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

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 castle!" cried one.
\
people have gone over"
We 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-
envy 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 We're too
many for us"
'Silence!" 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 We're captured"
Likely" said Tempest, speaking in
English to Arthur. THE ladies are
either free or in captivity. alive or
dead. No denying that fellows brilliant
intellect
Hush" said Mcdworth.
Salvarez turned toward them, with a
pale, but stern face.
My young Friends" he said, "the
worst has befallen us. We have been
utwitted-tricked-i 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 a wearisome march they came
in sight of the castle, and fr1m its
staff fioated a peculiar flag.
ut not that the flag of Spaino' asked
Medworth.
"No," replied Tempest, whose ven
turesAne life at sea had made him
familiar with the flags of all nations
and the languages OF most. ct is the
flag of no known country 1t 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"
>hn \,
Salvarez called several of Lis officers
to him.
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 Salvarez looked at them
but none tried to stop them from
going.
1t was Medworth's idea to get below
the bank of the river, which at thi:
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 thu
castle, now and then peeping over thu
bank to take bearings.
The path was beset with difficulties
At one place they came to a small
ID stream that flowed into the Coroni, ant
'ss|ksto cross which they must find stone.
or logs to make a stepping-way.
The road to the castle, along which
the troops Of Salxarez were marching
crossed this stream over a bridge /.
+ quarter Of mile away, but Medwortl
did not know that, and If he had, it ii
not likely he would have left the shell
ter OF the river bank to go to it.
After a time they found themselve
near the castle.
!, At this point there was deep, thicl
growth Of vines and low trees alon,
the river, and they had a view Of tn
castle only in one place where the roa,
Z was cut through down TO the landin,
! place Of the generals nat boats.
They buried passed this, and foun,
. secure place among some vines AM