The Marines Have Landed

by L. T. Meade

  CHAPTER XII

  SENOR PEREZ ASKS FOR AID

  Before the mud caused by the dropping anchor rose to the surface of thewater, a shore boat containing two oarsmen and one passenger put outfrom the wharf and pulled for the _Denver_. That the passenger was in ahurry was evidenced by his gesticulating hands, and by the black cottonumbrella held by its bulging center which he waved in an attempt to makethe clumsy boatmen pull together. From under the white cork helmet hisdark face worked spasmodically as with a mixture of Spanish, English andGerman words he urged on his laggard crew.

  Interested sailors and marines lined the ship's rail, watching theapproach of the stout, excited little foreigner. His rapid speech wasnow quite audible though not intelligible.

  "He is giving those peons what my mother would call 'gowdy,'" said Dickto Henry, "and that is her worst swear word."

  "Meaning our excitable friend is rather strong in his choice ofexpletives?" inquired Henry.

  "You've got it, Hank! His language is hot enough to make a bottle ofTobasco sauce weep tears of envy."

  By this time the boat was within a few yards of the ship.

  "Boat ahoy! What do you want?" hailed the Officer of the Deck.

  "I want to see the Captain. I am the consul. I am Senor Perez. Thereis much trouble."

  "Come alongside," ordered the Officer of the Deck, and walked to thegangway to meet the consul who, with surprising agility, sprang from hisboat and waddled hurriedly on deck.

  "Excuse the absence of honors, Senor, but we did not expect you. TheCaptain will see you at once, sir."

  "I do not want the honors, I want the protection. I want----"

  "Orderly, conduct Senor Perez to the Captain's cabin," said the officer,and still talking volubly the little man disappeared below, the marineorderly leading the way.

  "It was a regular vaudeville show," said Private Jones later, hardlyable to control his laughter while he related the interview to a groupof friends accosting him for news after he came off watch. "The littleSpig is our consul, all right enough, and after the Old Man had quietedhim down a bit he appeared to be a pretty agreeable sort. But, say! Hewas going strong when he first opened up, and that's no idle jest."

  "All right, Jonesie, cut that part and tell us what all the excitement'sabout."

  "From what I gathered seeing the door to the cabin was open all thetime," continued Jones, "he's all wrought up over the arrival of a bunchof rebels in the hills back of the town. He has just returned from atrip to the States; came on a Clyde Liner Saturday. His daughter wasstruck in the leg by a stray bullet during the revolution two years agoand has been in New York for treatment. He brought her back, also a newGerman governess for his four children, the oldest being this littlegirl--her name is Sol-la-de-da or something like that----"

  "Guess you mean Soledad," volunteered Dick.

  "That's it,--Soledad! Well, last night the rebs shot up the town, butno one was hurt. The little girl--he sort of worships her--was scaredstiff, and so was everyone else. The government troops were afraid toleave the fort, but added their shots and shouts to the general uproar.

  "Some of the bullets hit the consulate, and Perez believes, because heis the American Consul and Americans are unpopular with the rebs--alsobecause he was active in electing the present president--that they areafter him. He's a native of San Domingo, and I expect he ought to knowwhat he's talking about."

  "What did the Old Man tell him?" asked one of the men.

  "The Captain told him he'd received orders not to send any forces ashoreunless absolutely necessary; in other words, that we are not to getmixed up with any of the fighting at all if we can help it. He offeredto take him and all his family on board for a while."

  "What did the Spig say to that?"

  "Oh, he went up in the air at first, but it was finally settled toarrange signals from his house to the ship, and if he was actuallyattacked he could send up a rocket or two and we'd land in a jiffy. Yousee, there are only about fifty insurrectos in the hills, so it'sestimated, and there are two hundred government troops in the town, andthe rebs are afraid to come in to attack, even though the federals areafraid of them. We are going to keep our search-lights on all night,and though we can't see the Spigs in the bosky they'll think we can, andthat'll be enough to scare 'em. After that Mr. Consul went ashore witha bundle of rockets under one arm and his old bumbershoot under theother, mollified but not satisfied."

  "Is that all you know?" inquired another inquisitive man.

  "You can't expect me to remember everything; besides, I'm no eveningpaper," answered Jones.

  "You ain't no yeller journal, that's sure," said Joe Choiniski,sneeringly, from the edge of Jones' audience. "I, for one, wouldn'tgive two cents to read all you've chawed about so far."

  "Nobody asked you to butt in and listen," promptly answered Jones,looking at the speaker, who was none too popular, especially with themarines, "but I've got a dime thriller up my sleeve for the Sundayedition."

  "Loosen up, Jonesie," said a big marine, tossing into the circle aquarter, which Jones deftly caught, "here's two bits; you can keep thechange. What's the scandal?"

  Rather proud at being the center of so much attraction, an honor notordinarily accorded him, Jones continued:

  "Well, the chief thing old Perez was excited over is a bunch of moneyhe's got in his house. He's about the richest man in town, and is akind of banker too, and he's got several thousands of dollars ofgovernment money in his keeping. He can't get rid of it, for therailroad is busted up. He's afraid to let the Commanding Officer of thegovernment troops know about it, for the simple reason that a lot of payis already due him and his men, and they'd be liable to confiscate itand his own coin too. He claims that the rebel chief is an enemy of hisand wouldn't hesitate to kill him and his whole family if he heard aboutthe money and could get it. He can't let the money out of his house forthe reason he's received word a federal officer is expected at any oldtime to get it, and if he didn't have it ready for instant delivery,he'd always be in bad with the authorities, and----"

  "You have done enough talking, young man," interrupted First SergeantDouglass, who overheard the latter part of Jones' discourse, "and I wantto tell you, if ever I hear you or any other orderly disclosing, withoutauthority, official matters which you may happen to overhear while onduty in a position of trust, I'll see that you get well and properlypunished. You may not have thought of it in that light, but it's asneaking, unmanly trick, and marines are supposed to be men, notsneaks."

  Private Jones was honest enough to feel the humiliation of this rebuke,but that did not stop the tales he told from being quickly carried toevery member of the crew.

  Soon after, "all hands" was called. Rifles and ammunition issued to thesailors and word passed that the landing force would sleep under armsuntil further notice, after which recall sounded and the routine drillswere resumed.

  Much to the disappointment of the crew, no one was allowed ashore, andthough the town did not offer much in the way of diversion orentertainment, it was a new country and a new people for the majority,and all were naturally curious.

  On the steep slopes of the hill, rising abruptly from the water's edge,nestled the little town, consisting of one principal street followinggenerally a contour line, while from it on either hand were cobbledlanes and narrow paths with no general symmetry or direction. Back ofthe town on a spur of the mountain stood the red-walled fort, a windingroad leading to its entrance. Barefooted soldiers in red caps and bluedenim coats and trousers and armed with nearly every make of antiquerifle lined the walls of the fort or marched along the road. Atfrequent intervals strange calls sounded on high pitched bugles to whichno one seemed to pay the slightest attention.

  Night fell! A glorious rising moon spread its effulgent rays over apeaceful scene. From the little village on the hillside came the tinkleof guitars, the shouts of playing children. The shore lights twinkl
edcheerfully, while in a large building a dance was in progress. Added tothe moon's brilliancy were the beams of the ship's search-lightsconstantly moving over woods and town, making objects clear cut anddistinct but casting massive black shadows where house or hillockintervened.

  "This is the bloodiest war I've ever heard about," said Henry in disgustat the peaceful turn of affairs. "I do wish they'd start something,don't you, Dick?"

  Dick glanced about at the sleeping men, their rifles by their sides,canteens and haversacks and bayonets within easy reach, ready for anyemergency, but instead of answering he emitted an unintelligible grunt,turned over on his side and was soon asleep.

  For two nights peace and quiet. The insurrectos had withdrawn from thenear-by hills, so it was reported, but were guarding all the roads andkeeping fresh supplies from reaching the inhabitants.

  On Wednesday afternoon liberty was granted a limited number of officersand men. Henry, being on duty, was unable to go ashore, so Dick foundhimself alone soon after his arrival on the beach.

  A small hotel attracted most of the men with its one decrepit pooltable, tinny piano and refreshment cafe. The town was a little gardenspot, each yard filled with a profusion of flowers. Dick turned to theleft at the main street and strolled along in the direction of theconsulate. Passing the house, easily the finest residence in sight, henoticed the bright colors of the American flag hanging from the whitepole, and on the spacious piazza three children, olive-skinned anddark-eyed, waved their hands in friendly greeting to the young marine.He addressed them in his halting Spanish, but they hung back bashfully,making no reply.

  Senor Perez's residence was at the end of the well-kept street on theoutskirts of the town. Dick, not noticing where the winding road to thefort branched off, continued into the country before he became awarethat the road was little more than a wide trail, which had turned andtwisted away from the bay. Occupied with his thoughts, and the tropicalvegetation and strange birds on every hand, he had gone much furtherthan was his intention.

  He was about to retrace his steps when a woman's scream from around thebend ahead arrested him. Though no words were uttered it was distinctlya call for help, and without a second thought Dick ran towards the spot.Arriving at the bend of the road he saw a young woman in the grasp oftwo disreputable looking natives, while a few yards beyond a half dozenothers with rifles slung over their shoulders were turning off the trailinto the dense underbrush.

  The leading man of those in the distance carried a struggling child, agirl, in his arms. From where he stood Dick noticed her face wascovered with a dirty cloth which stifled any outcry. The two menholding the woman were so occupied in keeping her from breaking away inpursuit of the men with the child, and attempting to gag her, that theywere unaware of Dick's timely approach. The fact that the ruffians didnot see him favored the attack which the boy delivered silently andswiftly. One of the men was holding the woman's arms while the other,bending, endeavored to bind them behind her with a piece of rope. Shetwisted her supple body and kicked vigorously with her stout walkingshoes.

  As Dick reached them he swung his right fist with all his strength onthe jaw of the standing man, knocking him senseless to the road.Grabbing the other about the waist he fairly lifted him off the groundand threw him heavily.

  Like a cat the native was on his feet. Rushing at Dick with a savagecry he drew back his right arm, in which was a dangerous looking knife.His assailant was within a few feet of him when Dick launched his onehundred and sixty-five pounds of brawn and muscle in a low tackle whichdid credit to his football training at Bankley. Unaccustomed to such amethod of attack, the native had no chance at all, and again he fell tothe path, his head striking against a rock; the knife flew from his handinto the bushes, and he lay there motionless.

  In another moment Dick was up, and taking the pieces of rope he foundnear by, he quickly tied both men securely, nor did he do the task atall gently. The man whom Dick had first struck was now groaning, for theterrific blow had fractured his jaw; as for the other, it was notcertain in Dick's mind whether he was dead or not, for he had not movedsince his second fall.

  For the first time Dick looked at the woman whose summons for help hehad so effectually answered. To his surprise she was lying in the road,her eyes closed and face deathly pale. What should he do? Was shedead? Had her assailants dealt her some fatal blow? Had he arrived toolate to save her?

  Kneeling at her side Dick looked anxiously into her face; he feltincompetent to cope with this phase of the situation. She was a comelywoman about thirty years of age, her fair complexion and light hairproclaiming her of a northern race. As he watched, the color beganslowly returning to the white cheeks. He saw her lips move and bendinghe caught the one word they uttered:

  "Soledad!"

  He was still bending over her when the eyelids quiveringly opened anddrawing a deep sigh the blue eyes of the woman looked straight up intothe dark eyes of the brown-skinned boy, whose straight black hair andaquiline features, now covered in dirt and dust, brought to her mind butone thought--the horrible men who had attacked her. She started toscream, but the unspeakable terror again crept over her and again shefainted.

  Dick's mind was working with lightning rapidity. The name "Soledad" mustbe that of Senor Perez's daughter; this woman must be the new governess!Her two assailants, securely bound, were no longer a menace, but thechild was in a dangerous predicament. The German woman would soonregain consciousness and be able to secure help--but Soledad, the littlegirl already in mortal fear of rebels, who for two years had sufferedfrom a former revolution, what of her? If he returned for help herabductors would be far away by that time. If he set out in pursuit atonce he might overtake them and--and what?

  He was unarmed! What could he accomplish against so many? Six men haddisappeared in the tangle of woods,--there might be more, and those hehad seen were armed with rifles. He remembered that point distinctly.

  How fast his brain worked!--the pros and cons flashing before his mind'seye with kaleidoscopic clearness, in all their varying positions. Wouldthose who had gone wait for their two comrades?

  In that thought was a glimmer of hope, for it might be they were evennow waiting not far off. Could he find them? The trail, thecountry,--all were new to him!

  His roving eyes swept the two men lying at the roadside. Here wereweapons. He at least would not go unarmed. Rising, he went to thetrussed-up men and calmly took from them their revolvers, holsters andammunition belts. The man with a broken jaw was suffering, but with thestoicism of a brute rather than of a man. From him Dick also removed atwo-edged dagger in its sheath, while the fellow glared at him silently.A moment in adjusting his weapons, another to find his campaign hat, afinal inspection of the bound legs and arms of the natives, a last lookat the woman, who was showing signs of returning consciousness, and hewas running off down the road. Not a mad dash such as he made in hisattack, but the long swinging stride of the cross-country athlete.

  It seemed to Dick as though hours had elapsed, when in reality theminutes had been but few. In the stress of action, when brain and mind,flesh and bone, nerve and muscle, are working in perfect cooerdinationeven Time in his flight appears to stop and wait. But Dick's mind wasnot engaged in thoughts of this character as he turned from the trailand disappeared into the tropical jungle on his precarious errand ofmercy.

  Fraeulein Stauche opened her eyes slowly. She almost feared to do so,for the last thing she remembered were the black eyes of a dirtyferocious native glaring into her own, his face so close she could feelhis breath fanning her cheek. This time she saw nothing but the bluesky overhead. The sun, low on the western ridge, would soon sink,bringing a premature twilight hour to the little town nestling at thebase of the lofty mountain. The glare, however, hurt her eyes and sheclosed them. It was easier to collect her thoughts thus. Why was shelying here under the open sky, and who had been the man staring at herwhen she looked but a second or two ago? Where was Soledad
?

  Soledad!

  The name brought back with such startling poignancy the fearful tragedythrough which she had lived that she struggled to her feet and lookedabout her in fear and trembling. She recalled how, with Soledad holdingher hand, they had strolled along this path, when without warning twomen sprang at her from the bushes and attempted to gag her, whileothers, how many she could not remember, grabbed her dainty littlecharge and ran along the path and disappeared in the thicket, leavingher fighting and struggling. She looked down the trail and caught sightof a man just turning where the others had turned.

  What had they done with the child? What should she do? Fear wastugging at her heart and her knees shook with weakness. A movement atthe roadside attracted her. She looked. Lying there were two men.They were now still, but the eyes of one were fastened on her. With ascream of terror, Fraeulein Stauche turned and ran as fast as she couldfor the town behind her.

  At last the consulate--and from the pole flew the stars and stripes inthe evening breeze! Thank the good God that the gray ship was in theharbor. Help would soon be forthcoming, and as she struggled on sheprayed it would not come too late.

  When the officers reported their divisions at evening quarters on boardthe _Denver_ that night another of the ship's force was among thosemissing. For Drummer Comstock had already been reported as absent uponthe return of the liberty party at five-thirty, but now the EngineerOfficer stated that Joe Choiniski had jumped ship.

  "How do you think Choiniski got ashore?" asked the Captain of Mr. Ogden.

  "The only solution I can offer is that during the noon hour, while themen were buying fruit from the bum-boats, Choiniski secreted himselfaboard one of them. He was seen hanging around the port gangway at thathour in dungarees and Chief Master-at-Arms Fitch ordered him below."

  "Did he obey the order?"

  "Fitch does not know, sir. The Officer of the Deck called him at thatsecond to drive away some bum-boatmen trying to tie up to the starboardgangway, and when he returned Choiniski was gone."

  "That coal passer is a bad man, and I hope, now that he's gone, that wehave seen the last of him; but, isn't it a strange coincidence thatDrummer Comstock did not return on time? Do you attach any significanceto that?"

  "Oh, no, Captain, Comstock and Choiniski are not in the least friendly.They would not hob-nob together."

  "That is not what I mean. I have heard that Choiniski threatened to geteven with Comstock on account of the affair in Culebra. I was thinkingthat he might have made his threat good. I believe him capable ofalmost any act. I don't like his face."

  "Here is Sergeant Douglass, sir; he may give us some information," saidMr. Ogden, and the Captain turned to the old marine.

  "Sergeant, what have you heard regarding the actions of Drummer Comstockwhile on shore?"

  "From inquiries, sir, I find he did not stay with the others, but wentaround town by himself. Some sailors were talking with him in front ofthe hotel, and they state that he started off for the fort. After he hadgone some distance they also decided to visit the fort and followed him,but when they came to the road that leads up the hill they saw him stillgoing along the main road in an easterly direction. They thought heacted queerly in not asking them to accompany him, for they werediscussing the matter between them, and when they saw he didn't gotowards the fort at all, they decided he must have some reason for notwanting them along. That was the last seen of the boy."

  "Thank you, Sergeant, that is all. Let me know if you hear anythingfurther."

  "Aye, aye, sir," and Sergeant Douglass saluted and turned away.

  "It's after six o'clock, sir, and if that is all for the present I willget ready for mess."

  Captain Bentley was about to reply when the Gunner came hurriedly up theladder and, spying Lieutenant Commander Ogden, he approached andsaluted.

  "Mr. Ogden, the chief gunner's mate reports to me that two Colt'sforty-fives, and a dozen boxes of ammunition have disappeared from thearmory since morning quarters. He put the revolvers away himself andlocked the door--it is a snap lock--which was still as he left it whenhe went in the armory a while ago."

  "Who has access to the armory, Mr. Nelson?" asked the Captain, and adark frown appeared on his face. Too many inexplicable things werehappening on board his ship this day to suit him, and he was becomingdecidedly annoyed.

  "I have the only key, sir, and I never allow anyone in the armory exceptthe chief gunner's mate. Whenever he gets through his work there healways brings the key to me. Of course, Mr. Ogden has duplicate keys,as you know, sir."

  "Does the chief gunner's mate permit anyone in there?"

  "No, sir, I believe he obeys my order to the letter. A few days ago heasked and received permission to allow Drummer Comstock of the marinesin there. The boy wanted to familiarize himself with the mechanism ofthe Colt's machine-gun."

  "Hm-m-m-m! What do you think now, Mr. Ogden?" and Captain Bentley gazedscowlingly at the darkening shadows on the mountainside, and the lightsappearing, one by one, in the houses ashore.

  Even while he looked there came distinctly to his ears the loud:

  Sh-h-h-s-h-h! like escaping steam as from the vicinity of the consulatea streak of fire shot into the air. Then came the sound of anexplosion, while directly over the ship three green balls of fire cast aghostly glare on the upturned faces of officers and men.

  Senor Perez had called for aid!