_ CHAPTER XXVI
The sailboat crept slowly out into the middle of the river, the breeze being so light that only a faint rippling was heard at the bow, and the craft hardly answered her helm. Major Starland had noted that the wind was not favorable, and he was compelled to tack toward the northern shore. He ran close in and was cheered by a freshening of the breeze which added perceptibly to the speed.
"At this rate," said his sister, "we shall not reach Zalapata till tomorrow is well advanced."
"It cannot matter, for there is no special need of haste."
"Suppose, when General Yozarro returns, he pursues us?"
"It is not impossible; it will be easy for him to overhaul such a slow-sailing boat as this, but he dare not offer us harm. Are we not free born Americans, and will not our government be quick to punish such an offence?"
"You must not forget that the South American is an idiot, for, had he not been, he would not have dared to forbid my leaving the Castle."
"Since a long sail is before us, why not let me adjust a couch for you to sleep?"
"Sleep! As if I could sleep at such a time as this! I had all I needed last evening when in prison."
It will be remembered that Captain Guzman and Martella were seated at the bow, facing those at the stern. Thus the moonlit river beyond was in clear view, and the sombre, motionless form of the tugboat could be made out where it snuggled against the southern bank. The deserter was speaking in low tones to the Captain, when he uttered an exclamation which caused the officer to turn his gaze to the rear.
That which the former fireman saw was a number of sparks mingling with the heavy vapor that was beginning to tumble out of the smokestack. The next moment both saw that the craft was heading out into the river.
"General Yozarro and his officers have returned!" called Martella; "the firemen are cramming the furnace with wood; they mean to pursue us!"
Jack Starland and his sister looked behind them. The Atlamalcan had spoken the truth. The time seemed much too short for the party to have made the journey to the Castle and back. In fact, it was impossible for them to have done so, but there could be no doubt that they were all on the tugboat. The explanation instantly flashed upon Martella.
"Captain Navarro suspected the truth some time after we left and hurried to take us to the Castle again. Some news may have reached him, or his own sense told him of my trick. He met the General on the way."
Such undoubtedly was the fact. Had our friends suspected aught of that nature, they would not have frittered away the precious minutes as they had done.
Meanwhile, the resinous wood flung into the furnace of the tugboat was doing its work. From the single smokestack poured the murky vapor, sprinkled with crimson sparks which were tossed right and left high in air, to drop hissing into the water. In the moonlight, a snowy winrow at the bow showed that the tug was plowing ahead with fast increasing speed. Capable of making a dozen miles an hour, she was already doing her best, and coming up with the sailboat hand over hand.
Only a few minutes were given the fugitives in which to decide what to do. A straight away race was hopeless, for the pursuer, now no more than an eighth of a mile distant, was sure to overhaul them in a very brief time.
"I am inclined to let General Yozarro come up with us," said the Major; "I have no fear of his molesting me or Miss Starland, and I am rather curious to hear what he has to say for himself. We are in our own boat, or at least not in his, and we have committed no crime against the Atlamalcan Republic, whatever that name means."
"You must not think for an instant of such a thing," said his sister with great earnestness.
"Why not? Do you hold him in fear?"
"No; but he will take vengeance upon Martella, who has served us so faithfully."
"Great heavens! I never thought of that; and he will be as merciless with Captain Guzman for having helped Martella."
"And with _you_ for crossing his path."
"With me! I long for a meeting with him; but, Captain," added the American, raising his voice; "it will not do for you and Martella to be on board when General Yozarro overtakes us."
"I think you are right," replied the Captain; "the General and I have never loved each other, and even General Bambos would not object strongly if it is proposed to shoot me for aiding an Atlamalcan to desert from his navy."
Martella said nothing, but no one understood the situation better than he.
"I will head the boat for the southern shore, where you two can look out for yourselves."
"I am afraid you will not have the time to reach it."
"It _must_ be done!"
The American had pushed the tiller sharply round, and the boat was speeding diagonally for the bank. The change of course gave her a fairer wind, but the tug was coming up so fast that it looked as if she must head off the fugitives. Full steam had been put on, and our affrighted friends, when they looked back, saw the tumbling foam at the bow, the spreading wake streaming fanlike to the rear, and the dark figures crowding forward, amid whom it was easy to believe they discerned the form of General Yozarro cursing the engineer for not attaining better speed.
"If we cannot make it," said Martella to the Captain, "we must jump over and swim."
"We cannot swim any faster than we are going now, and the water abounds with enemies."
"None is so treacherous as Yozarro; I at least will try it; I can let myself over softly and make so long a dive that perhaps he will not notice me."
"Wait a few minutes, Martella, for I do not like your plan."
The brief interval decided the question. It seemed that the sailboat might touch land before the pursuer could interpose to head them off. Martella decided to take his chances with the others.
The tug was now so near that Yozarro called:
"Stop or we'll blow you out of the water!"
"Blow and be hanged!" called back Major Jack; "if you fire on an American citizen, your nuisance of a republic will be wiped off the earth."
"You have a deserter with you; I demand his surrender."
Therein shone the cunning of General Yozarro. If an American was fired upon in Atlamalcan waters for carrying off a deserter, it was little satisfaction our citizen would be able to obtain. Without hesitation, Major Starland shouted:
"We have the man; come and get him!" _