CHAPTER X.
NIPPED IN THE BUD.
"There comes Manuel!" remarked Andy, after they had been nearly an hourtalking on the deck of the little power boat.
"Yes," remarked his cousin, who was also on the watch, "and trailingbehind him I can see several native carts containing fruits and newsupplies. Manuel surely means that we shall not go hungry while on theriver."
"Then I shall be going, my friends," said Senor Jose. "I have told youall I know. I have warned you to beware of the revolutionists along theriver bank. I have even given you a hint that to delay longer inBarranquila might endanger your enterprise; since the government is justnow very anxious to acquire such wonderful modern agents of warfare, asyour aeroplane. It only remains to shake your hands, both,_amigos_, and wish you every good fortune your valor deserves."
They squeezed the hand of the fine old Colombian gentleman withvigor. Never would Andy forget how he had spoken concerning his interestin the sacred duty that had brought the son of the missing aeronaut tohis country.
Frank had given strict orders that none of the crew should go ashore,and also that no strangers be permitted to board the craft while theylay there at the old wooden wharf.
"But," said Andy, when they were speaking about this matter, aspreparations began to leave the port, "that hasn't prevented the crewfrom holding an animated confab with those ashore. There has been aconstant jabbering and laughing between our fellows and those others."
"Yes," admitted Frank, "and I've seen several of the crew talkingmysteriously with some of those chaps. I wish now the senor had thoughtto indicate which was the secret agent of the revolutionists he saw onthe dock. But all the same I've marked the two fellows I suspect, andI'm going to keep a close eye on Enrique, and the little fellow with thequick motions we call 'Cospita,' because he's forever ejaculating likethat."
"And if you find out that they're meddling with the boxes?" asked Andy.
"H'm! I guess it'll be a bad day for Enrique and the jumping-jack,that's all," laughed his cousin. "But there goes the cable, and it lookslike we might be off at last."
"I'm not sorry, for many things!" declared Andy, with a sigh of positiverelief. "The good senor got me scared by what he said about hisgovernment wanting just such things as our little 'Bug'; and that theofficials might have orders to find some sort of ridiculous excuse forgrabbing it."
"Same here," admitted Frank. "In fact, that bothered me a whole lot morethan the chances of trouble along the river from the boys who want toget their man seated in the president's chair, where he could hand outthe loaves and the fishes. We can resist them, and be backed byauthority; but if the government officers once took us in we'd have togive up our job. And that would break your heart, Andy."
"Yes," said the other, drawing a long breath, "I'm afraid itwould. Listen! There goes the whistle. I told the pilot not to make morefuss than he could help when we drew out."
"Which was quite right. I'm watching that little chap, Cospita. See himwave his hand to some one ashore? Yes, and that surely looked like asignal the fellow returned. We are going to have trouble with that boyyet, Andy."
"Well, that will be bad for Cospita," was all the other remarked; for hewas eagerly watching the growing space between the boat and the shore.
"Look, Frank," he remarked, after a little time had elapsed, "as sure asyou live, there is an officer in uniform just arrived on the dock, andbacked by a squad of soldiers! He seems to be surprised at discoveringthat we have gone! Now he beckons, and waves his hat! Listen to himshouting something in Spanish through his hands. I guess we didn't getaway from Barranquila five minutes too soon!"
"It looks like it," said Frank, grimly. "But we've complied with thelaw of the land, and nothing short of a cannon could make us turn backnow. All the same, I'm going to the pilot house, and keep an eye onFelipe. I think he's trustworthy; but an ounce of prevention is betterthan a pound of cure always."
"Good for you!" Andy shot after his departing chum; though he himselfremained there by the rail, watching what took place ashore.
Frank quickly entered the pilot house. Here a dark-faced, middle-agedman handled the wheel. Frank immediately noticed that he was listeningto what the gold braided officer ashore was shouting angrily. He alsolooked a bit troubled.
"What does he say, Felipe?" demanded the young aviator.
"He commands us to return, senor," replied the other.
"Well, pay no attention to him, Felipe. We have complied with all theregulations and red tape necessary. The American consul will back usup. It is your business to simply steer this boat up the river until wearrive at Magangue."
"Si, senor. But when I return they will surely make the trouble for me,"replied the pilot, shrugging his narrow shoulders.
"Not at all, Felipe," declared Frank. "You can swear that we made youdo as we wished; that you dared not turn back, since your life was indanger. We stand ready to shoulder all the blame there is."
The dusky face of the old river pilot, whom they had fortunately runacross in Maracaibo, became wreathed in a smile.
"Perhaps the young senor would not mind showing the Capitan?" hesuggested.
Frank grasped his meaning; and pretending to scowl darkly, he drew outthe revolver which Colonel Josiah had made him promise to carry whiledown in this explosive country.
"Now, Felipe," he said, as he clapped the weapon deliberately againstthe head of the pilot, "your gay Capitan can easily see what I am doing,and will understand what it means. You keep right on up-river; and ifyou dare disobey it will be bad for you, Felipe!"
The shrewd old pilot tried to smother an expansive grin as he replied:
"Si, senor, I am in your hands; do with me what you will. I dare notrefuse longer. See, I have made one effort to turn about; but youthreaten, and I give it up. He no longer calls. He knows old Felipe ispowerless. It is well!"
Frank stood by him until the wharf was dimmed by distance. Then hehastened to rejoin his cousin and chum, who was mightily pleased to hearall about it.
"Do you think they will chase after us?" queried Andy, still worried.
"Oh! I guess not. It isn't so serious as all that. They know they canget us when we come down the river, no doubt," replied Frank,carelessly.
"Then I'll care precious little what becomes of the Bug," observed Andy,with a sigh of relief.
"I suppose you mean that by that time you'll either have found yourfather; or else given up the search as hopeless. Is that it, oldfellow?" Frank asked.
"Yes, one or the other. And now, we've got time to remember the otherwarning good old Senor Jose gave us."
"About the revolutionists trying to stop us on the way and get ourcargo? Yes," Frank went on, "that must be on our minds constantly. I'mgoing to talk with old Felipe about it soon. I have a hunch that he canbe depended on to back us up, for he's got a grudge against the manthese fellows want to send back into the presidential chair. Senor Josetold me Felipe lost all his family through the persecution of that manand his party."
"A bully good thing to know," assented Andy. "For we can be dead sure ofFelipe all the time; and through him get pointers about the rest of thecrew. There are a few goats among the sheep, and when we make sure ofit, I'm just going to pay them off, and chuck them ashore in any oldplace."
"Now that's what I call a clever scheme," Frank declared. "They wouldhave no kick coming, because, you see, no Spanish American could evercomplain of getting his wages without having to do any work!"
"I guess not," Andy remarked, grinning assent.
Upon further conference it was decided to divide the day and night intowatches, so that one of them could be on deck and alert all of the time,while the other secured some sleep.
Treachery, they knew, would be likely to crop out during the nighttime. Those on board may have found some means of telling theirconfederates ashore about what time the boat would reach a givenpoint. And by means of some native method of telegraphing, such as bymeans of wigwag flags, or "smo
kes," the news could be hurried up theriver much in advance of the vessel that was butting against the strongcurrent of the swollen Magdalena.
Then Frank went forward to have a long talk with the trusty pilot. Hetook Felipe into his confidence, telling him for the first time allabout their sacred mission to this region of Colombia. And in this way,as well as by promising to double his regular wages, Frank quite won theold fellow's heart.
In return Felipe was able to give his employer considerable valuableinformation connected with the crew. Frank mentioned no names, and hencehe was satisfied that he had made no mistake in his calculations, whenamong the list of "suspects" given by the pilot, both Enrique and little"Cospita" were included.
"We must get rid of them both as soon as possible," he announced. "Sojust before night sets in, draw the boat to shore near some village ortown. Then I shall pay both men off, get their signatures to the fact,and insist on their going ashore. Meanwhile, as you find opportunity,post a few of the faithful ones to the fact that we suspect them ofbeing insurrectoes."
Felipe declared that the idea was superb. He was growing more and morefond of these venturesome young Americanos, who were so generous, sobrave, and who had come all this great distance, actuated by such anoble purpose. So many a man may easily feel when his salary has beenunexpectedly doubled.
During the balance of that afternoon the two young aviators continued toalternately sit upon the deck, and wander about the boat, watchingthings. Frank had the precious aeroplane locked up in the spaciouslazerette, which being also used as a storeroom for extra supplies, thatthe circumstance need not be looked upon as singular.
"I'm determined that no ill may happen to that machine, if I can helpit," he said to his chum, when speaking of what he had had done.
And Andy, of course, fully endorsed his course.
So the sun began to draw closer to the western horizon, represented bythe distant mountains where the chief inland town of the province,Sabanalarga, lay.
Felipe had spoken of a place on the eastern bank of the river, wherethey could draw in, and put the two suspects ashore. And Frank told Andyto back him up in what he was about to do.
"There's the town ahead, only a little place, but it answers ourpurpose, for they can never say we deserted them in the howlingwilderness," and Frank, who had been counting out some money, started tomake his way down to the waist of the vessel, where most of the crew hadgathered, wondering what the object of the landing might be.
Enrique and "Cospita" were surely very much astonished and alarmed whentold that their services were needed no longer--that it was ascertainedthey were carrying too many men; and also that they were to receive fullpay for the time they had engaged.
Of course they started to make objections, and the air was filled withvarious excited exclamations; but Frank proved as firm as adamant, andshowed the automatic revolver sticking from his pocket all the while, afact that kept the two men from venturing to do more than shout.
Clutching their money they were pushed ashore by members of the crew,who doubtless could give a pretty good guess as to what the whole thingmeant, since they had talked with Felipe.
"A good riddance of bad rubbish!" declared Andy, as the boat againstarted up the river, leaving a pair of yelling natives behind, makingall sorts of furious gestures with both arms.
"Yes," pursued Frank, reflectively, "and if we wanted any more evidencethat we nipped a conspiracy to seize the vessel in the bud, there it isin their anger at being paid for not working. Nothing like that was everknown before down in this country, as Felipe says. And now, Andy, Ifeel that we're another step nearer the carrying out of your greattask."
"Oh! I hope so," said the other, his face marked by an eagerness thattold of the one sole wish of his youthful heart.
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