The Leon reporter., 1901-10-03
CHAPTER w.
The Secret Pa ssage

SUCCESSFUL capture of the castle of Sal
varez was not entirely without alloy
This was Pedro Francisco.
He knew that Senorita Jacinta was
not with her father at Bolivar. He had
dwelt upon the pleasure with which
he would make her his prisoner, to win
release only by making her captivity
lifelong-by becoming his wife.
His chagrin, therefore, when the cas-
tie was found to be unoccupied was
very great.
He knew nothing about the secret
passage. Neither did Gomez, or any
one else in the royalist army.
Meanwhile the returning battalions
of Salvarez heard the flying rumors.
Salvarez, who was slowly riding
ahead, accompanied by Medworth and
Tempest, was startled at seeing three
horsemen coming at full gallop toward
him.
The general spurred forward to
meet them.
What is it? You have news?" he
said.
"The castle! The castler cried one
"'The Spaniard" cried another. "The
people have gone over"
I'VE are LOST" exclaimed the third
General Salvarez turned pale.
|. What do you mean?" he demanded
you cry the castle! Has anything
gone wrong at the castle? Has the en-
emy come? My wife and daughter
| where are they?"
"All is lost, tell you?" was the re-
ply. "The whole country has risen in
revolt. An armed force, consisting of
| hundreds of men, under Francisco and
the half-breed Mattazudo attacked the
castle. We fought bravely. We killed
over a hundred, but they were too
many for us"
"Silencew roared General Salvarez.
"Fear has turned you into garrulous
old women. You say the castle is tax
| en-? Where. then, are my wife and
daughter
Alas! We do not know. They either
escaped or were captured"
Likely" said Tempest, speaking in
English to Arthur. "The ladies are
either free or in captivity, alive OF
dead. No denying that fellows brilliant
intellect"
"Hush!" said Medworth.
Salvarez turned toward them, with a
| pale, but stern face.
MY young friends" he said, 'tthe
worst has befallen us. We have been
outwitted-t tricked-in the most skill
full way. While we were in Bolivar, the
enemy has entered at another point
and now occupy my castle, and have
no doubt captured or killed my wife
and daughter. There is hard work be-
| fore me. The castle must be retaken.
Forward!"
He spurred his, horse forward. The
news spread among the men. They
pressed on close behind him. At the
rear came the numbering artillery
the guns he had taken to Bolivar to
prevent the landing Of the enemy.
/ After wearisome march they came
in sight of the castle, and from its
staff foated a peculiar flag.
"It not that the flag Of Spain?" asked
Medworth.
NO" replied Tempest, whose ven
turesome life at sea had made him
familiar with the flags of all nations
and the languages of most. ut is the
flag of no known country. It is modelled
closely after that of Spain, but is not
quite like it. A flag no doubt designed
and chosen as the standard of the royal
party in Venezuela"
The column was now halted.
Salvarez called several of his officers
to him. s----4. = r.i-e
AS was perfectly natural and proper,
Medworth and Tempest were not ad-
mitted to this council Of war. They
slipped from their horses and walked
away toward the Coroni. Some of the
soldiers Of Salyarez looked at them,
but none tried to stop them from
| going.
| It was Medworth's idea to get below
the bank Of the river, which at this
point was high, and, thus screened
from observation, creep toward the
castle and endeavor to obtain some IN
formation Of the actual situation there.
Carefully they crept up the river,
| drawing nearer each moment to the
castle, now and then peeping over the
bank to take bearings.
The path was beset with difficulties.
AT one place they came to a small
stream that flowed into the Coroni, and
to cross which they must find stones
or logs to make a stepping-way.
The road to the castle, along which
the troops of Salvarez were marching,
crossed this stream over a bridge a
quarter of mile away, but Medworth
did not know that, and if he had, it is
not likely he would have left the shell
ter of the river bank to go to it.
After time they found themselves
near the castle.
At this point there was deep, thick
growth of vines and low trees along
the river, and they had view of the
castle only in one place where the road
was cut through down to the. landing