The Motor Scout: A Story of Adventure in South America

  CHAPTER III

  BENEVOLENCES

  Senor Jose Fagasta was seated in a deep chair on the balcony of hishouse overlooking the plaza. It was a hot afternoon, and he hadexchanged his black coat for a loose jacket of white alpaca. An awningand his broad-brimmed Panama hat gave shelter from the sun. At his sidewas a small table, with a glass and a decanter. Between his lips therewas a long cigar. It had gone out: the gobernador was asleep.

  He was suddenly roused by the sound of cheering up the street. Rubbinghis eyes, and taking automatically a pull at his extinguished cigar, helet out a smothered ejaculation, struggled to his feet, and hastenedinto the house. The cause of these abrupt movements was the appearanceof a party of horsemen trotting into the plaza at the upper end--thePrefect of the province, accompanied by a small escort.

  The gobernador hurried to his dressing-room, threw off his jacket, andwas struggling into his frock coat when he was summoned to attend thePrefect below. He durst not delay. He held the Prefect in awe, as wasonly natural, seeing that it was the Prefect who had appointed him tohis office, at the cost of a very considerable fee. In his haste andperturbation he forgot that he wore a Panama, and was only reminded ofit when the Prefect, who was just entering the hall as Senor Fagastacame to the foot of the staircase, looked with stern disapproval overhis head.

  "A thousand pardons, senor," said the confused gobernador. "I wastaking a brief siesta, and did not expect to be honoured by a visit fromyour excellency."

  He swept off his hat, bowed his head before his superior, and politelyinvited him to a seat in the patio.

  The Prefect, a tall sharp-featured man of about forty years, with keenblack eyes over which bushy eyebrows met, and a heavy moustache twistedinto long points, accepted the chair, laying his three-cornered hat on atable. His manner made the gobernador uneasy.

  "An extraordinary rumour has reached me, senor doctor," said thePrefect, "that you were seen yesterday in a very undignified position,unworthy of your office, riding on a motor-cycle behind the youngIngles."

  "It is true, senor," said the gobernador. "I had never experienced thatnovel mode of locomotion, and I assure your excellency that I shallnever try it again."

  "Such conduct, senor, is calculated to bring your responsible officeinto contempt. It cannot be overlooked: you are dismissed."

  For a moment the gobernador's emotion rendered him speechless. Hethought of the many good English sovereigns with which he had bought hisoffice, and the terrible eclipse of all his importance in the town. Thenhe pulled himself together: perhaps if the Prefect knew all he wouldhave mercy.

  "Your excellency," he said humbly, "I admit that my conduct may seemwanting in dignity; but I beg that you will hear my explanation. I wasreturning from my interview with you, full of zeal for the duty withwhich you had entrusted me, when I was seized by four villainousbrigands in the hills. They bound me to a tree, and but for thecourageous intervention of the young Ingles, who mounted me on hismachine and brought me home, I should probably either not be aliveto-day, or be a much poorer man than I am. Not that I am rich," headded hastily. "In these circumstances I trust that your excellencywill have the goodness to overlook my unintentional delinquency."

  "That is impossible, senor. Your dismissal is registered. It cannot berescinded. Still, as a special act of grace, in consideration of yourzeal, I may authorise your reappointment."

  "Your kindness overwhelms me, senor," said the grateful gobernador,unaware how truly he spoke.

  "But there is a condition, senor," the Prefect continued. "I am hardpressed for funds to carry on my campaign against the brigands. Yourzeal is such that you will not refuse to make a small contribution onbehalf of the cause--say L500. I shall then have the greatest pleasurein reinstating you as gobernador of this town."

  Senor Fagasta writhed. He knew that protest was useless. He must pay,or be disgraced. How much of his contribution would go to support thecause, and how much into the Prefect's own pocket, he could onlysuspect. The interview soon came to an end, and the Prefect left thehouse richer by L500.

  The idlers who had gathered outside cheered him again as he remounted.They expected to see him ride back to San Juan. To their surprise hestruck into the rough track northward, which led only to the hacienda ofMr. O'Hagan, to another that lay some few miles beyond, and then to thehills. Evidently the Prefect's visit was of more than usual importance.

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  Half an hour later the Prefect reined up at the door of Mr. O'Hagan'shouse. The family were at tea in the patio. On seeing his visitorthrough the open door, Mr. O'Hagan rose with a muttered exclamation ofannoyance, and went to greet him. He was forestalled by Pardo, who hadrun from the office and was holding the horseman's stirrup. Mr. O'Haganfelt that he could do no other than invite the Prefect to drink a cup oftea, and that gentleman was soon seated in the patio, stirring his cup,and talking to Mrs. O'Hagan in the charming manner for which he had aname among ladies.

  "I wish to thank your son, senor and senora," he said presently, "onbehalf of the government, for his spirited action yesterday in the causeof law and order. There, my boy," he went on, taking a sol--equivalentto a florin--from his pocket, "accept that as a token of my highconsideration."

  Tim looked at his father.

  "Pardon me, senor," said Mr. O'Hagan, swallowing his irritation, "yourgenerosity is quite unnecessary. My son needs no reward."

  "That is very high-minded," said the Prefect, pocketing the coin. "Hewill allow me to shake him by the hand and compliment him on his courageand resource?"

  Tim gave him a limp hand: it was not so bad as the gobernador's hug andkiss.

  "I am glad to be able to number you and your family, senor," the Prefectcontinued, "among my declared adherents."

  "Don't make a mistake, senor," said Mr. O'Hagan quickly. "My son had nopolitical motive in his action. It was a mere impulse of humanity."

  "The cause of the government is the cause of humanity," said the Prefectimpressively. "The brigands represent anarchy. Brigandage is chaos. Iam determined to stamp it out. My action is in the true interests ofall law-abiding citizens, and especially of such enterprises as yours,which depend on the reign of law for their prosperity."

  At this point, after an almost imperceptible sign from Mr. O'Hagan, hiswife rose and went with Tim into the drawing-room. The Prefectgallantly opened the door for her, and bowed with extreme deference: hewas the pink of politeness. Then he returned to his chair. Mr. O'Haganguessed what was coming. A few years before this, the Prefect, bybribery and intrigue, had ousted his predecessor in office, one SenorMollendo, and had since maintained his position by corruption, and bylevying forced loans on such of the wealthy men as had not the courageto resist him. The public taxes were already sufficiently heavy; butthe province was so remote from Lima that its prefect was practically adictator, and appeals to the central government would have beenfruitless.

  Senor Mollendo, knowing that his life was hardly safe, had taken refugein the hilly district in the heart of the province, and was there joinedby his partisans, who grew gradually in number as the Prefect'sexactions increased. These Mollendists were what we should call apolitical party in opposition: in Peru the government termed thembrigands. It was natural enough that they should include among theirnumber many lawless irreconcilables of the true brigand type; andopposition which would in England take the form of public meetings anddemonstrations found expression here in raids and robberies. Mr.O'Hagan had been several times approached indirectly for contributionsto the Prefect's war fund, but he had always refused to comply.

  "As I was saying, senor," the Prefect resumed, lighting the cigar Mr.O'Hagan offered, "your security depends on the supremacy of law. Thatbeing the case, and my treasury being in temporary need of funds, I haveevery confidence in inviting you to subscribe a small sum--say L1000--toa loan for the more active prosecution of the work of suppressing thebri
gands which we all have at heart."

  "I am a man of few words, senor," said Mr. O'Hagan. "I have bought myland; I pay my legal taxes, which are heavy enough; and I am entitled tothe protection of government. My people are contented; I have had notrouble with them; the people you call brigands have not molested me; ifthey do I shall claim your protection, but I don't anticipate anythingof the kind. I must therefore decline your invitation."

  "I beg you not to be hasty, senor. Your security may yet be rudelyshocked: no man can call himself safe while the brigands are at large;and I should be very much distressed if you were to suffer loss throughthe unfortunate penury of the government. A contribution ofL1000--merely by way of loan--would probably prevent a much greaterloss."

  "Not one peseta, senor," said Mr. O'Hagan bluntly. "I must beg you tobelieve that that is final."

  The Prefect smiled blandly.

  "Ah! you Inglesas!" he said.

  "I'm an Irishman, senor: that's worse."

  "Well, senor, I must thank you for your hospitality and take my leave.I wish you every success, and a large share of the sunlight ofprosperity. I only regret that by your reluctance to support me you arehelping to let loose the forces of lawlessness and giving hostages tobrigandage--in fact, breeding worms that will eat into the tissues ofindustrial enterprise. I bid you good-day, senor."

  Mr. O'Hagan was not impressed by the Prefect's picturesque language.Tall talk is the foible of Peruvians. But after he had seen the last ofhis visitor, he returned to the house in a state of intense irritation.His wife was awaiting him in the patio.

  "He wants to bleed me," he said angrily: "demanded a trifle of L1000.This country is a hot-bed of corruption. And I wish that motor-cyclewere at the bottom of the sea."

  "Why, dear," said Mrs. O'Hagan placably, "what has that to do with it?"

  "It gives the fellow an excuse for saying that I'm on the side of theMollendists. Why do you let me spoil that boy, Rose?"

  Mrs. O'Hagan smiled, remembering that she had begged her husband to waituntil Tim was a little older before giving him the motor-cycle. Wiselyshe did not remind him of that, but simply said:

  "Don't worry, dear. Things mayn't be so bad as you think.... And Timis not _really_ spoilt, you know."