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Updated: June 5, 2025
Major Starland had noted that the wind was not favorable, and he was compelled to tack toward the northern shore. He ran close in and was cheered by a freshening of the breeze which added perceptibly to the speed. "At this rate," said his sister, "we shall not reach Zalapata till tomorrow is well advanced." "It cannot matter, for there is no special need of haste."
The soldier coolly reloaded his gun, without stirring from his position, turned his head and said in a conversational tone: "Come on; all is well." Then he resumed his walk, and the pony of Miss Starland, as if all had been clear to him from the first, plodded onward. "Do you know what that animal was?" called the Señorita from the rear. "How should I know anything about him?" "It was a jaguar."
The chief dependence of the people is upon mandioc, manioc, or cassava, which the natives accept as a direct gift from the prophet Sunè. This, however, is not the place to dwell upon the endless variety of trees and the fauna and flora of that extraordinary country. Major Starland left his rifle in charge of Captain Guzman, and, with his revolver at command, strolled up the main street.
The gunner snapped the lanyard, but a dull click followed and there was no discharge. General Yozarro uttered an oath and Captain Ortega called from the pilot house: "That is the one which was not loaded!" Jack Starland had forgotten the fact in the flurry of the moment. He smiled and looked across at his own boat. Captain Winton did not throw away a second.
The two Generals could not have failed to see him, but neither interposed. A few seconds more and the weapon would have been driven into the back of Starland. Captain Ortega, however, sent his bullet straight and true, the miscreant falling dead in his tracks.
She was to be addressed as Miss Warrenia Starland. Her hostess faithfully carried out the wishes of her friend. "It was Jack's proposition," explained Warrenia; "he seems never able to get over that absurd fancy of his boyhood that we are really brother and sister, when in fact we do not bear the slightest relation to each other.
The man who thus grossly insulted him was Martella, the deserter, who chuckled with delight when he heard the stinging answer given to General Yozarro by Miss Starland. The others were too interested in what was going on before them to observe the by-play.
When he came back, he held the door open and nodded to the visitor. Major Starland, hat in hand, passed within with brisk, military step, saluted and awaited the pleasure of the President of the Atlamalcan Republic. The latter was seated behind a large desk at the farther side of the room, smoking a cigarette and facing the visitor.
Without hesitation, Major Starland shouted: "We have the man; come and get him!" General Yozarro's red-hot temper burst into uncontrollable flame, and he committed a blunder which allowed the game to flit when it was within his grasp. To the consternation of every one, he gave an instant order to fire upon the sailboat. The officers protested, but the Dictator was irrestrainable.
No one needed to be told what it meant: the Warrenia had run upon a mud bank and was fast. "Captain Ortega's performance over again!" said Major Starland, "with the exception that he did it on purpose and I don't think you did." "I am somewhat of the same opinion myself," growled the Captain, "but here we must stay for several hours at the least."
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