XIV.
FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY.
"This document calls for the payment of $10,000, and guarantees youlife employment by the government of Peru, provided you save theSumbay bridge," said the prefecto as he handed me a paper dulywitnessed by the priest.
"No, Senor, I cannot accept it," I replied. "I will do my duty for thesake of humanity. It is part of my plan to be captured by theinsurgents and should that paper be found on my person, I would beshot as a spy. If I succeed you can reward me."
I left the Prefecto and his party, wishing them a safe journey, andsauntered carelessly back to the Inca hotel. I entered smoking a cigarand wearing a look of unconcern, pretended I was not aware of anyrevolutionary movement. There were several men playing billiards inthe parlors. I took a chair and sat down to watch the players. About11 o'clock I asked to be shown to my room, and retired, knowing fullwell that I had been watched by a citizen of Puno since my entrance tothe hotel, and I was satisfied I would soon be taken prisoner.
About 2 o'clock in the morning, I was awakened from a restless sleepby the entrance of twelve men armed with bare swords and revolvers.They were all talking at once. I sat up in bed and appeared to beamazed. The leader requested me to dress and accompany him. Thestreets were lined with people shouting the old familiar cry, "VivaPierola," as I was marched in the center of this crowd. The cryresounded down street after street. The city was wild with excitement.The escape of the Prefecto was on every lip, as we turned at a streetcorner and to the station. We had great difficulty in obtainingentrance, but a passage was cleared and I was ushered into thepresence of the leader of the revolutionary forces. He was aboutfifty years of age, some six feet in heighth, and powerfully built,but with a countenance far from pleasing.
With little ceremony, I was notified to get the Arequipena ready todepart from the station at 7 o'clock in the morning. The principalofficers would go with her, I was told, and the regular train wouldfollow with the troops.
I replied that as a British subject it would be impossible for me tocomply, unless force was used; that I protested against thishigh-handed proceeding. I did this so that, in the future, no onecould accuse me of aiding the rebels willingly. He replied that he didnot care for the British government, that I would do as I was told orsuffer the consequences. They then escorted me to the engine house,where I found my fireman Manuel already a prisoner; also Beaumont, theother engineer, and his fireman.
After getting the engine ready, I requested the officer in charge toallow us to procure something to eat. His permission was given, thenanother procession marched through the streets to the hotel, where therebel guards stood over us at breakfast.
The Arequipena was ready. Behind were the passenger engine and fivecoaches, which rebel troops were already entering. At breakfast I hadmanaged to get a few words with Beaumont.
As the Arequipena was to go ahead, I would endeavor to get theofficers out to eat at Vincocaya. I would give a signal for him touncouple his engine and follow at full speed. It would be impossibleto stop him and they would be at the mercy of the government troops,which would leave that afternoon, according to the instructions giventhe Prefecto of Puno from Arequipa.
The officers came aboard the little Arequipena and loaded on severalbarrels of powder, picks and shovels to destroy the abutments of thebridge.
There were eleven officers who came aboard the coach, when to mysurprise, I beheld along with three soldiers, Don Rodrigo Garcia, whowas to guard me. I cannot describe my feelings. I know I am not acoward, but I was taken with a shock of nervousness. It was not oflong duration. Indignation took the place of fear, but I realized howformidable a task I had undertaken to save Sumbay bridge. Howbeit, Idetermined more than ever to succeed, and the knowledge of that manbeing near me, gave me renewed courage.
Before starting he hissed to me: "Don Juan, we meet again."
I did not answer. It was all I could do to keep from attacking himdespite the disadvantage I was at. The thought of the bridge, however,restrained any hasty action.
We left the station with the troop train closely following. Accordingto orders, our first stop would be at Juliaca station. I knew thatwhen we reached there the telegraph office would be destroyed.Telegraph communication was cut off between Juliaca station and Puno.Nearing the station, we stopped to take water from a tank. I askedpermission from the leader to allow my fireman to go and draw someoil, explaining that I had none and it was necessary, that his goingthere would not create suspicion, and it would save much time. I wasgreatly surprised when he consented. I took a small piece of paper andwrote the following in English: "Van Buren, I am coming with rebels todestroy Sumbay bridge. Hurry up troops. Buchan." After writing, I readaloud in Spanish: "Procure from Senor Southers, the station master,two quarts of engine oil for the Arequipena." I handed it to Manuelwho understood my meaning. He took the engine cans and walked to theoffice.
My heart beat rapidly. I fairly held my breath. Would he be able tosee Southers before I took water? Would Southers understand my meaningand get the message off before we arrived at the platform and find theoffice destroyed? I delayed taking water as long as possible, thenpulled slowly down the track to the platform. The moment we stopped,the officers rushed in the telegraph office and disconnected theinstruments from the wires. Don Rodrigo and his three soldiers neverleft me for a moment, which made me suspect that my every movementwould be closely watched.
The fireman came down the platform, both engine oil cans in his hands.I asked him if he had seen Southers. He replied that he had and thateverything was all right. I received the oil and looked at him. Hislook told plainly that the message was sent. I felt that a heavy loadhad been lifted and breathed freer. I looked at Don Rodrigo. I wassatisfied that in a short time we would meet in a struggle that wouldbe the final one between us.
After the office had been destroyed we started again, the troop trainalways close behind us. We stopped at Cabanillas, Maravillas and SantaLucia and carried away their telegraph instruments; then we ran directto Vincocaya. Arriving there the telegraph office suffered like theothers. I pulled down in front of the hotel, then told the officersthat the passenger train was due in an hour, and that it would beimpossible to proceed until its arrival. I showed him the time card tosatisfy him I was telling the truth, and remarked that advantage mightbe taken of the time by having supper. Accordingly all of them, leftthe Arequipena except Don Rodrigo and the three soldiers. The officersleft their arms in the little coach. Now was the time to act. Should Ifail now, no other chance would present itself, for, after the arrivalof the passenger train, the only stop would be at Sumbay bridge, whenit would be too late. I figured that, after Van Buren had received mymessage from Juliaca the troops could not possibly arrive at Sumbaybridge before eight o'clock that night. It was four o'clock when wereached Vincocaya and the passenger would be leaving Sumbay station.Pucacancha was another station between Sumbay and Vincocaya. The gradebeing 160 feet to the mile, the train makes very slow time betweenSumbay and Pucacancha. It was my only hope to succeed in getting toPucacancha before the arrival of the passenger train.
I was nervous. I got off the engine, then called to Manuel to hand meanother oil can. I spoke to him in English to have everything ready. Iwas going to run away with the engine--would he assist me? This Iasked while I was pretending to oil the engine, and I had to trustlargely to Manuel's intuition, as he knew but little English. Hereturned to the engine and raised a full head of steam. I noticed DonRodrigo watching me from one of the side doors of the coach. I climbedback on the engine and put away the oil can, when Rodrigo said with asignificant tone: "My time will soon come when I can avenge the insultI received at Tiravaya."
I did not answer. I knew his meaning. When my services were no longerrequired, he would, with his cowardly instinct, devise a means to killme. The three soldiers were a fair sample of the poor ignorantPeruvians. They were armed with breech-loading rifles of Frenchpattern, bayonets fixed. After Rodrigo had muttered his thre
at, hewent into the little coach, sitting directly behind me, and could, byhis position, observe every move I made. Manuel was standing on theleft watching me. Although I had endeavored to make him understand, hewas not aware of my plans. I looked back and saw the troop traintaking water at the tank. I looked at Manuel, and he understood "thetime had come."
With my left hand, I threw the throttle wide open and with my rightblew the signal agreed upon. With a prayer to God I threw myself uponthe nearest soldier.