Where Duty Called; or, In Honor Bound

by George Waldo Browne

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL CASTRO.

  A soldier's first duty is always to obey his superior in command. Uponhearing of General Castro's return to La Guayra, Ronie immediatelyabandoned his search, leaving his companions to carry it on, while hesought the president. He found him without difficulty, for he wasalready besieged with callers. But our hero had only to send in hispassport from Colonel Marchand to receive an urgent request to come atonce.

  He was a little disappointed in the personal appearance of the man whohad become so prominent in the affairs, and whose name he had heardspoken more often than any dozen others since he had come to Venezuela.He was below medium height, of rather slight build, and moved with alimp in one limb, caused by a wound he had received in battle. His eyewas the feature which bespoke most the man, and as Ronie stood beforehim he seemed to read him at a glance.

  "Sergeant Rand," he greeted, in a hearty manner, which quickly won theAmerican boy's friendship, "I welcome you gladly to La Guayra. ColonelMarchand sends his message by you?"

  "Here are your dispatches, General Castro. I trust they will provevaluable to you."

  "Be seated, sergeant, while I read them."

  Ten minutes of silence followed, during which Ronie had ample time tostudy the man before him, who seemed absorbed in the written messagesjust placed in his hands. Then he laid the last one down, and said:

  "If I am not mistaken, you are the young American the colonel spoke ofin such laudable terms in his last. It seems by what he says now thatyou have not let your reputation suffer by more recent conduct. It wasyour friend I sent to have liberated from the penitentiary at SanCarlos, was it not?"

  "It was, general."

  "Is he in La Guayra?"

  "He is."

  "I wish he had come with you, for I am heartily glad to meet two suchallies in a time when the whole world seems against me. Forgive me forsaying that, as I would not have you think I distrust your ownrepublic. But tell me of what you have seen in the West, SergeantRand. I am glad to get such information as I believe you can give meof the hotbed of rebellion in my poor country. Take your time, and donot be afraid to speak of yourself."

  Then Ronie described such portions of the events that had come underhis observation as he thought the other would be pleased to hear,referring to himself very modestly, while General Castro listened withgreat interest, now and then asking some question or expressingadmiration at the conduct of Colonel Marchand and his regiment. He wasespecially pleased with the rout given El Capitan at the estate of DonIsadora, and he made Ronie describe the affair so minutely that he wasforced to speak of the part he had taken.

  "I have heard nothing so pleasing," said the president. "You shall berewarded for your gallant conduct. I am again saying that I am sorrythis friend, or these American friends of yours, did not accompany youhere. I will send for them."

  "I am afraid you will not find them readily, as they are in search of aman in La Guayra that we want to find very much." Then he hastened toadd: "But this is a personal matter, General Castro, and you willpardon me for introducing it to you. I did not intend to."

  "What concerns my comrades, concerns me," cried Castro, with possiblymore vehemence than he had intended. "Tell me all about it, SergeantRand."

  Thus urged, Ronie explained what he knew in regard to his mother, thepresident listening attentively to every word. When he had finished,the latter said:

  "Sergeant, this is a grave matter. To say nothing of my feelings foryou, I cannot afford to let this affair escape my notice. It mighteasily be construed to mean an offense against your government. Haveyou communicated with Minister Bowen?"

  "No, General Castro."

  "I should advise you to do so as early as may be. But in the meantimewe will leave no stone unturned to find her."

  "You are very kind, general. What would you suggest that we do first?"

  "Find the man who had her photograph, and make him tell all he knows."

  "I have regretted, general, that we did not return and do that."

  "You were hardly prepared to do it, as I understand your condition."

  "True, General Castro. We were glad to escape with our lives, and wehave been kept escaping ever since."

  "You have proved lively enough in the race. You spoke of that young DeCaprian. What do you know of him?"

  "I believe he is as true a patriot as you have in Venezuela," repliedRonie, boldly.

  "I would not let anybody else say that," declared Castro, frankly."You think I have misjudged the man, Sergeant Rand?"

  "Perhaps I ought not to say it, but he appeared honest to us."

  "You would like to see him set free?"

  "Not if he is an enemy to your government, General Castro."

  "I understand. When you go to San Carlos to get your man I will sendby you the papers which shall give him his freedom. I will try him awhile, and if he proves faithful his mother shall be given her liberty.I have given orders to see that she is given all the privilegespossible under the circumstances. I have been very much interested inyour intelligence, Sergeant Rand, and I trust I shall meet your friendswhen you come again."

  Taking this as a hint that the interview was ended, Ronie saluted inmilitary style, and was in the act of withdrawing when Castro said:

  "Sergeant, I wish to ask you a question, and trust you will answer itin the same good faith in which it is asked. What do you believe wouldbe the most effective thing for me to do toward quelling this rebellionin the vicinity from which you have come?"

  The answer to be made came as quick as a flash into Ronie's mind, andwithout stopping to consider how it might sound expressed in so manywords, he said:

  "Take the field yourself, General Castro!"

  If this reply suited him or not, the president did not show it by thelook upon his features, as he said, simply:

  "Good-day, Sergeant Rand."

  While in doubt as to the effect his words would have upon the energeticpresident of the republic, Ronie was pleased in a large measure withhis interview. He regretted that Harrie was not with him, and heresolved that the next time he would not go alone. Upon secondthought, he could not see that there would be any occasion for him tocall again. Then he drove these thoughts from his mind, and thinkingof his mother and what her fate might be, he began to look anxiouslyfor his companions.

  About half an hour later he found his friends, but they had to report afailure in regard to finding the unknown man they had hoped to find.Riva Baez, as well as Harrie and Jack, listened with interest toRonie's account of his meeting with General Castro.

  "I have faith to believe he will help us find your mother," saidHarrie, "and with his assistance we cannot fail."

  "Unless we are too late," replied Ronie. "I cannot bear thisinactivity."

  "I have always found it good policy to 'make haste slowly,'" declaredJack, quoting an old saw. "Meanwhile let us see how Castro takes toyour advice, sergeant."

  "To think that I should have dared to speak in that way," said Ronie,who feared he had overstepped his position so far as to incur thedispleasure of his superior. But he was speedily disarmed of thisfear, for the following day General Castro came out with a proclamationin which he defined his purpose of taking the field personally, and ofleading the campaign in the West. An hour later a summons came for ourthree Americans to visit the commander, and they met with a welcomethat proved the president had only the kindliest feelings toward them.They were urged to accompany his army, and were only barred from beingoffered a commission from the fact that General Castro did not wish tocurtail any of the liberties they might have if they were not regularlyattached to his forces.

  "You can go as far as Valencia with me, and from thence I will send youan escort to San Carlos, so you may find your man if you can, and alsosee that young De Caprian is given his liberty. To prove my good faithwith him, I will hold a commission for him, if he wishes to accept it."

  Th
anking the general for the kindly interest in them, our threewithdrew, certain that at last something definite was being done. Thenext day the entire force moved toward Valencia, and they accompaniedthe Venezuelans, Riva also going along.

  The week that followed was one of great activity; but very little wasaccomplished that seemed to forward matters with the impatient Ronieand his friends. Leaving Castro's army at Valencia, they reached SanCarlos to find that the bird they were after had flown. As near asthey could learn, he had disappeared the morning our heroes had beendriven away, and that he had not been seen since he had taken themacross the bay in the boat. It was currently believed that he hadeither been shot or drowned. In this way was lost what might haveproved an important clew in their search for Ronie's mother.

  Their disappointment was brightened somewhat by the joy with whichFrancisco hailed his liberty. He embraced his American friends, andshowered upon them praises for their action in his behalf. When he wastold about his mother, he grew less demonstrative, but learning thatshe was unharmed, with a promise of good protection, he recoveredexuberance of spirits.

  "I shall accept any commission General Castro will bestow upon me," hesaid, "and I will show him my fealty to him and the true government ofmy country. I am impatient to see him."

  Knowing nothing could be gained by remaining longer at San Carlos, ourheroes returned to the army at once. Having learned that he hadremoved to Ocumare, they headed thither, learning all along the waythat the insurgents were everywhere successful, until it seemed as ifthe government was doomed. These accounts were rendered more hopelessto the cause by the fact that before they could reach him, Castro hadbegun his retreat toward Caracas.

  In the face of this, he issued his decree of amnesty to all insurgentslaying down arms within forty days.

  "Unless he makes some more decided stand and wins a decided victory tooffset all this noise on the other side, Castro will have no governmentfor them to lay down their arms to," said Jack, grimly. "Of course itisn't my dish that's cooking, but I feel just like saying so much."

  "General Castro will act decisively when the time comes, according tohis idea," said Ronie.

  In the midst of this uncertainty word reached them from La Guayra thatthe cables were to be cut, and that Minister Bowen had sent toWashington for warships.

  Castro's next movement was to take charge of his troops at Guaicaipuro,and to establish his government there. Then followed the week's battlewith the insurgents led by Mendoza at La Gloria, which was to prove theturning point in the war. Colonel Marchand's regiment of volunteerswas there, and in the thickest of the fight our heroes had ampleopportunity to prove the metal of which American soldiers are made. Itwas a bitter fight, the more trying as it was made withbush-fighters--scattered bodies of men who fought after the style ofthe North American Indians, from behind trees, or whatever cover was athand. Fortunately, our friends escaped without a scratch, thoughColonel Marchand received an ugly wound that was likely to drive himfrom the field for a time.

  His was not the only regiment that covered itself with glory, for therewas another, led by a boyish captain, who seemed everywhere in thethickest of the fight. This little band gained the high-water mark ofthe battle, and it was that more than any other which turned the tideof the struggle and made of La Victoria a victory indeed. The name ofthat gallant leader, who received special mention in the list of honor,was Francisco de Caprian. General Castro had no longer any reason todoubt his loyalty to Venezuela, and the president greeted him with thepromise that his conduct had chased away the shadows upon his familyname.

  The result of this victory for the government at La Victoria was suchthat Matos, the head of the insurgents, gave up active command, whileCastro prepared for a triumphal return to Caracas.