Where Duty Called Part 16

Our heroes found it difficult to get near enough to obtain a view of the stirring scene in the little opening made by the encircling on-lookers, and, caring little for the affair, anyway, quietly retreated. Then, the alarm having been spread, no doubt, the soldiers began to appear in sight, and a squad led by an orderly started in to disperse the crowd. But the spectators seemed too earnest to be easily driven off, while the soldiers themselves quickly became so interested in the contest that they tried little more than to get a good look at the tableau.

"I never saw a Venezuelan yet who didn't relish a good fight," remarked Jack.

"But look there, Jack!" exclaimed Ronie. "What is going on that way?"

As Ronie pointed toward the rear of the building already mentioned, Jack saw half a dozen loungers hanging along in a manner suspiciously like a row of loafers, and not in knots, as men of this kind usually congregate.

"See! two of them are helping away a woman. Why, Jack! it is the prisoner, Senora de Caprian! She is trying to escape."

In a moment the whole situation was plain to them. The brawl and fight was simply a ruse to catch the attention of the soldiers while the captive woman made her escape. So cleverly had it been carried out so far, that it was likely to succeed beyond the most sanguine expectation.

Ronie glanced hurriedly around to see that the orderly and his men were in the thickest of the mob, oblivious of all except the hand-to-hand tussle. Another minute and the captive would be beyond recapture, except, possibly, after a long chase. His first thought was that of gladness for the unfortunate woman, then he remembered that there was another side to the question, and that it might be well to retain her as a prisoner of war. He decided quickly upon his course of action; whether it was right or wrong must be proven in the future.

CHAPTER XVIII.

RONIE RECEIVES A COMMISSION.

"She must not be allowed to escape, Jack!" exclaimed Ronie. "I heard Colonel Marchand say that she knows secrets which it would not be well for his enemies to learn."

"Ay, lad; it is not too late for us to stop them."

Without further delay the twain sprang forward, and were in season to intercept the fugitives. As they brought their firearms to bear upon the men who had const.i.tuted themselves Senora de Caprian's escort, Ronie cried, sharply:

"Stand where you are!"

The woman uttered a cry of dismay at this command, while the men suddenly stopped, facing the determined Americans with frightened looks.

"Let me pa.s.s, senors, I implore you," begged the prisoner, the tears springing to her eyes, while she clasped her hands and turned upon them such looks of agony as haunted them for many a day. Ronie, at least, felt that he had committed an act which he should regret, and it is possible if the opportunity had remained when he could have allowed her to escape with safety, he might have done it. But the die was cast, and there was no retreat. The loud, authoritative words had aroused others. The soldiers were suddenly recalled to their duty, while the sight of the fugitive and their captors quickly caught the attention of the newcomers upon the scene, foremost among these being Colonel Marchand!

He instantly comprehended the situation, and a look of admiration for the prompt deed lightened the bronze upon his cheeks, while he said:

"By the soul of Bolivar! you have done well, senors. Soldiers, secure the prisoner immediately, and see that her liberators are taken into custody."

"I hope there will be no cause for us to regret what we have done, colonel," said Ronie, who really felt sorry for the prisoner.

"You may cut off my right hand if you do, Senor Rand. At present it is necessary that we hold the woman as a prisoner of war, but she shall be well treated, and I have no doubt be set free soon."

Ronie knew Colonel Marchand was a man of his word, and he felt better over what he and Jack bad done. This pleasure was further increased by the words of the colonel as they accompanied him to his headquarters.

"This will prove a good day's work for you, Ronie. I only regret I had not been able to report it to General Castro when I sent my dispatch, but better late than never. What do you say to going with us on our campaign toward Maracaibo? We start within an hour. The rebels are rallying in that direction, and we must look after them before they become too strong."

The fact that it was likely to take them nearer to Harrie, if not quite to San Carlos, was enough to shape their decision, and inside of an hour they were mounted and riding with the troops toward the west, Ronie getting his first taste of warfare.

The days that followed would never be forgotten by our American soldiers in the service of Venezuela. Colonel Marchand seemed to be always on the move, but the enemy was even more active than he, and always kept one scene ahead of him. For instance, he left the little hamlet where Ronie and Jack joined his forces to go to another country town called Verona, where it was reported the insurgents had made a raid. Upon reaching this settlement, which was little more than a collection of coffee planters' conical dwellings, it was ascertained that the enemies had been gone a few hours, and that they were headed toward Juan. Hither, posthaste, dashed the Venezuelan cavalry, resolved to be in season this time, only to find that again the bird had flown. But Castro's troops were led by a captain who had the name of never sleeping, and once more he followed on their heels. Then he learned they had gone back to Verona! Thus two weeks were spent in vain advances and retreats, swift dashes ahead and equally as rapid doubling upon the track, until we finally find the grimy riders halted near the rim of a little plain which formed the foot of a mountain range trending away toward the more lofty peaks making the highest elevations of land in the Western World. As may be imagined, the doughty colonel was in no enviable mood, as he sat by the door of his tent, whose roof was the bended sky. It was one of those inns found at those outposts between the agricultural and pastoral regions.

The men were busy getting the evening meal, which was to be made up largely of a fat bullock killed a few minutes before. Evidence had been witnessed where the insurgents had broken into a herd that very day and slaughtered several of the best beeves. This killing of cattle was characteristic of Venezuelan warfare. The ragged troops of the revolutionists must be fed, and what easier way to do it?

Ronie and Jack, who had ridden until they were tired and sore, were attending to their tough ponies before spreading their ponchos over the stony spot which they had cleared of the rank vegetation so as to prepare their couch for the night, as there were no posts upon which to hang their hammocks, when a messenger informed them that Colonel Marchand wished to see them immediately. At a loss to know what this order could mean, they lost no time in answering the summons.

They found the colonel, usually so genial, very much out of humor. At first Ronie feared that he had done something to arouse this uncommon state of mind on the part of his superior.

"Sergeant Rand," greeted the colonel, brusquely, giving our hero a t.i.tle quite unexpected to him, "I have sent for you to see if your Yankee ingenuity and courage cannot help me out of this difficulty."

"I am at your service, colonel," replied Ronie, with a military salute, "and I am sure my friend here is equally as faithful."

"Ay, ay, Colonel Marchand; where Ronie Rand leads I----"

"Sergeant Rand, if you please, Senor Greenland," interrupted the officer. "I will now explain what I want of you."

Though taken somewhat aback by this greeting, our twain bowed and waited respectfully for the other to explain.

"In the first place," began the colonel, "I need not tell you how I have been buffeted about for the last ten days. It has set my teeth on edge. On every hand my scouts have been baffled by these scoundrels of the bush, who make a farce of war and style themselves 'Sons of Liberty!' Word comes in that they are everywhere successful, and that Castro is discouraged. I know better than the last. He is not that kind of a man. But enough of that. What I want of you is simply this: Take as many men with you as you wish, and reconnoiter the country as far as you think best, and report to me as often as possible. Are you willing to undertake this hazardous mission?"

"I am willing to do my duty, Colonel Marchand."

"Ay, ay, colonel," added Jack.

"Spoken like true soldiers. I know I can depend on you. Now name the number of men you want to go with you, and I will have them detailed at once. Remember you are to have command of the squad, with your friend as deputy."

"I a.s.sure you, colonel, we appreciate the honor. I think three men will be sufficient. A small body of men can go where a large one would be likely to attract attention."

"Good! My scouts dare not stir out of their hammocks without an army is at their heels. How soon can you be ready to report, sergeant?"

"In half an hour, colonel."

"Thank you, sergeant. That will give me time to detain [Transcriber's note: detail?] the men, and I will see that you have the best in the regiment. By the way, sergeant, I wish to say that I have received as yet no reply from General Castro, but I probably shall before you get back. I would also add that I expect to move to Baracoa in the morning, where I shall await news from you."

"Well, Jack, what do you think of this?" asked Ronie, as soon as they had left the presence of Colonel Marchand.

"Looks as if we were going to taste of real warfare," replied Jack. "I can't say that I am sorry, for as long as we cannot go ahead with our work it will serve to break the monotony."

"If I only knew that mother was safely at home, and Harrie was with us, I really think I should enjoy it. If there was only some way I could get a letter sent to her, I would write to mother in New York, hit or miss."

"Perhaps the colonel will have a chance to get it to the capital,"

suggested Jack. "If you want to write it, I will see that everything is got in readiness for our start."

"You are very kind. I think I will do it. It will certainly do no harm."

So Ronie wrote his letter to his mother, describing briefly his recent experiences, and speaking particularly of the portrait he had picked up. He had to make his letter short, for he not only prepared that, but he ate a hasty meal, which Jack had prepared, and with his faithful companion presented himself at the commander's tent in exactly half an hour.

"I am glad to find you so punctual," remarked the colonel. "Yes, I will send your letter along at the first opportunity. Here are the men who are to accompany you. I wish you success, but I do not believe I need to caution you to move cautiously. You have been here long enough to know something of the character of these bush rebels."

In this brusque manner Colonel Marchand saw them depart, though he did not return to his papers until they had disappeared beyond the line of forest vegetation which encircled the clearing in the shadows of the mountains. His eye trained upon the spot where he had last seen them after they had vanished for several minutes, he finally turned back, saying, under his breath:

"I hope I shall not be disappointed in them as I have the others who have gone before them."