Hutchinson gazette., 1901-09-12
CHAPTER XVI

In the meantime Geo, Salvarez, his
wife, daughter and their brave rescuers
have gained n place Of safety In the
secret passage,
"You speak OF getting to the orl-
noco," said the wife Of Salvarez, 1T is
impossible, as you know, How can you
travel without being captured again?"
4 had already thought of that" said
the General, "The thing is difficult
will admit, But the difficulty of trav-
cling Is not the heaviest on my mind,
II so, | must go alone, must leave
you and Jacinta here, My anxiety Is
for you. What will become Of you
while am away7"
"You need not be alarmed for them
General Salvarez." said Arthur. 1T Is
certain that, aside from ourselves, no
person about the castle suspects the
existence of this place. While they re-
main In ignorance we are safe enough,
and assure you we shall make no
effort to inform them Of the facts. And
you may rely on us. We are only two,
Of course, but as far as our protection
can go, your wife and daughter shall
have IT,"
Right" said Tempest, 1.-TWO Amer
leans are as good as dozen Of that
rabble upstairs"
Salvarez smiled.
"You seem to have been better than
the entire force tonight" he said. 81
agree with you that this place Is safe
enough; but how will you live? II
lacks the necessary comforts, Then
the matter Of food Is most important
Tempest laughed,
I'VE must do without the comforts,
General" he said. But as for food,
with a river full Of fish running past
our hidden door, and fruit to be had
for the picking, not to mention a stray
calf or two from your own herds,
don't think we'll starve. Don't fear
for u.s. II we continue to have the
same number Of hours at night that
the country has had since the creation,
and the soldiers of the new king con-
tlnue to drink plenty Of intoxicating
beverages, we can walk all around and
never be caught"
"You give me renewed courage said
Salvarez. "If two young men who are
strangers here can accomplish these
things, q General of the Republic
should not hesitate, Since am as
sured of the safety Of my dear ones,
there remains nothing now for me to
do but go. II could but get word to
Ramana"
who? Ramana, the Garlb2" aske
Medworth.
"Yes," replied salvarez "Ramana is
old, but he Is true friend"
What message would you send
hlm?" asked Arthur, 81 know his hut,
/ can go there now"
"You might be captured"
did not Tempest just now tell you
that we could go anywhere"
GO, then" said Salvarez. "See
Ramana, and say to him that salvarez
his friend, is in trouble. Tell him that
| have escaped from the castle, and
must cross the orlnoco at once, with
out being seen at Bolivar or any other
place on this side. Tell him | must
start before 1t Is light. Tell him to
bring his large canoe, and his son,
Ravona, to help him paddle. Tell him
to meet me twenty feet below the Sc
cret passage"
Medworth then hurried away, eau
tlously worked his way out Of the Sc
cret passage and started off toward
Ramana's hut, He found the old In
dian asleep In a rude hammock Of
grass, and woke him up to give him
the message Of Salvarez.
He was much surprised at the agility
displayed by the old Indian. He called
Ravona, who slept in another ham
mock, and, without wasting time In
saying farewell to Ramana's aged wife,
they hurried, accompanied by Med
worth, to the river bank, where a long,
light canoe was moored.
Come" said Ramana.
Medworth took his seat, and the two
Caribs, with powerful arms, sent the
canoe speeding down the Coronl. In
a short time they had reached the
trysting-place, and the Prov of the
canoe was shot into the overhanging
grass on the bank
Where Is hep asked Ramana.
"He will come" said Medworth.
wait here"
They had not long to wait, Sal
varez had timed them pretty accurate
ly and a few minutes after they ar
rived he appeared, creeping along
slowly In the darkness.
"Ah! you are here" he said.