CHAPTER XIV
DICK MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF COLUMBUS
Lieutenant Commander Ogden's surmise as to the manner in which JoeChoiniski jumped ship was correct, but as to the theft of the revolvers,which he was inclined to fasten on Drummer Comstock, was not.
Just before the noon hour Choiniski, happening by the armory and findingthe door ajar, entered, confiscated the weapons and ammunition and withthem tucked inside his dungaree jumper left the place, snapping the lockafter him; he was unseen by any of his shipmates.
Since the _Denver's_ arrival off Sanchez, he had been bargaining withthe bum-boatmen to secrete him and take him ashore in one of theirboats, but they would not risk the chance of discovery without payment,and having lost all his money by sentence of the court-martial,Choiniski was without funds, nor could he borrow any sum sufficient totempt their cupidity. That noon, however, when he promised a Colt'sforty-five together with cartridges in payment, the bargain wasconsummated.
Choiniski had visited the Samana Bay ports previously while attached tohis former ship, and on one occasion he met the man Gonzales, aSpanish-negro stevedore in the employ of the German concern owning theone and only wharf. Gonzales was now in command of the rebel forcesholding the roads leading into the town, and Joe felt sure hisinformation regarding the large sum of money in the consulate would be acertain means of securing for him an established position with the rebelchief. His familiarity with the language and his experience, not only inthe Navy but with the armed forces in the Balkans a few years before,was enough to make him at least second in command if he worked his wiresproperly in dealing with the rebels.
Within an hour after reaching the shore he was talking with Gonzales.
"And how much money do you say Senor Perez has in his house?" asked thegeneral.
"Many thousands of dollars. I do not know the exact amount, but enoughto keep us both comfortably for many years," answered Choiniski.
"How do you propose getting it?"
"It should be easy," said Joe. "To-night we will go to his house anddemand it. The Consul will answer our summons. We shall prevent himfrom sending any message or signal to the ship. If he does not give usthe money and if we cannot find it on searching the house, we will takehis daughter as a hostage. It is said he loves her more than anythingelse. Having her in our possession he will pay up promptly."
"Your idea is good, Senor. Now I must get my brother, Alfredo, toassist us. I do not trust these men with me on such work. They wouldwant too much for their share. My brother is in command of an outposton the Camino Real not far from the consulate. I will go to him atonce. In the meantime, Senor, await my return. Adios!"
And off went the chief to consult with his brother, commanding a halfdozen picked men in hiding on the road along which Soledad and theFraeulein, who was a stranger and who did not understand the danger,were even then strolling.
Gonzales had no intention of permitting anyone but himself to reap thebenefit of the news confided to him by the deserter from the Yankeeship. Least of all did he intend that Choiniski should be a gainerthereby. The plan was excellent, but the sailor would never see a pesoof that wealth stored in the house of Senor Perez.
Before leaving camp Gonzales gave orders to disarm the sailor and holdhim a prisoner.
"We do not need his help," said he, after having outlined the plan tohis brother. "How do I know that it is not all a clever scheme to catchme! Perhaps it is a spy who has come among us."
"Hush! Hermano mio!" said Alfredo, and he gazed up the road intently."Ah! We are indeed fortunate, for here comes the Senorita Soledad andher duenna, along the trail. Good luck is with us! You will take thenina, while Juan Mendoza and I secure the woman. We will carry her intothe hills with us and at nightfall set her free. She will be unable tofind her way back until morning. You and the rest of my men will carrythe child to camp and leave her. To-night we will make our attempt toget the money after the Yankee sailors sleep. Then, before they can doanything, we have the money and are gone."
This was agreed to and it was with great satisfaction that Alfredo, alittle later, saw his brother, Fernando, disappear in the bush carryingthe child and followed by his erstwhile soldiers. But the duenna wasputting up such a desperate struggle that he was glad indeed Juan wasthere to aid him.
As the rascal pinned Fraeulein's arms behind her, his black eyessparkled with happy anticipation of the prosperous days of joyous livingabout to be his. He grew careless in his efforts to hold the governess,and in the one instant her mouth was freed she had called loudly forhelp. But this made little difference. No one dared to leave the townthese days with General Gonzales' band of insurrectos holding the roads,and----
Then came the crashing blow of a hard fist on his jaw and for a time heknew nothing more. As for Juan, though taken by surprise and thrownheavily to the path, he was quick to attack on his own account, but withthe result that has been told.
When Juan recovered his senses darkness had fallen. His chief, Alfredo,was endeavoring to untie the cords which bound him, but to no avail.They turned on their sides, and back to back, worked at the knots, eachtrying to assist the other. Then their quick ears heard footfalls ofsomeone approaching from the town, and fearful of discovery they rolledover and over in the grass and shrubs, away from the trail, only to bediscovered eventually by Dorlan and his men and marched back to theconsulate as prisoners.
Corporal Dorlan's request regarding the searchlight had been observedand the consulate was in darkness when the reconnoitering partyreturned. It was then decided to hold the prisoners until morning beforeturning them over to the military authorities and by the time the finalmessage to that effect was exchanged with the ship, "taps" had soundedover the quiet waters, and the crew settled down to a night's rest.However, many discussions were being carried on in an undertoneregarding the circumstances connected with Dick Comstock's absence andJoe Choiniski's "jumping ship." In spite of Sergeant Douglass' warninganother orderly had violated his confidential position and the news wascommon property throughout the cruiser. Most of Dick's ultimate friendswere indignant at hearing the story, but the majority were inclined toregard his actions as suspicious and proclaimed him guilty.
How fortunate it was that the object of all this commotion was unawareof the nature of these rumors flying among his shipmates, for had heknown of them his brain would not have been so free to grapple with thetask he had set out to accomplish.
Soon after turning from the trail he was following at a discreetdistance the six men carrying off little Soledad.
How should he go about getting the child? He must take no chances,because to do so might mean his own capture and but add to the child'stroubles; so he carefully trailed along behind her abductors, waitingfor some circumstance which would assist him in solving his problem.
That the men did not intend to wait for their two accomplices wasevident, for they proceeded through the forest without a backwardglance. All the time Dick was drawing nearer to them, but as he wasforced to make his way warily, and often off the poor trail, he wasseriously handicapped.
Finally the men with the child emerged from the woods into a clearing inwhich was situated the barrio[#] where Gonzales made his headquarters.A dozen or more houses and shacks along either side of the road affordedshelter for his troops, about one hundred in number. A few nativewomen, and dirty, half-naked children could be seen, while the barkingof several mangy canines filled the air.
[#] Barrio--Small collection of houses.
Beyond the houses on the far side of the road were a few scragglybushes, and a thick grove of cocoanut trees filled the space to theshore of the Bay. Here some native boats were drawn up on the beach outof sight of the water, and in the grove small groups of rebel soldierswere engaged in various pursuits.
Perforce, Dick was obliged to stop on the edge of the woods and watchGeneral Gonzales and his small band cross the clearing and enter
thelargest house on the far side of the road. Dick crouched down in athick bed of ferns and studied the situation, keeping close tab on theincidents taking place before him and waiting for the darkness whichwould soon fall. That the rebels were carefully guarding the road wasevidenced by the little groups of men, to be observed about one hundredyards from either end of the barrio, who halted all persons approaching.
Near Dick's refuge was a well which supplied the drinking water for thecommunity, and frequent visits to this well were made by men, women andchildren.
It was nearly dusk when a small native boy came bounding out of thequarters of General Gonzales, and the General himself appeared in thedimly lighted doorway. That he had been chastising the urchin wasevident from the way the boy rubbed his shoulders and from his loudlamentations as he stood at a safe distance and observed the rebelleader.
"Here you rascal, you! Be quiet, or I will beat you more. Go and bringme some fresh water at once, or you will be sorry your namesake everdiscovered this island," and with the words Gonzales threw a batteredpail at the boy.
"Come now, hurry, you imp of Satan;" with that the General entered thehouse and closed the door.
Painfully the boy picked up the pail and approached the well. Dickcould hear his sobs as he drew near. Arriving at the well he made noattempt to draw the water but stood looking back in the direction of thehouse. Finally he shook his small hand in a gesture which Dick'sknowledge of West Indian customs told him implied contempt and insult,and from the boy's rapid speech Dick heard enough to convince him thathere was a possible ally, could he but win the native lad's confidence.
With a sibilant hiss Dick attracted the boy's attention, but though helooked about him in some fear he was unable to discover who called.
"Quien habla?"[#] he questioned, still looking about him.
[#] Who speaks?
"Un amigo: un Americano,"[#] answered Dick, and then before the boy hadtime to make an outcry he spoke again.
[#] A friend, an American.
"Do you want to make plenty of money, muchacho?"[#]
[#] Spanish for boy.
The boy had now located Dick's hiding-place and he approached warily.
"How can I make plenty of money?" he questioned in a dubious tone.
"If you will help me, I will see that you get it, and also I will seethat the big man is punished for beating you."
The boy was by this time squatting down on his haunches within a fewfeet of Dick and even in the dusk, Dick could see the eyes flash withanger at the mention of the past incident.
"But what can you, an American, do against General Gonzales, and all hissoldiers? Everyone here fears him! Even my father grovels at his feet,and my mother must do as he says. He will kill my father and my motherand me some day, I fear, when he becomes angered. He is a big chief. Iam afraid to do aught against him."
"There will be no danger if you do as I will suggest and----"
At that moment the door of the General's house was thrown open, andagain the figure of the chief was framed in the lighted doorway.
"Columbus! Columbus! Come here at once!" roared the harsh voice acrossthe clearing.
"I must go, or he will send the soldiers for me. But I will return,"said the lad, rising, and quickly filling the pail he ran back acrossthe clearing.