VICTORY AND PEACE.
Ronie and Harrie heard this announcement with considerable alarm, as
with their first thought they believed they had come too late to
accomplish their purpose.
"We must get back to the regiment as soon as possible," declared Ronie.
"If we act promptly we may yet rout the inhabitants of the town and
save mother. How many men has El Capitan under him, do you think,
Manuel?"
"I am sorry that I am not able to tell," replied the Venezuelan. "I
think by what I could catch that he is coming back with a large force."
"Which makes it the more necessary that we act quickly. Come on, boys!"
His companions needed no urging to follow him, and it was not long
before they were able to rejoin Captain de Caprian, who was anxiously
awaiting them. But their news did not disconcert the brave young
patriot.
"It only fulfills my wishes," he said. "We have only to storm the town
without loss of time, and then get ready to meet El Capitan. Ay, we
will give him a welcome home that he little expects. I wish Senor
Greenland would--but here he comes!"
Jack had also been out on a reconnoissance, and he brought in the same
news that the others had--that El Capitan was expected at Durango
within a few hours.
"They say he comes with five thousand troops," added Jack.
Our heroes turned to see what effect this announcement would have upon
Francisco, but as far as they could see the young captain did not show
that he had heard the words. Fifteen minutes later the regiment was
ordered forward, and then was begun a swift, but silent, advance upon
the stronghold of the insurgents, Captain de Caprian giving out his
orders calmly and confidently, as if about to enter one of the camps of
Castro. Could he reasonably hope to meet successfully El Capitan's
superior numbers? What if the latter had five thousand men under his
command?
Ronie and Harrie could not help asking each other these questions, as
they fell into line and moved sternly forward. When near to the lower
end of the town Captain de Caprian divided his men into two bodies, so
as to attack the place simultaneously from different parts. Our heroes
remained with his division, and entered the mountain hamlet from the
nearest quarter, this advance being along a narrow road overhung by a
range of hills on either side.
In order to give the other division time to gain a position above them,
it was necessary to make a brief delay before opening the attack. But
the wait was not long before the signal was given for the double
assault, and the word rang along the ranks:
"Forward! double-quick---charge!"
It goes without saying that exciting scenes followed. Ronie, Harrie
and Jack managed to keep together, and it was their good fortune to be
among the first to come within close proximity to the convent where
Mrs. Rand was supposed to be imprisoned. This had, in fact, been a
part of Captain de Caprian's plans.
The surprise was complete as far as the insurgents were concerned. The
onset of the government troops came like a tempest from a clear sky.
Women shrieked and fled, followed by men who made scarcely more
resistance, until they succeeded in rallying about the old convent.
Here then was fought the lion's part of the battle. A hundred or more
of the insurgents made a desperate stand, but they might as well have
hoped to stem the mountain torrent which swept down the gorge just
behind their native hamlet. They seemed to quickly realize this, and
the cry for quarter soon rang out above the medley of battle.
"Forward!" still shouted the youthful commander. "Force an entrance to
the old building before it is too late."
Captain de Caprian showed that he realized what was likely to follow
inside the structure, for he had barely uttered his order before a cry
with womanly sharpness in it rang out--an appeal for help.
Our heroes were already storming the door, having dashed aside the
sentinels on duty there. The next moment, led by Ronie, and followed
by a dozen of the troops, our three burst into the convent. Running
swiftly along the main passage they soon came upon a scene which sent
the blood coursing fiercely through their veins. It would appear that
the insurgents, finding they were being routed by the government
troops, sought to kill the few prisoners they held within this old
building. At the very moment our rescuers appeared on the scene, one
of them was swinging over his head the ugly-looking knife he carried in
the act of slaying the woman who was kneeling at his feet. Ronie sent
the miscreant senseless to the floor, and the next moment clasped his
mother in his arms.
"I was in season, mother," he murmured; "you are safe."
But she had fainted, and as gently as possible, with the assistance of
Harrie and Jack, he bore her to a bench where the fresh air could cool
her fevered temple.
"To think if we had been a minute later," said Ronie.
"She opens her eyes," declared Harrie. "She has been spared."
It was indeed an affecting scene, during which Jack Greenland drew
apart. He found that three other captives, all Venezuelans, had been
rescued, and that these had been all the persons held in the convent.
Renewed commotion outside now caught his attention, and he returned to
the side of his friends.
"I think El Capitan is coming, and that the boys are preparing to
welcome him home," he said, grimly. "I think I will help in the
greeting, if you will excuse me, lads."
"Forgive me, Jack, for forgetting my duty," said Harrie. "But I felt
so anxious for Ronie's mother."
"I must go, mother," declared Ronie.
"Oh, my son!" she implored, "must you leave me here and now?"
It was a serious problem for the young engineers to decide, between
filial and martial duty. Happily Jack quickly settled the matter by
saying:
"It is your duty, lads, to remain here. I know Captain de Caprian
would wish it. Look sharp to yourselves, while I join the troops in
their welcome to El Capitan."
The young engineers were fain to agree to this, feeling that it was
better they should. Especially was this the situation as they were not
regularly attached to the regiment.
The "welcome" extended to El Capitan and his followers was given near
the lower end of the town, where the mountain ranges drew so near
together that the valley was narrow, uncomfortably narrow for the
surprised insurgents. El Capitan will never forget that "welcome," nor
will his men, who quickly scattered like sheep scaling the
mountainside. If outnumbering the government troops three to one,
numbers did not count then. Among those who won special distinction
was Manuel Marlin.
As soon as he could do so, Captain de Caprian sought his American
friends to congratulate them, while he described the complete victory
of his troops. Altogether, it was a happy occasion to them.
"I shall order an immediate return to the capital," declared the young
patriot. "You had better go to Caracas with us, friends."
They were nothing loath to do this, and it was an exceedingly happy
company which found its way back to the mountain citadel, where they
were hailed with delight by the president himself. El Capitan, the
insurgent chief who had been so feared, was turned over to the proper
authorities, while Manuel Marlin, in consideration of his recent
bravery, was fully pardoned for any error of the past. Our friends at
this time witnessed what seemed to them rather a peculiar trait of
public justice. This was the return to Caracas of El Mocho, who, it
will be remembered, had been kept a prisoner at San Carlos for a long
time. He had been accused, and apparently with good reason, of
infidelity to the government. But this was now overlooked, and General
Castro openly welcomed him to his arms, upon his promise to be faithful
in the future.
"It is a good specimen of South American sense of justice," remarked
Jack. "One day a man is hunted as an enemy, and the next he is
embraced as a loved friend. It may be all right. I cannot say."
In their happiness our heroes had no desire to criticise, much more to
condemn, such a practice. Ronie was extremely thankful for this
meeting with his mother. While they had many explanations to make and
long stories to tell of what had happened since their parting, there is
little I need repeat here. It was perfectly natural that Mrs. Rand
should seek to improve the opportunity to meet Ronie in Caracas, and
she did not dream of the suffering it was going to cost her, of the
terror of captivity or the horrors of her long imprisonment, but these
had been safely passed, and all felt like rejoicing over the outcome.
Another couple especially happy were Francisco and his mother, whom our
Americans quickly learned to love and respect. She proved indeed to be
a gentlewoman of the noblest type, who adored her patriotic son.
Naturally it was not long before our engineers felt it was time for
them to move on their work, but this could not be done until Colonel
Marchand, who joined with them in their happiness, could recover from
his wounds so as to accompany them. While these healed, and our
friends passed the time pleasantly in the capital, flitting back and
forth between their friends, the warlike affairs of the republic grew
apace. There was some fighting to be done, but mainly it had come to
be a matter of diplomacy and argument between the powers, until finally
the glad news of a peaceful negotiation came to them.
Once more President Castro had triumphed, achieving this time, it
seemed, his grandest victory. When the account of this rang over the
mountain city our American engineers began to prepare for an arduous
campaign of an altogether different kind from that which befell them
when they were COMRADES UNDER CASTRO.
THE END.
"Engineer Ralph," by Frank H. MacDougal, No. 87 of the ROUND THE WORLD
LIBRARY, is a splendid story of a boy's supreme struggle to success.