressing the soldier, she said:

“You say this is the order of General Yozarro?”

“Were it not, I should not dare utter the words.”

“What is his reason for the command?”

It was essentially a feminine question, but the soldier did not hesitate with the reply:

“War impends between Zalapata and Atlamalco; we are expecting at almost any hour an attack upon Castillo Descanso; the Señorita observes the armed force that has been placed here by General Yozarro; he cannot allow the Señoritas the danger of falling into the hands of the perfidious General Bambos and his barbarians.”

It was on the tongue of Miss Starland to declare that she would prefer a hundred times that eventuality to remaining in charge of the Atlamalcans, but instead, her companion said what was in the minds of both:

“The order of General Yozarro may apply to me, but cannot apply to my friend who owes no allegiance to Atlamalco or Zalapata. She comes from the Great Republic of the North, and no one elsewhere has the right to say yea or nay to her.”

“It distresses me very much, Señorita Estacardo, that special weight was laid by General Yozarro upon the order as affecting la Americana.”

And looking toward the latter, he again removed his hat and bowed low, instead of contenting himself with the military salute that would have been the proper thing under the circumstances. The soldier was above the ordinary native in intelligence.

His words showed the futility of further argument. Without a word, but throwing back her head with a scornful gesture, the Señorita nodded to her friend to accompany her back into the gloomy building. Silently and slowly the two went up the sloping stone steps and re-entered the room which they had left a few minutes before. The Señorita locked the door and the two faced each other.

“What do you make of it, Manuela?”

“Only one thing can be made of it; it is as I said; General Yozarro is determined you shall remain here for some time to come and he gives no more thought to the foolhardiness of his action than if he were a child too young to walk.”

“What of the story of a war between the republics?”

“I do not believe a word of it.”

“Meantime, what are we to do?”

“Sit down, fold our hands and be good; but,” she added with a flash of her eyes, “that is the last thing to do; I long to meet my uncle face to face. It is the first time he ever offered such an insult to the daughter of his dead sister and to her friend. I hope he will not delay his coming.”

“I wish to be present when you meet; I, too, shall have something to say, which I do not think he will soon forget.”

But the hours wore slowly away and General Yozarro came not. Was he not shrinking from her whose fiery temper he well knew? Which of the two did he fear the most? The northerner may have been of cooler blood, but her anger, when once set aflame, was all the more profound. She abominated the man with his sleek smile, his oily manner and his tempestuous profanity when he thought himself beyond her hearing. She could not think that the other Dictator, with all his stupidity and grossness, was one-half as wicked as he. Were she free to do so, she would not hesitate to throw herself upon his protection.

“Where can Jack be?” she asked after the mid-day repast, and when the two had talked over every phase of the situation for the twentieth time. “Surely he must soon learn of this and he will be quick to call General Yozarro to account.”

“I place little hope on that; do not forget, my dear Warrenia, that the Major is only one man against hundreds.”

“But what of the yacht?”

“It is many miles away; no one can say when it will return; remember, too, General Yozarro’s gunboat.”

The lip of the American curled with contempt.

“Let them meet and it will be Manila Bay over again on a small scale. I only wish Captain Winton knew of this! He would sink the miserable craft or chase her to the foot of the Andes.”

In the momentary reaction, Señorita Estacardo smiled:

“You have full faith in your countrymen.”

“So have you; so has every one who knows them, and who does not? So will General Yozarro and his barbarians, if they ever rouse the anger of my people. But why do we speculate? It seems we can do nothing but wait. Manuela, can we not steal away when night comes?”

“I have asked myself that question, but I cannot see any hope of doing it. Neither of us can leave without being observed; guards will be on all sides and we shall be turned back as we were this morning. Let us go to the upper part of the Castle and look over the country. It may avail nothing, but it will be a relief to this monotony.”

They climbed to the rooms above, which, as we know, were copies of those they had just left, with the narrow windows on all sides. The Señorita walked to the opening on the south which commanded a view of the densely wooded mountains that stretched clear across the island to the main branch of the Rio Rubio. She expected to see nothing in that direction of interest and made the survey because her companion passed to the windows on the north.

“Come to me!” called the American; “here is something strange.”

The Señorita was at her side on the instant. Looking across the mile of rugged country to where the northern stream wound its way, they saw a small sailboat speeding to the eastward, the moderate breeze causing it to careen far to one side. Its prow cut the curling water and the foam spread out like a fan in its wake.

“If we had a glass we might study it closely,” said Miss Starland regretfully, as she scrutinized the craft.

“I don’t think there is anything of the kind in the Castle, but it can make little difference. The boat is a strange one to us, and whoever is guiding it is no concern of ours.”

“Probably you are right, but it looks to me as if there are two or three aboard, – ah! there are three and they are heading toward shore. They must land near where we left the boat last night.”

“And what of that?”

“It looks as if they are coming to the Castle; they will soon be here!”

“That does not seem likely to me; the only ones whom we expect are General Yozarro and his friends, and so long as he has the larger craft, he will not use such a puny boat as that.”

CHAPTER XIX

The American did not reply, but held her gaze upon the little vessel, whose curving to the right might change at any moment; but it kept straight on under the propulsion of the breeze until hidden from sight by the tops of the trees. The three men had certainly approached land, though it could not be said they had left the boat.

“What do you make of it?” asked Miss Starland.

“Probably three natives have run to shore for a little while and will soon pass out again and continue on their way.”

“Let us keep watch.”

They did so, and when an hour had passed and the sun was low in the sky, the craft had failed to appear. Far to the westward, a thin, dark, shadowy line lay motionless against the horizon, too far off to be identified.

“I think it is the smoke of the gunboat,” said the Señorita; “General Yozarro means to come to the Castle over the same course we followed.”

They looked long and anxiously, but the horizontal streak of vapor gradually faded without bringing the craft into view. The tug had steamed in the opposite direction, or there had been a change of mind and the fires were banked or allowed to go out.

Miss Starland was still gazing, hoping and dreading the appearance of the craft, when her friend pressed her arm and asked in a hurried undertone:

“Do you see him?”

She indicated a point in the trail no more than a furlong distant, where it emerged around a mass of rocks, between the Castle and the waterfall. The path just there was so narrow as to permit the passage of only a single person or animal. Withdrawing her gaze from the distance, she made out the form of a man, standing at the curve. He was motionless, and evidently studying the Castle.

His dress and swarthy countenance, plainly visible in the sunlight, showed that he was a native, who, for some reason, felt a peculiar interest in the grim structure. He may have stood thus for some minutes before the Señorita observed him, but he remained for a brief while longer, so stationary that he might well have been taken for a figure of stone.

“Do you know him?” asked the American.

“Only that he is an Atlamalcan; he wears the blue jacket; that of the Zalapatans is red, – the two tints being the distinguishing features of their uniforms; you observe he is dressed the same as our guards.”

“Have you ever seen him before?”

“He is too far off for me to observe his countenance clearly, but, so far as I can say, he is a stranger. I think he is a member of our guard.”

“Why then is he not with them? What is his object in going out there and posing in that way?”

“I wish I could answer your questions. Perhaps our captain suspects we are dreaming of escape and he has sent out guards to watch the Castle from all sides.”

“It seems more likely to me that he came from the small boat; he may be a messenger from General Yozarro.”

“If so, his action is inexplicable. If a messenger, he would hurry to the Castle and deliver his message.”

“Perhaps he has done so and is going away.”

While all was conjecture, the man moved. It was then noted that he carried no gun though he doubtless had smaller weapons. He turned slowly about, facing the other way, strode a dozen steps or so and then passed from sight. Thinking he might appear again the two watched the spot for the following half hour, during which he was not seen again. Then, looking in the direction of Atlamalco they were unable to detect any trace of the finger of smoke which had faded out and which they thought might come to view again.

“General Yozarro may have sailed further up the river,” suggested the Señorita.

“What could he hope to accomplish by that, except to run away from General Bambos?”

“He may turn into the main stream, where it bifurcates, and come down to the junction, when he can steam up to Zalapata.”

“Let us stop speculating about him. Just now I am more interested in the stranger, and, as sure as I live, there he is again!”

The brief twilight was already closing in, when the form of a man – presumably the one whom they had already noted – came into view at the point where he was first observed. Instead of pausing as before, he continued to advance toward the plateau on which stood the Castle. His pace was an ordinary one, showing neither haste nor hesitation. It was a striking proof of the shortness of the tropical twilight that although the flickering figure steadily drew nearer, it as steadily grew more indistinct. When his head and shoulders rose over the edge of the plateau, it was almost impossible to see his countenance, though no doubt remained that he was an Atlamalcan soldier. A little closer approach and he was hidden from the sight of the watchers in the upper story.

The interior was now so dark that they descended to where the lamp supported by the bracket at the side of the wall, was lighted. At the same moment, the knock of the servant Juanita sounded, and she brought their evening meal. The Señorita questioned her and she said that a soldier had just arrived and was talking to Captain Navarro of the guard, but she knew nothing of his errand.

The two friends were in a flutter, and, tarrying only long enough to partake slightly, they hastened to their lookout. They waited and looked for a considerable time, but saw nothing of the stranger in whom they were so much interested.

When it had become wholly dark, they passed to the living apartment, which was moderately illuminated by the lamp. The gloom outside would continue until the moon appeared, when the light would be as vivid almost as mid-day.

Suddenly some one knocked on the door. The peculiar sound showed that it was not a servant claiming admission. Señorita Estacardo sprang up, turned the key and drew open the massive structure for a few inches. Then she recoiled at sight of the soldier in the blue jacket standing before her, bowing low with hat in hand.

After his “buenas noches,” he uttered the amazing words:

“I have come for the American Señorita.”

“Who are you?”

He stepped softly inside, pushed the door shut and placed his finger to his lips as a warning for them to be cautious. The young women were frightened by his presumption, and the Señorita was about to command him to leave, when, bowing low, he handed a slip of paper to her.

“It is for the other Señorita,” he explained.

The wondering young woman took the paper and handed it to her friend, who had come forward. Moving a little aside, so as to stand under the lamp, she saw her name pencilled on the outside in a familiar handwriting, and unfolding the slip, she read:

“You can trust the bearer fully; he is our friend; do exactly as he tells you, and do it quickly, for there is not a moment to lose.

“Jack Starland.”

CHAPTER XX

It will be recalled that the catboat, in which Major Jack Starland was descending the river in company with Captain Guzman and the Atlamalcan deserter, Martella, landed them at the spot where the young women had left the tug the night before, the cause for which action on their part has been made clear. This took place early in the afternoon, and, under the guidance of Martella, the three started inland over the trail that had been followed by the two ponies less than four and twenty hours before.

While all doubt of the presence of his sister at the Castle had been removed, the young American officer did a big lot of thinking when tracing the path through the mountains. He felt certain that when General Yozarro sent the two thither under escort, he had arranged to prevent their leaving until it should suit his pleasure. It followed, therefore, that despite the outrage, it was necessary for Starland to act with great prudence. He had only two companions and he placed little reliance on the Atlamalcan. To attempt to bluff matters with such an insignificant force would be the height of folly. One man-of-war from the United States would find it child’s play to blow these miserable little republics off the face of the earth, and when his government should be appealed to, it would be certain to bring down a heavy hand upon the offenders; but days and weeks must pass before that could be brought about, and there was no saying what deviltry would be wrought in the meantime. If ever there was call for hurry and the display of the wisdom of the serpent it was now.

When therefore the three drew near the plateau on which the Castle stood, the Major said:

“You and I, Captain, will wait here while Martella goes forward and learns how the land lies.”

“If the Señoritas are restrained of their liberty by only five or six Atlamalcans, why should we hesitate?”

“We shall not, if such proves to be the fact; but if there are more, it is not well to attack until that is the only means left. It will be little trouble for Martella to learn the truth.”

“Do you mean that he shall make himself known?”

“If necessary; what objection is there to that?”

“He is a deserter from the service of General Yozarro, who will show him no mercy if he once lays hand on him.”

“It cannot be generally known as yet; I understand he merely came away with you, as if for a visit; he will be safe for several days. Such is my view; am I right, Martella?”

“Perhaps so, but I am not afraid of the risk.”

“I do not wish you to run into unnecessary danger, but you need no instruction from me; make all haste.”

The native strode from them at an even pace until he was shut from sight by the bend in the trail. We know what he then did. He did not think it wise to reveal himself at the time and made his reconnoissance therefore from a distance. It did not take him long to learn that the Castle was guarded by a dozen men at least and probably by more. This was reported to his friends on his return.

“That puts a different face on matters,” was the comment of the American; “it would be madness to attack such a force when we have only one rifle among us.”

Until now Major Starland had held slight opinion of the courage and ability of the deserter, but the latter straightway made a proposal whose daring fairly took away his breath.

“Señor the Major may have been right when he said my desertion would not be known for several days, but he mistook when he thought I had made no mention of it. I told Valentin Herrera, the engineer of the gunboat, before I left; I asked him to tell General Yozarro with word from me that if I ever gained a chance I should kill him just as surely as he killed my brother. The engineer promised to bear the message to General Yozarro and I doubt not that it will be repeated to him before the sun sets.”

“Martella, you’re a fool!”

“Perhaps,” replied the native with a grin and shrug; “but Señor the Major does not reflect that General Yozarro would have me shot for leaving the boat without his permission. He can do no more with me than that, – why should I rob myself of the pleasure of sending him an insulting message?”

“In other words, you might as well be in for a sheep as a lamb. Very well; have you any plan to offer?”

“I will go to Captain Navarro of the guard and tell him I come as a messenger from General Yozarro, who is waiting with the gunboat to take the Señoritas to Atlamalco, and he must not delay in obeying the command.”

The American looked at him in amazement.

“Have you the nerve for that, Martella?”

“I await only your permission.”

“I cannot permit you to run such risk; better that I should go myself and make the demand upon Captain Navarro.”

“The captain has been warned not to permit any such thing, on his life. You know that though General Yozarro may be aware I have left his service, it is not likely to be known to Captain Navarro.”

“It is a fearful risk, Martella. You are a good deal braver than I thought; I accept your offer; but you have no acquaintance with the ladies; they will not come away with you.”

“You can write me a few lines to hand to the American Señorita that will explain it all to her.”

Major Starland had a feeling that it was hardly right to allow this simple hearted fellow to sacrifice himself in this manner. He turned to Captain Guzman, who was silently smoking a cigarette.

“What do you think of it?”

“It is the only plan that will succeed and there is no certainty that it will not fail. But let it be tried.”

“Will the captain of the guard obey a verbal order which it is proposed to say is sent by General Yozarro?”

Martella lifted his shoulders.

“If he refuses we shall be no worse off than before.”

“We shall not, but you’re likely to be. However, here goes!”

He whipped out his note book and hastily penned the few lines that have already been revealed.

“God go with you, Martella! You are a valiant man; I can hardly believe you will succeed, but the need is desperate.”

The deserter quietly shoved the little fold of paper in his pocket, close to his terrible knife, and without another word passed up the trail, his friends following him as far as was thought prudent. It was not well for them to be seen by any of the guard, since it must draw suspicion to the plan.

CHAPTER XXI

So it was that the daring native came up the plateau, saluted the first sentinel whom he saw, and brusquely announced that he had immediate business with Captain Navarro. The latter was in one of the large lower apartments engaged with his evening meal. When word was brought to him, he sprang up and hastened outside, where Martella was standing erect, like a true soldier of the Atlamalcan army, and saluted him.

“Do you come from General Yozarro?” was the inquiry.

“Directly from him,” was the unblushing response.

“What are his commands?”

“That I bring the American Señorita to him without delay.”

“Where is the General? I am expecting him any hour.”

“You know I am one of the firemen on the gunboat; it lies against the shore where we stopped last night when the Señoritas were brought here.”

This was the critical moment. If Captain Navarro had learned of the desertion of Martella, the life of the latter was not worth a moment’s purchase, but in reality he knew nothing of it. The Captain, well aware of the ferocious temper of the Dictator, stood in as abject awe of him as did every other citizen of Atlamalco. But as the two conversed, the wits of the officer gradually returned to him.

“Where is the escort of the Señorita?”

“Standing before you.”

“You do not come alone?”

“I do – ”

“But how is it the General himself does not come?”

“Perhaps the Captain would like to put that question to General Yozarro.”

“I shall be pleased to read your order.”

“The only order I bear has just been given to you.”

“Impossible! General Yozarro would never do a thing like that.”

“Perhaps you would like to say that also to the General. But I will save you the trouble; I will tell him myself that you refuse to do as commanded.”

Martella turned to move off, but the Captain caught his arm.

“No, no, no, Martella! You must not do that; you see the dilemma I am in; if I make a mistake, it will cost me my life.”

“It is with you whether you shall make a mistake or not; I have done my duty.”

He made again as if to go, but the officer would not permit it. The moment had come for Martella to play his trump card. The two were standing within hearing of several soldiers who, in accordance with the loose discipline of the army, made no attempt to hide that they were listening. Lowering his voice, the messenger said:

“Step aside one moment, Captain; I have something for your private ear.”

When they were beyond hearing of the group, the soldier spoke in a guarded voice:

“Are you blind, Captain? Do you not see which way the wind blows? General Yozarro does not wish his relative, Señorita Estacardo to come to him, because she would be troublesome; you know of some of the General’s conquests among the other sex; he is in love with the beautiful Señorita from the North, but she has friends and he must protect every step. If he sent you a written order, it might return to vex him, when the relatives of the Señorita call upon him to explain, but what does he care for poor devils like us upon whom he will be able to lay the blame of a misunderstanding? He will be able to swear that it was all a blunder of others. I respectfully suggested that a written order would be asked for by you, for you are an excellent officer who insists that everything shall be done in the order of true discipline. You know the temper of the General; he swore at me and declared that if you dared hesitate, he would have you shot. Then he cooled down and told me to explain if you asked questions. I have done so, when in the case of another officer whom he esteemed less, the favor would have been refused.”

“You relieve me inexpressibly by your words, though I must look upon it as strange that you come alone. I am curious to know what you will say to la Americana, if she refuses to go with you, as she is almost sure to do.”

“Do you think the General has forgotten anything? Is he not too much of a veteran in the affairs of the heart? I am to tell the Señorita that her brother is waiting on the gunboat to receive her; she started last night for Zalapata to meet him, and she is impatient over the delay. You must be sure she will hasten to obey the request.”

Captain Navarro was not wholly free from misgiving.

“I can understand that the General may have reasons of his own for not coming himself for the Señorita, but I do not understand why her brother does not hasten to her.”

“Heard you not that he was ill with fever and needs his sister to nurse him?”

For the first time in the interview the Captain laughed.

“I beg you, Martella, not to hint to the General how stupid I was.”

“Be assured I shall not. You know how many things we see which we must not see, and of late I have had many chances to view such things on the gunboat. I shall say to the General that you were as prompt and obedient as you always are to do his bidding, and that he has no better officer in his army than you.”

“And you shall not be forgotten, Martella; I will order the horse saddled for the Señorita.”

Each minute added to the tension of the situation. Martella did not doubt that General Yozarro was on the way to the Castle, and more than likely was quite near. He was likely to arrive at any moment. He glanced stealthily around, determined, if he saw him or any of his escort, to make a break for it, with the chances a hundred to one against saving his neck.

Every nerve was tugging for haste, yet the first sign of impatience would ruin everything. He wished inexpressibly that the young woman should appear and that they could start at once without waiting for the pony. But that, from the nature of the circumstances, could not be. With superb coolness and courage, he said:

“While the horse is preparing, I will go and ask her to make ready; I hope,” he added with a light laugh, “that she will not ask too many questions. Where shall I find her?”

“The room of the Señoritas is in the second story facing the north; a light is burning within.”

Without any injunction to the Captain to make haste, Martella saluted, and walked deliberately into the building, where no questions were asked, since he had been seen in converse with the officer and no one doubted that he came direct from General Yozarro.

Suppose, what was quite likely, that suspicion should again enter the brain of the Captain, when he gained time to think over the extraordinary situation? Suppose, what was also likely, that General Yozarro should arrive while the bogus messenger was inside the Castle? He would be caught like a rat in a trap.

And yet knowing all these things, Martella gave not the first evidence of hurry. He went up the stone steps with dignified tread, knocked at the right door, and was admitted to the apartment, where, as we know, he explained to the two young women the remarkable errand on which he had come.