CHAPTER XXI
A HALF-BREED'S TRICK
Evelyn found the time pass heavily at Valverde. The town was hot anduninteresting, although she did not see much of it, for it was only whenthe glaring sunshine had faded off the narrow streets that she wasallowed a leisurely stroll in company with the _alcalde's_ wife. SenoraHerrero, who was stout and placid, and always dressed in black, spoke noEnglish, and only a few words of French. After an hour's superintendenceof her half-breed servants' work, she spent most of the day in sleep.Yet she was careful of her guest's comfort, and in this respect Evelynhad no cause for complaint.
It was the monotony the girl found trying. After the ten o'clockbreakfast there was nothing to be done until dinner was served at four.The adobe house was very quiet and was darkened by lattices pulledacross the narrow windows; and there was no stir in the town betweennoon and early evening. Evelyn patiently tried to grasp the plot of aSpanish novel, and when she got tired of this sat in the coolest spotshe could find, listening to the drowsy rumble of the surf. Hitherto hertime had been occupied by strenuous amusements, and the lethargicinaction jarred.
It was better when the shadows lengthened, because there were thenvoices and footsteps in the streets. One could watch the languidtraffic; but when night came Valverde, instead of wakening to a fewhours' joyous life, was silent again. Sometimes a group of people wentby laughing, and now and then a few gathered round a singer with aguitar, but there was no noisy talk in the cafes and no band played inthe _alameda_. An ominous quietness brooded over the town.
All this reacted on Evelyn's nerves, and one hot afternoon she feltready to welcome any change as she sat in a shaded room. Her hands werewet with perspiration, the flies that buzzed about her face exasperatedher, and she found the musky smell that filled the house intolerable.Senora Herrero lay in a big cane chair, looking strangely bulky andshapeless in her tight black dress, with her eyes half closed and nosign of intelligence in her heavily powdered face. Evelyn longed to wakeher and make her talk.
Then there were steps outside and Gomez came in. He bowed, and SenoraHerrero grew suddenly alert. Indeed, it struck Evelyn that her hostessfelt disturbed, but she paid no attention to this. She was glad of abreak in the monotony, and it was not until afterward her mind dweltupon what took place.
"Senor Cliffe's business with the President will keep him longer than hethought. He may be detained for a fortnight," Gomez said.
Evelyn had no reason for being on her guard, and her disappointment wasobvious.
"I was looking forward to his return in a day or two," she answered.
"The senor Cliffe is to be envied for having a dutiful daughter," Gomezsmiled. "Still, I need not offer my sympathy, because it is his wishthat you should go to him."
"When?" Evelyn asked eagerly.
"As soon as you are ready. I have ordered the mules, and you can bringwhat you think needful. We could start after dinner, and I offer myselfas escort for part of the way."
"But this is impossible!" Senora Herrero exclaimed in horrified protest.
Gomez spread out his hands deprecatingly.
"With apologies, senora, I think not. My plan is that you should go withyour guest until I can place her in some other lady's hands."
"But it is years since I have ridden a mule, and exercise makes me ill!Besides, I cannot leave my husband and my household."
Evelyn remembered afterward that her hostess's indignant expressionsuddenly changed, as if Gomez had given her a warning look; but heanswered good-humoredly:
"I have seen Don Jose. He feels desolated at the thought of losing youfor two or three days, but he agrees that we must do all we can to suitthe wishes of our American friends. Besides, you can travel to Galdo,where we stay the night, in a coach. I will see that one is sent, but itmay take an hour or two to find mules."
"They must be good," said the senora. "I am heavy, and the road is bad."
"We will pick the best; but until you overtake us the senorita Cliffewill, no doubt, be satisfied with my escort. We should reach Galdo soonafter dark. The senora Romanez will receive us there, and we startearly the next morning on our journey to the hills."
Gomez turned to Evelyn.
"This meets with your approval?" he asked suavely.
"Oh, yes," she agreed; though she afterward realized that there was noobvious reason why she should not have waited for the coach, and that itwas curious her hostess did not suggest this.
Gomez returned after dinner before Evelyn was quite ready, and she wassomewhat surprised that he made no remark about the luggage she wishedto take. It was skilfully lashed on the broad pack-saddles, and they setoff when she mounted a handsome mule. There were two baggage animals,driven by dark-skinned peons, and two mounted men brought up the rear.Gomez said this explained the delay in getting mules for the coach, butadded that the girl would find the journey pleasanter in the saddle.
Evelyn agreed with him as they rode down the roughly paved street. Itwas a relief to be moving, and the air had got pleasantly cool.Half-breed women with black shawls round their heads looked up at herfrom beside their tiny charcoal cooking fires, and she saw dark eyesflash with hostility as her escort passed. Here and there a woman ofpure Spanish blood stood on a balcony and glanced down with shockedprudery at the bold American, but Evelyn smiled at this. She distrustedGomez, who obviously was not a favorite with the poorer citizens, but asa traveling companion she did not find much fault with him.
After a while they left the houses behind and turned into a dusty,rutted track. The murmur of the sea followed them until they reached abelt of forest where the sound was cut off, and Evelyn felt as if shehad lost a friend. The measured beat of the surf and the gleam of spraywere familiar things; the forest was mysterious, and oppressivelysilent. In places a red glow shone among the massive trunks, but, forthe most part, they were hung with creepers and all below was wrapped inshade. The track grew soft and wet; the air was steamy and filled withexotic smells. Evelyn felt her skin get damp, and the mules fell into alabored pace.
Strange noises began to fill the gathering gloom; the air throbbed witha humming that rose and fell. Deep undertones and shrill pipings that itwas hard to believe were made by frogs and insects pierced the stagnantair. Specks of phosphorescent light twinkled among the leaves, but thefireflies were familiar and Evelyn welcomed them. She felt suddenlyhomesick, and wished they were not leaving the coast; but she rememberedthat her father had sent for her, and brushed her uneasiness away.
After a time, Gomez stopped.
"We have not gone fast, and the senora ought to overtake us soon," hesaid. "Will you get down and wait for her?"
The forest, with the thin mist drifting through it, had a forbiddinglook, and, for the first time that she could recollect, Evelyn feltafraid of the dark.
"Let us go on," she said.
Gomez hesitated a moment and then acquiesced.
The road got steep and the mist thicker. Drooping creepers brushed themas they passed, and now and then Evelyn was struck by a projectingbranch. Her mule, however, needed no guidance, and she sank into adreamy lethargy. There was something enervating and soporific in thesteamy atmosphere.
At last the gloom began to lighten and they came out into the luminousclearness of the tropic night. In front lay a few flat blocks of houses,surrounded by fields of cane, and here and there a patch of broad-leafedbananas. Passing through the silent village they reached a long buildingwhich Gomez said was the Romanez _hacienda_.
Lights gleamed in the windows, but they knocked twice before a strong,arched door was unfastened, and they rode through into the _patio_. Itwas obvious that they were expected. A gentleman dressed in white, hisstout wife in black, and a girl who wore a thin, yellow dress, came downto welcome them. They were hospitable, but Evelyn, speaking only a fewwords of Castilian, and feeling very tired, was glad when her hostessshowed her to her room.
She soon went to sleep, and, wakening early, felt invigorated by thecool air that flowed
in through the open window and the sight of theblue hills that rose, clean-cut, against the morning sky. Then she had adrowsy recollection of something being wrong, and presently rememberedthat the senora Herrero had not arrived. This, however, was notimportant, because Gomez could no doubt arrange for her hostess toaccompany them on the next stage of their journey.
Evelyn found Gomez apologetic when they met at breakfast. He was muchvexed with the _alcalde's_ wife, but the senorita Romanez and her duennawould take her place, and he expected to put Evelyn in her father's carein two more days. This, he added, would afford him a satisfaction thatwould be tempered by regret.
They started after breakfast, but Evelyn did not feel drawn to her newcompanion. Luisa Romanez was handsome in a voluptuous style, with darkhair, a powdered face, and languishing black eyes, but so far as shecould make her meaning clear, she banteringly complimented Evelyn onhaving won the admiration of a distinguished man. Evelyn declared thatthis was a mistake, and Gomez had offered his escort as a duty, to whichDona Luisa returned a mocking smile. Her amusement annoyed Evelyn. Onthe whole, she was glad that conversation was difficult. The sour,elderly duenna who rode behind them said nothing at all.
After traveling all day, they stopped at a lonely _hacienda_, whereEvelyn soon retired to rest. She slept well, and, wakening rather latethe next morning, found that Dona Luisa and her duenna had left an hourbefore. This was embarrassing, because Evelyn knew something aboutSpanish conventions; but, after all, she was an American, and they didnot apply to her.
Gomez appeared annoyed and extremely apologetic.
"There has been a misunderstanding," he explained. "I thought thesenorita Romanez would go with us to Rio Frio, but she told me lastnight that she must return early this morning. I expostulated andimplored, but the senorita was firm. She declared she had not promisedto come farther than the _hacienda_. You see my unfortunate position.One cannot compel a lady to do what she does not wish."
"When shall we reach Rio Frio?" Evelyn asked.
"If all goes well, late this afternoon."
Evelyn thought for a moment. She was vexed and vaguely alarmed, but herfather was waiting for her at Rio Frio.
"Then let us start as soon as possible," she said.
Gomez bowed.
"When breakfast is over. I go to give my men their orders."
Leaving the _hacienda_, they rode by rough, steep tracks that woundthrough belts of forest and crossed sun-scorched slopes. Although it washot, the air was clear, and Evelyn was pleased to see that Gomez keptthe mules at a steady pace. At noon they reached a cluster ofpoverty-stricken mud houses, and Gomez called one of the ragged,half-breed peons. They talked for some time in a low voice, and thenGomez turned to Evelyn.
"I am afraid we shall have to wait here for two or three hours," hesaid. "It might be dangerous to go any farther now."
"But I must get on!" Evelyn answered sharply.
"Your wishes would be a command, only that I must think of your safetyfirst. There is an inn in the village, and while you rest I will explainwhy we cannot go forward."
Evelyn found the small _fonda_ indescribably dirty, but it offeredshelter from the sun. Openings in its bare walls let in puffs of breeze,and decaying lattices kept out the glare, but the room was full offlies, and rustling sounds showed that other insects lurked in thecrevices. The place reeked with the smell of _cana_ and kerosene, andEvelyn had to force herself to eat a little of the greasy mess that wasset before her in rude, sun-baked crockery. When the meal was overGomez began his explanation.
"You have heard that the country is disturbed. There are turbulentpeople who want a revolution, and I am not popular with them."
Evelyn smiled, for she had learned something about the country'spolitics and she thought he had expressed the feeling of itsdiscontented citizens very mildly. She distrusted him, but, so far, hisconduct had been irreproachable.
"I see you understand," he resumed. "The worst is that you too are anobject of suspicion; it is known that your father is a friend of thePresident and has business with him. Well, I have been warned that someof our enemies are in the neighborhood, and they might rouse the peonsto attack us. They will know when we left the _hacienda_ and watch forus, but we can outwit them by waiting a while and then taking anotherroad."
This was plausible, and Evelyn agreed to the delay, although she did notfeel quite satisfied when Gomez left her. The dirty room was very hotand its atmosphere unspeakably foul, but she could not sit outside inthe sun, and, taking up a soiled newspaper, she tried to read. Herknowledge of Castilian did not carry her far, but she made out that theGovernment was being urged to deal severely with a man named Sarmiento.
Evelyn put down the paper, feeling that she ought to know the name.Sarmiento had some connection with Grahame and his friends; perhaps theyhad spoken of him. This led her to think of them. It looked as ifGrahame were interested in the country's politics. Remembering thepromise she had made, she wondered whether the _Enchantress_ was then onthe coast. As he seemed to be opposing Gomez, he must be helping therevolutionaries, while her father had business with the President. Thiswas puzzling, and she sat thinking about it for some time; and thenlooked up with a start as Gomez came in.
"So you have been reading the _diario_!" he remarked.
"I don't understand very much; but who is Don Martin Sarmiento?"
"A dangerous person who goes about making trouble."
"It's curious, but I think I have met him."
Gomez gave her a searching glance and then smiled.
"He is not worth remembering, but you did meet him at Havana."
"Ah!" said Evelyn sharply.
Gomez laughed.
"Must I remind you, senorita, of a little affair at the HotelInternational?"
Evelyn remembered it well and guessed that it was Sarmiento whom Gomezhad been pursuing when she stopped him by dropping her ring. She couldnow understand his look of baffled rage, and she recalled her shrinkingfrom the savagery it displayed.
"One imagines that you did not know Don Martin," Gomez said lightly,although there was a keen look in his narrowed eyes.
"No," Evelyn answered; "I only saw him at dinner."
"Then perhaps you have heard your father speak of him?"
"I am not sure; I have heard his name somewhere; but I don't think myfather ever met him."
"Well, I don't know that it is of much importance. I came to tell youthat I think we can start."
They set off and reached Rio Frio without trouble some time after dark.People in the streets turned and gazed at them, and although somesaluted Gomez, Evelyn thought that, for the most part, they watched theparty with unfriendly curiosity. She was eager to meet her father, butwhen they dismounted in the _patio_ of a large white house she got ashock. A dark-skinned woman and several half-breed servants came downfrom a gallery to welcome them, but Cliffe was not there.