Major Starland thrust his hand through the window of the pilot house.
"Give me the pleasure, Captain."
The other smilingly returned the pressure. Each saluted and the
American passed back into the cabin, where his sister awaited him.
He explained the situation.
"Do you know who he is, Jack?"
"I believe his name is Captain Ramon Ortega."
"Have you never heard it before?"
"It seems to have a familiar sound, but I cannot identify it."
"He is the betrothed of Manuela."
"Why didn't I remember it? I can't help admiring the fellow, for he is
the soul of honor."
"She could have told you that."
"You and he are acquaintances, but he does not seem to recognize you."
"He cannot fail to know me, for we have met, but I think he prefers to
be a stranger, while our relations are so peculiar. He will not allow
me to leave without a few words."
"Great heavens! I came near shooting him, but I guess it wasn't any
nearer than he came to shooting me. He is as brave as he is high
minded."
The young woman had removed the remnants of the feast left by General
Yozarro and his guests so that the small, richly furnished apartment
looked tidy and attractive. She reclined on the silken covered lounge
placed against the side of the cabin, and her brother bade her good
night and returned to his comrades, seated at the front and talking in
low tones. To them the Major told of his talk with Captain Ortega.
"You do not doubt what he told you, Major?" said Guzman inquiringly.
"It is impossible."
"General Yozarro has not a braver or more honorable officer in his
army. Three years ago, when we were at war with Atlamalco, and neither
republic owned a fleet, we had a fight with three hundred Atlamalcans
in the mountains. Each force was about the same and it was one of the
hottest fights I ever saw, for the respective forces were commanded by
Generals Bambos and Yozarro."
"Did each take a personal part in it?"
"Yes," replied Captain Guzman with a grin and shrug of the shoulders,
"that is to say, so far as directing matters was concerned. I saw
Bambos peeping out from behind a big rock, swinging his sword,
shouting and yawping till he seemed ready to burst, but taking good
care when the bullets were whistling near that he was out of reach. I
didn't see anything of Yozarro, but--"
"I did," interrupted Martella; "he was in a deep hollow and made sure
his head never rose a half inch above the edge. He did his part too in
bellowing orders, but I don't suppose he commanded any more attention
than Bambos, Captain."
"Both forces fought independently of their leaders."
"You commanded yours, Captain, and did it well."
"Not so well as Captain Ortega, for it was that thundergust flank
movement which drove us headlong out of the mountains, with some of
the men never halting till they reached Zalapata. Captain Ortega and
no one else won that battle."
"General Yozarro knows his worth," said Martella; "he would have made
him a general long ago if it was not that he is jealous of him. He
is the only one I know who doesn't fear General Yozarro. They often
quarrel, for the Captain is plain of speech to every one. Yozarro has
announced that he means to make him admiral of the fleet which he
intends to build up. That I suppose is why he has placed him in charge
of the gunboat, so that he shall have all the training and experience
he can."
"How does he feel toward you, Martella?"
The native gave his usual shrug and grinned.
"I know enough to keep away from him. He will never forgive me for
deserting. He knows my grievance and may pity me, but he would be glad
to shoot me, if he had a fair excuse for doing so. I don't mean to
tempt him, even if he has given you his pledge of neutrality and is
the most honorable of men. If General Yozarro finds fault with him, it
will be just like Captain Ortega to say right before all the other
officers 'I gave you a chance, but you had not the courage to use it
and I would not waste any more effort on you.'"
None of the three could make a satisfactory forecast of the policy of
General Yozarro. It seemed to the American that he might be able to
secure two or three pieces of cannon and open a bombardment of the
boat from the shore, but this presupposed an unreasonable delay.
Captain Guzman said:
"He has no way of getting cannon this side of Atlamalco, and that
would take a day or two; he has no wish to destroy his own property,
and, if he had such a wish, he couldn't do it, for only by accident
would he hit the boat."
"That squelches my theory, which I didn't believe in myself. I'll have
another talk with the Captain, though his sense of honor isn't likely
to allow him to say much."
It was beyond midnight and the two were conversing in a friendly way,
but without anything important being said, when they looked in each
other's face with a pleased expression. A welcome fact had become
known to both at the same moment.
"The boat is moving," whispered the American.
With the screw motionless, she had been lifted clear by the tide and
now swung clear. The Captain drew out his watch and held it so the
moonlight lit up the face.
"There is no reaching Zalapata until toward noon, provided we get
there with this gunboat, Major."
The significant intonation and smile which accompanied these words
puzzled the American, who would have given much to have had them
explained. But it was useless to question the Captain and the only
comfort was in the thought that he was an honorable foe.
"Now for Zalapata!" he added.
"I assume, Captain, that you are familiar with all the windings and
dangers of the river."
"Didn't I prove it by running aground? But there will be no more
mishaps of that nature while I hold the wheel."
"Your pledge is sufficient," remarked the American, who again passed
to the lower deck and joined his friends. He told them of the curious
remark of Captain Ortega, but none of the three could guess his
meaning.
"The only thing that is certain," said Captain Guzman, "is that
General Yozarro and the rest are somewhere down the river and we
shall hear more from them."
No one felt any disposition to sleep and none really needed rest. The
engineer and firemen caught cat naps whenever they could. Captain
Ortega was probably in the same state with his three male passengers.
His duties did not require long runs as a rule, but the present demand
having arisen, he was equal to twenty hours or more at a stretch.