Swift and Sure: The Story of a Hydroplane

by Herbert Strang

"This is surprising, señor. I had word from Bolivar that all traffic was suspended, but no explanation. When will General Carabaño arrive?"

"Really, señor, there is no time for particulars. He is coming now; he is on the way; he may be here at any minute; and he intends to seize the station and flay you alive if you don't join him."

This had the intended effect of overcoming the Spaniard's habitual sluggishness. He quickly flashed a message to Bolivar, giving Will's name (ludicrously misspelt) as his informant. In a few minutes he received an answer, saying that the message was received, and bidding him secure what cash and valuables he had and leave the station. Meanwhile his wife, to whom he had explained the situation, got a few things together, dressed her child, and hurried down to the hydroplane, Will having offered to give them all a passage to the city. It occurred to him that the General would be delayed if the train could be switched into a siding adjoining the station. While the Spaniard was engaged at the telegraph instrument, Will ran on to the line, rushed to the hand-switch, pulled it over, and locked it. Just as he was mounting the platform again, he saw the smoke of the engine about two miles down the line.

"There is no time to be lost, señor," he said, running into the station-master's room. "The train will be here in four minutes or less. There'll be a smash if it runs into the siding at speed, but the engine-driver may see that the lever points the wrong way, and that will give us time to get to the river."

The two hurried out, and boarded the hydroplane, which José and the Indian had turned round within the narrow limits of the canal so that its head pointed towards the Orinoco. Will felt that his little vessel was much overloaded, especially as the forepart could not be used, or planing would be impossible. He set off down the canal, and was half-way to the river before the train arrived. The engine-driver had slackened speed; evidently the General intended to stop and seize the station, and probably also to question the station-master. A shout from the train warned Will that he had been seen, and he smiled to think of Machado's rage and mortification. "He will wish he hadn't said so much to Carabaño," he thought.

The changing of the points escaped the engine-driver's notice until he was nearly on the siding. He jammed on the brakes, but was unable to avoid being switched off the main track; then he had to back out and alter the points. This took three or four minutes, so that by the time the train had started again the hydroplane had turned into the Orinoco and was almost level with it. Will felt all the excitement and enjoyment of a race, though he was not now specially concerned to get far ahead of the train: the warning had been given. The train followed the more direct course, and the smoke of the engine was only occasionally visible among the trees. Will, overladen as the little craft was, managed to keep abreast of the train, and so they ran on, neck and neck, until they were within seven or eight miles of Bolivar. Then Will heard a muffled explosion. He guessed what it meant, and found a mile farther on that he was right. One of the arches of a long culvert had been blown up. There was a six or seven-mile march before General Carabaño.

Will pushed on. As he drew nearer to the city he heard the sound of firing. Apparently Colonel Orellana had already developed his attack on the south-east. "He wants to get in first, and turn liberator of the Republic instead of Carabaño," thought Will. In a few minutes he ran the hydroplane alongside of the landing-stage, unchallenged: clearly no attack had been expected on this quarter. He left the vessel in charge of the two natives and hastened along the Calle de Coco with the station-master to seek the Jefe. He had already been introduced to that worthy official; indeed, he had thoroughly enjoyed himself at a ball given by the Jefe during a short stay in the city with Mr. Jackson.

There was a great commotion in the streets. Officers and orderlies were galloping in all directions, troops hastening from one part of the city to another, many of the men being civilians armed for the nonce. Shopkeepers were barricading their windows; peons were throwing barricades across the principal streets; here and there were the inevitable loafers, lolling against the walls and smoking as if all was peaceful and serene. Will hurried along, towards the Alameda, and came to the Town Hall, the portico of which was thronged. He pushed his way in, with the station-master, and sent up his name. He waited for some time; nobody came to fetch him; and in fact, the Jefe was so busily engaged in arranging for the defence of the city that he had scarcely heeded the functionary who informed him of Will's presence. It was doubtful whether his name was properly pronounced. Will was, however, determined to see him. He felt a certain compunction in leaving his friends captive at the hacienda while he occupied himself with the affairs of a State to which he owed nothing. He reflected that if he had lain low until the rebels had started, he might have found an opportunity of releasing them--unless perchance General Carabaño had brought them with him. Certainly he owed it to them to make an immediate application to the Jefe on their behalf.

At last he grew impatient, and asked a passing official whether he could not go up to the Jefe.

"His Excellency is too much engaged to give audience, señor," was the reply, and the man passed on without waiting for more.