The sailboat crept slowly out into the middle of the river, the breeze
being so light that only a faint rippling was heard at the bow, and
the craft hardly answered her helm. Major Starland had noted that the
wind was not favorable, and he was compelled to tack toward the
northern shore. He ran close in and was cheered by a freshening of the
breeze which added perceptibly to the speed.
"At this rate," said his sister, "we shall not reach Zalapata till
tomorrow is well advanced."
"It cannot matter, for there is no special need of haste."
"Suppose, when General Yozarro returns, he pursues us?"
"It is not impossible; it will be easy for him to overhaul such a
slow-sailing boat as this, but he dare not offer us harm. Are we not
free born Americans, and will not our government be quick to punish
such an offence?"
"You must not forget that the South American is an idiot, for, had he
not been, he would not have dared to forbid my leaving the Castle."
"Since a long sail is before us, why not let me adjust a couch for you
to sleep?"
"Sleep! As if I could sleep at such a time as this! I had all I needed
last evening when in prison."
It will be remembered that Captain Guzman and Martella were seated at
the bow, facing those at the stern. Thus the moonlit river beyond was
in clear view, and the sombre, motionless form of the tugboat could be
made out where it snuggled against the southern bank. The deserter was
speaking in low tones to the Captain, when he uttered an exclamation
which caused the officer to turn his gaze to the rear.
That which the former fireman saw was a number of sparks mingling with
the heavy vapor that was beginning to tumble out of the smokestack.
The next moment both saw that the craft was heading out into the
river.
"General Yozarro and his officers have returned!" called Martella;
"the firemen are cramming the furnace with wood; they mean to pursue
us!"
Jack Starland and his sister looked behind them. The Atlamalcan had
spoken the truth. The time seemed much too short for the party to have
made the journey to the Castle and back. In fact, it was impossible
for them to have done so, but there could be no doubt that they were
all on the tugboat. The explanation instantly flashed upon Martella.
"Captain Navarro suspected the truth some time after we left and
hurried to take us to the Castle again. Some news may have reached
him, or his own sense told him of my trick. He met the General on the
way."
Such undoubtedly was the fact. Had our friends suspected aught of that
nature, they would not have frittered away the precious minutes as
they had done.
Meanwhile, the resinous wood flung into the furnace of the tugboat was
doing its work. From the single smokestack poured the murky vapor,
sprinkled with crimson sparks which were tossed right and left high in
air, to drop hissing into the water. In the moonlight, a snowy winrow
at the bow showed that the tug was plowing ahead with fast increasing
speed. Capable of making a dozen miles an hour, she was already doing
her best, and coming up with the sailboat hand over hand.
Only a few minutes were given the fugitives in which to decide what to
do. A straight away race was hopeless, for the pursuer, now no more
than an eighth of a mile distant, was sure to overhaul them in a very
brief time.
"I am inclined to let General Yozarro come up with us," said the
Major; "I have no fear of his molesting me or Miss Starland, and I am
rather curious to hear what he has to say for himself. We are in our
own boat, or at least not in his, and we have committed no crime
against the Atlamalcan Republic, whatever that name means."
"You must not think for an instant of such a thing," said his sister
with great earnestness.
"Why not? Do you hold him in fear?"
"No; but he will take vengeance upon Martella, who has served us so
faithfully."
"Great heavens! I never thought of that; and he will be as merciless
with Captain Guzman for having helped Martella."
"And with _you_ for crossing his path."
"With me! I long for a meeting with him; but, Captain," added the
American, raising his voice; "it will not do for you and Martella to
be on board when General Yozarro overtakes us."
"I think you are right," replied the Captain; "the General and I have
never loved each other, and even General Bambos would not object
strongly if it is proposed to shoot me for aiding an Atlamalcan to
desert from his navy."
Martella said nothing, but no one understood the situation better than
he.
"I will head the boat for the southern shore, where you two can look
out for yourselves."
"I am afraid you will not have the time to reach it."
"It _must_ be done!"
The American had pushed the tiller sharply round, and the boat was
speeding diagonally for the bank. The change of course gave her a
fairer wind, but the tug was coming up so fast that it looked as if
she must head off the fugitives. Full steam had been put on, and our
affrighted friends, when they looked back, saw the tumbling foam at
the bow, the spreading wake streaming fanlike to the rear, and the
dark figures crowding forward, amid whom it was easy to believe they
discerned the form of General Yozarro cursing the engineer for not
attaining better speed.
"If we cannot make it," said Martella to the Captain, "we must jump
over and swim."
"We cannot swim any faster than we are going now, and the water
abounds with enemies."
"None is so treacherous as Yozarro; I at least will try it; I can let
myself over softly and make so long a dive that perhaps he will not
notice me."
"Wait a few minutes, Martella, for I do not like your plan."
The brief interval decided the question. It seemed that the sailboat
might touch land before the pursuer could interpose to head them off.
Martella decided to take his chances with the others.
The tug was now so near that Yozarro called:
"Stop or we'll blow you out of the water!"
"Blow and be hanged!" called back Major Jack; "if you fire on an
American citizen, your nuisance of a republic will be wiped off the
earth."
"You have a deserter with you; I demand his surrender."
Therein shone the cunning of General Yozarro. If an American was fired
upon in Atlamalcan waters for carrying off a deserter, it was little
satisfaction our citizen would be able to obtain. Without hesitation,
Major Starland shouted:
"We have the man; come and get him!"