The cavalcade came at a walk into the compound. They were a very
nondescript troop: men of all ages, tall and short, stout and thin,
variously clad, but all wearing high riding-boots and a green feather in
their sombreros. There were more of them than Will had supposed,
numbering nearly fifty. The greater part of the troop halted when they
came to the tree, but two rode forward, the first a thick-set man with
bushy black eyebrows and heavy moustache. He pulled up within a few
feet of Mr. Jackson, and making a military salute, said--
"Good-evening, senor."
Mr. Jackson got up and returned the salutation. Will stood at his side,
and the telegraphist remained a little in the rear.
"I introduce myself, senor, as Captain Felipe Espejo, of the army of
General Carabano, liberator of Venezuela, and in his name I have the
honour or requesting that you will of your great courtesy furnish my
troop with refreshments."
"Do me the favour to enter my tent, Senor Capitan," said Mr. Jackson
pleasantly. "No doubt you are weary after your ride."
The Captain hesitated for a moment, darting a glance around. Then he
dismounted, and leaving his horse with his orderly, followed Mr. Jackson
into the tent. Will entered after him, and Machado stood in the
entrance.
"Be seated, senor," said Mr. Jackson, offering him a cigar. "I am of
course aware of the excellent custom of your country, which never
refuses refreshment to the traveller, and speaking for myself and my
staff, it would give us the greatest pleasure to entertain you and your
men. But you will see, I am sure, that I am placed in a somewhat
awkward position."
"Explain yourself, senor."
"I think I am right in believing that the noble liberator has not yet
assumed the reins of government? In that case any voluntary service to
you on my part, even though dictated solely by courtesy, is likely to be
sadly misconstrued by the present Government, is it not? I am
responsible for the interests of the Company employing me to build this
railway, and I must take care that no action of mine shall prejudice
them. You will agree, then, senor, that I cannot undertake to provide
refreshment for so large a party as yours unless formal demand is made,
which, backed by the armed force at your distinguished disposal, would
undoubtedly exonerate my Company from all responsibility."
"You express yourself admirably, senor," said the visitor with a smile.
"May I compliment you on your command of our language? As to a formal
demand, I oblige you with the greatest pleasure. I demand now,
formally, that you supply my troop with food."
"That is sufficient, Senor Capitan," said Mr. Jackson, returning the
smile. "Pentelow," he added in English, "go and see to this. Don't be
long.... I was about to have my own evening meal," he went on in
Spanish, "and if the caballero would honour me by sharing the repast, I
shall be delighted, though I fear it may not be so excellent in quality
as the caballero is accustomed to."
The Captain cordially accepted the invitation. He felt that things were
going extremely well. Mr. Jackson summoned his servant, and ordered him
to lay for four. Machado was edging away, but Mr. Jackson called him
into the tent.
"You will join us this evening," he said. "Senor Machado, telegraphist
on my staff."
The two Venezuelans exchanged salutations, the Captain somewhat
superciliously. The meal was soon ready; Will returned; and the four
sat down at the table, Mr. Jackson opening a bottle of
champagne--villainous stuff, which he kept by him expressly for native
guests, who relished it as though it had been the finest vintage from
Rheims or Vevay.
The Captain was an excellent table companion, and a man of quite
charming manners. He did full justice to the food and drink. When the
meal was over, and, provided with a good cigar, he lay back in a lounge
chair, he said--
"Truly, senor, it gives me the greatest annoyance to have to requite
your excellent hospitality by making a further request--or, to adopt the
term you prefer, a formal demand. My noble superior, General Carabano,
unfortunately lacks two things requisite to complete his success in the
glorious task of liberating his beloved country from the yoke of a
tyrant. These two things, senor, are men and money. General Carabano
has laid upon me the duty--never more irksome than in the present
circumstances--of inviting, or, again accepting your term, of demanding,
a small loan from your Company in both kinds, namely, money and men.
The money shall be returned when the new Government is thoroughly
established--I need not say, with accrued interest. The men also, when
that glorious day arrives, will be again at the disposal of the Company,
to which, in view of the goodwill displayed by its distinguished
representative, a concession shall in due time be made, on terms
afterwards to be decided, for the furtherance of its business."
The tone in which the Captain made this long speech was as pleasant and
courteous as though he were announcing the conferment of a favour. Mr.
Jackson was only surprised that the real purpose of his visit had not
been disclosed before.
"I regret extremely, senor," he said, "that in my position I cannot take
upon myself to make a loan of money. In doing so I should be acting
entirely beyond my powers. But I will of course forward the request to
my directors."
"Pardon me, senor," said the Captain suavely, "that is of course absurd.
General Carabano cannot delay the completion of his great work while
time is wasted in such formalities. He must have men and money at once.
I have no doubt that you have a considerable balance in your hands,
beyond the immediate wages of your labourers. You will therefore be
good enough to order the whole of your workers to be drawn up, so that I
may select recruits, and at the same time count out a sum of five
thousand pesos."
"With great respect, senor, I have to say that is my duty to protect
whatever funds may be my charge, and also the peons who have been
engaged by my Company under the laws of the State."
At this Captain Espejo's politeness fell from him like a cloak. He
sprang up, threw his half-smoked cigar through the doorway of the tent,
and cried--
"Enough of this folly! I offer you an amicable arrangement. You
decline it. Then I take what I want by force."
"And may I ask how the caballero proposes to take what he wants by
force?" said Mr. Jackson quietly.
All four men were now on their feet. Machado was restless with
excitement. Will stood rigid, looking with admiration at his chief,
whom he had never credited with such _sang froid_ as he now displayed.
When Mr. Jackson asked his question the Captain stared at him as though
he had not heard him aright; then, motioning with his hand towards the
men lounging beneath the tree, he said, with a laugh--
"Two score of my men, senor, could shepherd a thousand peons."
"Possibly, senor, but your number is really twenty."
The Captain stared again. What was this mad Englishman talking about?
"You are pleased to jest, senor," he said impatiently. "My troop
numbers exactly forty-two."
"The matter is too serious for jesting, senor. I repeat, that for the
purpose of enforcing your demand your troop is effectively less than a
score. Be so good as to accompany me for a few yards and I will explain
myself."
The Captain eyed his host suspiciously. Was it possible that he was to
be led into some trap? But the Englishman looked perfectly inoffensive.
He was unarmed; his thumbs were thrust into his arm-pits, presumably a
habit of Englishmen. And there were the forty men, within pistol shot:
there was really no reason why he should not humour the eccentric.
The Chief strolled along, towards the rear of the embankment. He led
the Captain up the plank along which barrows were wheeled up the slope.
Coming to the top, he pointed to the row of figures lying prone just
below the crest, each man holding a rifle.
"You see there, senor, fourteen first-rate shots. At the least sign of
hostility on the part of your troop, these men will fire. Each rifle
covers a man. You will confirm my remark that, for the purpose of
enforcing your demands, you have less than a score of men. At the first
volley fourteen will be _hors de combat_; the second will account for as
many more before they have recovered from their surprise; at the third
you will have none left."
The Captain was speechless with fury. He looked at the men motionless
on the embankment, at his unconscious troopers laughing and jesting
below. He turned about and saw Will, smiling, at his elbow. The Chief
stood in the same easy attitude of unconcern. With a muttered oath
Captain Espejo turned on his heel, and strode down the embankment.
Half-way down he wheeled about, and sputtered--
"You, Senor Inglese, have not seen the last of me. General Carabano
shall hear of this impertinence--this unparalleled atrocity; and he will
exact a heavy retribution, I promise you."
He completed the descent, summoned his orderly and threw himself into
the saddle, and then, riding up to his men, curtly ordered them to mount
and follow him. The troop rode away in the direction whence they had
come.
"I'm most terribly stiff," cried O'Connor, springing up. "I'm sorry
you've done it, Chief; I should have liked a scrap with the beggars; but
you're a wonderful man."
The Chief smiled.
"First catch your hare, then cook him," he said.