CHAPTER XL.

WON AT LAST.

Of course, they pursued us--it was destined that our escape from Bolivar should be marked by one more dramatic scene, as though to round out the whole tragic business.

Daylight was just beginning to break when we clattered past the last scattering adobe huts, and struck out upon the winding road that led in the direction of Jalapa, climbing mountains, crossing wild valleys and presenting many dangerous features to a company without a guide.

Once free from the town and its noises, we experienced a remarkable sense of relief; and could we have been assured that no pursuit would be inaugurated, we might have enjoyed the journey very much.

That sunrise as seen from the side of the mountain was equal to any I ever witnessed even in Italy.

Robbins had even thought of food; he apologized because he had been unable to secure a pack horse on such short notice and load him down with all the paraphernalia of a camping outfit, but we united in declaring what he had done was really astonishing; given time, I think he would have bagged all the dainties in Bolivar.

We ate as we rode, for our enemies were too near at hand and our horses too fresh to think of making so early a halt.

The invigorating air gave us high spirits, and we could even converse about the wreck and the probable fate of Gustavus and Diana, as well as the men, without shuddering.

Still, I feared it was a theme that would cast more or less of a shadow athwart our happiness in the future, for it was a bitter thing to think of that bright society woman, one of the most charming of her sex, thus taken away so suddenly and cruelly.

Long before noon, Robbins secretly informed me we were being pursued.

Somehow, I was not much surprised--nothing appeared to strike me as singular nowadays. I understood that fate meant to make one more grand bluff at snatching happiness from my arms, and, if defeated this time, would be apt to give up in disgust.

All I did was to grimly set my teeth together and look down the wild mountain in the quarter whence we had come.

Robbins presently pointed out our pursuers.

They were a grand squad, and unless my eyesight deceived me old Gen. Toreado was at the head.

Strange, how vindictive the old chap was; instead of hunting Salvador, who had been president before the _coup_, and must be chasing hot-footed for the border at this hour, here he was, speeding after me, the man who laid down the reins of government only too willingly when news came that Toreado the Magnificent had not been killed after all, only stunned.

“How many?” asked Robbins.

“Not far from a dozen, all told.”

“Pretty big odds, if they catch us. We’ve got a good start--let ’em come,” said he.

We joined the others, who were ahead.

The trail had reached its highest point, and now a descent lay before us.

Of course, we could make quicker time, but it was often dangerous to hasten, for the narrow mule path led along the face of precipices where, hundreds of feet below, large trees looked for all the world like bushes, and a brawling stream seemed no larger than a silver ribbon.

Here we moved slowly and sedately; I confess my heart was almost in my throat when I reflected that a single stumble would precipitate horse and rider over the brink into eternity.

Robbins was berating himself for a fool; he wanted to know what was the use in being secretary of war unless one could command all the military supplies in the republic.

At first, I could not understand what ailed the fellow, until he pointed out a place where, as he said, a little dynamite cartridge would bring the narrow path into chaotic ruin after we had passed in safety, and thus effectually cut off pursuit.

Yes, it was a great pity he had not thought to requisition the whole outfit of the army.

Still, we managed to get on.

The trouble was, those fellows in our rear, from some cause or other, got on better; perhaps it came from their not having any women folks along, or because they were more accustomed to such mountain travel, for a chase after a fleeing ex-president is an event of frequent occurrence.

At any rate, our lead was slowly, but surely, being cut down, and it became an open question whether we would gain a safe refuge over the border at Jalapa or be forced to turn at bay.

I sincerely hoped the former might come to pass, though grimly determined that, should it be war, we would give a good account of ourselves as American citizens.

Hildegarde bore the rough ride admirably--not a whimper did I hear, though it must have been a cruel experience, especially toward the end, when our pace was fast and furious.

Something of this was due to her natural grit; but the fact that she had always been a lover of horseback exercise counted for considerable. As for the girl, nothing could tire her; her big black eyes glowed with excitement, and she sat her reeking horse like a little centaur.

None of us was positive how much farther we had to go--it might be leagues to the border. So much for not having a guide; but, truth to tell, Robbins had not been able to discover a single chap in all Bolivar whom he thought he could trust.

We only knew that the fellows in our rear were getting too close for comfort, and that the chances for a ruction seemed good.

I saw there were but nine now--the rest had dropped out, and with them, the white-headed old reprobate who claimed the ties of kindred with my Hildegarde.

I am not naturally a bloodthirsty man, but I fervently hoped on this occasion that his horse had carried him over where the gulch was deepest, so that he would never trouble us more.

Subsequent events have led me to believe that such a doleful tragedy actually occurred, for the old sinner disappeared from the face of the earth, and never again sought to acquire a claim to any of my wealth. I am sure that this could only have been brought about by his sudden demise; for, as Hildegarde declared, he was a man who would never give up a cherished object while breath remained.

As I rode beside Robbins I ventured to ask my ex-secretary of war how best we could defeat our pursuers, who seemed bent on bringing matters to a crisis.

Robbins was quick to answer; he had been looking ahead, it seemed.

“Look below--what d’ye see, governor?”

“Well, there’s a river of some sort in the valley--yes, and a bridge over it.”

“We’ll get there, all right.”

“That’s true, but beyond is a level stretch where they can overhaul us.”

“Wait. Once we cross, the ladies will ride on.”

“Ah! then we stop.”

“Thermopylæ again, Morgan. We’ll hold the bridge, as Leonidas and his Spartans held the pass. I reckon this tumultuous nation will have the novelty of four presidents in twenty-four hours.”

“Four?”

“I’ve made up my mind to shoot Toreado the first thing. He deserves it, the old fool! Some men never know which side of their bread is buttered. Well, here we are.”

The bridge was before us, and as we wearily galloped over, I hastily called to Hildegarde, telling her to keep straight on for a mile or so, and that we would surely come up.

She gave me one look over her shoulder, so full of love and misery that it brought a lump into my throat; but she knew what obedience meant, and rode straight on.

“Now,” cried Robbins, suddenly, as our horses cleared the planking.

So we drew the beasts upon their very haunches and sprang to the ground, and, sheltered behind their weary carcasses, faced about.

It was indeed time, for the squad of rough riders had just started to cross--indeed, the crash of horses’ hoofs upon the bridge marked our turning at bay.

We opened fire instantly--the old battle spirit surged over me, and human life was held in cheap account. Why should I care when these men hunted us like wild beasts, determined to slay us, or, worse still, imprison us in their filthy dungeons on a diet of atrocities?

The rattle of firearms was merry enough, and as both of us were extraordinarily good shots, we created quite a little havoc among them.

Horses leaped and burst over the rail, carrying their riders in some cases with them--men shrieked and swore and plunged about, as though crazed with fear; taken in all, it was a dreadful affair, which I sincerely trust I may never see the like of again.

Robbins had potted the old general the first thing, just as he promised--at least, he shot his horse, and that beast promptly tumbled over the rail, so that the last I saw of Toreado he was floating down stream, screaming for help.

It seems he did not drown, but lived to rule the little republic just seven months, when he was shot from ambush, and a new president took up the reins where he dropped them; but, of course, he found an empty treasury--they always do.

When we saw that the pursuit had been effectually brought to a sudden stop, we once more flung ourselves in the saddle, gave a cowboy whoop, and were off down the road.

So far as I can remember, I do not think we actually killed any of the Toreado _possé_, granting that those in the river got out safe and sound, but their ardor was effectually cooled, and they hunted ex-presidents no more that day.

A mile on we overtook our companions, and Hildegarde’s eyes sparkled with tears of joy when I drew alongside.

Jalapa proved to be near at hand; indeed, although we had not suspected it at the time, the river was really the border of the territory.

At Jalapa we lost all our fears.

Here even ex-presidents could breathe in peace.

We engaged passage on the first steamer soon to start for New York.

I would not feel entirely easy until I had shaken the republican dust of these Central American countries from my feet--they were much too hot for me.

At Jalapa we had some good news.

A party of shipwrecked persons had been brought in by the coast guard, hungry and nearly exhausted--among others a woman.

It was Diana--the sea had not claimed her, as I feared; and a year later at a London hotel I met Gustavus and his wife, so that, being together some days, we were able to compare notes of that fearful experience; and the ladies actually became friends.

Poor Cummings was drowned, also the cook and two of the men. I made it a point of honor to hunt up their relatives and liberally settle all that was due the poor fellows three times over.

We took the Nile trip on our own boat, and it was a glorious time; yet how often would my mind go back to old Bolivar and those exciting scenes that marked the finding of that lost, though loved, one--my Hildegarde.

THE END.

THE MOST COMPLETE LIST OF BERTHA M. CLAY STORIES IS REPRESENTED BY

The Bertha Clay Library

This line is devoted to the works of the popular Bertha M. Clay and other writers of the same school. Many of the titles listed herein are copyrighted and cannot be found in any other editions. This author has successfully demonstrated her ability to write high-class love stories, which charm the reader, from the moment the book is opened until the last line is read. Her name is known throughout the entire English-speaking world. Her style is peculiarly her own. She has the happy faculty of making the reader feel that he is interested, personally, in the wellfare and ultimate success of the principal characters.

GENEVIEVE ULMAN

202. The Siren’s Triumph

MRS. EDWARD KENNARD

201. Love’s Temptation

BERTHA M. CLAY

200. Fair as a Lily 199. Strong in Her Love 198. A Heart Forlorn 197. A Soul Ensnared 196. Her Beautiful Foe 195. For Her Heart’s Sake 194. Sweeter Than Life 193. An Ocean of Love 192. A Coquette’s Victim 191. Her Honored Name 190. The Old Love or New? 189. Paying the Penalty 188. What It Cost Her 187. A Poisoned Heart 186. True Love’s Reward 185. Between Love and Ambition 184. A Queen Triumphant 183. A Heart’s Worship 182. A Loveless Engagement 181. The Chains of Jealousy 180. A Misguided Love 179. A Supreme Sacrifice 178. When Love and Hate Conflict 177. The Price of Love 176. A Wife’s Devotion 175. The Girl of His Heart 174. A Pilgrim of Love 173. The Queen of His Soul 172. A Purchased Love 171. An Untold Passion 170. A Deceptive Lover 169. A Captive Heart 168. A Fateful Passion 167. From Hate to Love 166. Her Boundless Faith 165. On With the New Love 164. Lost for Love 163. Glady’s Wedding Day 162. An Evil Heart 161. His Great Temptation 160. The Love of Lady Aurelia 159. The Lost Lady of Haddon 158. The Sunshine of His Life 157. Love’s Redemption 156. A Maid’s Misery 155. Every Inch a Queen 154. A Stolen Heart 153. A Tragedy of Love and Hate 152. A Bitter Courtship 151. Lady Ona’s Sin 150. The Tragedy of Lime Hall 149. A Wife’s Peril 148. Lady Ethel’s Whim 147. The Broken Trust 146. Lady Marchmont’s Widowhood 145. A Sinful Secret 144. The Hand Without a Wedding Ring 143. How Will It End 142. One Woman’s Sin 141. The Burden of a Secret 140. A Woman’s Witchery 139. Love in a Mask 138. The Price of a Bride 137. A Heart of Gold 136. A Loving Maid 135. For Love of Her 134. The Sins of the Father 133. A Dream of Love 132. A Woman’s Trust 131. A Bride from the Sea, and Other Stories 130. The Rival Heiresses 129. Lady Gwendoline’s Dream 128. Society’s Verdict 127. A Great Mistake 126. The Gambler’s Wife 125. For A Dream’s Sake 124. The Hidden Sin 123. Lady Muriel’s Secret 122. Dumaresq’s Temptation 121. The White Witch 120. The Story of An Error 119. Blossom and Fruit 118. The Paths of Love 117. A Struggle for the Right 116. The Queen of the County 115. Queen Amongst Women, And An Unnatural Bondage 114. A Woman’s Vengeance 113. Lord Elesmere’s Wife 112. His Wedded Wife 111. Irene’s Vow 110. Thrown on the World 109. A Bitter Reckoning 108. Her First Love 107. From Out the Gloom 106. Wedded Hands 105. A Hidden Terror 104. ’Twixt Smile and Tear 103. Two Kisses, and The Fatal Lilies 102. Dream Faces 101. A Broken Wedding Ring 100. In Shallow Waters 99. For Life and Love, and More Bitter Than Death 98. James Gordon’s Wife 97. Repented at Leisure 96. The Actor’s Ward 95. A Woman’s Temptation 94. Margery Daw 93. Signa’s Sweetheart 92. At Any Cost, and A Modern Cinderella 91. Under a Shadow 90. In Cupid’s Net, and So Near and Yet So Far 89. A Coquette’s Conquest 88. If Love be Love 87. Beyond Pardon 86. Guelda 85. A Woman’s Error 84. Lady Latimer’s Escape, and Other Stories 83. A Fatal Dower 82. A Dead Heart, and Love For a Day 81. Between Two Loves 80. The Earl’s Atonement 79. An Ideal Love 78. Another Man’s Wife 77. A Fair Mystery 76. Guiding Star 75. A Bitter Bondage 74. Thorns and Orange Blossoms 73. Her Martyrdom 72. Between Two Hearts 71. Marjorie Deane 70. A Heart’s Bitterness 69. Fair But Faithless 68. ’Twixt Love and Hate 67. In Love’s Crucible 66. Gladys Greye 65. His Perfect Trust 64. Wedded and Parted, and Fair but False 63. Another Woman’s Husband 62. Sweet Cymbeline 61. The Earl’s Error, and Letty Leigh 60. A Heart’s Idol 59. One False Step 58. Griselda 57. Violet Lisle 56. The Squire’s Darling, and Walter’s Wooing 55. Golden Gates 54. The Gipsy’s Daughter 53. A Fiery Ordeal 52. Claribel’s Love Story; or, Love’s Hidden Depths 51. For a Woman’s Honor 50. A True Magdalen; or, One False Step 49. Addie’s Husband, and Arnold’s Promise 48. Her Second Love 47. The Duke’s Secret 46. Beauty’s Marriage 45. Lover and Husband 44. The Belle of Lynn; or, The Miller’s Daughter 43. Madolin’s Lover 42. Hilary’s Folly; or, Her Marriage Vow 41. A Mad Love 40. A Nameless Sin 39. Marjorie’s Fate 38. Love’s Warfare 37. Weaker Than a Woman 36. On Her Wedding Morn, and Her Only Sin 35. A Woman’s War 34. The Romance of a Young Girl; or, The Heiress of Hilldrop 33. Set in Diamonds 32. Lord Lynne’s Choice 31. Redeemed by Love; or, Love’s Conflict; or, Love Works Wonders 30. The Romance of a Black Veil 29. A Woman’s Love Story 28. A Rose in Thorns 27. A Shadow of a Sin 26. A Struggle for a Ring 25. A Thorn in Her Heart 24. Prince Charlie’s Daughter 23. The World Between Them 22. The Sin of a Lifetime 21. Wife in Name Only 20. A Willful Maid 19. Two Fair Women; or, Which Loved Him Best? 18. A Passion Flower 17. Lady Castlemaine’s Divorce; or, Put Asunder 16. His Wife’s Judgment 15. Lady Damer’s Secret 14. A Haunted Life 13. Evelyn’s Folly 12. At War With Herself 11. For Another’s Sin; or, A Struggle for Love 10. One Against Many 9. Her Mother’s Sin; or, A Bright Wedding Day 8. Hilda’s Lover; or, The False Vow; or Lady Hutton’s Ward 7. A Dark Marriage Morn 6. Diana’s Discipline; or, Sunshine and Roses 5. The Mystery of Colde Fell; or, Not Proven 4. Lord Lisle’s Daughter 3. A Golden Heart 2. Dora Thorne 1. A Bitter Atonement

EAGLE SERIES A weekly publication devoted to good literature. NO. 329 August 10, 1903

Public records will show that there have been more women restored to health and strength, and more lives saved by

Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound

than by any other medicine in the world.

It therefore _must_ be the best medicine in the world for woman’s special ills.

NOTE.--If you are ill why don’t you write to Mrs. Pinkham at Lynn, Mass., and get the advice which has restored more than a million women to health? It will cost you nothing, and may save your life.

Transcriber’s Notes:

A table of contents has been added by the transcriber and placed in the public domain.

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.

Some inconsistent hyphenation has been retained from the original.