_ CHAPTER XVII
The cheek of the American blanched, and she looked earnestly at her friend, as if she did not take in the full meaning of her words. She spoke in a whisper:
"Tell me what you mean."
The other rose from her chair, walked across the room to the closed door, and turned the big key in the massive lock. Then she lifted the ponderous bar and dropped it into place.
"It may not be necessary," she said, as she came back, sat down and took the hand which she had released; "for though some of the servants may be in the next room, or in the hall outside, none can hear what we say. It will do no harm, however, to be certain. If you could have your wish you would be in Zalapata tonight?"
"Most assuredly I should."
"Because the Major is there, but if he chanced to be away, your situation would be no better than at Atlamalco."
"I am certain it would be a thousand-fold better."
"I am afraid, dear friend from the North, that I see some things clearer than you; General Bambos is just as much infatuated with your loveliness as General Yozarro."
"But he has a wife and family!" was the horrified exclamation of Miss Starland.
"That makes not the slightest difference to him."
An expression of unutterable scorn darkened the face of the American.
"Impossible as it seems, Manuela, I must believe you. How can you live here?" she asked with impulsive disgust; "you cannot trust _any_ man in this country."
"Ah, my dear Warrenia, they are not all alike; I certainly know _one_ who is different from the two we have been talking about."
And the dark countenance became delightfully darker, and was aglow with the radiance of perfect love and trust.
"I am glad to assure you I believe every word you say; I forgot Captain Ramon Ortega, the brave officer and faultless gentleman, whose greatest good fortune is to come when he wins you."
"And his good fortune will be no greater than mine; but, Warrenia, to leave the most winsome of subjects for the most hateful, you will be safer at Zalapata with Major Jack, but neither of you will be secure until you are on the yacht and beyond reach of General Bambos, as well as of General Yozarro. I could almost advise you to wait here, and yet something whispers it will not do."
"But how am I to leave? It will not do to attempt the journey alone to Zalapata, and what way is there of sending word thither?"
"Why shall we not have our ponies brought up and ride direct to the capital? They are here already, with proper saddles. We can start tomorrow after breaking fast, and we should reach the capital by nightfall."
"Do you know the route?"
"As well as the walks around the old Seminary, where we spent the happiest days of our lives; I have gone over it many times in my girlhood and have done so since coming home."
"Neither of us carries any firearms and we must face danger."
"I was never in any danger, though I suppose there must be more or less of it. I shouldn't like to meet a jaguar, tiger cat or zaratu, but we might do so without any harm coming to us."
"What of the serpents?"
"The big ones are near the streams and in the marshy country; we have a few coral snakes with their black heads and ringed bodies, but we are as safe from them without as with firearms. This part of the world is not so much infested as others. If I have no hesitation in making the venture should you feel any?"
"I do not; shall we take an escort?"
"It would seem we ought to do so, but I believe it best to have none."
"For what reason?"
"They would be soldiers of General Yozarro."
The significance of these words was not lost upon the other, who hastened to say:
"Let us go alone."
They sat communing until the night was far advanced. Their plans for the morrow may be summarized in what has been stated. Both believed that no special risk would be run in venturing upon a journey of something more than twenty miles by daylight, without firearms or escort. As a rule, strangers had little to fear in passing through any section of either republic, and there were several native huts along the trail, where the Senorita had obtained refreshment and secured lodging on some of the journeys that were begun too late in the day to be completed before nightfall. Although she was always in the company of others, it was not on account of any misgiving or fear on her part.
Very rarely or never was a wheeled vehicle seen either in Zalapata or Atlamalco, and the connecting roads were naturally no more than simple trails; but all of these were so clearly marked that there was no cause for even a stranger losing his way. While the bifurcation of the river made the water communication between the republics more convenient, many preferred the overland journey. The ride through the craggy mountains, whose width may be roughly given as less than half a dozen miles, was romantic and easy enough when made on the back of a horse.
The strange, disturbing situation in which Miss Starland found herself kept her awake long after the gentle breathing of her friend at her side told her she was unconscious. The conditions were so singular and so alarming that at times she was mystified and doubted the wisdom of the course they had decided upon. She could not believe that the path was as free from danger as the Senorita supposed. None the less, she was resolved to make the venture. There was one comforting feature about it all: if they were followed and brought back under some pretext by the soldiers of General Yozarro, no unpleasant consequences would result therefrom to them. The man would be ready with some plausible justification of his course, but would be as effusive in his courtesy as ever. Finally the sorely troubled one slept.
Neither awoke until the sunlight streamed through the narrow windows, and then the two were roused by the knocking on the outer door, and the call of Juanita that she was waiting with their food. She was admitted and the meal on the broad silver tray was set on the stand in the middle of the apartment. Nothing could have been more appetizing, in that smothering climate, consisting as it did wholly of fruit, and delicious cocoa, including prepared rice, mandioc and cassava, the last being the most popular food in that part of the world.
Juanita having left the meal, courtesied, called down the blessings of the saints upon the visitors, and, assuring them that it would be her happiness to come whenever wanted and to act the part of slave all her life to them, went away, and once more our friends were alone. The Senorita did not fasten the door, for there was no call to do so, and in due time, the two drew up their chairs and partook of the food with the zest of youth and health. There was abundance for both and they fully enjoyed it. By and by, Juanita returned and removed the remains of the repast.
Miss Starland walked to each of the narrow windows in turn and gazed out over the surrounding country. One of the openings gave a view of the Rio Rubio, as it wound to the eastward, until its reunion and onward flow to the Atlantic. She descried a catboat leaning far over and skimming up stream toward Atlamalco, and a canoe, in which were two natives, was observed, as one of the occupants swung his paddle like an American Indian and drove the tiny craft toward the northern shore. But as her vision roved up and down the river, she failed to see that for which she longed above everything else. The yacht which had brought her to this part of the world was still absent. In neither direction could she catch a glimpse of Atlamalco or Zalapata. The other window opened to the south, or toward the mountains, where the view had no interest for her.
As she had done before, she remarked upon the massiveness of the walls and the straightness of the window openings.
"They are so narrow that we could not force ourselves through."
"Our old buccaneer friend must have had them made thus on purpose. Suppose some of those who hated him--which means all the others--should have become strong enough to clamber up the walls on the outside,--was it not well to make it impossible for them to enter the Castle?"
The matter, however, was of slight interest to our friends and they hurried their preparations for the journey. The Senorita donned her hat and led the way down the steps to the outside. To both it looked as if the number of guards had been increased during the night, for more than a dozen were in sight, without regarding those who had lain down to rest. The young women were saluted by all as they appeared, and the soldiers whom they recognized as their escort of the night before, came forward to learn their wishes.
"Carlos, the ponies that brought us here are still with you?"
"They are, Senorita."
"Have them saddled and brought out; we are to ride to Zalapata today, and wish to make an early start."
The man removed his hat, bowed and spoke with the utmost respect:
"I am grieved not to hasten to comply with your commands; but we have orders from General Yozarro that the Senoritas are to remain here till he comes, which will be in a few hours, I think. It fills my heart with sorrow, but as a soldier, the Senorita knows that no choice is left to me."
And this time, he made two obesiances,--one for each of the dumfounded young women. _