CHAPTER XVI.
COLONEL MARCHAND.
It was fortunate for Ronie Rand that he had succeeded in gettingcontrol of the horse he rode, or his experiences in Venezuela wouldhave terminated in a tragic manner. With the thrilling command of theleader of this body of horsemen, the firearms of his soldiers leaped totheir shoulders, and in another moment a volley of bullets would havestopped the advance of our hero. Seeing only the inevitable to be met,he cried out:
"I am an American! I surrender if need be."
"Hold, men!" called out the officer. "He is a lone American. Hecannot belong to the gang we are running down. Who are you, sir?"
"My name is Roland Rand, sir, and I have only recently reached thiscountry. With a friend I am on my way to Caracas, and just escapedfrom the rebels under El Capitan."
Ronie had answered thus boldly and openly, for he was certain the bodyof soldiers in front of him were not a part of the insurgents he hadjust escaped by so narrow a margin. By this time the sound of otherhorses approaching came from near at hand, and the officer ordered hismen to be in readiness to meet them. Believing them to be Jack and thecaptive woman, he wheeled smartly about, saying:
"I believe they are friends of mine. Hold up, Jack!" he cried, as thelatter, with the woman riding abreast of him, came into sight. "Ibelieve these are friends."
"Halt! Who comes here?" demanded the officer.
"Friends," replied Jack, suddenly checking his headlong flight, whilethe woman followed his example. Then, before anything further could besaid or done, the officer did a most unexpected thing. Urging hishorse close beside Ronie, he cried:
"Roland Rand! Is it possible I find you here?"
Ronie, at first thinking the other meant to do him harm, shrank back,but he quickly rallied at the familiar tone of the speaker. Then, witha wild feeling of joy, he looked more closely upon him, to exclaim thenext moment:
"Colonel Marchand!"
"At your service, Mr. Rand, but I am puzzled to know how it is I meetyou here, where I least expected to find you."
"It is a very long story to tell, Colonel Marchand, and I will gladlyexplain it all to you at the first opportunity. This is my friend,Jack Greenland," signifying that individual, who had not yet recoveredfrom the surprise he had experienced.
"Glad to meet you, too, Mr. Greenland. But where is Harrie, Ronie? Ishe coming behind you?"
"He is in prison at San Carlos, colonel. Jack and I were on our way toCaracas to find relief for him."
"What is he in prison for? The penitentiary is mainly filled withrebels now."
"That is the charge against him. He was taken under suspiciouscircumstances, but I can vouch for his honor."
"Then you are not rebels, Ronie?"
"No, sir--that is, we have not committed ourselves as being against thegovernment."
"Good! You evidently carry a level head. I am at the head of aregiment fighting for President Castro. We were in hot pursuit of abody of the insurgents whom we routed in a fight below here. But whois this woman with you?"
"She is a captive in the hands of Rhoades' guerrillas. I do not knowher name. Perhaps she will give it herself. We were trying to strikea blow in her behalf."
The strange woman, thus appealed to, said, in that musical voice socommon to the better class of Venezuelans:
"You are very kind, senors. I do not know that you would care to hearmy name, for it has too often been a bone of contention in this unhappyland. My husband was Francisco de Caprian. I am not ashamed to saythat."
Colonel Marchand uttered an exclamation of surprise, and, though RonieRand was expecting this reply, he could not wholly conceal his emotionat the mention of that name which he had learned to both fear andrespect. He could not refrain from saying:
"You are Francisco's mother?"
"You know my son!" she cried somewhat wildly.
"We met him on the _Libertador_, senora. He is now in prison at SanCarlos with our friend."
"Then he lives! They told me he was dead. Oh, my son! When shall Imeet him again?"
"I do not understand this," declared Colonel Marchand, brusquely. "Youtalk of the _Libertador_, the outlawed scourge of the coast, of the DeCaprians, every one of whom is denounced as spies, and of loyalty toCastro, the patriot president, all in the same breath."
"I will explain fully if I am given the opportunity," replied Ronie,stoutly.
"Pardon me, Ronie," Colonel Marchand hastened to say. "I do not doubtyou, but this is no time for explanations here. We have dallied toolong already, if we would catch our birds. Go to the rear, you three,under an escort to protect you. Mind you, Lieutenant Garcia, the womanremains with you until I return. We will make short work of themountain rebels."
Upon finishing his brusque orders, Colonel Marchand wheeled smartlyabout and dashed up the road, followed by his troops, numbering half ahundred or more, Lieutenant Garcia and three privates remaining to lookafter the two Americans and Senora de Caprian. The lieutenant showedby his reluctance to move on his duty that he was not well pleased withthe plan, and he was heard to exclaim under his breath that it was ashame to be cheated of the sport at this juncture. However, he soonrecovered his good nature, and, requesting his companions to follow,rode sharply in an opposite direction to that just taken by hissuperior officer.
About two miles below they came upon a small town, where LieutenantGarcia ordered a halt until he should receive further orders fromColonel Marchand, or meet him in person. This place, which had beenthe scene of a stirring skirmish a few days before, was now in thehands of the government troops, which the latter did not hesitate todisplay in their actions. Though Senora de Caprian was treated withextreme courtesy, Ronie and Jack did not fail to observe that a strictwatch was kept over her, and the room assigned her at the house wherethe little party made its headquarters had a guard stationed outsidethe door. Of course, our heroes were allowed their liberty, but theywere only too glad to improve the interval of waiting for thereappearance of Colonel Marchand by throwing themselves down upon thefloor and seeking sleep.
It was broad daylight when they awoke, and the sound of a body of horseoutside the building at once attracted their attention. They were soonhighly pleased to find that Colonel Marchand had returned. News cameto them that he had been successful in his pursuit of El Capitan andhis mountain rebels. As anxious as they were to see their old friend,Ronie and Jack deemed it wise to wait until he had sought them.
This did not give over half an hour's suspense before an orderly calledupon them to say that the colonel was awaiting them in hisheadquarters. It is needless to say that they lost no time in obeyingthis request to see him. They found the genial commander establishedin one of the smaller buildings of the village, engaged in studying amap of the country. But at sight of them he quickly forgot his chart,and motioned for them to be seated, saying:
"I have sent for you that I might know your story. We have sent therebels flying back into their mountain caves like rats driven to theirholes. They will not dare to show a head for at least twenty-fourhours, so I have a half-day's leisure, except that I must prepare myreport to send to General Castro. First I want to hear your story, andI suggest you begin at the very beginning, so I may understand itsdetails and know how to act."
Ronie, acting as spokesman, told their story in as few words aspossible from the time they had left Manilla to the present moment,interrupted several times by the impulsive officer, who was bothsurprised and pleased at the information they gave him.
"By the right hand of Bolivar!" he exclaimed finally, "you may not beaware of it, but you bear valuable intelligence that I shall take theliberty to forward to General Castro. The character of the _Ban Righ_or the _Libertador_ has been pretty well known to us, but you makeplain some things which have been dark. I can see how Harrie fellunder suspicion under the conditions that he was taken prisoner."
"You can secure his freedom, can you not, Colonel Marchand?"
The colonel was a tall, slender man, with flashing, black eyes and longmustache, which he was wont to twist very vigorously when he wasexcited. He gave these a savage twirl now, and, springing to his feet,began to pace to and fro furiously.
"I know what I can do, I can try," he declared, returning to his seatafter pacing back and forth several times. "If I had been a littlemore successful up this way, and he himself had not met with so manyreverses, I can imagine he might be more willing to grant my request.But I will try--of course, I will try! I can but fail. If I do," andhere he lowered his voice, "by the right hand of Bolivar, the sword ofLeon Marchand shall be sheathed while Cipriano Castro holds the rein ofgovernment."
Both Ronie and Jack were somewhat taken aback by this speech, whichthey could see was not a discreet one to make, especially in thatplace. But the excitement of Colonel Marchand passed as quickly as ithad arisen, and he resumed, with marked calmness:
"Coming here strangers, as you have, you can have little idea of thereal feeling slumbering like a volcano in the hearts of us Venezuelans.The truth is, our people are the most ungrateful on the face of theearth. All of the revolutions and political plots that have harassedour country have been almost entirely uncalled for, though I willconfess our leaders have made an excuse easy through their eagerness to"feather their nests," as you would say. But honest men have everfound little encouragement to remain honest, when the populace standsready to take up the cry of 'fraud' the moment some disgruntled officeseeker utters such a cry to cover his own disappointment. Theutterance of the word becomes instantly the battle cry to call the mobto riot and ruin. From a Venezuelan riot a general uprising willfollow in a single day, until the country is ravaged far and wide.This is accounted for mainly by the fact that the population is made upto nine out of ten of Indians, half-breeds and mulattoes, who arenaturally ignorant and easily aroused to fight.
"Matos is followed by just such a rabble. He is rich, but not asoldier by training. Still, it was enough that he was brilliant inuniform and pompous in bearing; these, coupled with the rattle of thedrum and the tramp of many feet, aroused the mongrel crowd, until thedisgruntled rebel found himself tagged by an army of ragged,boisterous, hungry men, who gladly followed him, and follow him still.We saw an example of the stock in El Capitan's mountain horde. Heescaped me only by the skin of his teeth."
"Here I am making a proclamation of war when I ought to be preparing mydispatch for General Castro. I will use every argument I can forHarrie, as I know he is a noble boy, and that his imprisonment isunjust and wicked."
"How about Francisco de Caprian?" asked Ronie, for Colonel Marchand hadnot hinted of him.
"I can do nothing," he replied, with a shake of the head. "The DeCaprians are very much in ill-favor just now. However, for your sake Iwill mention him, and suggest that it will do no harm to set him free.I think you said he suggested that he was willing to espouse our cause.By the way, what do you say to a campaign under the illustrious Castro,the modern Bolivar of Venezuela? I will mention your willingness, andyou can answer me afterward."
Then Colonel Marchand became very busy with the preparation of hisdispatch. When it was finished he called an orderly, who was told tosee that it was forwarded to the commander-in-chief with as greatpromptness as possible.
"Bring me back a reply," added the colonel, and when he had seen themessenger depart he turned to resume his conversation with Ronie andJack.