could depend on you. How soon can you muster the regiment?"

"In half an hour, Excellency."

"See that there is plenty of ammunition for the machine guns. What of
the artillery?"

"The three batteries stationed here are with us heart and soul."

"Colonel San Benavides, as chief of the staff, is acquainted with every
detail. You, General, will assume command of the Army of Liberation.
Some trunks were sent to you from Paris, I believe?"

"They are in the room prepared for your Excellency."

"Let me go there at once and change my clothing. I must appear before
the troops as their President, not as a jail-bird. For the moment I
leave everything to you and San Benavides. Let Senhor Pondillo be
summoned. He will attend to the civil side of affairs. You have my
unqualified approval of the military scheme drawn up by you and my
other friends. There is one thing--a gunboat lies in the harbor. Is
she the _Andorinha_?"

The newly-promoted general smote his huge stomach with both
hands--"beating the drum," he called it--and the rat-tat signified
instant readiness for action.

"The guns will soon scare that bird," he exclaimed. As _Andorinha_
means "swallow" in English there was some point to the remark. Nor was
he making a vain boast. The most astounding feature of every
revolution in a South American republic is the alacrity with which the
army will fire on the navy, _et vice versa_. The two services seem to
be everlastingly at feud. If politicians fail to engineer a quarrel,
the soldiers and sailors will indulge in one on their own account.

It was so now at Maceio. Dawn was about to peep up over the sea when
twelve guns lumbered through the narrow streets, waking many startled
citizens. A few daring souls, who guessed what had happened, rushed
off on horseback or bicycle to remote telegraph offices. These
adventurers were too late. Every railway station and post-office
within twenty miles was already held by troops. Revolts are conducted
scientifically in that region. Their stage management is perfect, and
the cumbrous methods of effete civilizations might well take note of
the speed, thoroughness, and efficiency with which a change of
government is effected.

For instance, what could be more admirable than the scaring of the bird
by General Russo? He drew up his three batteries on the wharf opposite
the unsuspecting _Andorinha_, and endeavored to plant twelve shells in
the locality of her engi