"It is mother!" exclaimed Ronie, as Riva related the story to him. "I must see this man at once."
"I am sorry, señor, but he disappeared before I started to find you. Knowing how you would feel about it, and not being able to find you at once, I went to speak to him again, fearing he would slip away. He was gone, and no one could tell me where he had left for. I believe he is a spy."
"Do you not know of some one who saw him?"
"I will see what I can learn, Sergeant Rand."
"Thank you, Riva. Meanwhile, the rest of us will do a little looking around. Describe the fellow as minutely as possible."
This Riva did, with the graphic speech peculiar to him, and then the four went out to look for the missing man. In the midst of this unsuccessful search Ronie learned that Castro had returned to La Guayra.
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.