CHAPTER XIX
DRAWING THE NET CLOSER
"I hold, sir, that there has been no connection shown between the escapeof the woman prisoner and the presence of this dress in the cell ofthese boys, and I therefore ask that the charge against them bedismissed."
It was Consul Wyman who spoke, addressing General Serano who again satin judgment on Harry and Bert in the Hall of Justice. It was two daysafter the discovery of the escape of Miss Juanita and following the direthreat of the general to have the boys shot as spies if they did notmake a full and complete confession. There had been little sleep forthem after the night visit to their cell, and the next day no one hadvisited them save the jailor with food. The following morning, however,after their breakfast had been served, they had been summarily hauledbefore the still fuming commander, heavy-eyed and pale, Harry wearing anold Spanish uniform which the jailor had given to him.
Again they had been subjected to a severe cross-examination, and againthey had firmly refused to answer any question that in any wayendangered the safety of Captain Dynamite.
Mr. Wyman, who fully appreciated the serious position in which the boyswere placed, also showed the effects of loss of sleep. He was an ableman and beneath his little exterior conceit about his powers ofdiplomacy, there beat an honest and fearless heart. He had come to theconclusion that the existence of the secret passage was unknown to thepresent authorities, and without this knowledge no case could be madeout, legally, against the boys. He also knew that the legal rights ofprisoners were not always considered by General Serano, and for thisreason he had determined, as a last resort, to fall back on his officialprerogatives and demand the release of the boys in the name of theUnited States, or, failing in this, a hearing before a higher authorityin Havana.
"Admitting that your contention in regard to the presence of the dressof the escaped prisoner in the room of the accused to be well taken, howcan you account for the fact that the pass which was given to them inorder that they might communicate with you was used by another?"
General Serano smiled grimly as he put this question to the consul. Mr.Wyman staggered. He had forgotten the pass. For a moment he did notreply, and then, pulling himself together, he said:
"We do not admit that fact, sir."
"Very well. Let the captain of the guard step forward."
A man with a sword clanking at his side stepped up and saluted.
"What was your duty night before last?" asked the general.
"I was in command of the picket line three miles outside of the city,"replied the man.
"Did any one pass through the lines from the city while you were incommand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Who?"
"A boy."
"A boy--are you sure of that?"
"A person wearing boy's clothes, sir."
"Very well; why did you let the person wearing boy's clothes passthrough your lines?"
"He--the person wearing boy's clothes showed a pass from you, sir."
"At what hour was this?" continued General Serano, looking triumphantlyat the consul, who bit his lip and thought hard.
"About two hours after sundown."
"That will do. Now, Mr. Wyman, can you explain this for the benefit ofthe prisoners?"
"All this does not prove that the pass presented by a boy to thisofficer was the same pass that was given to the prisoners."
"I issued but one pass that day."
"There is nothing to show that that was the one."
"Captain of the guard, what date did the pass bear?"
"It was of even date."
"Now, Mr. Wyman."
The consul hesitated a moment and then stepped closer to the desk ofGeneral Serano. Lifting his arm impressively, and looking the generalsteadily in the eye, he said:
"I still hold, sir, that there is not a scintilla of legal evidenceagainst the prisoners. We might admit for the sake of argument, that thedress found in their room was that of the escaped woman prisoner; wemight also admit, that the pass used by the boy in passing through thelines last night was the one issued by you to the prisoners, but whatevidence is there to show that the one using the pass obtained it fromthese prisoners, or that it was the escaped prisoner?"
"The evidence is absolutely circumstantial."
"That is just it. It is purely circumstantial; there is no directevidence connecting these boys in any way with the escape of the woman."
"Let me inform you, Mr. Wyman," said General Serano, scowling savagely,"that I shall assume that the person who passed through the lines lastnight was the prisoner and further," here he leaned toward the consul,"I shall assume that the clothes she wore was the boy's missing suit."
"Very well, then," said Mr. Wyman, calmly, "let us admit that the personwas the woman, and the clothes she wore were the boy's, do not all theknown facts point to a plot conceived and executed by those outsiderather than inside a prison cell? Those inside had absolutely no meansof communication; those outside had easy access to both cells. Unlesssome method can be shown by which these prisoners could havecommunicated with the prisoner in the next cell there can be no legalconstruction of the present evidence that will connect either of theboys with the escape of the woman. You know the strength of your locksand the thickness of your jail walls. How could these two boys here havecontrived to release this woman through stone and iron? By way of thebarred windows, ten feet apart? Even if the exchange of clothing couldhave been accomplished by this means, which I contend is impossible, wholiberated her, General Serano? There was only one means of escape andthat was through the door of her cell. If these boys, themselves,confined by locks, walls, and bars, could have unlocked the door of herprison-house, then they are possessed of supernatural powers that shouldenable them to walk out of your jail themselves. No, General Serano,unless you can establish the fact of physical communication betweenthese prisoners and the escaped woman they can in no way be heldresponsible for her disappearance, and I ask that the unfounded chargeagainst them be dismissed."
Mr. Wyman bowed to the general and stepped back. He had made a goodfight and fired his last shot in the boys' behalf. General Serano,impressed by the wisdom of his argument, was silent for a time, as ifthinking. Then he leaned forward to the consul and said in a low tone:
"There is one thing more, Mr. Wyman. After the discovery of the escapeof the woman prisoner her name was not spoken in your presence nor inthe presence of the other prisoners, and yet when I had left the cellyou referred to her by her given name. Will you tell me how this was?"
Mr. Wyman's face flushed, and he drew himself up defiantly, as hereplied:
"It is immaterial to this case how I came by that knowledge."
"It is material so far as it influences my decision."
Mr. Wyman bowed without speaking. Nothing could be gained by dwellingupon this unfortunate occurrence. At this point an aged and decrepit manwas led into the room by two soldiers. He was so weak that he had to besupported on either side. General Serano looked up and scowled at him asan intruder, and turned to an aide for an explanation, when the smilinginterpreter glided to his side and whispered in his ear. He started backin eager surprise, and then cast another glance of triumph at the consulas he said:
"Bring him forward."
All eyes were now turned on the tottering old man as he was slowly ledto a chair which was placed in front of General Serano's desk.
"You have some information in regard to this case which you wish toimpart to me?" asked the general.
"What case?"
The old man's dim eyes turned in the direction of the speaker like thoseof one who is almost blind. He seemed dazed and frightened.
"Well, never mind the case. Were you ever the warden of the jail here?"
"Oh, yes sir, but that was many, many years ago."
"Yes, I know," said the general, coaxingly, "but what do you know aboutthe jail?"
"Nothing much now, sir, not for many, many years."
"No, no, what d
o you know that no other man now living knows?"
"Much, sir, much, for they have all gone on before."
"Do you know any secret of the jail?"
"Secret? Oh, yes, a secret. No man knows but me, no man knows."
The old man shook his head stupidly, and rubbed his gnarled hands.
"What is the secret?" General Serano leaned forward to catch the answer.
"I have forgotten."
"No, no, you knew it ten minutes ago--think."
"No man knows--they've all gone before," muttered the old man.
Mr. Wyman uttered a sigh of relief. The old jailer evidently knew of theexistence of the secret passage, but his mind was so far gone that theconsul was hopeful that General Serano's examination might fail.
"Do you know of any secret passage?" asked the general in an insinuatingtone.
"Passage--who said passage," said the old man bristling up and lookingaround the room with unseeing eyes. "There is no passage; it's a lie. Noone knows--no one knows but the old jailer."
The interpreter stepped up to the old man and whispered something in hisear. The wrinkled face cracked into a hideous grin that showed hisalmost toothless gums.
"Money," he chortled, "yes, give me money--gold." He reached out hisgnarled hands and grasped at the air. The interpreter at a sign fromGeneral Serano, placed a peseta in one of his outstretched palms. Hefelt it for a moment, and then held it close to his nearly sightlesseyes.
"No, no, you can't fool the old jailer," he whined. "That's silver.Gold, give me gold. The secret's worth it. 'Sh. You can go at night.Just touch the spring and slowly--slowly the stone will roll back. Andthen the rack. Ha, ha, the rack--that makes 'em talk."
Mr. Wyman shuddered when he thought of the scenes of horror the oldjailer might have witnessed.
"Here is gold; will you show us the passage, now?"
"Yes, come."
The man started to his feet, and the interpreter, taking the place ofone of the soldiers, guided his steps toward the door. General Seranorose from his seat and followed.
"Mr. Wyman, will you accompany us? The old man's mysterious secretpassage may interest you."
"The old man is imbecile. His evidence is valueless."
"But his secret passage cannot be imbecile too."
"He is dreaming."
"Let us see. Bring the prisoners." He motioned to an officer, whodetailed two men to accompany the boys. Harry and Bert were ignorant ofwhat had been going on, all having spoken in Spanish, and as theyfollowed the old man to the jail, Mr. Wyman explained to them brieflywhat had taken place. Harry's first thought was of the girl.
"Then Miss Juanita has gotten away safely," he said with satisfaction.
"Yes," replied Mr. Wyman, "I think there is no doubt she is all right,but think of the price."
"We haven't paid it yet, Mr. Wyman."
When they reached the jail the old man was led directly into the boys'cell. He was weary from his exertion, and sank into a chair and his headfell on his breast. In a moment he was fast asleep. The interpreter, whoseemed to be general factotum to Serano, shook him roughly by theshoulder.
"Come, come, you have your gold, now show us the passage."
The man roused himself and looked stupidly around the room. By chancehis eyes rested upon the big slab in the wall, but he could not see it.Still he raised his bony finger either by intuition or luck, and pointeddirectly at it.
"It is there," he said, and his head dropped again.
Mr. Wyman shuddered. The scene was a gruesome one, and the possibilitythat the man might disclose the passage was so imminent that his nerveswere at their greatest tension. All hope of clearing the boys of thecharge of being Cuban spies it seemed would be lost if the old man'smind should clear sufficiently for him to indicate the secret spring.
"Yes, yes, it is there, old man, but where is the spring?"
Again he raised his head and looked blankly at the wall, and then oncemore his head drooped.
"I cannot remember," he murmured. Mr. Wyman drew a long breath. It wasat least another respite. There was a sound of clanking chains in thejail corridor. The old man trembled and raised his head feebly.
"What's that?" he whispered. "Chains?"
Again the sound was heard.
"Yes, yes, they're coming. Quick, we'll chain him down--chain him handand foot. Quick--open the passage."
He struggled to his feet and tottered to the wall. For a moment hegroped in blindness, while the boys held their breath and then, with alow chuckle he placed his finger unerringly on the little diamond-shapedstone. The creaking and grinding noise began, and the stone slowlyrevolved before the astonished eyes of General Serano. When the passagewas fully open the general stepped to the wall and inspected itcuriously. Then he turned to Mr. Wyman and said:
"The case against the accused is complete. You may inform them that thesentence imposed will be carried out unless they make a full confessionbefore sundown to-night."
"And I, General Serano, knowing that they are innocent of any connectionwith the cause of the insurgents, warn you in the name of theirGovernment that you will commit an outrage for which you must paydearly. I shall communicate with General Weyler at once."
Serano shrugged his shoulders.
"General Weyler has the utmost confidence in my judgment."
"Will you suspend sentence until I can communicate with my Government?"
"No. Your Government has nothing to do with the matter. All that can besettled afterward."
"One last request, General Serano--give me forty-eight hours tocommunicate with General Weyler."
"Oh, as it will be the same in the end, you may have the forty-eighthours."
He turned to the jailer, who had watched the opening of the wall inwonder. "Take the prisoners to another cell where they cannot find asecret passage."
As the boys were being led from the cell they passed the interpreter,who smiled genially at them. Harry could scarcely refrain from showinghim how much he despised him.