DICK MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF COLUMBUS
Lieutenant Commander Ogden's surmise as to the manner in which Joe
Choiniski jumped ship was correct, but as to the theft of the revolvers,
which he was inclined to fasten on Drummer Comstock, was not.
Just before the noon hour Choiniski, happening by the armory and finding
the door ajar, entered, confiscated the weapons and ammunition and with
them tucked inside his dungaree jumper left the place, snapping the lock
after him; he was unseen by any of his shipmates.
Since the _Denver's_ arrival off Sanchez, he had been bargaining with
the bum-boatmen to secrete him and take him ashore in one of their
boats, but they would not risk the chance of discovery without payment,
and having lost all his money by sentence of the court-martial,
Choiniski was without funds, nor could he borrow any sum sufficient to
tempt their cupidity. That noon, however, when he promised a Colt's
forty-five together with cartridges in payment, the bargain was
consummated.
Choiniski had visited the Samana Bay ports previously while attached to
his former ship, and on one occasion he met the man Gonzales, a
Spanish-negro stevedore in the employ of the German concern owning the
one and only wharf. Gonzales was now in command of the rebel forces
holding the roads leading into the town, and Joe felt sure his
information regarding the large sum of money in the consulate would be a
certain means of securing for him an established position with the rebel
chief. His familiarity with the language and his experience, not only in
the Navy but with the armed forces in the Balkans a few years before,
was enough to make him at least second in command if he worked his wires
properly in dealing with the rebels.
Within an hour after reaching the shore he was talking with Gonzales.
"And how much money do you say Senor Perez has in his house?" asked the
general.
"Many thousands of dollars. I do not know the exact amount, but enough
to keep us both comfortably for many years," answered Choiniski.
"How do you propose getting it?"
"It should be easy," said Joe. "To-night we will go to his house and
demand it. The Consul will answer our summons. We shall prevent him
from sending any message or signal to the ship. If he does not give us
the money and if we cannot find it on searching the house, we will take
his daughter as a hostage. It is said he loves her more than anything
else. Having her in our possession he will pay up promptly."
"Your idea is good, Senor. Now I must get my brother, Alfredo, to
assist us. I do not trust these men with me on such work. They would
want too much for their share. My brother is in command of an outpost
on the Camino Real not far from the consulate. I will go to him at
once. In the meantime, Senor, await my return. Adios!"
And off went the chief to consult with his brother, commanding a half
dozen picked men in hiding on the road along which Soledad and the
Fraeulein, who was a stranger and who did not understand the danger,
were even then strolling.
Gonzales had no intention of permitting anyone but himself to reap the
benefit of the news confided to him by the deserter from the Yankee
ship. Least of all did he intend that Choiniski should be a gainer
thereby. The plan was excellent, but the sailor would never see a peso
of that wealth stored in the house of Senor Perez.
Before leaving camp Gonzales gave orders to disarm the sailor and hold
him a prisoner.
"We do not need his help," said he, after having outlined the plan to
his brother. "How do I know that it is not all a clever scheme to catch
me! Perhaps it is a spy who has come among us."
"Hush! Hermano mio!" said Alfredo, and he gazed up the road intently.
"Ah! We are indeed fortunate, for here comes the Senorita Soledad and
her duenna, along the trail. Good luck is with us! You will take the
nina, while Juan Mendoza and I secure the woman. We will carry her into
the hills with us and at nightfall set her free. She will be unable to
find her way back until morning. You and the rest of my men will carry
the child to camp and leave her. To-night we will make our attempt to
get the money after the Yankee sailors sleep. Then, before they can do
anything, we have the money and are gone."
This was agreed to and it was with great satisfaction that Alfredo, a
little later, saw his brother, Fernando, disappear in the bush carrying
the child and followed by his erstwhile soldiers. But the duenna was
putting up such a desperate struggle that he was glad indeed Juan was
there to aid him.
As the rascal pinned Fraeulein's arms behind her, his black eyes
sparkled with happy anticipation of the prosperous days of joyous living
about to be his. He grew careless in his efforts to hold the governess,
and in the one instant her mouth was freed she had called loudly for
help. But this made little difference. No one dared to leave the town
these days with General Gonzales' band of insurrectos holding the roads,
and----
Then came the crashing blow of a hard fist on his jaw and for a time he
knew nothing more. As for Juan, though taken by surprise and thrown
heavily to the path, he was quick to attack on his own account, but with
the result that has been told.
When Juan recovered his senses darkness had fallen. His chief, Alfredo,
was endeavoring to untie the cords which bound him, but to no avail.
They turned on their sides, and back to back, worked at the knots, each
trying to assist the other. Then their quick ears heard footfalls of
someone approaching from the town, and fearful of discovery they rolled
over and over in the grass and shrubs, away from the trail, only to be
discovered eventually by Dorlan and his men and marched back to the
consulate as prisoners.
Corporal Dorlan's request regarding the searchlight had been observed
and the consulate was in darkness when the reconnoitering party
returned. It was then decided to hold the prisoners until morning before
turning them over to the military authorities and by the time the final
message to that effect was exchanged with the ship, "taps" had sounded
over the quiet waters, and the crew settled down to a night's rest.
However, many discussions were being carried on in an undertone
regarding the circumstances connected with Dick Comstock's absence and
Joe Choiniski's "jumping ship." In spite of Sergeant Douglass' warning
another orderly had violated his confidential position and the news was
common property throughout the cruiser. Most of Dick's ultimate friends
were indignant at hearing the story, but the majority were inclined to
regard his actions as suspicious and proclaimed him guilty.
How fortunate it was that the object of all this commotion was unaware
of the nature of these rumors flying among his shipmates, for had he
known of them his brain would not have been so free to grapple with the
task he had set out to accomplish.
Soon after turning from the trail he was following at a discreet
distance the six men carrying off little Soledad.
How should he go about getting the child? He must take no chances,
because to do so might mean his own capture and but add to the child's
troubles; so he carefully trailed along behind her abductors, waiting
for some circumstance which would assist him in solving his problem.
That the men did not intend to wait for their two accomplices was
evident, for they proceeded through the forest without a backward
glance. All the time Dick was drawing nearer to them, but as he was
forced to make his way warily, and often off the poor trail, he was
seriously handicapped.
Finally the men with the child emerged from the woods into a clearing in
which was situated the barrio[#] where Gonzales made his headquarters.
A dozen or more houses and shacks along either side of the road afforded
shelter for his troops, about one hundred in number. A few native
women, and dirty, half-naked children could be seen, while the barking
of several mangy canines filled the air.
[#] Barrio--Small collection of houses.
Beyond the houses on the far side of the road were a few scraggly
bushes, and a thick grove of cocoanut trees filled the space to the
shore of the Bay. Here some native boats were drawn up on the beach out
of sight of the water, and in the grove small groups of rebel soldiers
were engaged in various pursuits.
Perforce, Dick was obliged to stop on the edge of the woods and watch
General Gonzales and his small band cross the clearing and enter the
largest house on the far side of the road. Dick crouched down in a
thick bed of ferns and studied the situation, keeping close tab on the
incidents taking place before him and waiting for the darkness which
would soon fall. That the rebels were carefully guarding the road was
evidenced by the little groups of men, to be observed about one hundred
yards from either end of the barrio, who halted all persons approaching.
Near Dick's refuge was a well which supplied the drinking water for the
community, and frequent visits to this well were made by men, women and
children.
It was nearly dusk when a small native boy came bounding out of the
quarters of General Gonzales, and the General himself appeared in the
dimly lighted doorway. That he had been chastising the urchin was
evident from the way the boy rubbed his shoulders and from his loud
lamentations as he stood at a safe distance and observed the rebel
leader.
"Here you rascal, you! Be quiet, or I will beat you more. Go and bring
me some fresh water at once, or you will be sorry your namesake ever
discovered this island," and with the words Gonzales threw a battered
pail at the boy.
"Come now, hurry, you imp of Satan;" with that the General entered the
house and closed the door.
Painfully the boy picked up the pail and approached the well. Dick
could hear his sobs as he drew near. Arriving at the well he made no
attempt to draw the water but stood looking back in the direction of the
house. Finally he shook his small hand in a gesture which Dick's
knowledge of West Indian customs told him implied contempt and insult,
and from the boy's rapid speech Dick heard enough to convince him that
here was a possible ally, could he but win the native lad's confidence.
With a sibilant hiss Dick attracted the boy's attention, but though he
looked about him in some fear he was unable to discover who called.
"Quien habla?"[#] he questioned, still looking about him.
[#] Who speaks?
"Un amigo: un Americano,"[#] answered Dick, and then before the boy had
time to make an outcry he spoke again.
[#] A friend, an American.
"Do you want to make plenty of money, muchacho?"[#]
[#] Spanish for boy.
The boy had now located Dick's hiding-place and he approached warily.
"How can I make plenty of money?" he questioned in a dubious tone.
"If you will help me, I will see that you get it, and also I will see
that the big man is punished for beating you."
The boy was by this time squatting down on his haunches within a few
feet of Dick and even in the dusk, Dick could see the eyes flash with
anger at the mention of the past incident.
"But what can you, an American, do against General Gonzales, and all his
soldiers? Everyone here fears him! Even my father grovels at his feet,
and my mother must do as he says. He will kill my father and my mother
and me some day, I fear, when he becomes angered. He is a big chief. I
am afraid to do aught against him."
"There will be no danger if you do as I will suggest and----"
At that moment the door of the General's house was thrown open, and
again the figure of the chief was framed in the lighted doorway.
"Columbus! Columbus! Come here at once!" roared the harsh voice across
the clearing.
"I must go, or he will send the soldiers for me. But I will return,"
said the lad, rising, and quickly filling the pail he ran back across
the clearing.