When General Orizaba perceived that Mabel had made good her flight, his anger knew no bounds. He berated his men roundly and danced about like a madman. Then he turned to Dick.
“But you shall not escape!” he declared.
“You’ll have a squad of marines down on you in a few minutes,” replied Dick with a cheerful smile. “Then where will you be?”
“Bah!” said the angry general. “What are a few marines? We can drive them back.”
“Think so, do you?” asked Dick. “I’m afraid you’ll be surprised.”
“You shall see,” declared the angry leader. “You shall live until you see your countrymen defeated.”
“Guess I shall live a long time then,” said Dick, with a smile.
The smile angered the leader, and he stepped close to Dick and slapped him across the face.
Dick’s anger boiled up and he promptly sent his fist crashing into the general’s face, knocking him down.
The young man regretted this act the next moment, for he knew that probably he had brought matters to a crisis.