f a mile below the smaller craft glided out
of sight around a sweeping bend in the river.

All this time the screw of the tugboat was viciously churning, but the
prow held fast. Once or twice a trembling of the hull seemed to show a
partial lessening of the hold, but nothing more.

The danger of boarding having passed for the time, Major Starland
returned to the cabin to speak to his sister. She had understood
everything that had taken place and needed no cheering. Then he
rejoined Captain Guzman and Martella at the front.

"We are free of the General for awhile."

"But there is no saying for how long," remarked the Captain.

"What do you think he means to do?"

"I cannot guess, unless it is to keep on to Zalapata and to appeal to
General Bambos."

"Which is likely to be bad for you, Captain, unless Bambos is anxious
after all to go to war, as he pretended the other day."

"I think," said Martella, "he means to get more men and attack the
boat."

"But where will he get the men from? He is a long way from Atlamalco."

"Yet not very far from _Castillo Descanso_, where he has quite a force
as you know."

"That will take many hours and we shall not stay here forever."

"There is no saying how long it will be."

"I must have a few words with the Captain."

Major Starland immediately left the lower deck and climbed to the
pilot house, where the executive of the tugboat, having nothing
pressing on his hands, had sat down on the stool placed there for his
convenience and was smoking another cigarette. Looking around, as he
heard the footsteps, he touched his forefinger to his hat and said:

"_Buenas noches_, Senor! We are still fast."

"That cannot be disputed."

CHAPTER XXXI.

The American leaned on the bottom of the slide, with his face scarcely
two feet from the other, and with the revolver at his hip within
instant reach.

"Captain Ortega, will you answer a question truly?"

"That depends upon the question, Senor; if I answer at all, it shall
be truly, but I may choose to leave it unanswered."

"Did you run this boat aground on purpose?"

Captain Ortega took two or three complacent whiffs, gazed off over the
moonlit river and then removing the wisp of tobacco from between his
lips, smiled, and looking into the face before him, coolly replied:

"I did, Senor."

"It was after my warning to you."

"Begging pardon, Senor, it could not well have been before."

"What did you hope to accom