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"If we cannot make it," said Martella to the Captain, "we must jump over and swim." "We cannot swim any faster than we are going now, and the water abounds with enemies." "None is so treacherous as Yozarro; I at least will try it; I can let myself over softly and make so long a dive that perhaps he will not notice me." "Wait a few minutes, Martella, for I do not like your plan."
Show the Captain where to direct the boat and we'll soon set things humming." Martella pointed out the spot, and Guzman, who was an expert navigator, turned the prow inward, while the Major lowered the sail, and they rounded to at a place where all were able to leap ashore dry shod.
He was giving the American a few minutes in which to regain his poise. The American did so. "Why did Martella leave his service?" he abruptly asked. "General Yozarro caused his brother to be shot, because he ran the gunboat aground the other day. It was upon a mound formed under water one night by the forked river, which no one could see.
The response, however, indicated that all was well, for almost on the instant, the screw began churning, and the boat slowly receded, allowing the gangplank, after being drawn askew, to drop with a splash into the water. Knowing the purpose of their leader, Guzman and Martella had hurried into the engine room, where Valentin Herrera, the engineer, was found dozing.
Martella seized the bridle, pulling so hard that the pony's head was drawn horizontal. A rod or two and they reached the broadening path and turned abruptly off among the trees and undergrowth. Where the vegetation was so profuse and dense, a little way was sufficient to hide them from any one passing over the path.
Suppose, what was quite likely, that suspicion should again enter the brain of the Captain, when he gained time to think over the extraordinary situation? Suppose, what was also likely, that General Yozarro should arrive while the bogus messenger was inside the Castle? He would be caught like a rat in a trap. And yet knowing all these things, Martella gave not the first evidence of hurry.
"I may add, Martella, that that information is not new to us." "But some things are new. The only ones on the boat are the engineer and two firemen. There will be no trouble about it." "Trouble about what?" "Capturing the boat; the crew will make no resistance, for it is not intended that they shall do any fighting. If they do, we can defeat them easily."
Martella, the new recruit, so to speak, seeing there was nothing just then for him to do, sat down at the bow of the boat and smoked his cigarette, while Captain Guzman kept company with Major Starland at the stern. "Two years ago, when there was war between Atlamalco and Zalapata," explained the native officer, "we captured a party of raiders in the mountains and shot them all excepting one.
"But there are many places where we cannot turn off, without taking a plunge down a precipice." "Then run back till you find one." Martella now strode down the path, which was so deeply shadowed that he quickly slipped from view. "With your permission, Major, I will follow next, keeping a short way in advance of the Señorita and the horse. You may take the front or rear, as you think best."
Doubtless the Major would have convinced himself that what he mentally outlined was not to be feared from the Dictator, except for a most important fact that obtruded itself: the presence of Martella, the deserter, with the company of fugitives, as they must now regard themselves.
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