St. George Rathborne

“ Yes, I would be a revolutionist, and experience the wild exhilaration that possesses a Central American free state in the throes of an upheaval.
I had done more than that for mere love of adventure in the past—surely, I could endure what came my way now, since it was for a higher and far more worthy cause—love of a woman.
I wondered if she were confined in the same suite of rooms where Carmencita had led us on the night we defied all Bolivar.
Robbins must be growing quite familiar with the alcalde’s home quarters by this time, he had prowled about it so extensively. ”

“ Our worthy alcalde had doubtless passed through many revolutions in his time—he knew only too well what those cries and that tumult portended, and when a change of dynasty was imminent far be it from him to allow such minor matters as the capture of two Yengees to keep him from weightier business.
They were on the street, just as every man in Bolivar was at that hour; when morning came the result would be unanimous, whether the revolution succeeded or not, for in that region every one is outwardly heart and soul with the powers that be. ”

“ The road was villainous, and it made me actually sore in the endeavor to protect my dear one from bruises—the stage jolted and bounced and rocked when the horses ran, with much of the pitching motion felt in a smack at sea when the waves toss wildly.
I almost pitied the stout old mayor, he was bounced about so, as though but a rubber ball. Twice I had him in my lap, and it required all my powers to protect Hildegarde, who sat in the very forward end of the seat. ”

“ One bright gleam came to me in the midst of all this horrid darkness; strange how human emotions will rise to the front in spite of deadly peril.
I saw Carmencita leave her mistress and make her way into the stateroom.
When she reappeared she carried the little satchel which I had rescued with Hildegarde.
Though some distance away, trying to talk with Robbins and Cummings, I could not withstand the fascination of watching what she did. ”

“ It aroused me, however, to a consciousness of my duty, which was to neglect no opportunity for advancing our cause—our chances would be infinitely better on deck than when confined to the cabin, should the yacht break and be engulfed in the boiling sea.
“Come, beloved, we must get out of this; the only hope we have is to avoid being caught in the wreck when the awful moment arrives. Trust me, Hildegarde,” I said, bending and kissing her, not passionately, but with that holy affection we bestow upon the beloved one who perchance hovers on the portals of eternity. ”

“ We could not be far away from the shore now, and possibly in five minutes our eyes would be gladdened by a glimpse of the dancing waves shimmering in the tropical night, with the lights of my yacht gleaming there like a beacon of hope.
Yes, Hildegarde was failing.
I could hear her panting; being no experienced sprinter, she had not learned to keep her lips together while she ran. ”

“ Without another word he was about to leave me, when I caught his arm.
“What can we do with the women?”
“Nothing but put the cork belts on ’em, and ask them to pray for us. If the vessel holds until morning we have a chance; if not—God receive our souls.”
Evidently my friend did not believe there was any hope for the best of us, once the yacht broke and hurled us into the clamorous sea; he was a sailor who knew what frightful forces operate to strangle the boldest swimmer when overwhelmed by waves that battle against each other to heave and splash and whirl like the madness of Niagara’s rapids. ”

“ Undoubtedly he was as great a scamp as ever went unhung, and no punishment could be too severe for him; but, strange to say, I actually felt a softness toward the reverend fraud, for surely he was a vast improvement over the fascinating Hilary Tempest, the phantom that had long pursued me.
Hope—that shuttlecock of human souls—again soared upward.
Really, the atmosphere had cleared remarkably. If there was no other man in the case, why should I not by degrees win Hildegarde again? All the powers of earth and hell should not, must not, prevail against me. ”

“ Men of my stamp don’t do these things for reward, Hildegarde.”
She looked up at me, as though trying to weigh the meaning of my words.
“You are much changed, Morgan,” she said, slowly.
“Naturally so. I have led a misanthropic life for some little time. Things don’t look rosy through smoked glasses.”
“I didn’t mean that, but you are not the same as then—what you have done to-night—how you carried me through the streets and stood up in that boat—I can never forget it. Yes,” with a sigh, “you are much changed.” ”

“ Merry laughter sounded on all sides, and it was hard for me to imagine that this gay city was really Bolivar, the mysterious capital, queen of the romantic Gulf, where half the dark conspiracies that startled the Spanish-American republics were hatched; home of revolutionists exiled for the time being from their native shores, and as wicked a place for its size in all probability as might be found upon the entire terrestrial ball. ”

“ Man is but an actor at best—the emotions sway him at their will.
For her sake, then, I crushed down the great fear that kept tugging at my heart, and even attempted to look as though our situation did not possess the horror of being face to face with doom.
“We are fast on a reef—we may stay here for hours, even until morning. I do not believe the danger is imminent. Perhaps, God grant it, the sea may go down as suddenly as it arose, and leave us here safe. At the worst, I shall be with you. Be courageous—it will increase your chances of safety. Do you understand, Hildegarde?” ”

“ All this while we had been drifting with the rollers, and must be drawing near the shore.
Eagerly I watched my opportunity, when upon the crest of a billow, to strain my water-soaked eyes toward where it should be.
Painful though my vision had become, thank Heaven! I saw the blessed shore—it was also close at hand, though before I could hope to gain its friendly shelter the worst struggle of all must be gone through with; for the deadly sea puss forms where the retreating undertow meets the incoming waves, and riotous war ensues. ”

“ Perhaps it was the blow I had so recently received that made me feel so dizzy just then; surely, the touch of a hand could not set my heart to beating so madly that the blood went rushing to my head, and after all I had vowed about bitter feelings, hatred and such things in general toward womankind, and this little despot in particular.
Robbins quickly swung the little girl into the launch, and then we followed suit. ”

“ Let them hunt—the garden lay before us, and after that the street and safety.
Just as my foot crossed the threshold there arose a strange sound; it was the wild clang of a bell, harsh and discordant, and there seemed to be concentrated alarm and terror in its brazen throat, just as the peal of the fire bell at dead of night awakens the liveliest anticipations of dread. ”

“ And, strangely enough, in that second of time, when there was a breathing space before the arrival of the boats, my strained ears caught a sound that thrilled me with renewed hope—it was the distinct “chug-chug-chug” of a little naphtha engine, and I knew that the launch had set out from the yacht and was bearing down upon us.
If we could only resist this savage attack for a few moments, we were saved.
“Keep back—keep back!” I shouted, as I stood up in the stern and waved my pistol, for I wanted no man’s blood on my hands, if it could possibly be avoided. ”

“ Perhaps the excitement through which I had passed had something to do with it, for the smell of burnt powder was still in the air, and my nerves quivered with their recent flush; but deep down in my heart, I am free to confess that this sudden ambition was born in quite another desire—Hildegarde would see how grievously she had wronged me in the past when she contemptuously declared that I must be lacking in those attributes that go to fashion a man into heroic mold. ”

“ Perhaps I should have remembered that pride usually goes before a fall.
“Oh, Morgan, to think of you a president in a night! I must be dreaming,” she said, from the shelter of my arms, to which she had fled.
“Think how little I expected such a thing a few hours ago when in the alcalde’s old dungeon. Liberty was then the height of my ambition, and I would have laughed any one to scorn had they prophesied such a tremendous push up the ladder of fame. But this is a wonderful country, my dear, and men are made or unmade in an hour. It’s philosophy to take things as they come. ”

“ It was not very strange that while under the spell of Hildegarde’s presence I should forget all about my poor, banged head; when a fellow’s heart is thumping tumultuously against his ribs, as though laboring under an attack of fever, he cannot be expected to remember such trifles as a few bruises. ”

“ When we passed beyond the confines of the cabin and reached the deck, the scene that burst upon us was really the most melancholy in my whole experience.
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I cannot imagine a picture more desolate than a brave vessel going to pieces on the rocks, with the rollers pounding her torn sides, and the forlorn passengers grouped about, waiting in painful and prayerful silence for that summons which may in all probability send them to final judgment.
The yacht was already battered out of all resemblance to the thing of beauty that had slipped so gayly over the waves a short time back. ”

“ The upper world always had more charms in my eyes—I was never intended to work in a colliery or the salt mines in Siberia, to which political offenders were wont to be sent; one survey of these latter under official guidance had been quite enough for me.
How vividly I remembered my former escapade in these ancestral halls, and how we had carried the fort by storm; would the same good fortune attend our present venture?
The chances were fair—Robbins had made some powerful friends, and this time we might rely upon it that the whole of Bolivar would not have to be reckoned with in our flight. ”

“ When the last push sent the battered door in, we gave a fierce shout of joy, and sprang forward to storm the citadel.
Having gone through such a whirl of excitement, I had no longer any thought concerning myself or my personal safety; men under these same conditions lead forlorn hopes into the jaws of death, either to lay down their lives or come out heroes for history’s pages. ”

“ Indeed, so positive was I that the upheaval in my fortunes so patiently awaited had arrived, and that it was my turn to kick those who had held me down, that I chuckled audibly while thinking of the alcalde.
His goose was cooked—the goose which he expected to lay the golden eggs.
Poor mayor!
It was an evil day for him and his fortunes when Yankee blood landed in Bolivar. Still, by a quick turn, when the success of the revolution seemed assured, he could save his head; these things are constantly done in South and Central American lands, where one meets the veterans of a dozen revolutions. ”

“ Where I had sat and dreamed, and where she had come to me in the still watches of the night, like a spirit from another world, no man could stay and live—the awning had been stowed away, the easy-chairs put below in the cabin, and now the deck was reeking with spume blown from the monstrous waves that rushed on high [Pg 126] around us, as if eager to swallow the boat that seemed so like a cork on the angry sea. ”

“ As usual, it was a bustling hour in Bolivar, for the heat of the day had kept all good people indoors until the fresh afternoon breeze came off the broad bay.
Once I had a good view of the harbor—how proud I had been when last leaving it—but what a tumble pride had taken. ”

“ The rope was still with me, and I held on to that, planting myself firmly against the parapet of the adobe wall, so that I might be in a position to bear a shock should she by any mischance lose her footing.
While I lowered away, unconsciously breathing a prayer of thanks with each yard gained, I became conscious of the fact that the mixed assemblage in the garden had found a new supply of missiles, for all manner of things rattled about me, and several times I was struck quite heavily. ”

“ One last eager look I cast up and down the beach, but not a living soul could I discover—far away some object lay upon the sand, which I suspected might be a body, but I dared not take Hildegarde there, and would not for the world leave her just then; the living had even more need of my services than the sacred dead. ”

“ I took it to mean she did not care to meet Thorpe and his wife, to experience their sympathy and satisfy the natural curiosity Diana must show.
It was that and more—much more than a simple man could understand.
“Don’t say ‘intrude,’ Hildegarde. You pain me when you speak in that way. I would give all I possess to prove to you how keenly I regret the past. I have never known peace of mind since,” I said, earnestly.
“Men find a solace that is denied poor women—travel and congenial company may cure the worst case of melancholy and remorse. But I am not going to reproach you, Morgan, God knows. ”

“ My worst fear was that I should be separated from this dear one, that she might be torn from my arms by the remorseless waves.
I had snatched up a coil of rope as I started to leave the cabin, something that had been forgotten by one of the men.
How could I secure Hildegarde to myself, so that we would be sure to remain united?
A heaven-born thought flashed into my head. I remembered a patent cork mooring-buoy I had purchased, intending to have it mark the spot where our anchor lay when we remained in a harbor for a time, making little trips here and there, to return again to our anchorage. ”

“ If necessary I was even willing to take chances and enter Bolivar—Hildegarde would require attention and a change of clothing—we could act cautiously, and keep our presence secret, watching a chance to slip on board some American fruit steamer and thus escape.
Oh! I felt bold enough to dare almost anything now that I had my own to battle for; life was worth living, the world seemed little short of heaven, and nothing daunted me. ”

“ When last I saw Milo Robbins, he was clinging to the wreck of the good ship Pathfinder, going to pieces upon the Samoan shore, with the hurricane howling like a pack of fiends from Tophet. Men of war were wrecked in that awful tempest, and scores of valiant bluejackets found a grave beneath the waves, or were later cast upon the shore. ”

“ When these valorous souls saw me beating upon the door of the citadel with a rude battering ram I had picked up, they grasped the situation, and began to run in my direction, always bending low, as if in fear of sudden shots.
They are a cautious race, these citizens of Bolivar, which accounts for their living through so many revolutions. ”

“ Let us hope for a Diaz in each republic, whose astute statesmanship and unbending will can force them along the path of progress and crush every threatening evil.
The soldiers holding the citadel were few in number, but they had the gun.
That was what dismayed the enemy, who had never been drilled to face cannon; had it been a Gatling or a pompom, I could not have blamed them, for such destructive weapons might sweep the plaza, and leave winrows of disabled revolutionists there; but a simple brass gun—well, they were away behind the times.
What I wanted now was to find Robbins. ”