l Yozarro start for this point when he left Atlamalco in
his tug?"

"I heard him say he intended to take the Senorita to Zalapata to meet
her brother, and Senorita Estacardo went along to bear her company."

"That's what the villain told _me_; did he pass beyond this point?"

"He did so for several miles."

"What cause did he give for turning back?"

"He said war was about to break out between the republics; I heard
that much, but I was one of the firemen and could not hear all; he
said afterward that he discovered something ahead which caused him to
turn back in haste."

"What was it?"

"Nothing, for there was nothing to see."

"He planned it from the first to deceive the Senoritas."

"You speak the truth, but why should he take the pains to do that,
when he might have gone overland and made the halt in the mountains?"

It was Captain Guzman who answered:

"Such a journey would have been long and hard for the Senoritas; the
voyage is far more pleasant."

"Why did he start at night?"

"It was easier for him to see the danger which was not there, or for
him to make the Senoritas believe he saw it."

"General Yozarro is devilish sly; let us go."

CHAPTER XI.

Since every one in tropical America called Warrenia Rowland by the
surname of Major Jack Starland and the two were accepted as brother
and sister we will do the same for the present, and thus avoid
possible confusion.

These two had been on the Forked River but a short time, when they
awoke to a most unpleasant fact, in addition to that which has already
been mentioned. While the climate was wholesome enough to those
accustomed to it, it was highly dangerous to visitors. The air was
damp, oppressive and miasmatic, probably because of the rank
vegetation that grew everywhere. Still further, the insect pests were
intolerable at times. Several cases of illness among the crew of the
yacht, though fortunately none was fatal, alarmed Aunt Cynthia and
caused some uneasiness on the part of Major Starland, as well as of
Captain Winton. In the circumstances, the Major felt warranted in
urging the plea of business as a legitimate one for haste in leaving
the detestable country.

It has been intimated that after Miss Starland had been delivered over
to her dearest friend, the yacht dropped down the river to Zalapata,
and left Jack there. Captain Winton, who was a cousin of Aunt Cynthia,
intended to steam some twenty miles farther eastward to the c