CHAPTER IV.
DON CARLOS LAYS HIS SNARE.
"Ahoy, yourself!" shouted Matt. "What do you want?"
"Dar's a gentman here, Marse Cap'n, dat wants tuh come on bo'd,"answered the voice of Sambo.
"Who is he?"
Here another form pushed forward and another voice took up theconversation.
"Are you Motor Matt?" asked the voice.
"Yes."
"You have charge of the submarine while Captain Nemo, Jr., is sick?"
"Yes."
"Then you're the person I wish to talk with. I am Don Ramon Ortega."
Matt was deeply impressed by the name. Everybody in Belize had agood word to say for Don Ramon Ortega, the Spanish consul. He was achivalrous gentleman of the old school, a friend of the United Stateswhen many other of his countrymen cherished a grudge against thecountry, and a philanthropic and kindly man in all his dealings.
"I shall be very glad to have you come aboard, Don Ortega," calledMatt respectfully, "but it is against our rules to allow more than onestranger aboard the _Grampus_ at any one time."
"Then I will come alone."
Matt and Dick got out of the tower and each hurled a rope to thoseforward and aft on the sailboat. After the two boats had been hauledas close together as possible, a plank was shoved over the side of thesailboat and left with its outer end resting on the rounded deck of thesubmarine. Don Ramon turned and handed something to Sambo.
"Haul off," said he, "and wait until you receive a signal from me. Ifyou don't receive a signal, put back to the landing."
"All right, boss."
Matt was a little surprised at this order, but presumed that he wouldsoon be told why it had been given. Reaching out, he caught the don'shand and helped him off the end of the plank.
"I must speak with you immediately," said the don. "Can we go somewherefor a little private talk?"
"Certainly," answered Matt, his wonder continuing to grow.
The don carried a canvas bag whose contents jingled musically withevery movement. While Matt and Dick escorted their caller below, thoseon the sailboat hauled in the plank and stood off toward the shore.
Speake, Gaines and Clackett were still busy stowing the supplies andgetting the _Grampus_ shipshape below decks. The two boys and theirguest made themselves comfortable in the periscope room.
Don Ramon, as Matt looked at him now for the first time, had theappearance of a courtly gentleman. He was swarthy, well dressed, andhis dark eyes, as they stared about him curiously, looked like pointsof polished jet.
The don took a card case from his pocket and extracted a square ofpasteboard bearing the coat of arms of his native country, his name andthe information that he was Spanish consul at Belize. He handed thecard to Matt, and Matt, in turn, passed it along to Dick.
"We have heard a good deal about you, don," remarked Matt, "but this isthe first time we have ever met."
"And I have heard much about you," was the answer, in most gracioustones; "very much to your credit. The recent performance of the_Grampus_ made a deep impression upon me, and that is why I am hereto-night. If you wish, you can render a great service to the cause ofright and justice; possibly it hangs upon you to terminate the uprisingin the unhappy little republic that lies to the south."
Matt and Dick were all interest on the moment.
"What do you mean, don?" asked Matt.
"Pitou and his rebels have captured Port Livingston and the fort onthe headland across the river from the town. Every inch of the coastis guarded. The loyal army is marching from the Pacific side of therepublic--very few in numbers and poorly armed. Pitou, the great rogue,has laid a trap for the loyalists. Unless General Mendez, in charge ofthe loyal troops, is communicated with to-morrow morning, there will befighting and bloodshed, and perhaps the insurrectionists will win."
Matt and Dick were following the don closely, wondering what he wasdriving at.
"Of course," the don resumed, after a brief silence, "as Spanishconsul, I am not warranted in mixing in the imbroglio. Whatever I do, Ido in a private capacity, and merely as a preserver of peace. However,it is well known that the insurrection, headed by this soldier offortune, Pitou, is merely for the sake of gain. If successful, Pitouand Fingal would get a grip on the throat of the little republic, andlawlessness would reign. You know something about Pitou and Fingal andtheir base methods and designs. Therefore, I come to you."
"Why do you come to me, don?" inquired Matt.
"Why, with the submarine you could pass the mouth of the Izaral underwater and unseen by the rebels; you could continue up the Izaral, stillbelow the surface, to the place where the Purgatoire enters the stream.From that point I could communicate with General Mendez and warn himof the trap that has been laid by Pitou. The general could save hisarmy--and the fate of the republic hangs on General Mendez. Will you dothis? Will you assist Don Ramon Ortega in such a humanitarian work?"
Matt was dazed by the proposition.
"You," pursued the don passionately, "come from a great and richcountry, where there is always peace. Then have you got it in yourheart to withhold a helping hand from a smaller and war-harried littlecountry whose fate may hang upon your decision? See!"
The don pulled a stool in front of him, untied the canvas sack andspilled a heap of golden sovereigns out of it.
"Here are fifty pieces of gold, Motor Matt," went on the don, "and, ifwe are successful in passing the revolutionists and getting word toGeneral Mendez, you shall have _one thousand more_. Will you do thisfor me, Don Ramon Ortega? Will you do it for humanity? I do not appealto your wish for gain--you are above such sordid things--but I ask youin the name of right and justice! Lives, human lives, depend on you!The fate of a republic depends on you! As for the risk to you and thesubmarine--bah!" The don shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. "Am Inot going with you? Would I endanger my own life?"
The don paused anxiously for reply. Dick peered at his friendreflectively. Speake, Clackett and Gaines, having finished their workbelow, had come to the periscope room and were standing in one of thebulkhead doors. They had heard the don's proposition, and the gold wassparkling its lure in their greedy eyes.
"I am sorry, don," said Matt, with a note of deep regret in his voice,"but I have not the authority to let you have the _Grampus_ for anysuch work."
"You are the captain?"
"I am in charge of the boat while her captain is sick. You should takeyour proposition to Captain Nemo, Jr."
"I went to see him, but the doctor refused to let me in. The doctorsaid the captain was unable to talk with anybody. So I came to you."
"I haven't the authority, don," repeated Matt firmly. "Wait until thecaptain is able to talk business. I can't risk the boat."
"There is no risk!"
"Perhaps not; but I have no more right to take this boat out of theharbor, don, than you have."
The don passed his dejected glance from Matt to Dick, and then towardthe three faces in the narrow doorway.
Gaines pushed forward.
"Matt," said he, "I think you might stretch a point. Them golden sovslook mighty fine to me. There's two hundred an' fifty dollars' worththere, and we're promised five thousand dollars' worth more. Cap'nNemo, Jr., if he was able, would tell us to go ahead an' capture theprize money. I move we hook up with the don."
"Might jest as well turn a few honest dollars, Matt," put in Speake,"as to be layin' idle here, off Belize."
"My idee, exactly," said Clackett. "I know the cap'n would do it if hewas able to hear the don's proposition."
"Why not, matey?" said Dick, in a low tone.
Matt shook his head decidedly.
"I'd go in a minute if I had the right to do so," said he, "but Ihaven't. Suppose the _Seminole_ should put into the harbor to-nightwith orders for the _Grampus_? You know what it would mean, Dick."
Dick was silent, but not convinced. The men were disappointed, andwatched the don as he shoved the gold coins back into the bag.
"I
am sorry, too," said he, tying up the bag, "and I feel, Motor Matt,that you are letting a lot of useless red tape interfere with yourduties to humanity."
"Perhaps, don, I merely understand my duty better than you do,"answered Matt, respectfully but firmly. "I haven't any love for Pitou,or Fingal, or the rascally revolutionists, and I promise you this, thatI will see Captain Nemo, Jr., personally in the morning, and, if thedoctor will let me, will put your proposition before him. If he agrees,we will start for the south at once."
"That will be too late," said the don, getting up and taking his bag ofsovereigns. "I will bid you good evening, hail my boat and go ashore,"he added stiffly.
With chilly dignity he climbed the conning-tower ladder and hailed thesailboat. Matt, Dick and the others saw him safely aboard and the boatheaded shoreward, then again went below.
"I'm tired," announced Matt, cutting short a further discussion ofthe don and his proposition, "and I'm going to bed. You and Clackett,Gaines, will have the anchor watch till midnight. After that, call Dickand me."
"Very good, sir," replied Gaines.
Dick accompanied Matt to a room abaft the periscope chamber, in whicha couple of cots had been set up, and silently the two chums turnedin. Nothing more was said about going ashore to interrupt Carl'sserenade. Matt knew that Dick thought he should have accepted the don'sproposition, and yet, feeling that he was in the right, did not care todiscuss the matter. With a hearty good night to Dick, he turned overand went to sleep.
How long Matt slept he did not know, but he was awakened by the throbof a motor and started bolt upright in his bed.
The _Grampus_ was moving! The roll of the craft proved that she was onthe surface and under way. All was dark in the little steel room, andMatt got up and groped for the switch that turned on the incandescentlight. A moment later there was a dazzling glow, and Matt looked at thebulkhead doors. They had been open when he and Dick turned in, and nowthey were closed!
He started for the door leading to the periscope room. Just as he laidhis hand on it, Dick roused up.
"What's the blooming go, mate?" queried Dick, rubbing his eyes. "Weseem to be on the move."
"We are," answered Matt grimly.
"Who's in charge, and where are we going?"
"Give it up! All I know is that we're locked in."
Then he began shaking the steel door and kicking against it.
"Gaines!" he yelled.
Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos Page 5