With trembling fingers the President lifted the receiver, and held it to his ear.
"Is that Commandante Vilano?" he asked. "It is I, Diego Zaypuru, your President. My life is in danger from the fire of the fort. I order you to desist immediately."
He waited to listen to a jeering reply.
"I order you. I beg of you," he continued.
Galento, equally agitated, anxiously watched the face of his former persecutor.
With a gesture of despair the President threw the receiver against the wall, where it struck with disastrous results to the instrument; then burying his face in his hands he burst into tears.
"Is there no place where I can hide in safety?" he whined. In his utter selfishness he gave no thought to the members of his staff, who were in an equally hazardous predicament.
Ten minutes later Gerald Whittinghame, finding that General Galento had not returned, took two of the "Meteor's" men to look for him. The orderly-room was empty.
A muffled groan from the adjoining barrack-room attracted his attention.
Lying side by side on the bare floor and covered by a heap of straw mattresses were the President of Valderia and General Galento.