第51章

It is not addressed to any one, and it is not signed, but it was evidently written to Mendoza, and we know it is in Burke's handwriting, for we compared it with some notes of his that we took from him before he was locked up.He says, `I cannot keep the appointment, as I have been arrested.' The line that follows here,'' Stuart explained, raising his head, ``has been scratched out, but we spent some time over it, and we made out that it read: `It was Mr.Clay who recognized me, and ordered my arrest.

He is the best man the others have.Watch him.' We think he rubbed that out through good feeling toward Clay.There seems to be no other reason.He's a very good sort, this old Burke, Ithink.''

``Well, never mind him; it was very decent of him, anyway,'' said Clay.``Go on.Get to Hecuba.''

`` `I cannot keep the appointment, as I have been arrested,' ''

repeated Stuart.`` `I landed the goods last night in safety.Icould not come in when first signalled, as the wind and tide were both off shore.But we got all the stuff stored away by morning.Your agent paid me in full and got my receipt.

Please consider this as the same thing--as the equivalent'--it is difficult to translate it exactly,'' commented Stuart--`` `as the equivalent of the receipt I was to have given when I made my report to-night.I sent three of your guards away on my own responsibility, for I think more than that number might attract attention to the spot, and they might be seen from the ore-trains.' That is the point of the note for us, of course,''

Stuart interrupted himself to say.``Burke adds,'' he went on, `` `that they are to make no effort to rescue him, as he is quite comfortable, and is willing to remain in the carcel until they are established in power.' ''

``Within sight of the ore-trains!'' exclaimed Clay.``There are no ore-trains but ours.It must be along the line of the road.''

``MacWilliams says he knows every foot of land along the railroad,'' said Stuart, ``and he is sure the place Burke means is the old fortress on the Platta inlet, because--''

``It is the only place,'' interrupted MacWilliams, ``where there is no surf.They could run small boats up the inlet and unload in smooth water within twenty feet of the ramparts; and another thing, that is the only point on the line with a wagon road running direct from it to the Capital.It's an old road, and hasn't been travelled over for years, but it could be used.

No,'' he added, as though answering the doubt in Clay's mind, ``there is no other place.If I had a map here I could show you in a minute; where the beach is level there is a jungle between it and the road, and wherever there is open country, there is a limestone formation and rocks between it and the sea, where no boat could touch.''

``But the fortress is so conspicuous,'' Clay demurred; ``the nearest rampart is within twenty feet of the road.Don't you remember we measured it when we thought of laying the double track?''

``That is just what Burke says,'' urged Stuart.``That is the reason he gives for leaving only three men on guard--`I think more than that number might attract attention to the spot, as they might be seen from the ore-trains.' ''

``Have you told any one of this?'' Clay asked.``What have you done so far?''

``We've done nothing,'' said Stuart.``We lost our nerve when we found out how much we knew, and we decided we'd better leave it to you.''