"'Must' and 'apologize!'" protested Roddy, in icy tones; "Those are difficult words, gentlemen."
"Consider," cried Pulido, "what great events hang upon the life of Colonel Vega."
"My own life is extremely interesting to me," said Roddy. "But I have done nothing which needs apology."
"You risked your life for Pino. Why now do you wish to take it? Think of his importance to Venezuela, of the happiness he will bring his country, and think what his loss would mean to your own father."
"My father!" exclaimed Roddy. "What has my father to do with this?"
The two Venezuelans looked at each other in bewilderment, and then back at Roddy sternly and suspiciously.
"Are you jesting?" demanded General Pulido.
"Never been more serious in my life," said Roddy.
The two officers searched his face eagerly.
"It is as Pino says," exclaimed Pulido, with sudden enlightenment. "He is telling the truth!"
"Of course I'm telling the truth!" cried Roddy fiercely. "Are you looking for a duel, too?"
"But Mr. Forrester's orders!" protested Colonel Ramon.
"He is more dangerous," declared Pulido, "knowing nothing, than he would be if he understood."
He cast a rapid glance about him. With a scowl, his eyes finally rested upon Peter.
"I'll be within knockout distance if you want me," said that young man to Roddy, and moved to the rail opposite.
When he had gone, Pulido bent eagerly forward.
"Do you not know," he demanded, "what it is your father is doing in our country?"
Roddy burst forth impatiently, "No!" he protested. "And I seem to be the only man in the country who doesn't."
The two officers crowded close to him. In sepulchral tones, Pulido exclaimed dramatically. He spoke as though he were initiating Roddy into a secret order.
"Then understand," he whispered, "that your father supports Pino Vega with five million bolivars; that Vega, whose life you are seeking, is the man your father means to make President of Venezuela. Now do you understand?"
For a long time Roddy remained silent. Then he exclaimed in tones of extreme exasperation:
"I understand," he said, "that, if my father had given me his telephone number, he would have saved me a lot of trouble. No wonder everybody suspects me."
"And now," declared Pulido anxiously, "you are one of _us_!"