Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 68: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FET TERS OF IGNACIO. 59 good many things,’ says the Don, ‘ which could be improved on here, and I count on the American as a clever man to put such things in more effective shape. He comes of a nation of money grabbers, and in the long run I shall be able to arouse his cupidity by promising him money rewards for what he does for me.’ ” “ Generous,” exclaimed Crenshawe. “He wasn’t so complimentary in his reference to me,” continued Ed- wardes. “ About all he seems to think I am worth is my value for a possible ransom.” } “ And he doesn’t suspect that we are up to anything?” “As I have said before, that doesn’t trouble him much, for he has sufh- cient faith in the efficacy of his guards to believe that any deliberate attempt at escape would be foiled.” _ They had now arrived again at Crenshawe’s hut, where Tony and Maloa were awaiting them. Till far into the night these four discussed the insur- rection and laid careful plans for sowing its seeds on the morrow. 3 CuaprEer X VIII.—SowInc THE SEEDS. In the course of the discussion it was developed for Crenshawe’s informa- tion that one feature of the Don’s administration consisted in a careful ac- counting for all firearms on the island. Every guard was required to present himself at a building a little removed from the mansion at the end of his period of duty. At that time he not only had to make a report of his obser- vations to an overseer who had charge of the military operations, so to speak, but give up his weapon as well. This made it quite clear that there were no firearms on the island that could be used in behalf of the insurrection, unless this building could be cap- tured. Moreover, Maloa declared that there were guards among the blacks who would prove to be faithful to Don Ignacio. In his opinion it was not so- much that they respected the Don, or had any real feeling of loyalty towards him, as that they feared him. His despotic rule had prevailed for so long that the spirit of most of the blacks appeared to be broken, and the guards gen- erally believed that the man could not be overcome. For these reasons, the conspirators decided that it would be best to direct their campaign against the magazine, though, preliminary to that, it would undoubtedly be necessary to capture the Don himself. That did not promise to be a difficult matter, for he wandered about the island freely, and at almost any time he might become the victim of a well planned assault by two men. Two would be essential to the attack, for at most times the Don was accompanied by a body servant, who might make some show of resistance. It was thought, however, that with a day or two for agitating the idea, the loyalty of body servants as well as field hands might be undermined, so that when the stroke should be given it would fall with such force as to be sub- stantially irresistible. With the Don once in their power and chained to the stone post—for thus Crenshawe determined that he would have it—the con- spirators believed that an attack upon the magazine could successfully pe ECOMmicooolkKks CO