Three days after this he received a message from his friends at Lima
which caused him considerable alarm. It was to the effect that
the Chileans were making a diligent search for him and to be very
careful as there was yet no chance to get on a north bound
vessel, every passenger being closely scrutinized and it would be
impossible to cross the mountains.
Late one night, shortly after receiving the above message, he was
awakened by a hammering at the door, he leaped out of bed to find the
house surrounded by a squad of Chilean cavalry. The officer in command
told him he was wanted at Lima and to prepare to accompany the squad at
once. He was taken to the capitol and ushered into the presence of
General Backadona.
"What is your name?" thundered the General, striking the table with his
fist.
"I surrendered to you General," replied Boyton, "my name is Delaport."
"You were in the torpedo service?"
"Possibly; I held a commission from Don Nicholas de Pierola."
"But your name is Boyton and no one by that name held a commission."
Boyton neither affirmed or denied the charge, and the General ordered
him to be confined in the quartelle with the other prisoners, where he
was kept for some weeks while the victors were awaiting dispatches from
Chile that would decide his fate and he could readily surmise what that
would be.
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