CHAPTER XVIII
MEXICAN PETE AGAIN
The method followed by the two marines was very simple. Having selecteda landmark some distance ahead of them on the trail, Henry, with thesight-leaves of his compass raised, would look through them towards thepoint and read the azimuth or angular direction with respect to thenorth and south line, or meridian. This angle was called the bearing ofthe point or station.
Starting at the Captain of the Port's house they named their point ofdeparture "A," and sighted upon a distant tree, calling it station "B."A line drawn from "A" to "B" would form an angle with another linepassing through station "A" and the north pole. This angle was read offin degrees on the compass-card from north going around in the samedirection as the hands of a clock, and there would be two methods ofrecording it. They could state the whole angle as read from thecompass, which would then be the true azimuth of station "B," or theycould note the true bearing of the line A-B. The true bearing of a lineis that angle less than ninety degrees which the line makes with thetrue meridian. The boys decided to use the true azimuth in their data.
Dick, having made the entry in his book, started marching towards "B,"pressing on his tally register with every fall of his left foot.Reaching "B," the number of his strides were entered, a new sight taken,and the march resumed.
Where trails crossed or joined the route, their bearing was jotted down.Features of the country to one hundred yards either side of the trailwere kept under observation; houses, corrals, streams, bridges and theirnature, cultivated fields, swampland, all were noted carefully.
It was several hours before they met a native, though there was everyappearance of the way being well travelled. At noon they halted in theshade of a clump of bamboo and ate their luncheon. There was nothingabout them to indicate they were members of a famous militaryorganization, because they had been supplied before leaving the shipwith some "cit" clothes. Their canteens of water were carried in thegame-bags, for good soldiers never drink water found in strangecountries until it has first been boiled, and there was no time for workof that nature while engaged in their present task.
Overhead the sky was a brilliant azure. The sparkling beams of thenoonday sun danced gaily with the shadows cast by the leafy foliage anda soft breeze whispered through the feathery leaves and hanging moss.Little lizards darted about in quest of insects, butterflies floated byon downy wing and the hum of bees seeking honey-laden blossoms added adrowsy note to the lazy hour.
"When should we reach Copey, Dick?" asked Henry, with an undisguisedyawn.
"In about an hour, I guess. We have been going slowly, but it won'ttake long on the return trip. From now on we must be extremely careful.The country in front of us is more populated, and the trails joiningthis one are more numerous."
"Hullo--here are some people coming along the road," said Henry, sittingup; "sounds like a goodly party."
Soon after a considerable company came riding by, consisting of abouttwenty mounted men and boys, driving before them a number of burros andhorses. Most of the party passed without noticing the two marines, butat the rear of the cavalcade was one man who permitted nothing to escapehis roving eyes. Spying Dick and Henry, he rode up and inquired inSpanish as to their business.
"Buenos dias, amigos! I see you are hunting! What luck have you had?"
"Very poor luck," Dick replied, looking up at his interrogator butwithout deigning to rise. "And what did you hope to shoot along thistrail, my friend?" inquired the native, looking searchingly at Dick.
"'Most anything--we heard that the ground doves were plentiful, but ithas not proven so to-day."
"Where do you come from, stranger?" the horseman now asked. "I know youare Americans, but I have never seen you around this part of the countrybefore, and I know every foreigner from Monte Cristi to the border."
"We are just passing through," said Dick, evading a direct answer.
"Ah! Then, of course, you are bound for Copey. I regret I cannot bethere to offer you the hospitality of my home, humble though it is. Iam Senor Don Antonio Lugo y Suarrez, alcalde[#] of the town, and if youare to remain in this neighborhood for any length of time, it will----"
[#] Alcalde--Mayor.
"Thank you, Senor, but we are to be here but a short time,otherwise----" and Dick, now having risen, waved his hand in a gesturethat was meant to indicate his regret.
"Nevertheless, I shall hope for the pleasure, Senors, and now I musthurry along to my friends. Adios, amigos!" and with a low bow, thealcalde put spurs to his steed and disappeared up the trail.
"That fellow is a slick one, Hank. He talks too much, and he's toosuave to suit me. As for his expressions of regret and regard--it's alltommy-rot."
"He surely kept his eyes busy during his visit," drawled Henry.
"Well, there was nothing to satisfy his curiosity," said Dick, lookingaround to see if he was correct in his statement. "By jinks, Hank, ifhe put two and two together he might have cause to suspect. You know Ididn't give him any satisfaction as to who we were, but as alcalde, henaturally would have heard of the _Denver_ being busy around ManzanilloBay, and so it's easy to connect us with the ship. But if he wantedproof of what we were doing, there is the evidence."
Henry immediately sat up to look where Dick pointed. On a small treenear by were hanging the two canteens of water with the black letters"U.S.M.C." stenciled on their sides, while on the ground beneath, theflap to one of the hunting-bags had fallen open, and there laynote-book, pencil, tally register, compass, and a rough sketch of thelocality around the Bay, which Dick had brought along as a possible aidin their work.
"If Senor Don Antonio and-all-the-rest-of-his-name, was half as wise ashe looked he knows pretty well, right now, what we are up to," addedDick grimly. "I wonder what his next move will be!"
The sound of a horse galloping along the trail came to them and thenlike a streak, horse and rider dashed by and along the way they wereabout to travel. The rider was spurring and beating his steed as hebent low in the saddle. If he saw the boys, he at least gave no sign.
"That fellow reminds me of something or someone," mused Dick, watchinghorse and rider disappear in a cloud of dust.
"The way he's beating his animal makes me think of the Mexican youhorsewhipped in Culebra last winter," said Henry.
"By jinks, Hank, that's who he is, and no mistake. He was riding alongwith that outfit a while ago, and now the alcalde has sent him back onan errand. I'd bet an old hat that it won't help us any either; also Ihope Mexican Pete doesn't see us, for we can hardly hope he won'tremember us. And if he does, the jig is up."
"I've got an idea, too. If that is Mexican Pete, then he's in cahootswith the alcalde, and they are starting out on a smuggling expedition,and the alcalde is sending back word to prevent us from any possibilityof getting information of it."
"That's more than likely correct, Hank, and we shall have an interestingreport to send in to the Captain to-night. Well, we'd better be gettingalong, for I've a feeling the more we can accomplish to-day the betterit will be in the end. If that outfit is a band of smugglers then it'sup to us to discover their trail and see where it leads. It will beeasy to find it, and we shall have accomplished our mission if we findeven one of their routes."
"Let us go after them right now," suggested Henry.
"If we go back now, of course we can pick up their trail easily enough,but they have taken the precaution to send back word regarding us, andthey surely have left some people to watch us if we attempt to followthem. On the other hand, we may never get another such favorableopportunity to finish up the road map to Copey, and as it will be avaluable addition to the chart for future reference, I guess we'd dowell to complete it."
"Vamos,[#] then," said Henry, rising and starting off.
[#] Vamos--Let us go.
They worked more rapidly now, taking every precaution against arousingsuspicion. The houses beside the r
oad were more frequent, and oftenthey had to guess at the azimuths from one station to another whencurious natives were watching them. The pacing of the distances, though,was not interfered with, and they hoped to be able to check upquestionable data on their return. Fortunately it was the siesta hour,and few men or women were abroad. Even the streets of the town, whenthey arrived, were fairly deserted.
The road on which they entered Copey continued through the town until itcrossed the broad highway which lay between Dajabon and Monte Cristi.Arriving at this point and accosting a native lounger as to where theycould procure refreshments, they found themselves surrounded withsurprising rapidity, and the attitude of the men in the group wasanything but friendly.
"There is a good cantina there on the corner, Senor," replied one of themen in answer to Dick's question.
"Thank you," said Dick, starting for the store; "and perhaps you willjoin us?" he added, believing it better to appear sociable even thoughhe did not feel so.
The native accepted with alacrity. Inside the little building it wascool and dim and they ordered, at the proprietor's suggestion, "huevosfritos, pan tierno y mantequilla, y cafe con leche."[#]
[#] Eggs fried, fresh bread and butter, and coffee with milk.
During the preparation of the repast, Dick and Henry, taking theirweapons with them, repaired to the yard in the rear of the cantina,where a small brown girl brought them fresh water, soap and towels.Dick, having finished his ablutions first, gave the diminutive maid asilver coin, over which her little fist closed greedily, and the nextmoment she was displaying it to her mother, who stood in the doorway ofthe cocina, and who smiled pleasantly at the donor.
"Your child is very pretty, Senora," said Dick.
"The Senor Americano is very kind to say so," replied the woman in hersoft voice.
"And how do you know I am an American?" asked Dick.
"Hush!" almost whispered the woman, glancing cautiously back into thecantina. "Listen to me, Senor, your lives are in danger here. It issaid you are spies sent here by the Americans, and everyone in the townknew of you before your arrival. You must never attempt to go toDajabon. The alcalde here is very powerful, and his orders are law.The feeling is very bitter against all Americans. Some of your officerswere stoned yesterday in Monte Cristi. Be careful! I can say no more!"
"And why do you tell us this, Senora?" asked Dick.
"Because I like the Americans. An American surgeon saved my child'slife when she was ill last year. You, too, were kind to her. Hurry andfinish your meal and leave at once. Watch out for trouble, as they willfollow your movements. Do not let them suspect that you know anything.Be careful--here comes my husband," and the woman hurriedly occupiedherself with some household duties.
"Everything is prepared, gentlemen, and awaiting your pleasure,"announced the owner of the cantina, and the boys followed him to theirplaces at the table where their guest still awaited them.
During the meal conversation was confined to the subject of hunting, andit was noticeable how their guest and host agreed that it was a badseason for doves, that the birds never were numerous in the locality,and discouraged any further attempts at enjoying sport of that natureanywhere except along the coast, where snipe of all kinds abounded.
Many times the proprietor left them for the purpose of supplyingnumerous thirsty individuals who seemed to flock to his little bar, andall his customers seemed mightily interested in scrutinizing the partyseated at the marble-topped table. Finally, after paying their bill, theboys bid good-bye to their host and, still accompanied by the native whohad partaken of their bounty, they began their return trip over the roadby which they had entered the town.
On reaching the outskirts of the village their self-appointed escortvolunteered the information that if his friends were returning to theCaptain of the Port's house at Estero Balsa he would be glad to servethem by showing them a short cut which was very easy to travel, but withmany expressions of good-will they declined and, with relief, they sawthe native turn back over the trail to town.
"Phew! But I'm glad that Spig has gone! I've been nearly bursting totalk over what that woman told us," said Henry. "Do you believe theyare up to anything?"
"Did you see any of those men coming into the cantina while we wereeating?" asked Dick, as he loosened the flap covering his automatic inthe holster, and turned it back so that he could easily draw the pistolin case of need.
"No; my back was towards the door, and I thought it best not to appeartoo curious."
"If you'd seen them you'd not feel very easy over the matter, Hank, forone of them was none other than Mexican Pete; and he recognized us, too.He came sauntering in, and I noticed him start when he saw me sittingthere. He didn't know I was looking at him; and later he kept his backturned all the time, but was giving us the once-over in thelooking-glass behind the bar. I saw him at the head of a detachment ofmounted men leaving town about fifteen minutes before we left."
"Do you reckon they expected us to take the short route and hoped tocatch us on some blind trail?" asked Henry.
"Possibly. You see the country along the road is fairly open on eitherside, and a considerable body of men would have some difficulty insurprising us. But they can easily pick us off if they are good shots."
"I see you've unlimbered, and I reckon I'll do the same," said Henry,looking at Dick's pistol; "also I'm going to change my load in thispump-gun from bird to buck shot."
"Mine has been loaded with buck since we started this morning," saidDick. "If ever I had taken a crack at a wild pigeon and one of thoseslugs hit, there wouldn't have been enough feathers or bird left tosatisfy the appetite of an Argentine ant."
The boys kept up a pretty rapid pace, and it was not long before theyhad left behind their noonday resting place and now were keeping carefulwatch of the trail in order to discover where the alcalde and his troophad turned from it. The marks of the horses on the road had not beendisturbed, and about five miles from Copey the tracks plainly turned offto the left up a trail through the dense woods. It was certain thathere was at least one clue to their credit which would be of value tothe customs officials.
"Why did you hurry on by, Dick? We might have gone up that trail for away. We've plenty of time."
"Yes, and we might never have come down it and returned to the ship withour information, Hank. That is why I told you not to stop nor act as ifyou'd noticed anything unusual. I saw something I didn't like when Isquinted up that beautiful sylvan dell, and I believe we'd better dosome tall hustling from now on."
"What did you see?"
"Well, it looked like a full-sized native jumping behind a tree. Ibelieve they thought we might turn up that way, and were waiting for us.As it is, I'll feel a whole lot better when I can get around that turnahead of us. I've an idea there is a gun pointing between myshoulder-blades this minute, and it doesn't feel a bit comfortable."
Unconsciously Henry turned his head to look back over the road; thenwith a shout of caution he started forward on the run.
"Beat it, Dick; Mexican Pete and his gang are after us!"
With the words came a scattering volley, and the yells of the natives intheir rear, the sound of the leaden bullets tearing through the leavesand shrubs, helped the boys onward in their flight.