The Dreadnought of the Air Read online

  CHAPTER XXI.

  WITHIN THE CAVARALE PRISON.

  "LOOK here, Dacres, I won't have you running this risk," saidWhittinghame when his subordinate unfolded his plan for investigatingthe place of captivity of Admiral Maynebrace and his compatriots inmisfortune.

  "There'll be no risk," replied Dacres. "That is, if I act with areasonable amount of caution. Besides, I want to have another littlegame with old Maynebrace--bless his grey hair!"

  Whittinghame shrugged his shoulders deprecatingly. "How long do youreckon this mad freak of yours will take?" he asked.

  "If we leave here at daybreak to-morrow we ought to be back at theend of the fifth day. It's only half a day's journey to La Pazrailway station, so de la Fosse informs me. We'll have to hire acouple of Indians to carry our professional gear and clothing, so asto give more colour to the scheme. Henri could take some of hisfather's men, only they might start talking about the strandedairships and give rise to suspicions."

  "Honestly I don't like your scheme, Dacres, but since you think it'sfeasible and its results will be beneficial to our proposedoperations I suppose I mustn't raise any more objections."

  Henri de la Fosse entered into the project with the greatesteagerness. He, too, had cause to hate the present Valderiangovernment like poison.

  Had it not been for Zaypuru and Durango, the Frenchman and his twosons would have been able to attain their desires and return to theirnative country long ago. The revolution had practically ruined de laFosse. His accumulated earnings had been fraudulently appropriated.He was almost without sufficient means to pay his passage back toMarseilles. He had, therefore, been obliged to remain in Valderia,working desperately at his profession in the hope of being able, tosome extent, to retrieve his lost fortune.

  When Whittinghame requested Antoine de la Fosse to name a sum forrepairing the wireless gear the little Frenchman waxed indignant. Hewould take nothing, he replied proudly. It was a pleasurable task tobe able to assist the Englishmen in their effort against Zaypuru andDurango.

  Whittinghame was equally indignant. Finally the matter wascompromised. Should Dacres' adventure prove a success, and should the"Meteor" contrive to rescue the prisoners from the Cavarale, de laFosse was to put forward a claim on the British Government, andWhittinghame would back it up for all he was worth.

  Antoine de la Fosse realized that he was making a great sacrifice inallowing his son to go to Naocuanha. Had it not been for the factthat he himself was the only one capable of effecting the delicaterepairs to the wireless gear he would have insisted on being Dacres'companion. But having Dacres' assurance that in the event ofdetection the Englishman would accept all responsibility his doubtswere set aside.

  "Are you disguising yourself?" asked Whittinghame, for his comradewas turning out the contents of a small portmanteau in which theextraordinary "get up" he had worn on board the flagship wasconspicuous.

  "No," replied Dacres. "At least, not with false moustaches orwhiskers. It would be too risky: the things might come adrift while Iwas fooling about pretending to take measurements."

  "But we must take certain possibilities into the question," continuedWhittinghame. "Suppose, for instance, Durango has, in spite of oursurmises to the contrary, returned to Naocuanha?"

  "Hardly likely," replied Dacres. "Had he done so we should have had acrowd of Valderian soldiers buzzing about before this."

  The eventful morning came round. Antoine de la Fosse was to go withDacres and Henri as far as the place where the mules had been left incharge of an Indian servant.

  "By the by," remarked Whittinghame casually. "You haven't forgotten arule. You must have one if you have to take measurements, you know."

  "I'll get one," said Dacres, and presently he returned with atwo-foot rule in his hand.

  "If it weren't a very serious matter, Dacres, I'd simply roar withlaughter," declared the Captain of the "Meteor." "I asked you simplyto see what you'd do, and you've simply given the whole show away.Imagine a supposed Frenchman taking measurements in a country wherethe metric system is in force and using a British two-foot rule."

  Dacres flushed under his tanned features.

  "By Jove! I must be more careful."

  "You must, not only on your account but for the sake of yourcompanion. It's a good thing de la Fosse didn't see what you were upto."

  Amid the hearty good wishes and farewells of the "Meteor's" officersand men Dacres and Henri, attired in sombreros, loose grey shirts,buckskin trousers, and native shoes fitted with formidable-lookingspurs, set out on their hazardous enterprise.

  Soon Dacres found himself in the high-peaked saddle of a mule.Although fairly docile as mules go, this animal required aconsiderable amount of skill on the part of the rider. Like mostsailors Dacres rode awkwardly, hanging on more by good luck than goodmanagement, the performance causing the high-spirited Henri no end ofamusement, especially when the inapt rider was slung out into thedust no less than three times during the first half hour.

  "Pardon me, monsieur, I cannot help it," said young de la Fosseapologetically, although tears of laughter were trickling down hisface.

  "Neither can I," replied Dacres as he picked himself up and essayedto clamber into the awkward saddle.

  "But if you ride thus into La Paz the Valderians will havesuspicions," resumed Henri doubtfully. "In Valderia everyone ridessuperbly."

  "I'll manage the brute all right long before we get to La Paz,"declared Dacres stoutly. "Gee up, you rascal!"

  Evidently the Valderian mule strongly objected to being urged on inEnglish, for his hind-quarters suddenly reared. Dacres found himselfrising in the air. Clearing the pommel by a few inches he alighted onthe animal's crupper, whence he cannoned off into a particularlyprickly clump of cacti.

  Leaping from his saddle Henri handed the reins to his companion, thendevoting his attention to the refractory mule he made it trot roundand round in a small circle until the youth was almost ready to dropwith sheer giddiness. This treatment also proved most subduing to themule, for from that time Dacres had no further trouble.

  The road to La Paz was with few exceptions mostly down hill. Inplaces it wound round forbidding spurs of the mountains, where afalse step would send animal and rider into the almost fathomlessdepths below.

  So narrow was the track that Dacres wondered what would happen ifthey met persons coming in the opposite direction.

  "That is easily managed," replied Henri when his companion expressedhis doubts. "We would dismount. The other travellers would dolikewise. We speak with them; they speak with us. There is no hurryin these parts. Then the mules going that way would crouch down, andthe mules coming this way would step over them. It is so simple whenone knows how."

  "Thanks, I would rather not have any," remarked Dacres, and later onhe reiterated his thanks when he found himself once more in opencountry.

  Feeling so stiff that he could scarcely dismount Dacres arrived at LaPaz. The mules were handed over to the care of a mostvillainous-looking innkeeper, and their baggage given to fourmiserable-looking Indians, who for a few centavos could be engaged toact as servants.

  While waiting for the train to start--it would be a fortunate eventif it left the station within an hour of the supposed time--Henri,who spoke Spanish excellently, made several judicious inquiries ofthe men who were loafing about--for leaning against the adobe wallsand smoking huge cigars seemed the total occupation of the visibleinhabitants of La Paz.

  When at length the train started on its journey to the capital, youngde la Fosse had an opportunity of communicating to his companion thenews he had gathered from the loungers at the station.

  If it were true the situation looked very grave. There were reportsthat a battle had been fought outside the town of Zandovar betweenthe gallant Valderians and the invaders. The British had beencompelled to retreat to their ships, leaving over five hundred menprisoners in the hands of the victors. More, two English battleshipshad been sunk by mines, and the rest had stood out to sea.

>   Dacres simply roared. The rumours were so utterly unlikely.

  "It may be true," said Henri gravely. "The best generalled armiesmake the mistake at times. The Italians at Adowah, the Russians inManchuria, and the English in South Africa, _par exemple._"

  "Then, if it is true we'll find the Cavarale chock-a-block withBritish prisoners," said Dacres. "So we'll wait and see."

  When, after a slow and irksome journey, the train entered Naocuanhastation, Dacres and his companion were pounced upon and questioned byhalf a dozen gaudily-uniformed officials. Their pass had to beexamined, signed and countersigned by men who could hardly writetheir names, their baggage being searched, and even the contents oftheir pockets scrutinized. Dacres realized that had he attempted todon artificial hair and whiskers as a disguise he would have beendetected before he left the platform.

  At length the ordeal was passed, and escorted by four soldiers thetwo "electrical experts" made their way to an hotel.

  The city of Naocuanha was under martial law. There were troops--forthe most part ill-clad, ill-armed, and badly disciplined--everywhere.Most of the shops were shut, and had their windows boarded up. Inseveral places barricades had been thrown across the streets andmachine guns placed in position. The steam-cars and public vehicleshad either been kept in their sheds or pressed into military service.Everywhere notices were posted up, warning the civil population to bein their houses by sunset under pain of fine and imprisonment.

  "This doesn't look like a British reverse," thought Dacres. "Thewhole crowd of them are in a mortal funk. That's quite evident."

  Acting on his companion's advice Dacres feigned a bad headache ontheir arrival at the hotel and promptly went to bed. Until Henri feltfairly certain that none of the guests--who, fortunately, were few innumber--understood French it was advisable for the pseudo-electricianto keep to himself.

  All night long bugles were blaring and drums beating. The garrison ofNaocuanha were evidently expecting an attack from the British forcesin possession of Zandovar. Consequently Dacres spent a restlessnight, while the swarms of mosquitos that found their way in throughthe rents in the mosquito curtains of his bed added to hisdiscomfort.

  Next morning, after Henri had paid a compulsory visit to thecommandante's office, the two men, with their Indian servants, setout for the Cavarale.

  The prison stood about two miles from the city. It occupied anisolated position, being on a broad grassy plain. The building was ofrectangular formation with squat square towers at the four corners.It was surrounded at a distance of twenty feet from the main walls bya mud and rubble wall surmounted by a _chevaux de frise._

  In the centre of this outer enclosure on the city side was a gatewaywith an adobe hut close by; but this entrance was apparentlyneglected, for the gate stood wide open, and no one seemed to be onguard.

  In the intervening space ran a dry ditch crossed by a broad woodenbridge leading to the inner gateway.

  This was a more imposing affair, the stone archway being surmountedby the arms of the republic. The door was of very massive wood andpierced by a wicket. On either side were loopholes so that theapproach could be commanded by rifle fire if necessary; while aboveeach of the four towers grinned the barrels of an old type of machinegun of the Nordenfeldt pattern.

  Pacing up and down the parapet or else lolling in the shade of thetowers were several sentries, each with the inevitable cigar orcigarette in his mouth. They eyed the approaching strangers withapparent unconcern, making no attempt to challenge them.

  Directly Henri pulled the bell the wicket was opened and a serjeantgruffly demanded to know the business of the two strangers.

  In reply young de la Fosse pulled out the pass and presented it. Thefellow took the document, pretended to read it while holding itupside down, and calling to a soldier who happened to be standingclose by, bade him hand the pass to the serjeant of the guard.

  Apparently, this non-commissioned officer could make no more of itthan did his subordinate; but, throwing aside his cigar, he leisurelystrolled off to the quarters of the commandante of the prison.

  Half an hour later the Frenchman and the pseudo compatriot werepermitted to enter. An empty store was allotted for the reception oftheir belongings, and the Indians were told to remain there untilwanted.

  "You remain also," said Henri in a low voice to Dacres. "I have tosee the commandante."

  Presently Henri returned with a bundle of papers, showing the generalplan of the prison on a large scale, and the various parts that itwas proposed to fit with electric lighting apparatus.

  To show undue energy would arouse suspicion, so the two electriciansspent quite an hour in ostentatiously examining the documents beforeproceeding with the actual work of "measuring up."

  Then, having offered a cigarette to the soldier told off to attend onthem, Henri and Dacres made their way to the _patio_ or courtyard inthe centre of the quadrangle.

  While busy with the tape Dacres kept his eyes wide open. Evidentlythree sides of the building were intended for the prisoners'quarters, for they were lighted by small square windows heavilybarred and at a height of twenty feet from the ground. The remainingside was in the occupation of the troops who formed the joint role ofgarrison and jailers, while in one corner of the _patio_ and farthestremote from the entrance was a stone building in which thecommandante of the prison lived. It was two-storyed, with a flatroof, from which a light gangway communicated with the flats of thequarters surrounding the quadrangle. A covered way also led from thecommandante's residence to the guard room.

  "The commandante says that he is busy to-day and does not wish to bedisturbed by having men to measure the rooms of his house," saidHenri, "so that will be much better for us. We can go sooner to thequarters of the prisoners."

  "Very good," assented Dacres.

  They conversed in English, since Dacres was a precious bad Frenchscholar. There was no need to do otherwise since de la Fosse, by asimple, seemingly aimless question to the soldier who accompaniedthem, found out that he understood no language but his own.

  Having finished their ostentatious work in the _patio_, Henri tappedthe plan he held in his hand and pointed significantly towards theprison-buildings.

  The soldier shrugged his shoulders indifferently, then slouchedtowards the door. In response to a knock the door was opened by afierce-looking mulatto who, apparently satisfied that the twoforeigners were properly escorted, passed them in without furtherado.

  The prison was two-storyed. The cells on the ground floor were notlighted from without, and were constructed for the reception ofcommon criminals. Recently these occupants had been transferred _enbloc_ to the civil prison in Naocuanha, and consequently they werenow unoccupied. The political and foreign prisoners were distributedin cells on the upper story, to the number of nearly a hundred. Ofthese nine were Englishmen, including the two who were arrestedbefore the outbreak of hostilities, and whose detention formed one ofthe principal causes of the rupture between Great Britain and therepublic of Valderia. In addition to the nine were partisans of thelate President San Bonetta who, having escaped the extreme measuresadopted by the ferocious Diego Zaypuru, were still in rigorousconfinement and in constant fear of being summoned to execution.

  Fearing to cause suspicions by asking where the British prisonerswere lodged, Dacres and his companion had to take each cell in order,measuring the distance from the centre of the corridor, and theheight of the position of the proposed lamp. To hurry over the taskwould raise doubts in the officials' minds as to the _bona fides_ ofthe avowed electricians. Thus the short working-day ended withoutDacres having an opportunity of entering into communication with anyof his former brother-officers.

  On the following day the prospect looked brighter, since there was noneedless delay in the _patio._ Don Alonzo da Costa, the commandante,was still indisposed to allow the electricians to enter his quarters,so, thankfully, Dacres and his companion resumed their tedious tourof the cells.

  At length the jailer unlocked the
door of a cell situated in thenorth-east angle of the building, and the two engineers solemnlyfiled into the room.

  It was slightly larger than the others, but sparely furnished, thelatter consisting of a plain deal table and chair, and an ironcot-frame, on the foot of which were two rolled blankets and a thinstraw mattress.

  As the men entered a stentorian voice exclaimed,

  "Bless my soul, Dacres, what on earth are you doing here?"

  The speaker was his late chief, Rear-Admiral Maynebrace.