Swift and Sure: The Story of a Hydroplane Page 5

  CHAPTER III--AN ARMED PARTY

  Will went to his tent, washed and changed into his working clothes, andthen set off to report himself to Mr. Jackson, known among the staff asthe Chief. Work had been going on since shortly after daybreak, and asa rule Will would have been in charge of a squad; but the Chief had toldhim the night before that he need not come on duty until ten o'clock,when he wished to see him about a special job. It was just ten when hecame to Mr. Jackson, who was perched on a goods wagon, watching thejointing of the rails some distance from the encampment.

  "Here you are," said the Chief, taking his watch from his pocket. "I'llsay this for you, that you're punctual, in spite of your toy. Broke downyet?"

  "Not yet, but I broke a jaguar down this morning: came smack on him justas he was going to get his claws into an Indian."

  "Not one of our men?"

  "Oh no! It was some miles from here, beyond De Mello's place. I hearda splash, and there was the jaguar, full pelt after the man, who wasswimming his hardest. It was a near thing, and----"

  "Yes, I dare say, but I'm not particularly anxious to get a fellow tofill your place just as you're becoming useful. Your hydroplane is allvery well as a plaything for your spare time; but it's no earthly use,and I only hope it won't lead you into scrapes. A stitch in time savesnine."

  Will's eyes twinkled, and the ghost of a smile played about his lips.The Chief had a habit of finishing his little speeches with a proverb,not always appropriate to the occasion.

  "Well now, this job," continued Mr. Jackson. "I want you to check somecalculations of level about six miles up. Here you are, on the plan:that's the section. You've been over the ground before; it's the mostdifficult part of the track. You can take Ruggles as rodman. You'll besome time over the job, so take some grub with you, and be as quick asyou can. Time and tide waits for no man."

  "Can I have the plan?"

  "No. Trace a copy of the section: it won't take you twenty minutes.And, I say, make sure your level's in order; it won't do to get thereand find there's a screw loose. Look before you leap, you know."

  Having traced the plan of the section he was to survey, Will got hisinstruments (a hand-level, a surveyor's camera, and a pocket compass),his revolver, and a note-book, sent Jose to find Ruggles and saddle acouple of ponies, and in half-an-hour set off on his task. The country,as the Chief had said, was the worst bit of the whole line. It was muchbroken by hills and ravines, and the surveyor, choosing the easiest wayfor the iron road, had been compelled to trace out a rather tortuouscourse, which was indicated by stakes driven into the ground atintervals. The line would twice cross the little stream which Will hadrecently navigated in his hydroplane. Fortunately it was fordable atboth points.

  Will rode on with his companion at a steady trot. Ruggles was a sturdygrizzled veteran of about fifty years of age. He was the handy man ofthe staff. He could act as rodman, chainman or slopeman ascircumstances required. He could build a boat, repair an engine, andcook a dinner with equal facility, and once he surprised Will by helpinghim out in a knotty calculation in trigonometry. It had been a sourceof wonder to Will that a man whose attainments were so various shouldhave risen no higher than the humble situation he at present occupied.One day he ventured delicately to hint at the matter.

  "I'll never earn more than two pound a week as long as I live," saidRuggles.

  "But why? I earn more than that, and you could do my work better than Ican."

  "Drink--that's why. Every sixpence I earned above two pound would go indrink, and so, to be on the safe side, I'm never going to earn a pennymore, that's flat."

  Will could not help feeling amused at the old fellow's emphaticdeclaration, more especially because the man was not a teetotaller, butdrank his glass of ale at dinner like the rest, and was never known toexceed. He guessed that there was some story in the background, andhoped that some day Ruggles would tell it; but the man was reservedabout his own affairs, though as sociable and cheerful a man as any onthe staff.

  It was near midday when they reached the section Will was to level, andas the sun was high they decided to eat their lunch in the shade of thetrees and begin work later. Ruggles produced bread and cheese and abottle of beer, and when this had been disposed of, filled an enormouspipe and lay on his back contentedly puffing away, throwing out a remarkoccasionally. At last Will sprang up, saying they must set to work.For several hours they walked over the ground, making calculations whichWill entered in his notebook, and taking photographs for after use.Will often found that such photographs when developed disclosed featuresof the country that had escaped notice. The ground he was now workingover was very rough, and even in the few weeks that had elapsed sincehis predecessor visited the spot the track which had been partiallycleared had become overgrown with tropical weeds. Ruggles found plentyof work for his knife and the axe he carried in his belt.

  Will proved in course of time that the previous calculations had beenvery accurately made. In some cases he found lateral deviations of sixor seven feet on a ten-degree slope; these he corrected. In one case hesaw reason to suggest a slackening of grade on a curve in a longgradient; and he noted an alternative means of crossing a small stream,for the consideration of the Chief. It was tiring work, done in theheat of the sun, and both were glad when it was finished. They returnedto the spot where they had left their ponies tethered to two of thesurveyor's stakes, and were on the point of mounting when Ruggles drewWill's attention to a number of horsemen crossing an open space betweentwo belts of woodland about two miles away. Will looked at them throughhis field-glass.

  "They're coming this way, in single file. Wonder who they are," hesaid. "Have a look, Ruggles."

  "About thirty of 'em, as near as I can count," said the man, after along look. "I can't make anything of 'em."

  "Are they muleteers?"

  "No."

  "Perhaps they are soldiers."

  "Don't look like it. I can't see any uniform, nor rifles either. We'dbetter make tracks."

  "What's the hurry? I've seen nothing to be afraid of in the natives;they're a pretty poor lot so far as I have come across them."

  "That's a fine healthy English way of looking ac things, but if you'dlived in this country as long as I have you'd know that when you spotsuch a troop in the distance the best thing you can do is to clearout--unless, that is, you have any particular wish for trouble."

  "But why on earth should you suppose they're not peaceable folk--ahunting-party, perhaps?"

  "Supposing's neither here nor there. Hunters don't ride in a line,without hounds. My belief is that they're brigands, and we shan't havemuch to say to them with one revolver between the two of us."

  "They may be soldiers."

  "That's only another name for brigands here. The only difference isthat a soldier is a brigand in office, and a brigand is a soldier out ofoffice. And, by Jeremy! they've got a prisoner. There's a man trottinga-foot beside one of the horses; ten to one he's tied to the stirrup.Take a look, Mr. Pentelow."

  "You're right; and I can see now they've got rifles slung to theirbacks. They're making a bee-line this way. What's their game, Iwonder?"

  "Shouldn't be surprised if they've paid a visit to the mines, to beginwith."

  "I think I've got it," said Will, the recollection of what Antonio deMello had said flashing across his mind. "There's a revolution brewing:these fellows are either Government troops or rebels. We had better getback and tell the Chief."

  "I said so five minutes ago, if you recollect, Mr. Pentelow. In thiscountry there are always plots against the Government, whether it'sgood, bad, or indifferent--and it's mostly bad. Revolution is always onthe simmer, you may say, and every few years it boils over. It's thecurse of the country. Any big job like this railway of ours is likesitting on a powder-barrel: any moment you may be blown sky high, in amanner of speaking. If Government don't interfere with you, thenRevolutionists will; and I'll lay ten to one those horsemen are one or
the other, beating up recruits. They haven't seen us yet or they'd becoming faster, so we had better slip in among the trees and gallop forrailhead. We can at least put the Chief on his guard."

  They led the ponies into the wood, then mounted and set off at fullspeed. Mr. Jackson looked grave when he heard their report, to whichWill added the information given him by Antonio de Mello in the morning.He at once whistled up the other European members of his staff from thescattered points at which they were engaged. When they came up heexplained the position to them.

  "They mayn't bother us," he said, "but if they're making for railhead,as Mr. Pentelow says, we must be prepared for squalls. There's nohighway in this direction, and if they're not making for us, where arethey bound for?"

  "Perhaps they're going to pay a visit to De Mello," suggested Will.

  "Maybe. Well, forewarned is forearmed: the question is, what's to beour line if they show up here? Ruggles, you know the country betterthan the rest of us: what do you say?"

  "Speak 'em fair, sir, but have your rifles ready."

  "How many do they muster?"

  "There seemed about thirty, but may be more. If they're revolutionariesthey'll have plenty of cheek, and think themselves more than a match forour handful."

  "What will our men do?"

  "Nothing but look on. My notion is that they're after recruits, and themen won't join them unless they're obliged. They know they'd only befood for powder. But they've got no arms except machetes and theirtools, and they won't run the risk of being shot at."

  A tall engineer of about thirty, who had been leaning against a tree,with crossed legs, a pipe in his mouth, then quietly made a suggestion.

  "If I were you, Chief," he said, "I'd try a little stratagem."

  "How do you mean, O'Connor?"

  The man took the pipe from his mouth and pointed with it towards theembankment, thirty yards from the Chief's tent.

  "Line that with rifles," he said. "We muster fifteen all told, countingin the foremen, who'll stick by us, I fancy. We've got four or fiverevolvers, too. Well, my notion is to post our rifles out of sight onthe reverse slope, just behind those trucks. The beggars will have topass on this side, and they won't see us. It's about time to knock offwork, and they won't be surprised if they see you on a camp-stool at thedoor of your tent reading. I can lend you a month-old _Times_."

  "What then?"

  "Why, they'll speak to you, I suppose, and you'll soon see if they'rebent on mischief. Then you can give us a sign and we'll empty a fewsaddles."

  "Rather strong measures, O'Connor."

  "Why not try bluff first?" said Will.

  "You've got an idea, have you? Come into my tent, and we'll talk itover. You too, O'Connor. You others, go and get the rifles; and,Ruggles, tell the men that a small armed party is coming this way, butthey needn't be alarmed. They can get their suppers and keep out of theway."

  The Chief, accompanied by Will and O'Connor, walked to his tent. It wasseparated by a few yards from the embankment on one side, and the tentsof the European staff on the other. There was a broad open space infront of these, with a large tree standing in the middle. Theapproaching horsemen, if they came from the expected direction, wouldpass between two groups of tents occupied by the labourers, into thecompound, as it might be called, of which the tree marked the centre.

  The colloquy in the Chief's tent did not last long. O'Connor came outfirst, still puffing at his pipe. Nobody in the camp was aware of it,but Jerry O'Connor had once held the King's commission in the RoyalEngineers. There had been no more popular or capable officer in thecorps than Jerry, and many were grieved when he had to leave the army,under a cloud. He was the best-liked member of the engineering staff ofthe new railway, and none get more work out of his men. He was soonjoined by the other Europeans and the Venezuelan foremen, all armed withrifles. Knocking the ashes from his pipe, he put it into his pocket,and led his little company of thirteen to the rear of the embankment,where they lay flat on their faces just below the top, perfectlyscreened from observation on the other side.

  Meanwhile Will also had left the Chief's tent, and made his way quicklytowards a little wooden cabin that stood a few yards from the end of therailway line. As he approached, a slight young man with a swarthysallow face came out of the cabin and walked towards the embankment.Will hailed him.

  "The Chief wants you, Machado," he said.

  "At once, senor? I was going to watch the horsemen who are said to beapproaching. Perhaps I might be able to reassure the Chief."

  "You had better come and see what he wants first."

  The Venezuelan gave way with a shrug, and walked by Will's side to thetent, at the door of which Mr. Jackson was standing.

  "Senor Machado," said the Chief, who was always scrupulously polite tothe Spaniards on his staff, "I shall be glad of your assistance. Thesehorsemen will be here in a few minutes, and I want you to remain here asa witness of what passes. Mr. Pentelow will remain also. We shall thenhave one of their own countrymen and one of mine, a useful precaution,you will agree."

  Senor Machado smiled his assent. Mr. Jackson knew that, in dealing withrevolutionaries in Venezuela, foreigners, and even peaceable natives,were, as he put it, between the devil and the deep sea. If he should besuspected of giving aid or countenance to the rebels he would be hauledover the coals by the Government. If he refused such aid he might beheld in durance or perhaps attacked by the rebels. Whichever partyproved victorious in the struggle would refuse to make good any loss hemight sustain, while if either could foist upon him any charge ofassisting the enemy he would lose all his property, and sufferimprisonment or fine. No evidence would probably be of any immediateavail if matters were brought to extremities; but it would be useful tohave such evidence to lay before the British consul.

  "You left a man at the cabin to call you if any message comes through?"said the Chief.

  "Assuredly, senor; I think always of my duty."

  "That's right. Just keep within easy reach. Here's a cigar."

  Machado strolled up and down, smoking energetically. Will shot a glanceat him. The man was a good telegraphist, and he had nothing againsthim; but he was not quite pleased to know that he had been so affablewith Jose.

  Mr. Jackson sat down at the door of the tent, and began to discuss withWill the entries the latter had made in his note-book.

  "I think we look pretty easy," he said. "Still waters run deep.... Ah!here they are."