not fail. But let it be tried."

"Will the captain of the guard obey a verbal order which it is
proposed to say is sent by General Yozarro?"

Martella lifted his shoulders.

"If he refuses we shall be no worse off than before."

"We shall not, but you're likely to be. However, here goes!"

He whipped out his note book and hastily penned the few lines that
have already been revealed.

"God go with you, Martella! You are a valiant man; I can hardly
believe you will succeed, but the need is desperate."

The deserter quietly shoved the little fold of paper in his pocket,
close to his terrible knife, and without another word passed up the
trail, his friends following him as far as was thought prudent. It was
not well for them to be seen by any of the guard, since it must draw
suspicion to the plan.

CHAPTER XXI.

So it was that the daring native came up the plateau, saluted the
first sentinel whom he saw, and brusquely announced that he had
immediate business with Captain Navarro. The latter was in one of the
large lower apartments engaged with his evening meal. When word was
brought to him, he sprang up and hastened outside, where Martella was
standing erect, like a true soldier of the Atlamalcan army, and
saluted him.

"Do you come from General Yozarro?" was the inquiry.

"Directly from him," was the unblushing response.

"What are his commands?"

"That I bring the American Senorita to him without delay."

"Where is the General? I am expecting him any hour."

"You know I am one of the firemen on the gunboat; it lies against the
shore where we stopped last night when the Senoritas were brought
here."

This was the critical moment. If Captain Navarro had learned of the
desertion of Martella, the life of the latter was not worth a moment's
purchase, but in reality he knew nothing of it. The Captain, well
aware of the ferocious temper of the Dictator, stood in as abject awe
of him as did every other citizen of Atlamalco. But as the two
conversed, the wits of the officer gradually returned to him.

"Where is the escort of the Senorita?"

"Standing before you."

"You do not come alone?"

"I do--"

"But how is it the General himself does not come?"

"Perhaps the Captain would like to put that question to General
Yozarro."

"I shall be pleased to read your order."

"The only order I bear has just been given to you."

"Impossible! General Yozarro would never do a thing like that."

"Perha