HARRY REFUSES TO BETRAY CAPTAIN DYNAMITE
Harry and Bert had hardly time to inspect the bare room in which they
were imprisoned, when the door opened again and two men entered. They
removed the straps from the boys' wrists and retired without a word. A
key grated in the lock after the door had closed. Harry walked over
quickly and tried to open it. There was no handle or lock on the inside
and it would not yield to pressure.
"Well," said Harry, after a short silence, dropping onto one of the
beds.
"Well," repeated Bert in the same half-questioning tone.
"We are prisoners hard and fast. What do you think they mean to do with
us?"
"Send us on to Havana, maybe, for the inspection of Weyler. But in the
meantime what are we going to do? I don't believe in letting them have
it all their own way, do you?"
"No, not when I can get my breath, but their methods are so rapid and
one-sided that they make me dizzy."
"The first thing to consider is some plan of escape."
"And if we escaped we wouldn't be any better off than we were in the
woods. We wouldn't know where to go. However, it would be wise to make a
more careful inspection of our prison house for possible future use."
Acting on this suggestion the boys made a survey of the room. It was a
square apartment, with walls of grey stone. The floor was composed of
smooth stone slabs. The ceiling was heavily timbered. There were two
barred openings in one of the walls just above their heads. They pushed
over the table, and climbing up on it, looked out. In the moonlight,
they could see that the outlook was on what was apparently the jail
yard, a large space enclosed by a high wall. Nothing interposed between
them and the free air outside but two iron bars. They shook these with
all their strength, but they were sunk firmly in the stone frame and
would not budge.
"I don't think they need feel uneasy, for fear we will escape," said
Harry, after they had finished their inspection.
"Nothing left but to knock down the turnkey. Must always call 'em
turnkeys in a stone jail like this."
There was a sound of a key in the lock and the door swung open again.
The man with the clanking keys entered, followed by two others, who
promptly slipped a pair of handcuffs on the wrists of the boys, and
taking each boy by the arm they led them out of the jail and back to the
building into which they had first been ushered at the muzzles of the
guns.
The same dignitary who had ordered their incarceration still sat at his
desk, although in a more dignified attitude. At his right, sat a man who
seemed to be a clerk. On the left, stood the fat officer and the four
soldiers. An elderly man with grey side-whiskers stood near the desk
talking with the presiding personage. When the boys entered he
approached them and held out his hand.
"I am Consul Wyman. I understand you are Americans and in some sort of
trouble."
Both boys grasped his hand warmly. It was a great relief to find one who
spoke their tongue and who could make their situation clear to their
captors. And the thought that he represented officially the Government
of the United States, restored much of their waning confidence in
themselves.
"Mr. Wyman," said Harry, "we certainly are glad to meet you. We are
Americans and we are in trouble with these Spanish gentlemen. We do not
know why yet. We did not know it was a crime, or against the laws to
travel in Cuba or we should have selected some other country for our
explorations."
"The trouble is that your presence in this part of the island strikes
the authorities as suspicious. You have apparently passed through none
of the regular ports of entry, for a careful watch is kept on all
strangers here now, and travelling through a country so infested as this
is with Cuban bandits----"
"Bandits?" interrupted Harry, looking Mr. Wyman straight in the eye.
Captain Dynamite's teachings had taken very deep root in the heart of
the American boys.
"Well," said Mr. Wyman, "they call themselves insurgents, but they are
not recognized belligerents you know." Here Mr. Wyman lowered his voice
almost to a whisper: "And you know we have to be very diplomatic in
dealing with these Spanish gentlemen, they are so sensitive."
"Mr. Wyman," asked Harry, "are you an American or a Spaniard?"
"Oh, an American--an American always," replied the consul, proudly.
"Then it seems to me, sir, that you should not let the Spaniards select
your words for you," said Harry, with some indignation.
"Ah, diplomacy, my son, diplomacy," said the consul, drawing himself up
with comical dignity. "You do not understand the need for diplomacy.
Why, I was selected by our President for this delicate mission, because
of my large experience in matters diplomatic. But let us return to your
own affairs. I see the general is getting nervous. This is the Bureau of
Justice and I shall see that you have an impartial hearing."
"Bureau of Justice," sniffed Bert. "Humph, a pretty one-sided old
bureau. I should say it had lost a castor or two."
"Ah, you misjudge General Serano," said Mr. Wyman. "He is an exceedingly
fair-minded gentleman."
The consul stepped before the desk of the general and beckoned to the
boys to follow him. He spoke in Spanish for a few minutes, and then
turned to the boys again.
"The general will examine only one. He thinks that will be sufficient."
"Very well," said Harry, stepping up to the desk. "I will go the general
one round."
"My young sir," said Mr. Wyman, with some concern, "let me advise you to
treat the court with due deference. This gentleman will act as
interpreter, as I understand you do not speak or understand the
language."
A man with a heavy black mustache waxed to needle points, and who seemed
to wear a perpetual smile, took a position beside Harry, and the
examination began.
"What is your name?"
"Harry Hamilton."
"Your age?"
"Fifteen."
"Your nationality?"
"American," answered Harry, "but look here, Mr. Interpreter, I wish you
would ask the general what right he has to ask me these questions; why I
was interfered with by his soldiers; why I was prodded in the back by
their guns; why I was thrust into your old prison; why I am handcuffed,
and why I am here; and just tell him firmly, Mr. Interpreter, that I do
not propose to answer any more of his questions until he answers a few
of mine."
The clerk, who was transcribing the testimony looked up in amazement as
the interpreter began to literally and faithfully translate Harry's
words. Mr. Wyman looked worried and leaned forward, and said:
"Treat the court with due deference, my young sir, or even my diplomacy
may not be powerful enough to save you from the wrath of the general."
"I think I must have a few rights here, Mr. Wyman. I certainly have a
right to know with what crime I am charged before I am examined."
"Yes, yes, that is quite true, quite true," replied the consul,
advancing to the desk and speaking to the general.
"You are charged with being suspicious characters," said the
interpreter, repeating the words of the presiding officer.
"Oh, thank you," said Harry, politely. "You can now tell the judge he
may proceed."
The interpreter wisely refrained from repeating Harry's words.
"What are you doing in Cuba?"
"Travelling."
"How many were there in your party?"
"Now, that's such a foolish question, general; that little fat officer
there knows there were only two of us. In fact, here we are; you can see
for yourself."
"How did you reach Cuba?"
"By steamer."
"Where did you land?"
"On the coast."
"General Serano says your answers are not satisfactory," said the
interpreter.
"Surely he wants me to tell him the truth," said Harry, affecting
surprise.
"Yes, but he wants all the truth."
"I have answered his questions truthfully and directly. If he wants
further information and doesn't know how to ask for it, he cannot expect
the prisoner to supply the questions."
"At what point or place on the coast of Cuba did you land?"
"I do not know."
"Does your companion know?"
"He is as densely ignorant on that point as I am."
"What was the name of the steamer?"
"I refuse to answer."
The little fat officer poked one of his soldiers in the ribs in a very
unmilitary fashion, and the general looked at the consul with an
expression that said, "I told you so." The consul himself looked at
Harry in honest amazement.
"Do you refuse to answer on the ground that you might incriminate
yourself?"
"No, on the ground that I might incriminate someone else," answered
Harry, promptly.
"Who is that someone else?"
"Now, general, that is another one of those foolish questions. If I
could answer one I could answer the other."
"Then you refuse again?"
"I do."
"Will you tell the court why you came to Cuba?"
"Because I had to. I assure you we are not travelling for our health,
and would have been very glad to have been back in the United States
long before we met your little fat officer on the mountain."
"Then why did you come?"
"To be perfectly frank, general, we were out yachting off Martha's
Vineyard--I don't suppose you know where that is--when a steamer ran us
down during a storm, picked us up, and brought us along to Cuba--that's
all."
"And you still persist in refusing to give the name of the steamer?"
"Yes, sir, but with due respect to the court," Harry smiled pleasantly
at the consul. He looked upon the examination as a mere farce, and did
not now regard their position as at all serious. Although he did not
consider the consul a particularly forceful representative of the United
States, he felt confident that the Spanish general would not dare to
ignore his demands. Could he have forseen the occurrences of the next
few days he would not have felt so easy in his mind. The general turned
again and addressed the boy.
"According to your testimony," repeated the interpreter, "your presence
here on the island is entirely accidental, therefor it is difficult to
reconcile this testimony with your refusal to answer the simple
questions of the court. In this I wish to say that your consul and
representative here concurs with me. I now warn you that you must
answer the questions that I am about to ask you or take the consequences
that your refusal will entail. Personally, I believe that you could, if
you would, clear yourself and your companion of all suspicion, and if
your explanation of your presence on board this mysterious steamer is
true, and I believe it is, your refusal to answer the questions will
only further complicate the case against you."
"The general is quite right, my boy," said the consul earnestly. "You
can see that he means to give you every opportunity to clear yourself."
"Very well, sir. Suppose you have another try," said Harry, turning to
General Serano. "I assure you that I will answer any question that I
honorably can."
"Very well: I repeat, what is the name of the steamer that brought you
to Cuba?"
"I cannot answer," replied Harry, promptly.
"Remember, I have warned you. At what place on the coast did you land?"
"I have told you, general, that I do not know."
"How far from here in miles?"
"I couldn't even guess that, general."
"How long had you been away from the steamer when my men found you?"
"I cannot answer."
"Do you mean that you are unable to answer, or that you refuse?"
"I refuse."
"Where were you going?"
"To tell the plain truth we were very well lost when your friend there
overtook us."
"But you had an objective point that you were trying to reach. What was
that?"
"I cannot answer."
"Very well; you may step aside."
After a few words from General Serano, the interpreter turned to Bert,
and said:
"Step forward, please. The general wishes to ask you a few questions
also."
"All right," answered Bert, stepping promptly to the front.
"You have heard the questions that have been asked your companion?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you have heard those that he refused to answer?"
"Yes, sir."
"Will you answer them?"
"No, sir."
The answer was apparently not unexpected. The general and the consul
began an earnest conversation in Spanish. The latter seemed to protest
against the decision of General Serano who, however, was set and
determined. Finally, Mr. Wyman turned to the boys.
"I am very sorry," he said, "that for some reason which I cannot
conceive you will not satisfactorily answer the questions of the court.
I have endeavored to have you paroled in my custody, but the general
will not permit it."
"Do you mean that we are to be sent back to jail?" asked Harry, in
surprise.
"That is the general's intention. It is not too late for you to answer
his questions, though, and I am sure that if you do, you will be
promptly released."
"And has the United States Consul no power or authority?"
"He has the power to see that you have a fair and impartial hearing. You
have had that, and must blame only yourselves for the position in which
you now find yourselves. I shall not desert you, and if you care to make
a confidant of me, perhaps I can suggest some way to extricate you from
this tangle."
"We will take a little time to think the matter over, Mr. Wyman, thank
you. It is not alone ourselves who are involved, or would be involved,
if we attempted now to clear ourselves."
General Serano now indicated that he wished to speak to the prisoners,
and the consul fell back.
"Young men," repeated the interpreter, "the conditions in Cuba are such,
and particularly in this province, that the utmost vigilance is
necessary on the part of the authorities. Your explanation of the
suspicious circumstances under which you are detained is entirely
unsatisfactory to me. You are found alone in a country infested by men
who are in revolt against the Government, travelling with seeming
security; you admit having landed on the coast from a steamer whose name
you refuse to tell; you are apparently headed for the center of the
insurgent uprising. You will not tell where you are going or from whence
you come. It is my duty to hold you, and you are therefore remanded to
jail pending a further investigation. Perhaps in a few hours, or say
to-morrow, you may be willing to answer my questions, in which case you
may so inform your consul, and he will take such steps as are necessary
to reopen the hearing. I am sorry that you will not be guided by the
more mature mind of Mr. Wyman in a matter that may be more serious in
its consequences than you imagine."
The general waved his hand, and the fat officer, with a malignant smile
of triumph marshalled his men and approached Harry and Bert with the
muzzles of their guns once more extended toward them. A sharp word from
General Serano caused them to lower their guns and assume a less
dictatorial manner toward the prisoners.
Once more the boys were conducted to the gloomy white jail and the doors
of their prison room closed upon them.