the lost road-第24章

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from　the　rest　of　the　world　they　were　as　hopelessly　separated　as　the
crew　of　a　light…ship。　　From　the　Pacific　they　were　cut　off　by　the
Cordilleras；　from　the　Caribbean　by　a　nine…day　mule…ride。　　To　the
north　and　south；　jungle；　forests；　swamp…lands；　and　mountains
hemmed　them　in。

Of　the　fifty　Americans；　one…half　were　constantly　on　the　trail；
riding　to　the　coast　to　visit　their　plantations；　or　into　the　mountains
to　inspect　their　mines。　　When　Everett　arrived；　of　those　absent
the　two　most　important　were　Chester　Ward　and　Colonel　Goddard。
Indeed；　so　important　were　these　gentlemen　that　Everett　was　made
to　understand　that；　until　they　approved；　his　recognition　as　the
American　minister　was　in　a　manner　temporary。

Chester　Ward；　or　〃Chet；〃　as　the　exiles　referred　to　him；　was　one　of
the　richest　men　in　Amapala；　and　was　engaged　in　exploring　the　ruins
of　the　lost　city　of　Cobre；　which　was　a　one…hour　ride　from　the　capital。
Ward　possessed　the　exclusive　right　to　excavate　that　buried　city　and
had　held　it　against　all　comers。　　The　offers　of　American　universities；
of　archaeological　and　geographical　societies　that　also　wished　to　dig
up　the　ancient　city　and　decipher　the　hieroglyphs　on　her　walls；　were
met　with　a　curt　rebuff。　　That　work；　the　government　of　Amapala　would
reply；　was　in　the　trained　hands　of　Senor　Chester　Ward。　　In　his　chosen
effort　the　government　would　not　disturb　him；　nor　would　it　permit　others
coming　in　at　the　eleventh　hour　to　rob　him　of　his　glory。　　This　Everett
learned　from　the　consul；　Garland。

〃Ward　and　Colonel　Goddard；〃　the　consul　explained；　〃are　two　of
five　countrymen　of　ours　who　run　the　American　colony；　and；　some
say；　run　the　government。　　The　others　are　Mellen；　who　has　the
asphalt　monopoly；　Jackson；　who　is　building　the　railroads；　and
Major　Feiberger；　of　the　San　Jose　silver…mines。　　They　hold
monopolies　and　pay　President　Mendoza　ten　per　cent　of　the
earnings；　and；　on　the　side；　help　him　run　the　country。　　Of　the
five；　the　Amapalans　love　Goddard　best；　because　he's　not　trying
to　rob　them。　　Instead；　he　wants　to　boost　Amapala。　　His　ideas　are
perfectly　impracticable；　but　he　doesn't　know　that；　and　neither　do
they。　　He's　a　kind　of　Colonel　Mulberry　Sellers　and　a　Southerner。
Not　the　professional　sort；　that　fight　elevator…boys　because　they're
colored；　and　let　off　rebel　yells　in　rathskellers　when　a　Hungarian
band　plays　'Dixie；'　but　the　sort　you　read　about　and　so　seldom　see。
He　was　once　State　Treasurer　of　Alabama。〃

〃What's　he　doing　down　here？〃　asked　the　minister。

〃Never　the　same　thing　two　months　together；〃　the　consul　told　him；
〃railroads；　mines；　rubber。　　He　says　all　Amapala　needs　is　developing。〃

As　men　who　can　see　a　joke　even　when　it　is　against　themselves；　the
two　exiles　smiled　ruefully。

〃That's　all　it　needs；〃　said　Everett。

For　a　moment　the　consul　regarded　him　thoughtfully。

〃I　might　as　well　tell　you；〃　he　said；　〃you'll　learn　it　soon　enough
anyway；　that　the　men　who　will　keep　you　from　getting　your　treaty
are　these　five；　especially　old　man　Goddard　and　Ward。〃

Everett　exclaimed　indignantly：

〃Why　should　they　interfere？〃

〃Because；〃　explained　the　consul；　〃they　are　fugitives　from　justice；
and　they　don't　want　to　go　home。　　Ward　is　wanted　for　forgery　or
some　polite　crime；　I　don't　know　which。　　And　Colonel　Goddard
for　appropriating　the　State　funds　of　Alabama。　　Ward　knew　what
he　was　doing　and　made　a　lot　out　of　it。　　He's　still　rich。　　No　one's
weeping　over　him。　　Goddard's　case　is　different。　　He　was　imposed
on　and　made　a　catspaw。　　When　he　was　State　treasurer　the　men
who　appointed　him　came　to　him　one　night　and　said　they　must
have　some　of　the　State's　funds　to　show　a　bank　examiner　in　the
morning。　　They　appealed　to　him　on　the　ground　of　friendship；　as
the　men　who'd　given　him　his　job。　　They　would　return　the　money
the　next　evening。　　Goddard　believed　they　would。　　They　didn't；
and　when　some　one　called　for　a　show…down　the　colonel　was　shy
about　fifty　thousand　dollars　of　the　State's　money。　　He　lost　his　head；
took　the　boat　out　of　Mobile　to　Porto　Cortez；　and　hid　here。　　He's
been　here　twenty　years　and　all　the　Amapalans　love　him。　　He's　the
adopted　father　of　their　country。　　They're　so　afraid　he'll　be　taken
back　and　punished　that　they'll　never　consent　to　an　extradition
treaty　even　if　the　other　Americans；　Mellen；　Jackson；　and　Feiberger；
weren't　paying　them　big　money　not　to　consent。　　President　Mendoza
himself　told　me　that　as　long　as　Colonel　Goddard　honored　his
country　by　remaining　in　it；　he　was　his　guest；　and　he　would　never
agree　to　extradition。　　'I　could　as　soon；'　he　said；　'sign　his
death…warrant。'〃

Everett　grinned　dismally。

〃That's　rather　nice　of　them；〃　he　said；　〃but　it's　hard　on　me。　　But；〃　he
demanded；　〃why　Ward？　What　has　he　done　for　Amapala？　Is　it　because
of　Cobre；　because　of　his　services　as　an　archaeologist？〃

The　consul　glanced　around　the　patio　and　dragged　his　chair　nearer
to　Everett。

〃This　is　my　own　dope；〃　he　whispered；　〃it　may　be　wrong。　　Anyway；
it's　only　for　your　private　information。〃

He　waited　until；　with　a　smile；　Everett　agreed　to　secrecy。

〃Chet　Ward；〃　protested　the　consul；　〃is　no　more　an　archaeologist
than　I　am！　He　talks　well　about　Cobre；　and　he　ought　to；　because
every　word　he　speaks　is　cribbed　straight　from　Hauptmann's
monograph；　published　in　1855。　　And　he　has　dug　up　something　at
Cobre；　something　worth　a　darned　sight　more　than　stone　monkeys
and　carved　altars。　　But　his　explorations　are　a　bluff。　　They're　a　blind
to　cover　up　what　he's　really　after；　what　I　think　he's　found！〃

As　though　wishing　to　be　urged；　the　young　man　paused；　and　Everett
nodded　for　him　to　continue。　　He　was　wondering　whether　life　in
Amapala　might　not　turn　out　to　be　more　interesting　than　at　first
it　had　appeared；　or　whether　Garland　was　not　a　most　charming　liar。

〃Ward　visits　the　ruins　every　month；〃　continued　Garland。　　〃But　he
takes　with　him　only　two　mule…drivers　to　cook　and　look　after　the
pack…train；　and　he　doesn't　let　even　the　drivers　inside　the　ruins。
He　remains　at　Cobre　three　or　four　days　and；　to　make　a　show；　fills
his　saddle…bags　with　broken　tiles　and　copper　ornaments。　　He　turns
them　over　to　the　government；　and　it　dumps　them　in　the　back　yard
of　the　palace。　　You　can't　persuade　me　that　he　holds　his　concession
with　that　junk。　　He's　found　something　else　at　Cobre　and　he　shares
it　with　Mendoza；　and　I　believe　it's　gold。〃

The　minister　smiled　delightedly。

〃What　kind　of　gold？

〃Maybe　in　the　rough；〃　said　the　consul。　　〃But　I　prefer　to　think
it's　treasure。　　The　place　is　full　of　secret　chambers；　tombs；　and
passage…ways　cut　through　the　rock；　deep　under　the　surface。　　I
believe　Ward　has　stumbled　on　some　vault　where　the　priests　used
to　hide　their　loot。　　I　believe　he's　getting　it　out　bit　by　bit　and
going　shares　with　Mendoza。〃

〃If　that　were　so；〃　ventured　Everett；　〃why　wouldn't　Mendoza　take
it　all？〃

〃Because　Ward；〃　explained　the　consul；　〃is　the　only　one　who　knows
where　it　is。　　The　ruins　cover　two　square　miles。　　You　might　search
for　years。　　They　tried　to　follow　and　spy　on　him；　but　Ward　was　too
clever　for　them。　　He　turned　back　at　once。　　If　they　don't　take　what
he　gives；　they　get　nothing。　　So　they　protect　him　from　real　explorers
and　from　extradition。　　The　whole　thing　is　unfair。　　A　real　archaeologist
turned　up　here　a　month　ago。　　He　had　letters　from　the　Smithsonian
Institute　and　several　big　officials　at　Washington；　but　do　you　suppose
they　would　let　him　so　much　as　smell　of　Cobre？　Not　they！　Not　even
when　I　spoke　for　him　as　consul。　　Then　he　appealed　to　Ward；　and　Ward
turned　him　down　hard。　　You　were　arriving；　so　he's　hung　on　here　hoping
you　may　have　more　influence。　　His　name　is　Peabody；　he's　a　professor；
but　he's　young　and　full　of　'get　there；'　and　he　knows　more　about　the　ruins
of　Cobre　now　than　Ward　does　after　having　them　all　to　himself　for　two
years。　　He's　good　people　and　I　hope　you'll　help　him。〃

Everett　shook　his　head　doubtfully。

〃If　the　government　has　given　the　concession　to　him；〃　he　pointed
out；　〃no　matter　who　Ward　may　be；　or　what　its　motives　were　for
giving　it　to　him；　I　can't　ask　it　to　break　its　promise。　　As　an
American　citizen　Ward　is　as　much　entitled　to　my　help
officiallyas　Professor　Peabody；　whatever　his　standing。〃

〃Ward's　a　forger；〃　protested　Garland；　〃a　fugitive　from　justice；　and
Peabody　is　a　scholar　and　a　gentleman。　　I'm　not　keen　about　dead
cities　myselfthis　one　we're　in　now　is　dead　enough　for　mebut　if
civilization　is　demanding　to　know　what　Cobre　was　like　eight
hundred　years　ago；　civilization　is　entitled　to　find　out；　and
Peabody　seems　the　man　for　the　job。　　It's　a　shame　to　turn　him
down　for　a　gang　of　grafters。〃

〃Tell　him　to　come　and　talk　to　me；〃　said　the　minister。

〃He　rode　over　to　the　ruins　of　Copan　last　week；〃　explained　Garland；
〃where　the　Harvard　expedition　is。　　But　he's　coming　back　to…morrow
on　purpose　to　see　you。〃

The　consul　had　started　toward　the　door　when　he　suddenly　returned。

〃And　there's　some　one　else　coming　to　see　you；〃　he　said。　　〃Some
one；〃　he　added　anxiously；　〃you　want　to　treat　right。　　That's　Monica
Ward。　　She's　Chester　Ward's　sister；　and　you　mustn't　get　her　mixed
up　with　anything　I　told　you　about　her　brother。　　She's　coming　to
ask　you　to　help　start　a　Red　Cross　Society。　　She　was　a　volunteer
nurse　in　the　hospital　in　the　last　two　revolutions；　and　what　she
saw　makes　her　want　to　be　sure　she　won't　see　it　again。　　She's
taught　the　native　ladies　the　'first　aid'　drill；　and　they　expect
you　to　be　honorary　president　of　the　society。　　You'd　better
accept。〃

Shaking　his　head；　Garland　smiled　pityingly　upon　the　new　minister。

〃You've　got　a　swell　chance　to　get　your　treaty；〃　he　declared。
〃Monica　is　another　one　who　will　prevent　it。〃

Everett　sighed　patiently。

〃What；〃　he　demanded；　〃might　her　particular　crime　be；　murder；
shoplifting；　treason〃

〃If　her　brother　had　to　leave　this　country；〃　interrupted　Garland；
〃she'd　leave　with　him。　　And　the　people　don't　want　that。　　Her　pull
is　the　same　as　old　man　Goddard's。　　Everybody　loves　him　and
everybody　loves　her。　　I　love　her；〃　exclaimed　the　consul
cheerfully；　〃the　President　loves　her；　the　sisters　in　the　hospital；
the　chain…gang　in　the　street；　the　washerwomen　in　the　river；
the　palace　guard；　everybody　in　this　flea…bitten；　God…forsaken
country　loves　Monica　Wardand　when　you　meet　her　you
will；　too。〃

Garland　had　again　reached　the　door　to　the　outer　hall　before
Everett　called　him　back。

〃If　it　is　not　a　leading　question；〃　asked　the　minister；　〃what
little　indiscretion　in　your　life　brought　you　to　Amapala？〃

Garland　grinned　appreciatively。

〃I　know　they　sound　a　queer　lot；〃　he　assented；　〃but　when　you　get
to　know　'em；　you　like　'em。　　My　own　trouble；〃　he　added；　〃was　a
horse。　　I　never　could　see　why　they　made　such　a　fuss　about　him。　　He
was　lame　when　I　took　him。〃

Disregarding　Garland's　pleasantry；　for　some　time　His　Excellency
sat　with　his　hands　clasped　behind　his　head；　frowning　up　from　the
open　patio　into　the　hot；　cloudless　sky。　　On　the　ridge　of　his　tiled
roof　a　foul　buzzard　blinked　at　him　from　red…rimmed　eyes；　across
the　yellow　wall　a　lizard　ran　for　shelter；　at　his　elbow　a　macaw
compassing　the　circle　of　its　tin　prison　muttered　dreadful　oaths。
Outside；　as　the　washerwomen　beat　their　linen　clubs　upon　the　flat
rocks　of　the　river；　the　hot；　stale　air　was　spanked　with　sharp　reports。
In　Camaguay　thei