CHAPTER XXIX
THE PRESIDIO
The sun hung low in the western sky, with a peak of the black cordilleracutting its lower edge, and Rio Frio shone in the glaring light. Seenfrom the road across the valley, the town had an ethereal look, for thetiers of square, white houses rose from a gulf of shadow and clusteredupon the hillside, glimmering with a pearly luster, picked out by clumpsof green. Behind were barren slopes, deepening in color to dusky purpleas they ran back to the foot of the mountain wall.
Walthew pulled up his mule and sat gazing at the town. He had beenriding beside Blanca, while Father Agustin and two others followed atsome distance.
"Five minutes ago you could hardly see the place against the backgroundand now it glows as if it were lighted up inside," he remarked. "Looksmore like an enchanted palace than a collection of adobe houses. Onecould imagine that some magician had suddenly conjured it up."
"I'm afraid there's not much enchantment in Rio Frio," Blanca answered."It's very prosaic and rather dirty."
"Well, I don't know," said Walthew, looking boldly at her. "I'm notgiven to romantic sentiment, but something very strange happened to meone night in your town. Must have been glamour in the air, for I've beena changed man ever since. You wouldn't expect a matter-of-fact American,who was on the hunt for money, to trail round the country trying to actlike Garibaldi, unless he was bewitched."
Blanca smiled prettily.
"You have, at least, chosen to follow a great example, senor."
"I don't think I chose him," Walthew returned dryly. "I'd have lookedfor somebody easier."
"But you were free to give up the part if you found it too hard foryou."
"No; that's the trouble. I wasn't free."
The girl knew that he was not talking at random to hide nervousness.There was an underlying gravity in his manner and she secretly thrilledto it. Although he still wore the dirty bandage and was dusty andunkempt, she thought he had a very gallant air. His eyes were bright andintent, and his thin face was very resolute. The faint smile with whichhe regarded her somehow emphasized his determined, highstrung look.
"Senor," she said, "it is better to aim high. Achievement is noteverything; the effort counts, and it is a generous errand you go uponto-night. But we will talk of something else. Look; there is the housewhere I spent the only happy years I can remember, until my father heardthe call of duty once more and obeyed. Higher up, you can see the greengap of the _alameda_; beyond it the church of San Sebastian." She pausedfor a moment with a shiver. "The white line beneath it is the top of the_presidio_, where Gomez lives. But the light fades quickly, and now,see--everything has gone."
The sun had sunk behind the cordillera, and the white town, changingsuddenly to gray, melted out of sight as the shadows rolled up thehillside.
"You must see that it's enchanted," Walthew remarked. "The magician haswaved his wand and blotted it out."
"It will shine again to-morrow," Blanca answered in a quiet voice. "Theshadows have long rested on this country of ours, but one looks for thedawn."
The others were close behind them, but the party was smaller than it hadbeen. Ragged men with dark, determined faces had been picked up on theway, but it would excite suspicion if they entered Rio Frio in a body,and they had separated during the last hour. Walthew did not know whattheir orders were, but he thought they would act upon some plan alreadymade if he failed to secure Grahame's release; and Blanca presently borethis conclusion out.
"You will not be left unsupported, but it will be better if you can makeGomez set your comrade free without our help," she said. "We do not wishto strike the first blow to-night, but if it is needful, the _presidio_will be attacked. Gomez's position is like ours: he is not quite readyto force a conflict. You see how that strengthens your hand. He cannotaltogether trust his soldiers, and a shot would rouse the town." Hervoice sounded rather strained as she concluded: "But if you are careful,the shot will not be fired. Gomez is cruel, but he is a coward, and willgive way if you use moral force."
"It's a big thing," Walthew answered thoughtfully. "Still, I must putit over somehow. I have to get my partner out."
Darkness fell before they reached Rio Frio, and Blanca stopped her muleon the outskirts of the town.
"We must separate here," she said. "I do not think the entrance iscarefully guarded, because it is not Gomez's policy to admit that anattack is possible, but there may be spies, and a _rural_ or two onwatch." She paused and held out her hand. "I wish you good fortune,senor, and I do not think your nerve will fail, but if the worst comes,we will not leave you in Gomez's power."
Walthew, bending down, kissed her hand and then lifted his hat.
"Until I see you again, senorita," he said and quietly rode on.
There was no moon and the air was still. The town rose before him, vagueand shadowy, with a faint musky smell drifting out from it. As hereached the first of the houses, a wave of heat, rising from the roughpavement, surrounded him. The walls looked blank, for there were nolights behind the lattices, but a ray of brightness fell across thestreet a short distance in front. As he crossed the illuminated strip aman in white uniform stepped forward and seized his bridle.
"Who comes?" he asked, looking hard at Walthew's face.
"A messenger for the _secretario_."
"Pass, friend," said the other, letting go the bridle.
Walthew rode on, but checked the mule as soon as he was out of sight. Itlooked as if he had been expected, but he had been warned that he mustgive the revolutionaries time to communicate with their friends in thecity. They might have some trouble in entering it, although he believedthey meant to do so through the house of some sympathizer on theoutskirts. When he turned a corner he stopped to listen, but heardnothing behind him, and the street in front was quiet. It seemed thatnobody had been sent to announce his arrival, and he could proceedslowly without rousing suspicion.
Leaving the direct line, he wound in and out through narrow streets, themule's shoes clanging on the hot stones. He passed one or two dimlylighted cafes where men, roused by the clatter, looked up, their figuresshowing indistinct about the small tables between the pillars. Fartheron, shadowy groups were sitting close together on the pavement, andthough their voices were quiet they had somehow an air of excitement.Men appeared and vanished in the gloom, moving softly and quickly, as ifafraid of loitering. There was a mysterious hint of tension about allthat Walthew saw, and he felt his heart beat as he rode on.
Crossing the plaza, he dismounted at the hotel he had previouslyvisited, and sent for the majordomo when the hostler grumbled somethingabout the stable's being full.
"You will remember me," he said. "I want to leave my mule here andperhaps spend the night."
"I am sorry, but we have no room; there are a number of strangers in thetown. They are not so full at the Golden Fleece."
"I'd rather stay here if I have to wait until to-morrow," Walthewanswered. "You take care of the mules well, and I may have a long ride.Then one puts up at a place one knows, with more--confidence."
The majordomo looked hard at him.
"We must try to make room, senor, since you have--confidence."
"Exactly," said Walthew, smiling. "Now I want the mule fed but notunsaddled. I may perhaps need it in an hour, and it would be anadvantage if you could find me another."
"It might be possible," the majordomo replied in a thoughtful tone."Still, there are spies about and they may watch this house. Withpermission, I will send the mule to Ramon Silva in the _calle Pinastro_.He is a carrier, and it is known that he buys pack-animals; he will haveboth mules ready, if you ask for them with confidence."
Walthew thanked the man and set off for the _presidio_. It was a long,square-fronted building with a sentry-box at the entrance, and an untidysoldier sat smoking outside. Another stood a little farther on in aslouching attitude, a rifle raking across his shoulder and his _kepis_tilted to one side. Discipline is seldom marked among Spanish-Americansoldiers, but Walthe
w was somewhat surprised to note that the fellow wasbantering a group of loiterers. They were dressed like peons, and onecarried a tray of sweetmeats and another a quantity of cigarettes,apparently for sale. As Walthew passed, the former hurriedly moved histray, as if to prevent its being upset.
"Be careful, senor!" he exclaimed, giving Walthew a warning glance.
Walthew understood it. The men were not there by accident, and he sawthat one was within leaping distance of the sentry. He knew that theSpanish knife is almost as dangerous as the rifle at close quarters; andcan, moreover, be thrown a short distance with effect.
"I have a message for the _secretario_," he told the sentry with acareless air.
The man let him pass, and he saw that he was expected when a duskysteward met him at the door. Since the despatch-carrier was known to bea foreigner, it was easy to enter the _presidio_, but he wondered whatwould happen before he left. Now that the dangerous game was about tobegin, he clearly recognized the risk he ran. For all that, it looked asif he held the trump cards, and he hoped that he had nerve enough toplay them well. Pulling himself together, he followed his guide acrossthe _patio_ and up an outer stair, until the man stopped and knocked ata door.
"The messenger, senor," he announced.
Walthew held his breath until he heard the door shut behind him; then heturned to Gomez, who had risen from his seat at a table. It was a smallroom and the table stood between the men. Walthew felt his nerves tingleand his skin grow damp with perspiration as Gomez looked at him. Therewas surprise in the secretary's face and he seemed puzzled, as if hewere trying to revive a memory.
"You are not the man we were told would come, but I think I have seenyou somewhere," he said.
Walthew stood still, his hand in his jacket pocket, as if about to takethe despatches from it.
"The other messenger was detained, but we have met. I once dined at yourtable at the International, in Havana."
Gomez gave him a quick, suspicious glance.
"Then there is something I do not understand, but it is not importantnow. You bring the President's orders?"
"No; I bring this."
He took his hand from his pocket and the barrel of an automatic pistolglinted in the light.
Gomez flinched, but recovered his calm with a quickness that showedWalthew he had a dangerous antagonist.
"Push your chair back from that open drawer and then keep still!" heordered.
Gomez obeyed, and Walthew sat down on the edge of the table, where, ifnecessary, he could spring up more quickly than from a chair. Besides,the position helped him to keep both Gomez and the door in sight.
"You are uselessly dramatic, senor," Gomez remarked with a forced sneer."You dare not use the pistol, and I am not to be frightened by so cheapa trick."
Walthew did not put down the weapon.
"Rather stale, but it has served its purpose by stopping you fromcalling out, and that's all I wanted to begin with. Now I'm going toshow you how we stand."
"Your position strikes me as very weak."
"Well," said Walthew coolly, "I don't know. There are some chances in myfavor."
"Not many, I think. A shot or a call from me would lead to yourimmediate arrest."
Walthew lowered the pistol.
"I'm not going to shoot and you won't call. One of your sentries issmoking cigarettes, with a wiry liberator ready to put his knife intohim, and something would happen to the other before he could throw uphis rifle. Then, a number of my friends are waiting to seize the gate."
"What would they gain? They could not hold the building. In a fewminutes the soldiers would arrive."
"Just so. Still, they'd have a few minutes, and there's reason forbelieving they're not fond of you. Then, I don't mean to be made aprisoner and, if I'm forced to, I'll shoot straight."
This was not an idle threat. Walthew's nerves were steady, and he felt arancorous hatred of the man. He had been guilty of unspeakablecruelties, he had carried off an American girl, and he now had Grahamein his power. Walthew's face was pale, but his lips were firmly set, andthere was an ominous gleam in his eyes. Gomez began to grow uneasy.
"However," Walthew went on, "the important point is that the first shotstarts the revolution. My friends won't have much trouble with thesentries at the door, but if your soldiers try to break in afterward, itwill rouse the town. You may take this for granted, because you must seethat I'd make sure of being supported outside before I ventured here."
Gomez pondered. The American's position was certainly strong. The ladwas not a rash fool, and his having made the venture proved hisstatement about the likelihood of a revolution to be correct; moreover,Gomez had other reasons for not questioning it. As he looked up, Walthewmade a warning gesture and Gomez heard footsteps outside.
"Don't move!" said Walthew in a low, tense voice. "If that fellow comesin it will make trouble for both of us. You'd better think how you'regoing to keep him out!"
The secretary's lips twitched, but he sat motionless. The steps drewnearer, echoing down the passage; in another moment the man outsidewould reach the door. Walthew held his breath; but the steps continuedand passed. Then they grew fainter, and Walthew saw his antagonist'spose relax; the strain had told on him. Gomez was weakening and the gamewas nearly won.
"What do you want?" the secretary asked.
"An order for Grahame's release."
"Impossible! My signature would make me responsible to the President."
"You'll take a bigger responsibility if you refuse; the men I leftwaiting will begin the trouble if I'm not outside very soon. You haven'tgot your master's orders yet, and the liberators have headed hismessenger off. I guess you'll have to answer for it if you spoil hisplans. Remember you'll have to face a revolution unless you let Grahameout."
Gomez was silent for a few moments and then made a sign of acquiescence.
"Very well," he said, and pulling his chair to the table began to write.Then he gave Walthew the paper. "Are you satisfied?"
"Not quite," said Walthew, glancing over the message. "Ring for one ofyour men and send it off with this note." He handed both papers toGomez. "Order him to deliver them at once!"
When the man came in, Walthew was sitting carelessly in a chair, as ifnothing unusual had been going on. His right hand, however, was grippingthe pistol in his jacket pocket.
"I'll wait here for five minutes to give him a start. Seems to me thatwould be safer," he said when the orderly had left them.
He was relieved when he thought he could get up, for the strain had beenheavy, and he was feeling rather limp, but he walked steadily to thedoor and did not quicken his steps until he reached the stairs. It waswith tingling nerves that he came to the outer gate; but the sentrieslet him pass, and when he had gone a short distance, three or four peonswho were hanging about turned and followed him. He was outside in thefriendly darkness, but he had still to leave the town.