Azito after a few steps turned aside from the stables, from the other
side of which came the heavy tramp of the sentry's feet, and struck into
the undergrowth towards a small plantation about three hundred yards
from the house. They bent low to avoid observation, but the night was
so dark that they must have been invisible at the distance of ten feet.
Not till they were safe among the trees did either speak a word; then
Will asked the Indian to stop. They looked back towards the house.
Several of the rooms were lit up, and broad beams of light threw a
ghostly radiance on the gardens around.
"Thank you, Azito," said Will in low tones.
"I did it, senor, not Jose," replied the man.
"Ah! what do you know of Jose?"
"We wanted, both of us, senor, to make a hole in the wall, but we did
not know where the senor was in the stables. Jose tried to find out,
but Senor Machado caught him."
"And where were you?"
"I was in the wood on the other side of the lake. I saw all that
happened, senor."
"Where is Jose now?"
"I do not know, senor. I did not see him come out of the house."
Will wished that his rescuer had been Jose rather than the Indian, for
the negro boy had been his servant for many months, and had often helped
him with the hydroplane. To find the hydroplane and set off in it to
Bolivar was the immediate duty of the moment. It would be no easy
matter to find his way to it in the dark, and he felt the lack of Jose's
guidance; but since it seemed impossible to have Jose, he determined to
do his best with Azito.
They had not gone far, however, when Azito remarked that when hiding in
the wood he had heard Jose cry out, as if he were being whipped.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" demanded Will, stopping short.
"It was so little to tell, senor," replied the man.
It was indeed a trifling matter to Azito. The Indians were accustomed
to being struck, sometimes in punishment for faults, sometimes in wanton
mischief and delight in witnessing pain. But it was no trifling matter
to Will, and remembering the Chief's suggestion that Machado had
captured Jose in order to discover from him the whereabouts of the
hydroplane, Will resolved to retrace his steps, go to the house, and at
least try to find out what was happening to the boy. When he told Azito
this, the Indian said the senor was not wise.
"It must be done," replied Will.
"I will go, senor."
"No, no; stay where you are. You have done enough. Lend me your knife,
and wait for me here."
He took the Indian's long knife, and having no belt, had to carry it in
his hand.
"Which room did Jose's cries come from?" he asked.
"A room in the front, senor."
This was awkward. In order to get to the front of the house he must
either go past the stables or make a long circuit through the gardens.
Since there were lights in the side of the house visible to him, it was
very probable that the rooms in the front were also lit up. This would
make it difficult to approach unseen, and he thought for a moment of
waiting until the lights were put out for the night; but he saw on
reflection that his chance of discovering the negro in the dark would be
very small. He decided therefore to make for the back of the house, and
to let his future proceedings be guided by circumstances.
As he left the shelter of the plantation he saw to his right the lights
of the camp, from which came a continuous hum. It was long past the
time for "lights-out" with any well-disciplined force; but discipline
was lax in the army of General Carabano, liberator of Venezuela. Will
moved along rapidly, keeping at a distance from the house until he had
assured himself as to the extent to which the back was illuminated.
There was a dim light in one room: the rest were in darkness. Then he
struck directly towards the house, avoiding, as he drew nearer, the
triangle of ground illuminated by the light in the room, and so came to
the veranda.
The general construction of the house was familiar to him through having
been several times the guest of De Mello. The rooms opened on to the
patio within, and several had doors of communication between them. The
only door to the outside besides that of the main entrance led from the
servants' quarters on the right-hand side looking towards the lake. De
Mello's own sanctum was the centre room on the left-hand side opposite
the stables. To reach it from the back of the house one had either to
go along the patio until one came to the door, or to enter from the
bedroom adjoining. It struck Will as probable that General Carabano
would have appropriated the private den of the owner, as it was
certainly the most comfortable room in the house, and convenient in
having the bedroom next to it. The important matter at the moment,
however, was not General Carabano's quarters, but Jose's.
Will stood in the darkness under the veranda, considering what he had
better do. He peeped into the lighted room: it was a small bed-chamber.
A candle-lamp was burning on a bracket. The next room was in darkness,
but the French window was open, and from the patio beyond came the
muffled hum of voices. Evidently some of the officers were taking their
ease there. Listening to make sure that no one was approaching, Will
stepped into the room, stole to the door, and gently opened it an inch,
so that he could see into the patio. It was cloudy with tobacco smoke.
Half-a-dozen officers sprawled in comfortable chairs, within easy reach
of small tables on which stood bottles and glasses. But Will could not
see General Carabano or Captain Espejo.
He felt himself at a check. Certainly he could not venture into the
patio; the room in which he stood did not communicate with those on
either side of it. He went out again: it occurred to him to try De
Mello's dressing-room, which was on the left-side of the house, next to
the bedroom. From the plantation he had seen that the bedroom itself
was lit up, but he did not remember whether there had been a light in
the dressing-room also. Stealthily creeping round the wall, he came to
the window of the dressing-room, and found that it was itself in
darkness, though a light came through from the bedroom, the door being
slightly ajar. He tried the catch of the French window: it was not
fastened, so that he could enter the room. His heart almost failed him
at the thought of the risk of being discovered, but having come so far
he was not disposed to return without making an attempt to discover what
had happened to Jose. He noiselessly opened the window and stepped in.
Now he heard muffled voices. He peeped into the bedroom: it was empty.
A lamp stood on a table. The door opening into De Mello's sanctum was
partly open, and it was from this room that the voices proceeded. There
being no sound of movement, he stole across the room on tiptoe and
peeped into the room beyond. A screen stood just within, completely
hiding the occupants. He now distinguished General Carabano's fruity
voice, and it suddenly flashed upon him that he might discover something
even more important than Jose's whereabouts. Slipping back into the
bedroom, he glanced quickly round to learn the position of the articles
of furniture in case he had to escape suddenly; then he turned out the
light and crept back to the door. The General was still speaking.
"The only doubtful point, Espejo, is whether we can time our attack from
the railway so that it is simultaneous with Colonel Orellana's from the
south-east. The Jefe at Bolivar has no doubt received the message
recalling the reinforcements that have just reached him--that is to say,
if your friend at the central telegraph office is as clever as you were,
Senor Machado. He has something to work for, and be sure neither you
nor he shall be forgotten when Caracas is in our hands."
"If any one can pull off your little plan, Excellency," said Machado's
smooth voice, "it is my friend Pereira."
"Good. Now this is the only doubtful spot." Will heard the crackle of
paper: the General had apparently unfolded a map. "Colonel Orellana
should be through the swamps south of Bolivar by mid-day to-morrow. If
our good fortune holds he may get close to the city unobserved. At any
rate, as he will be marching for the greater part of the night, his
movement will scarcely be discovered before the Government troops leave
on their return journey in the early morning. At that time Colonel
Orellana should be about twenty-five kilometres from the city. His
attack from the south-east will be commenced at noon, a good time to
catch them napping. If we start before eight we can run through in four
hours provided the line is clear, and I think we can trust the signalman
at the junction: he has too much at stake to fail me. The only doubtful
point, as I say, is here--Santa Marta. All depends on our surprising
the man there. How much of the line is visible from the station at
Santa Marta, Senor Machado?"
"About three kilometres, Excellency."
"A pity. If anything arouses the suspicion of the man there he can send
a message to Bolivar in a few seconds and wreck the whole scheme. How is
it he also is not a friend of yours?"
"His mother's cousin holds a good position in the administration,
Excellency."
"That place shall be yours when I form my administration."
"Is it certain, Excellency," asked Espejo, "that the bridge beyond Santa
Marta is mined?"
"I can trust my information on that point, and I am pretty sure that our
coup here has not leaked through, thanks to Senor Machado's friend at
the junction and our other precautions. There is one risk: that Senor
de Mello has given information. It was a bad mistake of yours not to
secure him, Espejo, and I am annoyed with you. But it cannot be helped.
The only thing wanted to complete the perfection of our arrangements is
to surprise the station at Santa Marta. How is it, Senor Machado, that
you cannot find the hydroplane about which we have heard so much? If we
had it, it would be quite easy to approach Santa Marta from the river;
they would think it was the mad Englishman on one of his jaunts. If we
could only capture the signalman there, and you took his place, we could
quite rely on your ability to keep the people at Bolivar from becoming
suspicious. I compliment you, senor, on your extreme ingenuity in
conducting the communications with Bolivar during the past few days. It
required a man of genius to prevent the railway people from smelling a
rat."
"You do me too much honour, Excellency," said Machado, his gratification
manifest in his tone of voice. "But I fear I can't keep it up for
another day. I have to make so many excuses and explanations; and from
the last two or three messages that have come through from Bolivar I
can't help feeling that the people there are becoming uneasy."
"The more reason for striking at once. Why can't you find the
hydroplane?" asked the General with some impatience.
"I have done my best, Excellency. I believe the negro knows where it
is, but he is a perfect mule, and neither starvation nor whipping has
any effect upon his stubbornness."
"Caramba! are there not other means of taming mules? Fetch the boy.
We'll see."
Will heard Machado rise from his chair and open the door leading to the
patio. Jose was staunch, then. Will set his teeth at the thought of
the ill-usage the boy had had to endure. His clutch tightened on
Azito's knife, and he scarcely heeded what passed between Carabano and
his lieutenant during the few seconds of Machado's absence.
"Here he is, Excellency."
"Ah! this is the mule. Now, mule, answer my question: where is your
master's boat?"
Will waited tensely: not a word came from the boy's lips. There was the
sound of a blow.
"Answer me," shouted the General, "or I will have you flogged. Where is
the boat?"
"I cannot tell, senor," said the boy.
"Dog, do you call his Excellency 'senor'!" cried Espejo; and again there
came the sound of a blow. "Where is the boat?"
"I have a thought? Excellency," said Machado suddenly, as the boy was
silent. "I will try the electric battery: that will make him speak."
"Caramba! you had better make him speak somehow, or I'll flay him alive.
Are my plans to be ruined by a dog of a negro? Take him away, and shock
it out of him."
Will quivered as he heard the boy cry out: one of the three had struck
him again. But Machado was dragging Jose from the room: where was he
taking him? Will did not know of the temporary cabin erected for the
telegraphist at the railway line a few hundred yards away: surely, he
thought, Machado did not intend to convey the boy at this time of night
to the old camp five miles distant. Yet he had seen no wire connecting
the line with the house. It flashed upon him that if Machado left the
house, and was not accompanied by any of the officers, an opportunity of
rescue might offer. Quick as thought he slipped across the bedroom into
the dressing-room and out on to the veranda. Running round to the back
of the house, he stood in a dark corner to watch. Presently he saw
Machado issue forth with Jose from the door in the servants' quarter.
The boy's hands were tied.
Machado dragged him across the garden towards the railway line. Waiting
a few moments to make sure that no one was accompanying them, Will
followed quietly, losing them from sight as they passed through a
shrubbery. He could not risk discovery by Machado yet, for a cry would
bring a crowd in pursuit. Quickening his steps, he saw the two
proceeding towards a cabin just below the railway embankment. A light
shone through a small square opening in the wall. Machado lifted the
rough latch, pushed his victim into the cabin, entered after him, and
shut the door. Will hurried to the unglazed window, and just as he
reached it heard Machado say--
"Has there been a signal?"
"No, senor," was the reply.
Peeping in cautiously, Will saw one of General Carabano's men, left
there, no doubt, to summon Machado if there should come a call on the
wires.
"Hold this brute," said Machado.
"What are you going to do, senor?" asked the man.
"Make a pig squeal. Now, you mule, one more chance before I prick you
with a thousand pins. Where is that boat?"
Jose was evidently terrified at the unknown torture before him. He
looked wildly around for a chance of escape, and struggled in the hands
of his captor, who, however, held him fast. Meanwhile Machado had
disconnected a couple of wires, and reached up to a shelf to take down a
bottle of acid for re-charging the battery. Clearly he was for no half
measures now.
[Illustration: ASSAULT AND BATTERY]
"What's that?" asked the man.
"Stuff to strengthen the battery," replied Machado. "I'm going to put a
wire on each side of him, and add cells--there are plenty of them--until
he owns up."
"Will it kill him?"
"I shouldn't wonder."
He laughed as he poured acid into the cell. Meanwhile Will had been
worked up to a white heat of indignation. Without stopping to measure
the risk, he slipped the knife into his pocket, sprang noiselessly to
the door, threw it open, and in two strides came within arm's length of
Machado just as he was replacing the bottle. A blow with the right, and
one with the left almost at the same instant, hurled the telegraphist to
the ground. The man holding Jose was for the moment paralyzed with
astonishment. Before he could recover himself, a heavy blow somewhere
about his middle sent him to join Machado. Then Will, catching Jose by
the arm, dragged him through the door and to the rear of the cabin,
where with one stroke of Azito's knife he severed the cords binding the
boy's wrists.
He had scarcely done so when he heard one of the men run shouting from
the cabin. But, as Will had expected, the man made straight towards the
house. Hurrying along the foot of the embankment for a few yards, Will
struck to the right towards the plantation where he had left Azito, both
he and Jose bending low to get what cover was possible from the long
grass and occasional bushes. Before they reached the plantation they
heard shouts from the house, which were soon answered from the camp some
distance to their left. They ran as swiftly as possible, and Will gave
a low whistle as he approached the trees. It was answered by Azito.
They waited but a few moments, to see whether any of the figures which
could be descried moving near the house were coming in their direction.
Then all three plunged into the depths of the plantation, Jose leading
in as straight a course as he could towards the recess where the
hydroplane was hidden.