A few paces after the second turn brought the American to the palace
of President Yozarro,--a long, low, bamboo structure, standing on
slightly rising ground, where it could catch what little air sometimes
caressed the town at this time of day. The largest apartment at the
rear was the cabinet or council room of the Dictator and President,
since the open windows on that side were sure to receive the cool
breath of the mountains when it stole through the open windows.
The American officer was fortunate in the time of his call. In the
long hall he met two men in uniform, well advanced in years and
stooping in an unmilitary way, whom he recognized as the leading
officers and counsellors of President Yozarro. It was manifest that
they had been holding a conference. The Major saluted them as he
passed down the hall to where a guard stood outside the door, musket
in hand.
"Will you say to his Excellency that Major Starland desires to speak
with him?" asked our friend in excellent Spanish. The Major did not
send in his card, for, truth to tell, he had none printed in the
language of the country, and he knew the other possessed no knowledge
of English.
The guard tapped on the door and disappeared for a minute. When he
came back, he held the door open and nodded to the visitor. Major
Starland, hat in hand, passed within with brisk, military step,
saluted and awaited the pleasure of the President of the Atlamalcan
Republic.
The latter was seated behind a large desk at the farther side of the
room, smoking a cigarette and facing the visitor. He was of short
stature and lacked the protuberant rotundity of President Bambos. Like
him his mustache was of glossy blackness and was waxed to needle-like
points, but the hair of General Yozarro was cropped and there was a
white sprinkling about the temples and behind the ears. This, with the
crows' feet and wrinkles, showed that he was fully ten years the
senior of his brother President. He was in European dress, his coat,
waistcoat and trousers being of spotless white duck, his linen
irreproachable, his feet inclosed in patent leathers, and a diamond of
eight or ten carats scintillated in his snowy shirt front. He had been
heard to boast that this remarkable gem had been taken from the
mountains of his own province.
The moment his glittering black eyes rested upon the trim figure of
the American he rose and gracefully waved him to a seat on his right.
Thanking him for his courtesy, Major Starland walked briskly thither,
sat down, crossed his legs, cleared his throat and expressed his
pleasure at seeing his distinguished friend looking so well. President
Yozarro returned the compliment in the flowery language of his
country, and asked the caller to do him the great honor of telling him
in what way he could serve him. He assured him that it would be the
joy of his heart, if his humble aid would be accepted by one whom he
held in such warm friendship and lofty esteem.
While thus overwhelming his caller, President Yozarro snatched up his
cigarette box from his desk and held it out to the American, who
accepted the courtesy with thanks, lighted the wisp of fragrant
tobacco to which, as we know, he was unaccustomed, and sat back at
ease.
"Your Excellency, I come from President Bambos."
"I am delighted to welcome you, and how is my esteemed brother?"
"Never better; when he told me of a slight misunderstanding, I
volunteered to lay the matter before you, knowing how willing you
would be to listen patiently, and aware too of your deep sense of
justice."
"You do me honor, my good friend," replied President Yozarro, bowing
and smiling so broadly that his white teeth gleamed through his
mustache. "I am eager as always to right any wrong and to correct any
misunderstanding."
"Three days ago when your excellent gunboat was at target practice, on
the Rio Rubio, one of the shots injured the dwelling of a citizen of
Zalapata."
"It grieves me to learn that," replied the President, as if the
episode was wholly new to him; "I am impatient to do what I can to
repair the carelessness of my gunner: will it please you to have him
shot, as a warning to others to be more careful?"
"By no means; the payment of the slight sum--only forty-two
_pesos_--with an expression of regret, will more than satisfy
President Bambos."
"I shall hasten to comply with so moderate and just a demand: will you
be good enough to convey this statement to my esteemed brother?"
Considering the moderate sum involved, it would seem that President
Yozarro might well have closed the incident by passing over the amount
to the ambassador, but, since he made no offer to do so, the
ambassador could not in common courtesy remind him of it. The
Atlamalcan Republic had its own methods and red tape ruled there as
elsewhere.
"I am sure that President Bambos could ask nothing more, and I shall
take pleasure in repeating your gracious words to him."
President Yozarro bowed, smiled, muttered "_Gracias_," and lit another
cigarette.
"I beg your Excellency that I may have the privilege of a few words
with my sister, Miss Starland, who came ashore from my yacht last week
to visit her friend Senorita Estacardo, and whom it has not been my
pleasure to see since then."
"My good friend makes another request which it shall be my delight to
grant," replied President Yozarro, with his bland smile, as he crossed
his shapely legs, leaned back and blew the puffs of his cigarette
toward the ceiling.
Major Starland felt that he was getting on swimmingly. He had already
decided to hand over to President Bambos the amount of the damages for
the injury to the property of one of his citizens, quite content to
place it to his personal account of profit and loss. Uneasy over the
prolonged absence of Miss Starland, he would quickly arrange matters
with her during the impending interview.
"I have a pleasant surprise for you," said the President, after his
caller had expressed his acknowledgments; "the Senorita made known so
warm a wish to see her brother that I hastened to take her, as she and
I supposed, to him."
"I do not understand your Excellency."
"She is now at Zalapata, whither she went in our gunboat."
"When?"
"Last night; we must have met on the way, for you could scarcely have
made the voyage between the capitals since sunrise."
This remark explained that night trip of the _General Yozarro_, whose
going the Major had seen and whose returning he had heard.
"Yes," added his host; "she had but to make known her wish, when she
and her friend Senorita Manuela, my niece, became my guests on my
gunboat, and were landed at Zalapata last evening, where she will be
disappointed to find you absent, though your meeting will be deferred
but a short time."
With many acknowledgments, Major Starland bade President Yozarro good
bye, passed out into the hall and hurried down the street to the
wharf, where Captain Guzman was placidly awaiting him. The same
drowsiness that he had noted on his arrival, brooded over everything,
and no time was lost in casting off and heading down the river.
But during the absence of the American, the Captain had had a visitor,
who did not step ashore, but helped in getting the boat under way, and
showed by his action, that he meant to remain with them, if they did
not object thereto.
"Who is he?" asked Starland, at the first opportunity to speak
privately to his friend.
"Martella, a deserter from President Yozarro."
"That won't do, Captain; I cannot permit him to go with us."
"Not so, Major; he is more valuable than you think; he will tell you
something you ought to know."