A FIGHT WITH THE GUERRILLAS.
Our scouts had gone about a mile, and Ronie was riding slightly in
advance, when he became aware of the approach of a body of horsemen
coming at a leisurely trot. In a moment he signaled for his companions
to stop.
"We cannot avoid meeting them," he said, "and no doubt they are a part
of El Capitan's army. We have started too late to escape them. Is
there any path turning off from the road that we can turn into, Riva?"
"None, senor."
"Then we must turn aside here. Quick! push your horses back into the
forest, making as little noise and disturbance as you can."
They were so successful in this work that before the approaching riders
had come into sight they were all safely ambushed where they could peer
out upon the passers-by without being seen, except by some scrutinizing
eye. Ronie and Jack sat in their saddles, side by side, while Riva and
his companion were only slightly removed. As the sound of the horsemen
indicated their close proximity, our hero parted the bushes enough to
enable him to obtain a good view of the road.
"If our horses will only keep quiet," he began, "there is a----"
Ronie's attention, in the midst of his speech, had become fastened upon
the foremost of the approaching riders, so his companions never knew
what he was about to say. Nor did he speak until the horsemen were
within half a dozen yards of them. The body of men were riding two and
two, and what had arrested his eyes was the sight of the nearest rider
in the lead.
"It must be--it is Harrie!" he whispered.
"Ay, lad!" responded Jack, who had been watching as eagerly and closely
as his companion.
"He is lashed upon the horse, and his hands tied behind him. What does
it mean?"
Jack had no time to reply, but the situation was plain to both. The
horsemen were a portion of El Capitan's followers, and were on their
way to attack the don. Could they stand idle there and see Harrie
taken to some fate they could not understand? Ronie's impetuous
temperament would not permit it. He believed a sudden attack, a few
shots, and the unsuspecting enemy could be routed, and their friend
rescued. Jack must have been revolving the same daring scheme in his
mind, for at this critical moment he nudged Ronie, whispering:
"Ready when you say the word, sergeant."
Our hero spoke hastily to Riva and his companion, who quickly
comprehended what was wanted of them. Then the clear command of the
young sergeant broke the stillness of the lonely scene:
"Ready, men, fire!"
In the twinkling of an eye the flashes of the Mausers lightened the
night, and three of the leading riders reeled in their seats, while
sudden commotion took place among the others.
"Forward--charge!" thundered Ronie, setting the example by dashing
furiously from his covert. "Look sharp, Harrie; we are here to save
you."
The animal bestridden by the young engineer began to snort and plunge
excitedly, but Ronie was soon at its bit. His comrades were as swiftly
charging upon the surprised insurgents, who, no doubt thinking they had
been attacked by superior numbers, broke and retreated in wild disorder.
"Give them a parting shot, lads!" cried Jack, who, in his adventurous
career had led more than one regiment upon an enemy.
The Mausers spoke right merrily, the reports mingling with the yells of
the discomfited rebels, who fled down the road as fast as they could
make their steeds go.
In the midst of this rout and confusion Ronie freed Harrie, but he had
barely accomplished this before the thunder of horses' hoofs down the
road suddenly increased in volume, and loud shouts reached their ears.
The clatter of retreating horses abruptly stopped, and it was apparent
to the scouts that the insurgents had come to a stand.
"El Capitan is on the road," declared Ronie. "He is rallying his men.
Come on, boys! We can do no better than to return to the don's. Ha!
who comes here? Halt! Who comes?"
"A friend from Don Isadora," was the prompt reply. "Word came to him
of a party of rebels taking an American prisoner to El Capitan, and he
sent me to warn you."
"In good time, senor. We have saved our friend. Hark! Yonder riders
are El Capitan's hornets. Back to the estate, and we will go with you."
There being no need of silence now, the six horsemen rode back to the
estate at a furious gait, the messenger going ahead when they had
nearly reached the avenue leading to the building, so as to inform the
don of the approach of friends. He hailed them with hearty gladness,
but quickly prepared to meet the expected onset of the enemy.
Ronie and his companions having decided to lend their assistance to the
defenders of the estate, Harrie asked for a rifle, that he might join
his friends. This was soon forthcoming, and while they waited for the
attack of the mountain rabble he found opportunity to say to Ronie:
"I don't know how glad I am to see you, for I have supposed you were
drowned on the night we started to escape from the _Libertador_. How
is it I find you here?"
"It is a long story, Harrie. I will tell it at the first opportunity.
Jack and I have seen our share of excitement, and it looks as if it
wasn't over yet. Did you escape from the prison at San Carlos?"
"Not through my own efforts. An order came from General Castro for me
to be set at liberty. This was done, and a small escort started with
me to find the regiment of Colonel Marchand. Only think he is
somewhere in this vicinity. We were surprised by a body of rebels, who
put my guard to rout and made me a prisoner. I do not know what would
have become of me if you had not rescued me as you did. Hark! the foes
are coming!"
It was a part of the don's plan to hold back his men, and not to fire
upon the enemy until they should come into close quarters, so no
response was given to the shouts and shots of the oncoming horde, whose
leader expected to carry everything before him by storm. A tempest of
lead followed his command to attack, but not a man was injured on the
estate. Thinking that an easy victory lay before him, El Capitan then
ordered his men to the double-quick.
Don Isadora proved that he had had some military experience, as his men
were not only all well armed, but they stood coolly at bay waiting for
his word to open the fight on their part. Even Ronie began to get
impatient before his stentorian voice cried:
"Now, men, mow them down like grass--fire!"
The entire side of the estate toward the road was illuminated by a
sheet of flame as his followers obeyed the sharp command, and it was
like mowing a swath through grass to see how the motley mob led by the
"mountain lion" went down. The roar of rifles was followed by wild
shouts and shrieks of pain, while those who had escaped the deadly fire
beat a hasty retreat.
"Follow them up, men!" cried the don, but he had barely uttered the
order before a bullet from a stray shot hit him, and staggering back,
he fell into the arms of Jack Greenland, while he murmured:
"I am a dead man!"
It was a sad occurrence. The moment the Venezuelans found their leader
had fallen, confusion and disorder reigned.
"Is he fatally hurt?" asked Ronie, anxiously, as Jack bent over him.
"I cannot tell yet, sergeant. The wound is bleeding profusely. Some
of you help me get him where I can examine him more closely. Is there
a surgeon about the place?"
No one seemed to know. But half a dozen lusty fellows lifted the
wounded don and bore him into the house, while others stared after them
in complete dismay.
"El Capitan is rallying," said Ronie. "It's too bad for us to be in
this condition. He will sweep the place, now the don has fallen."
"Why not take the lead, Ronie?" asked Harrie. "Some one must, or we
are all lost."
"I am not sure they would follow me. Here comes Senor Riva."
"Sergeant Rand, Don Isadora begs me to tell you that he is better, but
is not able to lead his men. He beseeches of you to do this."
There was no opportunity for hesitation. El Capitan was already
advancing for his second attack.
"Help me rally them, Riva, and I will do it," replied Ronie.
Swiftly the word was carried along the ranks, when new life was
enthused into the men, who were really brave fellows. The young
sergeant decided that prompt action would be the most successful, and
to meet El Capitan halfway would show him that the forces on the
plantation were alive to the situation. So the word for an advance was
passed along the line. It met with a hearty response, and as Ronie
sprang forward with his rousing command he found himself supported by a
determined force.
"Open fire--charge!"
The volley of shots was succeeded by loud cheers from the Venezuelans,
who bounded forward under the lead of their gallant champion.
"Forward!" cried Sergeant Rand.
Harrie was close behind him, and so was Riva Baez, all three having
dismounted from their horses as soon as returning to the estate. A
random volley from the rebels answered their first fire, and at the
second, in spite of all that the mountain chief could do, his followers
fled in wild disorder, disappearing from the scene with a rapidity that
was surprising.
That night, at the very outset of his campaign, El Capitan received his
first defeat.