Where Duty Called Part 20

[1] Bolivar the "Liberator" was followed by others who managed the affairs of Venezuela very satisfactorily, until in 1846 two political parties formed. These were styled the "Liberals" and the "Conservatives," and trouble increased swiftly. In 1859 Guzman Blanco became the head of the stronger party, holding his sway until 1864, when he was succeeded by a rival. In less than ten years, however, his son came to the front, and, more powerful than his father, he made himself president, with all the prerogatives of a dictator. This office he held until 1884, when Cres...o...b..came president. Still the hold of Blanco was not broken, and two years later he rea.s.sumed the reins of government, but in 1890 his successor was defeated, and he suffered a loss of his good name. In fact, a complete change of heart for the family which had been dominant in affairs for over thirty years followed. His name was stripped from one of the States where it had been placed, and the public statues he had caused to be erected were torn down, and much of the really good work he had done was destroyed.

But these radical denunciations could not remove the name of the pompous leader from the historic pages of Venezuela, and it is well to be so, for with all his shortcomings he did much for the rising republic, though his stalwart figure is the landmark of a stormy period.--AUTHOR.

CHAPTER XXII.

A FIGHT WITH THE GUERRILLAS.

Our scouts had gone about a mile, and Ronie was riding slightly in advance, when he became aware of the approach of a body of hors.e.m.e.n coming at a leisurely trot. In a moment he signaled for his companions to stop.

"We cannot avoid meeting them," he said, "and no doubt they are a part of El Capitan's army. We have started too late to escape them. Is there any path turning off from the road that we can turn into, Riva?"

"None, senor."

"Then we must turn aside here. Quick! push your horses back into the forest, making as little noise and disturbance as you can."

They were so successful in this work that before the approaching riders had come into sight they were all safely ambushed where they could peer out upon the pa.s.sers-by without being seen, except by some scrutinizing eye. Ronie and Jack sat in their saddles, side by side, while Riva and his companion were only slightly removed. As the sound of the hors.e.m.e.n indicated their close proximity, our hero parted the bushes enough to enable him to obtain a good view of the road.

"If our horses will only keep quiet," he began, "there is a----"

Ronie's attention, in the midst of his speech, had become fastened upon the foremost of the approaching riders, so his companions never knew what he was about to say. Nor did he speak until the hors.e.m.e.n were within half a dozen yards of them. The body of men were riding two and two, and what had arrested his eyes was the sight of the nearest rider in the lead.

"It must be--it is Harrie!" he whispered.

"Ay, lad!" responded Jack, who had been watching as eagerly and closely as his companion.

"He is lashed upon the horse, and his hands tied behind him. What does it mean?"

Jack had no time to reply, but the situation was plain to both. The hors.e.m.e.n were a portion of El Capitan's followers, and were on their way to attack the don. Could they stand idle there and see Harrie taken to some fate they could not understand? Ronie's impetuous temperament would not permit it. He believed a sudden attack, a few shots, and the unsuspecting enemy could be routed, and their friend rescued. Jack must have been revolving the same daring scheme in his mind, for at this critical moment he nudged Ronie, whispering:

"Ready when you say the word, sergeant."

Our hero spoke hastily to Riva and his companion, who quickly comprehended what was wanted of them. Then the clear command of the young sergeant broke the stillness of the lonely scene:

"Ready, men, fire!"

In the twinkling of an eye the flashes of the Mausers lightened the night, and three of the leading riders reeled in their seats, while sudden commotion took place among the others.

"Forward--charge!" thundered Ronie, setting the example by dashing furiously from his covert. "Look sharp, Harrie; we are here to save you."

The animal bestridden by the young engineer began to snort and plunge excitedly, but Ronie was soon at its bit. His comrades were as swiftly charging upon the surprised insurgents, who, no doubt thinking they had been attacked by superior numbers, broke and retreated in wild disorder.

"Give them a parting shot, lads!" cried Jack, who, in his adventurous career had led more than one regiment upon an enemy.

The Mausers spoke right merrily, the reports mingling with the yells of the discomfited rebels, who fled down the road as fast as they could make their steeds go.

In the midst of this rout and confusion Ronie freed Harrie, but he had barely accomplished this before the thunder of horses' hoofs down the road suddenly increased in volume, and loud shouts reached their ears.

The clatter of retreating horses abruptly stopped, and it was apparent to the scouts that the insurgents had come to a stand.

"El Capitan is on the road," declared Ronie. "He is rallying his men.

Come on, boys! We can do no better than to return to the don's. Ha!

who comes here? Halt! Who comes?"

"A friend from Don Isadora," was the prompt reply. "Word came to him of a party of rebels taking an American prisoner to El Capitan, and he sent me to warn you."

"In good time, senor. We have saved our friend. Hark! Yonder riders are El Capitan's hornets. Back to the estate, and we will go with you."

There being no need of silence now, the six hors.e.m.e.n rode back to the estate at a furious gait, the messenger going ahead when they had nearly reached the avenue leading to the building, so as to inform the don of the approach of friends. He hailed them with hearty gladness, but quickly prepared to meet the expected onset of the enemy.

Ronie and his companions having decided to lend their a.s.sistance to the defenders of the estate, Harrie asked for a rifle, that he might join his friends. This was soon forthcoming, and while they waited for the attack of the mountain rabble he found opportunity to say to Ronie:

"I don't know how glad I am to see you, for I have supposed you were drowned on the night we started to escape from the _Libertador_. How is it I find you here?"

"It is a long story, Harrie. I will tell it at the first opportunity.

Jack and I have seen our share of excitement, and it looks as if it wasn't over yet. Did you escape from the prison at San Carlos?"

"Not through my own efforts. An order came from General Castro for me to be set at liberty. This was done, and a small escort started with me to find the regiment of Colonel Marchand. Only think he is somewhere in this vicinity. We were surprised by a body of rebels, who put my guard to rout and made me a prisoner. I do not know what would have become of me if you had not rescued me as you did. Hark! the foes are coming!"

It was a part of the don's plan to hold back his men, and not to fire upon the enemy until they should come into close quarters, so no response was given to the shouts and shots of the oncoming horde, whose leader expected to carry everything before him by storm. A tempest of lead followed his command to attack, but not a man was injured on the estate. Thinking that an easy victory lay before him, El Capitan then ordered his men to the double-quick.

Don Isadora proved that he had had some military experience, as his men were not only all well armed, but they stood coolly at bay waiting for his word to open the fight on their part. Even Ronie began to get impatient before his stentorian voice cried:

"Now, men, mow them down like gra.s.s--fire!"

The entire side of the estate toward the road was illuminated by a sheet of flame as his followers obeyed the sharp command, and it was like mowing a swath through gra.s.s to see how the motley mob led by the "mountain lion" went down. The roar of rifles was followed by wild shouts and shrieks of pain, while those who had escaped the deadly fire beat a hasty retreat.

"Follow them up, men!" cried the don, but he had barely uttered the order before a bullet from a stray shot hit him, and staggering back, he fell into the arms of Jack Greenland, while he murmured:

"I am a dead man!"

It was a sad occurrence. The moment the Venezuelans found their leader had fallen, confusion and disorder reigned.

"Is he fatally hurt?" asked Ronie, anxiously, as Jack bent over him.

"I cannot tell yet, sergeant. The wound is bleeding profusely. Some of you help me get him where I can examine him more closely. Is there a surgeon about the place?"

No one seemed to know. But half a dozen l.u.s.ty fellows lifted the wounded don and bore him into the house, while others stared after them in complete dismay.

"El Capitan is rallying," said Ronie. "It's too bad for us to be in this condition. He will sweep the place, now the don has fallen."

"Why not take the lead, Ronie?" asked Harrie. "Some one must, or we are all lost."

"I am not sure they would follow me. Here comes Senor Riva."

"Sergeant Rand, Don Isadora begs me to tell you that he is better, but is not able to lead his men. He beseeches of you to do this."