The Project Gutenberg eBook of Viva la pay day
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online
at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States,
you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located
before using this eBook.
Title: Viva la pay day
Author: Seven Anderton
Illustrator: Walter Beach Humphrey
Release date: September 3, 2026 [eBook #79511]
Language: English
Original publication: New York, NY: The Frank A. Munsey Company, 1929
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/79511
Credits: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan & the online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VIVA LA PAY DAY ***
Viva La Pay Day
By SEVEN ANDERTON
_When the Federals matched the Central American rebels'
chief weapon, it was up to three Yankee adventurers
to save the day--and incidentally the pay roll!_
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Argosy All-Story Weekly March 30 1929.]
The three Americans serving with General Juan Banzilla's rebel army sat
at breakfast. Their table was a flat rock, lying before their faded and
much patched tent, pitched at the edge of a small natural clearing in
the semitropical forest. The clearing was being used as a landing field
for an old Curtiss scout plane, now moored to several driven stakes in
the center of the field.
The Yankees assembled about their rock table were as sweet a trio of
trouble-hunters as ever fought for the fun of fighting. Ace Faulkner,
besides being the pilot of the Curtiss, was the acknowledged leader of
the outfit.
He was a born adventurer. He had one of those lean, wiry and
disease-proof bodies with which nature equips the men she creates
to find pleasure in wandering far trails and enduring hardships.
Faulkner's sandy, unkempt hair was coarse and very thick. Deep-set blue
eyes looked from beneath his bushy brows. Tiny lines at the corners of
his eyes and wide mouth told of laughter that came easily and often.
Faulkner's two buddies were Red Larrabee and Jonas Peters. Red Larrabee
was a big, good-natured soldier of fortune. The map of Ireland was
on his face and his hair was of the reddest that ever thatched human
skull. He was always hungry and usually eating.
Jonas Peters was a grizzled ex-lumberjack. He was about forty, but his
wandering life had given him the appearance of at least ten more years.
He was one of those rare chaps who enjoy grumbling, but who grumble in
such a manner that others can enjoy it also.
They looked like the rough-and-ready adventurers they were, as they sat
at breakfast in the gray dawn. All wore clothing bought primarily for
service and which had seen plenty.
"I reckon we'll have to take down this blasted tent," grumbled Jonas
Peters. "We advance every day just enough to have to take the durned
tent down and move it and put it up again."
"We are lucky that we ain't advancing in the other direction twice as
fast," chuckled Red Larrabee. "What are you growling about?"
"I've drove tent stakes until my hands are sore and I've got a
permanent hump in my back from pulling 'em up," answered Jonas.
"If all the tent stakes you have driven were laid end to end," grinned
Red, "the line would be almost as long as the wail of woe we've
listened to since you wandered into camp."
"Go to blazes!" said Jonas. "You--"
"Listen," interrupted Ace Faulkner, rising suddenly.
* * * * *
Silence fell over the group. To their listening ears came the faint but
unmistakable sound of an airplane motor. Faulkner turned and started
up the slope toward the rocky crest of a ridge that rose just east of
their tent. The others followed.
Standing on the crest of the ridge the Americans watched a trim plane
approaching from the southeast. Faulkner was observing the ship through
a pair of glasses. Red Larrabee had rolled a tortilla into a cone and
filled it with frijoles before leaving the table. He munched at this
portable breakfast while he watched the plane speeding along against
the eastern sky.
Others had heard the plane, and the ridge was swarming with ragged
rebels. The plane began to circle and then disappeared below the
treetops some two miles to the east. It had alighted in the Federal
camp.
"Looks like you are going to have some competition, Ace," observed Red.
"Damn!" grumbled Jonas Peters. "Just when it had begun to look like we
were in sight of pay day, Toreda gets a plane. If he's going to drop
bombs on us, I hope he drops one on that confounded tent before we have
to take it down again."
Just then a ragged messenger came running up to the group of Americans.
He spoke to Faulkner in Spanish.
"General Banzilla wishes to speak with Señor Faulkner at once," he
announced. "The general waits at his tent."
Faulkner followed the messenger, and the others turned back toward
their interrupted breakfast.
The long ridge upon which Banzilla's three thousand ragged rebels were
entrenched was the first foothill of the towering peaks of the Central
American Rockies, which loomed behind them.
The rebel chief was on the verge of victory. From the foot of the ridge
now held by his army, level farm and timber land stretched ahead all
the way to the ocean, twenty miles distant. More than two-thirds of the
little Latin republic was now under Banzilla's rule, and the day seemed
almost at hand when he would establish himself in the president's
mansion at the capital.
The war had reached the stage where deserters from the Federal forces
were beginning to straggle into Banzilla's camp, seeking service and
food under his banner. There could be no surer sign of approaching
victory.
But a fly had appeared suddenly in the nectar of Banzilla's success.
The rebel chieftain had watched with dismay while that plane had
alighted in the camp of General Toreda, commander of the Federal forces.
There was a worried look in Banzilla's intense dark eyes as he sat over
the remains of his breakfast and talked with Ace Faulkner. Banzilla
was that rare combination, an idealist and a soldier. Educated in the
United States, he spoke English as well, if not better, than Faulkner
did. He was really fighting for the interests of his downtrodden
people, and they were beginning to realize it.
"You say that plane is a good one?" Banzilla asked.
"It was a De Haviland," answered Ace. "I looked her over through my
glasses and she appears shipshape. Her motor was working like a watch."
"Has more speed than your plane?"
"Easy."
There was silence while the brooding eyes of Banzilla looked hard into
the steady blue ones.
"It would not be wise to fight that De Haviland in the air--you could
not perhaps shoot it down?" Banzilla asked at last.
"The chance would be darned slim," admitted Ace. "I can try, of course."
"We could not shoot him down from the ground?" asked Banzilla.
"Not unless he comes down to where we can reach him with a machine
gun," said Faulkner. "He will not be likely to do that."
* * * * *
"He will drop bombs on us," brooded the rebel chief.
"Undoubtedly," nodded Ace.
"Is it not hell," asked Banzilla, "that those pigs should get a plane
when the victory is within our grasp?"
"Fortunes of war," smiled Faulkner.
"What shall we do?" asked the chieftain.
Faulkner slowly rolled and lighted a cigarette.
"If you want my advice," said the Yankee, "I suggest that you move your
men off this ridge and scatter 'em out, so there will be fewer of them
messed up if that D. H. starts laying eggs in our neighborhood."
"A good idea," nodded Banzilla. "And then?"
"And then wait and see what happens while I try to dope something out,"
answered Ace. "I don't mind admitting that I have little desire to go
up and mix with that baby, if he knows how to handle that D. H. at all.
When I've had time to watch him in the air a little while, I may change
my mind. I'm as keen about winding up this fuss as you are. It's been
months since I have seen the color of gold."
Banzilla nodded gloomily. He realized keenly that only their patriotism
and their faith in him had kept his soldiers fighting without pay for
so long. During the past six months, since the captured territory
behind his lines had begun to yield crops, the army had been well fed.
Money, however, was out of the question.
"I know," said the rebel chief slowly. "But I have been fair. Every man
who serves me knows that pay day must wait on victory. In the country
behind us the women, children and old men have harvested and stored
crops that must also wait on victory before they can be turned to gold.
It is urgent that we win quickly, but now comes this doubly damned
airplane to the camp of Toreda. We must do something."
"Right you are," nodded Faulkner. "And to begin with, you'd better
scatter your men. Get 'em off this ridge. Scatter 'em good in the
timber. Leave only machine guns on the ridge and have shelters of
bowlders and rocks built for them. While you are attending to that
I'll go talk with Larrabee and Peters."
Faulkner walked away down the ridge and Banzilla moved to call a
conference of his staff. The rebel leader had much faith in the
judgment of the Yankee flyer. Faulkner had been through four years of
the World War and was battle-wise.
Banzilla had found him in the capital more than a year before, looking
for trouble and excitement. Learning that Ace was a flyer, Banzilla had
put his cards on the table. The rebel chief was at that time in the
early stages of his plot to head a rebellion.
Faulkner had listened and then returned to the States, where he
invested his all in the old Curtiss. He flew it back to the little
Latin republic at the appointed time and placed it at the disposal of
Banzilla, who had promised him a neat profit on the plane when the
rebels were victorious.
It was largely due to the plane that Banzilla had been able to push his
way steadily down from his mountain stronghold to his present position
within two days' march of the capital. The old Curtiss had been the
deciding factor in battle after battle. The Federal army outnumbered
the rebels two to one.
The Federals had artillery, while the rebels had only rifles and
machine guns. But the Federals had no airplane, and Faulkner, circling
over their position with the Curtiss loaded with bombs, demoralized
their defense, forcing them to retreat before the relentlessly crowding
rebels.
Between battles Faulkner flew the plane to Mexico, bringing back
ammunition for the machine guns and rifles. Banzilla realized that
Faulkner and the Curtiss equalled in value all the rest of his army.
Now the Federal forces had acquired a plane--and a newer and speedier
plane than the old Curtiss. It was a worried rebel chief who set about
preparing to defend himself against the air attack that was sure to
come.
* * * * *
It lacked an hour of noon when the D. H. appeared over the territory in
which the rebels had sought cover. In the rocky and timbered expanse
behind the ridge Banzilla's army was scattered wide, hidden beneath
hastily constructed shelters. Nests of rock protected the machine guns
scattered along the top of the ridge.
The enemy plane meant business. Flying between two and three thousand
feet the D. H. scouted back and forth over the rebel position several
times. Then hell broke loose!
Twenty-four bombs came raining down as the plane sped above the
territory in which the rebels had taken refuge. When the enemy craft
had banked over and headed back toward its base, a count revealed that
its toll was eleven dead and seventeen wounded. Only the fact that the
rebels had scattered had kept the list of casualties so small.
"This ain't so good," growled Red Larrabee as the Americans emerged
from their hastily constructed shelter. "That buzzard certainly raised
plenty of hell hereabouts."
[Illustration: _"This ain't so good," growled Red Larrabee._]
"Did you notice how he handled that ship?" asked Ace. "That's no
spiggoty pilot. He's a flyer. He's gone back for more eggs. I'd go
up and give him a scrap, but the old Curtiss wouldn't have a chance.
She's so near to falling apart that I've been flying her for the last
month with one hand on the joystick and the other on the rip cord of my
parachute."
"It's sure tough," grumbled Red. "I'd like to hit that buzzard with a
cannon ball. He's liable to delay pay day for a long time."
"He intends to keep us holed up while Toreda's crew swarms over that
ridge to give us fits," said Ace. "We've got to do something about it."
From where first aid was being administered to the wounded, General
Banzilla now came hurrying toward the Americans.
"This is maddening," cried the chief. "Can we not retaliate in some
manner?"
"If I had the chance of a rabbit at a greyhound track," answered Ace,
"I'd go up and have a try at him. As it is, I don't see how it would
help any for me to commit suicide."
"Better hole up again," cried Red Larrabee, pointing to the east. "He's
coming back."
All scuttled for cover. In five minutes the D. H. was again overhead.
Twenty-four more bombs played havoc in the position occupied by the
hiding rebels. Again the enemy ship wheeled back toward its base.
"That's enough of this," growled Ace Faulkner, crawling from the rock
shelter.
"Look at the Curtiss!" cried Red in agonized tones.
A bomb had struck beside the anchored plane. What was left would never
fly again.
"Damn," muttered Ace, "and our ammunition is low!"
The loss of the Curtiss as an ammunition carrier was a severe blow,
even though it could not have been used in combat against the other
ship.
Banzilla again came hurrying up, beside himself with impotent anger. In
the six hours since breakfast time, Fate had dealt him a cruel blow.
His army that had been so near victory was now in a half demoralized
state. A few more strafings such as the two that had just passed would
precipitate a panic among the ragged patriots. They hadn't the stuff in
them to hold together under such odds.
"Mother of God!" cried the rebel chieftain, tears of rage in his eyes
and a quiver in his voice. "Are we to be beaten by those pigs after all
these months of winning?"
A bald-headed old Mexican in a greasy apron made of flour sacks came
panting up to inform Banzilla that one of the bombs from the D. H. had
landed squarely in the camp kitchen. The nearly finished dinner had
been scattered to the four winds.
"Hell!" cried Larrabee. "That ought to be reported to this here League
of Nations. It's an overt act--uncivilized warfare, that's what it is."
"Your belly needs a rest anyhow," said Jonas. "You've et extra meals
until you're at least two months ahead of the rest of us. We're lucky
we've still got our appetites."
* * * * *
"Señor Faulkner," entreated Banzilla. "What can we do now? Our plane is
ruined."
Faulkner had been standing in silence with eyes fixed on a large flat
rock that lay on the ground near by. It was oblong in shape, about
twenty feet long, twelve feet wide and a little more than a foot thick.
It was evidently a slab that had broken loose from the formation on the
crest of the ridge and slid down with the erosion caused by heavy rains.
"I've got an idea," said Ace, turning to the raging Banzilla. "Call
about twenty husky men over here quick."
In a few minutes the men the Yankee had asked for were at hand.
Speaking in Spanish, Faulkner ordered them to stand the big rock on
edge. It taxed the strength of as many men as could lay hold of the
slab to accomplish the task, but they did it. When the stone was on
edge and propped there with poles, Faulkner inspected the spot upon
which it had lain. The soil was soft sandy loam washed down from the
side of the ridge. Again the flyer spoke to Banzilla.
"Instruct your men to dig a pit six feet square and six feet deep in
the center of the spot this stone covered," said Ace. "It must be
finished before that plane comes back again. Have other men bring
buckets and carry every bit of soil taken from the pit and dump it
in one of those holes yonder where bombs exploded. I want no one to
suspect that the pit is there when the stone is dropped back in place."
Banzilla instructed the men and left them in charge of a sergeant. Then
the rebel chief and the Americans moved away and began a conference.
"Here is what is happening," said Faulkner. "Toreda's troops are
advancing while the plane keeps us driven to cover. When they are near
enough the plane will pepper that ridge in an effort to put our machine
guns out of business, and then the Federals will rush us. It will be
a massacre, unless we do something to prevent it. We drove Toreda off
that ridge yesterday, and he intends to take it back to-day. The best
thing we can do is to let him have it."
"You mean we must retreat?" cried Banzilla.
"Yes," nodded Ace.
"_Dios!_" wailed the rebel chief. "That I should be forced to retreat
before Toreda's swine!"
"Better armies than this have retreated," said Ace grimly. "Toreda has
very neatly turned the tables on us. He now has a plane and we have
none. Besides that, his artillery that I have been keeping muzzled can
now get in its work. We've got to back up."
"I sure hate to be backing away from pay day," growled Red Larrabee.
"If we are to retreat, why do we dig this pit?" asked Banzilla.
* * * * *
"When we see that plane coming back, Red and me are going to get in
that pit," said Ace. "Then the rest of you see that the stone is
dropped on it and the ground fixed so no one will suspect that we are
under it. Then you, General, must order a retreat to that next ridge,
two miles west. See that the men stay scattered while retreating. When
the ridge is reached dig in and make a stand. Red and me will put that
plane out of the game before morning."
"What's the idea of burying us under that stone?" asked Red.
"This natural clearing is the only landing spot for a plane in miles,
except the one the Federals are now using," explained Ace. "When we
retreat before their rush they will move up and camp here for the
night. It will be too late to push any farther before to-morrow. They
will use this landing field for their plane. We'll be in the pit under
that rock and we'll have one of our big bombs with us. And we'll have
our trench knives so we can dig out of our hole when things quiet down
for the night. We will put on Federal uniforms from that bunch we
stripped off those soldiers we buried the other day. We'll manage in
some manner to get the bomb under that D. H., then we'll make a run for
it. In Federal uniforms we'll have a good chance to escape."
Banzilla's eyes were glittering with delight. He flung his arms about
Faulkner and hugged him joyously. Then he turned toward Red Larrabee,
but Red backed hastily away.
"You will do that, my heroes?" cried the rebel leader. "You will blow
up this so devilish plane? _Amor de Dios!_ Victory shall be ours, and I
will reward you with much gold."
"It's time to move, not talk," said Ace. "That D. H. will be coming
back before we know it. Red, tear out and get two of the largest
Federal uniforms you can find in that escort wagon, and hurry back here
with them. Jonas, go and fetch one of those big bombs and a coil of
fuse. I want to have a confab with General Banzilla before he starts
his retreat."
The men hurried off on their errands and Faulkner drew Banzilla aside.
"May I suggest a move on your part to-night?" asked Ace.
"Suggest!" cried Banzilla, showing symptoms of again embracing the tall
flyer. "_Amigo_, you may command! Remove that plane and you shall be
secretary of--"
"Hold it," interrupted Ace. "I don't want to be secretary of anything.
I'll be satisfied if I can hustle pay day along. What I want you to
do is order that retreat as soon as Red and me are safe in that pit.
Retreat to that next ridge and make a stand there until dark. As soon
as it is good and dark move your troops back this way. Get within a
mile of this spot, or a little nearer if possible. Then hold your army
quiet until you hear an explosion. It will be our bomb under that D. H.
It'll come some time between midnight and dawn if we are lucky. As soon
as you hear the explosion, advance with everything you've got. Give 'em
hell! Drive 'em back over this ridge! After we set off that bomb, Red
and me will hunt cover--get back in our pit if we can--and wait until
you have captured the ridge."
Banzilla was aquiver with delight.
"It shall be done, my hero," cried the general. "But remove that cursed
plane and we shall crush Toreda's dogs before he can get another."
"You'd better," said Ace grimly.
Banzilla hurried toward his shelter, calling excitedly for his staff.
The men, working like beavers, had the pit almost dug. Red and Jonas
came hurrying up. Jonas carried a huge bomb made of a gallon tin can,
in the center of which was a quart can stuffed with dynamite. The space
between the two cans was packed with metal slugs and stones tamped with
fine sand. About six inches of fuse protruded from one end. Jonas also
carried a coil containing about ten feet more of fuse. Red carried two
Federal uniforms.
* * * * *
The shovelers were climbing out of the finished pit. Faulkner jumped
down into it. He took the bomb and set it carefully in one corner of
the pit. Red tossed down the uniforms.
"Got plenty of ammunition for your revolver, Red?" asked Faulkner.
"Belt's full," answered Red.
"Got your trench knife?"
"Yes."
"Matches?"
"Yes."
"Then hop down."
Red jumped into the pit. Banzilla came trotting up and smiled down at
the two Yankees.
"That plane is coming again," he announced.
"Start your retreat," said Faulkner. "Remember our plan. Have some men
drop this stone over this hole and smooth up around it before they
leave, so that our hiding place will not be suspected."
At Banzilla's command a group of men approached and laid hold of the
huge rock.
"See that they do a good job of smoothing up, Jonas," said Faulkner.
"Hadn't we better get a chisel and mark 'Rest in Peace' on this slab?"
asked Jonas.
"Never mind," grinned Ace. "Guys who've been in a lot worse shape than
Red and me have got out of worse places than this."
"Yeah? F'r instance?"
"Well, there was Jonah," chuckled Ace, squatting down beside Red as the
huge slab fell into place.
At first the pit seemed darker than the inside of any whale. Then their
eyes became accustomed to it and the two Yankees could see each other
dimly. The faintest bit of light penetrated under the lid of their
prison.
"Hell!" muttered Red. "We can't smoke in here."
"No," answered Ace. "And as soon as this bombing fit is over we must
talk only in low whispers and be darned careful when we move."
It was but a few minutes later when the bombing began. The explosions
came faintly to the ears of the two Yankees. The trembling of the
ground was very slight.
"Just as I guessed," muttered Ace. "He's bombing the top of the ridge
to clear it for Toreda's advance."
The buried pair fell silent, counting the explosions.
"Twenty-four," said Ace presently. "That's all. Now we must be quiet.
Toreda's gang will be here soon."
Ten minutes later sounds that came faintly to the ears of the pair told
them that the Federals had swarmed over the ridge.
"I'll bet Toreda's tickled pink," whispered Ace, his lips within an
inch of Red's ear. "It's the first time he has regained any ground
since this war started."
"Yeh," whispered Red. "Sounds like they are making camp up there."
"Sit still," answered Ace. "I'm going to dig our exit out nearly to the
edge of the stone so we can hear what's going on a little better."
* * * * *
Opening the blade of his trench knife, Faulkner felt for the wall and
began digging well up against the rock roof. He held his hand to catch
the loosened dirt and then placed it silently on the floor of the pit.
After thirty minutes of stealthy work, he had dug a hole about three
feet in circumference as far toward the edge of the rock as he felt was
safe.
Faulkner wormed the upper half of his body into the tunnel he had dug
and lay for some time listening. Then he again sought Red's ear.
"They are pitching Toreda's own tent right beside this rock," he
breathed. "The old boy is directing the job himself. I heard them tell
him of finding our wrecked plane. He seems in a merry mood. He gave
orders that the wreck of the Curtiss be removed and the field cleared
quickly, so the D. H. can land."
When Faulkner had backed out of the hole after a second trip, his voice
was throbbing with excitement.
"That gang is plumb drunk with success," he breathed into Red's ear.
"They are going to camp here for the night and lay plans for a further
advance to-morrow. President Alvarado himself is to be here for the
staff conference in an hour. Word of their victory was sent to the
capital, and the old boy sent back word that he is coming to Toreda's
headquarters immediately. They are having supper up there now. It'll be
fun to listen in on their powwow."
"It would be more fun to swipe a plate full of their frijoles,"
whispered Red. "Why didn't we bring some grub into this hole? I'm as
hungry as a she wolf with nine pups."
"Tough," answered Ace. "Sit tight and we'll eat later. I'm going back
to my listening post."
Faulkner was lying in the tunnel and listening when President Alvarado
arrived. The dictator was welcomed with a great hubbub. Ten minutes
after the arrival of the despot, the conference was on in Toreda's
tent. From the sound of the voices and the names he heard, Ace knew
that there were at least a dozen officers present.
Alvarado heard the accounting of the day's activities with great glee.
He was overjoyed when told that the Curtiss plane with which the rebels
had harassed Toreda's forces had been wrecked. He complimented the
pilot of the D. H. profusely and promised him rich reward. The pilot
was addressed as Specht. He had a deep guttural voice and an accent
which betrayed him a German.
The assembled staff listened to Specht's report of the position taken
by the retreating rebels.
"They think it is all over but Banzilla's funeral," Ace whispered when
he was again at Red's side. "They plan to move up before daylight to
the foot of the ridge, on top of which they think Banzilla will be
intrenched. Then this Specht, in the D. H., is to strafe the ridge at
dawn and Toreda's army will charge up the hill right on the heels of
the bombardment. Toreda's forces will move toward the ridge at three
o'clock. They will run into Banzilla's troops about halfway there,
unless we can blow up that D. H. and start Banzilla's attack before
Toreda gets his move started."
"How much time do you suppose we have?" asked Red.
"I heard Toreda say it was nine o'clock," answered Ace. "That gives us
six hours. Sit still awhile. I want to think over what I heard."
* * * * *
Perhaps a quarter of an hour passed in silence. Then Ace laid his hand
on the arm of his red-haired buddy. Red leaned nearer.
"Listen," whispered Ace. "I got a plan."
For ten minutes Ace whispered into his buddy's ear. Then Red groped in
the darkness for Faulkner's hand and shook it.
"Sure, and your name ought to have been Napoleon," whispered Red.
"Can you do your part?" breathed Ace.
"It's a damned sight easier than yours," came the whispered reply, "and
I'll get to eat sooner."
"Sit tight," cautioned Faulkner, opening his trench knife as he turned
again toward the partly dug exit.
Ten more minutes passed while Ace worked stealthily. Then he closed the
knife, took his revolver in his hand and wiggled into the hole. It was
not long until he returned to Red's side.
"All's quiet on the Potomac," he whispered. "The camp's asleep. I
didn't even see a sentry. There isn't one close by, anyhow. It's
moonlight, but the shadows are as black as coal. Our tunnel opens in
the shadow of Toreda's tent. It's only a few yards from the mouth of
the tunnel into the brush behind the tent. I can hear snoring in the
tent. Be careful not to make a noise. Get Banzilla back onto that ridge
and tell him my plan. Now crawl out and be on your way. I'll take the
bomb and crawl into the exit as soon as you are outside. If anything
goes wrong, fire two shots in quick succession. I'll get to the plane
with this canned explosion, if it's the last thing I ever do."
"If I run into a sentry I'll eat him," muttered Red, groping for the
exit.
When Red had gone, Faulkner found the bomb and pushed it ahead of him
as he wiggled into the hole that led to the outside. Lying with head
and shoulders out of the hole, Ace looked about, eyes and ears tensely
alert.
Bathed in the brilliant light of the tropical moon, Toreda's camp
slumbered peacefully. Two hundred yards away sat the trim D. H., almost
on the spot where Faulkner's Curtiss had been wrecked. Lying about
dying camp-fires, Toreda's men slept.
Five minutes passed. Ten. Fifteen. There was no sound. Drawing the bomb
after him, Faulkner slid back into the chill, damp darkness of the pit.
Red had made his departure from the camp in safety. Ace sat down for
his long, lonely wait.
After what seemed to Faulkner like a week, sounds indicating that the
camp was awakening reached his ears. Soon the night was alive with
activity. A light showed under the wall of Toreda's tent. Officers and
orderlies came and went. Faulkner waited with every nerve tense. What
if some of that hostile crew saw the telltale hole under the edge of
the rock? He gripped his revolver and prayed for luck. If only the
Federal army would get away quickly!
Half an hour passed and the sounds began to diminish. The Federals
were on their way for their early morning attempt to crush completely
Banzilla's forces.
President Alvarado had spent the night in Toreda's tent. Faulkner heard
a voice asking whether the president and the general would have some
breakfast while they waited for dawn.
"No," answered Alvarado. "Let the kitchens advance with the rest of the
troops. We will eat with our victorious army on the site from which we
will soon drive Banzilla."
Soon quiet reigned in the clearing. The only sound was the voices of
five men: President Alvarado, Toreda, Specht, the German pilot, and two
others, in conference in the tent. Faulkner crawled into the tunnel to
hear better, pushing the bomb ahead of him.
* * * * *
"The plane is in readiness?" asked Toreda's voice.
"Yes," answered Specht. "The bombs are in place and all is ready."
"Good," answered Toreda. "It will be dawn within an hour. My brave
soldiers will be in readiness at the foot of the ridge where those
rebel pigs wait to be torn to pieces. After you have bombed the
ridge you will fly over the scene until you see that our troops are
in possession. You will then come back here and report, so that _el
presidente_ and the rest of us may join the victors at breakfast."
"I understand," said Specht.
Faulkner had crawled stealthily from the tunnel and now crept around to
the front of the tent. He placed the bomb he carried on the ground and
gripped his ugly Colt forty-five in his right hand. With his left he
flung back the tent flap and stood facing the five startled occupants.
"Whoever moves, dies!" snapped Ace in Spanish.
The group sat as if frozen. Only one of the men had his back to the
door. The rest stared in mingled fright and astonishment at the grim
Yankee. The muzzle of the forty-five covered the startled quintet. They
were seated about a small folding table upon which stood a bottle of
liquor and glasses. An oil lantern hanging from the ridge pole lighted
the tent. Faulkner stared at the features of the German pilot.
The German sat on the far side of the table, facing Ace, his hands out
of sight below the table. Suddenly one of them flashed into view. It
held an ugly Luger. There was hate in the German's eyes.
Faulkner's trigger finger contracted and the forty-five roared. So did
the Luger, but it was a moment late. Its bullet struck the swarthy
officer who sat with his back toward Ace. The Latin sprawled backward,
clutching at the ragged hole in his breast.
Specht swayed, then slumped forward across the frail table, knocking
the liquor bottle into the lap of President Alvarado. The German's
hands clutched at the table top and then relaxed.
"Hands up--high!" ordered Ace.
The three who were still able obeyed. The president's face was a sickly
yellow. Ace herded them from the tent after he had relieved them of
weapons.
Dawn was creeping over the clearing. Not another soul besides Ace and
his three prisoners was in sight. About fifty yards from Toreda's tent
the D. H. stood poised for flight. The three prisoners stood silent,
hands reaching high. Ace grinned at Toreda and Alvarado and spoke to
the other officer.
"Do as I command, _hombre_," he snapped, "and I'll give you a chance to
get away without any holes in your precious skin. How about it?"
The fellow's swarthy face was pale. "_Sí, sí_," he chattered. Ace
tossed the man his trench knife.
"Cut all ropes off that tent," he commanded.
The swarthy officer got busy and soon stood before Ace holding a dozen
lengths of tent rope.
"All right," snapped Faulkner. "Trot over there to the plane, all of
you. _Pronto!_"
* * * * *
As the sudden dawn of the tropics spread over the land, General
Banzilla lay on his stomach behind a breastwork of rocks on top of a
long ridge. Beside the rebel chief lay Red Larrabee and Jonas Peters.
Two miles to the east, against the roseate sky, a trim plane appeared
above the tree tops and came toward the ridge. There was a stir as the
waiting group saw the D. H. rise.
"If that's Ace," said Red, "this here war's about over."
"And if it ain't Ace," answered Jonas, "I know damned well it's over."
Nearer and nearer came the speeding plane, the watchers on the ridge
growing more and more anxious as it approached. Then something white
fluttered from the plane and floated downward. It was the signal
Faulkner and Larrabee had agreed upon.
"It's Ace," cried Red.
A sound that was like a sob came from the rebel chief. A moment later
orders were being called softly along the ridge. Now the D. H. was
above them. It swept along the length of the ridge and then turned and
swept back. On its return bombs began to drop from the plane to make
a little hell out of the forest just behind the ridge. Twelve of the
death-laden objects dropped in quick succession. There were, however,
no rebels where those deadly missiles fell.
Suddenly Federal soldiers swarmed from the timber half a mile below
and came charging up the grassy but untimbered slope that led to its
top. Cocksure, they plunged ahead, certain that all they had to do was
massacre a demoralized band of rebels already torn to pieces by the
bombs from the plane. They could see the plane turning back to drop its
other twelve bombs to cover their charge up the hill--at least that is
what they expected to happen.
Then that rocky crest suddenly blossomed with puffs of smoke! The angry
rattle of machine guns mingled with the spiteful crack of high powered
rifles. The Federal line wilted like grain before a sickle.
Down plunged twelve more bombs from the D. H., striking squarely on the
charging Federal lines. For five minutes death swept that hillside,
and then yelling rebels, led by the almost deliriously happy Banzilla,
swarmed from cover and gave chase to the fleeing stragglers. Never was
rout more complete.
Far overhead circled the D. H., following leisurely until the rebel
army had returned to the site from which it had been driven on the
previous day. Standing in the center of the clearing, Red Larrabee
waved a signal that all was well.
The plane banked, circled twice and landed. Prone on its wings, lashed
securely in place, lay two bound captives, General Toreda and President
Alvarado. When they were dragged from the ship and recognized by
Banzilla, speech failed the rebel chieftain.
Tears streamed down Banzilla's cheeks, and he sputtered sounds meant to
indicate joy as he embraced everybody he could catch.
"The durn fool's got hysterics," said Jonas Peters.
"Hysterics, hell!" growled Red Larrabee, beside him. "He's got
hydrophobia. He ought to be muzzled before he bites somebody."
* * * * *
Late the following day, Banzilla, at the head of his tattered victors,
marched into the capital. The little Latin city had surrendered
joyfully. Well to the rear of the parade that marched through the
bunting-decorated streets toward the president's mansion moved three
grinning adventurers--Ace Faulkner and his buddies.
"This wasn't near as big a war as the one where we learned about
'em," grinned Red Larrabee. "But these spiggoties sure take it plenty
serious."
"Hell!" growled Jonas Peters. "The fun's all over now. I don't see what
they are celebrating. Listen to the durned fools. _Viva la libertad!
Viva Banzilla!_ You'd think that little brown runt won this war. Why
ain't they hollerin' some viva's about Ace? Listen to 'em yell!"
"Viva la pay day sounds better to me," Ace Faulkner chuckled.
THE END.
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VIVA LA PAY DAY ***
Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will
be renamed.
Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,
so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United
States without permission and without paying copyright
royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™
concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may
do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
license, especially commercial redistribution.
START: FULL LICENSE
THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free
distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project
Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
Project Gutenberg License available with this file or online at
www.gutenberg.org/license.
Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg
electronic works
1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg
electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg electronic works in your
possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
Project Gutenberg electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person
or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be
used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg electronic works
even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
Gutenberg electronic works if you follow the terms of this
agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg
electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the
Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
of Project Gutenberg electronic works. Nearly all the individual
works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
that you will support the Project Gutenberg mission of promoting
free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg
works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
Project Gutenberg name associated with the work. You can easily
comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg License when
you share it without charge with others.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
other Project Gutenberg work. The Foundation makes no
representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
country other than the United States.
1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg License must appear
prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg work (any work
on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the
phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed,
performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg™ License included with this eBook or online
at www.gutenberg.org. If you
are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws
of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg electronic work is
derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project
Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg
trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg electronic work is posted
with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
will be linked to the Project Gutenberg License for all works
posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
beginning of this work.
1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg
License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg.
1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
Gutenberg License.
1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg work in a format
other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official
version posted on the official Project Gutenberg website
(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain
Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the
full Project Gutenberg License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg works
unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
access to or distributing Project Gutenberg electronic works
provided that:
• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
the use of Project Gutenberg works calculated using the method
you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
to the owner of the Project Gutenberg trademark, but he has
agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation.”
• You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™
License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™
works.
• You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
receipt of the work.
• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.
1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than
are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
forth in Section 3 below.
1.F.
1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™
electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
cannot be read by your equipment.
1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right
of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGE.
1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
without further opportunities to fix the problem.
1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO
OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
remaining provisions.
1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in
accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™
electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
or any Project Gutenberg work, (b) alteration, modification, or
additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg work, and (c) any
Defect you cause.
Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg is synonymous with the free distribution of
electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
from people in all walks of life.
Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg’s
goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg collection will
remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
and permanent future for Project Gutenberg and future
generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.
Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification
number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.
The Foundation’s business office is located at 41 Watchung Plaza #516,
Montclair NJ 07042, USA, +1 (862) 621-9288. Email contact links and up
to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website
and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
Literary Archive Foundation
Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread
public support and donations to carry out its mission of
increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
status with the IRS.
The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state
visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.
While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
approach us with offers to donate.
International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.
Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg electronic works
Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
Gutenberg concept of a library of electronic works that could be
freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
distributed Project Gutenberg eBooks with only a loose network of
volunteer support.
Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed
editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
edition.
Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
facility: www.gutenberg.org.
This website includes information about Project Gutenberg,
including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
