So it was that the daring native came up the plateau, saluted the
first sentinel whom he saw, and brusquely announced that he had
immediate business with Captain Navarro. The latter was in one of the
large lower apartments engaged with his evening meal. When word was
brought to him, he sprang up and hastened outside, where Martella was
standing erect, like a true soldier of the Atlamalcan army, and
saluted him.
"Do you come from General Yozarro?" was the inquiry.
"Directly from him," was the unblushing response.
"What are his commands?"
"That I bring the American Senorita to him without delay."
"Where is the General? I am expecting him any hour."
"You know I am one of the firemen on the gunboat; it lies against the
shore where we stopped last night when the Senoritas were brought
here."
This was the critical moment. If Captain Navarro had learned of the
desertion of Martella, the life of the latter was not worth a moment's
purchase, but in reality he knew nothing of it. The Captain, well
aware of the ferocious temper of the Dictator, stood in as abject awe
of him as did every other citizen of Atlamalco. But as the two
conversed, the wits of the officer gradually returned to him.
"Where is the escort of the Senorita?"
"Standing before you."
"You do not come alone?"
"I do--"
"But how is it the General himself does not come?"
"Perhaps the Captain would like to put that question to General
Yozarro."
"I shall be pleased to read your order."
"The only order I bear has just been given to you."
"Impossible! General Yozarro would never do a thing like that."
"Perhaps you would like to say that also to the General. But I will
save you the trouble; I will tell him myself that you refuse to do as
commanded."
Martella turned to move off, but the Captain caught his arm.
"No, no, no, Martella! You must not do that; you see the dilemma I am
in; if I make a mistake, it will cost me my life."
"It is with you whether you shall make a mistake or not; I have done
my duty."
He made again as if to go, but the officer would not permit it. The
moment had come for Martella to play his trump card. The two were
standing within hearing of several soldiers who, in accordance with
the loose discipline of the army, made no attempt to hide that they
were listening. Lowering his voice, the messenger said:
"Step aside one moment, Captain; I have something for your private
ear."
When they were beyond hearing of the group, the soldier spoke in a
guarded voice:
"Are you blind, Captain? Do you not see which way the wind blows?
General Yozarro does not wish his relative, Senorita Estacardo to come
to him, because she would be troublesome; you know of some of the
General's conquests among the other sex; he is in love with the
beautiful Senorita from the North, but she has friends and he must
protect every step. If he sent you a written order, it might return to
vex him, when the relatives of the Senorita call upon him to explain,
but what does he care for poor devils like us upon whom he will be
able to lay the blame of a misunderstanding? He will be able to swear
that it was all a blunder of others. I respectfully suggested that a
written order would be asked for by you, for you are an excellent
officer who insists that everything shall be done in the order of true
discipline. You know the temper of the General; he swore at me and
declared that if you dared hesitate, he would have you shot. Then he
cooled down and told me to explain if you asked questions. I have done
so, when in the case of another officer whom he esteemed less, the
favor would have been refused."
"You relieve me inexpressibly by your words, though I must look upon
it as strange that you come alone. I am curious to know what you will
say to _la Americana_, if she refuses to go with you, as she is almost
sure to do."
"Do you think the General has forgotten anything? Is he not too much
of a veteran in the affairs of the heart? I am to tell the Senorita
that her brother is waiting on the gunboat to receive her; she started
last night for Zalapata to meet him, and she is impatient over the
delay. You must be sure she will hasten to obey the request."
Captain Navarro was not wholly free from misgiving.
"I can understand that the General may have reasons of his own for not
coming himself for the Senorita, but I do not understand why her
brother does not hasten to her."
"Heard you not that he was ill with fever and needs his sister to
nurse him?"
For the first time in the interview the Captain laughed.
"I beg you, Martella, not to hint to the General how stupid I was."
"Be assured I shall not. You know how many things we see which we must
not see, and of late I have had many chances to view such things on
the gunboat. I shall say to the General that you were as prompt and
obedient as you always are to do his bidding, and that he has no
better officer in his army than you."
"And you shall not be forgotten, Martella; I will order the horse
saddled for the Senorita."
Each minute added to the tension of the situation. Martella did not
doubt that General Yozarro was on the way to the Castle, and more than
likely was quite near. He was likely to arrive at any moment. He
glanced stealthily around, determined, if he saw him or any of his
escort, to make a break for it, with the chances a hundred to one
against saving his neck.
Every nerve was tugging for haste, yet the first sign of impatience
would ruin everything. He wished inexpressibly that the young woman
should appear and that they could start at once without waiting for
the pony. But that, from the nature of the circumstances, could not
be. With superb coolness and courage, he said:
"While the horse is preparing, I will go and ask her to make ready; I
hope," he added with a light laugh, "that she will not ask too many
questions. Where shall I find her?"
"The room of the Senoritas is in the second story facing the north; a
light is burning within."
Without any injunction to the Captain to make haste, Martella
saluted, and walked deliberately into the building, where no questions
were asked, since he had been seen in converse with the officer and no
one doubted that he came direct from General Yozarro.
Suppose, what was quite likely, that suspicion should again enter
the brain of the Captain, when he gained time to think over the
extraordinary situation? Suppose, what was also likely, that General
Yozarro should arrive while the bogus messenger was inside the Castle?
He would be caught like a rat in a trap.
And yet knowing all these things, Martella gave not the first evidence
of hurry. He went up the stone steps with dignified tread, knocked at
the right door, and was admitted to the apartment, where, as we know,
he explained to the two young women the remarkable errand on which he
had come.