Arthur O. Friel

“ His companion took a quick draw at his cigaret, then stood watching as if he were only a disinterested spectator.
“Citizens of a misruled town, victims of a tyrannical government! You know that I, Federico Gordo, fight against oppression; that I make war to free our country from the chains of slavery, to sweep away corruption, to restore to your lives the freedom and happiness of liberty and justice. You know that there can be no liberty without justice, no justice without impartiality. And you know there can be no safety without just law and just punishment for those who violate such law. ”

“ Cocks began to crow. Men straightened, walked with a little more vim, though yawning long and often. As a pink blush dyed the eastern clouds, from somewhere came marching a squad of sombre-faced men, eyes set stonily to the front, rifles rigid on their shoulders. Commanded by a sargento, they trod in unison to one side of the plaza and halted a few yards from a blank wall. There they grounded arms and stood at rest. The non-com strode away, halting again outside an open window of the office.
“Ready, my general,” he announced in monotone.
The frown of Veinte Cuatro tightened perceptibly. ”

“ But I must have the boat. Be assured that you shall be well provided when it leaves you. And, if you will pardon me, it is not your boat. One of my men recognizes it as the property of a merchant of Bolívar. Thus the loss will be his, not yours. It is unavoidable.”
His tone, though courteous, was final. Hart and Kelly looked at each other as if accepting the inevitable.
“Bien,” said the former. “General, no gas boat will run without gas. That was why we stopped here.” ”