"On the twenty-third of this month," came the voice from the back of the study.
"Exactly. We want to incorporate that town with the state of Rio Negro before our flotilla returns up the Amazon from Rio Janeiro."
"When do you expect them back?"
"Inside of two months."
"Are they the boats Gumersindo was talking about? He spoke of my going up the Orinoco, crossing to the Amazon, and then going down to Rio Janeiro."
"Those were the instructions I gave Señor Gumersindo."
Strawbridge stood looking up at the map. A sudden plan popped into his head.
"Since I'll be here," he said, "it wouldn't be a bad plan for me to run along with your army to San Geronimo and see how the trick of absorbing it is done. Give me some notion of the working end of this business."
"Do you mean you desire to accompany my army to San Geronimo?"