CHAPTER XX
CAPTAIN DYNAMITE TO THE RESCUE
Consul Wyman sat in his study in deep thought. His heart was heavy andin his mind plan after plan to save the boys from their threatened fatewas formed, only to be abandoned as not feasible. His wife sat with himaiding now and then by a suggestion. She, too, was deeply interested inthe fate of the American boys, of whose adventures and self-sacrificeher husband had told her.
"Everything falls to the ground, Annie," he said finally. "There is onlyone hope and that is an appeal to the government."
"But you know the red tape and delay that means, John," said his wife.
"We have forty-eight hours from dawn to-morrow."
"Far too short a time to reach Washington through Spanish sources, Ifear."
"I believe you are right."
"And you cannot stir Serano?"
"He is adamant."
"Then I can see nothing but an appeal to Weyler."
"There is scarcely time for that."
"There can be no delay."
"But the courier. I know of no one whom I can trust and who would act inthe boys' interests. It is a diplomatic mission. There must be neitherpleading nor threatening."
"Then you must go, John."
"That is what I have been thinking, my dear. I am glad you see it in thesame way."
"When will you start?"
"Within an hour. If you will leave me now, I will prepare a brief topresent to General Weyler."
Mrs. Wyman left the room and the consul drew his chair closer to hisdesk where a student lamp burned. The room was large, opening by acasement window upon a garden filled with luxuriantly growing plants andshrubs. The night was warm and the window stood open, admitting theheavy perfume of flowers. The lamp, which was the only light in theroom, cast a bright circle on the desk. All the rest of the apartmentwas in deep shadow.
Mr. Wyman had been writing about half an hour when he turned to thewindow behind him as if he had heard an unusual sound. Then he returnedto his writing. Again he swung around in his chair and listened. Then herose and walked quickly to the window.
"Annie, is that you?" he called.
There was no reply.
"I am sure I heard a sound in the garden," he said to himself.
"Probably you are right, consul, although I tried to make as littlenoise as possible."
Mr. Wyman started back involuntarily. The words which were spoken in awhisper, seemed to come from a clump of bushes at the right of thewindow. Mr. Wyman peered into the darkness but could see no one.
"Who are you?" he asked loudly, "who comes stealing into my garden underthe cover of darkness?"
"Are you alone?" was the only reply.
"And of what concern is that to you?"
"Sure, and if you were me you would concern yourself a good bit aboutit."
"Well, I am alone; now who are you and what is your business here atthis time of night?"
For answer a dark form crept stealthily out from the shadow of the bush,leaped lightly in the window, and as quickly drew the hanging curtainacross it, shutting out all view from the outside. Although the nightwas warm, the man wore a coat with the broad collar turned up so as toconceal his face, and a broad sombrero slouched down over his eyes. Hekept close within the shadows in the corner of the room.
"Pardon me, Mr. Wyman, for entering your house in this unceremoniousmanner, but there was no other way that offered just at present. Mymission is of the utmost importance, but it would not be well for eitherof us if I were discovered here. Can we depend upon being undisturbed?"
"How do you know that I wish to be undisturbed? You seem to know me, butrefuse to disclose your identity. I cannot consent to this one-sidedinterview. Who are you?"
"If I tell you that I am a friend of the American boys, is that enough?"
"Quite. You need have no fear; we shall be undisturbed here."
The man, reassured, stepped forward and threw off his coat and hat. Mr.Wyman looked him over curiously for a moment and then pointed to achair.
"Be seated, Captain Dynamite," he said, quietly.
O'Connor started back in some dismay.
"You know me?" he said. "How?"
"The boys described you to me very accurately. You have a pair of verystaunch friends in those youngsters, sir."
"Yes, yes, I know," said O'Connor, eagerly. "Tell me of them--they aresafe?"
"They are alive and well, but they are not safe."
"What do you mean?"
"In the first place tell me if Miss Juanita reached you in safety?"
"Yes, thank God, and she has told me much of what the boys have riskedfor her and me. That is why I am here."
"Yes, and there is not another man with a price upon his head who wouldplace it in the lion's mouth as you are doing. Why did you come herealone? You can do no good single handed."
O'Connor leaned forward and whispered:
"But I am not alone. There are twelve picked men with me."
"Where are they?"
"Pardon me the liberty, but they are out there in your garden."
"How did you get here?"
"By methods known only to Indians and Cubans."
"Humph," said Mr. Wyman, somewhat annoyed, "I may not get clear of thisaffair without getting shot myself. But what can twelve men do?"
"Twelve such men as those can do much. But tell me, please, so that Imay act with proper dispatch, just what the situation is in regard tothe boys."
The men drew their chairs closer together and in a low tone Mr. Wymanbegan to tell in sequence the events that had transpired since he hadbeen involved in the affair.
"So," said O'Connor, when Mr. Wyman had finished, "then I am not muchtoo soon. Now, let us consider what is the best way to proceed. I shallprobably have to ask you for a trifle of aid."
"But I must be off to Weyler. I have not a minute to waste if I wish toreach him in time."
"In time for what?" asked O'Connor, in surprise.
"In time to secure a reprieve."
"Nonsense, man."
"May I ask what is nonsense, Captain Dynamite?" said Mr. Wyman, whosedignity was injured.
"In the first place, it is nonsense to expect any aid from Weyler, whoalways staunchly supports his lieutenants, whether right or wrong, andin the second place, we do not want a reprieve. We've got to get themclean away from here before they will be safe--clean off the bloomingisland. I'll take them back to the old _Mariella_--that's the safestplace for them. I wish to goodness they had never left her."
"But how, my good sir--how under the sun are you going to get them tothe _Mariella_ when they are locked up in a Spanish jail?"
"No jail is impregnable."
"But you cannot storm it in the face of a garrison of men with a handfulof twelve."
"There are more than fifty times twelve almost within gunshot, but Istill think the twelve will be sufficient for my purpose."
"Do you mean that the city is threatened by insurgents?" Mr. Wymanlooked worried. "I must get my wife away, sir."
"Don't worry, consul. If it comes to that the American flag is sacred tothe insurgents; but if there is any fighting it will be on the picketline only, I fancy."
"But what is your plan?"
"To take the boys out of that jail first."
"How?"
"Is it strongly guarded?"
"Inside and out. It is a military prison."
"How many men?"
"Four outside and four within, in charge of an officer."
"Oh, that's easy."
"But the first sound of a conflict would arouse the garrison, which isdirectly in the rear of the prison."
"There will be no sound of conflict after we get to work, Mr. Wyman."
"How can I aid you?"
"By securing permission to visit the boys in their cell. Can you do it?"
"I am not sure. General Serano's mood is not the best in the world justnow. The boys have tantalized him beyond measure. He cannot see
m to beatthem, and aside from his official pride, his personal dignity hassuffered. My position as defender of the youngsters has gained for mehis ill-will. But I will try. What am I to do?"
"Simply leave the jail at a time that I shall fix. We will do the rest.You will not be involved in any way, except that you may be seeminglyhandled a little roughly, but that will only be done to divert suspicionfrom yourself. Do not resist."
"There will not be too much violence, I hope?"
"No more than is needed, sir. I do not like violence myself. There maybe a broken head or two, but they are soon mended. It it now nineo'clock. What time does the watch change?"
"At midnight."
"Very well. Now, if you will permit me, I will call one of my men."
"Make what use you please of me and my house. I wish to aid you in anyway I can."
O'Connor stepped to the window and drew aside the curtain. As he didso, a dark form darted into the shadow of a bush. O'Connor saw it andpaused.
"There is someone in your garden beside my men," he whispered to theconsul.
"Impossible. The servants have gone to bed."
"Someone was listening at this window."
"Whom can it be?"
"Someone who suspects you. Can you think whom it would be?"
"No." The consul shook his head nervously.
"Very well, we'll see."
O'Connor turned and darted out of the window. In a moment he returnedholding General Serano's official spy by the scruff of the neck. Theinterpreter's genial smile had given place to a look of terror and hetrembled with fear. O'Connor swung him around so that he faced theconsul.
"Do you know him?" he asked.
"Yes," answered Mr. Wyman, as he looked the man over with an expressionof disgust, "he is General Serano's man Friday." Then to the man he saidsternly: "What are you doing here, in my garden, at this time of night?"
"Preoccupation, Mr. Wyman, preoccupation of the mind. I must havestrayed in by mistake. I hope you will pardon me."
"Well, we will think that over, my man," interrupted O'Connor. "Howlong had you been listening at the window?"
"Listening! O, sir, far be it from me to listen at the window of ouresteemed consul."
"You weren't very far from it just now."
"I had just discovered my error, sir, and was about to retrace mysteps----"
"Having heard all that you wished," O'Connor broke in.
"I hope the gentleman is jesting. I should be grieved indeed if he heldso evil an opinion of me."
"Please consider yourself grieved. Now, Mr. Wyman, I should like tostill further impose on your hospitality. This gentleman, I believe, isvery anxious to serve me--is that not true, Mr. Friday?"
"Oh, quite true, sir; it shall be my pleasure; but the name, sir, is notFriday--it is Villamonte."
"Mr. Wyman, can I trouble you for a short piece of rope?"
The consul left the room and returned with a piece of clothes-line aboutthree feet long which he handed to O'Connor.
"Now Mr. Monte, I shall have to ask you to extend your hands behindyou."
"Surely your excellency will not bind me?"
"My excellency sure will. Stick 'em out and be quick about it."
"I protest. General Serano shall hear of this outrage."
"I am quite confident of that, but I am not ready to lose your companyyet, Monte."
O'Connor turned the man around much as he might have done a child, andbound his hands behind him. Then he led him to a chair into which hethrust him and lashed his hands tightly to the back, Villamontejabbering vehemently in Spanish the while.
"Now, Mr. Wyman," said O'Connor, when he finished, "this gentleman'sprovidential preoccupation of mind will relieve you from the necessityof visiting General Serano. I think he will be very glad to carry outany instructions I may give him." As O'Connor spoke, he carelesslyremoved a pistol from his belt, and as he examined it he held the muzzleso that it covered the trembling Villamonte, who cowered back in thechair.
"Won't you, Mr. Monte?"
"Whatever his excellency wishes shall be my pleasure," stammered theinterpreter.
"Good; now we understand each other, Monte."
A Voyage with Captain Dynamite Page 20
