第58章

It was a brilliant scene for so modest a capital.The sun flashed on the trappings of the soldiers, on the lacquer and polished metal work of the carriages; and the Parisian gowns of their occupants and the fluttering flags and banners filled the air with color and movement, while back of all, framing the parade ground with a band of black, was the restless mob of people applauding the evolutions, and cheering for their favorites, Alvarez, Mendoza, and Rojas, moved by an excitement that was in disturbing contrast to the easy good-nature of their usual manner.

The marching and countermarching of the troops had continued with spirit for some time, and there was a halt in the evolutions which left the field vacant, except for the presence of Mendoza's cavalrymen, who were moving at a walk along one side of the quadrangle.Alvarez and Vice-President Rojas, with Stuart, as an adjutant at their side, were sitting their horses within some fifty yards of the State carriage and the body-guard.Alvarez made a conspicuous contrast in his black coat and high hat to the brilliant greens and reds of his generals' uniforms, but he sat his saddle as well as either of the others, and his white hair, white imperial and mustache, and the dignity of his bearing distinguished him above them both.Little Stuart, sitting at his side, with his blue eyes glaring from under his white helmet and his face burned to almost as red a tint as his curly hair, looked like a fierce little bull-dog in comparison.None of the three men spoke as they sat motionless and quite alone waiting for the next movement of the troops.

It proved to be one of moment.Even before Mendoza had ridden toward them with his sword at salute, Clay gave an exclamation of enlightenment and concern.He saw that the men who were believed to be devoted to Rojas, had been halted and left standing at the farthest corner of the plaza, nearly two hundred yards from where the President had taken his place, that Mendoza's infantry surrounded them on every side, and that Mendoza's cowboys, who had been walking their horses, had wheeled and were coming up with an increasing momentum, a flying mass of horses and men directed straight at the President himself.

Mendoza galloped up to Alvarez with his sword still in salute.

His eyes were burning with excitement and with the light of success.No one but Stuart and Rojas heard his words; to the spectators and to the army he appeared as though he was, in his capacity of Commander-in-Chief, delivering some brief report, or asking for instructions.

``Dr.Alvarez,'' he said, ``as the head of the army I arrest you for high treason; you have plotted to place yourself in office without popular election.You are also accused of large thefts of public funds.I must ask you to ride with me to the military prison.General Rojas, I regret that as an accomplice of the President's, you must come with us also.I will explain my action to the people when you are safe in prison, and I will proclaim martial law.If your troops attempt to interfere, my men have orders to fire on them and you.''

Stuart did not wait for his sentence.He had heard the heavy beat of the cavalry coming up on them at a trot.He saw the ranks open and two men catch at each bridle rein of both Alvarez and Rojas and drag them on with them, buried in the crush of horses about them, and swept forward by the weight and impetus of the moving mass behind.Stuart dashed off to the State carriage and seized the nearest of the horses by the bridle.``To the Palace!'' he shouted to his men.``Shoot any one who tries to stop you.Forward, at a gallop,'' he commanded.

The populace had not discovered what had occurred until it was finished.The coup d'etat had been long considered and the manner in which it was to be carried out carefully planned.The cavalry had swept across the parade ground and up the street before the people saw that they carried Rojas and Alvarez with them.The regiment commanded by Rojas found itself hemmed in before and behind by Mendoza's two regiments.They were greatly outnumbered, but they fired a scattering shot, and following their captured leader, broke through the line around them and pursued the cavalry toward the military prison.

It was impossible to tell in the uproar which followed how many or how few had been parties to the plot.The mob, shrieking and shouting and leaping in the air, swarmed across the parade ground, and from a dozen different points men rose above the heads of the people and harangued them in violent speeches.And while some of the soldiers and the citizens gathered anxiously about these orators, others ran through the city calling for the rescue of the President, for an attack on the palace, and shrieking ``Long live the Government!'' and ``Long live the Revolution!'' The State carriage raced through the narrow streets with its body-guard galloping around it, sweeping down in its rush stray pedestrians, and scattering the chairs and tables in front of the cafe's.As it dashed up the long avenue of the palace, Stuart called his men back and ordered them to shut and barricade the great iron gates and to guard them against the coming of the mob, while MacWilliams and young Langham pulled open the carriage door and assisted the President's wife and her terrified companion to alight.Madame Alvarez was trembling with excitement as she leaned on Langham's arm, but she showed no signs of fear in her face or in her manner.

``Mr.Clay has gone to bring your travelling carriage to the rear door,'' Langham said.``Stuart tells us it is harnessed and ready.You will hurry, please, and get whatever you need to carry with you.We will see you safely to the coast.''

As they entered the hall, and were ascending the great marble stairway, Hope and her groom, who had followed in the rear of the cavalry, came running to meet them.``I got in by the back way,'' Hope explained.``The streets there are all deserted.

How can I help you?'' she asked, eagerly.