CHAPTER IV--SIMPLE SUBTRACTION
The cavalcade came at a walk into the compound. They were a verynondescript troop: men of all ages, tall and short, stout and thin,variously clad, but all wearing high riding-boots and a green feather intheir sombreros. There were more of them than Will had supposed,numbering nearly fifty. The greater part of the troop halted when theycame to the tree, but two rode forward, the first a thick-set man withbushy black eyebrows and heavy moustache. He pulled up within a fewfeet of Mr. Jackson, and making a military salute, said--
"Good-evening, senor."
Mr. Jackson got up and returned the salutation. Will stood at his side,and the telegraphist remained a little in the rear.
"I introduce myself, senor, as Captain Felipe Espejo, of the army ofGeneral Carabano, liberator of Venezuela, and in his name I have thehonour or requesting that you will of your great courtesy furnish mytroop with refreshments."
"Do me the favour to enter my tent, Senor Capitan," said Mr. Jacksonpleasantly. "No doubt you are weary after your ride."
The Captain hesitated for a moment, darting a glance around. Then hedismounted, and leaving his horse with his orderly, followed Mr. Jacksoninto the tent. Will entered after him, and Machado stood in theentrance.
"Be seated, senor," said Mr. Jackson, offering him a cigar. "I am ofcourse aware of the excellent custom of your country, which neverrefuses refreshment to the traveller, and speaking for myself and mystaff, it would give us the greatest pleasure to entertain you and yourmen. But you will see, I am sure, that I am placed in a somewhatawkward position."
"Explain yourself, senor."
"I think I am right in believing that the noble liberator has not yetassumed the reins of government? In that case any voluntary service toyou on my part, even though dictated solely by courtesy, is likely to besadly misconstrued by the present Government, is it not? I amresponsible for the interests of the Company employing me to build thisrailway, and I must take care that no action of mine shall prejudicethem. You will agree, then, senor, that I cannot undertake to providerefreshment for so large a party as yours unless formal demand is made,which, backed by the armed force at your distinguished disposal, wouldundoubtedly exonerate my Company from all responsibility."
"You express yourself admirably, senor," said the visitor with a smile."May I compliment you on your command of our language? As to a formaldemand, I oblige you with the greatest pleasure. I demand now,formally, that you supply my troop with food."
"That is sufficient, Senor Capitan," said Mr. Jackson, returning thesmile. "Pentelow," he added in English, "go and see to this. Don't belong.... I was about to have my own evening meal," he went on inSpanish, "and if the caballero would honour me by sharing the repast, Ishall be delighted, though I fear it may not be so excellent in qualityas the caballero is accustomed to."
The Captain cordially accepted the invitation. He felt that things weregoing extremely well. Mr. Jackson summoned his servant, and ordered himto lay for four. Machado was edging away, but Mr. Jackson called himinto the tent.
"You will join us this evening," he said. "Senor Machado, telegraphiston my staff."
The two Venezuelans exchanged salutations, the Captain somewhatsuperciliously. The meal was soon ready; Will returned; and the foursat down at the table, Mr. Jackson opening a bottle ofchampagne--villainous stuff, which he kept by him expressly for nativeguests, who relished it as though it had been the finest vintage fromRheims or Vevay.
The Captain was an excellent table companion, and a man of quitecharming manners. He did full justice to the food and drink. When themeal was over, and, provided with a good cigar, he lay back in a loungechair, he said--
"Truly, senor, it gives me the greatest annoyance to have to requiteyour excellent hospitality by making a further request--or, to adopt theterm you prefer, a formal demand. My noble superior, General Carabano,unfortunately lacks two things requisite to complete his success in theglorious task of liberating his beloved country from the yoke of atyrant. These two things, senor, are men and money. General Carabanohas laid upon me the duty--never more irksome than in the presentcircumstances--of inviting, or, again accepting your term, of demanding,a small loan from your Company in both kinds, namely, money and men.The money shall be returned when the new Government is thoroughlyestablished--I need not say, with accrued interest. The men also, whenthat glorious day arrives, will be again at the disposal of the Company,to which, in view of the goodwill displayed by its distinguishedrepresentative, a concession shall in due time be made, on termsafterwards to be decided, for the furtherance of its business."
The tone in which the Captain made this long speech was as pleasant andcourteous as though he were announcing the conferment of a favour. Mr.Jackson was only surprised that the real purpose of his visit had notbeen disclosed before.
"I regret extremely, senor," he said, "that in my position I cannot takeupon myself to make a loan of money. In doing so I should be actingentirely beyond my powers. But I will of course forward the request tomy directors."
"Pardon me, senor," said the Captain suavely, "that is of course absurd.General Carabano cannot delay the completion of his great work whiletime is wasted in such formalities. He must have men and money at once.I have no doubt that you have a considerable balance in your hands,beyond the immediate wages of your labourers. You will therefore begood enough to order the whole of your workers to be drawn up, so that Imay select recruits, and at the same time count out a sum of fivethousand pesos."
"With great respect, senor, I have to say that is my duty to protectwhatever funds may be my charge, and also the peons who have beenengaged by my Company under the laws of the State."
At this Captain Espejo's politeness fell from him like a cloak. Hesprang up, threw his half-smoked cigar through the doorway of the tent,and cried--
"Enough of this folly! I offer you an amicable arrangement. Youdecline it. Then I take what I want by force."
"And may I ask how the caballero proposes to take what he wants byforce?" said Mr. Jackson quietly.
All four men were now on their feet. Machado was restless withexcitement. Will stood rigid, looking with admiration at his chief,whom he had never credited with such _sang froid_ as he now displayed.When Mr. Jackson asked his question the Captain stared at him as thoughhe had not heard him aright; then, motioning with his hand towards themen lounging beneath the tree, he said, with a laugh--
"Two score of my men, senor, could shepherd a thousand peons."
"Possibly, senor, but your number is really twenty."
The Captain stared again. What was this mad Englishman talking about?
"You are pleased to jest, senor," he said impatiently. "My troopnumbers exactly forty-two."
"The matter is too serious for jesting, senor. I repeat, that for thepurpose of enforcing your demand your troop is effectively less than ascore. Be so good as to accompany me for a few yards and I will explainmyself."
The Captain eyed his host suspiciously. Was it possible that he was tobe led into some trap? But the Englishman looked perfectly inoffensive.He was unarmed; his thumbs were thrust into his arm-pits, presumably ahabit of Englishmen. And there were the forty men, within pistol shot:there was really no reason why he should not humour the eccentric.
The Chief strolled along, towards the rear of the embankment. He ledthe Captain up the plank along which barrows were wheeled up the slope.Coming to the top, he pointed to the row of figures lying prone justbelow the crest, each man holding a rifle.
"You see there, senor, fourteen first-rate shots. At the least sign ofhostility on the part of your troop, these men will fire. Each riflecovers a man. You will confirm my remark that, for the purpose ofenforcing your demands, you have less than a score of men. At the firstvolley fourteen will be _hors de combat_; the second will account for asmany more before they have recovered from their surprise; at the thirdyou will have none left."
The Captain was
speechless with fury. He looked at the men motionlesson the embankment, at his unconscious troopers laughing and jestingbelow. He turned about and saw Will, smiling, at his elbow. The Chiefstood in the same easy attitude of unconcern. With a muttered oathCaptain Espejo turned on his heel, and strode down the embankment.Half-way down he wheeled about, and sputtered--
"You, Senor Inglese, have not seen the last of me. General Carabanoshall hear of this impertinence--this unparalleled atrocity; and he willexact a heavy retribution, I promise you."
He completed the descent, summoned his orderly and threw himself intothe saddle, and then, riding up to his men, curtly ordered them to mountand follow him. The troop rode away in the direction whence they hadcome.
"I'm most terribly stiff," cried O'Connor, springing up. "I'm sorryyou've done it, Chief; I should have liked a scrap with the beggars; butyou're a wonderful man."
The Chief smiled.
"First catch your hare, then cook him," he said.