XV
TOMATOES BY THE QUART
The barefoot soldiers expected to walk right through us. They comestraight and fairly bunched, while we dropped them. They kept coming andwe kept dropping them. Streaks of white flew out of the shutters andwhiskers grew on the walls, but not a man of us was touched, while welaid them out something awful.
It wasn't we was crack shots, neither, excepting Gonzales. We were, forall practical purposes, cool.
Speaking for myself, I felt neither hope nor fear. I had but oneambition--to make the party that arrived as small as possible. It wouldsurprise me to learn that our boys missed two shots out of five. Andthere isn't any crowd, white, brown, nor black, that can stand a gaffinglike that.
They had no plan. As I say, they thought all they had to do was walk upand take us. When we put every third man on the grass, they halted,bunching closer, and we pumped it to 'em for keeps. They melted down theroad, panic-struck.
We had no cheers of victory, being much too busy. By just keepingindustriously at work instead of hollering we put three or four more outof the game. It was business, for us.
The smoke drifted slowly up the hillside; some of the wounded men beganhollerin' for water; one got to his knees and emptied his gun at us.Gonzales was for removing him, but I held his hand. "Let him ease hismind," I said, "he can't hit anything." And just to make me out a liar,the beggar covered me with splinters from the shutter. Gonzales shot,and that was over. I began to wish they'd hustle us again.
The sweat poured off us. We panted like running dogs. Outside there,where the valley rippled with sun-heat, all was still, except thatcry--"Water! water! For the love of God, water!" I've needed watersince. I know what that screech means. Lord! that hour!--a blaze of sun,blue shadows, wisps of smoke curling up the hill, and the lonesome cryin the big silence--"Water! water! For the love of God, water!" That'swhat it come to; them fellers didn't care much for victory--they wantedwater.
It wore on me, like the barking of a dog. I grabbed the water-pail andstarted for the door.
"Here!" cries Pedro, "what will you make?"
"I want to stop that noise."
"Put down the pail!" says Pedro. "Foolish fellow! Do you not know theykeel you at once?"
"Pede," I says, "I can't sit here and hear 'em holler like that--there'sno damn use in talking."
"Listen," says Pedro, grabbing me by the coat. "See what you do; hereare friends; for them you care not. Eef you are keeled, so much theworse are we--are we not more than they? You leave us, and you shall bekeeled and our hope goes--I ask you, is that good?"
"No," I says, putting down the pail. "It ain't, Pede. You're right," andone of 'em outside struck a new note that stuck in me and quivered."Remember," I says, "that I died admitting you were right." Darn it, Iwas risking my own hide. But Pede had the truth of it. I oughtn't tohave done it. So I grabbed the pail and went out.
I was considerable shot at, but not by the wounded men.
The first lad was a shock-headed half-Injun, with a face to scare amule. He was blue-black from loss of blood. "Drink, pretty creature,drink," says I. He grabbed the pail and proceeded to surround thecontents. "Whoa, there!" says I, "there are others!" I had to yank thepail away from him. He looked at me with his fevered eyes, and held outhis big, gray, quivering hands--"For the love of God, Senor,_poquito--poquito_!"
"No more for you," I said, and he slumped back, his jaw shaking. It wasa waste of water, really; he'd been bored plumb center. So I went therounds, having to fight 'em away as if they was wolves. Lord! how theywanted that water!
When I got to next to the last man, some better marksmen up the roadshot my hat off. That riled me. It would make anybody mad. I stopped onthe spot and expressed my sentiments.
"You're a nice lot of rosy-cheeked gentlemen, you are," says I. "Youdamned greasy, smelly, flat-footed mix of bad Injun and bad white! If Icould get hands on one of you, I'd shred him so fine he'd float on thebreeze. Now, you sons of calamity, you shoot at me once more, and I'llcall on you!"
I was ready to go right up. I waited a minute, but no more shots came.
"All right," says I. "_Sin vergueenza!_" and more I won't repeat. TheSpaniard has nice ideas about a good many things, but he cusses by thehog-pen. So I told 'em what I could remember that was disrespectful, fedthe last man his water, and returned. I stopped to look at my first man.He'd passed on. Well, I wasn't sorry he'd had a drink.
"Ha-ha, Pede!" says I when I got back, "I fooled you!"
"By one eench!" says he, looking at my hat.
"Inch is as good as a mile, and that cussed noise is stopped for awhile, anyhow."
A stone rattled back of us.
"Look to the doors, quick!" says Pedro.
We hopped to our places.
"Many coming down the hill!" says Gonzales.
It wasn't that I had scared or impressed my friends by my oration thatthey hadn't shot further; no, they simply took advantage of theopportunity to work a sneak on us from behind. I call that low-down.Howsomever, it didn't matter what I called it. They were at our backdoor, knocking hard.
Skipping gaily from tree to rock, they was full as well sheltered as we.Worst of all, when the store was built, the stones from the cellar hadbeen placed in a row behind--not fifteen feet from the back door. Therewas no way under heaven we could keep them from lining up behind thatstone wall, and hitting us all in a lump when they got ready.
We shut and barricaded the front door. That side of the store must takecare of itself. We simply had to put all hands to meet the rush.
In a few minutes, stones, clubs, and a few shots fell on the front ofthe store, to draw us--this was the other lads, not the soldiers.Gonzales made a quick move, fired half a dozen shots in that direction,and then came back.
A white handkerchief on a stick waved behind the wall.
"We wish to talk!" said a voice.
"Talk later, we're busy now!" says Pedro.
"We shall spare your lives, if you yield the store. We only wish todestroy this because it belongs to Holton, who supports the iniquitous,the government that now is. On our word of honor, you shall live, if youyield the store."
"Well," whispered Pedro to us, "what do you say?"
"Tell him the fortune-teller fooled him," says I.
"Tell him to go to hell," says Gonzales.
"It is a trick," says the other man.
"So think I," says Pedro. He called aloud: "We are large healthy men. Tomake us live is necessary we have more than your word of honor--do notplay further, cowards that you are! The store you may have when we giveit to you. We will kill you all--all!"
All four of us yelled and hooted at 'em. We were strung tight now.Thirty-odd men ready to climb at you, fifteen feet away, thirty or fortymore all ready to whack at you from behind, takes the slack out.
There was just one second of hush, and then hell bu'st her b'iler. Lord!Lord! Of all the banging and yelling and smashing you ever did hear!Noise enough for Gettysburg. They come at us from all around. Wescrambled like monkeys, shooting; jumping elsewhere; shootingagain--zip, zip, zip--fast as you could clap your hands. They bored inso they could hammer on the door. I was helping there until I heard acrash from my window, and saw a head coming in. I caved that head withmy rifle-barrel and fired into a swarm over the remains. They firedright back again; lead sung like a bees' nest. Flame and smoke spurtedout all over. You couldn't see any more in the store. I snapped at thecrowd until I found there was no results, my magazine being empty; and,there scarcely being time to load, I poked 'em with the muzzle. In themiddle of this razzle-dazzle come another crash and a flood of light. Isaw the front door down; men tumbling through the opening.
I screeched to the other boys, grabbed cans of tomatoes, and pasted theheap. It sounds like a funny weapon, but I want you to understand thatwhen an arm like mine heaves a quart can of tomatoes at you, some littletime will pass before you see the joke. I hit one man under the nose andlifted him three feet.
I followed this up with a box in one lump, clubbed my rifle, and litinto 'em. It was then that one of our boys shot me in the leg bymistake. You couldn't tell what you were doing. It was all a mess ofnoise and lunacy. The leg-shot brought me to my knees and the gang atop.I worked lively before I was free. Somehow I got a knife--I'll nevertell for sure how, nor when. But at last I was loose with a crowd infront looking at me and calling for guns.
"Beel, Beel! Help!" called Pedro. How was I to help? The moment I turnedmy back that outfit would swarm in.
It was all over. I heard Gonzales curse above all the other noises. Andthen, as I stood there, sick, knowing I must drop in a minute, I saw achange on the faces in front of me. Things were swimming considerableand I smiled at my own foolishness. I must have lost sight for a second,for when I saw again, the crowd was leaving, tight as they could pelt.
As I gracefully put my ear in a spittoon, I heard a tremendous firing,and the next minute, through the doorway, beheld the soles of barefootedsoldiers' feet.
Somebody shook me by the shoulders. I came out of dreamland long enoughto see Pedro with the tears running down his face. "Beel!" he screamed;"Beel! by the mercy of God, it is Senor Holton with men!"
Then his voice changed. "What ees eet? You are hurt, no?"
"No," says I. "I just wanted to listen to the spittoon."
I reckon that joke was too much for me, in my condition. It takes astrong man to stand the wear of things like that. Anyhow, my nextappearance in active life found me all bandaged up neat as a Sailors'Home, and a very nice-looking gentleman holding my wrist with one hand,with a glass of truck to throw into me in the other, and Jim wasswearing a prayer to the doctor not to let me go.
"Oh, I wasn't thinking of going anywhere," says I, to relieve his mind."What are you laughing at? I wasn't."
"That's right, Bill," says Jim, taking my hand. "Just stay right here."
The doctor fed me something that I felt clear down to my toes, stillkeeping his hand on the wrist.
"Good!" says he. "The effect of shock is over--it's only the lost bloodnow--he must have lost a gallon, from his appearance."
"Durn careless of me," says I, still hazy. "But what in thunder am Idoing here? What's all this about?"
"Lie down, Bill," says Jim. "You have three knife-cuts and fourbullet-holes in you."
"I have?" says I, rousing up. "Well, then, why didn't I holler forwater?"
"You did," says Jim.
"There, there!" says the doctor. "No more talk! Lie still, young man,and sleep, if you can."
It was two days later when I got particulars. Seems I was out of my headfor four hours, and like to die any minute; that I had a hole in thelower leg, another in the hip, a streak across the top of my head, and abullet in the shoulder. Also a slash across the right hand, and anotheron the right forearm, and a stab in the same upper arm. I suppose thatwas during the hand-to-hand at the window and the door. I have a faintmemory of getting the knife by pulling it out of my own arm. But thebullet-holes knocked me. I don't remember getting shot at all--only adizziness when one man fired in my face. I guess that was the streakacross the head.
I was the star performer. The other boys drew a couple of holes apieceor so. Gonzales wasn't even laid up, though Pedro had his arm shattered.
Well, they kept me quiet, although I was crazy to talk. At the third dayI demanded food, instead of swill. The doctor looked troubled and shookhis head.
"See here, Doc," says I, "how am I going to manufacture good new blood,without the raw material? Just let me have a half-a-dozen eggs and ahunk of bacon and a loaf of bread, and I'll do credit to you."
He snorted at the idea, but I begged so hard he says at last: "Well, allright; you are the toughest piece of humanity I ever struck; maybe it_will_ do you good."
When I got outside that first square meal, William De La Tour Saundersfelt less naked and ashamed inside of him, and proceeded to get better amile a minute.
The fourth day I could sit up and hear Jim tell me all about it.
He had found a feller in the camp preaching revolution. For some timethis had been expected. It was known that a General Zampeto was settingup for President, and it was also known that Belknap was backing him,although he took great care not to be mixed in it by name. But Zampetoand Belknap had fooled our crowd plenty, by being all ready for actionwhen it was supposed they were just starting in.
When Jim caught and thumped that first revolutionist, he tumbled at oncethat things were about to boil, so he flew for help. His camp was a sortof turning-point. The two sides were about evenly divided as to forces,and, as Jim worked nearly three hundred men, it meant a great deal whichside they fought on.
Jim's men were mainly peaceful, quiet fellows, like Gonzales and thatother feller--(Pepe something-or-other--I don't know as I ever learnedhis full name)--and Jim had great authority with them. If the rebelssmashed Jim on the start, his men would fall in on the winning side, orat worst remain neutral. Neither Zampeto nor Jim had the least ideathey'd fight hard--it was just the moral effect of it, and then, too,the supplies in the store were valuable.
Jim could have rounded up enough of the boys to lick the hide off thisgang of rebels, if it wasn't, as I said, that, knowing 'em to be nicequiet lads, like Pedro, he felt sure they'd quit in a mess. "And neverwill I be such a fool as that again," says Jim. "I knew you'd give 'emwar, but to think of Pedro! I told him to run and save himself!"
Our boys, being scattered and without a leader, simply had to submit tobeing chased out of the country. Chance led Gonzales and Pepe to fly tothe store.
So much for us. No one knew what was doing in Panama. The country wasfull of rebels around us, and Jim found himself too busy gathering anarmy to ride to town and see.
He finally had some three or four hundred men, armed after a fashion,that he drilled from morning till night.
And here was I, stuck in bed! Doc wouldn't let me try the game leg,although I felt sure it would hold me.
"You stay there till I tell you," says he, "and then you'll get up andbe useful; if you try now, you'll only go back again to be a nuisance toyour friends."
He put it that way to make it a cinch I'd stay. Nobody ever was kinderthan him and the rest. Each day some one was with me to play cards, orcheckers, or talk. Old Jim couldn't do enough for me. I think he'd spentall his time in the house if it wasn't that he must take hold outside."Boy, I know what you did for me," he said. "There ain't no use talkingabout it between us, but what I have is yours."
Just the same, I _knew_ that leg was all right, so one day, when I foundmyself alone, I got up to walk to the water-pail. I laid down on thefloor so hard I near bu'sted my nose. "Guess I don't want any drink,"thinks I. "I'll go to bed, instead." I couldn't make that, neither. Myarms only held me for a second, then they sprung out at the elbow. Isweat and swore at the cussed contraptions that wouldn't work. Tears ofrage come free and fast. Them arms and legs of mine had served me solong, I couldn't believe they'd gone back on me like that, and I was soashamed to have the doctor come and ketch me that I flew into a fit,foamin' and fumin' and snarlin' like a trapped bear.
It was then the doctor entered on the scene. What he said was neverintended to be repeated. Lord save us! He put my case in juicy words!
"Now, you red-headed young fool!" says he, as he rolled me in bed, "Iwant you to understand I'd beat your head off, if you were a well man,for this trick!" He shook his fist under my nose. "Wait till you getup!" says he.
"Ain't I?" says I, feeling good-natured once more to see him in such awax. "Ain't I waiting?"
"I won't talk to you!" says he, and slams himself out of the room.
XVI
RED PLAYS TRUMPS
Things went fast before I was around again. Jim met five hundred mensent out by Zampeto to clear the country, and killed or captured everyman of 'em. The prisoners he penned close, but fed well, to teach 'emwhite ways.
Then he sent deceiving messengers back to Zampeto, to report how wellthe rebel army w
as doing. Victory kept perching on her standard till itwas near worn out. But, all the same, another detachment, working to theeast, to unite further south with the first body and sweep back towardthe capital, would do excellently. The detachment was sent by Zampetoand gobbled the same as before. More victories were reported to the homerebel government, and assurances given that with another body, the threecould descend on that part of the city held by Perez and Orinez andcrush it between their forces. Once more did Zampeto approve, to his badfortune. And this did him up. It was all over with Belknap, Zampeto &Co., except the actual capture of their part of the town. They heldSanta Ana and the church, the time-respected custom with revolutions.
Zampeto must have been a plumb fool. I saw him afterward--a fat, pompousman with a rolling, glaring eye. If Belknap had been able to step in, inperson, we shouldn't have had a walk over; but while Zampeto wasagreeable to advice in the beginning, he soon suffered from _cabezagrande_, which swell-headed state Jim's reports of victories raised to afearful size, and Belknap could do nothing with him.
His losses were tremendous for that country, and there he sat at home,serene in the belief of a conqueror! We had a cinch. Not a thing to dobut chase them out of their holes!
I had my plans concerning Saxton and Mary, so Jim held the final attackon the city until I was able to ride. Then he sent word to Perez and ourarmy started--not in mass, because somebody in the rebel army might havesense enough to scout a little, but by fives and tens, slipping alongback ways and short cuts until Belknap and Zampeto were surrounded onthe outside by two to one, and faced by an equal force in numbers, and afar superior in courage and ability, from within.
I got Orinez and Perez to help me in the last act. We three wormed ourway into the rebel town, early one morning, lying quiet in a cellaruntil evening came. Strange to say, the night before, Saxton met with anaccident. I was handling a revolver and it went off, somehow or other,and burnt him across the back. "Christopher Columbus, Bill!" says he,"what a careless cuss you are! You've put me out of commission!"Gracious, but I was sorry! Yet, being the guilty party, I couldn't seewhere with decency I might do less than carry the word to Mary. That'sone reason why we went into the rebels' camp. The other had to do withBelknap. He was easily capable of explaining things to his own credit,as long as he did all the talking. Now I wanted a hand in theconversation. We hid in the trees back of the fountain. Soldiers cameand went. Zampeto himself, looking like a traveling jewelry-store, madea visit, but all hands were so secure in the belief of the wonderfulsuccess of the cause that they never suspected the existence of threeenemies in the same garden--or even in the same one hundred squaremiles, for the matter of that. At last we saw Belknap; he came to thedoor with Zampeto. Behind him we saw the women-folk. One looked likeMary, but I couldn't be sure. Every time she moved somebody stuck hishead in the way. At last Zampeto dropped something, and as he stooped topick it up, I saw Mary plainly. She looked thin and worn, poor girl.Certain that both were in the house, I made a quick sneak across to thekitchen window, up the shutters, and in at a window on the second floor.Mary had told me the room Belknap kept as his private office. It wasthat window I went in.
I heard my man's heavy step in the hall, as I gathered myself. I heardMary's voice answer him in a sad and lifeless tone. "I hope it will soonbe over--it seems terrible, terrible! Although the end may be good." Iheard her door shut, and, Belknap coming again, I got my gun ready, puton a bashful expression, and waited. I do not lie when I say that Mr.Belknap was astonished to find me in his private room. That expressionwas one of the few honest ones it had been my privilege to see upon hisface.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, savage.
"Why, I only came to speak to Mary--to tell her about Mr. Saxton," Istammered, shyly, knowing that Saxton's name would wake him up.
"What about Saxton?" he asked, putting his wicked eye on me.
"Why, I want to tell Mary--I don't like to say--"
"What!" he said, dropping the sound of his voice still further andsending the meaning of it high. "What? You come into my room and won'tanswer my questions?" He took a quick cat-like step toward me. I saw Ihad a lively man to deal with, and, weak as I was, it stood me in handto get ready. "There was a letter," I mumbled, reaching in my pocket formy gun. With my hand on that, I changed my mind. "I guess I oughtn't tolet you have it, Mr. Belknap," I said.
He got gray around the mouth. "Give me that letter!" says he, in hisstrained whispering. "Give it to me, or, so help me God, I'll kill youwhere you stand."
I jumped back, terrified. "You wouldn't hurt me?" I gasped. "I shouldn'tgive you the letter, sir; it was intended for Mary--please don't hurtme! I've been sick!"
He drew a knife. "If you do not instantly hand me that letter," he says,and he meant every word of it, "I shall put this in your heart."
That was the justification I needed. It's queer, but I never saw a manwho didn't have to have an excuse. Belknap had _his_, I reckon.
We stood there, me quivering with fear, and his bad light eyes murderouson me, while slowly, slowly, I drew out ... my gun.
"Now," whispers I, "you petrified hunk of hypocrisy, I've got you! Handme that knife!"
He couldn't understand. He just stared. "Hand me that knife!" says I,letting what I felt become apparent. He passed over the knife. With allhis faults, he was too smart a man not to know the fix he was in. Yet Ithought I'd clinch it.
"Mr. Belknap," says I, "your goose is cooked. The government army isright outside, as your people could have seen, if they'd had the wit ofa mud-turtle. I've come into your lines prepared to do anythingnecessary, as you can readily imagine. We're going to have a littleplay-acting now, and you're to guess your part. If you guesswrong--Well, heaven has missed you for some time, and she sha'n't bedefrauded any longer."
His eyes flickered with fury. He couldn't have said a word to save him.
"Understand," I whispers, "a crooked move and--_adios_!"
He understood. I kicked a table over and scuffled with my feet as ifthere was a row, then lay down on the floor, where I could watch my man,and yelled quietly for help. Orinez's head showed at the window. Isignaled him, and he lay behind the shutter with his artillery trainedon Belknap, the virtuous.
"Don't cause me the great grief, Senor," he whispers. Belknap turnedand, seeing him, the life went out of his face.
I hadn't yelled loud enough to alarm the house. Only Mary's quick feetresponded to the call.
She, too, was a trifle surprised to find me lying on the floor inBelknap's room.
"Save me, Mary!" I cried. "Save me!"
What's a little foolish pride when your friend's good is at stake? Yetit hurt to do that.
"Why, Will! Mr. Belknap!" she cried, astonished. "Whatever is thematter? What does this mean?"
"I came to see you, Mary," I said, almost crying, "and Mr. Belknapthreatened to kill me."
"To kill _you_, Will?" she said, in a voice that rang like a man's. "To_kill_ you?"
"Yes," I said piteously. "And I'm not fit to fight him--I've beenhurt--see my head, where I've been shot." I tore open my shirt sleeve."See the cuts! and the bullet holes!"
"Oh, poor boy! poor, poor boy!" she said in such loving pity that I felta skunk and had a mind to chuck the game. But it was out of my handsnow. Mary sprang up and faced Belknap, so strong, graceful, and daringin her rage that I forgot my job in admiring her.
"Explain!" she said.
Belknap opened his mouth. Outside sounded a little click--like a creakin the shutter-hinge. No words came.
The blood flamed in her face. "Have you _nothing_ to say to me, sir? Ishall ask you once more what this poor wounded boy has done to you, thatyou propose to kill him?"
You never saw an uglier mug than Belknap's in all your days, as itappeared then. Ordinarily, although I hate to say it, he was afine-looking man, but now his face was so twisted he looked like thedevil in person. And still he said nothing. He had plenty good reasonnot to.
At this, Mary wen
t at him. "I thought you a good man--a wise man," shesaid, with a bitter quiet that burnt, in every word. "You are a cowardlyscoundrel. Attack the boy if you dare. I think I am a match for such asyou."
And so help me John Rodgers, if she didn't catch up the heavy ruler fromhis desk and stand ready for him!
If I had the least remaining pity for Belknap, the look he threw at herfinished it. He would have struck her if he could. I know it. The manwas nothing but a rotten mess of selfishness.
"Bah!" says she, throwing down the ruler with disgust. "I am making muchout of little. You are not worth notice."
She turned to me, all womanly gentleness and pity.
"Never mind, Will dear," she said. "You are safe, he dare not touch you.What was it you risked your life to tell me?"
"Mary," I said, speaking very slowly, to make it sound its worst."Arthur--is--shot."
She acted as if she was, too. I caught her just in time. She hung so fora moment, not fainting, but as lifeless.
"Now," she said, scarcely above a breath--"now, when I have just begunto see, it comes! And I have myself to thank for it."
She was so white it frightened me; besides, things were everlastinglysliding along with Bill.
"Oh, he's not _dead_!" I explained, quickly. "He mayn't even be badlyhurt, but I felt sure you wanted to know."
Then the tears came. "Want to know?" she sobbed. "Of course I want toknow. Oh, what a fool of a woman I've been! And to think of your comingto tell me at the risk of your life! I haven't deserved it! Where isArthur? Can we go there? Can we go, Will? You don't believe he'll die?He mustn't! He can't!"
Last I saw of Saxton he was chuckling merrily over the doctor's mistakeconcerning the value of aces up. Unless he'd changed his mind in themeanwhile, he hadn't the remotest intention of dying.
"It's dodging through the lines, Mary, to get to him--risky."
She waved my objection off with an impatient hand, dried her eyes, andmade ready.
"Come with me until I get some things together," she said, practical, inspite of her fire. I do sure like that combination.
"I'll stay here," says I. "You won't hurt me now, will you, Mr.Belknap?" This I remarked in a very youthful, pleading tone.
He said, "No," after a struggle. It didn't sound like anything you everheard from a human throat.
"I'll just stay here," I said. I wanted a word with the man. Mary lookeddoubtful for a moment, but at length left.
"Now, Belknap," says I, when she was safely in her room, and me almightyglad to be my own self again, "because you've been a friend ofMary's--that is, because she thought you were--you go free, if you wish.When we leave we'll send you back a man. Take my advice and go withhim--don't get it into your fool head I'm working a plant on you thistime. You can guess what your carcass will be worth when we take thecity. Our men are due here in minutes."
He looked at me and ground his teeth--palsied with rage, shaking allover.
"Better do it," I said.
And then came testimony: far-off firing, and yells.
"Our boys are closing in," I told him. "That's them, now."
The firing grew heavier and then quit. The yells increased.
Another look flashed on his face--fear. For a while I think the biggerman in him determined to stick it out, but fear drew the pot.
The change grew.
"Of course," he said, "if I am to understand that you mean well by me--"
I cut him off.
"I don't mean well by you. I despise you altogether. You get away safelybecause Mary thought once you were a friend. It's a fool notion that youcan take advantage of, or not, as pleases you. I won't attempt todisguise the fact that you are wanted bad by some of our side. Orinez,there, would like to have your hide to remember you by."
"_Si_, Senor!" says Orinez from the window. "It is only that my word isgiven you are not dead now."
There came another burst of firing, nearer. Another street taken.
"I agree," said Belknap, and now he was anxious, fawning. "I can take afew belongings? Trifles that I have picked up and wish to keep?"
"Leave your trifles and let them keep me," jeered Orinez.
"You can take what you can carry," I answered, short.
"Thank you--thank you," he said hurriedly. "Would you mind if I askedyou to leave me alone in the room? A stranger distracts one when itcomes to what to leave and what to keep."
"We won't steal your darned money, even if we see it," I said. "You'llhave time after we leave to gather your wealth."
He bit his nails. "The time seems short," he said. The firing broke outnearer, and now you could hear our war-whoop. "Viva Perez! Down with thetraitors!" Each side called the other traitors. "Perez" was the key tothe party.
"Short or not, it's what you get," I answered him. Mary left her roomand the talk stopped.
"I am ready," she said.
I took her bundle and we started. At the head of the stairs she paused."Will," she said, "I hate that man; but as I hope to go to the happinessof my life, I will not leave him so."
"Good for you!" says I.
She went in again and held out her hand.
"Mr. Belknap," she said, "I wish no ill-will between us. Forgive me asfully as I forgive you."
He was on pins and needles to get his money; to be rid of us.
"Certainly, my dear young lady!" says he with haste and effusion."Certainly! Of course!" It meant nothing to him at all. And it meant aton to Mary. She stared at him until I pulled her away. "Is that a saneman?" she asked me.
"I've no time for conundrums," I answered her. "We must be getting outof this."
If I succeeded, I was to signal Perez. When we reached the garden, Icould walk freely, being in the company of the well-known SenoritaMaria. I undid my neckerchief, shook it carelessly, and Perez was off,to bring Arthur by any kind of method to the arranged meeting-place.
Orinez struck off ahead to scout for possible danger.
There was none. We hadn't gone five squares before we ran intopanic-stricken rebels, and the firing-line was approaching on the jump.
Not wanting Mary to see the wounded men, and not caring to explain justthen why I couldn't have waited an hour or two for my message, I tookthe back way.
We landed at the little ruined stone house before Saxton and Perez; theyhad much farther to travel.
"We must wait here," I told Mary.
"Must we?" she asked pitifully. "Can't we go on?"
"Now, my dear girl, see here," says I, in a fatherly manner, "after I'vetried to do the best--"
"Yes, dear, yes--I'm ungrateful, I know." She cried a little. "But I'vebeen such a fool! You're _sure_ he isn't dangerously hurt?"
"Why, it may be," says I, with a wave of my hand, "that he's up andaround! I don't know much about these things, you know. I'm scart easy."
Then she petted me and said I had a wise reason, she was sure, and if itwas dangerous to go on, she wouldn't, and she'd be patient, and she wasall worn out and she looked a fright, and _what_ a fool she had been!And she cried some more.
I heard a step. I'd strained my ears for it for the last twenty minutes."Now," I says to her, "I'll skip out to see what's doing."
I slid behind a tree in time to prevent Sax from seeing me. Perez was onthe hill waving his hands for joy. I felt pretty dum joyous myself,hiding in the brush with the lovely feeling of putting through athoroughly successful put-up job added to the other.
Dead silence after Saxton stepped within the little house. Then come onecry--"Arthur!"
The whole business, from the cradle to the grave, was done up in onesmall word.
Perez come down the hill; I left my brush-pile. Arthur and Mary weresitting on the stone step, hand in hand. I'll bet they never said a wordafter that first cry, and they held hands like they was afraid to letgo, even for a minute. I thought we'd have lots of explaining to do, butshucks! They didn't want any explanations. There they were, sitting onthe door-step, hand in hand. Good enough old explanation fo
r anybody.
They didn't even see us.
I raised my voice, calling to Perez, "Your Excellency, I have the honorto report Panama has fallen!"
And there they sat, hand in hand. They didn't even hear us, neither.
Plain Mary Smith: A Romance of Red Saunders Page 15
