"Thank you, Senor, but I cannot take this money. I am a common peon and my people are poor, but they would not wish me to accept money to help a little girl in distress," and Columbus bravely handed back the bills to d.i.c.k, though his fingers were itching to keep them.
He made his little speech with such an air of pride, however, that d.i.c.k did not insist and with a low whispered, "adios, amigo mio," the brown boy was swallowed up a moment later in the shadows and darkness.
Impatiently d.i.c.k waited in his refuge for the departure of General Gonzales on his proposed expedition. Finally becoming tired of such long inactivity he arose and boldly stepped out into and across the clearing. d.i.c.k reasoned that in the darkness of the night should he pa.s.s anyone inside the camp he would not be recognized nor suspected. He pulled his khaki shirt outside his trousers so as to appear more in keeping with the native soldiers" costume should he happen to meet anyone.
With rapid strides he was soon in the vicinity of the houses lining the near side of the road. The barking of a dog at his approach caused him a little nervousness, but he kept on, remembering what Columbus had told him. Another dog came sniffing and growling at his heels. He paused long enough to kick the canine and it scampered away with shrill yelps of pain and fright.
The following moments were the most thrilling of d.i.c.k"s life. Turning, after delivering the kick which sent the cur scampering off in the darkness, he almost ran into a man.
"Get out of my way, you sp.a.w.n," said a voice which he recognized as none other than that of General Gonzales. "Why are you on this side of the road, anyway, when I told you to guard my quarters? Go over there where you belong, and let the dogs bark as much as they please, but attend to your duties, or it will fare badly with you in the morning. Obey me, p.r.o.nto!" and the rebel chief shoved d.i.c.k out into the wide street.
How grateful d.i.c.k was that no answers were required of him, otherwise he might have been discovered. He did not know now whether or not Gonzales was following after him, and he feared to turn and look. He could hear no footfalls. Now directly in front of him and not fifteen feet distant was the house where Soledad was held a prisoner. According to Columbus, and this was already verified by the remark of Gonzales, there was a sentry guarding the house, and somewhere in the shadows ahead that native soldier was walking. What if he was waiting to attack d.i.c.k on his nearer approach? Perhaps he had heard the chief talking to d.i.c.k on the opposite side of the road and was watching his movements with catlike eyes. d.i.c.k"s ears detected no sound as he drew nearer the house. Now he was within a few feet of the walls. The next moment he dodged around the corner of the building, and just in the nick of time, for, as he did so, the front door was thrown open and the light from the interior streamed into the street. Flattening himself against the wall d.i.c.k peered around cautiously. Before the door stood Gonzales, while emerging from it were five men, presumably those who had accompanied their leader from the outpost on Camino Real.
"Everything is ready," announced the General. "Come, let us go. The others have already started, and we must not delay." The party moved off down the road in the direction of Sanchez, and once again quiet reigned in the immediate vicinity. d.i.c.k now knew the time for action had arrived. Forgetting for the moment that he had to deal with the sentinel who was supposed to be here on duty he was about to step out in the direction of the cocina when he observed the dim moving figure of a soldier coming from the rear of the house.
Slowly the soldier sauntered towards d.i.c.k until he arrived so near that the boy could have touched him. Here the man stopped. d.i.c.k"s heart thumped so violently from the suspense that it almost seemed the soldier could not fail to hear it. The noise pounded in his own ears like the striking of a ba.s.s drum. It was so dark that he could not see what the sentry was doing. Perhaps the eyes of the native, more accustomed to darkness than d.i.c.k"s own, were even then fastened on him and enjoying his discomfort, perhaps----
A rattling noise a.s.sailed d.i.c.k"s ears. It was the sound made by safety matches shaken in a partially empty box. The sentry had seen him, but now was going to strike a light in order to discover his ident.i.ty.
The match sc.r.a.ped along the box, but made no spark. At the second attempt the yellowish flame flared up. In its light the dark brown face of the soldier stood out boldly in the Stygian darkness. A white papered cigarette was between the fellow"s lips and his dark eyes were bent solely on the flame, seeing nothing else. The flame wavered, then there was the sound of a dull blow, the light disappeared and the sentinel sank to the ground. Once again d.i.c.k Comstock"s hard fist had found a victim, and once again he was binding and gagging a rebel soldier.
d.i.c.k used his own regulation belt to make fast his victim"s arms, while the soldier"s belt sufficed to secure his legs. Pulling the native"s shirt over his head d.i.c.k stuffed part of it in his mouth and bound it there with a handkerchief. In the darkness it was difficult work, but he did the best he could, and after dragging the soldier to one side and under a bush, the drummer boy began to feel his way towards the cocina at the rear. A dim light, shining through the cracked walls of the center room, saved him from stumbling into a collection of pots and pans in the small lean-to, which Columbus had dignified by the name of kitchen. Creeping cautiously to the wall of the building under the lean-to, the lad rapped the boards three times, giving the signal agreed upon. Then he waited breathlessly for some response. Finally he heard the sc.r.a.ping of one board on another. The noise came from near the floor where he was waiting. Then he saw the white figure of little Soledad squirm through the opening. Quietly he a.s.sisted her to her feet and without a word, hand in hand, the two stole from the house and out into the grove in the direction of the bay.
They had gone about fifty feet when another figure suddenly confronted them, and again d.i.c.k"s heart seemed to jump to his throat while his right hand sought the pistol hanging at his side.
"Silence, Senor, it is Columbus. I have come to help you find the canoe. Follow me, carefully, for we are near the house where the sailor is imprisoned," and on the little party went like flitting shadows through the grove.
Soon came the soft rustle of waves on the sh.o.r.e, and emerging from under the dense overhead foliage of the palms, objects were more distinguishable. They found the canoe, and in it the paddles which the faithful native boy had previously placed there. d.i.c.k took his place in the stern, the little girl tremblingly, but with no hesitation, sat in the bottom. Then with a whispered "buenas noches,"[#] Columbus shoved the frail craft from the sands out into the waters of the great bay, and with a happy heart d.i.c.k sent the canoe on its way with long powerful strokes.
[#] Buenas noches--Good-night.
CHAPTER XVI
THE ATTACK ON THE CONSULATE
Corporal Dorlan on making the rounds of his little force shortly after taps noticed the Ardois lights from the _Denver_ were flashing regularly. Not being an adept signalman he sought Trumpeter Cabell, who was trying to s.n.a.t.c.h a little sleep on the back piazza of the consulate, and shook him into wakefulness.
"Come, me lad, shake a leg, for the ship is callin" of us, and I want ye to read the message."
"Be with you in a jiffy," said Henry, going to get the lantern, which he had already put to good use in the earlier part of the evening.
Soon he was acknowledging the call, and the message Corporal Dorlan noted down as Henry called off the letters caused the veteran many a chuckle of satisfaction. It was a long message, and immediately it was finished Dorlan and Henry shook hands over it in great glee.
"I knew that lad would turn the trick, and come out on top," remarked the older man as he entered the house in search of Senor Perez.
In the center of the building was a room, which, because of past revolutions, the Consul had prepared against the chance of stray bullets. It was but a makeshift affair, but it had served its purpose on many occasions, and during times of danger the family always occupied it. Around the walls of this compartment rows of iron-wood railroad ties were placed from the floor to ceiling and these tough native timbers could be counted upon to stop the leaden bullets used in the guns with which the opposing factions were generally armed. Corporal Dorlan"s knock at the door of the "strong room," as it was called, was immediately answered by the Consul.
""Tis the "best of news I have for ye, sir," he said, and his face shone with delight. "Yer little daughter is safe and sound aboard the _Denver_. It seems that our drummer boy, d.i.c.k Comstock, followed them rascals what stole her, and he"s just now got her away from "em and is back on the ship. After ye give yer wife the good news I"ve got somethin" important to tell ye, and the quicker the sooner, sir." With that the thoughtful fellow closed the door and impatiently awaited the Consul"s reappearance.
Soon the little man came out and, running up to Dorlan, he embraced the marine in true European fashion by kissing him on both cheeks, much to the old fellow"s embarra.s.sment.
"Your good tidings have made me the happiest man in the world, whereas, but a short time since, I was the most miserable," said the Consul, and he again threatened Dorlan with another exhibition of his enthusiasm, but this time the marine evaded it.
"That"s all right, yer honor, but we can"t be talkin" of that now.
There"s other doin"s afoot this night, and with yer help we can do a neat stroke of work to cap the climax of this day"s excitement."
Thereupon he outlined his plan, and an understanding having been reached Senor Perez returned to his wife, while Dorlan made mysterious visits to each member of his little force. He then distributed them to his satisfaction about the house and grounds. All the lights were extinguished except a low-burning lamp in the s.p.a.cious hallway, and then he sat down to wait behind the closed front door, much as a cat sits before the mouse hole she knows will soon be the scene of some lively action.
Since the end of the message from the ship not a light other than the usual anchor lights could be discerned by the closest observer on the sh.o.r.e. Nor could activity of any kind be noted, but as a matter of fact khaki-clad marines were even then silently embarking in one of the cutters and under m.u.f.fled oars were pulling towards the landing pier.
And from the opposite side of the ship three boat-loads of bluejackets were as silently doing the same thing--but, pulling in the opposite direction, en route to a little barrio less than three kilometers down the coast.
General Fernando Gonzales at the head of his picket force of thirty men halted on the beach road and looked out over the waters at the ship. He heard the beautiful notes of the bugle sounding the soldiers and sailors good-night, and he saw the lights, which had been flickering at the masthead for so long, cease punctuating the darkness. With their cessation he felt reasonably certain that the crew had a feeling of security, and that they felt that everything ash.o.r.e must be going well, for the big search-light was not shining as on previous nights. He did not understand the meaning of the red and white lights, nor know that they were just finishing a message regarding his whereabouts at that very moment. Such signals were unknown in the armies of San Domingo.
Already the people of Sanchez were closing their doors and windows; soon the streets would be deserted. Leaving his men concealed, General Gonzales ventured forth in the direction of the consulate for a little preliminary scouting. It was high time his brother and Juan Mendoza were at the rendezvous, but their non-arrival caused him no great uneasiness. The street before the Consul"s home was also deserted, and he approached the place boldly. As he pa.s.sed the gate the lights in the house were turned out,--the family of Senor Perez had retired. A few yards beyond the last few members of the Club were closing the door and leaving for their homes. He decided to wait no longer. Calling his men, he soon stationed them in the hedge and shrubbery surrounding the consulate, then with his chosen half dozen villains he approached the front entrance and mounting the broad piazza he knocked loudly. Finally the door opened a few inches and the face of Senor Perez appeared.
"Who are you, and what do you want at this hour of the night?" said the Consul in a voice he tried hard to control.
"I wish to talk with you, Senor, on a matter of great importance to us both. Let me in."
"Who are you?" again came in inquiry, though the father knew well that this was the man who had caused him so much heartache that day.
"I am General Fernando Gonzales, and if you do not admit me without further talk I will shoot you," and a long-barreled revolver was shoved ominously through the opening into the face of the consul, who fell back into the dimly lighted hall. In a moment the General and six followers rushed in, well pleased over the success of their operations thus far.
Was it a sudden draft of wind which closed the door so softly behind them? Gonzales never had time nor thought to inquire, for suddenly the large room became a blaze of light, and he found himself staring into the leveled muzzles of six gun barrels in the hands of Dorlan"s men.
"Hands up, ye spalpeens!" called out the voice of the Corporal, and though not a man there understood his words they did understand the menace in the voice, and in a twinkling there were fourteen dirty brown and black hands held tremblingly aloft.
[Ill.u.s.tration: "HANDS UP!"]
"Take them guns and knives, and throw them in the corner, me lad," now ordered Dorlan, and Henry began to disarm the rebels. It was then that the leader Gonzales, knowing what would be his fate if he were turned over to the government troops, made a break for liberty.
Although he put up his hands with the rest he still held in his right hand the revolver he had carried on entering. Now with a wild yell the negro half-breed fired one shot into the air, another in the general direction of the Consul, and as he dashed for a window near by he fired the remaining four shots at the marines lined up across the hall. On reaching the window he unhesitatingly jumped through the flimsy lattice work which guarded it, and was running across the lawn before the house.
The sudden attack of the negro so surprised most of the marines, who were not looking for any active resistance after the men had thrown up their hands, that there was an appreciable moment of inactivity which held back their fire. But not so with Henry, for with the first shot of the rebel chief, the trumpeter had pulled his automatic from the holster, and as Gonzales jumped through the window he fired two shots.
One of those bullets found a resting place in the fleshy part of the native"s leg. The impetus of Gonzales" rush carried him on, but now he stumbled and called upon his followers hidden in the bushes to come to his a.s.sistance. Again he stumbled, this time falling headlong into a flower bed. As he attempted to rise, a figure in khaki rose in front of him; there was the flash of a clubbed rifle, then the weapon descended with crushing force on the general"s skull, and he sank to the ground.
The days of General Fernando Gonzales as a rebel chief were ended.
From all sides came a fusillade of shots. The bullets tore their way through wooden walls or spattered on the tin roof of the building, but harmed no one. From the fort on the hill came the sound of high pitched bugles sounding the alarm, while flashes of light and the sound of guns showed the government troops were as usual wasting ammunition by firing at nothing in particular and everything in general.
Then a red star shot up from the main road a little to the west of the consulate; there came a rush of heavy shoes on the macadam, a rattle of accoutrements, and First Sergeant Dougla.s.s at the head of the remainder of the _Denver"s_ guard charged down the road. Again the search-light of the ship flooded the sh.o.r.e and then, without waiting to see what had befallen their leader, the rebels took to their heels and fled.
It was daylight before the excitement in the town subsided, but by then it was known that the hold of the rebels over the inhabitants was effectually broken. The General was dead, his brother, his lieutenant, Juan Mendoza, and the six others were turned over to the custody of the Federal troops. As for those rebels in camp at the barrio, they too had been dispersed, for when the landing party of sailors, guided by d.i.c.k, reached the sh.o.r.e near the barrio and demanded the surrender of the deserter Choiniski they fled incontinently, fearing an attack from the Americanos, which they did not relish.