ozarro and his party
had speedily returned and had halted on the edge of the river, the
President shouting his orders for Captain Ortega to return at once.
The Major, standing beside the pilot house, could not deny himself
the pleasure of answering for the other.

"The Captain is under my orders; he cannot obey you."

"That is my boat!" howled General Yozarro; "return at once or suffer
the consequences of your thievery."

"I'll suffer the consequences, but I am only borrowing it for a little
while; you did not seem to be able to deliver Miss Starland to
Zalapata, and I will do it myself; I place at your disposal the small
boat we left behind."

"I shall make known your crime to your government," shouted the
Dictator, for nothing better to say.

"I shall be glad; perhaps it would be better to lay it before The
Hague Tribunal. The whole world will be interested in learning what a
cowardly wretch calls himself President of the Atlamalcan Republic."

CHAPTER XXIX.

It is quite probable that General Yozarro felt himself unequal to the
situation, for he said nothing more. He could plainly be seen standing
out in front of his friends, who, he noted, were busy at something.
They were hoisting the sail of the catboat and the whole party
scrambled aboard, as it was shoved from shore. Their weight sank the
craft low, but it buoyed them safely, and the smaller craft began its
pursuit of the larger one, somewhat after the manner of a handcar
chasing a locomotive.

As before, there was no comparison in their speed, despite the fact
that the tug had slowed down considerably. Major Starland ordered the
Captain to hold their relative position. His contempt for the ruffian
Dictator was so deep that he could not forbear exulting over him.

The men in the fire room knew that they had no choice except to obey
the orders sent down to them. No responsibility could attach to them,
and the American would visit fearful punishment upon any disobedience
or treachery.

Guzman and Martella came to the upper deck, where Major Starland was
holding converse with Captain Ortega.

"I wish," said the Major, speaking too low for the Captain to hear
him, "you would find out how many are in the boat yonder. I make it
six."

The three gave several minutes to scrutiny and agreed there were
seven, which was more than had been supposed.

"And all are heavily armed, some with pistols and some with swords; if
they should come alongside, t