Major Jack Starland carried out his thoughtlessly formed plan. I fear
it must be conceded that his motive was not a wholly chivalrous one.
He saw the chance for humiliating the man for whom he felt only
unmitigated contempt. He had not a whit of respect for the pompous
Bambos, but the ponderous nuisance had not insulted him and his
unpardonably. No doubt had the opportunity come to the President of
the Zalapatan Republic, he would have acted with similar dishonor, but
in the affairs of this world, men are judged by their deeds instead of
their motives. Only One can be unerring in his judgments.
"General Bambos and I will go aboard the tugboat and steam up the
river till we find Yozarro. We may have to go to Atlamalco, but it
makes no difference; the _Warrenia_ will act as our escort, and I
shall make sure the affair is conducted in the highest style of the
art. I don't wish to involve my government in the broil."
Accordingly, after everything had been explained to Captain Winton of
the yacht, the American officer and the General walked beside each
other across the gangplank, which bowed threateningly under the
unusual weight, the support was drawn in, and both craft began moving
at moderate speed up the bifurcated river. The _Warrenia_ dropped a
little way to the rear, and held thus while the two ascended the
stream.
Excusing himself for a few minutes, the Major left the General in the
cabin and went forward for a few words with Captain Ortega, who,
cigarette in mouth, smilingly saluted and welcomed him.
"You understand, Captain, the arrangement that has been made?"
"I heard what was said; you have agreed to turn over this boat in
person to General Yozarro."
The American nodded.
"You will permit me to say, Major, that you have done a foolish thing.
When you left the gunboat as you did, I was free to pick up the
General and that should have been the end of the affair."
"True, but I am quite willing to feed his vanity to the extent
demanded by General Bambos; but I wish to say, Captain, that I am in
the dark as to where we shall find your President. He sailed down the
river ahead of us, but the yacht saw nothing of him, when it seems he
should have been met, and we have not observed him on our way."
"Pardon me, Major, you should say 'I,' not 'we.'"
"Do you know where General Yozarro is?"
"I have known for several hours; I believe my status has been changed
by the late occurrences and I may speak freely."
"Unquestionably; no cause remains for further secrets between us."
"Then I may say that some hours ago, when you stood where you are now
standing, discussing this question with me, my eyes were resting on
General Yozarro."
"You astonish me, Captain; be more explicit."
"I knew when he sailed out of sight around the bend in the river, that
he would not go far. He did not. He ran to the southern bank, lowered
his sail, and pulled the boat so far under the overhanging vegetation
that neither you nor your friends noted it. Knowing where to look, I
was more fortunate. The General signalled to me to come to land, so
that he and his men could attack you."
"Why did you not do so? Yet it would have been your death warrant to
have made the attempt."
"That was not the reason why I did not go to him; I had given the
General one opportunity, and was too impatient with him to provide a
second. But, more than that, you had my parole."
"True; I had forgotten that. May I ask what you think General
Yozarro's plan is?"
"He does not understand why I refused to obey his signal, and there
will be a hot quarrel over it when we meet. He expects me to return,
sooner or later, for he must know that the purpose of yourself is to
reach Zalapata with the Senorita, after which I shall be at liberty to
return to Atlamalco. I shall, therefore, find him not far from where I
saw him a few hours ago."
"I beg to renew the assurances of my distinguished consideration,
Captain," said the American, saluting and passing back to the cabin.
The massive Dictator of the Zalapatan Republic was puffing and
striding to and fro over the short length of the cabin, the point of
his scabbard titillating against the floor, for his steps, though of
moderate length for an ordinary man, were long for a person of his
build. His face was redder than ever, and it was clear that he was
agitated over some great question that was wriggling through his
brain.
When he wheeled and faced the American, he whipped off his plumed hat
and sagged down upon the lounge at the side of the cabin. It creaked
but held.
"Pardon me, General, you seem disturbed in mind," remarked the young
officer, drawing up a stool and seating himself opposite.
"I _am_ disturbed, Major; nothing in all the world could have happened
to cause me greater regret."
"You refer to the affair of last night; I cannot see that you have any
concern with that."
"Captain Guzman was involved with you."
"If you are so afraid of offending General Yozarro, you can easily
disavow the act of your officer, though he deserves all praise for
what he did."
"Be assured that I shall disavow his crime in the strongest terms,
and, if General Yozarro demands it, the Captain shall be severely
punished."
"The other day, when you were talking with him and me, you were hot
for war against Atlamalco."
"True, but since then I have received a great light."
The amazed American waited to catch a ray himself, but it came not and
he said:
"I delivered your message to General Yozarro yesterday."
"And he received it graciously?"
"Most graciously; there was no hint about sending me back to you from
the muzzle of one of his cannon; he begged me to assure you he would
have your complaint investigated and would do his utmost to meet your
demands."
"What I might have expected from my noble compatriot!" exclaimed the
Dictator with greasy unctuosity; "I was sure of it."
"But you did not look for such magnanimity, when in council with
Captain Guzman and me. May I ask to what is due this marked change
of sentiment on your part?"
General Bambos lifted himself to his feet and swung across the cabin
several times, finally crashing back to his former seat on the vexed
lounge.
"You have heard of General Simon Bolivar?" was his unexpected
question.
"Who has not? He was the great Liberator, born in Venezuela in 1783,
who freed Peru, which then became Bolivia, and was rejected by
Colombia, because she did not know how to appreciate his greatness.
His was the finest character ever produced by South America."
"I am glad to hear that you appreciate him," said General Bambos, his
small black eyes glowing.
"The greatest compliment ever paid General Bolivar was when he was
called the South American Washington. _He_ is the standard by which
the world's heroes are measured."
"You have many heroes in the United States; I have read of Abraham
Lincoln: how does _he_ compare with Washington?"
"The two stand side by side, and sometimes it is hard to see which is
foremost. One was the creator and the other the preserver of his
nation."
"How do _I_ compare with Washington and Lincoln?"