"I am afraid you will not have the time to reach it."

"It _must_ be done!"

The American had pushed the tiller sharply round, and the boat was
speeding diagonally for the bank. The change of course gave her a
fairer wind, but the tug was coming up so fast that it looked as if
she must head off the fugitives. Full steam had been put on, and our
affrighted friends, when they looked back, saw the tumbling foam at
the bow, the spreading wake streaming fanlike to the rear, and the
dark figures crowding forward, amid whom it was easy to believe they
discerned the form of General Yozarro cursing the engineer for not
attaining better speed.

"If we cannot make it," said Martella to the Captain, "we must jump
over and swim."

"We cannot swim any faster than we are going now, and the water
abounds with enemies."

"None is so treacherous as Yozarro; I at least will try it; I can let
myself over softly and make so long a dive that perhaps he will not
notice me."

"Wait a few minutes, Martella, for I do not like your plan."

The brief interval decided the question. It seemed that the sailboat
might touch land before the pursuer could interpose to head them off.
Martella decided to take his chances with the others.

The tug was now so near that Yozarro called:

"Stop or we'll blow you out of the water!"

"Blow and be hanged!" called back Major Jack; "if you fire on an
American citizen, your nuisance of a republic will be wiped off the
earth."

"You have a deserter with you; I demand his surrender."

Therein shone the cunning of General Yozarro. If an American was fired
upon in Atlamalcan waters for carrying off a deserter, it was little
satisfaction our citizen would be able to obtain. Without hesitation,
Major Starland shouted:

"We have the man; come and get him!"

CHAPTER XXVII.

General Yozarro's red-hot temper burst into uncontrollable flame, and
he committed a blunder which allowed the game to flit when it was
within his grasp. To the consternation of every one, he gave an
instant order to fire upon the sailboat. The officers protested, but
the Dictator was irrestrainable. He hurried down from the upper deck
and ordered two sailors to train the gun at the front on the little
craft. The better to accomplish this, he shouted to the Captain to
slacken speed, so as not to distract the aim of the gunners.

For a minute or two Major Starland could not believe what he heard,
but the movements on boar