The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-19


prise to meet them, for he recognized
their uniforms as belonging to the gen
eral staff at Caracas.
From the President" said one. leap
ing from his horse and placing pack
ct in the generals hand.
salvarez replied graciously, and took
the packet.
"How far have you come in the sad
dle?" he asked. mot from Caracas.
surely. else how did you cross the ORR
noco?"
I'VE came from Caracas, neverthe-
less" said the officer, "but our horses
came only from Bolivar. We rode to
the Orinoco, and at the village Of Can
do left our horses, hired some fisher
men half-breeds to row US over. OBJ
tanned fresh horses at Bolivar, and
hurried on
your message must be important"
said the general.
He called an officer, and, having or
dered the best entertainment for the
three riders that the castle afforded,
sat down to read his message. AS he
read, his brow grew dark with anger:
Gen. Jose salvarez," the message
ran 1--WE are in receipt of cable dis
patches from our consul in New York
city, conveying the startling news that
band of conspirators sailed from that
port on the 9Th of this month, June,
IN steamer Agostura, bound for Ciudad
Bolivar, carrying a cargo of firearms
and ammunition, invoiced as agri-
cultural implements, and consigned
to Pedro Francisco, the friend
of Spain in your valley. The
startling information is furnished
by the consul that the chief
conspirators are Don Juan Cara, who
was driven out of Venezuela some
years ago for conspiring against the
government, and Ferdinand Gomez, a
most INSCRIPTIONS adventurer. The OBJ
ject of this expedition is to organize
an army in remote regions, seize prop
erty and march on Caracas. overthrow
ing this government and replacing it
with monarchy. The information is
also furnished that the conspirators
are accompanied by mysterious per-
son who wears the royal purple and
the arms of the house of Aragon. He is
addressed as king by his associates,
and is probably the one chosen to be
monarch of Venezuela in case of a
successful invasion or uprising. You
will accordingly take prompt and eff
fective measures to give these invaders
a warm reception and prevent the land
ing of these arms. You will also need
to keep your own force we'll in hand,
for it is certain that few men would
not undertake this task unless they
were assured of prompt support by the
natives.
"1f necessary, sink the ship with all
on board, but I would prefer to have
this Pretender, who is known as Phil.
ip of Aragon, seized alive that ais
identity may be ascertaiEed.
port, for 'T We Shall have gunpoats
watching for her in the usual path of
steamers, and also at the mouth of the
Orinoco. Should she succeed in passing,
she will be due at Bolivar about the
18th.
"The consul further states that Don
Juan Cara, who seems to be the most
powerful among the conspirators, is
accompanied by his daughter, beau
tiful girl, who is to be married against
her will to this Philip of Aragon,
when he becomes King of Venezuela
This is put here to explain to you the
fact that two young American gentle
men, one of whom is engaged to be
married to Don Juan's daughter, will
arrive at Bolivar on the Steamer CAL
lao, bearing letters of introduction
from the consul. AS these young men
are earnest in their efforts to defeat
the purposes of Cara and his asso-
ciates, show them the courtesies due
citizens of our great and friendly
neighbor, the United States.
"CRESPO. President"
When General Salvarez had read this
through, the clouds cleared away from
his brow, and he lighted another cigar
and strolled leisurely away to meet his
subordinate officers, and to communi-
cate the news to them.
General Salvarez felt that he had no
cause to feel alarmed or disturbed over
the news he had received from Caracas.
In the first place, the Agost,lra, allow
ing that she reached the Ciudad Boil
var, at all, would not arrive for four
days to come. But Salvarez did not
for moment believe that the ship
of the adventures would ascend the
Orinoco, for it would hardly be possible
that she could pass the gunboats at
the delta, even though she had sue
ceeded in GLIDING those farther north.
Therefore, there was ample time for
Salvarez to act, and no reason to de-
part from the usual dignified delibera-
ton and GOODNESS.
His first thought was to place a spy
on the heels of the wealthy Pedro
Francisco, to dog his footsteps. But, he
reflected. Francisco was far more
shrewd than the most capable spy he
could select, and having been put on
his guard, might find a way to defeat
the watchfulness of the officers of the
Republic.
Salvarez, however, found that he
could not obey the commands of the
President without betraying to the en-
emies of the Republic the fact that
their plot was discovered.
In the first place, there was only
one gun at Bolivar, and it was nearly
worthless. Cannon had to be dragged
there from the castle. The infantry
would have to be Withdrawn, surely
by the 18th, to march to Bolivar, for il