Langham had proceeded for nearly a mile when he saw the forest opening before them, and at the sight he gave a shout of relief, but almost at the same instant he pulled his pony back on his haunches and whirling him about, sprang back to the carriage with a cry of warning.
``There are soldiers ahead of us,'' he cried.``Did you know it?'' he demanded of the driver.``Did you lie to me? Turn back.''
``He can't turn back,'' MacWilliams answered.``They have seen us.They are only the custom officers at the city limits.They know nothing.Go on.'' He reached forward and catching the reins dragged the horses down into a walk.Then he handed the reins back to the driver with a shake of the head.
``If you know these roads as well as you say you do, you want to keep us out of the way of soldiers,'' he said.``If we fall into a trap you'll be the first man shot on either side.''
A sentry strolled lazily out into the road dragging his gun after him by the bayonet, and raised his hand for them to halt.His captain followed him from the post-house throwing away a cigarette as he came, and saluted MacWilliams on the box and bowed to the two riders in the background.In his right hand he held one of the long iron rods with which the collectors of the city's taxes were wont to pierce the bundles and packs, and even the carriage cushions of those who entered the city limits from the coast, and who might be suspected of smuggling.
``Whose carriage is this, and where is it going?'' he asked.
As the speed of the diligence slackened, Hope put her head out of the curtains, and as she surveyed the soldier with apparent surprise, she turned to her brother.
``What does this mean?'' she asked.``What are we waiting for?''
``We are going to the Hacienda of Senor Palacio,''
MacWilliams said, in answer to the officer.``The driver thinks that this is the road, but I say we should have taken the one to the right.''
``No, this is the road to Senor Palacio's plantation,'' the officer answered, ``but you cannot leave the city without a pass signed by General Mendoza.That is the order we received this morning.Have you such a pass?''
``Certainly not,'' Clay answered, warmly.``This is the carriage of an American, the president of the mines.His daughters are inside and on their way to visit the residence of Senor Palacio.They are foreigners--Americans.We are all foreigners, and we have a perfect right to leave the city when we choose.You can only stop us when we enter it.''
The officer looked uncertainly from Clay to Hope and up at the driver on the box.His eyes fell upon the heavy brass mountings of the harness.They bore the arms of Olancho.He wheeled sharply and called to his men inside the post-house, and they stepped out from the veranda and spread themselves leisurely across the road.
``Ride him down, Clay,'' Langham muttered, in a whisper.The officer did not understand the words, but he saw Clay gather the reins tighter in his hands and he stepped back quickly to the safety of the porch, and from that ground of vantage smiled pleasantly.
``Pardon,'' he said, ``there is no need for blows when one is rich enough to pay.A little something for myself and a drink for my brave fellows, and you can go where you please.''
``Damned brigands,'' growled Langham, savagely.
``Not at all,'' Clay answered.``He is an officer and a gentleman.I have no money with me,'' he said, in Spanish, addressing the officer, ``but between caballeros a word of honor is sufficient.I shall be returning this way to-morrow morning, and I will bring a few hundred sols from Senor Palacio for you and your men; but if we are followed you will get nothing, and you must have forgotten in the mean time that you have seen us pass.''
There was a murmur inside the carriage, and Hope's face disappeared from between the curtains to reappear again almost immediately.She beckoned to the officer with her hand, and the men saw that she held between her thumb and little finger a diamond ring of size and brilliancy.She moved it so that it flashed in the light of the guard lantern above the post-house.
``My sister tells me you shall be given this tomorrow morning,''
Hope said, ``if we are not followed.''
The man's eyes laughed with pleasure.He swept his sombrero to the ground.
``I am your servant, Senorita,'' he said.``Gentlemen,'' he cried, gayly, turning to Clay, ``if you wish it, I will accompany you with my men.Yes, I will leave word that I have gone in the sudden pursuit of smugglers; or I will remain here as you wish, and send those who may follow back again.''
``You are most gracious, sir,'' said Clay.``It is always a pleasure to meet with a gentleman and a philosopher.We prefer to travel without an escort, and remember, you have seen nothing and heard nothing.'' He leaned from the saddle, and touched the officer on the breast.``That ring is worth a king's ransom.''
``Or a president's,'' muttered the man, smiling.``Let the American ladies pass,'' he commanded.
The soldiers scattered as the whip fell, and the horses once more leaped forward, and as the carriage entered the forest, Clay looked back and saw the officer exhaling the smoke of a fresh cigarette, with the satisfaction of one who enjoys a clean conscience and a sense of duty well performed.
The road through the forest was narrow and uneven, and as the horses fell into a trot the men on horseback closed up together behind the carriage.
``Do you think that road-agent will keep his word?'' Langham asked.
``Yes; he has nothing to win by telling the truth,'' Clay answered.``He can say he saw a party of foreigners, Americans, driving in the direction of Palacio's coffee plantation.That lets him out, and in the morning he knows he can levy on us for the gate money.I am not so much afraid of being overtaken as Iam that King may make a mistake and not get to Bocos on time.We ought to reach there, if the carriage holds together, by eleven.
