Короли и капуста

           AsyettherehadbeennoactualuprisinginCoralio.Militarylawprevailed,andthefermentwasbottledforthetime.Andthencamethewordthateverywheretherevolutionistswereencounteringdefeat.Inthecapitalthepresident’sforcestriumphed;andtherewasarumourthattheleadersoftherevolthadbeenforcedtofly,hotlypursued.

           InthelittletelegraphofficeatCoraliotherewasalwaysagatheringofofficialsandloyalcitizens,awaitingnewsfromtheseatofgovernment.Onemorningthetelegraphkeybeganclicking,andpresentlytheoperatorcalled,loudly:"OnetelegramforelAlmirante,DonSeñorFelipeCarrera!"

           Therewasashufflingsound,agreatrattlingoftinscabbard,andtheadmiral,promptathisspotofwaiting,leapedacrosstheroomtoreceiveit.

           Themessagewashandedtohim.Slowlyspellingitout,hefoundittobehisfirstofficialorder—thusrunning:

           ProceedimmediatelywithyourvesseltomouthofRioRuiz;transportbeefandprovisionstobarracksatAlforan.

           Martinez,General.

           Smallglory,tobesure,inthis,hiscountry’sfirstcall.Butithadcalled,andjoysurgedintheadmiral’sbreast.Hedrewhiscutlassbelttoanotherbucklehole,rousedhisdozingcrew,andinaquarterofanhourElNacionalwastackingswiftlydowncoastinastifflandwardbreeze.

           TheRioRuizisasmallriver,emptyingintotheseatenmilesbelowCoralio.Thatportionofthecoastiswildandsolitary.