“So, I have caught you, then,” he cried. “Why did you try to escape?”
“For the same reason you are trying to escape, perhaps,” retorted Orissa, summoning what courage she could command. “But I warn you that our friends will presently come for us, and — you may not care to meet them.”
He uttered an angry snarl and cast a quick glance around the valley. In all its broad stretch not a person other than themselves was visible.
Ramon sat down on his knoll, breathing heavily from his long run.
“Yes, I have run away,” he admitted, bitterness and hate in his tone. “I can fight ten — or twenty, perhaps — with my single hand; but not fifty. They have come to put me in prison, those fiends over there,” jerking his thumb toward the bay, “and seeing they were too strong for me to oppose, I came away. It is what you call discreet — eh? — which is more safe, if less noble, than valor. But they have the island and they will hunt me down. And once more I shall laugh at them — once more Ramon Ganza will defy them all!”
“How?” asked Orissa, curiously.
“Have you not the flying-machine — the airship?” he asked, simply. “And are you not here alone, and in my power? It carries but two, I see, so one of you shall stay here. The other must fly with me to my own island, where I will take a sailboat and — vanish from the dogs who are hounding me.”
“That,” said Orissa, with forced calmness, for her heart was beating wildly, “is impossible.”
He uttered a fierce growl.
“It is not impossible,” he cried. “I have seen your machine fly, and know it can fly when you want it to. It must fly now, or by San Filippe I will tumble you both out and fly it myself. It is best that you not arouse my anger, for Ramon Ganza is desperate and will not be denied. Get ready, girl! We will fly to my island, or — ” He laughed harshly. “Or you will both ruin your beautiful toilets, and — the mire is dangerous,” he added.
“We have no gasoline,” pleaded Orissa.
“Pah! a trick to deceive me.”
“No; it is true,” cried Sybil, who grew more quiet as fear possessed her.
He hesitated, a look of despair flashing across his features. Then he said with grim determination: “I will see for myself,” and stepped recklessly into the pool of oil that lay between him and the hummock where the aeroplane perched.
The slime reached to his ankle, but he kept doggedly on. The second step sent him knee-deep into the ooze and he had to struggle to wade farther in. But now he sank nearly to his waist and the sticky soil held him fast. Then suddenly the man seemed to realize his peril and uttered a shrill cry of terror.
“Help, young ladies! For the love of humanity — help! Will you see me die like this?” he screamed.
Orissa and Sybil, both horrified, had risen to their feet. The sinking outlaw was fully five yards distant and there seemed no possible way to aid him. But it was terrible to allow a human being to perish in such a way, even when it was a confessed enemy who stood in peril. Orissa caught up a blanket and hurled it toward him, and he seized it eagerly and spread it around him for support. Next moment Sybil had hastily folded the second blanket and cast it with all her strength toward Ganza. One corner he caught and in a moment had added it to the first, now becoming saturated with oil. Yet the blankets would not have availed much had not Ramon’s feet now rested upon a rock far beneath the surface, effectually preventing him from sinking any lower. Almost waist-deep in the puttylike mire he stood a fast prisoner, for no effort of his own could enable him to free himself.
He realized, presently, that he was not fated to be entombed in the mire, so part of his old assurance returned to him. As he stared at the girls and they returned his gaze with horrified looks, he remarked:
“Well, I am caught, as you see; but it was no officer of the law that did it. Ramon Ganza can defy mankind, as he has often proved, but he bows to Nature. Also, young ladies, I beg to point out that — if you have spoken truly — you are likewise caught, and alas! we cannot assist one another. What, then, shall we do for amusement?”
“I think,” said Sybil gravely, “you ought to pray.”
“I? I have forgotten how. What then? Shall we sing songs? If you will accompany the chorus I will delight your ears with my excellent tenor voice.”
This bravado, coming from a man stuck fast in the mire, was so gruesome that it made the girls shudder with aversion. But Sybil, happening to glance up, cried with sudden animation: “Look, Orissa!” and pointed with a trembling finger.
In the distance a group of men had appeared over the edge of the rock hills. They saw the stalled aeroplane and waved their arms encouragingly.
Ganza screwed his head around with some difficulty and also observed the rescue party.
“It cannot matter,” he said coolly. “As well one prison as another, and no Mexican dungeon could hug me tighter than this.”
He fell silent, however, and no further remarks were exchanged as the distant party drew nearer. They were forced by the treacherous nature of the valley to move cautiously and when they entered the area of oil seepage more than one slipped in the slimy pools. But gradually they approached the spot where the aeroplane rested and now Orissa and Sybil could make out Stephen Kane, Mr. Cumberford, Captain Krell, Chesty Todd and an unknown man in uniform, who were accompanied by several seamen.
The girls stood up and waved their handkerchiefs and then cried out warnings to beware the mire. Not until the rescuers were quite near to the place did they perceive the upper half of Ramon Ganza protruding from the imprisoning slime.
“Dear me,” cried Mr. Cumberford; “this is interesting; very! How are you, girls? All right?”
Through the bombardment of eager questions they assured their friends that they had suffered no serious discomfort because of the accident to the Aircraft. “But,” added Sybil, “we had a good fright when Ramon Ganza threatened us, unless we assisted him to escape in our aeroplane. Fortunately the mire came to our assistance, for he stepped into a soft place and it held him fast — as you see.”
All eyes turned upon the helpless outlaw, who nodded his head with astonishing nonchalance.
“I bid you good morning, senors,” said he. “When you are sufficiently rested from your walk, be kind enough to pull me out of this loving embrace; but gently, or you may dislocate my bones.”
“Who is this?” asked the officer in uniform, a fine featured young man.
“The rascal who has so boldly annoyed us, regardless of consequences,” replied Cumberford, frowning upon the Mexican. “He escaped us last night, but we have him now, sure enough, and I intend to see he is handed over to the authorities of his country, whose laws he has defied.”
“What did he do?” the officer inquired, gazing at Ganza curiously.
“Permit me to explain that I robbed a bank — a bank engaged in robbing others under government sanction,” said Ganza. “To rob is a small thing, senors; but it is a crime to be discovered robbing. That was my fault. Others in my native land, who are more successful embezzlers than I, are to-day respected, rich and happy.”
“Was that your only crime?”
“So far as is known, senor. Otherwise I am very good man and quite respectable.”
“He is a tyrant and a bully, and whips his men if they disobey him,” declared Steve.
“Pah! they are curs. The whip is less than they deserve,” retorted Ganza. “But permit me to remind you of my present discomfort, senors. I will gladly exchange this bog for a Mexican prison.”
They managed to drag him out, none too gently, and the seamen scraped the oily slime from his legs and body so that he could stand erect.
Then they turned to examine the condition of the aeroplane.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
ORISSA DECIDES
ONLY BY TAKING the Aircraft entirely apart, decided Steve, might he hope to remove it to the bay, for it could not be flown from the hummock where it was wedged between the rocks. But they could
not wait to do that now. The girls were very near one of those feminine crises so familiar to Mrs. Tupper, and their friends realized the nervous strain they had endured and made haste to lead them back to the yacht. The seamen looked after Ramon Ganza, who was so physically exhausted by his late experience that he made no endeavor to escape.
It was a tedious climb, by no means devoid of danger, but so anxious were Orissa and Sybil to escape from the dread valley that they energetically persevered until the last rock hill was passed and they descended the slope to the inlet.
There lay the Salvador; keeled over, indeed, but safe and sound. Just without the bay floated the Mermaid, and one of her boats was run upon the beach and another clung to the Salvador’s side.
A hearty cheer greeted the return of the rescue party when Orissa and Sybil were observed approaching with them, and Captain Swanson himself came forward to offer his congratulations.
On their way, Steve had briefly related the events of the night attack and told how the defenders, fortified within the cabin and below decks, had been quite safe from Ganza until the arrival of the torpedo boat relieved the situation. Then the Mexicans fled and made frantic attempts to escape, hiding themselves in the wilderness of rocks that littered the island.
When Captain Swanson learned of the capture of Ramon Ganza and the rescue of the young ladies he decided to attempt no pursuit of the scattered Mexicans but to apply himself promptly to the task of floating the yacht, which he succeeded in doing before night. The Salvador was in no way injured and as soon as she had anchored outside the bay was again in commission and fully able to care for herself.
Madeline invited the officers of the Mermaid to dine aboard her yacht and Monsieur Risette prepared a repast that surprised even his employer, so elaborate and delicious it proved.
As they conversed together afterward, commenting upon the exciting experiences of the yacht and her company and the daring flights of the Kane Hydro-Aircraft, Madeline said to Captain Swanson:
“What shall we do with Ramon Ganza?”
“Where is he, Miss Dentry?”
“Locked up in our cage. But I don’t want him aboard. Won’t you take him to Magdalena and turn him over to the Mexican police?”
“I am not sure I have authority to arrest the man,” replied the captain gravely. “I will send a wireless to the fleet to-night and endeavor to get the admiral and receive his instructions concerning Ganza.”
He wrote out a message at once and dispatched it to his ship by one of his men, that the wireless operator aboard might repeat it a number of times in the attempt to reach the ship for which it was intended. A wireless message travels farther by night and is more distinct.
Madeline now urged Captain Swanson to carry Chica and Pietro to Magdalena, which would enable them to reach their homes quickly and he agreed to do this. Miss Dentry supplied the two with sufficient money for their needs and the Red-beard and the child said their goodbyes and were rowed to the Mermaid.
The yacht party, now reunited and safe from further molestation, thoroughly enjoyed the evening and expressed their gratitude again and again for the prompt assistance rendered them by their fellow countrymen. Madeline had already written a nice letter to the admiral, which she entrusted to Captain Swanson.
As Orissa and Sybil, as well as many others of the party, had passed a trying and sleepless night, the officers thoughtfully retired early, returning to their quarters on the Mermaid.
Breakfast was in progress on the Salvador next morning when a note was brought from the captain of the torpedo boat.
“I was fortunate in reaching the admiral,” it said, “and I — beg to enclose you a copy of the message I have received from him in reply. I further regret to state that I am ordered to rejoin the fleet without delay and must therefore bid you all adieu.”
The wireless read: “President Madero proclaimed a general amnesty to Mexican refugees some three months ago. On the list of pardons appears the name of Ramon Ganza.”
Madeline drew a long breath.
“I’m sorry for that,” she said. “Ramon Ganza has escaped the penalty of breaking his country’s laws and we are powerless to punish him ourselves — even though he struck poor Mason with a knife.”
“How is Mason getting along?” asked Orissa.
“Very nicely,” stated Mr. Cumberford. “It was a deep cut, but reached no vital organs and the man will soon be as good as new.”
“That does not alter the fact that Ganza is a wicked desperado,” said Sybil.
“It’s a shame to allow him to escape,” exclaimed Mr. Tupper, indignantly. “Can’t we arrest him for disturbing the peace, and trying to capture our yacht, and attempting to murder one of the crew?”
“No,” replied Mr. Cumberford. “This island doesn’t belong to the United States. I believe it is Mexican territory. But if we can prove damages we might be able to recover from the Mexican government — and then, again, we might not.”
“I’ll never put in a claim, for my part,” said Madeline, laughing. “But what are we to do with Ramon Ganza — and those three rascals imprisoned with him, whom Chesty captured and brought to us?”
“Let Chesty get rid of them; they’re his prisoners,” suggested Sybil.
“The chief bandit is your own prisoner — and Orissa’s,” declared Chesty. “What do you intend to do with him, Miss Cumberford?”
Sybil laughed.
“It’s a problem,” she confessed. “Can you solve it, Miss Dentry?”
“I fear not,” answered Madeline, indeed puzzled. “Our prisoners are likely to prove white elephants on our hands. To carry them to America would involve us in endless difficulties, and — I have other plans, wherein their presence is better dispensed with.”
“Then,” said Chesty, after due reflection, “let us leave them all behind us, on the island. Not this island, where they would be prisoners and perhaps starve, because I have sunk their gasoline launch and they cannot get away, but on Ramon Ganza’s own island. Then the fellow may decide his future as he deems best and we may wash our hands of the whole disagreeable affair.”
“I hope you won’t inform him that he is pardoned,” said Mr. Tupper, earnestly.
“Why not?” asked Madeline. “Let us return good for evil. Perhaps, when Ramon Ganza is no longer a refugee and can face the world a free man, he will redeem his past and become honest.”
“I doubt it,” declared Mr. Cumberford; “but I think you are right to give him the chance.”
It was so decided. There remained on Owl Island but one of Ganza’s rowboats which would be available for use by the men hidden among the rocks, but at the larger island was a small sailboat in which, during calm weather, the chief might go for his men and transport them to their former quarters.
Next morning a party accompanied Steve into the valley once more, where the Aircraft was taken apart and brought with considerable labor to the bay, from whence it was conveyed to the yacht and compactly stored away below decks.
“There’s no use putting it together until we get back home,” said the inventor; and his partner, Mr. Cumberford, agreed with him.
This task had consumed the entire day, during which Orissa and Sybil had kept to their staterooms, trying to quiet their nerves and get some much-needed sleep. Madeline, in the meantime, had ordered a store of provisions placed on the beach for the use of the band of Mexicans until they were rescued by their leader, as she did not wish them to suffer for lack of food, however mischievous and lawless they might be.
The following day Captain Krell hoisted anchor and headed for the larger island, and it was good to all to feel the water slipping along underneath the Salvador’s thin keel again.
Ramon Ganza accepted his liberty with the same stoical indifference that characterized all his actions. He strutted a bit when Chesty told him of his pardon, but declared he would continue to inhabit the island where he was virtually a king.
“With no fear of a prison to haunt me,” he
said, “I can make the island a paradise. Many Mexicans will settle there and become my subjects.”
“You’ll have to cut out the flogging, then,” suggested Chesty.
“It will gratify me to do so. Before, I have the obligation to flog the disobedient ones because I dared not send them away; but now, if they prove obstinate, I may send them back to Mexico.”
He took off his hat with an elaborate bow as the Salvador’s boat left him standing with his three men on the little dock below his residence; but Francisco and the other two scowled fiercely at Mr. Todd, whom they reproached for deceiving them about Madero’s reward, although they had elected to remain with their old master rather than be taken to America.
“It’s a good thing for civilization that those villains are sequestrated on a far-away, unknown island,” remarked Chesty, when he had regained the yacht’s deck. “I suppose anyone can reform, if he tries hard, but I’ll bet a hat that Francisco and his comrades never make the attempt.”
“We are well rid of them, in any event,” asserted Mr. Cumberford.
Orissa and Sybil appeared at dinner, both considerably improved in spirits after their long rest.
“When do we sail for San Diego?” Sybil asked Madeline.
“Captain Krell is ready. I am waiting for Orissa and you to decide,” was the reply.
Orissa looked up in surprise.
“What have we to decide?” she inquired.
“Merely which way we shall proceed. My yacht hasn’t had a fair trial yet and I had in mind a trip to Honolulu before we went in chase of two runaway girls. We still have on board enough coal and supplies for such a trip and I have resolved to invite you all to make it in my company — in which case we will head directly for Hawaii from here.”
Orissa was thoughtful for a time and looked inquiringly at Steve, who smiled in return.
“I think such a trip would do us all good,” he suggested.
“The Flying Girl has no important engagements, at present,” added Mr. Todd, the press agent.
Complete Works of L. Frank Baum Page 566