Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-05

Colonel Ouesada was brave enough; but
murder was such an ordinary occurrence in
his own particular set that he quite credited
Lord Georges threat to blow his head off
if he refused to carry out orders. So he
shrugged his shoulders and did as he was
told There is always an afterward for VEN
geance.
So once more bona Carmencita climbed
up the steamers side; but this time her
progress was more slow.
"Bnenos dias .Seti0ritd, said Lord George.
al think, if you will, you had better go below
till finish my talk with Colonel Quesada,
whose boat, as YOU see, is rowing away. And
now, Colonel Quesada,' he srnilingly nodded
to that official "if you II recall your boat you
may take delivery of the cargo here and now"
Colonel Quesada did SO. But Senior,
do not understand how the guns are still on
this steamer. Surely that guerrilla scoun-
dref, Ortiz, searched her?'
"Down to the last rivet. But di int say
they were on the steamer. When my crew
had levanted, and | saw the other fellows
were making up their mines to board,
thought it wise to cache the cargo. At
that time they were dancing about on that
strip of beach to port there. Well, this little
packet has an entry port just above the
waterline on her starboard side, out of sight
of where Captain Ortiz and his friends then
were. | opened that, ranged the cases along
the lower deck, and made fast the whole lot
of them to long warp. When they were all
dashed on | launched the first overheard,
and that pulled the rest like a string of
brobdingnagian beads. Finally | buoyed
the end of the warp SO that it would hang a
fathom beneath the surface, and threw that
over too"
"But didn't Ortiz look over the side?'
:. T. T ho1
slowed the stuff, and told him, truthfully
enough, overheard. He was foolish enough
to disbelieve me-"
"Sehor, | still do not see
"Well, Colonel, perhaps l might have
added that when the cargo was under water
put over the steamers helm to starboard
till the stream of the estuary canted her
about two degrees out of her natural po-
stion; so that YOU see she was then-and
for that matter is now-lying right over the
top of the cases. l didn't mention this trifle
to Captain Ortiz, and unless he had bored a
hole through the steamers bottom l don't
see very well how he could have found out
what lay Immediately underneath it.
Colonel Quesada looked on the tall Eng
lishman with dawning admiration. "Seiior
you know we'll how to look after your own
I've heard it is a trait of your countrymen.
l am not sailor; but suppose it IS easy to
move the steamer back till the boxes are
once more in view"
Perfectly said Lord George, and went
on the bridge and ground over the wheel till
the helm was amidships.
The vessel swung promptly in the current,
and as they looked over her side there ap-
peared out of the shadow the much struggled
for cases lying in heap on the mud of the
estuary floor To one end of the heavy
warp on which they were lashed was short
piece of light line made fast to an oar and
the oar floated within six feet of the surface.
Easiest thing in the world to weigh
Them said Lord George, 3now that you
know where they are"
"Se1or, l thank YOU" Colonel Quesada
wrote in his pocketbook and tore out leaf.
II have the honor to present you with for
NAL receipt in the name of my master, Gen
eral Laredo And now, if you please, shall
call my men and take possession of our prop
erty. My party has desperate need for
both the ammunition and the rifles. With
them, even if we do not win we can at least
carry on the war
T ORD GEORGE thought that was one of
- the most unpleasant aspects of the bust
ness; but he had not time to follow up that
point just then. bona Carmencita most
fascinating, bright eyed and insistent Car