The tug rounded to and approached the shore so close that by running
out the gangplank, the young women were readily assisted to land. They
were nervously eager, for there was no saying when the hostile craft
would appear and open fire, since its crew and leader must be unaware
of the presence of the noncombatants.
General Yozarro could not have been more thoughtful. He was profuse in
his regrets because it was necessary to subject them to this
inconvenience, and he assured both over and over again that everything
would be done for their comfort.
"You know the Castle is prepared for your stay, which I hope will be
brief; I shall see that nothing is neglected and you will hear from me
tomorrow."
The three were standing for a minute or two on the bank, having but
little luggage to take with them, since, when they left Atlamalco
nothing like this had been dreamed of by the two.
"But, General," said the Senorita, "it is a mile to the Castle; how
are we to reach there alone and at night?"
Before he answered, two men came silently out of the gloomy wood. They
were in the uniform of soldiers, and one of them, saluting, said:
"General, we have the horses saddled and waiting."
"That is fortunate; I will assist you to mount."
This time he did not press the hand of Miss Starland, when with his
slight help, she vaulted into the saddle, nor did he sigh or give
expression to anything sentimental. The time was too critical for
anything like that. He waved them farewell, hurried aboard over the
plank, which was quickly drawn in, and the screw of the tugboat began
churning the muddy water, as she circled slowly about and headed up
stream.
The young women, being mounted, looked apprehensively out over the
moonlit stream, expecting and dreading the coming of the other boat
which was to fire the opening gun of another senseless and vicious
conflict between the peppery republics. The situation, however, was
too dangerous for them to wait more than a few minutes, and one of the
soldiers, doffing his sombrero, spoke with the utmost deference:
"I will lead the way and your horse will follow. My comrade will walk
at the rear; be assured there is no danger."
Each man carried a musket and the one who had spoken turned inland.
The horse of the American followed, the gait of all being the ordinary
walk. The Senorita was only a few steps behind her, while the second
soldier silently stalked at the rear. The American noticed that they
were following a clearly marked path or trail, which soon began
descending, then climbed upward, and wound around and between rocks,
the gloom in some places being so deep that she caught only shadowy
glimpses of the guide in front, as he plodded onward like one familiar
with his course. At times there were openings where the light was like
that at mid-day. She might well have trembled had not her animal been
sure-footed, for they had penetrated no more than a few hundred
yards, when the little procession began threading along the face of a
mass of rocks, where the path was so narrow that she felt the swish of
her skirts against the mountain wall, and on her right it sloped
downward perpendicularly, until what seemed a bottomless pit was
hidden in a pool of gloom. A misstep by any member of the party would
have sent him or her to instant destruction. But the animals and men
moved confidently, though the pace was slow. Evidently, with the
exception of the women, all were familiar, not only with this method
of traveling, but with this particular route.
As soon as our friends had become accustomed to the work, the thoughts
of both reverted to the river, and they listened with shrinking
foreboding for the sound of the guns that would mark the opening of
the fight between the two craft. General Yozarro had declared that he
would not permit the boat of his enemy to reach the capital, and he
intimated that as soon as he was released from the care of the ladies,
he would be quick to open the naval battle.
"He steamed up stream," reflected Miss Starland, "but he will not go
far; he is seeking a favorable position near by and the conflict will
be a fierce one."
But the minutes passed and the silence was unbroken. Naught but the
myriad voices of the jungle thrummed into her ears and she found
herself wondering what the explanation of the continued silence could
be. Had General Yozarro changed his mind and hastened to his capital,
with the decision to offer defence there? She could not believe it. It
seemed more probable that he had hurried down the river toward
Zalapata to meet his antagonist, who may have turned and fled to his
own town. Even this looked unlikely, but it was the only explanation
that presented itself. She would have liked to converse with her
friend, but the circumstances were unfavorable. The continual shifting
of conditions compelled her to keep a firm seat and rein and to watch
every step of her horse.
As the minutes passed and they penetrated farther into the interior,
without hearing the boom of the gun, a disquieting question forced
itself upon her. How did it come about that when she and her friend
were put ashore, two soldiers were awaiting them, with properly
saddled animals? It could not have been accident or coincidence. They
must have been there by order of General Yozarro, who intended from
the first that the landing should be made. No other theory was
reasonable. Had any doubt lingered, it would have been removed by the
silence of the armed craft.
This question inevitably suggested the other as to the reason why
General Yozarro had adopted so extraordinary a policy. Had he wished
to send the two to the Castle, there was not the shadow of a
difficulty in doing so, by the simplest and most direct means. As we
know, they had already visited the gloomy building and would not have
hesitated to accompany him again. Why all this mystery of landing them
from the boat at night and sending them into the mountains in charge
of two of his soldiers?
The thoughts that thronged upon the American were too perplexing for
solution, and she resolutely put them away for a more convenient
season. When she and her comrade could sit down and talk in quietude,
they might formulate the explanation which at present was beyond
reach.
One resolution, however, had crystallized: she would lose no time or
opportunity in getting beyond the domain of General Yozarro and would
never again willingly enter it. She had had more than enough of
Zalapata as well as Atlamalco, and yearned for the return of Jack's
yacht, when they could flit from a country which she had come to
detest unutterably. She dearly loved Manuela and could not reconcile
herself to the thought of losing her companionship forever; but from
this time forward, the American must voyage to the country which had
been her home for years, and where she could be assured of respectful
treatment.