CHAPTER III
On seeing me Don Guzman sprang to his feet and held out his hand.
"My dear friend," he cried, "it is very good of you to come here. Icalled at your house this afternoon, to learn that you were in London,but that you were expected back this evening. Doubtless you aresurprised at seeing me, but when I tell you everything, I fancy yourwonderment will cease. Won't you sit down and let me offer you acigar? A more delightful spot than your village I have never metwith."
I accepted his cigar, and seated myself in the wicker chair he pushedforward for my accommodation. What he was doing in our quietneighbourhood I could not for the life of me imagine. But when Iremembered the questions he had put to me on board the _Pernambuco_, Ibegan to feel my hopes rising. It would be a stroke of luck indeed ifhe were to offer me a good berth, just at the moment when I needed itso badly.
"And so our mutual acquaintance, Captain Harveston, played you ashabby trick after all?" he remarked after a short pause.
"He could not very well have done me a greater injury," I replied."What is worse, I fear he has not only lost me my berth, but that hehas prejudiced other owners against me. Did the ship strike you asbeing in a badly-kept condition when you were on board?"
"I never saw one better managed in my life," he answered. "At the sametime I must confess that I am not sorry that Harveston has got youyour discharge."
"As matters stand with me just now, that's not a particularly civilthing to say, is it?" I inquired with some asperity, for, if the truthmust be confessed, I was not in a very good humour.
"My friend, I mean it in all kindness," he answered, "and presently Iwill tell you why. Do you remember that story I told you on board,about my acquaintance who had played the vagabond all over the world?"
"The man who was President of one of the Republics of South America?"I inquired.
"Exactly, the same man."
"I recollect the story perfectly," I replied. "But what makes youspeak of that man?"
"Well, what I am going to say to you concerns that man. He has a verystrong notion that if he could only get his rival out of the countryin question, he might manage to win his way back to his old position."
"But will the other allow himself to be enticed out of the country?That seems to me to be the question. Besides, it's one of the rules ofthe game, is it not, that the President shall never cross the Border?"
"That is certainly so, but circumstances alter cases. In this affair,if the man cannot be induced to go out of his own free-will, othersmust make him do so."
"Rather a risky concern, I should fancy."
"Everything in this world possesses some element of risk," he replied,"whether it is a question of buying Mexican Rails or English Consols,backing a racehorse, or going a long railway journey. In this affairthere is a little more than usual, perhaps; at the same time thereward is great."
"On the other hand, supposing you fail," I returned, "what then? Youwould probably find yourself, in a remarkably short space of time,standing against a wall, with your eyes bandaged, and half-a-dozenrifles preparing to pump lead into you. Have you taken that fact intoyour calculations?"
"I have not omitted to think of it," he replied gravely, as if itwere a point worthy of consideration. "Still, that is not what I amconcerned about just at present."
"But what have I to do with this?" I inquired, for, though it seemswonderful now that I should not have thought of it, I had not the veryfaintest notion of what he was driving at then.
"If you like, you can have a good deal to do with it," he answered,blowing a cloud of smoke into the air, and bestowing an approvingglance at his exquisitely made boots. "I think when I had the pleasureof meeting you on board the _Pernambuco_, you told me that you wereengaged to be married?"
"I certainly am _engaged_," I answered, "but when I shall be able toget married is another and a very different matter. I've lost myposition, and with it has gone my hope of soon being made a skipper. Ican't very well risk matrimony on the pay of a third officer of agrain boat, can I?"
"I should say that it would hardly be prudent," he answered. "May Iask what capital you would require to start married life upon?"
"I should be perfectly happy if I had three hundred a year," Ireplied. "I'm not a man with big notions, and I fancy that sum wouldmeet our wants."
"Capitalized at three per cent., shall we say ten thousand pounds? Youare certainly not of a grasping nature, Mr. Helmsworth!"
"It would be all the same if I were," I answered. "At the presentmoment I stand as much chance of getting ten thousand pounds as I doof getting a million."
"I am not quite so sure of that," he said, speaking very slowly. Thenhe looked at me out of half-closed eyes, and eventually added: "Whatif I were in a position to put in your way the sum you want?"
I stared at him in surprise. Then I grew distrustful. Experience hastaught me that our fellow-man does not pay away ten thousand poundsunless he is very certain of getting a good return for his generosity.
"I should be inclined to think that you were jesting with me," Ireplied, when I had recovered from the astonishment his remark hadcaused me.
"No, no; don't say that," he answered. "I assure you I am not jestingat all. I very rarely do so. I say definitely that it is in my powerto put that sum of money in your way. That is, of course, provided youcare to earn it."
"How am I to do that? That may make all the difference."
"Oh, you needn't look so scared," he returned; "the matter is a verysimple one. All I require in exchange for the ten thousand pounds isyour co-operation in a certain political act."
"Ah, I understand," I replied, as the truth dawned upon me. "Theex-President of the South American Republic, whom you call yourfriend, is in reality yourself, and you want me to help you get backyour position. Is that not so?"
He nodded.
"Yes," he answered, "and I pay you the compliment of saying that Ithink you are just the man to bring that result about. I have notarrived at this decision haphazard. I watched you very closely onboard the _Pernambuco_, and I have made inquiries about you since. Itis a piece of my usual good fortune that you should happen to bedisengaged at this particular time. Had you not been, I should havemade you an offer, in the hope of having been able to induce you toleave the Company's service, and to join me. That would have beenunfortunate, and it might very probably have given rise to suspicion,and suspicion is the one thing of all others I am naturally anxious toavoid. In England they do not appreciate the subtleties of SouthAmerican politics, and in consequence they are apt to look at thingsin a wrong light. Would you have any objection to assisting me toregain my former position?"
"It all depends upon what you want me to do," I replied. "I have hadno experience in such affairs, and am afraid I should make a poorconspirator."
"There is no need for you to be a conspirator at all," he said, withone of his quiet laughs, "that is to say, not in the sense you mean.All I am going to ask of you is the exercise of a little diplomacy,and some of that nautical skill which I am so well aware you possess."
"In other words, you want me to assist in the deportation of yourrival from the country, whose chief he at present is."
"You've hit the mark exactly," he returned. "That is just what I_want_ you to do, and it is for this that I am willing to pay the sumof ten thousand pounds, which will enable you to marry the girl ofyour heart. Now let me hear what you think."
"I scarcely know what answer to give you," I replied. "I have neverdreamt that I should be asked such a question. It is all sounexpected."
"Is there not an English saying to the effect that it is theunexpected always happens?" he inquired. "I want to have your decisionas quickly as possible, for the reason that, if you don't like thethought of taking on the work, I must find somebody else who does. Ithink I know your character as well as any man can do, and I amcertain I can trust you."
I thanked him for the compliment he paid me, and then informed himthat, before I could
give him a definite answer, I must hear more ofhis scheme.
"I am afraid it would take rather too long to tell you just now," hereplied, when he had consulted his watch. "Won't you dine with me? Wecould talk the matter over more thoroughly afterwards. I suppose thelandlady can give us some sort of a meal?"
As it was the evening on which Molly had her choir practice, and Iknew that I should not see her until ten o'clock, I accepted hisinvitation, on the condition that I should be allowed to go home firstin order to acquaint my mother of my intention. He agreed to this, andI thereupon left him and went off on my errand. As I walked down thequiet little street, I thought of the curious proposal the Don hadmade to me. It seemed almost impossible that I, quiet Dick Helmsworth,should be asked to undertake the abduction of a South AmericanPresident. So far, I knew next to nothing of Don Guzman's scheme; butI had a very fair idea of the risk I should be called upon to run. Tenthousand pounds was a very large sum; but would it be large enough tocompensate me for what I should have to undergo, should my attemptprove unsuccessful, and I find myself in captivity? Then there wasanother question. What would Molly say when she heard of it? Would sheapprove, or should I refrain from telling her anything about it? Thiswas a point I felt that demanded most earnest consideration. Enteringthe house, I informed my mother of the invitation I had received todine with Don Guzman.
"It will do you good, my boy," she said instantly. "You want a littlecheering up after the troubles you have had lately. Who is thegentleman?"
I informed her that I had met him on my last voyage, that he was aSpaniard, and also that he was presumably very wealthy.
"I have only known one Spaniard in my life," the old lady continued,"and I cannot say that I liked him. Your father did not consider himtrustworthy. But there, your gentleman may be quite a different sortof person."
On my way back to the inn I pondered over my mother's words. She hadall an old Englishwoman's innate distrust of foreigners; but herinnocent little remark had set my imagination working. What if DonGuzman should be hoodwinking me, and that there was more behind hisoffer than I imagined? I then and there made up my mind not to take astep forward until I should be thoroughly convinced as to his _bonafides_.
On reaching the inn, I was informed by Mrs. Newman that the Don, orthe foreign gentleman, as she styled him, was awaiting me in thecoffee-room. Thither I repaired, to discover the table laid and myhost standing at the window looking out upon the garden. He receivedme with much politeness, and we presently sat down to our mealtogether. During its progress nothing was said regarding the scheme wehad discussed an hour before. The Don did the honours of the tablewith the greatest courtesy, and in numerous little ways showed me thatwhatever else he might be, he was certainly a keen judge of HumanCharacter. As I have already remarked, he had travelled in well-nighevery country, and if his own accounts were to be believed, he had metwith some strange people, and some still stranger adventures.
Our meal at an end, he proposed that we should go for a stroll, and tothis I assented. We accordingly left the inn, and walked down the mainstreet past the ancient village church, until we came to the stonebridge that spans the river. It was a glorious evening; the sunset hadbeen a brilliant one, and the last faint tints still lingered in thesky. Under the bridge the river stole noiselessly on its way to thesea; the swallows darted up and down its glassy surface as if theywere resolved to make the most of the waning daylight; while, soft andlow, from across the meadow came the music of the church organ, whereMolly was instructing her boys in the music for the coming Sunday. Itwas an evening I shall remember as long as I can recollect anything,if only because of the strange events which might almost be said tohave dated from it.
"I hope you have been favourably considering my scheme," said DonGuzman, when we had seated ourselves on the stone balustrading of thebridge, and I was idly dropping stones into the stream below.
"Yes, I've certainly given the matter my consideration," I replied,"but I want to hear something more of your plans, and to know exactlywhat will be required of me, before I shall be able to give you adefinite decision. Remember, beyond the mere fact that you want to getthis man out of the country, I know nothing whatsoever of thebusiness."
"I promised you an explanation, and you shall have it," he said. "Ofcourse, before I begin, I can rely upon your treating the matter asstrictly confidential, can I not? You can see for yourself theposition I should be placed in were you not to do so."
"Most assuredly," I replied. "I pledge you my word that whatever youmay say to me regarding this matter shall go no further."
"In that case I will begin. First and foremost, let me inform you thatthe country in question is the Republic of Equinata. As doubtless youare aware, it is a most prosperous and fruitful one; indeed, I know ofno other that I like so well. I lived some of the most pleasant yearsof my life there, and should in all probability be residing there nowif it were not for the treachery of the man whom I thought to be myfriend, who became my adviser, and eventually ended in ousting me frommy position and assuming the reins of Government himself. The name ofthat man is Manuel Fernandez; he is about fifty years of age, of ironphysique, and I will do him the credit of saying, of indomitablecourage. His subjects do not love him, but they fear him, which ismuch more to the point. Whether I was loved or not I am unable tostate, but the fact remains that a large number of the population aremost anxious that I should return to them to take up my formerposition. This I am very anxious to do, but I do not see how I am toaccomplish it unless the present President is out of the way.Doubtless I could enter the country by stealth, and sow the seeds ofanother Revolution, which might, or might not, be successful. Butthere would always be the danger of Fernandez discovering mywhereabouts and putting me out of the way. Now, my idea is this, if wecould only manage to get him out of the country, I could return, rallymy friends about me, prove his flight, and proclaim myself Dictator.That done, even should he return in the end, I should be prepared forhim."
"But how do you propose to get him out of the country?"
"That's exactly what I want you to manage," he answered. "With theplan I have in my mind, and a little care, it should not be adifficult matter. This is my scheme. Lying at a certain port on theFlorida coast is a large steam-yacht, of upwards of a thousand tons.She is the property of an old friend and sympathizer of mine in theUnited States. He has offered to lend her to me for the purpose inhand. Now, if you are willing to assist me, you might go out to theWest Indies, join her at Barbadoes, and board her in the capacity of arich Englishman. You steam away to Equinata, and go ashore, in orderto study the customs of her people. Most naturally you would call uponthe President to pay your respects. You are invited to call again, inthe end you strike up a friendship, then one evening he dines with youon board, or perhaps you meet him somewhere, and then--well, I willleave the rest to your imagination."
Here he looked at me meaningly, and I gathered what his thoughts were.
"And what is to happen to him then?"
"After that you steam away to a certain small island the name of whichI will give you, land him, and place him with some people who willtake charge of him until such a time as shall be agreed upon. Itshould not be a difficult matter, should it?"
"No, as you put it, it is simplicity itself," I replied; "but whatabout the officers and men of the yacht? How will you prevent themfrom talking? And, what is more, will they assist in the scheme?"
"They will be most carefully chosen for the work," the other replied."You need have no fear that they will give trouble. Now what do yousay?"
"I do not know what answer to make. Supposing I am caught? What wouldhappen then?"
"You will stand a very good chance of being shot offhand," heanswered; "but that, of course, is your own risk. It will dependentirely upon how you go to work."
"It would be running a terrible risk," I answered. "I have the girl Iam going to marry to think of."
"If you succeed, you will be able to marry her on your retu
rn toEngland," he replied. "Surely _that_ counts for something."
"It counts for everything," I replied. "That's the temptation; if itwere not for that, I'd have nothing to do with it. I must have time,however, to consider the matter."
"By all means," he answered, "but don't be any longer than you canhelp. As I said a few minutes ago, if you don't care about undertakingit, I must find some one else. Time presses."
"In case I do take it on, when will it be necessary for me to start?"I asked.
"The sooner the better," he replied. "If you can see your way to doingso, I should like you to leave by next week's mail boat for Barbadoes,where the yacht will meet you."
"Will it satisfy you if I give you my answer to-morrow morning?" Iasked.
"Yes, to-morrow morning will suit me admirably," he answered. "And ifyou decide in the affirmative, my cheque for five thousand poundsshall be handed you at once, and the remainder on the day you deliverthe President to the representative whom I shall appoint. Do youconsider that proposition a fair one?"
"Very fair indeed," I replied. "I could not wish for anything moreso."
Then we strolled back along the road until we reached the lych-gate ofthe churchyard. Here I bade him good-night, and he continued his walk.On my part, I made my way into the church, and seated myself in one ofthe pews until the practice should be finished. From where I sat Icould catch a glimpse of my darling's pretty figure at the organ inthe chancel, the light from the two candles on either side illuminingher face. When the practice was at an end, she dismissed her boys andcame down to join me. Then, bidding the old verger a good-night, wemade our way home together. She inquired how I had enjoyed my dinner,and what my friend had had to say to me. This put me in rather adilemma, for, of course, having given my word, I could say nothing toher regarding the subject of our conversation. I explained, however,that he had come down to consult me on some important businessconnected with Central America, and that he had proposed that I shouldgo over and transact it for him.
"He, at least, must have great faith in your ability then, Dick," saidmy sweetheart. "I am prepared to like him, even though he doesmonopolize your society. I know you will transact the businessbeautifully, and then perhaps it may lead to something really good foryou." She paused for a moment, and then added a little nervously,"When will you have to start?"
"Next week, if I go at all," I replied; "but I have not yet decidedwhether or not I shall accept his offer."
"You must act as your own judgment dictates," she continued. "I knowthat whatever you decide to do will be right."
All things considered, I was not quite so certain of this myself, andfor a moment I was tempted to declare I would have nothing whatsoeverto do with it. But the money and the knowledge that it would mean awife and happiness for me, if I succeeded, was a temptation I couldnot resist.
As may be imagined, I did not sleep very much that night, but tumbledand tossed upon my bed, turning the momentous question over and overin my mind in maddening reiteration. There was one side of it that wasunpleasantly suggestive. I had to remember that, if I were caught, nopower on earth could save me. My own Government would certainly notinterfere in such a matter, while Don Guzman would, far from takingany responsibility, in all probability, repudiate entirely anyconnection with me and the affair. Then, from this, back I came againin the circle of argument to the one absorbing question of the money.Five thousand down, and five thousand when I handed over thePresident. It would be a fortune to me. If I had it, I need never goto sea again, and Molly would be my----
"Yes, by Jove," I said to myself as I sprang from my bed, "I'll do it!Come what may, I'll do it, and chance the risk."
Having arrived at this resolve, I had my tub, ate my breakfast, andafter I had smoked a meditative pipe in the garden, and had given thematter a bit more consideration, set off for the inn where Don Guzmanwas staying. He had only just risen, and was about to begin hisbreakfast when I entered the room.
"Well," he said, as we shook hands, "what news have you for me?"
"I have come _to accept your proposal_," I said.