Owing probably to the softness of the ground, the sound of their approach was not audible within, and the cries increased as they drew nearer. Flinging their reins5 to the guide, whom nothing would have induced to join them, the Americans swung off their horses within a few yards of a lighted window, and ran forward.
The sight which met their eyes within the casement6 was one which did not make Ned’s amazed exclamation7 seem out of place.
“It’s Senorita Isabelle!” exclaimed Herc, as his eyes encountered the shrinking figure of a[267] young woman in one corner of the lighted room. In front of her, with a drawn8 sword, was General de Guzman himself, his face convulsed with fury. In another corner of the place stood Charbonde and Hank Harkins holding back a venerable old lady, who appeared to have been on the point of precipitating9 herself upon the general.
“For the last time, girl, will you tell me where that will is?” demanded the infuriated general in Spanish.
“Never,” the girl bravely replied, “even though no one has heard my cries for help. I defy you to make me speak. The secret was imparted to me in confidence, and why should I tell you the whereabouts of the document? You only desire to possess yourself of it so that you may profit by wrongfully withholding10 our property.”
“Then I shall make you a prisoner. My troops are now at the gates of Boca del Sierras. To-morrow they will enter it in triumph. I shall make it my first business to recapture those Americans, and shoot them in front of your eyes.”
“Help! Help!” screamed the young woman, as the man advanced upon her.
“Scream all you wish to, my dear niece. There is nobody to hear you!” exclaimed de Guzman, with an evil leer.
The moment for revealing themselves had arrived. With a yell the Americans leaped the low sill of the open window and dashed into the room. A blow of Ned’s fist sent the general sprawling11 in a most undignified position into a corner of the room. Herc disposed of their old friend, Hank Harkins, while the impact of Stanley’s mighty12 fist sounded on the jaw13 of Chawedbones, as the sailor insisted on calling him. As for the girl, she seemed about to faint, but somehow Midshipman Stark14’s arms happened to be convenient as she staggered back.
With a yell the Americans leaped the low sill of the open window and dashed into the room.
The naval15 men’s borrowed revolvers came in handy at that moment, for all the tormentors of the two women were armed. Under the menacing muzzles16 of the Americans’ pistols, however, they were speedily disarmed17. In fact, their amazement18 at the sudden appearance of the quartette[269] in that place, and in such an hour, had almost bereft19 the others of their senses. By de Guzman and by the others, who had witnessed the sinking of the boat in which the Americans were escaping, it had been confidently assumed that they were all dead. Of the part they had played against the insurgents20 in the last few hours de Guzman was, of course, unaware22.
As for Senorita Isabelle and her mother, they were as dumfounded as the general and his worthy23 accomplices24. After the first few minutes of silence, they began to stammer25 their thanks, but the midshipman and his companions hastily, yet politely, waved them aside.
“We are only too happy to have been in time,” said the middy, with a gallant26 bow, “but how did you happen to be placed in such a position?”
The girl looked embarrassed. The Americans understood that, brute27 as he was, de Guzman was still her relative, and she wished to say nothing against him. Her mother, however, broke into a storm of Spanish, aimed at her brother-in-law. She explained that, while they had been seated[270] alone in the house that evening, their tormentors had made their appearance through the window. General de Guzman had heard from the soldiers who had guarded the prison at Miraflores of his niece’s visit to the dungeon28. One of them who understood English had played eavesdropper29, and, as soon as he had an opportunity, he had informed the general of what he had heard. He was unable to tell him of the location of the will, however, and for this the revolutionary leader had visited the hacienda, with a stern determination to find out its whereabouts. His threat to imprison30 the girl and her mother had been the climax31 to a stormy interview.
“And now, sir,” spoke32 up the general sullenly33, “perhaps you will detain us no longer. This is a family affair, and——”
“You have been beaten at your own game,” put in Midshipman Stark.
The general glowered34, but said nothing. Senorita Isabelle turned to the Americans.
“You will not keep him longer? I am certain that he will do us no more harm to-night.”
“Nor in the future,” spoke up Ned recklessly. “I’ll get the will for you to-morrow.”
A smile flitted across the general’s face.
“To-morrow things will have changed in Boca del Sierras,” he exclaimed. “I shall be in possession there.”
The Americans looked their astonishment35, but thought it best to say nothing to betray their ignorance. The next moment the general renewed his request to be allowed to depart.
“What shall we do?” asked Stark, gazing at the others.
“Well, sir, as we are not combatants, I don’t see how we are to make him a prisoner of war,” said Ned.
“Neither do I. We shall have to let him go, I suppose.”
“And his pair of friends, too, sir?” asked Stanley, shaking his mighty fist at the cowering36 Hank Harkins.
“Yes, let them go, too. You have horses, general?”
“Yes,” rejoined the other sullenly.
“Good thing,” whispered Herc. “That means ours are safe.”
“You mean they would steal them?” asked Ned.
“In a minute. Those fellows would take pennies from a blind man.”
“I half believe even that about them, too,” laughed Ned, as the general, followed by the others, slunk out of the room. They had not received their weapons back, and none of the Americans had made it possible for them to ask for them. Presently the clatter37 of hoofs38 outside announced their departure.
The two women then began to question the Americans eagerly about their plans. They were dumfounded when told that the four meant to push on and join their ship.
“But, senors, that will be impossible,” declared the elder lady. “The insurgent21 forces are now surrounding the city. You cannot get through the lines.”
“The two armies have then united?” gasped39 the middy in consternation40.
“Not yet, but they are expecting the vessels41 from Santa Anna to arrive to-morrow, and when the bombardment from the sea is begun the insurgents will seize that opportunity to unite their forces and sweep down upon the city from the hills.”
The recent officers of the General Barrill exchanged glances. They knew there would be no naval attack. If General de Guzman was depending on his blue-water allies his cause was tottering42.
“Ah, I see you know something about that navy!” exclaimed the younger woman, who had recovered her usual vivacity43. “Do tell us.”
“We are not at liberty to, senorita,” rejoined the middy. “All we can tell you is that a naval attack on the city will never take place.”
Seeing that there was some mystery in all this, the women refrained from further questions. A short time afterward44, a noise outside announced that the loitering house servants had returned, and, much against their wills, the Americans were detained for refreshments45. It was just before dawn when they set out once more, riding fast. They had a lot of ground to cover if they hoped to make the city of Boca del Sierras before the insurgents’ attack commenced.
They were all silent and preoccupied46 as they pressed forward. Ned and Herc thought over what might ensue if they were captured by the insurgent troops. Stanley was wishing for a pipe of tobacco, a luxury which he had not been able to indulge in for several days. The cigarettes of the Barrill he had refused with scorn. As for Midshipman Stark, his thoughts were mainly occupied by the slender figure of Senorita Isabelle. As they rode along, her face seemed always dancing just in front of him. Middies are among the most impressionable of mankind, and Mr. Stark was no exception to his class.
But the ruminations of all four were rudely shattered after they had ridden a short distance. They were now traversing a narrow plateau at the foot of some rugged47 mountains. It was from these hills that the new peril48 had manifested itself. As he gazed upward, their guide wheeled his horse and rode off for his life in the direction whence they had come.
A troop of horsemen was riding down the hillside rapidly toward them. There were evidently two hundred or more in the body. Suddenly their leader gave a shout. It was easily interpreted by the travelers as a signal to halt.
With very apprehensive49 feelings regarding what was to come, the Americans reined50 in. In the hands of the insurgents they knew their lives would not be worth a moment’s purchase.
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1
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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precipitating
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| adj.急落的，猛冲的v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的现在分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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withholding
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| 扣缴税款 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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bereft
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| adj.被剥夺的 | |
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insurgents
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| n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
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insurgent
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| adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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accomplices
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| 从犯，帮凶，同谋( accomplice的名词复数 ) | |
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stammer
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| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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eavesdropper
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| 偷听者 | |
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imprison
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| vt.监禁，关押，限制，束缚 | |
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climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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39
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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40
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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42
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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43
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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46
preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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47
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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48
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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50
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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