CHAPTER XXIV.
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL CASTRO.
A soldier's first duty is always to obey his superior in command. Upon hearing of General Castro's return to La Guayra, Ronie immediately abandoned his search, leaving his companions to carry it on, while he sought the president. He found him without difficulty, for he was already besieged with callers. But our hero had only to send in his passport from Colonel Marchand to receive an urgent request to come at once.
He was a little disappointed in the personal appearance of the man who had become so prominent in the affairs, and whose name he had heard spoken more often than any dozen others since he had come to Venezuela. He was below medium height, of rather slight build, and moved with a limp in one limb, caused by a wound he had received in battle. His eye was the feature which bespoke most the man, and as Ronie stood before him he seemed to read him at a glance.
"Sergeant Rand," he greeted, in a hearty manner, which quickly won the American boy's friendship, "I welcome you gladly to La Guayra. Colonel Marchand sends his message by you?"
"Here are your dispatches, General Castro. I trust they will prove valuable to you."
"Be seated, sergeant, while I read them."
Ten minutes of silence followed, during which Ronie had ample time to study the man before him, who seemed absorbed in the written messages just 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 of in such laudable terms in his last. It seems by what he says now that you have not let your reputation suffer by more recent conduct. It was your friend I sent to have liberated from the penitentiary at San Carlos, 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 such allies in a time when the whole world seems against me. Forgive me for saying that, as I would not have you think I distrust your own republic. But tell me of what you have seen in the West, Sergeant Rand. I am glad to get such information as I believe you can give me of the hotbed of rebellion in my poor country. Take your time, and do not be afraid to speak of yourself."
Then Ronie described such portions of the events that had come under his observation as he thought the other would be pleased to hear, referring to himself very modestly, while General Castro listened with great interest, now and then asking some question or expressing admiration at the conduct of Colonel Marchand and his regiment. He was especially pleased with the rout given El Capitan at the estate of Don Isadora, and he made Ronie describe the affair so minutely that he was forced to speak of the part he had taken.
"I have heard nothing so pleasing," said the president. "You shall be rewarded for your gallant conduct. I am again saying that I am sorry this friend, or these American friends of yours, did not accompany you here. I will send for them."
"I am afraid you will not find them readily, as they are in search of a man in La Guayra that we want to find very much." Then he hastened to add: "But this is a personal matter, General Castro, and you will pardon me for introducing it to you. I did not intend to."
"What concerns my comrades, concerns me," cried Castro, with possibly more vehemence than he had intended. "Tell me all about it, Sergeant Rand."
Thus urged, Ronie explained what he knew in regard to his mother, the president listening attentively to every word. When he had finished, the latter said:
"Sergeant, this is a grave matter. To say nothing of my feelings for you, I cannot afford to let this affair escape my notice. It might easily be construed to mean an offense against your government. Have you communicated with Minister Bowen?"
"No, General Castro."
"I should advise you to do so as early as may be. But in the meantime we 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 we have been kept escaping ever since."
"You have proved lively enough in the race. You spoke of that young De Caprian. What do you know of him?"
"I believe he is as true a patriot as you have in Venezuela," replied Ronie, 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 send by you the papers which shall give him his freedom. I will try him a while, and if he proves faithful his mother shall be given her liberty. I have given orders to see that she is given all the privileges possible under the circumstances. I have been very much interested in your intelligence, Sergeant Rand, and I trust I shall meet your friends when you come again."
Taking this as a hint that the interview was ended, Ronie saluted in military style, and was in the act of withdrawing when Castro said:
"Sergeant, I wish to ask you a question, and trust you will answer it in the same good faith in which it is asked. What do you believe would be the most effective thing for me to do toward quelling this rebellion in the vicinity from which you have come?"
The answer to be made came as quick as a flash into Ronie's mind, and without stopping to consider how it might sound expressed in so many words, he said:
"Take the field yourself, General Castro!"
If this reply suited him or not, the president did not show it by the look upon his features, as he said, simply:
"Good-day, Sergeant Rand."
While in doubt as to the effect his words would have upon the energetic president of the republic, Ronie was pleased in a large measure with his interview. He regretted that Harrie was not with him, and he resolved that the next time he would not go alone. Upon second thought, he could not see that there would be any occasion for him to call again. Then he drove these thoughts from his mind, and thinking of his mother and what her fate might be, he began to look anxiously for his companions.
About half an hour later he found his friends, but they had to report a failure in regard to finding the unknown man they had hoped to find. Riva Baez, as well as Harrie and Jack, listened with interest to Ronie's account of his meeting with General Castro.
"I have faith to believe he will help us find your mother," said Harrie, "and with his assistance we cannot fail."
"Unless we are too late," replied Ronie. "I cannot bear this inactivity."
"I have always found it good policy to 'make haste slowly,'" declared Jack, quoting an old saw. "Meanwhile let us see how Castro takes to your 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 the displeasure of his superior. But he was speedily disarmed of this fear, for the following day General Castro came out with a proclamation in which he defined his purpose of taking the field personally, and of leading the campaign in the West. An hour later a summons came for our three Americans to visit the commander, and they met with a welcome that proved the president had only the kindliest feelings toward them. They were urged to accompany his army, and were only barred from being offered a commission from the fact that General Castro did not wish to curtail any of the liberties they might have if they were not regularly attached to his forces.
"You can go as far as Valencia with me, and from thence I will send you an escort to San Carlos, so you may find your man if you can, and also see that young De Caprian is given his liberty. To prove my good faith with him, I will hold a commission for him, if he wishes to accept it."
Thanking the general for the kindly interest in them, our three withdrew, certain that at last something definite was being done. The next day the entire force moved toward Valencia, and they accompanied the Venezuelans, Riva also going along.
The week that followed was one of great activity; but very little was accomplished that seemed to forward matters with the impatient Ronie and his friends. Leaving Castro's army at Valencia, they reached San Carlos to find that the bird they were after had flown. As near as they could learn, he had disappeared the morning our heroes had been driven away, and that he had not been seen since he had taken them across the bay in the boat. It was currently believed that he had either been shot or drowned. In this way was lost what might have proved an important clew in their search for Ronie's mother.
Their disappointment was brightened somewhat by the joy with which Francisco hailed his liberty. He embraced his American friends, and showered upon them praises for their action in his behalf. When he was told about his mother, he grew less demonstrative, but learning that she was unharmed, with a promise of good protection, he recovered exuberance of spirits.
"I shall accept any commission General Castro will bestow upon me," he said, "and I will show him my fealty to him and the true government of my country. I am impatient to see him."
Knowing nothing could be gained by remaining longer at San Carlos, our heroes returned to the army at once. Having learned that he had removed to Ocumare, they headed thither, learning all along the way that the insurgents were everywhere successful, until it seemed as if the government was doomed. These accounts were rendered more hopeless to the cause by the fact that before they could reach him, Castro had begun his retreat toward Caracas.
In the face of this, he issued his decree of amnesty to all insurgents laying down arms within forty days.
"Unless he makes some more decided stand and wins a decided victory to offset all this noise on the other side, Castro will have no government for them to lay down their arms to," said Jack, grimly. "Of course it isn't my dish that's cooking, but I feel just like saying so much."
"General Castro will act decisively when the time comes, according to his idea," said Ronie.
In the midst of this uncertainty word reached them from La Guayra that the cables were to be cut, and that Minister Bowen had sent to Washington 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 battle with the insurgents led by Mendoza at La Gloria, which was to prove the turning point in the war. Colonel Marchand's regiment of volunteers was there, and in the thickest of the fight our heroes had ample opportunity to prove the metal of which American soldiers are made. It was a bitter fight, the more trying as it was made with bush-fighters—scattered bodies of men who fought after the style of the North American Indians, from behind trees, or whatever cover was at hand. Fortunately, our friends escaped without a scratch, though Colonel Marchand received an ugly wound that was likely to drive him from the field for a time.
His was not the only regiment that covered itself with glory, for there was another, led by a boyish captain, who seemed everywhere in the thickest of the fight. This little band gained the high-water mark of the battle, and it was that more than any other which turned the tide of the struggle and made of La Victoria a victory indeed. The name of that gallant leader, who received special mention in the list of honor, was Francisco de Caprian. General Castro had no longer any reason to doubt his loyalty to Venezuela, and the president greeted him with the promise that his conduct had chased away the shadows upon his family name.
The result of this victory for the government at La Victoria was such that Matos, the head of the insurgents, gave up active command, while Castro prepared for a triumphal return to Caracas.