The Cruise of the Nonsuch Buccaneer Part 14

"No," answered George; "oh! no, it has not. I shall come to that presently. But, meanwhile, time is pa.s.sing, and I should like you to take those steps I spoke of just now to prevent a collision between your troops, or the citizens, and my people. For I warn your Excellency that if fighting is once permitted to begin it will be exceedingly difficult to stop it, and before that happens you may find the greater part of your city in ruins. Therefore I beg that you will not lose a moment in adopting the measures which I suggest. When that is done it will be time enough for us to talk together about the business which has brought me hither."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

HOW THE GOVERNOR OF PANAMA TREATED DON SEBASTIAN'S REQUEST.

The imminence of the danger indicated by the young Englishman appealed so powerfully to Don Sebastian that he acted upon the suggestion which accompanied it without further delay, excusing himself to George for temporarily withdrawing himself, and a.s.suring the young man that not a moment should be lost in taking every possible precaution to prevent a collision between his own countrymen and the English. But he had not been absent longer than twenty minutes when he re-appeared, in a state of dismay, to explain that the messengers whom he had dispatched in various directions were returning, one after another, with the intimation that they had been turned back by the parties of Englishmen who were holding the Grand Plaza, who would not permit them to leave the Square; also they had brought with them the news that from the sounds which had met their ears, they judged the city to be in a state of complete turmoil, and fighting imminent.

Now, it happened that the first of these two contingencies had been entirely overlooked by George, who felt a good deal disturbed also by the thought that fighting might yet begin despite all his precautions; he therefore directed Don Sebastian to collect his messengers, and when this had been done, in the course of a very few minutes, the young English captain himself went forth with them to the several points in the Square at which they sought egress, and personally instructed the various parties of his men to allow the messengers to pa.s.s. Then, having seen them all safely out of the Square, noted for himself the signs of disturbance and panic which seemed to everywhere prevail throughout the city, and issued certain additional instructions to his own men, George hastened back to Government House, where he found Don Sebastian anxiously awaiting his return. He explained to the Don the state of affairs at that moment existing, so far as he had been able to ascertain it, expressed the opinion that bloodshed might yet be averted, and then proceeded to unfold to the Governor the precise nature of the business that had brought him and his men to Nombre de Dios; that business being of course the liberation of his brother and such other prisoners as still remained in the hands of the Spaniards.

"I have already had the honour of explaining to your Excellency," he said in conclusion, "that I am not here with a view to pillage; I have exacted from San Juan what I regard as fair and just pecuniary compensation for the Viceroy's treachery to my friends, Hawkins and Drake, while they lay in the harbour of that city, a year ago; and, as I have already pointed out, I have only seized Nombre in order that I may be in a position to drive a bargain with you.

"Now, I learned from the authorities at San Juan de Ulua that, of the Englishmen who fell into their hands upon the occasion just referred to, seventeen--of whom my brother was one--were sentenced to the galleys, and shipped on board a vessel named the _San Mathias_, bound to this port. Now, senor, your city is in my hands, and it is in my power to sack it, if I will. But I am prepared to hold the city to ransom upon ridiculously advantageous terms to you; those terms being simply that, in return for the surrender of those seventeen Englishmen into my hands, safe and sound, I will withdraw my men, and retire from Nombre, leaving the city itself and the property of its inhabitants untouched."

Don Sebastian gasped. "Senor," he exclaimed, throwing out his hands appealingly, "how shall I say it? How shall I make you understand and believe that you have asked practically the only thing that it is out of my power to grant?"

"Why? What do you mean?" demanded George, in his turn. "Out of your power to grant? I do not understand your Excellency. Do you mean to tell me that those seventeen men are dead? That your accursed Inquisition has claimed them? Or--what do you mean?"

"I mean, ill.u.s.trious senor, that not one of those men now remains in Nombre. They doubtless came here, since the authorities of San Juan say so, but--stay now--let me think--yes--if those men ever arrived here there will doubtless be a record of their arrival, and yes, I seem to recall some of the circ.u.mstances, but the multiplicity of my duties as Governor of the city renders it difficult to--. With your permission, senor, I will summon my secretary; he will doubtless be able to throw some light upon the affair."

"Pray do so at once, senor," answered George. "It was solely to gain intelligence of the whereabouts of those men and to secure their release that I came to Nombre; and if you cannot at least afford me some a.s.sistance, I am afraid that it will be a bad thing for your city."

"But, n.o.ble senor," remonstrated Don Sebastian, "you will surely not hold Nombre responsible--"

"For the disappearance of those men?" interrupted George. "Indeed I will, then, your Excellency, unless you can afford me satisfactory evidence as to what has become of them."

"Permit me, senor," said Don Sebastian, and smartly struck a small hand bell on the table. An attendant almost instantly appeared, to whom the Governor said peremptorily:

"Find Senor Montalvo, and say that I desire his immediate presence in this room."

Some five minutes later a smart, dapper-looking young Spaniard entered and, bowing low, requested to know his Excellency's pleasure.

"Senor Montalvo," said Don Sebastian, "about a year ago a ship named the--" he hesitated and looked inquiringly at George.

"The _San Mathias_," prompted George.

"Exactly, the _San Mathias_," continued the Governor, "is said to have arrived here from San Juan de Ulua, bringing from thence seventeen Englishmen, prisoners, who were sentenced to the galleys--"

"Yes, your Excellency," interrupted the secretary. "I perfectly remember the circ.u.mstances, for it occurred while you were temporarily laid up with fever, and I transacted the whole of the business connected with it."

"Ah!" exclaimed his Excellency, with an air of relief. "Then that sufficiently accounts for my very imperfect recollection of the affair"--with a glance at George to direct the latter's attention to the explanation. "Proceed, Senor Montalvo," continued the Governor; "tell us all that you know concerning the matter."

"Certainly, your Excellency," answered the secretary. "With your Excellency's permission I will fetch the official records, containing the full and complete account of the affair." And, bowing deeply to Don Sebastian and George, he hurried away, and presently returned with an exceedingly bulky volume under his arm. This he placed on the table, opened it, referred to an index, and then turned up the required entry.

"Yes," he said, "here we have it: 'December 7th, 1568. Arrived from San Juan de Ulua, the ship _San Mathias_, Juan Pacheco, master, having on board seventeen Englishmen captured during an unprovoked attack upon the plate fleet lying in San Juan harbour, and--'"

"That is a lie," broke in George. "The English ships were the attacked, not the attackers. But--go on."

"--Harbour," resumed the secretary, reading, "'and sentenced by the Military Commandant to the galleys for life. Their names are as follows--'"

"Stop," interrupted George again, and, fumbling in his pocket, he produced a doc.u.ment--the one that Don Manuel Rebiera had furnished him with upon the first day of the _Nonsuch's_ visit to San Juan--and carefully unfolded it.

"Now, proceed with your reading, senor, if you please," he said to the secretary.

The secretary read out the names of the seventeen English prisoners, which George found to agree with those recorded in his list. When the secretary came to the last name he paused for a moment.

"Yes," a.s.sented George, "those names appear to be correct. Now, the first thing that I wish to know is--what became of those men?"

"They were confined in the prison here for the s.p.a.ce of just one month,"

answered the secretary, "during which communication was made to the Governor of Panama, stating the circ.u.mstances of the case, and requesting to know whether he could apportion the prisoners among the galleys stationed at his port, as there are no galleys attached to Nombre. The reply was in the affirmative, and on January 8th of this present year the prisoners were dispatched to Panama in charge of the escort which had just brought over a consignment of treasure. The officer in command of the escort gave his receipt for the persons of the prisoners, and--that is all that we here in Nombre know about them."

That was all that they there in Nombre knew about them! And it was to obtain this trifling sc.r.a.p of information that the English adventurers had resorted to such extreme and highhanded action as actually to capture one of the most important cities on the Spanish Main, and were now holding possession of it by the skin of their teeth, in the face of overwhelming numbers, by sheer downright audacity and arrogance of demeanour! Young Saint Leger smiled inwardly as the amazing character of the anti-climax began to force itself upon his notice; and, being a lad with a keen appreciation of humour, it was with difficulty that he conquered an almost irresistible inclination to laugh aloud while he reflected upon the situation. By an effort of will, however, he conquered the desire to indulge in untimely mirth--for he fully realised that he and his followers were standing upon the crumbling brink of a volcano, and said, with an air of great dissatisfaction and annoyance:

"That is all you can tell me about them! But, senor, this is really most unsatisfactory. For all practical purposes I am no wiser than I was when I left Saint Juan. This information will not materially a.s.sist me to find and procure the release of my unfortunate fellow-countrymen.

I am afraid I must ask you to offer me a suggestion. You must remember that I am here to avenge and obtain satisfaction for the treacherous treatment of my countrymen last year, by your King's representative, the Viceroy of Mexico; and, whatever hardship, or suffering, or loss his Most Catholic Majesty's lieges in this country may be called upon to endure at my hands, in my determination to obtain satisfaction for that outrage, they must lay to the door of his Excellency Don Martin Enriquez. Therefore, for your own sakes, I look to you to a.s.sist me in every possible way. I have explained to you the nature of my business here, which, I repeat, is to procure the immediate release of those seventeen unfortunate Englishmen, unjustly doomed to life-long servitude in your galleys. How is it to be done? I look to you for suggestions."

Don Sebastian shrugged his shoulders, and stared helplessly at his secretary; and the latter, recognising the nature of the appeal conveyed by his chief's eyes, folded his arms, sank his chin upon his chest, and proceeded to stalk meditatively to and fro the length of the room. His meditations continued for close upon ten minutes, then, as George began to manifest symptoms of growing impatience, Senor Montalvo flung up his head with the triumphant air of one who has solved a difficult problem, and said:

"It appears to me, Excellency, and most n.o.ble Adelantado, that the only thing to be done is for your Excellency to address a letter to the Governor of Panama, explaining the situation, and requesting his help to determine the present whereabouts of the prisoners, entrust that letter to a reliable and intelligent messenger, who fully understands all the circ.u.mstances of the case, and let him confer with his Excellency Don Silvio as to the steps necessary to secure the satisfaction of the English senor's demands."

The Governor considered the matter for a few seconds, and then turned to George.

"There is a suggestion for you, senor, and a very excellent one, I think I may permit myself to say. How does it commend itself to you?"

"How far is it from here to Panama, and how long will it take your messenger to traverse the distance?" demanded George.

"By the Gold Road the distance is a trifle over forty miles, and a well- mounted messenger can cover it in six hours," answered Don Sebastian.

"So that if he were dispatched at once he could execute his mission, and be back here in Nombre to-morrow evening?" suggested George.

"_Madre de Dios_! Is the man mad?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Don Sebastian, throwing up his hands. Then he turned hastily to George. "Ten thousand pardons for my involuntary exclamation," he apologised; "but I fear you scarcely realise what travelling in this country means. Upon his arrival in Panama, my messenger would imperatively need rest, and by the time that he has refreshed himself it will be too late to see the Governor. Then, to-morrow, it may be nearly or quite mid-day before he can obtain audience of his Excellency; and by the time that the conference is over and my messenger has secured the required information, it will be altogether too late for him to start upon the return journey. Thus I do not think we can possibly expect him back before the afternoon of the day after to-morrow. You agree with me, senor, I am sure."

"No, senor, I do not," retorted George. "I can see no cause at all for such delay. Upon his arrival in Panama, let your messenger proceed at once to the Governor's house and demand an immediate interview. Let him explain that the matter is in the last degree urgent and pressing, and let him take whatever further steps may be necessary to secure prompt attention. And then let him transact his business. There will be plenty of time for him to rest and refresh himself when that is done.

And to-morrow, if everything has been satisfactorily arranged, he can start at dawn, and be here again shortly after mid-day."

"_Carramba_! With all submission, senor, what you propose is impossible. No man could possibly do it," exclaimed Don Sebastian, throwing up his hands.

"But why not, man, why not?" persisted George.

"Why not?" reiterated the Governor. "Because, senor, it would kill him, in this climate."

"It would certainly not kill an Englishman; but, of course, I don't know about a Spaniard," retorted George.

Senor Montalvo hastened to intervene. "Pardon, Excellency," he remarked, bowing to the Governor, "but since the matter appears to be of such extreme urgency, permit me to undertake the mission to the Governor of Panama. Having been privileged to be present at this interview with the English Adelantado, I think I may venture to say that I clearly understand the several points in the rather delicate negotiation which it is proposed to open with his Excellency Don Calderon, and can probably conduct it as successfully as any other available person. And I shall also do my utmost to execute my task with all possible diligence, ignoring fatigue for the time being and until my task has been accomplished."

"Very well," replied Don Sebastian, with evident relief. "I am greatly obliged to you, Senor Montalvo, for your offer, which I accept. And now, while I prepare my communication to Don Silvio, you had better go and make ready for your journey. The whole of my stable is entirely at your service, but if you will permit me to advise, I think you could not possibly do better than take Josefa, the black mule. She will carry you easily and rapidly as far as Venta Cruz, where you will leave her, and proceed for the remaining half of the journey upon another animal, picking up Josefa again upon your return. Now, be off with you, and get ready; and by the time that your preparations are complete, my letter to Don Silvio shall be ready."