Kitabı oku: «Where Duty Called: or, In Honor Bound», sayfa 2

CHAPTER III.
THE YOUNG EXILE

The night proved clear and beautiful, a typical southern evening most fitly closing a day that had been flawless. All the afternoon the sky and sea, so nearly of the same cerulean hue that where they met they matched so perfectly as to seem a curtain of the same texture, had appeared to vie with each other in their placidity, while now the stars overhead were scarcely brighter than their reflections in the waters below. On the rim of the distant horizon shone with a soft luster the glorious radii of the gem of the Antipodes, the Southern Cross.

Harrie was promptly on hand to keep his meeting with the strange youth, but no earlier than the other, who greeted him in his musical voice:

"Señor is in good season. It is well, for our time cannot be long in which to talk. While we speak let us walk slowly back and forth, arm in arm, so we shall not be overheard."

He spoke in a low tone, a little above a whisper, while Harrie allowed his arm to be drawn into the other's grasp, though he was very watchful not to be taken unawares in case of an attack on him.

"In the first place," said the young Venezuelan, "I judge señor is anxious to know who it is who has placed himself in his way. But before that I would speak of the ship which is at this moment bearing us whither we fain would not go."

"What about the ship?" asked Harrie, as he hesitated. "What have you to say of that?"

Lowering his voice so our hero could barely catch his words, he said:

"It is a pirate ship, señor!"

Harrie could not repress a low exclamation at this startling announcement, but he quickly recovered his presence of mind, saying, as he recalled the wild deeds of Morgan and his freebooters, Conrad and his Blue Water Rovers, who once boasted dominion over these seas:

"How can that be?"

"At least it is outlawed by the Venezuelan Government, and a big reward offered for its capture. It is a conscript working in the interest of Matos, the outlaw."

"Who are you who says this, and how come you by this information? You appear to be one of the crew; why is this so?"

"I could answer the last question by asking the same of señor. I am here solely with the hope of getting back to my native land, and to the side of my dear mother. Perhaps you will understand my situation better when I tell you that I belong to a family that once ruled Venezuela. The two Guzman Blancos, the elder of whom was an American, were my ancestors. My name is Francisco de Caprian. My family is hated by Matos, while father, who is not living now, did something to incur the displeasure of Castro, so I am in ill-favor all around," he added, with a smile which disclosed two rows of very white teeth.

"Notwithstanding this," he added, "I am anxious to get back to Caracas, to protect my dear mother in these perilous times, and, it may be, strike one blow more for my country. The De Caprians can trace their ancestry back to Juan Ampues, who founded the first Spanish settlement in Venezuela, and one of them was a captain under Bolivar. Whatever they may say of my family, they have ever been true to their native land. The illustrious General Blanco did much for downtrodden Venezuela, if some complained of him. You cannot suit all, señor, at the same time. Whither do you wish to go?"

"To Caracas," replied Harrie.

"I am glad to hear that, señor, for it will enable us to join fortunes. That is, if you do not hesitate to associate with me. I am frank to say that I am likely to involve you in trouble; but, at the same time, judging you are strangers there, I may be able to help you. Then, too, I do not believe they will dare to molest you to any serious extent, so long as your country is not mixed up in this imbroglio. Yet a South American aroused is like a wild bull, whose coming actions are not to be gauged by his former behavior. I never have found an American who could not take care of himself."

"Thank you, Señor Francisco. I trust you have not found one who would desert a comrade in an hour of need."

Quick and earnest came the reply, while the young Venezuelan grasped Harrie's hand.

"Never, señor."

"You shall find my friends and me faithful to our promises."

"I was confident of that, or I should not have dared to address you. Believe me, the risk was greater than you may realize. Were my identity to become known on this ship I have no doubt but I should be hung at the yardarm, or shot down like a brute, within an hour."

The youthful speaker showed great earnestness, and with what appeared to be genuine honesty and candor. At any rate, Harrie was fain to believe in his honor, and without further delay related enough of his experiences for the other to understand the situation of his friends and himself.

"I was very sure you were here involuntarily," said Francisco, when he had finished. "It is likely we can be of service to each other. From what I have been able to pick up, we are to coast along the shore of Venezuela, leaving here and there arms and ammunition for Matos and his insurgents. It is possible we shall stop at Maracaibo. In case we do so, that will be the place for us to leave the Libertador. If there is a chance before, we shall be remiss as to our personal welfare if we do not discover and improve it. The eyes of the watch are upon us," he said, in a lower tone, "and we had better separate. Keep your eyes and ears open until we have opportunity to speak to each other again."

Before Harrie could reply, the other had slipped away, and he was fain to return to his companions, whom he found anxiously awaiting him. In a few words he apprized them of what had passed between him and the young Venezuelan outlaw, Francisco de Caprian.

"His words only confirm what we had concluded, and for that I am inclined to believe the young man in part, at least. I was in Venezuela at the time of the downfall of that pompous patriot Guzman Blanco, and I knew something of the De Caprians. Possibly it was this fellow's father who was mixed up in the muddle, and who was killed, according to report, soon after I got away. Mind you, I say this, but it will be well for us if we are careful whom we trust. In Venezuela every man is a revolutionist, and where revolutions reign the sacredness of human faith is lost. As we seem to be in for our share of lively times, it may be well for us to look at the situation intelligently."

"I am surprised at the small amount I know of these South American republics," declared Harrie. "Though they are much nearer to us, I really know far less of them than I do of European nations of to-day, or the ancient empires that crumbled away long years ago."

"It is usually so," replied Jack. "It is a trait of human nature to be reaching after the things beyond our reach, while we push right over those near us. The history of South America is a most interesting one, but the most interesting chapter is close at hand, when out of the crude material shall crystallize a government and a people that shall place themselves among the powers of the world. I should not know as much as I do of Venezuela if it had not been for the two years I spent there quite recently – years I am not likely to forget."

"Ojeda, the Spanish adventurer who followed Columbus, named the country Venezuela, which means "Little Venice," from the fact that he found people living in houses built on piles, which suggested to him the 'Queen of the Adriatic,'" said Ronie.

"Very true," argued [Transcriber's note: agreed?} Jack. "These were natives living about Lake Maracaibo, but the name was extended to cover the whole country, though its original inhabitants did not, as a whole, live in dwellings on poles, and move about in canoes. This Alonso de Ojeda carried back to his patrons much gold and many pearls that he stole from the simple but honest natives."

"If I am not mistaken, Vespucci, who had so much to do with naming the new continent,² accompanied Ojeda's expedition," said Harrie.

"Very true," replied Jack. "I am glad to think that he was more humane than the majority of the early discoverers, who treated the natives so cruelly. The Indians of this country were not only rapidly despoiled of their gold and pearls, but they were themselves inhumanly butchered or seized and sold into captivity. The result was they soon became bitter enemies to the newcomers, who thus found colonization and civilization not only difficult but dangerous. Among those of a kinder heart who came here was Juan Ampues, whom your young friend, Harrie, claims was an ancestor of his. Ampues succeeded, through his kindness, in winning over the natives to his side, and he was thus enabled to found the first settlement in Venezuela. This was in 1527, and the town whose foundations he laid still exists under the name he gave it, Santa Ana de Coro. But for the most part the Spaniards treated the Indians in a brutal manner, and in the end the unfortunate race was looted and slain."

"But I have read that the people of Venezuela fell into worse hands when the country was leased for a while to the Germans," said Ronie.

"Right!" declared Jack, earnestly. "You are evidently well posted on history. Germany's hold was broken in 1546, but it took two hundred years to conquer and settle Venezuela, while all the slaughter of human lives and vast outlay of wealth proved in the end a poor investment for old Spain. One by one her American dependencies have slipped away from her control, and Venezuela has the honor of being the first to gain her freedom from Old World tyranny.

"The first effort to break the chains was made in 1797. This was unsuccessful, and another attempt was made in 1806, this time by General Francisco Miranda, who invaded Venezuela with an expedition organized in the United States, This revolution was successful only so far as it served to awaken the people to the possibility that lay before them. The prime opportunity came when Napoleon dethroned Ferdinand of Spain, and the inhabitants of this dependency declared that they would not submit to this Napoleonic usurpation. Though this movement was made under a claim of allegiance to the deposed king of Spain, he was incapable of seeing that it was for his interest to stand by them, so he renounced their declaration. The result was another declaration made on July 5, 1811, a declaration of independence and a constitution in some respects like ours."

"It seems a bit strange that they should have an independence day that comes so close to ours," said Harrie.

"Yes; and it is quite as singular that the first blow for liberty was struck by their ancestors on the same day in April that our forefathers fired their opening guns upon the British at Concord and Lexington," replied Jack.

"What means that confusion and those loud voices upon the deck?" asked Ronie, as they were arrested in the midst of their conversation by the sounds of a great commotion having suddenly begun over their heads.

"There is something new afoot!" declared Jack. "It sounds as if there was going to be a fight. Follow me, and we will find out what it means."

CHAPTER IV.
PUT IN IRONS

As the three hurried to the deck of the Libertador they found the noise and confusion increasing, though the seamen were fast falling into their line of duty with greater regularity. Captain Willis was on hand giving out his orders in his brusque manner.

"Where away has it been sighted, lookout?" called the commander.

"Off our windward quarter, captain."

"Maintain your watch, sir, and report if there is any change."

"They have sighted land," whispered Jack. "It must be one of the islands lying off the Venezuelan coast."

Both of his companions could not help feeling a thrill of pleasure at this announcement, while they hoped it might lead to their speedy escape from their present uncertain situation. But, from their position, no trace of the looked-for shore could be discovered, and it is safe to say no three upon the vessel watched and waited for the morning light with greater anxiety than the two young engineers and their faithful companion.

At different intervals the lookout announced the situation as viewed from his vantage ground, but no satisfactory word came until the dawn of day, when even those upon deck saw in plain sight the shore of one of the tropical islands dotting the sea.

While our friends were looking on the scene with intense interest, Francisco de Caprian passed by them, whispering as he did so:

"The island of Curacao. It looks as though we were going to touch at the port."

He did not stop for any reply from our party, but Jack said to his companions a moment later:

"If I am not mistaken Curacao belongs to the Dutch. It is about fifty miles from the Venezuelan coast, and westward of Caracas."

"Which means that we have passed the line of that city," said Ronie.

"Exactly."

"Had we better try and land here?"

"I am in doubt. Perhaps young De Caprian will be able to advise us. There is no doubt but they intend to stop here."

This was now evident to his companions, and half an hour was filled with the exciting emotions of entering harbor after a voyage at sea. As they moved slowly toward the pier it became evident that they had been expected, for, early as it was, quite a throng of spectators were awaiting them, and among the crowd were to be seen a small body of troops.

At this moment Francisco managed to pause a minute beside them, saying:

"They are stopping here to take off one of Matos' officers. The island seems to have been turned into a sort of recruiting ground for the insurgents."

"Aren't the Dutch neutral in this quarrel?"

"They are supposed to be, but it is my opinion considerable secret assistance is being given the insurgents from Europe – particularly from the Germans. But I shall create suspicion if I talk longer. Above all, appear to be indifferent to whatever may take place."

"You do not think we had better try and leave the vessel here?"

"You could not if you would. Every movement of yours is watched. Be careful what you say or – "

Francisco de Caprian did not stop to finish his sentence, though his unspoken words were very well understood by the anxious trio, who saw him among the most active of the mixed crew a moment later.

Then they were witnesses of the embarkation of a small squad of Venezuelan soldiers under charge of an officer who appeared in a supercilious mood.

"Whoever he is," whispered Jack, "he stands pretty near the head, and he evidently intends that every one shall know it. Our stop is going to be short. Well, the shorter the better, perhaps, for us. If we should succeed in getting ashore we should find ourselves in the power of the insurgents, which, it may be, we are at present," he added, with a smile. "All we can do is to keep our eyes open and await further developments."

Jack realized that his companions knew this as well as he, so he did not expect a reply, while they watched the following scenes in silence. They saw the last of the little party of insurgents on shipboard, and soon after the Libertador was once more ploughing her way through the blue water of the Caribbean. Their course was now south-southwest, but nothing occurred during the rest of the day to break the monotony of the voyage. The newcomers went below immediately, so that our friends saw nothing of them. Toward night Francisco found opportunity to speak a few words to the three.

"We are steering directly for the Venezuelan shore," he said. "I overheard Captain Willis say that he intended to land somewhere near Maracaibo, where, I judge, our passengers are going. We may find opportunity to escape then."

"Do you think we shall touch port again soon?" asked Ronie.

"The officer and his followers whom we took aboard at Curacao are to be left somewhere near Maracaibo. That is all I have been able to learn. They are extremely careful what they say."

The following morning it was found that the Libertador was flying signals, which Jack declared were intended to attract the insurgents.

"Mark my words, we are approaching the shore so closely that we shall soon sight land."

Jack proved himself a true prophet, but before this announcement came from the lookout, something of a more startling nature took place. About an hour after sunrise the sail of a small coastwise vessel was sighted, and within another hour the stranger had been so closely overtaken that she was hailed in no uncertain tones.

The reply was uttered in defiance, and the sloop showed that she was crowding ahead with all the speed she could, a steady breeze lending its favor. But it soon became evident that it would be a short race, and then the bow-chaser of the Libertador was brought to bear upon the fugitive.

As the first shot our heroes had heard in the war rang out over the sea, and the leaden messenger struck in close proximity to its target, the strange sloop was seen to soon slacken its flight. A few minutes later, in answer to the stentorian command of Captain Willis, she lay to.

"It is war in earnest," said Harrie, as they saw a boat let down from the cruiser, and the second officer, accompanied by half a dozen men, started toward the prize. "I wonder what they will do with the sloop now she has capitulated?"

"We shall know as soon as the mate and his men return," replied Jack.

It proved in the end that an officer and half a dozen men were sent from the Libertador to take charge of the captured sloop, which took an opposite course from that pursued by her captor. The latter continued along the coast, flying her signals, but did not offer to touch shore until Jack assured his companions that they must be near to Maracaibo. Then an unexpected thing happened. Though aware that they were continually under close surveillance, they had not been molested in any way until now they were ordered below. Upon showing a little hesitation in obeying, Ronie Rand was sent headlong to the deck by a blow from one of the sailors, sent to see that the order was carried out.

"Our only way is to obey at present," whispered Jack, leading the way to their berths below, followed by their enemies. They were left here by the latter. For a little time the three remained silent, each busy with his own thoughts. Finally Harrie said:

"This begins to look serious. Why is it done?"

"It looks to me as if they were afraid we might try to leave them as soon as we come to port, and they have taken this precaution."

"What can they wish to keep us for?" asked Ronie. "We have been of no benefit to them."

"True. But they may possibly fear to let us go free, as we are Americans, and would be likely to inform our government about some things they think we may have learned of them."

"Hark! I believe they are coming back."

While this did not prove true at the time, it was less than an hour later when an officer, with four companions, did visit them, the former saying he had received orders to put them in irons.

Upon listening to this announcement, the three looked upon their captors and then each upon his companions, Unable, at first, to comprehend the statement.

"Why should we be accorded such treatment?" demanded Jack. "We have done no harm to any one, but have come and remained as peaceful citizens of a country that has no trouble with your government or its subjects."

The officer shook his head, as much as to say: "I know nothing of this. My orders must be obeyed." Then he motioned for his men to carry out their purpose.

Although they were not armed, except for their small firearms, and the Venezuelans carried heavy pistols and cutlasses, the first thought that flashed simultaneously through the minds of our heroes was the idea that they could overpower the party, and thus escape the indignity about to be heaped upon them. But, fortunately, as later events proved, the calmer judgment of Jack prevailed. If they succeeded in overpowering these men, they must stand a slim chance of escaping. In fact, it would be folly to hope for it under the present conditions. Thus they allowed the irons to be clasped upon their wrists and about their ankles. This task, which did not seem an unpleasant one to them, accomplished to their satisfaction, the men returned to the deck, leaving our friends prisoners amid surroundings which seemed to make their situation hopeless.