The Kidnapped President

you may be sure I did my utmost to appear at my best to

at struck me as being distinctly pleasant. "I fancy I saw your yacht from a distance this afternoon. S

iscriminate between a boat built on the Thames and another built on the Clyd

she is a credit to her builders. I don't know that I have ever met with a better. I hope I may be

his, as it gave me an opportunity of observing him a little more closely. He was certainly a remarkable-looking man, and each time I glanced at him the conclusion was more forcibly borne upon me that he was one with who

ure, not, however, until he had crossed to me once more and had repeated his

nd thereupon suggested that he should breakfast with me on board the next day, and th

will allow me I will also bring my niece, the Se?orita Dolores de P

anner, feeling that at last I was making real headway. "

et us then say au revoir unt

dies, and accompanied by General Sagana, he left the room. When the General ret

enormous moustaches, "the most remarkable man Equinata has yet produ

o conceal the interest I was taking in wh

en one of Silvestre's principal adherents, and that it was only when he discovered the fact that affairs

ted two things to me; first, that he was not aware of my connection with the man in question, and secondly, t

departure. It was evident that my visit had been appreciated, and that some importance was attached to it, for I found the General's private

the yacht to be a Clyde-built boat? Was it only a statement made haphazard, or had he some previous knowledge of the craft in question? The mere thought that he might know anything of her past made me anxious beyond measure. The possibilities were that he did not, but the fact that he might have an inkling of my intention was sufficient to prevent me from sleeping and to cause me to tumble and toss in my bed, hour after hour, endeavouring to find some satisfactory solution to the problem. "I have seen what he can do to those who offend him," Herma?os had said to me, "and I confess the p

Flowers were procured from the shore, and with them the saloons were decorated. A string band was engage

t be none other than his niece, the Se?orita Dolores de Perera. The President was the first to set foot upon the deck, and, as he did so, the band struck up the National Air of Equinata. His Excellency shook me warmly by the hand, and then, turning to the lady who accompanied him, presented me to her. I have met some very beautiful women in my time, but I am doubtful whether I have ever seen one who could compare with the lady I then had before me. She was slightly above the middle height, with raven hair and dark flashing eyes, and carried herself with the grace that is so cha

and as she said it, she threw a beaming glance at me. "How beautiful it must be to skim over the seas like a bird, t

eds coaling, in order to be able to properly perform her functions. There are also storms to mar one's pleasure, Port Dues, Harbour Regulations, Quarantine, and a thousan

have all smooth sailing

cently that I felt sure it was

and thence to Jamaica, Bar

ans after le

th, "You see, Se?orita, it all depends upon circumstances. I may go on to Rio, thence to Bueno

with his champagne glass as he spoke, "and ending the year almost as we began i

work of building up a new country, a country which may ultimately take its place among the greatest of the earth? While I am fluttering

y, my fellow-man does not always wish to be benefited, as your words would lead one to suppose. To my thinking he is very like that noble

with some little embarrassment, though why he shou

the Se?ori

litics, of course, Se?orita?" I

eets, and the mob do not attempt to shoot my uncle, or to come to the palace and break our windows, I am content to let whichever party pleases hold the reins of power. But there, I feel

urned her smile with a look that said as plainly as any words could speak, that if they were

ad withdrawn, helped to confirm me in this opinion. Nothing could have exceeded his geniality. He narrated several amusing incidents

ng in a proper appreciation of his position. Had he used his opportunities as he might have done

m?" I inquired, not without some cur

, however, sh

is he disappeared from Equinata, but where he went I cannot tell you. Very

, that my suspicions that he was aware of m

e President declared his intention of returning to the shore. The boats were accordingly ordered alongside, whereupon, having thanked me for my hospitality, the President and the Se?orita, attended by thei

g my case to him, "it should not prove a very difficult matter to inveigle him

e that, if he came, he would bring an aide with

eplied promptly. "One more prisoner would

e hall by the aide-de-camp who had breakfasted with us on board the yacht, and by him was conducted to the great drawing-room where the President and his niece were receiving their guests. Some thirty or forty people were present, among the numbe

an?" said my fair companion, as we made our way in our turn

ery day," I replied. "Who could help liking it,

"It will be long before I forget the pleasant morning we spent on board your yacht

visit her," I answered, with more truth tha

could scarcely have been excelled. During its progress the President addressed himself on several occasions to me, and invited me to accompany him on a visit to some celebrated coppe

n her uncle had finished speaking. "It is in aid of the convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and i

. "That is, of course, provided I am not co

plate attentively. I was about to answer her, when her attention was attracte

om, doubtless, so many of them envied for his wealth and for his magnificent floating home? I could not help wondering what my own feelings would have been had I known only three months or so before, when I was standin

likeness. It was the portrait of Don Guzman de Silvestre, and the artist had managed to depict him to the life. How it called me back to other days! As I looked at it

ent, Se?or Trevelyan," said the Se

often look back with pleasure

ouraged many men to embark on a course of th

the other visitors we have, and, as soon as you ar

eautiful city as long as I live," I answe

trangely. At first I had thought her merely a very beautiful woman, well fitted by nature to perform the difficult task asked of her; it was not long, however, before I

hange, I found that he was managing to overcome my prejudices. Under the influence of these new impressions I also began to see my own part of the business in a new light. From what Silvestre had said to me, I had up to that time regarded him as a traitor to his friends, and as a tyrant and enemy to his country. I now discovered that he was neither the one nor the other. He ruled according to his lights, and if he held his people in an iron grip, it was for the good and sufficient reason that he knew their character, and the sort of government they required. My own position, when I c

ata, headed by General Sagana, as you may suppose in the fullest of full uniforms, march by and salute its chief. That ceremony over, I returned to the

d the broad pavement outside. At one of these tables two men were seated, playing dominoes as they sipped their coffee. One of them looked up at me as I passed. As my eyes fell on his face I gave a start, for I recognized him instantly as a well-known Rio merchant, who had

ar ere I heard some one bustling after me. A few seconds later a hand was laid upon my a

egan in English, "but am I mistaken

make up

, and then added what was worse than a lie, that is to sa

inued. "I t'ought you vas one of mine old vriends dot I va

forgave him

t of the evening was-Had my assurance satisfi