Suppose, what was quite likely, that suspicion should again enter the brain of the Captain, when he gained time to think over the extraordinary situation? Suppose, what was also likely, that General Yozarro should arrive while the bogus messenger was inside the Castle?
He would be caught like a rat in a trap.
And yet knowing all these things, Martella gave not the first evidence of hurry. He went up the stone steps with dignified tread, knocked at the right door, and was admitted to the apartment, where, as we know, he explained to the two young women the remarkable errand on which he had come.
CHAPTER XXII.
There was not a doubt in the mind of Miss Starland when she read the few pencilled lines handed to her by the deserter. She was too familiar with the handwriting to be mistaken. She pa.s.sed the paper to her companion.
"You must not hesitate," said the latter, the moment she caught its meaning; "go at once."
"Will you come with me?"
"No; I am not asked to do so. I can be of no help, and _I_ have nothing to fear from my uncle, General Yozarro."
Little preparation was needed. Attired in the light, gauzy material of the tropics, it only remained for her to adjust her hat and to catch up the reticule containing a few indispensable articles. Still she lingered, impressed by the importance of the step she was about to take.
Martella stood like a statue, but the tension had become almost intolerable.
"Shall I retire till the Senorita is ready?" he respectfully asked.
"There is no necessity; I have simply to go with you."
"May I then be permitted to say that not a moment must be thrown away?
General Yozarro is expected, and if we linger it will be too late."
Just then the alert ears of the man heard an unusual stir below.
"I fear he has come; we must not stay."
He lowered his voice to a whisper and could not repress signs of agitation. In the trying instant he decided upon his course of action.
He would go down stairs, and in the excitement, try to slip outside.
Then he would make a dash for life, with the chances still a hundred to one against success.
The friends embraced affectionately, and the Senorita gently pushed the other through the door which she opened.
"G.o.d and the saints be with you! Linger not another second."
Martella stepped outside, replaced his hat and with his deliberate walk, led the way down the stairs, which were dimly lighted by the lamp below. Sternly repressing all signs of haste, he slipped his right hand under his jacket and rested it on the handle of his knife.
"They shall have a fight for it!" he muttered; "if the General is within reach, my knife shall find his heart."
But the flurry that had startled him was not caused by the arrival of General Yozarro. It was due to the natural curiosity over the departure of one of the young women, which had become known, when the saddled pony was brought to the front of the Castle where Captain Navarro was waiting, with one of his soldiers holding the bridle.
Whatever the officer may have thought, it was evident there was no change in his intentions.
Miss Starland walked lightly forward, fastening her reticule to her girdle, so as to leave her hands free, bowed to the Captain, who snapped off his hat, replaced it, and, slightly stooping, took the tiny foot for a moment in his hand, and a.s.sisted her to the saddle and reached the reins to her. She said "_Adios_!" to him and the others gathered round, whereat there was a general uncovering. Martella saluted and with his former dignified tread, walked toward the edge of the plateau, in the direction of the trail leading to the river from which he had come. The most wrenching effort of his life was to restrain himself from breaking into a lope and calling upon his charge to do the same with her horse. He succeeded by a supreme effort.
It was a hundred yards to the point where the bit of level land dipped, and half the distance was pa.s.sed, when Captain Navarro called:
"Stop, Martella! Wait!"
The man instantly halted, thrusting his hand under his jacket and closing his iron fingers about the handle of his weapon. Matters had gone too far for any drawing back. It was now to keep on or fight to the death, for he had no doubt that the officer had changed his mind and meant to hold both until the arrival of General Yozarro.
"I will pause to hear what he speaks," he said in a low voice to the wondering young woman; "your horse knows the trail; keep on; you have not far to go to meet your brother and his friend."
She had checked the pony, but twitched the rein and he walked steadily toward the darkness, leaving the grim Atlamalcan to have it out with Captain Navarro. The latter was approaching fast and came up panting slightly from the exertion.
"Martella, you will not forget to remind General Yozarro that I was quick to obey his command, as soon as you gave it to me?"
"Have no fear, Captain."
In the immeasurable relief and the dread of awaking distrust, the deserter punished himself. Instead of immediately following his charge, he remained facing the officer. It seemed wise to indulge in some pointless converse.
The Captain looked inquiringly at him, not understanding the cause of his hesitation.
"Is there anything more you would say to me, Captain? Though I have lingered longer than I expected, I can afford a few more minutes."
"No, no, except to repeat that you shall be remembered by me. I am sorry that I detained you; it is best you should make haste."
"Then, if you are sure, I will follow the Senorita, but I can wait a brief while longer, Captain."
It was the latter who now showed nervousness, though the strain upon him was not a tenth of what the other suffered.
"Off with you! Do you not see that you may lose the Senorita?"
The pony with its rider was pa.s.sing from view below the margin of the plateau, and the man now made the haste that looked natural. Although the trail was easily followed, his place was in advance. While gliding past the stirrup, he said:
"We have been fortunate, Senorita, but much danger still threatens."
CHAPTER XXIII.
Something prompted Martella to turn his head and look back. Not Captain Navarro alone, but two of the soldiers had come to the head of the path and stood out in clear relief in the strong moonlight, looking after the vanishing couple. Martella grimly thought:
"The Captain is not easy in his mind, but it is now too late for him to stop me."
A little way down the trail, under the shadow of the deep foliage, stood the two men who were awaiting the coming of the messenger and young woman. The time, brief as it was, had been trying to the last degree to Major Jack Starland, who came forward into the moonlight and approached the halted pony, which p.r.i.c.ked his ears and showed some timidity. But the rider readily controlled him.
"Halloa, Jack!"
"My dear Warrenia!"