The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-03-23
CHAPTER III.
The Castle Falls

er of Senorita Jacinta. and the confid-
ant and agent of Ferdinand Gomez.
Francisco was a man about thirty
years OF age. and had inherited from
his father, Spaniard of the type Of Don
Juan Cara, not only the broad lands
that made him wealthy, but the fierce
and naughty spirit of the true Span
lard. and the love of the pomp and dis
play of royalty that Don Juan possess
ed
The hatred of the republican govern
mcnt was as strong an emotion in >the
heart of Francisco as his love for ia
cinta SalvareZ He had thrown himself
into the conspiracy with fervor. The
success Of Philip of Aragon would
doubly reward him. With Salvarez in
power he could not hope to win Jacin-
ia. If the republican power was crush
ed, he would not only see his beloved
court and courtiers, royal glory and
military pomp, but he would have Sal
varez in his power and Jacinta should
&c his.
The plan of Gomez to begin the
war in the valley of the Coroni, and
his selection OF Francisco as his chief
organizer there, was but another proof
of the boundless genius of the man.
All the cupidity of the Zambos had
been we'll worked upon by Gomez and
Francisco, and they were organized,
ready for the revolt against the gov
eminent having been promised rich
bounty for their services.
These creatures were under the i'm
mediate command of one Mattazudo.
half-breed. but not Zambo Malta
Judo was half white. that is, Spanish,
and half Indian He was shrewd, I'M
scrupulous and cruel as Gomez could
have wished him to be. Moreover, he
had unlimited sway over the Zambos.
Francisco was wonderfully we'll in
formed of events of which General Sal
yarez was entirely ignorant.
He had received full instructions
from Gomez and knew just when and
where to meet the Turtle.
Ten miles down the Orinoco from the
mouth of the Coroni, the southern
bank of the river had peculiar forma-
ton.
In the midst OF miles of swamp and
lagoon, one high and dry ridge rose like
a great hogs back from the river to
the dry lands beyond the lagoons.
Gomez who knew the geography and
topography of the country perfectly,
had selected from the very first that
hogs back as the point on which to
land his arms.
His orders, therefore, to Pedro Fran
cisco were to assemble large force
as many of their adherents as could
be gathered without arousing the sus
picion Of General Salvarez-on the
hog-back to meet him and his fellow
co.spirators from the Turtle.
1t was therefore strangely wild
out before Lola CARA when the Turtle
anchored off the hogback. and the I'M
loading of firearms began.
Preparations did not lag. Every man
Was armed. and, having given orders
to the captain of the Turtle to take
the ship out farther into the stream
and await a message from him, Gomez
gave the order to march.
Where shall We go first?" asked
Ihilip Of Gomez.
:''To the Castle of Salvarez." said
Gomez. "The army of the Republic
that portion of it south of the Orinoco
is commanded by Salvarez, who has
most Of the men at his castle. They are
now at Bolivar watching the unloading
of the Agostura. and his castle will
lie All easy prey
At the castle OF SalvareZ two women
were growing anxious. The prolonged
absence of SalvareZ filled his wife and
daughter with alarm. Rumors had
reached the castle that the errand of
SaIyarez to Bolivar would be worse
than useless. for the enemies that were
expected had already landed in an UNI
expected way. and the Coroni flowed
between the friends and the enemies of
the republic.
Dona Maria and Jacinta heard these
rumors with alarm, for if the insur-
gents should cross the Coroni and at
tack the castle, the pitiful handful Of
thirty men left by Salvarez would not
be sufficient to protect it.
General Salvarez had an invention
of his own in use on two fiat boats
used to convey cattle or produce across
the river. These boats could be pulled
across the river from either side. Fran
cisco understood them well, and al
ready the strained eyes of Jacinta and
her mother saw boat load Of the en-
envy crossing the river
The few. men. in the garrison began
firing, but frightened by the seemingly
endless throng that was coming to con-
quor them, threw down their arms
and fed.
I'VE. are lost.'"' cried Dona Maria.
Deserted by the few we had. wha.
can we do? Even the servants have left
]. us. We cannot escape!'
THE secret passage!' exclaimed
sJaeinta; There is not man unfaith
fail to my father who knows it. Come:
we can escape them there!'
&. ..Ofs what use is it?" asked Dona Ma
Z, ria. I'VE can, it Is true, leave the cas-
tie by the secret passage, but what