Up the Forked River; Or, Adventures in South America Part 27

"Unquestionably; no cause remains for further secrets between us."

"Then I may say that some hours ago, when you stood where you are now standing, discussing this question with me, my eyes were resting on General Yozarro."

"You astonish me, Captain; be more explicit."

"I knew when he sailed out of sight around the bend in the river, that he would not go far. He did not. He ran to the southern bank, lowered his sail, and pulled the boat so far under the overhanging vegetation that neither you nor your friends noted it. Knowing where to look, I was more fortunate. The General signalled to me to come to land, so that he and his men could attack you."

"Why did you not do so? Yet it would have been your death warrant to have made the attempt."

"That was not the reason why I did not go to him; I had given the General one opportunity, and was too impatient with him to provide a second. But, more than that, you had my parole."

"True; I had forgotten that. May I ask what you think General Yozarro's plan is?"

"He does not understand why I refused to obey his signal, and there will be a hot quarrel over it when we meet. He expects me to return, sooner or later, for he must know that the purpose of yourself is to reach Zalapata with the Senorita, after which I shall be at liberty to return to Atlamalco. I shall, therefore, find him not far from where I saw him a few hours ago."

"I beg to renew the a.s.surances of my distinguished consideration, Captain," said the American, saluting and pa.s.sing back to the cabin.

The ma.s.sive Dictator of the Zalapatan Republic was puffing and striding to and fro over the short length of the cabin, the point of his scabbard t.i.tillating against the floor, for his steps, though of moderate length for an ordinary man, were long for a person of his build. His face was redder than ever, and it was clear that he was agitated over some great question that was wriggling through his brain.

When he wheeled and faced the American, he whipped off his plumed hat and sagged down upon the lounge at the side of the cabin. It creaked but held.

"Pardon me, General, you seem disturbed in mind," remarked the young officer, drawing up a stool and seating himself opposite.

"I _am_ disturbed, Major; nothing in all the world could have happened to cause me greater regret."

"You refer to the affair of last night; I cannot see that you have any concern with that."

"Captain Guzman was involved with you."

"If you are so afraid of offending General Yozarro, you can easily disavow the act of your officer, though he deserves all praise for what he did."

"Be a.s.sured that I shall disavow his crime in the strongest terms, and, if General Yozarro demands it, the Captain shall be severely punished."

"The other day, when you were talking with him and me, you were hot for war against Atlamalco."

"True, but since then I have received a great light."

The amazed American waited to catch a ray himself, but it came not and he said:

"I delivered your message to General Yozarro yesterday."

"And he received it graciously?"

"Most graciously; there was no hint about sending me back to you from the muzzle of one of his cannon; he begged me to a.s.sure you he would have your complaint investigated and would do his utmost to meet your demands."

"What I might have expected from my n.o.ble compatriot!" exclaimed the Dictator with greasy unctuosity; "I was sure of it."

"But you did not look for such magnanimity, when in council with Captain Guzman and me. May I ask to what is due this marked change of sentiment on your part?"

General Bambos lifted himself to his feet and swung across the cabin several times, finally cras.h.i.+ng back to his former seat on the vexed lounge.

"You have heard of General Simon Bolivar?" was his unexpected question.

"Who has not? He was the great Liberator, born in Venezuela in 1783, who freed Peru, which then became Bolivia, and was rejected by Colombia, because she did not know how to appreciate his greatness.

His was the finest character ever produced by South America."

"I am glad to hear that you appreciate him," said General Bambos, his small black eyes glowing.

"The greatest compliment ever paid General Bolivar was when he was called the South American Was.h.i.+ngton. _He_ is the standard by which the world's heroes are measured."

"You have many heroes in the United States; I have read of Abraham Lincoln: how does _he_ compare with Was.h.i.+ngton?"

"The two stand side by side, and sometimes it is hard to see which is foremost. One was the creator and the other the preserver of his nation."

"How do _I_ compare with Was.h.i.+ngton and Lincoln?"

CHAPTER x.x.xV.

The question for the moment took away the breath of the American. He looked into the crimson, flabby countenance and wondered if the man was in earnest. He was. By great effort, Major Starland held back the laugh tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Well," said he, pulling himself together and speaking slowly, "perhaps you come, say within a thousand miles of each. I don't see how the distance can be shortened."

"That depends upon the place you give others," blandly observed the Dictator, who accepted the rating as a compliment; "where do you place General Bolivar?"

"I should have to make careful calculation; he might come within a mile or two, but remember that the modern world has not yet produced the peer of George Was.h.i.+ngton or Abraham Lincoln, nor do I see any signs that she is likely to do so. Have you been figuring on a comparison yourself?"

"I am too modest to claim to stand on the same plane with either of your great heroes, but reflection convinces me that I have been selected by heaven to be the successor of General Simon Bolivar."

"Inasmuch as to when?" said the Major gravely.

"I beg pardon; I do not understand your question, Major."

"I wait for you to explain _your_ meaning: what is your ambition?"

"It is to form a grand confederation of South American states; as you know, our continent is divided into no end of petty republics. Why should they not unite into one powerful, resistless whole?"

"The only obstacle is themselves; each country is so jealous of every other that it prefers to fight rather than to fuse. Zalapata and Atlamalco are ill.u.s.trations; they are continually quarreling and at war over trifles that would shame a couple of schoolboys."

"All that is ended; henceforth General Yozarro and I are brothers, and the two republics will join hands in the path of progress. Our example will be quickly followed by Venezuela, by Colombia, by Ecuador, by Bolivia, by Brazil and all the states down to and including Patagonia. Will not that be the grandest confederation the world ever saw?"

"Undoubtedly--when it is formed. Is the conception your own, General?"

"It is; it has been forming in my mind for weeks and months; more than once I was in despair, and not until last evening did the splendor of the scheme burst upon me in all its fulness."

"You are dreaming what others dreamed before you, but the only one who made a fair start toward its realization was Simon Bolivar, and he died disappointed and brokenhearted. I suppose the first step will be to send amba.s.sadors, or whatever you choose to call them, to the different republics of South America, proposing a meeting of representatives to consider the great scheme?"