That cry was from Lilla, who ran to my uncle's side just as he staggered
to a chair, holding his face with both hands.
"Not much hurt, I think," he gasped; "but it was a close touch--a sort
of farewell keepsake," he said with a faint attempt to smile.
It was, indeed, a narrow escape, for the ball had ploughed one of his
cheeks so that it bled profusely, and I could have freely returned the
shot in the rage which I felt.
Perhaps it would have been better for all parties had I fired, for it
would only have been disabling as black-hearted a scoundrel as ever
breathed. But my plans were made, and by an effort I kept to them, just
as the notary was about to flee in alarm.
"Loose him, Tom," I said; and Garcia started up, foaming almost at the
mouth. "Keep back there," I cried, "and do not let me see one of those
hands move towards breast or pocket. The instant I detect any such act
I fire."
Garcia stood scowling for a few moments but not meeting my eye, and I
continued addressing the notary:
"Give me full particulars of this amount, and I will pay it."
"You, Harry--you!" exclaimed my uncle.
"You!--you vile impostor! You beggar and vagabond! You do not possess
an onza of gold," roared Garcia, bursting forth into a fit of
vituperation. "Don't listen to him; don't heed him; it's a trick--a
plan. I take possession. The money was to be paid this morning, and it
is not paid, so I seize the plantation."
"You are the business man," I said coolly to the notary--with that
coolness that the possession of money gives--"this is a mining country,
and gold in ounces should be current."
"The best of currency, senor," said the notary with a smile and a bow.
"Tell me the amount, then, in ounces," I said, "and I will pay you."
"Don Xeres," gasped Garcia, almost beside himself with rage, "I will
take no promises to pay."
The old notary shrugged his shoulders.
"But, Senor Garcia, there are no promises to pay. I understand the
English senor to say that he will pay--at once! Am I not right, senor?"
"Quite," I said. "Uncle, I will lend you this amount."
"But, Harry, my dear boy, you are mad! You have no idea of the extent."
"Two hundred and five ounces would equal the amount in _pesos d'oro_
which Senor Landell is indebted," said the notary quietly.
"Good!" I said. "Then will you have proper balances brought? Uncle,
see to the return of your papers."
"I am in the hands of Senor Xeres," said my uncle in a bewildered tone.
"He will see justice done."
The old notary bowed and smiled, while I crossed to where my leather
case stood upon a side-table, brought it to my chair, and then seated
myself, slowly unbuckling the straps and unlocking it while the balances
were brought, when I drew out six of the little yellow bar ingots and
passed them over to the notary, who was the banker of the district as
well.
He took them, turned them over, wiped his glasses, and replaced them;
then examined each bar again.
"Pure metal, I think, senor?" I said, smiling.
"The purest, Senor Inglese," he replied with another bow.
Then, placing the ingots in the balances, he recorded each one's weight
as he went on, to find them, with a few grains variation more or less,
six ounces each.
Five times, to Garcia's astonishment and rage, did I bring from the case
in my lap six of the golden bars, the notary the while testing and
weighing them one by one in the coolest and most business-like way
imaginable. Then his spectacles were directed inquiringly at me, and I
brought out four more, which were duly weighed and placed with the
others. Then again were the spectacles directed at me.
"Another ounce, less a quarter, senor," said the notary. "I have here
two hundred and four ounces and a quarter."
"Fortunatus's purse wants aiding, Uncle," I said, unwilling to exhibit
more of the golden spoil. "You can manage the three-quarters of an
ounce?"
My uncle was speechless; but he rushed to a secretary, took out a little
canvas bag, and counted out the difference in coin. When, coolly
drawing out bags of his own, the notary made up a neat package of the
bars, inclosing therewith his account of the weights, tied it up, lit--
with apparatus of his own--a wax taper, sealed the package, and handed
it to Garcia, who took it with a fierce scowl, but only to dash it down
the next instant upon the table.
"I will not take it," he exclaimed. "It is a trick--the gold is base!"
"Senor Don Pablo Garcia, I have--I, S. Xeres--have examined and proved
that gold," said the old notary. "I say it is pure, and you cannot
refuse it. Senor Landell, there are your bonds now. Senor Garcia is
angry, but the business is terminated."
Rising and bowing to us with a courtly grace that could win nothing less
than respect, the old notary handed some deeds to my uncle, and then,
picking up the gold, he passed his arm through Garcia's and led him
away--the notary's attendant following with his master's writing-case
and balances.
But the next moment a shadow darkened the door, and Garcia would have
rushed in had not Tom blocked the way.
"Now, then, where are you shovin' to, eh?" grumbled Tom; and there was a
scuffle, and the muttering of a score of Spanish oaths, with, I must
say, a couple of English ones, that sounded to be in Tom's voice, when
Garcia shouted, in a voice that we could all hear:
"Tell him there is another debt to pay yet, and it shall be paid in
another coin!"
The door closed then, and it was evident that Tom was enjoying the act
of seeing Garcia off the premises, while the next minute my uncle was
holding me tightly by both hands and my aunt sobbing on my neck.
"And I was saying you were like the rest of the world--like the rest of
the world, Harry, my dear boy," was all my uncle could say, in a choking
voice, and there were tears in his eyes as he spoke.
"Say no more, Uncle--say no more," I exclaimed, shaking him warmly by
the hands.
Then he took his wife to his heart, telling her in broken words that
there was to be peace at the old place after all.
It must have been from joy at the happiness I was the means of bringing
into that home, or else from the example that was set me, for the next
moment I had Lilla in my arms, kissing her for response to the thanks
looking from her bright eyes; and even when my uncle turned to me I
could only get one hand at liberty to give him, the other would still
clasp the little form that did not for an instant shrink.
"Too bad--too bad, Harry--too bad!" said my uncle, with a smile and a
shake of the head. "I am no sooner free of one obligation than I am
under another; and so now, on the strength of that money, you put in
your claims."
"To be sure, Uncle," I said laughing; "and you see how poor Lilla
suffers."
I repented saying those words the next moment, for Lilla shrank hastily
away, blushing deeply.
My uncle and I were soon left alone, when, holding out his hand to me,
he said, in a voice whose deep tones told how he was moved:
"Harry, my boy, I can never repay you the service you have done me; but
if I live I will repay you the money."
"Look here, Uncle," I said, "once and for all--let that be buried.
There, light your cigar; and I can talk to you." Then, taking our
places in a recess by one of the shaded windows, I spoke to him in a low
tone. "You know how I have spent my time lately?"
He nodded.
"Treasure-seeking?"
He nodded again.
"Uncle, at times it almost seemed to me a madness; but I persevered and
succeeded. Look here!"