The Kidnapped President

st the sides, greeted my ears like the sweetest music. Only a few hours before I had deemed myself as good as a dead man. I had been the prisoner of a man

ettle down to a very different life to that which I had been leading for the past few weeks. When I fell asleep, it was to dream that I was back at Falstead once more. I was smoking

aid, "has been assassinated. It appears that he marr

en strange enough

nd mate's watch, but I had not been there very long before Captain Ferguson left his cabin and joined us. Thereupon the mate, with a knowledge of what wa

ashore as directed, and after waiting an hour and a half it returned to report that yo

d, and proceeded to give him an outlin

hat I gathered when ashore, and also from what you have told me, I have come to the conclusion that whatever Don Silvestre's ambition may be, he has lost his hold upon Equinata. If

wered. "Thank goodness, however, we have fulfilled our portion of the con

o say that the lady who acc

ce, and a very

aid of her than of him. Stand by and keep your eye open

o that," I replied. "I think I know

pera House, and how strangely her seriousness had affected me. It w

left the bridge and had walked aft, F

bow to him. "In compliment to you we a

pose, and steering due north, I observe. Let me see, if I am not mistaken, that should be in the

f we continue as we are going long enough, I have no doubt w

has not done very much for me. But there, nothing is to be gained by repining! I have been in worse positio

nstance," I answered, "but not

e steadily for

have come to the conclusion that I like you. I did n

n scarcely see why you should have changed your mind regarding myse

rself, for I can assure you, you have managed this business remarkably well. The plot was excellently arranged. There is one thing, howeve

ss to endeavour to conceal the fact that Herma?os was present on that occasion. "I had

elf than to me. "I have always had my suspicions about the man, but I never dreamt that he w

nswered. "He is scheming

ing good in him, but the individual who embarks upon a conspiracy, and who would throw over and denounce his friends on finding that his own participation in the plot is about to be disco

"Unfortunately, however, we met too late in

approached him with a cup

a smile, he added: "If you had been breakfasting in the cartel th

my body to help me digest

, and had placed it at her door. This she now wore, and though the garment was somewhat incongruous, when the rest of her attire was taken into consideration, the effect was by no means unbecoming. On leaving the companion she looked about her, and then ran her eye along t

her uncle than to myself. "I hope they will not forget to feed

s hope," replied the President. "

be back in La Gloria again before many months are past.

y, he was the man who introduced you to me. I must en

e as he said this was not

cord, all things considered. As for my passengers and myself we spent the greater part of the day under the for'ard awning, where we amused ourselves and each other as best we could. Had any stranger looked in upon us, he or she would have found

vening's apparel. The President had perforce to follow her example, and though he had discarded his ribbon, he still wore his orders. I on my part, out of compliment to them, dressed myself with great care, while Captain Ferguson, who shared the meal with us, had also made an elaborate toilet. T

ieve. I have my own reasons for making this statement, and they are fairly conclusive. The President himself was an adventurer of the most determined description. Ferguson was a sea captain and but little better-(he was a married man, so I disc

island he drifted to the mainland of South America, saw a good deal of Revolutionary fighting, and for the first time tried his hand at the fascinating game of politics. The result was by no means satisfactory, for he had the misfortune to throw in his lot with the losing side. After a certain particularly stubborn battle he was captured and condemned to be shot-a foretaste of the fate he had arranged for me. At the last moment, however, the sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life, and he was sent to the mines. Eventually he was liberated and took service with the man who, up to that time, had been his greatest enemy. He climbed the ladder of fame, and in time he managed to win a fair amount of power in the land; another Revolution, however, cast this power to the winds, and sent him flying post-haste

ion of circumstances had managed to become a person of considerable importance in the Republic. So far as I was concerned, however, there was another hegira, and this time at a somewhat short notice. I next visited the United States, afterwards crossed the Atlantic to Europe, and, after an absence of some three years, found myself on

ion?" I put in. "I have heard that pa

I-well-he would have won. As it was, he fled the country. Whereupon I picked up the reins of Government, played the game as I thought it should be played, and now find myself and all my plans u

innings, and I don't see that

u are concerned in the business, and I tell you this, if you are wise, you will be advised by me, and drop out of it as soon as you can. The time will come when Don Guzm

ll able to take care

! Sometimes, however,

panied him so far as the saloon companion entrance and then returned to my

friend, Don Fernandez," he said, after he had

red. "What has he

ce of seizing the boat. He has said nothing outright, but Reston (the boatswain) tells me he dropped a hint to him that a large reward would be forthcoming

implicit trust in your of

with a man like Fernandez aboard o

admit that I like the man. More, perhaps, than I do-we

nderstood

plied. "And what's mo

d went below to my cabin to fall asleep and dream that Fernandez had

were making, and from the glimpse I had of the chart, it struck me tha

see Falstead again, and what sort of welcome I should receive from Molly and my mother on my return, when I caught the sound of a light footstep behind me. I turned my head to discover the Se?orita. She came and stood beside me resting her jewelled hands upon t

ce we danced together in the Opera House I

but since we are the victims of your skill, you can scarcely expect me to be so magnanimous. Oh! Se?or Trevelyan, how I wish I could have persuaded you to side with us. But you had already cast in your lot with the enemy. At one time I had almost begun to think that I was deceived in you, but the ot

he temptations she placed before me that evening, and I think it says something for my love for Molly-not to mention my sense of duty to Silvestre, that I did not give way to her. By some mysterious means she had discovered the bond that existed between Ferguson and myself; she knew also that I was all-powerful aboard the yacht, and if

erable time," said Fernandez, when I joined him some minutes lat

aled sneer in his voice th

rting out the truth without fear of the consequences. "She has promised me, on your be

as not successful," he replied. "You ar

ar from Captain Ferguson that you have been endeavouring to tamper with the crew. I should be sorry, se?or, to be compelled to confine

e. "I have as much right to try to help myself out of this hole as you had to get me into it. However, as your men appear to be as immacul

n you that I shall keep a strict watch upon you, an

rita adopted a haughty air towards me. The President, on the other h

small speck appeared upon the horizon. This gradually increased

was standing beside me on

oodness, our