Presently they were deep in conversation. The boys found Senor Jose a very intelligent gentleman indeed. He had spent some years in Washington in connection with the emba.s.sy of his government, so that he not only spoke and wrote English well, but had a high opinion of Americans; something that the vast majority of his fellow-countrymen failed to acquire, being possibly fed on stories that may have had their inception in German or English trade sources.

From him Frank extracted all the information he could concerning the wonderful country lying between Magangue and the Isthmus of Panama, covering possibly some three hundred miles. It was little enough. Most of it, he declared was a _terra incognita_, being utterly unknown land.

"But," continued the obliging senor, "you will certainly be able to learn more concerning this when you see my fellow-countryman, Senor Mendoza; for all his life has he lived there at Magangue, and surely he must know something of that country to the south."

"We shall leave here with as little delay as possible," observed Frank. "I have sent our purser, Manuel, to comply with the custom duties, and secure us a few supplies. When he comes aboard again we expect to start."

"It is just as well," remarked the other, significantly, and seeming to be relieved. "Because, there is an uneasy feeling in Barranquila just at present. Agents of the revolutionary junta have been here. They are very active. And from secret sources I happen to know that they are aware of the strange cargo you are bringing with you."

"You must mean our aeroplane, Senor?" remarked Frank, quickly.

"Si, Senor Bird," the other continued, nodding his head. "It has become known that the two young Americanos are of the new and wonderful aeronauts, with whom nothing is impossible. And if you remained here any length of time I fear lest even my government might seek to find some excuse for appropriating your little airship. The talk is all in that direction now. Colombia is ripe to take a forward step, and have an aviation corps."

"Well," said Frank, "under the circ.u.mstances we would seriously object to having our monoplane confiscated now, because upon it we depend wholly in our search. But I thought you were perhaps about to warn us to look out for these revolutionists while pa.s.sing up the river."

"It would be wise, Senor," observed the amiable Colombian ex-diplomat. "They have agents here; and I happen to know that one is even now on the wharf, observing. Possibly he seeks to communicate with some spy who chances to be a member of your crew. So you see, it must pay you to be always on your guard, and prepared!"

CHAPTER X.

NIPPED IN THE BUD.

"There comes Manuel!" remarked Andy, after they had been nearly an hour talking on the deck of the little power boat.

"Yes," remarked his cousin, who was also on the watch, "and trailing behind him I can see several native carts containing fruits and new supplies. Manuel surely means that we shall not go hungry while on the river."

"Then I shall be going, my friends," said Senor Jose. "I have told you all I know. I have warned you to beware of the revolutionists along the river bank. I have even given you a hint that to delay longer in Barranquila might endanger your enterprise; since the government is just now very anxious to acquire such wonderful modern agents of warfare, as your aeroplane. It only remains to shake your hands, both, _amigos_, and wish you every good fortune your valor deserves."

They squeezed the hand of the fine old Colombian gentleman with vigor. Never would Andy forget how he had spoken concerning his interest in the sacred duty that had brought the son of the missing aeronaut to his country.

Frank had given strict orders that none of the crew should go ash.o.r.e, and also that no strangers be permitted to board the craft while they lay there at the old wooden wharf.

"But," said Andy, when they were speaking about this matter, as preparations began to leave the port, "that hasn't prevented the crew from holding an animated confab with those ash.o.r.e. There has been a constant jabbering and laughing between our fellows and those others."

"Yes," admitted Frank, "and I've seen several of the crew talking mysteriously with some of those chaps. I wish now the senor had thought to indicate which was the secret agent of the revolutionists he saw on the dock. But all the same I've marked the two fellows I suspect, and I'm going to keep a close eye on Enrique, and the little fellow with the quick motions we call 'Cospita,' because he's forever e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.n.g. like that."

"And if you find out that they're meddling with the boxes?" asked Andy.

"H'm! I guess it'll be a bad day for Enrique and the jumping-jack, that's all," laughed his cousin. "But there goes the cable, and it looks like we might be off at last."

"I'm not sorry, for many things!" declared Andy, with a sigh of positive relief. "The good senor got me scared by what he said about his government wanting just such things as our little 'Bug'; and that the officials might have orders to find some sort of ridiculous excuse for grabbing it."

"Same here," admitted Frank. "In fact, that bothered me a whole lot more than the chances of trouble along the river from the boys who want to get their man seated in the president's chair, where he could hand out the loaves and the fishes. We can resist them, and be backed by authority; but if the government officers once took us in we'd have to give up our job. And that would break your heart, Andy."

"Yes," said the other, drawing a long breath, "I'm afraid it would. Listen! There goes the whistle. I told the pilot not to make more fuss than he could help when we drew out."

"Which was quite right. I'm watching that little chap, Cospita. See him wave his hand to some one ash.o.r.e? Yes, and that surely looked like a signal the fellow returned. We are going to have trouble with that boy yet, Andy."

"Well, that will be bad for Cospita," was all the other remarked; for he was eagerly watching the growing s.p.a.ce between the boat and the sh.o.r.e.

"Look, Frank," he remarked, after a little time had elapsed, "as sure as you live, there is an officer in uniform just arrived on the dock, and backed by a squad of soldiers! He seems to be surprised at discovering that we have gone! Now he beckons, and waves his hat! Listen to him shouting something in Spanish through his hands. I guess we didn't get away from Barranquila five minutes too soon!"

"It looks like it," said Frank, grimly. "But we've complied with the law of the land, and nothing short of a cannon could make us turn back now. All the same, I'm going to the pilot house, and keep an eye on Felipe. I think he's trustworthy; but an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure always."

"Good for you!" Andy shot after his departing chum; though he himself remained there by the rail, watching what took place ash.o.r.e.

Frank quickly entered the pilot house. Here a dark-faced, middle-aged man handled the wheel. Frank immediately noticed that he was listening to what the gold braided officer ash.o.r.e was shouting angrily. He also looked a bit troubled.

"What does he say, Felipe?" demanded the young aviator.

"He commands us to return, senor," replied the other.

"Well, pay no attention to him, Felipe. We have complied with all the regulations and red tape necessary. The American consul will back us up. It is your business to simply steer this boat up the river until we arrive at Magangue."

"Si, senor. But when I return they will surely make the trouble for me,"

replied the pilot, shrugging his narrow shoulders.

"Not at all, Felipe," declared Frank. "You can swear that we made you do as we wished; that you dared not turn back, since your life was in danger. We stand ready to shoulder all the blame there is."

The dusky face of the old river pilot, whom they had fortunately run across in Maracaibo, became wreathed in a smile.

"Perhaps the young senor would not mind showing the Capitan?" he suggested.

Frank grasped his meaning; and pretending to scowl darkly, he drew out the revolver which Colonel Josiah had made him promise to carry while down in this explosive country.

"Now, Felipe," he said, as he clapped the weapon deliberately against the head of the pilot, "your gay Capitan can easily see what I am doing, and will understand what it means. You keep right on up-river; and if you dare disobey it will be bad for you, Felipe!"

The shrewd old pilot tried to smother an expansive grin as he replied:

"Si, senor, I am in your hands; do with me what you will. I dare not refuse longer. See, I have made one effort to turn about; but you threaten, and I give it up. He no longer calls. He knows old Felipe is powerless. It is well!"

Frank stood by him until the wharf was dimmed by distance. Then he hastened to rejoin his cousin and chum, who was mightily pleased to hear all about it.

"Do you think they will chase after us?" queried Andy, still worried.

"Oh! I guess not. It isn't so serious as all that. They know they can get us when we come down the river, no doubt," replied Frank, carelessly.

"Then I'll care precious little what becomes of the Bug," observed Andy, with a sigh of relief.

"I suppose you mean that by that time you'll either have found your father; or else given up the search as hopeless. Is that it, old fellow?" Frank asked.

"Yes, one or the other. And now, we've got time to remember the other warning good old Senor Jose gave us."

"About the revolutionists trying to stop us on the way and get our cargo? Yes," Frank went on, "that must be on our minds constantly. I'm going to talk with old Felipe about it soon. I have a hunch that he can be depended on to back us up, for he's got a grudge against the man these fellows want to send back into the presidential chair. Senor Jose told me Felipe lost all his family through the persecution of that man and his party."

"A bully good thing to know," a.s.sented Andy. "For we can be dead sure of Felipe all the time; and through him get pointers about the rest of the crew. There are a few goats among the sheep, and when we make sure of it, I'm just going to pay them off, and chuck them ash.o.r.e in any old place."