第56章

The day of the review rose clear and warm, tempered by a light breeze from the sea.As it was a fete day, the harbor wore an air of unwonted inactivity; no lighters passed heavily from the levees to the merchantmen at anchor, and the warehouses along the wharves were closed and deserted.A thin line of smoke from the funnels of the `Vesta' showed that her fires were burning, and the fact that she rode on a single anchor chain seemed to promise that at any moment she might slip away to sea.

As Clay was finishing his coffee two notes were brought to him from messengers who had ridden out that morning, and who sat in their saddles looking at the armed force around the office with amused intelligence.

One note was from Mendoza, and said he had decided not to call out the regiment at the mines, as he feared their long absence from drill would make them compare unfavorably with their comrades, and do him more harm than credit.``He is afraid of them since last night,'' was Clay's comment, as he passed the note on to MacWilliams.``He's quite right, they might do him harm.''

The second note was from Stuart.He said the city was already wide awake and restless, but whether this was due to the fact that it was a fete day, or to some other cause which would disclose itself later, he could not tell.Madame Alvarez, the afternoon before, while riding in the Alameda, had been insulted by a group of men around a cafe', who had risen and shouted after her, one of them throwing a wine-glass into her lap as she rode past.His troopers had charged the sidewalk and carried off six of the men to the carcel.He and Rojas had urged the President to make every preparation for immediate flight, to have the horses put to his travelling carriage, and had warned him when at the review to take up his position at the point nearest to his own body-guard, and as far as possible from the troops led by Mendoza.Stuart added that he had absolute confidence in the former.The policeman who had attempted to carry Burke's note to Mendoza had confessed that he was the only traitor in the camp, and that he had tried to work on his comrades without success.

Stuart begged Clay to join him as quickly as possible.Clay went up the hill to the Palms, and after consulting with Mr.Langham, dictated an order to Kirkland, instructing him to call the men together and to point out to them how much better their condition had been since they had entered the mines, and to promise them an increase of wages if they remained faithful to Mr.Langham's interests, and a small pension to any one who might be injured ``from any cause whatsoever'' while serving him.

``Tell them, if they are loyal, they can live in their shacks rent free hereafter,'' wrote Clay.``They are always asking for that.It's a cheap generosity,'' he added aloud to Mr.Langham, ``because we've never been able to collect rent from any of them yet.''

At noon young Langham ordered the best three horses in the stables to be brought to the door of the Palms for Clay, MacWilliams, and himself.Clay's last words to King were to have the yacht in readiness to put to sea when he telephoned him to do so, and he advised the women to have their dresses and more valuable possessions packed ready to be taken on board.

``Don't you think I might see the review if I went on horseback?'' Hope asked.``I could get away then, if there should be any trouble.''

Clay answered with a look of such alarm and surprise that Hope laughed.

``See the review! I should say not,'' he exclaimed.``I don't even want Ted to be there.''

``Oh, that's always the way,'' said Hope, ``I miss everything.Ithink I'll come, however, anyhow.The servants are all going, and I'll go with them disguised in a turban.''

As the men neared Valencia, Clay turned in his saddle, and asked Langham if he thought his sister would really venture into the town.

``She'd better not let me catch her, if she does,'' the fond brother replied.

The reviewing party left the Government Palace for the Alameda at three o'clock, President Alvarez riding on horseback in advance, and Madame Alvarez sitting in the State carriage with one of her attendants, and with Stuart's troopers gathered so closely about her that the men's boots scraped against the wheels, and their numbers hid her almost entirely from sight.