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diff --git a/42834-0.txt b/42834-0.txt index 1036afb..96cf0c0 100644 --- a/42834-0.txt +++ b/42834-0.txt @@ -1,4 +1,4 @@ -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42834 *** +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42834 *** THE RED TRACK @@ -9987,5 +9987,4 @@ horses, and that the majority of them would become first-rate racers. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Track, by Gustave Aimard - *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42834 *** diff --git a/42834-8.txt b/42834-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 5c540c5..0000000 --- a/42834-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10380 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Track, by Gustave Aimard - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 - - -Title: The Red Track - A Story of Social Life in Mexico - -Author: Gustave Aimard - -Translator: Lascelles Wraxall - -Release Date: May 29, 2013 [EBook #42834] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - - - - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - - - - -THE RED TRACK - -A Story of Social life in Mexico - -BY - -GUSTAVE AIMARD - - -AUTHOR OF "ADVENTURERS," "PEARL OF THE ANDES," "TRAIL HUNTER," -"PIRATES OF THE PRAIRIES," "TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER," "TIGER -SLAYER," "GOLD SEEKERS," "INDIAN CHIEF," ETC. - - - -LONDON: - -CHARLES HENRY CLARKE, 13 PATERNOSTER ROW. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The present volume of GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works is a continuation of the -"Indian Chief," and conclusion of the series comprising that work, the -"Gold Seekers," and the "Tiger Slayer." - -At the present moment, when we are engaged in a war with Mexico, I feel -assured that the extraordinary and startling descriptions given in this -volume of the social condition and mode of life in the capital of that -country will be read with universal gratification; for I can assert -confidently that; no previous writer has ever produced such a graphic -and truthful account of a city with which the illustrated papers will -soon make us thoroughly acquainted. - -If a further recommendation be needed, it will be found in the fact that -the present volume appears in an English garb before being introduced to -French readers. GUSTAVE AIMARD is so gratified with the reception his -works have found in this country, through my poor assistance, that he -has considered he could not supply a better proof of his thankfulness -than by permitting his English readers to enjoy, on this occasion, the -first fruits of his versatile and clever pen. This is a compliment -which, I trust, will be duly appreciated; for, as to the merits of -the work itself, I have not the slightest doubt. Readers may imagine -it impossible for GUSTAVE AIMARD to surpass his previous triumphs in -the wildly romantic, or that he could invent anything equal to the -"Prairie Flower," a work which I venture to affirm, to be the finest -Indian tale ever yet written, in spite of the great authors who have -preceded AIMARD; but I ask my reader's special admiration for the "RED -TRACK," because in it our favourite author strikes out a new path, and -displays versatility which puts to the blush those bilious critics--few -in number--I grant, among the multitude of encouraging reviewers, who -have ventured an opinion that GUSTAVE AIMARD can only write about Indian -life, or, in point of fact, that he is merely a hunter describing his -own experiences under a transparent disguise. - -Well, be it so, I accept the assertion. GUSTAVE AIMARD is but a -hunter; he has seen nought but uncivilized life; he has spent years -among savages, and has returned to his own country to try and grow -Europeanized again. What then? The very objection is a proof of his -veracity; and I am fully of the conviction that every story he has told -us is true. It is not reasonable to suppose that a man who has spent the -greater part of his life in hunting the wild animals of America--who -has been an adopted son of the most powerful Indian tribes--who has for -years never known what the morrow would bring forth, should sit down -to invent. The storehouse of his mind is too amply filled with marvels -for him to take that needless trouble, and he simply repeats on paper -the tales which in olden limes he picked up at the camp fires, or heard -during his wanderings with the wood rangers. - -And it is as such that I wish GUSTAVE AIMARD to be judged by English -readers. His eminent quality is truth. He is a man who could not set -down a falsehood, no matter what the bribe might be, he has lived -through the incidents he describes, and has brought back to Europe -the adventures of a chequered life. He does not attempt to fascinate -his readers by a complicated plot. He does not possess the marvellous -invention of a Cooper, who, after a slight acquaintance with a few -powerless Indians, wrote books which all admirers of the English -language peruse. But GUSTAVE AIMARD possesses a higher quality, in the -fact that he only notes down incidents which he has seen, or which he -has received on undoubted evidence from his companions. - -The present is the twelfth volume of GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works to which. I -have put my name; and, with the exception of a few captious criticisms -whose motive may be read between the lines, the great body of the -British Press has greeted our joints efforts with the heartiest -applause. The success of this series has been unparalleled in the annals -of cheap literature. Day by day the number of readers increases, and the -publication of each successive volume creates an excitement which cannot -fail to be most gratifying to the publishers. - -To please all parties, the proprietors of AIMARD'S copyrights have -projected an Illustrated Series, to which I would invite most earnest -attention. Although by this time I am saturated with Indian life, I -confess that I never thoroughly understood it till I saw the engravings -after a Zwecker, a Huard, and a Corbould. The artists have carefully -studied their subjects, and gone to the fountain-head for information; -and the result is, that they have produced a series of works which only -need to be seen to be appreciated. The last volume illustrated is "The -Freebooters," which was entirely intrusted to Mr. Corbould, and though -I do not wish for a moment to depreciate the other artists, I felt, on -seeing the illustrations, that GUSTAVE AIMARD was worthily interpreted. -All I can urge upon readers is, that they should judge for themselves. - -To wind up this unusually long Preface, into which honest admiration for -the author has alone induced me, I wish to say that it affords me an -ever-recurring delight to introduce GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works to English -readers, while it causes me an extra pleasure, on this occasion, to be -enabled to repeat that the present volume appears on this side of the -Channel before it has been introduced to French readers. And, knowing as -I do the number of editions through which AIMARD'S books pass in his own -native land, I can appreciate the sacrifice he has made on this occasion -at its full value. - - LASCELLES WRAXALL. - -DRAYTON TERRACE, WEST BROMPTON, - _March_, 1862. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - I. THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER - II. THE DEAD ALIVE - III. THE COMPACT - IV. THE TRAVELLERS - V. THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMÈQUES - VI. THE SURPRISE - VII. THE EXPLANATION - VIII. A DECLARATION OF WAR - IX. MEXICO - X. THE RANCHO - XI. THE PASEO DE BUCARELI - XII. A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION - XIII. DON MARTIAL - XIV. THE VELORIO - XV. THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES - XVI. THE CONFESSOR - XVII. THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE - XVIII. A VISIT - XIX. ASSISTANCE - XX. EL ZARAGATE - XXI. AFTER THE INTERVIEW - XXII. THE BLANK SIGNATURE - XXIII. ON THE ROAD - XXIV. A SKIRMISH - XXV. LOS REGOCIJOS - XXVI. THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO - XXVII. THE CAPILLA - - A BUFFALO HUNT - A MUSTANG - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER. - - -The Rocky Mountains form an almost impassable barrier between California -and the United States, properly so called; their formidable defiles, -their rude valleys, and the vast western plains, watered by rapid -streams, are even to the present day almost unknown to the American -adventurers, and are rarely visited by the intrepid and daring Canadian -trappers. - -The majestic mountain range called the Sierra of the Wind River, -especially offers a grand and striking picture, as it raises to the -skies its white and snow-clad peaks, which extend indefinitely in a -north-western direction, until they appear on the horizon like a white -cloud, although the experienced eye of the trapper recognizes in this -cloud the scarped outline of the Yellowstone Mountains. - -The Sierra of the Wind River is one of the most remarkable of the Rocky -Mountain range; it forms, so to speak, an immense plateau, thirty -leagues long, by ten or twelve in width, commanded by scarped peaks, -crowned with eternal snows, and having at their base narrow and deep -valleys filled with springs, streams, and rock-bound lakes. These -magnificent reservoirs give rise to some of the mighty rivers which, -after running for hundreds of miles through a picturesque territory, -become on one side the affluents of the Missouri, on the other of the -Columbia, and bear the tribute of their waters to the two oceans. - -In the stories of the wood rangers and trappers, the Sierra of the -Wind River is justly renowned for its frightful gorges, and the wild -country in its vicinity frequently serves as a refuge to the pirates of -the prairie, and has been, many a time and oft, the scene of obstinate -struggles between the white men and the Indians. - -Toward the end of June, 1854, a well-mounted traveller, carefully -wrapped up in the thick folds of a zarapé, raised to his eyes, was -following one of the most precipitous slopes of the Sierra of the -Wind River, at no great distance from the source of the Green River, -that great western Colorado which pours its waters into the Gulf of -California. - -It was about seven in the evening: the traveller rode along, shivering -from the effects of an icy wind which whistled mournfully through the -canyons. All around had assumed a saddening aspect in the vacillating -moonbeams. He rode on without hearing the footfall of his horse, as it -fell on the winding sheet of snow that covered the landscape; at times -the capricious windings of the track he was following compelled him to -pass through thickets, whose branches, bent by the weight of snow, stood -out before him like gigantic skeletons, and struck each other after he -had passed with a sullen snap. - -The traveller continued his journey, looking anxiously on both sides -of him. His horse, fatigued by a long ride, hobbled at every step, and -in spite of the repeated encouragement of its rider seemed determined -to stop short, when, after suddenly turning an angle in the track, it -suddenly entered a large clearing, where the close-growing grass formed -a circle about forty yards in diameter, and the verdure formed a cheery -contrast with the whiteness that surrounded it. - -"Heaven be praised!" the traveller exclaimed in excellent French, and -giving a start of pleasure; "Here is a spot at last where I can camp for -tonight night, without any excessive inconvenience. I almost despaired -of finding one." - -While thus congratulating himself, the traveller had stopped his horse -and dismounted. His first attention was paid to his horse, from which -he removed saddle and bridle, and which he covered with his zarapé, -appearing to attach no importance to the cold, which was, however, -extremely severe in these elevated regions. So soon as it was free, the -animal, in spite of its fatigue, began browsing heartily on the grass, -and thus reassured about his companion, the traveller began thinking -about making the best arrangements possible for the night. - -Tall, thin, active, with a lofty and capacious forehead, an intelligent -blue eye, sparkling with boldness, the stranger appeared to have been -long accustomed to desert life, and to find nothing extraordinary or -peculiarly disagreeable in the somewhat precarious position in which he -found himself at this moment. - -He was a man who had reached about middle life, on whose brow grief -rather than the fatigue of the adventurous life of the desert had formed -deep wrinkles, and sown numerous silver threads in his thick light -hair; his dress was a medium between that of the white trappers and -the Mexican gambusinos; but it was easy to recognize, in spite of his -complexion, bronzed by the seasons, that he was a stranger to the ground -he trod, and that Europe had witnessed his birth. - -After giving a final glance of satisfaction at his horse, which at -intervals interrupted its repast to raise its delicate and intelligent -head to him with an expression of pleasure, he carried his weapons and -horse trappings to the foot of a rather lofty rock, which offered him -but a poor protection against the gusts of the night breeze, and then -began collecting dry wood to light a watch fire. - -It was no easy task to find dry firewood at a spot almost denuded of -trees, and whose soil, covered with snow, except in the clearing, -allowed nothing to be distinguished; but the traveller was patient, he -would not be beaten, and within an hour he had collected sufficient -wood to feed through the night two such fires as he proposed kindling. -The branches soon crackled, and a bright flame rose joyously in a long -spiral to the sky. - -"Ah!" said the traveller, who, like all men constrained to live alone, -seemed to have contracted the habit of soliloquizing aloud, "the fire -will do, so now for supper." - -Then, fumbling in the alforjas, or double pockets which travellers -always carry fastened to the saddle, he took from them all the requisite -elements of a frugal meal; that is to say, cecina, pemmican, and several -varas of tasajo, or meat dried in the sun. At the moment when, after -shutting up his alforjas, the traveller raised his head to lay his meat -on the embers to broil, he stopped motionless, with widely-opened mouth, -and it was only through a mighty strength of will that he suppressed a -cry of surprise and possibly of terror. Although no sound had revealed -his presence, a man, leaning on a long rifle, was standing motionless -before him, and gazing at him with profound attention. - -At once mastering the emotion he felt, the traveller carefully laid -the tasajo on the embers, and then, without removing his eye from this -strange visitor, he stretched out his arm to grasp his rifle, while -saying, in a tone of the most perfect indifference-- - -"Whether friend or foe, you are welcome, mate. 'Tis a bitter night, so, -if you are cold, warm yourself, and if you are hungry, eat. When your -nerves have regained their elasticity, and your body its usual strength, -we will have a frank explanation, such as men of honour ought to have." - -The stranger remained silent for some seconds; then, after shaking his -head several times, he commenced in a low and melancholy voice, as it -were speaking to himself rather than replying to the question asked him-- - -"Can any human being really exist in whose heart a feeling of pity still -remains?" - -"Make the trial, mate," the traveller answered quickly, "by accepting, -without hesitation, my hearty offer. Two men who meet in the desert must -be friends at first sight, unless private reasons make them implacable -enemies. Sit down by my side and eat." - -This dialogue had been held in Spanish, a language the stranger spoke -with a facility that proved his Mexican origin. He seemed to reflect for -a moment, and then instantly made up his mind. - -"I accept," he said, "for your voice is too sympathizing and your glance -too frank to deceive." - -"That is the way to speak," the traveller said, gaily. "Sit down and eat -without further delay, for I confess to you that I am dying of hunger." - -The stranger smiled sadly, and sat down on the ground by the traveller's -side. The two men, thus strangely brought together by accident, then -attacked with no ordinary vigour, which evidenced a long fast, the -provisions placed before them. Still, while eating, the traveller did -not fail to examine his singular companion; and the following was the -result of his observations. - -The general appearance of the stranger was most wretched, and his -ragged clothes scarce covered his bony, fleshless body; while his pale -and sickly features were rendered more sad and gloomy by a thick, -disordered beard that fell on his chest. His eyes, inflamed by fever, -and surrounded by black circles, glistened with a sombre fire, and at -times emitted flashes of magnetic radiance. His weapons were in as bad -a condition as his clothes, and in the event of a fight this man, with -the exception of his bodily strength, which must once have been great, -but which privations of every description, and probably endured for -a lengthened period, had exhausted, would not have been a formidable -adversary for the traveller. Still, beneath this truly wretched -appearance could be traced an organization crushed by grief. There was -in this man something grand and sympathetic, which appeared to emanate -from his person, and aroused not only pity but also respect for torture -so proudly hidden and so nobly endured. This man, in short, ere he fell -so low, must have been great, either in virtue or in vice; but assuredly -there was nothing common about him, and a mighty heart beat in his bosom. - -Such was the impression the stranger produced on his host, while both, -without the interchange of a word, appeased an appetite sharpened by -long hours of abstinence. Hunters' meals are short, and the present one -lasted hardly a quarter of an hour. When it was over, the traveller -rolled a cigarette, and, handing it to the stranger, said-- - -"Do you smoke?" - -On this apparently so simple question being asked, a strange thing -happened which will only be understood by smokers who, long accustomed -to the weed, have for some reason or other been deprived of it for -a lengthened period. The stranger's face was suddenly lit up by the -effect of some internal emotion; his dull eye flashed, and, seizing the -cigarette with a nervous tremor, he exclaimed, in a voice choked by an -outburst of joy impossible to render-- - -"Yes, yes; I used to smoke." - -There was a rather long silence, during which the two men slowly inhaled -the smoke of their cigarettes, and indulged in thought. The wind howled -fiercely Over their heads, the eddying snow was piling up around them, -and the echoes of the canyons seemed to utter notes of complaint. It was -a horrible night. Beyond the circle of light produced by the flickering -flame of the watch fire all was buried in dense gloom. The picture -presented by these two men, seated in the desert, strangely illumined -by the bluish flame, fend smoking calmly while suspended above an -unfathomable abyss, had something striking and awe-inspiring about it. -When the traveller had finished his cigarette, he rolled another, and -laid his tobacco-pouch between himself and his guest. - -"Now that the ice is broken between us," he said in a friendly voice, -"and that we have nearly formed an acquaintance--for we have been -sitting at the same fire, and have eaten and smoked together--the moment -has arrived, I fancy, for us to become thoroughly acquainted." - -The stranger nodded his head silently. It was a gesture that could be -interpreted affirmatively or negatively, at pleasure. The traveller -continued, with a good-humoured smile-- - -"I make not the slightest pretence to compel you to reveal your secrets, -and you are at liberty to maintain your incognito without in any way -offending me. Still, whatever may be the result, let me give you an -example of frankness by telling you who I am. My story will not be long, -and only consists of a very few words. France is my country, and I was -born at Paris--which city, doubtless," he remarked, with a stifled sigh, -"I shall never see again. Reasons too lengthy to trouble you with, and -which would interest you but very slightly, led me to America. Chance, -or Providence, perhaps, by guiding me to the desert, and arousing my -instincts and aspirations for liberty, wished to make a wood ranger of -me, and I obeyed. For twenty years I have been traversing the prairies -and great savannahs in every direction, and I shall probably continue -to do so, till an Indian bullet comes from some thicket to stop my -wanderings for ever. Towns are hateful to me; passionately fond of the -grand spectacles of nature, which elevate the thought, and draw the -creature nearer to his Creator, I shall only mix myself up once again in -the chaos of civilization in order to fulfil a vow made on the tomb of a -friend. When I have done that, I shall fly to the most, unknown deserts, -in order to end a life henceforth useless, far from those men whose -paltry passions and base and ignoble hatred have robbed me of the small -amount of happiness to which I fancied I had a claim. And now, mate, you -know me as well as I do myself. I will merely add, in conclusion, that -my name among the white men, my countrymen, is Valentine Guillois, and -among the redskins, my adopted fathers, Koutonepi--that is to say, 'The -Valiant One.' I believe myself to be as honest and as brave as a man is -permitted to be with his imperfect organization. I never did harm with -the intention of doing so, and I have done services to my fellow men as -often as I had it in my power, without expecting from them thanks or -gratitude." - -The speech, which the hunter had commenced in that clear voice and with -that careless accent habitual to him, terminated involuntarily, under -the pressure of the flood of saddened memories that rose from his heart -to his lips, in a low and inarticulate voice, and when he concluded, -he let his head fall sadly on his chest, with a sigh that resembled a -sob. The stranger regarded him for a moment with an expression of gentle -commiseration. - -"You have suffered," he said; "suffered in your love, suffered in your -friendship. Your history is that of all men in this world: who of us, -but at a given hour, has felt his courage yield beneath the weight of -grief? You are alone, friendless, abandoned by all, a voluntary exile, -far from the men who only inspire you with hatred and contempt; you -prefer the society of wild beasts, less ferocious than they; but, at any -rate, you live, while I am a dead man!" - -The hunter started, and looked in amazement at the speaker. - -"I suppose you think me mad?" he continued, with a melancholy smile; -"reassure yourself, it is not so. I am in full possession of my senses, -my head is cool, and my thoughts are clear and lucid. For all that -though, I repeat to you, I am dead, dead in the sight of my relations -and friends, dead to the whole world in fine, and condemned to lead this -wretched existence for an indefinite period. Mine is a strange story, -and that you would recognize through one word, were you a Mexican, or -had you travelled in certain regions of Mexico." - -"Did I not tell you that, for twenty years, I have been travelling over -every part of America?" the traveller replied, his curiosity being -aroused to the highest pitch. "What is the word? Can you tell it me?" - -"Why not? I am alluding to the name I bore while I was still a living -man." - -"What is that name?" - -"It had acquired a certain celebrity, but I doubt whether, even if you -have heard it mentioned, it has remained in your memory." - -"Who knows? Perhaps you are mistaken." - -"Well, since you insist, learn, then, that I was called Martial el -Tigrero." - -"You?" the hunter exclaimed, under the influence of the uttermost -surprise; "why that is impossible!" - -"Of course so, since I am dead," the stranger answered, bitterly. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE DEAD ALIVE. - - -The Tigrero had let his head fall on his chest again, and seemed engaged -with gloomy thoughts. The hunter, somewhat embarrassed by the turn the -conversation had taken, and anxious to continue it, mechanically stirred -up the fire with the blade of his navaja, while his eyes wandered -around, and were at times fixed on his companion with an expression of -deep sympathy. - -"Stay," he said, presently, as he thrust back with his foot a few embers -that had rolled out; "pardon me, sir, any insult which my exclamation -may seem to have contained. You have mistaken, I assure you, the -meaning of my remarks; although, as we have never met, we are not such -strangers as you suppose. I have known you for a long time." - -The Tigrero raised his head, and looked at the hunter incredulously. - -"You?" he muttered. - -"Yes, I, caballero, and it will not be difficult to prove it to you." - -"What good will it do?" he murmured; "what interest can I have in the -fact of your knowing me?" - -"My dear sir," the Frenchman continued, with several shakes of his head, -"nothing happens in this world by the effect of chance. Above us, an -intellect superior to ours directs everything here below; and if we have -been permitted to meet in a manner so strange and unexpected in these -desolate regions, it is because Providence has designs with us which we -cannot yet detect; let us, therefore, not attempt to resist God's will, -for what He has resolved will happen: who knows whether I may not be -unconsciously sent across your path to bring you a supreme consolation, -or to supply you with the means to accomplish a long meditated -vengeance, which you have hitherto deemed impossible?" - -"I repeat to you, señor," the Tigrero replied, "that your words are -those of a stout-hearted and brave man, and I feel involuntarily -attracted towards you. I think with you, that this accidental meeting, -after so many days of solitude and grief, with a man of your stamp, -cannot be the effect of unintelligent chance, and that at a moment -when, convinced of my impotence to escape from my present frightful -situation, I was reduced to despair and almost resolved on suicide, the -loyal hand you offer me can only be that of a friend. Question me, then, -without hesitation, and I will answer with the utmost frankness." - -"Thanks for that speech," the hunter said, with emotion, "for it proves -that we are beginning to understand each other, and soon, I hope, we -shall have no secrets; but I must, before all else, tell you how it is -that I have known you for a long time, although you were not aware of -the fact." - -"Speak, señor, I am listening to you with the most earnest attention." - -Valentine reflected for a moment, and then went on as follows:-- - -"Some months ago, in consequence of circumstances unnecessary to remind -you of, but which you doubtless bear in mind, you met at the colony of -Guetzalli a Frenchman and a Canadian hunter, with whom you eventually -stood on most intimate terms." - -"It is true," the Tigrero replied, with a nervous start, "and the -Frenchman to whom you allude, is the Count de Prébois Crancé. Oh! I -shall never be able to discharge the debt of gratitude I have contracted -with him for the services he rendered me." - -A sad smile curled the hunter's lip. "You no longer owe him anything," -he said, with a melancholy shake of the head. - -"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed, eagerly; "surely the count -cannot be dead!" - -"He is dead, caballero. He was assassinated on the shores of Guaymas. -His murderers laid him in his tomb, and his blood, so treacherously -shed, cries to Heaven for vengeance: but patience, Heaven will not -permit this horrible crime to remain unpunished." - -The hunter hurriedly wiped away the tears he had been unable to repress -while speaking of the count, and went on, in a voice choked by the -internal emotion which he strove in vain to conquer:-- - -"But let us, for the present, leave this sad reminiscence to slumber -in our hearts. The count was my friend, my dearest friend, more than a -brother to me: he often spoke about you to me, and several times told me -your gloomy history, which terminated in a frightful catastrophe." - -"Yes, yes," the Tigrero muttered; "it was, indeed, a frightful -catastrophe. I would gladly have found death at the bottom of the abyss -into which I rolled during my struggle with Black Bear, could I have -saved her I loved; but God decreed it otherwise, and may his holy name -be blessed and praised." - -"Amen!" the hunter said, sadly turning his head away. - -"Oh!" Don Martial continued a moment later, "I feel my recollections -crowding upon me at this moment. I feel as if the veil that covers my -memory is torn asunder, in order to recall events, already so distant, -but which have left so deep an impression on my mind. I, too, recognize -you now; you are the famous hunter whom the count was trying to find -in the desert; but he did not call you by any of the names you have -mentioned." - -"I dare say," Valentine answered, "that he alluded to me as the 'Trail -Hunter,' the name by which the white hunters and the Indians of the Far -West are accustomed to call me." - -"Yes; oh, now I remember perfectly, that was indeed the name he gave -you. You were right in saying that we had been long acquainted, though -we had never met." - -"And now that we meet in this desert," the hunter said, offering his -hand, "connected as we are by the memory of our deceased friend, shall -we be friends?" - -"No, not friends," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he heartily pressed the -hunter's honest hand; "not friends, but brothers." - -"Well, then, brothers, and each for the other against all comers," the -hunter answered. "And now that you are convinced that curiosity plays no -part in my eager desire to know what has befallen you since the moment -when you so hurriedly left your friends, speak, Don Martial, and then I -will tell you, in my turn, what are the motives that directed my steps -to these desolate regions." - -The Tigrero, in a few moments, began his narrative as follows:-- - -"My friends must have fancied me dead, hence I cannot blame them for -having abandoned me, although they were, perhaps, too quick in doing so -without an attempt either to recover my corpse, or assure themselves at -least that I was really dead, and that assistance would be thrown away; -but though I am ignorant of what happened in the cavern after my fall, -the bodies left on the battlefield proved to me afterwards that they had -a tough fight, and were compelled to fly before the Indians; hence, I -say again that I do not blame them. You are aware that I was attacked by -Black Bear at the moment when I believed that I had succeeded in saving -those whom I had sworn to protect. It was on the very verge of the pit -that Black Bear and myself, enwreathed like two serpents, began a final -and decisive struggle: at the moment when I had all but succeeded in -foiling my enemy's desperate efforts, and was raising my arm to cut -his throat, the war yell of the Comanches suddenly burst forth at the -entrance of the cavern. By a supreme effort the Apache chief succeeded -in escaping from my clutch, bounded on his feet, and rushed towards -Doña Anita, doubtless with the intention of carrying her off, as the -unforeseen assistance arriving for us would prevent the accomplishment -of his vengeance. But the maiden repulsed him with that strength -which despair engenders, and sought refuge behind her father. Already -severely wounded by two shots, the chief tottered back to the edge of -the pit, where he lost his balance. Feeling that he was falling, by an -instinctive gesture, or, perhaps, through a last sentiment of fury, he -stretched out his arms as if to save himself, caught hold of me as I -rose, half-stunned by my recent contest, and we both rolled down the -pit, he with a triumphant laugh, and I with a shriek of despair. Forgive -me for having described thus minutely the last incidents of this fight, -but I was obliged to enter into these details to make you thoroughly -understand by what providential chance I was saved, when I fancied -myself hopelessly lost." - -"Go on, go on;" the hunter said, "I am listening to you with the -greatest attention." - -Don Martial continued:-- - -"The Indian was desperately wounded, and his last effort, in which he -had placed all his remaining strength, cost him his life: it was a -corpse that dragged me down, for during the few seconds our fall lasted -he did not make a movement. The pit was not so deep as I fancied, not -more than twenty or five-and-twenty feet, and the sides were covered -with plants and grass, which, although they bent beneath our weight, -prevented us from falling perpendicularly. The chief was the first -to reach the bottom of the abyss, and I fell upon his body, which -deadened my fall, though it was serious enough entirely to deprive me -of consciousness. I cannot say how long I remained in this state, but, -from a calculation I made afterwards, my faint must have lasted two -hours. I was aroused by a cold sensation which suddenly affected me. I -opened my eyes again, and found myself in utter darkness. At the first -moment it was impossible for me to account for the situation in which -I found myself, or what events had placed me in it; but my memory -gradually returned, my thoughts became more lucid, and I only desired -to emerge as speedily as possible from the pit into which I had fallen. -I was suffering fearfully, although I was not actually wounded. I had -received numerous contusions in my fall, and the slightest movement -caused me an atrocious pain, for I was so bruised and shaken. In my -present state I must endure the evil patiently: attempting to scale -the sides of the pit when my strength was completely exhausted would -have been madness, and I therefore resigned myself to waiting. I was in -complete darkness, but that did not trouble me greatly, as I had about -me everything necessary to light a fire. Within a few moments I had a -light, and was enabled to look about me. I was lying at the bottom of a -species of funnel, for the pit grew narrower in its descent, which had -greatly helped to deaden my fall; my feet and legs almost to the knee -were bathed in a subterranean stream, while the upper part of my body -leant against the corpse of the Indian chief. The spot where I found -myself was thirty feet in circumference at the most, and I assured -myself by the help of my light that the sides of the pit, entirely -covered with creepers, and even sturdy shrubs, rose in a gentle slope, -and would not be difficult to escalade when my strength had sufficiently -returned. At this moment I could not dream of attempting the ascent, -so I bravely made up my mind, and although my anxiety was great about -the friends I had left in, the cavern, I resolved to wait a few hours -before proceeding to save myself. I remained thus for twenty hours -at the bottom of the pit, _tête-à-tête_ with my enemy's corpse. Many -times during my excursions in the desert I had found myself in almost -desperate situations, but never, I call heaven to witness, had I felt -so completely abandoned and left in the hands of Providence. Still, -however deplorable my position might be, I did not despair; in spite -of the frightful pain I suffered, I had convinced myself that my limbs -were in a satisfactory state, and that all I needed was patience. When -I fancied my strength sufficiently restored, I lighted two torches, -which I fixed in the ground, in order to see more clearly. I threw my -rifle on my back, placed my navaja between my teeth, and clinging to the -shrubs, by a desperate effort I began my ascent. I will not tell you of -the difficulty I had in conquering the terrible shocks I was obliged -to give my aching bones in surmounting almost unsurpassable obstacles; -sufficient for you to know that I reached the mouth of the pit after -an hour and a half's struggle, in which I expended all the energy a -man possesses who hopes to save himself. When I reached the floor of -the cavern, I lay for more than half an hour on the sand, exhausted, -panting, unable to make the slightest movement, scarce breathing, -hearing nothing, seeing nothing, not even conscious of the frightful -state into which I was plunged. Fortunately for me, this terrible -condition did not last long, the refreshing air from without, reaching -me through the passages of the cavern, recovered me, and restored the -entire use of my mental faculties. The ground around me was covered with -dead bodies, and there had, doubtless, been a terrible struggle between -the white men and the redskins. I sought in vain for the corpses of Doña -Anita and her father. I breathed again, and hope re-entered my heart, -for my sacrifice had not been fruitless. Those for whom I had given my -life were saved, and I should see them again. This thought restored my -courage, and I felt quite a different man. I rose without any excessive -difficulty, and, supporting myself on my rifle, went toward the mouth of -the cavern, after removing my stock of provision, and taking two powder -horns from the stores I had previously _cached_, and which my friends -in their flight had not thought of removing. No words can describe the -emotion I felt when, after a painful walk through the grotto, I at -length reached the riverbank, and saw the sun once more: a man must have -been in a similar desperate situation to understand the cry, or rather -howl of joy which escaped from my surcharged bosom when I felt again the -blessed sunbeams, and inhaled the odorous breath of the savannah. By an -unreflecting movement, though it was suggested by my heart, I fell on my -knees, and piously clasping my hands, I thanked Him who had saved me, -and who alone could do so. This prayer, and the simple thanks expressed -by a grateful heart, were, I feel convinced, borne upwards to heaven on -the wings of my guardian angel. - -"As far as I could make out by the height of the sun, it was about the -second hour of the tarde. The deepest silence prevailed around me; so -far as the vision could extend, the prairie was deserted; Indians and -palefaces had disappeared: I was alone, alone with that God who had -saved me in so marvellous a fashion, and would not abandon me. Before -going further, I took a little nourishment, which the exhaustion of -my strength rendered necessary. When, in the company of Don Sylva de -Torrés and his daughter, I had sought a refuge in the cavern, our -horses had been abandoned with all the remaining forage in an adjacent -clearing, and I was too well acquainted with the instinct of these -noble animals to apprehend that they had fled. On the contrary, I knew -that, if the hunters had not taken them away, I should find them at -the very spot where I had left them. A horse was indispensable for -use, for a dismounted man is lost in the desert, and hence I resolved -to seek them. Rested by the long halt I had made, and feeling that my -strength had almost returned, I proceeded without hesitation towards -the forest. At my second call I heard a rather loud noise in a clump of -trees; the shrubs parted, and my horse galloped up and gladly rubbed its -intelligent head against my shoulder. I amply returned the caresses the -faithful companion of my adventures bestowed on me, and then returned -to the cavern, where my saddle was. An hour later, mounted on my good -horse, I bent my steps toward houses. My journey was a long one, owing -to my state of weakness and prostration, and when I reached Sonora the -news I heard almost drove me mad. Don Sylva de Torrés had been killed -in the fight with the Apaches, as was probably his daughter, for no -one could tell me anything about her. For a month I hovered between -life and death; but God in His wisdom, doubtless, had decided that I -should escape once again. When hardly convalescent, I dragged myself to -the house of the only man competent of giving me precise and positive -information about what I wanted to learn. This man refused to recognize -me, although I had kept up intimate relations with him for many years. -When I told him my name he laughed in my face, and when I insisted, -he had me expelled by his peons, telling me that I was mad, that Don -Martial was dead, and I an impostor. I went away with rage and despair -in my heart. As if they had formed an agreement, all my friends to whom -I presented myself refused to recognize me, so thoroughly was the report -of my death believed, and it had been accepted by them as a certainty. -All the efforts I attempted to dissipate this alarming mistake, and -prove the falsehood of the rumour were in vain, for too many persons -were interested in it being true, on account of the large estates I -possessed; and also, I suppose, through a fear of injuring the man to -whom I first applied--the only living relation of the Torrés family, -who, through his high position, has immense influence in Sonora. What -more need I tell you, my friend? Disgusted in every way, heartbroken -with grief, and recognising the inutility of the efforts I made -against the ingratitude and systematic bad faith of those with whom I -had to deal, I left the town, and, mounting my horse, returned to the -desert, seeking the most unknown spots and the most desolate regions in -which to hide myself and die whenever God decrees that I have suffered -sufficiently, and recalls me to Him." - -After saying this the Tigrero was silent, and his head sunk gloomily on -his chest. - -"Brother," Valentine said gently to him, slightly touching his shoulder -to attract his attention, "you have forgotten to tell me the name of -that influential person who had you turned out of his house, and treated -you as an impostor." - -"That is true," Don Martial answered; "his name is Don Sebastian -Guerrero, and he is military governor of the province of Sonora." - -The hunter quickly started to his feet with an exclamation of joy. - -"Don Martial," he said, "you may thank God for decreeing that we should -meet in the desert, in order that the punishment of this man should be -complete." - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE COMPACT. - - -Don Martial gazed at the hunter in amazement. - -"What do you mean?" he asked him. "I don't understand you." - -"You will soon do so, my friend," Valentine answered. "How long have you -been roaming about this neighbourhood?" - -"Nearly two months." - -"In that case you are well acquainted, I presume, with the mountains -among which we are at this moment?" - -"There is not a tree or a rock whose exact position I cannot tell, nor a -wild beast trail which I have not followed." - -"Good: are we far from a spot called the 'Fort of the Chichimèques?'" - -The Tigrero reflected for a moment. - -"Do you know by what Indians these mountains are inhabited?" he at -length asked. - -"Yes, by poor wretches who call themselves the Root-Eaters, and whom the -hunters and trappers designate by the name of the 'Worthy of Pity.' They -are, I believe, timid, harmless creatures, a species of incomplete men, -in whom brutal instincts have stifled the intellect; however, I only -speak of them from hearsay, for I never saw one of the poor devils." - -"You are perfectly well informed about them, and they are what you -depict them. I have often had opportunities of meeting them, and have -lamented the degree of brutalization into which this hapless race has -fallen." - -"Permit me to remark that I do not see what connection can exist between -this unhappy tribe and the information I ask of you." - -"There is a very great one. Since I have been roaming about these -mountains you are the first man of my own colour with whom I have -consented to enter into relations. The Root-Eaters have neither history -nor traditions. Their life is restricted to eating, drinking, and -sleeping, and I have not learned from them any of the names given to the -majestic peaks that surround us. Hence, though I perfectly well know the -spot to which you refer, unless you describe it differently, it will be -impossible for me to tell you its exact position." - -"That is true; but what you ask of me is very awkward, for this is the -first time I have visited these parts, and it will be rather difficult -for me to describe a place I am not acquainted with. Still, I will try. -There is, not far from here, I believe, a road which traverses the Rocky -Mountains obliquely, and runs from the United States to Santa Fe; at a -certain spot this road must intersect another which leads to California." - -"I am perfectly well acquainted with the roads to which you refer, and -the caravans of emigrants, hunters, and miners follow them in going to -California, or returning thence." - -"Good! At the spot where these two roads cross they form a species -of large square, surrounded on all sides by rocks that rise to a -considerable height. Do you know the place I mean?" - -"Yes," the Tigrero answered. - -"Well, about two gunshots from this square is a track winding nearly in -an east-south-east course, along the side of the mountains. This track, -at first so narrow that a horse even passes with difficulty, gradually -widens till it reaches a species of esplanade, or terrace, if you like -it better, which commands an extensive prospect, while on its edge -are the remains of barbarous erections, which can, however, be easily -recognized as an ancient parapet. This terrace is called the 'Fort of -the Chichimèques,' though for what reason I cannot tell you." - -"I know no more than you do on that head, although I can now assure -you that I am perfectly acquainted with the place to which you refer, -and have often camped there on stormy nights, because there is a deep -cavern, excavated by human hands, and divided into several passages, -every turning of which I know, and which has offered me a precious -shelter during those frightful tempests which, at intervals, overthrow -the face of nature in these regions." - -"I was not aware of the existence of this grotto," the hunter said, -with a glad start, "and I thank you for having told me of it; it will -be very useful for the execution of the plans I have formed. Are we any -great distance from this terrace?" - -"In a straight line, not more than five or six miles, and, if it were -day, I could show it to you; but as we must ride round to reach the -caravan road, which we are obliged to follow in order to reach the -tracks, we have about three hours' ride before us." - -"That is a trifle, for I was afraid I had lost my way in these -mountains, which are strange to me. I am delighted to find that my old -experience has not failed me this time, and that my hunter's instincts -have not deceived me." - -While saying this, Valentine had risen to explore the clearing. The -storm had ceased, the wind had swept away the clouds, the deep blue sky -was studded with brilliant stars, and the moon profusely shed its rays, -which imparted a fantastic appearance to the landscape by casting the -shadows of the lofty trees athwart the snow, whose pallid carpet spread -far as eye could see. - -"'Tis a magnificent night," the hunter said, after carefully examining -the sky for some moments. "It is an hour past midnight, and I do not -feel the slightest inclination to sleep. Are you fatigued?" - -"I am never so," the Tigrero answered, with a smile. - -"All right: in that case you are like myself, a thorough wood ranger. -What do you think of a ride in this magnificent moonlight?" - -"I think that after a good supper and an interesting conversation -nothing so thoroughly restores the balance of a man's thoughts as a -night ride in the company of a friend." - -"Bravo! that is what I call speaking. Now, as every ride to be -reasonable should have an object, we will go, if you have no objection, -as far as the Fort of the Chichimèques." - -"I was about to propose it; and, as we ride along, you will tell me in -your turn what imperious motive compelled you to come to these unknown -regions, and what the project is to which you alluded." - -"As for that," the hunter said, with a knowing smile, "I cannot satisfy -you; at any rate not for the present, as I wish you to have the pleasure -of a surprise. But be easy, I will not put your patience to too long a -trial." - -"You will act as you think proper, for I trust entirely to you. I know -not why, but I am persuaded, either through a sentiment or sympathy, -that in doing your own business you will be doing mine at the same time." - -"You are nearer the truth at this moment than you perhaps imagine, so be -of good cheer, brother." - -"The happy meeting has already made a different man of me," the Tigrero -said, as he rose. - -The hunter laid his hand on his shoulder. "One moment," he said to -him; "before leaving this bivouac, where we met so providentially, -let us clearly agree as to our facts, so as to avoid any future -misunderstanding." - -"Be it so," Don Martial answered. "Let us make a compact in the Indian -fashion, and woe to the one who breaks it." - -"Well said, my friend," Valentine remarked, as he drew his knife from -his belt. "Here is my navaja, brother; may it serve you as it has done -me to avenge your wrongs and mine." - -"I receive it in the face of that Heaven which I call as witness of the -purity of my intentions. Take mine in exchange, and one half my powder -and bullets, brother." - -"I accept it as a thing belonging to me, and here is half my ammunition -for you; henceforth we cannot fire at one another, all is in common -between us. Your friends will be my friends, and you will point out your -enemies to me, so that I may aid you in your vengeance. My horse is -yours." - -"Mine belongs to you, and in a few moments I will place it at your -service." - -Then the two men, leaning shoulder to shoulder, with clasped hands, eyes -fixed on heaven, and outstretched arm, uttered together the following -words: - -"I take God to witness that of my own free will, and without -reservation, I take as my friend and brother the man whose hand is at -this moment pressing mine. I will help him in everything he asks of -me, without hope of reward, ready by day and night to answer his first -signal, without hesitation, and without reproach, even if he asked me -for my life. I take this oath in the presence of God, who sees and -hears me and may He come to my help in all I undertake, and punish me -if I ever break my oath." - -There was something grand and solemn in this simple act, performed by -these two powerful men, beneath the pallid moonbeams, and in the heart -of the desert, alone, far from all human society, face to face with -God, confiding in each, and seeming thus to defy the whole world. After -repeating the words of the oath, they kissed each other's lips in turn, -then embraced, and finally shook hands again. - -"Now let us be off, brother," Valentine said; "I confide in you as in -myself; we shall succeed in triumphing over our enemies, and repaying -them all the misery they have caused us." - -"Wait for me ten minutes, brother; my horse is hidden close by." - -"Go; and during that time I will saddle mine, which is henceforth yours." - -Don Martial hurried away, leaving Valentine alone. - -"This time," he muttered, "I believe that I have at length met the man I -have been looking for so long, and whom I despaired to find; with him, -Curumilla, and Belhumeur, I can begin the struggle, for I am certain I -shall not be abandoned or treacherously surrendered to the enemy I wish -to combat." - -While indulging after his wont in this soliloquy, the hunter had lassoed -his horse, and was busily engaged in saddling it. He had just put the -bit in its mouth, when the Tigrero re-entered the clearing, mounted on -a magnificent black steed. - -Don Martial dismounted. - -"This is your horse, my friend," he said. - -"And this is yours." - -The exchange thus effected, the two men mounted, and left the clearing -in which they had met so strangely. The Tigrero had told no falsehood -when he said that a metamorphosis had taken place in him, and that -he felt a different man. His features had lost their marble-like -rigidity; his eyes were animated, and no longer burned with a sombre and -concentrated fire. Even though his glances were still somewhat haggard, -their expression was more frank and, before all, kinder; he sat firm and -upright in the saddle, and, in a word, seemed ten years younger. - -This unexpected change had not escaped the notice of the all-observing -Frenchman, and he congratulated himself for having effected this moral -cure, and saved a man of such promise from the despair which he had -allowed to overpower him. - -We have already said that it was a magnificent night. For men like -our characters, accustomed to cross the desert in all weathers, the -ride in the darkness was a relaxation rather than a fatigue. They rode -along side by side, talking on indifferent topics--hunting, trapping, -expeditions against the Indians--subjects always pleasing to wood -rangers, while rapidly advancing towards the spot they wished to reach. - -"By-the-bye," Valentine all at once said, "I must warn you, brother, -that if you are not mistaken, and we are really following the road to -the Fort of the Chichimèques, we shall probably meet several persons -there; they are friends of mine, with whom I have an appointment, and I -will introduce them to you; for reasons you will speedily learn, these -friends followed a different road from mine, and must have been waiting -for some time at the place of meeting." - -"I do not care who the persons are we meet, as they are friends of -yours," the Tigrero answered; "the main point is that we make no -mistake." - -"On my word, I confess my incompetence, so far as that is concerned; -this is the first time I have ventured into the Rocky Mountains, where -I hope never to come again, and so I deliver myself entirely into your -hands." - -"I will do my best, although I do not promise positively to lead you to -the place you want to reach." - -"Nonsense!" the hunter said with a smile; "two places like the one I -have described to you can hardly be found in these parts, picturesque -and diversified though they be, and it would be almost impossible to -lose our way." - -"At any rate," the Tigrero answered, "we shall soon know what we have to -depend on, for we shall be there within half an hour." - -The sky was beginning to grow paler; the horizon was belted by wide, -pellucid bands, which assumed in turn every colour of the rainbow. In -the flashing uncertain light of dawn, objects were invested with a -more fugitive appearance, although, on the other hand, they became more -distinct. - -The adventurers had passed the crossroads, and turned into a narrow -track, whose capricious windings ran along rocks, which were almost -suspended over frightful abysses. The riders had given up all attempts -to guide their horses, and trusted to their instinct; they had laid -their bridles on their necks, leaving them at liberty to go where they -pleased--a prudent precaution, which cannot be sufficiently recommended -to travellers under similar circumstances. - -All at once a streak of light illumined the landscape, and the sun rose -radiant and splendid; behind them the travellers still had the shadows -of night, while before them the snowy peaks of the mountains--were -glistening in the sun. - -"Well," the hunter exclaimed, "we can now see clearly, and I hope that -we shall soon perceive the Fort of the Chichimèques." - -"Look ahead of you over the jagged crest of that hill," the Tigrero -answered, stretching out his arm; "that is the terrace to which I am -leading you." - -The hunter stopped, for he felt giddy, and almost ready to fall off his -horse. About two miles from him, but separated from the spot where he -stood by an impassable canyon, an immense esplanade stretched out into -space in the shape of a _voladero_; that is to say, in consequence of -one of those earthquakes so common in these regions, the base of the -mountain had been undermined, while the crest remained intact, and hung -for a considerable distance above a valley, apparently about to fall at -any moment; the spectacle was at once imposing and terrific. - -"Heaven forgive me!" the hunter muttered, "but I really believe I was -frightened; I felt all my muscles tremble involuntarily. Oh! I will not -look at it again; let us get along, my friend." - -They set out again, still following the windings of the tract, which -gradually grew steeper; and, after a very zigzag course, reached the -terrace half an hour later. - -"This is certainly the place," the hunter exclaimed, as he pointed to -the decaying embers of a watch fire. - -"But your friends--?" the Tigrero asked. - -"Did you not tell me there was a grotto close by?" - -"I did." - -"Well, they doubtless concealed themselves in the grotto when they heard -us approaching." - -"That is possible." - -"It is true: look." - -The hunter discharged his gun, and at the sound three men appeared, -though it was impossible to say whence they came. They were Belhumeur, -Black Elk, and Eagle-head. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE TRAVELLERS. - - -We must now leave Valentine and his companions on the esplanade of the -Fort of the Chichimèques, where we shall join them again however, in -order to attend to other persons destined to play an important part in -the narrative we have undertaken to tell the reader. - -About five or six leagues at the most from the spot where Valentine and -the Tigrero met, a caravan, composed of some ten persons, had halted on -the same night, and almost at the same moment as the hunter, in a narrow -valley completely sheltered from the wind by dense clumps of trees. - -The caravan was comfortably lodged on the bank of a running stream, the -mules had been unloaded, a tent raised, fires lighted; and when the -animals were hobbled, the travellers began to make preparations for -their supper. - -These travellers, or at any rate one of them, appeared to belong to the -highest class, for the rest were only servants or Indian peons. Still -the dress of this person was most simple, but his stiff manner, his -imposing demeanour, and haughty air, evidenced the man long accustomed -to give his orders without admitting refusal or even the slightest -hesitation. - -He had passed his fiftieth year; he was tall, well-built, and his -movements were extremely elegant. His broad forehead, his black eyes -large and flashing, his long gray moustaches and his short hair gave him -a military appearance, which his harsh, quick way of speaking did not -contradict. Although he affected a certain affability of manner, he at -times involuntarily betrayed himself, and it was easy to see that the -modest garb of a Mexican Campesino which he wore was only a disguise. -Instead of withdrawing beneath the tent prepared for him, this person -had sat down before the fire with the peons, who eagerly made way for -him with evident respect. - -Among the peons two men more especially attracted attention. One was a -redskin, the other a half-breed, with a crafty, leering manner, who, for -some reason or another, stood on more familiar terms with his master; -his comrades called him Ño Carnero, and at times gave him the title of -Capataz. - -Ño Carnero was the wit of the caravan, the funny fellow--ever ready to -laugh and joke, smoking an eternal cigar, and desperately strumming -an insupportable guitar. Perhaps, though, he concealed beneath this -frivolous appearance a more serious character and deeper thoughts than -he would have liked to display. - -The redskin formed the most complete contrast with the capataz; he was -a tall, thin, dry man, with angular features and gloomy and sad face, -illumined by two black eyes deeply set in their orbit, but constantly -in motion, and having an undefinable expression; his aquiline nose, his -wide mouth lined with large teeth as white as almonds, and his thin -pinched up lips, composed a far from pleasant countenance, which was -rendered still more lugubrious by the obstinate silence of this man, who -only spoke when absolutely compelled, and then only in monosyllables. -Like all the Indians, it was impossible to form any opinion as to his -age, for his hair was black as the raven's wing, and his parchment skin -had not a single wrinkle; at any rate he seemed gifted with no ordinary -strength. - -He had engaged at Santa Fé to act as guide to the caravan, and, with -the exception of his obstinate silence, there was every reason to be -satisfied with the way in which he performed his duty. The peons called -him The Indian, or sometimes José--a mocking term employed in Mexico to -designate the Indios mansos; but the redskin appeared as insensible to -compliments as to jokes, and continued coldly to carry out the task he -had imposed on himself. When supper was ended, and each had lit his pipe -or cigarette, the master turned to the capataz. - -"Carnero," he said to him, "although in such frightful weather, and in -these remote regions, we have but little to fear from horse thieves, -still do not fail to place sentries, for we cannot be too provident." - -"I have warned two men, _mi amo_," the capataz replied; "and, moreover, -I intend to make my rounds tonight; eh, José," he added, turning to -the Indian, "are you certain you are not mistaken, and that you really -lifted a trail?" - -The redskin shrugged his shoulders disdainfully, and continued his quiet -smoke. - -"Do you know to what nation the sign you discovered belongs?" the master -asked him. - -The Indian gave a nod of assent. - -"Is it a formidable nation?" - -"Crow," the redskin answered hoarsely. - -"Caray!" the master exclaimed, "if they are Crows, we shall do well to -be on our guard, for they are the cleverest plunderers in the Rocky -Mountains." - -"Nonsense!" Carnero remarked with a grin of derision, "do not believe -what that man tells you; the mezcal has got into his head, and he is -trying to make himself of importance; Indians tell as many lies as old -women." - -The Indian's eye flashed; without deigning to reply he drew a moccasin -from his breast, and threw it so adroitly at the capataz as to strike -him across the face. Furious at the insult so suddenly offered him by a -man whom he always considered inoffensive, the half-breed uttered a yell -of rage, and rushed knife in hand on the Indian. - -But the latter had not taken his eye off him, and by a slight movement -he avoided the desperate attack of the capataz; then, drawing himself -up, he caught him round the waist, raised him from the ground as easy -as he would have done a child, and hurled him into the fire, where he -writhed for a moment with cries of pain and impotent passion. When he -at length got out of the fire, half scorched, he did not think of -renewing the attack, but sat down growling and directing savage glances -at his adversary, like a turnspit punished by a mastiff. The master -had witnessed this aggression with the utmost indifference, and having -picked up the moccasin, which he carefully examined-- - -"The Indian is right," he said, coldly, "this moccasin bears the mark of -the Crow nation. My poor Carnero, you must put up with it, for though -the punishment you received was severe, I am forced to allow that it was -deserved." - -The redskin had begun smoking again as quietly as if nothing had -occurred. - -"The dog will pay me for it with his traitor face," the capataz growled, -on hearing his master's warning. "I am no man if I do not leave his body -as food for the crows he discovers so cleverly." - -"My poor lad," his master continued, with a jeer, "you had better forget -this affair, which I allow might be disagreeable to your self-esteem; -for I fancy you would not be the gainer by recommencing the quarrel." - -The capataz did not answer; he looked round at the spectators to select -one on whom he could vent his spite, without incurring any extreme risk; -but the peons were on their guard, and offered him no chance. He then, -with an air of vexation, made a signal to two men to follow him, and -left the circle grumbling. - -The head of the caravan remained for a few minutes plunged in serious -thought; he then withdrew beneath his tent, the curtain of which fell -behind him; and the peons lay down on the ground, one after the other, -with their feet to the fire, and carefully wrapped up in their serapes, -and fell asleep. - -The Indian then took the pipe stem from his mouth, looked searchingly -around him, shook out the ashes, passed the pipe through his belt, -and, rising negligently, went slowly to crouch at the foot of a tree, -though not before he had taken the precaution of wrapping himself -in his buffalo robe, a measure which the sharp air rendered, if not -indispensable, at any rate necessary. - -Ere long, with the exception of the sentries leaning on their guns and -motionless as statues, all the travellers were plunged in deep sleep, -for the capataz himself, in spite of the promise he had made his master, -had laid himself across the entrance of the tent. - -An hour elapsed ere anything disturbed the silence that prevailed in the -camp. All at once a singular thing happened. The buffalo robe, under -which the Indian was sheltered, gently rose with an almost imperceptible -movement, and the redskin's face appeared, darting glances of fire into -the gloom. In a moment the guide raised himself slowly along the trunk -of the tree against which he had been lying, embraced it with his feet -and hands, and with undulating movements resembling those of reptiles, -he left the ground, and raised himself to the first branches, among -which he disappeared. - -This ascent was executed with such well-calculated slowness that it had -not produced the slightest sound. Moreover, the buffalo robe left at -the foot of the tree so well retained its primitive folds, that it was -impossible to discover, without touching it, that the man it sheltered -had left it. - -When the guide was thoroughly concealed among the leaves, he remained -for a moment motionless; though not in order to regain his breath after -having made such an expenditure of strength, for this man was made of -iron, and fatigue had no power over him. But he probably wished to look -about him, for with his body bent forward, and his eyes fixed on space, -he inhaled the breeze, and his glances seemed trying to pierce the gloom. - -Before selecting as his resting place the foot of the tree in which he -was now concealed, the guide had assured himself that this tree, which -was very high and leafy, was joined at about two-thirds of its height by -other trees, which gradually rose along the side of the mountain, and -formed a wall of verdure. - -After a few minutes' hesitation, the guide drew in his belt, placed his -knife between his teeth, and with a certainty and lightness of movement -which would have done honour to a monkey, he commenced literally hopping -from one tree to another, hanging by his arms, and clinging to the -creepers, waking up, as he passed, the birds, which flew away in alarm. - -This strange journey lasted about three-quarters of an hour. At length -the guide stopped, looked attentively around him, and gliding down the -trunk of the tree on which he was, reached the ground. The spot where -he now found himself was a rather spacious clearing, in the centre of -which blazed an enormous fire, serving to warm forty or fifty redskins, -completely armed and equipped for war. Still, singular to say, the -majority of these Indians, instead of their long lances and the bows -they usually employ, carried muskets of American manufacture, which -led to the supposition that they were picked warriors and great braves -of their nation; and this, too, was further proved by the numerous -wolf tails fastened to their heels, an honourable insignia which only -renowned warriors have the right to assume. - -This detachment of redskins was certainly on the war trail, or at any -rate on a serious expedition, for they had with them neither dogs nor -squaws. In spite of the slight care with which the Indians are wont to -guard themselves at night, the free and deliberate manner in which the -guide entered their encampment proved that he was expected by these -warriors, who evinced no surprise at seeing him, but, on the contrary, -invited him with hospitable gestures to take a seat at their fire. The -guide sat down silently, and began smoking the calumet which the chief -seated by his side immediately offered him. This chief was still a young -man, his marked features displaying the utmost craft and boldness. After -a rather lengthened interval, doubtless expressly granted the visitor to -let him draw breath and warm himself, the young chief bowed to him and -addressed him deferentially. - -"My father is welcome among his sons; they were impatiently awaiting his -arrival." - -The guide responded to this compliment with a grimace, in all -probability intended to pass muster for a smile. The chief continued:-- - -"Our scouts have carefully examined the encampment of the Yoris, and the -warriors of the Jester are ready to obey the instructions given them by -their great sachem, Eagle-head. Is my father Curumilla satisfied with -his red children?" - -Curumilla (for the guide was no other than the reader's old acquaintance -the Araucano chief) laid his right hand on his chest, and uttered with a -guttural accent the exclamation, "Ugh!" which was with him a mark of the -greatest joy. - -The Jester and his warriors had been too long acquainted with Curumilla -for his silence to seem strange to them; hence they yielded without -repugnance to his mania, and carefully giving up the hope of getting a -syllable out of his closed lips, began with him a conversation in signs. - -We have already had occasion, in a previous work, to mention that the -redskins have two languages, the written and the sign language. The -latter, which has among them attained a high perfection, and which all -understand, is usually employed when hunting, or on expeditions, when -a word pronounced even in a low voice may reveal the presence of an -ambuscade to the enemy, whether men or beasts, whom they are pursuing, -and desire to surprise. - -It would have been interesting, and even amusing, for any stranger -who had been present at this interview to see with what rapidity the -gestures and signs were exchanged between these men, so strangely lit -up by the ruddy glow of the fire, and who resembled, with their strange -movements, their stern faces, and singular attitudes, a council of -demons. At times the Jester, with his body bent forward, and emphatic -gestures, held a dumb speech, which his comrades followed with the most -sustained attention, and which they answered with a rapidity that words -themselves could not have surpassed. - -At length this silent council terminated. Curumilla raised his hand to -heaven, and pointed to the stars, which were beginning to grow dim, and -then left the circle. The redskins respectfully followed him to the -foot of the tree by the aid of which he had entered their camp. When he -reached it, he turned round. - -"May the Wacondah protect my father!" the Jester then said. "His sons -have thoroughly understood his instructions, and will follow them -literally. The great pale hunter will have joined his friends by this -hour, and he is doubtless awaiting us. Tomorrow Koutonepi will see his -Comanche brothers. At the _enditha_ the camp will be raised." - -"It is good," Curumilla answered, and saluting for the last time the -warriors, who bowed respectfully before him, the chief seized the -creeping plants, and, raising himself by the strength of his wrists, in -a second he reached the branches, and disappeared in the foliage. - -The journey the Indian had made was very important, and needed to be so -for him to run such great risks in order to have an interview at this -hour of the night with the redskins; but as the reader will soon learn -what were the consequences of this expedition, we deem it unnecessary to -translate the sign language employed during the council, or explain the -resolutions formed between Curumilla and the Jester. - -The chief recommenced his aerial trip with the same lightness and the -same good fortune. After a lapse of time comparatively much shorter than -that which he had previously employed, he reached the camp of the white -men. The same silence prevailed in its interior; the sentinels were -still motionless at their post, and the watch fires were beginning to -expire. - -The chief assured himself that no eye was fixed on him--that no spy -was on the watch; and, feeling certain of not being perceived, he slid -silently down the tree and resumed the place beneath the buffalo robe -which he was supposed not to have left during the night. - -At the moment when, after taking a final glance around, the Indian chief -disappeared beneath his robe, the capataz, who was lying athwart the -entrance of the hut, gently raised his head, and looked with strange -fixity of glance at the place occupied by the redskin. - -Had a suspicion been aroused in the Mexican's mind? Had he noticed the -departure and return of the chief? Presently he let his head fall again, -and it would have been impossible to read on his motionless features -what were the thoughts that troubled him. - -The remainder of the night passed tranquilly and peacefully. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMÈQUES. - - -The sun rose; its beams played on the trembling yellow leaves of the -trees, and tinged them with a thousand shades of gold and purple. The -birds, cozily nestled in the bushes, struck up their matin carol; -the awakening of nature was as splendid and imposing as it is in all -mountainous countries. - -The leader of the caravan left his tent and gave orders to strike the -camp. The tent was at once folded up, the mules were loaded, and, so -soon as the horses were saddled, the party started without waiting for -the morning meal, for they generally breakfasted at the eleven o'clock -halt, while resting to let the great heat of the day subside. - -The caravan advanced along the road from Santa Fé to the United States, -at a speed unusual under such circumstances. A military system was -affected which was imposing, and, indeed, indispensable in these -regions, infested not merely by numerous bands of predatory Indians, but -also traversed by the pirates of the prairie, more dangerous bandits -still, who were driven by their enemies beyond the pale of the law, and -who, ambushed at the turnings of roads or in broken rocks, attacked the -caravans as they passed, and pitilessly massacred the travellers, after -plundering them of all they possessed. - -About twenty yards ahead of the caravan rode four men, with their rifles -on their thigh, preceded by the guide, who formed the extreme vanguard. -Next came the main body, composed of six well-armed peons, watching -the mules and baggage, under the immediate orders of the chief of the -caravan. Lastly, the capataz rode about thirty paces in the rear, having -under his orders four resolute men armed to the teeth. - -Thus arranged to face any event, the caravan enjoyed a relative -security, for it was not very probable that the white or red pillagers, -who were doubtless watching it, would dare to attack in open day -seventeen resolute and trained men. At night the horse thieves, who -glide silently in the darkness during the sleep of the travellers, and -carry off horses and baggage, were more formidable. - -Still, either through accident, or the prudential measures employed -by the chief of the caravan, since they had left Santa Fé, that is -to say for more than a month, the Mexicans had not seen an Indian, -or been alarmed. They had journeyed--apparently at least--with as -much tranquillity as if, instead of being in the heart of the Rocky -Mountains, they were moving along the roads in, the interior of Sonora. -This security, however, while augmenting their confidence, had not -caused their prudential measures to be neglected; and their chief, whom -this unusual leniency on the part of the villains who prowl about these -countries alarmed, redoubled his vigilance and precautions to avoid a -surprise and a collision with the plunderers. - -The discovery, made on the previous day by the guide, of an Indian -Crow trail--the most determined thieves in these mountains--added to -his apprehensions; for he did not hide from himself that, if he were -compelled to fight, in spite of the courage and discipline of his peons, -the odds would be against him, when fighting men thoroughly acquainted -with the country, and who would only attack him with numbers sufficient -to crush his band, however desperate the resistance offered might be. - -When he left the camp, the chief of the caravan, suffering perhaps from -a gloomy foreboding, spurred his horse and joined the Indian, who, as we -said, was marching alone in front, examining the bushes, and apparently -performing all the duties of an experienced guide. Curumilla, though he -heard the hurried paces of the Mexican's horse, did not turn round, but -continued trotting along carelessly on the sorry mule allotted to him -for this expedition. - -When the chief of the caravan joined him and brought his horse alongside -the Indian, instead of speaking to him, he attentively examined him -for some minutes, trying to pierce the mask of stoicism spread over -the guide's features, and to read his thoughts. But, after a rather -lengthened period, the Mexican was constrained to recognize the -inutility of his efforts, and to confess to himself the impossibility of -guessing the intentions of this man, for whom, in spite of the service -he had rendered the caravan, he felt an instinctive aversion, and whom -he would like to force, at all risks, to make a frank explanation. - -"Indian," he said to him in Spanish, "I wish to speak with you for a -few moments on an important subject, so be good enough to put off your -usual silence for awhile and answer, like an honest man, the questions I -propose asking you." - -Curumilla bowed respectfully. - -"You engaged with me, at Santa Fé, to lead me, for the sum of four -ounces, of which you received one half in advance, to lead me, I say, -safely to the frontiers of Upper Mexico. Since you have been in my -service I must allow that I have only had reason to praise the prudence -in which you have performed your duties; but we are at this moment in -the heart of the Rocky Mountains, that is to say, we have reached the -most dangerous part of our long journey. Two days ago you lifted the -trail of Crow Indians, very formidable enemies of caravans, and I want -to consult with you as to the means to employ to foil the snares in -which these Indians will try to catch us, and to know what measures you -intend to employ to avoid a meeting with them; in a word, I want to know -your plan of action." - -The Indian, without replying, felt in a bag of striped calico thrown -over his shoulder, and produced a greasy paper, folded in four, which he -opened and offered the Mexican. - -"What is this?" the latter asked, as he looked and ran through it. "Oh, -yes, certainly; your engagement. Well, what connection has this with the -question I asked you?" - -Curumilla, still impassive, laid his finger on the paper, at the last -paragraph of the engagement. - -"Well, what then?" the Mexican exclaimed, ill-humouredly. "It is said -there, it is true, that I must trust entirely to you, and leave you at -liberty to act as you please for the common welfare, without questioning -you." - -The Indian nodded his head in assent. - -"Well, _voto a Brios!_" the Mexican shouted, irritated by this studied -coolness, in spite of his resolve to curb his temper, and annoyed at -the man's obstinate refusal to answer, "what proves to me that you are -acting for our common welfare, and that you are not a traitor?" - -At this word traitor, so distinctly uttered by the Mexican, Curumilla -gave a tiger glance at the speaker, while his whole body was agitated by -a convulsive tremor: he uttered two or three incomprehensible guttural -exclamations, and ere the Mexican could suspect his intentions, he -was seized round the waist, lifted from the saddle, and hurled on the -ground, where he lay stunned. - -Curumilla leapt from his mule, drew from his belt two gold ounces, -hurled them at the Mexican, and then, bounding over the precipice -that bordered the road, glided to the bottom with headlong speed and -disappeared at once. - -What we have described occurred so rapidly that the peons who remained -behind, although they hurried up at full speed to their master's -assistance, arrived too late on the scene to prevent the Indian's flight. - -The Mexican had received no wound; the surprise and violence of the -fall had alone caused his momentary stupor; but almost immediately -he regained his senses, and comprehending the inutility and folly of -pursuit at such a spot with such an adversary, he devoured his shame and -passion, and, remounting his horse, which had been stopped, he coolly -gave orders to continue the journey, with an internal resolution that, -if ever the opportunity offered, he would have an exemplary revenge for -the insult he had received. - -For the moment he could not think of it, for more serious interests -demanded all his attention; it was evident to him that, in branding the -guide as a traitor, he had struck home, and that the latter, furious at -seeing himself unmasked, had proceeded to such extremities in order to -escape punishment, and find means to fly safely. - -The situation was becoming most critical for the chief of the caravan; -he found himself abandoned and left without a guide, in unknown regions, -doubtless watched by hidden foes, and exposed at any moment to an -attack, whose result could but be unfavourable to himself and his -people; hence he must form a vigorous resolve in order to escape, were -it possible, the misfortunes that menaced the caravan. - -The Mexican was a man endowed with an energetic organization, brave to -rashness, whom no peril, however great it might be, had ever yet had -the power to make him blench; in a few seconds he calculated all the -favourable chances left him, and his determination was formed. The road -he was following at this moment was assuredly the one frequented by the -caravans proceeding from the United States to California or Mexico; and -there was no other road but this in the mountains. Hence the Mexican -resolved to form an entrenched camp, at the spot that might appear to -him most favourable, fortify himself there as well as he could, and -await the passing of the first caravan, which he would join. - -This plan was exceedingly simple, and in addition very easy to execute. -As the travellers possessed an ample stock of provisions and ammunition, -they had no reason to fear scarcity, while, on the other hand, seven or -eight days in all probability would not elapse without the appearance of -a fresh caravan; and the Mexican believed himself capable of resisting, -behind good entrenchments, with his fifteen peons, any white or red -plunderers who dared to attack him. - -So soon as this resolution was formed, the Mexican at once prepared -to carry it out. After having briefly and in a few words explained -to his disheartened peons what his intentions were, and recommending -them to redouble their prudence, he left them, and pushed on in order -to reconnoitre the ground and select the most suitable spot for the -establishment of the camp. - -He started his horse at a gallop and soon disappeared in the windings -of the road, but, through fear of a sudden attack, he held his gun in -his hand, and his glances were constantly directed around him, examining -with the utmost care the thick chaparral which bordered the road on the -side of the mountain. - -The Mexican went on thus for about two hours, noticing that the further -he proceeded the narrower and more abrupt the track became. Suddenly -it widened out in front of him, and he arrived at an esplanade, across -which the road ran, and which was no other than the Fort of the -Chichimèques, previously described by us. - -The Mexican's practised eye at once seized the advantages of such a -position, and, without loss of time in examining it in detail, he turned -back to rejoin the caravan. The travellers, though marching much more -slowly than their chief, had, however, pushed on, so that he rejoined -them about three-quarters of an hour after the discovery of the terrace. - -The flight of the guide had nearly demoralized the Mexicans, more -accustomed to the ease of tropical regions, and whose courage the -snows of the Rocky Mountains had already weakened, if not destroyed. -Fortunately for the chief's plans he had over his servants that -influence which clever minds know how to impose on ordinary natures, and -the peons, on seeing their master gay and careless about the future, -began to hope that they would escape better than they had supposed from -the unlucky position in which they found themselves so suddenly placed. -The march was continued tranquilly; no suspicious sign was discovered, -and the Mexicans were justified in believing that, with the exception of -the time they would be compelled to lose in awaiting a new guide, the -flight of the Indian would entail no disagreeable consequences on them. - -Singularly enough, Carnero the capataz seemed rather pleased than -annoyed at the sudden disappearance of the guide. Far from complaining -or deploring the delay in the continuance of the journey he laughed at -what had happened, and made an infinitude of more or less witty jests -about it, which in the end considerably annoyed his master, whose joy -was merely on the surface, and who, in his heart, cursed the mishap -which kept them in the mountains, and exposed him to the insults of the -plunderers. - -"Pray, what do you find so agreeable in what has happened that you -are or affect to be so merry, Ño Carnero?" he at length asked with -considerable ill temper. - -"Forgive me, mi amo," the capataz answered humbly; "but you know the -proverb, 'What can't be cured must be endured,' and consequently I -forgot." - -"Hum!" said the master, without any other reply. - -"And besides," the capataz added, as he stooped down to the chief, and -almost whispering, "however bad our position may be, is it not better to -pretend to consider it good?" - -His master gave him a piercing look, but the other continued -imperturbably with an obsequious smile-- - -"The duty of a devoted servant, mi amo, is to be always of his master's -opinion, whatever may happen. The peons were murmuring this morning -after your departure, and you know what the character of these brutes -is; if they feel alarmed we shall be lost, for it will be impossible -for us to get out of our position; hence I thought that I was carrying -out your views by attempting to cheer them up, and I feign a gaiety -which, be assured, I do not feel, under the supposition that it would be -agreeable to you." - -The Mexican shook his head dubiously, but the observations of the -capataz were so just, the reasons he offered appeared so plausible, -that he was constrained to yield and thank him, as he did not care to -alienate at this moment a man who by a word could change the temper of -his peons, and urge them to revolt instead of adhering to their duty. - -"I thank you, Ño Carnero," he said, with a conciliatory air. "You -perfectly understood my intentions. I am pleased with your devotion to -my person, and the moment will soon arrive, I hope, when it will be in -my power to prove to you the value I attach to you." - -"The certainty of having done my duty, now as ever, is the sole reward I -desire, mi amo," the capataz answered, with a respectful bow. - -The Mexican gave him a side glance, but he restrained himself, and -it was with a smile that he thanked the capataz for the second time. -The latter thought it prudent to break off the interview here, and, -stopping his horse, he allowed his master to pass him. The chief of the -caravan was one of those unhappily constituted men who after having -passed their life in deceiving or trying to deceive those with whom the -accidents of an adventurous existence have brought them into contact, -had reached that point when he had no confidence in anyone, and sought, -behind the most frivolous words, to discover an interested motive, which -most frequently did not exist. Although his capataz Carnero had been -for a long time in his service, and he granted him a certain amount of -familiarity--although he appeared to place great confidence in him, and -count on his devotion, still, in his heart, he not only suspected him, -but felt almost confident, without any positive proof, it is true, that -he was playing a double game with him, and was a secret agent of his -deceivers. - -What truth there might be in this supposition, which held a firm hold of -the Mexican's mind, we are unable to say at present; but the slightest -actions of his capataz were watched by him, and he felt certain that he -should, sooner or later, attain a confirmation of his doubts; hence, -while feigning the greatest satisfaction with him, he constantly kept on -his guard, ready to deal a blow, which would be the sharper because it -had been so long prepared. - -A little before eleven A.M. the caravan reached the terrace, and it was -with a feeling of joy, which they did not attempt to conceal, that the -peons recognized the strength of the position selected by their master -for the encampment. - -"We shall stop here for the present," the Mexican said. "Unload the -mules, and light the fires. Immediately after breakfast we will begin -entrenching ourselves in such a way as to foil all the assaults of -marauders." - -The peons obeyed with the speed of men who have made a long journey and -are beginning to feel hungry; the fires were lighted in an instant, and -a few moments later the peons vigorously attacked their maize tortillas, -their tocino, and their cecina--those indispensable elements of every -Mexican meal. When the hunger of his men was appeased, and they had -smoked their cigarettes, the chief rose. - -"Now," he said, "to work." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE SURPRISE. - - -The position which the leader of the caravan fancied he had been the -first to discover, and where he had made up his mind to halt, was -admirably selected to establish an intrenched camp--strong enough to -resist for months the attacks of the Indians and the pirates of the -prairies. The immense voladero hovering at a prodigious height above -the precipices, and guarded on the right and left by enormous masses of -rock, offered such conditions of security that the peons regained all -their merry carelessness, and only regarded the mysterious flight of -the guide as an accident of no real importance, and which would have no -other consequences for them but to make their journey somewhat longer -than the time originally arranged. - -It was, hence, with well promising ardour that they rose on receiving -their chiefs command, and prepared under his directions to dig the -trench which was intended to protect them from a surprise. This trench -was to be bordered by a line of tall stakes, running across the open -space between the rocks, which gave the sole access to the terrace. - -The headquarters were first prepared, that is to say, the tent was -raised, and the horses hobbled near pickets driven into the ground. - -At the moment when the leader proceeded with several peons armed with -picks and spades toward the entrance, with the probable intention of -marking the exact spot where the trench was to be dug, the capataz -approached him obsequiously, and said with a respectful bow-- - -"Mi amo, I have an important communication to make to you." - -His master turned and looked at him with ill-concealed distrust. - -"An important communication to make to me?" he repeated. - -"Yes, mi amo," the capataz replied with a bow. - -"What is it? Speak, but be brief, Carnero, for, as you see, I have no -time to lose." - -"I hope to gain you time, excellency," the capataz said with a silent -smile. - -"Ah, ah, what is it?" - -"If you will allow me to say two words aside, excellency, you will know -at once." - -"Diablo! a mystery, Master Carnero?" - -"Mi amo, it is my duty to inform no one but your excellency of my -discovery." - -"Hum! then you have discovered something?" - -The other bowed, but made no further answer. - -"Very well then," his master continued, "come this way: go on, -muchachos," he added, addressing the peons, "I will rejoin you in a -moment." - -The latter went on, while the leader retired for a few paces, followed -by the capataz. When he considered that he had placed a sufficient -distance between himself and the ears of his people, he addressed the -half-breed again-- - -"Now, I suppose, Master Carnero," he said, "you will see no -inconvenience in explaining yourself?" - -"None at all, excellency." - -"Speak then, in the fiend's name, and keep me no longer in suspense." - -"This is the affair, excellency: I have discovered a grotto." - -"What?" his master exclaimed, in surprise, "you have discovered a -grotto?" - -"Yes, excellency." - -"Where?" - -"Here." - -"Here! that's impossible." - -"It's the fact, excellency." - -"But where?" - -"There," he said, stretching out his arm, "behind that mass of rocks." - -A suspicious look flashed from beneath his master's eyelashes. - -"Ah!" he muttered, "that is very singular, Master Carnero; may I ask in -what manner you discovered this grotto, and what motive was so imperious -as to take you among those rocks, when you were aware how indispensable -your presence was elsewhere?" - -The capataz was not affected by the tone in which these words were -uttered; he answered calmly, as if he did not perceive the menace they -contained-- - -"Oh! mi amo, the discovery was quite accidental, I assure you." - -"I do not believe in chance," his master answered "but go on." - -"When we had finished breakfast," the capataz continued, soothingly, "I -perceived, on rising, that several horses, mine among them, had become -unfastened, and were straying in different directions." - -"That is true," his master muttered, apparently answering his own -thoughts rather than the remarks of the capataz. - -The latter gave an almost imperceptible smile. "Fearing," he continued, -"lest the horses might be lost, I immediately started in pursuit. They -were easy to catch, with the exception of one, which rambled among the -rocks, and I was obliged to follow it." - -"I understand; and so it led you to the mouth of the grotto." - -"Exactly, mi amo; I found it standing at the very entrance, and had no -difficulty in seizing the bridle." - -"That is indeed most singular. And did you enter the grotto, Master -Carnero?" - -"No, mi amo. I thought it my duty to tell you of it first." - -"You were right. Well, we will enter it together. Fetch some torches -of ocote wood, and show us the way. By the by, do not forget to bring -weapons, for we know not what men or beasts we may find in caverns thus -opening on a high road." This he said with a sarcastic air, which caused -the capataz to tremble inwardly in spite of his determined indifference. - -While he executed his master's orders, the latter selected six of his -peons, on whose courage he thought he could most rely, ordered them to -take their muskets, and, bidding the others to keep a good watch, but -not begin anything till he returned, he made a signal to the capataz -that he was ready to follow him. Ño Carnero had followed with an evil -eye the arrangements made by his master, but probably did not deem it -prudent to risk any remark, for he silently bowed his head, and walked -toward the pile of rocks that masked the entrance of the grotto. - -These granite blocks, piled one on top of the other, did not appear, -however, to have been brought there by accident, but, on the contrary, -they appeared to have belonged in some early and remote age to a -clumsy but substantial edifice, which was probably connected with the -breastwork still visible on the edge of the voladero on the side of the -precipice. - -The Mexicans crossed the rocks without difficulty, and soon found -themselves before the dark and frowning entrance of the cavern. The -chief gave his peons a signal to halt. - -"It would not be prudent," he said, "to venture without precautions into -this cavern. Prepare your arms, muchachos, and keep your eyes open; at -the slightest suspicious sound, or the smallest object that appears, -fire. Capataz, light the torches." - -The latter obeyed without a word; the leader of the caravan assured -himself at a glance that his orders had been properly carried out; then -taking his pistols from his belt, he cocked them, took one in each hand, -and said to Carnero-- - -"Take the lead," he said, with a mocking accent; "it is only just that -you should do the honours of this place which you so unexpectedly -discovered. Forward, you others, and be on your guard," he added, -turning to the peons. - -The eight men then went into the cavern at the heels of the capataz, who -raised the torches above his head, doubtless in order to cast a greater -light on surrounding objects. - -This cavern, like most of those found in these regions, seemed to have -been formed through some subterranean convulsion. The walls were lofty, -dry, and covered at various spots with an enormous quantity of night -birds, which, blinded and startled by the light of the torches, took -to flight with hoarse cries, and flew heavily in circles round the -Mexicans. The latter drove them back with some difficulty by waving -their muskets. But the further they got into the interior of the cavern, -the greater the number of these birds became, and seriously encumbered -the visitors by flapping them with their long wings, and deafening them -with their discordant cries. - -They thus reached a rather large hall, into which several passages -opened. Although the Mexicans were a considerable distance from the -entrance, they found no difficulty in breathing, owing doubtless to -imperceptible fissures in the rock, through which the air was received. - -"Let us halt here for a moment," the leader said, taking a torch from -the capataz; "this hall, if the cavern has several issues as I suppose, -will afford us a certain refuge: let us examine the spot where we are." - -While speaking he walked round the hall, and convinced himself, by -certain still existing traces of man's handiwork, that at a former -period the cave had been inhabited. The peons seated themselves idly -on the blocks of granite scattered here and there, and with their guns -between their legs carelessly followed their master's movements. - -The latter felt the suspicions aroused in his mind by the sudden nature -of Carnero's discovery gradually dissipated. He felt certain that for -many years no human being had entered this gloomy cave, for none of -those flying traces which man always leaves in his passage, whatever -precaution he may take to hide his presence, had been discovered by him. -All, on the contrary, evidenced the most utter abandonment and solitude, -and hence the leader of the caravan was not indisposed to retire to this -spot, which was so easy of defence, instead of throwing up an intrenched -camp, always a long and difficult task, and which had the inconvenience -of leaving men and animals exposed to a deadly climate for individuals -accustomed to the heat of the Mexican temperature. - -"While continuing his explanations, the leader conversed with the -capataz in a more friendly manner than he had done for a long time, -congratulating him on his discovery, and explaining his views, to which -the latter listened with his usual crafty smile. All at once he stopped -and listened--the two men were at this moment at the entrance of one of -the passages to which we have referred. - -"Listen," he said to the capataz, as he laid his hand on his arm to -attract his attention, "do you not hear something?" - -The latter bent his body slightly forward, and remained motionless for -some seconds. - -"I do," he said, drawing himself up, "it sounds like distant thunder." - -"Is it not? or, perhaps, the rolling of subterranean waters." - -"Madre de Dios! mi amo," the capataz exclaimed gleefully. "I can swear -that you are right. It would be a piece of luck for us to find water in -the cave, for it would add greatly to our security, as we should not be -obliged to lead our horses, perhaps, a long distance to drink." - -"I will assure myself at once if there is any truth in the supposition. -The noise proceeds from that passage, so let us follow it. As for our -men they can wait for us here; we have nothing to fear now, for if the -pirates or the Indians were ambuscaded to surprise us, they would not -have waited so long before doing so, and hence the assistance of our -peons is unnecessary." - -The capataz shook his head doubtfully. - -"Hum," he said, "the Indians are very clever, mi amo; and who knows what -diabolical projects those redskins revolve in their minds? I believe it -would be more prudent to let the peons accompany us." - -"Nonsense," said his master, "it is unnecessary; we are two resolute -and well-armed men; we have nothing to fear, I tell you. Besides, if, -against all probability, we are attacked, our men will hear the noise -of the conflict, will run to our help, and will be at our side in an -instant." - -"It is not very probable, I grant, that we have any danger to apprehend; -still I considered it my duty as a devoted servant, mi amo, to warn -you, because in the event of Indians being hidden in these passages, -of whose windings we are ignorant, we should be caught like rats in a -trap, with no possibility of escape. Two men, however brave they may -be, are incapable of resisting twenty or thirty enemies, and you know -that Indians never attack white men save when they are almost certain of -success." - -These words seemed to produce a certain impression on the leader of -the caravan. He remained silent for a moment, apparently reflecting -seriously on what he had heard, but he soon raised his head, and shook -it resolutely. - -"Nonsense! I do not believe in the danger you seem to apprehend; after -all, if it really exist, it will be welcome. Wait here, my men, and be -ready to join us at the first signal," he added, addressing the peons, -who answered by rising and collecting in the middle of the hall. - -Their master left them a torch to light them during his exploration, -took the other, and turning to Carnero, said, "Let us go." - -They then entered the passage. It was very narrow, and ran downwards -with a steep incline, so that the two men, who were unacquainted with -its windings, were obliged to walk with the most serious attention, and -carefully examining all the spots they passed. - -The further they proceeded, the more distinct the sound of water became; -it was evident that at a very short distance from the spot where they -were, perhaps but a few steps, there ran one of those subterranean -streams so frequently found in natural caverns, and which are generally -rivers swallowed up by an earthquake. - -All at once, without being warned by the slightest sound, the leader of -the caravan felt himself seized round the waist, his torch was snatched -roughly from his hand, and extinguished against a rock, and himself -thrown down and securely bound, before he was able to attempt the -slightest resistance, so sudden and well calculated had the attack been. -Carnero had been thrown down at the same time as his master, and bound. - -"Cowards, demons!" the Mexican yelled, as he made a superhuman effort to -rise and burst his bonds; "show yourself, at least, so that I may know -with whom I have to deal." - -"Silence! General Don Sebastian Guerrero," a rough voice said to him, -whose accent made him start, in spite of all his courage; "resign -yourself to your fate, for you have fallen into the power of men who -will not liberate you till they have had a thorough explanation with -you." - -General Guerrero, whom the readers of the "Indian Chief" will doubtless -remember, made a movement of impotent rage, but he was silent; he -perceived that the originators of the snare of which he was a victim -were implacable enemies, as they had not feared to call him by his name, -and more formidable than the pirates of the prairies or the redskins, -with whom he at first thought he had to deal. Moreover, he thought that -the darkness that surrounded him would soon cease, and then he would see -his enemies face to face, and recognize them. - -But his expectations were deceived. When his conquerors had borne him to -the hall, where his peons were disarmed and guarded by peons, he saw, -by the light of the torch that faintly illumined the hall, that among -the men who surrounded him few wore the Mexican costume, it was true, -but had their faces hidden by a piece of black crape, forming a species -of mask, and so well fastened round their necks, that it was entirely -impossible to recognize them. - -"What do these men want with me?" he muttered as he let his head fall on -his chest sadly. - -"Patience!" said the man who had already spoken, and who overheard the -general's remark, "you will soon know." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE EXPLANATION. - - -There was a short delay, during which the conquerors appeared to be -consulting together in a low voice; while doing so, an Indian chief, who -was no other than the Jester, entered the hall, and uttered a few words -in Comanche. - -The general and the capataz were again picked up by the redskins, -and at a sign from one of the masked men, transported on to the -voladero. The appearance of the terrace had entirely changed during the -general's short absence, and offered at this moment a most singular and -picturesque scene. - -One hundred and fifty to two hundred Indians, mostly armed with guns, -and ranged in good order round the terrace, the centre of which remained -free, faced the cavern, having among them the disarmed Mexicans, the -baggage, horses, and mules of the caravan. - -The tent still stood solitary in the middle of what Was to have been -the encampment; but the curtain Was raised, and a horseman was standing -in front of it, as if to defend the entrance, and protect the precious -articles it contained from pillage. - -At the moment when the party emerged from the cave, and appeared on the -terrace, the horsemen drawn up at the entrance of the defile opened -out to the right and left, leaving a passage for a small troop of men -dressed in hunters' garb, and whom it was easy to recognize as white -men, by the colour of their skin, although it was bronzed and freckled -by the sun; two ladies, mounted on ambling mules, were in the midst of -them. - -This troop of strangers was composed of eight persons altogether, -leading with them two baggage mules. As the men were disarmed, and -walked on foot amid some fifty Indian horsemen, they had, in all -probability, been surprised by a party of redskins, and made prisoners -in some skilfully-arranged ambuscade. - -The two ladies, one of whom was of a certain age while the other -appeared scarce eighteen, and who might be supposed closely related, -through the resemblance of their features, were treated with an -exquisite politeness they were far from expecting by the Indians, and -conducted to the tent, which they were requested to enter. The curtain -was then lowered, to conceal them from the glances of the Indians, whose -expression, although respectful, must necessarily be disagreeable to -them. - -The new comers, at a signal from their conductors, ranged themselves -with the other prisoners; they were powerful men with marked features, -whom the Indians had probably not given a chance to fight, otherwise -they looked as if they would sooner be killed than yield. - -They displayed neither fear nor depression, but their flashing looks -and frowning brows showed that though they silently submitted to their -fate, they were far from being resigned, and would eagerly seize the -first opportunity to regain the liberty of which they had been so -treacherously deprived. - -Still, in spite of the determination they had doubtless formed to remain -indifferent as to what took place around them, they soon felt themselves -interested more than they liked in the strange drama which they -involuntarily witnessed, and whose gloomy preparations were of a nature -to arouse their curiosity to an eminent degree. - -At the base of the rocks several blocks of granite had been arranged -in a semicircle, thus forming a resemblance to that terrible Vehmic -tribunal, which in olden times held its formidable assize on the banks -of the Rhine, before which kings and even emperors were at times -summoned to appear, and the resemblance was rendered more striking by -the care the assailants took in hiding their features. - -Two masked men took their seats on the granite blocks, and the Indians -who carried the general laid him on the ground in front of this species -of tribunal. The person who seemed to be the president of this sinister -assembly gave a sign, the prisoner's bonds at once fell off, and he -found himself once more able to move his limbs. - -The general drew himself up, crossed his hands on his chest, threw his -body back haughtily, raised his head and looked at the men who had -apparently constituted themselves his judges with a glance of withering -contempt. - -"What do you want with me, bandits?" he said; "enough of this; these -insolent manoeuvres will not alarm me." - -"Silence!" the president said coldly, "it is not your place to speak -thus." - -Then he remarked to the Jester, who was standing a few paces from him-- - -"Bring up the other prisoners, old and new; everybody must hear what is -going to be said to this man." - -The Jester gave a signal to the warriors; some of them dismounted, -approached the prisoners, and, after loosening the cord that bound the -capataz, they led him, as well as the peons and the prisoners of the -second caravan, in front of the tribunal, where they ranged themselves -in line. Then, at a signal from the Jester, the horsemen closed up round -the white men, who were thus hemmed in by Comanche warriors. - -The spectacle offered by this assemblage of men, with their marked -features and quaint garb, grouped without any apparent regularity on -this voladero, which was suspended as if artificially over a terrible -gulf, and leant against lofty mountains, with their abrupt flanks and -snowy crest, was not without a certain grandeur. - -A deadly silence brooded at this moment over the esplanade; all chests -were heaving, every heart was oppressed. Redskins, hunters, and -Mexicans all understood instinctively that a grand drama was about to -be performed; invisible streams could be heard hoarsely murmuring in -the cavern, and at times a gust of wind whistled over the heads of the -horsemen. - -The prisoners, affected by a vague and undefined terror, waited with -secret anxiety, not knowing what fate these ferocious victors reserved -for them, but certain that, whatever the decision formed about them -might be, prayers would be impotent to move them, and that they would -have to endure the atrocious torture to which they would doubtless be -condemned. - -The president looked round the assembly, rose in the midst of a profound -silence, stretched out his arm towards the general, who stood cold and -passionless before him, and, after darting at him a withering glance -through the holes made in the crape that concealed his face, he said in -a grave, stern, and impressive voice-- - -"Caballeros, remember the words you are about to hear, listen to them -attentively, so as to understand them, and not to be in error as to our -intentions. In the first place, in order to reassure you and restore -your entire freedom of mind, learn that you have not fallen into the -hands of Indians thirsting for your blood, or of pirates who intend to -plunder you first and assassinate you afterwards. No, you need not feel -the slightest alarm. When you have acted as impartial witnesses, and are -able to render testimony of what you have seen, should it be required, -you will be at liberty to continue your journey, without the forfeiture -of a single article. The men seated on my right and left, although -masked, are brave and honest hunters. The day may perhaps arrive when -you will know them; but reasons, whose importance you will speedily -recognize, compel them to remain unknown for the present. I was bound -to say this, señores, to you, against whom we bear no animosity, before -coming to a final settlement with this man." - -One of the travellers belonging to the second caravan stepped forward; -he was a young man, with elegant and noble features, tall and well built. - -"Caballero," he answered, in a distinct and sympathizing voice, "I thank -you, in the name of my companions and myself, for the reassuring words -you have spoken. I know how implacable the laws of the desert are, and -have ever submitted to them without a murmur; but permit me to ask you -one question." - -"Speak, caballero." - -"Is it an act of vengeance or justice you are about to carry out?" - -"Neither, señor. It would be an act of folly or weakness if the -inspirations of the heart could be blamed or doubted by honourable and -loyal men." - -"Enough of this, señor," the general said, haughtily; "and if you are, -as you assert, an honourable man, show me your face, in order that I -may know with whom I have to deal." - -The president shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. - -"No, Don Sebastian," he said, "for in that case the game would not be -even between us. But be patient, caballero, and soon you will learn, if -not who I am, at any rate the motives which have made me your implacable -foe." - -The general attempted to smile, but in spite of himself the smile died -away on his lips, and though his haughty bearing seemed to defy his -unknown enemies, a secret apprehension contracted his heart. - -There was a silence for some moments, during which no other sound was -audible save that of the breeze whistling through the denuded branches -and the distant murmur Of the invisible torrents in the quebradas. - -The president looked round with flashing eyes, and folding his arms on -his chest at the same time, as he raised his head, he began speaking -again in a sharp, cutting voice, whose accents caused his hearers to -tremble involuntarily. And yet they were brave men, accustomed to the -terrible incidents of a desert life, and whom the most serious dangers -could not have affected. - -"Now listen, señores," he said, "and judge this man impartially; but -do not judge him according to prairie law, but in your hearts. General -Don Sebastian Guerrero, who is standing so bold and upright before -you at this moment, is one of the greatest noblemen of Mexico, a -_Cristiano viejo_ of the purest blood, descended in a direct line from -the Spanish Conquistadors. His fortune is immense, incalculable, and he -himself could not determine its amount. This man, by the mere strength -of his will, and the implacable egotism that forms the basis of his -character, has always succeeded in everything he has undertaken. Coldly -and resolutely ambitious, he has covered with corpses the bloody road -he was compelled to follow in order to attain his proposed object, and -he has done so without hesitation or remorse; he has looked on with a -smiling face, when his dearest friends and his nearest relations fell -by his side; for him nothing which men respect exists--faith and honour -are with him but empty sounds. He had a daughter, who was the perfection -of women, and he coldly lacerated that daughter's heart; he fatally -drove her to suicide, and the blood of the poor girl spirted on his -forehead, while he was triumphantly witnessing the legal murder of the -man she loved, and whose death he resolved on, because he refused to -palter with his honour, and aid this man in the infamous treachery he -was meditating. This human-faced tiger, this monster with the mocking, -sceptical face, you see, señores, has only one thought, one object, -one desire--it is, to attain the highest rank, even if, to effect it, -he were compelled to clamber over the panting corpses of his relations -and friends sacrificed to his ambition; and if he cannot carve out an -independent kingdom in this collapsing republic, which is called Mexico, -he wishes to seize, at least, on the supreme magistracy, and be elected -president. If this man's life merely comprised this egotistic ambition -and these infamous schemes to satisfy it, I should content myself -with despising, instead of hating him, and not being able to find an -excuse for him, I should forget him. But no; this man has done more--he -dared to lay hands on a man who was my friend, my brother, the Count -de Prébois Crancé, to whom I have already referred, señores, without -mentioning his name. Unable to conquer the count loyally, despairing of -winning him over to his shameful cause, he at first tried to poison him; -but, not having succeeded, and wishing to come to an end, he forgot that -his daughter, an angel, the sole creature who loved him, and implored -divine mercy for him, was the betrothed wife of the count, and that -killing him would be her condemnation to death. In his horrible thirst -for revenge, he ordered the judicial murder of my friend, and coldly -presided at the execution, not noticing, in the joyous deliverance of -his satisfied hatred, that his daughter had killed herself at his side, -and that he was trampling her corpse beneath his horse's feet. Such is -what this man has done; look at him well, in order to recognize him -hereafter; he is General Don Sebastian Guerrero, military governor of -Sonora." - -"Oh!" the audience said involuntarily, as they instinctively recoiled in -horror. - -"If this man is the ex-governor of Sonora," the hunter who had already -spoken said, in disgust "he is a wild beast, whom his ferocity has -placed beyond the pale of society, and it is the duty of honest men to -destroy him." - -"He must die! he must die!" the newcomers exclaimed. - -The general's peons were gloomy and downcast; they hung their heads -sadly, for they did not dare attempt to defend their master, and yet did -not like to accuse him. - -The general was still cool and unmoved; he was apparently calm, but a -fearful tempest was raging in his heart. His face was of an earthy and -cadaverous pallor; his brows were contracted till they touched, and his -violet lips were closed, as if he were making violent efforts not to -utter a word, and to restrain his fury from breaking out in insults. His -eyes flashed fire, and then his whole body was agitated by convulsive -movements, but he managed, through his self-command, to conquer his -emotion, and retain the expression of withering contempt, which he had -assumed since the beginning of this scene. - -Seeing that his accuser was silent, he took a step forward, and -stretched out his arm, as if he claimed the right of answering. But his -enemy gave him no time to utter a word. - -"Wait!" he shouted, "I have not said all yet; now that I have revealed -what you have done, I am bound to render the persons here present judges -not only of what I have done, but also of what I intend to do in future -against you." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A DECLARATION OF WAR. - - -The general shrugged his shoulders with a contemptuous smile. - -"Nonsense," he said, "you are mad, my fine fellow. I know now who -you are; your hatred of me has unconsciously discovered you. Remove -that veil which is no longer of any use; I know you, for, as you are -aware, hatred is clear-sighted. You are the French hunter whom I have -constantly met in my path to impede my projects, or overthrow my plans." - -"Add," the hunter interrupted, "and whom you will ever meet." - -"Be it so, unless I crush you beneath my heel like a noxious insect." - -"Ever so proud and so indomitable, do you not fear lest, exasperated by -your insults, I may forget the oath I have taken, and sacrifice you to -my vengeance?" - -"Nonsense," he replied, with a disdainful toss of his head, "you kill -me? that is impossible, for you are too anxious to enjoy your revenge to -stab me in a moment of passion." - -"That is true, this time you are right, Don Sebastian. I will not kill -you, because, however culpable you may be, I do not recognize the right -to do so. Blood does not wash out blood, it only increases the stain; -and I intend to take a more protracted vengeance on you than a stab or a -shot will grant us. Besides this, vengeance has already commenced." - -"Indeed!" the general said sarcastically. - -"Still," the hunter continued with some emotion, "as the vengeance -must be straightforward, I wish to give you, in the presence of all -these gentlemen, the proof that I fear you no more today than I did -when the struggle commenced between us. This veil which you reproach me -for wearing I am going to remove, not because you have recognized me, -but because I deem it unworthy of me to conceal my features from you -any longer. Brothers," he added, turning to his silent assistants, "my -mask alone must fall, retain yours, for it is important for my plans of -vengeance that you should remain unknown." - -The four men bowed their assent, and the hunter threw away the crape -that covered his features. - -"Valentine Guillois!" the general exclaimed; "I was sure of it." - -On hearing this celebrated name, the hunters of the second caravan made -a movement as if to rush forward, impelled either by curiosity or some -other motive. - -"Stay," the Frenchman shouted, stopping them by a quick wave of the -hand, "let me finish with this man first." - -They fell back with a bow. - -"Now," he continued, "we are really face to face. Well, listen patiently -to what still remains for me to tell you; and, perhaps, the assumed -calmness spread over your features will melt away before my words, like -the snow in the sunshine." - -"I will listen to you, because it is impossible for me to do otherwise -at this moment; but if you flatter yourself that you will affect me in -any way, I am bound to warn you that you will not succeed. The hatred I -feel for you is so thoroughly balanced by the contempt you inspire me -with, that nothing which emanates from you can move me in the slightest -degree." - -"Listen then," the hunter coldly continued; "when my unhappy friend -fell at Guaymas, in my paroxysm of grief I allow that I intended to -kill you; but reflection soon came, and I saw that it would be better -to let you live. Thanks to me, one week after the count's death, the -Mexican Government, not satisfied with disavowing your conduct publicly, -deprived you of your command, without inquiry, and refused, in spite of -your remonstrances, to explain to you the motives of their conduct." - -"Ah, ah," the general said, in a hissing but suppressed voice, "it was -to you, then, that I owe my recall?" - -"Yes, general, to me alone." - -"I am delighted to hear it." - -"You remained, then, in Sonora, without power or influence, hated and -despised by all, and marked on your forehead with that indelible brand -which God imprinted on Cain, the first murderer; but Mexico is a -blessed country, where ambitious men can easily fish in troubled waters, -when, like yourself, they are not restrained by any of those bonds of -honour, which too often fetter the genius of honest men. You could not -remain long bowed beneath the blow that had fallen on you, and you made -up your mind in a few days. You resolved to leave Sonora and proceed -to Mexico, where, thanks to your colossal fortune, and the influence -it would necessarily give you, you could carry on your ambitious -projects; by changing the scene, you hoped to cast the scandalous acts -of which you had been guilty into oblivion. Your preparations were soon -made--listen attentively, general, to this, for I assure you that I have -reached the most interesting part of my narration." - -"Go on, go on, señor," he replied carelessly, "I am listening to you -attentively; do not fear that I shall forget one of your words." - -"In spite of your affected indifference, señor, I will go on. As you -fancied, for certain reasons which to is unnecessary to remind you of, -that your enemies might try to lay some ambush for you, during the -long journey you were obliged to perform from Hermosillo to Mexico, -you thought it necessary to take the following precautions, the -inutility of some of which I presume that you have recognized by this -time. While, for the purpose of deceiving your enemies, you started -in disguise, and only accompanied by a few men, for California, in -order to return to Mexico across the Rocky Mountains; while you gave -questioners the fullest details of the road, you pretended to follow, -with your men--your real object was quite different. The man in whom -you placed your confidence, Don Isidro Vargas, a veteran of your War of -Independence, who had known you when a child, and whom you had converted -into your tool, took the shortest, and, consequently, most direct route -for the capital, having with him not only twelve mules loaded with gold -and silver, the fruit of your plunder during the period of your command, -but a more precious article still, the body of your unhappy daughter, -which you had embalmed, and which the captain had orders to inter with -your ancestors at your Hacienda del Palmar, which you left so long ago, -and to which you will, in all probability, never return. Your object -in acting thus was not only to divert attention from your ill-gotten -riches, but also to attract your enemies after yourself. Unfortunately -or fortunately, according as we regard the matter, I am an old hunter -so difficult to deceive that my comrades gave me long ago the glorious -title of the Trail-hunter, and hence, while everybody else was forming -speculations about you, I alone was not deceived, and guessed your plan." - -"Still, your presence here gives a striking denial to the assertion," -the general interrupted him, ironically. - -"You think so, señor, and that proves that you are not thoroughly -acquainted with me yet; but patience, I hope that you will, ere long, -appreciate me better. Moreover you have not reflected on the time that -has elapsed since your departure from Hermosillo." - -"What do you mean?" the general asked, with a sudden start of -apprehension. - -"I mean that before attacking you, I resolved to settle matters first -with the captain." - -"Ah!" - -"Well, general, it is my painful duty to inform you that four days -after he left Pitic, our brave friend Don Isidro, although an old -and experienced soldier, well versed in war stratagems, fell into an -ambuscade resembling the one into which you fell today, with this -exception----." - -"What exception?" the general asked, with greater interest than he would -have liked to display, for he was beginning to fear a catastrophe. - -"My men were so imprudent," the hunter continued, ironically, "as to -leave the captain the means of defending himself. The result was that he -died, bravely fighting to save the gold you had intrusted to him, and, -before all, the coffin containing your daughter's corpse." - -"Well, and I presume you plundered the caravan, and carried off the gold -and silver?" he asked, contemptuously. - -"You would most probably have acted thus under similar circumstances, -Don Sebastian," the hunter answered, giving him back insult for insult; -"but I thought it my duty to act differently. What could you expect? -I, a coarse, uneducated hunter, do not know how to plunder, for I did -not learn it when I had the honour to serve my own country, and I never -stood under your orders in Mexico. This is what I did: so soon as the -captain and the peons he commanded were killed--for the poor devils, I -must do them the justice of saying, offered a desperate resistance--I -myself, you understand, friend, I myself conveyed the money to your -Hacienda del Palmar, where it now remains in safety, as you can easily -assure yourself if you ever return to Palmar." - -The general breathed again, and smiled ironically. "Instead of blaming -you, señor," he said, "I, on the contrary, owe you thanks for this -chivalrous conduct, especially toward an enemy." - -"Do not be in such an hurry to thank me, caballero," the hunter -answered; "I have not told you all yet." - -These words were uttered with such an accent of gratified hatred, that -all the hearers, the general included, shuddered involuntarily, for they -understood that the hunter was about to make a terrible revelation, and -that the calmness he feigned concealed a tempest. - -"Ah," Don Sebastian murmured, "speak, I implore you, señor, for I am -anxious to know all the obligations I owe you." - -"Captain Don Isidro Vargas not only escorted the money I had conveyed to -Palmar," he said in a sharp, quick voice, "but there was also a coffin. -Well, general, why do you not ask me what has become of that coffin?" - -An electric shock ran through the audience on hearing the ironical -question so coldly asked by the hunter, whose eye, implacably fixed on -the general, seemed to flash fire. - -"What!" Don Sebastian exclaimed, "I can hardly think that you have -committed sacrilege?" - -Valentine burst into a loud and sharp laugh. "Your suppositions ever go -beyond the object. I commit sacrilege, oh, no! I loved the poor girl too -dearly when alive to outrage her after death. No, no, the betrothed of -my friend is sacred to me; but as, in my opinion, the assassin can have -no claim to the body of his victim, and you are morally your daughter's -murderer, I have robbed you of this body, which you are not worthy to -have, and which must rest by the side of him for whom she died." - -There was a moment's silence. The general's face, hitherto pale, assumed -a greenish hue, and his eyes were suffused with blood. Now and then he -made superhuman efforts to speak, which were unsuccessful, but at length -he yelled in a hoarse and hissing voice-- - -"It is not true; you have not done this. You cannot have dared to rob a -father of his child's body." - -"I have done it, I tell you," the hunter said coldly. "I have taken -possession of the body of your victim, and now you understand me; -never shall you know where this poor body rests. But this is only -the beginning of my vengeance. What I wish to kill in you is the soul -and not the body; and now begone, go and forget at Mexico, amid your -ambitious intrigues, the scene that has passed between us; but remember -that you will find me in your path everywhere and ever. Farewell till we -meet again." - -"One last word," the general exclaimed, affected by the deepest despair, -"restore me my daughter's body; she was the only human creature I ever -loved." - -The hunter regarded him for a moment with an undefinable expression, and -then said in a harsh and coldly-mocking voice, "Never." - -Then, turning away, he re-entered the grotto, followed by his -assistants. The general tried to rush after him, but the Indians -restrained him, and, in spite of his resistance, compelled him to stop. - -Don Sebastian, who was the more overwhelmed by the last blow because -it was unexpected, stood for a moment like a man struck by lightning, -with pendant arms and seared eyes. At last a heartrending sob burst from -his bosom, two burning tears sprung from his eyes, and he rolled like a -corpse on the ground. - -The very Indians, those rough warriors to whom pity is a thing unknown, -felt moved by this frightful despair, and several of them turned away -not to witness it. - -In the meanwhile the Jester had ordered the peons to saddle the horses -and load the mules. The general was placed by two servants on a horse, -without appearing to notice what was done to him, and a few minutes -later the caravan left the Fort of the Chichimèques, and passed -unimpeded through the silent ranks of the Indians, who bowed as it -passed. - -"When the Mexicans had disappeared in the windings of the road, -Valentine emerged from the grotto, and walked courteously up to the -hunters of the second caravan. - -"Forgive me," he said to them, "not the delay I have occasioned you, -but the involuntary alarm I caused you; but I was compelled to act as I -did. You are going to Mexico, where I shall soon be myself, and it is -possible that I may require your testimony some day." - -"A testimony which will not be refused, my dear countryman," the hunter -who had hitherto spoken gracefully answered. - -"What!" the hunter exclaimed in amazement, "are you French?" - -"Yes, and all my companions are so, too. We have come from San -Francisco, where, thanks to Providence, we have amassed a very -considerable fortune, which we hope to double in the Mexican capital. -My name is Antoine Rallier, and these are my brothers, Edward and -Augustus; the two ladies who accompany us are my mother and sister, and -if you know nobody in Mexico, come straight to me, sir, and you will be -received, not only as a friend, but as a brother." - -The hunter pressed the hand his countryman offered him. - -"As this is the case," he said, "I will not let you go alone, for these -mountains are infested by bandits of every description, whom you may not -escape, but with my protection you can pass anywhere." - -"I heartily accept the offer; but why do you not come with us to Mexico?" - -"That is impossible for the present," the hunter answered pensively; -"but be at your ease. I shall not fail to demand the fulfilment of your -promise." - -"You will be welcome, friend, for we have been acquainted for a long -time, and we know that you have ever honourably represented France in -America." - -Two hours later the Fort of the Chichimèques had returned to its usual -solitude; white men and Indians had abandoned it for ever. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -MEXICO. - - -We will now leap over about two months and, leaving the Rocky Mountains, -invite the reader to accompany us to the heart of Mexico. - -The Spanish Conquistadors selected with admirable tact the sites on -which they founded the cities destined to insure their power, and become -at a later date the centres of their immense trade, and the entrepôts of -their incalculable wealth. - -Even at the present day, although owing to the negligence of the -Creoles and their continual fratricidal Wars, combined with the sudden -earthquakes, these cities are half ruined, and the life which the -powerful Spanish organization caused to circulate in them has died out, -these cities are still a subject of surprise to the traveller accustomed -to the morbid crowding of old European cities. He regards with awe -these vast squares, surrounded by cloister-like arcades; these broad -and regular streets through which refreshing waters continually flow; -these shady gardens in which thousands of gaily-plumaged birds twitter; -these bold bridges; these majestically simple buildings, whose interiors -contain incalculable wealth. And yet, we repeat, the majority of these -cities are only the shadow of themselves. They seem dead, and are only -aroused by the furious yells of an insurrection, to lead for a few -days a feverish existence under the excitement of political passions. -But so soon as the corpses are removed, and water has washed away the -blood stains, the streets revert to their solitude, the inhabitants -hide themselves in their carefully-closed houses, and all becomes again -gloomy, mournful, and silent, only to be galvanized afresh by the hoarse -murmurs of an approaching revolt. - -If we except Lima, the splendid "Ciudad de los Reyes," Mexico is -probably the largest and handsomest of all the cities that cover the -soil of ancient Spanish America. - -From whatever point we regard it, Mexico affords a magnificent view; -but if you wish to enjoy a really fairy-like sight, ascend at sunset one -of the towers of the cathedral, whence you will see the strangest and -most picturesque panorama imaginable unrolled at your feet. - -Mexico certainly existed before the discovery of America, and our -readers will probably pardon a digression showing how the foundation of -the city is narrated by old chroniclers. - -In the year of the death of Huetzin, King of Tezcuco, that is to say, -the "spot where people stop," because it was at this very place that the -migration of the Chichimèques terminated, the Mexicans made an eruption -into the country, and reached the place where Mexico now stands, at the -beginning of the year 1140 of our era. This place then formed part of -the dominions of Aculhua, Lord of Azcapotzalco. - -According to paintings and the old chronicles, these Indians came from -the empires of the province of Xalisco. It appears that they were of the -same race as the Toltecs, and of the family of the noble Huetzin, who -with his children and servants escaped during the destruction of the -Toltecs, and was residing at that period at Chapultepec, which was also -destroyed at a later date. - -It is recorded that he traversed with them the country of Michoacán, -and took refuge in the province of Atzlán, where he died, and had for -his successors Ozolopan, his son, and Aztlal, his grandson, whose heir -was Ozolopan II. The latter, remembering the country of his ancestors, -resolved to return thither with his entire nation, which was already -called Mezetin. After many adventures and combats, they at length -reached the banks of a great lake covered with an infinitude of islands, -and as the recollection of their country had been traditionally kept up -among them, they at once recognized it, though not one of them had even -seen it before. Too weak to resist the people that surrounded them, or -to establish themselves in the open country, they founded on several of -the islands, which they connected together, a town, which they called -after themselves, Mexico, and which at a later date was destined to be -the capital of a powerful empire. - -Although the Mexicans arrived on the banks of the lake in 1140, it was -not till two years later that the American Venice began to emerge from -the bosom of the waters. - -We have dwelt on these details in order to correct an error made by a -modern author, who attributes to the Aztecs the foundation of this city, -to which he gives the name of Tenochtitlan, instead of Temixtetlan, -which is the correct name.[1] - -Like Venice, its European sister, Mexico was only a collection of -cabins, offering a precarious shelter to wretched fishermen, who were -incessantly kept in a state of alarm by the attacks of their neighbours. -The Mexicans, at first scattered over a great number of small islands, -felt the necessity of collecting together in order to offer a better -resistance. By their patience and courage they succeeded in building -houses, raised on piles, and employing the mud of the lagoons, held -together by branches of trees, they created the _chinampas_, or floating -gardens, the most curious in the world, on which they sowed vegetables, -pimento, and maize, and thus, with the aquatic birds they managed to -catch on the lake, they contrived to be entirely independent of their -neighbours. - -Almost destroyed during the obstinate fights between the natives and the -Spaniards, Mexico, four years after the conquest, was entirely rebuilt -by Fernando Cortez. But the new city in no way resembled the old one. -Most of the canals were filled up, and paved over; magnificent palaces -and sumptuous monasteries rose as if by enchantment, and the city became -entirely Spanish. - -Mexico has been so frequently described by more practised pens than -ours, and we, in previous works, have had such frequent occasions -to allude to it, that we will not attempt any description here, but -continue our story without further delay. - -It was October 12th, 1854, two months, day for day, had elapsed since -the unfortunate Count de Prébois Crancé, victim of an iniquitous -sentence, had honourably fallen at Guaymas beneath the Mexican -bullets.[2] A thick fog had hung over the city for the whole day, -changing at times into a fine drizzle, which after sunset became -sharper, although a heavy fog still prevailed. However, at about eight -in the evening the rain ceased to fall, and the stagnant waters of the -lake began to reflect a few particles of brighter sky. The snow-clad -summit of Iztaczihuatl, or the White Woman, feebly glistened in the pale -watery moonbeams, while Popocatepetl remained buried in the clouds.[3] - -The streets and squares were deserted, although the night was not yet -far advanced; for the loungers and promenaders, driven away by the -weather, had returned to their homes. A deep silence brooded over the -city, whose lights expired one after the other, and only at lengthened -intervals could be heard on the greasy pavement the footsteps of the -serenos, or watchmen, who performed their melancholy walk, with the -indifferent air peculiar to that estimable corporation. At times a few -discordant sounds, escaping from the velorios were borne along on the -breeze; but that was all--the city seemed asleep. - -Half past nine was striking by the cathedral clock at the moment when -a dull sound resembling the rustling of reeds shaken by the wind was -audible on the gigantic highway joining the city to the main land. This -sound soon became more distinct, and changed into the trampling of -horses, which was deadened by the damp air and the ground softened by -a lengthened rain. A black mass emerged from the fog, and two horsemen -wrapped in thick cloaks stood out distinctly in the moonlight. - -These horsemen seemed to have made a long journey; their steeds, -covered with mud, limped at each step, and only advanced with extreme -difficulty. They at length reached a low house, through whose dirty -panes a doubtful light issued, which showed that the inhabitants were -still awake. - -The horsemen stopped before this house, which was an inn, and without -dismounting, one of them gave the door two or three kicks, and called -the host in a loud sharp voice. The latter, doubtless disturbed by this -unusual summons at so improper an hour, was in no hurry to answer, and -would have probably left the strangers for some time in the cold, if the -man who had kicked, probably tired of waiting, had not thought of an -expeditious means of obtaining an answer. - -"_Voto a Brios!_" he shouted, as he drew a pistol from his holster, and -cocked it, "since this dog is resolved not to open, I will send a bullet -through his window." - -This menace had been scarce uttered ere the door opened as if by -enchantment, and the landlord appeared on the threshold. This man -resembled landlords in all countries; he had, like them, a sleek and -crafty look, but at this moment his obsequiousness badly concealed a -profound terror, evidenced by the earthy pallor of his face. - -"Hola, caballero," he said, with a respectful bow, "have a little -patience, if you please. Caramba! how quick you are; it is plain to -see that you are forasteros, and not acquainted with the custom of our -country." - -"No matter who I am," the stranger answered sharply; "are you a -landlord--yes or no?" - -"I have that honour, caballero," the host remarked, with a deeper bow -than the first. - -"If you are so, scoundrel," the stranger exclaimed angrily, "by what -right do you, whose duty it is to be at the orders of the public, dare -to keep me waiting thus at your door?" - -The landlord had a strong inclination to get into a passion, but the -resolute tone of the man who addressed him, and, above all, the pistol -he still held in his hand, urged him to prudence and moderation; hence -he answered with profound humility-- - -"Believe me, señor, that if I had known what a distinguished caballero -did me the honour of stopping before my humble dwelling, I should have -hastened to open." - -"A truce to such impertinent remarks, and open the door." - -The landlord bowed without replying this time, and whistled a lad, -who came to help him in holding the travellers' horses; the latter -dismounted, and entered the inn, while their tired steeds were led to -the corral by the boy. - -The room into which the travellers were introduced was low, black, and -furnished with tables and benches in a filthy state, and mostly broken, -while the floor of stamped earth was greasy and uneven. Above the bar -was a statuette of the Virgin de la Soledad, before which burned a -greasy candle. In short, this inn had nothing attractive or comfortable -about it, and seemed to be a velorio of the lowest class, apparently -used by the most wretched and least honourable ranks of Mexican society. - -A glance was sufficient for the travellers to understand the place to -which accident had led them, still they did not display any of the -disgust which the sight of this cut-throat den inspired them with. They -seated themselves as comfortably as they could at a table, and the one -who had hitherto addressed mine host went on, while his silent companion -leaned against the wall, and drew the folds of his cloak still higher up -his face. - -"Look here," he said, "we are literally dying of hunger, patron; could -you not serve us up a morsel of something? I don't care what it is in -the shape of food." - -"Hum!" said the host with an embarrassed air, "it is very late, -caballero, and I don't believe I have even a maize tortilla left in the -whole house." - -"Nonsense," the traveller replied, "I know all about it, so let us deal -frankly with each other; give me some supper, for I am hungry, and we -will not squabble about the price." - -"Even if you paid me a piastre for every tortilla, excellency, I really -could not supply you with two," the landlord replied, with increased -constraint. - -The traveller looked at him fixedly for a moment or two, and then laid -his hand firmly on his arm, and pulled him toward the table. - -"Now, look here, Ño Lusacho," he said to him curtly, "I intend to pass -two hours in your hovel, at all risks; I know that between this and -eleven o'clock you expect a large party, and that all is prepared to -receive them." - -The landlord attempted to give a denial, but the traveller cut him short. - -"Silence," he continued, "I wish to be present at the meeting of these -persons; of course I do not mean them to see me; but I must not only -see them, but hear all they say. Put me where you please, that is your -concern; but as any trouble deserves payment, here are ten ounces for -you, and I will give you as many more when your visitors have gone, and -I assure you that what I ask of you will not in any way compromise -you, and that no one will ever know the bargain made between us--you -understand me, I suppose? Now, I will add, that if you obstinately -refuse the arrangement I offer----" - -"Well, suppose I do?" - -"I will blow out your brains," the traveller said distinctly; "my friend -here will put you on his shoulder, throw you into the water, and all -will be over. What do you think of my proposal?" - -"Hang it, excellency," the poor fellow answered, with a grimace which -attempted to resemble a smile, and trembling in all his limbs, "I think -that I have no choice, and am compelled to accept." - -"Good! now you are learning reason; but take these ounces as a -consolation." - -The landlord pocketed the money, as he raised his eyes to heaven and -gave a deep sigh. - -"Fear nothing, _viva Dios_!" the traveller continued; "all will pass off -better than you suppose. At what hour do you expect your visitors?" - -"At half past ten, excellency." - -"Good! it is half past nine, we have time before us. Where do you -propose to hide us?" - -"In this room, excellency." - -"Here, diablo; whereabouts?" - -"Behind the bar; no one will dream of looking for you there, and, -besides, I shall serve as a rampart to you." - -"Then you will be present at the meeting?" - -"Oh!" he said with a smile, "I am nobody; the more so, that if I spoke, -my house would be ruined." - -"That is true. Well, then, all is settled; when the hour arrives, you -will place us behind the bar; but can my companion and I sit there with -any degree of comfort?" - -"Oh, you will have plenty of room." - -"I fancy this is not the first time such a thing has occurred, eh?" - -The landlord smiled, but made no answer: the traveller reflected for a -moment. - -"Give us something to eat," he at length said; "here are two piastres in -addition for what you are going to place before us." - -The landlord took the money, and forgetting that he had declared a -few moments previously that he had nothing in the house, he instantly -covered the table with provisions, which, if not particularly delicate, -were, however, sufficiently appetizing, especially for men whose -appetite appeared to be powerfully excited. - -The two travellers vigorously attacked this improvised supper, and for -about twenty minutes no other sound was heard but that of their jaws. -When their hunger was at length appeased, the traveller who seemed to -speak for both, thrust away his plate, and addressed the landlord, who -was modestly standing behind him hat in hand. - -"And now for another matter," he said; "how many lads have you to help -you?" - -"Two, excellency--the one who took your horses to the corral, and -another." - -"Very good. I presume you will not require both those lads to wait on -your friends tonight?" - -"Certainly not, excellency; indeed, for greater security, I shall wait -on them alone." - -"Better still; then, you see no inconvenience in sending of them into -the Cuidad; of course on the understanding that he is well paid for the -trip?" - -"No inconvenience at all, excellency; what is the business?" - -"Simply," he said, taking a letter from his bosom, "to convey this -letter to Señor Don Antonio Rallier, in the Calle Secunda Monterilla, -and bring me back the answer in the shortest possible period to this -house." - -"That is easy, excellency; if you will have the kindness to intrust the -letter to me." - -"Here it is, and four piastres for the journey." - -The host bowed respectfully, and immediately left the room. - -"I fancy, Curumilla," the traveller then said to his companion, "that -our affairs are going well." - -The other replied by a silent nod of assent, and a moment the landlord -returned. - -"Well?" the traveller asked. - -"Your messenger has set off, excellency, but he will probably be some -time ere he returns." - -"Why so?" - -"Because people are not allowed to ride about the city at night without -a special authority, and he will be obliged to go and return on foot." - -"No consequence, so long as he returns before sunrise." - -"Oh, long before then, excellency." - -"In that case all is for the best; but I think the moment is at hand -when your friends will arrive." - -"It is, excellency, so have the kindness to follow me." - -"All right." - -The travellers rose; in a twinkling the landlord removed all signs of -supper, and then hid his guests behind the bar. This bar, which was -very tall and deep, offered them a perfectly secure, if not convenient, -hiding place, in which they crouched down with a pistol in each hand, in -order to be ready for any event. They had scarce installed themselves -ere several knocks, dealt in a peculiar fashion, were heard on the outer -door. - - -[1] In order to protect themselves from the misfortunes which had before -crushed them, the Mexicans placed themselves under the safeguard of the -King of Azcapotzalco, on whose lands they had established themselves. -This prince gave them two of his sons as governors, of whom the first -was Acamapuhtli, chief of the Tenochcas. On their arrival in Ahanuec, -these Indians had found on the summit of a rock a nopal, in which was an -eagle devouring a serpent, and they took their name from it. Acamapuhtli -selected this emblem as the _totem_ of the race he was called upon to -govern. During the War of Independence, the insurgents adopted this -hieroglyphic as the arms of the Mexican Republic, in memory of the -ancient and glorious origin of which it reminded them. - -[2] See the "Indian Chief." Same publishers. - -[3] This second volcano, whose name indicates "The Smoking Mountain," is -near the former. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE RANCHO. - - -In one of our previous works we proved by documentary evidence -that, since the declaration of its independence, that is to say, in -about forty years, Mexico has reached its two hundred and thirtieth -revolution which gives an average of about five revolutions a year. In -our opinion, this is very decent for a country which, if it pleased, -regard being had to the retrograde measures adopted by the government, -would have been justified in having at least one a month. - -The causes of these revolutions are and must be ever the same in -a country where the sabre rules without control, and which counts -_twenty-four_ thousand officers for an army of twenty thousand -men. These officers, very ignorant generally, and very ambitious -individually, incapable of executing the slightest manoeuvre, or -commanding the most simple movement, find in the general disorder -chances of promotion which they would not otherwise have, and many -Mexican generals have attained their elevated rank without having once -been present at a battle, or even seen any other fire than that of -the cigarettes they constantly have in their mouths. The real truth -is, they have skilfully pronounced themselves; each _pronunciamiento_ -has gained them a step, sometimes two, and with pronunciamiento after -pronunciamiento, they have acquired the general's scarf, that is to say, -the probability, with the aid of luck, of being in their turn proclaimed -President of the Republic, which is the dream of all of them, and the -constant object of their efforts. - -We have said that the travellers had scarce time to conceal themselves -in the bar, ere several knocks on the door warned the landlord that the -mysterious guests he expected were beginning to arrive. - -Ño Lusacho was a fat little man, with constantly rolling gray eyes, a -cunning look, and a prominent stomach--the true type of the Mexican -Ranchero, who is more eager for gain than two Jews, and very ready when -circumstances demand it, that is to say, when his own interests are -concerned, to make a bargain with his conscience. He assured himself by -a glance that all was in order in the room, and that there was nothing -to cause the presence of strangers to be suspected, and then walked to -the door; but, before opening, with the probable intention of displaying -his zeal, he thought it advisable to challenge the arrivals. - -"¿Quién vive?" he asked. - -"Gente de paz!" a rough voice answered; "open in the Fiend's name, if -you do not wish us to break in your door." - -Ño Lusacho doubtless recognized the voice, for the somewhat brusque -response appeared to him sufficient, and he immediately prepared to draw -back the bolts. - -The door was hardly ajar ere several men burst into the inn, thrusting -each other aside in their haste, as if afraid of being followed. These -men were seven or eight in number; and it was easy to see they were -officers, in spite of the precaution of some among them who had put on -civilian attire. - -They laughed and jested loudly, which proved that, if they were -conspirators, or, at least, if they were brought to this ill-famed den -by any illicit object, that object, whatever it might be, did not spoil -their gaiety or appear to them of sufficient importance to render -them unwontedly serious. - -They seated themselves at a table, and the landlord, who had doubtless -long been acquainted with their habits, placed before them a bottle of -Catalonian refino and a jug of pulque, which they straightway began -swallowing while rolling their cigarettes. - -The door of the rancho had been left ajar by the landlord, who probably -thought it unnecessary to close it; the officers succeeded each other -with great rapidity, and their number soon became so great, that the -room, though very spacious, was completely filled. The newcomers -followed the example of those who had preceded them; they seated -themselves at a table, and began drinking and smoking, not appearing to -trouble themselves about the earlier comers, to whom they merely bowed -as they entered. - -As for Ño Lusacho, he continually prowled round the tables, watching -everything with a corner of his eyes, and being careful not to serve the -slightest article without receiving immediate payment. At length one of -the officers rose, and, after rapping his glass on the table several -times to attract attention, he asked-- - -"Is Don Sirven here?" - -"Yes, señor," a young man of twenty at the most answered as he rose. His -effeminate features were already worn by precocious debauchery. - -"Assure yourself that no person is absent." - -The young man bowed, and began walking from one table to the other, -exchanging two or three words in a low voice with each of the visitors. -When Don Sirven had gone round the room, he went to the person who had -addressed him, and said with a respectful bow-- - -"Señor coronel, the meeting is complete, and only one person is absent; -but as he did not tell us certainly whether he would do us the honour of -being present tonight, I----" - -"That will do, alférez," the colonel interrupted him; "remain outside -the house, carefully watch the environs, and let no one approach without -challenging him, but if you know who arrives, introduce him immediately. -You have heard me, so execute my orders punctually; you understand the -importance of passive obedience for yourself." - -"You can trust to me, coronel," the young man answered; and, after -bowing to his superior officer, he left the room and closed the door -behind him. - -The officers, then, without getting up, turned round on the benches, and -thus found themselves face to face with the colonel, who had stationed -himself in the middle of the room. The latter waited a few minutes till -perfect silence was established, and then, after bowing to the audience, -he spoke as follows;-- - -"Let me, in the first place, thank you, caballeros, for the punctuality -with which you have responded to the meeting I had the honour of -arranging with you. I am delighted at the confidence it has pleased you -to display in me, and, believe me, I shall show myself worthy of it; for -it proves to me once again that you are really devoted to the interests -of our country, and that it may freely reckon on you in the hour of -danger." - -This first portion of the colonel's speech was drowned in applause, -as was only fitting. This colonel was a man of about forty years of -age, of herculean stature, and looking more like a butcher than an -honest soldier. His cunning looks did not at all inspire confidence, -and every step in his profession had been the reward of an act of -treachery. He was a most valuable man in a conspiracy on this account, -for being so old a hand at pronunciamientos, people knew that he was too -clever to join a losing cause; hence, he inspired his accomplices with -unlimited confidence. After allowing time for the enthusiasm to calm, he -continued-- - -"I am pleased, señores, not at this applause, but at the devotion you so -constantly display for the public welfare. You understand as well as I -do that we can no longer bow our necks beneath the despotic government -that tyrannizes over us. The man who at this moment holds our destinies -in his hands has shown himself unworthy of the mandate we confided to -him; by failing in his duties towards us, he has liberated us from the -oath of obedience we took to him. Human patience has its limits, and the -hour will soon strike for the man who has deceived us to be overthrown." - -The colonel had made a start, and would probably have continued his -plausible speech for a long time in an emphatic voice, had not one of -his audience, evidently wearied of finding nothing positive or clear in -this flood of sounding words, suddenly interrupted him-- - -"That is all very fine, colonel," he said, "_Rayo de Dios!_ we are all -aware that we are gentlemen devoted, body and soul, to our country; but -devotion must be paid for, _cuerpo de Cristo!_ What shall we get by all -this after all? We have not assembled here to compliment each other; -but, on the contrary, to come to a definite understanding. So pray come -to the point at once." - -The colonel was at first slightly embarrassed by this warm apostrophe; -but he recovered himself at once, and turned with a smile to his -interrupter-- - -"I was coming to it, my dear captain, at the very moment when you cut -across my speech." - -"Oh, that is different," the captain answered; "pray suppose that I had -not spoken, and explain the affair in a couple of words." - -"In the first place," the colonel went on, "I have news for you which I -feel assured you will heartily welcome. This is the last time we shall -meet." - -"Very good," said the practical captain, encouraged by the winks of his -companions, "let us hear first what the reward is." - -The colonel saw that he could no longer dally with the matter, for all -his hearers openly took part with their comrade, and murmurs of evil -augury were beginning to be audible. At the moment when he resolved to -tell all he knew, the door of the inn was opened, and a man wrapped -in a large cloak quickly entered the room, preceded by the Alferez Don -Sirven, who shouted in a loud voice-- - -"The general. Caballeros, the general." - -At this announcement silence was re-established as if by enchantment. -The person called the general stopped in the middle of the room, looked -around him, and then took off his hat, let his cloak fall from his -shoulders, and appeared in the full-dress uniform of a general officer. - -"Long live General Guerrero!" the officers shouted, as they rose -enthusiastically. - -"Thanks, gentlemen, thanks," the general responded with numerous bows. -"This warm feeling fills me with delight; but pray be silent, that we -may properly settle the matter which has brought us here; moments are -precious, and, in spite of the precautions we have taken, our presence -at this inn may have been denounced." - -All collected round the general with a movement of interest easy to -understand. The latter continued-- - -"I will come at once to facts," he said, "without entering into idle -speculations, which would cause us to waste valuable time. In a word, -then, what is it we want? To overthrow the present government, and -establish another more in conformity with our opinions and, above all, -our interests." - -"Yes, yes," the officers exclaimed. - -"In that case we are conspiring against the established authority, -and are rebels in the eyes of the law," the general continued coolly -and distinctly; "as such, we stake our heads, and must not attempt -any self-deception on this point. If our attempt fails, we shall be -pitilessly shot by the victor; but we shall not fail," he hastily -added, on noticing the impression these ill-omened words produced on -his hearers; "we shall not fail, because we are resolutely playing a -terrible game, and each of us knows that his fortune depends on winning -the game. From the alférez up to the brigadier-general each knows that -success will gain him two steps of promotion, and such a stake is -sufficient to determine the least resolute to be staunch when the moment -arrives to begin the struggle." - -"Yes, yes," the captain whose observations had, previous to the -general's arrival, so greatly embarrassed the colonel, said, "all that -is very fine. Jumping up two steps is a most agreeable thing; but we -were promised something else in your name, excellency." - -The general smiled. - -"You are right, captain," he remarked; "and I intend to keep all -promises made in my name--but not, as you might reasonably suppose, when -our glorious enterprise has succeeded. If I waited till then, you might -fear lest I should seek pretexts and excuses to evade their performance." - -"When then, pray?" the captain asked, curiously. - -"At once, señores," the general exclaimed, in a loud voice, and, -addressing the whole company, "I wish to prove to you that my confidence -in you is entire, and that I put faith in the word you pledged to me." - -Joy, astonishment, incredulity, perhaps, so paralyzed his hearers, that -they were unable to utter a syllable. The general examined them for a -moment, and then, turning away with a mocking smile, he walked to the -front door, which he opened. The officers eagerly watched his movements, -with panting chests, and the general, after looking out, coughed twice. - -"Here I am, excellency," a voice said, issuing from the fog. - -"Bring in the bags," Don Sebastian ordered, and then quietly returned to -the middle of the room. - -Almost immediately after a man entered, bearing a heavy leather -saddlebag. It was Carnero, the capataz. At a signal from his master, -he deposited his bundle and went out; but returned shortly after with -another bag, which he placed by the side of the first one. Then, after -bowing to his master, he withdrew, and the door closed upon him. - -The general opened the bags, and a flood of gold poured in a trickling -cascade on the table; the officers instinctively bent forward, and held -out their quivering hands. - -"Now, señores," the general said, still perfectly calm, as he carelessly -rested his arm on the pile of gold; "permit me to remind you of our -agreement; there are thirty-five of us at present, I believe?" - -"Yes, general, thirty-five," the captain replied, who seemed to have -appointed himself speaker in ordinary for self and partners. - -"Very good; these thirty-five caballeros are thus subdivided:--ten -alférez, who will each receive twenty-five ounces of silver. Señor Don -Jaime Lupo," he said, turning to the colonel, "will you be kind enough -to hand twenty-five ounces to each of these gentlemen?" - -The alférez, or sub-lieutenants, broke through the ranks, and boldly -came up to receive the ounces, which the colonel delivered to each of -them; then they fell back with a delight they did not attempt to conceal. - -"Now," the general continued, "twelve captains, to each of whom I wish -you to offer, on my behalf, Don Lupo, fifty ounces." - -The captains pocketed the money with no more ceremony than the alférez -had displayed. - -"We have ten tenientes, each of whom is to receive thirty-five ounces, I -believe?" - -The tenientes, or lieutenants, who had begun to frown on seeing the -captains paid before them, received their money with a bow. - -"There now remain three colonels, each of whom has a claim to one -hundred ounces," the general said; "be kind enough to pay them, my dear -colonel." - -The latter did not let the invitation be repeated twice. Still the -entire pile of gold was not exhausted, and a considerable sum still -remained on the table. Don Sebastian Guerrero passed his hands several -times through the glittering metal, and at length thrust it from him. - -"Señores," he said, with an engaging smile, "about five hundred ounces -remain, which I do not know what to do with; may I ask you to divide -them among you, as subsistence money while awaiting the signal you are -to receive from me." - -At this truly regal act of munificence, the enthusiasm attained its -highest pitch; the cries and protestations of devotion became frenzied. -The general alone remained impassive, and looked coldly at the division -made by the colonel. - -"When all the gold had disappeared, and the effervescence was beginning -to subside, Don Sebastian, who, like the Angel of Evil, had looked with -a profoundly mocking smile at these men so utterly under the influence -of cupidity, slightly tapped the table, to request silence. - -"Señores," he said, "I have kept all my promises, and have acquired the -right to count on you; we shall not meet again, but at a future day I -will let you know my intentions. Still be ready to act at the first -signal; in ten days is the anniversary festival of the Proclamation of -Independence, and, if nothing deranges my plans, I shall probably choose -that day to try, with your assistance, to deliver the country from the -tyrants who oppress it. However, I will be careful to have you warned. -So now let us separate; the night is far advanced, and a longer stay at -this spot might compromise the sacred interests for which we have sworn -to die." - -He bowed to the conspirators, but, on reaching the door, turned round -again. - -"Farewell, señores," he said, "be faithful to me." - -"We will die for you, general," Colonel Lupo answered, in the name of -all. - -The general gave a final bow and went out; almost immediately the hoofs -of several horses could be heard echoing on the paved street. - -"As we have nothing more to do here, caballeros," the colonel said, -"we had better separate without further delay; but do not forget the -general's parting recommendation." - -"Oh, no," the captain said, gleefully rattling the gold, with which his -pockets were filled. "Don Sebastian Guerrero is too generous for us not -to be faithful to him; besides, he appears to me at the present moment -the only man capable of saving our unhappy country from the abyss. We -are all too deeply attached to our country and too devoted to its real -interests, not to sacrifice ourselves for it, when circumstances demand -it." - -The conspirators laughingly applauded this speech of the captain's, and -after exchanging courteous bows, they withdrew as they had come; that is -to say, they left the inn one after the other, not to attract attention. -They carefully wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and went off in -parties of three and four, with their hands on their weapons, for fear -of any unpleasant encounter. - -A quarter of an hour later, the room was empty, and the landlord bolted -the door for the night. - -"Well, señores," he asked the two strangers, who now left the hiding -place in which they had been crouching for upwards of two hours, "are -you satisfied?" - -"We could not be more so," replied the one who had been the sole speaker -hitherto. - -"Yes, yes," the landlord continued, "three or four more -pronunciamientos, and I believe I shall be able to retire on a decent -competency." - -"That is what I wish you, Ño Lusacho, and, to begin, a thing promised is -a thing done; here are your ten ounces." - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THE PASEO DE BUCARELI. - - -Mexico is a country of extensive prospects and magnificent views; and -the poet Carpio is right when he says enthusiastically, in the poem in -which he sings the praises of his country-- - - "Qué magníficos tienes horizontes!" - -In truth, the prospect is the first and greatest beauty of Mexico. - -The plateau of Mexico is situated exactly in the centre of a circle of -mountains. On all sides the landscape is bounded by admirable peaks, -whose snowy crests soar above the clouds, and in the golden beams of the -setting sun they offer the most sublime pictures of the imposing and -grand Alpine nature. - -In the general description we attempted of Mexico we omitted to allude -to its promenades, of which we intended previously to give a detailed -account. - -In Europe, and especially in France, promenades are wanting in the -interior of towns; and it is only during the last few years that Paris -has possessed any worthy of a capital. In Spain, on the contrary, the -smallest market town has at least one alameda, where, after the torrid -heat of the day, the inhabitants breathe the evening breeze, and rest -from their labours. Alameda, a soft and graceful word to pronounce, -which we might be tempted to take for Arabic, and to which some -ill-informed scholars, unacquainted with Spanish, attribute a Latin -origin, while it is simply Castilian, and literally signifies "a place -planted with poplars." - -The Alameda of Mexico is one of the most beautiful in America. It -is situated at one of the extremities of the city, and forms a long -square, with a wall of circumvallation bordered by a deep ditch, whose -muddy, fetid waters, owing to the negligence of the government, exhale -pestilential miasmas. At each corner of the promenade a gate offers -admission to carriages, riders, and pedestrians, who walk silently -beneath a thick awning of verdure, formed by willows, elms, and poplars -that border the principal road. These trees are selected with great -tact, and are always green, for although the leaves are renewed, it -takes place gradually and imperceptibly, so that the branches are never -entirely stripped of their foliage. - -Numerous walks converge to open spots adorned with gushing fountains, -and clumps of jessamine, myrtle, and rose bushes, surrounded by stone -benches for the tired promenaders. Statues, unfortunately far below -mediocrity in their execution, stand at the entrance of each walk; but, -thanks to the deep shadow, the whistling of the evening breeze in the -foliage, the buzz of the hummingbirds flying from flower to flower, and -the harmonious strains of the cenzontles hidden in the fragrant clumps, -you gradually forget those unlucky statues, and fall into a gentle -reverie, during which the mind is borne to unknown regions, and seems no -longer connected with earth. - -But Mexico is a thorough country of contrasts. At each step barbarism -elbows the most advanced civilization. Hence all the carriages, after -driving a few times round the Alameda, take the direction of the Paseo -de Bucareli, and the promenaders spread over a walk, in the Centre of -which there is a large window in the Wall, protected by rusty iron bars, -and through which come puffs of poisoned air. It is the window of the -Deadhouse, into which are daily thrown pell-mell the bodies of men, -women, and children, assassinated during the previous night, hideous, -bloody, and disfigured by death! What a brilliant, what a delicious -idea, to have placed the Deadhouse exactly between the two city walks! - -The Paseo, or promenade, of Bucareli--so called after the Viceroy who -gave it to Mexico--resembles the Champs Elysées of Paris. It is, in -reality, merely a wide road, with no other ornament than a double row of -willow and beech trees, with two circular places, in the centre of which -are fountains, adorned with detestable allegorical statues and stone -benches for pedestrians. - -At the entrance of the Paseo de Bucareli has been placed an equestrian -statue of Charles IV., which in 1824 adorned the Plaza Mayor of Mexico. -When the Emperor Iturbide fell, this monument was removed from the -square and placed in the University Palace yard--a lesson, we may here -remark, given by a comparatively barbarous people to civilized nations, -who in revolutions, as a first trial of liberty, and forgetting that -history records everything in her imperishable annals, carry their -Vandalism so far as to destroy everything that recalls the government -they have overthrown. Owing to the intelligent moderation of the -Mexicans, the promenaders can still admire, at the Bucareli, this really -remarkable statue, due to the talent of the Spanish sculptor, Manuel -Tolsa, and cast in one piece by Salvador de la Vega. The sight of this -masterpiece ought to induce the Mexican municipality to remove the -pitiable statues which disgrace the two finest promenades in the city. - -From the Paseo de Bucareli a magnificent prospect is enjoyed of the -panorama of mountains bathed in the luminous vapours of night; you -perceive, through the arches of the gigantic aqueduct the white fronts -of the haciendas clinging to the sides of the Sierra, the fields of -Indian corn bending softly before the breeze, and the snowy peaks of the -volcanoes, crowned with mist, and lost in the sky. - -It is not till night has almost set in that the promenaders, leaving -the Alameda, proceed to the Bucareli, where the carriages take two or -three turns, and then equipages, riders, and pedestrians, retire one -after the other. The promenade is deserted, the entire crowd, just now -so gay and noisy, has disappeared as if by enchantment, and you only see -between the trees some belated promenader, who, wrapped in his cloak, -and with eye and ear on the watch, is hastily returning home, for, after -nightfall, the thieves take possession of the promenade, and without the -slightest anxiety about the serenos and celadores appointed to watch -over the public security, they carry on their trade with a boldness -which the certainty of impunity can alone engender. - -It was evening, and, as usual, the Alameda was crowded; handsome -carriages, brilliant riders, and modest pedestrians were moving -backwards and forwards, with cries, laughter, and joyous calls, as they -sought or chased each other in the walks. Monks, soldiers, officers, men -of fashion, and leperos, were mixed together, carelessly smoking their -cigars and cigarettes under each other's noses, with the recklessness -and negligence peculiar to southern nations. - -Suddenly, the first stroke of the Oración broke through the air. At the -sound of the Angelus-bell, as if the entire crowd had been struck by an -enchanter's wand, horses, carriages, and pedestrians stopped, the seated -citizens left the benches on which they were resting, and a solemn -silence fell on all; every person took off his hat, crossed himself, -and for four or five minutes this crowd, an instant before so noisy, -remained dumb and silent. But the last stroke of the Oración had scarce -died away, ere horses and carriages set out again; the shouts, the -songs, and talking, became louder than before; each resumed the sentence -at the point where he had broken it off. - -By degrees, however, the promenaders proceeded toward the Bucareli: the -carriages became scarcer, and by the time night had quite set in, the -Alameda was completely deserted. - -A horseman, dressed in a rich Campesino costume, and mounted on a -magnificent horse, which he managed with rare skill, then entered the -Alameda, along which he galloped for about twenty minutes, examining the -sidewalks, the clumps of trees, and the densest bushes: in a word, he -seemed to be looking for somebody or something. - -However, after a while, whether he had convinced himself that his search -would have no result, or for some other motive, he gave the click of the -tongue peculiar to the Mexican jinetes, lifted his horse which started -at an amble, and proceeded toward the Paseo de Bucareli, after bowing -sarcastically to some ill-looking horsemen who were beginning to prowl -round him, but whom his vigorous appearance and haughty demeanour had -hitherto kept at arm's length. - -Although the darkness was too dense at this moment for it to be possible -to see the horseman's face distinctly, which was in addition half -covered by the brim of his vicuna hat, all about him evidenced strength -and youth; he was armed as if for a nocturnal expedition, and had on -his saddle, in spite of police regulations, a thin, carefully rolled up -reata. - -We will say, parenthetically, that the reata is considered in Mexico so -dangerous a weapon, that it requires special permission to carry one at -the saddle-bow, in the streets of Mexico. - -The salteadores, who occupy the streets after nightfall, and reign with -undisputed sway over them, employ no other weapon to stop the persons -they wish to plunder. They cast the running knot round their necks, dash -forward at full speed, and the unlucky man, half strangled, and dragged -from the saddle, falls unresistingly into their hands. - -At the moment when the traveller we are following reached the Bucareli, -the last carriages were leaving it, and it was soon as deserted as the -Alameda. He galloped up and down the promenade twice or thrice, looking -carefully down the side rides, and at the end of his third turn a -horseman, coming from the Alameda, passed on his right hand, giving him -in a low voice the Mexican salute, "Santísima noche, caballero!" - -Although this sentence had nothing peculiar about it, the horseman -started, and immediately turning his horse round, he started in pursuit -of the person who had thus greeted him. Within a minute the two horsemen -were side by side; the first comer, so soon as he saw that he was -followed, checked his horse's pace, as if with the intention of entering -into the most direct communication with the person he had addressed. - -"A fine night for a ride, señor," the first horseman said, politely -raising his hand to his hat. - -"It is," the second answered, "although it is beginning to grow late." - -"The moment is only the better chosen for certain private conversation." - -The second horseman looked around, and bending over to the speaker, -said-- - -"I almost despaired of meeting you." - -"Did I not let you know that I should come?" - -"That is true; but I feared that some sudden obstacle----" - -"Nothing ought to impede an honest man in accomplishing a sacred duty," -the first horseman answered, with an emphasis on the words. - -"The other bowed with an air of satisfaction. Then," he said, "I can -count on you, Ño ----." - -"No names here, señor," the other sharply interrupted him. "Caspita, an -old wood ranger like you, a man who has long been a Tigrero, ought to -remember that the trees have ears and the leaves eyes." - -"Yes, you are right. I should and do remember it; but permit me to -remark that if it is not possible for us to talk about business here, I -do not know exactly where we can do so." - -"Patience, señor, I wish to serve you, as you know, for you were -recommended to me by a man to whom I can refuse nothing. Let yourself, -therefore, be guided by me, if you wish us to succeed in this affair, -which, I confess to you at once, offers enormous difficulties, and must -be managed with the greatest prudence." - -"I ask nothing better; still you must tell me what I ought to do." - -"For the present very little; merely follow me at a distance to the -place where I purpose taking you." - -"Are we going far?" - -"Only a few paces; behind the barracks of the Acordades, in a small -street called the Callejón del Pájaro." - -"Hum! and what am I to do in this street?" - -"What a suspicious man you are!" the first horseman said with a laugh. -"Listen to me then. About the middle of the Callejón I shall stop -before a house of rather poor appearance; a man will come and hold my -horse while I enter. A few minutes later you will pull up there; after -assuring yourself that you are not followed you will dismount; give your -horse to the man who is holding mine, and without saying a word to him, -or letting him see your face, you will enter the house, and shut the -door after you. I shall be in the yard, and will lead you to a place -where we shall be able to talk in safety. Does that suit you?" - -"Famously; although I do not understand why I, who have set foot in -Mexico today for the first time, should find it necessary to employ such -mighty precautions." - -The first horseman laughed sarcastically. - -"Do you wish to succeed?" he asked. - -"Of course," the other exclaimed energetically, "even if it cost me my -life." - -"In that case do as you are recommended." - -"Go on, I follow you." - -"Is that settled? you understand all about it?" - -"I do." - -The second horseman then checked his steed to let the first one go on -ahead, and both keeping a short distance apart, proceeded at a smart -trot toward the statue of Charles IV., which, as we said, stands at the -entrance of the Paseo. - -While conversing, the two horsemen had forgotten the advanced hour of -the night, and the solitude that surrounded them. At the moment when -the first rider passed the equestrian statue, a slip knot fell on his -shoulders, and he was roughly dragged from his saddle. - -"Help!" he shouted in a choking voice. - -The second rider had seen all; quick as thought he whirled his lasso -round his head, and galloping at full speed, hurled it after the -Salteador at the moment when he passed twenty yards from him. - -The Salteador was stopped dead, and hurled from his horse; the worthy -robber had not suspected that another person beside himself could have a -lasso so handy. The horseman, without checking his speed, cut the reata -that was strangling his companion, and, turning back, dragged the robber -after him. - -The first horseman so providentially saved, freed himself from the -slip knot that choked him, and, hardly recovered from the alarm he had -experienced from his heavy fall, he whistled to his horse, which came up -at once, remounted as well as he could, and rejoined his liberator, who -had stopped a short distance off. - -"Thanks," he said to him, "henceforth we are stanch friends; you have -saved my life, and I shall remember it." - -"Nonsense," the other answered, "I only did what you would have done in -my place." - -"That is possible, but I shall be grateful to you on the word of a -Carnero," he exclaimed, forgetting in his joy the hint he had given a -short time previously, not to make use of names, and revealing his own -incognito; "is the pícaro dead?" - -"Very nearly so, I fancy; what shall we do with him?" - -"Make a corpse of him," the capataz said bluntly. "We are only -two paces from the deadhouse, and he can be carried there without -difficulty. Though he is an utter scoundrel and tried to assassinate -me, the police are so well managed in our unhappy country that if -we committed the imprudence of letting him live, we should have -interminable disputes with the magistrates." - -Then, dismounting, he stooped over the bandit, stretched senseless at -his feet, removed his lasso, and coolly dashed out his brains with a -blow of his pistol butt. Immediately after this summary execution, the -two men left the Paseo de Bucareli, but this time side by side, through -fear of a new accident. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION. - - -Directly on emerging from the Paseo, the two men separated, as had been -agreed on between them; that is to say, the capataz went ahead, followed -at a respectful distance by Martial the Tigrero, whom the reader has -doubtless recognized. - -All happened as the capataz had announced. The streets were deserted, -the horsemen only met a few half sleeping serenos leaning against the -walls, and were only crossed by a patrol of celadores walking with a -hurried step, and who seemed more inclined to avoid them, than to try -and discover the motives that caused them thus to ride about the streets -of the capital at night, in defiance of the law. - -The Tigrero entered the Callejón del Pájaro, and about the middle of -the street saw the capataz's horse held by an ill-looking fellow, who -gazed curiously at him. Don Martial, following the instructions given -him, pulled his hat over his eyes to foil the mozo's curiosity, stopped -before the door, dismounted, threw his bridle to the fellow, and, -without saying a word to him, resolutely entered the house and carefully -closed the door after him. - -He then found himself in utter darkness, but after groping his way, -which was not difficult for him to do, as all Mexican houses are built -nearly on the same model, he pushed forward. After crossing the zaguán, -he entered a square yard on which several doors looked; one of these -doors was open, and a man was standing on the threshold with a cigarette -in his mouth. It was Carnero. - -The tiger-slayer went up to him; the other made room, and he walked on. -The capataz took him by the hand and whispered, "Come with me." - -In spite of the protestations of devotion previously made by the -capataz, the Tigrero in his heart was somewhat alarmed at the manner in -which he was introduced into this mysterious house; but as he was young, -vigorous, well armed, brave, and resolved, if necessary, to sell his -life dearly, he yielded his hand Unhesitatingly to Carnero, and allowed -him to guide him while seeking to pierce the darkness that surrounded -him. - -But all the windows were hermetically closed with shutters, which -allowed no gleam of light to enter from without. - -His guide led him through several rooms, the floors of which were -covered with matting that deadened the sound of footsteps; he took him -up a flight of stairs, and opening a door with a key he took from his -pocket, conducted him into a room faintly lighted by a lamp placed -before a statue of the Virgin, standing in one corner of the room, on -a species of pedestal attached to the wall, and covered with extremely -delicate lace. - -"Now," said Carnero, after closing the door, from which the Tigrero -noticed that he removed the key, "draw up a butaca, sit down and let us -talk, for we are in safety." Don Martial followed the advice given him, -and after carefully installing himself in a butaca, looked anxiously -around him. - -The room in which he found himself was rather spacious, furnished -tastefully and richly; several valuable pictures hung on the walls, -which were covered with embossed leather, while the furniture consisted -of splendid carved ebony or mahogany tables, sideboards, chiffonniers, -and butacas. On the floor was an Indian petate, several books were -scattered over the tables, and valuable plate was arranged on the -sideboard. In short, this room displayed a proper comprehension of -comfort, and the two windows, with their Moorish jalousies, gave -admission to the pure breeze which greatly refreshed the atmosphere. - -The capataz lighted two candles at the Virgin's lamp, placed them on -the table, and then fetching two bottles and two silver cups, which -he placed before the Tigrero, he drew up a butaca, and seated himself -opposite his guest. - -"Here is sherry which I guarantee to be real Xeres de los Caballeros; -this other bottle contains chinquirito, and both are at your service," -he said, with a laugh; "whether you have a weakness for sugar cane -spirits, or prefer wine." - -"Thanks," Don Martial replied, "but I do not feel inclined to drink." - -"You would not wish to insult me by refusing to hobnob with me?" - -"Very well; if you will permit me, I will take a few drops of -chinquirito in water, solely to prove to you that I am sensible of your -politeness." - -"All right," the capataz continued, as he handed him a crystal decanter, -covered with curiously worked silver filagree; "help yourself." - -When they had drunk, the capataz a glass of sherry, which he sipped like -a true amateur, and Don Tigrero a few drops of chinquirito drowned in a -glass of water, the capataz placed his glass again on the table with a -smack of his lips, and said-- - -"Now, I must give you a few words in explanation of the slightly -mysterious way in which I brought you here, in order to dispel any -doubts which may have involuntarily invaded your mind." - -"I am listening to you," the Tigrero answered. - -"Take a cigar first, they are excellent." And he lit one, after pushing -the bundle over to Don Martial: the latter selected one, and soon the -two men were enveloped in a cloud of thin and fragrant smoke. - -"We are in the mansion of General Don Sebastian Guerrero," the capataz -continued. - -"What?" the Tigrero exclaimed, with a start of uneasiness. - -"Re-assure yourself, no one saw you enter, and your presence here is -quite unknown, for the simple reason that I brought you in by my private -entrance." - -"I do not understand you." - -"And yet it is very easy to explain; the house I led you through belongs -to me. For reasons too long to tell you, and which would interest you -but slightly, during Don Sebastian's absence as Governor of Sonora, I -had a passage made, and established a communication between my house -and this mansion. Everybody save myself is ignorant of the existence -of this communication, which," he added, with a glowing smile, "may at -a given moment be of great utility to me. The room in which we now are -forms part of the suite I occupy in the mansion, in which the general, -I am proud to say, has never yet set foot. The man who took your horse -is devoted to me, and even were he to betray me, it would be of little -consequence to me, for the secret door of the passage is so closely -concealed that I have no fear of its being discovered. Hence you see -that you have nothing to fear here, where your presence is unknown." - -"But suppose you were to be sent for, through the general happening to -want you suddenly?" - -"Certainly, but I have foreseen that; it is my system never to leave -anything to chance. Although it has never happened yet, no one can enter -here without my being informed soon enough to get rid of any person who -may be with me, supposing that, for some reason or another, that person -did not desire to be seen." - -"That is capitally arranged, and I am happy to see that you are a man of -prudence." - -"Prudence is, as you know, señor, the mother of safety; and in Mexico, -before all other countries, the proverb receives its application at -every moment." - -The Tigrero bowed politely, but in the fashion of a man who considers -that the speaker has dwelt sufficiently long on one subject, and wishes -to see him pass to another. The capataz appeared to read this almost -imperceptible hint on Don Martial's face, and continued with a smile-- - -"But enough on that head, so let us pass, if you have no objection, to -the real purpose of our interview. A man, whose name it is unnecessary -to mention, but to whom, as I have already had the honour of telling -you, I am devoted body and soul, sent you to me to obtain certain -information you require, and which he supposes I am in a position to -give, I will now add, that what passed between us this evening, and the -generous way in which you rushed to my assistance, render it my bounden -duty not only to give you this information, but also to help you with -all my might in the success of the projects you are meditating, whatever -those projects may be, and the dangers I may incur in aiding you. So, -now speak openly with me; conceal nothing from me and you will only have -to praise my frankness towards you." - -"Señor," the Tigrero answered, with considerable emotion, "I thank you -the more heartily for your generous offer, for you know as well as I do -what perils are connected with the carrying out of these plans, to say -nothing of their success." - -"What you are saying is true, but it will be better, I fancy, for the -present, for me to assume to be ignorant of them, so as to leave you the -entire liberty you need for the questions you have to ask me." - -"Yes, yes," he said, shaking his head sadly, "my position is so -precarious, the struggle I am engaged in is so wild, that, although I am -supported by sincere friends, I cannot be too prudent. Tell me, then, -what you know as to the fate of the unfortunate Doña Anita de Torrés. Is -she really dead, as the report spread alleged?" - -"Do you know what happened in the cavern after your fall down the -precipice?" - -"Alas! no; my ignorance is complete as to the facts that occurred after -I was abandoned as dead." - -Carnero reflected for a moment. "Listen, Don Martial: before I can -answer categorically the question you have asked me, I must tell you a -long story. Are you ready to hear it?" - -"Yes," the other answered, without hesitation, "for there are many -things I am ignorant of, which I ought to know. So speak without further -delay, señor, and though some parts of the narrative will be most -painful to me, hide nothing from me, I implore you!" - -"You shall be obeyed. Moreover, the night is not yet far advanced; time -does not press us, and in two hours you will know all." - -"I am impatiently waiting for you to begin." - -The capataz remained for some considerable time plunged in deep and -serious reflection. At length he raised his head, leant forward, and -setting his left elbow on the table, began as follows:-- - -"At the time when the facts occurred I am about to tell you, I was -living at the Hacienda del Palmar, of which I was steward. Hence I was -only witness to a portion of the facts, and only know the rest from -hearsay. When the Comanches arrived, guided by the white men, Don Sylva -de Torrés was lying mortally wounded, holding in his stiffened arms his -daughter Anita, who had suddenly gone mad on seeing you roll down the -precipice in the grasp of the Indian chief. Don Sebastian Guerrero was -the only relation left to the hapless young lady, and hence she was -taken to his hacienda." - -"What?" Don Martial exclaimed in surprise. "Don Sebastian is a relation -of Doña Anita?" - -"Did you not know that?" - -"I had not the slightest idea of it; and yet I had for several years -been closely connected with the Torrés family, for I was their tigrero." - -"I know it. Well, this is how the relationship exists: Don Sebastian -married a niece of Don Sylva's, so you see they were closely connected. -Still, for reasons never thoroughly made known, a few years after the -general's marriage, a dispute broke out which led to a total suspension -of intimacy between the two families. That is probably the reason why -you never heard of the connection existing between the Sylvas and the -Torrés." - -The Tigrero shook his head. "Go on," he said. "How did the general -receive his relation?" - -"He was not at the hacienda at the time; but an express was sent off -to him, and I was the man. The general came post haste, seemed greatly -moved at the double misfortune that had befallen the young lady, gave -orders for her to be kindly treated, appointed several women to wait -on her, and returned to his post at Sonora, where events of the utmost -gravity summoned him." - -"Yes, yes, I have heard of the French invasion, and that their leader -was shot by the general's orders. I presume you are alluding to that?" - -"Yes. Almost immediately after these events the general returned to -the Palmar. He was no longer the same man. The horrible death of his -daughter rendered him gloomier and harsher to any person whom chance -brought into contact with him. For a whole week he remained shut up in -his apartments, refusing to see any of us; but, at last, one day he -sent for me to inquire as to what had happened at the hacienda during -his absence. I had but little to tell him, for life was too simple and -uniform at this remote dwelling for anything at all interesting for him -to have occurred. Still he listened without interruption, with his head -in his hands, and apparently taking great interest in what I told him, -especially when it referred to poor Doña Anita, whose gentle interesting -madness drew tears from us rough men, when we saw her wandering, pale -and white as a spectre, about the huerta, murmuring in a low voice one -name, ever the same, which none of us could overhear, and raising to -heaven her lovely face, bathed in tears. The general let me say all I -had to say, and when I ended he, too, remained silent for some time. At -length, raising his head, he looked at me for a moment angrily." - -"'What are you doing there?' he asked." - -"'I am waiting,' I answered, 'for the orders it may please your -excellency to give me.'" - -"He looked at me for a few more moments as if trying to read my very -thoughts, and then laid his hand on my arm. 'Carnero,' he said to me, -'you have been a long time in my service, but take care lest I should -have to dismiss you. I do not like,' he said, with a stress on the -words, 'servants who are too intelligent and too clear-sighted,' and -when I tried to excuse myself, he added, 'Not a word--profit by the -advice I have given you, and now lead me to Doña Anita's apartments.'" - -"I obeyed with hanging head; the general remained an hour with the -young lady, and I never knew what was said between them. It is true -that now and then I heard the general speaking loudly and angrily, and -Doña Anita weeping, and apparently making some entreaty to him; but -that was all, for prudence warned me to keep at too great a distance -to overhear a single word. When the general came out he was pale, and -sharply ordered me to prepare everything for his departure. The morrow -at daybreak we set out for Mexico, and Doña Anita followed us, carried -in a palanquin. The journey was a long one, but so long as it lasted the -general did not once speak to the young lady, or approach the side of -her palanquin. So soon as we reached our journey's end, Doña Anita was -carried to the Convent of the Bernardines, where she had been educated, -and the good sisters received her with tears of sorrowful sympathy. The -general, owing to the influence he enjoyed, easily succeeded in getting -himself appointed guardian to the young lady, and immediately assumed -the management of her estates, which, as you doubtless are aware, are -considerable, even in this country where large fortunes are so common." - -"I know it," said the Tigrero, with a sigh. - -"All these matters settled," the capataz continued, "the general -returned to Sonora to arrange his affairs, and hand over the government -to the person appointed to succeed him, and who started for his post -some days previously. I will not tell you what happened then, as you -know it; besides, we have only been back in Mexico for a fortnight, and -you and your friends followed our track from the Rocky Mountains." - -The Tigrero raised his head. "Is that really all?" he asked. - -"Yes," the capataz answered. - -"On your honour?" Don Martial added, looking fixedly at him. - -Carnero hesitated. "Well, no," he said at last, "there is something else -I must tell you." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -DON MARTIAL. - - -The capataz rose, opened a door, went out for a moment, returned; to his -seat opposite the Tigrero, poured himself out a glass of sherry, which -he swallowed at a draught, and then letting his head fall in his hands, -remained silent. - -Don Martial watched with amazement the various movements of the -capataz. Seeing at last that he did not seem inclined to make the -confession he was so impatiently awaiting, he went over and touched him -slightly. Carnero started as if suddenly branded with a hot iron. - -"What you have to reveal to me must be very terrible," the Tigrero at -length said in a low voice. - -"So terrible, my friend," the capataz answered with an amount of terror -impossible to depict, "that though alone with you in this room, where no -spy can be concealed, I fear to tell it you." - -The Tigrero shook his head sadly. "Speak, my friend," he said, in a -gentle voice, "I have suffered such agony during the last few months, -that all the springs of my soul have been crushed by the fatal pressure -of despair. However horrible may be the blow that menaces me, I will -endure it without flinching; alas! grief has no longer power over me." - -"Yes, you are a man carved in granite. I know that you have struggled -triumphantly against lost fortunes; but, believe me, Don Martial, there -are sufferings a thousandfold more atrocious than death--sufferings -which I do not feel the right of inflicting on you." - -"The pity you testify for me is only weakness. I cannot die before -I have accomplished the task to which I have devoted the wretched -existence heaven left me in its wrath. I have sworn, at the peril of my -life, to protect the girl who was betrothed to me in happier times." - -"Carry out your oath, then, Don Martial; for the poor child was never in -greater peril than she is at present." - -"What do you mean? In heaven's name explain yourself," the Tigrero said -passionately. - -"I mean that Don Sebastian covets the incalculable wealth of his ward, -which he needs for the success of his ambitious plans; I mean that -remorselessly and shamelessly laying aside all human respect, forgetting -that the unfortunate girl the law has confided to him is insane, he -coldly intends to become her murderer." - -"Go on, go on! what frightful scheme can this man have formed?" - -"Oh!" the capataz continued with savage irony; "the plan is simple, -honest, and highly praised by some persons, who consider it admirable, -even sublime." - -"You will tell me?' - -"Well, know all, then; General Don Sebastian Guerrero intends to marry -his ward." - -"Marry his ward, he!" Don Martial exclaimed with horror, "'tis -impossible." - -"Impossible?" the capataz repeated with a laugh, "Oh, how little you -know this man with the implacable will, this wild beast with a human -face, who pitilessly breaks everyone who dares to resist him. He is -resolved to marry his ward in order to strip her of her fortune, and he -will do so, I tell you." - -"But she is mad!" - -"I allow she is." - -"What priest would be so unnatural as to bless this sacrilegious -marriage?" - -"Nonsense," the capataz said with a shrug of his shoulders, "you forget, -my good sir, that the general possesses the talisman which renders -everything possible, and purchases everything--men, women, honour, and -conscience; he has gold." - -"That is true, that is true," the Tigrero exclaimed in despair, and -burying his face in his hands, he remained motionless, as if suddenly -struck by lightning. - -There was a lengthened silence, during which nothing was audible but -the choking sobs that burst from Don Martial's heaving chest. It was a -heartrending sight to see this strong, brave man so tried by adversity, -now conquered and almost crushed by despair, and weeping like a -frightened child. - -The capataz, with his arms crossed on his chest, pale forehead and -eyebrows contracted almost till they met, looked at him with an -expression of gentle and sympathizing pity. - -"Don Martial," he at length said, in a sharp and imperative voice. - -"What do you want with me?" the Tigrero asked, looking up with surprise. - -"I want you to listen to me, for I have not said all yet." - -"What more can you have to tell me?" the other asked sadly. - -"Arouse yourself like the man you are, instead of remaining any longer -crushed beneath the pressure of despair, like a child or a weak woman. -Is there no hope left in your heart?" - -"Did you not tell me that this man had an implacable will which nothing -could resist?" - -"I did say so, I allow; but is that a reason for giving up the struggle? -Do you suppose him invulnerable?" - -"Yes," he exclaimed eagerly, "I can kill him." - -The capataz shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. - -"Kill him," he repeated, "nonsense; that is the vengeance of fools! -Moreover, you will still be able to do that when all other means failed. -No--you can do something else." - -Don Martial looked at him earnestly. "You hate him too then, since you -do not fear to speak to me as you are doing?" - -"No matter whether I hate him or not, so long as I am willing to serve -you." - -"That is true," the Tigrero muttered. - -"Besides," the capataz continued, "do you forget who recommended you to -me?" - -"Valentine," said Don Martial. - -"Valentine; yes, Valentine, who saved my life as you have done, and to -whom I have vowed an eternal gratitude." - -"Oh," Don Martial said mournfully, "Valentine himself has given up any -further contest with this demon." - -The capataz grinned savagely. "Do you believe that?" he asked ironically. - -"What matter?" the Tigrero muttered. - -"Grief makes you egotistic, Don Martial," the other replied; "but I -forgive you on account of the sufferings I have most unluckily caused -you." - -He broke off, poured out a glass of sherry, swallowed it, and sat down -again on his butaca. - -"He would be a bad physician," he continued, "who, having performed a -painful operation, did not know how to apply the proper remedies to -cicatrize and cure it." - -"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed interested, in spite of -himself, by the tone in which those words were uttered. - -"Do you believe," the capataz continued, "do you believe, my friend, -that I would have inflicted such great pain on you if I had not -possessed the means to cause an immense joy to succeed it? Tell me, do -you believe that?" - -"Take care, señor," the Tigrero said in a trembling voice, "take care -what you are about, for I know not why, but I am beginning to regain -hope, and I warn you that if this last illusion which you are trying to -produce were to escape me this time, you would kill me as surely as if -you stabbed me with a dagger." - -The capataz smiled with ineffable gentleness. "Hope, my friend; hope, I -tell you," he said, "that is exactly what I want to bring you to; for I -wish you to have faith in me." - -"Speak, señor," he replied; "I will listen to you with confidence, for I -do not believe you capable of sporting so coldly with agony like mine." - -"Good, we have reached the point I have been aiming at so long. Now -listen to me. I told you, I think, that on her arrival in Mexico, Doña -Anita was taken by Don Sebastian to the Convent of the Bernardines?" - -"Yes! I fancy I can remember your saying so." - -"Very good. Doña Anita was received with open arms by the good nuns who -had educated her. The young lady, on finding herself again among the -companions of her childhood, treated with kind and intelligent care, -wandering unrestrained beneath the lofty trees that had sheltered her -early years, gradually felt calmness returning to her mind; her grief -by degrees gave way to a gentle melancholy; her ideas, overthrown by a -frightful catastrophe, regained their balance; in short, the madness -which had spread its black wings over her brain was driven away by the -soft caresses of the nuns, and soon entirely disappeared." - -"So, then," Don Martial exclaimed, "she has regained her reason?" - -"I will not venture to assert that, for she is still insane in the -opinion of everybody." - -"But in that case----," the Tigrero said in a panting voice. - -"In that case," the capataz continued, purposely laying a stress on -every word, while fixing a magnetic glance on the Tigrero, "as all the -world believes it, it must be so till the contrary is proved." - -"But how did you learn all these details?" - -"In the most simple manner. My master, Don Sebastian, has sent me -several times to the convent with messages, and chance decreed that I -recognized in the sister porter a relation of mine, whom I thought dead -long ago. The worthy woman, in her delight, and perhaps, too, to make -up for the long silence she is compelled to maintain, tells me whenever -she sees me all that is said and done in the convent, and there is a -good deal to learn from the conversation of a nun. She takes a good deal -of interest in me, and as I am fond of her too, I listen to her with -pleasure. Now, do you understand?" - -"Oh! go on. Go on!" - -"Well, this time I have nearly finished. It appears, from what my -relation tells me, that the nuns, and the Mother Superior before all, -are utterly opposed to the general's plans of marriage." - -"Oh, the holy women!" the Tigrero exclaimed with simple joy. - -"Are they not?" the capataz said with a laugh. "This is probably the -reason why they keep so secret the return of their boarder to her -senses, for they doubtless hope that, so long as the poor girl is mad, -the general will not dare contract the impious union he is meditating; -unfortunately, they do not know the man with whom they have to deal, -and the ferocious ambition that devours him; an ambition for the -gratification of which he will recoil from no crime, however atrocious -it may be." - -"Alas!" the Tigrero said despairingly; "you see, my friend, that I am -lost." - -"Wait, wait, my good sir; your situation, perhaps, is not so desperate -as you imagine it." - -"My heart is on fire." - -"Courage; and listen to me to the end. Yesterday I went to the convent, -the Mother Superior, to whom I had the honour of speaking, confided -to me, under the seal of secrecy--for she knows that, although I am a -servant of Don Sebastian, I take a deep interest in Doña Anita, and -would be glad to see her happy--that the young lady has expressed an -intention to confess." - -"Ah, for what reason! do you know?" - -"No, I do not!" - -"But that desire can be easily satisfied, I presume, there are plenty of -monks and priests attached to the convent." - -"Your observation is just; still it appears that, for reasons I am -equally ignorant of, neither the Mother Superior nor Doña Anita wishes -to have one of those monks or priests for confessor, hence----" - -"Hence?" Don Martial quickly interrupted him. - -"Well, the Mother Superior asked me to bring her a priest or monk in -whom I had confidence." - -"Ah!" - -"You understand, my friend." - -"Yes, yes! Oh, God! go on!" - -"And to take him to the convent." - -"And," Don Martial asked in a choking voice, "have you found this -confessor?" - -"I believe so," the capataz answered with a smile; "and pray, what do -you think, Don Martial?" - -"Yes, I do too," he exclaimed joyfully. "At what time are you to take -this confessor to the convent?" - -"Tomorrow, at the Oración." - -"Very good, and I presume you have arranged a place to meet him?" - -"Caspita! I should think so; he is to meet me at the Parian, where I -shall be at the first stroke of the Oración." - -"I am certain that he will be punctual!" - -"And so am I; and now, señor, do you consider that you have lost your -time in listening to me?" - -"On the contrary," Don Martial replied, as he offered him his hand with -a smile, "I consider you a first-rate hand at telling a story." - -"You flatter me." - -"No, indeed I do not. I consider, too, that the nuns of St. Bernard are -excellent and holy women." - -"Caspita! I should think so; they have a relation of mine as portress." - -The two men burst into a frank and hearty laugh, whose explosion no one -could have anticipated from the way in which their interview began. - -"Now, we must separate," the capataz said, as he rose. - -"What, already?" - -"I have to accompany my master tonight on an excursion outside the city." - -"Some plot, I presume?" - -"I am afraid so; but what would you have; I am forced to obey." - -"In that case, turn me out of doors." - -"That is what I am going to do; by-the-bye, have you seen Don Valentine -since you arrived?" - -"Not yet. This long delay makes me anxious, and if it were not so late, -or if I knew my road, I would go and ask hospitality of Don Antonio -Rallier, his fellow countryman, so as to obtain news of him." - -"That is of no consequence. Do you know Don Antonio's address?" - -"Yes, he lives in the Secunda Monterilla." - -"It is close by; if you wish it, I will have you taken there." - -"I should feel greatly obliged; but by whom?" - -"Caspita! have you forgotten the man to whom you intrusted your horse? -He will act as your guide." - -"A thousand thanks!" - -"It is not worth them. Will you take a walk tomorrow in the Parian?" - -"I am so anxious to see your confessor that I shall not fail to be -there." - -The two men smiled again. - -"Now, give me your hand, and let us be off." - -They went out of the room; the capataz led the Tigrero by the same -passage, walking along in the darkness as if it were broad day, and -they soon found themselves beneath the zaguán of the small house. The -capataz thrust his head out, after opening the door cautiously. The -street was deserted, and after looking up and down it, he whistled in -a peculiar way, and in a few minutes footsteps were heard and the peon -appeared holding the Tigrero's horse by the bridle. - -"Good bye, señor," the capataz said. "I thank you for the delightful -evening you have caused me to spend. Pilloto, lead this señor, who is a -forastero, to the Secunda Monterilla, and point out to him the house of -Señor Don Antonio Rallier." - -"Yes, mi amo," the peon answered laconically. - -The two friends exchanged a parting salutation; the Tigrero mounted, -and followed Pilloto, while the capataz re-entered the house and closed -the door after him. After numberless turnings and windings, the rider -and the footman at length entered a street which, from its width, the -Tigrero suspected to form part of the fashionable quarter. - -"This is the Secunda Monterilla," said the peon, "and that gentleman," -he added, pointing to a horseman who was coming toward them, followed by -three footmen also mounted, and well-armed, "is the very Don Antonio you -are looking for." - -"You are sure of it?" the Tigrero asked. - -"Caray! I know him well." - -"If that is the case, accept this piastre, my friend, and go home, for I -no longer need your services." - -The peon bowed and retired. During the conversation the newcomer had -halted in evident alarm. - -"'Tis I, Don Antonio," the Tigrero shouted to him. "Come on without -fear--I am a friend." - -"Oh, oh! it is very late to meet a friend in the street," Don Antonio -answered, though he advanced without hesitation, after laying his hand -on his weapon to guard against a surprise. - -"I am Martial, the Tigrero." - -"Oh, that is different; what do you want? A lodging, eh? I will have you -led to my house by a servant, and there leave you till tomorrow, as I am -in a hurry." - -"Agreed; but allow me one word." - -"Speak!" - -"Where is Don Valentine?" - -"Do you want to see him?" - -"Excessively." - -"Then come with me, for I am going to him!" - -"Heaven has sent him thus opportunely," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he -drew his horse up alongside Don Antonio's. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE VELORIO. - - -It was very late when the conspirators separated, and when the last -groups of officers left the rancho, the sound of the Indian horses and -mules proceeding to market was audible on the paved highway. Although -the darkness was still thick, the stars were beginning to die out in the -heavens, the cold was becoming sharper--in a word, all foretold that day -would soon break. - -The two travellers had seated themselves again at a corner of the table, -opposite one another, and were dumb and motionless as statues. The host -walked about the room with a busy air, apparently arranging and clearing -up, but very anxious in reality, and desirous, in his heart, to be rid -as soon as possible of these two singular customers, whose silence and -sobriety inspired him with but slight confidence. - -At length the person who had always spoken on his own behalf and that -of his companion struck the table twice, and the landlord hurried up at -this summons. - -"What do you wish for, excellency?" he asked, with an obsequious air. - -"I tell you what, landlord," the stranger continued, "it strikes me that -your criado is a long time in returning; he ought to have been back -before this." - -"Pardon me, excellency, but it is a long journey from here to the -Secunda Monterilla, especially when you are obliged to walk it. Still, I -believe the peon will soon be back." - -"May Heaven hear you! Give us each a glass of tamarind water." - -At this moment, when the landlord brought the draught, there was a tap -at the door. - -"Perhaps it is our man," the stranger said. - -"That is possible, your excellency," the landlord answered, as he went -to open the door on the chain, which left only a passage of a few -inches, much too narrow for the visitor to enter the house against the -wish of its owner. This precautionary measure, which is at once very -prudent and simple, is generally adopted all through Mexico, owing -to the slight confidence with which the police organization in this -blessed country, which is the refuge of scoundrels of every description, -inspires the inhabitants. - -After exchanging a few words in a low voice with the new arrival, the -landlord unhooked the chain and opened the door. - -"Excellency," he said to the stranger, who was slowly sipping his -tamarind water, "here is your messenger." - -"At last," the traveller said, gladly, as he placed his horn mug on the -table. - -The peon entered, politely doffed his hat and bowed. - -"Well, my friend," the stranger asked him, "did you find the person to -whom I sent you?" - -"Yes, excellency, I had the good fortune to find him at home on his -return from a tertulia in the Calle San Agustin." - -"Ah, ah! and what did he say on receiving my note?" - -"Well, excellency, he is a caballero, for sure; for he first gave me -a piastre, and then said to me, 'Go back as quick as you can walk, -and tell the gentleman who sent you that I shall be at the meeting he -appoints as soon as yourself.'" - -"So that----" - -"He will probably be here in a few minutes." - -"Very good, you are a clever lad," the stranger answered; "here is -another piastre for you, and now you can retire." - -"Thanks, your excellency," the peon said, joyfully pocketing his -piastre. "Caray! I should be a rich man with only two nights a month -like this." - -And after bowing a second time, he left the room to go and sleep, in -all probability, in the corral. The peon had told the truth, for he -had scarce left the room ten minutes ere a rather loud voice was heard -without: horses stamped, and not only was the door struck, but there -were several loud calls. - -"Open the door without fear," the stranger said; "I know that voice." - -The ranchero obeyed, and several persons entered the inn. - -"At last you have returned, my dear Valentine," the newcomer exclaimed -in French, as he walked quickly towards the travellers, who, for their -part, went to meet him. - -"Thanks for your promptitude in responding to my invitation, my dear -Rallier," the hunter answered. - -The ranchero bit his lips on hearing them talk in a language he did not -understand. - -"Hum! they are Ingleses," he muttered spitefully. "I suspected they must -be gringos." - -It is a general rule with the lower class Mexicans that all foreigners -are English, and consequently hunters or gringos. - -"Come here, Ño Lusacho," Valentine said, addressing the landlord, who -was turning his hat between his fingers with an air of considerable -embarrassment, "I have to talk on important matters with these -gentlemen, and as I do not wish to be disturbed by you, I propose that -you should give me up this room for an hour." - -"Excellency," he muttered. - -"I understand, you expect to be paid. Very good, I will pay you, but on -condition that no one, not even yourself, comes in till I call." - -"Still, your excellency----." - -"Listen to me without interruption. Day will not break for two hours, so -you will not open your rancho till then, and, consequently, you have no -customers to expect. I will pay an ounce for each hour; will that suit -you?" - -"I should think so, your excellency; at that price I will sell you the -whole day if you wish." - -"That is not necessary," the hunter said, with a laugh; "but you -understand I want fair play--no ears on the listen, or eyes at the slits -of the panelling." - -"I am an honest man, your excellency." - -"I am ready to believe so; but I warn you, because in the event of my -seeing an eye or an ear lap, I shall immediately fire a bullet at it as -a recommendation to prudence, and I have the ill luck to be a dead shot. -Does the bargain suit you with those conditions?" - -"Perfectly, your excellency. I shall keep a strict watch over my people, -so that you shall not be disturbed." - -"You are a splendid landlord, and I predict that you will make a rapid -fortune, for I see that you thoroughly understand your own interests." - -"I try to satisfy the gentry who honour my poor abode with their -presence." - -"Excellently reasoned! Here are the two promised ounces, and four -piastres in the bargain for the refreshments you are going to serve us. -Have these gentlemen's horses taken to the corral, and have the goodness -to leave us." - -The landlord bowed with a grimacing smile, brought, with a speed far -from common with people of his calling, the refreshments ordered, and -gave the hunter a deep bow. - -"Now," he said, "your excellency is in your own house, and no one shall -enter without your orders." - -While Valentine was making this bargain with the ranchero, his friends -remained silent, laughing inwardly at the hunter's singular mode of -proceeding, and the unanswerable arguments he employed to avoid an -espionage almost always to be found in such places, when the master does -not scruple to betray those who pay him best. - -"Now," said Valentine, so soon as the door closed behind the landlord, -"we shall talk at least in safety." - -"Speak Spanish, my friend," said M. Rallier. - -"Why so? It is so delightful to converse in one's own tongue, when, -like me, you have so few opportunities for doing so. I assure you that -Curumilla will not feel offended." - -"Hum; I did not say this on behalf of the chief, whose friendship for -you I am well acquainted with." - -"Who then?" - -"For Don Martial, who has accompanied me, and has important matters to -communicate to you." - -"Oh, oh, that changes the question," said the hunter, at once -substituting Spanish for the French he had hitherto employed. "Are you -there, my dear Don Martial?" - -"Yes, señor," the Tigrero answered, emerging from the gloom in which he -had remained up to this moment, "and very happy to see you." - -"Who else have you brought with you, Don Antonio?" - -"Me, my friend," said a third person, as he let the folds of his cloak -fall. "My brother thought that it would be better to have a companion, -in the event of an alarm." - -"Your brother was right, my dear Edward, and I thank him for the good -idea, which procures me the pleasure of shaking your hand a few moments -sooner. And now, señores, if you are agreeable, we will sit down and -talk, for, if I am not mistaken, we have certain things to tell each -other which are most important for us." - -"That is true!" Antonio Rallier answered, as he sat down, in which he -was immediately imitated by the rest. - -"If you like," Valentine continued, "we will proceed in regular -rotation; that is, I fancy, the way to finish more quickly, for you know -that moments are precious." - -"First, and before all else, my friend," said Antonio Rallier, "permit -me to thank you once again, in my own name and that of my family, for -the services you rendered me in our journey across the Rocky Mountains. -Without you, without your watchful friendship and courageous devotion, -we should never have emerged from those frightful gorges, but must have -perished miserably in them." - -"What good is it, my friend, to recall at this moment----" - -"Because," Antonio Rallier continued eagerly, "I wish you to be -thoroughly convinced that you can dispose of us all as you please. Our -arms, purses, and hearts, all belong to you." - -"I know it, my friend, and you see that I have not hesitated to make -use of you, at the risk even of compromising you. So let us leave this -subject, and come to facts. What have you done?" - -"I have literally followed your instructions; according to your wish, I -have hired and furnished for you a house in Tacuba Street." - -"Pardon me, but you know that I am very slightly acquainted with Mexico, -for I have visited that city but rarely, and each time without stopping." - -"The Tacuba is one of the principal streets in Mexico; it faces the -palace, and is close to the street in which I reside with my family." - -"That is famous. And in whose name did you take the house?" - -"In that of Don Serapio de la Ronda. Your servants arrived two days ago." - -"You mean----" - -"I mean Belhumeur and Black Elk; the former is your steward and the -latter your valet. They have made all the arrangements, and you can -arrive when you please." - -"Today, then." - -"I will act as your guide." - -"Thank you; what next?" - -"Next, my brother Edward has taken, in his own name, at the San Lázaro -gate, a small house, where ten horses, belonging to the purest mustang -breed, were at once placed in a magnificent corral." - -"That concerns Curumilla; he will live in that house with your brother." - -"And now one other thing, my friend." - -"Speak!" - -"You will not be angry with me?" - -"With you? nonsense!" said Valentine, holding out his hand. - -"Not knowing whether you had sufficient funds at your disposal--and you -will agree with me that you will require a large sum----?" - -"I know it. Well?" - -"Well, I----" - -"I see I must come to your assistance, my poor Antonio. As you believe -me a poor devil of a hunter not possessed of a farthing, and are so -delicate minded yourself, you have placed in a corner of the room, or -in some article of furniture, of which you want to give me the key and -don't know how, fifty or perhaps one hundred thousand piastres, with the -reservation to offer me more, should not that sum prove sufficient." - -"Would you be angry with me had I done so?" - -"On the contrary, I should be most grateful to you." - -"In that case I am glad." - -"Glad of what, my dear Antonio?" - -"That you accept the hundred thousand piastres." - -Valentine smiled. - -"I am delighted to find that you are the man I judged you to be. Still, -while thanking you from my heart for the service you wish to render me, -I do not accept it." - -"Do you refuse, Valentine?" he said mournfully. - -"Let us understand each other, my friend. I do not refuse; I simply tell -you that I do not want the money, and here is the proof," he added, -as he took from his pocket a folded paper, which, he handed to his -countryman, "you, as a banker, may know the firm of Thornwood, Davison, -and Co." - -"It is the richest in San Francisco." - -"Then open that paper and read." - -Mr. Rallier obeyed. - -"An unlimited credit opened at my house," he exclaimed in a voice -tremulous with joy. - -"Does that displease you?" Valentine asked with a smile. - -"On the contrary; but you must be rich in that case." - -A cloud of sadness passed over the hunter's forehead. - -"I have grieved you, my friend." - -"Alas! as you know, there are certain wounds which never close. Yes, my -friend, I am rich; Curumilla, Belhumeur, and myself alone, now that my -foster-mother is dead, know in Apacheria the richest placer that exists -in the world. It was for the purpose of going to this placer that I did -not accompany you to Mexico; now you understand; but what do I care for -this incalculable fortune, when my heart is dead, and the joy of my life -is for ever annihilated!" - -And under the weight of the deep emotion that crushed him, the hunter -hung his head down and stifled a sob. Curumilla arose amid the general -silence, for no one ventured to offer ordinary consolation for this -grief, and laid his hand on Valentine's shoulder-- - -"Koutonepi," he said to him in a hollow voice, "remember that you have -sworn to avenge our brother." - -The hunter drew himself up as if stung by a serpent, and pressing the -hand the Indian offered him, he looked at him for a moment with strange -fixedness. - -"Women alone weep for the dead, because they are unable to avenge them," -the Indian continued in the same harsh, cutting accent. - -"Yes, you are right," the hunter answered with feverish energy; "I thank -you, chief, for having recalled me to myself." - -Curumilla laid his friend's hand on his heart, and stood for an instant -motionless; at length he let it fall, sat down again, and wrapping -himself in his zarapé, he returned to his habitual silence, from which -so grave a circumstance alone could have aroused him. Valentine passed -his hand twice over his forehead, which was bathed in cold perspiration, -and attempted a faint smile. - -"Forgive me, my friends, for having forgotten, during a moment, the -character I have assumed," he said in a gentle voice. - -Their hands were silently extended to him. - -"Now," he exclaimed in a firm voice, in whose notes traces of the past -tempest were still audible, "let us speak of that poor Doña Anita de -Torrés." - -"Alas!" said the elder Rallier, "I cannot tell you anything, although -my sister Helena, her companion at the Convent of the Bernardines, to -which I sent her in accordance with your wish, has let me know that she -would have grand news for us in a few days." - -"I will give you that news, with your permission," Don Martial said -at this moment, suddenly joining in the conversation, to which he had -hitherto listened with great indifference. - -"Do you know anything?" Valentine asked him. - -"Yes, something most important; that is why I was so anxious to speak -with you." - -"Speak then, my friend, speak, we are listening." - -The Tigrero, without further pressing, at once reported, in the fullest -details, his interview with Don Sebastian Guerrero's capataz. The three -Frenchmen listened with the most serious attention, and when he had -finished his story, Valentine rose-- - -"Let us be off, señores," he said, "we have no time to lose; perhaps -heaven offers us, at this moment, the opportunity we have been so long -awaiting." - -The others rose without asking the hunter for any explanation, and a -few minutes later Valentine and his comrades were galloping along the -highway in the direction of Mexico. - -"I do not know what diabolical plot they are forming," Ño Lusacho -muttered, on seeing them disappear in the distance; "but they are worthy -gentlemen, and let the ounces slip through their fingers like so much -water." - -And he entered the rancho, the door of which he now left open, for day -was breaking. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES. - - -The history of colonies is the same everywhere, that is to say, that you -find the old belief, the forgotten manners and customs of the mother -country intact, and almost exaggerated. - -Mexico was to Spain what Canada still is to France. In Mexico we, -therefore, find the Spain of the monks, with all the abuses of a -degenerate monastic life; for we are compelled to state that with -few, very few exceptions, the monks of Mexico are far from leading an -exemplary life. A few years ago a Papal legate arrived at Mexico, who -had been sent to try and introduce into the monasteries reforms which -had become urgent; but he soon recognized the impossibility of success, -and returned as he came. This is the history of yesterday and today, and -in the way things are going on, it will be the history of tomorrow. - -In spite of the innumerable revolutions the Mexican monks are still -very rich. Among other uses to which they put their money, the best is, -perhaps, lending it out at six per cent., which, let us hasten to add, -is a great blessing in a country where the ordinary interest on borrowed -money is sixteen to eighteen per cent. Still, it appears to us, and we -trust the remark will not be taken in bad part, but little in harmony -with the vocation of the monks and the pure doctrines of religion, which -is so opposed to lending money out at interest, for it has ever seen in -it disguised usury. - -We will add, at the risk of incurring the blame of some persons, and -of appearing to emit a paradox, that in this collection of Christian -religious buildings there seems to be kept up the tradition of the -great Mexican Teocali, which contained within its walls seventy-eight -buildings devoted to the Aztec worship. - -In the first place, what is the religion professed in Spanish America? -It certainly is not the Catholic faith; and this we can affirm with a -safe conscience, and supply proof if necessary. The Americans of the -south, like all southern peoples, are instinctively Pagans, fond of -war and holidays, making a god of each saint, adoring the Virgin under -a hundred different forms, digging up the old Aztec idols, placing -them in all the Mexican churches, and offering them worship under the -characteristic denomination of Santos antiguos, or ancient saints. - -What can be said after this? Simply that the Hispano-Americans never -understood the religion they were compelled to profess; that they care -but very little for it, and in their hearts cling to their old worship -in the terrific proportion of the native to the European population, -that is to say two-thirds to one. Hence the demoralization of the -masses, which is justly complained of, but is the fault of those persons -who, at the outset, believed they could establish the religion of -Christ in their countries by fire and sword--a system, we are bound to -add, scrupulously followed by the Spanish clergy, up to the Proclamation -of the Independence of the colonies. - -The Convent of the Bernardines is situated but a short distance from -the Paseo de Bucareli. Not one of the religious communities for women -scattered over Mexico is so rich as this one, for the kings of Spain -and nobles of the highest rank gave it large endowments, which, in the -course of time, have grown into an immense fortune. - -The vast site occupied by the Convent of the Bernardines, the thick -walls that surround it, and the numerous domes that crown it, -sufficiently indicate the importance it enjoys at the present day. - -Like all the Mexican convents, and especially that at San Francisco, to -which it bears a distant resemblance, the Convent of the Bernardines is -defended by thick walls, flanked by massive buttresses, which give it -the appearance of a fortress. Still the peaceful belfries, and their -cupolas of enamelled porcelain covering so many chapels, allow the pious -destination of the edifice to be recognized. An immense paved court -leads to the principal chapel, which is adorned with a luxury that it -would be difficult to form an idea of in our sceptical Europe. - -Behind this first court is the space reserved for the nuns, consisting -of immense cloisters, adorned with pictures by old masters, and white -jasper basins from which limpid fountains rise. Next come immense -huertas with umbrageous walks, wide courtyards, a rich and valuable -library in which the scientific wealth of Mexico lies buried, eight -spacious, comfortable, and airy dormitories, four hundred cells for -the nuns, and a refectory in which four hundred guests can sit without -crowding. - -On the day when we introduce the reader into the Convent of the -Bernardines, at about five in the evening, three persons, collected in -a leafy arbour, almost at the end of the garden, were talking together -with considerable animation. - -Of these persons, one, the eldest, was a nun, while the other two, girls -of from sixteen to eighteen years of age, wore the garb of novices. - -The first was the Mother Superior of the convent, a lady of about fifty -years of age, with delicate and aristocratic features, gentle manners, -and noble and majestic demeanour, whose face displayed kindness and -intelligence. - -The second was Doña Anita; we will not draw her portrait, for the reader -has long been acquainted with her.[1] The poor girl, however, was pale -and white as a corpse, her fever-parched eyes were not easy, fixed on -any object, and she looked about her hurriedly and desperately. - -The third was Doña Helena Rallier, a light-haired, blue-eyed girl, with -a saucy look, whose velvety cheeks, and noble and well-defined features, -revealed the candour and innocence of youth, combined with the laughing -expressions of a boarder spoiled by an indulgent governess. - -Doña Helena was standing a little outside the arbour, leaning against -a tree, and seemed like a vigilant sentry carefully watching lest the -conversation between the Mother Superior and her companion should be -disturbed. - -Doña Anita, seated on a stone bench by the side of the Abbess, with her -hand in the elder lady's, and her head resting on her shoulder, was -speaking to her in a faltering voice and broken sentences which found -difficulty in passing her parted lips, while the tears silently ran down -her cheeks, which suffering had rendered pale. - -"My kind mother," she said, and her voice, was harmonious as the sigh -of an Æolian harp, "I know not how to thank you for your inexhaustible -kindness towards me. Alas! you are at present my only friend; why may -I not be allowed to remain always by your side? I should be so glad to -take my vows and pass my life in this convent under your benevolent -protection." - -"My dear child," the Abbess said gently, "God is great, his power is -infinite; hence, why despair? Alas! doubt leads to denial; you are still -almost a child. Who knows what joy and happiness the future may still -have in store for you?" - -The maiden gave a heavy sigh. "Alas!" she murmured, "the future no -longer exists for me, my kind mother; a poor orphan, abandoned without -protection to the power of an unnatural relation, I must endure fearful -tortures, and, under his iron yoke, lead a life of suffering and grief." - -"Child," the Abbess said, with gentle sternness, "do not blaspheme; you -are still ignorant, I repeat, of what the future may have in store for -you. You are ungrateful at this moment--ungrateful and selfish." - -"I ungrateful! holy mother!" the maiden objected. - -"Yes, you are ungrateful, Anita, to us and to yourself. Do you consider -it nothing, after the frightful misfortune that burst on you, to have -returned to this convent in which your childhood was spent, and to have -found among us that family which the world refused you? Is it nothing to -have near you hearts that pity you, and voices that incessantly urge you -to have courage?" - -"Courage, sister," Doña Helena's sweet voice said at this moment, like a -soft echo. - -The maiden hid her lovely tear-bedewed face in the bosom of the Mother -Superior. - -"Pardon me, mother," she continued, "pardon me, but I am crushed by this -struggle, which I have carried on so long without hope. The courage -you attempt to give me cannot, in spite of my efforts, penetrate to my -heart, for I have the fatal conviction that, whatever you may do, you -will not succeed in preventing the frightful misfortune suspended over -my head." - -"Let us reason a little, my child, like sensible persons; up to the -present, at least, we have succeeded in concealing from everybody the -happy return of your senses." - -"Happy!" she sighed. - -"Yes, happy; for with the intellect faith, that is to say, strength, -returned to you. Well, while your guardian believes you still insane, -and is compelled, in spite of himself, to suspend his schemes with -reference to you, I have been employing all the influence my high -position gives me, and my family connections. I have had a petition on -your behalf presented to the President of the Republic by sure hands; -this petition is supported by the greatest names in Mexico, and I ask in -it that the marriage with which you are menaced may not be contracted -against your will; in a word, I ask that your guardian may be prevented -taking any steps till you are in a proper condition to say yes or no." - -"Have you really done that, my good mother?" the maiden exclaimed, as -she threw her arms in real delight round the elder lady's neck. - -"Yes, I have done so, my child, and I am expecting every moment a reply, -which I hope will be favourable." - -"Oh, mother, my real mother, if that succeeds I shall be saved." - -"Do not go from one extreme to the other, my child; all is uncertain -yet, and heaven alone knows whether we shall be successful." - -"Oh, God will not abandon a poor orphan." - -"God, my child, chastens those He loves; have confidence in Him, and his -right hand will be extended over you to sustain you in adversity." - -"Sister Redemption is coming this way, holy mother," Doña Helena said at -this moment. - -At a sign from the Mother Superior, Doña Anita withdrew to the other end -of the bench on which she was seated, folded her arms on her chest, and -let her head droop. - -"Are you looking for our mother, sister?" Doña Helena asked a rather -elderly lay sister, who was looking to the right and left as if really -seeking somebody. - -"Yes, sister," the lay sister answered, "I wish to deliver a message -with which I am entrusted for our mother." - -"Then enter this arbour, sister, and you will find her reposing there." - -The lay sister entered the arbour, approached the Mother Superior, -stopped modestly three paces from her, folded her arms on her breast, -looked down respectfully, and waited till she was spoken to. - -"What do you desire, daughter?" the Mother Superior asked her. - -"Your blessing, in the first place, holy mother," the lay sister -answered. - -"I can give it you, daughter; and now what message have you for me?" - -"Holy mother, a gentleman of lofty bearing, called Don Serapio de la -Ronda, wishes to speak with you privately; the sister porter took him -into the parlour, where he is waiting for you." - -"I will be with him directly, daughter; tell the sister porter to -apologize in my name to the gentleman, if I keep him waiting longer than -I like, owing to my advanced age. Go on, I follow you." - -The lay sister bowed respectfully to the abbess, and went away to -deliver the message with which she was entrusted. The abbess rose, and -the two girls sprang forward to support her; but she stopped them. - -"Remain here till the Oración, my children," she said to them, "converse -together; but be prudent, and do not let yourselves be surprised; after -the Oración, you will come and converse in my cell." - -Then after giving Doña Anita a parting kiss, the Mother Superior went -away, sorely troubled in mind at this visit from a man she did not know, -and whose name she now heard for the first time. When she entered the -parlour, the abbess examined with a hasty glance the person who asked to -see her, and who, on perceiving her, rose from his chair, and bowed to -her respectfully. This first glance was favourable to the stranger, in -whom the reader has doubtless already recognized Valentine Guillois. - -"Pray resume your seat, caballero," the abbess said to him, "if your -conversation is to last any time, we shall talk more comfortably when -sitting." - -Valentine bowed, offered the lady a chair, and then returned to his own. - -"Señor Don Serapio de la Ronda was announced to me," the lady continued -after a short silence. - -"I am that gentleman, madam," Valentine said courteously. - -"I am at your orders, caballero, and ready to listen to any -communication you may have to make." - -"Madam, I have nothing personal to say to you; I am merely commissioned -by the Minister of the Home Department to deliver you this letter, to -which I have a few words to add." - -While uttering this sentence with exquisite politeness, Valentine -offered the abbess a letter bearing the ministerial arms. - -"Pray open the letter, madam," he added, on seeing that, through -politeness, she held it in her hand unopened, "you must render yourself -acquainted with its contents in order to understand the meaning of the -words I have to add." - -The abbess, who in her heart was impatient to know what the minister had -to say to her, offered no objection, and broke the seal of the letter, -which she hurriedly perused. On reading it a lively expression of joy -lit up her face. - -"Then," she exclaimed, "his excellency deigns to grant my request?" - -"Yes, madam; you remain, until fresh orders, responsible for your -young charge. You have only to deal with the minister in the matter; -and," he added, with a purposed stress on the words, "in the event of -General Guerrero, the guardian of Doña Anita, trying to force you into -surrendering her to him, you are authorized to conceal the young lady, -who is for so many reasons an object of interest, in any house of the -order you please." - -"Oh, señor," she answered, her eyes filling with tears of joy, "pray -thank his excellency in my name for the act of justice he has deigned to -perform in favour of this unfortunate young lady." - -"I will have that honour, madam," Valentine said, as he rose; "and now -that I have delivered my message, permit me to take leave of you, while -congratulating myself that I was selected by his Excellency the Minister -to be his intermediary with you." - -At the moment when Valentine left the convent, Carnero entered it, -accompanied by a monk, whose hood was pulled down over his face. The -hunter and the capataz exchanged a side glance, but did not speak. - - -[1] See "Tiger Slayer." Same publishers. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE CONFESSOR. - - -Mexico, as we have already stated, was, after the conquest, completely -rebuilt on the original plan, so that, at the present day, it offers -nearly the same sight as struck Cortez when he entered it for the first -time. The Plaza Mayor, especially, some years back, before the French -innovations, more or less good, were introduced, offered towards evening -a most picturesque scene. - -This immense square is bounded on one side by the Portales de -Mercaderes; heavy arches supported on one side by immense stones, and on -the other by pilasters, at the foot of which are the alacenas or shops. - -The ayuntamiento, the president's palace, the cathedral, the sagrario, -the portal de las flores, an immense bazaar for merchandize, and the -Parian, also a bazaar, complete, or rather completed, at the period when -our history takes place, the fourth side of the square, for recently -great changes have taken place, and the Parian, among other buildings, -has disappeared. The handsomest streets, such as the Tacuba, Mint, -Monterilla, Santo Domingo, etc., debouche on the great square. - -The cathedral stands exactly on the site of the ancient great Mexican -Teocali, all the buildings of which it has absorbed; unfortunately this -building, which is externally splendid, does not come up internally to -the idea formed of it, for its ornaments are in bad taste, poor and -paltry. - -Between five and six in the evening, or a few minutes before Oración, -the appearance of the Plaza Mayor becomes really fairy-like. The crowd -of strollers--a strange crowd were there ever one--flocks up from all -sides at once, composed of horsemen, pedestrians, officers, priests, -soldiers, campesinos, leperos, Indian women in red petticoats, ladies of -fashion in their sayas, and all the people come, go, cross and jostle -each other, mingling their conversation with the cries of children, -the vociferations of the leperos, who torment purchasers with their -impetuosity, and the shrill appeals of the sellers of tamales and -queratero, crouching in the shade of the porticos. - -A few minutes before the Oración, a Franciscan monk, recognizable by his -blue gown, and silken cord round his waist, and whose large white felt -hat, pulled down over the eyes, almost completely concealed his face, -came from the Calle Monterilla, and entered the Plaza Mayor. - -This man, who was tall and apparently powerfully built, walked slowly, -with hanging head and arms crossed on his chest, as if plunged in -serious reflection. Instead of entering the thronged Portales, he -crossed the square and proceeded towards the Parian, which was very -lively at the moment, for the Parian was a bazaar, resembling the Temple -of Paris, and was visited at this period by persons, the leanness of -whose purses only allowed them to purchase here their jewellery and -smart clothing, which, in any other part of the city would have been -much too expensive for them. - -Not attending to the noise or movement around him, the Franciscan leant -his shoulder against the stall of an evangelista, or public writer, and -looked absently and wearily across the square. He did not remain long in -this position, however, for just after he had reached the Parian, the -Oración began. At the first peal of the cathedral bells, all the noises -ceased in the square; the crowd stopped, heads were uncovered, and each -muttered a short prayer in a low voice. - -At the last stroke of the Oración, a hand was laid on the Franciscan's -shoulder, while a voice whispered in his ear-- - -"You are exact to the rendezvous, Señor Padre." - -"I am performing my duty, my son," the monk at once answered, turning -round. - -In the person who addressed him he doubtless recognized a friend, for he -offered him his hand by a spontaneous movement. - -"Are you still resolved to attempt the adventure?" the first speaker -continued. - -"More than ever, señor." - -"Bear in mind that you must not mention my name; we do not know each -other; you are a monk from the San Franciscan monastery, whom I fetched -to confess a young novice at the Convent of the Bernardines. It is -understood that you do not know who I am?" - -"My brother, we poor monks are at the service of the afflicted; our duty -orders us to help them when they claim our support; as we have no name -for society, we are forbidden to ask that of those who summon us." - -"Excellently spoken," the other replied, repressing a smile. "You are -a monk according to my own heart. I see that I am not deceived with -respect to you; come then, my father, we must not keep the person -waiting who is expecting us." - -The Franciscan bowed his assent, placed himself in the right of his -singular friend, and both went away from the Parian, where the noise -had become louder than ever, after the angelos had ceased ringing. The -two men passed unnoticed through the crowd, and walked in the direction -of the Convent of the Bernardines, going along silently, side by side. - -We have said that at the convent gate they passed Don Serapio de la -Ronda, that is to say, Valentine Guillois, and that the three men -exchanged a side glance full of meaning. The sister porter made no -objection to admitting the Franciscan; and his guide, so soon as he -saw him inside the convent, took leave of him after exchanging a few -commonplace compliments with the sister. The latter respectfully led the -monk into a parlour, and after begging him to wait a moment, went away -to inform the Mother Superior of the arrival of the confessor whom the -young novice had requested to see. - -We will leave the Franciscan for a little while to his meditations, and -return to the two young ladies whom we left in the garden. So soon as -the abbess had withdrawn, they drew closer together, Doña Helena taking -the seat on the bench previously occupied by the abbess. - -"My dear Anita," she said, "let me profit by the few minutes we are left -alone to impart to you the contents of a letter I received this morning; -I feared that I should be unable to do so, and yet it seems to me that -what I have to tell you is most important." - -"What do you mean, my dear Helena? Does the letter to which you refer -interest me?" - -"I cannot positively explain to you, but it will be sufficient for you -to know that my brothers are very intimate with a countryman of ours who -takes the greatest interest in you, and what I have to tell you relates -to this Frenchman." - -"That is strange," said Doña Anita, pausing. "I never knew but one -Frenchman, and I have told you the sad story which was the cause of all -the misfortunes that overwhelmed me. But the Frenchman whom my father -wished me to marry died under frightful circumstances; then who can this -gentleman be who takes so lively an interest in me--do you know him?" - -"Very slightly," the young lady answered with a blush, "but sufficiently -to be able to assure you that he possesses a noble heart. He does not -know you personally; but," she added, as she drew a letter from her -bosom, and opened it, "this is the passage in my brother's letter which -refers to you and him. Shall I read it to you?" - -"Pray read it, my dear Helena, for I know the friendship you and your -family entertain for me; hence, it is with the greatest pleasure I -receive news of your brothers." - -"Listen then," the young lady continued, and she read, after seeking for -the passage-- - -"'Valentine begs me, dear sister, to ask you to tell your friend'--that -is you," she said, breaking off. - -"Go on," Doña Anita answered, whose curiosity had been aroused by the -name Helena had pronounced, though it was impossible for her to know -who that person was. - -"'To tell your friend,' Doña Helena continued, 'that the confessor she -asked for will come to the convent this very day after the Oración. Doña -Anita must arm herself with courage, which is as necessary to endure -joy as grief, for she will learn today some news possessing immense -importance for the future.' That is underlined," the young lady added, -as she bent over to her friend, and pointed to the sentence with the tip -of her rosy finger. - -"That is strange," Doña Anita murmured. "Alas! what news can I learn?" - -"Who knows?" said her young companion, and then continued--"'Before -all, Doña Anita must be prudent; and however extraordinary what she -hears may appear to her, she must be careful to conceal the effect -produced by this revelation, for she must not forget that if she have -devoted friends, she is closely watched by all-powerful enemies, and the -slightest imprudence would hopelessly neutralize all the efforts that -we are making to save her. You cannot, my dear sister, lay sufficient -stress on this recommendation.' The rest," the maiden added, with a -smile, "only relates to myself, and it is, therefore, unnecessary for me -to read it to you." - -And she refolded the letter, which disappeared in her dress again. - -"And now, my darling, you are warned," she said; "so be prudent." - -"Good heaven! I do not understand the letter at all, nor do I know the -Valentine to whom it alludes. It was by your advice that I asked for a -confessor." - -"That is to say, by my brother's advice, who, as you know, Anita, placed -me here, not merely because I love you as a sister, but also to support -and encourage you." - -"And I am grateful both to you and him for it, dear Helena; if I had -not you near me, in spite of the friendship our worthy and kind mother -condescends to grant me, I should long ago have succumbed to my grief." - -"The question is not about me at this moment, my darling, but -solely about yourself. However obscure and mysterious my brother's -recommendation may be, I know him to be too earnest and too truly kind -for me to neglect it. Hence I cannot find language strong enough to urge -you to prudence." - -"I seek in vain to guess what the news is to which he refers; and I -acknowledge that I feel a secret repugnance to see the confessor he -announces to me. Alas! I have everything to fear, and nothing to hope -now." - -"Silence," Doña Helena said, quietly. "I hear the sound of footsteps in -the walk leading to this arbour. Someone is coming. So we must not let -ourselves be surprised." - -"In fact, almost at the same moment the lay sister, who had already -informed the Mother Superior of the arrival of Don Serapio de la Ronda, -appeared at the entrance of the arbour. - -"Señorita," she said, addressing Doña Helena, "our holy mother abbess -wishes to speak to you as well as to Doña Anita without delay. She is -waiting for you in her private cell in the company of a holy Franciscan -monk." - -The maidens exchanged a glance, and a transient flush appeared on Doña -Anita's pale cheeks. - -"We will follow you, sister," Doña Helena replied. The maidens rose; -Doña Helena passed her arm through her companion's, and stooping down, -whispered in her ear-- - -"Courage, Querida." - -They followed the lay sister, who led them to the Mother Superior's -cell, and discreetly withdrew on reaching the door. The abbess appeared -to be talking rather excitedly with the Franciscan monk; but, on seeing -the two girls, she ceased speaking, and rose. - -"Come, my child," she said, as she held out her arms to Doña Anita, -"come and thank God who in his infinite goodness has deigned to perform -a miracle on your behalf." - -The maiden stopped through involuntary emotion, and looked wildly around -her. At a sign from the abbess the monk rose, and throwing back his hood -at the same time as he fell on his knees before the maiden, he said to -her in a voice faltering with emotion-- - -"Anita, do you recognize me?" - -At the sound of this voice, whose sympathetic notes made all the fibres -of her heart vibrate, the maiden suddenly drew herself back, tottered -and fell into the arms of Doña Helena, as she shrieked with an accent -impossible to describe-- - -"Martial! oh, Martial!" - -A sob burst from her overcharged bosom, and she burst into tears. She -was saved, since the immense joy she so suddenly experienced had not -killed her. The Tigrero, as weak as the woman he loved, could only find -tears to express all his feelings. - -For some minutes the abbess and Doña Helena trembled lest these two -beings, already so tried by misfortune, would not find within themselves -the necessary strength to resist so terrible an emotion; but a powerful -reaction suddenly took place in the tiger-slayer's mind; he sprang up -at one leap, and seized in his arms the maiden, who, on her side, was -making efforts to rush to him-- - -"Anita, dear Anita," he cried, "I have found you again at last; oh, now -no human power will be able to separate us!" - -"Never, never!" she murmured, as she let her head fall on the young -man's shoulder; "Martial, my beloved Martial, protect me, save me!" - -"Oh, yes, I will save you; angel of my life," he exclaimed, looking up -defiantly to heaven; "we will be united, I swear it to you." - -"Is that the prudence you promised me?" the abbess said, interposing; -"remember the perils of every description that surround you, and the -implacable foes who have sworn your destruction; lock up in your heart -these feelings which, if revealed before one of the countless spies who -watch you, would cause your death and that, perhaps, of the poor girl -you love." - -"Thank you, madam," the Tigrero replied; "thank you for having reminded -me of the part I must play for a few days longer. If I forgot it for -a few seconds, subdued by the passion that devours my heart, I will -henceforth adhere to it carefully. Do not fear lest I should imperil the -happiness that is preparing for me; no, I will restrain my feelings, and -let myself be guided by the counsel of the sincere friends to whom I owe -the moments of ineffable happiness I am now enjoying." - -"Oh! I now understand," Doña Anita exclaimed, "the mysterious hints -given me. Alas! misfortune made me suspicious; so forgive me, heaven, -forgive me, holy mother, and you too, Helena, my kind and faithful -friend. I did not dare hope, and feared a snare." - -"I forgive you, my poor child," the abbess answered; "who could blame -you?" - -Doña Helena pressed her friend to her heart without saying a word. - -"Oh, now our misfortunes are at an end, Anita," the Tigrero exclaimed -passionately; "we have friends who will not abandon us in the supreme -struggle we are engaging in with our common enemy. God, who has hitherto -done everything for us, will not leave his work incomplete; have faith -in Him, my beloved." - -"Martial," the maiden replied, with a firmness that astonished her -hearers, "I was weak because I was alone, but now that I know you live, -and are near me to support me, oh! if I were to fall dead at the feet -of my persecutor, I would not be false to the oath I took to be yours -alone. Believing you dead, I remained faithful to your memory; but now, -if persecution assailed me, I should find the strength to endure it." - -This scene would have been prolonged, but prudence urged that the abbess -should break it off as soon as possible. Doña Anita, rendered strong -merely by the nervous excitement which possessed her, soon felt faint; -she could scarcely stand, and Don Martial himself felt his energy -abandoning him. - -The separation was painful between these two beings so miraculously -re-united when they never expected to see each other again; but it was -soothed by the hope of soon meeting again under the protection of the -Mother Superior, who had done so much for them, and whose inexhaustible -kindness they had entirely gained for their cause. - -For the first time since she had entered the convent, Doña Anita smiled -through her tears, as she offered up to heaven her nightly prayers. -Don Martial went off rapidly to tell Valentine of what had taken place -at this interview, which he had so long desired. Doña Helena, however, -retired pensively to her cell; the maiden was dreaming--of what? - -No one could have said, and probably she herself was ignorant; but, for -some days past, an obtrusive thought unnecessarily occupied her mind, -and constantly troubled the calm mirror in which her virgin thoughts -were reflected. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE. - - -Ambition is the most terrible and deceptious of all human passions, -in the sense that it completely dries up the heart, and can never be -satisfied. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero was not one of those coldly cruel men, -solely governed by the instinct of art, or whom the smell of blood -intoxicates; but, with the implacable logic of ambitious persons, he -went direct to his object, overthrowing, without regret or remorse, all -the obstacles that barred his way to the object he had sworn to reach, -even if he were compelled to wade in blood up to his knees, and trample -on a pile of corpses. He only regarded men as pawns in the great game -of chess he was playing, and strove to justify himself, and stifle the -warnings of his terrified conscience, by the barbarous axiom employed by -the ambitious in all ages and all countries, that the end justifies the -means. - -His secret ambition, which, on a day of pretended frankness, he had -partly revealed in an interview with the Count de Prébois Crancé at -Hermosillo, was not to render himself independent, but simply to be -elected, by means of a well-arranged pronunciamiento, President of the -Mexican Republic. - -It was not through hatred that General Guerrero was so obstinately -bent on destroying the count. Ambitious men, who are ever ready to -sacrifice their feelings to the interests of their gloomy machinations, -know neither hatred nor friendship. Hence we must seek elsewhere the -cause of the judicial murder of the count which was so implacably -carried out. The general feared the count, as an adversary who would -constantly thwart him in Sonora, where the first meshes of the net he -wished to throw over Mexico were spun--an adversary ready to oppose the -execution of his plans by claiming the due performance of the articles -of partnership--a performance which, in the probable event of an -insurrection excited by the general, would have become impossible, by -plunging the country for a lengthened period into a state of crisis and -general suspension of trade, which would have been most hostile to the -success of the lofty conceptions of the noble French adventurer.[1] - -But the count had scarce fallen on the beach of Guaymas ere the general -recognized the falseness of his calculations, and the fault he had -committed in sacrificing him. In fact, leaving out of the question the -death of his daughter, the only being for whom he retained in some -corner of his heart a little of that fire which heaven illumes in all -parents for their children, he found that he had exchanged a loyal and -cautious adversary for an obstinate enemy--the more formidable because, -caring for nothing, and having no personal ambition, he would sacrifice -everything without hesitation or calculation in behalf of the vengeance -which he had solemnly vowed to obtain by any means, over the still -quivering body of his friend. - -This implacable enemy, whom neither seduction nor intimidation could -arrest or even draw back, was Valentine Guillois. - -Under these circumstances, the general committed a graver fault than his -first one--a fault which was fated to have incalculable consequences for -him. Being very imperfectly acquainted with Valentine Guillois, unaware -of his inflexible energy of will, and ranking him in his mind with -those wood rangers, the Pariahs of civilization, who have only courage -to fire, in a moment of despair, a shot from behind a tree, but whose -influence was after all insignificant, he despised him. - -Valentine was careful not to dissipate, by any imprudent step, his -enemy's mistake, or even arouse his suspicions. - -At the time of the Count de Prébois Crancé's first expedition, when -all seemed to smile on him, and his followers already saw the complete -success of their bold undertaking close at hand, Valentine had been -entrusted by his friend with various important operations and difficult -missions to the rich rancheros and hacenderos of the province. Valentine -had performed the duties his friend confided to him with his usual -loyalty and uprightness of mind, and had been so thoroughly appreciated -by the persons with whom chance had brought him into connection, that -all had remained on friendly terms with him and given him unequivocal -proofs of the sincerest friendship, especially upon the death of the -count. - -It only depended on the hunter's will to be rich, since he knew an -almost inexhaustible placer; and what the wood ranger would never -have consented to for himself, for the sake of paltry gain, he did -not hesitate to attempt in order to avenge his friend. Followed by -Curumilla, Belhumeur, and Black Elk, and leading a _recua_ of ten mules, -he did what two hundred and fifty men could not have succeeded in doing. -He went through Apacheria, crossed the fearful desert of sand in which -the bones of the hapless companions of the Marquis de Lhorailles were -bleaching, and, after enduring superhuman fatigue and braving terrible -dangers, he at length reached the placer. But this time he did not come -to take an insignificant sum; he wanted to collect a fortune at one -stroke. - -The hunter returned with his ten mules laden with gold. He knew that he -was beginning a struggle with a man who was enormously rich, and wished -to conquer him with his own weapons. In the new world, as in the old, -money is the real sinew of war, and Valentine would not imperil the -success of his vengeance. - -On returning to Guaymas, he realized his fortune, and found himself, -in a single day, not one of the richest, but _the_ richest private -person in Mexico, although it is a country in which fortunes attain -to a considerable amount. Thus the gold of the placer, which, at an -earlier period, had served to organize the count's expedition, and make -him believe for a moment in the realization of his dreams, was about to -serve in avenging him, after having indirectly caused his death. - -Then began between the general and the hunter a secret and unceasing -struggle, the more terrible through its hidden nature; and the general, -struck without knowing whence the blows dealt his ambition came, -struggled vainly, like a lion caught in a snare, while it was impossible -for him to discover the obstinate enemy who hunted him down. - -This man, who had hitherto succeeded in everything--who, during the -course of his long and stormy political career, had surmounted the -greatest obstacles and forced his very detractors to admire the luck -that constantly accompanied his wildest and rashest conceptions-- -suddenly saw Fortune turn her back on him with such rapidity--we may -even say brutality--that, scarce six weeks after the execution of the -count, he was obliged to resign his office of Military Governor, and -quit, almost like a fugitive, the province of Sonora, where he had so -long reigned as a master, and on which his iron yoke had pressed so -heavily. - -This first blow, dealt the general in the midst of his ambitious -aspirations, when he had only just begun to recover from the grief his -daughter's death had caused him, was the more terrible because he did -not know to whom he should attribute his downfall. - -Still, he did not long remain in doubt. An hour before his departure -from Hermosillo he received a letter in which he was informed, in the -minutest details, of the oath of vengeance taken against him, and of -the steps taken to obtain his recall. This letter was signed "Valentine -Guillois." The hunter, despising darkness and mystery, tore down the -veil that covered him, and openly challenged his foe by manfully telling -him to be on his guard. - -On receiving this threatening declaration of war, the general fell into -an extraordinary passion, the more terrible because it was impotent, -and then, when his mind became calm again, and he began reflecting, he -felt frightened. In truth, the man who stood so boldly before him as an -enemy, must be very powerful and certain of success thus to dare and -defy him. - -His departure from Sonora was a disgraceful flight, in which he tried, -by craft and caution, to throw out his enemy; but the meeting at the -Fort of the Chichimèques, a meeting long prepared by the hunter, proved -to him that he was unmasked once again, and conquered by his enemy. - -The contemptuous manner in which Valentine dismissed him after his -stormy explanation with him, had internally filled the general with -terror. What sinister projects could the man be meditating, what private -vengeance was he arranging, that, when he held him quivering in his -grasp, he allowed his foe to escape, and refused to kill him, when that -would have been so easy? What torture more terrible than death did he -intend to inflict on him? - -The remainder of his journey across the Rocky Mountains, as far as -Mexico, was one protracted agony, during which, suffering from constant -apprehension, and extreme nervous excitement, his diseased imagination -inflicted on him moral torture in the stead of which any physical pain -would have been welcome. - -The loss of his daughter's corpse, and above all, the death of his -father's old comrade in arms, the only man in whom he put faith, and who -possessed his entire confidence, destroyed his energy, and for several -days he was so overwhelmed by this double misfortune, that he longed for -death. - -His punishment was beginning. But General Guerrero was one of those -powerful athletes who do not allow themselves to be overcome so easily; -they may totter in the struggle, and roll on the sand of the arena, -but they always rise again more terrible and menacing than before. His -revolted pride restored his expiring courage; and since an implacable -warfare was declared against him, he swore that he would fight to the -end, whatever the consequences for him might be. - -Moreover, two months had elapsed since his arrival in Mexico, and his -enemy had not revealed his presence by one of those terrible blows which -burst like a clap of thunder above his head. The general gradually -began supposing that the hunter had only wished to force him to abandon -Sonora, and that, in despair of carrying out his plans advantageously -in a city like Mexico, he was prudently keeping aloof, and if he had -not completely renounced his vengeance, circumstances at any rate, -independent of his will, compelled him to defer it. - -The general, so soon as he was settled in the capital of Mexico, -organized a large band of highly-paid spies, who had orders to be -constantly on the watch, and inform him of Valentine's arrival in the -city. Thus reassured by the reports of his agents, he continued with -feverish ardour the execution of his dark designs, for he felt convinced -that if he succeeded in attaining his coveted object, the hatred of the -man who pursued him would no longer be dangerous. This was the more -probable, because, so soon as he held the power in his own hands, he -would easily succeed in getting rid of an enemy, whom his position as a -foreigner isolated, and rendered an object of dislike to the populace. - -The general lived in a large house in the Calle de Tacuba; it was built -by one of his ancestors, and considered one of the handsomest in the -capital. We will describe in a few words the architecture of Mexico, -for, as all the houses are built on the same pattern, or nearly so, by -knowing one it is easy to form an idea of what the others must be. - -The Mexican architecture greatly resembles the Arabic, and as for the -mode of arranging the rooms, it is still entirely in its infancy; but, -since the Proclamation of the Independence, foreign architects have -succeeded, in most of the great towns, in opening side doors in the -suites of rooms, which formerly only communicated with one another, and -hence compelled you to go through a bedroom to enter a dining room, or -pass through a kitchen to reach the drawing room. - -The general's house was composed of four buildings, two stories in -height, and with terraced roofs. Two courts separated these buildings, -and an awning stretched over the four sides of the first yard, enabling -visitors to reach the wide stone steps dry footed. At the top of this -flight, a handsome covered gallery, adorned with vases of flowers and -exotic shrubs, led to a vast anteroom, which opened into a splendid -reception hall; after this came a considerable number of apartments, -splendidly furnished in the European style. - -The general only inhabited the first floor of his mansion. Although -most of the streets are paved at the present day, and the canals have -entirely disappeared, except in the lower districts of the city, water -is still found a few inches beneath the surface, which produces such -damp, that the ground floor, rendered uninhabitable, is given up to -stores and shops in nearly all the houses. The ground floor of the main -building, looking on the Calle de Tacuba, was, therefore, occupied by -brilliant shops, which rendered the façade of the general's house even -more striking. - -The paintings and the ornaments carved on the walls, after the Spanish -fashion, gave it a peculiar, but not unpleasant appearance, which -was completed by the profusion of shrubs that lined the terrace, and -converted it into a hanging garden, like those of Babylon, some sixty -feet above the ground. By-the-bye, these gardens, from which the cupolas -of the churches seem to emerge, give a really fairy-like aspect to the -city, when you survey it in a glowing sunset, from the cathedral towers. - -Seven or eight days had elapsed since the events we recorded in our last -chapter. General Guerrero, after a long conversation with Colonel Don -Jaime Lupo, Don Sirven, and two or three others of his most faithful -partizans--a conversation in which the final arrangements were made for -the pronunciamiento which was to be attempted immediately--gave audience -to two of his spies, who assured him that the person, whose movements -they were ordered to watch, had not yet arrived in Mexico. - -When the hour for going to the theatre arrived, the general, temporarily -freed from alarm, prepared to be present at an extraordinary performance -to be given, that same night, at the Santa Anna theatre; but at the -moment when he was about to give orders for his carriage to be brought -up, the door of the room, in which he was sitting, opened, and a footman -appeared on the threshold, with a respectful bow. - -"What do you want?" the general asked, turning round at the sound. - -"Excellency," the valet replied, "a caballero desires a few minutes' -conversation with your excellency." - -"At this hour?" the general said, looking at a clock, "it is -impossible;" but, suddenly reflecting, he asked, "anyone you know, -Isidro?" - -"No, excellency; it is a caballero whom I have not yet had the honour of -seeing in the house." - -"Hum," said the general, shaking his head thoughtfully, "is he a -gentleman?" - -"That I can assure your excellency; and he told me that he had a most -important communication to make to you." - -In the general's present position, as head of a conspiracy on the point -of breaking out, no detail must be neglected, no communication despised, -so, after reflecting a little, he continued-- - -"You ought to have told the gentleman that I could not receive him so -late, and that he had better call again tomorrow." - -"I told him so, excellency." - -"And he insisted?" - -"Several times, excellency." - -"Well, do you know his name, at least?" - -"When I asked the caballero for it, he said it was useless, as you would -not know it; but if you wished to learn it, he would himself tell it to -your excellency." - -"What a strange person," the general muttered to himself; "very good," -he then added aloud, "lead the gentleman to the small mirror room, and I -will be with him immediately." - -The footman bowed respectfully. - -"Who can the man be, and what is the important matter he has to tell -me?" the general muttered, as he was alone. "Hum, probably some poor -devil mixed up in our conspiracy, who wants a little money. Well, he had -better be careful, for I am not the man to be plundered with impunity, -and so he will find out, if his communication is not serious." - -And, throwing on to a chair the plumed hat he held in his hand, he -proceeded to the mirror room. - - -[1] See "Goldseekers." Same publishers. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -A VISIT. - - -The mirror room was an immense apartment, only separated from the -covered gallery by two anterooms. It was furnished with princely luxury, -and it was here that the general gave those sumptuous _tertulias,_ which -are still talked about in the highest Mexican circles, although so many -years have elapsed. - -This room, merely lighted by two lamps, standing on a console, was at -this moment plunged into a semi-obscurity, when compared with the other -apartments in the mansion, which were full of light. - -A gentleman, dressed in full black, and with the red ribbon of the -Legion of Honour carelessly knotted in a buttonhole of his coat, was -leaning his elbow on the console where the lamps stood, and seemed so -lost in thought, that, when the general entered the room, the sound of -his steps, half subdued by the petates, did not reach the visitor's -ears, and he did not turn to receive him. - -Don Sebastian, after closing the door behind him, walked towards his -visitor, attempting to recognize him, which, however, the stranger's -position rendered temporarily impossible. It was not till he came almost -near enough to touch him that the stranger, at length warned of the -general's presence, raised his head; in spite of all the command Don -Sebastian had over himself, he started and fell back a couple of yards -on recognizing him. - -"Don Valentine!" he said, in a stifled voice, "you here?" - -"Myself, general," he replied, with an almost imperceptible smile and a -profound bow; "did you not expect a visit from me?" - -The Trail-hunter, according to his habit, at once assumed his position -before his adversary. A bitter smile played round the general's pale -lips, and mastering his emotion, he replied, sarcastically-- - -"Certainly, caballero, I hoped to receive a visit from you; but not -here, and under such conditions, I did not venture, I confess, to -anticipate such an honour." - -"I am delighted," he replied, with another bow, "that I have thus -anticipated your wishes." - -"I will prove to you, señor," the general said, with set teeth, "the -value I attach to the visit you have been pleased to pay me." - -While saying this, he stretched out his arm towards a bell. - -"I beg your pardon, general," the Frenchman said, with imperturbable -coolness, "but I believe that you intend to summon some of your people?" - -"And supposing that was my intention, señor?" the general said, -haughtily. - -"If it were so," he replied, with icy politeness, "I think it would be -better for you to do nothing of the sort." - -"Oh, indeed, and for what reason, may I ask?" - -"For the simple reason, general, that as I have the honour to know you -thoroughly, I was not such a fool as to place myself in your power. -My carriage is waiting at this moment in front of your door; in that -carriage are two of my friends, and, in all probability, if they do not -see me come down the steps again in half an hour, they will not hesitate -to ask you what has taken place between us, and what has become of me." - -The general bit his lips. - -"You are mistaken as to my intentions, señor," he said. "I fear you no -more than you appear to do me. I am a gentleman, and were you ten times -more my enemy than you are, I would never attempt to free myself from -you by an assassination." - -"Be it so, general; I should be glad to be mistaken, and in that case I -beg you to accept my apologies; moreover, in coming thus to see you, I -give you, I believe, a proof of confidence." - -"For which I thank you, señor; but as I suppose that reasons of the -highest gravity alone induced you to present yourself here, and the -interview you ask of me must be long, I wished to give my people orders -to take out the horses, and take care that we are not interrupted." - -Valentine bowed without replying, but with an imperceptible smile, and -leaning again on the console, he twisted his long, fair, light moustache -while the general rang the bell. A servant came in. - -"Have the horses taken out," the general said, "and I am not at home to -anybody." - -The servant bowed, and prepared to leave the room. - -"Ah!" said the general, suddenly stopping him, "on the part of this -caballero ask the gentlemen in his carriage to do me the honour of -coming up to my apartments, where they can await more comfortably the -end of a conversation which will probably be rather prolonged. You will -serve refreshments to these gentlemen in the blue room," he added, -looking fixedly at the Frenchman, "the one that follows this room." - -The servant retired. - -"If you still apprehend a trap, señor," he continued, turning to the -Frenchman, "your friends will be at hand, if necessary, to come to your -help." - -"I knew that you were brave to rashness, general," the Frenchman -answered politely, "and I am happy to see that you are no less -honourable." - -"And now, señor, be kind enough to sit down," Don Sebastian said, -pointing to a chair. "May I venture to offer you any refreshments?" - -"General," Valentine answered, as he seated himself, "permit me, for the -present, to decline them. In my youth I served in Africa, and in that -country people are only wont to break their fast with friends. As we -are, temporarily at least, enemies, I must ask you to let me retain my -present position toward you." - -"The custom to which you allude, señor, is also met with on our -prairies," the general replied; "still people sometimes depart from -it. However, act as you think proper. I wait till it may please you -to explain the purpose of this visit, at which I have a right to feel -surprised." - -"I will not abuse your patience any longer, general," he replied with a -bow. "I have merely come to propose a bargain." - -"A bargain?" Don Sebastian exclaimed with surprise, "I do not understand -you." - -"I will have the honour of explaining myself, señor." - -The general bowed and said, "I await your pleasure." - -"You are a diplomatist, general," Valentine continued, "and in that -capacity are, doubtless, aware that a bad treaty is better than a good -war." - -"In certain cases I allow it is so; but I will take the liberty of -remarking that, under present circumstances, señor, I must await your -propositions, instead of offering any of mine, as the war, to employ -your own expression, was not begun by me, but by you." - -"I think it will be better not to discuss that point, in which we should -find it difficult to agree; still, in order to remove any ambiguity, and -lay down the point at issue distinctly, I will remind you in a few words -of the motives which produced the hatred that divides us." - -"Those motives, señor, you have already explained to me most fully at -the Fort of the Chichimèques. Without discussing their validity with -you, I will content myself with saying that hatred, like friendship, -being a matter of sympathy, and not the result of reason, it is better -to confess frankly that we hate or love each other, without trying to -account for either of these feelings, which I consider completely beyond -the will." - -"You are at liberty to think so, señor, and though I do not agree -with you, I will not discuss the point; it is, however, certain that -the hatred we bear each other is implacable, and cannot possibly be -extinguished." - -"Still you spoke only a minute back of a bargain." - -"Certainly; but bargaining is not forgetting. I can, for certain -reasons, abstain from that hatred without renouncing it; and though -I may cease to injure you, I do not, on that account, contract the -slightest friendship with you." - -"I admit that in principle, señor; let us, therefore, come to facts -without further delay; be good enough to explain to me the nature of the -bargain which you think proper to propose to me today." - -"Allow me, in the first place, according to my notions of honour, to -explain to you what our position to each other is." - -"Since the beginning of this interview, señor, I must confess that you -have been talking enigmas inexplicable to me." - -"I will try to be clear, señor, and if I tell you what your plans -are, and the means you have employed for their realization, you will -understand, I have no doubt, that I have succeeded in countermining them -sufficiently to prevent a favourable issue." - -"Go on, señor," the general remarked, with a smile. - -"In two words, this is your position. In the first, you wish, by -a pronunciamiento, to overthrow General R----, and have yourself -proclaimed President of the Republic in his place." - -"Ah, ah," said the general, with a forced laugh; "you must know, señor, -that in our blessed country this ambition is constantly attributed to -all officers who, either on account of their fortune or personal merit, -hold a public position. This accusation, therefore, is not very serious." - -"It would not be so, if you limited yourself to mere wishes, possibly -legitimate in the present state of the country; but, unfortunately, it -is not so." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean, general, that you are the head of a conspiracy; that this -conspiracy, several times already a failure in Sonora, you have renewed -in Mexico, under almost infallible conditions of success, and which, -in my opinion, would succeed, had I not resolved on causing them to -fail. I mean that, only a few days ago, your conspirators assembled in -a velorio kept by a certain Ño Lusacho. Through the agency of Don Jaime -Lupo, you divided among them two bags of gold, brought by you for them, -and emptied in your presence. I mean that, after this distribution, -the final arrangements were made, and the day was almost fixed for the -pronunciamiento. Am I deceived, general, or do you now see that I am -well informed, and that my spies are quite equal to yours, who were not -even able to inform you of my arrival at the Ciudad, where I have been -for more than a week, and you have not known a word about it?" - -"While Valentine was speaking thus, in his mocking way, with his elbow -carelessly laid on the arm of his chair, and his body slightly bent -forward, the general was in a state of passion which he tried in vain -to repress, his pale face assumed a cadaverous hue, his eyebrows met, -and his clenched teeth found difficulty in keeping the words back which -tried each moment to burst forth. When the Frenchman ceased speaking -he made a violent effort to check his rage which was on the point of -breaking out, and he answered in a hollow voice which emotion caused -involuntary to tremble-- - -"I will imitate your frankness, señor. Of what use would it be to -dissimulate with an enemy so well informed as you pretend to be? What -you have said about a conspiracy is perfectly correct. Yes, I intend to -make a pronunciamiento, and that shortly. You see that I do not attempt -to conceal anything from you." - -"I presume, because you consider it useless," Valentine answered -sarcastically. - -"Perhaps so, señor. Although you are so well informed, you do not know -everything." - -"Do you think so?" - -"I am sure of it." - -"What is the thing I am ignorant of?" - -"That you will not leave this house again, and that I am going to blow -out your brains," the general exclaimed, as he started up and cocked a -pistol. - -The Frenchman did not make the slightest movement to prevent the -execution of the general's threat; he contented himself with looking -firmly at him, and saying, coldly-- - -"I defy you." - -Don Sebastian remained motionless, with haggard eye, pale brow, and -trembling hand; then, in a few seconds, he uncocked the pistol, and fell -back utterly crushed in his chair. - -"You have gone too far or not far enough, caballero," Valentine went on -with perfect calmness. "Every threat should be executed at all risks so -soon as it is made. You have reflected, so let us say no more about it, -but resume our conversation." - -In a discussion of this nature, all the advantage is on the side -of the adversary who retains his coolness. The general, ashamed of -the passionate impulse to which he had yielded, and crushed by his -enemy's sarcastically contemptuous answer, remained dumb; he at length -understood that, with a man like the one before him, any contest must -turn to his disadvantage, unless he employed treachery, which his pride -forbade. - -"Let us, for the present," Valentine went on, still calmly and coldly, -"leave this conspiracy, to which we will revert presently, and pass to -a no less interesting subject. If I am correctly informed, Señor Don -Sebastian, you have a ward of the name of Doña Anita de Torrés?" - -The general started, but remained silent. - -"Now," continued Valentine, "in consequence of a frightful catastrophe, -this young lady became insane. But that does not prevent you from -insisting on marrying her, in contempt of all law, divine and human, -for the simple reason that she is enormously rich and you require her -fortune for the execution of your ambitious plans. It is true that the -young lady does not love you, and never did love you; it is also true -that her father intended her for another, and that other you insist on -declaring to be dead, although he is alive; but what do you care for -that? Unfortunately, one of my intimate friends, of whom you probably -never heard, Señor Don Serapio de la Ronda, has heard this affair -alluded to. I will tell you confidentially that Don Serapio is greatly -respected by certain parties, and has very considerable power. Don -Serapio, I know not why, takes an interest in Doña Anita, and has made -up his mind, whether you like it or not, to marry her to the man she -loves, and for whom her father intended her." - -"The villain is dead," the general exclaimed, furiously. - -"You are perfectly well aware of the contrary," Señor Valentine -answered, "and to remove any doubts you may still happen to have, I will -give you the proof. Don Martial," he said aloud, "come in, pray, and -tell General Guerrero yourself that you are not dead." - -"Oh!" the general muttered furiously, "this man is a demon." - -At this moment the door opened, and a new personage entered the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -ASSISTANCE. - - -The man who now entered the hall of mirrors was dressed like the riders -who promenade at the Bucareli, and gallop at carriage doors--that is to -say, in trousers with silk stripes down the sides, and a broad-brimmed -hat decorated with a double gold string and tassels. - -He walked gracefully up to Don Sebastian, still holding his hat in his -right hand, bowed to him with that exquisite grace of which the Mexicans -alone seem to have the privilege, and thrusting his hand into his side, -he said, with an accent of cutting sarcasm, and in a harsh, metallic -voice-- - -"Do you recognize me, Don Sebastian, and do you believe that I am really -alive, and that it is not the ghost of Martial the Tigrero which has -come from the grave to address you?" - -At the same moment Belhumeur's clever, knowing face could be seen -peering through the doorway. With his eyes obstinately fixed on the -general, he seemed to be impatiently expecting an answer, which the -latter, struggling with several different feelings, evidently hesitated -to give. Still, he was compelled to form a resolution, so he rose and -looked the Tigrero boldly in the face. - -"Who are you, señor?" he said, in a firm voice, "and by what right do -you question me?" - -"Well played," said Valentine, with a laugh; "by heaven, caballero, -it is a pleasure to contend with you, for, on my soul, you are a rude -adversary." - -"Do you think so?" Don Sebastian asked, with a hoarse laugh. - -"Certainly," the hunter continued, "and I am delighted to bear my -testimony to the fact; hence you had better yield at once, for you are -in a dilemma from which you cannot escape, not even by a master stroke." - -There was a silence, lasting some minutes. At length the general -seemed to make up his mind, for he turned to Belhumeur, who was still -listening, and bowed to him with ironical politeness. - -"Why stand half hidden by that door?" he said to him; "pray enter, -caballero, for your presence here will be most agreeable to the whole -company." - -The Canadian at once entered, and after giving the general a respectful -bow he leant over the back of Valentine's chair. The latter eagerly -followed all the incidents of the strange scene that was being played -before him, and in which he appeared to be a disinterested spectator -rather than an actor. - -"You see, señores," the general said, haughtily, "that I imitate your -example, and, like you, play fairly. I believe that you entered my house -in order to propose a bargain to me, Don Valentine? You, señor," he -said, turning to the Tigrero, "whom I told that I did not recognize, and -whom I have the honour of receiving at my house for the first time, have -doubtless come as witness for these caballeros, who are your friends. -Well, gentlemen, you shall all three be satisfied. I am awaiting your -proposal, Don Valentine. I allow, señor, that you, whose miraculous -resuscitation I have hitherto denied, are alive, and are really Don -Martial the ex-lover of Doña Anita de Torrés. As for you, señor, whom -I do not know, I authorize you to declare before any one you like the -truth of the words I utter. Are you all three satisfied, gentlemen? Is -there anything else I can do to afford you pleasure?--if so, speak, and -I am ready to satisfy you." - -"A man could not yield to what is inevitable with better grace," -Valentine replied, bowing ironically. - -"Thanks for your approval, caballero, and be kind enough to let me know, -without further delay, the conditions on which you are willing to leave -off pursuing me with that terrible hatred with which you incessantly -threaten me, and whose result is rather long in coming, according to my -judgment." - -These words were uttered with a mixture of pride and contempt impossible -to express, and which for a moment rendered Valentine dumb, so -extraordinary did the sudden change in his adversary's humour appear to -him. - -"I am waiting," the general added, as he fell back in his chair, with an -air of weariness. - -"We will bring matters to an end," Valentine said, drawing himself up -with an air of resolution. - -"That is what I wish," the general interrupted him, as he lit a -cigarette, which he began smoking with the most profound coolness. - -"These are my conditions," the hunter said distinctly and harshly, for -he was annoyed by this frigid indifference. "You will at once leave -Mexico, and give up Doña Anita, to whom you will not only restore her -liberty, but also the right of giving her hand and fortune to whomsoever -she pleases. You will sell your estates, and retire to the United -States, promising on oath never to return to Mexico. On my side, I -pledge myself to restore you your daughter's body, and never attempt to -injure you in any way." - -"Have you anything more to add?" the general asked, as he coolly watched -the blue smoke of his cigarette as it rose in circles to the ceiling. - -"Nothing; but take care, señor, I too have taken an oath, and from -what I have told you, you must have seen how far I have detected your -secrets. Accept or refuse, but come to a decision; for this is the last -time we shall meet face to face under the like conditions. The game we -are playing is a terrible one, and must end in the death of one of us; -and I shall show you no pity, as, doubtless, you will show me none. -Reflect seriously before answering yes or no, and I give you half an -hour to decide." - -The general burst into a sharp and nervous laugh. "_Viva Dios_, -caballero!" he exclaimed, with a contemptuous toss of his head, "I have -listened to you with extreme surprise. You dispose of my will with an -incomparable facility. I do not know who gives you the right to speak -and act as you are doing; but, by heaven, hatred, however active it may -be, can in no case possess this privilege. You fancy yourself much more -powerful than you really are, I fancy; but, at any rate, whatever may -happen, bear this carefully in mind--I will not retreat an inch before -you. Accepting your impudent and ridiculous conditions would be to -cover myself with shame and my utter ruin. Were you the genius of Evil -clothed in mortal form, I would not the less persist in the track I have -laid down for myself, and in which I will persevere at my own risk and -peril; however terrible may be the obstacles you raise, I will overthrow -them or succumb bravely, buried beneath the ruins of my abortive -plans and my destroyed fortunes. Hence consider yourself warned, Don -Valentine; that I despise your menaces, and they will not stop me. And -you, Don Martial, since such is your name, that I shall marry my ward, -in spite of the efforts you may make to prevent me, and shall do so -because I wish it, and because no man in the world has ever attempted -to resist my will without being at once mercilessly crushed. And now, -señores, as we have said all we have to say to each other, and I think -there is no more, and we can have no doubt as to our mutual intentions, -permit me to take leave of you, for I wish to go to the Santa Anna -theatre, and it is already very late." - -He rang the bell, and a footman came in. - -"Order the carriage," he said to him. - -"Then," Valentine said as he rose, "it is war to the death between us." - -"War to the death! be it so." - -"We shall only meet once again, general," the hunter remarked; "and that -will be on the eve of your death, when you are in Capilla." - -"I accept the meeting, and will bow uncomplainingly before you if you -are powerful enough to obtain that result; but, believe me, I am not -there yet." - -"You are nearer your fall than you perhaps suppose." - -"That is possible; but enough of this; any further conversation will be -useless. Light these gentlemen down," he said to the servant, who at -this moment entered the room. - -The three men rose, exchanged dumb bows with the general, and, -accompanied by him to the door of the room, they followed the footman, -who preceded them with candles. Two carriages were waiting at the foot -of the stairs; Valentine and his friends got into one of them, the -general took his seat in the other, and they heard him give the order in -a firm voice to drive to the Santa Anna theatre. The coachmen flogged -their horses, which started at a gallop, and the two carriages left the -house, the gates of which were closed after them. - -The Santa Anna theatre was built in 1844 by the Spanish architect, -Hidalgo. This building has externally nothing remarkable about it, -either in regard to frontage or position; but we are glad to state that -the interior is convenient, elegant, and even grand. - -After passing through the external portico, you enter a yard covered -with a glass dome, next come wide stairs with low steps, large and lofty -lobbies, a double row of galleries looking on the front yard, and airy -crush-rooms for the promenaders. - -The house is well built, well decorated, and spacious; it has three rows -of boxes, with a lower circle representing the pit boxes, and another -above the third circle for the lower classes. In the pit, it is worth -mentioning that each visitor has his stall, which he reaches easily and -comfortably by passages formed down the centre and round the theatre. -The boxes nearly all contain ten persons, and are separated from each -other by light colonnades and partitions. To each box is attached a -room, to which people withdraw between the acts, and, instead of the -balconies which in our theatres conceal a great part of the ladies' -toilets, the boxes have only a ledge a few inches in height, which -allows the splendid dresses of the audience to be fully admired. - -We have dwelt, perhaps with a little complacency, on this description of -the Santa Anna theatre, for we thought that, at the moment when it is -intended to rebuild the Opera and other Parisian theatres, there can be -no harm in displaying the difference that exists between the frightful -dens in which the spectators are thrust together pell-mell every night -in a city like Paris, which claims to be the first, not only in Europe, -but in the whole world, and the spacious airy theatres of a country like -Mexico, which in so many respects is inferior to us as regards ideas of -civilization and comfort. It would, however, be very easy, we fancy, to -obtain in Paris the advantageous results the Mexicans have enjoyed for -twenty years, and that at a slight expense. Unfortunately, whatever may -be said, the French are the most thorough routine nation in the world, -and we greatly fear that, in spite of incessant protests, things will -remain for a long time in the same state as they are today. - -When the general entered his box, which was in the first circle, -and almost facing the stage, the house presented a truly fairy-like -appearance. The extraordinary performance had brought an immense throng -of spectators and ladies, whose magnificent dresses were covered with -diamonds, which glittered and flashed beneath the light that played on -them. - -Don Sebastian, after bending forward for a moment to exchange bows with -his numerous acquaintances, and prove his presence, withdrew to the back -of the box, opened his glasses, and began looking carelessly about him. -But though, through a powerful effort of the will, his face was cold, -calm, and unmoved, a terrible storm was raging in the general's heart. - -The scene that had taken place a few minutes previously at his mansion, -had filled him with anxiety and gloomy forebodings, for he understood -that his adversaries must either believe or feel themselves very -strong thus to dare and defy him to the face, and audaciously enter -his very house. In vain he tortured his mind to find means to get rid -of his obstinate enemy; but time pressed, his situation became at each -moment more critical, and unless some bold and desperate stroke proved -successful, he felt instinctively that he was lost without chance of -salvation. - -The president's box was occupied by the first magistrate of the -Republic, and some of his aide-de-camps. Several times, Don Sebastian -fancied that the president's eyes were fixed on him with a strange -expression, after which he bent over and whispered some remarks to -the gentlemen who accompanied him. Perhaps, this was not real, and the -general's pricked conscience suggested to him suspicions far from the -thoughts of those against whom he had so many reasons to be on his -guard; but whether real or not, these suspicions tortured his heart and -proved to him the necessity of coming to an end at all risks. - -Still the performance went on; the curtain had just fallen before the -last act, and the general, devoured by anxiety, and persuaded that he -had remained long enough in the theatre to testify his presence, was -preparing to retire, when the door of his box opened, and Colonel Lupo -walked in. - -"Ah, is it you, colonel?" Don Sebastian said to him as he offered his -hand and gave him a forced smile. "You are welcome; I did not hope any -longer to have the pleasure of seeing you, and I was just going away." - -"Pray do not let me stop you, general, I have only a few words to say to -you." - -"Our business?" - -"Goes on famously." - -"No suspicion?" - -"Not the shadow." - -The general breathed like a man from whose chest a crushing weight has -been just removed. - -"Can I be of any service to you?" he said, absently. - -"For the present, I have only come for your sake." - -"How so?" - -"I was accosted today by a lepero, a villain of the worst sort, who -says that he wishes to avenge himself on a certain Frenchman, whom -he declares you know, and he desires to place himself under your -protection, in the event of the blade of his navaja accidentally -slipping into his enemy's body." - -"Hum! that is serious," the general said with an imperceptible start. "I -do not know how far I dare go in being bail for such a scoundrel." - -"He declares that you have known him a long time, and that while doing -his own business, he will be doing yours." - -"You know that I am no admirer of navajadas, for an assassination always -injures the character of a politician." - -"That is true; but you cannot be rendered responsible for the crimes any -villain may think proper to commit." - -"Did this worthy gentleman tell you his name, my dear colonel?" - -"Yes; but I believe that it would be better to mention it in the open -air, rather than in this place." - -"One word more; have you cleverly deceived him, and do you think that he -really intends to be useful to us?" - -"Useful to you, you mean." - -"As you please." - -"I could almost assert it." - -"Well, we will be off; have you weapons about you?" - -"I should think so; it would be madness to go about Mexico unarmed." - -"I have pistols in my pocket, so I will dismiss my carriage, and we will -walk home to my house; does that suit you, my dear colonel?" - -"Excellently, general, the more so because if you evince any desire to -see the scoundrel in question, nothing will be easier than for me to -take you to the den he occupies, without attracting attention." - -The general looked at his accomplice fixedly. "You have not told me all, -colonel?" he said. - -"I have not, general, but I am convinced that you understand the motive, -which at this moment keeps my mouth shut." - -"In that case, let us be off." - -He wrapped himself in his cloak and left the box, followed by the -colonel. A footman was waiting under the portico for his orders to bring -up the carriage. - -"Return to the house," the general said; "it is a fine night, and I feel -inclined for a walk." - -The footman retired. - -"Come, colonel," Don Sebastian went on. - -They left the theatre and proceeded slowly toward the Portales de -Mercaderes, which were entirely deserted at this advanced hour of the -night. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -EL ZARAGATE. - - -The night was clear, mild and starry, a profound calm prevailed in the -deserted streets, and it was in fact one of those delicious Mexican -nights, so filled with soft emanations, and which dispose the mind to -delicious reveries. - -The two gentlemen, carefully wrapped in their cloaks, walked side by -side, along the middle of the street, in fear of an ambuscade, examining -with practised eyes the doorways and the dark corners of side streets. -When they were far enough from the theatre no longer to fear indiscreet -eyes or ears, the general at length broke the silence. - -"Now, Señor Don Jaime," he said, "let us speak frankly, if you please." - -"I wish for nothing better," the colonel replied, with a bow. - -"And to begin," Don Sebastian continued, "tell me who the man is from -whom you hinted that I could derive some benefit." - -"Nothing is easier, excellency. This man is a villain of the worst sort, -as I already had the honour of telling you; his antecedents are, I -suppose, rather dark, and that is all I have been able to discover. This -man, who, I believe, belongs to no country, but who, in consequence of -his adventurous life, has visited them all and speaks all languages, -was at San Francisco when the Count de Prébois Crancé organized the -cuadrilla of bandits, at the head of which he undertook to dismember our -lovely country, and in which, between ourselves, he would probably have -succeeded had it not been for your skill and courage." - -"We will pass over that, my dear colonel," the general quickly -interrupted him; "I did my duty in that affair, as I shall always do it -when the interest of my country is at stake." - -The colonel bowed. - -"Well," he continued, "the villain I am speaking of could not let such -a magnificent opportunity slip; he enlisted in the count's cuadrilla. I -believe he was starving at San Francisco, and, for certain reasons best -known to himself, was not sorry to leave that city--but perhaps I weary -you by giving you all these details." - -"On the contrary, my dear colonel, I wish to be thoroughly acquainted -with this pícaro, in order to judge what reliance may be placed in his -protestations." - -"On arriving at Guaymas, our man became almost directly the secret -agent of that unhappy Colonel Fleury, who, as you well remember, was so -brutally assassinated by the Frenchmen." - -"Alas, yes!" the general said with a sardonic smile. - -"Señor Pavo also employed him several times," Don Jaime continued, "but, -unfortunately for our individual, Don Valentine, the count's friend, -was watching; he discovered, I knew not how, all his little tricks, and -insisted on his dismissal from the company, after a quarrel he had with -one of the French officers." - -"I think I can remember the affair being talked about at the time. Was -not this villain known by the sobriquet of the Zaragate?" - -"He was, general; furious at what happened to him, and attributing it to -Don Valentine, he took an oath to kill him whenever he met him, so soon -as the opportunity offered itself." - -"Well?" - -"It seems that, despite all his goodwill and his eager desire to get rid -of his enemy, the opportunity has not yet offered, as he has not killed -him." - -"That is true; but how did you come across this scoundrel, colonel?" - -"Well, general," he answered with some hesitation, "you know that I have -been compelled during the last few days, for the sake of our affair, -to keep rather bad company. This scoundrel came to offer his services. -I cross-questioned him, and knowing your enmity to that Frenchman, -I resolved to inform you of this acquisition. If I have done wrong, -forgive me, and we will say no more about it." - -"On the contrary, colonel," the general said eagerly. "The deuce! not -only have I nothing to forgive, but I feel very grateful to you, for -your confession has come at a most fortunate time. You shall judge, -however, for I wish to be frank with you, the more so because, apart -from the high esteem I feel for your character, our common welfare is at -stake at this moment." - -"You frighten me, general." - -"You will be more frightened directly; know that this Valentine, -this Frenchman, this demon, has I know not by what means, discovered -our conspiracy, holds all the threads of it, and, more than that, is -acquainted with all the members, beginning with myself." - -"_Voto a brios!_" the colonel exclaimed, with a start of surprise, and -turning pale with terror, "in that case we are lost." - -"Well, I confess that our chances of success are considerably -diminished." - -"Pardon me for asking, general," he continued in great agitation, "but -in circumstances like the present----" - -"Go on, go on, my dear colonel, do not be embarrassed." - -"Are you sure, general, perfectly certain as to the statement you have -just made to me?" - -"You shall judge. About an hour before the opening of the theatre, -Don Valentine himself--you understand me?--came to my house with two -friends, doubtless cutthroats in his pay, and revealed all to me; what -do you say to that?" - -"I say that if this man does not die we are hopelessly lost." - -"That is my opinion too," the general remarked coldly. - -"How came it that, in spite of this terrible revelations, you ventured -to show yourself at the theatre?" - -Don Sebastian smiled and shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. - -"Ought I to let even indifferent persons see the anxiety that devoured -me? Undeceive yourself, colonel, boldness alone can save us; do not -forget that we are risking our heads at this moment." - -"I am not likely to forget it." - -"As for this man, the Zaragate, I must not and will not see him; but -do you deal with him as you think proper. You understand that it is of -the utmost importance that I should be ignorant of the arrangements you -may make with him, and be able to prove, if necessary, that I had no -knowledge of this. Moreover, as you are aware, I am not one for extreme -measures; the sight of such a villain would be repulsive to me, for I -have such a horror of bloodshed. Alas!" he added, with a sigh, "I have -been forced to shed only too much in the course of my life." - -"I do not know exactly," the colonel muttered. - -"I have entire confidence in you; you are an intelligent man; I give you -full authority, and whatever you do will be well done. You understand -me, I trust?" - -"Yes, yes, general," the officer grunted ill-temperedly, "I understand -you only too well." - -"I see----" - -"What do you see?" the other interrupted him. - -"That, if we succeed, you will be a general and Governor of Sonora. That -is rather a pretty prospect, I fancy, and one worth risking something -for." - -"It is useless to remind me of your promises, general; you are well -aware that I am devoted to you." - -"I know it, of course, and on that account leave you. A longer -conversation in the moonlight might arouse suspicions. Good night, and -come and breakfast with me tomorrow." - -"I will not fail, general. Good night, and I kiss your excellency's -hands." - -The general pulled his hat over his eyes, wrapped himself in his cloak, -and went off hastily towards the Calle de Tacuba. On being left alone, -the colonel remained for a moment plunged in deep thought; the office -with which he was intrusted, for he perfectly caught the meaning of -the general's hints, was most serious. He must act vigorously without -compromising his chief, and in the shortest possible period, under the -penalty of being himself arrested and shot in four and twenty hours if -he failed. For the Mexicans, like their old masters the Spaniards, do -not jest in matters connected with revolutions, and boldly cut away the -evil at the root, by killing all the leaders of the abortive conspiracy. - -The situation was critical, and he must make up his mind, for the slight -delay might ruin all; but at so late an hour where was he to meet a man -like the Zaragate, who had probably no known domicile, and who led, a -no doubt most irregular life. - -Mexico, like all large cities, is amply endowed with suspicious houses, -frequented by rogues of all ages, who are continually wandering about -in search of adventures, more or less lucrative, under the complacent -protection of the moon. - -Moreover, although the worthy colonel had, in the course of his life, -frequented very mixed company, as he himself allowed, he was not at all -anxious to venture alone at night into the lower parts of the city, and -enter the velorios, thorough cut-throat dens, filled with robbers and -assassins, in which respectable persons do not even venture in bright -day without a shudder. - -At the moment when the colonel mechanically raised his head and looked -despairingly up to heaven, he fancied he saw several suspicious shadows -prowling about him in a suggestive manner. But the colonel was brave, -and the more so, because he had literally nothing to lose, hence he -quietly loosened his sword, opened his cloak, and at the instant when -four or five fellows attacked him at once with machetes and long -navajas, he was on guard according to all the rules of the art, with his -left foot supported a pillar, and his cloak wrapped like a buckler round -his arm. - -The attack was a rude one, but the colonel withstood it manfully; -besides, all went on in the Mexican way, without a shout or call for -help. When you are thus attacked in a Mexican street, you feel so -assured of death, that you generally confine yourself to the best -possible defence, without losing time in calling for help, which will -certainly not arrive. - -Still, the assailants being armed with short and heavy weapons, had a -marked disadvantage against the colonel's long and thin rapier, which -twisted like a snake, writhed round their weapons, and had already -pricked two of the men sharply enough to make the others reflect, and -display greater prudence in their attack. The colonel felt that they -were giving ground. - -"Come on, villains," he exclaimed, as he gave a terrific lunge, and ran -one of the bandits right through the body, who rolled on the pavement -with a yell of pain. "Let us come to an end of this, in the demon's -name!" - -"Stop, stop!" the man who seemed the leader of the bandits exclaimed; -"we are mistaken." - -As the bandits asked for nothing better than to stop, they retreated a -few steps without hesitation. - -"Yes, _Rayo de Dios_, you are mistaken, birbones," the exasperated -colonel shouted. - -"Can it possibly be you," the first speaker continued, "Señor Colonel -Don Jaime Lupo?" - -"Halloh!" the colonel said, falling back a step in surprise, "who -mentioned my name?" - -"I, excellency; a friend." - -"A friend? a strange friend who has been trying to assassinate me for -the last ten minutes." - -"Believe me, colonel, that had we known whom we had to deal with, we -should never have attacked you. All this is the result of a deplorable -misunderstanding, which you will, however, excuse." - -"But who are you, in the demon's name?" - -"What, excellency, do you not recognize the Zaragate?" - -"The Zaragate!" the colonel exclaimed, with glad surprise. "Well, -scoundrel, are you aware that yours is a singular trade?" - -"Alas! excellency, a man must do what he can," the bandit replied, in a -sorrowful voice. - -"Hum! then you have turned robber at present?" - -The scoundrel drew himself up with dignity. - -"No, excellency. I am serving, in the company of these honourable -caballeros the persons who claim my help." - -The honourable caballeros, seeing that the affair was going to end -peacefully, had returned their knives to their belts, and seemed -tolerably well satisfied at this unexpected conclusion, with the -exception of the man who had received the last thrust, and surrendered -his felon soul to the fiend; an acquisition, between ourselves, of no -great value to the spirit of darkness. - -"Can anyone have requested your services against me, Señor Zaragate?" -the colonel continued, as he returned his sword to its scabbard. - -"Not at all, excellency. I have already had the honour of remarking that -it was a mistake; we were waiting here for a young spark, who during -the last week has contracted the bad habit of prowling under the window -of a senator's mistress, and who asked me as a kindness to free him from -this troublesome fellow." - -"Caspita! Señor Zaragate, you have a rather quick way with you; and -your senator appears to me somewhat hasty. But as your little matter is -probably spoiled for tonight----" - -"I think, excellency, that the gallant heard the clash of steel, and -took very good care not to come on." - -"If he did so, he acted wisely; at any rate, if no other motive keeps -you here, and you have no objection to accompany me, I shall feel -obliged by your doing so, for I have to talk with you on very serious -matters, and, in fact, was looking for you." - -"Only see what a thing chance is!" the bandit exclaimed. - -"Hum! let us hope it will not be quite so brutal next time." - -The Zaragate burst into a laugh. - -"Stay!" the colonel continued, as he laid a gold coin in his hand, "be -good enough to give this in my name to these honourable caballeros, and -beg them to forgive the rather rough way in which, at the first moment, -I received their advances." - -"Oh, they will not owe you a grudge, my dear sir, you may be sure of -that." - -The bandits, perfectly reconciled with the colonel by means of the -coin, gave him tremendous bows, accompanied by offers of service, and -took leave of him, after exchanging a few sentences in a whisper with -their chief; then they went off to the right, while the colonel and his -companion turned to the left. - -"They seem to be rather determined fellows," the colonel said, in order -to broach his subject. - -"Perfect lions, excellency, and obedient as rastreros." - -"Excellent; and have you many of that sort under your hand?" - -"Nothing would be easier, in the case of need, than to make up a dozen." - -"All equally true?" - -"All." - -"That is really valuable, do you know that, Señor Zaragate; and you are -a lucky caballero!" - -"Your excellency flatters me." - -"On my word, no. I am expressing my honest opinion, that is all." - -"Pardon me, excellency; but may I ask where we are going?" - -"Have you an inclination for one direction more than another?" - -"Not the slightest, excellency; still, I confess that, as a general -rule, I like to know where I am going." - -"Every sensible man ought to be of the same way of thinking. Well, we -are going to my house; have you any objection to that?" - -"None at all. I think you said, excellency, that I was a lucky man?" - -"Indeed I did, and I repeat that I consider you very fortunate." - -"Hum, you know the proverb, excellency, 'everyone knows where the shoe -pinches him.'" - -"That is true, and I suppose the shoe pinches you, eh?" - -"It does," he replied, with a sigh. - -The colonel looked at him anxiously. "I understand the cause of your -grief," he said; "and it is the worse, because there is no remedy for -it." - -"Do you think so?" - -"Caspita! I am certain of it." - -"You may be mistaken, excellency." - -"Nonsense! You who so graciously place yourself at the service of those -who have an insult to avenge, are forced to renounce your own vengeance." - -"Oh, oh, excellency, what is that you are saying?" - -"I am speaking the truth. You hate the Frenchman whom you mentioned to -me today, but you are afraid of him." - -"Afraid!" he exclaimed angrily. - -"I believe so," the colonel answered coolly. - -"Oh! if I only made up my mind to it----" - -"Yes," the colonel remarked, with a laugh, "but you will not make up -your mind because, I repeat, you are afraid; and to prove to you the -truth of my assertion, although I do not know the man, and only take -an interest in the matter for your sake, I will make you a wager if you -like." - -"A wager?" - -"Yes." - -"What is it?" - -"I bet you that you will not dare avenge yourself on your enemy within -the next four and twenty hours, not even with the help of your twelve -companions." - -"And what will you bet, excellency?" - -"Well, I am so certain of running no risk, that I will bet you one -hundred ounces. Does that suit you?" - -"One hundred ounces!" the bandit exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with -greed. "_Viva Dios!_ I would kill my own brother for such a sum." - -"You are flattering yourself, I see." - -"Here we are at your door, excellency, so it is needless for me to go -any further. You said one hundred ounces, I think?" - -"I did." - -"Farewell. The coming day will not end before I am avenged!" - -"Nonsense, nonsense! you will think better of it. Good night, Señor -Zaragate." - -And the colonel entered his house, muttering to himself, in an aside, -"I fancy I managed that cleverly. If this accursed Frenchman escapes -from the bloodhounds I have let loose on him, he must be the demon the -general calls him." - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -AFTER THE INTERVIEW. - - -The house taken for Valentine by Mr. Rallier was, as we have already -stated, situated in the Calle de Tacuba, and by a strange accident, in -no way premeditated, only a few yards from the mansion belonging to -General Don Sebastian Guerrero. The latter had no suspicion of this, -for until the moment when the hunter thought it advisable to pay him -a visit, he had been completely ignorant of his enemy's presence in -Mexico, in spite of the crowd of spies whom he paid to inform him of his -arrival in the capital. - -The hunter, therefore, would only have had a few steps to go to reach -home after leaving the general. But suspecting that the latter might -have given orders to have his carriage followed, he ordered his coachman -to drive to the Alameda, and thence to the Paseo de Bucareli. - -As the night was far advanced, the promenaders had abandoned the -shady walks of the Alameda, which was now completely deserted. This, -doubtless, was what the hunter desired, for, on reaching about the -centre of the drive, he ordered the coachman to stop, and got out with -his companions. After recommending him to watch carefully over his mules -(in Mexico people do not use horses for their carriages), and not let -any one approach him, for fear of one of those surprises so frequent at -this hour at this place, the three men then disappeared in one of the -shady walks, though careful not to go too far, so that they could assist -their coachman in case of need. - -Valentine, like all men accustomed to desert life, that is to vast -horizons of verdure, had an instinctive distrust of stone walls, -behind which, in his fancy, a spy was continually listening. Hence, -when he had an important affair to discuss, or a serious matter to -communicate to his friends, he preferred--in spite of the care with -which his house had been chosen, and the faithful friends who passed as -servants there--going to the Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, the Vega, -or somewhere in the environs of Mexico, where after posting Curumilla -as a sentry, that is to say, the man in whom he had the most perfect -faith, and whose scent, if I may be allowed the term, was infallible, he -believed that he could safely confide his closest secrets to the friends -he conveyed to these strange open air councils. - -On reaching a thick clump of trees the hunter stopped. - -"We shall be comfortable here," he said, as he sat down on a stone bench -and invited his friends to imitate him, "and shall be able to talk -without fear." - -"The trees have eyes, and the leaves ears," Belhumeur answered -sententiously; "I fear nothing so much in the world as these transparent -screens of verdure, which allow everything to be seen and heard." - -"Yes," Valentine remarked with a smile, "if you do not take the -precaution to frighten away spies;" and at the same moment he imitated -the soft cadenced hiss of the coral snake. - -A similar hiss was heard from the centre of the clump and seemed like an -echo. - -"That is the chief's signal," the Canadian said. "He has been watching -for us there for nearly an hour. Do you now believe that we are in -safety?" - -"Certainly; when Curumilla watches over us we have no surprise to -apprehend." - -"Let us talk, then," said Don Martial. - -"One moment," Valentine remarked, "we must first hear the report of a -friend, which is most valuable, and will doubtless decide the measures -we have to adopt." - -"Whom are you alluding to?" - -"You shall see," Valentine answered, and clapped his hands thrice softly. - -Immediately a slight sound and a gentle rustling of leaves was heard in -a neighbouring thicket, and a man suddenly emerged, about four paces -from the hunters. It was Carnero, the capataz of General Guerrero. He -wore a vicuna skin hat, of which the large brim was bent over his eyes, -and he was wrapped up in a spacious cloak. - -"Good evening, señores," he said, with a polite bow, "I have been -awaiting your coming for nearly an hour, and almost despaired of seeing -you tonight." - -"We were detained longer than we expected by General Guerrero." - -"Do you come from him?" - -"Did I not tell you I should call on him?" - -"Yes; but I hardly believed that you would have the temerity to venture -so imprudently into the lion's den." - -"Nonsense," Valentine said with a disdainful smile, "the lion as you -call him, I assure you, was remarkably tame; he drew in his claws -completely, and received us with the most exquisite politeness." - -"In that case take care," the capataz replied, with a significant shake -of the head; "if he received you as you say, and I have no reason to -doubt it, he is, be assured, preparing a terrible countermine against -you." - -"I am of the same opinion; the question is, whether we shall allow him -the time to act." - -"He is very clever, my dear Valentine," the capataz continued, "and -seems to possess an intuition of evil. In spite of the oath I took to -you when, on your entreaty, I consented to remain in his service, there -are days when, although I possess a thorough knowledge of his character, -he terrifies even me, and I feel on the point of giving up the rude task -which, through devotion to you, I have imposed on myself." - -"Courage, my friend; persevere but a few days longer, and, believe me, -we shall be all avenged." - -"May heaven grant it!" the capataz said with a sigh; "but I confess that -I dare not believe it, even though it is you who assure me of the fact." - -"Have you learnt any important news since our last interview?" - -"Only one thing, but I think it is of the utmost gravity for you." - -"Speak, my friend." - -"What I have to tell you is short and gloomy, señores. The general, -after a secret conversation with his man of business, ordered me to -carry a letter to the Convent of the Bernardines." - -"To the convent?" Don Martial exclaimed. - -"Silence," said Valentine. "Do you know the contents of this letter?" - -"Doña Anita gave it me to read. The general informs the abbess that he -is resolved to finish the matter; that whether his ward be mad or not, -he means to marry her, and that at sunrise on the day after tomorrow, a -priest sent by him will present himself at the convent to arrange the -ceremony." - -"Great God! what is to be done?" the Tigrero exclaimed sadly; "how is -the execution of this odious machination to be prevented?" - -"Silence," Valentine repeated. "Is that all, Carnero?" - -"No; the general adds, that he requests the abbess to prepare the young -lady for this union, and that he will himself call at the convent -tomorrow, in order to explain more fully his inexorable wishes--these -are the very words of the letter." - -"Very good, my friend, I thank you for this precious information; it is -of the utmost importance that the general should be prevented from going -to the convent before three o'clock of the tarde. You understand, my -friend, this is of vital importance, so you must manage to effect it." - -"Do not be uneasy, my dear Valentine; the general shall not go to the -convent before the hour you indicate, whatever may be the means I am -forced to employ to prevent him." - -"I count on your promise, my friend; and now good-bye." - -He offered him his hand, which the capataz pressed forcibly. - -"When shall I see you, again?" he asked. - -"I will soon let you know," the hunter answered. - -The capataz bowed and went down a walk; the sound of his footsteps -rapidly decreased, and was quite inaudible within a few minutes. - -"My friends," Valentine then said, "we have now arrived at the moment -for the final struggle, which we have so long been preparing. We must -not let ourselves be led away by hatred, but act like judges, not as men -who are avenging themselves. Blood demands blood, it is true, according -to the law of the desert; but, remember, however culpable the man whom -we have condemned may be, his death would be an indelible spot, a brand -of infamy which would sully our honour." - -"But this monster," the Tigrero exclaimed, with a passion the more -violent because it was repressed, "is beyond the pale of humanity." - -"He may re-enter it to repent." - -"Are we priests then to practise forgetfulness of insults?" Don Martial -asked with a fiendish grin. - -"No, my friend, there are men in the grand and sublime acceptation of -the term; men who have often been faulty themselves, and who, rendered -better by the life of struggling they have led, and the grief which has -frequently bowed them beneath its iron yoke, inflict a chastisement, but -despise vengeance, which they leave to weak and pusillanimous minds. Who -of you, my friends, would dare to say that he has suffered more than I? -To Him alone will I concede the right of imposing his will on me, and -what He bids me do I will do." - -"Forgive me, my friend," the Tigrero answered, "you are ever good, ever -great. God, in imposing on you a heavy task, endowed you at the same -time with an energetic soul, and a heart which seems to expand in your -bosom under the blast of adversity, instead of withering. We, however, -are but common men, in whom the sanguinary instinct of the savage -is constantly revealed in spite of all our efforts, and who know no -other law save that of retaliation. Forget the senseless words my lips -uttered, and be assured that I will ever joyfully obey you, whatever -you may command, persuaded as I am, that you can only ask the man who -has utterly placed himself in your power to do just actions." - -The hunter, while his friend was speaking thus in a voice broken by -emotion, had let his head fall on his hands, and seemed absorbed in -gloomy and painful thought. - -"I have nothing to forgive you, my friend," he replied in a gentle, -sympathizing voice, "for through my own sufferings I can understand what -yours are. I, too, often feel my heart bound with wrath and indignation; -for, believe me, my friend, I have a constant struggle to wage against -myself, not to let myself be led away to make a vengeance of what must -only be a punishment. But enough on this head; time presses, and we must -arrange our plans, so as not to be foiled by our enemies. I went today -to the palace, where I had a secret conversation with the President of -the Republic, whom, as you are aware, I have known for many years, and -who honours me with a friendship of which I am far from believing myself -worthy. At the end of our interview he handed me a paper, a species of -blank signature, by the aid of which I can do what I think advisable for -the success of our plans." - -"Did you obtain such a paper?" - -"I have it in my pocket. Now, listen to me. You will go at sunrise -tomorrow to the house of Don Antonio Rallier; he will be informed of -your coming, and you will follow his instructions." - -"And you?" - -"Do not be anxious about my movements, good friend, and only think of -your own business, for, I repeat, the decisive moment is approaching. -The day after tomorrow begins the feast of the anniversary of Mexican -Independence; that is to say, on that day we shall do battle with our -enemy, and meet him face to face; and the combat will be a rude one, for -this man has a will of iron, and a terrible energy. We shall be able -to conquer him, but not to subdue him, and if we do not take care he -will slip through our hands like a serpent; hence our personal affairs -must be finished tomorrow. Though apparently absent, I shall be really -near you, that is to say, I will help you with all my power. Still, do -not forget that you must act with the most extreme prudence, and, above -all, the greatest moderation; a second of forgetfulness would ruin you, -by alarming the innumerable spies scattered round the Convent of the -Bernardines. I trust that you have heard and understood me, my friend?" - -"Yes, Don Valentine." - -"And you will act as I recommend?" - -"I promise it." - -"Reflect, that you are perhaps risking the loss of your future -happiness." - -"I will not forget your recommendation, I swear to you; I am risking too -great a stake in this game, which must decide my future life, to let -myself be induced to commit any act of violence." - -"Good; I am happy to hear you speak thus; but have confidence, my -friend, I feel certain that we shall succeed." - -"May heaven hear you!" - -"It always hears those who appeal to it with a pure heart and a lively -faith. Hope, I tell you; and now, my dear Don Martial, permit me to say -a few words to our worthy friend, Belhumeur." - -"I will withdraw." - -"What for? have I any secrets from you? You can hear what I am going to -say to him." - -"You have nothing to say to me, Valentine," the hunter said, with a -shake of his head, "nothing but what I know already; I have no other -interest in what is about to take place beyond the deep friendship that -attached me to the count and now to you. You think that the recollection -I have preserved of our unhappy friend cannot be sufficiently engraven -on my heart for me to risk my life at your side in avenging him; but you -are mistaken, Valentine, that's all. I will not abandon you in the hour -of combat; I will remain at your side even should you order me to leave -you. I tell you that I swear, and have taken an oath to that effect, to -make a shield of my body to protect you, if it should be necessary. Now, -give me your hand, and suppose we say no more about it?" - -Valentine remained silent for a moment; a scalding tear ran down his -bronzed cheeks, and he took the hand of the honest, simple-minded -Canadian, and merely uttered the words-- - -"Thank you; I accept." - -They then rose, and returned to their carriage, after Valentine had -warned his faithful bodyguard, Curumilla, by a signal that he could -leave his hiding place, as the interview was over. A quarter of an hour -later the three gentlemen reached the house in the Calle de Tacuba, were -Curumilla was already awaiting them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE BLANK SIGNATURE. - - -On the morrow, Mexico awoke to a holiday; nothing extraordinary, in -a country where the year is a perpetual holiday, and where the most -frivolous pretext suffices for letting off _cohetes_, that supreme -amusement of the Mexicans. - -This time the affair was serious, for the inhabitants wished to -celebrate in a proper manner the anniversary of the Proclamation of -Independence, of which the day to which we allude was the eve. - -At sunrise a formidable _bando_ issued from the government palace, and -went through all the streets and squares of the city, announcing with -a mighty clamour of bugles and drums, that on the next day there would -be a bull fight with "Jamaica" and "Monte Parnasso" for the leperos, -high mass celebrated in all the churches, theatres thrown open gratis, -a review of the garrison, and of all the troops quartered sixty miles -round, and fireworks and illuminations at night, with open air balls and -feria. - -The government did things nobly, it must be confessed; hence the people -issued from their houses, spread feverishly through the streets at an -early hour, laughing, shouting, and letting off squibs, while singing -the praises of the President of the Republic, and taking, after their -fashion, something on account of the morrow's festival. - -Don Martial, in order to throw out the spies doubtless posted round -Valentine's house, had left his friend in the middle of the night, and -gone to his lodgings, and a few minutes before day proceeded to the -house of Mr. Rallier. - -Although the sun was not yet above the horizon, the French gentleman was -already up and conversing with his brother Edward, while waiting for the -Tigrero. Edward was ready to start, and his brother was giving him his -parting recommendations. - -"You are welcome," the Frenchman said cordially, on perceiving Don -Martial; "I was busy with our affair. My brother Edward is just off to -our quinta, whither my mother and my brother Auguste proceeded two days -ago, so that we might find all in order on our arrival." - -Although the Tigrero did not entirely understand what the banker said to -him, he considered it unnecessary to show it, and hence bowed without -answering. - -"All is settled, then," Mr. Rallier continued, addressing his brother; -"get everything ready, for we shall probably arrive before midday--that -is to say, in time for lunch." - -"Your country house is not far from the city?" the Tigrero asked, for -the sake of saying something. - -"Hardly five miles; it is at St. Angel; but in an excellent position -for defence, in the event of an attack. You are aware that St. Angel -is built on the side of an extinct volcano, and surrounded by lava and -spongy scoria, which renders an approach very difficult." - -"I must confess my ignorance of the fact." - -"In a country like this, where the government is bound to think of its -own defence before troubling itself about individuals, it is as well to -take one's precautions, and be always perfectly on guard. And now be -off, my dear Edward; your weapons are all right, and two resolute peons -will accompany you; besides, the sun is now rising, and you will have a -pleasant ride; so good-by till we meet again." - -The two brothers shook hands, and the young man, after bowing to Don -Martial, left the house, followed by two servants well mounted, and -armed like himself. During this conversation the peons had put the -horses in a close carriage. - -"Get in," said Mr. Rallier. - -"What!" Don Martial replied, "are we going to drive?" - -"By Jove! do you think I would venture to go to the convent on -horseback? Why, we could not go along a street before we were -recognized." - -"But this carriage will betray you." - -"I admit it; but no one will know whom it contains when the shutters are -drawn up, which I shall be careful to do before leaving the house. Come, -get in." - -The Tigrero placed himself by the Frenchman's side; the latter pulled -up the shutters, and started at a gallop in a direction diametrically -opposed to that which it should have followed, in order to reach the -convent. - -"Where are we going?" the Tigrero asked presently. - -"To the Convent of the Bernardines." - -"I fancy we are not going the right road." - -"That is possible, but, at any rate, it is the safest." - -"I humbly confess that I cannot understand it at all." - -Mr. Rallier began laughing. - -"My good fellow," he replied, "you will understand at the right time, -so be easy. You need only know, that in acting as I am doing, I am -carrying out to the letter the instructions of Valentine, my friend and -yours. It was not for nothing that he has so long borne the name of the -Trail-hunter; besides, you remember the prairie adage, which has always -appeared to me full of good sense, 'The shortest road from one point to -another is a crooked line.' Well, we are following the crooked line, -that is all. Besides, in all that is about to take place, you must -remain completely out of the question, and restrict yourself to being a -spectator, rather than an actor, and willing to obey me in everything I -may order. Does this part displease you?" - -The Frenchman said this with the merry accent and delightful simplicity -which formed the basis of his character, and which caused everybody to -like him whom accident brought in contact with him. - -"I have no repugnance to obey you, Señor Don Antonio," the Tigrero -answered. "The confidence our common friend places in you is a sure -guarantee to me of your intentions. Hence dispose of me as you think -proper, without fearing the slightest objection on my part." - -"That is the way to talk," the banker said, with a laugh. "Now, to -begin, my dear señor, you will do me the pleasure of changing your -dress, for the one you wear is slightly too worldly for the place to -which we are going." - -"Change my dress?" the Tigrero exclaimed. "Diablos! you ought to have -told me so at your house." - -"Unnecessary, my dear sir. I have all you require here." - -"Here?" - -"Well, you shall see," he said, as he took from one of the coach pockets -a Franciscan's gown, while from the other he drew a pair of sandals and -a cord. "Have you not worn this dress before?" - -"I have." - -"Well, you are going to put it on again, and for the following reasons: -At the convent, people believe (or pretend to believe, which comes to -the same thing) that you are a Franciscan monk. For the sake, then, of -persons who are not in the secret, it is necessary that I should be -accompanied by a monk, and more, that they may be able, if required, to -take their oaths to the fact." - -"I obey you. But will not your coachman be surprised at seeing a -Franciscan emerge from the carriage into which he showed a caballero?" - -"My coachman? Pardon me, but I do not think you looked at him?" - -"Indeed, I did not. All these Indians are alike, and equally hideous." - -"That is true; however, look at him." - -Don Martial bent forward, and slightly lowered the shutter. - -"Curumilla!" he cried, in amazement, as he drew back. "He, and so well -disguised?" - -"Do you now believe that he will be surprised?" - -"I was wrong." - -"No, but you do not take the trouble to reflect." - -"Well, I will put on the gown since I must. Still, with your permission, -I will keep my weapons under it." - -"Caspita! my permission? On the contrary, I order you to do so. But what -are they?" - -"You shall see. A machete, a knife, and a pair of pistols." - -"That is first-rate. If necessary, I shall be able to find you a rifle. -Trust to me for that." - -While talking thus, the Tigrero had changed his dress; that is to say, -he had simply put the gown over his other clothes, fastened the rope -round his body, and substituted the sandals for his boots. - -"There," the Frenchman continued, "you are a perfect monk." - -"No; I want something more, something which is even indispensable." - -"What's that?" - -"The hat." - -"That's true." - -"That part of my costume I hardly know how we shall obtain." - -"Man of little faith!" the Frenchman said with a smile, "see, and be -confounded!" - -While speaking thus he raised the front cushion, opened the box it -covered, and pulled out the hat of a monk of St. Francis, which he gave -the Tigrero. - -"And now do you want anything else, pray?" he asked, mockingly. - -"Indeed, no. Why, your carriage is a perfect locomotive shop!" - -"Yes, it contains a little of everything. But we have arrived," he -added, seeing the carriage stop. "You remember that you must in no way -make yourself prominent, and simply confine yourself to doing what I -tell you. That is settled, I think?" - -The Frenchman opened the door, for the carriage had really stopped -in front of the Convent of the Bernardines. Two or three ill-looking -fellows were prowling about: and, in spite of their affected -indifference, it was easy to recognize them for spies. The Frenchman and -his companion were not deceived. They got out with an indifference as -well assumed as that of the spies, and approached the door slowly, which -was opened at their first knock, and closed again behind them with a -speed that proved the slight confidence the sister porter placed in the -individuals left outside. - -"What do you desire, señores?" she asked, politely, after curtseying to -the newcomers with a smile of recognition. - -"My dear sister," the Frenchman answered, "be good enough to inform -the holy mother abbess of our visit, and ask her to favour us with an -interview for a few moments." - -"It is still very early, brother," the nun answered, "and I do not know -if holy mother can receive you at this moment." - -"Merely mention my name to her, sister, and I feel convinced that she -will make no difficulty about receiving us." - -"I doubt it, brother, for, as I said before, it is very early. Still, I -am willing to tell her, in order to prove to you my readiness to serve -you." - -"I feel deeply grateful to you for the kindness, sister." - -The sister then left the parlour, after begging the two gentlemen to -wait a moment. During her absence the Frenchman and his companion did -not exchange a syllable; however, this absence was short, and only -lasted a few minutes. - -Without speaking, the sister made the visitors a sign to follow her, -and led them to the parlour where we have already taken the reader, and -where the abbess was waiting for them. - -The Mother Superior was pale, and seemed anxious and preoccupied. She -invited the two gentlemen to sit down, and waited silently till they -addressed her. They, on their side, seemed to be waiting for her to -inquire the nature of their visit; but, as she did not do so, and this -silence threatened to be prolonged for some time, Mr. Rallier resolved -on breaking it. - -"I had the honour, madam," he said, with a respectful bow, "to send you -yesterday, by one of my servants, a letter, in which I informed you of -this morning's visit." - -"Yes, caballero," she at once, answered, "I duly received this letter, -and your sister Helena is ready to go away with you, whenever you -express the wish. Still permit me to make one request of you." - -"Speak, madam, and if I can be of any service to you, believe me, that I -shall eagerly seize the opportunity." - -"I know not, caballero, how to explain myself, for what I have to say -to you is really so strange that I fear lest it should call up a smile -to your lips. Although Doña Helena has only been a few months in our -convent, she has made herself so beloved by all her companions, through -her charming character, that her departure is an occasion of mourning -for all of us." - -"You render me very happy and very proud by speaking thus of my sister, -madam." - -"This praise is only the expression of the strictest truth, caballero. -We are all really most grieved to see her leave us thus. Still, I should -not have ventured thus to make myself the interpreter of our regrets, -were there not a very strong reason that renders it almost a duty to -speak to you." - -"I am listening to you, madam, though I can guess beforehand what you -are going to say to me." - -She looked at him in surprise. - -"You guess! Oh, it is impossible, señor," she exclaimed. - -The Frenchman smiled. - -"My sister, Doña Helena, as is generally the case in convents, has -chosen one of her companions, whom she loves more than the others, and -made her her intimate friend. Is such the case, madam?" - -"How do you know it?" - -He continued; with a smile-- - -"Now, this young lady, so beloved not only by Helena but by you, -madam, and all your community, is a gentle, kind, loving girl, who, in -consequence of a great misfortune, became insane, but whom your tender -care has restored to reason. Still, you keep the latter fact a profound -secret, before all from her guardian, who, not contented with having -stripped her of her fortune, now insists of robbing her of her happiness -by forcing her to marry him." - -"Señor, señor," the abbess exclaimed, as she rose from her seat, with -an astonishment blended with terror, "who are you that you know so many -things of which I believed the whole world ignorant?" - -"Who am I, madam? the brother of Helena, that is to say, a man in whom -you can place the most entire confidence. Hence permit me to proceed." - -The abbess, still suffering from extreme agitation, sat down again. - -"Go on, caballero," she said. - -"The guardian of Doña Anita, either that he has suspicion, or for some -other motive, wrote to you yesterday, ordering you to prepare her to -marry him within twenty-four hours. Since the receipt of this fatal -letter, Doña Anita has been plunged in the deepest despair, a despair -further heightened by the sudden departure of my sister, the only friend -in whose arms she can safely reveal her heart's secrets. But you, -madam, who are so holy and good, are aware that God can at his pleasure -confound the projects of the wicked, and change wormwood into honey. Did -you not receive a visit yesterday from Don Serapio de la Ronda?" - -"Yes, that gentleman deigned to visit me a few moments before I -received the fatal letter to which you have referred." - -"Did not Don Serapio, on leaving you, say these words: 'Be kind enough -to inform Doña Anita that a friend is watching over her; that this -friend has already given her unequivocal proofs of the interest he -takes in her happiness, and that, on the day when she again sees the -Franciscan monk, to whom she confessed once before, all her misfortunes -will be ended?'" - -"Yes, Don Serapio did utter those words." - -"Well, madam, I am sent to you, not only by him, but by another person, -who is no less than the President of the Republic, not only to take away -my sister but also to ask you to deliver up to me Doña Anita, who will -accompany her." - -"Heaven is my witness, señor, that I would be delighted to do what you -ask of me. Unhappily, it is not in my power; Doña Anita was entrusted -to me by her sole relation, who is at the same time her guardian, and -though he is unworthy of that title, and my heart bleeds in refusing -you, it is to him alone that I am bound to deliver her." - -"This objection, madam, the justice of which I fully appreciate, has -been foreseen by the persons whose representative I am. Hence they -consulted on the means to remove the scruples by entirely releasing you -from responsibility. Father, give this lady the paper, of which you are -the bearer." - -Without uttering a word, Don Martial took from his pocket the blank -signature Valentine had entrusted to him, and handed it to the abbess. - -"What is this?" she asked. - -"Madam," the Frenchman answered, "that paper is a blank signature of the -President of the Republic, who orders you to deliver Doña Anita into my -hands." - -"I see it," she said, sorrowfully; "unfortunately this blank signature, -which would everywhere else have the strength of the law, is powerless -here. We only indirectly depend on the temporal power, but are -completely subjugated to the spiritual power, and we can only receive -orders from it." - -The Tigrero took a side glance, full of despair, at his companion, whose -face was still smiling. - -"What would you require, madam," he continued, "in order to consent to -give up this unhappy young lady to me?" - -"Alas, señor, it is not I who refuse compliance. Heaven is my witness -that it is my greatest desire to see her escape from her persecutor." - -"I am thoroughly convinced of that, madam; that is why, feeling -persuaded of your good feeling towards your charge, I ask you to tell me -what authority you require in order to give her up to me." - -"I cannot, señor, allow Doña Anita to quit this convent without a -perfectly regular order, signed by Monseigneur the Archbishop of Mexico, -who alone has the right to command here, and whom I am compelled to -obey." - -"And if I had that order, madam, all your scruples would be removed?" - -"Yes, all, señor." - -"You would have no further difficulty in allowing Doña Anita to depart?" - -"I would deliver her to you at once, señor." - -"Since that is the case, madam, I will ask you to do so, for I have -brought you that order." - -"You have it?" she said, with undisguised delight. - -"Here it is," he answered, as he took a paper from his pocketbook, and -handed it to her. - -She opened it at once, and eagerly perused it. - -"Oh now," she continued, "Doña Anita is free, and I will----" - -"One moment, madam," he interrupted her, "have you carefully read the -order I had the honour of giving you?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"In that case be kind enough to allow the young ladies to put on secular -clothing, and, as their departure must be kept secret, allow my carriage -to enter the front courtyard. I fancied I saw ill-looking fellows -prowling about the neighbourhood, who looked to me like spies." - -"What must I say, though, to the young lady's guardian? I am going to -see him today." - -"I am aware of that, madam. Gain time; tell him that his ward is -ill; that you have succeeded in gaining her consent to the projected -marriage, but, on the condition that it be deferred for eight and forty -hours. It is a falsehood I am suggesting to you, madam, but it is -necessary, and I feel convinced that heaven will pardon it." - -"Oh, do not be anxious about that, señor. I will gladly take on myself -the responsibility of this falsehood; Doña Anita's guardian will not -dare to oppose so short a delay, however well inclined he may be to do -so: but in forty-eight hours?" - -"In forty-hours, madam," the Frenchman answered in a hollow voice, -"General Guerrero will not come to claim the hand of Doña Anita." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -ON THE ROAD. - - -All the scruples of the Mother Superior--honourable scruples, let us -hasten to add--having thus been removed, one after the other, by Mr. -Rallier, by means of the double orders he had been careful to provide -himself with, the next thing was to see about getting the two boarders -away without further day. - -The abbess, who understood the importance of a speedy conclusion, -left her visitors in the parlour, and, in order to avoid any -misunderstanding, herself undertook to fetch the two young ladies, after -giving a lay sister orders to call the carriage into the first courtyard. - -In a religious community, one of women before all--we do not mean -this satirically--whatever may be done, and whatever precautions may -be taken, nothing can long be kept a secret. Hence, the two gentlemen -had scarcely entered the speaking room of the abbess ere the rumour of -the departure of Doña Anita and Doña Helena spread among the nuns with -extreme rapidity. Who spread the news no one could have told, and yet -everybody spoke about it as a certainty. - -The young ladies were naturally the first informed. At the outset their -anxiety was great, and Doña Anita trembled, for she believed that -she was fetched by order of her guardian, and that the monk speaking -with the abbess was the one sent by the general to make immediate -preparations for her marriage. Hence, when the abbess entered Doña -Helena's cell, she found the pair in each other's arms, and weeping -bitterly. - -Fortunately, the mistake was soon cleared up, and the sorrow converted -into joy when the abbess, who, through sympathy, wept as much as -her boarders, explained that of the two strangers, whom they feared -so greatly, one was the brother of Doña Helena, and the other the -Franciscan monk whom Doña Anita had already seen, and that they had -come, not to add to her sufferings, but to remove her from the tyranny -that oppressed her. - -Doña Helena, on hearing that her brother was at the convent, bounded -with joy, and removed her friend's last doubts, for, like all unhappy -persons. Doña Anita clung greedily to this new hope of salvation, which -was thus allowed to germinate in her heart at a moment when she believed -that she had no chance left of escaping her evil destiny. - -The abbess then urged them to complete their preparations for departure, -helped them to change their dress, and, after embracing them several -times, conducted them to the parlour. - -In order to avoid any disturbance when the young ladies left the -convent, where everybody adored them, the abbess had the good idea of -sending the nuns to their cells. It was a very prudent measure, which, -by preventing leave-taking, also prevented any noisy manifestations of -cries and tears, the sound of which might have been heard outside, and -have fallen on hostile ears. - -The leave-taking was short, for there was no time to lose in vain -compliments. The young ladies drew down their veils, and proceeded to -the courtyard under the guidance of the abbess. The carriage had been -drawn as close as possible to the cloisters, and the court was entirely -deserted, only the abbess, the sister porter, and a confidential nun -witnessing the departure. - -As the Frenchman opened the door of the carriage, a piece of paper lying -on the seat caught his eyes. He seized it without being seen, and hid it -in the hollow of his hand. After kissing the good abbess for the last -time, the young ladies took the back seat, and Don Martial the front, as -did Mr. Rallier, after previously whispering to the coachman, that is, -to Curumilla, two Indian words, to which he replied by a sinister grin. -Then, at a signal from the abbess, the convent gates were opened, and -the carriage started at full speed, drawn by six powerful mules. - -The crowd silently made room for it to pass, the gates closed again -immediately, and the carriage almost immediately disappeared round the -corner of the next street. - -It was about seven o'clock in the morning. The fugitives--for we can -give them no other name--galloped in silence for the first ten or -fifteen minutes, when the Frenchman gently touched his companion's -shoulder, and offered him the paper he had found in the carriage. - -"Read!" he said. - -The paper only contained two words, hurriedly written in pencil-- - -"Take care." - -"Oh, oh," the Tigrero exclaimed, turning pale, "what does this mean?" - -"By Jove," the Frenchman answered cautiously, "it means that in spite of -our precautions, or perhaps on account of them, for in these confounded -affairs a man never knows how to act in order to deceive the persons he -fears, we are discovered, and probably have spies at our heels." - -"Caray! and what will become of the young ladies in the event of a -dispute?" - -"In the event of a fight you mean, for there will be an obstinate one, -I foretell. Well, we will defend them as well as we can." - -"I know that; but suppose we are killed?" - -"Ah! there is that chance; but I never think of that till after the -event." - -"Oh heaven!" Doña Anita murmured, as she hid her head in her friend's -bosom. - -"Re-assure yourself, señorita," the Frenchman continued, "and, above -all, be silent, for the sound of your voice might be recognized, and -change into certainty what may still be only a suspicion. Besides, -remember that if you have enemies, you have also friends, since they -took the precaution to warn us. Now, in all probability, this unknown -offerer of advice will not have stopped there, but thought of the means -to come to our assistance in the most effectual manner." - -The carriage went along in the meanwhile at a breakneck pace, and had -nearly reached the city gates. We will now tell what had happened, and -how the Frenchman was warned of the danger that threatened him. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero had organized a band of spies composed -of leperos and scoundrels, who, however, possessed acknowledged -cleverness and skill, and if Valentine had escaped their surveillance -and foiled their machinations, it was solely through the habits which -he had contracted during a lengthened life in the prairies, and which -had become an intuition with him, so far did he carry the quality of -scenting and unmasking an enemy, whatever might be the countenance he -borrowed. But if he had not been recognized, it was not the same with -his friends, and the latter had not been able long to escape the lynx -eyes of the general's spies. - -The Convent of the Bernardines had naturally become for some days past -the centre of the surveillance, as it were the spying headquarters, of -Don Sebastian's agents. The arrival of a carriage with closed blinds -at the convent at once gave the alarm; and though Mr. Rallier was not -personally known, the fact of his being a Frenchman was sufficient to -rouse suspicions. - -While the Frenchman and the monk were conversing in the parlour with the -abbess, a lepero pretended to hurt himself, and was conveyed by two of -his acolytes to the convent gate, and the good hearted porter had not -refused him admission, but, on the contrary, had eagerly given him all -the assistance his condition seemed to require. - -While the lepero was gradually regaining his senses, his comrades asked -questions with that captious skill peculiar to their Mexican nature. -The sister porter was a worthy woman, endowed with a very small stock -of brains, and fond of talking. On finding this opportunity to indulge -in her favourite employment, she was easily led on, and, almost of her -own accord, told all she knew, not suspecting the harm she did. Let us -hasten to add that this all was very little; but, being understood and -commented on by intelligent men interested in discovering the truth, it -was extremely serious. - -When the three leperos had drawn all they could out of the sister -porter, they hastened to leave the convent. Just as they emerged into -the street, they found themselves face to face with Ño Carnero, the -general's capataz, whom his master had sent on a tour of discovery. They -ran up to him, and in a few words told him what had happened. - -This was grave, and the capataz trembled inwardly at the revelation, for -he understood the terrible danger by which his friends were menaced. But -Carnero was a clever man, and at once made up his mind to his course of -action. - -He greatly praised the leperos for the skill they had displayed in -discovering the secret, put some piastres into their hands, and sent -them off to the general, with the recommendation, which was most -unnecessary, to make all possible speed. Then, in his turn, he began -prowling round the convent, and especially the carriage, which Curumilla -made no difficulty in letting him approach, for the reader will -doubtless have guessed that the animosity the Indian had on several -occasions evinced for the capataz was pretended, and that they were -perfectly good friends when nobody could see or hear them. - -The capataz skilfully profited by the confusion created in the crowd by -the carriage entering the convent, to throw in, unperceived, the paper -Mr. Rallier had found. Certain now that his friends would be on their -guard, he went off in his turn, after recommending the spies he left -before the convent to keep up a good watch, and walked in the direction -of the Plaza Mayor smoking a cigarette. - -At the corner of the Calle de Plateros he saw a man standing in front of -a pulquería, engaged in smoking an enormous cigar. The capataz entered -the pulquería, drank a glass of Catalonian refino, but while paying, he -clumsily let fall a piastre which rolled to the foot of the man standing -in the doorway. The latter stooped, picked up the coin, and restored it -to its owner, and the capataz walked out, doubtless satisfied with the -quality of the spirit he had imbibed, and cautiously continued his way. -On reaching the plaza again, the man of the pulquería, who was probably -going the same road as himself, was at his heels. - -"Belhumeur?" the capataz asked in a low voice, without turning round. - -"Eh?" the other answered in the same key. - -"The general knows the affair at the convent; if you do not make haste, -Don Martial, Don Antonio, and the two ladies will be attacked on the -road while going to the quinta; warn your friend, for there is not a -moment to lose. Devil take the cigarette!" he added, throwing it away, -"it has gone out." - -When he turned back, Belhumeur had disappeared; the Canadian with -his characteristic agility was already running in the direction of -Valentine's house. As for the capataz, as he was in no particular hurry, -he quietly walked back to the general's, where he found his master in a -furious passion with all his people, and more particularly with himself. - -By an accident, too portentous not to have been arranged beforehand, not -one of his horses could be mounted; three were foundered, four others -had been bled, and the last three were without shoes. In the midst of -this the capataz arrived with a look of alarm, which only heightened his -master's passion. Carnero prudently allowed the general's fury to grow a -little calm, and then answered him. - -He proved to him in the first place that he would commit a serious act -of imprudence by himself starting in pursuit of the fugitives in the -present state of affairs, and especially on the eve of a pronunciamiento -which was about to decide his fortunes. Then he remarked to him that -six peons, commanded by a resolute man, would be sufficient to conquer -two men probably badly armed, and, in addition, shut up in a carriage -with two ladies, whom they would not expose to the risk of being killed. -These reasons being good, the general listened and yielded to them. - -"Very good," he said; "Carnero, you are one of my oldest servants, and -to you I entrust the duty of bringing back my niece." - -The capataz made a wry face. - -"There will be probably plenty of blows to receive, and very little -profit to derive from such an expedition." - -"I believed that you were devoted to me," the general remarked bitterly. - -"Your excellency is not mistaken; I am truly devoted to you, but I have -also a fondness for my skin." - -"I will give you twenty-five ounces for every slit it receives; is that -enough?" - -"Come, I see that your excellency wishes me to be cut into mincemeat!" -the capataz exclaimed joyously. - -"Then that is agreed?" - -"I should think so, excellency; at that price a man would be a fool to -refuse." - -"But about horses?" - -"We have at least ten or a dozen in the corral." - -"That is true; I did not think of that," the general exclaimed, striking -his forehead; "have seven lassoed at once." - -"Where must I take the señorita?" - -"Bring her to this house, for she shall not set foot in the convent -again." - -"Very good; when shall I start, general?" - -"At once, if it be possible." - -"In twenty minutes I shall have left the house." - -But the general's impatience was so great that he accompanied his -capataz to the corral, watched all the preparations for the departure, -and did not return to his apartments till he was certain that Carnero -had started in pursuit of the fugitives, with the peons he had selected. - -In the meanwhile the carriage dashed along; it passed at full gallop -through the San Lázaro gate, then turned suddenly to the right, and -entered a somewhat narrow street. At about the middle of this street it -stopped before a house of rather modest appearance, the gate of which -at once opened, and a man came out holding the bridles of two prairie -mustangs completely harnessed, and with a rifle at each saddle-bow. The -Frenchman got out, and invited his companion to follow his example. - -"Resume your usual dress," he said, as he led him inside the house. - -The Tigrero obeyed with an eager start of joy. While he doffed his gown, -his companion mounted, after saying to the young ladies-- - -"Whatever happens, not a word--not a cry; keep the shutters up; we will -gallop at the door, and remember your lives are in peril." - -Martial at this moment came out of the house attired as a caballero. - -"To horse, and let us be off," said Mr. Rallier. - -The Tigrero bounded onto the mustang held in readiness for him, and -the carriage, in which the mules had been changed, started again at -full speed. The house at which they had stopped was the one hired by -Valentine to keep his stud at. - -Half an hour thus passed, and the carriage disappeared in the thick -cloud of dust it raised as it dashed along. Don Martial felt new born; -the excitement had restored his old ardour as if by enchantment; -he longed to be face to face with his foe, and at length come to a -settlement with him. The Frenchman was calmer; though brave to rashness, -it was with secret anxiety he foresaw the probability of a fight, in -which his sister might be wounded; still he was resolved, in the event -of the worst, to confront the danger, no matter the number of men who -ventured to attack them. - -All at once the Indian uttered a cry. The two men looked back, and saw -a body of men coming up at full speed. At this moment the carriage was -following a road bounded on one side by a rather thick chaparral, on the -other by a deep ravine. - -At a sign from the Frenchman the carriage was drawn across the road, and -the ladies got out; went, under Curumilla's protection, to seek shelter -behind the trees. The two men, with their rifles to their shoulders -and fingers on the triggers, stood firmly in the middle of the road, -awaiting the onset of their adversaries, for, in all probability, the -newcomers were enemies. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -A SKIRMISH. - - -Curumilla, after concealing, with that Indian skill he so thoroughly -possessed, the young ladies at a spot where they were thoroughly -protected from bullets, had placed himself, rifle in hand, not by the -side of the two riders, but, with characteristic redskin prudence, he -ambuscaded himself behind the carriage, probably reflecting that he -represented the entire infantry force, and not caring, through a point -of honour, very absurd in his opinion, to expose himself to a death not -only certain, but useless to those he wished to defend. - -The horsemen, however, on coming within range of the persons they were -pursuing, stopped, and by their gestures seemed to evince a hesitation -the fugitives did not at all understand, after the fashion in which they -had hitherto been pursued. The motive for this hesitation, which the -Frenchman and his companions could not know, and which perplexed them so -greatly, was very simple. - -Carnero, for it was the general's capataz who was pursuing the carriage, -with his peons, all at once perceived, with a secret pleasure, it is -true, though he was careful not to let his companions notice it, that -while they were pursuing the carriage, other horsemen were pursuing -them, and coming up at headlong speed. On seeing this, as we said, the -party halted, much disappointed and greatly embarrassed as to what they -had better do. - -They were literally placed between two fires, and were the attacked -instead of the assailants; the situation was critical, and deserved -serious consideration. Carnero suggested a retreat, remarking, with a -certain amount of reason, that the sides were no longer equal, and that -success was highly problematical. The peons, all utter ruffians, and -expressly chosen by the general, but who entertained a profound respect -for the integrity of their limbs, and were but very slightly inclined -to have them injured in so disadvantageous a contest with people who -would not recoil, were disposed to follow the advice of the capataz and -retire, before a retreat became impossible. - -Unhappily, the Zaragate was among the peons. Believing, from his -conversation with the colonel, that he knew better than anyone the -general's intentions, and attracted by the hope of a rich reward if he -succeeded in delivering him of his enemy, that is to say, in killing -Valentine; and, moreover, probably impelled by the personal hatred he -entertained for the hunter, he would not listen to any observation, and -swore with horrible oaths that he would carry out the general's orders -at all hazards, and that, since the persons they were ordered to stop -were only a few paces before them, they ought not to retire until they -had, at least, attempted to perform their duty; and that if his comrades -were such cowards as to desert him, he would go on alone at his own -risk, certain that the general would be satisfied with the way in which -he behaved. - -After a declaration so distinct and peremptory, any hesitation became -impossible, the more so as the horsemen were rapidly coming up, and if -the capataz hesitated much longer he would be attacked in the rear. Thus -driven out of his last entrenchment, and compelled against his will to -fight, Carnero gave the signal to push on ahead. - -But the peons had scarce started, ere three shots were fired, and three -men rolled in the dust. The newcomers, in this way, warned their friends -to hold their ground, and that they were bringing help. The dismounted -peons were not wounded, though greatly shaken by their fall, and unable -to take part in the fight; their horses alone were hit, and that so -cleverly, that they at once fell. - -"Eh, eh!" the capataz said, as he galloped on; "these pícaros have a -very sure hand. What do you think of it?" - -"I say that there are still four of us; that is double the number of -those waiting for us down there, and we are sufficient to master them." - -"Don't be too sure, my good friend, Zaragate," the capataz said with a -grin; "they are men made of iron, who must be killed twice over before -they fall." - -The Tigrero and his companions had heard shots and seen the peons bite -the dust. - -"There is Valentine," said the Frenchman. - -"I believe so," Don Martial replied. - -"Shall we charge?" - -"Yes." - -And digging in their spurs, they dashed at the peons. - -Valentine and his two comrades, Belhumeur and Black Elk (for the -Frenchman was not mistaken, it was really the hunter coming up, whom the -Canadian had warned) fell on the peons simultaneously with Don Martial -and his companion. - -A terrible, silent, and obstinate struggle went on for some minutes -between these nine men; the foes had seized each other round the body, -as they were too close to use firearms, and tried to stab each other. -Nothing was heard but angry curses and panting, but not a word or cry, -for what is the use of insulting when you can kill? - -The Zaragate, so soon as he recognized the hunter, dashed at him. -Valentine, although taken off his guard, offered a vigorous resistance; -the two men were entwined like serpents, and, in their efforts to -dismount each other, at last both fell, and rolled beneath the feet of -the combatants who, without thinking of them, or perceiving their fall, -continued to attack each other furiously. - -The hunter was endowed with great muscular strength and unequalled -science and agility; but on this occasion he had found an adversary -worthy of him. The Zaragate, some years younger than Valentine, and -possessed of his full bodily strength, while urged on by the love of a -rich reward, made superhuman efforts to master his opponent and plunge -his navaja into his throat. Several times had each of them succeeded -in getting the other underneath, but, as so frequently happens in -wrestling, a sudden movement of the shoulders or loins had changed the -position of the adversaries and brought the one beneath who a moment -previously had been on the top. - -Still Valentine felt that his strength was becoming exhausted; -the unexpected resistance he met with from an enemy apparently so -little worthy of him, exasperated him and made him lose his coolness. -Collecting all his remaining vigour to attempt a final and decisive -effort, he succeeded in getting his enemy once again under him, and -pinned him down; but at the same moment Valentine uttered a cry of pain -and rolled on the ground--a horse's kick had broken his left arm. - -The Zaragate sprang up with a tiger's bound, and bursting into a yell -of delight, placed his knee on his enemy's chest, at the same time as -he prepared to bury his navaja in his heart. Valentine felt that he was -lost, and did not attempt to avoid the death that threatened him. - -"Poor Louis," he merely said, looking firmly and intrepidly at the -bandit. - -"Ah, ah!" the Zaragate said, with a ferocious grin, "I hold my vengeance -at length, accursed Trail-hunter." - -He did not complete the sentence; suddenly seized by his long hair, -while a knee, thrust between his shoulders, forced him to bend back, he -saw, as in a horrible dream, a ferocious face grinning above his head. -With a fearful groan he rolled on the ground; a knife had been buried in -his heart, while his scalp, which was suddenly removed, left his denuded -skull to inundate with blood the ground around. - -Curumilla raised in his arms the body of his friend, whose life he had -just saved once again, and bore it to the side of the road. Valentine -had fainted. - -The chief, so soon as he saw his friends charge the peons, left his -ambush, and while careful to remain behind them, followed them to the -battlefield. He had watched eagerly the long struggle between the hunter -and the Zaragate; trying vainly to assist his friend, but never able -to succeed. The two enemies were so entwined, their movements were so -rapid, and they changed their position so suddenly, that the chief was -afraid lest he might wound his friend in attempting to help him. Hence -he awaited with extreme anxiety an opportunity so long delayed, and -which the Zaragate himself offered by losing his time in insulting his -enemy instead of killing him at once, when the injury he received left -him defenceless in the bandit's power. - -The Araucano bounded like a wild beast on the Mexican, and without -hesitation scalped and stabbed him with the agility characteristic of -the redskins, and which he himself possessed in so high a degree. - -Almost at the same moment the horsemen also finished their fight. The -peons had offered a vigorous resistance, but being badly supported -by the capataz, who was disabled at the beginning of the skirmish by -Don Martial, and seeing the Zaragate dead and three of their friends -dismounted and incapable of coming to their assistance, they gave in. - -The capataz had been wounded at his own request by Don Martial, in order -to save appearance with the general; he had a wide gash on his right -arm, very severe at the first glance, but insignificant in reality. A -peon had been almost smashed by Belhumeur, so that the field of battle -fairly remained in the hands of the hunters. - -When their victory was insured they assembled anxiously round -Valentine, for they were alarmed at his condition, and most anxious -to be reassured. Valentine, whose arm Curumilla had at once set, with -the skill and coolness of an old practitioner, soon reopened his eyes, -reassured his friends by a smile, and offered the Indian chief his -right hand, which the latter laid on his heart with an expression of -indescribable happiness, as he uttered his favourite exclamation of Ugh! -the only word he permitted himself to use in joy or in sorrow, when he -felt himself choking with internal emotion. - -"Señores," the hunter said, "it is only an arm broken; thanks to the -chief, I have had an easy escape. Let us resume our journey before other -enemies come up." - -"And we, señor?" the capataz cried humbly. - -Valentine rose with the chiefs assistance, and took a furious glance at -the peons. "As for you, miserable assassins," he said with a terrible -accent, "return to your master and tell him in what way you were -received. But it is not sufficient to have chastised your perfidy, I -must have revenge for the odious snare into which my friends and I all -but fell. I will learn whether in open day, and some half a dozen miles -from Mexico, bandits can thus attack peaceable travellers with impunity. -Begone!" - -Valentine was slightly mistaken, for, although it was really the -intention of the peons to attack them, the hunters had actually begun -the fight by dismounting the three peons. But the fellows, convicted by -their conscience, did not notice this delicate distinction, and were -very happy to get off so cheaply, and be enabled to return peaceably, -when they feared that their conquerors would hand them over to the -police as they had a perfect right to do. - -Thus, far from raising any objections, they broke forth into apologies -and protestations of devotion, and hastened off, not troubling -themselves to pick up the body of their defunct comrade, el Zaragate, -which they left to the vultures which settled on it, so soon as the -highway was clear again. - -The capataz, under the pretext that his wound was very painful, but in -reality to give Valentine and his friends the requisite time to secure -themselves temporarily from pursuit, insisted on returning to the city -slowly, so that they did not reach the general's mansion till two hours -had elapsed. - -So soon as the peons in obedience to the hunter's orders had left the -battlefield, he, on his part, gave his companions the signal to start. -Don Martial had hurried to reassure the ladies, who were standing more -dead than alive at the spot where the chief had concealed them. He made -them get into the carriage again, without telling them anything except -that the danger was past, and that the rest of the journey would be -performed in safety. - -Valentine's friends tried in vain to induce him to get into the carriage -with the ladies. He would not consent, but insisted on mounting his -horse, assuring them, in the far from probable event of their being -attacked again, that he could still be of some service to his companions -in spite of his broken arm. The latter were too well acquainted with his -inflexible will to press him further, so Curumilla remounted the coach -box, and they started. - -The rest of the journey was performed without any incident, and they -reached the quinta twenty minutes later. The skirmish had taken place -scarce two miles from the country house. On reaching the gates, -Valentine took leave of his friend without dismounting. - -"What!" the latter said to him, "are you going, Valentine, without -resting for a moment?" - -"I must, my dear Rallier," he answered; "you know what imperious reasons -claim my presence in Mexico." - -"But you are wounded." - -"Have I not Curumilla to attend to my hurt? Do not be anxious about -me; besides, I intend to see you again soon. This quinta appears to me -strong enough to resist a surprise. Have you a garrison?" - -"I have a dozen servants and my two brothers." - -"In that case I am easy in my mind; besides, there is only one night to -pass, and I believe that after the lesson his people have received the -general will not venture on a second attack, for some days at least. -Besides, he reckons on the success of his pronunciamiento. You will come -to me tomorrow at daybreak, will you not?" - -"I shall not fail." - -"In that case I will be off." - -"Will you not say good-bye to the ladies?" - -"They are not aware of my presence, and it will be better for them not -to see me; so good-bye till tomorrow." - -And making a signal to his comrades who, including Curumilla, to whom a -horse was given, collected around him, Valentine started at a gallop for -Mexico, caring no more for his broken arm than if it were a mere scratch. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -LOS REGOCIJOS. - - -On his return to the mansion, the capataz did not see his master, at -which he was extremely pleased, for he desired to delay as long as -possible an explanation which, in spite of the wound he so complacently -displayed, he feared would turn out to his disadvantage, especially -when questioned by a man like the general, whose piercing glance would -descend to the bottom of his heart to discover the truth, however -cleverly hidden it might be behind a network of falsehoods. - -As only a few hours had still to elapse before the explosion of the -conspiracy, arranged with such care and mystery, the general was -compelled for a while to suspend his schemes for the satisfaction of his -love and his hatred, and only attend to those in which his ambition was -engaged. The principal conspirators had been summoned to Colonel Lupo's, -and there the final arrangements had been made for the morrow, and the -watchword given. - -Although the government appeared plunged in the most profound ignorance -of what was preparing against it, and evinced complete security, still -the President had made certain arrangements for the morrow's ceremonies -which did not fail greatly to trouble the men interested in knowing -everything, and to whom the apparently most futile thing naturally -created umbrage. - -The general, with the curiosity that distinguished him, was anxious to -know exactly the extent of the danger he had to meet, and proceeded to -the palace, merely accompanied by his two aides-de-camp. The general -president received Don Sebastian with a smile on his lips, and offered -him the most gracious reception. This reception, so cordial, perhaps -too cordial, instead of reassuring the general, had, on the contrary, -increased his anxiety, for he was a Mexican and knew the proverb of his -country--"Lips that smile, and mouth that tells falsehoods." - -The general was too calm to let his feelings be seen. He pretended to be -delighted, remained for some time with the President, who appeared to -treat him with a friendly familiarity, complained of the rarity of his -visits, and his obstinacy in not asking for a command. In a word, the -two men separated apparently highly satisfied with each other. - -Still, the general remarked that all the courts were stuffed with -soldiers, who were bivouacking in the open air; that several guns had -been placed, accidentally perhaps, so as to sweep completely the chief -entrance gate, and, more serious still, that the troops quartered in -the palace were commanded by officers strangers to him, and who had, -moreover, the reputation of being devoted to the President of the -Republic. - -After this daring visit, the general mounted his horse, and, under the -pretext of going for a walk, went all over the city. Everywhere the -preparations for the coming festival were being carried on with the -greatest activity. In the square of Necatitlan, for instance, situated -in one of the worst parts of the capital, a circus had been made for the -bullfights at which the president intended to be present. - -Numerous wooden erections, raised for the occasion, filled the space -usually devoted to tauromachy, and formed an immense hall of verdure, -with pleasant clumps of trees, mysterious walks, and charming retreats, -prepared with the greatest care, where everybody would go on the morrow -to eat and drink the atrocious productions of the Mexican art on -cookery, and enjoy what is called in that country Jamaica. - -Exactly in the centre of the arena a tree about twenty feet in height -was planted, with its branches and leaves entirely covered with coloured -pocket-handkerchiefs that floated in the breeze. This tree was the Monte -Parnasso, intended to serve as a maypole for the leperos, at the moment -when the bullfights begin, and a trial bull, _embolado_, that is to say, -with its horns terminating in balls, is let into the ring. - -All the pulquerías near the square were thronged with a hideous, ragged -mob, who howled, sang, shouted, and whistled their loudest, while -smoking, and, at intervals, exchanging knife thrusts, to the great -delight of the spectators. - -In all the streets the procession would pass through the houses were -decorated; Mexican flags were hoisted in profusion at every spot where -they could be displayed; and yet, by the side of all these holiday -preparations, there was, we repeat, something gloomy and menacing -that struck a chill to the heart. Through all the gates fresh troops -continually entered the city, and occupied admirably chosen strategic -points. The Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, and even the Vega, were -converted into bivouacs, and though these troops ostensibly only came to -Mexico to be present at the ceremony and be reviewed, they were equipped -for the field, and affected an earnestness which caused much thought to -those who saw them pass or visited their bivouacs. - -When a serious event is preparing, there are in the atmosphere certain -signs which never deceive the fosterers of revolutions; a vague and -apparently causeless anxiety seizes on the masses, and unconsciously -converts their joy into a species of feverish excitement, at which they -are themselves startled, as they know not to what to attribute this -change in their humour. - -Hence the population of Mexico, mad, merry, and joyous, as usual when -a festival is preparing, in the eyes of short-sighted persons, were in -reality sternly sad and suffering from great anxiety. The general did -not fail to observe these prognostics; gloomy presentiments occupied his -mind, for he understood that a terrible tempest was hidden beneath this -fictitious calmness. Valentine's gloomy predictions recurred to him. -He trembled to see the hunter's menaces realized; and, though unable -to discover when the danger would come, he foresaw that a great peril -was hanging over his head, and that his ambitious projects would soon, -perhaps, be drowned in floods of blood. - -Unfortunately it was too late to desist; he must, whatever might happen, -go on to the end, for he had not the time to give counter orders, -and urge the conspirators to defer the explosion of the plot till a -more favourable moment. Hence, after ripe reflection, the general -resolved to push on, and trust to accident. Ambitious men, by the way, -reckon, far more than is supposed, on hazard, and those magnificent -combinations which are admired when success has crowned them, are most -frequently merely the unforeseen results of fortuitous circumstances, -completely beyond the will of the man whom they have profited. -History, modern history especially, is full of these combinations, -these results impossible to foresee, which sensible men would not have -dared to suppose, and which have made the reputation of so-called -statesmen of genius, who are very small fry, when regarded through the -magnifying-glass or when actions are sifted. - -The general returned to his house at about six in the evening, -despairing, and already seeing his plans annihilated. The report of his -capataz added to his discouragement, for it was the drop of wormwood -which makes the brimful cup run over. He withdrew to his apartments in a -state of dull fury, and in his impotent rage accused himself for having -ventured into this frightful situation, for he felt himself rapidly -gliding down a fatal slope, where it would be impossible for him to stop. - -What added to his secret agony was, that he must incessantly send off -couriers, receive reports, talk with his confidants, and feign in their -presence not merely calmness and gaiety, but also encourage them, and -impart to them an ardour and hope which he no longer possessed. - -The whole night was spent thus. A terrible night, during which the -general endured all the tortures that assail an ambitious man on the eve -of a scandalous plot against a government which he has sworn to defend. -He was agitated by those dull murmurs of the conscience which can never -be thoroughly stifled, and which would inspire pity for these unhappy -men, were they not careful, by their own acts, to put themselves beyond -the pale of that humanity of which they have become real monsters. The -most wholesome lesson that could be given to those ambitious manikins, -so frequent in the lower strata of society, would be to render them -witnesses of the crushing agony that attacks any _cabecilla_ during the -night that precedes the outbreak of one of its horrible plots. - -Sunrise surprised the general giving his final orders. Worn out by the -fatigue of a long watch, with pallid brow, and eyes inflamed by fever, -he tried to take a few moments of restorative rest, which he so greatly -needed; but his efforts were fruitless, for he was suffering from an -excitement too intense, at the decisive hour, for sleep to come and -close his eyes. - -Already the bells of all the churches were pealing out, and filling the -air with their joyous notes. In all the streets, and in all the squares, -boys and leperos were letting off crackers, and uttering deafening -cries, which more resembled bursts of fury than demonstrations of joy. -The people, dressed in their holiday clothes, were leaving their houses -in masses, and spreading like a torrent over the city. - -The review was arranged for seven o'clock A.M., so that the troops might -be spared the great heat of the day. They were massed on the Paseo de -Bucareli and the road connecting that promenade with the Alameda. - -We have already stated that the Mexican army, twenty thousand strong, -has twenty-four thousand officers. Hence, in the enormous crowd -assembled to witness the review, uniforms were in a majority; for all -the officers living on half-pay in Mexico, for some reason or another, -considered themselves bound to attend the review as amateurs. - -At a quarter to eight o'clock the drums beat, the troops presented arms, -a deafening shout was raised by the crowd, and the President of the -Republic arrived on the Paseo, followed by a large staff, glistening -with gold and lace, and with a cloud of feathers waving in their cocked -hats. - -The Mexicans, much resembling in this respect another nation we are -acquainted with, adore feathers, aiguillettes, and, before all, -embroidered uniforms. Hence the President was warmly greeted by the -enthusiastic crowd, and his arrival was converted into an ovation. -General Guerrero had joined the President's staff in his full dress -uniform, as Colonel Lupo and other conspirators had also done; the -rest, dispersed among the crowd, and well armed under their cloaks, -were giving drink to the already half-intoxicated leperos, and secretly -exciting them to begin an insurrection. - -In the meanwhile the review went on without any hitch. It is true that -the President restricted himself to riding along the front, and then -ordering the troops to march past, for he did not dare, owing to the -notorious ignorance of the officers and soldiers, risk the execution of -any manoeuvre, for it would not have been understood, and would have -broken the charm under which the spectators were fascinated. Then the -President, still followed by his staff, proceeded to the cathedral. -We will not say anything about the official receptions, etc., which -occupied all the morning. - -The hour for the bullfight arrived. Since the review no one troubled -himself about the troops, who seemed to have suddenly disappeared--not -a soldier was visible in the streets; but the people did not think of -them, for they were letting off fireworks, laughing and shouting, which -was quite sufficient to amuse them. It was only noticed that these -soldiers, though invisible about the city, had apparently passed the -word to each other to be present at the bullfight. Nearly the whole of -the _palcos de sol_ in the circus, that is to say, the parts exposed -to the sun, were thronged with soldiers, grouped pell-mell with the -leperos, and offering the most pleasant contrast with these ragged -scamps, who were yelling and whistling. - -The President arrived, and the circus was, in a second, invaded by -the mob. Since an early hour the Jamaica had begun, that is to say, -the framework of verdure raised in the centre of the arena, forming -refreshment rooms, had, since daybreak, been filled with a countless -number of leperos, who ate and drank with cries of ferocious delight. - -Suddenly, at a given signal, the gate of the torril was opened, and a -bull, _embolado_, rushed into the arena. Then began an extraordinary -indescribable scene, resembling one of those diabolical meetings so -admirably designed by Callot. - -The leperos, surprised by the arrival of the bull, darted, shouting, -pushing, and upsetting each other, over the framework, which they threw -down and trampled underfoot in their terror, while seeking to escape the -pursuit of the _embolado_, who, also excited by the tumult, hunted them -vigorously. In a second the arena was deserted, the refreshment rooms -swept clean, and the performers in the Jamaica sought any shelter they -could find on the edge of the palcos or upon the columns, from which -they hung in hideous yelling and grimacing clusters. - -A few leperos, however, bolder than the rest, had darted to the Monte -Parnasso, not only to find a shelter there, but also to tear away all -the coloured handkerchiefs fastened to the branches. In a twinkling the -thick foliage was hidden by the crowd of leperos who invaded it. - -The bull, after amusing itself for some minutes in tossing about the -remains of the framework, stopped and looked cunningly around, and -soon noticed the tree, the only obstacle left to remove, in order to -completely empty the arena. - -It remained motionless for an instant, as if hesitating ere it formed -a resolution; then it bowed its head, made the sand fly with its -fore-feet, lashed its tail violently, and, rushing at the tree, dealt it -repeated and powerful blows. - -The leperos uttered a cry of despair. The tree, which was overladen, -and incessantly sapped at its base by the bull, swayed, and at last -fell sideways, carrying down in its fall the leperos clinging to the -branches. The audience clapped their hands and broke into frenzied -bravos, which changed into perfect yells of delight when a poor fellow, -who was limping away, was suddenly caught up by the bull, and tossed ten -feet high in the air. - -All at once, and at the moment when the joy was attaining its paroxysm, -several rounds of artillery were heard, followed by a well-sustained -musketry fire. As if by magic the bull was driven back to the torril; -the soldiers scattered about the circus leapt into the ring, and -becoming actors instead of spectators, drew up in good order, and -levelled their muskets at the occupiers of the galleries and boxes, who -remained motionless with terror, for they did not understand what was -going on. - -A door opened, and twenty bandsmen, followed by eight officers, and -escorted by a dozen soldiers, entered the ring, and began beating the -drums. It was a governmental _bando_. So soon as silence was restored -martial law was proclaimed, and sentence of outlawry passed on General -Don Sebastian Guerrero and his adherents, who had just raised the -standard of revolt, and pronounced against the established government. - -The crowd listened to the bando in a stupor which was heightened by the -fact that with each moment the firing became sharper, and the artillery -discharges shook the air at more rapid intervals. - -Mexico was once again the prey of one of those scenes of murder and -carnage which, since the Proclamation of Independence, has too often -stained her streets and squares with blood. - -The President was on horseback in the centre of the arena, sending off -orders, listening to messages, or detaching reinforcements wherever they -were wanted. The circus was converted into the headquarters of the army -of order, and the spectators, although allowed to depart after some -arrests had been effected among them, remained trembling in their seats, -preferring not to venture into the streets, which had been converted -into real battlefields. - -Still the pronunciamiento was assuming formidable proportions. General -Guerrero had not played for so heavy a stake without trying to secure to -his side all probable chances of success; and that success would most -ably have crowned his efforts, had he not been betrayed. For, in spite -of all the precautions taken by the government, the affair had been -begun so warmly and resolutely that, after the contest had continued for -three hours, it was impossible to say on which side the advantage would -remain. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO. - - -In any revolution, the insurgents have always an immense advantage over -the government they are attacking, from the fact that, as they hold -together, know their numbers, and act in accordance with a long worked -out plan, they are not only cognizant of what they want, but also, -whither they are proceeding. The government, on the other hand, however -well informed it may be, and however well on its guard, is obliged -to remain for a considerable length of time in an attitude of armed -expectation, without knowing whence the danger that menaces it will -come, or the strength of the rebellion it will have to combat. - -On the other hand, again, as the secret of the discovery of the plot -remains with a small band of confidential agents of the authorities, -the latter do not know at first whom to trust, or whom to reckon on. -They suspect everybody, even the very troops defending them, whom they -fear to see turning against them at any moment, and overthrowing them. -This is more especially the case in Mexico and all the old Spanish -colonies, where the governmental system is essentially military, and is -consequently only based on naturally unintelligent and venal troops, who -are utterly deficient of patriotic feelings, and whom interest alone, -that is to say, pay or promotion, can keep to their duty. - -The history of all the revolutions which, during the last fifty years, -have caused torrents of blood to flow in the New World, is entirely -contained in the last passage we have written. - -The President of the Republic had been informed of the designs of the -general, as far as that was possible; he had known for more than a month -that a vast plot was being formed; he even was aware of the probable day -fixed for the pronunciamiento, but he did not know a syllable about the -plans arranged by Don Sebastian and his adherents. As the plot was to -burst out in Mexico, the President had filled the capital with troops; -and called in those on whose fidelity he thought he could reckon with -the greatest certainty. - -But his preparations were necessarily restricted to this, and he had -been constrained to wait till the revolution commenced. - -It burst forth with the suddenness of a peal of thunder at twenty places -simultaneously, at about the second hour of the tarde. The President, -who was at once informed, and who had only come to the circus in order -not to be invested in the government palace, instantly took the measures -he thought most efficacious. - -The news, however, rapidly arrived, and became worse and worse, and the -insurrection was assuming frightful proportions. The revolters at first -tried to install themselves on the Plaza Major in order to seize the -government palace, but being repulsed with loss, after a very serious -contest, they ambuscaded themselves in Tacuba, Secunda Monterilla, and -San Agustin streets, erected barricades, and exchanged a sharp fire with -the faithful troops. - -The cannon roared in the square, and the balls made large gaps in the -ranks of the insurgents, who replied with yells of rage and increased -firing. - -Colonel Lupo had taken possession of two city gates, which he burned -down, and through which fresh reinforcements reached the insurgents, who -now proclaimed themselves masters of one-third of the city. The foreign -merchants, established in Mexico, had hoisted their national flags -over their houses, in which they remained shut up, and suffering great -anxiety. - -The President was still standing motionless in the centre of the circus, -frowning at each new message, or angrily striking the pommel of his -saddle with his clenched fist. - -All at once a man glided secretly between the horses' legs, and gently -touched the general's boot, who turned round quickly. - -"Ah!" he exclaimed, on recognizing him. "At last! Well, Curumilla?" - -But the Indian, without answering, thrust a folded paper into his hand, -and disappeared as rapidly as he had come. The general eagerly scanned -the letter, which only contained these words, written in French--"All is -going on well. Charge vigorously." - -The general's face grew brighter, he drew himself up haughtily, and -brandishing his sword with a martial air, shouted in a voice heard by -all, "Forward, Muchachos!" - -Then, digging his spurs into his horse's sides, he galloped out of -the circus, followed by the greater part of the troops, the remainder -receiving orders to hold their present position until further warning. - -"Now," said the President to the officers who pressed round him, "the -game is won; within an hour the insurrection will be conquered." - -In fact matters had greatly altered. This is what had occurred: - -Valentine, as we said, had taken a house in Tacuba Street, and another -in the vicinity of the San Lázaro gate. During the night that preceded -the pronunciamiento, four hundred resolute soldiers, commanded by -faithful officers, were introduced into the house in Tacuba Street, -where they remained so well hidden that no one suspected their presence. -A similar number of troops were stowed away in the house at the San -Lázaro gate. - -Don Martial, at the head of a large body of men, slipped into the small -house belonging to the capataz, and, being warned by the latter so -soon as the general had gone off to attend the review, he passed into -his mansion through the masked door we know, and occupied it without -striking a blow. - -The Tigrero straightway set a trap, in which several of the principal -chiefs of the insurgents were caught, believing that they would find -General Guerrero at home, and were at once made prisoners. - -These three points occupied, they waited. Colonel Lupo had attacked the -San Lázaro gate so vigorously and unexpectedly, that it was impossible -to prevent him burning it. A very obstinate fight at once began, and -the colonel, after a brave resistance, had been at length compelled to -retreat and fall back on the main body of the insurgents, who were still -masters, or nearly so, of the centre of the city. - -We have mentioned that in Mexico all the houses are flat roofed; hence, -in any revolution, the scenes in the street are repeated on the terraces -of the houses; for the tactics adopted in such cases are to line these -terraces with soldiers. Through a strange fatality the insurgents, while -seizing the principal streets, had forgotten, or rather neglected, to -occupy the houses, as they believed themselves masters of the situation. - -All at once the terraces in Tacuba Street, looking on the Plaza Mayor, -were covered with sharpshooters, who began a tremendous fire on the -insurgents collected beneath them. The same manoeuvre was simultaneously -executed in Monterilla and San Augustín Streets, and the terraces of the -palace were covered with troops also. - -The artillerymen, who had hitherto fired at long range, now brought up -their guns almost within pistol shot of the streets, and, in spite of -the musketry fire of the insurgents, bravely posted their batteries and -began hurtling showers of canister among the defenders of the barricades. - -Almost simultaneously, the troops faithful to the government appeared in -the rear of the rebels, and being supported by the sharpshooters on the -terraces, charged vigorously to the incessantly repeated cry of "Méjico, -Méjico, Independencia!" - -The insurgents felt they were lost, for they were caught between three -fires; still they offered a courageous resistance, for, knowing that -if they fell alive into the hands of the conqueror, they would be -mercilessly shot, they allowed themselves to be killed with Indian -stoicism, and did not yield an inch of ground. - -The general was in a terrible rage; without a hat, his face blackened -with gunpowder, and his uniform torn in several places, he leapt his -horse over the corpses, and dashed blindly into the thick of the -government troops, followed by a small band of friends, who bravely let -themselves be killed at his side. - -The fight was positively degenerating into a massacre; the two parties, -as unhappily always happens in civil wars, fought with the greater fury -and obstinacy because brothers were contending against brothers, and -many of them, for whom politics were only a pretext, took advantage of -the medley to satiate personal hatred and avenge old insults. - -However, this could not go on for long thus, and it was necessary to get -out of the situation at all risks. General Guerrero, unaware of the -occupation of his house, resolved to fight his way thither, barricade -himself, and obtain an honourable capitulation for himself and his -comrades. - -No sooner was the plan conceived than the execution was attempted. Don -Sebastian collected round him all the fighting men left, and formed -them into a small band--for the canister and bullets had made frightful -ravages in the ranks of the insurgents--and placed himself at their head. - -"Forward, forward!" he shouted as he rushed at the enemy. - -His men followed him with yells of fury. The collision was terrible, the -fight fearful; for four or five minutes a funereal silence brooded over -this confused mass of combatants, who attacked each so savagely. They -stabbed each other mercilessly, disdaining to use their firearms, and -preferring, as a speedier resource, the sharp points of their sabres and -bayonets. - -At length the President's troops fell back slightly, the insurgents -took advantage of it to redouble their efforts, which were already -superhuman, and reached the general's house. The doors were broken open -in an instant, and all rushed pell-mell into the courtyard. They were -saved! since they had at last reached the shelter where they hoped to -defend themselves. - -At this moment a frightful thing happened; the gallery commanding the -courtyard and the stairs was entirely occupied by soldiers, and so soon -as the insurgents appeared, the muskets were pointed down at them, -a tornado of fire passed over them like the blast of death, and in a -second a mass of corpses covered the ground. - -The insurgents, terrified by this sudden attack, which they were so far -from anticipating, hurriedly fell back, instinctively seeking an outlet -by which to escape. The tumult then became terrible, and the massacre -assumed the proportions of an organized butchery. Driven back into the -courtyard by the troops who pursued them, and met there by those who -had attacked them and now charged at the bayonet point, these wretched -men, rendered senseless by terror, did not dream any longer of employing -their weapons, but falling on their knees before their executioners, and -clasping their trembling hands, they implored the mercy of the troops, -who, intoxicated by the smell of blood, and affected by that horrible -murder fever which seizes upon even the coolest man on the battle field, -felled them, like oxen in the shambles, and plunged their sabres and -bayonets into their bodies with grins of delight and ferocious laughter, -and felt a horrible pleasure in seeing their victims writhe with -heartbreaking cries in the last convulsions of death. - -General Don Sebastian, though wounded, and who seemed to have been -protected by a charm throughout this scene of carnage, defended himself -like a lion against several soldiers, who tried in vain to transfix him -with their bayonets. Leaning against a column he whirled his sabre -round his head, evidently seeking death, but wishful to sell his life as -dearly as possible. - -Suddenly Valentine cleft his way through the combatants, followed by -Belhumeur, Black Elk, and Curumilla, who were engaged in warding off the -blows the soldiers incessantly made at him, and reached the general. - -"Ah!" the latter said on perceiving him, "here you are at last, then." - -And he dealt him a terrible blow, but Belhumeur parried it, and -Valentine continued to advance. - -"Withdraw," he said to the soldiers who surrounded the general, "this -man belongs to me." - -The soldiers, though they did not know the hunter, intimidated by the -accent with which he uttered these words, and recognizing in him one of -those rare men who can always impose on common natures, respectfully -fell back without making the slightest objection. - -The hunter threw his purse to them. - -"You dare to defy the lion at bay," the general shouted, gnashing his -teeth; "although attacked by dogs, he can still avenge his death." - -"You will not die," the hunter said coldly; "throw away that sabre, -which is now useless." - -"Ah, ah!" Don Sebastian said with a grin of rage; "I am not to die; and -why not, pray?" - -"Because," he answered, in a cutting voice, "death would be a mercy to -you, and you must be punished." - -"Oh!" he shrieked, and, blinded by rage, he rushed madly at the hunter. - -The latter, without falling back a step, contented himself with giving a -signal. At the same moment a slipknot fell on the general's shoulders, -and he rolled on the ground with a yell of rage. Curumilla had lassoed -him. - -In vain did Don Sebastian attempt further resistance; after useless -efforts he was reduced to utter impotence, and forced, not only to -confess he had been vanquished, but to yield himself to the mercy of his -conquerors. The latter, at a sign from Valentine, disarmed him first, -and then bound him, so that he could not make the slightest movement. - -The massacre was ended, the insurrection had been drowned in blood. The -few rebels who survived the carnage were prisoners; the victors, in the -first moment of enthusiasm, had shot several, and it required the most -energetic interference on the part of the officers to check this rather -too summary justice. - -At this moment joyous shouts burst forth, and the President of the -Republic entered the courtyard at the head of a large staff, glistening -with embroidery. - -"Ah, ah!" he said, as he took a contemptuous glance at the general, who -had been thrown on the stones, "so this is the man who wished to change -the institutions of his country?" - -Don Sebastian did not deign to reply; but he looked at the speaker with -such an expression of implacable hatred, that the President could not -endure it, and was forced to turn his head away. - -"Did this man surrender?" he asked one of his officers. - -"No, coward," the general answered, with clenched teeth, "I will not -surrender to hangmen." - -"Take this man to prison with the others," the President continued, "an -example must be made; but take care that they are not insulted by the -people." - -"Yes," the general muttered, "ever the same system." - -"A fall and entire pardon," the President continued, "will be granted to -the unhappy men who were led astray, and have recognized their crime. -The lesson they have received was rather rough, and I am convinced that -it will do them good." - -"Clemency after the massacre, that is the usual way," the general said -again. - -The President passed without answering him, and left the courtyard. A -few minutes later the prisoners were led away to prison, in spite of the -efforts of the exasperated populace to massacre them on the road. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero was one of the first to appear before the -tribunal. He disdained any defence, and during the whole trial preserved -a gloomy silence; he was unceremoniously condemned to be shot, his -estates confiscated, and his name was declared infamous. - -So soon as the sentence was recorded, the general was placed in the -chapel, where he was to remain three days before execution. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -THE CAPILLA. - - -The Spanish custom--a custom which has been kept up in all the old -colonies of that power--of placing persons condemned to death in a -chapel, requires explanation, in order that it may be thoroughly -understood and appreciated, as it deserves to be. - -Frenchmen, over whom the great revolution of '93 passed like a -hurricane, and carried off most of their belief in its sanguinary cloak, -may smile with pity and regard as a fanatic remainder from another -age, this custom of placing the condemned in chapel. Among us, it is -true, matters are managed much more simply: a man, when condemned by -the law, eats, drinks, and remains alone in his cell. If he desire it, -he is visited by the chaplain, whom he is at liberty to converse with, -if he likes; if not, he remains perfectly quiet, and nobody pays any -attention to him, during a period more or less long, and determined by -the rejection of his appeal. Then, one fine morning, when he is least -thinking of it, the governor of the prison announces to him, when he -wakes, as the most simple thing in the world, that he is to be executed -that same day, and only an hour is granted him to recommend his soul -to the divine clemency. The fatal toilet is made by the executioner and -his assistant, the condemned man is placed in a close carriage, conveyed -to the place of execution, and in a twinkling launched into eternity, -before he has had a moment to look round him. - -Is it right or wrong to act in this way? We dare not answer, yes or no. -This question is too difficult to decide, and would lead us the further, -because we should begin with asking society by what right it arrogates -to itself the power of killing one of its members, and thus committing a -cold-blooded assassination, under the pretext of doing justice; for we -confess that we have ever been among the most determined adversaries of -punishment by death, as we are persuaded that, in trying to deal a heavy -blow, human justice deceives itself, and goes beyond the object, because -it avenges when it ought merely to punish. - -We will, therefore, repeat here what we said in a previous work, in -explanation of what the Spaniards mean by the phrase "placing in chapel." - -When a man is condemned to death, from that moment he is, _de facto_, -cut off from that society to which he no longer belongs, through the -sentence passed on him; he is consequently separated from his fellow men. - -He is shut up in a room, at one end of which is an altar; the walls are -hung with black drapery, studded with silver tears, and here and there -mourning inscriptions, drawn from Holy Writ. Near his bed is placed the -coffin in which his body is to be deposited after execution, while two -priests, who relieve each other, but of whom one constantly remains in -the room, say mass in turn, and exhort the criminal to repent Of his -crimes, and implore divine clemency. This custom, which, if carried to -an extreme, would appear in our country before all, barbarous and cruel, -perfectly agrees with Spanish manners, and the thoroughly believing -spirit of this impressionable nation; it is intended to draw the culprit -back to pious thought, and rarely fails to produce the desired effect -upon him. - -The general was, therefore, placed in capilla, and two monks belonging -to the order of St. Francis, the most respected, and, in fact, -respectable in Mexico, entered it with him. - -The first hours he passed there were terrible; this proud mind, this -powerful organization, revolted against adversity, and would not accept -defeat. Gloomy and silent, with frowning brows, and fists clenched on -his bosom, the general sought shelter like a wild beast in a corner of -the room, recalling his whole life, and seeing with starts of terror the -bloody victims scattered along his path, and sacrificed in turn to his -devouring ambition, sadly defile before him. - -Then he reverted to his early years. When residing at the Palmar, his -magnificent family hacienda, his life passed away calm, pure, gentle, -and tranquil, without regrets, and without desires, among his faithful -servants. Then, he was so glad to be nothing, and to wish to be nothing. - -By degrees his thoughts followed the bias of his recollections: the -present was effaced; his contracted features grew softer, and two -burning tears, the first, perhaps, this man of iron had ever shed, -slowly coursed down his cheeks, which grief had hollowed. - -The monks, calm and contemplative, had eagerly followed the successive -changes on this eminently expressive face. They comprehended that their -mission of consolation was beginning, and approached the general softly, -and wept with him; then this man, whom nothing had been able to subdue, -felt his soul torn asunder; the cloud that covered his eyes melted away -like the winter snow before the first sunbeam, and he fell into the arms -open to receive him, exclaiming, with an expression of desperate grief -impossible to render-- - -"Have mercy, heaven! have mercy!" - -The struggle had been short but terrible; faith had conquered doubt, and -humanity had regained its rights. - -The general then had with the monks a conversation, protracted far into -the night, in which he confessed all his crimes and sins, and humbly -asked pardon of God whom he had outraged, and before whom he was about -to appear. - -The next day, a little after, sunrise, one of the monks, who had been -absent about an hour, returned, bringing with him the general's -capataz. It had only been with extreme reluctance that Carnero had -consented to come, for he justly dreaded his old master's reproaches. - -Hence his surprise was extreme at being received with a smile, and -kindly, and on finding that the general did not make the slightest -allusion to his treachery, which the evidence before the court-martial -had fully revealed. - -Carnero looked inquiringly at the two monks, for he did not dare put -faith in his master's words, and each moment expected to hear him burst -out into reproaches. But nothing of the sort took place; the general -continued the conversation as he had begun it, speaking to him gently -and kindly. - -At the moment when the capataz was about to withdraw, the general -stopped him. - -"One moment," he said to him; "you know Don Valentine, the French -hunter, for whom I so long cherished an insensate hatred?" - -"Yes," Carnero stammered. - -"Be kind enough to ask him to grant me the favour of a short visit; he -is a noble-hearted man, and I am convinced that he will not refuse to -come. I should be glad if he consented to bring with him Don Martial, -the Tigrero, who has so much cause to complain of me, as well as my -niece, Doña Anita de Torrés. Will you undertake this commission, the -last I shall doubtless give you?" - -"Yes, general," the capataz answered, affected in spite of himself by -such gentleness. - -"Now go; be happy and pray for me, for we shall never meet again." - -The capataz went out in a very different frame of mind from that in -which he had entered the capilla, and hastened off to Valentine. The -hunter was not at home, for he had gone to the presidential palace, but -he returned almost immediately. The capataz gave the message which his -old master had entrusted him with for him. - -"I will go," the hunter said simply, and he dismissed him. - -Curumilla was at once sent off to Mr. Rallier's quinta with a letter, -and during his absence Valentine had a long conversation with Belhumeur -and Black Elk. At about five in the evening, a carriage entered the -courtyard of Valentine's house at a gallop; it contained Mr. Rallier, -Anita, and Don Martial. - -"Thanks!" he said, on seeing them. - -"You ordered me to come, so I obeyed as usual," the Tigrero answered. - -"You were right, my friend." - -"And now what do you want of us?" - -"That you should accompany me to the place whither I am going at this -moment." - -"Would it be indiscreet to ask you----" - -"Where?" the hunter interrupted him with a laugh. - -"Not at all; I am going to lead you, Doña Anita, and the persons here -present, to the capilla in which General Guerrero is confined." - -"The capilla?" the Tigrero exclaimed in amazement, "for what purpose?" - -"What does that concern you? The general has requested to see you, and -you cannot refuse the request of a man who has but a few hours left to -live." - -The Tigrero hung his head without answering. - -"Oh! I will go!" Doña Anita exclaimed impulsively, as she wiped away the -tears that ran down her cheeks. - -"You are a woman, señorita, and therefore good and indulgent," the -hunter said; then turning to the Tigrero, he said, with a slight accent -of reproach, "you have not yet answered me, Don Martial." - -"Since you insist, Don Valentine, I will go," he at length answered, -with an effort. - -"I do not insist, my friend; I only ask, that is all." - -"Come, Martial, I implore you," Doña Anita said to him gently. - -"Your will be done in this as in all other things," he said. "I am ready -to follow you, Don Valentine." - -Valentine, Doña Anita, Mr. Rallier, and Don Martial got into the -carriage. The two Canadians and the chief followed them on horseback, -and they proceeded at a gallop to the chapel where the condemned man was -confined. - -All along the road they found marks of the obstinate struggle which had -deluged the city with blood a few days previously; the barricades had -not been entirely removed, and though the distance was, in reality, -very short, they did not reach the prison till nightfall, owing to the -detours they were forced to make. - -Valentine begged his friends to remain outside, and only entered with -Doña Anita and the Tigrero. The general was impatiently expecting them, -and testified a great joy on perceiving them. - -The young lady could not restrain her emotion, and threw herself into -her uncle's arms with an outburst of passionate grief. The general -pressed her tenderly to his bosom, and kissed her on the forehead. - -"I am the more affected by these marks of affection, my child," he said -with much emotion, "because I have been very harsh to you. Can you ever -forgive me the sufferings I have caused you?" - -"Oh, uncle, speak not so. Are you not, alas! the only relation I have -remaining?" - -"For a very short time," he said with a sad smile, "that is the reason -why I ought, without further delay, to provide for your future." - -"Do not talk about that at such a moment, uncle," she continued, -bursting into tears. - -"On the contrary, my child, it is at this moment when I am going to -leave you, that I am bound to insure you a protector. Don Martial, I -have done you great wrong; here is my hand, accept it as that of a man -who has completely recognized his faults, and sincerely repents the evil -he has done." - -The Tigrero, more affected than he liked to display, took a step -forward, and cordially pressed the hand offered him. - -"General," he said, in a voice which he tried in vain to render firm, -"this moment, which I never dared hope to see, fills me with joy, but at -the same time with grief." - -"Well, you can do something for me by proving to me that you have really -forgiven me." - -"Speak, general, and if it is in my power----," he exclaimed warmly. - -"I believe so," Don Sebastian answered, with his sad smile. "Consent to -accept my niece from my hand, and marry her at once in this chapel." - -"Oh, general!" he began, choking with emotion. - -"Uncle, at this awful moment!" the young lady murmured, timidly. - -"Allow me the supreme consolation of dying under the knowledge that -you are happy. Don Valentine, you have doubtless brought some of your -friends with you?" - -"They are awaiting your commands, general," the hunter answered. - -"Let them come in, in that case, for time presses." - -One of the monks had prepared everything beforehand. - -When the hunters and the French banker entered, followed by Curumilla, -and the officer commanding the capilla guard, who had been warned -beforehand, the general walked eagerly toward them. - -"Señores," he said, "I would ask you to do me the honour of witnessing -the marriage of my niece, Doña Anita de Torrés, with this caballero." - -The newcomers bowed respectfully. At a signal from one of the -Franciscans they knelt down and the ceremony began. It lasted hardly -twenty minutes, but never had a marriage mass been read or listened to -with more pious fervour. When it was ended, the witnesses wished to -retire. - -"One moment, señores, if you please," the general said to them. "I now -wish to make you witnesses of a great reparation." - -They stopped, and the general walked up to Valentine. - -"Caballero," he said to him, "I know all the motives of hatred you -have against me, and those motives I allow to be just. I am now in the -same position in which I placed Count de Prébois Crancé, your dearest -friend. Like him, I shall be shot tomorrow at daybreak; but with this -difference, that he fell as a martyr to a holy cause, and innocent of -the crimes of which I accused him, while I am guilty, and have deserved -the sentence passed on me. Don Valentine, I repent from the bottom of -my heart the iniquitous murder of your friend. Don Valentine, do you -forgive me?" - -"General Don Sebastian Guerrero, I forgive you the murder of my friend," -the hunter answered, in a firm voice. "I forgive you the life of grief -to which I am henceforth condemned by you." - -"You pardon me unreservedly?" - -"Unreservedly I do." - -"Thanks! We were made to love instead of hate each other. I -misunderstood you; but yours is a great and noble heart. Now, let death -come, and I shall accept it gladly; for I feel convinced that God will -have pity on me on account of my sincere repentance. Be happy, niece, -with the husband of your choice. Señores, all, accept my thanks. Don -Valentine, once more I thank you; and now leave me all, for I no longer -belong to the world, so let me think of my salvation." - -"But one word," Valentine said. "General, I have forgiven you, and it is -now my turn to ask your pardon. I have deceived you." - -"Deceived me!" - -"Yes: take this paper. The President of the Republic, employing his -sovereign right of mercy, has, on my pressing entreaty, revoked the -sentence passed on you. You are free." - -His hearers burst into a cry of admiration. - -The general turned pale; he tottered, and for a moment it was fancied -that he was about to fall. A cold perspiration stood on his temples. -Doña Anita sprang forward to support him, but he repulsed her gently, -and, with a great effort, exclaimed, in a choking voice-- - -"Don Valentine, Don Valentine, such then is your revenge. Oh! blind, -blind that I was to form such an erroneous opinion of you! You condemn -me to live. Well, be it so; I accept, and will not deceive your -expectations. Fathers," he said, turning to the monks, "lead me to your -monastery. General Guerrero is dead, and henceforth I shall be a monk of -your order." - -Don Sebastian's conversion was sincere. Grace had touched him, and he -persevered. Two months after professing, he died in the Franciscan -Monastery, crushed by remorse and worn out by the cruel penance he -inflicted on himself. - -Two days after the scene we have described, Valentine and his companions -left Mexico, and returned to Sonora. On reaching the frontier, the -hunter, in spite of the pressing entreaties of his friends, separated -from them, and returned to the desert. - -Don Martial and Doña Anita settled in Mexico, near the Ralliers. A month -after Valentine's departure, Doña Helena returned to the convent, and -at the end of a year, in spite of the entreaties of her family, who -were surprised at so strange a resolution, which nothing apparently -explained, the young lady took the vows. - -When I met Valentine Guillois on the banks of the Rio Joaquin, some -time after the events recorded in this long story, he was going with -Curumilla to attempt a hazardous expedition across the Rocky Mountains, -from which, he said to me, with that soft melancholy smile which he -generally assumed when speaking to me, he _hoped_ never to return. - - * * * * * - -I accompanied him for several days, and then we were compelled to -separate. He pressed my hand, and, followed by his dumb friend, he -entered the mountains. For a long time I looked after him, for I -involuntarily felt my heart contracted by a sad foreboding. He turned -round for the last time, waved his hand in farewell, and disappeared -round a bend of the track. - -I was fated never to see him again. - -Since then nothing has been heard of him, or of Curumilla. All my -endeavours to join them, or even obtain news of them, was vain. - -Are they still living?--no one can say. Darkness has settled down over -these two magnificent men, and time itself will, in all probability, -never remove the veil that conceals their fate; for all, unhappily, -leads me to suppose that they perished in that gloomy expedition from -which Valentine _hoped_, alas! never to return. - - - -END OF RED TRACK. - - - - -A BUFFALO HUNT[1] - -A STUDY OF THE AMERICAN WILD BULL. - - -Certain reasons, unnecessary to state here, had somewhat accidentally -led me to a Sonorian hacienda, called the Hacienda del Milagro, situated -a few leagues from Hermosillo, close to the Indian border, and belonging -to Don Rafael Garillas de Saavedra, one of the richest landowners in the -province. - -Don Rafael had spent what is called in Europe a wild life, and for many -years had traversed the deserts of Apacheria in company of a Canadian -adventurer of the name of Belhumeur. Although enormously rich, married -to a woman he adored, and surrounded by a delightful family, Don Rafael -had now and then moments of gloom, in which he regretted the time when, -unhappy and disinherited, he wandered, under the name of Loyal-heart, -from Arkansas to Apacheria, leading the precarious existence of wood -rangers, living from hand to mouth, forgetful of a past which only -summoned up bitter griefs, and careless about a future which he believed -would never realize the dreams of his poetical imagination. - -Like all men who have suffered and passed through a hard apprenticeship -of life, Don Rafael was kind and indulgent to others, and ever ready to -excuse a fault when it only emanated from a forgetfulness of propriety -or an error of judgment. - -Two days after my arrival at the Hacienda del Milagro, thanks to the -cordial reception given me, I was regarded as forming part of the -family, and was as much at my ease as if I had lived for years with -these new friends, who soon grew so old in my heart, and whose memory -will be ever dear to me. - -One evening a new guest arrived at the hacienda, where he was literally -received with open arms, which greatly surprised me; for I knew the -prejudices of Spaniards against Indians, and the newcomer was simply a -redskin. It is true that this redskin was the first sachem of a powerful -Comanche tribe, which was explained to me in two words by Belhumeur, the -Canadian hunter, with whom I had struck up a great friendship from my -first arrival at the hacienda. - -This sachem was called Eagle-head. He came, in the name of his tribe, to -invite Don Rafael, whom he obstinately called Loyal-heart, to a great -buffalo hunt which was to come off in Apacheria toward the middle of the -"Moon of the wild oats," that is to say, about September 15th. - -Don Rafael was greatly inclined to accept this invitation, but a -sorrowful look, which his wife gave him aside, made him understand how -anxious his absence would make her. He therefore expressed his inability -to be present at this hunt, which he would have so much liked to be, -but very important business compelled him to remain at the hacienda. -He added, however, that his friend Belhumeur would be happy to take -his place, in order to prove to Eagle-head the value he set on his -invitation and his lively desire to show him all the deference which so -great a chief as he merited. - -After a few words whispered in his ear, Belhumeur introduced me to the -Indian chief, to whom he mentioned that, as I had never witnessed a -buffalo hunt, I should be delighted with his permission to attend the -present one. The chief politely replied that Belhumeur was an adopted -son of the tribe, and that any persons he thought proper to bring -with him would be received not only with great pleasure, but with the -greatest kindness, according to the consecrated customs of Indian -hospitality. - -I warmly thanked, as I was bound to do, the chief, who was flattered to -hear me express myself with some degree of elegance in his own language; -and we agreed to meet at the winter village of the Comanches of the -Lakes, on the fifth sun of the Moon of the wild oats. - -Eagle-head took leave of us the same evening, in spite of all our -efforts to keep him at least till the next morning. He started in the -direction of the desert with the light and gymnastic step peculiar to -the redskins, which a trotting horse could not keep up with, and which -enables them to cover an enormous distance in a relatively very short -period. - -Two days later, Belhumeur, myself, and another Canadian hunter attached -to the hacienda, by the name of Black Elk, mounted on excellent -mustangs, and armed to the teeth, took leave of Don Rafael, who saw us -depart with a sigh of regret, and we proceeded in the direction of the -great western prairies. - -Belhumeur was a first-rate companion, of tried bravery; a thorough -adventurer, gay, daring, and reckless, whose life had been almost -entirely spent in the desert, and whom his attachment for Don Rafael had -alone determined to give up the free and independent life of a hunter to -confine himself, as he said with a smile, within stone walls, where he -ofttimes felt that fresh air was wanting for his lungs. - -Belhumeur was a book of which I turned over the leaves of at my -pleasure, and each page was full of attractions for me, and offered me -agreeable surprises. - -Although I had myself long lived in the desert, I had as yet only -traversed countries where buffalo is never met; hence I was extremely -anxious to obtain some positive information about this interesting -animal, so useful to the Indians, who profess for it a respect almost -approaching to veneration. In this way I hoped not to be quite a novice -when I joined the redskins, and would know not only in what way to -attack the new enemy I was about to confront, but also how to behave, so -as not to appear an utter ignoramus in the sight of the Indians. - -One evening, while seated at our watch fire after supper, smoking my -Indian pipe charged with _morrichée_, or prairie tobacco, I asked -Belhumeur, whose good nature was inexhaustible, to give me the most -circumstantial information about the buffalo, which he at once did with -his usual goodwill. - -This is what I learned in substance. I will ask my reader's pardon for -substituting my recollections for the Canadian's prolix narration, -for what they may lose in simplicity of expression they will gain -in brevity, which is not a thing to be so much despised as might be -supposed at the first blush. - -I am bound to state that all Belhumeur then told me about the manners -and habits of these singular animals was most rigorously exact, as I -was in a position to convince myself at a later date. This, then, was -Belhumeur's account. - -The Indians say proverbially that bees are the advanced guard of the -palefaces, and the buffaloes the vedettes of the redskins. In fact, -although it is impossible to explain the reason, bees constantly seek -to advance into the desert, and when they appear at the border of -clearings, it is certain that two or three days later emigrants will -turn up, with rifles on their shoulders, and followed by a long file of -waggons, carts, horses, and cattle. These bold pioneers of civilisation -come, impelled by their adventurous instincts, to set up their tents in -the heart of the desert, on the shady banks of some unknown river, and -their unceasing activity soon changes the character of the landscape. - -In the same way when the traveller advances into the savannahs, so soon -as he sights the buffalo he may be certain that he has reached the -territory of the redskins. - -Now, it appears to us that everything relating to so interesting an -animal as the buffalo, which is fatally destined so soon to disappear, -unless care be taken, and which is so eminently useful, is worth -recording. - -Purchas in his "Pilgrimage" (London edition, 1614), says that in certain -respects the buffalo resembles the lion, and in others the camel, ox, -horse, sheep, and goat. Civilization in its continuous onward march -destroys the great animals, and drives back the redskin and even the -hunter, unless he consent to modify his fashion of living. - -The buffalo, which, on its discovery in 1582 by Lusman, in the province -of Sinaloa, extended its wanderings over nearly the whole of North -America, now restricts its excursions more and more, and is only met -with at present in the wildest deserts situated to the west of the Rocky -Mountains, which proves a considerable diminution in their numbers, and -this is probably augmented by the Indian custom of only killing cows and -leaving the bulls. - -The Americans, however, ought to interfere, for the buffalo is capable -of being tamed, and crossing it with the European ox would produce a -strong, patient, and courageous breed, whose services would be of -immense utility in the immense settlement of the new states. We saw at -a Texan hacienda completely tamed buffaloes, which, according to their -owners, were an excellent substitute for the common ox. - -The buffalo lives longer than the domestic ox: its proportions are -greater, and though its front is ungraceful, the hinder parts are -handsome. The buffalo is generally brown, though spotted ones are met -with, and even some completely white; its face is very like that of the -bull; its head covered with thick wool, the long beard hanging from its -lower jaw, and its melancholy, gentle, and almost stupid eye give it a -singular and almost strange appearance. Its horns are short, rounded, -and capable of taking a fine polish; it has between its shoulders a very -prominent hump, whilst its hinder parts are covered with short, straight -hair, like that of European ruminants; its short tail terminates in a -tuft of curly hair. The age of a buffalo is discovered by the rings on -its horns, the first four counting for the first year. - -The meat of the cows is considered more delicate than that of the bulls, -especially in the rutting season. The parts most appreciated are the -heart, the tongue, the liver, the short rib, and the part called the -hunter's joint, that is to say, the chine near the shoulder blade. Eight -bones are considered marrowbones, they are those of the legs and thighs. -A cow supplies about three hundred pounds of excellent meat, exclusive -of the head, and several other parts of the animal; the marrow of a -single bone is sufficient for a meal. The Indians, in order to obtain -it, throw the bone into the fire after removing the meat, let it grill -for a few minutes, take it out, break it, and remove the marrow, which -is eaten, without seasoning, by means of a sharp stick. This marrow is -very delicate and succulent, and when baked, it assumes the colour and -consistency of meat; some hunters prefer to eat it raw, but we did not -find it so good in that state. - -When a manada of buffaloes is hunted, especially if it be composed of -bulls, a strong smell of musk is exhaled; when full galloping, their -hoofs crack the grass, as if it was dried. They have an extraordinary -fine scent, and smell a man two or even three miles off. - -This animal is extremely difficult to kill. On a certain occasion we -lodged sixteen bullets in the body of a buffalo, ere we could succeed -in killing. Wishing to assure oneself of the truth of a fact, which -physicians and hunters had affirmed, namely, that the frontal bone -of a buffalo is bullet-proof, we discharged our rifle, at ten paces' -distance, at the head of a dead bull. The bullet did not penetrate, but -was caught in the hair, where we found it again; still it had struck -exactly in the centre of the forehead, for it had left its mark there -before rebounding. - -We have not very exactly followed Belhumeur's account, for, carried -away by our sympathy for the noble animal he described to us, we have -placed our ideas in the stead of his. We openly confess here that we are -among those who sincerely regret that the proposal made in 1849, by -Mr. Lamarre Picquot, to introduce into France the buffalo, as at once -suitable for draught and for consumption, was not seriously discussed -and taken into consideration, for this animal is one of the most useful, -and would, we feel convinced, render valuable services. - -Our journey lasted more than a month; for the winter village of the -Comanches of the Lakes is hidden in a canyon, in the middle of the first -spurs of the Rocky Mountains. Mounted on a vigorous mustang, I generally -rode at the head of our small party, which I liked to do, in order to be -more by myself, and observe more at my ease. - -One morning I saw, at a spot where the trail I followed was wide and -open, and some distance ahead of me, a large hawk, which appeared to -be suffering, and making efforts to fly away. When I drew near enough -I found that it was enfolded by a long whip snake, which had writhed -several times round its body, and the bird had only one wing at liberty. - -In all probability the hawk had been the aggressor, and had dashed down -at the snake, but the latter, by cleverly enfolding its enemy, had -succeeded in escaping the danger. - -The whip snake is a very handsome reptile, seven to eight feet in -length, when it has attained its full growth. Along the greater part of -its body it is no larger than an ordinary ramrod. Its very thin neck -gradually tapers away down to the stomach, whence it has obtained its -name. For about three or four inches the upper side of the head and -neck is black and lustrous as the plumage of a crow; while the upper -side of the body is chocolate coloured, excepting the tail, which, -nearly all the way from the stomach, is black. - -There, however, is no general rule, except for the head, neck, and tail, -which are always black. I have come across snakes of the same family in -which the other parts of the body varied. This reptile is very quick, -and seems to fly over the surface of the ground. The most remarkable -thing about it is, that it possesses the faculty of running, while -supporting itself solely on the lower part of the tail, and holding its -body and head erect. - -I cite this fact from personal knowledge, for I was one day followed by -a very handsome whip snake, which kept erect and looked me in the face -from time to time, although I had made my horse trot rather sharply, in -order to see at what speed this snake could advance in such an attitude. -It, however, only seemed to follow me through curiosity, for it is not -at all venomous, is of a gentle character, and it appears familiar with -man. I was surprised to find it in these parts, for I believed it to be -an inhabitant of Eastern Florida. - -Thirty-three days after our departure from the Hacienda del Milagro, we -came in sight of the Comanche village, and during the whole long journey -had not been exposed to the slightest danger, or stopped by any annoying -accident. - -We were expected, and were received by the chiefs, at the head of whom -was Eagle-head, not merely as friends, but as children of the tribe. A -spacious cabin was placed at our disposal, and provisions were brought -us from all sides. - -We had arrived just at the right moment; the grand festival of the -buffaloes was to be held that very night--a very curious ceremony, whose -object is to implore the blessing of the Wacondah before beginning the -hunt. - -In the centre of the village a large open space had been prepared, about -sixty yards long by forty-five wide, surrounded by an inclosure of reeds -and willow branches twelve feet high, and slightly bent inwards. An -entrance had been left, facing the east. The four fires which are always -kept up in the medicine lodge, were burning in each corner, and the most -distinguished chiefs, among whom we were counted, sat in a semicircle to -the right of the inclosure. - -Eagle-head, in his quality of first sachem of the tribe, held the head -of the file; he had, expressly for this occasion, painted his face blue, -yellow, and white, and wore on his head a fillet of some red skin. - -The spectators, more especially the squaws, were sitting against the -palings silent and contemplative. The men, some in full paint, others -simply dressed or naked to the waist, went about the interior of the -inclosure irregularly. Children ranged round the fires threw in from -time to time willow branches, to keep them burning. - -At the signal given by _Chichikoués_ for the feast to begin, six old men -emerged from a calli, and stood in a row in front of the medicine lodge. - -These men are chosen by the chiefs to represent buffaloes, and after the -ceremony large presents are made to them. Each of them held in his hand -a long staff, at the end of which four black feathers were fixed, and -along the staves, at equal distances, were fastened small tufts of young -buffalo skin and bells. - -These men-buffaloes carried their clubs in the left hand, and two of -them bore what the Comanches call a "badger," that is to say, a blown-up -skin, which is beaten like a drum. They stood at the entrance of the -medicine lodge, shaking their staves incessantly, and in turn singing -and imitating, with rare perfection, the lowing of buffaloes, which -lasted some considerable time. - -Behind them marched a tall man with a ferocious face, whose head was -covered with a fur cap, because once on a time he had been scalped in -a fight with the Apaches. This man was the director of the feast, and -represented the leader of the old buffaloes; his name was "Raised-scalp." - -After a rather long station before the door, the men-buffaloes at length -entered the medicine lodge, and sate down against the palings, behind -one of the fires. - -So soon as they were all seated, each of them planted his staff on -the ground in front of him. Several young warriors then came in with -dishes of boiled beans and maize powdered with pemmican, which they -placed before the guests. These dishes went the round, each passing -them to his neighbour after eating a little. At times empty dishes were -placed before us, a ceremony of which I did not at first understand -the purport, and one of the bearers, a man of colossal stature, very -muscular, and almost naked, whose hair fell in long tresses on his -loins, came to fetch one of these empty dishes. Then Eagle-head hid his -face in his hands and began singing, after which he muttered a long -speech or prayer, winding up by returning the dish. - -This speech contained wishes for the success of the buffalo hunt, and -the Wacondah was also invoked to render him favourable to the hunters -and warriors. The longest speeches were the best; the bearer seemed -particularly satisfied; he bowed with an attentive look, nodded his head -as a sign of his pleasure, passed his hand along the orator's right arm -from the shoulder to the wrist, and, before removing the dish, answered -with a few words of thanks. - -This repast was prolonged for more than an hour; on all sides people ate -and held speeches for the success of the chase; during this the young -men standing in the middle of the inclosure prepared the calumets, and -brought them ready lighted to the chief, the old men, and the strangers. - -They stopped before each of us, walking from right to left, and -presented the calumet, the bowl of which they held in their hand. Each -man took two or three whiffs, while murmuring a prayer, and then the -calumet passed on to the next. - -After this, our calumet bearers frequently turned to the four cardinal -points, muttering mysterious words, and indulging in strange gestures -and imitations. - -During this time the six old men-buffaloes did not once leave off -singing, shaking their medicine staves behind the fire, and beating the -"badger." At a certain, moment they rose, thrust forward the upper part -of their body, and began dancing, though still singing, and shaking -their wands, while the badger beat time. When this dance had lasted long -enough, they resumed their places in the same order as before. - -It is impossible for anyone, unless he has been present, to form an idea -of the original sight offered by this quaint scene. These men painted -of different hues, their varying dresses, their songs, their drums, -their cries, and the noises of every description which blended with -them, borne from the desert on the wing of the night breeze, beneath -the dark and lugubriously starlit vault of heaven, while the immense -canopy of verdure formed as it were a majestic temple for this singular -ceremony--all this did not fail to possess a certain wild grandeur. - -After the dances had continued for more than two hours, the strangest -part of the festival began with the entrance of the squaws into the -inclosure. One of them, who was very young and remarkably pretty, came -up to her husband, and gave him her waist belt and petticoat to hold, so -that she was perfectly naked under her gown. She advanced dancing to -one of the most renowned warriors, passed her hand all down his right -arm, and then retired slowly, with her smiling face turned towards him. -The warrior thus invited, at once rose, and disappeared with her in -the wood. There, a man may ransom himself by making a present; but we -must avow, to the honour of the Indian fair sex, that few men do so. My -companions, Black Elk and Belhumeur, who were invited, took very good -care not to buy themselves off, and, on the contrary, readily followed -their dancer; but, for my part, I peremptorily refused, and remained -deaf to all the looks, and nods, and wanton smiles which the dear -charmers thought themselves obliged to lavish on me as a stranger. - -I must confess, to my sorrow, however, that it was not from virtuous -motives that I acted thus; I was in love, and courting at the time an -exquisite girl called "Boar's Head," whom I married eventually, and -with whom I lived happily for the five years we had arranged that our -marriage was to last. At the end of that period I sold her for three -female buffalo skins to another chief of my tribe. - -This feast lasted for four consecutive nights, from one sun to the next; -the same ceremony was repeated on each occasion with the most scrupulous -exactness, though we noticed that the squaws never invited the same -warrior twice, with the exception of the two Canadian hunters. - -When the ceremonies were quite ended, and all the symbolical rites -of the great medicine rigorously performed, one morning at sunrise, -twenty-five youthful warriors, chosen by Eagle-head, left the village, -mounted on excellent hunters, and each leading a second horse by the -bridle. - -These warriors form a vanguard intended to discover buffalo sign, and -watch their movements, and for that reason are called "buffalo scouts." -The main body of hunters, consisting of about eighty warriors, among -whom were my comrades and myself, did not start till two days later. - -The Indians when on the hunting trail, and especially when they are -desirous to surprise buffalo, travel with extreme care. The scent of the -buffaloes is very subtle, especially when they are to windward; though, -curiously enough, they frequent the same pasture as the elks, they have -no communion with them; still they do not seem at all disturbed by each -other; or the buffaloes, whose sight is not very good form a sort of -partnership with the elks, whom they convert into their sentinels. They -are watchful sentinels too, and, at the first suspicious sign, give the -alarm; whereupon buffaloes and elks disappear in company, escorted by -the red prairie wolves, troublesome followers that prowl round them, and -whom they can never succeed in getting entirely rid of. - -Each night we encamped on a hill at no great distance from a stream. -The trees were felled round the bivouac to guard us from a surprise; -the campfires were lighted, and the greater part of the night was -spent in relating hunting narratives and merry stories recounted in -turn, and which excited the heartiest gaiety among the Redskins. For -we will remark, in parenthesis, that the Indians, who are generally -represented as serious, cold, and stoical, on the contrary, have a very -jovial character; a mere nothing makes them laugh, and they indulge to -their heart's content, like all simple and primitive minds. Still, for -all that, they must be together, or in the company of people they are -well acquainted with. In the presence of whites the difficulty they -experience in making themselves understood, and the respect--I might -almost say the instinctive terror--the formidable strangers inspire them -with, completely paralyzes their faculties, and makes them appear almost -idiotic. - -We marched thus with easy journeys, in order not to tire our horses, in -the direction of the Rocky Mountains, for some fifty or sixty leagues, -killing a few prairie dogs, elks, and two or three striped sousliks -(_Spermophilus Hoodii_). At times a covey of larks rose at our approach, -or crows and rooks appeared in large numbers and settled down close to -us. - -Eagle-head would not consent to a halt for the sake of killing a few -isolated buffaloes we perceived in the distance. We had still thirty -miles to go before getting up with our scouts, and finding ourselves in -the real hunting ground. - -On the eighth day after leaving the village we reached a creek which -meandered through a plain, on which the grass was extremely high, -called, as far as I can remember, by the Indians, Green River. A rather -tall hill, situated on its hank, concealed our presence, and sheltered -us from the wind. - -Eagle-head gave orders to camp. The horses were allowed to graze, and a -fire of _bois de vâche_ was lighted to roast a few ducks and two elks -that composed our breakfast. - -This stream, owing to the advanced season, was nearly dry, and filled -with tall, closely-growing weeds. After a two hours' halt we continued -our march, passing over gently sloping hills, and we found a few of some -height, behind which herds of buffalo are usually found. Before reaching -the top, our party traversed a small valley filled with a narrow strip -of beech trees, elms, and nyundos, between clumps of roses, _prunus -padres_, and a few other shrubs, while the wild tine (_clematis_) hung -in festoons about the trees. - -On reaching the top of the last mound we halted, and a singular scene, -which was not without some wild grandeur, was suddenly offered to our -sight. - -All the crests of the hills, as far as sight could extend, were crowned -by the scouts sent ahead, and who, motionless as statues of Florentine -bronze, stood out boldly in the blue sky. - -These scouts were not seated in the saddle, but standing on it, holding -in the left hand their buffalo robes, which they at times waved, and in -their right their clubs, which they employed to indicate certain points -of the horizon. At our feet, in an immense valley intersected by a large -river, whose numerous capacious windings resembled a silver thread, a -multitude of black spots spotted the tall grass. - -These points, which were almost imperceptible owing to the great -distance, were buffaloes: we had at last reached the hunting ground. But -the day was too far advanced for us to dream of following the animals, -and hence the chief gave the signal for camping. - -The night was calm, and was spent like the previous ones, in outbursts -of the frankest and heartiest gaiety, and at sunrise we were all up and -ready to begin the hunt. The scouts were still at their posts, and it -might fairly be supposed that during the whole night they had not ceased -to watch the game. - -Eagle-head got on the back of his horse, and fired a musket loaded only -with powder, in order to attract the attention of the scouts. Then a -singular scene took place, which offered me much to think about, and -proved to me once again that the Redskins are neither so savage nor -unintelligent as some writers are pleased to represent them. - -By the aid of the buffalo robe he held in his hand and waved in every -direction, the sachem began a series of complicated signals, which would -have turned the most expert of our telegraphers pale if called upon to -interpret, for they were transmitted with headlong speed, and instantly -comprehended by the sachem and the scouts. - -Eagle-head, according to the information he received, sent off every -moment parties of hunters, for the purpose, as I afterwards learned, of -completely surrounding the buffaloes, and driving them to the middle -of the valley. The hunters picked out started at once at full speed, -galloping in a beeline, according to the Indian fashion, leaping over -all obstacles, and never deviating from the direct course. - -Ere long only ten hunters, among whom my companions and myself were, -remained with the chief. He gave a final signal, which was immediately -repeated by all the sentries, got into his saddle, and uttered his -war yell. He then dashed at full speed down into the plain, with the -rapidity of an avalanche, and this manoeuvre was imitated by the -other hunters scattered over the adjacent heights. The hunt, or more -correctly, the butchery, had begun. - -The Comanches possess such skill in this horse-hunting, that, in spite -of the difficulty in killing a buffalo, they rarely fire more than -one round at it. Singularly enough, they do not raise the gun to the -shoulder, but stretch out both arms, and fire, in this far from usual -posture, when they are some fifteen or twenty yards from the animal. - -They load the gun with incredible speed, for they do not use the ramrod, -but let the bullets, of which they always keep a certain number in their -mouths, fall immediately on the powder, to which it adheres, and which -expels it again at the same moment. Owing to this great speed, the -prairie hunters, in a little while, make a frightful massacre in a herd -of buffaloes, and this time two-thirds of the manada were killed, and -the animals covered the battlefield in heaps. - -The buffaloes, enclosed in a circle whence they could not escape, -terrified by the yells of the hunters, who dashed at them from all -sides, brandishing their weapons, and waving their robes, fled in all -directions, at a pace greater than I could have imagined, judging from -their enormous bulk. - -Belhumeur and I had settled onto an old buffalo, who gave us plenty -of work. Several point-blank shots had not proved sufficient to check -his pace. He frequently stopped, threw the earth over his head with a -convulsive movement, after digging it up with his fore-feet, assumed a -menacing attitude, and even pursued us for some ten or fifteen yards. -But we easily got away, and the restless animal discontinued its mad -and purposeless chase so soon as we stopped resolutely before it. Its -strength was at length exhausted, but it did not succumb until we had -given it at least twenty bullets. - -This first success gave me a liking for the sport and the whole time -the hunt lasted I was one of the most eager in pursuit. At last, at the -expiration of three days, Eagle-head ordered the end of the massacre. -Obeying the chief's signal, the hunters forced open a large gap, through -which the decimated relics of the unhappy herd dashed, lowing with -terror. - -Two hundred and seventy buffaloes had been killed in three days, an -almost miraculous hunt, which secured the Comanches of the Lakes -abundance of provisions during the rainy season. The victims were -loaded on horses, and we gaily returned to the village, where the -hunters were received on their arrival with marks of the liveliest joy -and the extraordinary rejoicings usual on such occasions. - -One last remark may be allowed me. Everything is valuable in the -buffalo: the meat, the hide, the bones, the horns, and even the hair, -which is made into hats comparable in beauty and substance to the best -beaver. Why is not the buffalo, then, acclimatised in Europe? The -Society of Acclimatisation so recently created, and which has already -produced such excellent results, is keeping, we doubt not, a place for -the buffalo, which we hope soon to see occupied. - - -[1] Although this animal is really the bison, it is so commonly called -buffalo that I have adhered to that term. - - - - -A MUSTANG. - -A STUDY OF THE PRAIRIE HORSE. - - -The aborigines of America were not acquainted with the horse prior to -the arrival of the Spaniards in their country. The Inca Garcillasso de -la Vega, in his "History of the Civil War in India," tells us that the -Peruvians, terrified at the sight of the first horseman, supposed that -the man and the horse only formed one and the same individual. At a -later date they imagined that the horses were formidable and malignant -deities, whom they tried to conciliate by placing gold and silver in -their mangers, and offering up prayers to them. - -The Spanish Conquistadors, most of whom came from Andalusia, were -mounted on steeds in whose veins flowed the blood of the Arabs, which -the Moors had succeeded in naturalizing in Spain during an occupation of -eight centuries. - -When the conquerors obtained quiet possession of the New World, and -began those internecine contests which cost so much blood, after every -battle the wounded horses were usually left behind, while those whose -masters were killed, escaped in obedience to that innate instinct in all -living creatures, which urges them to try and regain their liberty. - -These animals thus left to themselves, wandering haphazard over the -great savannahs, gradually entered the desert, interbred, and at length -multiplied so greatly that they formed bands or _manadas_, whose number -has so increased that it has now become incalculable. - -From these horses, which were originally abandoned and returned to -savage life, has issued the remarkable breed known in the New World by -the name of mustangs, or prairie horses. Now that racing is fashionable -in France, and horse breeding has made immense progress, we do not think -we are going out of our way in describing this valuable breed, which is -unknown in the Old World, and to which sufficient justice is not done -even in America. - -At the time when I was at Guaymas, during the expedition of the unhappy -Count de Raousset Boulbon I wanted a horse. Copers are as numerous in -Mexico as in Europe, and probably cleverer and more cunning than ours -in disguising the vices and defects of the animals they wish to get rid -of; but unluckily for these clever dealers, and luckily for me, my long -stay among the Indians of the Western Prairies had given me an almost -infallible perception, and rendered it extremely difficult to deceive -me as to the qualities of a horse. - -When my wish to purchase a horse was known, there was an extraordinary -rush of dealers to the house where I put up. I peremptorily declined -all the animals offered me. My friends began to joke me and say that I -should not find a horse to suit me, and be compelled to follow on foot -the cavalry corps I commanded, when, on the very eve of departure, I was -walking accidentally on the beach, and saw a Hiaquis Indian a few yards -ahead of me, mounted on a horse whose appearance, in my friends' sight, -had nothing very inviting about it, and so they laughingly invited me to -deal. I feigned to humour them, although I had at once recognized the -animal as a mustang of the Far West, and I took them at their word by -making the Indian a sign to come and speak to me. - -The horse was not handsome, I must allow; he was rather tall, had a big -head, and a round forehead; his mane, which was thick and ill-kempt, -hung down to his chest; his tail, which was not thick enough to wave, -almost swept the ground; but his chest was wide and his legs were firm, -while his eyes and nostrils announced fire, vigour, and bottom. Although -the animal had never been shod, and its master, like all the Indians, -had ill-treated it during the long journey it had made to reach Guaymas, -still its thick hoofs were not at all worn or even damaged. It was black -as night, with a white star about the size of a piastre, perfectly -designed, and situated in the exact centre of the forehead. - -At my summons the Indian started the horse at a gallop, and came up to -me. I asked him bluntly if he wanted to sell his horse. - -"Why not, excellency?" he answered with the wink peculiar to the -Hiaquis. "Negro is a good beast; I lassoed him myself in the heart of -the prairies of the Sierra de San Saba, hardly a month agone, and he has -constantly gone fifteen to sixteen leagues a day." - -"Yes, yes," I answered in Indian, "I know all that; but I know too that -you Hiaquis are clever horse dealers, and are perfectly up to the trick -of dressing a horse for sale." - -On hearing me speak his language, the Redskin, who was, moreover, -deceived by my hunting garb, took me for a wood ranger, and immediately -treated me with great respect. - -"Your excellency will try Negro, if it be really your pleasure to buy," -he said, at once reassuming the language of his tribe, instead of the -Spanish he had hitherto employed. - -"But," I continued, "supposing that Negro, as that is his name, suits -me, I must know the price you want for him." - -"Wah!" he said, with a cunning smile; "I will not let your excellency -have Negro under two ounces, and anyone else would pay much more." - -Two ounces are about six guineas of our money, so if I had judged the -horse aright, it was plain that I should make a good bargain. I made an -appointment with the Hiaquis for the next morning, and withdrew under -the ironical congratulations of my friends upon my excellent acquisition. - -The Indian was punctual. At daybreak I saw him at my door, mounted on -another horse and holding Negro by the bridle. I immediately got into -the saddle, and left Guaymas, accompanied by my Redskin, and started at -a smart trot for the forest. - -I soon perceived that Negro was a very easy goer, and that he did not -tire, though he was very eager--excellent qualities in a charger. -Moreover, I saw that, like all prairie horses, whose mouth is generally -hard, he was very sensitive to the spur. - -The expedition of which I had the honour to be a member was about to -proceed into half savage countries, where roads have never existed, -and we should have to go across sandy deserts, and through almost -impassable virgin forests; hence I wished to know at once what help I -had to expect from my horse, and what confidence I could place in him. -I therefore resolved to make him leap a stream several feet in width. -For this purpose I gave him his head, and pressed his flanks with my -knees without spurring; the intelligent animal seemed to understand that -it was on trial, and leapt over the obstacle with the agility of an -antelope. I turned round, and tried the leap over and over again, always -with the same result. Certain of his agility, I wished to try his -strength, consequently I took him to a muddy and very difficult morass. -Negro, however, entered it, smelling the water as if to judge its depth, -a proof of sagacity and prudence with which I was greatly pleased, and I -found him prompt and decided in the wheels and counter wheels I made him -take. - -I had still an experiment to make with Negro--could he swim? - -During the course of my travels, I have seen excellent horses, which -could not swim at all; they lay down on their side as if to float with -the current, so that their rider was obliged to swim himself and take -them to bank, unless he preferred to leave them to their fate, which -is a very serious difficulty when travelling. As a rather wide and -very rapid stream ran not far from us, I rode my horse right into it; -he at once took the current obliquely, with head well raised above the -surface, and dilated nostrils, though without making that painful snort -peculiar to horses under such circumstances; for, on the contrary, he -breathed regularly and without fatigue. He went up and down the stream, -and when I at last guided him to land, he stopped of his own accord and -shook the water off. - -Convinced, after all these experiments, that I could without risk -undertake the campaign with such a steed, I started back for Guaymas at -a gallop. On the road I brought down a duck, which Negro went up to as -if trained for shooting, and which I picked up without dismounting. - -I immediately gave the two ounces to the Hiaquis, and leaving my friends -to continue their jokes about my acquisition, I rubbed Negro down with -the greatest care. - -On the same day the expedition left Guaymas for Hermosillo, and in spite -of his savage ways and rather seedy appearance, the qualities of my -mustang were soon appreciated, as they deserved to be, by my companions, -whose domestic horses were far from coming up to him. - -I went through the whole campaign mounted on Negro, allowing him no -other food beyond the prairie grass, green alfalfa, and climbing peas, -or a few hen's eggs, when I could procure them, or a gourd; still, every -morning, two hours before mounting, I was careful to rub him down and -press his back with my hand, to assure myself that he was not grazed -by the saddle, after which I threw over him a zarapé folded double. At -night, before going to sleep, I washed him, threw a bucket of cold water -over his back, looked at his feet and cleaned them out with the utmost -caution. - -At the end of the first week, Negro had grown so attached to me that he -recognized my voice and obeyed me with extreme docility; to make him -gallop I only required to bend slightly forward. - -When the campaign was ended, instead of embarking at Guaymas for -California, after the fashion of my comrades, I started for Apacheria, -where I spent several months. After that I proceeded to Veracruz, -crossing Mexico in its widest part. I thus rode my horse, without -allowing him a single day's rest, about nine hundred and fifty leagues -calculated at nearly forty-five miles a day, and my mustang was as fresh -and healthy on his arrival as when he started. - -No European horse would be capable of accomplishing such a feat, which -I assert, without fear of contradiction, is only child's play for a -mustang of the prairies. Negro is in no way put forward here as a type -of his breed, and had no striking quality to recommend him; he was -certainly a good horse, but all his companions in the prairies resemble -him, and are quite as good as he. - -At my last halt, before reaching Veracruz, where I intended to embark -for France, I found a Mexican officer, either colonel or general, I -forget which, but his name was Don Pedro Aguirre, stopping at the same -_mesón_, and we left it together in the morning _en route_ for Veracruz. - -Señor Don Pedro Aguirre was mounted on a magnificent steed, which, -he told me, and it was very probable, had cost him four hundred -piastres--according to the Mexican fashion his _asistente_ led a second -horse by the bridle. - -I complimented the colonel on his splendid horse, to which compliment he -replied, rather cavalierly, while taking a contemptuous glance at Negro, -that he wished I had a similar one, so that he might have enjoyed my -society during the ride to Veracruz. - -I made no retort, although somewhat vexed at this answer, and confined -myself to asking him at what hour he expected to reach the port? - -"Sufficiently long before you, señor," he said with a smile, "to have -leisure to order supper at the hotel, on condition that you will consent -to join me at it." - -I bowed my thanks, while laughing in my sleeve at the bombastic -confidence of the Mexican officer, and the trick I was going to play -him. After a parting bow, Don Pedro made his horse curvet, dug in his -spurs, and started. But, alas! it was lost trouble; I arrived five -quarters of an hour before him at Veracruz; I ordered dinner; I put my -steed in the corral, and stationed myself in the doorway of the hotel, -where, when the colonel arrived, quite downcast by his defeat, I told -him, with a cunning look, that I was only waiting for him to dine. - -Still, I am bound to say, in praise of the colonel, that he took the -joke very kindly, and when his first impulse of ill-humour had passed -off, frankly complimented me on the excellence of my horse. - -A few days later, overcome by the entreaties of Don Pedro, I consented, -not without regret, to part with poor Negro, and let the colonel have -him, for the comparatively enormous sum of seven hundred and fifty -piastres; but, alas! I was going to embark for France the next week, and -my horse had become useless for me. - -I am convinced that the introduction of this breed of the Western -Prairies into our stud stables would serve greatly to improve our -horses, and that the majority of them would become first-rate racers. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Track, by Gustave Aimard - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - -***** This file should be named 42834-8.txt or 42834-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/8/3/42834/ - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. 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diff --git a/42834.txt b/42834.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 574c5e0..0000000 --- a/42834.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10380 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Track, by Gustave Aimard - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 - - -Title: The Red Track - A Story of Social Life in Mexico - -Author: Gustave Aimard - -Translator: Lascelles Wraxall - -Release Date: May 29, 2013 [EBook #42834] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - - - - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - - - - -THE RED TRACK - -A Story of Social life in Mexico - -BY - -GUSTAVE AIMARD - - -AUTHOR OF "ADVENTURERS," "PEARL OF THE ANDES," "TRAIL HUNTER," -"PIRATES OF THE PRAIRIES," "TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER," "TIGER -SLAYER," "GOLD SEEKERS," "INDIAN CHIEF," ETC. - - - -LONDON: - -CHARLES HENRY CLARKE, 13 PATERNOSTER ROW. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The present volume of GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works is a continuation of the -"Indian Chief," and conclusion of the series comprising that work, the -"Gold Seekers," and the "Tiger Slayer." - -At the present moment, when we are engaged in a war with Mexico, I feel -assured that the extraordinary and startling descriptions given in this -volume of the social condition and mode of life in the capital of that -country will be read with universal gratification; for I can assert -confidently that; no previous writer has ever produced such a graphic -and truthful account of a city with which the illustrated papers will -soon make us thoroughly acquainted. - -If a further recommendation be needed, it will be found in the fact that -the present volume appears in an English garb before being introduced to -French readers. GUSTAVE AIMARD is so gratified with the reception his -works have found in this country, through my poor assistance, that he -has considered he could not supply a better proof of his thankfulness -than by permitting his English readers to enjoy, on this occasion, the -first fruits of his versatile and clever pen. This is a compliment -which, I trust, will be duly appreciated; for, as to the merits of -the work itself, I have not the slightest doubt. Readers may imagine -it impossible for GUSTAVE AIMARD to surpass his previous triumphs in -the wildly romantic, or that he could invent anything equal to the -"Prairie Flower," a work which I venture to affirm, to be the finest -Indian tale ever yet written, in spite of the great authors who have -preceded AIMARD; but I ask my reader's special admiration for the "RED -TRACK," because in it our favourite author strikes out a new path, and -displays versatility which puts to the blush those bilious critics--few -in number--I grant, among the multitude of encouraging reviewers, who -have ventured an opinion that GUSTAVE AIMARD can only write about Indian -life, or, in point of fact, that he is merely a hunter describing his -own experiences under a transparent disguise. - -Well, be it so, I accept the assertion. GUSTAVE AIMARD is but a -hunter; he has seen nought but uncivilized life; he has spent years -among savages, and has returned to his own country to try and grow -Europeanized again. What then? The very objection is a proof of his -veracity; and I am fully of the conviction that every story he has told -us is true. It is not reasonable to suppose that a man who has spent the -greater part of his life in hunting the wild animals of America--who -has been an adopted son of the most powerful Indian tribes--who has for -years never known what the morrow would bring forth, should sit down -to invent. The storehouse of his mind is too amply filled with marvels -for him to take that needless trouble, and he simply repeats on paper -the tales which in olden limes he picked up at the camp fires, or heard -during his wanderings with the wood rangers. - -And it is as such that I wish GUSTAVE AIMARD to be judged by English -readers. His eminent quality is truth. He is a man who could not set -down a falsehood, no matter what the bribe might be, he has lived -through the incidents he describes, and has brought back to Europe -the adventures of a chequered life. He does not attempt to fascinate -his readers by a complicated plot. He does not possess the marvellous -invention of a Cooper, who, after a slight acquaintance with a few -powerless Indians, wrote books which all admirers of the English -language peruse. But GUSTAVE AIMARD possesses a higher quality, in the -fact that he only notes down incidents which he has seen, or which he -has received on undoubted evidence from his companions. - -The present is the twelfth volume of GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works to which. I -have put my name; and, with the exception of a few captious criticisms -whose motive may be read between the lines, the great body of the -British Press has greeted our joints efforts with the heartiest -applause. The success of this series has been unparalleled in the annals -of cheap literature. Day by day the number of readers increases, and the -publication of each successive volume creates an excitement which cannot -fail to be most gratifying to the publishers. - -To please all parties, the proprietors of AIMARD'S copyrights have -projected an Illustrated Series, to which I would invite most earnest -attention. Although by this time I am saturated with Indian life, I -confess that I never thoroughly understood it till I saw the engravings -after a Zwecker, a Huard, and a Corbould. The artists have carefully -studied their subjects, and gone to the fountain-head for information; -and the result is, that they have produced a series of works which only -need to be seen to be appreciated. The last volume illustrated is "The -Freebooters," which was entirely intrusted to Mr. Corbould, and though -I do not wish for a moment to depreciate the other artists, I felt, on -seeing the illustrations, that GUSTAVE AIMARD was worthily interpreted. -All I can urge upon readers is, that they should judge for themselves. - -To wind up this unusually long Preface, into which honest admiration for -the author has alone induced me, I wish to say that it affords me an -ever-recurring delight to introduce GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works to English -readers, while it causes me an extra pleasure, on this occasion, to be -enabled to repeat that the present volume appears on this side of the -Channel before it has been introduced to French readers. And, knowing as -I do the number of editions through which AIMARD'S books pass in his own -native land, I can appreciate the sacrifice he has made on this occasion -at its full value. - - LASCELLES WRAXALL. - -DRAYTON TERRACE, WEST BROMPTON, - _March_, 1862. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - I. THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER - II. THE DEAD ALIVE - III. THE COMPACT - IV. THE TRAVELLERS - V. THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMEQUES - VI. THE SURPRISE - VII. THE EXPLANATION - VIII. A DECLARATION OF WAR - IX. MEXICO - X. THE RANCHO - XI. THE PASEO DE BUCARELI - XII. A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION - XIII. DON MARTIAL - XIV. THE VELORIO - XV. THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES - XVI. THE CONFESSOR - XVII. THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE - XVIII. A VISIT - XIX. ASSISTANCE - XX. EL ZARAGATE - XXI. AFTER THE INTERVIEW - XXII. THE BLANK SIGNATURE - XXIII. ON THE ROAD - XXIV. A SKIRMISH - XXV. LOS REGOCIJOS - XXVI. THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO - XXVII. THE CAPILLA - - A BUFFALO HUNT - A MUSTANG - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER. - - -The Rocky Mountains form an almost impassable barrier between California -and the United States, properly so called; their formidable defiles, -their rude valleys, and the vast western plains, watered by rapid -streams, are even to the present day almost unknown to the American -adventurers, and are rarely visited by the intrepid and daring Canadian -trappers. - -The majestic mountain range called the Sierra of the Wind River, -especially offers a grand and striking picture, as it raises to the -skies its white and snow-clad peaks, which extend indefinitely in a -north-western direction, until they appear on the horizon like a white -cloud, although the experienced eye of the trapper recognizes in this -cloud the scarped outline of the Yellowstone Mountains. - -The Sierra of the Wind River is one of the most remarkable of the Rocky -Mountain range; it forms, so to speak, an immense plateau, thirty -leagues long, by ten or twelve in width, commanded by scarped peaks, -crowned with eternal snows, and having at their base narrow and deep -valleys filled with springs, streams, and rock-bound lakes. These -magnificent reservoirs give rise to some of the mighty rivers which, -after running for hundreds of miles through a picturesque territory, -become on one side the affluents of the Missouri, on the other of the -Columbia, and bear the tribute of their waters to the two oceans. - -In the stories of the wood rangers and trappers, the Sierra of the -Wind River is justly renowned for its frightful gorges, and the wild -country in its vicinity frequently serves as a refuge to the pirates of -the prairie, and has been, many a time and oft, the scene of obstinate -struggles between the white men and the Indians. - -Toward the end of June, 1854, a well-mounted traveller, carefully -wrapped up in the thick folds of a zarape, raised to his eyes, was -following one of the most precipitous slopes of the Sierra of the -Wind River, at no great distance from the source of the Green River, -that great western Colorado which pours its waters into the Gulf of -California. - -It was about seven in the evening: the traveller rode along, shivering -from the effects of an icy wind which whistled mournfully through the -canyons. All around had assumed a saddening aspect in the vacillating -moonbeams. He rode on without hearing the footfall of his horse, as it -fell on the winding sheet of snow that covered the landscape; at times -the capricious windings of the track he was following compelled him to -pass through thickets, whose branches, bent by the weight of snow, stood -out before him like gigantic skeletons, and struck each other after he -had passed with a sullen snap. - -The traveller continued his journey, looking anxiously on both sides -of him. His horse, fatigued by a long ride, hobbled at every step, and -in spite of the repeated encouragement of its rider seemed determined -to stop short, when, after suddenly turning an angle in the track, it -suddenly entered a large clearing, where the close-growing grass formed -a circle about forty yards in diameter, and the verdure formed a cheery -contrast with the whiteness that surrounded it. - -"Heaven be praised!" the traveller exclaimed in excellent French, and -giving a start of pleasure; "Here is a spot at last where I can camp for -tonight night, without any excessive inconvenience. I almost despaired -of finding one." - -While thus congratulating himself, the traveller had stopped his horse -and dismounted. His first attention was paid to his horse, from which -he removed saddle and bridle, and which he covered with his zarape, -appearing to attach no importance to the cold, which was, however, -extremely severe in these elevated regions. So soon as it was free, the -animal, in spite of its fatigue, began browsing heartily on the grass, -and thus reassured about his companion, the traveller began thinking -about making the best arrangements possible for the night. - -Tall, thin, active, with a lofty and capacious forehead, an intelligent -blue eye, sparkling with boldness, the stranger appeared to have been -long accustomed to desert life, and to find nothing extraordinary or -peculiarly disagreeable in the somewhat precarious position in which he -found himself at this moment. - -He was a man who had reached about middle life, on whose brow grief -rather than the fatigue of the adventurous life of the desert had formed -deep wrinkles, and sown numerous silver threads in his thick light -hair; his dress was a medium between that of the white trappers and -the Mexican gambusinos; but it was easy to recognize, in spite of his -complexion, bronzed by the seasons, that he was a stranger to the ground -he trod, and that Europe had witnessed his birth. - -After giving a final glance of satisfaction at his horse, which at -intervals interrupted its repast to raise its delicate and intelligent -head to him with an expression of pleasure, he carried his weapons and -horse trappings to the foot of a rather lofty rock, which offered him -but a poor protection against the gusts of the night breeze, and then -began collecting dry wood to light a watch fire. - -It was no easy task to find dry firewood at a spot almost denuded of -trees, and whose soil, covered with snow, except in the clearing, -allowed nothing to be distinguished; but the traveller was patient, he -would not be beaten, and within an hour he had collected sufficient -wood to feed through the night two such fires as he proposed kindling. -The branches soon crackled, and a bright flame rose joyously in a long -spiral to the sky. - -"Ah!" said the traveller, who, like all men constrained to live alone, -seemed to have contracted the habit of soliloquizing aloud, "the fire -will do, so now for supper." - -Then, fumbling in the alforjas, or double pockets which travellers -always carry fastened to the saddle, he took from them all the requisite -elements of a frugal meal; that is to say, cecina, pemmican, and several -varas of tasajo, or meat dried in the sun. At the moment when, after -shutting up his alforjas, the traveller raised his head to lay his meat -on the embers to broil, he stopped motionless, with widely-opened mouth, -and it was only through a mighty strength of will that he suppressed a -cry of surprise and possibly of terror. Although no sound had revealed -his presence, a man, leaning on a long rifle, was standing motionless -before him, and gazing at him with profound attention. - -At once mastering the emotion he felt, the traveller carefully laid -the tasajo on the embers, and then, without removing his eye from this -strange visitor, he stretched out his arm to grasp his rifle, while -saying, in a tone of the most perfect indifference-- - -"Whether friend or foe, you are welcome, mate. 'Tis a bitter night, so, -if you are cold, warm yourself, and if you are hungry, eat. When your -nerves have regained their elasticity, and your body its usual strength, -we will have a frank explanation, such as men of honour ought to have." - -The stranger remained silent for some seconds; then, after shaking his -head several times, he commenced in a low and melancholy voice, as it -were speaking to himself rather than replying to the question asked him-- - -"Can any human being really exist in whose heart a feeling of pity still -remains?" - -"Make the trial, mate," the traveller answered quickly, "by accepting, -without hesitation, my hearty offer. Two men who meet in the desert must -be friends at first sight, unless private reasons make them implacable -enemies. Sit down by my side and eat." - -This dialogue had been held in Spanish, a language the stranger spoke -with a facility that proved his Mexican origin. He seemed to reflect for -a moment, and then instantly made up his mind. - -"I accept," he said, "for your voice is too sympathizing and your glance -too frank to deceive." - -"That is the way to speak," the traveller said, gaily. "Sit down and eat -without further delay, for I confess to you that I am dying of hunger." - -The stranger smiled sadly, and sat down on the ground by the traveller's -side. The two men, thus strangely brought together by accident, then -attacked with no ordinary vigour, which evidenced a long fast, the -provisions placed before them. Still, while eating, the traveller did -not fail to examine his singular companion; and the following was the -result of his observations. - -The general appearance of the stranger was most wretched, and his -ragged clothes scarce covered his bony, fleshless body; while his pale -and sickly features were rendered more sad and gloomy by a thick, -disordered beard that fell on his chest. His eyes, inflamed by fever, -and surrounded by black circles, glistened with a sombre fire, and at -times emitted flashes of magnetic radiance. His weapons were in as bad -a condition as his clothes, and in the event of a fight this man, with -the exception of his bodily strength, which must once have been great, -but which privations of every description, and probably endured for -a lengthened period, had exhausted, would not have been a formidable -adversary for the traveller. Still, beneath this truly wretched -appearance could be traced an organization crushed by grief. There was -in this man something grand and sympathetic, which appeared to emanate -from his person, and aroused not only pity but also respect for torture -so proudly hidden and so nobly endured. This man, in short, ere he fell -so low, must have been great, either in virtue or in vice; but assuredly -there was nothing common about him, and a mighty heart beat in his bosom. - -Such was the impression the stranger produced on his host, while both, -without the interchange of a word, appeased an appetite sharpened by -long hours of abstinence. Hunters' meals are short, and the present one -lasted hardly a quarter of an hour. When it was over, the traveller -rolled a cigarette, and, handing it to the stranger, said-- - -"Do you smoke?" - -On this apparently so simple question being asked, a strange thing -happened which will only be understood by smokers who, long accustomed -to the weed, have for some reason or other been deprived of it for -a lengthened period. The stranger's face was suddenly lit up by the -effect of some internal emotion; his dull eye flashed, and, seizing the -cigarette with a nervous tremor, he exclaimed, in a voice choked by an -outburst of joy impossible to render-- - -"Yes, yes; I used to smoke." - -There was a rather long silence, during which the two men slowly inhaled -the smoke of their cigarettes, and indulged in thought. The wind howled -fiercely Over their heads, the eddying snow was piling up around them, -and the echoes of the canyons seemed to utter notes of complaint. It was -a horrible night. Beyond the circle of light produced by the flickering -flame of the watch fire all was buried in dense gloom. The picture -presented by these two men, seated in the desert, strangely illumined -by the bluish flame, fend smoking calmly while suspended above an -unfathomable abyss, had something striking and awe-inspiring about it. -When the traveller had finished his cigarette, he rolled another, and -laid his tobacco-pouch between himself and his guest. - -"Now that the ice is broken between us," he said in a friendly voice, -"and that we have nearly formed an acquaintance--for we have been -sitting at the same fire, and have eaten and smoked together--the moment -has arrived, I fancy, for us to become thoroughly acquainted." - -The stranger nodded his head silently. It was a gesture that could be -interpreted affirmatively or negatively, at pleasure. The traveller -continued, with a good-humoured smile-- - -"I make not the slightest pretence to compel you to reveal your secrets, -and you are at liberty to maintain your incognito without in any way -offending me. Still, whatever may be the result, let me give you an -example of frankness by telling you who I am. My story will not be long, -and only consists of a very few words. France is my country, and I was -born at Paris--which city, doubtless," he remarked, with a stifled sigh, -"I shall never see again. Reasons too lengthy to trouble you with, and -which would interest you but very slightly, led me to America. Chance, -or Providence, perhaps, by guiding me to the desert, and arousing my -instincts and aspirations for liberty, wished to make a wood ranger of -me, and I obeyed. For twenty years I have been traversing the prairies -and great savannahs in every direction, and I shall probably continue -to do so, till an Indian bullet comes from some thicket to stop my -wanderings for ever. Towns are hateful to me; passionately fond of the -grand spectacles of nature, which elevate the thought, and draw the -creature nearer to his Creator, I shall only mix myself up once again in -the chaos of civilization in order to fulfil a vow made on the tomb of a -friend. When I have done that, I shall fly to the most, unknown deserts, -in order to end a life henceforth useless, far from those men whose -paltry passions and base and ignoble hatred have robbed me of the small -amount of happiness to which I fancied I had a claim. And now, mate, you -know me as well as I do myself. I will merely add, in conclusion, that -my name among the white men, my countrymen, is Valentine Guillois, and -among the redskins, my adopted fathers, Koutonepi--that is to say, 'The -Valiant One.' I believe myself to be as honest and as brave as a man is -permitted to be with his imperfect organization. I never did harm with -the intention of doing so, and I have done services to my fellow men as -often as I had it in my power, without expecting from them thanks or -gratitude." - -The speech, which the hunter had commenced in that clear voice and with -that careless accent habitual to him, terminated involuntarily, under -the pressure of the flood of saddened memories that rose from his heart -to his lips, in a low and inarticulate voice, and when he concluded, -he let his head fall sadly on his chest, with a sigh that resembled a -sob. The stranger regarded him for a moment with an expression of gentle -commiseration. - -"You have suffered," he said; "suffered in your love, suffered in your -friendship. Your history is that of all men in this world: who of us, -but at a given hour, has felt his courage yield beneath the weight of -grief? You are alone, friendless, abandoned by all, a voluntary exile, -far from the men who only inspire you with hatred and contempt; you -prefer the society of wild beasts, less ferocious than they; but, at any -rate, you live, while I am a dead man!" - -The hunter started, and looked in amazement at the speaker. - -"I suppose you think me mad?" he continued, with a melancholy smile; -"reassure yourself, it is not so. I am in full possession of my senses, -my head is cool, and my thoughts are clear and lucid. For all that -though, I repeat to you, I am dead, dead in the sight of my relations -and friends, dead to the whole world in fine, and condemned to lead this -wretched existence for an indefinite period. Mine is a strange story, -and that you would recognize through one word, were you a Mexican, or -had you travelled in certain regions of Mexico." - -"Did I not tell you that, for twenty years, I have been travelling over -every part of America?" the traveller replied, his curiosity being -aroused to the highest pitch. "What is the word? Can you tell it me?" - -"Why not? I am alluding to the name I bore while I was still a living -man." - -"What is that name?" - -"It had acquired a certain celebrity, but I doubt whether, even if you -have heard it mentioned, it has remained in your memory." - -"Who knows? Perhaps you are mistaken." - -"Well, since you insist, learn, then, that I was called Martial el -Tigrero." - -"You?" the hunter exclaimed, under the influence of the uttermost -surprise; "why that is impossible!" - -"Of course so, since I am dead," the stranger answered, bitterly. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE DEAD ALIVE. - - -The Tigrero had let his head fall on his chest again, and seemed engaged -with gloomy thoughts. The hunter, somewhat embarrassed by the turn the -conversation had taken, and anxious to continue it, mechanically stirred -up the fire with the blade of his navaja, while his eyes wandered -around, and were at times fixed on his companion with an expression of -deep sympathy. - -"Stay," he said, presently, as he thrust back with his foot a few embers -that had rolled out; "pardon me, sir, any insult which my exclamation -may seem to have contained. You have mistaken, I assure you, the -meaning of my remarks; although, as we have never met, we are not such -strangers as you suppose. I have known you for a long time." - -The Tigrero raised his head, and looked at the hunter incredulously. - -"You?" he muttered. - -"Yes, I, caballero, and it will not be difficult to prove it to you." - -"What good will it do?" he murmured; "what interest can I have in the -fact of your knowing me?" - -"My dear sir," the Frenchman continued, with several shakes of his head, -"nothing happens in this world by the effect of chance. Above us, an -intellect superior to ours directs everything here below; and if we have -been permitted to meet in a manner so strange and unexpected in these -desolate regions, it is because Providence has designs with us which we -cannot yet detect; let us, therefore, not attempt to resist God's will, -for what He has resolved will happen: who knows whether I may not be -unconsciously sent across your path to bring you a supreme consolation, -or to supply you with the means to accomplish a long meditated -vengeance, which you have hitherto deemed impossible?" - -"I repeat to you, senor," the Tigrero replied, "that your words are -those of a stout-hearted and brave man, and I feel involuntarily -attracted towards you. I think with you, that this accidental meeting, -after so many days of solitude and grief, with a man of your stamp, -cannot be the effect of unintelligent chance, and that at a moment -when, convinced of my impotence to escape from my present frightful -situation, I was reduced to despair and almost resolved on suicide, the -loyal hand you offer me can only be that of a friend. Question me, then, -without hesitation, and I will answer with the utmost frankness." - -"Thanks for that speech," the hunter said, with emotion, "for it proves -that we are beginning to understand each other, and soon, I hope, we -shall have no secrets; but I must, before all else, tell you how it is -that I have known you for a long time, although you were not aware of -the fact." - -"Speak, senor, I am listening to you with the most earnest attention." - -Valentine reflected for a moment, and then went on as follows:-- - -"Some months ago, in consequence of circumstances unnecessary to remind -you of, but which you doubtless bear in mind, you met at the colony of -Guetzalli a Frenchman and a Canadian hunter, with whom you eventually -stood on most intimate terms." - -"It is true," the Tigrero replied, with a nervous start, "and the -Frenchman to whom you allude, is the Count de Prebois Crance. Oh! I -shall never be able to discharge the debt of gratitude I have contracted -with him for the services he rendered me." - -A sad smile curled the hunter's lip. "You no longer owe him anything," -he said, with a melancholy shake of the head. - -"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed, eagerly; "surely the count -cannot be dead!" - -"He is dead, caballero. He was assassinated on the shores of Guaymas. -His murderers laid him in his tomb, and his blood, so treacherously -shed, cries to Heaven for vengeance: but patience, Heaven will not -permit this horrible crime to remain unpunished." - -The hunter hurriedly wiped away the tears he had been unable to repress -while speaking of the count, and went on, in a voice choked by the -internal emotion which he strove in vain to conquer:-- - -"But let us, for the present, leave this sad reminiscence to slumber -in our hearts. The count was my friend, my dearest friend, more than a -brother to me: he often spoke about you to me, and several times told me -your gloomy history, which terminated in a frightful catastrophe." - -"Yes, yes," the Tigrero muttered; "it was, indeed, a frightful -catastrophe. I would gladly have found death at the bottom of the abyss -into which I rolled during my struggle with Black Bear, could I have -saved her I loved; but God decreed it otherwise, and may his holy name -be blessed and praised." - -"Amen!" the hunter said, sadly turning his head away. - -"Oh!" Don Martial continued a moment later, "I feel my recollections -crowding upon me at this moment. I feel as if the veil that covers my -memory is torn asunder, in order to recall events, already so distant, -but which have left so deep an impression on my mind. I, too, recognize -you now; you are the famous hunter whom the count was trying to find -in the desert; but he did not call you by any of the names you have -mentioned." - -"I dare say," Valentine answered, "that he alluded to me as the 'Trail -Hunter,' the name by which the white hunters and the Indians of the Far -West are accustomed to call me." - -"Yes; oh, now I remember perfectly, that was indeed the name he gave -you. You were right in saying that we had been long acquainted, though -we had never met." - -"And now that we meet in this desert," the hunter said, offering his -hand, "connected as we are by the memory of our deceased friend, shall -we be friends?" - -"No, not friends," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he heartily pressed the -hunter's honest hand; "not friends, but brothers." - -"Well, then, brothers, and each for the other against all comers," the -hunter answered. "And now that you are convinced that curiosity plays no -part in my eager desire to know what has befallen you since the moment -when you so hurriedly left your friends, speak, Don Martial, and then I -will tell you, in my turn, what are the motives that directed my steps -to these desolate regions." - -The Tigrero, in a few moments, began his narrative as follows:-- - -"My friends must have fancied me dead, hence I cannot blame them for -having abandoned me, although they were, perhaps, too quick in doing so -without an attempt either to recover my corpse, or assure themselves at -least that I was really dead, and that assistance would be thrown away; -but though I am ignorant of what happened in the cavern after my fall, -the bodies left on the battlefield proved to me afterwards that they had -a tough fight, and were compelled to fly before the Indians; hence, I -say again that I do not blame them. You are aware that I was attacked by -Black Bear at the moment when I believed that I had succeeded in saving -those whom I had sworn to protect. It was on the very verge of the pit -that Black Bear and myself, enwreathed like two serpents, began a final -and decisive struggle: at the moment when I had all but succeeded in -foiling my enemy's desperate efforts, and was raising my arm to cut -his throat, the war yell of the Comanches suddenly burst forth at the -entrance of the cavern. By a supreme effort the Apache chief succeeded -in escaping from my clutch, bounded on his feet, and rushed towards -Dona Anita, doubtless with the intention of carrying her off, as the -unforeseen assistance arriving for us would prevent the accomplishment -of his vengeance. But the maiden repulsed him with that strength -which despair engenders, and sought refuge behind her father. Already -severely wounded by two shots, the chief tottered back to the edge of -the pit, where he lost his balance. Feeling that he was falling, by an -instinctive gesture, or, perhaps, through a last sentiment of fury, he -stretched out his arms as if to save himself, caught hold of me as I -rose, half-stunned by my recent contest, and we both rolled down the -pit, he with a triumphant laugh, and I with a shriek of despair. Forgive -me for having described thus minutely the last incidents of this fight, -but I was obliged to enter into these details to make you thoroughly -understand by what providential chance I was saved, when I fancied -myself hopelessly lost." - -"Go on, go on;" the hunter said, "I am listening to you with the -greatest attention." - -Don Martial continued:-- - -"The Indian was desperately wounded, and his last effort, in which he -had placed all his remaining strength, cost him his life: it was a -corpse that dragged me down, for during the few seconds our fall lasted -he did not make a movement. The pit was not so deep as I fancied, not -more than twenty or five-and-twenty feet, and the sides were covered -with plants and grass, which, although they bent beneath our weight, -prevented us from falling perpendicularly. The chief was the first -to reach the bottom of the abyss, and I fell upon his body, which -deadened my fall, though it was serious enough entirely to deprive me -of consciousness. I cannot say how long I remained in this state, but, -from a calculation I made afterwards, my faint must have lasted two -hours. I was aroused by a cold sensation which suddenly affected me. I -opened my eyes again, and found myself in utter darkness. At the first -moment it was impossible for me to account for the situation in which -I found myself, or what events had placed me in it; but my memory -gradually returned, my thoughts became more lucid, and I only desired -to emerge as speedily as possible from the pit into which I had fallen. -I was suffering fearfully, although I was not actually wounded. I had -received numerous contusions in my fall, and the slightest movement -caused me an atrocious pain, for I was so bruised and shaken. In my -present state I must endure the evil patiently: attempting to scale -the sides of the pit when my strength was completely exhausted would -have been madness, and I therefore resigned myself to waiting. I was in -complete darkness, but that did not trouble me greatly, as I had about -me everything necessary to light a fire. Within a few moments I had a -light, and was enabled to look about me. I was lying at the bottom of a -species of funnel, for the pit grew narrower in its descent, which had -greatly helped to deaden my fall; my feet and legs almost to the knee -were bathed in a subterranean stream, while the upper part of my body -leant against the corpse of the Indian chief. The spot where I found -myself was thirty feet in circumference at the most, and I assured -myself by the help of my light that the sides of the pit, entirely -covered with creepers, and even sturdy shrubs, rose in a gentle slope, -and would not be difficult to escalade when my strength had sufficiently -returned. At this moment I could not dream of attempting the ascent, -so I bravely made up my mind, and although my anxiety was great about -the friends I had left in, the cavern, I resolved to wait a few hours -before proceeding to save myself. I remained thus for twenty hours -at the bottom of the pit, _tete-a-tete_ with my enemy's corpse. Many -times during my excursions in the desert I had found myself in almost -desperate situations, but never, I call heaven to witness, had I felt -so completely abandoned and left in the hands of Providence. Still, -however deplorable my position might be, I did not despair; in spite -of the frightful pain I suffered, I had convinced myself that my limbs -were in a satisfactory state, and that all I needed was patience. When -I fancied my strength sufficiently restored, I lighted two torches, -which I fixed in the ground, in order to see more clearly. I threw my -rifle on my back, placed my navaja between my teeth, and clinging to the -shrubs, by a desperate effort I began my ascent. I will not tell you of -the difficulty I had in conquering the terrible shocks I was obliged -to give my aching bones in surmounting almost unsurpassable obstacles; -sufficient for you to know that I reached the mouth of the pit after -an hour and a half's struggle, in which I expended all the energy a -man possesses who hopes to save himself. When I reached the floor of -the cavern, I lay for more than half an hour on the sand, exhausted, -panting, unable to make the slightest movement, scarce breathing, -hearing nothing, seeing nothing, not even conscious of the frightful -state into which I was plunged. Fortunately for me, this terrible -condition did not last long, the refreshing air from without, reaching -me through the passages of the cavern, recovered me, and restored the -entire use of my mental faculties. The ground around me was covered with -dead bodies, and there had, doubtless, been a terrible struggle between -the white men and the redskins. I sought in vain for the corpses of Dona -Anita and her father. I breathed again, and hope re-entered my heart, -for my sacrifice had not been fruitless. Those for whom I had given my -life were saved, and I should see them again. This thought restored my -courage, and I felt quite a different man. I rose without any excessive -difficulty, and, supporting myself on my rifle, went toward the mouth of -the cavern, after removing my stock of provision, and taking two powder -horns from the stores I had previously _cached_, and which my friends -in their flight had not thought of removing. No words can describe the -emotion I felt when, after a painful walk through the grotto, I at -length reached the riverbank, and saw the sun once more: a man must have -been in a similar desperate situation to understand the cry, or rather -howl of joy which escaped from my surcharged bosom when I felt again the -blessed sunbeams, and inhaled the odorous breath of the savannah. By an -unreflecting movement, though it was suggested by my heart, I fell on my -knees, and piously clasping my hands, I thanked Him who had saved me, -and who alone could do so. This prayer, and the simple thanks expressed -by a grateful heart, were, I feel convinced, borne upwards to heaven on -the wings of my guardian angel. - -"As far as I could make out by the height of the sun, it was about the -second hour of the tarde. The deepest silence prevailed around me; so -far as the vision could extend, the prairie was deserted; Indians and -palefaces had disappeared: I was alone, alone with that God who had -saved me in so marvellous a fashion, and would not abandon me. Before -going further, I took a little nourishment, which the exhaustion of -my strength rendered necessary. When, in the company of Don Sylva de -Torres and his daughter, I had sought a refuge in the cavern, our -horses had been abandoned with all the remaining forage in an adjacent -clearing, and I was too well acquainted with the instinct of these -noble animals to apprehend that they had fled. On the contrary, I knew -that, if the hunters had not taken them away, I should find them at -the very spot where I had left them. A horse was indispensable for -use, for a dismounted man is lost in the desert, and hence I resolved -to seek them. Rested by the long halt I had made, and feeling that my -strength had almost returned, I proceeded without hesitation towards -the forest. At my second call I heard a rather loud noise in a clump of -trees; the shrubs parted, and my horse galloped up and gladly rubbed its -intelligent head against my shoulder. I amply returned the caresses the -faithful companion of my adventures bestowed on me, and then returned -to the cavern, where my saddle was. An hour later, mounted on my good -horse, I bent my steps toward houses. My journey was a long one, owing -to my state of weakness and prostration, and when I reached Sonora the -news I heard almost drove me mad. Don Sylva de Torres had been killed -in the fight with the Apaches, as was probably his daughter, for no -one could tell me anything about her. For a month I hovered between -life and death; but God in His wisdom, doubtless, had decided that I -should escape once again. When hardly convalescent, I dragged myself to -the house of the only man competent of giving me precise and positive -information about what I wanted to learn. This man refused to recognize -me, although I had kept up intimate relations with him for many years. -When I told him my name he laughed in my face, and when I insisted, -he had me expelled by his peons, telling me that I was mad, that Don -Martial was dead, and I an impostor. I went away with rage and despair -in my heart. As if they had formed an agreement, all my friends to whom -I presented myself refused to recognize me, so thoroughly was the report -of my death believed, and it had been accepted by them as a certainty. -All the efforts I attempted to dissipate this alarming mistake, and -prove the falsehood of the rumour were in vain, for too many persons -were interested in it being true, on account of the large estates I -possessed; and also, I suppose, through a fear of injuring the man to -whom I first applied--the only living relation of the Torres family, -who, through his high position, has immense influence in Sonora. What -more need I tell you, my friend? Disgusted in every way, heartbroken -with grief, and recognising the inutility of the efforts I made -against the ingratitude and systematic bad faith of those with whom I -had to deal, I left the town, and, mounting my horse, returned to the -desert, seeking the most unknown spots and the most desolate regions in -which to hide myself and die whenever God decrees that I have suffered -sufficiently, and recalls me to Him." - -After saying this the Tigrero was silent, and his head sunk gloomily on -his chest. - -"Brother," Valentine said gently to him, slightly touching his shoulder -to attract his attention, "you have forgotten to tell me the name of -that influential person who had you turned out of his house, and treated -you as an impostor." - -"That is true," Don Martial answered; "his name is Don Sebastian -Guerrero, and he is military governor of the province of Sonora." - -The hunter quickly started to his feet with an exclamation of joy. - -"Don Martial," he said, "you may thank God for decreeing that we should -meet in the desert, in order that the punishment of this man should be -complete." - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE COMPACT. - - -Don Martial gazed at the hunter in amazement. - -"What do you mean?" he asked him. "I don't understand you." - -"You will soon do so, my friend," Valentine answered. "How long have you -been roaming about this neighbourhood?" - -"Nearly two months." - -"In that case you are well acquainted, I presume, with the mountains -among which we are at this moment?" - -"There is not a tree or a rock whose exact position I cannot tell, nor a -wild beast trail which I have not followed." - -"Good: are we far from a spot called the 'Fort of the Chichimeques?'" - -The Tigrero reflected for a moment. - -"Do you know by what Indians these mountains are inhabited?" he at -length asked. - -"Yes, by poor wretches who call themselves the Root-Eaters, and whom the -hunters and trappers designate by the name of the 'Worthy of Pity.' They -are, I believe, timid, harmless creatures, a species of incomplete men, -in whom brutal instincts have stifled the intellect; however, I only -speak of them from hearsay, for I never saw one of the poor devils." - -"You are perfectly well informed about them, and they are what you -depict them. I have often had opportunities of meeting them, and have -lamented the degree of brutalization into which this hapless race has -fallen." - -"Permit me to remark that I do not see what connection can exist between -this unhappy tribe and the information I ask of you." - -"There is a very great one. Since I have been roaming about these -mountains you are the first man of my own colour with whom I have -consented to enter into relations. The Root-Eaters have neither history -nor traditions. Their life is restricted to eating, drinking, and -sleeping, and I have not learned from them any of the names given to the -majestic peaks that surround us. Hence, though I perfectly well know the -spot to which you refer, unless you describe it differently, it will be -impossible for me to tell you its exact position." - -"That is true; but what you ask of me is very awkward, for this is the -first time I have visited these parts, and it will be rather difficult -for me to describe a place I am not acquainted with. Still, I will try. -There is, not far from here, I believe, a road which traverses the Rocky -Mountains obliquely, and runs from the United States to Santa Fe; at a -certain spot this road must intersect another which leads to California." - -"I am perfectly well acquainted with the roads to which you refer, and -the caravans of emigrants, hunters, and miners follow them in going to -California, or returning thence." - -"Good! At the spot where these two roads cross they form a species -of large square, surrounded on all sides by rocks that rise to a -considerable height. Do you know the place I mean?" - -"Yes," the Tigrero answered. - -"Well, about two gunshots from this square is a track winding nearly in -an east-south-east course, along the side of the mountains. This track, -at first so narrow that a horse even passes with difficulty, gradually -widens till it reaches a species of esplanade, or terrace, if you like -it better, which commands an extensive prospect, while on its edge -are the remains of barbarous erections, which can, however, be easily -recognized as an ancient parapet. This terrace is called the 'Fort of -the Chichimeques,' though for what reason I cannot tell you." - -"I know no more than you do on that head, although I can now assure -you that I am perfectly acquainted with the place to which you refer, -and have often camped there on stormy nights, because there is a deep -cavern, excavated by human hands, and divided into several passages, -every turning of which I know, and which has offered me a precious -shelter during those frightful tempests which, at intervals, overthrow -the face of nature in these regions." - -"I was not aware of the existence of this grotto," the hunter said, -with a glad start, "and I thank you for having told me of it; it will -be very useful for the execution of the plans I have formed. Are we any -great distance from this terrace?" - -"In a straight line, not more than five or six miles, and, if it were -day, I could show it to you; but as we must ride round to reach the -caravan road, which we are obliged to follow in order to reach the -tracks, we have about three hours' ride before us." - -"That is a trifle, for I was afraid I had lost my way in these -mountains, which are strange to me. I am delighted to find that my old -experience has not failed me this time, and that my hunter's instincts -have not deceived me." - -While saying this, Valentine had risen to explore the clearing. The -storm had ceased, the wind had swept away the clouds, the deep blue sky -was studded with brilliant stars, and the moon profusely shed its rays, -which imparted a fantastic appearance to the landscape by casting the -shadows of the lofty trees athwart the snow, whose pallid carpet spread -far as eye could see. - -"'Tis a magnificent night," the hunter said, after carefully examining -the sky for some moments. "It is an hour past midnight, and I do not -feel the slightest inclination to sleep. Are you fatigued?" - -"I am never so," the Tigrero answered, with a smile. - -"All right: in that case you are like myself, a thorough wood ranger. -What do you think of a ride in this magnificent moonlight?" - -"I think that after a good supper and an interesting conversation -nothing so thoroughly restores the balance of a man's thoughts as a -night ride in the company of a friend." - -"Bravo! that is what I call speaking. Now, as every ride to be -reasonable should have an object, we will go, if you have no objection, -as far as the Fort of the Chichimeques." - -"I was about to propose it; and, as we ride along, you will tell me in -your turn what imperious motive compelled you to come to these unknown -regions, and what the project is to which you alluded." - -"As for that," the hunter said, with a knowing smile, "I cannot satisfy -you; at any rate not for the present, as I wish you to have the pleasure -of a surprise. But be easy, I will not put your patience to too long a -trial." - -"You will act as you think proper, for I trust entirely to you. I know -not why, but I am persuaded, either through a sentiment or sympathy, -that in doing your own business you will be doing mine at the same time." - -"You are nearer the truth at this moment than you perhaps imagine, so be -of good cheer, brother." - -"The happy meeting has already made a different man of me," the Tigrero -said, as he rose. - -The hunter laid his hand on his shoulder. "One moment," he said to -him; "before leaving this bivouac, where we met so providentially, -let us clearly agree as to our facts, so as to avoid any future -misunderstanding." - -"Be it so," Don Martial answered. "Let us make a compact in the Indian -fashion, and woe to the one who breaks it." - -"Well said, my friend," Valentine remarked, as he drew his knife from -his belt. "Here is my navaja, brother; may it serve you as it has done -me to avenge your wrongs and mine." - -"I receive it in the face of that Heaven which I call as witness of the -purity of my intentions. Take mine in exchange, and one half my powder -and bullets, brother." - -"I accept it as a thing belonging to me, and here is half my ammunition -for you; henceforth we cannot fire at one another, all is in common -between us. Your friends will be my friends, and you will point out your -enemies to me, so that I may aid you in your vengeance. My horse is -yours." - -"Mine belongs to you, and in a few moments I will place it at your -service." - -Then the two men, leaning shoulder to shoulder, with clasped hands, eyes -fixed on heaven, and outstretched arm, uttered together the following -words: - -"I take God to witness that of my own free will, and without -reservation, I take as my friend and brother the man whose hand is at -this moment pressing mine. I will help him in everything he asks of -me, without hope of reward, ready by day and night to answer his first -signal, without hesitation, and without reproach, even if he asked me -for my life. I take this oath in the presence of God, who sees and -hears me and may He come to my help in all I undertake, and punish me -if I ever break my oath." - -There was something grand and solemn in this simple act, performed by -these two powerful men, beneath the pallid moonbeams, and in the heart -of the desert, alone, far from all human society, face to face with -God, confiding in each, and seeming thus to defy the whole world. After -repeating the words of the oath, they kissed each other's lips in turn, -then embraced, and finally shook hands again. - -"Now let us be off, brother," Valentine said; "I confide in you as in -myself; we shall succeed in triumphing over our enemies, and repaying -them all the misery they have caused us." - -"Wait for me ten minutes, brother; my horse is hidden close by." - -"Go; and during that time I will saddle mine, which is henceforth yours." - -Don Martial hurried away, leaving Valentine alone. - -"This time," he muttered, "I believe that I have at length met the man I -have been looking for so long, and whom I despaired to find; with him, -Curumilla, and Belhumeur, I can begin the struggle, for I am certain I -shall not be abandoned or treacherously surrendered to the enemy I wish -to combat." - -While indulging after his wont in this soliloquy, the hunter had lassoed -his horse, and was busily engaged in saddling it. He had just put the -bit in its mouth, when the Tigrero re-entered the clearing, mounted on -a magnificent black steed. - -Don Martial dismounted. - -"This is your horse, my friend," he said. - -"And this is yours." - -The exchange thus effected, the two men mounted, and left the clearing -in which they had met so strangely. The Tigrero had told no falsehood -when he said that a metamorphosis had taken place in him, and that -he felt a different man. His features had lost their marble-like -rigidity; his eyes were animated, and no longer burned with a sombre and -concentrated fire. Even though his glances were still somewhat haggard, -their expression was more frank and, before all, kinder; he sat firm and -upright in the saddle, and, in a word, seemed ten years younger. - -This unexpected change had not escaped the notice of the all-observing -Frenchman, and he congratulated himself for having effected this moral -cure, and saved a man of such promise from the despair which he had -allowed to overpower him. - -We have already said that it was a magnificent night. For men like -our characters, accustomed to cross the desert in all weathers, the -ride in the darkness was a relaxation rather than a fatigue. They rode -along side by side, talking on indifferent topics--hunting, trapping, -expeditions against the Indians--subjects always pleasing to wood -rangers, while rapidly advancing towards the spot they wished to reach. - -"By-the-bye," Valentine all at once said, "I must warn you, brother, -that if you are not mistaken, and we are really following the road to -the Fort of the Chichimeques, we shall probably meet several persons -there; they are friends of mine, with whom I have an appointment, and I -will introduce them to you; for reasons you will speedily learn, these -friends followed a different road from mine, and must have been waiting -for some time at the place of meeting." - -"I do not care who the persons are we meet, as they are friends of -yours," the Tigrero answered; "the main point is that we make no -mistake." - -"On my word, I confess my incompetence, so far as that is concerned; -this is the first time I have ventured into the Rocky Mountains, where -I hope never to come again, and so I deliver myself entirely into your -hands." - -"I will do my best, although I do not promise positively to lead you to -the place you want to reach." - -"Nonsense!" the hunter said with a smile; "two places like the one I -have described to you can hardly be found in these parts, picturesque -and diversified though they be, and it would be almost impossible to -lose our way." - -"At any rate," the Tigrero answered, "we shall soon know what we have to -depend on, for we shall be there within half an hour." - -The sky was beginning to grow paler; the horizon was belted by wide, -pellucid bands, which assumed in turn every colour of the rainbow. In -the flashing uncertain light of dawn, objects were invested with a -more fugitive appearance, although, on the other hand, they became more -distinct. - -The adventurers had passed the crossroads, and turned into a narrow -track, whose capricious windings ran along rocks, which were almost -suspended over frightful abysses. The riders had given up all attempts -to guide their horses, and trusted to their instinct; they had laid -their bridles on their necks, leaving them at liberty to go where they -pleased--a prudent precaution, which cannot be sufficiently recommended -to travellers under similar circumstances. - -All at once a streak of light illumined the landscape, and the sun rose -radiant and splendid; behind them the travellers still had the shadows -of night, while before them the snowy peaks of the mountains--were -glistening in the sun. - -"Well," the hunter exclaimed, "we can now see clearly, and I hope that -we shall soon perceive the Fort of the Chichimeques." - -"Look ahead of you over the jagged crest of that hill," the Tigrero -answered, stretching out his arm; "that is the terrace to which I am -leading you." - -The hunter stopped, for he felt giddy, and almost ready to fall off his -horse. About two miles from him, but separated from the spot where he -stood by an impassable canyon, an immense esplanade stretched out into -space in the shape of a _voladero_; that is to say, in consequence of -one of those earthquakes so common in these regions, the base of the -mountain had been undermined, while the crest remained intact, and hung -for a considerable distance above a valley, apparently about to fall at -any moment; the spectacle was at once imposing and terrific. - -"Heaven forgive me!" the hunter muttered, "but I really believe I was -frightened; I felt all my muscles tremble involuntarily. Oh! I will not -look at it again; let us get along, my friend." - -They set out again, still following the windings of the tract, which -gradually grew steeper; and, after a very zigzag course, reached the -terrace half an hour later. - -"This is certainly the place," the hunter exclaimed, as he pointed to -the decaying embers of a watch fire. - -"But your friends--?" the Tigrero asked. - -"Did you not tell me there was a grotto close by?" - -"I did." - -"Well, they doubtless concealed themselves in the grotto when they heard -us approaching." - -"That is possible." - -"It is true: look." - -The hunter discharged his gun, and at the sound three men appeared, -though it was impossible to say whence they came. They were Belhumeur, -Black Elk, and Eagle-head. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE TRAVELLERS. - - -We must now leave Valentine and his companions on the esplanade of the -Fort of the Chichimeques, where we shall join them again however, in -order to attend to other persons destined to play an important part in -the narrative we have undertaken to tell the reader. - -About five or six leagues at the most from the spot where Valentine and -the Tigrero met, a caravan, composed of some ten persons, had halted on -the same night, and almost at the same moment as the hunter, in a narrow -valley completely sheltered from the wind by dense clumps of trees. - -The caravan was comfortably lodged on the bank of a running stream, the -mules had been unloaded, a tent raised, fires lighted; and when the -animals were hobbled, the travellers began to make preparations for -their supper. - -These travellers, or at any rate one of them, appeared to belong to the -highest class, for the rest were only servants or Indian peons. Still -the dress of this person was most simple, but his stiff manner, his -imposing demeanour, and haughty air, evidenced the man long accustomed -to give his orders without admitting refusal or even the slightest -hesitation. - -He had passed his fiftieth year; he was tall, well-built, and his -movements were extremely elegant. His broad forehead, his black eyes -large and flashing, his long gray moustaches and his short hair gave him -a military appearance, which his harsh, quick way of speaking did not -contradict. Although he affected a certain affability of manner, he at -times involuntarily betrayed himself, and it was easy to see that the -modest garb of a Mexican Campesino which he wore was only a disguise. -Instead of withdrawing beneath the tent prepared for him, this person -had sat down before the fire with the peons, who eagerly made way for -him with evident respect. - -Among the peons two men more especially attracted attention. One was a -redskin, the other a half-breed, with a crafty, leering manner, who, for -some reason or another, stood on more familiar terms with his master; -his comrades called him No Carnero, and at times gave him the title of -Capataz. - -No Carnero was the wit of the caravan, the funny fellow--ever ready to -laugh and joke, smoking an eternal cigar, and desperately strumming -an insupportable guitar. Perhaps, though, he concealed beneath this -frivolous appearance a more serious character and deeper thoughts than -he would have liked to display. - -The redskin formed the most complete contrast with the capataz; he was -a tall, thin, dry man, with angular features and gloomy and sad face, -illumined by two black eyes deeply set in their orbit, but constantly -in motion, and having an undefinable expression; his aquiline nose, his -wide mouth lined with large teeth as white as almonds, and his thin -pinched up lips, composed a far from pleasant countenance, which was -rendered still more lugubrious by the obstinate silence of this man, who -only spoke when absolutely compelled, and then only in monosyllables. -Like all the Indians, it was impossible to form any opinion as to his -age, for his hair was black as the raven's wing, and his parchment skin -had not a single wrinkle; at any rate he seemed gifted with no ordinary -strength. - -He had engaged at Santa Fe to act as guide to the caravan, and, with -the exception of his obstinate silence, there was every reason to be -satisfied with the way in which he performed his duty. The peons called -him The Indian, or sometimes Jose--a mocking term employed in Mexico to -designate the Indios mansos; but the redskin appeared as insensible to -compliments as to jokes, and continued coldly to carry out the task he -had imposed on himself. When supper was ended, and each had lit his pipe -or cigarette, the master turned to the capataz. - -"Carnero," he said to him, "although in such frightful weather, and in -these remote regions, we have but little to fear from horse thieves, -still do not fail to place sentries, for we cannot be too provident." - -"I have warned two men, _mi amo_," the capataz replied; "and, moreover, -I intend to make my rounds tonight; eh, Jose," he added, turning to -the Indian, "are you certain you are not mistaken, and that you really -lifted a trail?" - -The redskin shrugged his shoulders disdainfully, and continued his quiet -smoke. - -"Do you know to what nation the sign you discovered belongs?" the master -asked him. - -The Indian gave a nod of assent. - -"Is it a formidable nation?" - -"Crow," the redskin answered hoarsely. - -"Caray!" the master exclaimed, "if they are Crows, we shall do well to -be on our guard, for they are the cleverest plunderers in the Rocky -Mountains." - -"Nonsense!" Carnero remarked with a grin of derision, "do not believe -what that man tells you; the mezcal has got into his head, and he is -trying to make himself of importance; Indians tell as many lies as old -women." - -The Indian's eye flashed; without deigning to reply he drew a moccasin -from his breast, and threw it so adroitly at the capataz as to strike -him across the face. Furious at the insult so suddenly offered him by a -man whom he always considered inoffensive, the half-breed uttered a yell -of rage, and rushed knife in hand on the Indian. - -But the latter had not taken his eye off him, and by a slight movement -he avoided the desperate attack of the capataz; then, drawing himself -up, he caught him round the waist, raised him from the ground as easy -as he would have done a child, and hurled him into the fire, where he -writhed for a moment with cries of pain and impotent passion. When he -at length got out of the fire, half scorched, he did not think of -renewing the attack, but sat down growling and directing savage glances -at his adversary, like a turnspit punished by a mastiff. The master -had witnessed this aggression with the utmost indifference, and having -picked up the moccasin, which he carefully examined-- - -"The Indian is right," he said, coldly, "this moccasin bears the mark of -the Crow nation. My poor Carnero, you must put up with it, for though -the punishment you received was severe, I am forced to allow that it was -deserved." - -The redskin had begun smoking again as quietly as if nothing had -occurred. - -"The dog will pay me for it with his traitor face," the capataz growled, -on hearing his master's warning. "I am no man if I do not leave his body -as food for the crows he discovers so cleverly." - -"My poor lad," his master continued, with a jeer, "you had better forget -this affair, which I allow might be disagreeable to your self-esteem; -for I fancy you would not be the gainer by recommencing the quarrel." - -The capataz did not answer; he looked round at the spectators to select -one on whom he could vent his spite, without incurring any extreme risk; -but the peons were on their guard, and offered him no chance. He then, -with an air of vexation, made a signal to two men to follow him, and -left the circle grumbling. - -The head of the caravan remained for a few minutes plunged in serious -thought; he then withdrew beneath his tent, the curtain of which fell -behind him; and the peons lay down on the ground, one after the other, -with their feet to the fire, and carefully wrapped up in their serapes, -and fell asleep. - -The Indian then took the pipe stem from his mouth, looked searchingly -around him, shook out the ashes, passed the pipe through his belt, -and, rising negligently, went slowly to crouch at the foot of a tree, -though not before he had taken the precaution of wrapping himself -in his buffalo robe, a measure which the sharp air rendered, if not -indispensable, at any rate necessary. - -Ere long, with the exception of the sentries leaning on their guns and -motionless as statues, all the travellers were plunged in deep sleep, -for the capataz himself, in spite of the promise he had made his master, -had laid himself across the entrance of the tent. - -An hour elapsed ere anything disturbed the silence that prevailed in the -camp. All at once a singular thing happened. The buffalo robe, under -which the Indian was sheltered, gently rose with an almost imperceptible -movement, and the redskin's face appeared, darting glances of fire into -the gloom. In a moment the guide raised himself slowly along the trunk -of the tree against which he had been lying, embraced it with his feet -and hands, and with undulating movements resembling those of reptiles, -he left the ground, and raised himself to the first branches, among -which he disappeared. - -This ascent was executed with such well-calculated slowness that it had -not produced the slightest sound. Moreover, the buffalo robe left at -the foot of the tree so well retained its primitive folds, that it was -impossible to discover, without touching it, that the man it sheltered -had left it. - -When the guide was thoroughly concealed among the leaves, he remained -for a moment motionless; though not in order to regain his breath after -having made such an expenditure of strength, for this man was made of -iron, and fatigue had no power over him. But he probably wished to look -about him, for with his body bent forward, and his eyes fixed on space, -he inhaled the breeze, and his glances seemed trying to pierce the gloom. - -Before selecting as his resting place the foot of the tree in which he -was now concealed, the guide had assured himself that this tree, which -was very high and leafy, was joined at about two-thirds of its height by -other trees, which gradually rose along the side of the mountain, and -formed a wall of verdure. - -After a few minutes' hesitation, the guide drew in his belt, placed his -knife between his teeth, and with a certainty and lightness of movement -which would have done honour to a monkey, he commenced literally hopping -from one tree to another, hanging by his arms, and clinging to the -creepers, waking up, as he passed, the birds, which flew away in alarm. - -This strange journey lasted about three-quarters of an hour. At length -the guide stopped, looked attentively around him, and gliding down the -trunk of the tree on which he was, reached the ground. The spot where -he now found himself was a rather spacious clearing, in the centre of -which blazed an enormous fire, serving to warm forty or fifty redskins, -completely armed and equipped for war. Still, singular to say, the -majority of these Indians, instead of their long lances and the bows -they usually employ, carried muskets of American manufacture, which -led to the supposition that they were picked warriors and great braves -of their nation; and this, too, was further proved by the numerous -wolf tails fastened to their heels, an honourable insignia which only -renowned warriors have the right to assume. - -This detachment of redskins was certainly on the war trail, or at any -rate on a serious expedition, for they had with them neither dogs nor -squaws. In spite of the slight care with which the Indians are wont to -guard themselves at night, the free and deliberate manner in which the -guide entered their encampment proved that he was expected by these -warriors, who evinced no surprise at seeing him, but, on the contrary, -invited him with hospitable gestures to take a seat at their fire. The -guide sat down silently, and began smoking the calumet which the chief -seated by his side immediately offered him. This chief was still a young -man, his marked features displaying the utmost craft and boldness. After -a rather lengthened interval, doubtless expressly granted the visitor to -let him draw breath and warm himself, the young chief bowed to him and -addressed him deferentially. - -"My father is welcome among his sons; they were impatiently awaiting his -arrival." - -The guide responded to this compliment with a grimace, in all -probability intended to pass muster for a smile. The chief continued:-- - -"Our scouts have carefully examined the encampment of the Yoris, and the -warriors of the Jester are ready to obey the instructions given them by -their great sachem, Eagle-head. Is my father Curumilla satisfied with -his red children?" - -Curumilla (for the guide was no other than the reader's old acquaintance -the Araucano chief) laid his right hand on his chest, and uttered with a -guttural accent the exclamation, "Ugh!" which was with him a mark of the -greatest joy. - -The Jester and his warriors had been too long acquainted with Curumilla -for his silence to seem strange to them; hence they yielded without -repugnance to his mania, and carefully giving up the hope of getting a -syllable out of his closed lips, began with him a conversation in signs. - -We have already had occasion, in a previous work, to mention that the -redskins have two languages, the written and the sign language. The -latter, which has among them attained a high perfection, and which all -understand, is usually employed when hunting, or on expeditions, when -a word pronounced even in a low voice may reveal the presence of an -ambuscade to the enemy, whether men or beasts, whom they are pursuing, -and desire to surprise. - -It would have been interesting, and even amusing, for any stranger -who had been present at this interview to see with what rapidity the -gestures and signs were exchanged between these men, so strangely lit -up by the ruddy glow of the fire, and who resembled, with their strange -movements, their stern faces, and singular attitudes, a council of -demons. At times the Jester, with his body bent forward, and emphatic -gestures, held a dumb speech, which his comrades followed with the most -sustained attention, and which they answered with a rapidity that words -themselves could not have surpassed. - -At length this silent council terminated. Curumilla raised his hand to -heaven, and pointed to the stars, which were beginning to grow dim, and -then left the circle. The redskins respectfully followed him to the -foot of the tree by the aid of which he had entered their camp. When he -reached it, he turned round. - -"May the Wacondah protect my father!" the Jester then said. "His sons -have thoroughly understood his instructions, and will follow them -literally. The great pale hunter will have joined his friends by this -hour, and he is doubtless awaiting us. Tomorrow Koutonepi will see his -Comanche brothers. At the _enditha_ the camp will be raised." - -"It is good," Curumilla answered, and saluting for the last time the -warriors, who bowed respectfully before him, the chief seized the -creeping plants, and, raising himself by the strength of his wrists, in -a second he reached the branches, and disappeared in the foliage. - -The journey the Indian had made was very important, and needed to be so -for him to run such great risks in order to have an interview at this -hour of the night with the redskins; but as the reader will soon learn -what were the consequences of this expedition, we deem it unnecessary to -translate the sign language employed during the council, or explain the -resolutions formed between Curumilla and the Jester. - -The chief recommenced his aerial trip with the same lightness and the -same good fortune. After a lapse of time comparatively much shorter than -that which he had previously employed, he reached the camp of the white -men. The same silence prevailed in its interior; the sentinels were -still motionless at their post, and the watch fires were beginning to -expire. - -The chief assured himself that no eye was fixed on him--that no spy -was on the watch; and, feeling certain of not being perceived, he slid -silently down the tree and resumed the place beneath the buffalo robe -which he was supposed not to have left during the night. - -At the moment when, after taking a final glance around, the Indian chief -disappeared beneath his robe, the capataz, who was lying athwart the -entrance of the hut, gently raised his head, and looked with strange -fixity of glance at the place occupied by the redskin. - -Had a suspicion been aroused in the Mexican's mind? Had he noticed the -departure and return of the chief? Presently he let his head fall again, -and it would have been impossible to read on his motionless features -what were the thoughts that troubled him. - -The remainder of the night passed tranquilly and peacefully. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMEQUES. - - -The sun rose; its beams played on the trembling yellow leaves of the -trees, and tinged them with a thousand shades of gold and purple. The -birds, cozily nestled in the bushes, struck up their matin carol; -the awakening of nature was as splendid and imposing as it is in all -mountainous countries. - -The leader of the caravan left his tent and gave orders to strike the -camp. The tent was at once folded up, the mules were loaded, and, so -soon as the horses were saddled, the party started without waiting for -the morning meal, for they generally breakfasted at the eleven o'clock -halt, while resting to let the great heat of the day subside. - -The caravan advanced along the road from Santa Fe to the United States, -at a speed unusual under such circumstances. A military system was -affected which was imposing, and, indeed, indispensable in these -regions, infested not merely by numerous bands of predatory Indians, but -also traversed by the pirates of the prairie, more dangerous bandits -still, who were driven by their enemies beyond the pale of the law, and -who, ambushed at the turnings of roads or in broken rocks, attacked the -caravans as they passed, and pitilessly massacred the travellers, after -plundering them of all they possessed. - -About twenty yards ahead of the caravan rode four men, with their rifles -on their thigh, preceded by the guide, who formed the extreme vanguard. -Next came the main body, composed of six well-armed peons, watching -the mules and baggage, under the immediate orders of the chief of the -caravan. Lastly, the capataz rode about thirty paces in the rear, having -under his orders four resolute men armed to the teeth. - -Thus arranged to face any event, the caravan enjoyed a relative -security, for it was not very probable that the white or red pillagers, -who were doubtless watching it, would dare to attack in open day -seventeen resolute and trained men. At night the horse thieves, who -glide silently in the darkness during the sleep of the travellers, and -carry off horses and baggage, were more formidable. - -Still, either through accident, or the prudential measures employed -by the chief of the caravan, since they had left Santa Fe, that is -to say for more than a month, the Mexicans had not seen an Indian, -or been alarmed. They had journeyed--apparently at least--with as -much tranquillity as if, instead of being in the heart of the Rocky -Mountains, they were moving along the roads in, the interior of Sonora. -This security, however, while augmenting their confidence, had not -caused their prudential measures to be neglected; and their chief, whom -this unusual leniency on the part of the villains who prowl about these -countries alarmed, redoubled his vigilance and precautions to avoid a -surprise and a collision with the plunderers. - -The discovery, made on the previous day by the guide, of an Indian -Crow trail--the most determined thieves in these mountains--added to -his apprehensions; for he did not hide from himself that, if he were -compelled to fight, in spite of the courage and discipline of his peons, -the odds would be against him, when fighting men thoroughly acquainted -with the country, and who would only attack him with numbers sufficient -to crush his band, however desperate the resistance offered might be. - -When he left the camp, the chief of the caravan, suffering perhaps from -a gloomy foreboding, spurred his horse and joined the Indian, who, as we -said, was marching alone in front, examining the bushes, and apparently -performing all the duties of an experienced guide. Curumilla, though he -heard the hurried paces of the Mexican's horse, did not turn round, but -continued trotting along carelessly on the sorry mule allotted to him -for this expedition. - -When the chief of the caravan joined him and brought his horse alongside -the Indian, instead of speaking to him, he attentively examined him -for some minutes, trying to pierce the mask of stoicism spread over -the guide's features, and to read his thoughts. But, after a rather -lengthened period, the Mexican was constrained to recognize the -inutility of his efforts, and to confess to himself the impossibility of -guessing the intentions of this man, for whom, in spite of the service -he had rendered the caravan, he felt an instinctive aversion, and whom -he would like to force, at all risks, to make a frank explanation. - -"Indian," he said to him in Spanish, "I wish to speak with you for a -few moments on an important subject, so be good enough to put off your -usual silence for awhile and answer, like an honest man, the questions I -propose asking you." - -Curumilla bowed respectfully. - -"You engaged with me, at Santa Fe, to lead me, for the sum of four -ounces, of which you received one half in advance, to lead me, I say, -safely to the frontiers of Upper Mexico. Since you have been in my -service I must allow that I have only had reason to praise the prudence -in which you have performed your duties; but we are at this moment in -the heart of the Rocky Mountains, that is to say, we have reached the -most dangerous part of our long journey. Two days ago you lifted the -trail of Crow Indians, very formidable enemies of caravans, and I want -to consult with you as to the means to employ to foil the snares in -which these Indians will try to catch us, and to know what measures you -intend to employ to avoid a meeting with them; in a word, I want to know -your plan of action." - -The Indian, without replying, felt in a bag of striped calico thrown -over his shoulder, and produced a greasy paper, folded in four, which he -opened and offered the Mexican. - -"What is this?" the latter asked, as he looked and ran through it. "Oh, -yes, certainly; your engagement. Well, what connection has this with the -question I asked you?" - -Curumilla, still impassive, laid his finger on the paper, at the last -paragraph of the engagement. - -"Well, what then?" the Mexican exclaimed, ill-humouredly. "It is said -there, it is true, that I must trust entirely to you, and leave you at -liberty to act as you please for the common welfare, without questioning -you." - -The Indian nodded his head in assent. - -"Well, _voto a Brios!_" the Mexican shouted, irritated by this studied -coolness, in spite of his resolve to curb his temper, and annoyed at -the man's obstinate refusal to answer, "what proves to me that you are -acting for our common welfare, and that you are not a traitor?" - -At this word traitor, so distinctly uttered by the Mexican, Curumilla -gave a tiger glance at the speaker, while his whole body was agitated by -a convulsive tremor: he uttered two or three incomprehensible guttural -exclamations, and ere the Mexican could suspect his intentions, he -was seized round the waist, lifted from the saddle, and hurled on the -ground, where he lay stunned. - -Curumilla leapt from his mule, drew from his belt two gold ounces, -hurled them at the Mexican, and then, bounding over the precipice -that bordered the road, glided to the bottom with headlong speed and -disappeared at once. - -What we have described occurred so rapidly that the peons who remained -behind, although they hurried up at full speed to their master's -assistance, arrived too late on the scene to prevent the Indian's flight. - -The Mexican had received no wound; the surprise and violence of the -fall had alone caused his momentary stupor; but almost immediately -he regained his senses, and comprehending the inutility and folly of -pursuit at such a spot with such an adversary, he devoured his shame and -passion, and, remounting his horse, which had been stopped, he coolly -gave orders to continue the journey, with an internal resolution that, -if ever the opportunity offered, he would have an exemplary revenge for -the insult he had received. - -For the moment he could not think of it, for more serious interests -demanded all his attention; it was evident to him that, in branding the -guide as a traitor, he had struck home, and that the latter, furious at -seeing himself unmasked, had proceeded to such extremities in order to -escape punishment, and find means to fly safely. - -The situation was becoming most critical for the chief of the caravan; -he found himself abandoned and left without a guide, in unknown regions, -doubtless watched by hidden foes, and exposed at any moment to an -attack, whose result could but be unfavourable to himself and his -people; hence he must form a vigorous resolve in order to escape, were -it possible, the misfortunes that menaced the caravan. - -The Mexican was a man endowed with an energetic organization, brave to -rashness, whom no peril, however great it might be, had ever yet had -the power to make him blench; in a few seconds he calculated all the -favourable chances left him, and his determination was formed. The road -he was following at this moment was assuredly the one frequented by the -caravans proceeding from the United States to California or Mexico; and -there was no other road but this in the mountains. Hence the Mexican -resolved to form an entrenched camp, at the spot that might appear to -him most favourable, fortify himself there as well as he could, and -await the passing of the first caravan, which he would join. - -This plan was exceedingly simple, and in addition very easy to execute. -As the travellers possessed an ample stock of provisions and ammunition, -they had no reason to fear scarcity, while, on the other hand, seven or -eight days in all probability would not elapse without the appearance of -a fresh caravan; and the Mexican believed himself capable of resisting, -behind good entrenchments, with his fifteen peons, any white or red -plunderers who dared to attack him. - -So soon as this resolution was formed, the Mexican at once prepared -to carry it out. After having briefly and in a few words explained -to his disheartened peons what his intentions were, and recommending -them to redouble their prudence, he left them, and pushed on in order -to reconnoitre the ground and select the most suitable spot for the -establishment of the camp. - -He started his horse at a gallop and soon disappeared in the windings -of the road, but, through fear of a sudden attack, he held his gun in -his hand, and his glances were constantly directed around him, examining -with the utmost care the thick chaparral which bordered the road on the -side of the mountain. - -The Mexican went on thus for about two hours, noticing that the further -he proceeded the narrower and more abrupt the track became. Suddenly -it widened out in front of him, and he arrived at an esplanade, across -which the road ran, and which was no other than the Fort of the -Chichimeques, previously described by us. - -The Mexican's practised eye at once seized the advantages of such a -position, and, without loss of time in examining it in detail, he turned -back to rejoin the caravan. The travellers, though marching much more -slowly than their chief, had, however, pushed on, so that he rejoined -them about three-quarters of an hour after the discovery of the terrace. - -The flight of the guide had nearly demoralized the Mexicans, more -accustomed to the ease of tropical regions, and whose courage the -snows of the Rocky Mountains had already weakened, if not destroyed. -Fortunately for the chief's plans he had over his servants that -influence which clever minds know how to impose on ordinary natures, and -the peons, on seeing their master gay and careless about the future, -began to hope that they would escape better than they had supposed from -the unlucky position in which they found themselves so suddenly placed. -The march was continued tranquilly; no suspicious sign was discovered, -and the Mexicans were justified in believing that, with the exception of -the time they would be compelled to lose in awaiting a new guide, the -flight of the Indian would entail no disagreeable consequences on them. - -Singularly enough, Carnero the capataz seemed rather pleased than -annoyed at the sudden disappearance of the guide. Far from complaining -or deploring the delay in the continuance of the journey he laughed at -what had happened, and made an infinitude of more or less witty jests -about it, which in the end considerably annoyed his master, whose joy -was merely on the surface, and who, in his heart, cursed the mishap -which kept them in the mountains, and exposed him to the insults of the -plunderers. - -"Pray, what do you find so agreeable in what has happened that you -are or affect to be so merry, No Carnero?" he at length asked with -considerable ill temper. - -"Forgive me, mi amo," the capataz answered humbly; "but you know the -proverb, 'What can't be cured must be endured,' and consequently I -forgot." - -"Hum!" said the master, without any other reply. - -"And besides," the capataz added, as he stooped down to the chief, and -almost whispering, "however bad our position may be, is it not better to -pretend to consider it good?" - -His master gave him a piercing look, but the other continued -imperturbably with an obsequious smile-- - -"The duty of a devoted servant, mi amo, is to be always of his master's -opinion, whatever may happen. The peons were murmuring this morning -after your departure, and you know what the character of these brutes -is; if they feel alarmed we shall be lost, for it will be impossible -for us to get out of our position; hence I thought that I was carrying -out your views by attempting to cheer them up, and I feign a gaiety -which, be assured, I do not feel, under the supposition that it would be -agreeable to you." - -The Mexican shook his head dubiously, but the observations of the -capataz were so just, the reasons he offered appeared so plausible, -that he was constrained to yield and thank him, as he did not care to -alienate at this moment a man who by a word could change the temper of -his peons, and urge them to revolt instead of adhering to their duty. - -"I thank you, No Carnero," he said, with a conciliatory air. "You -perfectly understood my intentions. I am pleased with your devotion to -my person, and the moment will soon arrive, I hope, when it will be in -my power to prove to you the value I attach to you." - -"The certainty of having done my duty, now as ever, is the sole reward I -desire, mi amo," the capataz answered, with a respectful bow. - -The Mexican gave him a side glance, but he restrained himself, and -it was with a smile that he thanked the capataz for the second time. -The latter thought it prudent to break off the interview here, and, -stopping his horse, he allowed his master to pass him. The chief of the -caravan was one of those unhappily constituted men who after having -passed their life in deceiving or trying to deceive those with whom the -accidents of an adventurous existence have brought them into contact, -had reached that point when he had no confidence in anyone, and sought, -behind the most frivolous words, to discover an interested motive, which -most frequently did not exist. Although his capataz Carnero had been -for a long time in his service, and he granted him a certain amount of -familiarity--although he appeared to place great confidence in him, and -count on his devotion, still, in his heart, he not only suspected him, -but felt almost confident, without any positive proof, it is true, that -he was playing a double game with him, and was a secret agent of his -deceivers. - -What truth there might be in this supposition, which held a firm hold of -the Mexican's mind, we are unable to say at present; but the slightest -actions of his capataz were watched by him, and he felt certain that he -should, sooner or later, attain a confirmation of his doubts; hence, -while feigning the greatest satisfaction with him, he constantly kept on -his guard, ready to deal a blow, which would be the sharper because it -had been so long prepared. - -A little before eleven A.M. the caravan reached the terrace, and it was -with a feeling of joy, which they did not attempt to conceal, that the -peons recognized the strength of the position selected by their master -for the encampment. - -"We shall stop here for the present," the Mexican said. "Unload the -mules, and light the fires. Immediately after breakfast we will begin -entrenching ourselves in such a way as to foil all the assaults of -marauders." - -The peons obeyed with the speed of men who have made a long journey and -are beginning to feel hungry; the fires were lighted in an instant, and -a few moments later the peons vigorously attacked their maize tortillas, -their tocino, and their cecina--those indispensable elements of every -Mexican meal. When the hunger of his men was appeased, and they had -smoked their cigarettes, the chief rose. - -"Now," he said, "to work." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE SURPRISE. - - -The position which the leader of the caravan fancied he had been the -first to discover, and where he had made up his mind to halt, was -admirably selected to establish an intrenched camp--strong enough to -resist for months the attacks of the Indians and the pirates of the -prairies. The immense voladero hovering at a prodigious height above -the precipices, and guarded on the right and left by enormous masses of -rock, offered such conditions of security that the peons regained all -their merry carelessness, and only regarded the mysterious flight of -the guide as an accident of no real importance, and which would have no -other consequences for them but to make their journey somewhat longer -than the time originally arranged. - -It was, hence, with well promising ardour that they rose on receiving -their chiefs command, and prepared under his directions to dig the -trench which was intended to protect them from a surprise. This trench -was to be bordered by a line of tall stakes, running across the open -space between the rocks, which gave the sole access to the terrace. - -The headquarters were first prepared, that is to say, the tent was -raised, and the horses hobbled near pickets driven into the ground. - -At the moment when the leader proceeded with several peons armed with -picks and spades toward the entrance, with the probable intention of -marking the exact spot where the trench was to be dug, the capataz -approached him obsequiously, and said with a respectful bow-- - -"Mi amo, I have an important communication to make to you." - -His master turned and looked at him with ill-concealed distrust. - -"An important communication to make to me?" he repeated. - -"Yes, mi amo," the capataz replied with a bow. - -"What is it? Speak, but be brief, Carnero, for, as you see, I have no -time to lose." - -"I hope to gain you time, excellency," the capataz said with a silent -smile. - -"Ah, ah, what is it?" - -"If you will allow me to say two words aside, excellency, you will know -at once." - -"Diablo! a mystery, Master Carnero?" - -"Mi amo, it is my duty to inform no one but your excellency of my -discovery." - -"Hum! then you have discovered something?" - -The other bowed, but made no further answer. - -"Very well then," his master continued, "come this way: go on, -muchachos," he added, addressing the peons, "I will rejoin you in a -moment." - -The latter went on, while the leader retired for a few paces, followed -by the capataz. When he considered that he had placed a sufficient -distance between himself and the ears of his people, he addressed the -half-breed again-- - -"Now, I suppose, Master Carnero," he said, "you will see no -inconvenience in explaining yourself?" - -"None at all, excellency." - -"Speak then, in the fiend's name, and keep me no longer in suspense." - -"This is the affair, excellency: I have discovered a grotto." - -"What?" his master exclaimed, in surprise, "you have discovered a -grotto?" - -"Yes, excellency." - -"Where?" - -"Here." - -"Here! that's impossible." - -"It's the fact, excellency." - -"But where?" - -"There," he said, stretching out his arm, "behind that mass of rocks." - -A suspicious look flashed from beneath his master's eyelashes. - -"Ah!" he muttered, "that is very singular, Master Carnero; may I ask in -what manner you discovered this grotto, and what motive was so imperious -as to take you among those rocks, when you were aware how indispensable -your presence was elsewhere?" - -The capataz was not affected by the tone in which these words were -uttered; he answered calmly, as if he did not perceive the menace they -contained-- - -"Oh! mi amo, the discovery was quite accidental, I assure you." - -"I do not believe in chance," his master answered "but go on." - -"When we had finished breakfast," the capataz continued, soothingly, "I -perceived, on rising, that several horses, mine among them, had become -unfastened, and were straying in different directions." - -"That is true," his master muttered, apparently answering his own -thoughts rather than the remarks of the capataz. - -The latter gave an almost imperceptible smile. "Fearing," he continued, -"lest the horses might be lost, I immediately started in pursuit. They -were easy to catch, with the exception of one, which rambled among the -rocks, and I was obliged to follow it." - -"I understand; and so it led you to the mouth of the grotto." - -"Exactly, mi amo; I found it standing at the very entrance, and had no -difficulty in seizing the bridle." - -"That is indeed most singular. And did you enter the grotto, Master -Carnero?" - -"No, mi amo. I thought it my duty to tell you of it first." - -"You were right. Well, we will enter it together. Fetch some torches -of ocote wood, and show us the way. By the by, do not forget to bring -weapons, for we know not what men or beasts we may find in caverns thus -opening on a high road." This he said with a sarcastic air, which caused -the capataz to tremble inwardly in spite of his determined indifference. - -While he executed his master's orders, the latter selected six of his -peons, on whose courage he thought he could most rely, ordered them to -take their muskets, and, bidding the others to keep a good watch, but -not begin anything till he returned, he made a signal to the capataz -that he was ready to follow him. No Carnero had followed with an evil -eye the arrangements made by his master, but probably did not deem it -prudent to risk any remark, for he silently bowed his head, and walked -toward the pile of rocks that masked the entrance of the grotto. - -These granite blocks, piled one on top of the other, did not appear, -however, to have been brought there by accident, but, on the contrary, -they appeared to have belonged in some early and remote age to a -clumsy but substantial edifice, which was probably connected with the -breastwork still visible on the edge of the voladero on the side of the -precipice. - -The Mexicans crossed the rocks without difficulty, and soon found -themselves before the dark and frowning entrance of the cavern. The -chief gave his peons a signal to halt. - -"It would not be prudent," he said, "to venture without precautions into -this cavern. Prepare your arms, muchachos, and keep your eyes open; at -the slightest suspicious sound, or the smallest object that appears, -fire. Capataz, light the torches." - -The latter obeyed without a word; the leader of the caravan assured -himself at a glance that his orders had been properly carried out; then -taking his pistols from his belt, he cocked them, took one in each hand, -and said to Carnero-- - -"Take the lead," he said, with a mocking accent; "it is only just that -you should do the honours of this place which you so unexpectedly -discovered. Forward, you others, and be on your guard," he added, -turning to the peons. - -The eight men then went into the cavern at the heels of the capataz, who -raised the torches above his head, doubtless in order to cast a greater -light on surrounding objects. - -This cavern, like most of those found in these regions, seemed to have -been formed through some subterranean convulsion. The walls were lofty, -dry, and covered at various spots with an enormous quantity of night -birds, which, blinded and startled by the light of the torches, took -to flight with hoarse cries, and flew heavily in circles round the -Mexicans. The latter drove them back with some difficulty by waving -their muskets. But the further they got into the interior of the cavern, -the greater the number of these birds became, and seriously encumbered -the visitors by flapping them with their long wings, and deafening them -with their discordant cries. - -They thus reached a rather large hall, into which several passages -opened. Although the Mexicans were a considerable distance from the -entrance, they found no difficulty in breathing, owing doubtless to -imperceptible fissures in the rock, through which the air was received. - -"Let us halt here for a moment," the leader said, taking a torch from -the capataz; "this hall, if the cavern has several issues as I suppose, -will afford us a certain refuge: let us examine the spot where we are." - -While speaking he walked round the hall, and convinced himself, by -certain still existing traces of man's handiwork, that at a former -period the cave had been inhabited. The peons seated themselves idly -on the blocks of granite scattered here and there, and with their guns -between their legs carelessly followed their master's movements. - -The latter felt the suspicions aroused in his mind by the sudden nature -of Carnero's discovery gradually dissipated. He felt certain that for -many years no human being had entered this gloomy cave, for none of -those flying traces which man always leaves in his passage, whatever -precaution he may take to hide his presence, had been discovered by him. -All, on the contrary, evidenced the most utter abandonment and solitude, -and hence the leader of the caravan was not indisposed to retire to this -spot, which was so easy of defence, instead of throwing up an intrenched -camp, always a long and difficult task, and which had the inconvenience -of leaving men and animals exposed to a deadly climate for individuals -accustomed to the heat of the Mexican temperature. - -"While continuing his explanations, the leader conversed with the -capataz in a more friendly manner than he had done for a long time, -congratulating him on his discovery, and explaining his views, to which -the latter listened with his usual crafty smile. All at once he stopped -and listened--the two men were at this moment at the entrance of one of -the passages to which we have referred. - -"Listen," he said to the capataz, as he laid his hand on his arm to -attract his attention, "do you not hear something?" - -The latter bent his body slightly forward, and remained motionless for -some seconds. - -"I do," he said, drawing himself up, "it sounds like distant thunder." - -"Is it not? or, perhaps, the rolling of subterranean waters." - -"Madre de Dios! mi amo," the capataz exclaimed gleefully. "I can swear -that you are right. It would be a piece of luck for us to find water in -the cave, for it would add greatly to our security, as we should not be -obliged to lead our horses, perhaps, a long distance to drink." - -"I will assure myself at once if there is any truth in the supposition. -The noise proceeds from that passage, so let us follow it. As for our -men they can wait for us here; we have nothing to fear now, for if the -pirates or the Indians were ambuscaded to surprise us, they would not -have waited so long before doing so, and hence the assistance of our -peons is unnecessary." - -The capataz shook his head doubtfully. - -"Hum," he said, "the Indians are very clever, mi amo; and who knows what -diabolical projects those redskins revolve in their minds? I believe it -would be more prudent to let the peons accompany us." - -"Nonsense," said his master, "it is unnecessary; we are two resolute -and well-armed men; we have nothing to fear, I tell you. Besides, if, -against all probability, we are attacked, our men will hear the noise -of the conflict, will run to our help, and will be at our side in an -instant." - -"It is not very probable, I grant, that we have any danger to apprehend; -still I considered it my duty as a devoted servant, mi amo, to warn -you, because in the event of Indians being hidden in these passages, -of whose windings we are ignorant, we should be caught like rats in a -trap, with no possibility of escape. Two men, however brave they may -be, are incapable of resisting twenty or thirty enemies, and you know -that Indians never attack white men save when they are almost certain of -success." - -These words seemed to produce a certain impression on the leader of -the caravan. He remained silent for a moment, apparently reflecting -seriously on what he had heard, but he soon raised his head, and shook -it resolutely. - -"Nonsense! I do not believe in the danger you seem to apprehend; after -all, if it really exist, it will be welcome. Wait here, my men, and be -ready to join us at the first signal," he added, addressing the peons, -who answered by rising and collecting in the middle of the hall. - -Their master left them a torch to light them during his exploration, -took the other, and turning to Carnero, said, "Let us go." - -They then entered the passage. It was very narrow, and ran downwards -with a steep incline, so that the two men, who were unacquainted with -its windings, were obliged to walk with the most serious attention, and -carefully examining all the spots they passed. - -The further they proceeded, the more distinct the sound of water became; -it was evident that at a very short distance from the spot where they -were, perhaps but a few steps, there ran one of those subterranean -streams so frequently found in natural caverns, and which are generally -rivers swallowed up by an earthquake. - -All at once, without being warned by the slightest sound, the leader of -the caravan felt himself seized round the waist, his torch was snatched -roughly from his hand, and extinguished against a rock, and himself -thrown down and securely bound, before he was able to attempt the -slightest resistance, so sudden and well calculated had the attack been. -Carnero had been thrown down at the same time as his master, and bound. - -"Cowards, demons!" the Mexican yelled, as he made a superhuman effort to -rise and burst his bonds; "show yourself, at least, so that I may know -with whom I have to deal." - -"Silence! General Don Sebastian Guerrero," a rough voice said to him, -whose accent made him start, in spite of all his courage; "resign -yourself to your fate, for you have fallen into the power of men who -will not liberate you till they have had a thorough explanation with -you." - -General Guerrero, whom the readers of the "Indian Chief" will doubtless -remember, made a movement of impotent rage, but he was silent; he -perceived that the originators of the snare of which he was a victim -were implacable enemies, as they had not feared to call him by his name, -and more formidable than the pirates of the prairies or the redskins, -with whom he at first thought he had to deal. Moreover, he thought that -the darkness that surrounded him would soon cease, and then he would see -his enemies face to face, and recognize them. - -But his expectations were deceived. When his conquerors had borne him to -the hall, where his peons were disarmed and guarded by peons, he saw, -by the light of the torch that faintly illumined the hall, that among -the men who surrounded him few wore the Mexican costume, it was true, -but had their faces hidden by a piece of black crape, forming a species -of mask, and so well fastened round their necks, that it was entirely -impossible to recognize them. - -"What do these men want with me?" he muttered as he let his head fall on -his chest sadly. - -"Patience!" said the man who had already spoken, and who overheard the -general's remark, "you will soon know." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE EXPLANATION. - - -There was a short delay, during which the conquerors appeared to be -consulting together in a low voice; while doing so, an Indian chief, who -was no other than the Jester, entered the hall, and uttered a few words -in Comanche. - -The general and the capataz were again picked up by the redskins, -and at a sign from one of the masked men, transported on to the -voladero. The appearance of the terrace had entirely changed during the -general's short absence, and offered at this moment a most singular and -picturesque scene. - -One hundred and fifty to two hundred Indians, mostly armed with guns, -and ranged in good order round the terrace, the centre of which remained -free, faced the cavern, having among them the disarmed Mexicans, the -baggage, horses, and mules of the caravan. - -The tent still stood solitary in the middle of what Was to have been -the encampment; but the curtain Was raised, and a horseman was standing -in front of it, as if to defend the entrance, and protect the precious -articles it contained from pillage. - -At the moment when the party emerged from the cave, and appeared on the -terrace, the horsemen drawn up at the entrance of the defile opened -out to the right and left, leaving a passage for a small troop of men -dressed in hunters' garb, and whom it was easy to recognize as white -men, by the colour of their skin, although it was bronzed and freckled -by the sun; two ladies, mounted on ambling mules, were in the midst of -them. - -This troop of strangers was composed of eight persons altogether, -leading with them two baggage mules. As the men were disarmed, and -walked on foot amid some fifty Indian horsemen, they had, in all -probability, been surprised by a party of redskins, and made prisoners -in some skilfully-arranged ambuscade. - -The two ladies, one of whom was of a certain age while the other -appeared scarce eighteen, and who might be supposed closely related, -through the resemblance of their features, were treated with an -exquisite politeness they were far from expecting by the Indians, and -conducted to the tent, which they were requested to enter. The curtain -was then lowered, to conceal them from the glances of the Indians, whose -expression, although respectful, must necessarily be disagreeable to -them. - -The new comers, at a signal from their conductors, ranged themselves -with the other prisoners; they were powerful men with marked features, -whom the Indians had probably not given a chance to fight, otherwise -they looked as if they would sooner be killed than yield. - -They displayed neither fear nor depression, but their flashing looks -and frowning brows showed that though they silently submitted to their -fate, they were far from being resigned, and would eagerly seize the -first opportunity to regain the liberty of which they had been so -treacherously deprived. - -Still, in spite of the determination they had doubtless formed to remain -indifferent as to what took place around them, they soon felt themselves -interested more than they liked in the strange drama which they -involuntarily witnessed, and whose gloomy preparations were of a nature -to arouse their curiosity to an eminent degree. - -At the base of the rocks several blocks of granite had been arranged -in a semicircle, thus forming a resemblance to that terrible Vehmic -tribunal, which in olden times held its formidable assize on the banks -of the Rhine, before which kings and even emperors were at times -summoned to appear, and the resemblance was rendered more striking by -the care the assailants took in hiding their features. - -Two masked men took their seats on the granite blocks, and the Indians -who carried the general laid him on the ground in front of this species -of tribunal. The person who seemed to be the president of this sinister -assembly gave a sign, the prisoner's bonds at once fell off, and he -found himself once more able to move his limbs. - -The general drew himself up, crossed his hands on his chest, threw his -body back haughtily, raised his head and looked at the men who had -apparently constituted themselves his judges with a glance of withering -contempt. - -"What do you want with me, bandits?" he said; "enough of this; these -insolent manoeuvres will not alarm me." - -"Silence!" the president said coldly, "it is not your place to speak -thus." - -Then he remarked to the Jester, who was standing a few paces from him-- - -"Bring up the other prisoners, old and new; everybody must hear what is -going to be said to this man." - -The Jester gave a signal to the warriors; some of them dismounted, -approached the prisoners, and, after loosening the cord that bound the -capataz, they led him, as well as the peons and the prisoners of the -second caravan, in front of the tribunal, where they ranged themselves -in line. Then, at a signal from the Jester, the horsemen closed up round -the white men, who were thus hemmed in by Comanche warriors. - -The spectacle offered by this assemblage of men, with their marked -features and quaint garb, grouped without any apparent regularity on -this voladero, which was suspended as if artificially over a terrible -gulf, and leant against lofty mountains, with their abrupt flanks and -snowy crest, was not without a certain grandeur. - -A deadly silence brooded at this moment over the esplanade; all chests -were heaving, every heart was oppressed. Redskins, hunters, and -Mexicans all understood instinctively that a grand drama was about to -be performed; invisible streams could be heard hoarsely murmuring in -the cavern, and at times a gust of wind whistled over the heads of the -horsemen. - -The prisoners, affected by a vague and undefined terror, waited with -secret anxiety, not knowing what fate these ferocious victors reserved -for them, but certain that, whatever the decision formed about them -might be, prayers would be impotent to move them, and that they would -have to endure the atrocious torture to which they would doubtless be -condemned. - -The president looked round the assembly, rose in the midst of a profound -silence, stretched out his arm towards the general, who stood cold and -passionless before him, and, after darting at him a withering glance -through the holes made in the crape that concealed his face, he said in -a grave, stern, and impressive voice-- - -"Caballeros, remember the words you are about to hear, listen to them -attentively, so as to understand them, and not to be in error as to our -intentions. In the first place, in order to reassure you and restore -your entire freedom of mind, learn that you have not fallen into the -hands of Indians thirsting for your blood, or of pirates who intend to -plunder you first and assassinate you afterwards. No, you need not feel -the slightest alarm. When you have acted as impartial witnesses, and are -able to render testimony of what you have seen, should it be required, -you will be at liberty to continue your journey, without the forfeiture -of a single article. The men seated on my right and left, although -masked, are brave and honest hunters. The day may perhaps arrive when -you will know them; but reasons, whose importance you will speedily -recognize, compel them to remain unknown for the present. I was bound -to say this, senores, to you, against whom we bear no animosity, before -coming to a final settlement with this man." - -One of the travellers belonging to the second caravan stepped forward; -he was a young man, with elegant and noble features, tall and well built. - -"Caballero," he answered, in a distinct and sympathizing voice, "I thank -you, in the name of my companions and myself, for the reassuring words -you have spoken. I know how implacable the laws of the desert are, and -have ever submitted to them without a murmur; but permit me to ask you -one question." - -"Speak, caballero." - -"Is it an act of vengeance or justice you are about to carry out?" - -"Neither, senor. It would be an act of folly or weakness if the -inspirations of the heart could be blamed or doubted by honourable and -loyal men." - -"Enough of this, senor," the general said, haughtily; "and if you are, -as you assert, an honourable man, show me your face, in order that I -may know with whom I have to deal." - -The president shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. - -"No, Don Sebastian," he said, "for in that case the game would not be -even between us. But be patient, caballero, and soon you will learn, if -not who I am, at any rate the motives which have made me your implacable -foe." - -The general attempted to smile, but in spite of himself the smile died -away on his lips, and though his haughty bearing seemed to defy his -unknown enemies, a secret apprehension contracted his heart. - -There was a silence for some moments, during which no other sound was -audible save that of the breeze whistling through the denuded branches -and the distant murmur Of the invisible torrents in the quebradas. - -The president looked round with flashing eyes, and folding his arms on -his chest at the same time, as he raised his head, he began speaking -again in a sharp, cutting voice, whose accents caused his hearers to -tremble involuntarily. And yet they were brave men, accustomed to the -terrible incidents of a desert life, and whom the most serious dangers -could not have affected. - -"Now listen, senores," he said, "and judge this man impartially; but -do not judge him according to prairie law, but in your hearts. General -Don Sebastian Guerrero, who is standing so bold and upright before -you at this moment, is one of the greatest noblemen of Mexico, a -_Cristiano viejo_ of the purest blood, descended in a direct line from -the Spanish Conquistadors. His fortune is immense, incalculable, and he -himself could not determine its amount. This man, by the mere strength -of his will, and the implacable egotism that forms the basis of his -character, has always succeeded in everything he has undertaken. Coldly -and resolutely ambitious, he has covered with corpses the bloody road -he was compelled to follow in order to attain his proposed object, and -he has done so without hesitation or remorse; he has looked on with a -smiling face, when his dearest friends and his nearest relations fell -by his side; for him nothing which men respect exists--faith and honour -are with him but empty sounds. He had a daughter, who was the perfection -of women, and he coldly lacerated that daughter's heart; he fatally -drove her to suicide, and the blood of the poor girl spirted on his -forehead, while he was triumphantly witnessing the legal murder of the -man she loved, and whose death he resolved on, because he refused to -palter with his honour, and aid this man in the infamous treachery he -was meditating. This human-faced tiger, this monster with the mocking, -sceptical face, you see, senores, has only one thought, one object, -one desire--it is, to attain the highest rank, even if, to effect it, -he were compelled to clamber over the panting corpses of his relations -and friends sacrificed to his ambition; and if he cannot carve out an -independent kingdom in this collapsing republic, which is called Mexico, -he wishes to seize, at least, on the supreme magistracy, and be elected -president. If this man's life merely comprised this egotistic ambition -and these infamous schemes to satisfy it, I should content myself -with despising, instead of hating him, and not being able to find an -excuse for him, I should forget him. But no; this man has done more--he -dared to lay hands on a man who was my friend, my brother, the Count -de Prebois Crance, to whom I have already referred, senores, without -mentioning his name. Unable to conquer the count loyally, despairing of -winning him over to his shameful cause, he at first tried to poison him; -but, not having succeeded, and wishing to come to an end, he forgot that -his daughter, an angel, the sole creature who loved him, and implored -divine mercy for him, was the betrothed wife of the count, and that -killing him would be her condemnation to death. In his horrible thirst -for revenge, he ordered the judicial murder of my friend, and coldly -presided at the execution, not noticing, in the joyous deliverance of -his satisfied hatred, that his daughter had killed herself at his side, -and that he was trampling her corpse beneath his horse's feet. Such is -what this man has done; look at him well, in order to recognize him -hereafter; he is General Don Sebastian Guerrero, military governor of -Sonora." - -"Oh!" the audience said involuntarily, as they instinctively recoiled in -horror. - -"If this man is the ex-governor of Sonora," the hunter who had already -spoken said, in disgust "he is a wild beast, whom his ferocity has -placed beyond the pale of society, and it is the duty of honest men to -destroy him." - -"He must die! he must die!" the newcomers exclaimed. - -The general's peons were gloomy and downcast; they hung their heads -sadly, for they did not dare attempt to defend their master, and yet did -not like to accuse him. - -The general was still cool and unmoved; he was apparently calm, but a -fearful tempest was raging in his heart. His face was of an earthy and -cadaverous pallor; his brows were contracted till they touched, and his -violet lips were closed, as if he were making violent efforts not to -utter a word, and to restrain his fury from breaking out in insults. His -eyes flashed fire, and then his whole body was agitated by convulsive -movements, but he managed, through his self-command, to conquer his -emotion, and retain the expression of withering contempt, which he had -assumed since the beginning of this scene. - -Seeing that his accuser was silent, he took a step forward, and -stretched out his arm, as if he claimed the right of answering. But his -enemy gave him no time to utter a word. - -"Wait!" he shouted, "I have not said all yet; now that I have revealed -what you have done, I am bound to render the persons here present judges -not only of what I have done, but also of what I intend to do in future -against you." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A DECLARATION OF WAR. - - -The general shrugged his shoulders with a contemptuous smile. - -"Nonsense," he said, "you are mad, my fine fellow. I know now who -you are; your hatred of me has unconsciously discovered you. Remove -that veil which is no longer of any use; I know you, for, as you are -aware, hatred is clear-sighted. You are the French hunter whom I have -constantly met in my path to impede my projects, or overthrow my plans." - -"Add," the hunter interrupted, "and whom you will ever meet." - -"Be it so, unless I crush you beneath my heel like a noxious insect." - -"Ever so proud and so indomitable, do you not fear lest, exasperated by -your insults, I may forget the oath I have taken, and sacrifice you to -my vengeance?" - -"Nonsense," he replied, with a disdainful toss of his head, "you kill -me? that is impossible, for you are too anxious to enjoy your revenge to -stab me in a moment of passion." - -"That is true, this time you are right, Don Sebastian. I will not kill -you, because, however culpable you may be, I do not recognize the right -to do so. Blood does not wash out blood, it only increases the stain; -and I intend to take a more protracted vengeance on you than a stab or a -shot will grant us. Besides this, vengeance has already commenced." - -"Indeed!" the general said sarcastically. - -"Still," the hunter continued with some emotion, "as the vengeance -must be straightforward, I wish to give you, in the presence of all -these gentlemen, the proof that I fear you no more today than I did -when the struggle commenced between us. This veil which you reproach me -for wearing I am going to remove, not because you have recognized me, -but because I deem it unworthy of me to conceal my features from you -any longer. Brothers," he added, turning to his silent assistants, "my -mask alone must fall, retain yours, for it is important for my plans of -vengeance that you should remain unknown." - -The four men bowed their assent, and the hunter threw away the crape -that covered his features. - -"Valentine Guillois!" the general exclaimed; "I was sure of it." - -On hearing this celebrated name, the hunters of the second caravan made -a movement as if to rush forward, impelled either by curiosity or some -other motive. - -"Stay," the Frenchman shouted, stopping them by a quick wave of the -hand, "let me finish with this man first." - -They fell back with a bow. - -"Now," he continued, "we are really face to face. Well, listen patiently -to what still remains for me to tell you; and, perhaps, the assumed -calmness spread over your features will melt away before my words, like -the snow in the sunshine." - -"I will listen to you, because it is impossible for me to do otherwise -at this moment; but if you flatter yourself that you will affect me in -any way, I am bound to warn you that you will not succeed. The hatred I -feel for you is so thoroughly balanced by the contempt you inspire me -with, that nothing which emanates from you can move me in the slightest -degree." - -"Listen then," the hunter coldly continued; "when my unhappy friend -fell at Guaymas, in my paroxysm of grief I allow that I intended to -kill you; but reflection soon came, and I saw that it would be better -to let you live. Thanks to me, one week after the count's death, the -Mexican Government, not satisfied with disavowing your conduct publicly, -deprived you of your command, without inquiry, and refused, in spite of -your remonstrances, to explain to you the motives of their conduct." - -"Ah, ah," the general said, in a hissing but suppressed voice, "it was -to you, then, that I owe my recall?" - -"Yes, general, to me alone." - -"I am delighted to hear it." - -"You remained, then, in Sonora, without power or influence, hated and -despised by all, and marked on your forehead with that indelible brand -which God imprinted on Cain, the first murderer; but Mexico is a -blessed country, where ambitious men can easily fish in troubled waters, -when, like yourself, they are not restrained by any of those bonds of -honour, which too often fetter the genius of honest men. You could not -remain long bowed beneath the blow that had fallen on you, and you made -up your mind in a few days. You resolved to leave Sonora and proceed -to Mexico, where, thanks to your colossal fortune, and the influence -it would necessarily give you, you could carry on your ambitious -projects; by changing the scene, you hoped to cast the scandalous acts -of which you had been guilty into oblivion. Your preparations were soon -made--listen attentively, general, to this, for I assure you that I have -reached the most interesting part of my narration." - -"Go on, go on, senor," he replied carelessly, "I am listening to you -attentively; do not fear that I shall forget one of your words." - -"In spite of your affected indifference, senor, I will go on. As you -fancied, for certain reasons which to is unnecessary to remind you of, -that your enemies might try to lay some ambush for you, during the -long journey you were obliged to perform from Hermosillo to Mexico, -you thought it necessary to take the following precautions, the -inutility of some of which I presume that you have recognized by this -time. While, for the purpose of deceiving your enemies, you started -in disguise, and only accompanied by a few men, for California, in -order to return to Mexico across the Rocky Mountains; while you gave -questioners the fullest details of the road, you pretended to follow, -with your men--your real object was quite different. The man in whom -you placed your confidence, Don Isidro Vargas, a veteran of your War of -Independence, who had known you when a child, and whom you had converted -into your tool, took the shortest, and, consequently, most direct route -for the capital, having with him not only twelve mules loaded with gold -and silver, the fruit of your plunder during the period of your command, -but a more precious article still, the body of your unhappy daughter, -which you had embalmed, and which the captain had orders to inter with -your ancestors at your Hacienda del Palmar, which you left so long ago, -and to which you will, in all probability, never return. Your object -in acting thus was not only to divert attention from your ill-gotten -riches, but also to attract your enemies after yourself. Unfortunately -or fortunately, according as we regard the matter, I am an old hunter -so difficult to deceive that my comrades gave me long ago the glorious -title of the Trail-hunter, and hence, while everybody else was forming -speculations about you, I alone was not deceived, and guessed your plan." - -"Still, your presence here gives a striking denial to the assertion," -the general interrupted him, ironically. - -"You think so, senor, and that proves that you are not thoroughly -acquainted with me yet; but patience, I hope that you will, ere long, -appreciate me better. Moreover you have not reflected on the time that -has elapsed since your departure from Hermosillo." - -"What do you mean?" the general asked, with a sudden start of -apprehension. - -"I mean that before attacking you, I resolved to settle matters first -with the captain." - -"Ah!" - -"Well, general, it is my painful duty to inform you that four days -after he left Pitic, our brave friend Don Isidro, although an old -and experienced soldier, well versed in war stratagems, fell into an -ambuscade resembling the one into which you fell today, with this -exception----." - -"What exception?" the general asked, with greater interest than he would -have liked to display, for he was beginning to fear a catastrophe. - -"My men were so imprudent," the hunter continued, ironically, "as to -leave the captain the means of defending himself. The result was that he -died, bravely fighting to save the gold you had intrusted to him, and, -before all, the coffin containing your daughter's corpse." - -"Well, and I presume you plundered the caravan, and carried off the gold -and silver?" he asked, contemptuously. - -"You would most probably have acted thus under similar circumstances, -Don Sebastian," the hunter answered, giving him back insult for insult; -"but I thought it my duty to act differently. What could you expect? -I, a coarse, uneducated hunter, do not know how to plunder, for I did -not learn it when I had the honour to serve my own country, and I never -stood under your orders in Mexico. This is what I did: so soon as the -captain and the peons he commanded were killed--for the poor devils, I -must do them the justice of saying, offered a desperate resistance--I -myself, you understand, friend, I myself conveyed the money to your -Hacienda del Palmar, where it now remains in safety, as you can easily -assure yourself if you ever return to Palmar." - -The general breathed again, and smiled ironically. "Instead of blaming -you, senor," he said, "I, on the contrary, owe you thanks for this -chivalrous conduct, especially toward an enemy." - -"Do not be in such an hurry to thank me, caballero," the hunter -answered; "I have not told you all yet." - -These words were uttered with such an accent of gratified hatred, that -all the hearers, the general included, shuddered involuntarily, for they -understood that the hunter was about to make a terrible revelation, and -that the calmness he feigned concealed a tempest. - -"Ah," Don Sebastian murmured, "speak, I implore you, senor, for I am -anxious to know all the obligations I owe you." - -"Captain Don Isidro Vargas not only escorted the money I had conveyed to -Palmar," he said in a sharp, quick voice, "but there was also a coffin. -Well, general, why do you not ask me what has become of that coffin?" - -An electric shock ran through the audience on hearing the ironical -question so coldly asked by the hunter, whose eye, implacably fixed on -the general, seemed to flash fire. - -"What!" Don Sebastian exclaimed, "I can hardly think that you have -committed sacrilege?" - -Valentine burst into a loud and sharp laugh. "Your suppositions ever go -beyond the object. I commit sacrilege, oh, no! I loved the poor girl too -dearly when alive to outrage her after death. No, no, the betrothed of -my friend is sacred to me; but as, in my opinion, the assassin can have -no claim to the body of his victim, and you are morally your daughter's -murderer, I have robbed you of this body, which you are not worthy to -have, and which must rest by the side of him for whom she died." - -There was a moment's silence. The general's face, hitherto pale, assumed -a greenish hue, and his eyes were suffused with blood. Now and then he -made superhuman efforts to speak, which were unsuccessful, but at length -he yelled in a hoarse and hissing voice-- - -"It is not true; you have not done this. You cannot have dared to rob a -father of his child's body." - -"I have done it, I tell you," the hunter said coldly. "I have taken -possession of the body of your victim, and now you understand me; -never shall you know where this poor body rests. But this is only -the beginning of my vengeance. What I wish to kill in you is the soul -and not the body; and now begone, go and forget at Mexico, amid your -ambitious intrigues, the scene that has passed between us; but remember -that you will find me in your path everywhere and ever. Farewell till we -meet again." - -"One last word," the general exclaimed, affected by the deepest despair, -"restore me my daughter's body; she was the only human creature I ever -loved." - -The hunter regarded him for a moment with an undefinable expression, and -then said in a harsh and coldly-mocking voice, "Never." - -Then, turning away, he re-entered the grotto, followed by his -assistants. The general tried to rush after him, but the Indians -restrained him, and, in spite of his resistance, compelled him to stop. - -Don Sebastian, who was the more overwhelmed by the last blow because -it was unexpected, stood for a moment like a man struck by lightning, -with pendant arms and seared eyes. At last a heartrending sob burst from -his bosom, two burning tears sprung from his eyes, and he rolled like a -corpse on the ground. - -The very Indians, those rough warriors to whom pity is a thing unknown, -felt moved by this frightful despair, and several of them turned away -not to witness it. - -In the meanwhile the Jester had ordered the peons to saddle the horses -and load the mules. The general was placed by two servants on a horse, -without appearing to notice what was done to him, and a few minutes -later the caravan left the Fort of the Chichimeques, and passed -unimpeded through the silent ranks of the Indians, who bowed as it -passed. - -"When the Mexicans had disappeared in the windings of the road, -Valentine emerged from the grotto, and walked courteously up to the -hunters of the second caravan. - -"Forgive me," he said to them, "not the delay I have occasioned you, -but the involuntary alarm I caused you; but I was compelled to act as I -did. You are going to Mexico, where I shall soon be myself, and it is -possible that I may require your testimony some day." - -"A testimony which will not be refused, my dear countryman," the hunter -who had hitherto spoken gracefully answered. - -"What!" the hunter exclaimed in amazement, "are you French?" - -"Yes, and all my companions are so, too. We have come from San -Francisco, where, thanks to Providence, we have amassed a very -considerable fortune, which we hope to double in the Mexican capital. -My name is Antoine Rallier, and these are my brothers, Edward and -Augustus; the two ladies who accompany us are my mother and sister, and -if you know nobody in Mexico, come straight to me, sir, and you will be -received, not only as a friend, but as a brother." - -The hunter pressed the hand his countryman offered him. - -"As this is the case," he said, "I will not let you go alone, for these -mountains are infested by bandits of every description, whom you may not -escape, but with my protection you can pass anywhere." - -"I heartily accept the offer; but why do you not come with us to Mexico?" - -"That is impossible for the present," the hunter answered pensively; -"but be at your ease. I shall not fail to demand the fulfilment of your -promise." - -"You will be welcome, friend, for we have been acquainted for a long -time, and we know that you have ever honourably represented France in -America." - -Two hours later the Fort of the Chichimeques had returned to its usual -solitude; white men and Indians had abandoned it for ever. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -MEXICO. - - -We will now leap over about two months and, leaving the Rocky Mountains, -invite the reader to accompany us to the heart of Mexico. - -The Spanish Conquistadors selected with admirable tact the sites on -which they founded the cities destined to insure their power, and become -at a later date the centres of their immense trade, and the entrepots of -their incalculable wealth. - -Even at the present day, although owing to the negligence of the -Creoles and their continual fratricidal Wars, combined with the sudden -earthquakes, these cities are half ruined, and the life which the -powerful Spanish organization caused to circulate in them has died out, -these cities are still a subject of surprise to the traveller accustomed -to the morbid crowding of old European cities. He regards with awe -these vast squares, surrounded by cloister-like arcades; these broad -and regular streets through which refreshing waters continually flow; -these shady gardens in which thousands of gaily-plumaged birds twitter; -these bold bridges; these majestically simple buildings, whose interiors -contain incalculable wealth. And yet, we repeat, the majority of these -cities are only the shadow of themselves. They seem dead, and are only -aroused by the furious yells of an insurrection, to lead for a few -days a feverish existence under the excitement of political passions. -But so soon as the corpses are removed, and water has washed away the -blood stains, the streets revert to their solitude, the inhabitants -hide themselves in their carefully-closed houses, and all becomes again -gloomy, mournful, and silent, only to be galvanized afresh by the hoarse -murmurs of an approaching revolt. - -If we except Lima, the splendid "Ciudad de los Reyes," Mexico is -probably the largest and handsomest of all the cities that cover the -soil of ancient Spanish America. - -From whatever point we regard it, Mexico affords a magnificent view; -but if you wish to enjoy a really fairy-like sight, ascend at sunset one -of the towers of the cathedral, whence you will see the strangest and -most picturesque panorama imaginable unrolled at your feet. - -Mexico certainly existed before the discovery of America, and our -readers will probably pardon a digression showing how the foundation of -the city is narrated by old chroniclers. - -In the year of the death of Huetzin, King of Tezcuco, that is to say, -the "spot where people stop," because it was at this very place that the -migration of the Chichimeques terminated, the Mexicans made an eruption -into the country, and reached the place where Mexico now stands, at the -beginning of the year 1140 of our era. This place then formed part of -the dominions of Aculhua, Lord of Azcapotzalco. - -According to paintings and the old chronicles, these Indians came from -the empires of the province of Xalisco. It appears that they were of the -same race as the Toltecs, and of the family of the noble Huetzin, who -with his children and servants escaped during the destruction of the -Toltecs, and was residing at that period at Chapultepec, which was also -destroyed at a later date. - -It is recorded that he traversed with them the country of Michoacan, -and took refuge in the province of Atzlan, where he died, and had for -his successors Ozolopan, his son, and Aztlal, his grandson, whose heir -was Ozolopan II. The latter, remembering the country of his ancestors, -resolved to return thither with his entire nation, which was already -called Mezetin. After many adventures and combats, they at length -reached the banks of a great lake covered with an infinitude of islands, -and as the recollection of their country had been traditionally kept up -among them, they at once recognized it, though not one of them had even -seen it before. Too weak to resist the people that surrounded them, or -to establish themselves in the open country, they founded on several of -the islands, which they connected together, a town, which they called -after themselves, Mexico, and which at a later date was destined to be -the capital of a powerful empire. - -Although the Mexicans arrived on the banks of the lake in 1140, it was -not till two years later that the American Venice began to emerge from -the bosom of the waters. - -We have dwelt on these details in order to correct an error made by a -modern author, who attributes to the Aztecs the foundation of this city, -to which he gives the name of Tenochtitlan, instead of Temixtetlan, -which is the correct name.[1] - -Like Venice, its European sister, Mexico was only a collection of -cabins, offering a precarious shelter to wretched fishermen, who were -incessantly kept in a state of alarm by the attacks of their neighbours. -The Mexicans, at first scattered over a great number of small islands, -felt the necessity of collecting together in order to offer a better -resistance. By their patience and courage they succeeded in building -houses, raised on piles, and employing the mud of the lagoons, held -together by branches of trees, they created the _chinampas_, or floating -gardens, the most curious in the world, on which they sowed vegetables, -pimento, and maize, and thus, with the aquatic birds they managed to -catch on the lake, they contrived to be entirely independent of their -neighbours. - -Almost destroyed during the obstinate fights between the natives and the -Spaniards, Mexico, four years after the conquest, was entirely rebuilt -by Fernando Cortez. But the new city in no way resembled the old one. -Most of the canals were filled up, and paved over; magnificent palaces -and sumptuous monasteries rose as if by enchantment, and the city became -entirely Spanish. - -Mexico has been so frequently described by more practised pens than -ours, and we, in previous works, have had such frequent occasions -to allude to it, that we will not attempt any description here, but -continue our story without further delay. - -It was October 12th, 1854, two months, day for day, had elapsed since -the unfortunate Count de Prebois Crance, victim of an iniquitous -sentence, had honourably fallen at Guaymas beneath the Mexican -bullets.[2] A thick fog had hung over the city for the whole day, -changing at times into a fine drizzle, which after sunset became -sharper, although a heavy fog still prevailed. However, at about eight -in the evening the rain ceased to fall, and the stagnant waters of the -lake began to reflect a few particles of brighter sky. The snow-clad -summit of Iztaczihuatl, or the White Woman, feebly glistened in the pale -watery moonbeams, while Popocatepetl remained buried in the clouds.[3] - -The streets and squares were deserted, although the night was not yet -far advanced; for the loungers and promenaders, driven away by the -weather, had returned to their homes. A deep silence brooded over the -city, whose lights expired one after the other, and only at lengthened -intervals could be heard on the greasy pavement the footsteps of the -serenos, or watchmen, who performed their melancholy walk, with the -indifferent air peculiar to that estimable corporation. At times a few -discordant sounds, escaping from the velorios were borne along on the -breeze; but that was all--the city seemed asleep. - -Half past nine was striking by the cathedral clock at the moment when -a dull sound resembling the rustling of reeds shaken by the wind was -audible on the gigantic highway joining the city to the main land. This -sound soon became more distinct, and changed into the trampling of -horses, which was deadened by the damp air and the ground softened by -a lengthened rain. A black mass emerged from the fog, and two horsemen -wrapped in thick cloaks stood out distinctly in the moonlight. - -These horsemen seemed to have made a long journey; their steeds, -covered with mud, limped at each step, and only advanced with extreme -difficulty. They at length reached a low house, through whose dirty -panes a doubtful light issued, which showed that the inhabitants were -still awake. - -The horsemen stopped before this house, which was an inn, and without -dismounting, one of them gave the door two or three kicks, and called -the host in a loud sharp voice. The latter, doubtless disturbed by this -unusual summons at so improper an hour, was in no hurry to answer, and -would have probably left the strangers for some time in the cold, if the -man who had kicked, probably tired of waiting, had not thought of an -expeditious means of obtaining an answer. - -"_Voto a Brios!_" he shouted, as he drew a pistol from his holster, and -cocked it, "since this dog is resolved not to open, I will send a bullet -through his window." - -This menace had been scarce uttered ere the door opened as if by -enchantment, and the landlord appeared on the threshold. This man -resembled landlords in all countries; he had, like them, a sleek and -crafty look, but at this moment his obsequiousness badly concealed a -profound terror, evidenced by the earthy pallor of his face. - -"Hola, caballero," he said, with a respectful bow, "have a little -patience, if you please. Caramba! how quick you are; it is plain to -see that you are forasteros, and not acquainted with the custom of our -country." - -"No matter who I am," the stranger answered sharply; "are you a -landlord--yes or no?" - -"I have that honour, caballero," the host remarked, with a deeper bow -than the first. - -"If you are so, scoundrel," the stranger exclaimed angrily, "by what -right do you, whose duty it is to be at the orders of the public, dare -to keep me waiting thus at your door?" - -The landlord had a strong inclination to get into a passion, but the -resolute tone of the man who addressed him, and, above all, the pistol -he still held in his hand, urged him to prudence and moderation; hence -he answered with profound humility-- - -"Believe me, senor, that if I had known what a distinguished caballero -did me the honour of stopping before my humble dwelling, I should have -hastened to open." - -"A truce to such impertinent remarks, and open the door." - -The landlord bowed without replying this time, and whistled a lad, -who came to help him in holding the travellers' horses; the latter -dismounted, and entered the inn, while their tired steeds were led to -the corral by the boy. - -The room into which the travellers were introduced was low, black, and -furnished with tables and benches in a filthy state, and mostly broken, -while the floor of stamped earth was greasy and uneven. Above the bar -was a statuette of the Virgin de la Soledad, before which burned a -greasy candle. In short, this inn had nothing attractive or comfortable -about it, and seemed to be a velorio of the lowest class, apparently -used by the most wretched and least honourable ranks of Mexican society. - -A glance was sufficient for the travellers to understand the place to -which accident had led them, still they did not display any of the -disgust which the sight of this cut-throat den inspired them with. They -seated themselves as comfortably as they could at a table, and the one -who had hitherto addressed mine host went on, while his silent companion -leaned against the wall, and drew the folds of his cloak still higher up -his face. - -"Look here," he said, "we are literally dying of hunger, patron; could -you not serve us up a morsel of something? I don't care what it is in -the shape of food." - -"Hum!" said the host with an embarrassed air, "it is very late, -caballero, and I don't believe I have even a maize tortilla left in the -whole house." - -"Nonsense," the traveller replied, "I know all about it, so let us deal -frankly with each other; give me some supper, for I am hungry, and we -will not squabble about the price." - -"Even if you paid me a piastre for every tortilla, excellency, I really -could not supply you with two," the landlord replied, with increased -constraint. - -The traveller looked at him fixedly for a moment or two, and then laid -his hand firmly on his arm, and pulled him toward the table. - -"Now, look here, No Lusacho," he said to him curtly, "I intend to pass -two hours in your hovel, at all risks; I know that between this and -eleven o'clock you expect a large party, and that all is prepared to -receive them." - -The landlord attempted to give a denial, but the traveller cut him short. - -"Silence," he continued, "I wish to be present at the meeting of these -persons; of course I do not mean them to see me; but I must not only -see them, but hear all they say. Put me where you please, that is your -concern; but as any trouble deserves payment, here are ten ounces for -you, and I will give you as many more when your visitors have gone, and -I assure you that what I ask of you will not in any way compromise -you, and that no one will ever know the bargain made between us--you -understand me, I suppose? Now, I will add, that if you obstinately -refuse the arrangement I offer----" - -"Well, suppose I do?" - -"I will blow out your brains," the traveller said distinctly; "my friend -here will put you on his shoulder, throw you into the water, and all -will be over. What do you think of my proposal?" - -"Hang it, excellency," the poor fellow answered, with a grimace which -attempted to resemble a smile, and trembling in all his limbs, "I think -that I have no choice, and am compelled to accept." - -"Good! now you are learning reason; but take these ounces as a -consolation." - -The landlord pocketed the money, as he raised his eyes to heaven and -gave a deep sigh. - -"Fear nothing, _viva Dios_!" the traveller continued; "all will pass off -better than you suppose. At what hour do you expect your visitors?" - -"At half past ten, excellency." - -"Good! it is half past nine, we have time before us. Where do you -propose to hide us?" - -"In this room, excellency." - -"Here, diablo; whereabouts?" - -"Behind the bar; no one will dream of looking for you there, and, -besides, I shall serve as a rampart to you." - -"Then you will be present at the meeting?" - -"Oh!" he said with a smile, "I am nobody; the more so, that if I spoke, -my house would be ruined." - -"That is true. Well, then, all is settled; when the hour arrives, you -will place us behind the bar; but can my companion and I sit there with -any degree of comfort?" - -"Oh, you will have plenty of room." - -"I fancy this is not the first time such a thing has occurred, eh?" - -The landlord smiled, but made no answer: the traveller reflected for a -moment. - -"Give us something to eat," he at length said; "here are two piastres in -addition for what you are going to place before us." - -The landlord took the money, and forgetting that he had declared a -few moments previously that he had nothing in the house, he instantly -covered the table with provisions, which, if not particularly delicate, -were, however, sufficiently appetizing, especially for men whose -appetite appeared to be powerfully excited. - -The two travellers vigorously attacked this improvised supper, and for -about twenty minutes no other sound was heard but that of their jaws. -When their hunger was at length appeased, the traveller who seemed to -speak for both, thrust away his plate, and addressed the landlord, who -was modestly standing behind him hat in hand. - -"And now for another matter," he said; "how many lads have you to help -you?" - -"Two, excellency--the one who took your horses to the corral, and -another." - -"Very good. I presume you will not require both those lads to wait on -your friends tonight?" - -"Certainly not, excellency; indeed, for greater security, I shall wait -on them alone." - -"Better still; then, you see no inconvenience in sending of them into -the Cuidad; of course on the understanding that he is well paid for the -trip?" - -"No inconvenience at all, excellency; what is the business?" - -"Simply," he said, taking a letter from his bosom, "to convey this -letter to Senor Don Antonio Rallier, in the Calle Secunda Monterilla, -and bring me back the answer in the shortest possible period to this -house." - -"That is easy, excellency; if you will have the kindness to intrust the -letter to me." - -"Here it is, and four piastres for the journey." - -The host bowed respectfully, and immediately left the room. - -"I fancy, Curumilla," the traveller then said to his companion, "that -our affairs are going well." - -The other replied by a silent nod of assent, and a moment the landlord -returned. - -"Well?" the traveller asked. - -"Your messenger has set off, excellency, but he will probably be some -time ere he returns." - -"Why so?" - -"Because people are not allowed to ride about the city at night without -a special authority, and he will be obliged to go and return on foot." - -"No consequence, so long as he returns before sunrise." - -"Oh, long before then, excellency." - -"In that case all is for the best; but I think the moment is at hand -when your friends will arrive." - -"It is, excellency, so have the kindness to follow me." - -"All right." - -The travellers rose; in a twinkling the landlord removed all signs of -supper, and then hid his guests behind the bar. This bar, which was -very tall and deep, offered them a perfectly secure, if not convenient, -hiding place, in which they crouched down with a pistol in each hand, in -order to be ready for any event. They had scarce installed themselves -ere several knocks, dealt in a peculiar fashion, were heard on the outer -door. - - -[1] In order to protect themselves from the misfortunes which had before -crushed them, the Mexicans placed themselves under the safeguard of the -King of Azcapotzalco, on whose lands they had established themselves. -This prince gave them two of his sons as governors, of whom the first -was Acamapuhtli, chief of the Tenochcas. On their arrival in Ahanuec, -these Indians had found on the summit of a rock a nopal, in which was an -eagle devouring a serpent, and they took their name from it. Acamapuhtli -selected this emblem as the _totem_ of the race he was called upon to -govern. During the War of Independence, the insurgents adopted this -hieroglyphic as the arms of the Mexican Republic, in memory of the -ancient and glorious origin of which it reminded them. - -[2] See the "Indian Chief." Same publishers. - -[3] This second volcano, whose name indicates "The Smoking Mountain," is -near the former. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE RANCHO. - - -In one of our previous works we proved by documentary evidence -that, since the declaration of its independence, that is to say, in -about forty years, Mexico has reached its two hundred and thirtieth -revolution which gives an average of about five revolutions a year. In -our opinion, this is very decent for a country which, if it pleased, -regard being had to the retrograde measures adopted by the government, -would have been justified in having at least one a month. - -The causes of these revolutions are and must be ever the same in -a country where the sabre rules without control, and which counts -_twenty-four_ thousand officers for an army of twenty thousand -men. These officers, very ignorant generally, and very ambitious -individually, incapable of executing the slightest manoeuvre, or -commanding the most simple movement, find in the general disorder -chances of promotion which they would not otherwise have, and many -Mexican generals have attained their elevated rank without having once -been present at a battle, or even seen any other fire than that of -the cigarettes they constantly have in their mouths. The real truth -is, they have skilfully pronounced themselves; each _pronunciamiento_ -has gained them a step, sometimes two, and with pronunciamiento after -pronunciamiento, they have acquired the general's scarf, that is to say, -the probability, with the aid of luck, of being in their turn proclaimed -President of the Republic, which is the dream of all of them, and the -constant object of their efforts. - -We have said that the travellers had scarce time to conceal themselves -in the bar, ere several knocks on the door warned the landlord that the -mysterious guests he expected were beginning to arrive. - -No Lusacho was a fat little man, with constantly rolling gray eyes, a -cunning look, and a prominent stomach--the true type of the Mexican -Ranchero, who is more eager for gain than two Jews, and very ready when -circumstances demand it, that is to say, when his own interests are -concerned, to make a bargain with his conscience. He assured himself by -a glance that all was in order in the room, and that there was nothing -to cause the presence of strangers to be suspected, and then walked to -the door; but, before opening, with the probable intention of displaying -his zeal, he thought it advisable to challenge the arrivals. - -"?Quien vive?" he asked. - -"Gente de paz!" a rough voice answered; "open in the Fiend's name, if -you do not wish us to break in your door." - -No Lusacho doubtless recognized the voice, for the somewhat brusque -response appeared to him sufficient, and he immediately prepared to draw -back the bolts. - -The door was hardly ajar ere several men burst into the inn, thrusting -each other aside in their haste, as if afraid of being followed. These -men were seven or eight in number; and it was easy to see they were -officers, in spite of the precaution of some among them who had put on -civilian attire. - -They laughed and jested loudly, which proved that, if they were -conspirators, or, at least, if they were brought to this ill-famed den -by any illicit object, that object, whatever it might be, did not spoil -their gaiety or appear to them of sufficient importance to render -them unwontedly serious. - -They seated themselves at a table, and the landlord, who had doubtless -long been acquainted with their habits, placed before them a bottle of -Catalonian refino and a jug of pulque, which they straightway began -swallowing while rolling their cigarettes. - -The door of the rancho had been left ajar by the landlord, who probably -thought it unnecessary to close it; the officers succeeded each other -with great rapidity, and their number soon became so great, that the -room, though very spacious, was completely filled. The newcomers -followed the example of those who had preceded them; they seated -themselves at a table, and began drinking and smoking, not appearing to -trouble themselves about the earlier comers, to whom they merely bowed -as they entered. - -As for No Lusacho, he continually prowled round the tables, watching -everything with a corner of his eyes, and being careful not to serve the -slightest article without receiving immediate payment. At length one of -the officers rose, and, after rapping his glass on the table several -times to attract attention, he asked-- - -"Is Don Sirven here?" - -"Yes, senor," a young man of twenty at the most answered as he rose. His -effeminate features were already worn by precocious debauchery. - -"Assure yourself that no person is absent." - -The young man bowed, and began walking from one table to the other, -exchanging two or three words in a low voice with each of the visitors. -When Don Sirven had gone round the room, he went to the person who had -addressed him, and said with a respectful bow-- - -"Senor coronel, the meeting is complete, and only one person is absent; -but as he did not tell us certainly whether he would do us the honour of -being present tonight, I----" - -"That will do, alferez," the colonel interrupted him; "remain outside -the house, carefully watch the environs, and let no one approach without -challenging him, but if you know who arrives, introduce him immediately. -You have heard me, so execute my orders punctually; you understand the -importance of passive obedience for yourself." - -"You can trust to me, coronel," the young man answered; and, after -bowing to his superior officer, he left the room and closed the door -behind him. - -The officers, then, without getting up, turned round on the benches, and -thus found themselves face to face with the colonel, who had stationed -himself in the middle of the room. The latter waited a few minutes till -perfect silence was established, and then, after bowing to the audience, -he spoke as follows;-- - -"Let me, in the first place, thank you, caballeros, for the punctuality -with which you have responded to the meeting I had the honour of -arranging with you. I am delighted at the confidence it has pleased you -to display in me, and, believe me, I shall show myself worthy of it; for -it proves to me once again that you are really devoted to the interests -of our country, and that it may freely reckon on you in the hour of -danger." - -This first portion of the colonel's speech was drowned in applause, -as was only fitting. This colonel was a man of about forty years of -age, of herculean stature, and looking more like a butcher than an -honest soldier. His cunning looks did not at all inspire confidence, -and every step in his profession had been the reward of an act of -treachery. He was a most valuable man in a conspiracy on this account, -for being so old a hand at pronunciamientos, people knew that he was too -clever to join a losing cause; hence, he inspired his accomplices with -unlimited confidence. After allowing time for the enthusiasm to calm, he -continued-- - -"I am pleased, senores, not at this applause, but at the devotion you so -constantly display for the public welfare. You understand as well as I -do that we can no longer bow our necks beneath the despotic government -that tyrannizes over us. The man who at this moment holds our destinies -in his hands has shown himself unworthy of the mandate we confided to -him; by failing in his duties towards us, he has liberated us from the -oath of obedience we took to him. Human patience has its limits, and the -hour will soon strike for the man who has deceived us to be overthrown." - -The colonel had made a start, and would probably have continued his -plausible speech for a long time in an emphatic voice, had not one of -his audience, evidently wearied of finding nothing positive or clear in -this flood of sounding words, suddenly interrupted him-- - -"That is all very fine, colonel," he said, "_Rayo de Dios!_ we are all -aware that we are gentlemen devoted, body and soul, to our country; but -devotion must be paid for, _cuerpo de Cristo!_ What shall we get by all -this after all? We have not assembled here to compliment each other; -but, on the contrary, to come to a definite understanding. So pray come -to the point at once." - -The colonel was at first slightly embarrassed by this warm apostrophe; -but he recovered himself at once, and turned with a smile to his -interrupter-- - -"I was coming to it, my dear captain, at the very moment when you cut -across my speech." - -"Oh, that is different," the captain answered; "pray suppose that I had -not spoken, and explain the affair in a couple of words." - -"In the first place," the colonel went on, "I have news for you which I -feel assured you will heartily welcome. This is the last time we shall -meet." - -"Very good," said the practical captain, encouraged by the winks of his -companions, "let us hear first what the reward is." - -The colonel saw that he could no longer dally with the matter, for all -his hearers openly took part with their comrade, and murmurs of evil -augury were beginning to be audible. At the moment when he resolved to -tell all he knew, the door of the inn was opened, and a man wrapped -in a large cloak quickly entered the room, preceded by the Alferez Don -Sirven, who shouted in a loud voice-- - -"The general. Caballeros, the general." - -At this announcement silence was re-established as if by enchantment. -The person called the general stopped in the middle of the room, looked -around him, and then took off his hat, let his cloak fall from his -shoulders, and appeared in the full-dress uniform of a general officer. - -"Long live General Guerrero!" the officers shouted, as they rose -enthusiastically. - -"Thanks, gentlemen, thanks," the general responded with numerous bows. -"This warm feeling fills me with delight; but pray be silent, that we -may properly settle the matter which has brought us here; moments are -precious, and, in spite of the precautions we have taken, our presence -at this inn may have been denounced." - -All collected round the general with a movement of interest easy to -understand. The latter continued-- - -"I will come at once to facts," he said, "without entering into idle -speculations, which would cause us to waste valuable time. In a word, -then, what is it we want? To overthrow the present government, and -establish another more in conformity with our opinions and, above all, -our interests." - -"Yes, yes," the officers exclaimed. - -"In that case we are conspiring against the established authority, -and are rebels in the eyes of the law," the general continued coolly -and distinctly; "as such, we stake our heads, and must not attempt -any self-deception on this point. If our attempt fails, we shall be -pitilessly shot by the victor; but we shall not fail," he hastily -added, on noticing the impression these ill-omened words produced on -his hearers; "we shall not fail, because we are resolutely playing a -terrible game, and each of us knows that his fortune depends on winning -the game. From the alferez up to the brigadier-general each knows that -success will gain him two steps of promotion, and such a stake is -sufficient to determine the least resolute to be staunch when the moment -arrives to begin the struggle." - -"Yes, yes," the captain whose observations had, previous to the -general's arrival, so greatly embarrassed the colonel, said, "all that -is very fine. Jumping up two steps is a most agreeable thing; but we -were promised something else in your name, excellency." - -The general smiled. - -"You are right, captain," he remarked; "and I intend to keep all -promises made in my name--but not, as you might reasonably suppose, when -our glorious enterprise has succeeded. If I waited till then, you might -fear lest I should seek pretexts and excuses to evade their performance." - -"When then, pray?" the captain asked, curiously. - -"At once, senores," the general exclaimed, in a loud voice, and, -addressing the whole company, "I wish to prove to you that my confidence -in you is entire, and that I put faith in the word you pledged to me." - -Joy, astonishment, incredulity, perhaps, so paralyzed his hearers, that -they were unable to utter a syllable. The general examined them for a -moment, and then, turning away with a mocking smile, he walked to the -front door, which he opened. The officers eagerly watched his movements, -with panting chests, and the general, after looking out, coughed twice. - -"Here I am, excellency," a voice said, issuing from the fog. - -"Bring in the bags," Don Sebastian ordered, and then quietly returned to -the middle of the room. - -Almost immediately after a man entered, bearing a heavy leather -saddlebag. It was Carnero, the capataz. At a signal from his master, -he deposited his bundle and went out; but returned shortly after with -another bag, which he placed by the side of the first one. Then, after -bowing to his master, he withdrew, and the door closed upon him. - -The general opened the bags, and a flood of gold poured in a trickling -cascade on the table; the officers instinctively bent forward, and held -out their quivering hands. - -"Now, senores," the general said, still perfectly calm, as he carelessly -rested his arm on the pile of gold; "permit me to remind you of our -agreement; there are thirty-five of us at present, I believe?" - -"Yes, general, thirty-five," the captain replied, who seemed to have -appointed himself speaker in ordinary for self and partners. - -"Very good; these thirty-five caballeros are thus subdivided:--ten -alferez, who will each receive twenty-five ounces of silver. Senor Don -Jaime Lupo," he said, turning to the colonel, "will you be kind enough -to hand twenty-five ounces to each of these gentlemen?" - -The alferez, or sub-lieutenants, broke through the ranks, and boldly -came up to receive the ounces, which the colonel delivered to each of -them; then they fell back with a delight they did not attempt to conceal. - -"Now," the general continued, "twelve captains, to each of whom I wish -you to offer, on my behalf, Don Lupo, fifty ounces." - -The captains pocketed the money with no more ceremony than the alferez -had displayed. - -"We have ten tenientes, each of whom is to receive thirty-five ounces, I -believe?" - -The tenientes, or lieutenants, who had begun to frown on seeing the -captains paid before them, received their money with a bow. - -"There now remain three colonels, each of whom has a claim to one -hundred ounces," the general said; "be kind enough to pay them, my dear -colonel." - -The latter did not let the invitation be repeated twice. Still the -entire pile of gold was not exhausted, and a considerable sum still -remained on the table. Don Sebastian Guerrero passed his hands several -times through the glittering metal, and at length thrust it from him. - -"Senores," he said, with an engaging smile, "about five hundred ounces -remain, which I do not know what to do with; may I ask you to divide -them among you, as subsistence money while awaiting the signal you are -to receive from me." - -At this truly regal act of munificence, the enthusiasm attained its -highest pitch; the cries and protestations of devotion became frenzied. -The general alone remained impassive, and looked coldly at the division -made by the colonel. - -"When all the gold had disappeared, and the effervescence was beginning -to subside, Don Sebastian, who, like the Angel of Evil, had looked with -a profoundly mocking smile at these men so utterly under the influence -of cupidity, slightly tapped the table, to request silence. - -"Senores," he said, "I have kept all my promises, and have acquired the -right to count on you; we shall not meet again, but at a future day I -will let you know my intentions. Still be ready to act at the first -signal; in ten days is the anniversary festival of the Proclamation of -Independence, and, if nothing deranges my plans, I shall probably choose -that day to try, with your assistance, to deliver the country from the -tyrants who oppress it. However, I will be careful to have you warned. -So now let us separate; the night is far advanced, and a longer stay at -this spot might compromise the sacred interests for which we have sworn -to die." - -He bowed to the conspirators, but, on reaching the door, turned round -again. - -"Farewell, senores," he said, "be faithful to me." - -"We will die for you, general," Colonel Lupo answered, in the name of -all. - -The general gave a final bow and went out; almost immediately the hoofs -of several horses could be heard echoing on the paved street. - -"As we have nothing more to do here, caballeros," the colonel said, -"we had better separate without further delay; but do not forget the -general's parting recommendation." - -"Oh, no," the captain said, gleefully rattling the gold, with which his -pockets were filled. "Don Sebastian Guerrero is too generous for us not -to be faithful to him; besides, he appears to me at the present moment -the only man capable of saving our unhappy country from the abyss. We -are all too deeply attached to our country and too devoted to its real -interests, not to sacrifice ourselves for it, when circumstances demand -it." - -The conspirators laughingly applauded this speech of the captain's, and -after exchanging courteous bows, they withdrew as they had come; that is -to say, they left the inn one after the other, not to attract attention. -They carefully wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and went off in -parties of three and four, with their hands on their weapons, for fear -of any unpleasant encounter. - -A quarter of an hour later, the room was empty, and the landlord bolted -the door for the night. - -"Well, senores," he asked the two strangers, who now left the hiding -place in which they had been crouching for upwards of two hours, "are -you satisfied?" - -"We could not be more so," replied the one who had been the sole speaker -hitherto. - -"Yes, yes," the landlord continued, "three or four more -pronunciamientos, and I believe I shall be able to retire on a decent -competency." - -"That is what I wish you, No Lusacho, and, to begin, a thing promised is -a thing done; here are your ten ounces." - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THE PASEO DE BUCARELI. - - -Mexico is a country of extensive prospects and magnificent views; and -the poet Carpio is right when he says enthusiastically, in the poem in -which he sings the praises of his country-- - - "Que magnificos tienes horizontes!" - -In truth, the prospect is the first and greatest beauty of Mexico. - -The plateau of Mexico is situated exactly in the centre of a circle of -mountains. On all sides the landscape is bounded by admirable peaks, -whose snowy crests soar above the clouds, and in the golden beams of the -setting sun they offer the most sublime pictures of the imposing and -grand Alpine nature. - -In the general description we attempted of Mexico we omitted to allude -to its promenades, of which we intended previously to give a detailed -account. - -In Europe, and especially in France, promenades are wanting in the -interior of towns; and it is only during the last few years that Paris -has possessed any worthy of a capital. In Spain, on the contrary, the -smallest market town has at least one alameda, where, after the torrid -heat of the day, the inhabitants breathe the evening breeze, and rest -from their labours. Alameda, a soft and graceful word to pronounce, -which we might be tempted to take for Arabic, and to which some -ill-informed scholars, unacquainted with Spanish, attribute a Latin -origin, while it is simply Castilian, and literally signifies "a place -planted with poplars." - -The Alameda of Mexico is one of the most beautiful in America. It -is situated at one of the extremities of the city, and forms a long -square, with a wall of circumvallation bordered by a deep ditch, whose -muddy, fetid waters, owing to the negligence of the government, exhale -pestilential miasmas. At each corner of the promenade a gate offers -admission to carriages, riders, and pedestrians, who walk silently -beneath a thick awning of verdure, formed by willows, elms, and poplars -that border the principal road. These trees are selected with great -tact, and are always green, for although the leaves are renewed, it -takes place gradually and imperceptibly, so that the branches are never -entirely stripped of their foliage. - -Numerous walks converge to open spots adorned with gushing fountains, -and clumps of jessamine, myrtle, and rose bushes, surrounded by stone -benches for the tired promenaders. Statues, unfortunately far below -mediocrity in their execution, stand at the entrance of each walk; but, -thanks to the deep shadow, the whistling of the evening breeze in the -foliage, the buzz of the hummingbirds flying from flower to flower, and -the harmonious strains of the cenzontles hidden in the fragrant clumps, -you gradually forget those unlucky statues, and fall into a gentle -reverie, during which the mind is borne to unknown regions, and seems no -longer connected with earth. - -But Mexico is a thorough country of contrasts. At each step barbarism -elbows the most advanced civilization. Hence all the carriages, after -driving a few times round the Alameda, take the direction of the Paseo -de Bucareli, and the promenaders spread over a walk, in the Centre of -which there is a large window in the Wall, protected by rusty iron bars, -and through which come puffs of poisoned air. It is the window of the -Deadhouse, into which are daily thrown pell-mell the bodies of men, -women, and children, assassinated during the previous night, hideous, -bloody, and disfigured by death! What a brilliant, what a delicious -idea, to have placed the Deadhouse exactly between the two city walks! - -The Paseo, or promenade, of Bucareli--so called after the Viceroy who -gave it to Mexico--resembles the Champs Elysees of Paris. It is, in -reality, merely a wide road, with no other ornament than a double row of -willow and beech trees, with two circular places, in the centre of which -are fountains, adorned with detestable allegorical statues and stone -benches for pedestrians. - -At the entrance of the Paseo de Bucareli has been placed an equestrian -statue of Charles IV., which in 1824 adorned the Plaza Mayor of Mexico. -When the Emperor Iturbide fell, this monument was removed from the -square and placed in the University Palace yard--a lesson, we may here -remark, given by a comparatively barbarous people to civilized nations, -who in revolutions, as a first trial of liberty, and forgetting that -history records everything in her imperishable annals, carry their -Vandalism so far as to destroy everything that recalls the government -they have overthrown. Owing to the intelligent moderation of the -Mexicans, the promenaders can still admire, at the Bucareli, this really -remarkable statue, due to the talent of the Spanish sculptor, Manuel -Tolsa, and cast in one piece by Salvador de la Vega. The sight of this -masterpiece ought to induce the Mexican municipality to remove the -pitiable statues which disgrace the two finest promenades in the city. - -From the Paseo de Bucareli a magnificent prospect is enjoyed of the -panorama of mountains bathed in the luminous vapours of night; you -perceive, through the arches of the gigantic aqueduct the white fronts -of the haciendas clinging to the sides of the Sierra, the fields of -Indian corn bending softly before the breeze, and the snowy peaks of the -volcanoes, crowned with mist, and lost in the sky. - -It is not till night has almost set in that the promenaders, leaving -the Alameda, proceed to the Bucareli, where the carriages take two or -three turns, and then equipages, riders, and pedestrians, retire one -after the other. The promenade is deserted, the entire crowd, just now -so gay and noisy, has disappeared as if by enchantment, and you only see -between the trees some belated promenader, who, wrapped in his cloak, -and with eye and ear on the watch, is hastily returning home, for, after -nightfall, the thieves take possession of the promenade, and without the -slightest anxiety about the serenos and celadores appointed to watch -over the public security, they carry on their trade with a boldness -which the certainty of impunity can alone engender. - -It was evening, and, as usual, the Alameda was crowded; handsome -carriages, brilliant riders, and modest pedestrians were moving -backwards and forwards, with cries, laughter, and joyous calls, as they -sought or chased each other in the walks. Monks, soldiers, officers, men -of fashion, and leperos, were mixed together, carelessly smoking their -cigars and cigarettes under each other's noses, with the recklessness -and negligence peculiar to southern nations. - -Suddenly, the first stroke of the Oracion broke through the air. At the -sound of the Angelus-bell, as if the entire crowd had been struck by an -enchanter's wand, horses, carriages, and pedestrians stopped, the seated -citizens left the benches on which they were resting, and a solemn -silence fell on all; every person took off his hat, crossed himself, -and for four or five minutes this crowd, an instant before so noisy, -remained dumb and silent. But the last stroke of the Oracion had scarce -died away, ere horses and carriages set out again; the shouts, the -songs, and talking, became louder than before; each resumed the sentence -at the point where he had broken it off. - -By degrees, however, the promenaders proceeded toward the Bucareli: the -carriages became scarcer, and by the time night had quite set in, the -Alameda was completely deserted. - -A horseman, dressed in a rich Campesino costume, and mounted on a -magnificent horse, which he managed with rare skill, then entered the -Alameda, along which he galloped for about twenty minutes, examining the -sidewalks, the clumps of trees, and the densest bushes: in a word, he -seemed to be looking for somebody or something. - -However, after a while, whether he had convinced himself that his search -would have no result, or for some other motive, he gave the click of the -tongue peculiar to the Mexican jinetes, lifted his horse which started -at an amble, and proceeded toward the Paseo de Bucareli, after bowing -sarcastically to some ill-looking horsemen who were beginning to prowl -round him, but whom his vigorous appearance and haughty demeanour had -hitherto kept at arm's length. - -Although the darkness was too dense at this moment for it to be possible -to see the horseman's face distinctly, which was in addition half -covered by the brim of his vicuna hat, all about him evidenced strength -and youth; he was armed as if for a nocturnal expedition, and had on -his saddle, in spite of police regulations, a thin, carefully rolled up -reata. - -We will say, parenthetically, that the reata is considered in Mexico so -dangerous a weapon, that it requires special permission to carry one at -the saddle-bow, in the streets of Mexico. - -The salteadores, who occupy the streets after nightfall, and reign with -undisputed sway over them, employ no other weapon to stop the persons -they wish to plunder. They cast the running knot round their necks, dash -forward at full speed, and the unlucky man, half strangled, and dragged -from the saddle, falls unresistingly into their hands. - -At the moment when the traveller we are following reached the Bucareli, -the last carriages were leaving it, and it was soon as deserted as the -Alameda. He galloped up and down the promenade twice or thrice, looking -carefully down the side rides, and at the end of his third turn a -horseman, coming from the Alameda, passed on his right hand, giving him -in a low voice the Mexican salute, "Santisima noche, caballero!" - -Although this sentence had nothing peculiar about it, the horseman -started, and immediately turning his horse round, he started in pursuit -of the person who had thus greeted him. Within a minute the two horsemen -were side by side; the first comer, so soon as he saw that he was -followed, checked his horse's pace, as if with the intention of entering -into the most direct communication with the person he had addressed. - -"A fine night for a ride, senor," the first horseman said, politely -raising his hand to his hat. - -"It is," the second answered, "although it is beginning to grow late." - -"The moment is only the better chosen for certain private conversation." - -The second horseman looked around, and bending over to the speaker, -said-- - -"I almost despaired of meeting you." - -"Did I not let you know that I should come?" - -"That is true; but I feared that some sudden obstacle----" - -"Nothing ought to impede an honest man in accomplishing a sacred duty," -the first horseman answered, with an emphasis on the words. - -"The other bowed with an air of satisfaction. Then," he said, "I can -count on you, No ----." - -"No names here, senor," the other sharply interrupted him. "Caspita, an -old wood ranger like you, a man who has long been a Tigrero, ought to -remember that the trees have ears and the leaves eyes." - -"Yes, you are right. I should and do remember it; but permit me to -remark that if it is not possible for us to talk about business here, I -do not know exactly where we can do so." - -"Patience, senor, I wish to serve you, as you know, for you were -recommended to me by a man to whom I can refuse nothing. Let yourself, -therefore, be guided by me, if you wish us to succeed in this affair, -which, I confess to you at once, offers enormous difficulties, and must -be managed with the greatest prudence." - -"I ask nothing better; still you must tell me what I ought to do." - -"For the present very little; merely follow me at a distance to the -place where I purpose taking you." - -"Are we going far?" - -"Only a few paces; behind the barracks of the Acordades, in a small -street called the Callejon del Pajaro." - -"Hum! and what am I to do in this street?" - -"What a suspicious man you are!" the first horseman said with a laugh. -"Listen to me then. About the middle of the Callejon I shall stop -before a house of rather poor appearance; a man will come and hold my -horse while I enter. A few minutes later you will pull up there; after -assuring yourself that you are not followed you will dismount; give your -horse to the man who is holding mine, and without saying a word to him, -or letting him see your face, you will enter the house, and shut the -door after you. I shall be in the yard, and will lead you to a place -where we shall be able to talk in safety. Does that suit you?" - -"Famously; although I do not understand why I, who have set foot in -Mexico today for the first time, should find it necessary to employ such -mighty precautions." - -The first horseman laughed sarcastically. - -"Do you wish to succeed?" he asked. - -"Of course," the other exclaimed energetically, "even if it cost me my -life." - -"In that case do as you are recommended." - -"Go on, I follow you." - -"Is that settled? you understand all about it?" - -"I do." - -The second horseman then checked his steed to let the first one go on -ahead, and both keeping a short distance apart, proceeded at a smart -trot toward the statue of Charles IV., which, as we said, stands at the -entrance of the Paseo. - -While conversing, the two horsemen had forgotten the advanced hour of -the night, and the solitude that surrounded them. At the moment when -the first rider passed the equestrian statue, a slip knot fell on his -shoulders, and he was roughly dragged from his saddle. - -"Help!" he shouted in a choking voice. - -The second rider had seen all; quick as thought he whirled his lasso -round his head, and galloping at full speed, hurled it after the -Salteador at the moment when he passed twenty yards from him. - -The Salteador was stopped dead, and hurled from his horse; the worthy -robber had not suspected that another person beside himself could have a -lasso so handy. The horseman, without checking his speed, cut the reata -that was strangling his companion, and, turning back, dragged the robber -after him. - -The first horseman so providentially saved, freed himself from the -slip knot that choked him, and, hardly recovered from the alarm he had -experienced from his heavy fall, he whistled to his horse, which came up -at once, remounted as well as he could, and rejoined his liberator, who -had stopped a short distance off. - -"Thanks," he said to him, "henceforth we are stanch friends; you have -saved my life, and I shall remember it." - -"Nonsense," the other answered, "I only did what you would have done in -my place." - -"That is possible, but I shall be grateful to you on the word of a -Carnero," he exclaimed, forgetting in his joy the hint he had given a -short time previously, not to make use of names, and revealing his own -incognito; "is the picaro dead?" - -"Very nearly so, I fancy; what shall we do with him?" - -"Make a corpse of him," the capataz said bluntly. "We are only -two paces from the deadhouse, and he can be carried there without -difficulty. Though he is an utter scoundrel and tried to assassinate -me, the police are so well managed in our unhappy country that if -we committed the imprudence of letting him live, we should have -interminable disputes with the magistrates." - -Then, dismounting, he stooped over the bandit, stretched senseless at -his feet, removed his lasso, and coolly dashed out his brains with a -blow of his pistol butt. Immediately after this summary execution, the -two men left the Paseo de Bucareli, but this time side by side, through -fear of a new accident. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION. - - -Directly on emerging from the Paseo, the two men separated, as had been -agreed on between them; that is to say, the capataz went ahead, followed -at a respectful distance by Martial the Tigrero, whom the reader has -doubtless recognized. - -All happened as the capataz had announced. The streets were deserted, -the horsemen only met a few half sleeping serenos leaning against the -walls, and were only crossed by a patrol of celadores walking with a -hurried step, and who seemed more inclined to avoid them, than to try -and discover the motives that caused them thus to ride about the streets -of the capital at night, in defiance of the law. - -The Tigrero entered the Callejon del Pajaro, and about the middle of -the street saw the capataz's horse held by an ill-looking fellow, who -gazed curiously at him. Don Martial, following the instructions given -him, pulled his hat over his eyes to foil the mozo's curiosity, stopped -before the door, dismounted, threw his bridle to the fellow, and, -without saying a word to him, resolutely entered the house and carefully -closed the door after him. - -He then found himself in utter darkness, but after groping his way, -which was not difficult for him to do, as all Mexican houses are built -nearly on the same model, he pushed forward. After crossing the zaguan, -he entered a square yard on which several doors looked; one of these -doors was open, and a man was standing on the threshold with a cigarette -in his mouth. It was Carnero. - -The tiger-slayer went up to him; the other made room, and he walked on. -The capataz took him by the hand and whispered, "Come with me." - -In spite of the protestations of devotion previously made by the -capataz, the Tigrero in his heart was somewhat alarmed at the manner in -which he was introduced into this mysterious house; but as he was young, -vigorous, well armed, brave, and resolved, if necessary, to sell his -life dearly, he yielded his hand Unhesitatingly to Carnero, and allowed -him to guide him while seeking to pierce the darkness that surrounded -him. - -But all the windows were hermetically closed with shutters, which -allowed no gleam of light to enter from without. - -His guide led him through several rooms, the floors of which were -covered with matting that deadened the sound of footsteps; he took him -up a flight of stairs, and opening a door with a key he took from his -pocket, conducted him into a room faintly lighted by a lamp placed -before a statue of the Virgin, standing in one corner of the room, on -a species of pedestal attached to the wall, and covered with extremely -delicate lace. - -"Now," said Carnero, after closing the door, from which the Tigrero -noticed that he removed the key, "draw up a butaca, sit down and let us -talk, for we are in safety." Don Martial followed the advice given him, -and after carefully installing himself in a butaca, looked anxiously -around him. - -The room in which he found himself was rather spacious, furnished -tastefully and richly; several valuable pictures hung on the walls, -which were covered with embossed leather, while the furniture consisted -of splendid carved ebony or mahogany tables, sideboards, chiffonniers, -and butacas. On the floor was an Indian petate, several books were -scattered over the tables, and valuable plate was arranged on the -sideboard. In short, this room displayed a proper comprehension of -comfort, and the two windows, with their Moorish jalousies, gave -admission to the pure breeze which greatly refreshed the atmosphere. - -The capataz lighted two candles at the Virgin's lamp, placed them on -the table, and then fetching two bottles and two silver cups, which -he placed before the Tigrero, he drew up a butaca, and seated himself -opposite his guest. - -"Here is sherry which I guarantee to be real Xeres de los Caballeros; -this other bottle contains chinquirito, and both are at your service," -he said, with a laugh; "whether you have a weakness for sugar cane -spirits, or prefer wine." - -"Thanks," Don Martial replied, "but I do not feel inclined to drink." - -"You would not wish to insult me by refusing to hobnob with me?" - -"Very well; if you will permit me, I will take a few drops of -chinquirito in water, solely to prove to you that I am sensible of your -politeness." - -"All right," the capataz continued, as he handed him a crystal decanter, -covered with curiously worked silver filagree; "help yourself." - -When they had drunk, the capataz a glass of sherry, which he sipped like -a true amateur, and Don Tigrero a few drops of chinquirito drowned in a -glass of water, the capataz placed his glass again on the table with a -smack of his lips, and said-- - -"Now, I must give you a few words in explanation of the slightly -mysterious way in which I brought you here, in order to dispel any -doubts which may have involuntarily invaded your mind." - -"I am listening to you," the Tigrero answered. - -"Take a cigar first, they are excellent." And he lit one, after pushing -the bundle over to Don Martial: the latter selected one, and soon the -two men were enveloped in a cloud of thin and fragrant smoke. - -"We are in the mansion of General Don Sebastian Guerrero," the capataz -continued. - -"What?" the Tigrero exclaimed, with a start of uneasiness. - -"Re-assure yourself, no one saw you enter, and your presence here is -quite unknown, for the simple reason that I brought you in by my private -entrance." - -"I do not understand you." - -"And yet it is very easy to explain; the house I led you through belongs -to me. For reasons too long to tell you, and which would interest you -but slightly, during Don Sebastian's absence as Governor of Sonora, I -had a passage made, and established a communication between my house -and this mansion. Everybody save myself is ignorant of the existence -of this communication, which," he added, with a glowing smile, "may at -a given moment be of great utility to me. The room in which we now are -forms part of the suite I occupy in the mansion, in which the general, -I am proud to say, has never yet set foot. The man who took your horse -is devoted to me, and even were he to betray me, it would be of little -consequence to me, for the secret door of the passage is so closely -concealed that I have no fear of its being discovered. Hence you see -that you have nothing to fear here, where your presence is unknown." - -"But suppose you were to be sent for, through the general happening to -want you suddenly?" - -"Certainly, but I have foreseen that; it is my system never to leave -anything to chance. Although it has never happened yet, no one can enter -here without my being informed soon enough to get rid of any person who -may be with me, supposing that, for some reason or another, that person -did not desire to be seen." - -"That is capitally arranged, and I am happy to see that you are a man of -prudence." - -"Prudence is, as you know, senor, the mother of safety; and in Mexico, -before all other countries, the proverb receives its application at -every moment." - -The Tigrero bowed politely, but in the fashion of a man who considers -that the speaker has dwelt sufficiently long on one subject, and wishes -to see him pass to another. The capataz appeared to read this almost -imperceptible hint on Don Martial's face, and continued with a smile-- - -"But enough on that head, so let us pass, if you have no objection, to -the real purpose of our interview. A man, whose name it is unnecessary -to mention, but to whom, as I have already had the honour of telling -you, I am devoted body and soul, sent you to me to obtain certain -information you require, and which he supposes I am in a position to -give, I will now add, that what passed between us this evening, and the -generous way in which you rushed to my assistance, render it my bounden -duty not only to give you this information, but also to help you with -all my might in the success of the projects you are meditating, whatever -those projects may be, and the dangers I may incur in aiding you. So, -now speak openly with me; conceal nothing from me and you will only have -to praise my frankness towards you." - -"Senor," the Tigrero answered, with considerable emotion, "I thank you -the more heartily for your generous offer, for you know as well as I do -what perils are connected with the carrying out of these plans, to say -nothing of their success." - -"What you are saying is true, but it will be better, I fancy, for the -present, for me to assume to be ignorant of them, so as to leave you the -entire liberty you need for the questions you have to ask me." - -"Yes, yes," he said, shaking his head sadly, "my position is so -precarious, the struggle I am engaged in is so wild, that, although I am -supported by sincere friends, I cannot be too prudent. Tell me, then, -what you know as to the fate of the unfortunate Dona Anita de Torres. Is -she really dead, as the report spread alleged?" - -"Do you know what happened in the cavern after your fall down the -precipice?" - -"Alas! no; my ignorance is complete as to the facts that occurred after -I was abandoned as dead." - -Carnero reflected for a moment. "Listen, Don Martial: before I can -answer categorically the question you have asked me, I must tell you a -long story. Are you ready to hear it?" - -"Yes," the other answered, without hesitation, "for there are many -things I am ignorant of, which I ought to know. So speak without further -delay, senor, and though some parts of the narrative will be most -painful to me, hide nothing from me, I implore you!" - -"You shall be obeyed. Moreover, the night is not yet far advanced; time -does not press us, and in two hours you will know all." - -"I am impatiently waiting for you to begin." - -The capataz remained for some considerable time plunged in deep and -serious reflection. At length he raised his head, leant forward, and -setting his left elbow on the table, began as follows:-- - -"At the time when the facts occurred I am about to tell you, I was -living at the Hacienda del Palmar, of which I was steward. Hence I was -only witness to a portion of the facts, and only know the rest from -hearsay. When the Comanches arrived, guided by the white men, Don Sylva -de Torres was lying mortally wounded, holding in his stiffened arms his -daughter Anita, who had suddenly gone mad on seeing you roll down the -precipice in the grasp of the Indian chief. Don Sebastian Guerrero was -the only relation left to the hapless young lady, and hence she was -taken to his hacienda." - -"What?" Don Martial exclaimed in surprise. "Don Sebastian is a relation -of Dona Anita?" - -"Did you not know that?" - -"I had not the slightest idea of it; and yet I had for several years -been closely connected with the Torres family, for I was their tigrero." - -"I know it. Well, this is how the relationship exists: Don Sebastian -married a niece of Don Sylva's, so you see they were closely connected. -Still, for reasons never thoroughly made known, a few years after the -general's marriage, a dispute broke out which led to a total suspension -of intimacy between the two families. That is probably the reason why -you never heard of the connection existing between the Sylvas and the -Torres." - -The Tigrero shook his head. "Go on," he said. "How did the general -receive his relation?" - -"He was not at the hacienda at the time; but an express was sent off -to him, and I was the man. The general came post haste, seemed greatly -moved at the double misfortune that had befallen the young lady, gave -orders for her to be kindly treated, appointed several women to wait -on her, and returned to his post at Sonora, where events of the utmost -gravity summoned him." - -"Yes, yes, I have heard of the French invasion, and that their leader -was shot by the general's orders. I presume you are alluding to that?" - -"Yes. Almost immediately after these events the general returned to -the Palmar. He was no longer the same man. The horrible death of his -daughter rendered him gloomier and harsher to any person whom chance -brought into contact with him. For a whole week he remained shut up in -his apartments, refusing to see any of us; but, at last, one day he -sent for me to inquire as to what had happened at the hacienda during -his absence. I had but little to tell him, for life was too simple and -uniform at this remote dwelling for anything at all interesting for him -to have occurred. Still he listened without interruption, with his head -in his hands, and apparently taking great interest in what I told him, -especially when it referred to poor Dona Anita, whose gentle interesting -madness drew tears from us rough men, when we saw her wandering, pale -and white as a spectre, about the huerta, murmuring in a low voice one -name, ever the same, which none of us could overhear, and raising to -heaven her lovely face, bathed in tears. The general let me say all I -had to say, and when I ended he, too, remained silent for some time. At -length, raising his head, he looked at me for a moment angrily." - -"'What are you doing there?' he asked." - -"'I am waiting,' I answered, 'for the orders it may please your -excellency to give me.'" - -"He looked at me for a few more moments as if trying to read my very -thoughts, and then laid his hand on my arm. 'Carnero,' he said to me, -'you have been a long time in my service, but take care lest I should -have to dismiss you. I do not like,' he said, with a stress on the -words, 'servants who are too intelligent and too clear-sighted,' and -when I tried to excuse myself, he added, 'Not a word--profit by the -advice I have given you, and now lead me to Dona Anita's apartments.'" - -"I obeyed with hanging head; the general remained an hour with the -young lady, and I never knew what was said between them. It is true -that now and then I heard the general speaking loudly and angrily, and -Dona Anita weeping, and apparently making some entreaty to him; but -that was all, for prudence warned me to keep at too great a distance -to overhear a single word. When the general came out he was pale, and -sharply ordered me to prepare everything for his departure. The morrow -at daybreak we set out for Mexico, and Dona Anita followed us, carried -in a palanquin. The journey was a long one, but so long as it lasted the -general did not once speak to the young lady, or approach the side of -her palanquin. So soon as we reached our journey's end, Dona Anita was -carried to the Convent of the Bernardines, where she had been educated, -and the good sisters received her with tears of sorrowful sympathy. The -general, owing to the influence he enjoyed, easily succeeded in getting -himself appointed guardian to the young lady, and immediately assumed -the management of her estates, which, as you doubtless are aware, are -considerable, even in this country where large fortunes are so common." - -"I know it," said the Tigrero, with a sigh. - -"All these matters settled," the capataz continued, "the general -returned to Sonora to arrange his affairs, and hand over the government -to the person appointed to succeed him, and who started for his post -some days previously. I will not tell you what happened then, as you -know it; besides, we have only been back in Mexico for a fortnight, and -you and your friends followed our track from the Rocky Mountains." - -The Tigrero raised his head. "Is that really all?" he asked. - -"Yes," the capataz answered. - -"On your honour?" Don Martial added, looking fixedly at him. - -Carnero hesitated. "Well, no," he said at last, "there is something else -I must tell you." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -DON MARTIAL. - - -The capataz rose, opened a door, went out for a moment, returned; to his -seat opposite the Tigrero, poured himself out a glass of sherry, which -he swallowed at a draught, and then letting his head fall in his hands, -remained silent. - -Don Martial watched with amazement the various movements of the -capataz. Seeing at last that he did not seem inclined to make the -confession he was so impatiently awaiting, he went over and touched him -slightly. Carnero started as if suddenly branded with a hot iron. - -"What you have to reveal to me must be very terrible," the Tigrero at -length said in a low voice. - -"So terrible, my friend," the capataz answered with an amount of terror -impossible to depict, "that though alone with you in this room, where no -spy can be concealed, I fear to tell it you." - -The Tigrero shook his head sadly. "Speak, my friend," he said, in a -gentle voice, "I have suffered such agony during the last few months, -that all the springs of my soul have been crushed by the fatal pressure -of despair. However horrible may be the blow that menaces me, I will -endure it without flinching; alas! grief has no longer power over me." - -"Yes, you are a man carved in granite. I know that you have struggled -triumphantly against lost fortunes; but, believe me, Don Martial, there -are sufferings a thousandfold more atrocious than death--sufferings -which I do not feel the right of inflicting on you." - -"The pity you testify for me is only weakness. I cannot die before -I have accomplished the task to which I have devoted the wretched -existence heaven left me in its wrath. I have sworn, at the peril of my -life, to protect the girl who was betrothed to me in happier times." - -"Carry out your oath, then, Don Martial; for the poor child was never in -greater peril than she is at present." - -"What do you mean? In heaven's name explain yourself," the Tigrero said -passionately. - -"I mean that Don Sebastian covets the incalculable wealth of his ward, -which he needs for the success of his ambitious plans; I mean that -remorselessly and shamelessly laying aside all human respect, forgetting -that the unfortunate girl the law has confided to him is insane, he -coldly intends to become her murderer." - -"Go on, go on! what frightful scheme can this man have formed?" - -"Oh!" the capataz continued with savage irony; "the plan is simple, -honest, and highly praised by some persons, who consider it admirable, -even sublime." - -"You will tell me?' - -"Well, know all, then; General Don Sebastian Guerrero intends to marry -his ward." - -"Marry his ward, he!" Don Martial exclaimed with horror, "'tis -impossible." - -"Impossible?" the capataz repeated with a laugh, "Oh, how little you -know this man with the implacable will, this wild beast with a human -face, who pitilessly breaks everyone who dares to resist him. He is -resolved to marry his ward in order to strip her of her fortune, and he -will do so, I tell you." - -"But she is mad!" - -"I allow she is." - -"What priest would be so unnatural as to bless this sacrilegious -marriage?" - -"Nonsense," the capataz said with a shrug of his shoulders, "you forget, -my good sir, that the general possesses the talisman which renders -everything possible, and purchases everything--men, women, honour, and -conscience; he has gold." - -"That is true, that is true," the Tigrero exclaimed in despair, and -burying his face in his hands, he remained motionless, as if suddenly -struck by lightning. - -There was a lengthened silence, during which nothing was audible but -the choking sobs that burst from Don Martial's heaving chest. It was a -heartrending sight to see this strong, brave man so tried by adversity, -now conquered and almost crushed by despair, and weeping like a -frightened child. - -The capataz, with his arms crossed on his chest, pale forehead and -eyebrows contracted almost till they met, looked at him with an -expression of gentle and sympathizing pity. - -"Don Martial," he at length said, in a sharp and imperative voice. - -"What do you want with me?" the Tigrero asked, looking up with surprise. - -"I want you to listen to me, for I have not said all yet." - -"What more can you have to tell me?" the other asked sadly. - -"Arouse yourself like the man you are, instead of remaining any longer -crushed beneath the pressure of despair, like a child or a weak woman. -Is there no hope left in your heart?" - -"Did you not tell me that this man had an implacable will which nothing -could resist?" - -"I did say so, I allow; but is that a reason for giving up the struggle? -Do you suppose him invulnerable?" - -"Yes," he exclaimed eagerly, "I can kill him." - -The capataz shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. - -"Kill him," he repeated, "nonsense; that is the vengeance of fools! -Moreover, you will still be able to do that when all other means failed. -No--you can do something else." - -Don Martial looked at him earnestly. "You hate him too then, since you -do not fear to speak to me as you are doing?" - -"No matter whether I hate him or not, so long as I am willing to serve -you." - -"That is true," the Tigrero muttered. - -"Besides," the capataz continued, "do you forget who recommended you to -me?" - -"Valentine," said Don Martial. - -"Valentine; yes, Valentine, who saved my life as you have done, and to -whom I have vowed an eternal gratitude." - -"Oh," Don Martial said mournfully, "Valentine himself has given up any -further contest with this demon." - -The capataz grinned savagely. "Do you believe that?" he asked ironically. - -"What matter?" the Tigrero muttered. - -"Grief makes you egotistic, Don Martial," the other replied; "but I -forgive you on account of the sufferings I have most unluckily caused -you." - -He broke off, poured out a glass of sherry, swallowed it, and sat down -again on his butaca. - -"He would be a bad physician," he continued, "who, having performed a -painful operation, did not know how to apply the proper remedies to -cicatrize and cure it." - -"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed interested, in spite of -himself, by the tone in which those words were uttered. - -"Do you believe," the capataz continued, "do you believe, my friend, -that I would have inflicted such great pain on you if I had not -possessed the means to cause an immense joy to succeed it? Tell me, do -you believe that?" - -"Take care, senor," the Tigrero said in a trembling voice, "take care -what you are about, for I know not why, but I am beginning to regain -hope, and I warn you that if this last illusion which you are trying to -produce were to escape me this time, you would kill me as surely as if -you stabbed me with a dagger." - -The capataz smiled with ineffable gentleness. "Hope, my friend; hope, I -tell you," he said, "that is exactly what I want to bring you to; for I -wish you to have faith in me." - -"Speak, senor," he replied; "I will listen to you with confidence, for I -do not believe you capable of sporting so coldly with agony like mine." - -"Good, we have reached the point I have been aiming at so long. Now -listen to me. I told you, I think, that on her arrival in Mexico, Dona -Anita was taken by Don Sebastian to the Convent of the Bernardines?" - -"Yes! I fancy I can remember your saying so." - -"Very good. Dona Anita was received with open arms by the good nuns who -had educated her. The young lady, on finding herself again among the -companions of her childhood, treated with kind and intelligent care, -wandering unrestrained beneath the lofty trees that had sheltered her -early years, gradually felt calmness returning to her mind; her grief -by degrees gave way to a gentle melancholy; her ideas, overthrown by a -frightful catastrophe, regained their balance; in short, the madness -which had spread its black wings over her brain was driven away by the -soft caresses of the nuns, and soon entirely disappeared." - -"So, then," Don Martial exclaimed, "she has regained her reason?" - -"I will not venture to assert that, for she is still insane in the -opinion of everybody." - -"But in that case----," the Tigrero said in a panting voice. - -"In that case," the capataz continued, purposely laying a stress on -every word, while fixing a magnetic glance on the Tigrero, "as all the -world believes it, it must be so till the contrary is proved." - -"But how did you learn all these details?" - -"In the most simple manner. My master, Don Sebastian, has sent me -several times to the convent with messages, and chance decreed that I -recognized in the sister porter a relation of mine, whom I thought dead -long ago. The worthy woman, in her delight, and perhaps, too, to make -up for the long silence she is compelled to maintain, tells me whenever -she sees me all that is said and done in the convent, and there is a -good deal to learn from the conversation of a nun. She takes a good deal -of interest in me, and as I am fond of her too, I listen to her with -pleasure. Now, do you understand?" - -"Oh! go on. Go on!" - -"Well, this time I have nearly finished. It appears, from what my -relation tells me, that the nuns, and the Mother Superior before all, -are utterly opposed to the general's plans of marriage." - -"Oh, the holy women!" the Tigrero exclaimed with simple joy. - -"Are they not?" the capataz said with a laugh. "This is probably the -reason why they keep so secret the return of their boarder to her -senses, for they doubtless hope that, so long as the poor girl is mad, -the general will not dare contract the impious union he is meditating; -unfortunately, they do not know the man with whom they have to deal, -and the ferocious ambition that devours him; an ambition for the -gratification of which he will recoil from no crime, however atrocious -it may be." - -"Alas!" the Tigrero said despairingly; "you see, my friend, that I am -lost." - -"Wait, wait, my good sir; your situation, perhaps, is not so desperate -as you imagine it." - -"My heart is on fire." - -"Courage; and listen to me to the end. Yesterday I went to the convent, -the Mother Superior, to whom I had the honour of speaking, confided -to me, under the seal of secrecy--for she knows that, although I am a -servant of Don Sebastian, I take a deep interest in Dona Anita, and -would be glad to see her happy--that the young lady has expressed an -intention to confess." - -"Ah, for what reason! do you know?" - -"No, I do not!" - -"But that desire can be easily satisfied, I presume, there are plenty of -monks and priests attached to the convent." - -"Your observation is just; still it appears that, for reasons I am -equally ignorant of, neither the Mother Superior nor Dona Anita wishes -to have one of those monks or priests for confessor, hence----" - -"Hence?" Don Martial quickly interrupted him. - -"Well, the Mother Superior asked me to bring her a priest or monk in -whom I had confidence." - -"Ah!" - -"You understand, my friend." - -"Yes, yes! Oh, God! go on!" - -"And to take him to the convent." - -"And," Don Martial asked in a choking voice, "have you found this -confessor?" - -"I believe so," the capataz answered with a smile; "and pray, what do -you think, Don Martial?" - -"Yes, I do too," he exclaimed joyfully. "At what time are you to take -this confessor to the convent?" - -"Tomorrow, at the Oracion." - -"Very good, and I presume you have arranged a place to meet him?" - -"Caspita! I should think so; he is to meet me at the Parian, where I -shall be at the first stroke of the Oracion." - -"I am certain that he will be punctual!" - -"And so am I; and now, senor, do you consider that you have lost your -time in listening to me?" - -"On the contrary," Don Martial replied, as he offered him his hand with -a smile, "I consider you a first-rate hand at telling a story." - -"You flatter me." - -"No, indeed I do not. I consider, too, that the nuns of St. Bernard are -excellent and holy women." - -"Caspita! I should think so; they have a relation of mine as portress." - -The two men burst into a frank and hearty laugh, whose explosion no one -could have anticipated from the way in which their interview began. - -"Now, we must separate," the capataz said, as he rose. - -"What, already?" - -"I have to accompany my master tonight on an excursion outside the city." - -"Some plot, I presume?" - -"I am afraid so; but what would you have; I am forced to obey." - -"In that case, turn me out of doors." - -"That is what I am going to do; by-the-bye, have you seen Don Valentine -since you arrived?" - -"Not yet. This long delay makes me anxious, and if it were not so late, -or if I knew my road, I would go and ask hospitality of Don Antonio -Rallier, his fellow countryman, so as to obtain news of him." - -"That is of no consequence. Do you know Don Antonio's address?" - -"Yes, he lives in the Secunda Monterilla." - -"It is close by; if you wish it, I will have you taken there." - -"I should feel greatly obliged; but by whom?" - -"Caspita! have you forgotten the man to whom you intrusted your horse? -He will act as your guide." - -"A thousand thanks!" - -"It is not worth them. Will you take a walk tomorrow in the Parian?" - -"I am so anxious to see your confessor that I shall not fail to be -there." - -The two men smiled again. - -"Now, give me your hand, and let us be off." - -They went out of the room; the capataz led the Tigrero by the same -passage, walking along in the darkness as if it were broad day, and -they soon found themselves beneath the zaguan of the small house. The -capataz thrust his head out, after opening the door cautiously. The -street was deserted, and after looking up and down it, he whistled in -a peculiar way, and in a few minutes footsteps were heard and the peon -appeared holding the Tigrero's horse by the bridle. - -"Good bye, senor," the capataz said. "I thank you for the delightful -evening you have caused me to spend. Pilloto, lead this senor, who is a -forastero, to the Secunda Monterilla, and point out to him the house of -Senor Don Antonio Rallier." - -"Yes, mi amo," the peon answered laconically. - -The two friends exchanged a parting salutation; the Tigrero mounted, -and followed Pilloto, while the capataz re-entered the house and closed -the door after him. After numberless turnings and windings, the rider -and the footman at length entered a street which, from its width, the -Tigrero suspected to form part of the fashionable quarter. - -"This is the Secunda Monterilla," said the peon, "and that gentleman," -he added, pointing to a horseman who was coming toward them, followed by -three footmen also mounted, and well-armed, "is the very Don Antonio you -are looking for." - -"You are sure of it?" the Tigrero asked. - -"Caray! I know him well." - -"If that is the case, accept this piastre, my friend, and go home, for I -no longer need your services." - -The peon bowed and retired. During the conversation the newcomer had -halted in evident alarm. - -"'Tis I, Don Antonio," the Tigrero shouted to him. "Come on without -fear--I am a friend." - -"Oh, oh! it is very late to meet a friend in the street," Don Antonio -answered, though he advanced without hesitation, after laying his hand -on his weapon to guard against a surprise. - -"I am Martial, the Tigrero." - -"Oh, that is different; what do you want? A lodging, eh? I will have you -led to my house by a servant, and there leave you till tomorrow, as I am -in a hurry." - -"Agreed; but allow me one word." - -"Speak!" - -"Where is Don Valentine?" - -"Do you want to see him?" - -"Excessively." - -"Then come with me, for I am going to him!" - -"Heaven has sent him thus opportunely," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he -drew his horse up alongside Don Antonio's. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE VELORIO. - - -It was very late when the conspirators separated, and when the last -groups of officers left the rancho, the sound of the Indian horses and -mules proceeding to market was audible on the paved highway. Although -the darkness was still thick, the stars were beginning to die out in the -heavens, the cold was becoming sharper--in a word, all foretold that day -would soon break. - -The two travellers had seated themselves again at a corner of the table, -opposite one another, and were dumb and motionless as statues. The host -walked about the room with a busy air, apparently arranging and clearing -up, but very anxious in reality, and desirous, in his heart, to be rid -as soon as possible of these two singular customers, whose silence and -sobriety inspired him with but slight confidence. - -At length the person who had always spoken on his own behalf and that -of his companion struck the table twice, and the landlord hurried up at -this summons. - -"What do you wish for, excellency?" he asked, with an obsequious air. - -"I tell you what, landlord," the stranger continued, "it strikes me that -your criado is a long time in returning; he ought to have been back -before this." - -"Pardon me, excellency, but it is a long journey from here to the -Secunda Monterilla, especially when you are obliged to walk it. Still, I -believe the peon will soon be back." - -"May Heaven hear you! Give us each a glass of tamarind water." - -At this moment, when the landlord brought the draught, there was a tap -at the door. - -"Perhaps it is our man," the stranger said. - -"That is possible, your excellency," the landlord answered, as he went -to open the door on the chain, which left only a passage of a few -inches, much too narrow for the visitor to enter the house against the -wish of its owner. This precautionary measure, which is at once very -prudent and simple, is generally adopted all through Mexico, owing -to the slight confidence with which the police organization in this -blessed country, which is the refuge of scoundrels of every description, -inspires the inhabitants. - -After exchanging a few words in a low voice with the new arrival, the -landlord unhooked the chain and opened the door. - -"Excellency," he said to the stranger, who was slowly sipping his -tamarind water, "here is your messenger." - -"At last," the traveller said, gladly, as he placed his horn mug on the -table. - -The peon entered, politely doffed his hat and bowed. - -"Well, my friend," the stranger asked him, "did you find the person to -whom I sent you?" - -"Yes, excellency, I had the good fortune to find him at home on his -return from a tertulia in the Calle San Agustin." - -"Ah, ah! and what did he say on receiving my note?" - -"Well, excellency, he is a caballero, for sure; for he first gave me -a piastre, and then said to me, 'Go back as quick as you can walk, -and tell the gentleman who sent you that I shall be at the meeting he -appoints as soon as yourself.'" - -"So that----" - -"He will probably be here in a few minutes." - -"Very good, you are a clever lad," the stranger answered; "here is -another piastre for you, and now you can retire." - -"Thanks, your excellency," the peon said, joyfully pocketing his -piastre. "Caray! I should be a rich man with only two nights a month -like this." - -And after bowing a second time, he left the room to go and sleep, in -all probability, in the corral. The peon had told the truth, for he -had scarce left the room ten minutes ere a rather loud voice was heard -without: horses stamped, and not only was the door struck, but there -were several loud calls. - -"Open the door without fear," the stranger said; "I know that voice." - -The ranchero obeyed, and several persons entered the inn. - -"At last you have returned, my dear Valentine," the newcomer exclaimed -in French, as he walked quickly towards the travellers, who, for their -part, went to meet him. - -"Thanks for your promptitude in responding to my invitation, my dear -Rallier," the hunter answered. - -The ranchero bit his lips on hearing them talk in a language he did not -understand. - -"Hum! they are Ingleses," he muttered spitefully. "I suspected they must -be gringos." - -It is a general rule with the lower class Mexicans that all foreigners -are English, and consequently hunters or gringos. - -"Come here, No Lusacho," Valentine said, addressing the landlord, who -was turning his hat between his fingers with an air of considerable -embarrassment, "I have to talk on important matters with these -gentlemen, and as I do not wish to be disturbed by you, I propose that -you should give me up this room for an hour." - -"Excellency," he muttered. - -"I understand, you expect to be paid. Very good, I will pay you, but on -condition that no one, not even yourself, comes in till I call." - -"Still, your excellency----." - -"Listen to me without interruption. Day will not break for two hours, so -you will not open your rancho till then, and, consequently, you have no -customers to expect. I will pay an ounce for each hour; will that suit -you?" - -"I should think so, your excellency; at that price I will sell you the -whole day if you wish." - -"That is not necessary," the hunter said, with a laugh; "but you -understand I want fair play--no ears on the listen, or eyes at the slits -of the panelling." - -"I am an honest man, your excellency." - -"I am ready to believe so; but I warn you, because in the event of my -seeing an eye or an ear lap, I shall immediately fire a bullet at it as -a recommendation to prudence, and I have the ill luck to be a dead shot. -Does the bargain suit you with those conditions?" - -"Perfectly, your excellency. I shall keep a strict watch over my people, -so that you shall not be disturbed." - -"You are a splendid landlord, and I predict that you will make a rapid -fortune, for I see that you thoroughly understand your own interests." - -"I try to satisfy the gentry who honour my poor abode with their -presence." - -"Excellently reasoned! Here are the two promised ounces, and four -piastres in the bargain for the refreshments you are going to serve us. -Have these gentlemen's horses taken to the corral, and have the goodness -to leave us." - -The landlord bowed with a grimacing smile, brought, with a speed far -from common with people of his calling, the refreshments ordered, and -gave the hunter a deep bow. - -"Now," he said, "your excellency is in your own house, and no one shall -enter without your orders." - -While Valentine was making this bargain with the ranchero, his friends -remained silent, laughing inwardly at the hunter's singular mode of -proceeding, and the unanswerable arguments he employed to avoid an -espionage almost always to be found in such places, when the master does -not scruple to betray those who pay him best. - -"Now," said Valentine, so soon as the door closed behind the landlord, -"we shall talk at least in safety." - -"Speak Spanish, my friend," said M. Rallier. - -"Why so? It is so delightful to converse in one's own tongue, when, -like me, you have so few opportunities for doing so. I assure you that -Curumilla will not feel offended." - -"Hum; I did not say this on behalf of the chief, whose friendship for -you I am well acquainted with." - -"Who then?" - -"For Don Martial, who has accompanied me, and has important matters to -communicate to you." - -"Oh, oh, that changes the question," said the hunter, at once -substituting Spanish for the French he had hitherto employed. "Are you -there, my dear Don Martial?" - -"Yes, senor," the Tigrero answered, emerging from the gloom in which he -had remained up to this moment, "and very happy to see you." - -"Who else have you brought with you, Don Antonio?" - -"Me, my friend," said a third person, as he let the folds of his cloak -fall. "My brother thought that it would be better to have a companion, -in the event of an alarm." - -"Your brother was right, my dear Edward, and I thank him for the good -idea, which procures me the pleasure of shaking your hand a few moments -sooner. And now, senores, if you are agreeable, we will sit down and -talk, for, if I am not mistaken, we have certain things to tell each -other which are most important for us." - -"That is true!" Antonio Rallier answered, as he sat down, in which he -was immediately imitated by the rest. - -"If you like," Valentine continued, "we will proceed in regular -rotation; that is, I fancy, the way to finish more quickly, for you know -that moments are precious." - -"First, and before all else, my friend," said Antonio Rallier, "permit -me to thank you once again, in my own name and that of my family, for -the services you rendered me in our journey across the Rocky Mountains. -Without you, without your watchful friendship and courageous devotion, -we should never have emerged from those frightful gorges, but must have -perished miserably in them." - -"What good is it, my friend, to recall at this moment----" - -"Because," Antonio Rallier continued eagerly, "I wish you to be -thoroughly convinced that you can dispose of us all as you please. Our -arms, purses, and hearts, all belong to you." - -"I know it, my friend, and you see that I have not hesitated to make -use of you, at the risk even of compromising you. So let us leave this -subject, and come to facts. What have you done?" - -"I have literally followed your instructions; according to your wish, I -have hired and furnished for you a house in Tacuba Street." - -"Pardon me, but you know that I am very slightly acquainted with Mexico, -for I have visited that city but rarely, and each time without stopping." - -"The Tacuba is one of the principal streets in Mexico; it faces the -palace, and is close to the street in which I reside with my family." - -"That is famous. And in whose name did you take the house?" - -"In that of Don Serapio de la Ronda. Your servants arrived two days ago." - -"You mean----" - -"I mean Belhumeur and Black Elk; the former is your steward and the -latter your valet. They have made all the arrangements, and you can -arrive when you please." - -"Today, then." - -"I will act as your guide." - -"Thank you; what next?" - -"Next, my brother Edward has taken, in his own name, at the San Lazaro -gate, a small house, where ten horses, belonging to the purest mustang -breed, were at once placed in a magnificent corral." - -"That concerns Curumilla; he will live in that house with your brother." - -"And now one other thing, my friend." - -"Speak!" - -"You will not be angry with me?" - -"With you? nonsense!" said Valentine, holding out his hand. - -"Not knowing whether you had sufficient funds at your disposal--and you -will agree with me that you will require a large sum----?" - -"I know it. Well?" - -"Well, I----" - -"I see I must come to your assistance, my poor Antonio. As you believe -me a poor devil of a hunter not possessed of a farthing, and are so -delicate minded yourself, you have placed in a corner of the room, or -in some article of furniture, of which you want to give me the key and -don't know how, fifty or perhaps one hundred thousand piastres, with the -reservation to offer me more, should not that sum prove sufficient." - -"Would you be angry with me had I done so?" - -"On the contrary, I should be most grateful to you." - -"In that case I am glad." - -"Glad of what, my dear Antonio?" - -"That you accept the hundred thousand piastres." - -Valentine smiled. - -"I am delighted to find that you are the man I judged you to be. Still, -while thanking you from my heart for the service you wish to render me, -I do not accept it." - -"Do you refuse, Valentine?" he said mournfully. - -"Let us understand each other, my friend. I do not refuse; I simply tell -you that I do not want the money, and here is the proof," he added, -as he took from his pocket a folded paper, which, he handed to his -countryman, "you, as a banker, may know the firm of Thornwood, Davison, -and Co." - -"It is the richest in San Francisco." - -"Then open that paper and read." - -Mr. Rallier obeyed. - -"An unlimited credit opened at my house," he exclaimed in a voice -tremulous with joy. - -"Does that displease you?" Valentine asked with a smile. - -"On the contrary; but you must be rich in that case." - -A cloud of sadness passed over the hunter's forehead. - -"I have grieved you, my friend." - -"Alas! as you know, there are certain wounds which never close. Yes, my -friend, I am rich; Curumilla, Belhumeur, and myself alone, now that my -foster-mother is dead, know in Apacheria the richest placer that exists -in the world. It was for the purpose of going to this placer that I did -not accompany you to Mexico; now you understand; but what do I care for -this incalculable fortune, when my heart is dead, and the joy of my life -is for ever annihilated!" - -And under the weight of the deep emotion that crushed him, the hunter -hung his head down and stifled a sob. Curumilla arose amid the general -silence, for no one ventured to offer ordinary consolation for this -grief, and laid his hand on Valentine's shoulder-- - -"Koutonepi," he said to him in a hollow voice, "remember that you have -sworn to avenge our brother." - -The hunter drew himself up as if stung by a serpent, and pressing the -hand the Indian offered him, he looked at him for a moment with strange -fixedness. - -"Women alone weep for the dead, because they are unable to avenge them," -the Indian continued in the same harsh, cutting accent. - -"Yes, you are right," the hunter answered with feverish energy; "I thank -you, chief, for having recalled me to myself." - -Curumilla laid his friend's hand on his heart, and stood for an instant -motionless; at length he let it fall, sat down again, and wrapping -himself in his zarape, he returned to his habitual silence, from which -so grave a circumstance alone could have aroused him. Valentine passed -his hand twice over his forehead, which was bathed in cold perspiration, -and attempted a faint smile. - -"Forgive me, my friends, for having forgotten, during a moment, the -character I have assumed," he said in a gentle voice. - -Their hands were silently extended to him. - -"Now," he exclaimed in a firm voice, in whose notes traces of the past -tempest were still audible, "let us speak of that poor Dona Anita de -Torres." - -"Alas!" said the elder Rallier, "I cannot tell you anything, although -my sister Helena, her companion at the Convent of the Bernardines, to -which I sent her in accordance with your wish, has let me know that she -would have grand news for us in a few days." - -"I will give you that news, with your permission," Don Martial said -at this moment, suddenly joining in the conversation, to which he had -hitherto listened with great indifference. - -"Do you know anything?" Valentine asked him. - -"Yes, something most important; that is why I was so anxious to speak -with you." - -"Speak then, my friend, speak, we are listening." - -The Tigrero, without further pressing, at once reported, in the fullest -details, his interview with Don Sebastian Guerrero's capataz. The three -Frenchmen listened with the most serious attention, and when he had -finished his story, Valentine rose-- - -"Let us be off, senores," he said, "we have no time to lose; perhaps -heaven offers us, at this moment, the opportunity we have been so long -awaiting." - -The others rose without asking the hunter for any explanation, and a -few minutes later Valentine and his comrades were galloping along the -highway in the direction of Mexico. - -"I do not know what diabolical plot they are forming," No Lusacho -muttered, on seeing them disappear in the distance; "but they are worthy -gentlemen, and let the ounces slip through their fingers like so much -water." - -And he entered the rancho, the door of which he now left open, for day -was breaking. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES. - - -The history of colonies is the same everywhere, that is to say, that you -find the old belief, the forgotten manners and customs of the mother -country intact, and almost exaggerated. - -Mexico was to Spain what Canada still is to France. In Mexico we, -therefore, find the Spain of the monks, with all the abuses of a -degenerate monastic life; for we are compelled to state that with -few, very few exceptions, the monks of Mexico are far from leading an -exemplary life. A few years ago a Papal legate arrived at Mexico, who -had been sent to try and introduce into the monasteries reforms which -had become urgent; but he soon recognized the impossibility of success, -and returned as he came. This is the history of yesterday and today, and -in the way things are going on, it will be the history of tomorrow. - -In spite of the innumerable revolutions the Mexican monks are still -very rich. Among other uses to which they put their money, the best is, -perhaps, lending it out at six per cent., which, let us hasten to add, -is a great blessing in a country where the ordinary interest on borrowed -money is sixteen to eighteen per cent. Still, it appears to us, and we -trust the remark will not be taken in bad part, but little in harmony -with the vocation of the monks and the pure doctrines of religion, which -is so opposed to lending money out at interest, for it has ever seen in -it disguised usury. - -We will add, at the risk of incurring the blame of some persons, and -of appearing to emit a paradox, that in this collection of Christian -religious buildings there seems to be kept up the tradition of the -great Mexican Teocali, which contained within its walls seventy-eight -buildings devoted to the Aztec worship. - -In the first place, what is the religion professed in Spanish America? -It certainly is not the Catholic faith; and this we can affirm with a -safe conscience, and supply proof if necessary. The Americans of the -south, like all southern peoples, are instinctively Pagans, fond of -war and holidays, making a god of each saint, adoring the Virgin under -a hundred different forms, digging up the old Aztec idols, placing -them in all the Mexican churches, and offering them worship under the -characteristic denomination of Santos antiguos, or ancient saints. - -What can be said after this? Simply that the Hispano-Americans never -understood the religion they were compelled to profess; that they care -but very little for it, and in their hearts cling to their old worship -in the terrific proportion of the native to the European population, -that is to say two-thirds to one. Hence the demoralization of the -masses, which is justly complained of, but is the fault of those persons -who, at the outset, believed they could establish the religion of -Christ in their countries by fire and sword--a system, we are bound to -add, scrupulously followed by the Spanish clergy, up to the Proclamation -of the Independence of the colonies. - -The Convent of the Bernardines is situated but a short distance from -the Paseo de Bucareli. Not one of the religious communities for women -scattered over Mexico is so rich as this one, for the kings of Spain -and nobles of the highest rank gave it large endowments, which, in the -course of time, have grown into an immense fortune. - -The vast site occupied by the Convent of the Bernardines, the thick -walls that surround it, and the numerous domes that crown it, -sufficiently indicate the importance it enjoys at the present day. - -Like all the Mexican convents, and especially that at San Francisco, to -which it bears a distant resemblance, the Convent of the Bernardines is -defended by thick walls, flanked by massive buttresses, which give it -the appearance of a fortress. Still the peaceful belfries, and their -cupolas of enamelled porcelain covering so many chapels, allow the pious -destination of the edifice to be recognized. An immense paved court -leads to the principal chapel, which is adorned with a luxury that it -would be difficult to form an idea of in our sceptical Europe. - -Behind this first court is the space reserved for the nuns, consisting -of immense cloisters, adorned with pictures by old masters, and white -jasper basins from which limpid fountains rise. Next come immense -huertas with umbrageous walks, wide courtyards, a rich and valuable -library in which the scientific wealth of Mexico lies buried, eight -spacious, comfortable, and airy dormitories, four hundred cells for -the nuns, and a refectory in which four hundred guests can sit without -crowding. - -On the day when we introduce the reader into the Convent of the -Bernardines, at about five in the evening, three persons, collected in -a leafy arbour, almost at the end of the garden, were talking together -with considerable animation. - -Of these persons, one, the eldest, was a nun, while the other two, girls -of from sixteen to eighteen years of age, wore the garb of novices. - -The first was the Mother Superior of the convent, a lady of about fifty -years of age, with delicate and aristocratic features, gentle manners, -and noble and majestic demeanour, whose face displayed kindness and -intelligence. - -The second was Dona Anita; we will not draw her portrait, for the reader -has long been acquainted with her.[1] The poor girl, however, was pale -and white as a corpse, her fever-parched eyes were not easy, fixed on -any object, and she looked about her hurriedly and desperately. - -The third was Dona Helena Rallier, a light-haired, blue-eyed girl, with -a saucy look, whose velvety cheeks, and noble and well-defined features, -revealed the candour and innocence of youth, combined with the laughing -expressions of a boarder spoiled by an indulgent governess. - -Dona Helena was standing a little outside the arbour, leaning against -a tree, and seemed like a vigilant sentry carefully watching lest the -conversation between the Mother Superior and her companion should be -disturbed. - -Dona Anita, seated on a stone bench by the side of the Abbess, with her -hand in the elder lady's, and her head resting on her shoulder, was -speaking to her in a faltering voice and broken sentences which found -difficulty in passing her parted lips, while the tears silently ran down -her cheeks, which suffering had rendered pale. - -"My kind mother," she said, and her voice, was harmonious as the sigh -of an AEolian harp, "I know not how to thank you for your inexhaustible -kindness towards me. Alas! you are at present my only friend; why may -I not be allowed to remain always by your side? I should be so glad to -take my vows and pass my life in this convent under your benevolent -protection." - -"My dear child," the Abbess said gently, "God is great, his power is -infinite; hence, why despair? Alas! doubt leads to denial; you are still -almost a child. Who knows what joy and happiness the future may still -have in store for you?" - -The maiden gave a heavy sigh. "Alas!" she murmured, "the future no -longer exists for me, my kind mother; a poor orphan, abandoned without -protection to the power of an unnatural relation, I must endure fearful -tortures, and, under his iron yoke, lead a life of suffering and grief." - -"Child," the Abbess said, with gentle sternness, "do not blaspheme; you -are still ignorant, I repeat, of what the future may have in store for -you. You are ungrateful at this moment--ungrateful and selfish." - -"I ungrateful! holy mother!" the maiden objected. - -"Yes, you are ungrateful, Anita, to us and to yourself. Do you consider -it nothing, after the frightful misfortune that burst on you, to have -returned to this convent in which your childhood was spent, and to have -found among us that family which the world refused you? Is it nothing to -have near you hearts that pity you, and voices that incessantly urge you -to have courage?" - -"Courage, sister," Dona Helena's sweet voice said at this moment, like a -soft echo. - -The maiden hid her lovely tear-bedewed face in the bosom of the Mother -Superior. - -"Pardon me, mother," she continued, "pardon me, but I am crushed by this -struggle, which I have carried on so long without hope. The courage -you attempt to give me cannot, in spite of my efforts, penetrate to my -heart, for I have the fatal conviction that, whatever you may do, you -will not succeed in preventing the frightful misfortune suspended over -my head." - -"Let us reason a little, my child, like sensible persons; up to the -present, at least, we have succeeded in concealing from everybody the -happy return of your senses." - -"Happy!" she sighed. - -"Yes, happy; for with the intellect faith, that is to say, strength, -returned to you. Well, while your guardian believes you still insane, -and is compelled, in spite of himself, to suspend his schemes with -reference to you, I have been employing all the influence my high -position gives me, and my family connections. I have had a petition on -your behalf presented to the President of the Republic by sure hands; -this petition is supported by the greatest names in Mexico, and I ask in -it that the marriage with which you are menaced may not be contracted -against your will; in a word, I ask that your guardian may be prevented -taking any steps till you are in a proper condition to say yes or no." - -"Have you really done that, my good mother?" the maiden exclaimed, as -she threw her arms in real delight round the elder lady's neck. - -"Yes, I have done so, my child, and I am expecting every moment a reply, -which I hope will be favourable." - -"Oh, mother, my real mother, if that succeeds I shall be saved." - -"Do not go from one extreme to the other, my child; all is uncertain -yet, and heaven alone knows whether we shall be successful." - -"Oh, God will not abandon a poor orphan." - -"God, my child, chastens those He loves; have confidence in Him, and his -right hand will be extended over you to sustain you in adversity." - -"Sister Redemption is coming this way, holy mother," Dona Helena said at -this moment. - -At a sign from the Mother Superior, Dona Anita withdrew to the other end -of the bench on which she was seated, folded her arms on her chest, and -let her head droop. - -"Are you looking for our mother, sister?" Dona Helena asked a rather -elderly lay sister, who was looking to the right and left as if really -seeking somebody. - -"Yes, sister," the lay sister answered, "I wish to deliver a message -with which I am entrusted for our mother." - -"Then enter this arbour, sister, and you will find her reposing there." - -The lay sister entered the arbour, approached the Mother Superior, -stopped modestly three paces from her, folded her arms on her breast, -looked down respectfully, and waited till she was spoken to. - -"What do you desire, daughter?" the Mother Superior asked her. - -"Your blessing, in the first place, holy mother," the lay sister -answered. - -"I can give it you, daughter; and now what message have you for me?" - -"Holy mother, a gentleman of lofty bearing, called Don Serapio de la -Ronda, wishes to speak with you privately; the sister porter took him -into the parlour, where he is waiting for you." - -"I will be with him directly, daughter; tell the sister porter to -apologize in my name to the gentleman, if I keep him waiting longer than -I like, owing to my advanced age. Go on, I follow you." - -The lay sister bowed respectfully to the abbess, and went away to -deliver the message with which she was entrusted. The abbess rose, and -the two girls sprang forward to support her; but she stopped them. - -"Remain here till the Oracion, my children," she said to them, "converse -together; but be prudent, and do not let yourselves be surprised; after -the Oracion, you will come and converse in my cell." - -Then after giving Dona Anita a parting kiss, the Mother Superior went -away, sorely troubled in mind at this visit from a man she did not know, -and whose name she now heard for the first time. When she entered the -parlour, the abbess examined with a hasty glance the person who asked to -see her, and who, on perceiving her, rose from his chair, and bowed to -her respectfully. This first glance was favourable to the stranger, in -whom the reader has doubtless already recognized Valentine Guillois. - -"Pray resume your seat, caballero," the abbess said to him, "if your -conversation is to last any time, we shall talk more comfortably when -sitting." - -Valentine bowed, offered the lady a chair, and then returned to his own. - -"Senor Don Serapio de la Ronda was announced to me," the lady continued -after a short silence. - -"I am that gentleman, madam," Valentine said courteously. - -"I am at your orders, caballero, and ready to listen to any -communication you may have to make." - -"Madam, I have nothing personal to say to you; I am merely commissioned -by the Minister of the Home Department to deliver you this letter, to -which I have a few words to add." - -While uttering this sentence with exquisite politeness, Valentine -offered the abbess a letter bearing the ministerial arms. - -"Pray open the letter, madam," he added, on seeing that, through -politeness, she held it in her hand unopened, "you must render yourself -acquainted with its contents in order to understand the meaning of the -words I have to add." - -The abbess, who in her heart was impatient to know what the minister had -to say to her, offered no objection, and broke the seal of the letter, -which she hurriedly perused. On reading it a lively expression of joy -lit up her face. - -"Then," she exclaimed, "his excellency deigns to grant my request?" - -"Yes, madam; you remain, until fresh orders, responsible for your -young charge. You have only to deal with the minister in the matter; -and," he added, with a purposed stress on the words, "in the event of -General Guerrero, the guardian of Dona Anita, trying to force you into -surrendering her to him, you are authorized to conceal the young lady, -who is for so many reasons an object of interest, in any house of the -order you please." - -"Oh, senor," she answered, her eyes filling with tears of joy, "pray -thank his excellency in my name for the act of justice he has deigned to -perform in favour of this unfortunate young lady." - -"I will have that honour, madam," Valentine said, as he rose; "and now -that I have delivered my message, permit me to take leave of you, while -congratulating myself that I was selected by his Excellency the Minister -to be his intermediary with you." - -At the moment when Valentine left the convent, Carnero entered it, -accompanied by a monk, whose hood was pulled down over his face. The -hunter and the capataz exchanged a side glance, but did not speak. - - -[1] See "Tiger Slayer." Same publishers. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE CONFESSOR. - - -Mexico, as we have already stated, was, after the conquest, completely -rebuilt on the original plan, so that, at the present day, it offers -nearly the same sight as struck Cortez when he entered it for the first -time. The Plaza Mayor, especially, some years back, before the French -innovations, more or less good, were introduced, offered towards evening -a most picturesque scene. - -This immense square is bounded on one side by the Portales de -Mercaderes; heavy arches supported on one side by immense stones, and on -the other by pilasters, at the foot of which are the alacenas or shops. - -The ayuntamiento, the president's palace, the cathedral, the sagrario, -the portal de las flores, an immense bazaar for merchandize, and the -Parian, also a bazaar, complete, or rather completed, at the period when -our history takes place, the fourth side of the square, for recently -great changes have taken place, and the Parian, among other buildings, -has disappeared. The handsomest streets, such as the Tacuba, Mint, -Monterilla, Santo Domingo, etc., debouche on the great square. - -The cathedral stands exactly on the site of the ancient great Mexican -Teocali, all the buildings of which it has absorbed; unfortunately this -building, which is externally splendid, does not come up internally to -the idea formed of it, for its ornaments are in bad taste, poor and -paltry. - -Between five and six in the evening, or a few minutes before Oracion, -the appearance of the Plaza Mayor becomes really fairy-like. The crowd -of strollers--a strange crowd were there ever one--flocks up from all -sides at once, composed of horsemen, pedestrians, officers, priests, -soldiers, campesinos, leperos, Indian women in red petticoats, ladies of -fashion in their sayas, and all the people come, go, cross and jostle -each other, mingling their conversation with the cries of children, -the vociferations of the leperos, who torment purchasers with their -impetuosity, and the shrill appeals of the sellers of tamales and -queratero, crouching in the shade of the porticos. - -A few minutes before the Oracion, a Franciscan monk, recognizable by his -blue gown, and silken cord round his waist, and whose large white felt -hat, pulled down over the eyes, almost completely concealed his face, -came from the Calle Monterilla, and entered the Plaza Mayor. - -This man, who was tall and apparently powerfully built, walked slowly, -with hanging head and arms crossed on his chest, as if plunged in -serious reflection. Instead of entering the thronged Portales, he -crossed the square and proceeded towards the Parian, which was very -lively at the moment, for the Parian was a bazaar, resembling the Temple -of Paris, and was visited at this period by persons, the leanness of -whose purses only allowed them to purchase here their jewellery and -smart clothing, which, in any other part of the city would have been -much too expensive for them. - -Not attending to the noise or movement around him, the Franciscan leant -his shoulder against the stall of an evangelista, or public writer, and -looked absently and wearily across the square. He did not remain long in -this position, however, for just after he had reached the Parian, the -Oracion began. At the first peal of the cathedral bells, all the noises -ceased in the square; the crowd stopped, heads were uncovered, and each -muttered a short prayer in a low voice. - -At the last stroke of the Oracion, a hand was laid on the Franciscan's -shoulder, while a voice whispered in his ear-- - -"You are exact to the rendezvous, Senor Padre." - -"I am performing my duty, my son," the monk at once answered, turning -round. - -In the person who addressed him he doubtless recognized a friend, for he -offered him his hand by a spontaneous movement. - -"Are you still resolved to attempt the adventure?" the first speaker -continued. - -"More than ever, senor." - -"Bear in mind that you must not mention my name; we do not know each -other; you are a monk from the San Franciscan monastery, whom I fetched -to confess a young novice at the Convent of the Bernardines. It is -understood that you do not know who I am?" - -"My brother, we poor monks are at the service of the afflicted; our duty -orders us to help them when they claim our support; as we have no name -for society, we are forbidden to ask that of those who summon us." - -"Excellently spoken," the other replied, repressing a smile. "You are -a monk according to my own heart. I see that I am not deceived with -respect to you; come then, my father, we must not keep the person -waiting who is expecting us." - -The Franciscan bowed his assent, placed himself in the right of his -singular friend, and both went away from the Parian, where the noise -had become louder than ever, after the angelos had ceased ringing. The -two men passed unnoticed through the crowd, and walked in the direction -of the Convent of the Bernardines, going along silently, side by side. - -We have said that at the convent gate they passed Don Serapio de la -Ronda, that is to say, Valentine Guillois, and that the three men -exchanged a side glance full of meaning. The sister porter made no -objection to admitting the Franciscan; and his guide, so soon as he -saw him inside the convent, took leave of him after exchanging a few -commonplace compliments with the sister. The latter respectfully led the -monk into a parlour, and after begging him to wait a moment, went away -to inform the Mother Superior of the arrival of the confessor whom the -young novice had requested to see. - -We will leave the Franciscan for a little while to his meditations, and -return to the two young ladies whom we left in the garden. So soon as -the abbess had withdrawn, they drew closer together, Dona Helena taking -the seat on the bench previously occupied by the abbess. - -"My dear Anita," she said, "let me profit by the few minutes we are left -alone to impart to you the contents of a letter I received this morning; -I feared that I should be unable to do so, and yet it seems to me that -what I have to tell you is most important." - -"What do you mean, my dear Helena? Does the letter to which you refer -interest me?" - -"I cannot positively explain to you, but it will be sufficient for you -to know that my brothers are very intimate with a countryman of ours who -takes the greatest interest in you, and what I have to tell you relates -to this Frenchman." - -"That is strange," said Dona Anita, pausing. "I never knew but one -Frenchman, and I have told you the sad story which was the cause of all -the misfortunes that overwhelmed me. But the Frenchman whom my father -wished me to marry died under frightful circumstances; then who can this -gentleman be who takes so lively an interest in me--do you know him?" - -"Very slightly," the young lady answered with a blush, "but sufficiently -to be able to assure you that he possesses a noble heart. He does not -know you personally; but," she added, as she drew a letter from her -bosom, and opened it, "this is the passage in my brother's letter which -refers to you and him. Shall I read it to you?" - -"Pray read it, my dear Helena, for I know the friendship you and your -family entertain for me; hence, it is with the greatest pleasure I -receive news of your brothers." - -"Listen then," the young lady continued, and she read, after seeking for -the passage-- - -"'Valentine begs me, dear sister, to ask you to tell your friend'--that -is you," she said, breaking off. - -"Go on," Dona Anita answered, whose curiosity had been aroused by the -name Helena had pronounced, though it was impossible for her to know -who that person was. - -"'To tell your friend,' Dona Helena continued, 'that the confessor she -asked for will come to the convent this very day after the Oracion. Dona -Anita must arm herself with courage, which is as necessary to endure -joy as grief, for she will learn today some news possessing immense -importance for the future.' That is underlined," the young lady added, -as she bent over to her friend, and pointed to the sentence with the tip -of her rosy finger. - -"That is strange," Dona Anita murmured. "Alas! what news can I learn?" - -"Who knows?" said her young companion, and then continued--"'Before -all, Dona Anita must be prudent; and however extraordinary what she -hears may appear to her, she must be careful to conceal the effect -produced by this revelation, for she must not forget that if she have -devoted friends, she is closely watched by all-powerful enemies, and the -slightest imprudence would hopelessly neutralize all the efforts that -we are making to save her. You cannot, my dear sister, lay sufficient -stress on this recommendation.' The rest," the maiden added, with a -smile, "only relates to myself, and it is, therefore, unnecessary for me -to read it to you." - -And she refolded the letter, which disappeared in her dress again. - -"And now, my darling, you are warned," she said; "so be prudent." - -"Good heaven! I do not understand the letter at all, nor do I know the -Valentine to whom it alludes. It was by your advice that I asked for a -confessor." - -"That is to say, by my brother's advice, who, as you know, Anita, placed -me here, not merely because I love you as a sister, but also to support -and encourage you." - -"And I am grateful both to you and him for it, dear Helena; if I had -not you near me, in spite of the friendship our worthy and kind mother -condescends to grant me, I should long ago have succumbed to my grief." - -"The question is not about me at this moment, my darling, but -solely about yourself. However obscure and mysterious my brother's -recommendation may be, I know him to be too earnest and too truly kind -for me to neglect it. Hence I cannot find language strong enough to urge -you to prudence." - -"I seek in vain to guess what the news is to which he refers; and I -acknowledge that I feel a secret repugnance to see the confessor he -announces to me. Alas! I have everything to fear, and nothing to hope -now." - -"Silence," Dona Helena said, quietly. "I hear the sound of footsteps in -the walk leading to this arbour. Someone is coming. So we must not let -ourselves be surprised." - -"In fact, almost at the same moment the lay sister, who had already -informed the Mother Superior of the arrival of Don Serapio de la Ronda, -appeared at the entrance of the arbour. - -"Senorita," she said, addressing Dona Helena, "our holy mother abbess -wishes to speak to you as well as to Dona Anita without delay. She is -waiting for you in her private cell in the company of a holy Franciscan -monk." - -The maidens exchanged a glance, and a transient flush appeared on Dona -Anita's pale cheeks. - -"We will follow you, sister," Dona Helena replied. The maidens rose; -Dona Helena passed her arm through her companion's, and stooping down, -whispered in her ear-- - -"Courage, Querida." - -They followed the lay sister, who led them to the Mother Superior's -cell, and discreetly withdrew on reaching the door. The abbess appeared -to be talking rather excitedly with the Franciscan monk; but, on seeing -the two girls, she ceased speaking, and rose. - -"Come, my child," she said, as she held out her arms to Dona Anita, -"come and thank God who in his infinite goodness has deigned to perform -a miracle on your behalf." - -The maiden stopped through involuntary emotion, and looked wildly around -her. At a sign from the abbess the monk rose, and throwing back his hood -at the same time as he fell on his knees before the maiden, he said to -her in a voice faltering with emotion-- - -"Anita, do you recognize me?" - -At the sound of this voice, whose sympathetic notes made all the fibres -of her heart vibrate, the maiden suddenly drew herself back, tottered -and fell into the arms of Dona Helena, as she shrieked with an accent -impossible to describe-- - -"Martial! oh, Martial!" - -A sob burst from her overcharged bosom, and she burst into tears. She -was saved, since the immense joy she so suddenly experienced had not -killed her. The Tigrero, as weak as the woman he loved, could only find -tears to express all his feelings. - -For some minutes the abbess and Dona Helena trembled lest these two -beings, already so tried by misfortune, would not find within themselves -the necessary strength to resist so terrible an emotion; but a powerful -reaction suddenly took place in the tiger-slayer's mind; he sprang up -at one leap, and seized in his arms the maiden, who, on her side, was -making efforts to rush to him-- - -"Anita, dear Anita," he cried, "I have found you again at last; oh, now -no human power will be able to separate us!" - -"Never, never!" she murmured, as she let her head fall on the young -man's shoulder; "Martial, my beloved Martial, protect me, save me!" - -"Oh, yes, I will save you; angel of my life," he exclaimed, looking up -defiantly to heaven; "we will be united, I swear it to you." - -"Is that the prudence you promised me?" the abbess said, interposing; -"remember the perils of every description that surround you, and the -implacable foes who have sworn your destruction; lock up in your heart -these feelings which, if revealed before one of the countless spies who -watch you, would cause your death and that, perhaps, of the poor girl -you love." - -"Thank you, madam," the Tigrero replied; "thank you for having reminded -me of the part I must play for a few days longer. If I forgot it for -a few seconds, subdued by the passion that devours my heart, I will -henceforth adhere to it carefully. Do not fear lest I should imperil the -happiness that is preparing for me; no, I will restrain my feelings, and -let myself be guided by the counsel of the sincere friends to whom I owe -the moments of ineffable happiness I am now enjoying." - -"Oh! I now understand," Dona Anita exclaimed, "the mysterious hints -given me. Alas! misfortune made me suspicious; so forgive me, heaven, -forgive me, holy mother, and you too, Helena, my kind and faithful -friend. I did not dare hope, and feared a snare." - -"I forgive you, my poor child," the abbess answered; "who could blame -you?" - -Dona Helena pressed her friend to her heart without saying a word. - -"Oh, now our misfortunes are at an end, Anita," the Tigrero exclaimed -passionately; "we have friends who will not abandon us in the supreme -struggle we are engaging in with our common enemy. God, who has hitherto -done everything for us, will not leave his work incomplete; have faith -in Him, my beloved." - -"Martial," the maiden replied, with a firmness that astonished her -hearers, "I was weak because I was alone, but now that I know you live, -and are near me to support me, oh! if I were to fall dead at the feet -of my persecutor, I would not be false to the oath I took to be yours -alone. Believing you dead, I remained faithful to your memory; but now, -if persecution assailed me, I should find the strength to endure it." - -This scene would have been prolonged, but prudence urged that the abbess -should break it off as soon as possible. Dona Anita, rendered strong -merely by the nervous excitement which possessed her, soon felt faint; -she could scarcely stand, and Don Martial himself felt his energy -abandoning him. - -The separation was painful between these two beings so miraculously -re-united when they never expected to see each other again; but it was -soothed by the hope of soon meeting again under the protection of the -Mother Superior, who had done so much for them, and whose inexhaustible -kindness they had entirely gained for their cause. - -For the first time since she had entered the convent, Dona Anita smiled -through her tears, as she offered up to heaven her nightly prayers. -Don Martial went off rapidly to tell Valentine of what had taken place -at this interview, which he had so long desired. Dona Helena, however, -retired pensively to her cell; the maiden was dreaming--of what? - -No one could have said, and probably she herself was ignorant; but, for -some days past, an obtrusive thought unnecessarily occupied her mind, -and constantly troubled the calm mirror in which her virgin thoughts -were reflected. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE. - - -Ambition is the most terrible and deceptious of all human passions, -in the sense that it completely dries up the heart, and can never be -satisfied. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero was not one of those coldly cruel men, -solely governed by the instinct of art, or whom the smell of blood -intoxicates; but, with the implacable logic of ambitious persons, he -went direct to his object, overthrowing, without regret or remorse, all -the obstacles that barred his way to the object he had sworn to reach, -even if he were compelled to wade in blood up to his knees, and trample -on a pile of corpses. He only regarded men as pawns in the great game -of chess he was playing, and strove to justify himself, and stifle the -warnings of his terrified conscience, by the barbarous axiom employed by -the ambitious in all ages and all countries, that the end justifies the -means. - -His secret ambition, which, on a day of pretended frankness, he had -partly revealed in an interview with the Count de Prebois Crance at -Hermosillo, was not to render himself independent, but simply to be -elected, by means of a well-arranged pronunciamiento, President of the -Mexican Republic. - -It was not through hatred that General Guerrero was so obstinately -bent on destroying the count. Ambitious men, who are ever ready to -sacrifice their feelings to the interests of their gloomy machinations, -know neither hatred nor friendship. Hence we must seek elsewhere the -cause of the judicial murder of the count which was so implacably -carried out. The general feared the count, as an adversary who would -constantly thwart him in Sonora, where the first meshes of the net he -wished to throw over Mexico were spun--an adversary ready to oppose the -execution of his plans by claiming the due performance of the articles -of partnership--a performance which, in the probable event of an -insurrection excited by the general, would have become impossible, by -plunging the country for a lengthened period into a state of crisis and -general suspension of trade, which would have been most hostile to the -success of the lofty conceptions of the noble French adventurer.[1] - -But the count had scarce fallen on the beach of Guaymas ere the general -recognized the falseness of his calculations, and the fault he had -committed in sacrificing him. In fact, leaving out of the question the -death of his daughter, the only being for whom he retained in some -corner of his heart a little of that fire which heaven illumes in all -parents for their children, he found that he had exchanged a loyal and -cautious adversary for an obstinate enemy--the more formidable because, -caring for nothing, and having no personal ambition, he would sacrifice -everything without hesitation or calculation in behalf of the vengeance -which he had solemnly vowed to obtain by any means, over the still -quivering body of his friend. - -This implacable enemy, whom neither seduction nor intimidation could -arrest or even draw back, was Valentine Guillois. - -Under these circumstances, the general committed a graver fault than his -first one--a fault which was fated to have incalculable consequences for -him. Being very imperfectly acquainted with Valentine Guillois, unaware -of his inflexible energy of will, and ranking him in his mind with -those wood rangers, the Pariahs of civilization, who have only courage -to fire, in a moment of despair, a shot from behind a tree, but whose -influence was after all insignificant, he despised him. - -Valentine was careful not to dissipate, by any imprudent step, his -enemy's mistake, or even arouse his suspicions. - -At the time of the Count de Prebois Crance's first expedition, when -all seemed to smile on him, and his followers already saw the complete -success of their bold undertaking close at hand, Valentine had been -entrusted by his friend with various important operations and difficult -missions to the rich rancheros and hacenderos of the province. Valentine -had performed the duties his friend confided to him with his usual -loyalty and uprightness of mind, and had been so thoroughly appreciated -by the persons with whom chance had brought him into connection, that -all had remained on friendly terms with him and given him unequivocal -proofs of the sincerest friendship, especially upon the death of the -count. - -It only depended on the hunter's will to be rich, since he knew an -almost inexhaustible placer; and what the wood ranger would never -have consented to for himself, for the sake of paltry gain, he did -not hesitate to attempt in order to avenge his friend. Followed by -Curumilla, Belhumeur, and Black Elk, and leading a _recua_ of ten mules, -he did what two hundred and fifty men could not have succeeded in doing. -He went through Apacheria, crossed the fearful desert of sand in which -the bones of the hapless companions of the Marquis de Lhorailles were -bleaching, and, after enduring superhuman fatigue and braving terrible -dangers, he at length reached the placer. But this time he did not come -to take an insignificant sum; he wanted to collect a fortune at one -stroke. - -The hunter returned with his ten mules laden with gold. He knew that he -was beginning a struggle with a man who was enormously rich, and wished -to conquer him with his own weapons. In the new world, as in the old, -money is the real sinew of war, and Valentine would not imperil the -success of his vengeance. - -On returning to Guaymas, he realized his fortune, and found himself, -in a single day, not one of the richest, but _the_ richest private -person in Mexico, although it is a country in which fortunes attain -to a considerable amount. Thus the gold of the placer, which, at an -earlier period, had served to organize the count's expedition, and make -him believe for a moment in the realization of his dreams, was about to -serve in avenging him, after having indirectly caused his death. - -Then began between the general and the hunter a secret and unceasing -struggle, the more terrible through its hidden nature; and the general, -struck without knowing whence the blows dealt his ambition came, -struggled vainly, like a lion caught in a snare, while it was impossible -for him to discover the obstinate enemy who hunted him down. - -This man, who had hitherto succeeded in everything--who, during the -course of his long and stormy political career, had surmounted the -greatest obstacles and forced his very detractors to admire the luck -that constantly accompanied his wildest and rashest conceptions-- -suddenly saw Fortune turn her back on him with such rapidity--we may -even say brutality--that, scarce six weeks after the execution of the -count, he was obliged to resign his office of Military Governor, and -quit, almost like a fugitive, the province of Sonora, where he had so -long reigned as a master, and on which his iron yoke had pressed so -heavily. - -This first blow, dealt the general in the midst of his ambitious -aspirations, when he had only just begun to recover from the grief his -daughter's death had caused him, was the more terrible because he did -not know to whom he should attribute his downfall. - -Still, he did not long remain in doubt. An hour before his departure -from Hermosillo he received a letter in which he was informed, in the -minutest details, of the oath of vengeance taken against him, and of -the steps taken to obtain his recall. This letter was signed "Valentine -Guillois." The hunter, despising darkness and mystery, tore down the -veil that covered him, and openly challenged his foe by manfully telling -him to be on his guard. - -On receiving this threatening declaration of war, the general fell into -an extraordinary passion, the more terrible because it was impotent, -and then, when his mind became calm again, and he began reflecting, he -felt frightened. In truth, the man who stood so boldly before him as an -enemy, must be very powerful and certain of success thus to dare and -defy him. - -His departure from Sonora was a disgraceful flight, in which he tried, -by craft and caution, to throw out his enemy; but the meeting at the -Fort of the Chichimeques, a meeting long prepared by the hunter, proved -to him that he was unmasked once again, and conquered by his enemy. - -The contemptuous manner in which Valentine dismissed him after his -stormy explanation with him, had internally filled the general with -terror. What sinister projects could the man be meditating, what private -vengeance was he arranging, that, when he held him quivering in his -grasp, he allowed his foe to escape, and refused to kill him, when that -would have been so easy? What torture more terrible than death did he -intend to inflict on him? - -The remainder of his journey across the Rocky Mountains, as far as -Mexico, was one protracted agony, during which, suffering from constant -apprehension, and extreme nervous excitement, his diseased imagination -inflicted on him moral torture in the stead of which any physical pain -would have been welcome. - -The loss of his daughter's corpse, and above all, the death of his -father's old comrade in arms, the only man in whom he put faith, and who -possessed his entire confidence, destroyed his energy, and for several -days he was so overwhelmed by this double misfortune, that he longed for -death. - -His punishment was beginning. But General Guerrero was one of those -powerful athletes who do not allow themselves to be overcome so easily; -they may totter in the struggle, and roll on the sand of the arena, -but they always rise again more terrible and menacing than before. His -revolted pride restored his expiring courage; and since an implacable -warfare was declared against him, he swore that he would fight to the -end, whatever the consequences for him might be. - -Moreover, two months had elapsed since his arrival in Mexico, and his -enemy had not revealed his presence by one of those terrible blows which -burst like a clap of thunder above his head. The general gradually -began supposing that the hunter had only wished to force him to abandon -Sonora, and that, in despair of carrying out his plans advantageously -in a city like Mexico, he was prudently keeping aloof, and if he had -not completely renounced his vengeance, circumstances at any rate, -independent of his will, compelled him to defer it. - -The general, so soon as he was settled in the capital of Mexico, -organized a large band of highly-paid spies, who had orders to be -constantly on the watch, and inform him of Valentine's arrival in the -city. Thus reassured by the reports of his agents, he continued with -feverish ardour the execution of his dark designs, for he felt convinced -that if he succeeded in attaining his coveted object, the hatred of the -man who pursued him would no longer be dangerous. This was the more -probable, because, so soon as he held the power in his own hands, he -would easily succeed in getting rid of an enemy, whom his position as a -foreigner isolated, and rendered an object of dislike to the populace. - -The general lived in a large house in the Calle de Tacuba; it was built -by one of his ancestors, and considered one of the handsomest in the -capital. We will describe in a few words the architecture of Mexico, -for, as all the houses are built on the same pattern, or nearly so, by -knowing one it is easy to form an idea of what the others must be. - -The Mexican architecture greatly resembles the Arabic, and as for the -mode of arranging the rooms, it is still entirely in its infancy; but, -since the Proclamation of the Independence, foreign architects have -succeeded, in most of the great towns, in opening side doors in the -suites of rooms, which formerly only communicated with one another, and -hence compelled you to go through a bedroom to enter a dining room, or -pass through a kitchen to reach the drawing room. - -The general's house was composed of four buildings, two stories in -height, and with terraced roofs. Two courts separated these buildings, -and an awning stretched over the four sides of the first yard, enabling -visitors to reach the wide stone steps dry footed. At the top of this -flight, a handsome covered gallery, adorned with vases of flowers and -exotic shrubs, led to a vast anteroom, which opened into a splendid -reception hall; after this came a considerable number of apartments, -splendidly furnished in the European style. - -The general only inhabited the first floor of his mansion. Although -most of the streets are paved at the present day, and the canals have -entirely disappeared, except in the lower districts of the city, water -is still found a few inches beneath the surface, which produces such -damp, that the ground floor, rendered uninhabitable, is given up to -stores and shops in nearly all the houses. The ground floor of the main -building, looking on the Calle de Tacuba, was, therefore, occupied by -brilliant shops, which rendered the facade of the general's house even -more striking. - -The paintings and the ornaments carved on the walls, after the Spanish -fashion, gave it a peculiar, but not unpleasant appearance, which -was completed by the profusion of shrubs that lined the terrace, and -converted it into a hanging garden, like those of Babylon, some sixty -feet above the ground. By-the-bye, these gardens, from which the cupolas -of the churches seem to emerge, give a really fairy-like aspect to the -city, when you survey it in a glowing sunset, from the cathedral towers. - -Seven or eight days had elapsed since the events we recorded in our last -chapter. General Guerrero, after a long conversation with Colonel Don -Jaime Lupo, Don Sirven, and two or three others of his most faithful -partizans--a conversation in which the final arrangements were made for -the pronunciamiento which was to be attempted immediately--gave audience -to two of his spies, who assured him that the person, whose movements -they were ordered to watch, had not yet arrived in Mexico. - -When the hour for going to the theatre arrived, the general, temporarily -freed from alarm, prepared to be present at an extraordinary performance -to be given, that same night, at the Santa Anna theatre; but at the -moment when he was about to give orders for his carriage to be brought -up, the door of the room, in which he was sitting, opened, and a footman -appeared on the threshold, with a respectful bow. - -"What do you want?" the general asked, turning round at the sound. - -"Excellency," the valet replied, "a caballero desires a few minutes' -conversation with your excellency." - -"At this hour?" the general said, looking at a clock, "it is -impossible;" but, suddenly reflecting, he asked, "anyone you know, -Isidro?" - -"No, excellency; it is a caballero whom I have not yet had the honour of -seeing in the house." - -"Hum," said the general, shaking his head thoughtfully, "is he a -gentleman?" - -"That I can assure your excellency; and he told me that he had a most -important communication to make to you." - -In the general's present position, as head of a conspiracy on the point -of breaking out, no detail must be neglected, no communication despised, -so, after reflecting a little, he continued-- - -"You ought to have told the gentleman that I could not receive him so -late, and that he had better call again tomorrow." - -"I told him so, excellency." - -"And he insisted?" - -"Several times, excellency." - -"Well, do you know his name, at least?" - -"When I asked the caballero for it, he said it was useless, as you would -not know it; but if you wished to learn it, he would himself tell it to -your excellency." - -"What a strange person," the general muttered to himself; "very good," -he then added aloud, "lead the gentleman to the small mirror room, and I -will be with him immediately." - -The footman bowed respectfully. - -"Who can the man be, and what is the important matter he has to tell -me?" the general muttered, as he was alone. "Hum, probably some poor -devil mixed up in our conspiracy, who wants a little money. Well, he had -better be careful, for I am not the man to be plundered with impunity, -and so he will find out, if his communication is not serious." - -And, throwing on to a chair the plumed hat he held in his hand, he -proceeded to the mirror room. - - -[1] See "Goldseekers." Same publishers. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -A VISIT. - - -The mirror room was an immense apartment, only separated from the -covered gallery by two anterooms. It was furnished with princely luxury, -and it was here that the general gave those sumptuous _tertulias,_ which -are still talked about in the highest Mexican circles, although so many -years have elapsed. - -This room, merely lighted by two lamps, standing on a console, was at -this moment plunged into a semi-obscurity, when compared with the other -apartments in the mansion, which were full of light. - -A gentleman, dressed in full black, and with the red ribbon of the -Legion of Honour carelessly knotted in a buttonhole of his coat, was -leaning his elbow on the console where the lamps stood, and seemed so -lost in thought, that, when the general entered the room, the sound of -his steps, half subdued by the petates, did not reach the visitor's -ears, and he did not turn to receive him. - -Don Sebastian, after closing the door behind him, walked towards his -visitor, attempting to recognize him, which, however, the stranger's -position rendered temporarily impossible. It was not till he came almost -near enough to touch him that the stranger, at length warned of the -general's presence, raised his head; in spite of all the command Don -Sebastian had over himself, he started and fell back a couple of yards -on recognizing him. - -"Don Valentine!" he said, in a stifled voice, "you here?" - -"Myself, general," he replied, with an almost imperceptible smile and a -profound bow; "did you not expect a visit from me?" - -The Trail-hunter, according to his habit, at once assumed his position -before his adversary. A bitter smile played round the general's pale -lips, and mastering his emotion, he replied, sarcastically-- - -"Certainly, caballero, I hoped to receive a visit from you; but not -here, and under such conditions, I did not venture, I confess, to -anticipate such an honour." - -"I am delighted," he replied, with another bow, "that I have thus -anticipated your wishes." - -"I will prove to you, senor," the general said, with set teeth, "the -value I attach to the visit you have been pleased to pay me." - -While saying this, he stretched out his arm towards a bell. - -"I beg your pardon, general," the Frenchman said, with imperturbable -coolness, "but I believe that you intend to summon some of your people?" - -"And supposing that was my intention, senor?" the general said, -haughtily. - -"If it were so," he replied, with icy politeness, "I think it would be -better for you to do nothing of the sort." - -"Oh, indeed, and for what reason, may I ask?" - -"For the simple reason, general, that as I have the honour to know you -thoroughly, I was not such a fool as to place myself in your power. -My carriage is waiting at this moment in front of your door; in that -carriage are two of my friends, and, in all probability, if they do not -see me come down the steps again in half an hour, they will not hesitate -to ask you what has taken place between us, and what has become of me." - -The general bit his lips. - -"You are mistaken as to my intentions, senor," he said. "I fear you no -more than you appear to do me. I am a gentleman, and were you ten times -more my enemy than you are, I would never attempt to free myself from -you by an assassination." - -"Be it so, general; I should be glad to be mistaken, and in that case I -beg you to accept my apologies; moreover, in coming thus to see you, I -give you, I believe, a proof of confidence." - -"For which I thank you, senor; but as I suppose that reasons of the -highest gravity alone induced you to present yourself here, and the -interview you ask of me must be long, I wished to give my people orders -to take out the horses, and take care that we are not interrupted." - -Valentine bowed without replying, but with an imperceptible smile, and -leaning again on the console, he twisted his long, fair, light moustache -while the general rang the bell. A servant came in. - -"Have the horses taken out," the general said, "and I am not at home to -anybody." - -The servant bowed, and prepared to leave the room. - -"Ah!" said the general, suddenly stopping him, "on the part of this -caballero ask the gentlemen in his carriage to do me the honour of -coming up to my apartments, where they can await more comfortably the -end of a conversation which will probably be rather prolonged. You will -serve refreshments to these gentlemen in the blue room," he added, -looking fixedly at the Frenchman, "the one that follows this room." - -The servant retired. - -"If you still apprehend a trap, senor," he continued, turning to the -Frenchman, "your friends will be at hand, if necessary, to come to your -help." - -"I knew that you were brave to rashness, general," the Frenchman -answered politely, "and I am happy to see that you are no less -honourable." - -"And now, senor, be kind enough to sit down," Don Sebastian said, -pointing to a chair. "May I venture to offer you any refreshments?" - -"General," Valentine answered, as he seated himself, "permit me, for the -present, to decline them. In my youth I served in Africa, and in that -country people are only wont to break their fast with friends. As we -are, temporarily at least, enemies, I must ask you to let me retain my -present position toward you." - -"The custom to which you allude, senor, is also met with on our -prairies," the general replied; "still people sometimes depart from -it. However, act as you think proper. I wait till it may please you -to explain the purpose of this visit, at which I have a right to feel -surprised." - -"I will not abuse your patience any longer, general," he replied with a -bow. "I have merely come to propose a bargain." - -"A bargain?" Don Sebastian exclaimed with surprise, "I do not understand -you." - -"I will have the honour of explaining myself, senor." - -The general bowed and said, "I await your pleasure." - -"You are a diplomatist, general," Valentine continued, "and in that -capacity are, doubtless, aware that a bad treaty is better than a good -war." - -"In certain cases I allow it is so; but I will take the liberty of -remarking that, under present circumstances, senor, I must await your -propositions, instead of offering any of mine, as the war, to employ -your own expression, was not begun by me, but by you." - -"I think it will be better not to discuss that point, in which we should -find it difficult to agree; still, in order to remove any ambiguity, and -lay down the point at issue distinctly, I will remind you in a few words -of the motives which produced the hatred that divides us." - -"Those motives, senor, you have already explained to me most fully at -the Fort of the Chichimeques. Without discussing their validity with -you, I will content myself with saying that hatred, like friendship, -being a matter of sympathy, and not the result of reason, it is better -to confess frankly that we hate or love each other, without trying to -account for either of these feelings, which I consider completely beyond -the will." - -"You are at liberty to think so, senor, and though I do not agree -with you, I will not discuss the point; it is, however, certain that -the hatred we bear each other is implacable, and cannot possibly be -extinguished." - -"Still you spoke only a minute back of a bargain." - -"Certainly; but bargaining is not forgetting. I can, for certain -reasons, abstain from that hatred without renouncing it; and though -I may cease to injure you, I do not, on that account, contract the -slightest friendship with you." - -"I admit that in principle, senor; let us, therefore, come to facts -without further delay; be good enough to explain to me the nature of the -bargain which you think proper to propose to me today." - -"Allow me, in the first place, according to my notions of honour, to -explain to you what our position to each other is." - -"Since the beginning of this interview, senor, I must confess that you -have been talking enigmas inexplicable to me." - -"I will try to be clear, senor, and if I tell you what your plans -are, and the means you have employed for their realization, you will -understand, I have no doubt, that I have succeeded in countermining them -sufficiently to prevent a favourable issue." - -"Go on, senor," the general remarked, with a smile. - -"In two words, this is your position. In the first, you wish, by -a pronunciamiento, to overthrow General R----, and have yourself -proclaimed President of the Republic in his place." - -"Ah, ah," said the general, with a forced laugh; "you must know, senor, -that in our blessed country this ambition is constantly attributed to -all officers who, either on account of their fortune or personal merit, -hold a public position. This accusation, therefore, is not very serious." - -"It would not be so, if you limited yourself to mere wishes, possibly -legitimate in the present state of the country; but, unfortunately, it -is not so." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean, general, that you are the head of a conspiracy; that this -conspiracy, several times already a failure in Sonora, you have renewed -in Mexico, under almost infallible conditions of success, and which, -in my opinion, would succeed, had I not resolved on causing them to -fail. I mean that, only a few days ago, your conspirators assembled in -a velorio kept by a certain No Lusacho. Through the agency of Don Jaime -Lupo, you divided among them two bags of gold, brought by you for them, -and emptied in your presence. I mean that, after this distribution, -the final arrangements were made, and the day was almost fixed for the -pronunciamiento. Am I deceived, general, or do you now see that I am -well informed, and that my spies are quite equal to yours, who were not -even able to inform you of my arrival at the Ciudad, where I have been -for more than a week, and you have not known a word about it?" - -"While Valentine was speaking thus, in his mocking way, with his elbow -carelessly laid on the arm of his chair, and his body slightly bent -forward, the general was in a state of passion which he tried in vain -to repress, his pale face assumed a cadaverous hue, his eyebrows met, -and his clenched teeth found difficulty in keeping the words back which -tried each moment to burst forth. When the Frenchman ceased speaking -he made a violent effort to check his rage which was on the point of -breaking out, and he answered in a hollow voice which emotion caused -involuntary to tremble-- - -"I will imitate your frankness, senor. Of what use would it be to -dissimulate with an enemy so well informed as you pretend to be? What -you have said about a conspiracy is perfectly correct. Yes, I intend to -make a pronunciamiento, and that shortly. You see that I do not attempt -to conceal anything from you." - -"I presume, because you consider it useless," Valentine answered -sarcastically. - -"Perhaps so, senor. Although you are so well informed, you do not know -everything." - -"Do you think so?" - -"I am sure of it." - -"What is the thing I am ignorant of?" - -"That you will not leave this house again, and that I am going to blow -out your brains," the general exclaimed, as he started up and cocked a -pistol. - -The Frenchman did not make the slightest movement to prevent the -execution of the general's threat; he contented himself with looking -firmly at him, and saying, coldly-- - -"I defy you." - -Don Sebastian remained motionless, with haggard eye, pale brow, and -trembling hand; then, in a few seconds, he uncocked the pistol, and fell -back utterly crushed in his chair. - -"You have gone too far or not far enough, caballero," Valentine went on -with perfect calmness. "Every threat should be executed at all risks so -soon as it is made. You have reflected, so let us say no more about it, -but resume our conversation." - -In a discussion of this nature, all the advantage is on the side -of the adversary who retains his coolness. The general, ashamed of -the passionate impulse to which he had yielded, and crushed by his -enemy's sarcastically contemptuous answer, remained dumb; he at length -understood that, with a man like the one before him, any contest must -turn to his disadvantage, unless he employed treachery, which his pride -forbade. - -"Let us, for the present," Valentine went on, still calmly and coldly, -"leave this conspiracy, to which we will revert presently, and pass to -a no less interesting subject. If I am correctly informed, Senor Don -Sebastian, you have a ward of the name of Dona Anita de Torres?" - -The general started, but remained silent. - -"Now," continued Valentine, "in consequence of a frightful catastrophe, -this young lady became insane. But that does not prevent you from -insisting on marrying her, in contempt of all law, divine and human, -for the simple reason that she is enormously rich and you require her -fortune for the execution of your ambitious plans. It is true that the -young lady does not love you, and never did love you; it is also true -that her father intended her for another, and that other you insist on -declaring to be dead, although he is alive; but what do you care for -that? Unfortunately, one of my intimate friends, of whom you probably -never heard, Senor Don Serapio de la Ronda, has heard this affair -alluded to. I will tell you confidentially that Don Serapio is greatly -respected by certain parties, and has very considerable power. Don -Serapio, I know not why, takes an interest in Dona Anita, and has made -up his mind, whether you like it or not, to marry her to the man she -loves, and for whom her father intended her." - -"The villain is dead," the general exclaimed, furiously. - -"You are perfectly well aware of the contrary," Senor Valentine -answered, "and to remove any doubts you may still happen to have, I will -give you the proof. Don Martial," he said aloud, "come in, pray, and -tell General Guerrero yourself that you are not dead." - -"Oh!" the general muttered furiously, "this man is a demon." - -At this moment the door opened, and a new personage entered the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -ASSISTANCE. - - -The man who now entered the hall of mirrors was dressed like the riders -who promenade at the Bucareli, and gallop at carriage doors--that is to -say, in trousers with silk stripes down the sides, and a broad-brimmed -hat decorated with a double gold string and tassels. - -He walked gracefully up to Don Sebastian, still holding his hat in his -right hand, bowed to him with that exquisite grace of which the Mexicans -alone seem to have the privilege, and thrusting his hand into his side, -he said, with an accent of cutting sarcasm, and in a harsh, metallic -voice-- - -"Do you recognize me, Don Sebastian, and do you believe that I am really -alive, and that it is not the ghost of Martial the Tigrero which has -come from the grave to address you?" - -At the same moment Belhumeur's clever, knowing face could be seen -peering through the doorway. With his eyes obstinately fixed on the -general, he seemed to be impatiently expecting an answer, which the -latter, struggling with several different feelings, evidently hesitated -to give. Still, he was compelled to form a resolution, so he rose and -looked the Tigrero boldly in the face. - -"Who are you, senor?" he said, in a firm voice, "and by what right do -you question me?" - -"Well played," said Valentine, with a laugh; "by heaven, caballero, -it is a pleasure to contend with you, for, on my soul, you are a rude -adversary." - -"Do you think so?" Don Sebastian asked, with a hoarse laugh. - -"Certainly," the hunter continued, "and I am delighted to bear my -testimony to the fact; hence you had better yield at once, for you are -in a dilemma from which you cannot escape, not even by a master stroke." - -There was a silence, lasting some minutes. At length the general -seemed to make up his mind, for he turned to Belhumeur, who was still -listening, and bowed to him with ironical politeness. - -"Why stand half hidden by that door?" he said to him; "pray enter, -caballero, for your presence here will be most agreeable to the whole -company." - -The Canadian at once entered, and after giving the general a respectful -bow he leant over the back of Valentine's chair. The latter eagerly -followed all the incidents of the strange scene that was being played -before him, and in which he appeared to be a disinterested spectator -rather than an actor. - -"You see, senores," the general said, haughtily, "that I imitate your -example, and, like you, play fairly. I believe that you entered my house -in order to propose a bargain to me, Don Valentine? You, senor," he -said, turning to the Tigrero, "whom I told that I did not recognize, and -whom I have the honour of receiving at my house for the first time, have -doubtless come as witness for these caballeros, who are your friends. -Well, gentlemen, you shall all three be satisfied. I am awaiting your -proposal, Don Valentine. I allow, senor, that you, whose miraculous -resuscitation I have hitherto denied, are alive, and are really Don -Martial the ex-lover of Dona Anita de Torres. As for you, senor, whom -I do not know, I authorize you to declare before any one you like the -truth of the words I utter. Are you all three satisfied, gentlemen? Is -there anything else I can do to afford you pleasure?--if so, speak, and -I am ready to satisfy you." - -"A man could not yield to what is inevitable with better grace," -Valentine replied, bowing ironically. - -"Thanks for your approval, caballero, and be kind enough to let me know, -without further delay, the conditions on which you are willing to leave -off pursuing me with that terrible hatred with which you incessantly -threaten me, and whose result is rather long in coming, according to my -judgment." - -These words were uttered with a mixture of pride and contempt impossible -to express, and which for a moment rendered Valentine dumb, so -extraordinary did the sudden change in his adversary's humour appear to -him. - -"I am waiting," the general added, as he fell back in his chair, with an -air of weariness. - -"We will bring matters to an end," Valentine said, drawing himself up -with an air of resolution. - -"That is what I wish," the general interrupted him, as he lit a -cigarette, which he began smoking with the most profound coolness. - -"These are my conditions," the hunter said distinctly and harshly, for -he was annoyed by this frigid indifference. "You will at once leave -Mexico, and give up Dona Anita, to whom you will not only restore her -liberty, but also the right of giving her hand and fortune to whomsoever -she pleases. You will sell your estates, and retire to the United -States, promising on oath never to return to Mexico. On my side, I -pledge myself to restore you your daughter's body, and never attempt to -injure you in any way." - -"Have you anything more to add?" the general asked, as he coolly watched -the blue smoke of his cigarette as it rose in circles to the ceiling. - -"Nothing; but take care, senor, I too have taken an oath, and from -what I have told you, you must have seen how far I have detected your -secrets. Accept or refuse, but come to a decision; for this is the last -time we shall meet face to face under the like conditions. The game we -are playing is a terrible one, and must end in the death of one of us; -and I shall show you no pity, as, doubtless, you will show me none. -Reflect seriously before answering yes or no, and I give you half an -hour to decide." - -The general burst into a sharp and nervous laugh. "_Viva Dios_, -caballero!" he exclaimed, with a contemptuous toss of his head, "I have -listened to you with extreme surprise. You dispose of my will with an -incomparable facility. I do not know who gives you the right to speak -and act as you are doing; but, by heaven, hatred, however active it may -be, can in no case possess this privilege. You fancy yourself much more -powerful than you really are, I fancy; but, at any rate, whatever may -happen, bear this carefully in mind--I will not retreat an inch before -you. Accepting your impudent and ridiculous conditions would be to -cover myself with shame and my utter ruin. Were you the genius of Evil -clothed in mortal form, I would not the less persist in the track I have -laid down for myself, and in which I will persevere at my own risk and -peril; however terrible may be the obstacles you raise, I will overthrow -them or succumb bravely, buried beneath the ruins of my abortive -plans and my destroyed fortunes. Hence consider yourself warned, Don -Valentine; that I despise your menaces, and they will not stop me. And -you, Don Martial, since such is your name, that I shall marry my ward, -in spite of the efforts you may make to prevent me, and shall do so -because I wish it, and because no man in the world has ever attempted -to resist my will without being at once mercilessly crushed. And now, -senores, as we have said all we have to say to each other, and I think -there is no more, and we can have no doubt as to our mutual intentions, -permit me to take leave of you, for I wish to go to the Santa Anna -theatre, and it is already very late." - -He rang the bell, and a footman came in. - -"Order the carriage," he said to him. - -"Then," Valentine said as he rose, "it is war to the death between us." - -"War to the death! be it so." - -"We shall only meet once again, general," the hunter remarked; "and that -will be on the eve of your death, when you are in Capilla." - -"I accept the meeting, and will bow uncomplainingly before you if you -are powerful enough to obtain that result; but, believe me, I am not -there yet." - -"You are nearer your fall than you perhaps suppose." - -"That is possible; but enough of this; any further conversation will be -useless. Light these gentlemen down," he said to the servant, who at -this moment entered the room. - -The three men rose, exchanged dumb bows with the general, and, -accompanied by him to the door of the room, they followed the footman, -who preceded them with candles. Two carriages were waiting at the foot -of the stairs; Valentine and his friends got into one of them, the -general took his seat in the other, and they heard him give the order in -a firm voice to drive to the Santa Anna theatre. The coachmen flogged -their horses, which started at a gallop, and the two carriages left the -house, the gates of which were closed after them. - -The Santa Anna theatre was built in 1844 by the Spanish architect, -Hidalgo. This building has externally nothing remarkable about it, -either in regard to frontage or position; but we are glad to state that -the interior is convenient, elegant, and even grand. - -After passing through the external portico, you enter a yard covered -with a glass dome, next come wide stairs with low steps, large and lofty -lobbies, a double row of galleries looking on the front yard, and airy -crush-rooms for the promenaders. - -The house is well built, well decorated, and spacious; it has three rows -of boxes, with a lower circle representing the pit boxes, and another -above the third circle for the lower classes. In the pit, it is worth -mentioning that each visitor has his stall, which he reaches easily and -comfortably by passages formed down the centre and round the theatre. -The boxes nearly all contain ten persons, and are separated from each -other by light colonnades and partitions. To each box is attached a -room, to which people withdraw between the acts, and, instead of the -balconies which in our theatres conceal a great part of the ladies' -toilets, the boxes have only a ledge a few inches in height, which -allows the splendid dresses of the audience to be fully admired. - -We have dwelt, perhaps with a little complacency, on this description of -the Santa Anna theatre, for we thought that, at the moment when it is -intended to rebuild the Opera and other Parisian theatres, there can be -no harm in displaying the difference that exists between the frightful -dens in which the spectators are thrust together pell-mell every night -in a city like Paris, which claims to be the first, not only in Europe, -but in the whole world, and the spacious airy theatres of a country like -Mexico, which in so many respects is inferior to us as regards ideas of -civilization and comfort. It would, however, be very easy, we fancy, to -obtain in Paris the advantageous results the Mexicans have enjoyed for -twenty years, and that at a slight expense. Unfortunately, whatever may -be said, the French are the most thorough routine nation in the world, -and we greatly fear that, in spite of incessant protests, things will -remain for a long time in the same state as they are today. - -When the general entered his box, which was in the first circle, -and almost facing the stage, the house presented a truly fairy-like -appearance. The extraordinary performance had brought an immense throng -of spectators and ladies, whose magnificent dresses were covered with -diamonds, which glittered and flashed beneath the light that played on -them. - -Don Sebastian, after bending forward for a moment to exchange bows with -his numerous acquaintances, and prove his presence, withdrew to the back -of the box, opened his glasses, and began looking carelessly about him. -But though, through a powerful effort of the will, his face was cold, -calm, and unmoved, a terrible storm was raging in the general's heart. - -The scene that had taken place a few minutes previously at his mansion, -had filled him with anxiety and gloomy forebodings, for he understood -that his adversaries must either believe or feel themselves very -strong thus to dare and defy him to the face, and audaciously enter -his very house. In vain he tortured his mind to find means to get rid -of his obstinate enemy; but time pressed, his situation became at each -moment more critical, and unless some bold and desperate stroke proved -successful, he felt instinctively that he was lost without chance of -salvation. - -The president's box was occupied by the first magistrate of the -Republic, and some of his aide-de-camps. Several times, Don Sebastian -fancied that the president's eyes were fixed on him with a strange -expression, after which he bent over and whispered some remarks to -the gentlemen who accompanied him. Perhaps, this was not real, and the -general's pricked conscience suggested to him suspicions far from the -thoughts of those against whom he had so many reasons to be on his -guard; but whether real or not, these suspicions tortured his heart and -proved to him the necessity of coming to an end at all risks. - -Still the performance went on; the curtain had just fallen before the -last act, and the general, devoured by anxiety, and persuaded that he -had remained long enough in the theatre to testify his presence, was -preparing to retire, when the door of his box opened, and Colonel Lupo -walked in. - -"Ah, is it you, colonel?" Don Sebastian said to him as he offered his -hand and gave him a forced smile. "You are welcome; I did not hope any -longer to have the pleasure of seeing you, and I was just going away." - -"Pray do not let me stop you, general, I have only a few words to say to -you." - -"Our business?" - -"Goes on famously." - -"No suspicion?" - -"Not the shadow." - -The general breathed like a man from whose chest a crushing weight has -been just removed. - -"Can I be of any service to you?" he said, absently. - -"For the present, I have only come for your sake." - -"How so?" - -"I was accosted today by a lepero, a villain of the worst sort, who -says that he wishes to avenge himself on a certain Frenchman, whom -he declares you know, and he desires to place himself under your -protection, in the event of the blade of his navaja accidentally -slipping into his enemy's body." - -"Hum! that is serious," the general said with an imperceptible start. "I -do not know how far I dare go in being bail for such a scoundrel." - -"He declares that you have known him a long time, and that while doing -his own business, he will be doing yours." - -"You know that I am no admirer of navajadas, for an assassination always -injures the character of a politician." - -"That is true; but you cannot be rendered responsible for the crimes any -villain may think proper to commit." - -"Did this worthy gentleman tell you his name, my dear colonel?" - -"Yes; but I believe that it would be better to mention it in the open -air, rather than in this place." - -"One word more; have you cleverly deceived him, and do you think that he -really intends to be useful to us?" - -"Useful to you, you mean." - -"As you please." - -"I could almost assert it." - -"Well, we will be off; have you weapons about you?" - -"I should think so; it would be madness to go about Mexico unarmed." - -"I have pistols in my pocket, so I will dismiss my carriage, and we will -walk home to my house; does that suit you, my dear colonel?" - -"Excellently, general, the more so because if you evince any desire to -see the scoundrel in question, nothing will be easier than for me to -take you to the den he occupies, without attracting attention." - -The general looked at his accomplice fixedly. "You have not told me all, -colonel?" he said. - -"I have not, general, but I am convinced that you understand the motive, -which at this moment keeps my mouth shut." - -"In that case, let us be off." - -He wrapped himself in his cloak and left the box, followed by the -colonel. A footman was waiting under the portico for his orders to bring -up the carriage. - -"Return to the house," the general said; "it is a fine night, and I feel -inclined for a walk." - -The footman retired. - -"Come, colonel," Don Sebastian went on. - -They left the theatre and proceeded slowly toward the Portales de -Mercaderes, which were entirely deserted at this advanced hour of the -night. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -EL ZARAGATE. - - -The night was clear, mild and starry, a profound calm prevailed in the -deserted streets, and it was in fact one of those delicious Mexican -nights, so filled with soft emanations, and which dispose the mind to -delicious reveries. - -The two gentlemen, carefully wrapped in their cloaks, walked side by -side, along the middle of the street, in fear of an ambuscade, examining -with practised eyes the doorways and the dark corners of side streets. -When they were far enough from the theatre no longer to fear indiscreet -eyes or ears, the general at length broke the silence. - -"Now, Senor Don Jaime," he said, "let us speak frankly, if you please." - -"I wish for nothing better," the colonel replied, with a bow. - -"And to begin," Don Sebastian continued, "tell me who the man is from -whom you hinted that I could derive some benefit." - -"Nothing is easier, excellency. This man is a villain of the worst sort, -as I already had the honour of telling you; his antecedents are, I -suppose, rather dark, and that is all I have been able to discover. This -man, who, I believe, belongs to no country, but who, in consequence of -his adventurous life, has visited them all and speaks all languages, -was at San Francisco when the Count de Prebois Crance organized the -cuadrilla of bandits, at the head of which he undertook to dismember our -lovely country, and in which, between ourselves, he would probably have -succeeded had it not been for your skill and courage." - -"We will pass over that, my dear colonel," the general quickly -interrupted him; "I did my duty in that affair, as I shall always do it -when the interest of my country is at stake." - -The colonel bowed. - -"Well," he continued, "the villain I am speaking of could not let such -a magnificent opportunity slip; he enlisted in the count's cuadrilla. I -believe he was starving at San Francisco, and, for certain reasons best -known to himself, was not sorry to leave that city--but perhaps I weary -you by giving you all these details." - -"On the contrary, my dear colonel, I wish to be thoroughly acquainted -with this picaro, in order to judge what reliance may be placed in his -protestations." - -"On arriving at Guaymas, our man became almost directly the secret -agent of that unhappy Colonel Fleury, who, as you well remember, was so -brutally assassinated by the Frenchmen." - -"Alas, yes!" the general said with a sardonic smile. - -"Senor Pavo also employed him several times," Don Jaime continued, "but, -unfortunately for our individual, Don Valentine, the count's friend, -was watching; he discovered, I knew not how, all his little tricks, and -insisted on his dismissal from the company, after a quarrel he had with -one of the French officers." - -"I think I can remember the affair being talked about at the time. Was -not this villain known by the sobriquet of the Zaragate?" - -"He was, general; furious at what happened to him, and attributing it to -Don Valentine, he took an oath to kill him whenever he met him, so soon -as the opportunity offered itself." - -"Well?" - -"It seems that, despite all his goodwill and his eager desire to get rid -of his enemy, the opportunity has not yet offered, as he has not killed -him." - -"That is true; but how did you come across this scoundrel, colonel?" - -"Well, general," he answered with some hesitation, "you know that I have -been compelled during the last few days, for the sake of our affair, -to keep rather bad company. This scoundrel came to offer his services. -I cross-questioned him, and knowing your enmity to that Frenchman, -I resolved to inform you of this acquisition. If I have done wrong, -forgive me, and we will say no more about it." - -"On the contrary, colonel," the general said eagerly. "The deuce! not -only have I nothing to forgive, but I feel very grateful to you, for -your confession has come at a most fortunate time. You shall judge, -however, for I wish to be frank with you, the more so because, apart -from the high esteem I feel for your character, our common welfare is at -stake at this moment." - -"You frighten me, general." - -"You will be more frightened directly; know that this Valentine, -this Frenchman, this demon, has I know not by what means, discovered -our conspiracy, holds all the threads of it, and, more than that, is -acquainted with all the members, beginning with myself." - -"_Voto a brios!_" the colonel exclaimed, with a start of surprise, and -turning pale with terror, "in that case we are lost." - -"Well, I confess that our chances of success are considerably -diminished." - -"Pardon me for asking, general," he continued in great agitation, "but -in circumstances like the present----" - -"Go on, go on, my dear colonel, do not be embarrassed." - -"Are you sure, general, perfectly certain as to the statement you have -just made to me?" - -"You shall judge. About an hour before the opening of the theatre, -Don Valentine himself--you understand me?--came to my house with two -friends, doubtless cutthroats in his pay, and revealed all to me; what -do you say to that?" - -"I say that if this man does not die we are hopelessly lost." - -"That is my opinion too," the general remarked coldly. - -"How came it that, in spite of this terrible revelations, you ventured -to show yourself at the theatre?" - -Don Sebastian smiled and shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. - -"Ought I to let even indifferent persons see the anxiety that devoured -me? Undeceive yourself, colonel, boldness alone can save us; do not -forget that we are risking our heads at this moment." - -"I am not likely to forget it." - -"As for this man, the Zaragate, I must not and will not see him; but -do you deal with him as you think proper. You understand that it is of -the utmost importance that I should be ignorant of the arrangements you -may make with him, and be able to prove, if necessary, that I had no -knowledge of this. Moreover, as you are aware, I am not one for extreme -measures; the sight of such a villain would be repulsive to me, for I -have such a horror of bloodshed. Alas!" he added, with a sigh, "I have -been forced to shed only too much in the course of my life." - -"I do not know exactly," the colonel muttered. - -"I have entire confidence in you; you are an intelligent man; I give you -full authority, and whatever you do will be well done. You understand -me, I trust?" - -"Yes, yes, general," the officer grunted ill-temperedly, "I understand -you only too well." - -"I see----" - -"What do you see?" the other interrupted him. - -"That, if we succeed, you will be a general and Governor of Sonora. That -is rather a pretty prospect, I fancy, and one worth risking something -for." - -"It is useless to remind me of your promises, general; you are well -aware that I am devoted to you." - -"I know it, of course, and on that account leave you. A longer -conversation in the moonlight might arouse suspicions. Good night, and -come and breakfast with me tomorrow." - -"I will not fail, general. Good night, and I kiss your excellency's -hands." - -The general pulled his hat over his eyes, wrapped himself in his cloak, -and went off hastily towards the Calle de Tacuba. On being left alone, -the colonel remained for a moment plunged in deep thought; the office -with which he was intrusted, for he perfectly caught the meaning of -the general's hints, was most serious. He must act vigorously without -compromising his chief, and in the shortest possible period, under the -penalty of being himself arrested and shot in four and twenty hours if -he failed. For the Mexicans, like their old masters the Spaniards, do -not jest in matters connected with revolutions, and boldly cut away the -evil at the root, by killing all the leaders of the abortive conspiracy. - -The situation was critical, and he must make up his mind, for the slight -delay might ruin all; but at so late an hour where was he to meet a man -like the Zaragate, who had probably no known domicile, and who led, a -no doubt most irregular life. - -Mexico, like all large cities, is amply endowed with suspicious houses, -frequented by rogues of all ages, who are continually wandering about -in search of adventures, more or less lucrative, under the complacent -protection of the moon. - -Moreover, although the worthy colonel had, in the course of his life, -frequented very mixed company, as he himself allowed, he was not at all -anxious to venture alone at night into the lower parts of the city, and -enter the velorios, thorough cut-throat dens, filled with robbers and -assassins, in which respectable persons do not even venture in bright -day without a shudder. - -At the moment when the colonel mechanically raised his head and looked -despairingly up to heaven, he fancied he saw several suspicious shadows -prowling about him in a suggestive manner. But the colonel was brave, -and the more so, because he had literally nothing to lose, hence he -quietly loosened his sword, opened his cloak, and at the instant when -four or five fellows attacked him at once with machetes and long -navajas, he was on guard according to all the rules of the art, with his -left foot supported a pillar, and his cloak wrapped like a buckler round -his arm. - -The attack was a rude one, but the colonel withstood it manfully; -besides, all went on in the Mexican way, without a shout or call for -help. When you are thus attacked in a Mexican street, you feel so -assured of death, that you generally confine yourself to the best -possible defence, without losing time in calling for help, which will -certainly not arrive. - -Still, the assailants being armed with short and heavy weapons, had a -marked disadvantage against the colonel's long and thin rapier, which -twisted like a snake, writhed round their weapons, and had already -pricked two of the men sharply enough to make the others reflect, and -display greater prudence in their attack. The colonel felt that they -were giving ground. - -"Come on, villains," he exclaimed, as he gave a terrific lunge, and ran -one of the bandits right through the body, who rolled on the pavement -with a yell of pain. "Let us come to an end of this, in the demon's -name!" - -"Stop, stop!" the man who seemed the leader of the bandits exclaimed; -"we are mistaken." - -As the bandits asked for nothing better than to stop, they retreated a -few steps without hesitation. - -"Yes, _Rayo de Dios_, you are mistaken, birbones," the exasperated -colonel shouted. - -"Can it possibly be you," the first speaker continued, "Senor Colonel -Don Jaime Lupo?" - -"Halloh!" the colonel said, falling back a step in surprise, "who -mentioned my name?" - -"I, excellency; a friend." - -"A friend? a strange friend who has been trying to assassinate me for -the last ten minutes." - -"Believe me, colonel, that had we known whom we had to deal with, we -should never have attacked you. All this is the result of a deplorable -misunderstanding, which you will, however, excuse." - -"But who are you, in the demon's name?" - -"What, excellency, do you not recognize the Zaragate?" - -"The Zaragate!" the colonel exclaimed, with glad surprise. "Well, -scoundrel, are you aware that yours is a singular trade?" - -"Alas! excellency, a man must do what he can," the bandit replied, in a -sorrowful voice. - -"Hum! then you have turned robber at present?" - -The scoundrel drew himself up with dignity. - -"No, excellency. I am serving, in the company of these honourable -caballeros the persons who claim my help." - -The honourable caballeros, seeing that the affair was going to end -peacefully, had returned their knives to their belts, and seemed -tolerably well satisfied at this unexpected conclusion, with the -exception of the man who had received the last thrust, and surrendered -his felon soul to the fiend; an acquisition, between ourselves, of no -great value to the spirit of darkness. - -"Can anyone have requested your services against me, Senor Zaragate?" -the colonel continued, as he returned his sword to its scabbard. - -"Not at all, excellency. I have already had the honour of remarking that -it was a mistake; we were waiting here for a young spark, who during -the last week has contracted the bad habit of prowling under the window -of a senator's mistress, and who asked me as a kindness to free him from -this troublesome fellow." - -"Caspita! Senor Zaragate, you have a rather quick way with you; and -your senator appears to me somewhat hasty. But as your little matter is -probably spoiled for tonight----" - -"I think, excellency, that the gallant heard the clash of steel, and -took very good care not to come on." - -"If he did so, he acted wisely; at any rate, if no other motive keeps -you here, and you have no objection to accompany me, I shall feel -obliged by your doing so, for I have to talk with you on very serious -matters, and, in fact, was looking for you." - -"Only see what a thing chance is!" the bandit exclaimed. - -"Hum! let us hope it will not be quite so brutal next time." - -The Zaragate burst into a laugh. - -"Stay!" the colonel continued, as he laid a gold coin in his hand, "be -good enough to give this in my name to these honourable caballeros, and -beg them to forgive the rather rough way in which, at the first moment, -I received their advances." - -"Oh, they will not owe you a grudge, my dear sir, you may be sure of -that." - -The bandits, perfectly reconciled with the colonel by means of the -coin, gave him tremendous bows, accompanied by offers of service, and -took leave of him, after exchanging a few sentences in a whisper with -their chief; then they went off to the right, while the colonel and his -companion turned to the left. - -"They seem to be rather determined fellows," the colonel said, in order -to broach his subject. - -"Perfect lions, excellency, and obedient as rastreros." - -"Excellent; and have you many of that sort under your hand?" - -"Nothing would be easier, in the case of need, than to make up a dozen." - -"All equally true?" - -"All." - -"That is really valuable, do you know that, Senor Zaragate; and you are -a lucky caballero!" - -"Your excellency flatters me." - -"On my word, no. I am expressing my honest opinion, that is all." - -"Pardon me, excellency; but may I ask where we are going?" - -"Have you an inclination for one direction more than another?" - -"Not the slightest, excellency; still, I confess that, as a general -rule, I like to know where I am going." - -"Every sensible man ought to be of the same way of thinking. Well, we -are going to my house; have you any objection to that?" - -"None at all. I think you said, excellency, that I was a lucky man?" - -"Indeed I did, and I repeat that I consider you very fortunate." - -"Hum, you know the proverb, excellency, 'everyone knows where the shoe -pinches him.'" - -"That is true, and I suppose the shoe pinches you, eh?" - -"It does," he replied, with a sigh. - -The colonel looked at him anxiously. "I understand the cause of your -grief," he said; "and it is the worse, because there is no remedy for -it." - -"Do you think so?" - -"Caspita! I am certain of it." - -"You may be mistaken, excellency." - -"Nonsense! You who so graciously place yourself at the service of those -who have an insult to avenge, are forced to renounce your own vengeance." - -"Oh, oh, excellency, what is that you are saying?" - -"I am speaking the truth. You hate the Frenchman whom you mentioned to -me today, but you are afraid of him." - -"Afraid!" he exclaimed angrily. - -"I believe so," the colonel answered coolly. - -"Oh! if I only made up my mind to it----" - -"Yes," the colonel remarked, with a laugh, "but you will not make up -your mind because, I repeat, you are afraid; and to prove to you the -truth of my assertion, although I do not know the man, and only take -an interest in the matter for your sake, I will make you a wager if you -like." - -"A wager?" - -"Yes." - -"What is it?" - -"I bet you that you will not dare avenge yourself on your enemy within -the next four and twenty hours, not even with the help of your twelve -companions." - -"And what will you bet, excellency?" - -"Well, I am so certain of running no risk, that I will bet you one -hundred ounces. Does that suit you?" - -"One hundred ounces!" the bandit exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with -greed. "_Viva Dios!_ I would kill my own brother for such a sum." - -"You are flattering yourself, I see." - -"Here we are at your door, excellency, so it is needless for me to go -any further. You said one hundred ounces, I think?" - -"I did." - -"Farewell. The coming day will not end before I am avenged!" - -"Nonsense, nonsense! you will think better of it. Good night, Senor -Zaragate." - -And the colonel entered his house, muttering to himself, in an aside, -"I fancy I managed that cleverly. If this accursed Frenchman escapes -from the bloodhounds I have let loose on him, he must be the demon the -general calls him." - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -AFTER THE INTERVIEW. - - -The house taken for Valentine by Mr. Rallier was, as we have already -stated, situated in the Calle de Tacuba, and by a strange accident, in -no way premeditated, only a few yards from the mansion belonging to -General Don Sebastian Guerrero. The latter had no suspicion of this, -for until the moment when the hunter thought it advisable to pay him -a visit, he had been completely ignorant of his enemy's presence in -Mexico, in spite of the crowd of spies whom he paid to inform him of his -arrival in the capital. - -The hunter, therefore, would only have had a few steps to go to reach -home after leaving the general. But suspecting that the latter might -have given orders to have his carriage followed, he ordered his coachman -to drive to the Alameda, and thence to the Paseo de Bucareli. - -As the night was far advanced, the promenaders had abandoned the -shady walks of the Alameda, which was now completely deserted. This, -doubtless, was what the hunter desired, for, on reaching about the -centre of the drive, he ordered the coachman to stop, and got out with -his companions. After recommending him to watch carefully over his mules -(in Mexico people do not use horses for their carriages), and not let -any one approach him, for fear of one of those surprises so frequent at -this hour at this place, the three men then disappeared in one of the -shady walks, though careful not to go too far, so that they could assist -their coachman in case of need. - -Valentine, like all men accustomed to desert life, that is to vast -horizons of verdure, had an instinctive distrust of stone walls, -behind which, in his fancy, a spy was continually listening. Hence, -when he had an important affair to discuss, or a serious matter to -communicate to his friends, he preferred--in spite of the care with -which his house had been chosen, and the faithful friends who passed as -servants there--going to the Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, the Vega, -or somewhere in the environs of Mexico, where after posting Curumilla -as a sentry, that is to say, the man in whom he had the most perfect -faith, and whose scent, if I may be allowed the term, was infallible, he -believed that he could safely confide his closest secrets to the friends -he conveyed to these strange open air councils. - -On reaching a thick clump of trees the hunter stopped. - -"We shall be comfortable here," he said, as he sat down on a stone bench -and invited his friends to imitate him, "and shall be able to talk -without fear." - -"The trees have eyes, and the leaves ears," Belhumeur answered -sententiously; "I fear nothing so much in the world as these transparent -screens of verdure, which allow everything to be seen and heard." - -"Yes," Valentine remarked with a smile, "if you do not take the -precaution to frighten away spies;" and at the same moment he imitated -the soft cadenced hiss of the coral snake. - -A similar hiss was heard from the centre of the clump and seemed like an -echo. - -"That is the chief's signal," the Canadian said. "He has been watching -for us there for nearly an hour. Do you now believe that we are in -safety?" - -"Certainly; when Curumilla watches over us we have no surprise to -apprehend." - -"Let us talk, then," said Don Martial. - -"One moment," Valentine remarked, "we must first hear the report of a -friend, which is most valuable, and will doubtless decide the measures -we have to adopt." - -"Whom are you alluding to?" - -"You shall see," Valentine answered, and clapped his hands thrice softly. - -Immediately a slight sound and a gentle rustling of leaves was heard in -a neighbouring thicket, and a man suddenly emerged, about four paces -from the hunters. It was Carnero, the capataz of General Guerrero. He -wore a vicuna skin hat, of which the large brim was bent over his eyes, -and he was wrapped up in a spacious cloak. - -"Good evening, senores," he said, with a polite bow, "I have been -awaiting your coming for nearly an hour, and almost despaired of seeing -you tonight." - -"We were detained longer than we expected by General Guerrero." - -"Do you come from him?" - -"Did I not tell you I should call on him?" - -"Yes; but I hardly believed that you would have the temerity to venture -so imprudently into the lion's den." - -"Nonsense," Valentine said with a disdainful smile, "the lion as you -call him, I assure you, was remarkably tame; he drew in his claws -completely, and received us with the most exquisite politeness." - -"In that case take care," the capataz replied, with a significant shake -of the head; "if he received you as you say, and I have no reason to -doubt it, he is, be assured, preparing a terrible countermine against -you." - -"I am of the same opinion; the question is, whether we shall allow him -the time to act." - -"He is very clever, my dear Valentine," the capataz continued, "and -seems to possess an intuition of evil. In spite of the oath I took to -you when, on your entreaty, I consented to remain in his service, there -are days when, although I possess a thorough knowledge of his character, -he terrifies even me, and I feel on the point of giving up the rude task -which, through devotion to you, I have imposed on myself." - -"Courage, my friend; persevere but a few days longer, and, believe me, -we shall be all avenged." - -"May heaven grant it!" the capataz said with a sigh; "but I confess that -I dare not believe it, even though it is you who assure me of the fact." - -"Have you learnt any important news since our last interview?" - -"Only one thing, but I think it is of the utmost gravity for you." - -"Speak, my friend." - -"What I have to tell you is short and gloomy, senores. The general, -after a secret conversation with his man of business, ordered me to -carry a letter to the Convent of the Bernardines." - -"To the convent?" Don Martial exclaimed. - -"Silence," said Valentine. "Do you know the contents of this letter?" - -"Dona Anita gave it me to read. The general informs the abbess that he -is resolved to finish the matter; that whether his ward be mad or not, -he means to marry her, and that at sunrise on the day after tomorrow, a -priest sent by him will present himself at the convent to arrange the -ceremony." - -"Great God! what is to be done?" the Tigrero exclaimed sadly; "how is -the execution of this odious machination to be prevented?" - -"Silence," Valentine repeated. "Is that all, Carnero?" - -"No; the general adds, that he requests the abbess to prepare the young -lady for this union, and that he will himself call at the convent -tomorrow, in order to explain more fully his inexorable wishes--these -are the very words of the letter." - -"Very good, my friend, I thank you for this precious information; it is -of the utmost importance that the general should be prevented from going -to the convent before three o'clock of the tarde. You understand, my -friend, this is of vital importance, so you must manage to effect it." - -"Do not be uneasy, my dear Valentine; the general shall not go to the -convent before the hour you indicate, whatever may be the means I am -forced to employ to prevent him." - -"I count on your promise, my friend; and now good-bye." - -He offered him his hand, which the capataz pressed forcibly. - -"When shall I see you, again?" he asked. - -"I will soon let you know," the hunter answered. - -The capataz bowed and went down a walk; the sound of his footsteps -rapidly decreased, and was quite inaudible within a few minutes. - -"My friends," Valentine then said, "we have now arrived at the moment -for the final struggle, which we have so long been preparing. We must -not let ourselves be led away by hatred, but act like judges, not as men -who are avenging themselves. Blood demands blood, it is true, according -to the law of the desert; but, remember, however culpable the man whom -we have condemned may be, his death would be an indelible spot, a brand -of infamy which would sully our honour." - -"But this monster," the Tigrero exclaimed, with a passion the more -violent because it was repressed, "is beyond the pale of humanity." - -"He may re-enter it to repent." - -"Are we priests then to practise forgetfulness of insults?" Don Martial -asked with a fiendish grin. - -"No, my friend, there are men in the grand and sublime acceptation of -the term; men who have often been faulty themselves, and who, rendered -better by the life of struggling they have led, and the grief which has -frequently bowed them beneath its iron yoke, inflict a chastisement, but -despise vengeance, which they leave to weak and pusillanimous minds. Who -of you, my friends, would dare to say that he has suffered more than I? -To Him alone will I concede the right of imposing his will on me, and -what He bids me do I will do." - -"Forgive me, my friend," the Tigrero answered, "you are ever good, ever -great. God, in imposing on you a heavy task, endowed you at the same -time with an energetic soul, and a heart which seems to expand in your -bosom under the blast of adversity, instead of withering. We, however, -are but common men, in whom the sanguinary instinct of the savage -is constantly revealed in spite of all our efforts, and who know no -other law save that of retaliation. Forget the senseless words my lips -uttered, and be assured that I will ever joyfully obey you, whatever -you may command, persuaded as I am, that you can only ask the man who -has utterly placed himself in your power to do just actions." - -The hunter, while his friend was speaking thus in a voice broken by -emotion, had let his head fall on his hands, and seemed absorbed in -gloomy and painful thought. - -"I have nothing to forgive you, my friend," he replied in a gentle, -sympathizing voice, "for through my own sufferings I can understand what -yours are. I, too, often feel my heart bound with wrath and indignation; -for, believe me, my friend, I have a constant struggle to wage against -myself, not to let myself be led away to make a vengeance of what must -only be a punishment. But enough on this head; time presses, and we must -arrange our plans, so as not to be foiled by our enemies. I went today -to the palace, where I had a secret conversation with the President of -the Republic, whom, as you are aware, I have known for many years, and -who honours me with a friendship of which I am far from believing myself -worthy. At the end of our interview he handed me a paper, a species of -blank signature, by the aid of which I can do what I think advisable for -the success of our plans." - -"Did you obtain such a paper?" - -"I have it in my pocket. Now, listen to me. You will go at sunrise -tomorrow to the house of Don Antonio Rallier; he will be informed of -your coming, and you will follow his instructions." - -"And you?" - -"Do not be anxious about my movements, good friend, and only think of -your own business, for, I repeat, the decisive moment is approaching. -The day after tomorrow begins the feast of the anniversary of Mexican -Independence; that is to say, on that day we shall do battle with our -enemy, and meet him face to face; and the combat will be a rude one, for -this man has a will of iron, and a terrible energy. We shall be able -to conquer him, but not to subdue him, and if we do not take care he -will slip through our hands like a serpent; hence our personal affairs -must be finished tomorrow. Though apparently absent, I shall be really -near you, that is to say, I will help you with all my power. Still, do -not forget that you must act with the most extreme prudence, and, above -all, the greatest moderation; a second of forgetfulness would ruin you, -by alarming the innumerable spies scattered round the Convent of the -Bernardines. I trust that you have heard and understood me, my friend?" - -"Yes, Don Valentine." - -"And you will act as I recommend?" - -"I promise it." - -"Reflect, that you are perhaps risking the loss of your future -happiness." - -"I will not forget your recommendation, I swear to you; I am risking too -great a stake in this game, which must decide my future life, to let -myself be induced to commit any act of violence." - -"Good; I am happy to hear you speak thus; but have confidence, my -friend, I feel certain that we shall succeed." - -"May heaven hear you!" - -"It always hears those who appeal to it with a pure heart and a lively -faith. Hope, I tell you; and now, my dear Don Martial, permit me to say -a few words to our worthy friend, Belhumeur." - -"I will withdraw." - -"What for? have I any secrets from you? You can hear what I am going to -say to him." - -"You have nothing to say to me, Valentine," the hunter said, with a -shake of his head, "nothing but what I know already; I have no other -interest in what is about to take place beyond the deep friendship that -attached me to the count and now to you. You think that the recollection -I have preserved of our unhappy friend cannot be sufficiently engraven -on my heart for me to risk my life at your side in avenging him; but you -are mistaken, Valentine, that's all. I will not abandon you in the hour -of combat; I will remain at your side even should you order me to leave -you. I tell you that I swear, and have taken an oath to that effect, to -make a shield of my body to protect you, if it should be necessary. Now, -give me your hand, and suppose we say no more about it?" - -Valentine remained silent for a moment; a scalding tear ran down his -bronzed cheeks, and he took the hand of the honest, simple-minded -Canadian, and merely uttered the words-- - -"Thank you; I accept." - -They then rose, and returned to their carriage, after Valentine had -warned his faithful bodyguard, Curumilla, by a signal that he could -leave his hiding place, as the interview was over. A quarter of an hour -later the three gentlemen reached the house in the Calle de Tacuba, were -Curumilla was already awaiting them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE BLANK SIGNATURE. - - -On the morrow, Mexico awoke to a holiday; nothing extraordinary, in -a country where the year is a perpetual holiday, and where the most -frivolous pretext suffices for letting off _cohetes_, that supreme -amusement of the Mexicans. - -This time the affair was serious, for the inhabitants wished to -celebrate in a proper manner the anniversary of the Proclamation of -Independence, of which the day to which we allude was the eve. - -At sunrise a formidable _bando_ issued from the government palace, and -went through all the streets and squares of the city, announcing with -a mighty clamour of bugles and drums, that on the next day there would -be a bull fight with "Jamaica" and "Monte Parnasso" for the leperos, -high mass celebrated in all the churches, theatres thrown open gratis, -a review of the garrison, and of all the troops quartered sixty miles -round, and fireworks and illuminations at night, with open air balls and -feria. - -The government did things nobly, it must be confessed; hence the people -issued from their houses, spread feverishly through the streets at an -early hour, laughing, shouting, and letting off squibs, while singing -the praises of the President of the Republic, and taking, after their -fashion, something on account of the morrow's festival. - -Don Martial, in order to throw out the spies doubtless posted round -Valentine's house, had left his friend in the middle of the night, and -gone to his lodgings, and a few minutes before day proceeded to the -house of Mr. Rallier. - -Although the sun was not yet above the horizon, the French gentleman was -already up and conversing with his brother Edward, while waiting for the -Tigrero. Edward was ready to start, and his brother was giving him his -parting recommendations. - -"You are welcome," the Frenchman said cordially, on perceiving Don -Martial; "I was busy with our affair. My brother Edward is just off to -our quinta, whither my mother and my brother Auguste proceeded two days -ago, so that we might find all in order on our arrival." - -Although the Tigrero did not entirely understand what the banker said to -him, he considered it unnecessary to show it, and hence bowed without -answering. - -"All is settled, then," Mr. Rallier continued, addressing his brother; -"get everything ready, for we shall probably arrive before midday--that -is to say, in time for lunch." - -"Your country house is not far from the city?" the Tigrero asked, for -the sake of saying something. - -"Hardly five miles; it is at St. Angel; but in an excellent position -for defence, in the event of an attack. You are aware that St. Angel -is built on the side of an extinct volcano, and surrounded by lava and -spongy scoria, which renders an approach very difficult." - -"I must confess my ignorance of the fact." - -"In a country like this, where the government is bound to think of its -own defence before troubling itself about individuals, it is as well to -take one's precautions, and be always perfectly on guard. And now be -off, my dear Edward; your weapons are all right, and two resolute peons -will accompany you; besides, the sun is now rising, and you will have a -pleasant ride; so good-by till we meet again." - -The two brothers shook hands, and the young man, after bowing to Don -Martial, left the house, followed by two servants well mounted, and -armed like himself. During this conversation the peons had put the -horses in a close carriage. - -"Get in," said Mr. Rallier. - -"What!" Don Martial replied, "are we going to drive?" - -"By Jove! do you think I would venture to go to the convent on -horseback? Why, we could not go along a street before we were -recognized." - -"But this carriage will betray you." - -"I admit it; but no one will know whom it contains when the shutters are -drawn up, which I shall be careful to do before leaving the house. Come, -get in." - -The Tigrero placed himself by the Frenchman's side; the latter pulled -up the shutters, and started at a gallop in a direction diametrically -opposed to that which it should have followed, in order to reach the -convent. - -"Where are we going?" the Tigrero asked presently. - -"To the Convent of the Bernardines." - -"I fancy we are not going the right road." - -"That is possible, but, at any rate, it is the safest." - -"I humbly confess that I cannot understand it at all." - -Mr. Rallier began laughing. - -"My good fellow," he replied, "you will understand at the right time, -so be easy. You need only know, that in acting as I am doing, I am -carrying out to the letter the instructions of Valentine, my friend and -yours. It was not for nothing that he has so long borne the name of the -Trail-hunter; besides, you remember the prairie adage, which has always -appeared to me full of good sense, 'The shortest road from one point to -another is a crooked line.' Well, we are following the crooked line, -that is all. Besides, in all that is about to take place, you must -remain completely out of the question, and restrict yourself to being a -spectator, rather than an actor, and willing to obey me in everything I -may order. Does this part displease you?" - -The Frenchman said this with the merry accent and delightful simplicity -which formed the basis of his character, and which caused everybody to -like him whom accident brought in contact with him. - -"I have no repugnance to obey you, Senor Don Antonio," the Tigrero -answered. "The confidence our common friend places in you is a sure -guarantee to me of your intentions. Hence dispose of me as you think -proper, without fearing the slightest objection on my part." - -"That is the way to talk," the banker said, with a laugh. "Now, to -begin, my dear senor, you will do me the pleasure of changing your -dress, for the one you wear is slightly too worldly for the place to -which we are going." - -"Change my dress?" the Tigrero exclaimed. "Diablos! you ought to have -told me so at your house." - -"Unnecessary, my dear sir. I have all you require here." - -"Here?" - -"Well, you shall see," he said, as he took from one of the coach pockets -a Franciscan's gown, while from the other he drew a pair of sandals and -a cord. "Have you not worn this dress before?" - -"I have." - -"Well, you are going to put it on again, and for the following reasons: -At the convent, people believe (or pretend to believe, which comes to -the same thing) that you are a Franciscan monk. For the sake, then, of -persons who are not in the secret, it is necessary that I should be -accompanied by a monk, and more, that they may be able, if required, to -take their oaths to the fact." - -"I obey you. But will not your coachman be surprised at seeing a -Franciscan emerge from the carriage into which he showed a caballero?" - -"My coachman? Pardon me, but I do not think you looked at him?" - -"Indeed, I did not. All these Indians are alike, and equally hideous." - -"That is true; however, look at him." - -Don Martial bent forward, and slightly lowered the shutter. - -"Curumilla!" he cried, in amazement, as he drew back. "He, and so well -disguised?" - -"Do you now believe that he will be surprised?" - -"I was wrong." - -"No, but you do not take the trouble to reflect." - -"Well, I will put on the gown since I must. Still, with your permission, -I will keep my weapons under it." - -"Caspita! my permission? On the contrary, I order you to do so. But what -are they?" - -"You shall see. A machete, a knife, and a pair of pistols." - -"That is first-rate. If necessary, I shall be able to find you a rifle. -Trust to me for that." - -While talking thus, the Tigrero had changed his dress; that is to say, -he had simply put the gown over his other clothes, fastened the rope -round his body, and substituted the sandals for his boots. - -"There," the Frenchman continued, "you are a perfect monk." - -"No; I want something more, something which is even indispensable." - -"What's that?" - -"The hat." - -"That's true." - -"That part of my costume I hardly know how we shall obtain." - -"Man of little faith!" the Frenchman said with a smile, "see, and be -confounded!" - -While speaking thus he raised the front cushion, opened the box it -covered, and pulled out the hat of a monk of St. Francis, which he gave -the Tigrero. - -"And now do you want anything else, pray?" he asked, mockingly. - -"Indeed, no. Why, your carriage is a perfect locomotive shop!" - -"Yes, it contains a little of everything. But we have arrived," he -added, seeing the carriage stop. "You remember that you must in no way -make yourself prominent, and simply confine yourself to doing what I -tell you. That is settled, I think?" - -The Frenchman opened the door, for the carriage had really stopped -in front of the Convent of the Bernardines. Two or three ill-looking -fellows were prowling about: and, in spite of their affected -indifference, it was easy to recognize them for spies. The Frenchman and -his companion were not deceived. They got out with an indifference as -well assumed as that of the spies, and approached the door slowly, which -was opened at their first knock, and closed again behind them with a -speed that proved the slight confidence the sister porter placed in the -individuals left outside. - -"What do you desire, senores?" she asked, politely, after curtseying to -the newcomers with a smile of recognition. - -"My dear sister," the Frenchman answered, "be good enough to inform -the holy mother abbess of our visit, and ask her to favour us with an -interview for a few moments." - -"It is still very early, brother," the nun answered, "and I do not know -if holy mother can receive you at this moment." - -"Merely mention my name to her, sister, and I feel convinced that she -will make no difficulty about receiving us." - -"I doubt it, brother, for, as I said before, it is very early. Still, I -am willing to tell her, in order to prove to you my readiness to serve -you." - -"I feel deeply grateful to you for the kindness, sister." - -The sister then left the parlour, after begging the two gentlemen to -wait a moment. During her absence the Frenchman and his companion did -not exchange a syllable; however, this absence was short, and only -lasted a few minutes. - -Without speaking, the sister made the visitors a sign to follow her, -and led them to the parlour where we have already taken the reader, and -where the abbess was waiting for them. - -The Mother Superior was pale, and seemed anxious and preoccupied. She -invited the two gentlemen to sit down, and waited silently till they -addressed her. They, on their side, seemed to be waiting for her to -inquire the nature of their visit; but, as she did not do so, and this -silence threatened to be prolonged for some time, Mr. Rallier resolved -on breaking it. - -"I had the honour, madam," he said, with a respectful bow, "to send you -yesterday, by one of my servants, a letter, in which I informed you of -this morning's visit." - -"Yes, caballero," she at once, answered, "I duly received this letter, -and your sister Helena is ready to go away with you, whenever you -express the wish. Still permit me to make one request of you." - -"Speak, madam, and if I can be of any service to you, believe me, that I -shall eagerly seize the opportunity." - -"I know not, caballero, how to explain myself, for what I have to say -to you is really so strange that I fear lest it should call up a smile -to your lips. Although Dona Helena has only been a few months in our -convent, she has made herself so beloved by all her companions, through -her charming character, that her departure is an occasion of mourning -for all of us." - -"You render me very happy and very proud by speaking thus of my sister, -madam." - -"This praise is only the expression of the strictest truth, caballero. -We are all really most grieved to see her leave us thus. Still, I should -not have ventured thus to make myself the interpreter of our regrets, -were there not a very strong reason that renders it almost a duty to -speak to you." - -"I am listening to you, madam, though I can guess beforehand what you -are going to say to me." - -She looked at him in surprise. - -"You guess! Oh, it is impossible, senor," she exclaimed. - -The Frenchman smiled. - -"My sister, Dona Helena, as is generally the case in convents, has -chosen one of her companions, whom she loves more than the others, and -made her her intimate friend. Is such the case, madam?" - -"How do you know it?" - -He continued; with a smile-- - -"Now, this young lady, so beloved not only by Helena but by you, -madam, and all your community, is a gentle, kind, loving girl, who, in -consequence of a great misfortune, became insane, but whom your tender -care has restored to reason. Still, you keep the latter fact a profound -secret, before all from her guardian, who, not contented with having -stripped her of her fortune, now insists of robbing her of her happiness -by forcing her to marry him." - -"Senor, senor," the abbess exclaimed, as she rose from her seat, with -an astonishment blended with terror, "who are you that you know so many -things of which I believed the whole world ignorant?" - -"Who am I, madam? the brother of Helena, that is to say, a man in whom -you can place the most entire confidence. Hence permit me to proceed." - -The abbess, still suffering from extreme agitation, sat down again. - -"Go on, caballero," she said. - -"The guardian of Dona Anita, either that he has suspicion, or for some -other motive, wrote to you yesterday, ordering you to prepare her to -marry him within twenty-four hours. Since the receipt of this fatal -letter, Dona Anita has been plunged in the deepest despair, a despair -further heightened by the sudden departure of my sister, the only friend -in whose arms she can safely reveal her heart's secrets. But you, -madam, who are so holy and good, are aware that God can at his pleasure -confound the projects of the wicked, and change wormwood into honey. Did -you not receive a visit yesterday from Don Serapio de la Ronda?" - -"Yes, that gentleman deigned to visit me a few moments before I -received the fatal letter to which you have referred." - -"Did not Don Serapio, on leaving you, say these words: 'Be kind enough -to inform Dona Anita that a friend is watching over her; that this -friend has already given her unequivocal proofs of the interest he -takes in her happiness, and that, on the day when she again sees the -Franciscan monk, to whom she confessed once before, all her misfortunes -will be ended?'" - -"Yes, Don Serapio did utter those words." - -"Well, madam, I am sent to you, not only by him, but by another person, -who is no less than the President of the Republic, not only to take away -my sister but also to ask you to deliver up to me Dona Anita, who will -accompany her." - -"Heaven is my witness, senor, that I would be delighted to do what you -ask of me. Unhappily, it is not in my power; Dona Anita was entrusted -to me by her sole relation, who is at the same time her guardian, and -though he is unworthy of that title, and my heart bleeds in refusing -you, it is to him alone that I am bound to deliver her." - -"This objection, madam, the justice of which I fully appreciate, has -been foreseen by the persons whose representative I am. Hence they -consulted on the means to remove the scruples by entirely releasing you -from responsibility. Father, give this lady the paper, of which you are -the bearer." - -Without uttering a word, Don Martial took from his pocket the blank -signature Valentine had entrusted to him, and handed it to the abbess. - -"What is this?" she asked. - -"Madam," the Frenchman answered, "that paper is a blank signature of the -President of the Republic, who orders you to deliver Dona Anita into my -hands." - -"I see it," she said, sorrowfully; "unfortunately this blank signature, -which would everywhere else have the strength of the law, is powerless -here. We only indirectly depend on the temporal power, but are -completely subjugated to the spiritual power, and we can only receive -orders from it." - -The Tigrero took a side glance, full of despair, at his companion, whose -face was still smiling. - -"What would you require, madam," he continued, "in order to consent to -give up this unhappy young lady to me?" - -"Alas, senor, it is not I who refuse compliance. Heaven is my witness -that it is my greatest desire to see her escape from her persecutor." - -"I am thoroughly convinced of that, madam; that is why, feeling -persuaded of your good feeling towards your charge, I ask you to tell me -what authority you require in order to give her up to me." - -"I cannot, senor, allow Dona Anita to quit this convent without a -perfectly regular order, signed by Monseigneur the Archbishop of Mexico, -who alone has the right to command here, and whom I am compelled to -obey." - -"And if I had that order, madam, all your scruples would be removed?" - -"Yes, all, senor." - -"You would have no further difficulty in allowing Dona Anita to depart?" - -"I would deliver her to you at once, senor." - -"Since that is the case, madam, I will ask you to do so, for I have -brought you that order." - -"You have it?" she said, with undisguised delight. - -"Here it is," he answered, as he took a paper from his pocketbook, and -handed it to her. - -She opened it at once, and eagerly perused it. - -"Oh now," she continued, "Dona Anita is free, and I will----" - -"One moment, madam," he interrupted her, "have you carefully read the -order I had the honour of giving you?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"In that case be kind enough to allow the young ladies to put on secular -clothing, and, as their departure must be kept secret, allow my carriage -to enter the front courtyard. I fancied I saw ill-looking fellows -prowling about the neighbourhood, who looked to me like spies." - -"What must I say, though, to the young lady's guardian? I am going to -see him today." - -"I am aware of that, madam. Gain time; tell him that his ward is -ill; that you have succeeded in gaining her consent to the projected -marriage, but, on the condition that it be deferred for eight and forty -hours. It is a falsehood I am suggesting to you, madam, but it is -necessary, and I feel convinced that heaven will pardon it." - -"Oh, do not be anxious about that, senor. I will gladly take on myself -the responsibility of this falsehood; Dona Anita's guardian will not -dare to oppose so short a delay, however well inclined he may be to do -so: but in forty-eight hours?" - -"In forty-hours, madam," the Frenchman answered in a hollow voice, -"General Guerrero will not come to claim the hand of Dona Anita." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -ON THE ROAD. - - -All the scruples of the Mother Superior--honourable scruples, let us -hasten to add--having thus been removed, one after the other, by Mr. -Rallier, by means of the double orders he had been careful to provide -himself with, the next thing was to see about getting the two boarders -away without further day. - -The abbess, who understood the importance of a speedy conclusion, -left her visitors in the parlour, and, in order to avoid any -misunderstanding, herself undertook to fetch the two young ladies, after -giving a lay sister orders to call the carriage into the first courtyard. - -In a religious community, one of women before all--we do not mean -this satirically--whatever may be done, and whatever precautions may -be taken, nothing can long be kept a secret. Hence, the two gentlemen -had scarcely entered the speaking room of the abbess ere the rumour of -the departure of Dona Anita and Dona Helena spread among the nuns with -extreme rapidity. Who spread the news no one could have told, and yet -everybody spoke about it as a certainty. - -The young ladies were naturally the first informed. At the outset their -anxiety was great, and Dona Anita trembled, for she believed that -she was fetched by order of her guardian, and that the monk speaking -with the abbess was the one sent by the general to make immediate -preparations for her marriage. Hence, when the abbess entered Dona -Helena's cell, she found the pair in each other's arms, and weeping -bitterly. - -Fortunately, the mistake was soon cleared up, and the sorrow converted -into joy when the abbess, who, through sympathy, wept as much as -her boarders, explained that of the two strangers, whom they feared -so greatly, one was the brother of Dona Helena, and the other the -Franciscan monk whom Dona Anita had already seen, and that they had -come, not to add to her sufferings, but to remove her from the tyranny -that oppressed her. - -Dona Helena, on hearing that her brother was at the convent, bounded -with joy, and removed her friend's last doubts, for, like all unhappy -persons. Dona Anita clung greedily to this new hope of salvation, which -was thus allowed to germinate in her heart at a moment when she believed -that she had no chance left of escaping her evil destiny. - -The abbess then urged them to complete their preparations for departure, -helped them to change their dress, and, after embracing them several -times, conducted them to the parlour. - -In order to avoid any disturbance when the young ladies left the -convent, where everybody adored them, the abbess had the good idea of -sending the nuns to their cells. It was a very prudent measure, which, -by preventing leave-taking, also prevented any noisy manifestations of -cries and tears, the sound of which might have been heard outside, and -have fallen on hostile ears. - -The leave-taking was short, for there was no time to lose in vain -compliments. The young ladies drew down their veils, and proceeded to -the courtyard under the guidance of the abbess. The carriage had been -drawn as close as possible to the cloisters, and the court was entirely -deserted, only the abbess, the sister porter, and a confidential nun -witnessing the departure. - -As the Frenchman opened the door of the carriage, a piece of paper lying -on the seat caught his eyes. He seized it without being seen, and hid it -in the hollow of his hand. After kissing the good abbess for the last -time, the young ladies took the back seat, and Don Martial the front, as -did Mr. Rallier, after previously whispering to the coachman, that is, -to Curumilla, two Indian words, to which he replied by a sinister grin. -Then, at a signal from the abbess, the convent gates were opened, and -the carriage started at full speed, drawn by six powerful mules. - -The crowd silently made room for it to pass, the gates closed again -immediately, and the carriage almost immediately disappeared round the -corner of the next street. - -It was about seven o'clock in the morning. The fugitives--for we can -give them no other name--galloped in silence for the first ten or -fifteen minutes, when the Frenchman gently touched his companion's -shoulder, and offered him the paper he had found in the carriage. - -"Read!" he said. - -The paper only contained two words, hurriedly written in pencil-- - -"Take care." - -"Oh, oh," the Tigrero exclaimed, turning pale, "what does this mean?" - -"By Jove," the Frenchman answered cautiously, "it means that in spite of -our precautions, or perhaps on account of them, for in these confounded -affairs a man never knows how to act in order to deceive the persons he -fears, we are discovered, and probably have spies at our heels." - -"Caray! and what will become of the young ladies in the event of a -dispute?" - -"In the event of a fight you mean, for there will be an obstinate one, -I foretell. Well, we will defend them as well as we can." - -"I know that; but suppose we are killed?" - -"Ah! there is that chance; but I never think of that till after the -event." - -"Oh heaven!" Dona Anita murmured, as she hid her head in her friend's -bosom. - -"Re-assure yourself, senorita," the Frenchman continued, "and, above -all, be silent, for the sound of your voice might be recognized, and -change into certainty what may still be only a suspicion. Besides, -remember that if you have enemies, you have also friends, since they -took the precaution to warn us. Now, in all probability, this unknown -offerer of advice will not have stopped there, but thought of the means -to come to our assistance in the most effectual manner." - -The carriage went along in the meanwhile at a breakneck pace, and had -nearly reached the city gates. We will now tell what had happened, and -how the Frenchman was warned of the danger that threatened him. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero had organized a band of spies composed -of leperos and scoundrels, who, however, possessed acknowledged -cleverness and skill, and if Valentine had escaped their surveillance -and foiled their machinations, it was solely through the habits which -he had contracted during a lengthened life in the prairies, and which -had become an intuition with him, so far did he carry the quality of -scenting and unmasking an enemy, whatever might be the countenance he -borrowed. But if he had not been recognized, it was not the same with -his friends, and the latter had not been able long to escape the lynx -eyes of the general's spies. - -The Convent of the Bernardines had naturally become for some days past -the centre of the surveillance, as it were the spying headquarters, of -Don Sebastian's agents. The arrival of a carriage with closed blinds -at the convent at once gave the alarm; and though Mr. Rallier was not -personally known, the fact of his being a Frenchman was sufficient to -rouse suspicions. - -While the Frenchman and the monk were conversing in the parlour with the -abbess, a lepero pretended to hurt himself, and was conveyed by two of -his acolytes to the convent gate, and the good hearted porter had not -refused him admission, but, on the contrary, had eagerly given him all -the assistance his condition seemed to require. - -While the lepero was gradually regaining his senses, his comrades asked -questions with that captious skill peculiar to their Mexican nature. -The sister porter was a worthy woman, endowed with a very small stock -of brains, and fond of talking. On finding this opportunity to indulge -in her favourite employment, she was easily led on, and, almost of her -own accord, told all she knew, not suspecting the harm she did. Let us -hasten to add that this all was very little; but, being understood and -commented on by intelligent men interested in discovering the truth, it -was extremely serious. - -When the three leperos had drawn all they could out of the sister -porter, they hastened to leave the convent. Just as they emerged into -the street, they found themselves face to face with No Carnero, the -general's capataz, whom his master had sent on a tour of discovery. They -ran up to him, and in a few words told him what had happened. - -This was grave, and the capataz trembled inwardly at the revelation, for -he understood the terrible danger by which his friends were menaced. But -Carnero was a clever man, and at once made up his mind to his course of -action. - -He greatly praised the leperos for the skill they had displayed in -discovering the secret, put some piastres into their hands, and sent -them off to the general, with the recommendation, which was most -unnecessary, to make all possible speed. Then, in his turn, he began -prowling round the convent, and especially the carriage, which Curumilla -made no difficulty in letting him approach, for the reader will -doubtless have guessed that the animosity the Indian had on several -occasions evinced for the capataz was pretended, and that they were -perfectly good friends when nobody could see or hear them. - -The capataz skilfully profited by the confusion created in the crowd by -the carriage entering the convent, to throw in, unperceived, the paper -Mr. Rallier had found. Certain now that his friends would be on their -guard, he went off in his turn, after recommending the spies he left -before the convent to keep up a good watch, and walked in the direction -of the Plaza Mayor smoking a cigarette. - -At the corner of the Calle de Plateros he saw a man standing in front of -a pulqueria, engaged in smoking an enormous cigar. The capataz entered -the pulqueria, drank a glass of Catalonian refino, but while paying, he -clumsily let fall a piastre which rolled to the foot of the man standing -in the doorway. The latter stooped, picked up the coin, and restored it -to its owner, and the capataz walked out, doubtless satisfied with the -quality of the spirit he had imbibed, and cautiously continued his way. -On reaching the plaza again, the man of the pulqueria, who was probably -going the same road as himself, was at his heels. - -"Belhumeur?" the capataz asked in a low voice, without turning round. - -"Eh?" the other answered in the same key. - -"The general knows the affair at the convent; if you do not make haste, -Don Martial, Don Antonio, and the two ladies will be attacked on the -road while going to the quinta; warn your friend, for there is not a -moment to lose. Devil take the cigarette!" he added, throwing it away, -"it has gone out." - -When he turned back, Belhumeur had disappeared; the Canadian with -his characteristic agility was already running in the direction of -Valentine's house. As for the capataz, as he was in no particular hurry, -he quietly walked back to the general's, where he found his master in a -furious passion with all his people, and more particularly with himself. - -By an accident, too portentous not to have been arranged beforehand, not -one of his horses could be mounted; three were foundered, four others -had been bled, and the last three were without shoes. In the midst of -this the capataz arrived with a look of alarm, which only heightened his -master's passion. Carnero prudently allowed the general's fury to grow a -little calm, and then answered him. - -He proved to him in the first place that he would commit a serious act -of imprudence by himself starting in pursuit of the fugitives in the -present state of affairs, and especially on the eve of a pronunciamiento -which was about to decide his fortunes. Then he remarked to him that -six peons, commanded by a resolute man, would be sufficient to conquer -two men probably badly armed, and, in addition, shut up in a carriage -with two ladies, whom they would not expose to the risk of being killed. -These reasons being good, the general listened and yielded to them. - -"Very good," he said; "Carnero, you are one of my oldest servants, and -to you I entrust the duty of bringing back my niece." - -The capataz made a wry face. - -"There will be probably plenty of blows to receive, and very little -profit to derive from such an expedition." - -"I believed that you were devoted to me," the general remarked bitterly. - -"Your excellency is not mistaken; I am truly devoted to you, but I have -also a fondness for my skin." - -"I will give you twenty-five ounces for every slit it receives; is that -enough?" - -"Come, I see that your excellency wishes me to be cut into mincemeat!" -the capataz exclaimed joyously. - -"Then that is agreed?" - -"I should think so, excellency; at that price a man would be a fool to -refuse." - -"But about horses?" - -"We have at least ten or a dozen in the corral." - -"That is true; I did not think of that," the general exclaimed, striking -his forehead; "have seven lassoed at once." - -"Where must I take the senorita?" - -"Bring her to this house, for she shall not set foot in the convent -again." - -"Very good; when shall I start, general?" - -"At once, if it be possible." - -"In twenty minutes I shall have left the house." - -But the general's impatience was so great that he accompanied his -capataz to the corral, watched all the preparations for the departure, -and did not return to his apartments till he was certain that Carnero -had started in pursuit of the fugitives, with the peons he had selected. - -In the meanwhile the carriage dashed along; it passed at full gallop -through the San Lazaro gate, then turned suddenly to the right, and -entered a somewhat narrow street. At about the middle of this street it -stopped before a house of rather modest appearance, the gate of which -at once opened, and a man came out holding the bridles of two prairie -mustangs completely harnessed, and with a rifle at each saddle-bow. The -Frenchman got out, and invited his companion to follow his example. - -"Resume your usual dress," he said, as he led him inside the house. - -The Tigrero obeyed with an eager start of joy. While he doffed his gown, -his companion mounted, after saying to the young ladies-- - -"Whatever happens, not a word--not a cry; keep the shutters up; we will -gallop at the door, and remember your lives are in peril." - -Martial at this moment came out of the house attired as a caballero. - -"To horse, and let us be off," said Mr. Rallier. - -The Tigrero bounded onto the mustang held in readiness for him, and -the carriage, in which the mules had been changed, started again at -full speed. The house at which they had stopped was the one hired by -Valentine to keep his stud at. - -Half an hour thus passed, and the carriage disappeared in the thick -cloud of dust it raised as it dashed along. Don Martial felt new born; -the excitement had restored his old ardour as if by enchantment; -he longed to be face to face with his foe, and at length come to a -settlement with him. The Frenchman was calmer; though brave to rashness, -it was with secret anxiety he foresaw the probability of a fight, in -which his sister might be wounded; still he was resolved, in the event -of the worst, to confront the danger, no matter the number of men who -ventured to attack them. - -All at once the Indian uttered a cry. The two men looked back, and saw -a body of men coming up at full speed. At this moment the carriage was -following a road bounded on one side by a rather thick chaparral, on the -other by a deep ravine. - -At a sign from the Frenchman the carriage was drawn across the road, and -the ladies got out; went, under Curumilla's protection, to seek shelter -behind the trees. The two men, with their rifles to their shoulders -and fingers on the triggers, stood firmly in the middle of the road, -awaiting the onset of their adversaries, for, in all probability, the -newcomers were enemies. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -A SKIRMISH. - - -Curumilla, after concealing, with that Indian skill he so thoroughly -possessed, the young ladies at a spot where they were thoroughly -protected from bullets, had placed himself, rifle in hand, not by the -side of the two riders, but, with characteristic redskin prudence, he -ambuscaded himself behind the carriage, probably reflecting that he -represented the entire infantry force, and not caring, through a point -of honour, very absurd in his opinion, to expose himself to a death not -only certain, but useless to those he wished to defend. - -The horsemen, however, on coming within range of the persons they were -pursuing, stopped, and by their gestures seemed to evince a hesitation -the fugitives did not at all understand, after the fashion in which they -had hitherto been pursued. The motive for this hesitation, which the -Frenchman and his companions could not know, and which perplexed them so -greatly, was very simple. - -Carnero, for it was the general's capataz who was pursuing the carriage, -with his peons, all at once perceived, with a secret pleasure, it is -true, though he was careful not to let his companions notice it, that -while they were pursuing the carriage, other horsemen were pursuing -them, and coming up at headlong speed. On seeing this, as we said, the -party halted, much disappointed and greatly embarrassed as to what they -had better do. - -They were literally placed between two fires, and were the attacked -instead of the assailants; the situation was critical, and deserved -serious consideration. Carnero suggested a retreat, remarking, with a -certain amount of reason, that the sides were no longer equal, and that -success was highly problematical. The peons, all utter ruffians, and -expressly chosen by the general, but who entertained a profound respect -for the integrity of their limbs, and were but very slightly inclined -to have them injured in so disadvantageous a contest with people who -would not recoil, were disposed to follow the advice of the capataz and -retire, before a retreat became impossible. - -Unhappily, the Zaragate was among the peons. Believing, from his -conversation with the colonel, that he knew better than anyone the -general's intentions, and attracted by the hope of a rich reward if he -succeeded in delivering him of his enemy, that is to say, in killing -Valentine; and, moreover, probably impelled by the personal hatred he -entertained for the hunter, he would not listen to any observation, and -swore with horrible oaths that he would carry out the general's orders -at all hazards, and that, since the persons they were ordered to stop -were only a few paces before them, they ought not to retire until they -had, at least, attempted to perform their duty; and that if his comrades -were such cowards as to desert him, he would go on alone at his own -risk, certain that the general would be satisfied with the way in which -he behaved. - -After a declaration so distinct and peremptory, any hesitation became -impossible, the more so as the horsemen were rapidly coming up, and if -the capataz hesitated much longer he would be attacked in the rear. Thus -driven out of his last entrenchment, and compelled against his will to -fight, Carnero gave the signal to push on ahead. - -But the peons had scarce started, ere three shots were fired, and three -men rolled in the dust. The newcomers, in this way, warned their friends -to hold their ground, and that they were bringing help. The dismounted -peons were not wounded, though greatly shaken by their fall, and unable -to take part in the fight; their horses alone were hit, and that so -cleverly, that they at once fell. - -"Eh, eh!" the capataz said, as he galloped on; "these picaros have a -very sure hand. What do you think of it?" - -"I say that there are still four of us; that is double the number of -those waiting for us down there, and we are sufficient to master them." - -"Don't be too sure, my good friend, Zaragate," the capataz said with a -grin; "they are men made of iron, who must be killed twice over before -they fall." - -The Tigrero and his companions had heard shots and seen the peons bite -the dust. - -"There is Valentine," said the Frenchman. - -"I believe so," Don Martial replied. - -"Shall we charge?" - -"Yes." - -And digging in their spurs, they dashed at the peons. - -Valentine and his two comrades, Belhumeur and Black Elk (for the -Frenchman was not mistaken, it was really the hunter coming up, whom the -Canadian had warned) fell on the peons simultaneously with Don Martial -and his companion. - -A terrible, silent, and obstinate struggle went on for some minutes -between these nine men; the foes had seized each other round the body, -as they were too close to use firearms, and tried to stab each other. -Nothing was heard but angry curses and panting, but not a word or cry, -for what is the use of insulting when you can kill? - -The Zaragate, so soon as he recognized the hunter, dashed at him. -Valentine, although taken off his guard, offered a vigorous resistance; -the two men were entwined like serpents, and, in their efforts to -dismount each other, at last both fell, and rolled beneath the feet of -the combatants who, without thinking of them, or perceiving their fall, -continued to attack each other furiously. - -The hunter was endowed with great muscular strength and unequalled -science and agility; but on this occasion he had found an adversary -worthy of him. The Zaragate, some years younger than Valentine, and -possessed of his full bodily strength, while urged on by the love of a -rich reward, made superhuman efforts to master his opponent and plunge -his navaja into his throat. Several times had each of them succeeded -in getting the other underneath, but, as so frequently happens in -wrestling, a sudden movement of the shoulders or loins had changed the -position of the adversaries and brought the one beneath who a moment -previously had been on the top. - -Still Valentine felt that his strength was becoming exhausted; -the unexpected resistance he met with from an enemy apparently so -little worthy of him, exasperated him and made him lose his coolness. -Collecting all his remaining vigour to attempt a final and decisive -effort, he succeeded in getting his enemy once again under him, and -pinned him down; but at the same moment Valentine uttered a cry of pain -and rolled on the ground--a horse's kick had broken his left arm. - -The Zaragate sprang up with a tiger's bound, and bursting into a yell -of delight, placed his knee on his enemy's chest, at the same time as -he prepared to bury his navaja in his heart. Valentine felt that he was -lost, and did not attempt to avoid the death that threatened him. - -"Poor Louis," he merely said, looking firmly and intrepidly at the -bandit. - -"Ah, ah!" the Zaragate said, with a ferocious grin, "I hold my vengeance -at length, accursed Trail-hunter." - -He did not complete the sentence; suddenly seized by his long hair, -while a knee, thrust between his shoulders, forced him to bend back, he -saw, as in a horrible dream, a ferocious face grinning above his head. -With a fearful groan he rolled on the ground; a knife had been buried in -his heart, while his scalp, which was suddenly removed, left his denuded -skull to inundate with blood the ground around. - -Curumilla raised in his arms the body of his friend, whose life he had -just saved once again, and bore it to the side of the road. Valentine -had fainted. - -The chief, so soon as he saw his friends charge the peons, left his -ambush, and while careful to remain behind them, followed them to the -battlefield. He had watched eagerly the long struggle between the hunter -and the Zaragate; trying vainly to assist his friend, but never able -to succeed. The two enemies were so entwined, their movements were so -rapid, and they changed their position so suddenly, that the chief was -afraid lest he might wound his friend in attempting to help him. Hence -he awaited with extreme anxiety an opportunity so long delayed, and -which the Zaragate himself offered by losing his time in insulting his -enemy instead of killing him at once, when the injury he received left -him defenceless in the bandit's power. - -The Araucano bounded like a wild beast on the Mexican, and without -hesitation scalped and stabbed him with the agility characteristic of -the redskins, and which he himself possessed in so high a degree. - -Almost at the same moment the horsemen also finished their fight. The -peons had offered a vigorous resistance, but being badly supported -by the capataz, who was disabled at the beginning of the skirmish by -Don Martial, and seeing the Zaragate dead and three of their friends -dismounted and incapable of coming to their assistance, they gave in. - -The capataz had been wounded at his own request by Don Martial, in order -to save appearance with the general; he had a wide gash on his right -arm, very severe at the first glance, but insignificant in reality. A -peon had been almost smashed by Belhumeur, so that the field of battle -fairly remained in the hands of the hunters. - -When their victory was insured they assembled anxiously round -Valentine, for they were alarmed at his condition, and most anxious -to be reassured. Valentine, whose arm Curumilla had at once set, with -the skill and coolness of an old practitioner, soon reopened his eyes, -reassured his friends by a smile, and offered the Indian chief his -right hand, which the latter laid on his heart with an expression of -indescribable happiness, as he uttered his favourite exclamation of Ugh! -the only word he permitted himself to use in joy or in sorrow, when he -felt himself choking with internal emotion. - -"Senores," the hunter said, "it is only an arm broken; thanks to the -chief, I have had an easy escape. Let us resume our journey before other -enemies come up." - -"And we, senor?" the capataz cried humbly. - -Valentine rose with the chiefs assistance, and took a furious glance at -the peons. "As for you, miserable assassins," he said with a terrible -accent, "return to your master and tell him in what way you were -received. But it is not sufficient to have chastised your perfidy, I -must have revenge for the odious snare into which my friends and I all -but fell. I will learn whether in open day, and some half a dozen miles -from Mexico, bandits can thus attack peaceable travellers with impunity. -Begone!" - -Valentine was slightly mistaken, for, although it was really the -intention of the peons to attack them, the hunters had actually begun -the fight by dismounting the three peons. But the fellows, convicted by -their conscience, did not notice this delicate distinction, and were -very happy to get off so cheaply, and be enabled to return peaceably, -when they feared that their conquerors would hand them over to the -police as they had a perfect right to do. - -Thus, far from raising any objections, they broke forth into apologies -and protestations of devotion, and hastened off, not troubling -themselves to pick up the body of their defunct comrade, el Zaragate, -which they left to the vultures which settled on it, so soon as the -highway was clear again. - -The capataz, under the pretext that his wound was very painful, but in -reality to give Valentine and his friends the requisite time to secure -themselves temporarily from pursuit, insisted on returning to the city -slowly, so that they did not reach the general's mansion till two hours -had elapsed. - -So soon as the peons in obedience to the hunter's orders had left the -battlefield, he, on his part, gave his companions the signal to start. -Don Martial had hurried to reassure the ladies, who were standing more -dead than alive at the spot where the chief had concealed them. He made -them get into the carriage again, without telling them anything except -that the danger was past, and that the rest of the journey would be -performed in safety. - -Valentine's friends tried in vain to induce him to get into the carriage -with the ladies. He would not consent, but insisted on mounting his -horse, assuring them, in the far from probable event of their being -attacked again, that he could still be of some service to his companions -in spite of his broken arm. The latter were too well acquainted with his -inflexible will to press him further, so Curumilla remounted the coach -box, and they started. - -The rest of the journey was performed without any incident, and they -reached the quinta twenty minutes later. The skirmish had taken place -scarce two miles from the country house. On reaching the gates, -Valentine took leave of his friend without dismounting. - -"What!" the latter said to him, "are you going, Valentine, without -resting for a moment?" - -"I must, my dear Rallier," he answered; "you know what imperious reasons -claim my presence in Mexico." - -"But you are wounded." - -"Have I not Curumilla to attend to my hurt? Do not be anxious about -me; besides, I intend to see you again soon. This quinta appears to me -strong enough to resist a surprise. Have you a garrison?" - -"I have a dozen servants and my two brothers." - -"In that case I am easy in my mind; besides, there is only one night to -pass, and I believe that after the lesson his people have received the -general will not venture on a second attack, for some days at least. -Besides, he reckons on the success of his pronunciamiento. You will come -to me tomorrow at daybreak, will you not?" - -"I shall not fail." - -"In that case I will be off." - -"Will you not say good-bye to the ladies?" - -"They are not aware of my presence, and it will be better for them not -to see me; so good-bye till tomorrow." - -And making a signal to his comrades who, including Curumilla, to whom a -horse was given, collected around him, Valentine started at a gallop for -Mexico, caring no more for his broken arm than if it were a mere scratch. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -LOS REGOCIJOS. - - -On his return to the mansion, the capataz did not see his master, at -which he was extremely pleased, for he desired to delay as long as -possible an explanation which, in spite of the wound he so complacently -displayed, he feared would turn out to his disadvantage, especially -when questioned by a man like the general, whose piercing glance would -descend to the bottom of his heart to discover the truth, however -cleverly hidden it might be behind a network of falsehoods. - -As only a few hours had still to elapse before the explosion of the -conspiracy, arranged with such care and mystery, the general was -compelled for a while to suspend his schemes for the satisfaction of his -love and his hatred, and only attend to those in which his ambition was -engaged. The principal conspirators had been summoned to Colonel Lupo's, -and there the final arrangements had been made for the morrow, and the -watchword given. - -Although the government appeared plunged in the most profound ignorance -of what was preparing against it, and evinced complete security, still -the President had made certain arrangements for the morrow's ceremonies -which did not fail greatly to trouble the men interested in knowing -everything, and to whom the apparently most futile thing naturally -created umbrage. - -The general, with the curiosity that distinguished him, was anxious to -know exactly the extent of the danger he had to meet, and proceeded to -the palace, merely accompanied by his two aides-de-camp. The general -president received Don Sebastian with a smile on his lips, and offered -him the most gracious reception. This reception, so cordial, perhaps -too cordial, instead of reassuring the general, had, on the contrary, -increased his anxiety, for he was a Mexican and knew the proverb of his -country--"Lips that smile, and mouth that tells falsehoods." - -The general was too calm to let his feelings be seen. He pretended to be -delighted, remained for some time with the President, who appeared to -treat him with a friendly familiarity, complained of the rarity of his -visits, and his obstinacy in not asking for a command. In a word, the -two men separated apparently highly satisfied with each other. - -Still, the general remarked that all the courts were stuffed with -soldiers, who were bivouacking in the open air; that several guns had -been placed, accidentally perhaps, so as to sweep completely the chief -entrance gate, and, more serious still, that the troops quartered in -the palace were commanded by officers strangers to him, and who had, -moreover, the reputation of being devoted to the President of the -Republic. - -After this daring visit, the general mounted his horse, and, under the -pretext of going for a walk, went all over the city. Everywhere the -preparations for the coming festival were being carried on with the -greatest activity. In the square of Necatitlan, for instance, situated -in one of the worst parts of the capital, a circus had been made for the -bullfights at which the president intended to be present. - -Numerous wooden erections, raised for the occasion, filled the space -usually devoted to tauromachy, and formed an immense hall of verdure, -with pleasant clumps of trees, mysterious walks, and charming retreats, -prepared with the greatest care, where everybody would go on the morrow -to eat and drink the atrocious productions of the Mexican art on -cookery, and enjoy what is called in that country Jamaica. - -Exactly in the centre of the arena a tree about twenty feet in height -was planted, with its branches and leaves entirely covered with coloured -pocket-handkerchiefs that floated in the breeze. This tree was the Monte -Parnasso, intended to serve as a maypole for the leperos, at the moment -when the bullfights begin, and a trial bull, _embolado_, that is to say, -with its horns terminating in balls, is let into the ring. - -All the pulquerias near the square were thronged with a hideous, ragged -mob, who howled, sang, shouted, and whistled their loudest, while -smoking, and, at intervals, exchanging knife thrusts, to the great -delight of the spectators. - -In all the streets the procession would pass through the houses were -decorated; Mexican flags were hoisted in profusion at every spot where -they could be displayed; and yet, by the side of all these holiday -preparations, there was, we repeat, something gloomy and menacing -that struck a chill to the heart. Through all the gates fresh troops -continually entered the city, and occupied admirably chosen strategic -points. The Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, and even the Vega, were -converted into bivouacs, and though these troops ostensibly only came to -Mexico to be present at the ceremony and be reviewed, they were equipped -for the field, and affected an earnestness which caused much thought to -those who saw them pass or visited their bivouacs. - -When a serious event is preparing, there are in the atmosphere certain -signs which never deceive the fosterers of revolutions; a vague and -apparently causeless anxiety seizes on the masses, and unconsciously -converts their joy into a species of feverish excitement, at which they -are themselves startled, as they know not to what to attribute this -change in their humour. - -Hence the population of Mexico, mad, merry, and joyous, as usual when -a festival is preparing, in the eyes of short-sighted persons, were in -reality sternly sad and suffering from great anxiety. The general did -not fail to observe these prognostics; gloomy presentiments occupied his -mind, for he understood that a terrible tempest was hidden beneath this -fictitious calmness. Valentine's gloomy predictions recurred to him. -He trembled to see the hunter's menaces realized; and, though unable -to discover when the danger would come, he foresaw that a great peril -was hanging over his head, and that his ambitious projects would soon, -perhaps, be drowned in floods of blood. - -Unfortunately it was too late to desist; he must, whatever might happen, -go on to the end, for he had not the time to give counter orders, -and urge the conspirators to defer the explosion of the plot till a -more favourable moment. Hence, after ripe reflection, the general -resolved to push on, and trust to accident. Ambitious men, by the way, -reckon, far more than is supposed, on hazard, and those magnificent -combinations which are admired when success has crowned them, are most -frequently merely the unforeseen results of fortuitous circumstances, -completely beyond the will of the man whom they have profited. -History, modern history especially, is full of these combinations, -these results impossible to foresee, which sensible men would not have -dared to suppose, and which have made the reputation of so-called -statesmen of genius, who are very small fry, when regarded through the -magnifying-glass or when actions are sifted. - -The general returned to his house at about six in the evening, -despairing, and already seeing his plans annihilated. The report of his -capataz added to his discouragement, for it was the drop of wormwood -which makes the brimful cup run over. He withdrew to his apartments in a -state of dull fury, and in his impotent rage accused himself for having -ventured into this frightful situation, for he felt himself rapidly -gliding down a fatal slope, where it would be impossible for him to stop. - -What added to his secret agony was, that he must incessantly send off -couriers, receive reports, talk with his confidants, and feign in their -presence not merely calmness and gaiety, but also encourage them, and -impart to them an ardour and hope which he no longer possessed. - -The whole night was spent thus. A terrible night, during which the -general endured all the tortures that assail an ambitious man on the eve -of a scandalous plot against a government which he has sworn to defend. -He was agitated by those dull murmurs of the conscience which can never -be thoroughly stifled, and which would inspire pity for these unhappy -men, were they not careful, by their own acts, to put themselves beyond -the pale of that humanity of which they have become real monsters. The -most wholesome lesson that could be given to those ambitious manikins, -so frequent in the lower strata of society, would be to render them -witnesses of the crushing agony that attacks any _cabecilla_ during the -night that precedes the outbreak of one of its horrible plots. - -Sunrise surprised the general giving his final orders. Worn out by the -fatigue of a long watch, with pallid brow, and eyes inflamed by fever, -he tried to take a few moments of restorative rest, which he so greatly -needed; but his efforts were fruitless, for he was suffering from an -excitement too intense, at the decisive hour, for sleep to come and -close his eyes. - -Already the bells of all the churches were pealing out, and filling the -air with their joyous notes. In all the streets, and in all the squares, -boys and leperos were letting off crackers, and uttering deafening -cries, which more resembled bursts of fury than demonstrations of joy. -The people, dressed in their holiday clothes, were leaving their houses -in masses, and spreading like a torrent over the city. - -The review was arranged for seven o'clock A.M., so that the troops might -be spared the great heat of the day. They were massed on the Paseo de -Bucareli and the road connecting that promenade with the Alameda. - -We have already stated that the Mexican army, twenty thousand strong, -has twenty-four thousand officers. Hence, in the enormous crowd -assembled to witness the review, uniforms were in a majority; for all -the officers living on half-pay in Mexico, for some reason or another, -considered themselves bound to attend the review as amateurs. - -At a quarter to eight o'clock the drums beat, the troops presented arms, -a deafening shout was raised by the crowd, and the President of the -Republic arrived on the Paseo, followed by a large staff, glistening -with gold and lace, and with a cloud of feathers waving in their cocked -hats. - -The Mexicans, much resembling in this respect another nation we are -acquainted with, adore feathers, aiguillettes, and, before all, -embroidered uniforms. Hence the President was warmly greeted by the -enthusiastic crowd, and his arrival was converted into an ovation. -General Guerrero had joined the President's staff in his full dress -uniform, as Colonel Lupo and other conspirators had also done; the -rest, dispersed among the crowd, and well armed under their cloaks, -were giving drink to the already half-intoxicated leperos, and secretly -exciting them to begin an insurrection. - -In the meanwhile the review went on without any hitch. It is true that -the President restricted himself to riding along the front, and then -ordering the troops to march past, for he did not dare, owing to the -notorious ignorance of the officers and soldiers, risk the execution of -any manoeuvre, for it would not have been understood, and would have -broken the charm under which the spectators were fascinated. Then the -President, still followed by his staff, proceeded to the cathedral. -We will not say anything about the official receptions, etc., which -occupied all the morning. - -The hour for the bullfight arrived. Since the review no one troubled -himself about the troops, who seemed to have suddenly disappeared--not -a soldier was visible in the streets; but the people did not think of -them, for they were letting off fireworks, laughing and shouting, which -was quite sufficient to amuse them. It was only noticed that these -soldiers, though invisible about the city, had apparently passed the -word to each other to be present at the bullfight. Nearly the whole of -the _palcos de sol_ in the circus, that is to say, the parts exposed -to the sun, were thronged with soldiers, grouped pell-mell with the -leperos, and offering the most pleasant contrast with these ragged -scamps, who were yelling and whistling. - -The President arrived, and the circus was, in a second, invaded by -the mob. Since an early hour the Jamaica had begun, that is to say, -the framework of verdure raised in the centre of the arena, forming -refreshment rooms, had, since daybreak, been filled with a countless -number of leperos, who ate and drank with cries of ferocious delight. - -Suddenly, at a given signal, the gate of the torril was opened, and a -bull, _embolado_, rushed into the arena. Then began an extraordinary -indescribable scene, resembling one of those diabolical meetings so -admirably designed by Callot. - -The leperos, surprised by the arrival of the bull, darted, shouting, -pushing, and upsetting each other, over the framework, which they threw -down and trampled underfoot in their terror, while seeking to escape the -pursuit of the _embolado_, who, also excited by the tumult, hunted them -vigorously. In a second the arena was deserted, the refreshment rooms -swept clean, and the performers in the Jamaica sought any shelter they -could find on the edge of the palcos or upon the columns, from which -they hung in hideous yelling and grimacing clusters. - -A few leperos, however, bolder than the rest, had darted to the Monte -Parnasso, not only to find a shelter there, but also to tear away all -the coloured handkerchiefs fastened to the branches. In a twinkling the -thick foliage was hidden by the crowd of leperos who invaded it. - -The bull, after amusing itself for some minutes in tossing about the -remains of the framework, stopped and looked cunningly around, and -soon noticed the tree, the only obstacle left to remove, in order to -completely empty the arena. - -It remained motionless for an instant, as if hesitating ere it formed -a resolution; then it bowed its head, made the sand fly with its -fore-feet, lashed its tail violently, and, rushing at the tree, dealt it -repeated and powerful blows. - -The leperos uttered a cry of despair. The tree, which was overladen, -and incessantly sapped at its base by the bull, swayed, and at last -fell sideways, carrying down in its fall the leperos clinging to the -branches. The audience clapped their hands and broke into frenzied -bravos, which changed into perfect yells of delight when a poor fellow, -who was limping away, was suddenly caught up by the bull, and tossed ten -feet high in the air. - -All at once, and at the moment when the joy was attaining its paroxysm, -several rounds of artillery were heard, followed by a well-sustained -musketry fire. As if by magic the bull was driven back to the torril; -the soldiers scattered about the circus leapt into the ring, and -becoming actors instead of spectators, drew up in good order, and -levelled their muskets at the occupiers of the galleries and boxes, who -remained motionless with terror, for they did not understand what was -going on. - -A door opened, and twenty bandsmen, followed by eight officers, and -escorted by a dozen soldiers, entered the ring, and began beating the -drums. It was a governmental _bando_. So soon as silence was restored -martial law was proclaimed, and sentence of outlawry passed on General -Don Sebastian Guerrero and his adherents, who had just raised the -standard of revolt, and pronounced against the established government. - -The crowd listened to the bando in a stupor which was heightened by the -fact that with each moment the firing became sharper, and the artillery -discharges shook the air at more rapid intervals. - -Mexico was once again the prey of one of those scenes of murder and -carnage which, since the Proclamation of Independence, has too often -stained her streets and squares with blood. - -The President was on horseback in the centre of the arena, sending off -orders, listening to messages, or detaching reinforcements wherever they -were wanted. The circus was converted into the headquarters of the army -of order, and the spectators, although allowed to depart after some -arrests had been effected among them, remained trembling in their seats, -preferring not to venture into the streets, which had been converted -into real battlefields. - -Still the pronunciamiento was assuming formidable proportions. General -Guerrero had not played for so heavy a stake without trying to secure to -his side all probable chances of success; and that success would most -ably have crowned his efforts, had he not been betrayed. For, in spite -of all the precautions taken by the government, the affair had been -begun so warmly and resolutely that, after the contest had continued for -three hours, it was impossible to say on which side the advantage would -remain. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO. - - -In any revolution, the insurgents have always an immense advantage over -the government they are attacking, from the fact that, as they hold -together, know their numbers, and act in accordance with a long worked -out plan, they are not only cognizant of what they want, but also, -whither they are proceeding. The government, on the other hand, however -well informed it may be, and however well on its guard, is obliged -to remain for a considerable length of time in an attitude of armed -expectation, without knowing whence the danger that menaces it will -come, or the strength of the rebellion it will have to combat. - -On the other hand, again, as the secret of the discovery of the plot -remains with a small band of confidential agents of the authorities, -the latter do not know at first whom to trust, or whom to reckon on. -They suspect everybody, even the very troops defending them, whom they -fear to see turning against them at any moment, and overthrowing them. -This is more especially the case in Mexico and all the old Spanish -colonies, where the governmental system is essentially military, and is -consequently only based on naturally unintelligent and venal troops, who -are utterly deficient of patriotic feelings, and whom interest alone, -that is to say, pay or promotion, can keep to their duty. - -The history of all the revolutions which, during the last fifty years, -have caused torrents of blood to flow in the New World, is entirely -contained in the last passage we have written. - -The President of the Republic had been informed of the designs of the -general, as far as that was possible; he had known for more than a month -that a vast plot was being formed; he even was aware of the probable day -fixed for the pronunciamiento, but he did not know a syllable about the -plans arranged by Don Sebastian and his adherents. As the plot was to -burst out in Mexico, the President had filled the capital with troops; -and called in those on whose fidelity he thought he could reckon with -the greatest certainty. - -But his preparations were necessarily restricted to this, and he had -been constrained to wait till the revolution commenced. - -It burst forth with the suddenness of a peal of thunder at twenty places -simultaneously, at about the second hour of the tarde. The President, -who was at once informed, and who had only come to the circus in order -not to be invested in the government palace, instantly took the measures -he thought most efficacious. - -The news, however, rapidly arrived, and became worse and worse, and the -insurrection was assuming frightful proportions. The revolters at first -tried to install themselves on the Plaza Major in order to seize the -government palace, but being repulsed with loss, after a very serious -contest, they ambuscaded themselves in Tacuba, Secunda Monterilla, and -San Agustin streets, erected barricades, and exchanged a sharp fire with -the faithful troops. - -The cannon roared in the square, and the balls made large gaps in the -ranks of the insurgents, who replied with yells of rage and increased -firing. - -Colonel Lupo had taken possession of two city gates, which he burned -down, and through which fresh reinforcements reached the insurgents, who -now proclaimed themselves masters of one-third of the city. The foreign -merchants, established in Mexico, had hoisted their national flags -over their houses, in which they remained shut up, and suffering great -anxiety. - -The President was still standing motionless in the centre of the circus, -frowning at each new message, or angrily striking the pommel of his -saddle with his clenched fist. - -All at once a man glided secretly between the horses' legs, and gently -touched the general's boot, who turned round quickly. - -"Ah!" he exclaimed, on recognizing him. "At last! Well, Curumilla?" - -But the Indian, without answering, thrust a folded paper into his hand, -and disappeared as rapidly as he had come. The general eagerly scanned -the letter, which only contained these words, written in French--"All is -going on well. Charge vigorously." - -The general's face grew brighter, he drew himself up haughtily, and -brandishing his sword with a martial air, shouted in a voice heard by -all, "Forward, Muchachos!" - -Then, digging his spurs into his horse's sides, he galloped out of -the circus, followed by the greater part of the troops, the remainder -receiving orders to hold their present position until further warning. - -"Now," said the President to the officers who pressed round him, "the -game is won; within an hour the insurrection will be conquered." - -In fact matters had greatly altered. This is what had occurred: - -Valentine, as we said, had taken a house in Tacuba Street, and another -in the vicinity of the San Lazaro gate. During the night that preceded -the pronunciamiento, four hundred resolute soldiers, commanded by -faithful officers, were introduced into the house in Tacuba Street, -where they remained so well hidden that no one suspected their presence. -A similar number of troops were stowed away in the house at the San -Lazaro gate. - -Don Martial, at the head of a large body of men, slipped into the small -house belonging to the capataz, and, being warned by the latter so -soon as the general had gone off to attend the review, he passed into -his mansion through the masked door we know, and occupied it without -striking a blow. - -The Tigrero straightway set a trap, in which several of the principal -chiefs of the insurgents were caught, believing that they would find -General Guerrero at home, and were at once made prisoners. - -These three points occupied, they waited. Colonel Lupo had attacked the -San Lazaro gate so vigorously and unexpectedly, that it was impossible -to prevent him burning it. A very obstinate fight at once began, and -the colonel, after a brave resistance, had been at length compelled to -retreat and fall back on the main body of the insurgents, who were still -masters, or nearly so, of the centre of the city. - -We have mentioned that in Mexico all the houses are flat roofed; hence, -in any revolution, the scenes in the street are repeated on the terraces -of the houses; for the tactics adopted in such cases are to line these -terraces with soldiers. Through a strange fatality the insurgents, while -seizing the principal streets, had forgotten, or rather neglected, to -occupy the houses, as they believed themselves masters of the situation. - -All at once the terraces in Tacuba Street, looking on the Plaza Mayor, -were covered with sharpshooters, who began a tremendous fire on the -insurgents collected beneath them. The same manoeuvre was simultaneously -executed in Monterilla and San Augustin Streets, and the terraces of the -palace were covered with troops also. - -The artillerymen, who had hitherto fired at long range, now brought up -their guns almost within pistol shot of the streets, and, in spite of -the musketry fire of the insurgents, bravely posted their batteries and -began hurtling showers of canister among the defenders of the barricades. - -Almost simultaneously, the troops faithful to the government appeared in -the rear of the rebels, and being supported by the sharpshooters on the -terraces, charged vigorously to the incessantly repeated cry of "Mejico, -Mejico, Independencia!" - -The insurgents felt they were lost, for they were caught between three -fires; still they offered a courageous resistance, for, knowing that -if they fell alive into the hands of the conqueror, they would be -mercilessly shot, they allowed themselves to be killed with Indian -stoicism, and did not yield an inch of ground. - -The general was in a terrible rage; without a hat, his face blackened -with gunpowder, and his uniform torn in several places, he leapt his -horse over the corpses, and dashed blindly into the thick of the -government troops, followed by a small band of friends, who bravely let -themselves be killed at his side. - -The fight was positively degenerating into a massacre; the two parties, -as unhappily always happens in civil wars, fought with the greater fury -and obstinacy because brothers were contending against brothers, and -many of them, for whom politics were only a pretext, took advantage of -the medley to satiate personal hatred and avenge old insults. - -However, this could not go on for long thus, and it was necessary to get -out of the situation at all risks. General Guerrero, unaware of the -occupation of his house, resolved to fight his way thither, barricade -himself, and obtain an honourable capitulation for himself and his -comrades. - -No sooner was the plan conceived than the execution was attempted. Don -Sebastian collected round him all the fighting men left, and formed -them into a small band--for the canister and bullets had made frightful -ravages in the ranks of the insurgents--and placed himself at their head. - -"Forward, forward!" he shouted as he rushed at the enemy. - -His men followed him with yells of fury. The collision was terrible, the -fight fearful; for four or five minutes a funereal silence brooded over -this confused mass of combatants, who attacked each so savagely. They -stabbed each other mercilessly, disdaining to use their firearms, and -preferring, as a speedier resource, the sharp points of their sabres and -bayonets. - -At length the President's troops fell back slightly, the insurgents -took advantage of it to redouble their efforts, which were already -superhuman, and reached the general's house. The doors were broken open -in an instant, and all rushed pell-mell into the courtyard. They were -saved! since they had at last reached the shelter where they hoped to -defend themselves. - -At this moment a frightful thing happened; the gallery commanding the -courtyard and the stairs was entirely occupied by soldiers, and so soon -as the insurgents appeared, the muskets were pointed down at them, -a tornado of fire passed over them like the blast of death, and in a -second a mass of corpses covered the ground. - -The insurgents, terrified by this sudden attack, which they were so far -from anticipating, hurriedly fell back, instinctively seeking an outlet -by which to escape. The tumult then became terrible, and the massacre -assumed the proportions of an organized butchery. Driven back into the -courtyard by the troops who pursued them, and met there by those who -had attacked them and now charged at the bayonet point, these wretched -men, rendered senseless by terror, did not dream any longer of employing -their weapons, but falling on their knees before their executioners, and -clasping their trembling hands, they implored the mercy of the troops, -who, intoxicated by the smell of blood, and affected by that horrible -murder fever which seizes upon even the coolest man on the battle field, -felled them, like oxen in the shambles, and plunged their sabres and -bayonets into their bodies with grins of delight and ferocious laughter, -and felt a horrible pleasure in seeing their victims writhe with -heartbreaking cries in the last convulsions of death. - -General Don Sebastian, though wounded, and who seemed to have been -protected by a charm throughout this scene of carnage, defended himself -like a lion against several soldiers, who tried in vain to transfix him -with their bayonets. Leaning against a column he whirled his sabre -round his head, evidently seeking death, but wishful to sell his life as -dearly as possible. - -Suddenly Valentine cleft his way through the combatants, followed by -Belhumeur, Black Elk, and Curumilla, who were engaged in warding off the -blows the soldiers incessantly made at him, and reached the general. - -"Ah!" the latter said on perceiving him, "here you are at last, then." - -And he dealt him a terrible blow, but Belhumeur parried it, and -Valentine continued to advance. - -"Withdraw," he said to the soldiers who surrounded the general, "this -man belongs to me." - -The soldiers, though they did not know the hunter, intimidated by the -accent with which he uttered these words, and recognizing in him one of -those rare men who can always impose on common natures, respectfully -fell back without making the slightest objection. - -The hunter threw his purse to them. - -"You dare to defy the lion at bay," the general shouted, gnashing his -teeth; "although attacked by dogs, he can still avenge his death." - -"You will not die," the hunter said coldly; "throw away that sabre, -which is now useless." - -"Ah, ah!" Don Sebastian said with a grin of rage; "I am not to die; and -why not, pray?" - -"Because," he answered, in a cutting voice, "death would be a mercy to -you, and you must be punished." - -"Oh!" he shrieked, and, blinded by rage, he rushed madly at the hunter. - -The latter, without falling back a step, contented himself with giving a -signal. At the same moment a slipknot fell on the general's shoulders, -and he rolled on the ground with a yell of rage. Curumilla had lassoed -him. - -In vain did Don Sebastian attempt further resistance; after useless -efforts he was reduced to utter impotence, and forced, not only to -confess he had been vanquished, but to yield himself to the mercy of his -conquerors. The latter, at a sign from Valentine, disarmed him first, -and then bound him, so that he could not make the slightest movement. - -The massacre was ended, the insurrection had been drowned in blood. The -few rebels who survived the carnage were prisoners; the victors, in the -first moment of enthusiasm, had shot several, and it required the most -energetic interference on the part of the officers to check this rather -too summary justice. - -At this moment joyous shouts burst forth, and the President of the -Republic entered the courtyard at the head of a large staff, glistening -with embroidery. - -"Ah, ah!" he said, as he took a contemptuous glance at the general, who -had been thrown on the stones, "so this is the man who wished to change -the institutions of his country?" - -Don Sebastian did not deign to reply; but he looked at the speaker with -such an expression of implacable hatred, that the President could not -endure it, and was forced to turn his head away. - -"Did this man surrender?" he asked one of his officers. - -"No, coward," the general answered, with clenched teeth, "I will not -surrender to hangmen." - -"Take this man to prison with the others," the President continued, "an -example must be made; but take care that they are not insulted by the -people." - -"Yes," the general muttered, "ever the same system." - -"A fall and entire pardon," the President continued, "will be granted to -the unhappy men who were led astray, and have recognized their crime. -The lesson they have received was rather rough, and I am convinced that -it will do them good." - -"Clemency after the massacre, that is the usual way," the general said -again. - -The President passed without answering him, and left the courtyard. A -few minutes later the prisoners were led away to prison, in spite of the -efforts of the exasperated populace to massacre them on the road. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero was one of the first to appear before the -tribunal. He disdained any defence, and during the whole trial preserved -a gloomy silence; he was unceremoniously condemned to be shot, his -estates confiscated, and his name was declared infamous. - -So soon as the sentence was recorded, the general was placed in the -chapel, where he was to remain three days before execution. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -THE CAPILLA. - - -The Spanish custom--a custom which has been kept up in all the old -colonies of that power--of placing persons condemned to death in a -chapel, requires explanation, in order that it may be thoroughly -understood and appreciated, as it deserves to be. - -Frenchmen, over whom the great revolution of '93 passed like a -hurricane, and carried off most of their belief in its sanguinary cloak, -may smile with pity and regard as a fanatic remainder from another -age, this custom of placing the condemned in chapel. Among us, it is -true, matters are managed much more simply: a man, when condemned by -the law, eats, drinks, and remains alone in his cell. If he desire it, -he is visited by the chaplain, whom he is at liberty to converse with, -if he likes; if not, he remains perfectly quiet, and nobody pays any -attention to him, during a period more or less long, and determined by -the rejection of his appeal. Then, one fine morning, when he is least -thinking of it, the governor of the prison announces to him, when he -wakes, as the most simple thing in the world, that he is to be executed -that same day, and only an hour is granted him to recommend his soul -to the divine clemency. The fatal toilet is made by the executioner and -his assistant, the condemned man is placed in a close carriage, conveyed -to the place of execution, and in a twinkling launched into eternity, -before he has had a moment to look round him. - -Is it right or wrong to act in this way? We dare not answer, yes or no. -This question is too difficult to decide, and would lead us the further, -because we should begin with asking society by what right it arrogates -to itself the power of killing one of its members, and thus committing a -cold-blooded assassination, under the pretext of doing justice; for we -confess that we have ever been among the most determined adversaries of -punishment by death, as we are persuaded that, in trying to deal a heavy -blow, human justice deceives itself, and goes beyond the object, because -it avenges when it ought merely to punish. - -We will, therefore, repeat here what we said in a previous work, in -explanation of what the Spaniards mean by the phrase "placing in chapel." - -When a man is condemned to death, from that moment he is, _de facto_, -cut off from that society to which he no longer belongs, through the -sentence passed on him; he is consequently separated from his fellow men. - -He is shut up in a room, at one end of which is an altar; the walls are -hung with black drapery, studded with silver tears, and here and there -mourning inscriptions, drawn from Holy Writ. Near his bed is placed the -coffin in which his body is to be deposited after execution, while two -priests, who relieve each other, but of whom one constantly remains in -the room, say mass in turn, and exhort the criminal to repent Of his -crimes, and implore divine clemency. This custom, which, if carried to -an extreme, would appear in our country before all, barbarous and cruel, -perfectly agrees with Spanish manners, and the thoroughly believing -spirit of this impressionable nation; it is intended to draw the culprit -back to pious thought, and rarely fails to produce the desired effect -upon him. - -The general was, therefore, placed in capilla, and two monks belonging -to the order of St. Francis, the most respected, and, in fact, -respectable in Mexico, entered it with him. - -The first hours he passed there were terrible; this proud mind, this -powerful organization, revolted against adversity, and would not accept -defeat. Gloomy and silent, with frowning brows, and fists clenched on -his bosom, the general sought shelter like a wild beast in a corner of -the room, recalling his whole life, and seeing with starts of terror the -bloody victims scattered along his path, and sacrificed in turn to his -devouring ambition, sadly defile before him. - -Then he reverted to his early years. When residing at the Palmar, his -magnificent family hacienda, his life passed away calm, pure, gentle, -and tranquil, without regrets, and without desires, among his faithful -servants. Then, he was so glad to be nothing, and to wish to be nothing. - -By degrees his thoughts followed the bias of his recollections: the -present was effaced; his contracted features grew softer, and two -burning tears, the first, perhaps, this man of iron had ever shed, -slowly coursed down his cheeks, which grief had hollowed. - -The monks, calm and contemplative, had eagerly followed the successive -changes on this eminently expressive face. They comprehended that their -mission of consolation was beginning, and approached the general softly, -and wept with him; then this man, whom nothing had been able to subdue, -felt his soul torn asunder; the cloud that covered his eyes melted away -like the winter snow before the first sunbeam, and he fell into the arms -open to receive him, exclaiming, with an expression of desperate grief -impossible to render-- - -"Have mercy, heaven! have mercy!" - -The struggle had been short but terrible; faith had conquered doubt, and -humanity had regained its rights. - -The general then had with the monks a conversation, protracted far into -the night, in which he confessed all his crimes and sins, and humbly -asked pardon of God whom he had outraged, and before whom he was about -to appear. - -The next day, a little after, sunrise, one of the monks, who had been -absent about an hour, returned, bringing with him the general's -capataz. It had only been with extreme reluctance that Carnero had -consented to come, for he justly dreaded his old master's reproaches. - -Hence his surprise was extreme at being received with a smile, and -kindly, and on finding that the general did not make the slightest -allusion to his treachery, which the evidence before the court-martial -had fully revealed. - -Carnero looked inquiringly at the two monks, for he did not dare put -faith in his master's words, and each moment expected to hear him burst -out into reproaches. But nothing of the sort took place; the general -continued the conversation as he had begun it, speaking to him gently -and kindly. - -At the moment when the capataz was about to withdraw, the general -stopped him. - -"One moment," he said to him; "you know Don Valentine, the French -hunter, for whom I so long cherished an insensate hatred?" - -"Yes," Carnero stammered. - -"Be kind enough to ask him to grant me the favour of a short visit; he -is a noble-hearted man, and I am convinced that he will not refuse to -come. I should be glad if he consented to bring with him Don Martial, -the Tigrero, who has so much cause to complain of me, as well as my -niece, Dona Anita de Torres. Will you undertake this commission, the -last I shall doubtless give you?" - -"Yes, general," the capataz answered, affected in spite of himself by -such gentleness. - -"Now go; be happy and pray for me, for we shall never meet again." - -The capataz went out in a very different frame of mind from that in -which he had entered the capilla, and hastened off to Valentine. The -hunter was not at home, for he had gone to the presidential palace, but -he returned almost immediately. The capataz gave the message which his -old master had entrusted him with for him. - -"I will go," the hunter said simply, and he dismissed him. - -Curumilla was at once sent off to Mr. Rallier's quinta with a letter, -and during his absence Valentine had a long conversation with Belhumeur -and Black Elk. At about five in the evening, a carriage entered the -courtyard of Valentine's house at a gallop; it contained Mr. Rallier, -Anita, and Don Martial. - -"Thanks!" he said, on seeing them. - -"You ordered me to come, so I obeyed as usual," the Tigrero answered. - -"You were right, my friend." - -"And now what do you want of us?" - -"That you should accompany me to the place whither I am going at this -moment." - -"Would it be indiscreet to ask you----" - -"Where?" the hunter interrupted him with a laugh. - -"Not at all; I am going to lead you, Dona Anita, and the persons here -present, to the capilla in which General Guerrero is confined." - -"The capilla?" the Tigrero exclaimed in amazement, "for what purpose?" - -"What does that concern you? The general has requested to see you, and -you cannot refuse the request of a man who has but a few hours left to -live." - -The Tigrero hung his head without answering. - -"Oh! I will go!" Dona Anita exclaimed impulsively, as she wiped away the -tears that ran down her cheeks. - -"You are a woman, senorita, and therefore good and indulgent," the -hunter said; then turning to the Tigrero, he said, with a slight accent -of reproach, "you have not yet answered me, Don Martial." - -"Since you insist, Don Valentine, I will go," he at length answered, -with an effort. - -"I do not insist, my friend; I only ask, that is all." - -"Come, Martial, I implore you," Dona Anita said to him gently. - -"Your will be done in this as in all other things," he said. "I am ready -to follow you, Don Valentine." - -Valentine, Dona Anita, Mr. Rallier, and Don Martial got into the -carriage. The two Canadians and the chief followed them on horseback, -and they proceeded at a gallop to the chapel where the condemned man was -confined. - -All along the road they found marks of the obstinate struggle which had -deluged the city with blood a few days previously; the barricades had -not been entirely removed, and though the distance was, in reality, -very short, they did not reach the prison till nightfall, owing to the -detours they were forced to make. - -Valentine begged his friends to remain outside, and only entered with -Dona Anita and the Tigrero. The general was impatiently expecting them, -and testified a great joy on perceiving them. - -The young lady could not restrain her emotion, and threw herself into -her uncle's arms with an outburst of passionate grief. The general -pressed her tenderly to his bosom, and kissed her on the forehead. - -"I am the more affected by these marks of affection, my child," he said -with much emotion, "because I have been very harsh to you. Can you ever -forgive me the sufferings I have caused you?" - -"Oh, uncle, speak not so. Are you not, alas! the only relation I have -remaining?" - -"For a very short time," he said with a sad smile, "that is the reason -why I ought, without further delay, to provide for your future." - -"Do not talk about that at such a moment, uncle," she continued, -bursting into tears. - -"On the contrary, my child, it is at this moment when I am going to -leave you, that I am bound to insure you a protector. Don Martial, I -have done you great wrong; here is my hand, accept it as that of a man -who has completely recognized his faults, and sincerely repents the evil -he has done." - -The Tigrero, more affected than he liked to display, took a step -forward, and cordially pressed the hand offered him. - -"General," he said, in a voice which he tried in vain to render firm, -"this moment, which I never dared hope to see, fills me with joy, but at -the same time with grief." - -"Well, you can do something for me by proving to me that you have really -forgiven me." - -"Speak, general, and if it is in my power----," he exclaimed warmly. - -"I believe so," Don Sebastian answered, with his sad smile. "Consent to -accept my niece from my hand, and marry her at once in this chapel." - -"Oh, general!" he began, choking with emotion. - -"Uncle, at this awful moment!" the young lady murmured, timidly. - -"Allow me the supreme consolation of dying under the knowledge that -you are happy. Don Valentine, you have doubtless brought some of your -friends with you?" - -"They are awaiting your commands, general," the hunter answered. - -"Let them come in, in that case, for time presses." - -One of the monks had prepared everything beforehand. - -When the hunters and the French banker entered, followed by Curumilla, -and the officer commanding the capilla guard, who had been warned -beforehand, the general walked eagerly toward them. - -"Senores," he said, "I would ask you to do me the honour of witnessing -the marriage of my niece, Dona Anita de Torres, with this caballero." - -The newcomers bowed respectfully. At a signal from one of the -Franciscans they knelt down and the ceremony began. It lasted hardly -twenty minutes, but never had a marriage mass been read or listened to -with more pious fervour. When it was ended, the witnesses wished to -retire. - -"One moment, senores, if you please," the general said to them. "I now -wish to make you witnesses of a great reparation." - -They stopped, and the general walked up to Valentine. - -"Caballero," he said to him, "I know all the motives of hatred you -have against me, and those motives I allow to be just. I am now in the -same position in which I placed Count de Prebois Crance, your dearest -friend. Like him, I shall be shot tomorrow at daybreak; but with this -difference, that he fell as a martyr to a holy cause, and innocent of -the crimes of which I accused him, while I am guilty, and have deserved -the sentence passed on me. Don Valentine, I repent from the bottom of -my heart the iniquitous murder of your friend. Don Valentine, do you -forgive me?" - -"General Don Sebastian Guerrero, I forgive you the murder of my friend," -the hunter answered, in a firm voice. "I forgive you the life of grief -to which I am henceforth condemned by you." - -"You pardon me unreservedly?" - -"Unreservedly I do." - -"Thanks! We were made to love instead of hate each other. I -misunderstood you; but yours is a great and noble heart. Now, let death -come, and I shall accept it gladly; for I feel convinced that God will -have pity on me on account of my sincere repentance. Be happy, niece, -with the husband of your choice. Senores, all, accept my thanks. Don -Valentine, once more I thank you; and now leave me all, for I no longer -belong to the world, so let me think of my salvation." - -"But one word," Valentine said. "General, I have forgiven you, and it is -now my turn to ask your pardon. I have deceived you." - -"Deceived me!" - -"Yes: take this paper. The President of the Republic, employing his -sovereign right of mercy, has, on my pressing entreaty, revoked the -sentence passed on you. You are free." - -His hearers burst into a cry of admiration. - -The general turned pale; he tottered, and for a moment it was fancied -that he was about to fall. A cold perspiration stood on his temples. -Dona Anita sprang forward to support him, but he repulsed her gently, -and, with a great effort, exclaimed, in a choking voice-- - -"Don Valentine, Don Valentine, such then is your revenge. Oh! blind, -blind that I was to form such an erroneous opinion of you! You condemn -me to live. Well, be it so; I accept, and will not deceive your -expectations. Fathers," he said, turning to the monks, "lead me to your -monastery. General Guerrero is dead, and henceforth I shall be a monk of -your order." - -Don Sebastian's conversion was sincere. Grace had touched him, and he -persevered. Two months after professing, he died in the Franciscan -Monastery, crushed by remorse and worn out by the cruel penance he -inflicted on himself. - -Two days after the scene we have described, Valentine and his companions -left Mexico, and returned to Sonora. On reaching the frontier, the -hunter, in spite of the pressing entreaties of his friends, separated -from them, and returned to the desert. - -Don Martial and Dona Anita settled in Mexico, near the Ralliers. A month -after Valentine's departure, Dona Helena returned to the convent, and -at the end of a year, in spite of the entreaties of her family, who -were surprised at so strange a resolution, which nothing apparently -explained, the young lady took the vows. - -When I met Valentine Guillois on the banks of the Rio Joaquin, some -time after the events recorded in this long story, he was going with -Curumilla to attempt a hazardous expedition across the Rocky Mountains, -from which, he said to me, with that soft melancholy smile which he -generally assumed when speaking to me, he _hoped_ never to return. - - * * * * * - -I accompanied him for several days, and then we were compelled to -separate. He pressed my hand, and, followed by his dumb friend, he -entered the mountains. For a long time I looked after him, for I -involuntarily felt my heart contracted by a sad foreboding. He turned -round for the last time, waved his hand in farewell, and disappeared -round a bend of the track. - -I was fated never to see him again. - -Since then nothing has been heard of him, or of Curumilla. All my -endeavours to join them, or even obtain news of them, was vain. - -Are they still living?--no one can say. Darkness has settled down over -these two magnificent men, and time itself will, in all probability, -never remove the veil that conceals their fate; for all, unhappily, -leads me to suppose that they perished in that gloomy expedition from -which Valentine _hoped_, alas! never to return. - - - -END OF RED TRACK. - - - - -A BUFFALO HUNT[1] - -A STUDY OF THE AMERICAN WILD BULL. - - -Certain reasons, unnecessary to state here, had somewhat accidentally -led me to a Sonorian hacienda, called the Hacienda del Milagro, situated -a few leagues from Hermosillo, close to the Indian border, and belonging -to Don Rafael Garillas de Saavedra, one of the richest landowners in the -province. - -Don Rafael had spent what is called in Europe a wild life, and for many -years had traversed the deserts of Apacheria in company of a Canadian -adventurer of the name of Belhumeur. Although enormously rich, married -to a woman he adored, and surrounded by a delightful family, Don Rafael -had now and then moments of gloom, in which he regretted the time when, -unhappy and disinherited, he wandered, under the name of Loyal-heart, -from Arkansas to Apacheria, leading the precarious existence of wood -rangers, living from hand to mouth, forgetful of a past which only -summoned up bitter griefs, and careless about a future which he believed -would never realize the dreams of his poetical imagination. - -Like all men who have suffered and passed through a hard apprenticeship -of life, Don Rafael was kind and indulgent to others, and ever ready to -excuse a fault when it only emanated from a forgetfulness of propriety -or an error of judgment. - -Two days after my arrival at the Hacienda del Milagro, thanks to the -cordial reception given me, I was regarded as forming part of the -family, and was as much at my ease as if I had lived for years with -these new friends, who soon grew so old in my heart, and whose memory -will be ever dear to me. - -One evening a new guest arrived at the hacienda, where he was literally -received with open arms, which greatly surprised me; for I knew the -prejudices of Spaniards against Indians, and the newcomer was simply a -redskin. It is true that this redskin was the first sachem of a powerful -Comanche tribe, which was explained to me in two words by Belhumeur, the -Canadian hunter, with whom I had struck up a great friendship from my -first arrival at the hacienda. - -This sachem was called Eagle-head. He came, in the name of his tribe, to -invite Don Rafael, whom he obstinately called Loyal-heart, to a great -buffalo hunt which was to come off in Apacheria toward the middle of the -"Moon of the wild oats," that is to say, about September 15th. - -Don Rafael was greatly inclined to accept this invitation, but a -sorrowful look, which his wife gave him aside, made him understand how -anxious his absence would make her. He therefore expressed his inability -to be present at this hunt, which he would have so much liked to be, -but very important business compelled him to remain at the hacienda. -He added, however, that his friend Belhumeur would be happy to take -his place, in order to prove to Eagle-head the value he set on his -invitation and his lively desire to show him all the deference which so -great a chief as he merited. - -After a few words whispered in his ear, Belhumeur introduced me to the -Indian chief, to whom he mentioned that, as I had never witnessed a -buffalo hunt, I should be delighted with his permission to attend the -present one. The chief politely replied that Belhumeur was an adopted -son of the tribe, and that any persons he thought proper to bring -with him would be received not only with great pleasure, but with the -greatest kindness, according to the consecrated customs of Indian -hospitality. - -I warmly thanked, as I was bound to do, the chief, who was flattered to -hear me express myself with some degree of elegance in his own language; -and we agreed to meet at the winter village of the Comanches of the -Lakes, on the fifth sun of the Moon of the wild oats. - -Eagle-head took leave of us the same evening, in spite of all our -efforts to keep him at least till the next morning. He started in the -direction of the desert with the light and gymnastic step peculiar to -the redskins, which a trotting horse could not keep up with, and which -enables them to cover an enormous distance in a relatively very short -period. - -Two days later, Belhumeur, myself, and another Canadian hunter attached -to the hacienda, by the name of Black Elk, mounted on excellent -mustangs, and armed to the teeth, took leave of Don Rafael, who saw us -depart with a sigh of regret, and we proceeded in the direction of the -great western prairies. - -Belhumeur was a first-rate companion, of tried bravery; a thorough -adventurer, gay, daring, and reckless, whose life had been almost -entirely spent in the desert, and whom his attachment for Don Rafael had -alone determined to give up the free and independent life of a hunter to -confine himself, as he said with a smile, within stone walls, where he -ofttimes felt that fresh air was wanting for his lungs. - -Belhumeur was a book of which I turned over the leaves of at my -pleasure, and each page was full of attractions for me, and offered me -agreeable surprises. - -Although I had myself long lived in the desert, I had as yet only -traversed countries where buffalo is never met; hence I was extremely -anxious to obtain some positive information about this interesting -animal, so useful to the Indians, who profess for it a respect almost -approaching to veneration. In this way I hoped not to be quite a novice -when I joined the redskins, and would know not only in what way to -attack the new enemy I was about to confront, but also how to behave, so -as not to appear an utter ignoramus in the sight of the Indians. - -One evening, while seated at our watch fire after supper, smoking my -Indian pipe charged with _morrichee_, or prairie tobacco, I asked -Belhumeur, whose good nature was inexhaustible, to give me the most -circumstantial information about the buffalo, which he at once did with -his usual goodwill. - -This is what I learned in substance. I will ask my reader's pardon for -substituting my recollections for the Canadian's prolix narration, -for what they may lose in simplicity of expression they will gain -in brevity, which is not a thing to be so much despised as might be -supposed at the first blush. - -I am bound to state that all Belhumeur then told me about the manners -and habits of these singular animals was most rigorously exact, as I -was in a position to convince myself at a later date. This, then, was -Belhumeur's account. - -The Indians say proverbially that bees are the advanced guard of the -palefaces, and the buffaloes the vedettes of the redskins. In fact, -although it is impossible to explain the reason, bees constantly seek -to advance into the desert, and when they appear at the border of -clearings, it is certain that two or three days later emigrants will -turn up, with rifles on their shoulders, and followed by a long file of -waggons, carts, horses, and cattle. These bold pioneers of civilisation -come, impelled by their adventurous instincts, to set up their tents in -the heart of the desert, on the shady banks of some unknown river, and -their unceasing activity soon changes the character of the landscape. - -In the same way when the traveller advances into the savannahs, so soon -as he sights the buffalo he may be certain that he has reached the -territory of the redskins. - -Now, it appears to us that everything relating to so interesting an -animal as the buffalo, which is fatally destined so soon to disappear, -unless care be taken, and which is so eminently useful, is worth -recording. - -Purchas in his "Pilgrimage" (London edition, 1614), says that in certain -respects the buffalo resembles the lion, and in others the camel, ox, -horse, sheep, and goat. Civilization in its continuous onward march -destroys the great animals, and drives back the redskin and even the -hunter, unless he consent to modify his fashion of living. - -The buffalo, which, on its discovery in 1582 by Lusman, in the province -of Sinaloa, extended its wanderings over nearly the whole of North -America, now restricts its excursions more and more, and is only met -with at present in the wildest deserts situated to the west of the Rocky -Mountains, which proves a considerable diminution in their numbers, and -this is probably augmented by the Indian custom of only killing cows and -leaving the bulls. - -The Americans, however, ought to interfere, for the buffalo is capable -of being tamed, and crossing it with the European ox would produce a -strong, patient, and courageous breed, whose services would be of -immense utility in the immense settlement of the new states. We saw at -a Texan hacienda completely tamed buffaloes, which, according to their -owners, were an excellent substitute for the common ox. - -The buffalo lives longer than the domestic ox: its proportions are -greater, and though its front is ungraceful, the hinder parts are -handsome. The buffalo is generally brown, though spotted ones are met -with, and even some completely white; its face is very like that of the -bull; its head covered with thick wool, the long beard hanging from its -lower jaw, and its melancholy, gentle, and almost stupid eye give it a -singular and almost strange appearance. Its horns are short, rounded, -and capable of taking a fine polish; it has between its shoulders a very -prominent hump, whilst its hinder parts are covered with short, straight -hair, like that of European ruminants; its short tail terminates in a -tuft of curly hair. The age of a buffalo is discovered by the rings on -its horns, the first four counting for the first year. - -The meat of the cows is considered more delicate than that of the bulls, -especially in the rutting season. The parts most appreciated are the -heart, the tongue, the liver, the short rib, and the part called the -hunter's joint, that is to say, the chine near the shoulder blade. Eight -bones are considered marrowbones, they are those of the legs and thighs. -A cow supplies about three hundred pounds of excellent meat, exclusive -of the head, and several other parts of the animal; the marrow of a -single bone is sufficient for a meal. The Indians, in order to obtain -it, throw the bone into the fire after removing the meat, let it grill -for a few minutes, take it out, break it, and remove the marrow, which -is eaten, without seasoning, by means of a sharp stick. This marrow is -very delicate and succulent, and when baked, it assumes the colour and -consistency of meat; some hunters prefer to eat it raw, but we did not -find it so good in that state. - -When a manada of buffaloes is hunted, especially if it be composed of -bulls, a strong smell of musk is exhaled; when full galloping, their -hoofs crack the grass, as if it was dried. They have an extraordinary -fine scent, and smell a man two or even three miles off. - -This animal is extremely difficult to kill. On a certain occasion we -lodged sixteen bullets in the body of a buffalo, ere we could succeed -in killing. Wishing to assure oneself of the truth of a fact, which -physicians and hunters had affirmed, namely, that the frontal bone -of a buffalo is bullet-proof, we discharged our rifle, at ten paces' -distance, at the head of a dead bull. The bullet did not penetrate, but -was caught in the hair, where we found it again; still it had struck -exactly in the centre of the forehead, for it had left its mark there -before rebounding. - -We have not very exactly followed Belhumeur's account, for, carried -away by our sympathy for the noble animal he described to us, we have -placed our ideas in the stead of his. We openly confess here that we are -among those who sincerely regret that the proposal made in 1849, by -Mr. Lamarre Picquot, to introduce into France the buffalo, as at once -suitable for draught and for consumption, was not seriously discussed -and taken into consideration, for this animal is one of the most useful, -and would, we feel convinced, render valuable services. - -Our journey lasted more than a month; for the winter village of the -Comanches of the Lakes is hidden in a canyon, in the middle of the first -spurs of the Rocky Mountains. Mounted on a vigorous mustang, I generally -rode at the head of our small party, which I liked to do, in order to be -more by myself, and observe more at my ease. - -One morning I saw, at a spot where the trail I followed was wide and -open, and some distance ahead of me, a large hawk, which appeared to -be suffering, and making efforts to fly away. When I drew near enough -I found that it was enfolded by a long whip snake, which had writhed -several times round its body, and the bird had only one wing at liberty. - -In all probability the hawk had been the aggressor, and had dashed down -at the snake, but the latter, by cleverly enfolding its enemy, had -succeeded in escaping the danger. - -The whip snake is a very handsome reptile, seven to eight feet in -length, when it has attained its full growth. Along the greater part of -its body it is no larger than an ordinary ramrod. Its very thin neck -gradually tapers away down to the stomach, whence it has obtained its -name. For about three or four inches the upper side of the head and -neck is black and lustrous as the plumage of a crow; while the upper -side of the body is chocolate coloured, excepting the tail, which, -nearly all the way from the stomach, is black. - -There, however, is no general rule, except for the head, neck, and tail, -which are always black. I have come across snakes of the same family in -which the other parts of the body varied. This reptile is very quick, -and seems to fly over the surface of the ground. The most remarkable -thing about it is, that it possesses the faculty of running, while -supporting itself solely on the lower part of the tail, and holding its -body and head erect. - -I cite this fact from personal knowledge, for I was one day followed by -a very handsome whip snake, which kept erect and looked me in the face -from time to time, although I had made my horse trot rather sharply, in -order to see at what speed this snake could advance in such an attitude. -It, however, only seemed to follow me through curiosity, for it is not -at all venomous, is of a gentle character, and it appears familiar with -man. I was surprised to find it in these parts, for I believed it to be -an inhabitant of Eastern Florida. - -Thirty-three days after our departure from the Hacienda del Milagro, we -came in sight of the Comanche village, and during the whole long journey -had not been exposed to the slightest danger, or stopped by any annoying -accident. - -We were expected, and were received by the chiefs, at the head of whom -was Eagle-head, not merely as friends, but as children of the tribe. A -spacious cabin was placed at our disposal, and provisions were brought -us from all sides. - -We had arrived just at the right moment; the grand festival of the -buffaloes was to be held that very night--a very curious ceremony, whose -object is to implore the blessing of the Wacondah before beginning the -hunt. - -In the centre of the village a large open space had been prepared, about -sixty yards long by forty-five wide, surrounded by an inclosure of reeds -and willow branches twelve feet high, and slightly bent inwards. An -entrance had been left, facing the east. The four fires which are always -kept up in the medicine lodge, were burning in each corner, and the most -distinguished chiefs, among whom we were counted, sat in a semicircle to -the right of the inclosure. - -Eagle-head, in his quality of first sachem of the tribe, held the head -of the file; he had, expressly for this occasion, painted his face blue, -yellow, and white, and wore on his head a fillet of some red skin. - -The spectators, more especially the squaws, were sitting against the -palings silent and contemplative. The men, some in full paint, others -simply dressed or naked to the waist, went about the interior of the -inclosure irregularly. Children ranged round the fires threw in from -time to time willow branches, to keep them burning. - -At the signal given by _Chichikoues_ for the feast to begin, six old men -emerged from a calli, and stood in a row in front of the medicine lodge. - -These men are chosen by the chiefs to represent buffaloes, and after the -ceremony large presents are made to them. Each of them held in his hand -a long staff, at the end of which four black feathers were fixed, and -along the staves, at equal distances, were fastened small tufts of young -buffalo skin and bells. - -These men-buffaloes carried their clubs in the left hand, and two of -them bore what the Comanches call a "badger," that is to say, a blown-up -skin, which is beaten like a drum. They stood at the entrance of the -medicine lodge, shaking their staves incessantly, and in turn singing -and imitating, with rare perfection, the lowing of buffaloes, which -lasted some considerable time. - -Behind them marched a tall man with a ferocious face, whose head was -covered with a fur cap, because once on a time he had been scalped in -a fight with the Apaches. This man was the director of the feast, and -represented the leader of the old buffaloes; his name was "Raised-scalp." - -After a rather long station before the door, the men-buffaloes at length -entered the medicine lodge, and sate down against the palings, behind -one of the fires. - -So soon as they were all seated, each of them planted his staff on -the ground in front of him. Several young warriors then came in with -dishes of boiled beans and maize powdered with pemmican, which they -placed before the guests. These dishes went the round, each passing -them to his neighbour after eating a little. At times empty dishes were -placed before us, a ceremony of which I did not at first understand -the purport, and one of the bearers, a man of colossal stature, very -muscular, and almost naked, whose hair fell in long tresses on his -loins, came to fetch one of these empty dishes. Then Eagle-head hid his -face in his hands and began singing, after which he muttered a long -speech or prayer, winding up by returning the dish. - -This speech contained wishes for the success of the buffalo hunt, and -the Wacondah was also invoked to render him favourable to the hunters -and warriors. The longest speeches were the best; the bearer seemed -particularly satisfied; he bowed with an attentive look, nodded his head -as a sign of his pleasure, passed his hand along the orator's right arm -from the shoulder to the wrist, and, before removing the dish, answered -with a few words of thanks. - -This repast was prolonged for more than an hour; on all sides people ate -and held speeches for the success of the chase; during this the young -men standing in the middle of the inclosure prepared the calumets, and -brought them ready lighted to the chief, the old men, and the strangers. - -They stopped before each of us, walking from right to left, and -presented the calumet, the bowl of which they held in their hand. Each -man took two or three whiffs, while murmuring a prayer, and then the -calumet passed on to the next. - -After this, our calumet bearers frequently turned to the four cardinal -points, muttering mysterious words, and indulging in strange gestures -and imitations. - -During this time the six old men-buffaloes did not once leave off -singing, shaking their medicine staves behind the fire, and beating the -"badger." At a certain, moment they rose, thrust forward the upper part -of their body, and began dancing, though still singing, and shaking -their wands, while the badger beat time. When this dance had lasted long -enough, they resumed their places in the same order as before. - -It is impossible for anyone, unless he has been present, to form an idea -of the original sight offered by this quaint scene. These men painted -of different hues, their varying dresses, their songs, their drums, -their cries, and the noises of every description which blended with -them, borne from the desert on the wing of the night breeze, beneath -the dark and lugubriously starlit vault of heaven, while the immense -canopy of verdure formed as it were a majestic temple for this singular -ceremony--all this did not fail to possess a certain wild grandeur. - -After the dances had continued for more than two hours, the strangest -part of the festival began with the entrance of the squaws into the -inclosure. One of them, who was very young and remarkably pretty, came -up to her husband, and gave him her waist belt and petticoat to hold, so -that she was perfectly naked under her gown. She advanced dancing to -one of the most renowned warriors, passed her hand all down his right -arm, and then retired slowly, with her smiling face turned towards him. -The warrior thus invited, at once rose, and disappeared with her in -the wood. There, a man may ransom himself by making a present; but we -must avow, to the honour of the Indian fair sex, that few men do so. My -companions, Black Elk and Belhumeur, who were invited, took very good -care not to buy themselves off, and, on the contrary, readily followed -their dancer; but, for my part, I peremptorily refused, and remained -deaf to all the looks, and nods, and wanton smiles which the dear -charmers thought themselves obliged to lavish on me as a stranger. - -I must confess, to my sorrow, however, that it was not from virtuous -motives that I acted thus; I was in love, and courting at the time an -exquisite girl called "Boar's Head," whom I married eventually, and -with whom I lived happily for the five years we had arranged that our -marriage was to last. At the end of that period I sold her for three -female buffalo skins to another chief of my tribe. - -This feast lasted for four consecutive nights, from one sun to the next; -the same ceremony was repeated on each occasion with the most scrupulous -exactness, though we noticed that the squaws never invited the same -warrior twice, with the exception of the two Canadian hunters. - -When the ceremonies were quite ended, and all the symbolical rites -of the great medicine rigorously performed, one morning at sunrise, -twenty-five youthful warriors, chosen by Eagle-head, left the village, -mounted on excellent hunters, and each leading a second horse by the -bridle. - -These warriors form a vanguard intended to discover buffalo sign, and -watch their movements, and for that reason are called "buffalo scouts." -The main body of hunters, consisting of about eighty warriors, among -whom were my comrades and myself, did not start till two days later. - -The Indians when on the hunting trail, and especially when they are -desirous to surprise buffalo, travel with extreme care. The scent of the -buffaloes is very subtle, especially when they are to windward; though, -curiously enough, they frequent the same pasture as the elks, they have -no communion with them; still they do not seem at all disturbed by each -other; or the buffaloes, whose sight is not very good form a sort of -partnership with the elks, whom they convert into their sentinels. They -are watchful sentinels too, and, at the first suspicious sign, give the -alarm; whereupon buffaloes and elks disappear in company, escorted by -the red prairie wolves, troublesome followers that prowl round them, and -whom they can never succeed in getting entirely rid of. - -Each night we encamped on a hill at no great distance from a stream. -The trees were felled round the bivouac to guard us from a surprise; -the campfires were lighted, and the greater part of the night was -spent in relating hunting narratives and merry stories recounted in -turn, and which excited the heartiest gaiety among the Redskins. For -we will remark, in parenthesis, that the Indians, who are generally -represented as serious, cold, and stoical, on the contrary, have a very -jovial character; a mere nothing makes them laugh, and they indulge to -their heart's content, like all simple and primitive minds. Still, for -all that, they must be together, or in the company of people they are -well acquainted with. In the presence of whites the difficulty they -experience in making themselves understood, and the respect--I might -almost say the instinctive terror--the formidable strangers inspire them -with, completely paralyzes their faculties, and makes them appear almost -idiotic. - -We marched thus with easy journeys, in order not to tire our horses, in -the direction of the Rocky Mountains, for some fifty or sixty leagues, -killing a few prairie dogs, elks, and two or three striped sousliks -(_Spermophilus Hoodii_). At times a covey of larks rose at our approach, -or crows and rooks appeared in large numbers and settled down close to -us. - -Eagle-head would not consent to a halt for the sake of killing a few -isolated buffaloes we perceived in the distance. We had still thirty -miles to go before getting up with our scouts, and finding ourselves in -the real hunting ground. - -On the eighth day after leaving the village we reached a creek which -meandered through a plain, on which the grass was extremely high, -called, as far as I can remember, by the Indians, Green River. A rather -tall hill, situated on its hank, concealed our presence, and sheltered -us from the wind. - -Eagle-head gave orders to camp. The horses were allowed to graze, and a -fire of _bois de vache_ was lighted to roast a few ducks and two elks -that composed our breakfast. - -This stream, owing to the advanced season, was nearly dry, and filled -with tall, closely-growing weeds. After a two hours' halt we continued -our march, passing over gently sloping hills, and we found a few of some -height, behind which herds of buffalo are usually found. Before reaching -the top, our party traversed a small valley filled with a narrow strip -of beech trees, elms, and nyundos, between clumps of roses, _prunus -padres_, and a few other shrubs, while the wild tine (_clematis_) hung -in festoons about the trees. - -On reaching the top of the last mound we halted, and a singular scene, -which was not without some wild grandeur, was suddenly offered to our -sight. - -All the crests of the hills, as far as sight could extend, were crowned -by the scouts sent ahead, and who, motionless as statues of Florentine -bronze, stood out boldly in the blue sky. - -These scouts were not seated in the saddle, but standing on it, holding -in the left hand their buffalo robes, which they at times waved, and in -their right their clubs, which they employed to indicate certain points -of the horizon. At our feet, in an immense valley intersected by a large -river, whose numerous capacious windings resembled a silver thread, a -multitude of black spots spotted the tall grass. - -These points, which were almost imperceptible owing to the great -distance, were buffaloes: we had at last reached the hunting ground. But -the day was too far advanced for us to dream of following the animals, -and hence the chief gave the signal for camping. - -The night was calm, and was spent like the previous ones, in outbursts -of the frankest and heartiest gaiety, and at sunrise we were all up and -ready to begin the hunt. The scouts were still at their posts, and it -might fairly be supposed that during the whole night they had not ceased -to watch the game. - -Eagle-head got on the back of his horse, and fired a musket loaded only -with powder, in order to attract the attention of the scouts. Then a -singular scene took place, which offered me much to think about, and -proved to me once again that the Redskins are neither so savage nor -unintelligent as some writers are pleased to represent them. - -By the aid of the buffalo robe he held in his hand and waved in every -direction, the sachem began a series of complicated signals, which would -have turned the most expert of our telegraphers pale if called upon to -interpret, for they were transmitted with headlong speed, and instantly -comprehended by the sachem and the scouts. - -Eagle-head, according to the information he received, sent off every -moment parties of hunters, for the purpose, as I afterwards learned, of -completely surrounding the buffaloes, and driving them to the middle -of the valley. The hunters picked out started at once at full speed, -galloping in a beeline, according to the Indian fashion, leaping over -all obstacles, and never deviating from the direct course. - -Ere long only ten hunters, among whom my companions and myself were, -remained with the chief. He gave a final signal, which was immediately -repeated by all the sentries, got into his saddle, and uttered his -war yell. He then dashed at full speed down into the plain, with the -rapidity of an avalanche, and this manoeuvre was imitated by the -other hunters scattered over the adjacent heights. The hunt, or more -correctly, the butchery, had begun. - -The Comanches possess such skill in this horse-hunting, that, in spite -of the difficulty in killing a buffalo, they rarely fire more than -one round at it. Singularly enough, they do not raise the gun to the -shoulder, but stretch out both arms, and fire, in this far from usual -posture, when they are some fifteen or twenty yards from the animal. - -They load the gun with incredible speed, for they do not use the ramrod, -but let the bullets, of which they always keep a certain number in their -mouths, fall immediately on the powder, to which it adheres, and which -expels it again at the same moment. Owing to this great speed, the -prairie hunters, in a little while, make a frightful massacre in a herd -of buffaloes, and this time two-thirds of the manada were killed, and -the animals covered the battlefield in heaps. - -The buffaloes, enclosed in a circle whence they could not escape, -terrified by the yells of the hunters, who dashed at them from all -sides, brandishing their weapons, and waving their robes, fled in all -directions, at a pace greater than I could have imagined, judging from -their enormous bulk. - -Belhumeur and I had settled onto an old buffalo, who gave us plenty -of work. Several point-blank shots had not proved sufficient to check -his pace. He frequently stopped, threw the earth over his head with a -convulsive movement, after digging it up with his fore-feet, assumed a -menacing attitude, and even pursued us for some ten or fifteen yards. -But we easily got away, and the restless animal discontinued its mad -and purposeless chase so soon as we stopped resolutely before it. Its -strength was at length exhausted, but it did not succumb until we had -given it at least twenty bullets. - -This first success gave me a liking for the sport and the whole time -the hunt lasted I was one of the most eager in pursuit. At last, at the -expiration of three days, Eagle-head ordered the end of the massacre. -Obeying the chief's signal, the hunters forced open a large gap, through -which the decimated relics of the unhappy herd dashed, lowing with -terror. - -Two hundred and seventy buffaloes had been killed in three days, an -almost miraculous hunt, which secured the Comanches of the Lakes -abundance of provisions during the rainy season. The victims were -loaded on horses, and we gaily returned to the village, where the -hunters were received on their arrival with marks of the liveliest joy -and the extraordinary rejoicings usual on such occasions. - -One last remark may be allowed me. Everything is valuable in the -buffalo: the meat, the hide, the bones, the horns, and even the hair, -which is made into hats comparable in beauty and substance to the best -beaver. Why is not the buffalo, then, acclimatised in Europe? The -Society of Acclimatisation so recently created, and which has already -produced such excellent results, is keeping, we doubt not, a place for -the buffalo, which we hope soon to see occupied. - - -[1] Although this animal is really the bison, it is so commonly called -buffalo that I have adhered to that term. - - - - -A MUSTANG. - -A STUDY OF THE PRAIRIE HORSE. - - -The aborigines of America were not acquainted with the horse prior to -the arrival of the Spaniards in their country. The Inca Garcillasso de -la Vega, in his "History of the Civil War in India," tells us that the -Peruvians, terrified at the sight of the first horseman, supposed that -the man and the horse only formed one and the same individual. At a -later date they imagined that the horses were formidable and malignant -deities, whom they tried to conciliate by placing gold and silver in -their mangers, and offering up prayers to them. - -The Spanish Conquistadors, most of whom came from Andalusia, were -mounted on steeds in whose veins flowed the blood of the Arabs, which -the Moors had succeeded in naturalizing in Spain during an occupation of -eight centuries. - -When the conquerors obtained quiet possession of the New World, and -began those internecine contests which cost so much blood, after every -battle the wounded horses were usually left behind, while those whose -masters were killed, escaped in obedience to that innate instinct in all -living creatures, which urges them to try and regain their liberty. - -These animals thus left to themselves, wandering haphazard over the -great savannahs, gradually entered the desert, interbred, and at length -multiplied so greatly that they formed bands or _manadas_, whose number -has so increased that it has now become incalculable. - -From these horses, which were originally abandoned and returned to -savage life, has issued the remarkable breed known in the New World by -the name of mustangs, or prairie horses. Now that racing is fashionable -in France, and horse breeding has made immense progress, we do not think -we are going out of our way in describing this valuable breed, which is -unknown in the Old World, and to which sufficient justice is not done -even in America. - -At the time when I was at Guaymas, during the expedition of the unhappy -Count de Raousset Boulbon I wanted a horse. Copers are as numerous in -Mexico as in Europe, and probably cleverer and more cunning than ours -in disguising the vices and defects of the animals they wish to get rid -of; but unluckily for these clever dealers, and luckily for me, my long -stay among the Indians of the Western Prairies had given me an almost -infallible perception, and rendered it extremely difficult to deceive -me as to the qualities of a horse. - -When my wish to purchase a horse was known, there was an extraordinary -rush of dealers to the house where I put up. I peremptorily declined -all the animals offered me. My friends began to joke me and say that I -should not find a horse to suit me, and be compelled to follow on foot -the cavalry corps I commanded, when, on the very eve of departure, I was -walking accidentally on the beach, and saw a Hiaquis Indian a few yards -ahead of me, mounted on a horse whose appearance, in my friends' sight, -had nothing very inviting about it, and so they laughingly invited me to -deal. I feigned to humour them, although I had at once recognized the -animal as a mustang of the Far West, and I took them at their word by -making the Indian a sign to come and speak to me. - -The horse was not handsome, I must allow; he was rather tall, had a big -head, and a round forehead; his mane, which was thick and ill-kempt, -hung down to his chest; his tail, which was not thick enough to wave, -almost swept the ground; but his chest was wide and his legs were firm, -while his eyes and nostrils announced fire, vigour, and bottom. Although -the animal had never been shod, and its master, like all the Indians, -had ill-treated it during the long journey it had made to reach Guaymas, -still its thick hoofs were not at all worn or even damaged. It was black -as night, with a white star about the size of a piastre, perfectly -designed, and situated in the exact centre of the forehead. - -At my summons the Indian started the horse at a gallop, and came up to -me. I asked him bluntly if he wanted to sell his horse. - -"Why not, excellency?" he answered with the wink peculiar to the -Hiaquis. "Negro is a good beast; I lassoed him myself in the heart of -the prairies of the Sierra de San Saba, hardly a month agone, and he has -constantly gone fifteen to sixteen leagues a day." - -"Yes, yes," I answered in Indian, "I know all that; but I know too that -you Hiaquis are clever horse dealers, and are perfectly up to the trick -of dressing a horse for sale." - -On hearing me speak his language, the Redskin, who was, moreover, -deceived by my hunting garb, took me for a wood ranger, and immediately -treated me with great respect. - -"Your excellency will try Negro, if it be really your pleasure to buy," -he said, at once reassuming the language of his tribe, instead of the -Spanish he had hitherto employed. - -"But," I continued, "supposing that Negro, as that is his name, suits -me, I must know the price you want for him." - -"Wah!" he said, with a cunning smile; "I will not let your excellency -have Negro under two ounces, and anyone else would pay much more." - -Two ounces are about six guineas of our money, so if I had judged the -horse aright, it was plain that I should make a good bargain. I made an -appointment with the Hiaquis for the next morning, and withdrew under -the ironical congratulations of my friends upon my excellent acquisition. - -The Indian was punctual. At daybreak I saw him at my door, mounted on -another horse and holding Negro by the bridle. I immediately got into -the saddle, and left Guaymas, accompanied by my Redskin, and started at -a smart trot for the forest. - -I soon perceived that Negro was a very easy goer, and that he did not -tire, though he was very eager--excellent qualities in a charger. -Moreover, I saw that, like all prairie horses, whose mouth is generally -hard, he was very sensitive to the spur. - -The expedition of which I had the honour to be a member was about to -proceed into half savage countries, where roads have never existed, -and we should have to go across sandy deserts, and through almost -impassable virgin forests; hence I wished to know at once what help I -had to expect from my horse, and what confidence I could place in him. -I therefore resolved to make him leap a stream several feet in width. -For this purpose I gave him his head, and pressed his flanks with my -knees without spurring; the intelligent animal seemed to understand that -it was on trial, and leapt over the obstacle with the agility of an -antelope. I turned round, and tried the leap over and over again, always -with the same result. Certain of his agility, I wished to try his -strength, consequently I took him to a muddy and very difficult morass. -Negro, however, entered it, smelling the water as if to judge its depth, -a proof of sagacity and prudence with which I was greatly pleased, and I -found him prompt and decided in the wheels and counter wheels I made him -take. - -I had still an experiment to make with Negro--could he swim? - -During the course of my travels, I have seen excellent horses, which -could not swim at all; they lay down on their side as if to float with -the current, so that their rider was obliged to swim himself and take -them to bank, unless he preferred to leave them to their fate, which -is a very serious difficulty when travelling. As a rather wide and -very rapid stream ran not far from us, I rode my horse right into it; -he at once took the current obliquely, with head well raised above the -surface, and dilated nostrils, though without making that painful snort -peculiar to horses under such circumstances; for, on the contrary, he -breathed regularly and without fatigue. He went up and down the stream, -and when I at last guided him to land, he stopped of his own accord and -shook the water off. - -Convinced, after all these experiments, that I could without risk -undertake the campaign with such a steed, I started back for Guaymas at -a gallop. On the road I brought down a duck, which Negro went up to as -if trained for shooting, and which I picked up without dismounting. - -I immediately gave the two ounces to the Hiaquis, and leaving my friends -to continue their jokes about my acquisition, I rubbed Negro down with -the greatest care. - -On the same day the expedition left Guaymas for Hermosillo, and in spite -of his savage ways and rather seedy appearance, the qualities of my -mustang were soon appreciated, as they deserved to be, by my companions, -whose domestic horses were far from coming up to him. - -I went through the whole campaign mounted on Negro, allowing him no -other food beyond the prairie grass, green alfalfa, and climbing peas, -or a few hen's eggs, when I could procure them, or a gourd; still, every -morning, two hours before mounting, I was careful to rub him down and -press his back with my hand, to assure myself that he was not grazed -by the saddle, after which I threw over him a zarape folded double. At -night, before going to sleep, I washed him, threw a bucket of cold water -over his back, looked at his feet and cleaned them out with the utmost -caution. - -At the end of the first week, Negro had grown so attached to me that he -recognized my voice and obeyed me with extreme docility; to make him -gallop I only required to bend slightly forward. - -When the campaign was ended, instead of embarking at Guaymas for -California, after the fashion of my comrades, I started for Apacheria, -where I spent several months. After that I proceeded to Veracruz, -crossing Mexico in its widest part. I thus rode my horse, without -allowing him a single day's rest, about nine hundred and fifty leagues -calculated at nearly forty-five miles a day, and my mustang was as fresh -and healthy on his arrival as when he started. - -No European horse would be capable of accomplishing such a feat, which -I assert, without fear of contradiction, is only child's play for a -mustang of the prairies. Negro is in no way put forward here as a type -of his breed, and had no striking quality to recommend him; he was -certainly a good horse, but all his companions in the prairies resemble -him, and are quite as good as he. - -At my last halt, before reaching Veracruz, where I intended to embark -for France, I found a Mexican officer, either colonel or general, I -forget which, but his name was Don Pedro Aguirre, stopping at the same -_meson_, and we left it together in the morning _en route_ for Veracruz. - -Senor Don Pedro Aguirre was mounted on a magnificent steed, which, -he told me, and it was very probable, had cost him four hundred -piastres--according to the Mexican fashion his _asistente_ led a second -horse by the bridle. - -I complimented the colonel on his splendid horse, to which compliment he -replied, rather cavalierly, while taking a contemptuous glance at Negro, -that he wished I had a similar one, so that he might have enjoyed my -society during the ride to Veracruz. - -I made no retort, although somewhat vexed at this answer, and confined -myself to asking him at what hour he expected to reach the port? - -"Sufficiently long before you, senor," he said with a smile, "to have -leisure to order supper at the hotel, on condition that you will consent -to join me at it." - -I bowed my thanks, while laughing in my sleeve at the bombastic -confidence of the Mexican officer, and the trick I was going to play -him. After a parting bow, Don Pedro made his horse curvet, dug in his -spurs, and started. But, alas! it was lost trouble; I arrived five -quarters of an hour before him at Veracruz; I ordered dinner; I put my -steed in the corral, and stationed myself in the doorway of the hotel, -where, when the colonel arrived, quite downcast by his defeat, I told -him, with a cunning look, that I was only waiting for him to dine. - -Still, I am bound to say, in praise of the colonel, that he took the -joke very kindly, and when his first impulse of ill-humour had passed -off, frankly complimented me on the excellence of my horse. - -A few days later, overcome by the entreaties of Don Pedro, I consented, -not without regret, to part with poor Negro, and let the colonel have -him, for the comparatively enormous sum of seven hundred and fifty -piastres; but, alas! I was going to embark for France the next week, and -my horse had become useless for me. - -I am convinced that the introduction of this breed of the Western -Prairies into our stud stables would serve greatly to improve our -horses, and that the majority of them would become first-rate racers. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Track, by Gustave Aimard - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - -***** This file should be named 42834.txt or 42834.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/8/3/42834/ - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. 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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 - - -Title: The Red Track - A Story of Social Life in Mexico - -Author: Gustave Aimard - -Translator: Lascelles Wraxall - -Release Date: May 29, 2013 [EBook #42834] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - - - - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - - - - -THE RED TRACK - -A Story of Social life in Mexico - -BY - -GUSTAVE AIMARD - - -AUTHOR OF "ADVENTURERS," "PEARL OF THE ANDES," "TRAIL HUNTER," -"PIRATES OF THE PRAIRIES," "TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER," "TIGER -SLAYER," "GOLD SEEKERS," "INDIAN CHIEF," ETC. - - - -LONDON: - -CHARLES HENRY CLARKE, 13 PATERNOSTER ROW. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The present volume of GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works is a continuation of the -"Indian Chief," and conclusion of the series comprising that work, the -"Gold Seekers," and the "Tiger Slayer." - -At the present moment, when we are engaged in a war with Mexico, I feel -assured that the extraordinary and startling descriptions given in this -volume of the social condition and mode of life in the capital of that -country will be read with universal gratification; for I can assert -confidently that; no previous writer has ever produced such a graphic -and truthful account of a city with which the illustrated papers will -soon make us thoroughly acquainted. - -If a further recommendation be needed, it will be found in the fact that -the present volume appears in an English garb before being introduced to -French readers. GUSTAVE AIMARD is so gratified with the reception his -works have found in this country, through my poor assistance, that he -has considered he could not supply a better proof of his thankfulness -than by permitting his English readers to enjoy, on this occasion, the -first fruits of his versatile and clever pen. This is a compliment -which, I trust, will be duly appreciated; for, as to the merits of -the work itself, I have not the slightest doubt. Readers may imagine -it impossible for GUSTAVE AIMARD to surpass his previous triumphs in -the wildly romantic, or that he could invent anything equal to the -"Prairie Flower," a work which I venture to affirm, to be the finest -Indian tale ever yet written, in spite of the great authors who have -preceded AIMARD; but I ask my reader's special admiration for the "RED -TRACK," because in it our favourite author strikes out a new path, and -displays versatility which puts to the blush those bilious critics--few -in number--I grant, among the multitude of encouraging reviewers, who -have ventured an opinion that GUSTAVE AIMARD can only write about Indian -life, or, in point of fact, that he is merely a hunter describing his -own experiences under a transparent disguise. - -Well, be it so, I accept the assertion. GUSTAVE AIMARD is but a -hunter; he has seen nought but uncivilized life; he has spent years -among savages, and has returned to his own country to try and grow -Europeanized again. What then? The very objection is a proof of his -veracity; and I am fully of the conviction that every story he has told -us is true. It is not reasonable to suppose that a man who has spent the -greater part of his life in hunting the wild animals of America--who -has been an adopted son of the most powerful Indian tribes--who has for -years never known what the morrow would bring forth, should sit down -to invent. The storehouse of his mind is too amply filled with marvels -for him to take that needless trouble, and he simply repeats on paper -the tales which in olden limes he picked up at the camp fires, or heard -during his wanderings with the wood rangers. - -And it is as such that I wish GUSTAVE AIMARD to be judged by English -readers. His eminent quality is truth. He is a man who could not set -down a falsehood, no matter what the bribe might be, he has lived -through the incidents he describes, and has brought back to Europe -the adventures of a chequered life. He does not attempt to fascinate -his readers by a complicated plot. He does not possess the marvellous -invention of a Cooper, who, after a slight acquaintance with a few -powerless Indians, wrote books which all admirers of the English -language peruse. But GUSTAVE AIMARD possesses a higher quality, in the -fact that he only notes down incidents which he has seen, or which he -has received on undoubted evidence from his companions. - -The present is the twelfth volume of GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works to which. I -have put my name; and, with the exception of a few captious criticisms -whose motive may be read between the lines, the great body of the -British Press has greeted our joints efforts with the heartiest -applause. The success of this series has been unparalleled in the annals -of cheap literature. Day by day the number of readers increases, and the -publication of each successive volume creates an excitement which cannot -fail to be most gratifying to the publishers. - -To please all parties, the proprietors of AIMARD'S copyrights have -projected an Illustrated Series, to which I would invite most earnest -attention. Although by this time I am saturated with Indian life, I -confess that I never thoroughly understood it till I saw the engravings -after a Zwecker, a Huard, and a Corbould. The artists have carefully -studied their subjects, and gone to the fountain-head for information; -and the result is, that they have produced a series of works which only -need to be seen to be appreciated. The last volume illustrated is "The -Freebooters," which was entirely intrusted to Mr. Corbould, and though -I do not wish for a moment to depreciate the other artists, I felt, on -seeing the illustrations, that GUSTAVE AIMARD was worthily interpreted. -All I can urge upon readers is, that they should judge for themselves. - -To wind up this unusually long Preface, into which honest admiration for -the author has alone induced me, I wish to say that it affords me an -ever-recurring delight to introduce GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works to English -readers, while it causes me an extra pleasure, on this occasion, to be -enabled to repeat that the present volume appears on this side of the -Channel before it has been introduced to French readers. And, knowing as -I do the number of editions through which AIMARD'S books pass in his own -native land, I can appreciate the sacrifice he has made on this occasion -at its full value. - - LASCELLES WRAXALL. - -DRAYTON TERRACE, WEST BROMPTON, - _March_, 1862. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - I. THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER - II. THE DEAD ALIVE - III. THE COMPACT - IV. THE TRAVELLERS - V. THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMÈQUES - VI. THE SURPRISE - VII. THE EXPLANATION - VIII. A DECLARATION OF WAR - IX. MEXICO - X. THE RANCHO - XI. THE PASEO DE BUCARELI - XII. A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION - XIII. DON MARTIAL - XIV. THE VELORIO - XV. THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES - XVI. THE CONFESSOR - XVII. THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE - XVIII. A VISIT - XIX. ASSISTANCE - XX. EL ZARAGATE - XXI. AFTER THE INTERVIEW - XXII. THE BLANK SIGNATURE - XXIII. ON THE ROAD - XXIV. A SKIRMISH - XXV. LOS REGOCIJOS - XXVI. THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO - XXVII. THE CAPILLA - - A BUFFALO HUNT - A MUSTANG - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER. - - -The Rocky Mountains form an almost impassable barrier between California -and the United States, properly so called; their formidable defiles, -their rude valleys, and the vast western plains, watered by rapid -streams, are even to the present day almost unknown to the American -adventurers, and are rarely visited by the intrepid and daring Canadian -trappers. - -The majestic mountain range called the Sierra of the Wind River, -especially offers a grand and striking picture, as it raises to the -skies its white and snow-clad peaks, which extend indefinitely in a -north-western direction, until they appear on the horizon like a white -cloud, although the experienced eye of the trapper recognizes in this -cloud the scarped outline of the Yellowstone Mountains. - -The Sierra of the Wind River is one of the most remarkable of the Rocky -Mountain range; it forms, so to speak, an immense plateau, thirty -leagues long, by ten or twelve in width, commanded by scarped peaks, -crowned with eternal snows, and having at their base narrow and deep -valleys filled with springs, streams, and rock-bound lakes. These -magnificent reservoirs give rise to some of the mighty rivers which, -after running for hundreds of miles through a picturesque territory, -become on one side the affluents of the Missouri, on the other of the -Columbia, and bear the tribute of their waters to the two oceans. - -In the stories of the wood rangers and trappers, the Sierra of the -Wind River is justly renowned for its frightful gorges, and the wild -country in its vicinity frequently serves as a refuge to the pirates of -the prairie, and has been, many a time and oft, the scene of obstinate -struggles between the white men and the Indians. - -Toward the end of June, 1854, a well-mounted traveller, carefully -wrapped up in the thick folds of a zarapé, raised to his eyes, was -following one of the most precipitous slopes of the Sierra of the -Wind River, at no great distance from the source of the Green River, -that great western Colorado which pours its waters into the Gulf of -California. - -It was about seven in the evening: the traveller rode along, shivering -from the effects of an icy wind which whistled mournfully through the -canyons. All around had assumed a saddening aspect in the vacillating -moonbeams. He rode on without hearing the footfall of his horse, as it -fell on the winding sheet of snow that covered the landscape; at times -the capricious windings of the track he was following compelled him to -pass through thickets, whose branches, bent by the weight of snow, stood -out before him like gigantic skeletons, and struck each other after he -had passed with a sullen snap. - -The traveller continued his journey, looking anxiously on both sides -of him. His horse, fatigued by a long ride, hobbled at every step, and -in spite of the repeated encouragement of its rider seemed determined -to stop short, when, after suddenly turning an angle in the track, it -suddenly entered a large clearing, where the close-growing grass formed -a circle about forty yards in diameter, and the verdure formed a cheery -contrast with the whiteness that surrounded it. - -"Heaven be praised!" the traveller exclaimed in excellent French, and -giving a start of pleasure; "Here is a spot at last where I can camp for -tonight night, without any excessive inconvenience. I almost despaired -of finding one." - -While thus congratulating himself, the traveller had stopped his horse -and dismounted. His first attention was paid to his horse, from which -he removed saddle and bridle, and which he covered with his zarapé, -appearing to attach no importance to the cold, which was, however, -extremely severe in these elevated regions. So soon as it was free, the -animal, in spite of its fatigue, began browsing heartily on the grass, -and thus reassured about his companion, the traveller began thinking -about making the best arrangements possible for the night. - -Tall, thin, active, with a lofty and capacious forehead, an intelligent -blue eye, sparkling with boldness, the stranger appeared to have been -long accustomed to desert life, and to find nothing extraordinary or -peculiarly disagreeable in the somewhat precarious position in which he -found himself at this moment. - -He was a man who had reached about middle life, on whose brow grief -rather than the fatigue of the adventurous life of the desert had formed -deep wrinkles, and sown numerous silver threads in his thick light -hair; his dress was a medium between that of the white trappers and -the Mexican gambusinos; but it was easy to recognize, in spite of his -complexion, bronzed by the seasons, that he was a stranger to the ground -he trod, and that Europe had witnessed his birth. - -After giving a final glance of satisfaction at his horse, which at -intervals interrupted its repast to raise its delicate and intelligent -head to him with an expression of pleasure, he carried his weapons and -horse trappings to the foot of a rather lofty rock, which offered him -but a poor protection against the gusts of the night breeze, and then -began collecting dry wood to light a watch fire. - -It was no easy task to find dry firewood at a spot almost denuded of -trees, and whose soil, covered with snow, except in the clearing, -allowed nothing to be distinguished; but the traveller was patient, he -would not be beaten, and within an hour he had collected sufficient -wood to feed through the night two such fires as he proposed kindling. -The branches soon crackled, and a bright flame rose joyously in a long -spiral to the sky. - -"Ah!" said the traveller, who, like all men constrained to live alone, -seemed to have contracted the habit of soliloquizing aloud, "the fire -will do, so now for supper." - -Then, fumbling in the alforjas, or double pockets which travellers -always carry fastened to the saddle, he took from them all the requisite -elements of a frugal meal; that is to say, cecina, pemmican, and several -varas of tasajo, or meat dried in the sun. At the moment when, after -shutting up his alforjas, the traveller raised his head to lay his meat -on the embers to broil, he stopped motionless, with widely-opened mouth, -and it was only through a mighty strength of will that he suppressed a -cry of surprise and possibly of terror. Although no sound had revealed -his presence, a man, leaning on a long rifle, was standing motionless -before him, and gazing at him with profound attention. - -At once mastering the emotion he felt, the traveller carefully laid -the tasajo on the embers, and then, without removing his eye from this -strange visitor, he stretched out his arm to grasp his rifle, while -saying, in a tone of the most perfect indifference-- - -"Whether friend or foe, you are welcome, mate. 'Tis a bitter night, so, -if you are cold, warm yourself, and if you are hungry, eat. When your -nerves have regained their elasticity, and your body its usual strength, -we will have a frank explanation, such as men of honour ought to have." - -The stranger remained silent for some seconds; then, after shaking his -head several times, he commenced in a low and melancholy voice, as it -were speaking to himself rather than replying to the question asked him-- - -"Can any human being really exist in whose heart a feeling of pity still -remains?" - -"Make the trial, mate," the traveller answered quickly, "by accepting, -without hesitation, my hearty offer. Two men who meet in the desert must -be friends at first sight, unless private reasons make them implacable -enemies. Sit down by my side and eat." - -This dialogue had been held in Spanish, a language the stranger spoke -with a facility that proved his Mexican origin. He seemed to reflect for -a moment, and then instantly made up his mind. - -"I accept," he said, "for your voice is too sympathizing and your glance -too frank to deceive." - -"That is the way to speak," the traveller said, gaily. "Sit down and eat -without further delay, for I confess to you that I am dying of hunger." - -The stranger smiled sadly, and sat down on the ground by the traveller's -side. The two men, thus strangely brought together by accident, then -attacked with no ordinary vigour, which evidenced a long fast, the -provisions placed before them. Still, while eating, the traveller did -not fail to examine his singular companion; and the following was the -result of his observations. - -The general appearance of the stranger was most wretched, and his -ragged clothes scarce covered his bony, fleshless body; while his pale -and sickly features were rendered more sad and gloomy by a thick, -disordered beard that fell on his chest. His eyes, inflamed by fever, -and surrounded by black circles, glistened with a sombre fire, and at -times emitted flashes of magnetic radiance. His weapons were in as bad -a condition as his clothes, and in the event of a fight this man, with -the exception of his bodily strength, which must once have been great, -but which privations of every description, and probably endured for -a lengthened period, had exhausted, would not have been a formidable -adversary for the traveller. Still, beneath this truly wretched -appearance could be traced an organization crushed by grief. There was -in this man something grand and sympathetic, which appeared to emanate -from his person, and aroused not only pity but also respect for torture -so proudly hidden and so nobly endured. This man, in short, ere he fell -so low, must have been great, either in virtue or in vice; but assuredly -there was nothing common about him, and a mighty heart beat in his bosom. - -Such was the impression the stranger produced on his host, while both, -without the interchange of a word, appeased an appetite sharpened by -long hours of abstinence. Hunters' meals are short, and the present one -lasted hardly a quarter of an hour. When it was over, the traveller -rolled a cigarette, and, handing it to the stranger, said-- - -"Do you smoke?" - -On this apparently so simple question being asked, a strange thing -happened which will only be understood by smokers who, long accustomed -to the weed, have for some reason or other been deprived of it for -a lengthened period. The stranger's face was suddenly lit up by the -effect of some internal emotion; his dull eye flashed, and, seizing the -cigarette with a nervous tremor, he exclaimed, in a voice choked by an -outburst of joy impossible to render-- - -"Yes, yes; I used to smoke." - -There was a rather long silence, during which the two men slowly inhaled -the smoke of their cigarettes, and indulged in thought. The wind howled -fiercely Over their heads, the eddying snow was piling up around them, -and the echoes of the canyons seemed to utter notes of complaint. It was -a horrible night. Beyond the circle of light produced by the flickering -flame of the watch fire all was buried in dense gloom. The picture -presented by these two men, seated in the desert, strangely illumined -by the bluish flame, fend smoking calmly while suspended above an -unfathomable abyss, had something striking and awe-inspiring about it. -When the traveller had finished his cigarette, he rolled another, and -laid his tobacco-pouch between himself and his guest. - -"Now that the ice is broken between us," he said in a friendly voice, -"and that we have nearly formed an acquaintance--for we have been -sitting at the same fire, and have eaten and smoked together--the moment -has arrived, I fancy, for us to become thoroughly acquainted." - -The stranger nodded his head silently. It was a gesture that could be -interpreted affirmatively or negatively, at pleasure. The traveller -continued, with a good-humoured smile-- - -"I make not the slightest pretence to compel you to reveal your secrets, -and you are at liberty to maintain your incognito without in any way -offending me. Still, whatever may be the result, let me give you an -example of frankness by telling you who I am. My story will not be long, -and only consists of a very few words. France is my country, and I was -born at Paris--which city, doubtless," he remarked, with a stifled sigh, -"I shall never see again. Reasons too lengthy to trouble you with, and -which would interest you but very slightly, led me to America. Chance, -or Providence, perhaps, by guiding me to the desert, and arousing my -instincts and aspirations for liberty, wished to make a wood ranger of -me, and I obeyed. For twenty years I have been traversing the prairies -and great savannahs in every direction, and I shall probably continue -to do so, till an Indian bullet comes from some thicket to stop my -wanderings for ever. Towns are hateful to me; passionately fond of the -grand spectacles of nature, which elevate the thought, and draw the -creature nearer to his Creator, I shall only mix myself up once again in -the chaos of civilization in order to fulfil a vow made on the tomb of a -friend. When I have done that, I shall fly to the most, unknown deserts, -in order to end a life henceforth useless, far from those men whose -paltry passions and base and ignoble hatred have robbed me of the small -amount of happiness to which I fancied I had a claim. And now, mate, you -know me as well as I do myself. I will merely add, in conclusion, that -my name among the white men, my countrymen, is Valentine Guillois, and -among the redskins, my adopted fathers, Koutonepi--that is to say, 'The -Valiant One.' I believe myself to be as honest and as brave as a man is -permitted to be with his imperfect organization. I never did harm with -the intention of doing so, and I have done services to my fellow men as -often as I had it in my power, without expecting from them thanks or -gratitude." - -The speech, which the hunter had commenced in that clear voice and with -that careless accent habitual to him, terminated involuntarily, under -the pressure of the flood of saddened memories that rose from his heart -to his lips, in a low and inarticulate voice, and when he concluded, -he let his head fall sadly on his chest, with a sigh that resembled a -sob. The stranger regarded him for a moment with an expression of gentle -commiseration. - -"You have suffered," he said; "suffered in your love, suffered in your -friendship. Your history is that of all men in this world: who of us, -but at a given hour, has felt his courage yield beneath the weight of -grief? You are alone, friendless, abandoned by all, a voluntary exile, -far from the men who only inspire you with hatred and contempt; you -prefer the society of wild beasts, less ferocious than they; but, at any -rate, you live, while I am a dead man!" - -The hunter started, and looked in amazement at the speaker. - -"I suppose you think me mad?" he continued, with a melancholy smile; -"reassure yourself, it is not so. I am in full possession of my senses, -my head is cool, and my thoughts are clear and lucid. For all that -though, I repeat to you, I am dead, dead in the sight of my relations -and friends, dead to the whole world in fine, and condemned to lead this -wretched existence for an indefinite period. Mine is a strange story, -and that you would recognize through one word, were you a Mexican, or -had you travelled in certain regions of Mexico." - -"Did I not tell you that, for twenty years, I have been travelling over -every part of America?" the traveller replied, his curiosity being -aroused to the highest pitch. "What is the word? Can you tell it me?" - -"Why not? I am alluding to the name I bore while I was still a living -man." - -"What is that name?" - -"It had acquired a certain celebrity, but I doubt whether, even if you -have heard it mentioned, it has remained in your memory." - -"Who knows? Perhaps you are mistaken." - -"Well, since you insist, learn, then, that I was called Martial el -Tigrero." - -"You?" the hunter exclaimed, under the influence of the uttermost -surprise; "why that is impossible!" - -"Of course so, since I am dead," the stranger answered, bitterly. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE DEAD ALIVE. - - -The Tigrero had let his head fall on his chest again, and seemed engaged -with gloomy thoughts. The hunter, somewhat embarrassed by the turn the -conversation had taken, and anxious to continue it, mechanically stirred -up the fire with the blade of his navaja, while his eyes wandered -around, and were at times fixed on his companion with an expression of -deep sympathy. - -"Stay," he said, presently, as he thrust back with his foot a few embers -that had rolled out; "pardon me, sir, any insult which my exclamation -may seem to have contained. You have mistaken, I assure you, the -meaning of my remarks; although, as we have never met, we are not such -strangers as you suppose. I have known you for a long time." - -The Tigrero raised his head, and looked at the hunter incredulously. - -"You?" he muttered. - -"Yes, I, caballero, and it will not be difficult to prove it to you." - -"What good will it do?" he murmured; "what interest can I have in the -fact of your knowing me?" - -"My dear sir," the Frenchman continued, with several shakes of his head, -"nothing happens in this world by the effect of chance. Above us, an -intellect superior to ours directs everything here below; and if we have -been permitted to meet in a manner so strange and unexpected in these -desolate regions, it is because Providence has designs with us which we -cannot yet detect; let us, therefore, not attempt to resist God's will, -for what He has resolved will happen: who knows whether I may not be -unconsciously sent across your path to bring you a supreme consolation, -or to supply you with the means to accomplish a long meditated -vengeance, which you have hitherto deemed impossible?" - -"I repeat to you, señor," the Tigrero replied, "that your words are -those of a stout-hearted and brave man, and I feel involuntarily -attracted towards you. I think with you, that this accidental meeting, -after so many days of solitude and grief, with a man of your stamp, -cannot be the effect of unintelligent chance, and that at a moment -when, convinced of my impotence to escape from my present frightful -situation, I was reduced to despair and almost resolved on suicide, the -loyal hand you offer me can only be that of a friend. Question me, then, -without hesitation, and I will answer with the utmost frankness." - -"Thanks for that speech," the hunter said, with emotion, "for it proves -that we are beginning to understand each other, and soon, I hope, we -shall have no secrets; but I must, before all else, tell you how it is -that I have known you for a long time, although you were not aware of -the fact." - -"Speak, señor, I am listening to you with the most earnest attention." - -Valentine reflected for a moment, and then went on as follows:-- - -"Some months ago, in consequence of circumstances unnecessary to remind -you of, but which you doubtless bear in mind, you met at the colony of -Guetzalli a Frenchman and a Canadian hunter, with whom you eventually -stood on most intimate terms." - -"It is true," the Tigrero replied, with a nervous start, "and the -Frenchman to whom you allude, is the Count de Prébois Crancé. Oh! I -shall never be able to discharge the debt of gratitude I have contracted -with him for the services he rendered me." - -A sad smile curled the hunter's lip. "You no longer owe him anything," -he said, with a melancholy shake of the head. - -"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed, eagerly; "surely the count -cannot be dead!" - -"He is dead, caballero. He was assassinated on the shores of Guaymas. -His murderers laid him in his tomb, and his blood, so treacherously -shed, cries to Heaven for vengeance: but patience, Heaven will not -permit this horrible crime to remain unpunished." - -The hunter hurriedly wiped away the tears he had been unable to repress -while speaking of the count, and went on, in a voice choked by the -internal emotion which he strove in vain to conquer:-- - -"But let us, for the present, leave this sad reminiscence to slumber -in our hearts. The count was my friend, my dearest friend, more than a -brother to me: he often spoke about you to me, and several times told me -your gloomy history, which terminated in a frightful catastrophe." - -"Yes, yes," the Tigrero muttered; "it was, indeed, a frightful -catastrophe. I would gladly have found death at the bottom of the abyss -into which I rolled during my struggle with Black Bear, could I have -saved her I loved; but God decreed it otherwise, and may his holy name -be blessed and praised." - -"Amen!" the hunter said, sadly turning his head away. - -"Oh!" Don Martial continued a moment later, "I feel my recollections -crowding upon me at this moment. I feel as if the veil that covers my -memory is torn asunder, in order to recall events, already so distant, -but which have left so deep an impression on my mind. I, too, recognize -you now; you are the famous hunter whom the count was trying to find -in the desert; but he did not call you by any of the names you have -mentioned." - -"I dare say," Valentine answered, "that he alluded to me as the 'Trail -Hunter,' the name by which the white hunters and the Indians of the Far -West are accustomed to call me." - -"Yes; oh, now I remember perfectly, that was indeed the name he gave -you. You were right in saying that we had been long acquainted, though -we had never met." - -"And now that we meet in this desert," the hunter said, offering his -hand, "connected as we are by the memory of our deceased friend, shall -we be friends?" - -"No, not friends," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he heartily pressed the -hunter's honest hand; "not friends, but brothers." - -"Well, then, brothers, and each for the other against all comers," the -hunter answered. "And now that you are convinced that curiosity plays no -part in my eager desire to know what has befallen you since the moment -when you so hurriedly left your friends, speak, Don Martial, and then I -will tell you, in my turn, what are the motives that directed my steps -to these desolate regions." - -The Tigrero, in a few moments, began his narrative as follows:-- - -"My friends must have fancied me dead, hence I cannot blame them for -having abandoned me, although they were, perhaps, too quick in doing so -without an attempt either to recover my corpse, or assure themselves at -least that I was really dead, and that assistance would be thrown away; -but though I am ignorant of what happened in the cavern after my fall, -the bodies left on the battlefield proved to me afterwards that they had -a tough fight, and were compelled to fly before the Indians; hence, I -say again that I do not blame them. You are aware that I was attacked by -Black Bear at the moment when I believed that I had succeeded in saving -those whom I had sworn to protect. It was on the very verge of the pit -that Black Bear and myself, enwreathed like two serpents, began a final -and decisive struggle: at the moment when I had all but succeeded in -foiling my enemy's desperate efforts, and was raising my arm to cut -his throat, the war yell of the Comanches suddenly burst forth at the -entrance of the cavern. By a supreme effort the Apache chief succeeded -in escaping from my clutch, bounded on his feet, and rushed towards -Doña Anita, doubtless with the intention of carrying her off, as the -unforeseen assistance arriving for us would prevent the accomplishment -of his vengeance. But the maiden repulsed him with that strength -which despair engenders, and sought refuge behind her father. Already -severely wounded by two shots, the chief tottered back to the edge of -the pit, where he lost his balance. Feeling that he was falling, by an -instinctive gesture, or, perhaps, through a last sentiment of fury, he -stretched out his arms as if to save himself, caught hold of me as I -rose, half-stunned by my recent contest, and we both rolled down the -pit, he with a triumphant laugh, and I with a shriek of despair. Forgive -me for having described thus minutely the last incidents of this fight, -but I was obliged to enter into these details to make you thoroughly -understand by what providential chance I was saved, when I fancied -myself hopelessly lost." - -"Go on, go on;" the hunter said, "I am listening to you with the -greatest attention." - -Don Martial continued:-- - -"The Indian was desperately wounded, and his last effort, in which he -had placed all his remaining strength, cost him his life: it was a -corpse that dragged me down, for during the few seconds our fall lasted -he did not make a movement. The pit was not so deep as I fancied, not -more than twenty or five-and-twenty feet, and the sides were covered -with plants and grass, which, although they bent beneath our weight, -prevented us from falling perpendicularly. The chief was the first -to reach the bottom of the abyss, and I fell upon his body, which -deadened my fall, though it was serious enough entirely to deprive me -of consciousness. I cannot say how long I remained in this state, but, -from a calculation I made afterwards, my faint must have lasted two -hours. I was aroused by a cold sensation which suddenly affected me. I -opened my eyes again, and found myself in utter darkness. At the first -moment it was impossible for me to account for the situation in which -I found myself, or what events had placed me in it; but my memory -gradually returned, my thoughts became more lucid, and I only desired -to emerge as speedily as possible from the pit into which I had fallen. -I was suffering fearfully, although I was not actually wounded. I had -received numerous contusions in my fall, and the slightest movement -caused me an atrocious pain, for I was so bruised and shaken. In my -present state I must endure the evil patiently: attempting to scale -the sides of the pit when my strength was completely exhausted would -have been madness, and I therefore resigned myself to waiting. I was in -complete darkness, but that did not trouble me greatly, as I had about -me everything necessary to light a fire. Within a few moments I had a -light, and was enabled to look about me. I was lying at the bottom of a -species of funnel, for the pit grew narrower in its descent, which had -greatly helped to deaden my fall; my feet and legs almost to the knee -were bathed in a subterranean stream, while the upper part of my body -leant against the corpse of the Indian chief. The spot where I found -myself was thirty feet in circumference at the most, and I assured -myself by the help of my light that the sides of the pit, entirely -covered with creepers, and even sturdy shrubs, rose in a gentle slope, -and would not be difficult to escalade when my strength had sufficiently -returned. At this moment I could not dream of attempting the ascent, -so I bravely made up my mind, and although my anxiety was great about -the friends I had left in, the cavern, I resolved to wait a few hours -before proceeding to save myself. I remained thus for twenty hours -at the bottom of the pit, _tête-à-tête_ with my enemy's corpse. Many -times during my excursions in the desert I had found myself in almost -desperate situations, but never, I call heaven to witness, had I felt -so completely abandoned and left in the hands of Providence. Still, -however deplorable my position might be, I did not despair; in spite -of the frightful pain I suffered, I had convinced myself that my limbs -were in a satisfactory state, and that all I needed was patience. When -I fancied my strength sufficiently restored, I lighted two torches, -which I fixed in the ground, in order to see more clearly. I threw my -rifle on my back, placed my navaja between my teeth, and clinging to the -shrubs, by a desperate effort I began my ascent. I will not tell you of -the difficulty I had in conquering the terrible shocks I was obliged -to give my aching bones in surmounting almost unsurpassable obstacles; -sufficient for you to know that I reached the mouth of the pit after -an hour and a half's struggle, in which I expended all the energy a -man possesses who hopes to save himself. When I reached the floor of -the cavern, I lay for more than half an hour on the sand, exhausted, -panting, unable to make the slightest movement, scarce breathing, -hearing nothing, seeing nothing, not even conscious of the frightful -state into which I was plunged. Fortunately for me, this terrible -condition did not last long, the refreshing air from without, reaching -me through the passages of the cavern, recovered me, and restored the -entire use of my mental faculties. The ground around me was covered with -dead bodies, and there had, doubtless, been a terrible struggle between -the white men and the redskins. I sought in vain for the corpses of Doña -Anita and her father. I breathed again, and hope re-entered my heart, -for my sacrifice had not been fruitless. Those for whom I had given my -life were saved, and I should see them again. This thought restored my -courage, and I felt quite a different man. I rose without any excessive -difficulty, and, supporting myself on my rifle, went toward the mouth of -the cavern, after removing my stock of provision, and taking two powder -horns from the stores I had previously _cached_, and which my friends -in their flight had not thought of removing. No words can describe the -emotion I felt when, after a painful walk through the grotto, I at -length reached the riverbank, and saw the sun once more: a man must have -been in a similar desperate situation to understand the cry, or rather -howl of joy which escaped from my surcharged bosom when I felt again the -blessed sunbeams, and inhaled the odorous breath of the savannah. By an -unreflecting movement, though it was suggested by my heart, I fell on my -knees, and piously clasping my hands, I thanked Him who had saved me, -and who alone could do so. This prayer, and the simple thanks expressed -by a grateful heart, were, I feel convinced, borne upwards to heaven on -the wings of my guardian angel. - -"As far as I could make out by the height of the sun, it was about the -second hour of the tarde. The deepest silence prevailed around me; so -far as the vision could extend, the prairie was deserted; Indians and -palefaces had disappeared: I was alone, alone with that God who had -saved me in so marvellous a fashion, and would not abandon me. Before -going further, I took a little nourishment, which the exhaustion of -my strength rendered necessary. When, in the company of Don Sylva de -Torrés and his daughter, I had sought a refuge in the cavern, our -horses had been abandoned with all the remaining forage in an adjacent -clearing, and I was too well acquainted with the instinct of these -noble animals to apprehend that they had fled. On the contrary, I knew -that, if the hunters had not taken them away, I should find them at -the very spot where I had left them. A horse was indispensable for -use, for a dismounted man is lost in the desert, and hence I resolved -to seek them. Rested by the long halt I had made, and feeling that my -strength had almost returned, I proceeded without hesitation towards -the forest. At my second call I heard a rather loud noise in a clump of -trees; the shrubs parted, and my horse galloped up and gladly rubbed its -intelligent head against my shoulder. I amply returned the caresses the -faithful companion of my adventures bestowed on me, and then returned -to the cavern, where my saddle was. An hour later, mounted on my good -horse, I bent my steps toward houses. My journey was a long one, owing -to my state of weakness and prostration, and when I reached Sonora the -news I heard almost drove me mad. Don Sylva de Torrés had been killed -in the fight with the Apaches, as was probably his daughter, for no -one could tell me anything about her. For a month I hovered between -life and death; but God in His wisdom, doubtless, had decided that I -should escape once again. When hardly convalescent, I dragged myself to -the house of the only man competent of giving me precise and positive -information about what I wanted to learn. This man refused to recognize -me, although I had kept up intimate relations with him for many years. -When I told him my name he laughed in my face, and when I insisted, -he had me expelled by his peons, telling me that I was mad, that Don -Martial was dead, and I an impostor. I went away with rage and despair -in my heart. As if they had formed an agreement, all my friends to whom -I presented myself refused to recognize me, so thoroughly was the report -of my death believed, and it had been accepted by them as a certainty. -All the efforts I attempted to dissipate this alarming mistake, and -prove the falsehood of the rumour were in vain, for too many persons -were interested in it being true, on account of the large estates I -possessed; and also, I suppose, through a fear of injuring the man to -whom I first applied--the only living relation of the Torrés family, -who, through his high position, has immense influence in Sonora. What -more need I tell you, my friend? Disgusted in every way, heartbroken -with grief, and recognising the inutility of the efforts I made -against the ingratitude and systematic bad faith of those with whom I -had to deal, I left the town, and, mounting my horse, returned to the -desert, seeking the most unknown spots and the most desolate regions in -which to hide myself and die whenever God decrees that I have suffered -sufficiently, and recalls me to Him." - -After saying this the Tigrero was silent, and his head sunk gloomily on -his chest. - -"Brother," Valentine said gently to him, slightly touching his shoulder -to attract his attention, "you have forgotten to tell me the name of -that influential person who had you turned out of his house, and treated -you as an impostor." - -"That is true," Don Martial answered; "his name is Don Sebastian -Guerrero, and he is military governor of the province of Sonora." - -The hunter quickly started to his feet with an exclamation of joy. - -"Don Martial," he said, "you may thank God for decreeing that we should -meet in the desert, in order that the punishment of this man should be -complete." - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE COMPACT. - - -Don Martial gazed at the hunter in amazement. - -"What do you mean?" he asked him. "I don't understand you." - -"You will soon do so, my friend," Valentine answered. "How long have you -been roaming about this neighbourhood?" - -"Nearly two months." - -"In that case you are well acquainted, I presume, with the mountains -among which we are at this moment?" - -"There is not a tree or a rock whose exact position I cannot tell, nor a -wild beast trail which I have not followed." - -"Good: are we far from a spot called the 'Fort of the Chichimèques?'" - -The Tigrero reflected for a moment. - -"Do you know by what Indians these mountains are inhabited?" he at -length asked. - -"Yes, by poor wretches who call themselves the Root-Eaters, and whom the -hunters and trappers designate by the name of the 'Worthy of Pity.' They -are, I believe, timid, harmless creatures, a species of incomplete men, -in whom brutal instincts have stifled the intellect; however, I only -speak of them from hearsay, for I never saw one of the poor devils." - -"You are perfectly well informed about them, and they are what you -depict them. I have often had opportunities of meeting them, and have -lamented the degree of brutalization into which this hapless race has -fallen." - -"Permit me to remark that I do not see what connection can exist between -this unhappy tribe and the information I ask of you." - -"There is a very great one. Since I have been roaming about these -mountains you are the first man of my own colour with whom I have -consented to enter into relations. The Root-Eaters have neither history -nor traditions. Their life is restricted to eating, drinking, and -sleeping, and I have not learned from them any of the names given to the -majestic peaks that surround us. Hence, though I perfectly well know the -spot to which you refer, unless you describe it differently, it will be -impossible for me to tell you its exact position." - -"That is true; but what you ask of me is very awkward, for this is the -first time I have visited these parts, and it will be rather difficult -for me to describe a place I am not acquainted with. Still, I will try. -There is, not far from here, I believe, a road which traverses the Rocky -Mountains obliquely, and runs from the United States to Santa Fe; at a -certain spot this road must intersect another which leads to California." - -"I am perfectly well acquainted with the roads to which you refer, and -the caravans of emigrants, hunters, and miners follow them in going to -California, or returning thence." - -"Good! At the spot where these two roads cross they form a species -of large square, surrounded on all sides by rocks that rise to a -considerable height. Do you know the place I mean?" - -"Yes," the Tigrero answered. - -"Well, about two gunshots from this square is a track winding nearly in -an east-south-east course, along the side of the mountains. This track, -at first so narrow that a horse even passes with difficulty, gradually -widens till it reaches a species of esplanade, or terrace, if you like -it better, which commands an extensive prospect, while on its edge -are the remains of barbarous erections, which can, however, be easily -recognized as an ancient parapet. This terrace is called the 'Fort of -the Chichimèques,' though for what reason I cannot tell you." - -"I know no more than you do on that head, although I can now assure -you that I am perfectly acquainted with the place to which you refer, -and have often camped there on stormy nights, because there is a deep -cavern, excavated by human hands, and divided into several passages, -every turning of which I know, and which has offered me a precious -shelter during those frightful tempests which, at intervals, overthrow -the face of nature in these regions." - -"I was not aware of the existence of this grotto," the hunter said, -with a glad start, "and I thank you for having told me of it; it will -be very useful for the execution of the plans I have formed. Are we any -great distance from this terrace?" - -"In a straight line, not more than five or six miles, and, if it were -day, I could show it to you; but as we must ride round to reach the -caravan road, which we are obliged to follow in order to reach the -tracks, we have about three hours' ride before us." - -"That is a trifle, for I was afraid I had lost my way in these -mountains, which are strange to me. I am delighted to find that my old -experience has not failed me this time, and that my hunter's instincts -have not deceived me." - -While saying this, Valentine had risen to explore the clearing. The -storm had ceased, the wind had swept away the clouds, the deep blue sky -was studded with brilliant stars, and the moon profusely shed its rays, -which imparted a fantastic appearance to the landscape by casting the -shadows of the lofty trees athwart the snow, whose pallid carpet spread -far as eye could see. - -"'Tis a magnificent night," the hunter said, after carefully examining -the sky for some moments. "It is an hour past midnight, and I do not -feel the slightest inclination to sleep. Are you fatigued?" - -"I am never so," the Tigrero answered, with a smile. - -"All right: in that case you are like myself, a thorough wood ranger. -What do you think of a ride in this magnificent moonlight?" - -"I think that after a good supper and an interesting conversation -nothing so thoroughly restores the balance of a man's thoughts as a -night ride in the company of a friend." - -"Bravo! that is what I call speaking. Now, as every ride to be -reasonable should have an object, we will go, if you have no objection, -as far as the Fort of the Chichimèques." - -"I was about to propose it; and, as we ride along, you will tell me in -your turn what imperious motive compelled you to come to these unknown -regions, and what the project is to which you alluded." - -"As for that," the hunter said, with a knowing smile, "I cannot satisfy -you; at any rate not for the present, as I wish you to have the pleasure -of a surprise. But be easy, I will not put your patience to too long a -trial." - -"You will act as you think proper, for I trust entirely to you. I know -not why, but I am persuaded, either through a sentiment or sympathy, -that in doing your own business you will be doing mine at the same time." - -"You are nearer the truth at this moment than you perhaps imagine, so be -of good cheer, brother." - -"The happy meeting has already made a different man of me," the Tigrero -said, as he rose. - -The hunter laid his hand on his shoulder. "One moment," he said to -him; "before leaving this bivouac, where we met so providentially, -let us clearly agree as to our facts, so as to avoid any future -misunderstanding." - -"Be it so," Don Martial answered. "Let us make a compact in the Indian -fashion, and woe to the one who breaks it." - -"Well said, my friend," Valentine remarked, as he drew his knife from -his belt. "Here is my navaja, brother; may it serve you as it has done -me to avenge your wrongs and mine." - -"I receive it in the face of that Heaven which I call as witness of the -purity of my intentions. Take mine in exchange, and one half my powder -and bullets, brother." - -"I accept it as a thing belonging to me, and here is half my ammunition -for you; henceforth we cannot fire at one another, all is in common -between us. Your friends will be my friends, and you will point out your -enemies to me, so that I may aid you in your vengeance. My horse is -yours." - -"Mine belongs to you, and in a few moments I will place it at your -service." - -Then the two men, leaning shoulder to shoulder, with clasped hands, eyes -fixed on heaven, and outstretched arm, uttered together the following -words: - -"I take God to witness that of my own free will, and without -reservation, I take as my friend and brother the man whose hand is at -this moment pressing mine. I will help him in everything he asks of -me, without hope of reward, ready by day and night to answer his first -signal, without hesitation, and without reproach, even if he asked me -for my life. I take this oath in the presence of God, who sees and -hears me and may He come to my help in all I undertake, and punish me -if I ever break my oath." - -There was something grand and solemn in this simple act, performed by -these two powerful men, beneath the pallid moonbeams, and in the heart -of the desert, alone, far from all human society, face to face with -God, confiding in each, and seeming thus to defy the whole world. After -repeating the words of the oath, they kissed each other's lips in turn, -then embraced, and finally shook hands again. - -"Now let us be off, brother," Valentine said; "I confide in you as in -myself; we shall succeed in triumphing over our enemies, and repaying -them all the misery they have caused us." - -"Wait for me ten minutes, brother; my horse is hidden close by." - -"Go; and during that time I will saddle mine, which is henceforth yours." - -Don Martial hurried away, leaving Valentine alone. - -"This time," he muttered, "I believe that I have at length met the man I -have been looking for so long, and whom I despaired to find; with him, -Curumilla, and Belhumeur, I can begin the struggle, for I am certain I -shall not be abandoned or treacherously surrendered to the enemy I wish -to combat." - -While indulging after his wont in this soliloquy, the hunter had lassoed -his horse, and was busily engaged in saddling it. He had just put the -bit in its mouth, when the Tigrero re-entered the clearing, mounted on -a magnificent black steed. - -Don Martial dismounted. - -"This is your horse, my friend," he said. - -"And this is yours." - -The exchange thus effected, the two men mounted, and left the clearing -in which they had met so strangely. The Tigrero had told no falsehood -when he said that a metamorphosis had taken place in him, and that -he felt a different man. His features had lost their marble-like -rigidity; his eyes were animated, and no longer burned with a sombre and -concentrated fire. Even though his glances were still somewhat haggard, -their expression was more frank and, before all, kinder; he sat firm and -upright in the saddle, and, in a word, seemed ten years younger. - -This unexpected change had not escaped the notice of the all-observing -Frenchman, and he congratulated himself for having effected this moral -cure, and saved a man of such promise from the despair which he had -allowed to overpower him. - -We have already said that it was a magnificent night. For men like -our characters, accustomed to cross the desert in all weathers, the -ride in the darkness was a relaxation rather than a fatigue. They rode -along side by side, talking on indifferent topics--hunting, trapping, -expeditions against the Indians--subjects always pleasing to wood -rangers, while rapidly advancing towards the spot they wished to reach. - -"By-the-bye," Valentine all at once said, "I must warn you, brother, -that if you are not mistaken, and we are really following the road to -the Fort of the Chichimèques, we shall probably meet several persons -there; they are friends of mine, with whom I have an appointment, and I -will introduce them to you; for reasons you will speedily learn, these -friends followed a different road from mine, and must have been waiting -for some time at the place of meeting." - -"I do not care who the persons are we meet, as they are friends of -yours," the Tigrero answered; "the main point is that we make no -mistake." - -"On my word, I confess my incompetence, so far as that is concerned; -this is the first time I have ventured into the Rocky Mountains, where -I hope never to come again, and so I deliver myself entirely into your -hands." - -"I will do my best, although I do not promise positively to lead you to -the place you want to reach." - -"Nonsense!" the hunter said with a smile; "two places like the one I -have described to you can hardly be found in these parts, picturesque -and diversified though they be, and it would be almost impossible to -lose our way." - -"At any rate," the Tigrero answered, "we shall soon know what we have to -depend on, for we shall be there within half an hour." - -The sky was beginning to grow paler; the horizon was belted by wide, -pellucid bands, which assumed in turn every colour of the rainbow. In -the flashing uncertain light of dawn, objects were invested with a -more fugitive appearance, although, on the other hand, they became more -distinct. - -The adventurers had passed the crossroads, and turned into a narrow -track, whose capricious windings ran along rocks, which were almost -suspended over frightful abysses. The riders had given up all attempts -to guide their horses, and trusted to their instinct; they had laid -their bridles on their necks, leaving them at liberty to go where they -pleased--a prudent precaution, which cannot be sufficiently recommended -to travellers under similar circumstances. - -All at once a streak of light illumined the landscape, and the sun rose -radiant and splendid; behind them the travellers still had the shadows -of night, while before them the snowy peaks of the mountains--were -glistening in the sun. - -"Well," the hunter exclaimed, "we can now see clearly, and I hope that -we shall soon perceive the Fort of the Chichimèques." - -"Look ahead of you over the jagged crest of that hill," the Tigrero -answered, stretching out his arm; "that is the terrace to which I am -leading you." - -The hunter stopped, for he felt giddy, and almost ready to fall off his -horse. About two miles from him, but separated from the spot where he -stood by an impassable canyon, an immense esplanade stretched out into -space in the shape of a _voladero_; that is to say, in consequence of -one of those earthquakes so common in these regions, the base of the -mountain had been undermined, while the crest remained intact, and hung -for a considerable distance above a valley, apparently about to fall at -any moment; the spectacle was at once imposing and terrific. - -"Heaven forgive me!" the hunter muttered, "but I really believe I was -frightened; I felt all my muscles tremble involuntarily. Oh! I will not -look at it again; let us get along, my friend." - -They set out again, still following the windings of the tract, which -gradually grew steeper; and, after a very zigzag course, reached the -terrace half an hour later. - -"This is certainly the place," the hunter exclaimed, as he pointed to -the decaying embers of a watch fire. - -"But your friends--?" the Tigrero asked. - -"Did you not tell me there was a grotto close by?" - -"I did." - -"Well, they doubtless concealed themselves in the grotto when they heard -us approaching." - -"That is possible." - -"It is true: look." - -The hunter discharged his gun, and at the sound three men appeared, -though it was impossible to say whence they came. They were Belhumeur, -Black Elk, and Eagle-head. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE TRAVELLERS. - - -We must now leave Valentine and his companions on the esplanade of the -Fort of the Chichimèques, where we shall join them again however, in -order to attend to other persons destined to play an important part in -the narrative we have undertaken to tell the reader. - -About five or six leagues at the most from the spot where Valentine and -the Tigrero met, a caravan, composed of some ten persons, had halted on -the same night, and almost at the same moment as the hunter, in a narrow -valley completely sheltered from the wind by dense clumps of trees. - -The caravan was comfortably lodged on the bank of a running stream, the -mules had been unloaded, a tent raised, fires lighted; and when the -animals were hobbled, the travellers began to make preparations for -their supper. - -These travellers, or at any rate one of them, appeared to belong to the -highest class, for the rest were only servants or Indian peons. Still -the dress of this person was most simple, but his stiff manner, his -imposing demeanour, and haughty air, evidenced the man long accustomed -to give his orders without admitting refusal or even the slightest -hesitation. - -He had passed his fiftieth year; he was tall, well-built, and his -movements were extremely elegant. His broad forehead, his black eyes -large and flashing, his long gray moustaches and his short hair gave him -a military appearance, which his harsh, quick way of speaking did not -contradict. Although he affected a certain affability of manner, he at -times involuntarily betrayed himself, and it was easy to see that the -modest garb of a Mexican Campesino which he wore was only a disguise. -Instead of withdrawing beneath the tent prepared for him, this person -had sat down before the fire with the peons, who eagerly made way for -him with evident respect. - -Among the peons two men more especially attracted attention. One was a -redskin, the other a half-breed, with a crafty, leering manner, who, for -some reason or another, stood on more familiar terms with his master; -his comrades called him Ño Carnero, and at times gave him the title of -Capataz. - -Ño Carnero was the wit of the caravan, the funny fellow--ever ready to -laugh and joke, smoking an eternal cigar, and desperately strumming -an insupportable guitar. Perhaps, though, he concealed beneath this -frivolous appearance a more serious character and deeper thoughts than -he would have liked to display. - -The redskin formed the most complete contrast with the capataz; he was -a tall, thin, dry man, with angular features and gloomy and sad face, -illumined by two black eyes deeply set in their orbit, but constantly -in motion, and having an undefinable expression; his aquiline nose, his -wide mouth lined with large teeth as white as almonds, and his thin -pinched up lips, composed a far from pleasant countenance, which was -rendered still more lugubrious by the obstinate silence of this man, who -only spoke when absolutely compelled, and then only in monosyllables. -Like all the Indians, it was impossible to form any opinion as to his -age, for his hair was black as the raven's wing, and his parchment skin -had not a single wrinkle; at any rate he seemed gifted with no ordinary -strength. - -He had engaged at Santa Fé to act as guide to the caravan, and, with -the exception of his obstinate silence, there was every reason to be -satisfied with the way in which he performed his duty. The peons called -him The Indian, or sometimes José--a mocking term employed in Mexico to -designate the Indios mansos; but the redskin appeared as insensible to -compliments as to jokes, and continued coldly to carry out the task he -had imposed on himself. When supper was ended, and each had lit his pipe -or cigarette, the master turned to the capataz. - -"Carnero," he said to him, "although in such frightful weather, and in -these remote regions, we have but little to fear from horse thieves, -still do not fail to place sentries, for we cannot be too provident." - -"I have warned two men, _mi amo_," the capataz replied; "and, moreover, -I intend to make my rounds tonight; eh, José," he added, turning to -the Indian, "are you certain you are not mistaken, and that you really -lifted a trail?" - -The redskin shrugged his shoulders disdainfully, and continued his quiet -smoke. - -"Do you know to what nation the sign you discovered belongs?" the master -asked him. - -The Indian gave a nod of assent. - -"Is it a formidable nation?" - -"Crow," the redskin answered hoarsely. - -"Caray!" the master exclaimed, "if they are Crows, we shall do well to -be on our guard, for they are the cleverest plunderers in the Rocky -Mountains." - -"Nonsense!" Carnero remarked with a grin of derision, "do not believe -what that man tells you; the mezcal has got into his head, and he is -trying to make himself of importance; Indians tell as many lies as old -women." - -The Indian's eye flashed; without deigning to reply he drew a moccasin -from his breast, and threw it so adroitly at the capataz as to strike -him across the face. Furious at the insult so suddenly offered him by a -man whom he always considered inoffensive, the half-breed uttered a yell -of rage, and rushed knife in hand on the Indian. - -But the latter had not taken his eye off him, and by a slight movement -he avoided the desperate attack of the capataz; then, drawing himself -up, he caught him round the waist, raised him from the ground as easy -as he would have done a child, and hurled him into the fire, where he -writhed for a moment with cries of pain and impotent passion. When he -at length got out of the fire, half scorched, he did not think of -renewing the attack, but sat down growling and directing savage glances -at his adversary, like a turnspit punished by a mastiff. The master -had witnessed this aggression with the utmost indifference, and having -picked up the moccasin, which he carefully examined-- - -"The Indian is right," he said, coldly, "this moccasin bears the mark of -the Crow nation. My poor Carnero, you must put up with it, for though -the punishment you received was severe, I am forced to allow that it was -deserved." - -The redskin had begun smoking again as quietly as if nothing had -occurred. - -"The dog will pay me for it with his traitor face," the capataz growled, -on hearing his master's warning. "I am no man if I do not leave his body -as food for the crows he discovers so cleverly." - -"My poor lad," his master continued, with a jeer, "you had better forget -this affair, which I allow might be disagreeable to your self-esteem; -for I fancy you would not be the gainer by recommencing the quarrel." - -The capataz did not answer; he looked round at the spectators to select -one on whom he could vent his spite, without incurring any extreme risk; -but the peons were on their guard, and offered him no chance. He then, -with an air of vexation, made a signal to two men to follow him, and -left the circle grumbling. - -The head of the caravan remained for a few minutes plunged in serious -thought; he then withdrew beneath his tent, the curtain of which fell -behind him; and the peons lay down on the ground, one after the other, -with their feet to the fire, and carefully wrapped up in their serapes, -and fell asleep. - -The Indian then took the pipe stem from his mouth, looked searchingly -around him, shook out the ashes, passed the pipe through his belt, -and, rising negligently, went slowly to crouch at the foot of a tree, -though not before he had taken the precaution of wrapping himself -in his buffalo robe, a measure which the sharp air rendered, if not -indispensable, at any rate necessary. - -Ere long, with the exception of the sentries leaning on their guns and -motionless as statues, all the travellers were plunged in deep sleep, -for the capataz himself, in spite of the promise he had made his master, -had laid himself across the entrance of the tent. - -An hour elapsed ere anything disturbed the silence that prevailed in the -camp. All at once a singular thing happened. The buffalo robe, under -which the Indian was sheltered, gently rose with an almost imperceptible -movement, and the redskin's face appeared, darting glances of fire into -the gloom. In a moment the guide raised himself slowly along the trunk -of the tree against which he had been lying, embraced it with his feet -and hands, and with undulating movements resembling those of reptiles, -he left the ground, and raised himself to the first branches, among -which he disappeared. - -This ascent was executed with such well-calculated slowness that it had -not produced the slightest sound. Moreover, the buffalo robe left at -the foot of the tree so well retained its primitive folds, that it was -impossible to discover, without touching it, that the man it sheltered -had left it. - -When the guide was thoroughly concealed among the leaves, he remained -for a moment motionless; though not in order to regain his breath after -having made such an expenditure of strength, for this man was made of -iron, and fatigue had no power over him. But he probably wished to look -about him, for with his body bent forward, and his eyes fixed on space, -he inhaled the breeze, and his glances seemed trying to pierce the gloom. - -Before selecting as his resting place the foot of the tree in which he -was now concealed, the guide had assured himself that this tree, which -was very high and leafy, was joined at about two-thirds of its height by -other trees, which gradually rose along the side of the mountain, and -formed a wall of verdure. - -After a few minutes' hesitation, the guide drew in his belt, placed his -knife between his teeth, and with a certainty and lightness of movement -which would have done honour to a monkey, he commenced literally hopping -from one tree to another, hanging by his arms, and clinging to the -creepers, waking up, as he passed, the birds, which flew away in alarm. - -This strange journey lasted about three-quarters of an hour. At length -the guide stopped, looked attentively around him, and gliding down the -trunk of the tree on which he was, reached the ground. The spot where -he now found himself was a rather spacious clearing, in the centre of -which blazed an enormous fire, serving to warm forty or fifty redskins, -completely armed and equipped for war. Still, singular to say, the -majority of these Indians, instead of their long lances and the bows -they usually employ, carried muskets of American manufacture, which -led to the supposition that they were picked warriors and great braves -of their nation; and this, too, was further proved by the numerous -wolf tails fastened to their heels, an honourable insignia which only -renowned warriors have the right to assume. - -This detachment of redskins was certainly on the war trail, or at any -rate on a serious expedition, for they had with them neither dogs nor -squaws. In spite of the slight care with which the Indians are wont to -guard themselves at night, the free and deliberate manner in which the -guide entered their encampment proved that he was expected by these -warriors, who evinced no surprise at seeing him, but, on the contrary, -invited him with hospitable gestures to take a seat at their fire. The -guide sat down silently, and began smoking the calumet which the chief -seated by his side immediately offered him. This chief was still a young -man, his marked features displaying the utmost craft and boldness. After -a rather lengthened interval, doubtless expressly granted the visitor to -let him draw breath and warm himself, the young chief bowed to him and -addressed him deferentially. - -"My father is welcome among his sons; they were impatiently awaiting his -arrival." - -The guide responded to this compliment with a grimace, in all -probability intended to pass muster for a smile. The chief continued:-- - -"Our scouts have carefully examined the encampment of the Yoris, and the -warriors of the Jester are ready to obey the instructions given them by -their great sachem, Eagle-head. Is my father Curumilla satisfied with -his red children?" - -Curumilla (for the guide was no other than the reader's old acquaintance -the Araucano chief) laid his right hand on his chest, and uttered with a -guttural accent the exclamation, "Ugh!" which was with him a mark of the -greatest joy. - -The Jester and his warriors had been too long acquainted with Curumilla -for his silence to seem strange to them; hence they yielded without -repugnance to his mania, and carefully giving up the hope of getting a -syllable out of his closed lips, began with him a conversation in signs. - -We have already had occasion, in a previous work, to mention that the -redskins have two languages, the written and the sign language. The -latter, which has among them attained a high perfection, and which all -understand, is usually employed when hunting, or on expeditions, when -a word pronounced even in a low voice may reveal the presence of an -ambuscade to the enemy, whether men or beasts, whom they are pursuing, -and desire to surprise. - -It would have been interesting, and even amusing, for any stranger -who had been present at this interview to see with what rapidity the -gestures and signs were exchanged between these men, so strangely lit -up by the ruddy glow of the fire, and who resembled, with their strange -movements, their stern faces, and singular attitudes, a council of -demons. At times the Jester, with his body bent forward, and emphatic -gestures, held a dumb speech, which his comrades followed with the most -sustained attention, and which they answered with a rapidity that words -themselves could not have surpassed. - -At length this silent council terminated. Curumilla raised his hand to -heaven, and pointed to the stars, which were beginning to grow dim, and -then left the circle. The redskins respectfully followed him to the -foot of the tree by the aid of which he had entered their camp. When he -reached it, he turned round. - -"May the Wacondah protect my father!" the Jester then said. "His sons -have thoroughly understood his instructions, and will follow them -literally. The great pale hunter will have joined his friends by this -hour, and he is doubtless awaiting us. Tomorrow Koutonepi will see his -Comanche brothers. At the _enditha_ the camp will be raised." - -"It is good," Curumilla answered, and saluting for the last time the -warriors, who bowed respectfully before him, the chief seized the -creeping plants, and, raising himself by the strength of his wrists, in -a second he reached the branches, and disappeared in the foliage. - -The journey the Indian had made was very important, and needed to be so -for him to run such great risks in order to have an interview at this -hour of the night with the redskins; but as the reader will soon learn -what were the consequences of this expedition, we deem it unnecessary to -translate the sign language employed during the council, or explain the -resolutions formed between Curumilla and the Jester. - -The chief recommenced his aerial trip with the same lightness and the -same good fortune. After a lapse of time comparatively much shorter than -that which he had previously employed, he reached the camp of the white -men. The same silence prevailed in its interior; the sentinels were -still motionless at their post, and the watch fires were beginning to -expire. - -The chief assured himself that no eye was fixed on him--that no spy -was on the watch; and, feeling certain of not being perceived, he slid -silently down the tree and resumed the place beneath the buffalo robe -which he was supposed not to have left during the night. - -At the moment when, after taking a final glance around, the Indian chief -disappeared beneath his robe, the capataz, who was lying athwart the -entrance of the hut, gently raised his head, and looked with strange -fixity of glance at the place occupied by the redskin. - -Had a suspicion been aroused in the Mexican's mind? Had he noticed the -departure and return of the chief? Presently he let his head fall again, -and it would have been impossible to read on his motionless features -what were the thoughts that troubled him. - -The remainder of the night passed tranquilly and peacefully. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMÈQUES. - - -The sun rose; its beams played on the trembling yellow leaves of the -trees, and tinged them with a thousand shades of gold and purple. The -birds, cozily nestled in the bushes, struck up their matin carol; -the awakening of nature was as splendid and imposing as it is in all -mountainous countries. - -The leader of the caravan left his tent and gave orders to strike the -camp. The tent was at once folded up, the mules were loaded, and, so -soon as the horses were saddled, the party started without waiting for -the morning meal, for they generally breakfasted at the eleven o'clock -halt, while resting to let the great heat of the day subside. - -The caravan advanced along the road from Santa Fé to the United States, -at a speed unusual under such circumstances. A military system was -affected which was imposing, and, indeed, indispensable in these -regions, infested not merely by numerous bands of predatory Indians, but -also traversed by the pirates of the prairie, more dangerous bandits -still, who were driven by their enemies beyond the pale of the law, and -who, ambushed at the turnings of roads or in broken rocks, attacked the -caravans as they passed, and pitilessly massacred the travellers, after -plundering them of all they possessed. - -About twenty yards ahead of the caravan rode four men, with their rifles -on their thigh, preceded by the guide, who formed the extreme vanguard. -Next came the main body, composed of six well-armed peons, watching -the mules and baggage, under the immediate orders of the chief of the -caravan. Lastly, the capataz rode about thirty paces in the rear, having -under his orders four resolute men armed to the teeth. - -Thus arranged to face any event, the caravan enjoyed a relative -security, for it was not very probable that the white or red pillagers, -who were doubtless watching it, would dare to attack in open day -seventeen resolute and trained men. At night the horse thieves, who -glide silently in the darkness during the sleep of the travellers, and -carry off horses and baggage, were more formidable. - -Still, either through accident, or the prudential measures employed -by the chief of the caravan, since they had left Santa Fé, that is -to say for more than a month, the Mexicans had not seen an Indian, -or been alarmed. They had journeyed--apparently at least--with as -much tranquillity as if, instead of being in the heart of the Rocky -Mountains, they were moving along the roads in, the interior of Sonora. -This security, however, while augmenting their confidence, had not -caused their prudential measures to be neglected; and their chief, whom -this unusual leniency on the part of the villains who prowl about these -countries alarmed, redoubled his vigilance and precautions to avoid a -surprise and a collision with the plunderers. - -The discovery, made on the previous day by the guide, of an Indian -Crow trail--the most determined thieves in these mountains--added to -his apprehensions; for he did not hide from himself that, if he were -compelled to fight, in spite of the courage and discipline of his peons, -the odds would be against him, when fighting men thoroughly acquainted -with the country, and who would only attack him with numbers sufficient -to crush his band, however desperate the resistance offered might be. - -When he left the camp, the chief of the caravan, suffering perhaps from -a gloomy foreboding, spurred his horse and joined the Indian, who, as we -said, was marching alone in front, examining the bushes, and apparently -performing all the duties of an experienced guide. Curumilla, though he -heard the hurried paces of the Mexican's horse, did not turn round, but -continued trotting along carelessly on the sorry mule allotted to him -for this expedition. - -When the chief of the caravan joined him and brought his horse alongside -the Indian, instead of speaking to him, he attentively examined him -for some minutes, trying to pierce the mask of stoicism spread over -the guide's features, and to read his thoughts. But, after a rather -lengthened period, the Mexican was constrained to recognize the -inutility of his efforts, and to confess to himself the impossibility of -guessing the intentions of this man, for whom, in spite of the service -he had rendered the caravan, he felt an instinctive aversion, and whom -he would like to force, at all risks, to make a frank explanation. - -"Indian," he said to him in Spanish, "I wish to speak with you for a -few moments on an important subject, so be good enough to put off your -usual silence for awhile and answer, like an honest man, the questions I -propose asking you." - -Curumilla bowed respectfully. - -"You engaged with me, at Santa Fé, to lead me, for the sum of four -ounces, of which you received one half in advance, to lead me, I say, -safely to the frontiers of Upper Mexico. Since you have been in my -service I must allow that I have only had reason to praise the prudence -in which you have performed your duties; but we are at this moment in -the heart of the Rocky Mountains, that is to say, we have reached the -most dangerous part of our long journey. Two days ago you lifted the -trail of Crow Indians, very formidable enemies of caravans, and I want -to consult with you as to the means to employ to foil the snares in -which these Indians will try to catch us, and to know what measures you -intend to employ to avoid a meeting with them; in a word, I want to know -your plan of action." - -The Indian, without replying, felt in a bag of striped calico thrown -over his shoulder, and produced a greasy paper, folded in four, which he -opened and offered the Mexican. - -"What is this?" the latter asked, as he looked and ran through it. "Oh, -yes, certainly; your engagement. Well, what connection has this with the -question I asked you?" - -Curumilla, still impassive, laid his finger on the paper, at the last -paragraph of the engagement. - -"Well, what then?" the Mexican exclaimed, ill-humouredly. "It is said -there, it is true, that I must trust entirely to you, and leave you at -liberty to act as you please for the common welfare, without questioning -you." - -The Indian nodded his head in assent. - -"Well, _voto a Brios!_" the Mexican shouted, irritated by this studied -coolness, in spite of his resolve to curb his temper, and annoyed at -the man's obstinate refusal to answer, "what proves to me that you are -acting for our common welfare, and that you are not a traitor?" - -At this word traitor, so distinctly uttered by the Mexican, Curumilla -gave a tiger glance at the speaker, while his whole body was agitated by -a convulsive tremor: he uttered two or three incomprehensible guttural -exclamations, and ere the Mexican could suspect his intentions, he -was seized round the waist, lifted from the saddle, and hurled on the -ground, where he lay stunned. - -Curumilla leapt from his mule, drew from his belt two gold ounces, -hurled them at the Mexican, and then, bounding over the precipice -that bordered the road, glided to the bottom with headlong speed and -disappeared at once. - -What we have described occurred so rapidly that the peons who remained -behind, although they hurried up at full speed to their master's -assistance, arrived too late on the scene to prevent the Indian's flight. - -The Mexican had received no wound; the surprise and violence of the -fall had alone caused his momentary stupor; but almost immediately -he regained his senses, and comprehending the inutility and folly of -pursuit at such a spot with such an adversary, he devoured his shame and -passion, and, remounting his horse, which had been stopped, he coolly -gave orders to continue the journey, with an internal resolution that, -if ever the opportunity offered, he would have an exemplary revenge for -the insult he had received. - -For the moment he could not think of it, for more serious interests -demanded all his attention; it was evident to him that, in branding the -guide as a traitor, he had struck home, and that the latter, furious at -seeing himself unmasked, had proceeded to such extremities in order to -escape punishment, and find means to fly safely. - -The situation was becoming most critical for the chief of the caravan; -he found himself abandoned and left without a guide, in unknown regions, -doubtless watched by hidden foes, and exposed at any moment to an -attack, whose result could but be unfavourable to himself and his -people; hence he must form a vigorous resolve in order to escape, were -it possible, the misfortunes that menaced the caravan. - -The Mexican was a man endowed with an energetic organization, brave to -rashness, whom no peril, however great it might be, had ever yet had -the power to make him blench; in a few seconds he calculated all the -favourable chances left him, and his determination was formed. The road -he was following at this moment was assuredly the one frequented by the -caravans proceeding from the United States to California or Mexico; and -there was no other road but this in the mountains. Hence the Mexican -resolved to form an entrenched camp, at the spot that might appear to -him most favourable, fortify himself there as well as he could, and -await the passing of the first caravan, which he would join. - -This plan was exceedingly simple, and in addition very easy to execute. -As the travellers possessed an ample stock of provisions and ammunition, -they had no reason to fear scarcity, while, on the other hand, seven or -eight days in all probability would not elapse without the appearance of -a fresh caravan; and the Mexican believed himself capable of resisting, -behind good entrenchments, with his fifteen peons, any white or red -plunderers who dared to attack him. - -So soon as this resolution was formed, the Mexican at once prepared -to carry it out. After having briefly and in a few words explained -to his disheartened peons what his intentions were, and recommending -them to redouble their prudence, he left them, and pushed on in order -to reconnoitre the ground and select the most suitable spot for the -establishment of the camp. - -He started his horse at a gallop and soon disappeared in the windings -of the road, but, through fear of a sudden attack, he held his gun in -his hand, and his glances were constantly directed around him, examining -with the utmost care the thick chaparral which bordered the road on the -side of the mountain. - -The Mexican went on thus for about two hours, noticing that the further -he proceeded the narrower and more abrupt the track became. Suddenly -it widened out in front of him, and he arrived at an esplanade, across -which the road ran, and which was no other than the Fort of the -Chichimèques, previously described by us. - -The Mexican's practised eye at once seized the advantages of such a -position, and, without loss of time in examining it in detail, he turned -back to rejoin the caravan. The travellers, though marching much more -slowly than their chief, had, however, pushed on, so that he rejoined -them about three-quarters of an hour after the discovery of the terrace. - -The flight of the guide had nearly demoralized the Mexicans, more -accustomed to the ease of tropical regions, and whose courage the -snows of the Rocky Mountains had already weakened, if not destroyed. -Fortunately for the chief's plans he had over his servants that -influence which clever minds know how to impose on ordinary natures, and -the peons, on seeing their master gay and careless about the future, -began to hope that they would escape better than they had supposed from -the unlucky position in which they found themselves so suddenly placed. -The march was continued tranquilly; no suspicious sign was discovered, -and the Mexicans were justified in believing that, with the exception of -the time they would be compelled to lose in awaiting a new guide, the -flight of the Indian would entail no disagreeable consequences on them. - -Singularly enough, Carnero the capataz seemed rather pleased than -annoyed at the sudden disappearance of the guide. Far from complaining -or deploring the delay in the continuance of the journey he laughed at -what had happened, and made an infinitude of more or less witty jests -about it, which in the end considerably annoyed his master, whose joy -was merely on the surface, and who, in his heart, cursed the mishap -which kept them in the mountains, and exposed him to the insults of the -plunderers. - -"Pray, what do you find so agreeable in what has happened that you -are or affect to be so merry, Ño Carnero?" he at length asked with -considerable ill temper. - -"Forgive me, mi amo," the capataz answered humbly; "but you know the -proverb, 'What can't be cured must be endured,' and consequently I -forgot." - -"Hum!" said the master, without any other reply. - -"And besides," the capataz added, as he stooped down to the chief, and -almost whispering, "however bad our position may be, is it not better to -pretend to consider it good?" - -His master gave him a piercing look, but the other continued -imperturbably with an obsequious smile-- - -"The duty of a devoted servant, mi amo, is to be always of his master's -opinion, whatever may happen. The peons were murmuring this morning -after your departure, and you know what the character of these brutes -is; if they feel alarmed we shall be lost, for it will be impossible -for us to get out of our position; hence I thought that I was carrying -out your views by attempting to cheer them up, and I feign a gaiety -which, be assured, I do not feel, under the supposition that it would be -agreeable to you." - -The Mexican shook his head dubiously, but the observations of the -capataz were so just, the reasons he offered appeared so plausible, -that he was constrained to yield and thank him, as he did not care to -alienate at this moment a man who by a word could change the temper of -his peons, and urge them to revolt instead of adhering to their duty. - -"I thank you, Ño Carnero," he said, with a conciliatory air. "You -perfectly understood my intentions. I am pleased with your devotion to -my person, and the moment will soon arrive, I hope, when it will be in -my power to prove to you the value I attach to you." - -"The certainty of having done my duty, now as ever, is the sole reward I -desire, mi amo," the capataz answered, with a respectful bow. - -The Mexican gave him a side glance, but he restrained himself, and -it was with a smile that he thanked the capataz for the second time. -The latter thought it prudent to break off the interview here, and, -stopping his horse, he allowed his master to pass him. The chief of the -caravan was one of those unhappily constituted men who after having -passed their life in deceiving or trying to deceive those with whom the -accidents of an adventurous existence have brought them into contact, -had reached that point when he had no confidence in anyone, and sought, -behind the most frivolous words, to discover an interested motive, which -most frequently did not exist. Although his capataz Carnero had been -for a long time in his service, and he granted him a certain amount of -familiarity--although he appeared to place great confidence in him, and -count on his devotion, still, in his heart, he not only suspected him, -but felt almost confident, without any positive proof, it is true, that -he was playing a double game with him, and was a secret agent of his -deceivers. - -What truth there might be in this supposition, which held a firm hold of -the Mexican's mind, we are unable to say at present; but the slightest -actions of his capataz were watched by him, and he felt certain that he -should, sooner or later, attain a confirmation of his doubts; hence, -while feigning the greatest satisfaction with him, he constantly kept on -his guard, ready to deal a blow, which would be the sharper because it -had been so long prepared. - -A little before eleven A.M. the caravan reached the terrace, and it was -with a feeling of joy, which they did not attempt to conceal, that the -peons recognized the strength of the position selected by their master -for the encampment. - -"We shall stop here for the present," the Mexican said. "Unload the -mules, and light the fires. Immediately after breakfast we will begin -entrenching ourselves in such a way as to foil all the assaults of -marauders." - -The peons obeyed with the speed of men who have made a long journey and -are beginning to feel hungry; the fires were lighted in an instant, and -a few moments later the peons vigorously attacked their maize tortillas, -their tocino, and their cecina--those indispensable elements of every -Mexican meal. When the hunger of his men was appeased, and they had -smoked their cigarettes, the chief rose. - -"Now," he said, "to work." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE SURPRISE. - - -The position which the leader of the caravan fancied he had been the -first to discover, and where he had made up his mind to halt, was -admirably selected to establish an intrenched camp--strong enough to -resist for months the attacks of the Indians and the pirates of the -prairies. The immense voladero hovering at a prodigious height above -the precipices, and guarded on the right and left by enormous masses of -rock, offered such conditions of security that the peons regained all -their merry carelessness, and only regarded the mysterious flight of -the guide as an accident of no real importance, and which would have no -other consequences for them but to make their journey somewhat longer -than the time originally arranged. - -It was, hence, with well promising ardour that they rose on receiving -their chiefs command, and prepared under his directions to dig the -trench which was intended to protect them from a surprise. This trench -was to be bordered by a line of tall stakes, running across the open -space between the rocks, which gave the sole access to the terrace. - -The headquarters were first prepared, that is to say, the tent was -raised, and the horses hobbled near pickets driven into the ground. - -At the moment when the leader proceeded with several peons armed with -picks and spades toward the entrance, with the probable intention of -marking the exact spot where the trench was to be dug, the capataz -approached him obsequiously, and said with a respectful bow-- - -"Mi amo, I have an important communication to make to you." - -His master turned and looked at him with ill-concealed distrust. - -"An important communication to make to me?" he repeated. - -"Yes, mi amo," the capataz replied with a bow. - -"What is it? Speak, but be brief, Carnero, for, as you see, I have no -time to lose." - -"I hope to gain you time, excellency," the capataz said with a silent -smile. - -"Ah, ah, what is it?" - -"If you will allow me to say two words aside, excellency, you will know -at once." - -"Diablo! a mystery, Master Carnero?" - -"Mi amo, it is my duty to inform no one but your excellency of my -discovery." - -"Hum! then you have discovered something?" - -The other bowed, but made no further answer. - -"Very well then," his master continued, "come this way: go on, -muchachos," he added, addressing the peons, "I will rejoin you in a -moment." - -The latter went on, while the leader retired for a few paces, followed -by the capataz. When he considered that he had placed a sufficient -distance between himself and the ears of his people, he addressed the -half-breed again-- - -"Now, I suppose, Master Carnero," he said, "you will see no -inconvenience in explaining yourself?" - -"None at all, excellency." - -"Speak then, in the fiend's name, and keep me no longer in suspense." - -"This is the affair, excellency: I have discovered a grotto." - -"What?" his master exclaimed, in surprise, "you have discovered a -grotto?" - -"Yes, excellency." - -"Where?" - -"Here." - -"Here! that's impossible." - -"It's the fact, excellency." - -"But where?" - -"There," he said, stretching out his arm, "behind that mass of rocks." - -A suspicious look flashed from beneath his master's eyelashes. - -"Ah!" he muttered, "that is very singular, Master Carnero; may I ask in -what manner you discovered this grotto, and what motive was so imperious -as to take you among those rocks, when you were aware how indispensable -your presence was elsewhere?" - -The capataz was not affected by the tone in which these words were -uttered; he answered calmly, as if he did not perceive the menace they -contained-- - -"Oh! mi amo, the discovery was quite accidental, I assure you." - -"I do not believe in chance," his master answered "but go on." - -"When we had finished breakfast," the capataz continued, soothingly, "I -perceived, on rising, that several horses, mine among them, had become -unfastened, and were straying in different directions." - -"That is true," his master muttered, apparently answering his own -thoughts rather than the remarks of the capataz. - -The latter gave an almost imperceptible smile. "Fearing," he continued, -"lest the horses might be lost, I immediately started in pursuit. They -were easy to catch, with the exception of one, which rambled among the -rocks, and I was obliged to follow it." - -"I understand; and so it led you to the mouth of the grotto." - -"Exactly, mi amo; I found it standing at the very entrance, and had no -difficulty in seizing the bridle." - -"That is indeed most singular. And did you enter the grotto, Master -Carnero?" - -"No, mi amo. I thought it my duty to tell you of it first." - -"You were right. Well, we will enter it together. Fetch some torches -of ocote wood, and show us the way. By the by, do not forget to bring -weapons, for we know not what men or beasts we may find in caverns thus -opening on a high road." This he said with a sarcastic air, which caused -the capataz to tremble inwardly in spite of his determined indifference. - -While he executed his master's orders, the latter selected six of his -peons, on whose courage he thought he could most rely, ordered them to -take their muskets, and, bidding the others to keep a good watch, but -not begin anything till he returned, he made a signal to the capataz -that he was ready to follow him. Ño Carnero had followed with an evil -eye the arrangements made by his master, but probably did not deem it -prudent to risk any remark, for he silently bowed his head, and walked -toward the pile of rocks that masked the entrance of the grotto. - -These granite blocks, piled one on top of the other, did not appear, -however, to have been brought there by accident, but, on the contrary, -they appeared to have belonged in some early and remote age to a -clumsy but substantial edifice, which was probably connected with the -breastwork still visible on the edge of the voladero on the side of the -precipice. - -The Mexicans crossed the rocks without difficulty, and soon found -themselves before the dark and frowning entrance of the cavern. The -chief gave his peons a signal to halt. - -"It would not be prudent," he said, "to venture without precautions into -this cavern. Prepare your arms, muchachos, and keep your eyes open; at -the slightest suspicious sound, or the smallest object that appears, -fire. Capataz, light the torches." - -The latter obeyed without a word; the leader of the caravan assured -himself at a glance that his orders had been properly carried out; then -taking his pistols from his belt, he cocked them, took one in each hand, -and said to Carnero-- - -"Take the lead," he said, with a mocking accent; "it is only just that -you should do the honours of this place which you so unexpectedly -discovered. Forward, you others, and be on your guard," he added, -turning to the peons. - -The eight men then went into the cavern at the heels of the capataz, who -raised the torches above his head, doubtless in order to cast a greater -light on surrounding objects. - -This cavern, like most of those found in these regions, seemed to have -been formed through some subterranean convulsion. The walls were lofty, -dry, and covered at various spots with an enormous quantity of night -birds, which, blinded and startled by the light of the torches, took -to flight with hoarse cries, and flew heavily in circles round the -Mexicans. The latter drove them back with some difficulty by waving -their muskets. But the further they got into the interior of the cavern, -the greater the number of these birds became, and seriously encumbered -the visitors by flapping them with their long wings, and deafening them -with their discordant cries. - -They thus reached a rather large hall, into which several passages -opened. Although the Mexicans were a considerable distance from the -entrance, they found no difficulty in breathing, owing doubtless to -imperceptible fissures in the rock, through which the air was received. - -"Let us halt here for a moment," the leader said, taking a torch from -the capataz; "this hall, if the cavern has several issues as I suppose, -will afford us a certain refuge: let us examine the spot where we are." - -While speaking he walked round the hall, and convinced himself, by -certain still existing traces of man's handiwork, that at a former -period the cave had been inhabited. The peons seated themselves idly -on the blocks of granite scattered here and there, and with their guns -between their legs carelessly followed their master's movements. - -The latter felt the suspicions aroused in his mind by the sudden nature -of Carnero's discovery gradually dissipated. He felt certain that for -many years no human being had entered this gloomy cave, for none of -those flying traces which man always leaves in his passage, whatever -precaution he may take to hide his presence, had been discovered by him. -All, on the contrary, evidenced the most utter abandonment and solitude, -and hence the leader of the caravan was not indisposed to retire to this -spot, which was so easy of defence, instead of throwing up an intrenched -camp, always a long and difficult task, and which had the inconvenience -of leaving men and animals exposed to a deadly climate for individuals -accustomed to the heat of the Mexican temperature. - -"While continuing his explanations, the leader conversed with the -capataz in a more friendly manner than he had done for a long time, -congratulating him on his discovery, and explaining his views, to which -the latter listened with his usual crafty smile. All at once he stopped -and listened--the two men were at this moment at the entrance of one of -the passages to which we have referred. - -"Listen," he said to the capataz, as he laid his hand on his arm to -attract his attention, "do you not hear something?" - -The latter bent his body slightly forward, and remained motionless for -some seconds. - -"I do," he said, drawing himself up, "it sounds like distant thunder." - -"Is it not? or, perhaps, the rolling of subterranean waters." - -"Madre de Dios! mi amo," the capataz exclaimed gleefully. "I can swear -that you are right. It would be a piece of luck for us to find water in -the cave, for it would add greatly to our security, as we should not be -obliged to lead our horses, perhaps, a long distance to drink." - -"I will assure myself at once if there is any truth in the supposition. -The noise proceeds from that passage, so let us follow it. As for our -men they can wait for us here; we have nothing to fear now, for if the -pirates or the Indians were ambuscaded to surprise us, they would not -have waited so long before doing so, and hence the assistance of our -peons is unnecessary." - -The capataz shook his head doubtfully. - -"Hum," he said, "the Indians are very clever, mi amo; and who knows what -diabolical projects those redskins revolve in their minds? I believe it -would be more prudent to let the peons accompany us." - -"Nonsense," said his master, "it is unnecessary; we are two resolute -and well-armed men; we have nothing to fear, I tell you. Besides, if, -against all probability, we are attacked, our men will hear the noise -of the conflict, will run to our help, and will be at our side in an -instant." - -"It is not very probable, I grant, that we have any danger to apprehend; -still I considered it my duty as a devoted servant, mi amo, to warn -you, because in the event of Indians being hidden in these passages, -of whose windings we are ignorant, we should be caught like rats in a -trap, with no possibility of escape. Two men, however brave they may -be, are incapable of resisting twenty or thirty enemies, and you know -that Indians never attack white men save when they are almost certain of -success." - -These words seemed to produce a certain impression on the leader of -the caravan. He remained silent for a moment, apparently reflecting -seriously on what he had heard, but he soon raised his head, and shook -it resolutely. - -"Nonsense! I do not believe in the danger you seem to apprehend; after -all, if it really exist, it will be welcome. Wait here, my men, and be -ready to join us at the first signal," he added, addressing the peons, -who answered by rising and collecting in the middle of the hall. - -Their master left them a torch to light them during his exploration, -took the other, and turning to Carnero, said, "Let us go." - -They then entered the passage. It was very narrow, and ran downwards -with a steep incline, so that the two men, who were unacquainted with -its windings, were obliged to walk with the most serious attention, and -carefully examining all the spots they passed. - -The further they proceeded, the more distinct the sound of water became; -it was evident that at a very short distance from the spot where they -were, perhaps but a few steps, there ran one of those subterranean -streams so frequently found in natural caverns, and which are generally -rivers swallowed up by an earthquake. - -All at once, without being warned by the slightest sound, the leader of -the caravan felt himself seized round the waist, his torch was snatched -roughly from his hand, and extinguished against a rock, and himself -thrown down and securely bound, before he was able to attempt the -slightest resistance, so sudden and well calculated had the attack been. -Carnero had been thrown down at the same time as his master, and bound. - -"Cowards, demons!" the Mexican yelled, as he made a superhuman effort to -rise and burst his bonds; "show yourself, at least, so that I may know -with whom I have to deal." - -"Silence! General Don Sebastian Guerrero," a rough voice said to him, -whose accent made him start, in spite of all his courage; "resign -yourself to your fate, for you have fallen into the power of men who -will not liberate you till they have had a thorough explanation with -you." - -General Guerrero, whom the readers of the "Indian Chief" will doubtless -remember, made a movement of impotent rage, but he was silent; he -perceived that the originators of the snare of which he was a victim -were implacable enemies, as they had not feared to call him by his name, -and more formidable than the pirates of the prairies or the redskins, -with whom he at first thought he had to deal. Moreover, he thought that -the darkness that surrounded him would soon cease, and then he would see -his enemies face to face, and recognize them. - -But his expectations were deceived. When his conquerors had borne him to -the hall, where his peons were disarmed and guarded by peons, he saw, -by the light of the torch that faintly illumined the hall, that among -the men who surrounded him few wore the Mexican costume, it was true, -but had their faces hidden by a piece of black crape, forming a species -of mask, and so well fastened round their necks, that it was entirely -impossible to recognize them. - -"What do these men want with me?" he muttered as he let his head fall on -his chest sadly. - -"Patience!" said the man who had already spoken, and who overheard the -general's remark, "you will soon know." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE EXPLANATION. - - -There was a short delay, during which the conquerors appeared to be -consulting together in a low voice; while doing so, an Indian chief, who -was no other than the Jester, entered the hall, and uttered a few words -in Comanche. - -The general and the capataz were again picked up by the redskins, -and at a sign from one of the masked men, transported on to the -voladero. The appearance of the terrace had entirely changed during the -general's short absence, and offered at this moment a most singular and -picturesque scene. - -One hundred and fifty to two hundred Indians, mostly armed with guns, -and ranged in good order round the terrace, the centre of which remained -free, faced the cavern, having among them the disarmed Mexicans, the -baggage, horses, and mules of the caravan. - -The tent still stood solitary in the middle of what Was to have been -the encampment; but the curtain Was raised, and a horseman was standing -in front of it, as if to defend the entrance, and protect the precious -articles it contained from pillage. - -At the moment when the party emerged from the cave, and appeared on the -terrace, the horsemen drawn up at the entrance of the defile opened -out to the right and left, leaving a passage for a small troop of men -dressed in hunters' garb, and whom it was easy to recognize as white -men, by the colour of their skin, although it was bronzed and freckled -by the sun; two ladies, mounted on ambling mules, were in the midst of -them. - -This troop of strangers was composed of eight persons altogether, -leading with them two baggage mules. As the men were disarmed, and -walked on foot amid some fifty Indian horsemen, they had, in all -probability, been surprised by a party of redskins, and made prisoners -in some skilfully-arranged ambuscade. - -The two ladies, one of whom was of a certain age while the other -appeared scarce eighteen, and who might be supposed closely related, -through the resemblance of their features, were treated with an -exquisite politeness they were far from expecting by the Indians, and -conducted to the tent, which they were requested to enter. The curtain -was then lowered, to conceal them from the glances of the Indians, whose -expression, although respectful, must necessarily be disagreeable to -them. - -The new comers, at a signal from their conductors, ranged themselves -with the other prisoners; they were powerful men with marked features, -whom the Indians had probably not given a chance to fight, otherwise -they looked as if they would sooner be killed than yield. - -They displayed neither fear nor depression, but their flashing looks -and frowning brows showed that though they silently submitted to their -fate, they were far from being resigned, and would eagerly seize the -first opportunity to regain the liberty of which they had been so -treacherously deprived. - -Still, in spite of the determination they had doubtless formed to remain -indifferent as to what took place around them, they soon felt themselves -interested more than they liked in the strange drama which they -involuntarily witnessed, and whose gloomy preparations were of a nature -to arouse their curiosity to an eminent degree. - -At the base of the rocks several blocks of granite had been arranged -in a semicircle, thus forming a resemblance to that terrible Vehmic -tribunal, which in olden times held its formidable assize on the banks -of the Rhine, before which kings and even emperors were at times -summoned to appear, and the resemblance was rendered more striking by -the care the assailants took in hiding their features. - -Two masked men took their seats on the granite blocks, and the Indians -who carried the general laid him on the ground in front of this species -of tribunal. The person who seemed to be the president of this sinister -assembly gave a sign, the prisoner's bonds at once fell off, and he -found himself once more able to move his limbs. - -The general drew himself up, crossed his hands on his chest, threw his -body back haughtily, raised his head and looked at the men who had -apparently constituted themselves his judges with a glance of withering -contempt. - -"What do you want with me, bandits?" he said; "enough of this; these -insolent manoeuvres will not alarm me." - -"Silence!" the president said coldly, "it is not your place to speak -thus." - -Then he remarked to the Jester, who was standing a few paces from him-- - -"Bring up the other prisoners, old and new; everybody must hear what is -going to be said to this man." - -The Jester gave a signal to the warriors; some of them dismounted, -approached the prisoners, and, after loosening the cord that bound the -capataz, they led him, as well as the peons and the prisoners of the -second caravan, in front of the tribunal, where they ranged themselves -in line. Then, at a signal from the Jester, the horsemen closed up round -the white men, who were thus hemmed in by Comanche warriors. - -The spectacle offered by this assemblage of men, with their marked -features and quaint garb, grouped without any apparent regularity on -this voladero, which was suspended as if artificially over a terrible -gulf, and leant against lofty mountains, with their abrupt flanks and -snowy crest, was not without a certain grandeur. - -A deadly silence brooded at this moment over the esplanade; all chests -were heaving, every heart was oppressed. Redskins, hunters, and -Mexicans all understood instinctively that a grand drama was about to -be performed; invisible streams could be heard hoarsely murmuring in -the cavern, and at times a gust of wind whistled over the heads of the -horsemen. - -The prisoners, affected by a vague and undefined terror, waited with -secret anxiety, not knowing what fate these ferocious victors reserved -for them, but certain that, whatever the decision formed about them -might be, prayers would be impotent to move them, and that they would -have to endure the atrocious torture to which they would doubtless be -condemned. - -The president looked round the assembly, rose in the midst of a profound -silence, stretched out his arm towards the general, who stood cold and -passionless before him, and, after darting at him a withering glance -through the holes made in the crape that concealed his face, he said in -a grave, stern, and impressive voice-- - -"Caballeros, remember the words you are about to hear, listen to them -attentively, so as to understand them, and not to be in error as to our -intentions. In the first place, in order to reassure you and restore -your entire freedom of mind, learn that you have not fallen into the -hands of Indians thirsting for your blood, or of pirates who intend to -plunder you first and assassinate you afterwards. No, you need not feel -the slightest alarm. When you have acted as impartial witnesses, and are -able to render testimony of what you have seen, should it be required, -you will be at liberty to continue your journey, without the forfeiture -of a single article. The men seated on my right and left, although -masked, are brave and honest hunters. The day may perhaps arrive when -you will know them; but reasons, whose importance you will speedily -recognize, compel them to remain unknown for the present. I was bound -to say this, señores, to you, against whom we bear no animosity, before -coming to a final settlement with this man." - -One of the travellers belonging to the second caravan stepped forward; -he was a young man, with elegant and noble features, tall and well built. - -"Caballero," he answered, in a distinct and sympathizing voice, "I thank -you, in the name of my companions and myself, for the reassuring words -you have spoken. I know how implacable the laws of the desert are, and -have ever submitted to them without a murmur; but permit me to ask you -one question." - -"Speak, caballero." - -"Is it an act of vengeance or justice you are about to carry out?" - -"Neither, señor. It would be an act of folly or weakness if the -inspirations of the heart could be blamed or doubted by honourable and -loyal men." - -"Enough of this, señor," the general said, haughtily; "and if you are, -as you assert, an honourable man, show me your face, in order that I -may know with whom I have to deal." - -The president shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. - -"No, Don Sebastian," he said, "for in that case the game would not be -even between us. But be patient, caballero, and soon you will learn, if -not who I am, at any rate the motives which have made me your implacable -foe." - -The general attempted to smile, but in spite of himself the smile died -away on his lips, and though his haughty bearing seemed to defy his -unknown enemies, a secret apprehension contracted his heart. - -There was a silence for some moments, during which no other sound was -audible save that of the breeze whistling through the denuded branches -and the distant murmur Of the invisible torrents in the quebradas. - -The president looked round with flashing eyes, and folding his arms on -his chest at the same time, as he raised his head, he began speaking -again in a sharp, cutting voice, whose accents caused his hearers to -tremble involuntarily. And yet they were brave men, accustomed to the -terrible incidents of a desert life, and whom the most serious dangers -could not have affected. - -"Now listen, señores," he said, "and judge this man impartially; but -do not judge him according to prairie law, but in your hearts. General -Don Sebastian Guerrero, who is standing so bold and upright before -you at this moment, is one of the greatest noblemen of Mexico, a -_Cristiano viejo_ of the purest blood, descended in a direct line from -the Spanish Conquistadors. His fortune is immense, incalculable, and he -himself could not determine its amount. This man, by the mere strength -of his will, and the implacable egotism that forms the basis of his -character, has always succeeded in everything he has undertaken. Coldly -and resolutely ambitious, he has covered with corpses the bloody road -he was compelled to follow in order to attain his proposed object, and -he has done so without hesitation or remorse; he has looked on with a -smiling face, when his dearest friends and his nearest relations fell -by his side; for him nothing which men respect exists--faith and honour -are with him but empty sounds. He had a daughter, who was the perfection -of women, and he coldly lacerated that daughter's heart; he fatally -drove her to suicide, and the blood of the poor girl spirted on his -forehead, while he was triumphantly witnessing the legal murder of the -man she loved, and whose death he resolved on, because he refused to -palter with his honour, and aid this man in the infamous treachery he -was meditating. This human-faced tiger, this monster with the mocking, -sceptical face, you see, señores, has only one thought, one object, -one desire--it is, to attain the highest rank, even if, to effect it, -he were compelled to clamber over the panting corpses of his relations -and friends sacrificed to his ambition; and if he cannot carve out an -independent kingdom in this collapsing republic, which is called Mexico, -he wishes to seize, at least, on the supreme magistracy, and be elected -president. If this man's life merely comprised this egotistic ambition -and these infamous schemes to satisfy it, I should content myself -with despising, instead of hating him, and not being able to find an -excuse for him, I should forget him. But no; this man has done more--he -dared to lay hands on a man who was my friend, my brother, the Count -de Prébois Crancé, to whom I have already referred, señores, without -mentioning his name. Unable to conquer the count loyally, despairing of -winning him over to his shameful cause, he at first tried to poison him; -but, not having succeeded, and wishing to come to an end, he forgot that -his daughter, an angel, the sole creature who loved him, and implored -divine mercy for him, was the betrothed wife of the count, and that -killing him would be her condemnation to death. In his horrible thirst -for revenge, he ordered the judicial murder of my friend, and coldly -presided at the execution, not noticing, in the joyous deliverance of -his satisfied hatred, that his daughter had killed herself at his side, -and that he was trampling her corpse beneath his horse's feet. Such is -what this man has done; look at him well, in order to recognize him -hereafter; he is General Don Sebastian Guerrero, military governor of -Sonora." - -"Oh!" the audience said involuntarily, as they instinctively recoiled in -horror. - -"If this man is the ex-governor of Sonora," the hunter who had already -spoken said, in disgust "he is a wild beast, whom his ferocity has -placed beyond the pale of society, and it is the duty of honest men to -destroy him." - -"He must die! he must die!" the newcomers exclaimed. - -The general's peons were gloomy and downcast; they hung their heads -sadly, for they did not dare attempt to defend their master, and yet did -not like to accuse him. - -The general was still cool and unmoved; he was apparently calm, but a -fearful tempest was raging in his heart. His face was of an earthy and -cadaverous pallor; his brows were contracted till they touched, and his -violet lips were closed, as if he were making violent efforts not to -utter a word, and to restrain his fury from breaking out in insults. His -eyes flashed fire, and then his whole body was agitated by convulsive -movements, but he managed, through his self-command, to conquer his -emotion, and retain the expression of withering contempt, which he had -assumed since the beginning of this scene. - -Seeing that his accuser was silent, he took a step forward, and -stretched out his arm, as if he claimed the right of answering. But his -enemy gave him no time to utter a word. - -"Wait!" he shouted, "I have not said all yet; now that I have revealed -what you have done, I am bound to render the persons here present judges -not only of what I have done, but also of what I intend to do in future -against you." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A DECLARATION OF WAR. - - -The general shrugged his shoulders with a contemptuous smile. - -"Nonsense," he said, "you are mad, my fine fellow. I know now who -you are; your hatred of me has unconsciously discovered you. Remove -that veil which is no longer of any use; I know you, for, as you are -aware, hatred is clear-sighted. You are the French hunter whom I have -constantly met in my path to impede my projects, or overthrow my plans." - -"Add," the hunter interrupted, "and whom you will ever meet." - -"Be it so, unless I crush you beneath my heel like a noxious insect." - -"Ever so proud and so indomitable, do you not fear lest, exasperated by -your insults, I may forget the oath I have taken, and sacrifice you to -my vengeance?" - -"Nonsense," he replied, with a disdainful toss of his head, "you kill -me? that is impossible, for you are too anxious to enjoy your revenge to -stab me in a moment of passion." - -"That is true, this time you are right, Don Sebastian. I will not kill -you, because, however culpable you may be, I do not recognize the right -to do so. Blood does not wash out blood, it only increases the stain; -and I intend to take a more protracted vengeance on you than a stab or a -shot will grant us. Besides this, vengeance has already commenced." - -"Indeed!" the general said sarcastically. - -"Still," the hunter continued with some emotion, "as the vengeance -must be straightforward, I wish to give you, in the presence of all -these gentlemen, the proof that I fear you no more today than I did -when the struggle commenced between us. This veil which you reproach me -for wearing I am going to remove, not because you have recognized me, -but because I deem it unworthy of me to conceal my features from you -any longer. Brothers," he added, turning to his silent assistants, "my -mask alone must fall, retain yours, for it is important for my plans of -vengeance that you should remain unknown." - -The four men bowed their assent, and the hunter threw away the crape -that covered his features. - -"Valentine Guillois!" the general exclaimed; "I was sure of it." - -On hearing this celebrated name, the hunters of the second caravan made -a movement as if to rush forward, impelled either by curiosity or some -other motive. - -"Stay," the Frenchman shouted, stopping them by a quick wave of the -hand, "let me finish with this man first." - -They fell back with a bow. - -"Now," he continued, "we are really face to face. Well, listen patiently -to what still remains for me to tell you; and, perhaps, the assumed -calmness spread over your features will melt away before my words, like -the snow in the sunshine." - -"I will listen to you, because it is impossible for me to do otherwise -at this moment; but if you flatter yourself that you will affect me in -any way, I am bound to warn you that you will not succeed. The hatred I -feel for you is so thoroughly balanced by the contempt you inspire me -with, that nothing which emanates from you can move me in the slightest -degree." - -"Listen then," the hunter coldly continued; "when my unhappy friend -fell at Guaymas, in my paroxysm of grief I allow that I intended to -kill you; but reflection soon came, and I saw that it would be better -to let you live. Thanks to me, one week after the count's death, the -Mexican Government, not satisfied with disavowing your conduct publicly, -deprived you of your command, without inquiry, and refused, in spite of -your remonstrances, to explain to you the motives of their conduct." - -"Ah, ah," the general said, in a hissing but suppressed voice, "it was -to you, then, that I owe my recall?" - -"Yes, general, to me alone." - -"I am delighted to hear it." - -"You remained, then, in Sonora, without power or influence, hated and -despised by all, and marked on your forehead with that indelible brand -which God imprinted on Cain, the first murderer; but Mexico is a -blessed country, where ambitious men can easily fish in troubled waters, -when, like yourself, they are not restrained by any of those bonds of -honour, which too often fetter the genius of honest men. You could not -remain long bowed beneath the blow that had fallen on you, and you made -up your mind in a few days. You resolved to leave Sonora and proceed -to Mexico, where, thanks to your colossal fortune, and the influence -it would necessarily give you, you could carry on your ambitious -projects; by changing the scene, you hoped to cast the scandalous acts -of which you had been guilty into oblivion. Your preparations were soon -made--listen attentively, general, to this, for I assure you that I have -reached the most interesting part of my narration." - -"Go on, go on, señor," he replied carelessly, "I am listening to you -attentively; do not fear that I shall forget one of your words." - -"In spite of your affected indifference, señor, I will go on. As you -fancied, for certain reasons which to is unnecessary to remind you of, -that your enemies might try to lay some ambush for you, during the -long journey you were obliged to perform from Hermosillo to Mexico, -you thought it necessary to take the following precautions, the -inutility of some of which I presume that you have recognized by this -time. While, for the purpose of deceiving your enemies, you started -in disguise, and only accompanied by a few men, for California, in -order to return to Mexico across the Rocky Mountains; while you gave -questioners the fullest details of the road, you pretended to follow, -with your men--your real object was quite different. The man in whom -you placed your confidence, Don Isidro Vargas, a veteran of your War of -Independence, who had known you when a child, and whom you had converted -into your tool, took the shortest, and, consequently, most direct route -for the capital, having with him not only twelve mules loaded with gold -and silver, the fruit of your plunder during the period of your command, -but a more precious article still, the body of your unhappy daughter, -which you had embalmed, and which the captain had orders to inter with -your ancestors at your Hacienda del Palmar, which you left so long ago, -and to which you will, in all probability, never return. Your object -in acting thus was not only to divert attention from your ill-gotten -riches, but also to attract your enemies after yourself. Unfortunately -or fortunately, according as we regard the matter, I am an old hunter -so difficult to deceive that my comrades gave me long ago the glorious -title of the Trail-hunter, and hence, while everybody else was forming -speculations about you, I alone was not deceived, and guessed your plan." - -"Still, your presence here gives a striking denial to the assertion," -the general interrupted him, ironically. - -"You think so, señor, and that proves that you are not thoroughly -acquainted with me yet; but patience, I hope that you will, ere long, -appreciate me better. Moreover you have not reflected on the time that -has elapsed since your departure from Hermosillo." - -"What do you mean?" the general asked, with a sudden start of -apprehension. - -"I mean that before attacking you, I resolved to settle matters first -with the captain." - -"Ah!" - -"Well, general, it is my painful duty to inform you that four days -after he left Pitic, our brave friend Don Isidro, although an old -and experienced soldier, well versed in war stratagems, fell into an -ambuscade resembling the one into which you fell today, with this -exception----." - -"What exception?" the general asked, with greater interest than he would -have liked to display, for he was beginning to fear a catastrophe. - -"My men were so imprudent," the hunter continued, ironically, "as to -leave the captain the means of defending himself. The result was that he -died, bravely fighting to save the gold you had intrusted to him, and, -before all, the coffin containing your daughter's corpse." - -"Well, and I presume you plundered the caravan, and carried off the gold -and silver?" he asked, contemptuously. - -"You would most probably have acted thus under similar circumstances, -Don Sebastian," the hunter answered, giving him back insult for insult; -"but I thought it my duty to act differently. What could you expect? -I, a coarse, uneducated hunter, do not know how to plunder, for I did -not learn it when I had the honour to serve my own country, and I never -stood under your orders in Mexico. This is what I did: so soon as the -captain and the peons he commanded were killed--for the poor devils, I -must do them the justice of saying, offered a desperate resistance--I -myself, you understand, friend, I myself conveyed the money to your -Hacienda del Palmar, where it now remains in safety, as you can easily -assure yourself if you ever return to Palmar." - -The general breathed again, and smiled ironically. "Instead of blaming -you, señor," he said, "I, on the contrary, owe you thanks for this -chivalrous conduct, especially toward an enemy." - -"Do not be in such an hurry to thank me, caballero," the hunter -answered; "I have not told you all yet." - -These words were uttered with such an accent of gratified hatred, that -all the hearers, the general included, shuddered involuntarily, for they -understood that the hunter was about to make a terrible revelation, and -that the calmness he feigned concealed a tempest. - -"Ah," Don Sebastian murmured, "speak, I implore you, señor, for I am -anxious to know all the obligations I owe you." - -"Captain Don Isidro Vargas not only escorted the money I had conveyed to -Palmar," he said in a sharp, quick voice, "but there was also a coffin. -Well, general, why do you not ask me what has become of that coffin?" - -An electric shock ran through the audience on hearing the ironical -question so coldly asked by the hunter, whose eye, implacably fixed on -the general, seemed to flash fire. - -"What!" Don Sebastian exclaimed, "I can hardly think that you have -committed sacrilege?" - -Valentine burst into a loud and sharp laugh. "Your suppositions ever go -beyond the object. I commit sacrilege, oh, no! I loved the poor girl too -dearly when alive to outrage her after death. No, no, the betrothed of -my friend is sacred to me; but as, in my opinion, the assassin can have -no claim to the body of his victim, and you are morally your daughter's -murderer, I have robbed you of this body, which you are not worthy to -have, and which must rest by the side of him for whom she died." - -There was a moment's silence. The general's face, hitherto pale, assumed -a greenish hue, and his eyes were suffused with blood. Now and then he -made superhuman efforts to speak, which were unsuccessful, but at length -he yelled in a hoarse and hissing voice-- - -"It is not true; you have not done this. You cannot have dared to rob a -father of his child's body." - -"I have done it, I tell you," the hunter said coldly. "I have taken -possession of the body of your victim, and now you understand me; -never shall you know where this poor body rests. But this is only -the beginning of my vengeance. What I wish to kill in you is the soul -and not the body; and now begone, go and forget at Mexico, amid your -ambitious intrigues, the scene that has passed between us; but remember -that you will find me in your path everywhere and ever. Farewell till we -meet again." - -"One last word," the general exclaimed, affected by the deepest despair, -"restore me my daughter's body; she was the only human creature I ever -loved." - -The hunter regarded him for a moment with an undefinable expression, and -then said in a harsh and coldly-mocking voice, "Never." - -Then, turning away, he re-entered the grotto, followed by his -assistants. The general tried to rush after him, but the Indians -restrained him, and, in spite of his resistance, compelled him to stop. - -Don Sebastian, who was the more overwhelmed by the last blow because -it was unexpected, stood for a moment like a man struck by lightning, -with pendant arms and seared eyes. At last a heartrending sob burst from -his bosom, two burning tears sprung from his eyes, and he rolled like a -corpse on the ground. - -The very Indians, those rough warriors to whom pity is a thing unknown, -felt moved by this frightful despair, and several of them turned away -not to witness it. - -In the meanwhile the Jester had ordered the peons to saddle the horses -and load the mules. The general was placed by two servants on a horse, -without appearing to notice what was done to him, and a few minutes -later the caravan left the Fort of the Chichimèques, and passed -unimpeded through the silent ranks of the Indians, who bowed as it -passed. - -"When the Mexicans had disappeared in the windings of the road, -Valentine emerged from the grotto, and walked courteously up to the -hunters of the second caravan. - -"Forgive me," he said to them, "not the delay I have occasioned you, -but the involuntary alarm I caused you; but I was compelled to act as I -did. You are going to Mexico, where I shall soon be myself, and it is -possible that I may require your testimony some day." - -"A testimony which will not be refused, my dear countryman," the hunter -who had hitherto spoken gracefully answered. - -"What!" the hunter exclaimed in amazement, "are you French?" - -"Yes, and all my companions are so, too. We have come from San -Francisco, where, thanks to Providence, we have amassed a very -considerable fortune, which we hope to double in the Mexican capital. -My name is Antoine Rallier, and these are my brothers, Edward and -Augustus; the two ladies who accompany us are my mother and sister, and -if you know nobody in Mexico, come straight to me, sir, and you will be -received, not only as a friend, but as a brother." - -The hunter pressed the hand his countryman offered him. - -"As this is the case," he said, "I will not let you go alone, for these -mountains are infested by bandits of every description, whom you may not -escape, but with my protection you can pass anywhere." - -"I heartily accept the offer; but why do you not come with us to Mexico?" - -"That is impossible for the present," the hunter answered pensively; -"but be at your ease. I shall not fail to demand the fulfilment of your -promise." - -"You will be welcome, friend, for we have been acquainted for a long -time, and we know that you have ever honourably represented France in -America." - -Two hours later the Fort of the Chichimèques had returned to its usual -solitude; white men and Indians had abandoned it for ever. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -MEXICO. - - -We will now leap over about two months and, leaving the Rocky Mountains, -invite the reader to accompany us to the heart of Mexico. - -The Spanish Conquistadors selected with admirable tact the sites on -which they founded the cities destined to insure their power, and become -at a later date the centres of their immense trade, and the entrepôts of -their incalculable wealth. - -Even at the present day, although owing to the negligence of the -Creoles and their continual fratricidal Wars, combined with the sudden -earthquakes, these cities are half ruined, and the life which the -powerful Spanish organization caused to circulate in them has died out, -these cities are still a subject of surprise to the traveller accustomed -to the morbid crowding of old European cities. He regards with awe -these vast squares, surrounded by cloister-like arcades; these broad -and regular streets through which refreshing waters continually flow; -these shady gardens in which thousands of gaily-plumaged birds twitter; -these bold bridges; these majestically simple buildings, whose interiors -contain incalculable wealth. And yet, we repeat, the majority of these -cities are only the shadow of themselves. They seem dead, and are only -aroused by the furious yells of an insurrection, to lead for a few -days a feverish existence under the excitement of political passions. -But so soon as the corpses are removed, and water has washed away the -blood stains, the streets revert to their solitude, the inhabitants -hide themselves in their carefully-closed houses, and all becomes again -gloomy, mournful, and silent, only to be galvanized afresh by the hoarse -murmurs of an approaching revolt. - -If we except Lima, the splendid "Ciudad de los Reyes," Mexico is -probably the largest and handsomest of all the cities that cover the -soil of ancient Spanish America. - -From whatever point we regard it, Mexico affords a magnificent view; -but if you wish to enjoy a really fairy-like sight, ascend at sunset one -of the towers of the cathedral, whence you will see the strangest and -most picturesque panorama imaginable unrolled at your feet. - -Mexico certainly existed before the discovery of America, and our -readers will probably pardon a digression showing how the foundation of -the city is narrated by old chroniclers. - -In the year of the death of Huetzin, King of Tezcuco, that is to say, -the "spot where people stop," because it was at this very place that the -migration of the Chichimèques terminated, the Mexicans made an eruption -into the country, and reached the place where Mexico now stands, at the -beginning of the year 1140 of our era. This place then formed part of -the dominions of Aculhua, Lord of Azcapotzalco. - -According to paintings and the old chronicles, these Indians came from -the empires of the province of Xalisco. It appears that they were of the -same race as the Toltecs, and of the family of the noble Huetzin, who -with his children and servants escaped during the destruction of the -Toltecs, and was residing at that period at Chapultepec, which was also -destroyed at a later date. - -It is recorded that he traversed with them the country of Michoacán, -and took refuge in the province of Atzlán, where he died, and had for -his successors Ozolopan, his son, and Aztlal, his grandson, whose heir -was Ozolopan II. The latter, remembering the country of his ancestors, -resolved to return thither with his entire nation, which was already -called Mezetin. After many adventures and combats, they at length -reached the banks of a great lake covered with an infinitude of islands, -and as the recollection of their country had been traditionally kept up -among them, they at once recognized it, though not one of them had even -seen it before. Too weak to resist the people that surrounded them, or -to establish themselves in the open country, they founded on several of -the islands, which they connected together, a town, which they called -after themselves, Mexico, and which at a later date was destined to be -the capital of a powerful empire. - -Although the Mexicans arrived on the banks of the lake in 1140, it was -not till two years later that the American Venice began to emerge from -the bosom of the waters. - -We have dwelt on these details in order to correct an error made by a -modern author, who attributes to the Aztecs the foundation of this city, -to which he gives the name of Tenochtitlan, instead of Temixtetlan, -which is the correct name.[1] - -Like Venice, its European sister, Mexico was only a collection of -cabins, offering a precarious shelter to wretched fishermen, who were -incessantly kept in a state of alarm by the attacks of their neighbours. -The Mexicans, at first scattered over a great number of small islands, -felt the necessity of collecting together in order to offer a better -resistance. By their patience and courage they succeeded in building -houses, raised on piles, and employing the mud of the lagoons, held -together by branches of trees, they created the _chinampas_, or floating -gardens, the most curious in the world, on which they sowed vegetables, -pimento, and maize, and thus, with the aquatic birds they managed to -catch on the lake, they contrived to be entirely independent of their -neighbours. - -Almost destroyed during the obstinate fights between the natives and the -Spaniards, Mexico, four years after the conquest, was entirely rebuilt -by Fernando Cortez. But the new city in no way resembled the old one. -Most of the canals were filled up, and paved over; magnificent palaces -and sumptuous monasteries rose as if by enchantment, and the city became -entirely Spanish. - -Mexico has been so frequently described by more practised pens than -ours, and we, in previous works, have had such frequent occasions -to allude to it, that we will not attempt any description here, but -continue our story without further delay. - -It was October 12th, 1854, two months, day for day, had elapsed since -the unfortunate Count de Prébois Crancé, victim of an iniquitous -sentence, had honourably fallen at Guaymas beneath the Mexican -bullets.[2] A thick fog had hung over the city for the whole day, -changing at times into a fine drizzle, which after sunset became -sharper, although a heavy fog still prevailed. However, at about eight -in the evening the rain ceased to fall, and the stagnant waters of the -lake began to reflect a few particles of brighter sky. The snow-clad -summit of Iztaczihuatl, or the White Woman, feebly glistened in the pale -watery moonbeams, while Popocatepetl remained buried in the clouds.[3] - -The streets and squares were deserted, although the night was not yet -far advanced; for the loungers and promenaders, driven away by the -weather, had returned to their homes. A deep silence brooded over the -city, whose lights expired one after the other, and only at lengthened -intervals could be heard on the greasy pavement the footsteps of the -serenos, or watchmen, who performed their melancholy walk, with the -indifferent air peculiar to that estimable corporation. At times a few -discordant sounds, escaping from the velorios were borne along on the -breeze; but that was all--the city seemed asleep. - -Half past nine was striking by the cathedral clock at the moment when -a dull sound resembling the rustling of reeds shaken by the wind was -audible on the gigantic highway joining the city to the main land. This -sound soon became more distinct, and changed into the trampling of -horses, which was deadened by the damp air and the ground softened by -a lengthened rain. A black mass emerged from the fog, and two horsemen -wrapped in thick cloaks stood out distinctly in the moonlight. - -These horsemen seemed to have made a long journey; their steeds, -covered with mud, limped at each step, and only advanced with extreme -difficulty. They at length reached a low house, through whose dirty -panes a doubtful light issued, which showed that the inhabitants were -still awake. - -The horsemen stopped before this house, which was an inn, and without -dismounting, one of them gave the door two or three kicks, and called -the host in a loud sharp voice. The latter, doubtless disturbed by this -unusual summons at so improper an hour, was in no hurry to answer, and -would have probably left the strangers for some time in the cold, if the -man who had kicked, probably tired of waiting, had not thought of an -expeditious means of obtaining an answer. - -"_Voto a Brios!_" he shouted, as he drew a pistol from his holster, and -cocked it, "since this dog is resolved not to open, I will send a bullet -through his window." - -This menace had been scarce uttered ere the door opened as if by -enchantment, and the landlord appeared on the threshold. This man -resembled landlords in all countries; he had, like them, a sleek and -crafty look, but at this moment his obsequiousness badly concealed a -profound terror, evidenced by the earthy pallor of his face. - -"Hola, caballero," he said, with a respectful bow, "have a little -patience, if you please. Caramba! how quick you are; it is plain to -see that you are forasteros, and not acquainted with the custom of our -country." - -"No matter who I am," the stranger answered sharply; "are you a -landlord--yes or no?" - -"I have that honour, caballero," the host remarked, with a deeper bow -than the first. - -"If you are so, scoundrel," the stranger exclaimed angrily, "by what -right do you, whose duty it is to be at the orders of the public, dare -to keep me waiting thus at your door?" - -The landlord had a strong inclination to get into a passion, but the -resolute tone of the man who addressed him, and, above all, the pistol -he still held in his hand, urged him to prudence and moderation; hence -he answered with profound humility-- - -"Believe me, señor, that if I had known what a distinguished caballero -did me the honour of stopping before my humble dwelling, I should have -hastened to open." - -"A truce to such impertinent remarks, and open the door." - -The landlord bowed without replying this time, and whistled a lad, -who came to help him in holding the travellers' horses; the latter -dismounted, and entered the inn, while their tired steeds were led to -the corral by the boy. - -The room into which the travellers were introduced was low, black, and -furnished with tables and benches in a filthy state, and mostly broken, -while the floor of stamped earth was greasy and uneven. Above the bar -was a statuette of the Virgin de la Soledad, before which burned a -greasy candle. In short, this inn had nothing attractive or comfortable -about it, and seemed to be a velorio of the lowest class, apparently -used by the most wretched and least honourable ranks of Mexican society. - -A glance was sufficient for the travellers to understand the place to -which accident had led them, still they did not display any of the -disgust which the sight of this cut-throat den inspired them with. They -seated themselves as comfortably as they could at a table, and the one -who had hitherto addressed mine host went on, while his silent companion -leaned against the wall, and drew the folds of his cloak still higher up -his face. - -"Look here," he said, "we are literally dying of hunger, patron; could -you not serve us up a morsel of something? I don't care what it is in -the shape of food." - -"Hum!" said the host with an embarrassed air, "it is very late, -caballero, and I don't believe I have even a maize tortilla left in the -whole house." - -"Nonsense," the traveller replied, "I know all about it, so let us deal -frankly with each other; give me some supper, for I am hungry, and we -will not squabble about the price." - -"Even if you paid me a piastre for every tortilla, excellency, I really -could not supply you with two," the landlord replied, with increased -constraint. - -The traveller looked at him fixedly for a moment or two, and then laid -his hand firmly on his arm, and pulled him toward the table. - -"Now, look here, Ño Lusacho," he said to him curtly, "I intend to pass -two hours in your hovel, at all risks; I know that between this and -eleven o'clock you expect a large party, and that all is prepared to -receive them." - -The landlord attempted to give a denial, but the traveller cut him short. - -"Silence," he continued, "I wish to be present at the meeting of these -persons; of course I do not mean them to see me; but I must not only -see them, but hear all they say. Put me where you please, that is your -concern; but as any trouble deserves payment, here are ten ounces for -you, and I will give you as many more when your visitors have gone, and -I assure you that what I ask of you will not in any way compromise -you, and that no one will ever know the bargain made between us--you -understand me, I suppose? Now, I will add, that if you obstinately -refuse the arrangement I offer----" - -"Well, suppose I do?" - -"I will blow out your brains," the traveller said distinctly; "my friend -here will put you on his shoulder, throw you into the water, and all -will be over. What do you think of my proposal?" - -"Hang it, excellency," the poor fellow answered, with a grimace which -attempted to resemble a smile, and trembling in all his limbs, "I think -that I have no choice, and am compelled to accept." - -"Good! now you are learning reason; but take these ounces as a -consolation." - -The landlord pocketed the money, as he raised his eyes to heaven and -gave a deep sigh. - -"Fear nothing, _viva Dios_!" the traveller continued; "all will pass off -better than you suppose. At what hour do you expect your visitors?" - -"At half past ten, excellency." - -"Good! it is half past nine, we have time before us. Where do you -propose to hide us?" - -"In this room, excellency." - -"Here, diablo; whereabouts?" - -"Behind the bar; no one will dream of looking for you there, and, -besides, I shall serve as a rampart to you." - -"Then you will be present at the meeting?" - -"Oh!" he said with a smile, "I am nobody; the more so, that if I spoke, -my house would be ruined." - -"That is true. Well, then, all is settled; when the hour arrives, you -will place us behind the bar; but can my companion and I sit there with -any degree of comfort?" - -"Oh, you will have plenty of room." - -"I fancy this is not the first time such a thing has occurred, eh?" - -The landlord smiled, but made no answer: the traveller reflected for a -moment. - -"Give us something to eat," he at length said; "here are two piastres in -addition for what you are going to place before us." - -The landlord took the money, and forgetting that he had declared a -few moments previously that he had nothing in the house, he instantly -covered the table with provisions, which, if not particularly delicate, -were, however, sufficiently appetizing, especially for men whose -appetite appeared to be powerfully excited. - -The two travellers vigorously attacked this improvised supper, and for -about twenty minutes no other sound was heard but that of their jaws. -When their hunger was at length appeased, the traveller who seemed to -speak for both, thrust away his plate, and addressed the landlord, who -was modestly standing behind him hat in hand. - -"And now for another matter," he said; "how many lads have you to help -you?" - -"Two, excellency--the one who took your horses to the corral, and -another." - -"Very good. I presume you will not require both those lads to wait on -your friends tonight?" - -"Certainly not, excellency; indeed, for greater security, I shall wait -on them alone." - -"Better still; then, you see no inconvenience in sending of them into -the Cuidad; of course on the understanding that he is well paid for the -trip?" - -"No inconvenience at all, excellency; what is the business?" - -"Simply," he said, taking a letter from his bosom, "to convey this -letter to Señor Don Antonio Rallier, in the Calle Secunda Monterilla, -and bring me back the answer in the shortest possible period to this -house." - -"That is easy, excellency; if you will have the kindness to intrust the -letter to me." - -"Here it is, and four piastres for the journey." - -The host bowed respectfully, and immediately left the room. - -"I fancy, Curumilla," the traveller then said to his companion, "that -our affairs are going well." - -The other replied by a silent nod of assent, and a moment the landlord -returned. - -"Well?" the traveller asked. - -"Your messenger has set off, excellency, but he will probably be some -time ere he returns." - -"Why so?" - -"Because people are not allowed to ride about the city at night without -a special authority, and he will be obliged to go and return on foot." - -"No consequence, so long as he returns before sunrise." - -"Oh, long before then, excellency." - -"In that case all is for the best; but I think the moment is at hand -when your friends will arrive." - -"It is, excellency, so have the kindness to follow me." - -"All right." - -The travellers rose; in a twinkling the landlord removed all signs of -supper, and then hid his guests behind the bar. This bar, which was -very tall and deep, offered them a perfectly secure, if not convenient, -hiding place, in which they crouched down with a pistol in each hand, in -order to be ready for any event. They had scarce installed themselves -ere several knocks, dealt in a peculiar fashion, were heard on the outer -door. - - -[1] In order to protect themselves from the misfortunes which had before -crushed them, the Mexicans placed themselves under the safeguard of the -King of Azcapotzalco, on whose lands they had established themselves. -This prince gave them two of his sons as governors, of whom the first -was Acamapuhtli, chief of the Tenochcas. On their arrival in Ahanuec, -these Indians had found on the summit of a rock a nopal, in which was an -eagle devouring a serpent, and they took their name from it. Acamapuhtli -selected this emblem as the _totem_ of the race he was called upon to -govern. During the War of Independence, the insurgents adopted this -hieroglyphic as the arms of the Mexican Republic, in memory of the -ancient and glorious origin of which it reminded them. - -[2] See the "Indian Chief." Same publishers. - -[3] This second volcano, whose name indicates "The Smoking Mountain," is -near the former. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE RANCHO. - - -In one of our previous works we proved by documentary evidence -that, since the declaration of its independence, that is to say, in -about forty years, Mexico has reached its two hundred and thirtieth -revolution which gives an average of about five revolutions a year. In -our opinion, this is very decent for a country which, if it pleased, -regard being had to the retrograde measures adopted by the government, -would have been justified in having at least one a month. - -The causes of these revolutions are and must be ever the same in -a country where the sabre rules without control, and which counts -_twenty-four_ thousand officers for an army of twenty thousand -men. These officers, very ignorant generally, and very ambitious -individually, incapable of executing the slightest manoeuvre, or -commanding the most simple movement, find in the general disorder -chances of promotion which they would not otherwise have, and many -Mexican generals have attained their elevated rank without having once -been present at a battle, or even seen any other fire than that of -the cigarettes they constantly have in their mouths. The real truth -is, they have skilfully pronounced themselves; each _pronunciamiento_ -has gained them a step, sometimes two, and with pronunciamiento after -pronunciamiento, they have acquired the general's scarf, that is to say, -the probability, with the aid of luck, of being in their turn proclaimed -President of the Republic, which is the dream of all of them, and the -constant object of their efforts. - -We have said that the travellers had scarce time to conceal themselves -in the bar, ere several knocks on the door warned the landlord that the -mysterious guests he expected were beginning to arrive. - -Ño Lusacho was a fat little man, with constantly rolling gray eyes, a -cunning look, and a prominent stomach--the true type of the Mexican -Ranchero, who is more eager for gain than two Jews, and very ready when -circumstances demand it, that is to say, when his own interests are -concerned, to make a bargain with his conscience. He assured himself by -a glance that all was in order in the room, and that there was nothing -to cause the presence of strangers to be suspected, and then walked to -the door; but, before opening, with the probable intention of displaying -his zeal, he thought it advisable to challenge the arrivals. - -"¿Quién vive?" he asked. - -"Gente de paz!" a rough voice answered; "open in the Fiend's name, if -you do not wish us to break in your door." - -Ño Lusacho doubtless recognized the voice, for the somewhat brusque -response appeared to him sufficient, and he immediately prepared to draw -back the bolts. - -The door was hardly ajar ere several men burst into the inn, thrusting -each other aside in their haste, as if afraid of being followed. These -men were seven or eight in number; and it was easy to see they were -officers, in spite of the precaution of some among them who had put on -civilian attire. - -They laughed and jested loudly, which proved that, if they were -conspirators, or, at least, if they were brought to this ill-famed den -by any illicit object, that object, whatever it might be, did not spoil -their gaiety or appear to them of sufficient importance to render -them unwontedly serious. - -They seated themselves at a table, and the landlord, who had doubtless -long been acquainted with their habits, placed before them a bottle of -Catalonian refino and a jug of pulque, which they straightway began -swallowing while rolling their cigarettes. - -The door of the rancho had been left ajar by the landlord, who probably -thought it unnecessary to close it; the officers succeeded each other -with great rapidity, and their number soon became so great, that the -room, though very spacious, was completely filled. The newcomers -followed the example of those who had preceded them; they seated -themselves at a table, and began drinking and smoking, not appearing to -trouble themselves about the earlier comers, to whom they merely bowed -as they entered. - -As for Ño Lusacho, he continually prowled round the tables, watching -everything with a corner of his eyes, and being careful not to serve the -slightest article without receiving immediate payment. At length one of -the officers rose, and, after rapping his glass on the table several -times to attract attention, he asked-- - -"Is Don Sirven here?" - -"Yes, señor," a young man of twenty at the most answered as he rose. His -effeminate features were already worn by precocious debauchery. - -"Assure yourself that no person is absent." - -The young man bowed, and began walking from one table to the other, -exchanging two or three words in a low voice with each of the visitors. -When Don Sirven had gone round the room, he went to the person who had -addressed him, and said with a respectful bow-- - -"Señor coronel, the meeting is complete, and only one person is absent; -but as he did not tell us certainly whether he would do us the honour of -being present tonight, I----" - -"That will do, alférez," the colonel interrupted him; "remain outside -the house, carefully watch the environs, and let no one approach without -challenging him, but if you know who arrives, introduce him immediately. -You have heard me, so execute my orders punctually; you understand the -importance of passive obedience for yourself." - -"You can trust to me, coronel," the young man answered; and, after -bowing to his superior officer, he left the room and closed the door -behind him. - -The officers, then, without getting up, turned round on the benches, and -thus found themselves face to face with the colonel, who had stationed -himself in the middle of the room. The latter waited a few minutes till -perfect silence was established, and then, after bowing to the audience, -he spoke as follows;-- - -"Let me, in the first place, thank you, caballeros, for the punctuality -with which you have responded to the meeting I had the honour of -arranging with you. I am delighted at the confidence it has pleased you -to display in me, and, believe me, I shall show myself worthy of it; for -it proves to me once again that you are really devoted to the interests -of our country, and that it may freely reckon on you in the hour of -danger." - -This first portion of the colonel's speech was drowned in applause, -as was only fitting. This colonel was a man of about forty years of -age, of herculean stature, and looking more like a butcher than an -honest soldier. His cunning looks did not at all inspire confidence, -and every step in his profession had been the reward of an act of -treachery. He was a most valuable man in a conspiracy on this account, -for being so old a hand at pronunciamientos, people knew that he was too -clever to join a losing cause; hence, he inspired his accomplices with -unlimited confidence. After allowing time for the enthusiasm to calm, he -continued-- - -"I am pleased, señores, not at this applause, but at the devotion you so -constantly display for the public welfare. You understand as well as I -do that we can no longer bow our necks beneath the despotic government -that tyrannizes over us. The man who at this moment holds our destinies -in his hands has shown himself unworthy of the mandate we confided to -him; by failing in his duties towards us, he has liberated us from the -oath of obedience we took to him. Human patience has its limits, and the -hour will soon strike for the man who has deceived us to be overthrown." - -The colonel had made a start, and would probably have continued his -plausible speech for a long time in an emphatic voice, had not one of -his audience, evidently wearied of finding nothing positive or clear in -this flood of sounding words, suddenly interrupted him-- - -"That is all very fine, colonel," he said, "_Rayo de Dios!_ we are all -aware that we are gentlemen devoted, body and soul, to our country; but -devotion must be paid for, _cuerpo de Cristo!_ What shall we get by all -this after all? We have not assembled here to compliment each other; -but, on the contrary, to come to a definite understanding. So pray come -to the point at once." - -The colonel was at first slightly embarrassed by this warm apostrophe; -but he recovered himself at once, and turned with a smile to his -interrupter-- - -"I was coming to it, my dear captain, at the very moment when you cut -across my speech." - -"Oh, that is different," the captain answered; "pray suppose that I had -not spoken, and explain the affair in a couple of words." - -"In the first place," the colonel went on, "I have news for you which I -feel assured you will heartily welcome. This is the last time we shall -meet." - -"Very good," said the practical captain, encouraged by the winks of his -companions, "let us hear first what the reward is." - -The colonel saw that he could no longer dally with the matter, for all -his hearers openly took part with their comrade, and murmurs of evil -augury were beginning to be audible. At the moment when he resolved to -tell all he knew, the door of the inn was opened, and a man wrapped -in a large cloak quickly entered the room, preceded by the Alferez Don -Sirven, who shouted in a loud voice-- - -"The general. Caballeros, the general." - -At this announcement silence was re-established as if by enchantment. -The person called the general stopped in the middle of the room, looked -around him, and then took off his hat, let his cloak fall from his -shoulders, and appeared in the full-dress uniform of a general officer. - -"Long live General Guerrero!" the officers shouted, as they rose -enthusiastically. - -"Thanks, gentlemen, thanks," the general responded with numerous bows. -"This warm feeling fills me with delight; but pray be silent, that we -may properly settle the matter which has brought us here; moments are -precious, and, in spite of the precautions we have taken, our presence -at this inn may have been denounced." - -All collected round the general with a movement of interest easy to -understand. The latter continued-- - -"I will come at once to facts," he said, "without entering into idle -speculations, which would cause us to waste valuable time. In a word, -then, what is it we want? To overthrow the present government, and -establish another more in conformity with our opinions and, above all, -our interests." - -"Yes, yes," the officers exclaimed. - -"In that case we are conspiring against the established authority, -and are rebels in the eyes of the law," the general continued coolly -and distinctly; "as such, we stake our heads, and must not attempt -any self-deception on this point. If our attempt fails, we shall be -pitilessly shot by the victor; but we shall not fail," he hastily -added, on noticing the impression these ill-omened words produced on -his hearers; "we shall not fail, because we are resolutely playing a -terrible game, and each of us knows that his fortune depends on winning -the game. From the alférez up to the brigadier-general each knows that -success will gain him two steps of promotion, and such a stake is -sufficient to determine the least resolute to be staunch when the moment -arrives to begin the struggle." - -"Yes, yes," the captain whose observations had, previous to the -general's arrival, so greatly embarrassed the colonel, said, "all that -is very fine. Jumping up two steps is a most agreeable thing; but we -were promised something else in your name, excellency." - -The general smiled. - -"You are right, captain," he remarked; "and I intend to keep all -promises made in my name--but not, as you might reasonably suppose, when -our glorious enterprise has succeeded. If I waited till then, you might -fear lest I should seek pretexts and excuses to evade their performance." - -"When then, pray?" the captain asked, curiously. - -"At once, señores," the general exclaimed, in a loud voice, and, -addressing the whole company, "I wish to prove to you that my confidence -in you is entire, and that I put faith in the word you pledged to me." - -Joy, astonishment, incredulity, perhaps, so paralyzed his hearers, that -they were unable to utter a syllable. The general examined them for a -moment, and then, turning away with a mocking smile, he walked to the -front door, which he opened. The officers eagerly watched his movements, -with panting chests, and the general, after looking out, coughed twice. - -"Here I am, excellency," a voice said, issuing from the fog. - -"Bring in the bags," Don Sebastian ordered, and then quietly returned to -the middle of the room. - -Almost immediately after a man entered, bearing a heavy leather -saddlebag. It was Carnero, the capataz. At a signal from his master, -he deposited his bundle and went out; but returned shortly after with -another bag, which he placed by the side of the first one. Then, after -bowing to his master, he withdrew, and the door closed upon him. - -The general opened the bags, and a flood of gold poured in a trickling -cascade on the table; the officers instinctively bent forward, and held -out their quivering hands. - -"Now, señores," the general said, still perfectly calm, as he carelessly -rested his arm on the pile of gold; "permit me to remind you of our -agreement; there are thirty-five of us at present, I believe?" - -"Yes, general, thirty-five," the captain replied, who seemed to have -appointed himself speaker in ordinary for self and partners. - -"Very good; these thirty-five caballeros are thus subdivided:--ten -alférez, who will each receive twenty-five ounces of silver. Señor Don -Jaime Lupo," he said, turning to the colonel, "will you be kind enough -to hand twenty-five ounces to each of these gentlemen?" - -The alférez, or sub-lieutenants, broke through the ranks, and boldly -came up to receive the ounces, which the colonel delivered to each of -them; then they fell back with a delight they did not attempt to conceal. - -"Now," the general continued, "twelve captains, to each of whom I wish -you to offer, on my behalf, Don Lupo, fifty ounces." - -The captains pocketed the money with no more ceremony than the alférez -had displayed. - -"We have ten tenientes, each of whom is to receive thirty-five ounces, I -believe?" - -The tenientes, or lieutenants, who had begun to frown on seeing the -captains paid before them, received their money with a bow. - -"There now remain three colonels, each of whom has a claim to one -hundred ounces," the general said; "be kind enough to pay them, my dear -colonel." - -The latter did not let the invitation be repeated twice. Still the -entire pile of gold was not exhausted, and a considerable sum still -remained on the table. Don Sebastian Guerrero passed his hands several -times through the glittering metal, and at length thrust it from him. - -"Señores," he said, with an engaging smile, "about five hundred ounces -remain, which I do not know what to do with; may I ask you to divide -them among you, as subsistence money while awaiting the signal you are -to receive from me." - -At this truly regal act of munificence, the enthusiasm attained its -highest pitch; the cries and protestations of devotion became frenzied. -The general alone remained impassive, and looked coldly at the division -made by the colonel. - -"When all the gold had disappeared, and the effervescence was beginning -to subside, Don Sebastian, who, like the Angel of Evil, had looked with -a profoundly mocking smile at these men so utterly under the influence -of cupidity, slightly tapped the table, to request silence. - -"Señores," he said, "I have kept all my promises, and have acquired the -right to count on you; we shall not meet again, but at a future day I -will let you know my intentions. Still be ready to act at the first -signal; in ten days is the anniversary festival of the Proclamation of -Independence, and, if nothing deranges my plans, I shall probably choose -that day to try, with your assistance, to deliver the country from the -tyrants who oppress it. However, I will be careful to have you warned. -So now let us separate; the night is far advanced, and a longer stay at -this spot might compromise the sacred interests for which we have sworn -to die." - -He bowed to the conspirators, but, on reaching the door, turned round -again. - -"Farewell, señores," he said, "be faithful to me." - -"We will die for you, general," Colonel Lupo answered, in the name of -all. - -The general gave a final bow and went out; almost immediately the hoofs -of several horses could be heard echoing on the paved street. - -"As we have nothing more to do here, caballeros," the colonel said, -"we had better separate without further delay; but do not forget the -general's parting recommendation." - -"Oh, no," the captain said, gleefully rattling the gold, with which his -pockets were filled. "Don Sebastian Guerrero is too generous for us not -to be faithful to him; besides, he appears to me at the present moment -the only man capable of saving our unhappy country from the abyss. We -are all too deeply attached to our country and too devoted to its real -interests, not to sacrifice ourselves for it, when circumstances demand -it." - -The conspirators laughingly applauded this speech of the captain's, and -after exchanging courteous bows, they withdrew as they had come; that is -to say, they left the inn one after the other, not to attract attention. -They carefully wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and went off in -parties of three and four, with their hands on their weapons, for fear -of any unpleasant encounter. - -A quarter of an hour later, the room was empty, and the landlord bolted -the door for the night. - -"Well, señores," he asked the two strangers, who now left the hiding -place in which they had been crouching for upwards of two hours, "are -you satisfied?" - -"We could not be more so," replied the one who had been the sole speaker -hitherto. - -"Yes, yes," the landlord continued, "three or four more -pronunciamientos, and I believe I shall be able to retire on a decent -competency." - -"That is what I wish you, Ño Lusacho, and, to begin, a thing promised is -a thing done; here are your ten ounces." - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THE PASEO DE BUCARELI. - - -Mexico is a country of extensive prospects and magnificent views; and -the poet Carpio is right when he says enthusiastically, in the poem in -which he sings the praises of his country-- - - "Qué magníficos tienes horizontes!" - -In truth, the prospect is the first and greatest beauty of Mexico. - -The plateau of Mexico is situated exactly in the centre of a circle of -mountains. On all sides the landscape is bounded by admirable peaks, -whose snowy crests soar above the clouds, and in the golden beams of the -setting sun they offer the most sublime pictures of the imposing and -grand Alpine nature. - -In the general description we attempted of Mexico we omitted to allude -to its promenades, of which we intended previously to give a detailed -account. - -In Europe, and especially in France, promenades are wanting in the -interior of towns; and it is only during the last few years that Paris -has possessed any worthy of a capital. In Spain, on the contrary, the -smallest market town has at least one alameda, where, after the torrid -heat of the day, the inhabitants breathe the evening breeze, and rest -from their labours. Alameda, a soft and graceful word to pronounce, -which we might be tempted to take for Arabic, and to which some -ill-informed scholars, unacquainted with Spanish, attribute a Latin -origin, while it is simply Castilian, and literally signifies "a place -planted with poplars." - -The Alameda of Mexico is one of the most beautiful in America. It -is situated at one of the extremities of the city, and forms a long -square, with a wall of circumvallation bordered by a deep ditch, whose -muddy, fetid waters, owing to the negligence of the government, exhale -pestilential miasmas. At each corner of the promenade a gate offers -admission to carriages, riders, and pedestrians, who walk silently -beneath a thick awning of verdure, formed by willows, elms, and poplars -that border the principal road. These trees are selected with great -tact, and are always green, for although the leaves are renewed, it -takes place gradually and imperceptibly, so that the branches are never -entirely stripped of their foliage. - -Numerous walks converge to open spots adorned with gushing fountains, -and clumps of jessamine, myrtle, and rose bushes, surrounded by stone -benches for the tired promenaders. Statues, unfortunately far below -mediocrity in their execution, stand at the entrance of each walk; but, -thanks to the deep shadow, the whistling of the evening breeze in the -foliage, the buzz of the hummingbirds flying from flower to flower, and -the harmonious strains of the cenzontles hidden in the fragrant clumps, -you gradually forget those unlucky statues, and fall into a gentle -reverie, during which the mind is borne to unknown regions, and seems no -longer connected with earth. - -But Mexico is a thorough country of contrasts. At each step barbarism -elbows the most advanced civilization. Hence all the carriages, after -driving a few times round the Alameda, take the direction of the Paseo -de Bucareli, and the promenaders spread over a walk, in the Centre of -which there is a large window in the Wall, protected by rusty iron bars, -and through which come puffs of poisoned air. It is the window of the -Deadhouse, into which are daily thrown pell-mell the bodies of men, -women, and children, assassinated during the previous night, hideous, -bloody, and disfigured by death! What a brilliant, what a delicious -idea, to have placed the Deadhouse exactly between the two city walks! - -The Paseo, or promenade, of Bucareli--so called after the Viceroy who -gave it to Mexico--resembles the Champs Elysées of Paris. It is, in -reality, merely a wide road, with no other ornament than a double row of -willow and beech trees, with two circular places, in the centre of which -are fountains, adorned with detestable allegorical statues and stone -benches for pedestrians. - -At the entrance of the Paseo de Bucareli has been placed an equestrian -statue of Charles IV., which in 1824 adorned the Plaza Mayor of Mexico. -When the Emperor Iturbide fell, this monument was removed from the -square and placed in the University Palace yard--a lesson, we may here -remark, given by a comparatively barbarous people to civilized nations, -who in revolutions, as a first trial of liberty, and forgetting that -history records everything in her imperishable annals, carry their -Vandalism so far as to destroy everything that recalls the government -they have overthrown. Owing to the intelligent moderation of the -Mexicans, the promenaders can still admire, at the Bucareli, this really -remarkable statue, due to the talent of the Spanish sculptor, Manuel -Tolsa, and cast in one piece by Salvador de la Vega. The sight of this -masterpiece ought to induce the Mexican municipality to remove the -pitiable statues which disgrace the two finest promenades in the city. - -From the Paseo de Bucareli a magnificent prospect is enjoyed of the -panorama of mountains bathed in the luminous vapours of night; you -perceive, through the arches of the gigantic aqueduct the white fronts -of the haciendas clinging to the sides of the Sierra, the fields of -Indian corn bending softly before the breeze, and the snowy peaks of the -volcanoes, crowned with mist, and lost in the sky. - -It is not till night has almost set in that the promenaders, leaving -the Alameda, proceed to the Bucareli, where the carriages take two or -three turns, and then equipages, riders, and pedestrians, retire one -after the other. The promenade is deserted, the entire crowd, just now -so gay and noisy, has disappeared as if by enchantment, and you only see -between the trees some belated promenader, who, wrapped in his cloak, -and with eye and ear on the watch, is hastily returning home, for, after -nightfall, the thieves take possession of the promenade, and without the -slightest anxiety about the serenos and celadores appointed to watch -over the public security, they carry on their trade with a boldness -which the certainty of impunity can alone engender. - -It was evening, and, as usual, the Alameda was crowded; handsome -carriages, brilliant riders, and modest pedestrians were moving -backwards and forwards, with cries, laughter, and joyous calls, as they -sought or chased each other in the walks. Monks, soldiers, officers, men -of fashion, and leperos, were mixed together, carelessly smoking their -cigars and cigarettes under each other's noses, with the recklessness -and negligence peculiar to southern nations. - -Suddenly, the first stroke of the Oración broke through the air. At the -sound of the Angelus-bell, as if the entire crowd had been struck by an -enchanter's wand, horses, carriages, and pedestrians stopped, the seated -citizens left the benches on which they were resting, and a solemn -silence fell on all; every person took off his hat, crossed himself, -and for four or five minutes this crowd, an instant before so noisy, -remained dumb and silent. But the last stroke of the Oración had scarce -died away, ere horses and carriages set out again; the shouts, the -songs, and talking, became louder than before; each resumed the sentence -at the point where he had broken it off. - -By degrees, however, the promenaders proceeded toward the Bucareli: the -carriages became scarcer, and by the time night had quite set in, the -Alameda was completely deserted. - -A horseman, dressed in a rich Campesino costume, and mounted on a -magnificent horse, which he managed with rare skill, then entered the -Alameda, along which he galloped for about twenty minutes, examining the -sidewalks, the clumps of trees, and the densest bushes: in a word, he -seemed to be looking for somebody or something. - -However, after a while, whether he had convinced himself that his search -would have no result, or for some other motive, he gave the click of the -tongue peculiar to the Mexican jinetes, lifted his horse which started -at an amble, and proceeded toward the Paseo de Bucareli, after bowing -sarcastically to some ill-looking horsemen who were beginning to prowl -round him, but whom his vigorous appearance and haughty demeanour had -hitherto kept at arm's length. - -Although the darkness was too dense at this moment for it to be possible -to see the horseman's face distinctly, which was in addition half -covered by the brim of his vicuna hat, all about him evidenced strength -and youth; he was armed as if for a nocturnal expedition, and had on -his saddle, in spite of police regulations, a thin, carefully rolled up -reata. - -We will say, parenthetically, that the reata is considered in Mexico so -dangerous a weapon, that it requires special permission to carry one at -the saddle-bow, in the streets of Mexico. - -The salteadores, who occupy the streets after nightfall, and reign with -undisputed sway over them, employ no other weapon to stop the persons -they wish to plunder. They cast the running knot round their necks, dash -forward at full speed, and the unlucky man, half strangled, and dragged -from the saddle, falls unresistingly into their hands. - -At the moment when the traveller we are following reached the Bucareli, -the last carriages were leaving it, and it was soon as deserted as the -Alameda. He galloped up and down the promenade twice or thrice, looking -carefully down the side rides, and at the end of his third turn a -horseman, coming from the Alameda, passed on his right hand, giving him -in a low voice the Mexican salute, "Santísima noche, caballero!" - -Although this sentence had nothing peculiar about it, the horseman -started, and immediately turning his horse round, he started in pursuit -of the person who had thus greeted him. Within a minute the two horsemen -were side by side; the first comer, so soon as he saw that he was -followed, checked his horse's pace, as if with the intention of entering -into the most direct communication with the person he had addressed. - -"A fine night for a ride, señor," the first horseman said, politely -raising his hand to his hat. - -"It is," the second answered, "although it is beginning to grow late." - -"The moment is only the better chosen for certain private conversation." - -The second horseman looked around, and bending over to the speaker, -said-- - -"I almost despaired of meeting you." - -"Did I not let you know that I should come?" - -"That is true; but I feared that some sudden obstacle----" - -"Nothing ought to impede an honest man in accomplishing a sacred duty," -the first horseman answered, with an emphasis on the words. - -"The other bowed with an air of satisfaction. Then," he said, "I can -count on you, Ño ----." - -"No names here, señor," the other sharply interrupted him. "Caspita, an -old wood ranger like you, a man who has long been a Tigrero, ought to -remember that the trees have ears and the leaves eyes." - -"Yes, you are right. I should and do remember it; but permit me to -remark that if it is not possible for us to talk about business here, I -do not know exactly where we can do so." - -"Patience, señor, I wish to serve you, as you know, for you were -recommended to me by a man to whom I can refuse nothing. Let yourself, -therefore, be guided by me, if you wish us to succeed in this affair, -which, I confess to you at once, offers enormous difficulties, and must -be managed with the greatest prudence." - -"I ask nothing better; still you must tell me what I ought to do." - -"For the present very little; merely follow me at a distance to the -place where I purpose taking you." - -"Are we going far?" - -"Only a few paces; behind the barracks of the Acordades, in a small -street called the Callejón del Pájaro." - -"Hum! and what am I to do in this street?" - -"What a suspicious man you are!" the first horseman said with a laugh. -"Listen to me then. About the middle of the Callejón I shall stop -before a house of rather poor appearance; a man will come and hold my -horse while I enter. A few minutes later you will pull up there; after -assuring yourself that you are not followed you will dismount; give your -horse to the man who is holding mine, and without saying a word to him, -or letting him see your face, you will enter the house, and shut the -door after you. I shall be in the yard, and will lead you to a place -where we shall be able to talk in safety. Does that suit you?" - -"Famously; although I do not understand why I, who have set foot in -Mexico today for the first time, should find it necessary to employ such -mighty precautions." - -The first horseman laughed sarcastically. - -"Do you wish to succeed?" he asked. - -"Of course," the other exclaimed energetically, "even if it cost me my -life." - -"In that case do as you are recommended." - -"Go on, I follow you." - -"Is that settled? you understand all about it?" - -"I do." - -The second horseman then checked his steed to let the first one go on -ahead, and both keeping a short distance apart, proceeded at a smart -trot toward the statue of Charles IV., which, as we said, stands at the -entrance of the Paseo. - -While conversing, the two horsemen had forgotten the advanced hour of -the night, and the solitude that surrounded them. At the moment when -the first rider passed the equestrian statue, a slip knot fell on his -shoulders, and he was roughly dragged from his saddle. - -"Help!" he shouted in a choking voice. - -The second rider had seen all; quick as thought he whirled his lasso -round his head, and galloping at full speed, hurled it after the -Salteador at the moment when he passed twenty yards from him. - -The Salteador was stopped dead, and hurled from his horse; the worthy -robber had not suspected that another person beside himself could have a -lasso so handy. The horseman, without checking his speed, cut the reata -that was strangling his companion, and, turning back, dragged the robber -after him. - -The first horseman so providentially saved, freed himself from the -slip knot that choked him, and, hardly recovered from the alarm he had -experienced from his heavy fall, he whistled to his horse, which came up -at once, remounted as well as he could, and rejoined his liberator, who -had stopped a short distance off. - -"Thanks," he said to him, "henceforth we are stanch friends; you have -saved my life, and I shall remember it." - -"Nonsense," the other answered, "I only did what you would have done in -my place." - -"That is possible, but I shall be grateful to you on the word of a -Carnero," he exclaimed, forgetting in his joy the hint he had given a -short time previously, not to make use of names, and revealing his own -incognito; "is the pícaro dead?" - -"Very nearly so, I fancy; what shall we do with him?" - -"Make a corpse of him," the capataz said bluntly. "We are only -two paces from the deadhouse, and he can be carried there without -difficulty. Though he is an utter scoundrel and tried to assassinate -me, the police are so well managed in our unhappy country that if -we committed the imprudence of letting him live, we should have -interminable disputes with the magistrates." - -Then, dismounting, he stooped over the bandit, stretched senseless at -his feet, removed his lasso, and coolly dashed out his brains with a -blow of his pistol butt. Immediately after this summary execution, the -two men left the Paseo de Bucareli, but this time side by side, through -fear of a new accident. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION. - - -Directly on emerging from the Paseo, the two men separated, as had been -agreed on between them; that is to say, the capataz went ahead, followed -at a respectful distance by Martial the Tigrero, whom the reader has -doubtless recognized. - -All happened as the capataz had announced. The streets were deserted, -the horsemen only met a few half sleeping serenos leaning against the -walls, and were only crossed by a patrol of celadores walking with a -hurried step, and who seemed more inclined to avoid them, than to try -and discover the motives that caused them thus to ride about the streets -of the capital at night, in defiance of the law. - -The Tigrero entered the Callejón del Pájaro, and about the middle of -the street saw the capataz's horse held by an ill-looking fellow, who -gazed curiously at him. Don Martial, following the instructions given -him, pulled his hat over his eyes to foil the mozo's curiosity, stopped -before the door, dismounted, threw his bridle to the fellow, and, -without saying a word to him, resolutely entered the house and carefully -closed the door after him. - -He then found himself in utter darkness, but after groping his way, -which was not difficult for him to do, as all Mexican houses are built -nearly on the same model, he pushed forward. After crossing the zaguán, -he entered a square yard on which several doors looked; one of these -doors was open, and a man was standing on the threshold with a cigarette -in his mouth. It was Carnero. - -The tiger-slayer went up to him; the other made room, and he walked on. -The capataz took him by the hand and whispered, "Come with me." - -In spite of the protestations of devotion previously made by the -capataz, the Tigrero in his heart was somewhat alarmed at the manner in -which he was introduced into this mysterious house; but as he was young, -vigorous, well armed, brave, and resolved, if necessary, to sell his -life dearly, he yielded his hand Unhesitatingly to Carnero, and allowed -him to guide him while seeking to pierce the darkness that surrounded -him. - -But all the windows were hermetically closed with shutters, which -allowed no gleam of light to enter from without. - -His guide led him through several rooms, the floors of which were -covered with matting that deadened the sound of footsteps; he took him -up a flight of stairs, and opening a door with a key he took from his -pocket, conducted him into a room faintly lighted by a lamp placed -before a statue of the Virgin, standing in one corner of the room, on -a species of pedestal attached to the wall, and covered with extremely -delicate lace. - -"Now," said Carnero, after closing the door, from which the Tigrero -noticed that he removed the key, "draw up a butaca, sit down and let us -talk, for we are in safety." Don Martial followed the advice given him, -and after carefully installing himself in a butaca, looked anxiously -around him. - -The room in which he found himself was rather spacious, furnished -tastefully and richly; several valuable pictures hung on the walls, -which were covered with embossed leather, while the furniture consisted -of splendid carved ebony or mahogany tables, sideboards, chiffonniers, -and butacas. On the floor was an Indian petate, several books were -scattered over the tables, and valuable plate was arranged on the -sideboard. In short, this room displayed a proper comprehension of -comfort, and the two windows, with their Moorish jalousies, gave -admission to the pure breeze which greatly refreshed the atmosphere. - -The capataz lighted two candles at the Virgin's lamp, placed them on -the table, and then fetching two bottles and two silver cups, which -he placed before the Tigrero, he drew up a butaca, and seated himself -opposite his guest. - -"Here is sherry which I guarantee to be real Xeres de los Caballeros; -this other bottle contains chinquirito, and both are at your service," -he said, with a laugh; "whether you have a weakness for sugar cane -spirits, or prefer wine." - -"Thanks," Don Martial replied, "but I do not feel inclined to drink." - -"You would not wish to insult me by refusing to hobnob with me?" - -"Very well; if you will permit me, I will take a few drops of -chinquirito in water, solely to prove to you that I am sensible of your -politeness." - -"All right," the capataz continued, as he handed him a crystal decanter, -covered with curiously worked silver filagree; "help yourself." - -When they had drunk, the capataz a glass of sherry, which he sipped like -a true amateur, and Don Tigrero a few drops of chinquirito drowned in a -glass of water, the capataz placed his glass again on the table with a -smack of his lips, and said-- - -"Now, I must give you a few words in explanation of the slightly -mysterious way in which I brought you here, in order to dispel any -doubts which may have involuntarily invaded your mind." - -"I am listening to you," the Tigrero answered. - -"Take a cigar first, they are excellent." And he lit one, after pushing -the bundle over to Don Martial: the latter selected one, and soon the -two men were enveloped in a cloud of thin and fragrant smoke. - -"We are in the mansion of General Don Sebastian Guerrero," the capataz -continued. - -"What?" the Tigrero exclaimed, with a start of uneasiness. - -"Re-assure yourself, no one saw you enter, and your presence here is -quite unknown, for the simple reason that I brought you in by my private -entrance." - -"I do not understand you." - -"And yet it is very easy to explain; the house I led you through belongs -to me. For reasons too long to tell you, and which would interest you -but slightly, during Don Sebastian's absence as Governor of Sonora, I -had a passage made, and established a communication between my house -and this mansion. Everybody save myself is ignorant of the existence -of this communication, which," he added, with a glowing smile, "may at -a given moment be of great utility to me. The room in which we now are -forms part of the suite I occupy in the mansion, in which the general, -I am proud to say, has never yet set foot. The man who took your horse -is devoted to me, and even were he to betray me, it would be of little -consequence to me, for the secret door of the passage is so closely -concealed that I have no fear of its being discovered. Hence you see -that you have nothing to fear here, where your presence is unknown." - -"But suppose you were to be sent for, through the general happening to -want you suddenly?" - -"Certainly, but I have foreseen that; it is my system never to leave -anything to chance. Although it has never happened yet, no one can enter -here without my being informed soon enough to get rid of any person who -may be with me, supposing that, for some reason or another, that person -did not desire to be seen." - -"That is capitally arranged, and I am happy to see that you are a man of -prudence." - -"Prudence is, as you know, señor, the mother of safety; and in Mexico, -before all other countries, the proverb receives its application at -every moment." - -The Tigrero bowed politely, but in the fashion of a man who considers -that the speaker has dwelt sufficiently long on one subject, and wishes -to see him pass to another. The capataz appeared to read this almost -imperceptible hint on Don Martial's face, and continued with a smile-- - -"But enough on that head, so let us pass, if you have no objection, to -the real purpose of our interview. A man, whose name it is unnecessary -to mention, but to whom, as I have already had the honour of telling -you, I am devoted body and soul, sent you to me to obtain certain -information you require, and which he supposes I am in a position to -give, I will now add, that what passed between us this evening, and the -generous way in which you rushed to my assistance, render it my bounden -duty not only to give you this information, but also to help you with -all my might in the success of the projects you are meditating, whatever -those projects may be, and the dangers I may incur in aiding you. So, -now speak openly with me; conceal nothing from me and you will only have -to praise my frankness towards you." - -"Señor," the Tigrero answered, with considerable emotion, "I thank you -the more heartily for your generous offer, for you know as well as I do -what perils are connected with the carrying out of these plans, to say -nothing of their success." - -"What you are saying is true, but it will be better, I fancy, for the -present, for me to assume to be ignorant of them, so as to leave you the -entire liberty you need for the questions you have to ask me." - -"Yes, yes," he said, shaking his head sadly, "my position is so -precarious, the struggle I am engaged in is so wild, that, although I am -supported by sincere friends, I cannot be too prudent. Tell me, then, -what you know as to the fate of the unfortunate Doña Anita de Torrés. Is -she really dead, as the report spread alleged?" - -"Do you know what happened in the cavern after your fall down the -precipice?" - -"Alas! no; my ignorance is complete as to the facts that occurred after -I was abandoned as dead." - -Carnero reflected for a moment. "Listen, Don Martial: before I can -answer categorically the question you have asked me, I must tell you a -long story. Are you ready to hear it?" - -"Yes," the other answered, without hesitation, "for there are many -things I am ignorant of, which I ought to know. So speak without further -delay, señor, and though some parts of the narrative will be most -painful to me, hide nothing from me, I implore you!" - -"You shall be obeyed. Moreover, the night is not yet far advanced; time -does not press us, and in two hours you will know all." - -"I am impatiently waiting for you to begin." - -The capataz remained for some considerable time plunged in deep and -serious reflection. At length he raised his head, leant forward, and -setting his left elbow on the table, began as follows:-- - -"At the time when the facts occurred I am about to tell you, I was -living at the Hacienda del Palmar, of which I was steward. Hence I was -only witness to a portion of the facts, and only know the rest from -hearsay. When the Comanches arrived, guided by the white men, Don Sylva -de Torrés was lying mortally wounded, holding in his stiffened arms his -daughter Anita, who had suddenly gone mad on seeing you roll down the -precipice in the grasp of the Indian chief. Don Sebastian Guerrero was -the only relation left to the hapless young lady, and hence she was -taken to his hacienda." - -"What?" Don Martial exclaimed in surprise. "Don Sebastian is a relation -of Doña Anita?" - -"Did you not know that?" - -"I had not the slightest idea of it; and yet I had for several years -been closely connected with the Torrés family, for I was their tigrero." - -"I know it. Well, this is how the relationship exists: Don Sebastian -married a niece of Don Sylva's, so you see they were closely connected. -Still, for reasons never thoroughly made known, a few years after the -general's marriage, a dispute broke out which led to a total suspension -of intimacy between the two families. That is probably the reason why -you never heard of the connection existing between the Sylvas and the -Torrés." - -The Tigrero shook his head. "Go on," he said. "How did the general -receive his relation?" - -"He was not at the hacienda at the time; but an express was sent off -to him, and I was the man. The general came post haste, seemed greatly -moved at the double misfortune that had befallen the young lady, gave -orders for her to be kindly treated, appointed several women to wait -on her, and returned to his post at Sonora, where events of the utmost -gravity summoned him." - -"Yes, yes, I have heard of the French invasion, and that their leader -was shot by the general's orders. I presume you are alluding to that?" - -"Yes. Almost immediately after these events the general returned to -the Palmar. He was no longer the same man. The horrible death of his -daughter rendered him gloomier and harsher to any person whom chance -brought into contact with him. For a whole week he remained shut up in -his apartments, refusing to see any of us; but, at last, one day he -sent for me to inquire as to what had happened at the hacienda during -his absence. I had but little to tell him, for life was too simple and -uniform at this remote dwelling for anything at all interesting for him -to have occurred. Still he listened without interruption, with his head -in his hands, and apparently taking great interest in what I told him, -especially when it referred to poor Doña Anita, whose gentle interesting -madness drew tears from us rough men, when we saw her wandering, pale -and white as a spectre, about the huerta, murmuring in a low voice one -name, ever the same, which none of us could overhear, and raising to -heaven her lovely face, bathed in tears. The general let me say all I -had to say, and when I ended he, too, remained silent for some time. At -length, raising his head, he looked at me for a moment angrily." - -"'What are you doing there?' he asked." - -"'I am waiting,' I answered, 'for the orders it may please your -excellency to give me.'" - -"He looked at me for a few more moments as if trying to read my very -thoughts, and then laid his hand on my arm. 'Carnero,' he said to me, -'you have been a long time in my service, but take care lest I should -have to dismiss you. I do not like,' he said, with a stress on the -words, 'servants who are too intelligent and too clear-sighted,' and -when I tried to excuse myself, he added, 'Not a word--profit by the -advice I have given you, and now lead me to Doña Anita's apartments.'" - -"I obeyed with hanging head; the general remained an hour with the -young lady, and I never knew what was said between them. It is true -that now and then I heard the general speaking loudly and angrily, and -Doña Anita weeping, and apparently making some entreaty to him; but -that was all, for prudence warned me to keep at too great a distance -to overhear a single word. When the general came out he was pale, and -sharply ordered me to prepare everything for his departure. The morrow -at daybreak we set out for Mexico, and Doña Anita followed us, carried -in a palanquin. The journey was a long one, but so long as it lasted the -general did not once speak to the young lady, or approach the side of -her palanquin. So soon as we reached our journey's end, Doña Anita was -carried to the Convent of the Bernardines, where she had been educated, -and the good sisters received her with tears of sorrowful sympathy. The -general, owing to the influence he enjoyed, easily succeeded in getting -himself appointed guardian to the young lady, and immediately assumed -the management of her estates, which, as you doubtless are aware, are -considerable, even in this country where large fortunes are so common." - -"I know it," said the Tigrero, with a sigh. - -"All these matters settled," the capataz continued, "the general -returned to Sonora to arrange his affairs, and hand over the government -to the person appointed to succeed him, and who started for his post -some days previously. I will not tell you what happened then, as you -know it; besides, we have only been back in Mexico for a fortnight, and -you and your friends followed our track from the Rocky Mountains." - -The Tigrero raised his head. "Is that really all?" he asked. - -"Yes," the capataz answered. - -"On your honour?" Don Martial added, looking fixedly at him. - -Carnero hesitated. "Well, no," he said at last, "there is something else -I must tell you." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -DON MARTIAL. - - -The capataz rose, opened a door, went out for a moment, returned; to his -seat opposite the Tigrero, poured himself out a glass of sherry, which -he swallowed at a draught, and then letting his head fall in his hands, -remained silent. - -Don Martial watched with amazement the various movements of the -capataz. Seeing at last that he did not seem inclined to make the -confession he was so impatiently awaiting, he went over and touched him -slightly. Carnero started as if suddenly branded with a hot iron. - -"What you have to reveal to me must be very terrible," the Tigrero at -length said in a low voice. - -"So terrible, my friend," the capataz answered with an amount of terror -impossible to depict, "that though alone with you in this room, where no -spy can be concealed, I fear to tell it you." - -The Tigrero shook his head sadly. "Speak, my friend," he said, in a -gentle voice, "I have suffered such agony during the last few months, -that all the springs of my soul have been crushed by the fatal pressure -of despair. However horrible may be the blow that menaces me, I will -endure it without flinching; alas! grief has no longer power over me." - -"Yes, you are a man carved in granite. I know that you have struggled -triumphantly against lost fortunes; but, believe me, Don Martial, there -are sufferings a thousandfold more atrocious than death--sufferings -which I do not feel the right of inflicting on you." - -"The pity you testify for me is only weakness. I cannot die before -I have accomplished the task to which I have devoted the wretched -existence heaven left me in its wrath. I have sworn, at the peril of my -life, to protect the girl who was betrothed to me in happier times." - -"Carry out your oath, then, Don Martial; for the poor child was never in -greater peril than she is at present." - -"What do you mean? In heaven's name explain yourself," the Tigrero said -passionately. - -"I mean that Don Sebastian covets the incalculable wealth of his ward, -which he needs for the success of his ambitious plans; I mean that -remorselessly and shamelessly laying aside all human respect, forgetting -that the unfortunate girl the law has confided to him is insane, he -coldly intends to become her murderer." - -"Go on, go on! what frightful scheme can this man have formed?" - -"Oh!" the capataz continued with savage irony; "the plan is simple, -honest, and highly praised by some persons, who consider it admirable, -even sublime." - -"You will tell me?' - -"Well, know all, then; General Don Sebastian Guerrero intends to marry -his ward." - -"Marry his ward, he!" Don Martial exclaimed with horror, "'tis -impossible." - -"Impossible?" the capataz repeated with a laugh, "Oh, how little you -know this man with the implacable will, this wild beast with a human -face, who pitilessly breaks everyone who dares to resist him. He is -resolved to marry his ward in order to strip her of her fortune, and he -will do so, I tell you." - -"But she is mad!" - -"I allow she is." - -"What priest would be so unnatural as to bless this sacrilegious -marriage?" - -"Nonsense," the capataz said with a shrug of his shoulders, "you forget, -my good sir, that the general possesses the talisman which renders -everything possible, and purchases everything--men, women, honour, and -conscience; he has gold." - -"That is true, that is true," the Tigrero exclaimed in despair, and -burying his face in his hands, he remained motionless, as if suddenly -struck by lightning. - -There was a lengthened silence, during which nothing was audible but -the choking sobs that burst from Don Martial's heaving chest. It was a -heartrending sight to see this strong, brave man so tried by adversity, -now conquered and almost crushed by despair, and weeping like a -frightened child. - -The capataz, with his arms crossed on his chest, pale forehead and -eyebrows contracted almost till they met, looked at him with an -expression of gentle and sympathizing pity. - -"Don Martial," he at length said, in a sharp and imperative voice. - -"What do you want with me?" the Tigrero asked, looking up with surprise. - -"I want you to listen to me, for I have not said all yet." - -"What more can you have to tell me?" the other asked sadly. - -"Arouse yourself like the man you are, instead of remaining any longer -crushed beneath the pressure of despair, like a child or a weak woman. -Is there no hope left in your heart?" - -"Did you not tell me that this man had an implacable will which nothing -could resist?" - -"I did say so, I allow; but is that a reason for giving up the struggle? -Do you suppose him invulnerable?" - -"Yes," he exclaimed eagerly, "I can kill him." - -The capataz shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. - -"Kill him," he repeated, "nonsense; that is the vengeance of fools! -Moreover, you will still be able to do that when all other means failed. -No--you can do something else." - -Don Martial looked at him earnestly. "You hate him too then, since you -do not fear to speak to me as you are doing?" - -"No matter whether I hate him or not, so long as I am willing to serve -you." - -"That is true," the Tigrero muttered. - -"Besides," the capataz continued, "do you forget who recommended you to -me?" - -"Valentine," said Don Martial. - -"Valentine; yes, Valentine, who saved my life as you have done, and to -whom I have vowed an eternal gratitude." - -"Oh," Don Martial said mournfully, "Valentine himself has given up any -further contest with this demon." - -The capataz grinned savagely. "Do you believe that?" he asked ironically. - -"What matter?" the Tigrero muttered. - -"Grief makes you egotistic, Don Martial," the other replied; "but I -forgive you on account of the sufferings I have most unluckily caused -you." - -He broke off, poured out a glass of sherry, swallowed it, and sat down -again on his butaca. - -"He would be a bad physician," he continued, "who, having performed a -painful operation, did not know how to apply the proper remedies to -cicatrize and cure it." - -"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed interested, in spite of -himself, by the tone in which those words were uttered. - -"Do you believe," the capataz continued, "do you believe, my friend, -that I would have inflicted such great pain on you if I had not -possessed the means to cause an immense joy to succeed it? Tell me, do -you believe that?" - -"Take care, señor," the Tigrero said in a trembling voice, "take care -what you are about, for I know not why, but I am beginning to regain -hope, and I warn you that if this last illusion which you are trying to -produce were to escape me this time, you would kill me as surely as if -you stabbed me with a dagger." - -The capataz smiled with ineffable gentleness. "Hope, my friend; hope, I -tell you," he said, "that is exactly what I want to bring you to; for I -wish you to have faith in me." - -"Speak, señor," he replied; "I will listen to you with confidence, for I -do not believe you capable of sporting so coldly with agony like mine." - -"Good, we have reached the point I have been aiming at so long. Now -listen to me. I told you, I think, that on her arrival in Mexico, Doña -Anita was taken by Don Sebastian to the Convent of the Bernardines?" - -"Yes! I fancy I can remember your saying so." - -"Very good. Doña Anita was received with open arms by the good nuns who -had educated her. The young lady, on finding herself again among the -companions of her childhood, treated with kind and intelligent care, -wandering unrestrained beneath the lofty trees that had sheltered her -early years, gradually felt calmness returning to her mind; her grief -by degrees gave way to a gentle melancholy; her ideas, overthrown by a -frightful catastrophe, regained their balance; in short, the madness -which had spread its black wings over her brain was driven away by the -soft caresses of the nuns, and soon entirely disappeared." - -"So, then," Don Martial exclaimed, "she has regained her reason?" - -"I will not venture to assert that, for she is still insane in the -opinion of everybody." - -"But in that case----," the Tigrero said in a panting voice. - -"In that case," the capataz continued, purposely laying a stress on -every word, while fixing a magnetic glance on the Tigrero, "as all the -world believes it, it must be so till the contrary is proved." - -"But how did you learn all these details?" - -"In the most simple manner. My master, Don Sebastian, has sent me -several times to the convent with messages, and chance decreed that I -recognized in the sister porter a relation of mine, whom I thought dead -long ago. The worthy woman, in her delight, and perhaps, too, to make -up for the long silence she is compelled to maintain, tells me whenever -she sees me all that is said and done in the convent, and there is a -good deal to learn from the conversation of a nun. She takes a good deal -of interest in me, and as I am fond of her too, I listen to her with -pleasure. Now, do you understand?" - -"Oh! go on. Go on!" - -"Well, this time I have nearly finished. It appears, from what my -relation tells me, that the nuns, and the Mother Superior before all, -are utterly opposed to the general's plans of marriage." - -"Oh, the holy women!" the Tigrero exclaimed with simple joy. - -"Are they not?" the capataz said with a laugh. "This is probably the -reason why they keep so secret the return of their boarder to her -senses, for they doubtless hope that, so long as the poor girl is mad, -the general will not dare contract the impious union he is meditating; -unfortunately, they do not know the man with whom they have to deal, -and the ferocious ambition that devours him; an ambition for the -gratification of which he will recoil from no crime, however atrocious -it may be." - -"Alas!" the Tigrero said despairingly; "you see, my friend, that I am -lost." - -"Wait, wait, my good sir; your situation, perhaps, is not so desperate -as you imagine it." - -"My heart is on fire." - -"Courage; and listen to me to the end. Yesterday I went to the convent, -the Mother Superior, to whom I had the honour of speaking, confided -to me, under the seal of secrecy--for she knows that, although I am a -servant of Don Sebastian, I take a deep interest in Doña Anita, and -would be glad to see her happy--that the young lady has expressed an -intention to confess." - -"Ah, for what reason! do you know?" - -"No, I do not!" - -"But that desire can be easily satisfied, I presume, there are plenty of -monks and priests attached to the convent." - -"Your observation is just; still it appears that, for reasons I am -equally ignorant of, neither the Mother Superior nor Doña Anita wishes -to have one of those monks or priests for confessor, hence----" - -"Hence?" Don Martial quickly interrupted him. - -"Well, the Mother Superior asked me to bring her a priest or monk in -whom I had confidence." - -"Ah!" - -"You understand, my friend." - -"Yes, yes! Oh, God! go on!" - -"And to take him to the convent." - -"And," Don Martial asked in a choking voice, "have you found this -confessor?" - -"I believe so," the capataz answered with a smile; "and pray, what do -you think, Don Martial?" - -"Yes, I do too," he exclaimed joyfully. "At what time are you to take -this confessor to the convent?" - -"Tomorrow, at the Oración." - -"Very good, and I presume you have arranged a place to meet him?" - -"Caspita! I should think so; he is to meet me at the Parian, where I -shall be at the first stroke of the Oración." - -"I am certain that he will be punctual!" - -"And so am I; and now, señor, do you consider that you have lost your -time in listening to me?" - -"On the contrary," Don Martial replied, as he offered him his hand with -a smile, "I consider you a first-rate hand at telling a story." - -"You flatter me." - -"No, indeed I do not. I consider, too, that the nuns of St. Bernard are -excellent and holy women." - -"Caspita! I should think so; they have a relation of mine as portress." - -The two men burst into a frank and hearty laugh, whose explosion no one -could have anticipated from the way in which their interview began. - -"Now, we must separate," the capataz said, as he rose. - -"What, already?" - -"I have to accompany my master tonight on an excursion outside the city." - -"Some plot, I presume?" - -"I am afraid so; but what would you have; I am forced to obey." - -"In that case, turn me out of doors." - -"That is what I am going to do; by-the-bye, have you seen Don Valentine -since you arrived?" - -"Not yet. This long delay makes me anxious, and if it were not so late, -or if I knew my road, I would go and ask hospitality of Don Antonio -Rallier, his fellow countryman, so as to obtain news of him." - -"That is of no consequence. Do you know Don Antonio's address?" - -"Yes, he lives in the Secunda Monterilla." - -"It is close by; if you wish it, I will have you taken there." - -"I should feel greatly obliged; but by whom?" - -"Caspita! have you forgotten the man to whom you intrusted your horse? -He will act as your guide." - -"A thousand thanks!" - -"It is not worth them. Will you take a walk tomorrow in the Parian?" - -"I am so anxious to see your confessor that I shall not fail to be -there." - -The two men smiled again. - -"Now, give me your hand, and let us be off." - -They went out of the room; the capataz led the Tigrero by the same -passage, walking along in the darkness as if it were broad day, and -they soon found themselves beneath the zaguán of the small house. The -capataz thrust his head out, after opening the door cautiously. The -street was deserted, and after looking up and down it, he whistled in -a peculiar way, and in a few minutes footsteps were heard and the peon -appeared holding the Tigrero's horse by the bridle. - -"Good bye, señor," the capataz said. "I thank you for the delightful -evening you have caused me to spend. Pilloto, lead this señor, who is a -forastero, to the Secunda Monterilla, and point out to him the house of -Señor Don Antonio Rallier." - -"Yes, mi amo," the peon answered laconically. - -The two friends exchanged a parting salutation; the Tigrero mounted, -and followed Pilloto, while the capataz re-entered the house and closed -the door after him. After numberless turnings and windings, the rider -and the footman at length entered a street which, from its width, the -Tigrero suspected to form part of the fashionable quarter. - -"This is the Secunda Monterilla," said the peon, "and that gentleman," -he added, pointing to a horseman who was coming toward them, followed by -three footmen also mounted, and well-armed, "is the very Don Antonio you -are looking for." - -"You are sure of it?" the Tigrero asked. - -"Caray! I know him well." - -"If that is the case, accept this piastre, my friend, and go home, for I -no longer need your services." - -The peon bowed and retired. During the conversation the newcomer had -halted in evident alarm. - -"'Tis I, Don Antonio," the Tigrero shouted to him. "Come on without -fear--I am a friend." - -"Oh, oh! it is very late to meet a friend in the street," Don Antonio -answered, though he advanced without hesitation, after laying his hand -on his weapon to guard against a surprise. - -"I am Martial, the Tigrero." - -"Oh, that is different; what do you want? A lodging, eh? I will have you -led to my house by a servant, and there leave you till tomorrow, as I am -in a hurry." - -"Agreed; but allow me one word." - -"Speak!" - -"Where is Don Valentine?" - -"Do you want to see him?" - -"Excessively." - -"Then come with me, for I am going to him!" - -"Heaven has sent him thus opportunely," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he -drew his horse up alongside Don Antonio's. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE VELORIO. - - -It was very late when the conspirators separated, and when the last -groups of officers left the rancho, the sound of the Indian horses and -mules proceeding to market was audible on the paved highway. Although -the darkness was still thick, the stars were beginning to die out in the -heavens, the cold was becoming sharper--in a word, all foretold that day -would soon break. - -The two travellers had seated themselves again at a corner of the table, -opposite one another, and were dumb and motionless as statues. The host -walked about the room with a busy air, apparently arranging and clearing -up, but very anxious in reality, and desirous, in his heart, to be rid -as soon as possible of these two singular customers, whose silence and -sobriety inspired him with but slight confidence. - -At length the person who had always spoken on his own behalf and that -of his companion struck the table twice, and the landlord hurried up at -this summons. - -"What do you wish for, excellency?" he asked, with an obsequious air. - -"I tell you what, landlord," the stranger continued, "it strikes me that -your criado is a long time in returning; he ought to have been back -before this." - -"Pardon me, excellency, but it is a long journey from here to the -Secunda Monterilla, especially when you are obliged to walk it. Still, I -believe the peon will soon be back." - -"May Heaven hear you! Give us each a glass of tamarind water." - -At this moment, when the landlord brought the draught, there was a tap -at the door. - -"Perhaps it is our man," the stranger said. - -"That is possible, your excellency," the landlord answered, as he went -to open the door on the chain, which left only a passage of a few -inches, much too narrow for the visitor to enter the house against the -wish of its owner. This precautionary measure, which is at once very -prudent and simple, is generally adopted all through Mexico, owing -to the slight confidence with which the police organization in this -blessed country, which is the refuge of scoundrels of every description, -inspires the inhabitants. - -After exchanging a few words in a low voice with the new arrival, the -landlord unhooked the chain and opened the door. - -"Excellency," he said to the stranger, who was slowly sipping his -tamarind water, "here is your messenger." - -"At last," the traveller said, gladly, as he placed his horn mug on the -table. - -The peon entered, politely doffed his hat and bowed. - -"Well, my friend," the stranger asked him, "did you find the person to -whom I sent you?" - -"Yes, excellency, I had the good fortune to find him at home on his -return from a tertulia in the Calle San Agustin." - -"Ah, ah! and what did he say on receiving my note?" - -"Well, excellency, he is a caballero, for sure; for he first gave me -a piastre, and then said to me, 'Go back as quick as you can walk, -and tell the gentleman who sent you that I shall be at the meeting he -appoints as soon as yourself.'" - -"So that----" - -"He will probably be here in a few minutes." - -"Very good, you are a clever lad," the stranger answered; "here is -another piastre for you, and now you can retire." - -"Thanks, your excellency," the peon said, joyfully pocketing his -piastre. "Caray! I should be a rich man with only two nights a month -like this." - -And after bowing a second time, he left the room to go and sleep, in -all probability, in the corral. The peon had told the truth, for he -had scarce left the room ten minutes ere a rather loud voice was heard -without: horses stamped, and not only was the door struck, but there -were several loud calls. - -"Open the door without fear," the stranger said; "I know that voice." - -The ranchero obeyed, and several persons entered the inn. - -"At last you have returned, my dear Valentine," the newcomer exclaimed -in French, as he walked quickly towards the travellers, who, for their -part, went to meet him. - -"Thanks for your promptitude in responding to my invitation, my dear -Rallier," the hunter answered. - -The ranchero bit his lips on hearing them talk in a language he did not -understand. - -"Hum! they are Ingleses," he muttered spitefully. "I suspected they must -be gringos." - -It is a general rule with the lower class Mexicans that all foreigners -are English, and consequently hunters or gringos. - -"Come here, Ño Lusacho," Valentine said, addressing the landlord, who -was turning his hat between his fingers with an air of considerable -embarrassment, "I have to talk on important matters with these -gentlemen, and as I do not wish to be disturbed by you, I propose that -you should give me up this room for an hour." - -"Excellency," he muttered. - -"I understand, you expect to be paid. Very good, I will pay you, but on -condition that no one, not even yourself, comes in till I call." - -"Still, your excellency----." - -"Listen to me without interruption. Day will not break for two hours, so -you will not open your rancho till then, and, consequently, you have no -customers to expect. I will pay an ounce for each hour; will that suit -you?" - -"I should think so, your excellency; at that price I will sell you the -whole day if you wish." - -"That is not necessary," the hunter said, with a laugh; "but you -understand I want fair play--no ears on the listen, or eyes at the slits -of the panelling." - -"I am an honest man, your excellency." - -"I am ready to believe so; but I warn you, because in the event of my -seeing an eye or an ear lap, I shall immediately fire a bullet at it as -a recommendation to prudence, and I have the ill luck to be a dead shot. -Does the bargain suit you with those conditions?" - -"Perfectly, your excellency. I shall keep a strict watch over my people, -so that you shall not be disturbed." - -"You are a splendid landlord, and I predict that you will make a rapid -fortune, for I see that you thoroughly understand your own interests." - -"I try to satisfy the gentry who honour my poor abode with their -presence." - -"Excellently reasoned! Here are the two promised ounces, and four -piastres in the bargain for the refreshments you are going to serve us. -Have these gentlemen's horses taken to the corral, and have the goodness -to leave us." - -The landlord bowed with a grimacing smile, brought, with a speed far -from common with people of his calling, the refreshments ordered, and -gave the hunter a deep bow. - -"Now," he said, "your excellency is in your own house, and no one shall -enter without your orders." - -While Valentine was making this bargain with the ranchero, his friends -remained silent, laughing inwardly at the hunter's singular mode of -proceeding, and the unanswerable arguments he employed to avoid an -espionage almost always to be found in such places, when the master does -not scruple to betray those who pay him best. - -"Now," said Valentine, so soon as the door closed behind the landlord, -"we shall talk at least in safety." - -"Speak Spanish, my friend," said M. Rallier. - -"Why so? It is so delightful to converse in one's own tongue, when, -like me, you have so few opportunities for doing so. I assure you that -Curumilla will not feel offended." - -"Hum; I did not say this on behalf of the chief, whose friendship for -you I am well acquainted with." - -"Who then?" - -"For Don Martial, who has accompanied me, and has important matters to -communicate to you." - -"Oh, oh, that changes the question," said the hunter, at once -substituting Spanish for the French he had hitherto employed. "Are you -there, my dear Don Martial?" - -"Yes, señor," the Tigrero answered, emerging from the gloom in which he -had remained up to this moment, "and very happy to see you." - -"Who else have you brought with you, Don Antonio?" - -"Me, my friend," said a third person, as he let the folds of his cloak -fall. "My brother thought that it would be better to have a companion, -in the event of an alarm." - -"Your brother was right, my dear Edward, and I thank him for the good -idea, which procures me the pleasure of shaking your hand a few moments -sooner. And now, señores, if you are agreeable, we will sit down and -talk, for, if I am not mistaken, we have certain things to tell each -other which are most important for us." - -"That is true!" Antonio Rallier answered, as he sat down, in which he -was immediately imitated by the rest. - -"If you like," Valentine continued, "we will proceed in regular -rotation; that is, I fancy, the way to finish more quickly, for you know -that moments are precious." - -"First, and before all else, my friend," said Antonio Rallier, "permit -me to thank you once again, in my own name and that of my family, for -the services you rendered me in our journey across the Rocky Mountains. -Without you, without your watchful friendship and courageous devotion, -we should never have emerged from those frightful gorges, but must have -perished miserably in them." - -"What good is it, my friend, to recall at this moment----" - -"Because," Antonio Rallier continued eagerly, "I wish you to be -thoroughly convinced that you can dispose of us all as you please. Our -arms, purses, and hearts, all belong to you." - -"I know it, my friend, and you see that I have not hesitated to make -use of you, at the risk even of compromising you. So let us leave this -subject, and come to facts. What have you done?" - -"I have literally followed your instructions; according to your wish, I -have hired and furnished for you a house in Tacuba Street." - -"Pardon me, but you know that I am very slightly acquainted with Mexico, -for I have visited that city but rarely, and each time without stopping." - -"The Tacuba is one of the principal streets in Mexico; it faces the -palace, and is close to the street in which I reside with my family." - -"That is famous. And in whose name did you take the house?" - -"In that of Don Serapio de la Ronda. Your servants arrived two days ago." - -"You mean----" - -"I mean Belhumeur and Black Elk; the former is your steward and the -latter your valet. They have made all the arrangements, and you can -arrive when you please." - -"Today, then." - -"I will act as your guide." - -"Thank you; what next?" - -"Next, my brother Edward has taken, in his own name, at the San Lázaro -gate, a small house, where ten horses, belonging to the purest mustang -breed, were at once placed in a magnificent corral." - -"That concerns Curumilla; he will live in that house with your brother." - -"And now one other thing, my friend." - -"Speak!" - -"You will not be angry with me?" - -"With you? nonsense!" said Valentine, holding out his hand. - -"Not knowing whether you had sufficient funds at your disposal--and you -will agree with me that you will require a large sum----?" - -"I know it. Well?" - -"Well, I----" - -"I see I must come to your assistance, my poor Antonio. As you believe -me a poor devil of a hunter not possessed of a farthing, and are so -delicate minded yourself, you have placed in a corner of the room, or -in some article of furniture, of which you want to give me the key and -don't know how, fifty or perhaps one hundred thousand piastres, with the -reservation to offer me more, should not that sum prove sufficient." - -"Would you be angry with me had I done so?" - -"On the contrary, I should be most grateful to you." - -"In that case I am glad." - -"Glad of what, my dear Antonio?" - -"That you accept the hundred thousand piastres." - -Valentine smiled. - -"I am delighted to find that you are the man I judged you to be. Still, -while thanking you from my heart for the service you wish to render me, -I do not accept it." - -"Do you refuse, Valentine?" he said mournfully. - -"Let us understand each other, my friend. I do not refuse; I simply tell -you that I do not want the money, and here is the proof," he added, -as he took from his pocket a folded paper, which, he handed to his -countryman, "you, as a banker, may know the firm of Thornwood, Davison, -and Co." - -"It is the richest in San Francisco." - -"Then open that paper and read." - -Mr. Rallier obeyed. - -"An unlimited credit opened at my house," he exclaimed in a voice -tremulous with joy. - -"Does that displease you?" Valentine asked with a smile. - -"On the contrary; but you must be rich in that case." - -A cloud of sadness passed over the hunter's forehead. - -"I have grieved you, my friend." - -"Alas! as you know, there are certain wounds which never close. Yes, my -friend, I am rich; Curumilla, Belhumeur, and myself alone, now that my -foster-mother is dead, know in Apacheria the richest placer that exists -in the world. It was for the purpose of going to this placer that I did -not accompany you to Mexico; now you understand; but what do I care for -this incalculable fortune, when my heart is dead, and the joy of my life -is for ever annihilated!" - -And under the weight of the deep emotion that crushed him, the hunter -hung his head down and stifled a sob. Curumilla arose amid the general -silence, for no one ventured to offer ordinary consolation for this -grief, and laid his hand on Valentine's shoulder-- - -"Koutonepi," he said to him in a hollow voice, "remember that you have -sworn to avenge our brother." - -The hunter drew himself up as if stung by a serpent, and pressing the -hand the Indian offered him, he looked at him for a moment with strange -fixedness. - -"Women alone weep for the dead, because they are unable to avenge them," -the Indian continued in the same harsh, cutting accent. - -"Yes, you are right," the hunter answered with feverish energy; "I thank -you, chief, for having recalled me to myself." - -Curumilla laid his friend's hand on his heart, and stood for an instant -motionless; at length he let it fall, sat down again, and wrapping -himself in his zarapé, he returned to his habitual silence, from which -so grave a circumstance alone could have aroused him. Valentine passed -his hand twice over his forehead, which was bathed in cold perspiration, -and attempted a faint smile. - -"Forgive me, my friends, for having forgotten, during a moment, the -character I have assumed," he said in a gentle voice. - -Their hands were silently extended to him. - -"Now," he exclaimed in a firm voice, in whose notes traces of the past -tempest were still audible, "let us speak of that poor Doña Anita de -Torrés." - -"Alas!" said the elder Rallier, "I cannot tell you anything, although -my sister Helena, her companion at the Convent of the Bernardines, to -which I sent her in accordance with your wish, has let me know that she -would have grand news for us in a few days." - -"I will give you that news, with your permission," Don Martial said -at this moment, suddenly joining in the conversation, to which he had -hitherto listened with great indifference. - -"Do you know anything?" Valentine asked him. - -"Yes, something most important; that is why I was so anxious to speak -with you." - -"Speak then, my friend, speak, we are listening." - -The Tigrero, without further pressing, at once reported, in the fullest -details, his interview with Don Sebastian Guerrero's capataz. The three -Frenchmen listened with the most serious attention, and when he had -finished his story, Valentine rose-- - -"Let us be off, señores," he said, "we have no time to lose; perhaps -heaven offers us, at this moment, the opportunity we have been so long -awaiting." - -The others rose without asking the hunter for any explanation, and a -few minutes later Valentine and his comrades were galloping along the -highway in the direction of Mexico. - -"I do not know what diabolical plot they are forming," Ño Lusacho -muttered, on seeing them disappear in the distance; "but they are worthy -gentlemen, and let the ounces slip through their fingers like so much -water." - -And he entered the rancho, the door of which he now left open, for day -was breaking. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES. - - -The history of colonies is the same everywhere, that is to say, that you -find the old belief, the forgotten manners and customs of the mother -country intact, and almost exaggerated. - -Mexico was to Spain what Canada still is to France. In Mexico we, -therefore, find the Spain of the monks, with all the abuses of a -degenerate monastic life; for we are compelled to state that with -few, very few exceptions, the monks of Mexico are far from leading an -exemplary life. A few years ago a Papal legate arrived at Mexico, who -had been sent to try and introduce into the monasteries reforms which -had become urgent; but he soon recognized the impossibility of success, -and returned as he came. This is the history of yesterday and today, and -in the way things are going on, it will be the history of tomorrow. - -In spite of the innumerable revolutions the Mexican monks are still -very rich. Among other uses to which they put their money, the best is, -perhaps, lending it out at six per cent., which, let us hasten to add, -is a great blessing in a country where the ordinary interest on borrowed -money is sixteen to eighteen per cent. Still, it appears to us, and we -trust the remark will not be taken in bad part, but little in harmony -with the vocation of the monks and the pure doctrines of religion, which -is so opposed to lending money out at interest, for it has ever seen in -it disguised usury. - -We will add, at the risk of incurring the blame of some persons, and -of appearing to emit a paradox, that in this collection of Christian -religious buildings there seems to be kept up the tradition of the -great Mexican Teocali, which contained within its walls seventy-eight -buildings devoted to the Aztec worship. - -In the first place, what is the religion professed in Spanish America? -It certainly is not the Catholic faith; and this we can affirm with a -safe conscience, and supply proof if necessary. The Americans of the -south, like all southern peoples, are instinctively Pagans, fond of -war and holidays, making a god of each saint, adoring the Virgin under -a hundred different forms, digging up the old Aztec idols, placing -them in all the Mexican churches, and offering them worship under the -characteristic denomination of Santos antiguos, or ancient saints. - -What can be said after this? Simply that the Hispano-Americans never -understood the religion they were compelled to profess; that they care -but very little for it, and in their hearts cling to their old worship -in the terrific proportion of the native to the European population, -that is to say two-thirds to one. Hence the demoralization of the -masses, which is justly complained of, but is the fault of those persons -who, at the outset, believed they could establish the religion of -Christ in their countries by fire and sword--a system, we are bound to -add, scrupulously followed by the Spanish clergy, up to the Proclamation -of the Independence of the colonies. - -The Convent of the Bernardines is situated but a short distance from -the Paseo de Bucareli. Not one of the religious communities for women -scattered over Mexico is so rich as this one, for the kings of Spain -and nobles of the highest rank gave it large endowments, which, in the -course of time, have grown into an immense fortune. - -The vast site occupied by the Convent of the Bernardines, the thick -walls that surround it, and the numerous domes that crown it, -sufficiently indicate the importance it enjoys at the present day. - -Like all the Mexican convents, and especially that at San Francisco, to -which it bears a distant resemblance, the Convent of the Bernardines is -defended by thick walls, flanked by massive buttresses, which give it -the appearance of a fortress. Still the peaceful belfries, and their -cupolas of enamelled porcelain covering so many chapels, allow the pious -destination of the edifice to be recognized. An immense paved court -leads to the principal chapel, which is adorned with a luxury that it -would be difficult to form an idea of in our sceptical Europe. - -Behind this first court is the space reserved for the nuns, consisting -of immense cloisters, adorned with pictures by old masters, and white -jasper basins from which limpid fountains rise. Next come immense -huertas with umbrageous walks, wide courtyards, a rich and valuable -library in which the scientific wealth of Mexico lies buried, eight -spacious, comfortable, and airy dormitories, four hundred cells for -the nuns, and a refectory in which four hundred guests can sit without -crowding. - -On the day when we introduce the reader into the Convent of the -Bernardines, at about five in the evening, three persons, collected in -a leafy arbour, almost at the end of the garden, were talking together -with considerable animation. - -Of these persons, one, the eldest, was a nun, while the other two, girls -of from sixteen to eighteen years of age, wore the garb of novices. - -The first was the Mother Superior of the convent, a lady of about fifty -years of age, with delicate and aristocratic features, gentle manners, -and noble and majestic demeanour, whose face displayed kindness and -intelligence. - -The second was Doña Anita; we will not draw her portrait, for the reader -has long been acquainted with her.[1] The poor girl, however, was pale -and white as a corpse, her fever-parched eyes were not easy, fixed on -any object, and she looked about her hurriedly and desperately. - -The third was Doña Helena Rallier, a light-haired, blue-eyed girl, with -a saucy look, whose velvety cheeks, and noble and well-defined features, -revealed the candour and innocence of youth, combined with the laughing -expressions of a boarder spoiled by an indulgent governess. - -Doña Helena was standing a little outside the arbour, leaning against -a tree, and seemed like a vigilant sentry carefully watching lest the -conversation between the Mother Superior and her companion should be -disturbed. - -Doña Anita, seated on a stone bench by the side of the Abbess, with her -hand in the elder lady's, and her head resting on her shoulder, was -speaking to her in a faltering voice and broken sentences which found -difficulty in passing her parted lips, while the tears silently ran down -her cheeks, which suffering had rendered pale. - -"My kind mother," she said, and her voice, was harmonious as the sigh -of an Æolian harp, "I know not how to thank you for your inexhaustible -kindness towards me. Alas! you are at present my only friend; why may -I not be allowed to remain always by your side? I should be so glad to -take my vows and pass my life in this convent under your benevolent -protection." - -"My dear child," the Abbess said gently, "God is great, his power is -infinite; hence, why despair? Alas! doubt leads to denial; you are still -almost a child. Who knows what joy and happiness the future may still -have in store for you?" - -The maiden gave a heavy sigh. "Alas!" she murmured, "the future no -longer exists for me, my kind mother; a poor orphan, abandoned without -protection to the power of an unnatural relation, I must endure fearful -tortures, and, under his iron yoke, lead a life of suffering and grief." - -"Child," the Abbess said, with gentle sternness, "do not blaspheme; you -are still ignorant, I repeat, of what the future may have in store for -you. You are ungrateful at this moment--ungrateful and selfish." - -"I ungrateful! holy mother!" the maiden objected. - -"Yes, you are ungrateful, Anita, to us and to yourself. Do you consider -it nothing, after the frightful misfortune that burst on you, to have -returned to this convent in which your childhood was spent, and to have -found among us that family which the world refused you? Is it nothing to -have near you hearts that pity you, and voices that incessantly urge you -to have courage?" - -"Courage, sister," Doña Helena's sweet voice said at this moment, like a -soft echo. - -The maiden hid her lovely tear-bedewed face in the bosom of the Mother -Superior. - -"Pardon me, mother," she continued, "pardon me, but I am crushed by this -struggle, which I have carried on so long without hope. The courage -you attempt to give me cannot, in spite of my efforts, penetrate to my -heart, for I have the fatal conviction that, whatever you may do, you -will not succeed in preventing the frightful misfortune suspended over -my head." - -"Let us reason a little, my child, like sensible persons; up to the -present, at least, we have succeeded in concealing from everybody the -happy return of your senses." - -"Happy!" she sighed. - -"Yes, happy; for with the intellect faith, that is to say, strength, -returned to you. Well, while your guardian believes you still insane, -and is compelled, in spite of himself, to suspend his schemes with -reference to you, I have been employing all the influence my high -position gives me, and my family connections. I have had a petition on -your behalf presented to the President of the Republic by sure hands; -this petition is supported by the greatest names in Mexico, and I ask in -it that the marriage with which you are menaced may not be contracted -against your will; in a word, I ask that your guardian may be prevented -taking any steps till you are in a proper condition to say yes or no." - -"Have you really done that, my good mother?" the maiden exclaimed, as -she threw her arms in real delight round the elder lady's neck. - -"Yes, I have done so, my child, and I am expecting every moment a reply, -which I hope will be favourable." - -"Oh, mother, my real mother, if that succeeds I shall be saved." - -"Do not go from one extreme to the other, my child; all is uncertain -yet, and heaven alone knows whether we shall be successful." - -"Oh, God will not abandon a poor orphan." - -"God, my child, chastens those He loves; have confidence in Him, and his -right hand will be extended over you to sustain you in adversity." - -"Sister Redemption is coming this way, holy mother," Doña Helena said at -this moment. - -At a sign from the Mother Superior, Doña Anita withdrew to the other end -of the bench on which she was seated, folded her arms on her chest, and -let her head droop. - -"Are you looking for our mother, sister?" Doña Helena asked a rather -elderly lay sister, who was looking to the right and left as if really -seeking somebody. - -"Yes, sister," the lay sister answered, "I wish to deliver a message -with which I am entrusted for our mother." - -"Then enter this arbour, sister, and you will find her reposing there." - -The lay sister entered the arbour, approached the Mother Superior, -stopped modestly three paces from her, folded her arms on her breast, -looked down respectfully, and waited till she was spoken to. - -"What do you desire, daughter?" the Mother Superior asked her. - -"Your blessing, in the first place, holy mother," the lay sister -answered. - -"I can give it you, daughter; and now what message have you for me?" - -"Holy mother, a gentleman of lofty bearing, called Don Serapio de la -Ronda, wishes to speak with you privately; the sister porter took him -into the parlour, where he is waiting for you." - -"I will be with him directly, daughter; tell the sister porter to -apologize in my name to the gentleman, if I keep him waiting longer than -I like, owing to my advanced age. Go on, I follow you." - -The lay sister bowed respectfully to the abbess, and went away to -deliver the message with which she was entrusted. The abbess rose, and -the two girls sprang forward to support her; but she stopped them. - -"Remain here till the Oración, my children," she said to them, "converse -together; but be prudent, and do not let yourselves be surprised; after -the Oración, you will come and converse in my cell." - -Then after giving Doña Anita a parting kiss, the Mother Superior went -away, sorely troubled in mind at this visit from a man she did not know, -and whose name she now heard for the first time. When she entered the -parlour, the abbess examined with a hasty glance the person who asked to -see her, and who, on perceiving her, rose from his chair, and bowed to -her respectfully. This first glance was favourable to the stranger, in -whom the reader has doubtless already recognized Valentine Guillois. - -"Pray resume your seat, caballero," the abbess said to him, "if your -conversation is to last any time, we shall talk more comfortably when -sitting." - -Valentine bowed, offered the lady a chair, and then returned to his own. - -"Señor Don Serapio de la Ronda was announced to me," the lady continued -after a short silence. - -"I am that gentleman, madam," Valentine said courteously. - -"I am at your orders, caballero, and ready to listen to any -communication you may have to make." - -"Madam, I have nothing personal to say to you; I am merely commissioned -by the Minister of the Home Department to deliver you this letter, to -which I have a few words to add." - -While uttering this sentence with exquisite politeness, Valentine -offered the abbess a letter bearing the ministerial arms. - -"Pray open the letter, madam," he added, on seeing that, through -politeness, she held it in her hand unopened, "you must render yourself -acquainted with its contents in order to understand the meaning of the -words I have to add." - -The abbess, who in her heart was impatient to know what the minister had -to say to her, offered no objection, and broke the seal of the letter, -which she hurriedly perused. On reading it a lively expression of joy -lit up her face. - -"Then," she exclaimed, "his excellency deigns to grant my request?" - -"Yes, madam; you remain, until fresh orders, responsible for your -young charge. You have only to deal with the minister in the matter; -and," he added, with a purposed stress on the words, "in the event of -General Guerrero, the guardian of Doña Anita, trying to force you into -surrendering her to him, you are authorized to conceal the young lady, -who is for so many reasons an object of interest, in any house of the -order you please." - -"Oh, señor," she answered, her eyes filling with tears of joy, "pray -thank his excellency in my name for the act of justice he has deigned to -perform in favour of this unfortunate young lady." - -"I will have that honour, madam," Valentine said, as he rose; "and now -that I have delivered my message, permit me to take leave of you, while -congratulating myself that I was selected by his Excellency the Minister -to be his intermediary with you." - -At the moment when Valentine left the convent, Carnero entered it, -accompanied by a monk, whose hood was pulled down over his face. The -hunter and the capataz exchanged a side glance, but did not speak. - - -[1] See "Tiger Slayer." Same publishers. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE CONFESSOR. - - -Mexico, as we have already stated, was, after the conquest, completely -rebuilt on the original plan, so that, at the present day, it offers -nearly the same sight as struck Cortez when he entered it for the first -time. The Plaza Mayor, especially, some years back, before the French -innovations, more or less good, were introduced, offered towards evening -a most picturesque scene. - -This immense square is bounded on one side by the Portales de -Mercaderes; heavy arches supported on one side by immense stones, and on -the other by pilasters, at the foot of which are the alacenas or shops. - -The ayuntamiento, the president's palace, the cathedral, the sagrario, -the portal de las flores, an immense bazaar for merchandize, and the -Parian, also a bazaar, complete, or rather completed, at the period when -our history takes place, the fourth side of the square, for recently -great changes have taken place, and the Parian, among other buildings, -has disappeared. The handsomest streets, such as the Tacuba, Mint, -Monterilla, Santo Domingo, etc., debouche on the great square. - -The cathedral stands exactly on the site of the ancient great Mexican -Teocali, all the buildings of which it has absorbed; unfortunately this -building, which is externally splendid, does not come up internally to -the idea formed of it, for its ornaments are in bad taste, poor and -paltry. - -Between five and six in the evening, or a few minutes before Oración, -the appearance of the Plaza Mayor becomes really fairy-like. The crowd -of strollers--a strange crowd were there ever one--flocks up from all -sides at once, composed of horsemen, pedestrians, officers, priests, -soldiers, campesinos, leperos, Indian women in red petticoats, ladies of -fashion in their sayas, and all the people come, go, cross and jostle -each other, mingling their conversation with the cries of children, -the vociferations of the leperos, who torment purchasers with their -impetuosity, and the shrill appeals of the sellers of tamales and -queratero, crouching in the shade of the porticos. - -A few minutes before the Oración, a Franciscan monk, recognizable by his -blue gown, and silken cord round his waist, and whose large white felt -hat, pulled down over the eyes, almost completely concealed his face, -came from the Calle Monterilla, and entered the Plaza Mayor. - -This man, who was tall and apparently powerfully built, walked slowly, -with hanging head and arms crossed on his chest, as if plunged in -serious reflection. Instead of entering the thronged Portales, he -crossed the square and proceeded towards the Parian, which was very -lively at the moment, for the Parian was a bazaar, resembling the Temple -of Paris, and was visited at this period by persons, the leanness of -whose purses only allowed them to purchase here their jewellery and -smart clothing, which, in any other part of the city would have been -much too expensive for them. - -Not attending to the noise or movement around him, the Franciscan leant -his shoulder against the stall of an evangelista, or public writer, and -looked absently and wearily across the square. He did not remain long in -this position, however, for just after he had reached the Parian, the -Oración began. At the first peal of the cathedral bells, all the noises -ceased in the square; the crowd stopped, heads were uncovered, and each -muttered a short prayer in a low voice. - -At the last stroke of the Oración, a hand was laid on the Franciscan's -shoulder, while a voice whispered in his ear-- - -"You are exact to the rendezvous, Señor Padre." - -"I am performing my duty, my son," the monk at once answered, turning -round. - -In the person who addressed him he doubtless recognized a friend, for he -offered him his hand by a spontaneous movement. - -"Are you still resolved to attempt the adventure?" the first speaker -continued. - -"More than ever, señor." - -"Bear in mind that you must not mention my name; we do not know each -other; you are a monk from the San Franciscan monastery, whom I fetched -to confess a young novice at the Convent of the Bernardines. It is -understood that you do not know who I am?" - -"My brother, we poor monks are at the service of the afflicted; our duty -orders us to help them when they claim our support; as we have no name -for society, we are forbidden to ask that of those who summon us." - -"Excellently spoken," the other replied, repressing a smile. "You are -a monk according to my own heart. I see that I am not deceived with -respect to you; come then, my father, we must not keep the person -waiting who is expecting us." - -The Franciscan bowed his assent, placed himself in the right of his -singular friend, and both went away from the Parian, where the noise -had become louder than ever, after the angelos had ceased ringing. The -two men passed unnoticed through the crowd, and walked in the direction -of the Convent of the Bernardines, going along silently, side by side. - -We have said that at the convent gate they passed Don Serapio de la -Ronda, that is to say, Valentine Guillois, and that the three men -exchanged a side glance full of meaning. The sister porter made no -objection to admitting the Franciscan; and his guide, so soon as he -saw him inside the convent, took leave of him after exchanging a few -commonplace compliments with the sister. The latter respectfully led the -monk into a parlour, and after begging him to wait a moment, went away -to inform the Mother Superior of the arrival of the confessor whom the -young novice had requested to see. - -We will leave the Franciscan for a little while to his meditations, and -return to the two young ladies whom we left in the garden. So soon as -the abbess had withdrawn, they drew closer together, Doña Helena taking -the seat on the bench previously occupied by the abbess. - -"My dear Anita," she said, "let me profit by the few minutes we are left -alone to impart to you the contents of a letter I received this morning; -I feared that I should be unable to do so, and yet it seems to me that -what I have to tell you is most important." - -"What do you mean, my dear Helena? Does the letter to which you refer -interest me?" - -"I cannot positively explain to you, but it will be sufficient for you -to know that my brothers are very intimate with a countryman of ours who -takes the greatest interest in you, and what I have to tell you relates -to this Frenchman." - -"That is strange," said Doña Anita, pausing. "I never knew but one -Frenchman, and I have told you the sad story which was the cause of all -the misfortunes that overwhelmed me. But the Frenchman whom my father -wished me to marry died under frightful circumstances; then who can this -gentleman be who takes so lively an interest in me--do you know him?" - -"Very slightly," the young lady answered with a blush, "but sufficiently -to be able to assure you that he possesses a noble heart. He does not -know you personally; but," she added, as she drew a letter from her -bosom, and opened it, "this is the passage in my brother's letter which -refers to you and him. Shall I read it to you?" - -"Pray read it, my dear Helena, for I know the friendship you and your -family entertain for me; hence, it is with the greatest pleasure I -receive news of your brothers." - -"Listen then," the young lady continued, and she read, after seeking for -the passage-- - -"'Valentine begs me, dear sister, to ask you to tell your friend'--that -is you," she said, breaking off. - -"Go on," Doña Anita answered, whose curiosity had been aroused by the -name Helena had pronounced, though it was impossible for her to know -who that person was. - -"'To tell your friend,' Doña Helena continued, 'that the confessor she -asked for will come to the convent this very day after the Oración. Doña -Anita must arm herself with courage, which is as necessary to endure -joy as grief, for she will learn today some news possessing immense -importance for the future.' That is underlined," the young lady added, -as she bent over to her friend, and pointed to the sentence with the tip -of her rosy finger. - -"That is strange," Doña Anita murmured. "Alas! what news can I learn?" - -"Who knows?" said her young companion, and then continued--"'Before -all, Doña Anita must be prudent; and however extraordinary what she -hears may appear to her, she must be careful to conceal the effect -produced by this revelation, for she must not forget that if she have -devoted friends, she is closely watched by all-powerful enemies, and the -slightest imprudence would hopelessly neutralize all the efforts that -we are making to save her. You cannot, my dear sister, lay sufficient -stress on this recommendation.' The rest," the maiden added, with a -smile, "only relates to myself, and it is, therefore, unnecessary for me -to read it to you." - -And she refolded the letter, which disappeared in her dress again. - -"And now, my darling, you are warned," she said; "so be prudent." - -"Good heaven! I do not understand the letter at all, nor do I know the -Valentine to whom it alludes. It was by your advice that I asked for a -confessor." - -"That is to say, by my brother's advice, who, as you know, Anita, placed -me here, not merely because I love you as a sister, but also to support -and encourage you." - -"And I am grateful both to you and him for it, dear Helena; if I had -not you near me, in spite of the friendship our worthy and kind mother -condescends to grant me, I should long ago have succumbed to my grief." - -"The question is not about me at this moment, my darling, but -solely about yourself. However obscure and mysterious my brother's -recommendation may be, I know him to be too earnest and too truly kind -for me to neglect it. Hence I cannot find language strong enough to urge -you to prudence." - -"I seek in vain to guess what the news is to which he refers; and I -acknowledge that I feel a secret repugnance to see the confessor he -announces to me. Alas! I have everything to fear, and nothing to hope -now." - -"Silence," Doña Helena said, quietly. "I hear the sound of footsteps in -the walk leading to this arbour. Someone is coming. So we must not let -ourselves be surprised." - -"In fact, almost at the same moment the lay sister, who had already -informed the Mother Superior of the arrival of Don Serapio de la Ronda, -appeared at the entrance of the arbour. - -"Señorita," she said, addressing Doña Helena, "our holy mother abbess -wishes to speak to you as well as to Doña Anita without delay. She is -waiting for you in her private cell in the company of a holy Franciscan -monk." - -The maidens exchanged a glance, and a transient flush appeared on Doña -Anita's pale cheeks. - -"We will follow you, sister," Doña Helena replied. The maidens rose; -Doña Helena passed her arm through her companion's, and stooping down, -whispered in her ear-- - -"Courage, Querida." - -They followed the lay sister, who led them to the Mother Superior's -cell, and discreetly withdrew on reaching the door. The abbess appeared -to be talking rather excitedly with the Franciscan monk; but, on seeing -the two girls, she ceased speaking, and rose. - -"Come, my child," she said, as she held out her arms to Doña Anita, -"come and thank God who in his infinite goodness has deigned to perform -a miracle on your behalf." - -The maiden stopped through involuntary emotion, and looked wildly around -her. At a sign from the abbess the monk rose, and throwing back his hood -at the same time as he fell on his knees before the maiden, he said to -her in a voice faltering with emotion-- - -"Anita, do you recognize me?" - -At the sound of this voice, whose sympathetic notes made all the fibres -of her heart vibrate, the maiden suddenly drew herself back, tottered -and fell into the arms of Doña Helena, as she shrieked with an accent -impossible to describe-- - -"Martial! oh, Martial!" - -A sob burst from her overcharged bosom, and she burst into tears. She -was saved, since the immense joy she so suddenly experienced had not -killed her. The Tigrero, as weak as the woman he loved, could only find -tears to express all his feelings. - -For some minutes the abbess and Doña Helena trembled lest these two -beings, already so tried by misfortune, would not find within themselves -the necessary strength to resist so terrible an emotion; but a powerful -reaction suddenly took place in the tiger-slayer's mind; he sprang up -at one leap, and seized in his arms the maiden, who, on her side, was -making efforts to rush to him-- - -"Anita, dear Anita," he cried, "I have found you again at last; oh, now -no human power will be able to separate us!" - -"Never, never!" she murmured, as she let her head fall on the young -man's shoulder; "Martial, my beloved Martial, protect me, save me!" - -"Oh, yes, I will save you; angel of my life," he exclaimed, looking up -defiantly to heaven; "we will be united, I swear it to you." - -"Is that the prudence you promised me?" the abbess said, interposing; -"remember the perils of every description that surround you, and the -implacable foes who have sworn your destruction; lock up in your heart -these feelings which, if revealed before one of the countless spies who -watch you, would cause your death and that, perhaps, of the poor girl -you love." - -"Thank you, madam," the Tigrero replied; "thank you for having reminded -me of the part I must play for a few days longer. If I forgot it for -a few seconds, subdued by the passion that devours my heart, I will -henceforth adhere to it carefully. Do not fear lest I should imperil the -happiness that is preparing for me; no, I will restrain my feelings, and -let myself be guided by the counsel of the sincere friends to whom I owe -the moments of ineffable happiness I am now enjoying." - -"Oh! I now understand," Doña Anita exclaimed, "the mysterious hints -given me. Alas! misfortune made me suspicious; so forgive me, heaven, -forgive me, holy mother, and you too, Helena, my kind and faithful -friend. I did not dare hope, and feared a snare." - -"I forgive you, my poor child," the abbess answered; "who could blame -you?" - -Doña Helena pressed her friend to her heart without saying a word. - -"Oh, now our misfortunes are at an end, Anita," the Tigrero exclaimed -passionately; "we have friends who will not abandon us in the supreme -struggle we are engaging in with our common enemy. God, who has hitherto -done everything for us, will not leave his work incomplete; have faith -in Him, my beloved." - -"Martial," the maiden replied, with a firmness that astonished her -hearers, "I was weak because I was alone, but now that I know you live, -and are near me to support me, oh! if I were to fall dead at the feet -of my persecutor, I would not be false to the oath I took to be yours -alone. Believing you dead, I remained faithful to your memory; but now, -if persecution assailed me, I should find the strength to endure it." - -This scene would have been prolonged, but prudence urged that the abbess -should break it off as soon as possible. Doña Anita, rendered strong -merely by the nervous excitement which possessed her, soon felt faint; -she could scarcely stand, and Don Martial himself felt his energy -abandoning him. - -The separation was painful between these two beings so miraculously -re-united when they never expected to see each other again; but it was -soothed by the hope of soon meeting again under the protection of the -Mother Superior, who had done so much for them, and whose inexhaustible -kindness they had entirely gained for their cause. - -For the first time since she had entered the convent, Doña Anita smiled -through her tears, as she offered up to heaven her nightly prayers. -Don Martial went off rapidly to tell Valentine of what had taken place -at this interview, which he had so long desired. Doña Helena, however, -retired pensively to her cell; the maiden was dreaming--of what? - -No one could have said, and probably she herself was ignorant; but, for -some days past, an obtrusive thought unnecessarily occupied her mind, -and constantly troubled the calm mirror in which her virgin thoughts -were reflected. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE. - - -Ambition is the most terrible and deceptious of all human passions, -in the sense that it completely dries up the heart, and can never be -satisfied. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero was not one of those coldly cruel men, -solely governed by the instinct of art, or whom the smell of blood -intoxicates; but, with the implacable logic of ambitious persons, he -went direct to his object, overthrowing, without regret or remorse, all -the obstacles that barred his way to the object he had sworn to reach, -even if he were compelled to wade in blood up to his knees, and trample -on a pile of corpses. He only regarded men as pawns in the great game -of chess he was playing, and strove to justify himself, and stifle the -warnings of his terrified conscience, by the barbarous axiom employed by -the ambitious in all ages and all countries, that the end justifies the -means. - -His secret ambition, which, on a day of pretended frankness, he had -partly revealed in an interview with the Count de Prébois Crancé at -Hermosillo, was not to render himself independent, but simply to be -elected, by means of a well-arranged pronunciamiento, President of the -Mexican Republic. - -It was not through hatred that General Guerrero was so obstinately -bent on destroying the count. Ambitious men, who are ever ready to -sacrifice their feelings to the interests of their gloomy machinations, -know neither hatred nor friendship. Hence we must seek elsewhere the -cause of the judicial murder of the count which was so implacably -carried out. The general feared the count, as an adversary who would -constantly thwart him in Sonora, where the first meshes of the net he -wished to throw over Mexico were spun--an adversary ready to oppose the -execution of his plans by claiming the due performance of the articles -of partnership--a performance which, in the probable event of an -insurrection excited by the general, would have become impossible, by -plunging the country for a lengthened period into a state of crisis and -general suspension of trade, which would have been most hostile to the -success of the lofty conceptions of the noble French adventurer.[1] - -But the count had scarce fallen on the beach of Guaymas ere the general -recognized the falseness of his calculations, and the fault he had -committed in sacrificing him. In fact, leaving out of the question the -death of his daughter, the only being for whom he retained in some -corner of his heart a little of that fire which heaven illumes in all -parents for their children, he found that he had exchanged a loyal and -cautious adversary for an obstinate enemy--the more formidable because, -caring for nothing, and having no personal ambition, he would sacrifice -everything without hesitation or calculation in behalf of the vengeance -which he had solemnly vowed to obtain by any means, over the still -quivering body of his friend. - -This implacable enemy, whom neither seduction nor intimidation could -arrest or even draw back, was Valentine Guillois. - -Under these circumstances, the general committed a graver fault than his -first one--a fault which was fated to have incalculable consequences for -him. Being very imperfectly acquainted with Valentine Guillois, unaware -of his inflexible energy of will, and ranking him in his mind with -those wood rangers, the Pariahs of civilization, who have only courage -to fire, in a moment of despair, a shot from behind a tree, but whose -influence was after all insignificant, he despised him. - -Valentine was careful not to dissipate, by any imprudent step, his -enemy's mistake, or even arouse his suspicions. - -At the time of the Count de Prébois Crancé's first expedition, when -all seemed to smile on him, and his followers already saw the complete -success of their bold undertaking close at hand, Valentine had been -entrusted by his friend with various important operations and difficult -missions to the rich rancheros and hacenderos of the province. Valentine -had performed the duties his friend confided to him with his usual -loyalty and uprightness of mind, and had been so thoroughly appreciated -by the persons with whom chance had brought him into connection, that -all had remained on friendly terms with him and given him unequivocal -proofs of the sincerest friendship, especially upon the death of the -count. - -It only depended on the hunter's will to be rich, since he knew an -almost inexhaustible placer; and what the wood ranger would never -have consented to for himself, for the sake of paltry gain, he did -not hesitate to attempt in order to avenge his friend. Followed by -Curumilla, Belhumeur, and Black Elk, and leading a _recua_ of ten mules, -he did what two hundred and fifty men could not have succeeded in doing. -He went through Apacheria, crossed the fearful desert of sand in which -the bones of the hapless companions of the Marquis de Lhorailles were -bleaching, and, after enduring superhuman fatigue and braving terrible -dangers, he at length reached the placer. But this time he did not come -to take an insignificant sum; he wanted to collect a fortune at one -stroke. - -The hunter returned with his ten mules laden with gold. He knew that he -was beginning a struggle with a man who was enormously rich, and wished -to conquer him with his own weapons. In the new world, as in the old, -money is the real sinew of war, and Valentine would not imperil the -success of his vengeance. - -On returning to Guaymas, he realized his fortune, and found himself, -in a single day, not one of the richest, but _the_ richest private -person in Mexico, although it is a country in which fortunes attain -to a considerable amount. Thus the gold of the placer, which, at an -earlier period, had served to organize the count's expedition, and make -him believe for a moment in the realization of his dreams, was about to -serve in avenging him, after having indirectly caused his death. - -Then began between the general and the hunter a secret and unceasing -struggle, the more terrible through its hidden nature; and the general, -struck without knowing whence the blows dealt his ambition came, -struggled vainly, like a lion caught in a snare, while it was impossible -for him to discover the obstinate enemy who hunted him down. - -This man, who had hitherto succeeded in everything--who, during the -course of his long and stormy political career, had surmounted the -greatest obstacles and forced his very detractors to admire the luck -that constantly accompanied his wildest and rashest conceptions-- -suddenly saw Fortune turn her back on him with such rapidity--we may -even say brutality--that, scarce six weeks after the execution of the -count, he was obliged to resign his office of Military Governor, and -quit, almost like a fugitive, the province of Sonora, where he had so -long reigned as a master, and on which his iron yoke had pressed so -heavily. - -This first blow, dealt the general in the midst of his ambitious -aspirations, when he had only just begun to recover from the grief his -daughter's death had caused him, was the more terrible because he did -not know to whom he should attribute his downfall. - -Still, he did not long remain in doubt. An hour before his departure -from Hermosillo he received a letter in which he was informed, in the -minutest details, of the oath of vengeance taken against him, and of -the steps taken to obtain his recall. This letter was signed "Valentine -Guillois." The hunter, despising darkness and mystery, tore down the -veil that covered him, and openly challenged his foe by manfully telling -him to be on his guard. - -On receiving this threatening declaration of war, the general fell into -an extraordinary passion, the more terrible because it was impotent, -and then, when his mind became calm again, and he began reflecting, he -felt frightened. In truth, the man who stood so boldly before him as an -enemy, must be very powerful and certain of success thus to dare and -defy him. - -His departure from Sonora was a disgraceful flight, in which he tried, -by craft and caution, to throw out his enemy; but the meeting at the -Fort of the Chichimèques, a meeting long prepared by the hunter, proved -to him that he was unmasked once again, and conquered by his enemy. - -The contemptuous manner in which Valentine dismissed him after his -stormy explanation with him, had internally filled the general with -terror. What sinister projects could the man be meditating, what private -vengeance was he arranging, that, when he held him quivering in his -grasp, he allowed his foe to escape, and refused to kill him, when that -would have been so easy? What torture more terrible than death did he -intend to inflict on him? - -The remainder of his journey across the Rocky Mountains, as far as -Mexico, was one protracted agony, during which, suffering from constant -apprehension, and extreme nervous excitement, his diseased imagination -inflicted on him moral torture in the stead of which any physical pain -would have been welcome. - -The loss of his daughter's corpse, and above all, the death of his -father's old comrade in arms, the only man in whom he put faith, and who -possessed his entire confidence, destroyed his energy, and for several -days he was so overwhelmed by this double misfortune, that he longed for -death. - -His punishment was beginning. But General Guerrero was one of those -powerful athletes who do not allow themselves to be overcome so easily; -they may totter in the struggle, and roll on the sand of the arena, -but they always rise again more terrible and menacing than before. His -revolted pride restored his expiring courage; and since an implacable -warfare was declared against him, he swore that he would fight to the -end, whatever the consequences for him might be. - -Moreover, two months had elapsed since his arrival in Mexico, and his -enemy had not revealed his presence by one of those terrible blows which -burst like a clap of thunder above his head. The general gradually -began supposing that the hunter had only wished to force him to abandon -Sonora, and that, in despair of carrying out his plans advantageously -in a city like Mexico, he was prudently keeping aloof, and if he had -not completely renounced his vengeance, circumstances at any rate, -independent of his will, compelled him to defer it. - -The general, so soon as he was settled in the capital of Mexico, -organized a large band of highly-paid spies, who had orders to be -constantly on the watch, and inform him of Valentine's arrival in the -city. Thus reassured by the reports of his agents, he continued with -feverish ardour the execution of his dark designs, for he felt convinced -that if he succeeded in attaining his coveted object, the hatred of the -man who pursued him would no longer be dangerous. This was the more -probable, because, so soon as he held the power in his own hands, he -would easily succeed in getting rid of an enemy, whom his position as a -foreigner isolated, and rendered an object of dislike to the populace. - -The general lived in a large house in the Calle de Tacuba; it was built -by one of his ancestors, and considered one of the handsomest in the -capital. We will describe in a few words the architecture of Mexico, -for, as all the houses are built on the same pattern, or nearly so, by -knowing one it is easy to form an idea of what the others must be. - -The Mexican architecture greatly resembles the Arabic, and as for the -mode of arranging the rooms, it is still entirely in its infancy; but, -since the Proclamation of the Independence, foreign architects have -succeeded, in most of the great towns, in opening side doors in the -suites of rooms, which formerly only communicated with one another, and -hence compelled you to go through a bedroom to enter a dining room, or -pass through a kitchen to reach the drawing room. - -The general's house was composed of four buildings, two stories in -height, and with terraced roofs. Two courts separated these buildings, -and an awning stretched over the four sides of the first yard, enabling -visitors to reach the wide stone steps dry footed. At the top of this -flight, a handsome covered gallery, adorned with vases of flowers and -exotic shrubs, led to a vast anteroom, which opened into a splendid -reception hall; after this came a considerable number of apartments, -splendidly furnished in the European style. - -The general only inhabited the first floor of his mansion. Although -most of the streets are paved at the present day, and the canals have -entirely disappeared, except in the lower districts of the city, water -is still found a few inches beneath the surface, which produces such -damp, that the ground floor, rendered uninhabitable, is given up to -stores and shops in nearly all the houses. The ground floor of the main -building, looking on the Calle de Tacuba, was, therefore, occupied by -brilliant shops, which rendered the façade of the general's house even -more striking. - -The paintings and the ornaments carved on the walls, after the Spanish -fashion, gave it a peculiar, but not unpleasant appearance, which -was completed by the profusion of shrubs that lined the terrace, and -converted it into a hanging garden, like those of Babylon, some sixty -feet above the ground. By-the-bye, these gardens, from which the cupolas -of the churches seem to emerge, give a really fairy-like aspect to the -city, when you survey it in a glowing sunset, from the cathedral towers. - -Seven or eight days had elapsed since the events we recorded in our last -chapter. General Guerrero, after a long conversation with Colonel Don -Jaime Lupo, Don Sirven, and two or three others of his most faithful -partizans--a conversation in which the final arrangements were made for -the pronunciamiento which was to be attempted immediately--gave audience -to two of his spies, who assured him that the person, whose movements -they were ordered to watch, had not yet arrived in Mexico. - -When the hour for going to the theatre arrived, the general, temporarily -freed from alarm, prepared to be present at an extraordinary performance -to be given, that same night, at the Santa Anna theatre; but at the -moment when he was about to give orders for his carriage to be brought -up, the door of the room, in which he was sitting, opened, and a footman -appeared on the threshold, with a respectful bow. - -"What do you want?" the general asked, turning round at the sound. - -"Excellency," the valet replied, "a caballero desires a few minutes' -conversation with your excellency." - -"At this hour?" the general said, looking at a clock, "it is -impossible;" but, suddenly reflecting, he asked, "anyone you know, -Isidro?" - -"No, excellency; it is a caballero whom I have not yet had the honour of -seeing in the house." - -"Hum," said the general, shaking his head thoughtfully, "is he a -gentleman?" - -"That I can assure your excellency; and he told me that he had a most -important communication to make to you." - -In the general's present position, as head of a conspiracy on the point -of breaking out, no detail must be neglected, no communication despised, -so, after reflecting a little, he continued-- - -"You ought to have told the gentleman that I could not receive him so -late, and that he had better call again tomorrow." - -"I told him so, excellency." - -"And he insisted?" - -"Several times, excellency." - -"Well, do you know his name, at least?" - -"When I asked the caballero for it, he said it was useless, as you would -not know it; but if you wished to learn it, he would himself tell it to -your excellency." - -"What a strange person," the general muttered to himself; "very good," -he then added aloud, "lead the gentleman to the small mirror room, and I -will be with him immediately." - -The footman bowed respectfully. - -"Who can the man be, and what is the important matter he has to tell -me?" the general muttered, as he was alone. "Hum, probably some poor -devil mixed up in our conspiracy, who wants a little money. Well, he had -better be careful, for I am not the man to be plundered with impunity, -and so he will find out, if his communication is not serious." - -And, throwing on to a chair the plumed hat he held in his hand, he -proceeded to the mirror room. - - -[1] See "Goldseekers." Same publishers. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -A VISIT. - - -The mirror room was an immense apartment, only separated from the -covered gallery by two anterooms. It was furnished with princely luxury, -and it was here that the general gave those sumptuous _tertulias,_ which -are still talked about in the highest Mexican circles, although so many -years have elapsed. - -This room, merely lighted by two lamps, standing on a console, was at -this moment plunged into a semi-obscurity, when compared with the other -apartments in the mansion, which were full of light. - -A gentleman, dressed in full black, and with the red ribbon of the -Legion of Honour carelessly knotted in a buttonhole of his coat, was -leaning his elbow on the console where the lamps stood, and seemed so -lost in thought, that, when the general entered the room, the sound of -his steps, half subdued by the petates, did not reach the visitor's -ears, and he did not turn to receive him. - -Don Sebastian, after closing the door behind him, walked towards his -visitor, attempting to recognize him, which, however, the stranger's -position rendered temporarily impossible. It was not till he came almost -near enough to touch him that the stranger, at length warned of the -general's presence, raised his head; in spite of all the command Don -Sebastian had over himself, he started and fell back a couple of yards -on recognizing him. - -"Don Valentine!" he said, in a stifled voice, "you here?" - -"Myself, general," he replied, with an almost imperceptible smile and a -profound bow; "did you not expect a visit from me?" - -The Trail-hunter, according to his habit, at once assumed his position -before his adversary. A bitter smile played round the general's pale -lips, and mastering his emotion, he replied, sarcastically-- - -"Certainly, caballero, I hoped to receive a visit from you; but not -here, and under such conditions, I did not venture, I confess, to -anticipate such an honour." - -"I am delighted," he replied, with another bow, "that I have thus -anticipated your wishes." - -"I will prove to you, señor," the general said, with set teeth, "the -value I attach to the visit you have been pleased to pay me." - -While saying this, he stretched out his arm towards a bell. - -"I beg your pardon, general," the Frenchman said, with imperturbable -coolness, "but I believe that you intend to summon some of your people?" - -"And supposing that was my intention, señor?" the general said, -haughtily. - -"If it were so," he replied, with icy politeness, "I think it would be -better for you to do nothing of the sort." - -"Oh, indeed, and for what reason, may I ask?" - -"For the simple reason, general, that as I have the honour to know you -thoroughly, I was not such a fool as to place myself in your power. -My carriage is waiting at this moment in front of your door; in that -carriage are two of my friends, and, in all probability, if they do not -see me come down the steps again in half an hour, they will not hesitate -to ask you what has taken place between us, and what has become of me." - -The general bit his lips. - -"You are mistaken as to my intentions, señor," he said. "I fear you no -more than you appear to do me. I am a gentleman, and were you ten times -more my enemy than you are, I would never attempt to free myself from -you by an assassination." - -"Be it so, general; I should be glad to be mistaken, and in that case I -beg you to accept my apologies; moreover, in coming thus to see you, I -give you, I believe, a proof of confidence." - -"For which I thank you, señor; but as I suppose that reasons of the -highest gravity alone induced you to present yourself here, and the -interview you ask of me must be long, I wished to give my people orders -to take out the horses, and take care that we are not interrupted." - -Valentine bowed without replying, but with an imperceptible smile, and -leaning again on the console, he twisted his long, fair, light moustache -while the general rang the bell. A servant came in. - -"Have the horses taken out," the general said, "and I am not at home to -anybody." - -The servant bowed, and prepared to leave the room. - -"Ah!" said the general, suddenly stopping him, "on the part of this -caballero ask the gentlemen in his carriage to do me the honour of -coming up to my apartments, where they can await more comfortably the -end of a conversation which will probably be rather prolonged. You will -serve refreshments to these gentlemen in the blue room," he added, -looking fixedly at the Frenchman, "the one that follows this room." - -The servant retired. - -"If you still apprehend a trap, señor," he continued, turning to the -Frenchman, "your friends will be at hand, if necessary, to come to your -help." - -"I knew that you were brave to rashness, general," the Frenchman -answered politely, "and I am happy to see that you are no less -honourable." - -"And now, señor, be kind enough to sit down," Don Sebastian said, -pointing to a chair. "May I venture to offer you any refreshments?" - -"General," Valentine answered, as he seated himself, "permit me, for the -present, to decline them. In my youth I served in Africa, and in that -country people are only wont to break their fast with friends. As we -are, temporarily at least, enemies, I must ask you to let me retain my -present position toward you." - -"The custom to which you allude, señor, is also met with on our -prairies," the general replied; "still people sometimes depart from -it. However, act as you think proper. I wait till it may please you -to explain the purpose of this visit, at which I have a right to feel -surprised." - -"I will not abuse your patience any longer, general," he replied with a -bow. "I have merely come to propose a bargain." - -"A bargain?" Don Sebastian exclaimed with surprise, "I do not understand -you." - -"I will have the honour of explaining myself, señor." - -The general bowed and said, "I await your pleasure." - -"You are a diplomatist, general," Valentine continued, "and in that -capacity are, doubtless, aware that a bad treaty is better than a good -war." - -"In certain cases I allow it is so; but I will take the liberty of -remarking that, under present circumstances, señor, I must await your -propositions, instead of offering any of mine, as the war, to employ -your own expression, was not begun by me, but by you." - -"I think it will be better not to discuss that point, in which we should -find it difficult to agree; still, in order to remove any ambiguity, and -lay down the point at issue distinctly, I will remind you in a few words -of the motives which produced the hatred that divides us." - -"Those motives, señor, you have already explained to me most fully at -the Fort of the Chichimèques. Without discussing their validity with -you, I will content myself with saying that hatred, like friendship, -being a matter of sympathy, and not the result of reason, it is better -to confess frankly that we hate or love each other, without trying to -account for either of these feelings, which I consider completely beyond -the will." - -"You are at liberty to think so, señor, and though I do not agree -with you, I will not discuss the point; it is, however, certain that -the hatred we bear each other is implacable, and cannot possibly be -extinguished." - -"Still you spoke only a minute back of a bargain." - -"Certainly; but bargaining is not forgetting. I can, for certain -reasons, abstain from that hatred without renouncing it; and though -I may cease to injure you, I do not, on that account, contract the -slightest friendship with you." - -"I admit that in principle, señor; let us, therefore, come to facts -without further delay; be good enough to explain to me the nature of the -bargain which you think proper to propose to me today." - -"Allow me, in the first place, according to my notions of honour, to -explain to you what our position to each other is." - -"Since the beginning of this interview, señor, I must confess that you -have been talking enigmas inexplicable to me." - -"I will try to be clear, señor, and if I tell you what your plans -are, and the means you have employed for their realization, you will -understand, I have no doubt, that I have succeeded in countermining them -sufficiently to prevent a favourable issue." - -"Go on, señor," the general remarked, with a smile. - -"In two words, this is your position. In the first, you wish, by -a pronunciamiento, to overthrow General R----, and have yourself -proclaimed President of the Republic in his place." - -"Ah, ah," said the general, with a forced laugh; "you must know, señor, -that in our blessed country this ambition is constantly attributed to -all officers who, either on account of their fortune or personal merit, -hold a public position. This accusation, therefore, is not very serious." - -"It would not be so, if you limited yourself to mere wishes, possibly -legitimate in the present state of the country; but, unfortunately, it -is not so." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean, general, that you are the head of a conspiracy; that this -conspiracy, several times already a failure in Sonora, you have renewed -in Mexico, under almost infallible conditions of success, and which, -in my opinion, would succeed, had I not resolved on causing them to -fail. I mean that, only a few days ago, your conspirators assembled in -a velorio kept by a certain Ño Lusacho. Through the agency of Don Jaime -Lupo, you divided among them two bags of gold, brought by you for them, -and emptied in your presence. I mean that, after this distribution, -the final arrangements were made, and the day was almost fixed for the -pronunciamiento. Am I deceived, general, or do you now see that I am -well informed, and that my spies are quite equal to yours, who were not -even able to inform you of my arrival at the Ciudad, where I have been -for more than a week, and you have not known a word about it?" - -"While Valentine was speaking thus, in his mocking way, with his elbow -carelessly laid on the arm of his chair, and his body slightly bent -forward, the general was in a state of passion which he tried in vain -to repress, his pale face assumed a cadaverous hue, his eyebrows met, -and his clenched teeth found difficulty in keeping the words back which -tried each moment to burst forth. When the Frenchman ceased speaking -he made a violent effort to check his rage which was on the point of -breaking out, and he answered in a hollow voice which emotion caused -involuntary to tremble-- - -"I will imitate your frankness, señor. Of what use would it be to -dissimulate with an enemy so well informed as you pretend to be? What -you have said about a conspiracy is perfectly correct. Yes, I intend to -make a pronunciamiento, and that shortly. You see that I do not attempt -to conceal anything from you." - -"I presume, because you consider it useless," Valentine answered -sarcastically. - -"Perhaps so, señor. Although you are so well informed, you do not know -everything." - -"Do you think so?" - -"I am sure of it." - -"What is the thing I am ignorant of?" - -"That you will not leave this house again, and that I am going to blow -out your brains," the general exclaimed, as he started up and cocked a -pistol. - -The Frenchman did not make the slightest movement to prevent the -execution of the general's threat; he contented himself with looking -firmly at him, and saying, coldly-- - -"I defy you." - -Don Sebastian remained motionless, with haggard eye, pale brow, and -trembling hand; then, in a few seconds, he uncocked the pistol, and fell -back utterly crushed in his chair. - -"You have gone too far or not far enough, caballero," Valentine went on -with perfect calmness. "Every threat should be executed at all risks so -soon as it is made. You have reflected, so let us say no more about it, -but resume our conversation." - -In a discussion of this nature, all the advantage is on the side -of the adversary who retains his coolness. The general, ashamed of -the passionate impulse to which he had yielded, and crushed by his -enemy's sarcastically contemptuous answer, remained dumb; he at length -understood that, with a man like the one before him, any contest must -turn to his disadvantage, unless he employed treachery, which his pride -forbade. - -"Let us, for the present," Valentine went on, still calmly and coldly, -"leave this conspiracy, to which we will revert presently, and pass to -a no less interesting subject. If I am correctly informed, Señor Don -Sebastian, you have a ward of the name of Doña Anita de Torrés?" - -The general started, but remained silent. - -"Now," continued Valentine, "in consequence of a frightful catastrophe, -this young lady became insane. But that does not prevent you from -insisting on marrying her, in contempt of all law, divine and human, -for the simple reason that she is enormously rich and you require her -fortune for the execution of your ambitious plans. It is true that the -young lady does not love you, and never did love you; it is also true -that her father intended her for another, and that other you insist on -declaring to be dead, although he is alive; but what do you care for -that? Unfortunately, one of my intimate friends, of whom you probably -never heard, Señor Don Serapio de la Ronda, has heard this affair -alluded to. I will tell you confidentially that Don Serapio is greatly -respected by certain parties, and has very considerable power. Don -Serapio, I know not why, takes an interest in Doña Anita, and has made -up his mind, whether you like it or not, to marry her to the man she -loves, and for whom her father intended her." - -"The villain is dead," the general exclaimed, furiously. - -"You are perfectly well aware of the contrary," Señor Valentine -answered, "and to remove any doubts you may still happen to have, I will -give you the proof. Don Martial," he said aloud, "come in, pray, and -tell General Guerrero yourself that you are not dead." - -"Oh!" the general muttered furiously, "this man is a demon." - -At this moment the door opened, and a new personage entered the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -ASSISTANCE. - - -The man who now entered the hall of mirrors was dressed like the riders -who promenade at the Bucareli, and gallop at carriage doors--that is to -say, in trousers with silk stripes down the sides, and a broad-brimmed -hat decorated with a double gold string and tassels. - -He walked gracefully up to Don Sebastian, still holding his hat in his -right hand, bowed to him with that exquisite grace of which the Mexicans -alone seem to have the privilege, and thrusting his hand into his side, -he said, with an accent of cutting sarcasm, and in a harsh, metallic -voice-- - -"Do you recognize me, Don Sebastian, and do you believe that I am really -alive, and that it is not the ghost of Martial the Tigrero which has -come from the grave to address you?" - -At the same moment Belhumeur's clever, knowing face could be seen -peering through the doorway. With his eyes obstinately fixed on the -general, he seemed to be impatiently expecting an answer, which the -latter, struggling with several different feelings, evidently hesitated -to give. Still, he was compelled to form a resolution, so he rose and -looked the Tigrero boldly in the face. - -"Who are you, señor?" he said, in a firm voice, "and by what right do -you question me?" - -"Well played," said Valentine, with a laugh; "by heaven, caballero, -it is a pleasure to contend with you, for, on my soul, you are a rude -adversary." - -"Do you think so?" Don Sebastian asked, with a hoarse laugh. - -"Certainly," the hunter continued, "and I am delighted to bear my -testimony to the fact; hence you had better yield at once, for you are -in a dilemma from which you cannot escape, not even by a master stroke." - -There was a silence, lasting some minutes. At length the general -seemed to make up his mind, for he turned to Belhumeur, who was still -listening, and bowed to him with ironical politeness. - -"Why stand half hidden by that door?" he said to him; "pray enter, -caballero, for your presence here will be most agreeable to the whole -company." - -The Canadian at once entered, and after giving the general a respectful -bow he leant over the back of Valentine's chair. The latter eagerly -followed all the incidents of the strange scene that was being played -before him, and in which he appeared to be a disinterested spectator -rather than an actor. - -"You see, señores," the general said, haughtily, "that I imitate your -example, and, like you, play fairly. I believe that you entered my house -in order to propose a bargain to me, Don Valentine? You, señor," he -said, turning to the Tigrero, "whom I told that I did not recognize, and -whom I have the honour of receiving at my house for the first time, have -doubtless come as witness for these caballeros, who are your friends. -Well, gentlemen, you shall all three be satisfied. I am awaiting your -proposal, Don Valentine. I allow, señor, that you, whose miraculous -resuscitation I have hitherto denied, are alive, and are really Don -Martial the ex-lover of Doña Anita de Torrés. As for you, señor, whom -I do not know, I authorize you to declare before any one you like the -truth of the words I utter. Are you all three satisfied, gentlemen? Is -there anything else I can do to afford you pleasure?--if so, speak, and -I am ready to satisfy you." - -"A man could not yield to what is inevitable with better grace," -Valentine replied, bowing ironically. - -"Thanks for your approval, caballero, and be kind enough to let me know, -without further delay, the conditions on which you are willing to leave -off pursuing me with that terrible hatred with which you incessantly -threaten me, and whose result is rather long in coming, according to my -judgment." - -These words were uttered with a mixture of pride and contempt impossible -to express, and which for a moment rendered Valentine dumb, so -extraordinary did the sudden change in his adversary's humour appear to -him. - -"I am waiting," the general added, as he fell back in his chair, with an -air of weariness. - -"We will bring matters to an end," Valentine said, drawing himself up -with an air of resolution. - -"That is what I wish," the general interrupted him, as he lit a -cigarette, which he began smoking with the most profound coolness. - -"These are my conditions," the hunter said distinctly and harshly, for -he was annoyed by this frigid indifference. "You will at once leave -Mexico, and give up Doña Anita, to whom you will not only restore her -liberty, but also the right of giving her hand and fortune to whomsoever -she pleases. You will sell your estates, and retire to the United -States, promising on oath never to return to Mexico. On my side, I -pledge myself to restore you your daughter's body, and never attempt to -injure you in any way." - -"Have you anything more to add?" the general asked, as he coolly watched -the blue smoke of his cigarette as it rose in circles to the ceiling. - -"Nothing; but take care, señor, I too have taken an oath, and from -what I have told you, you must have seen how far I have detected your -secrets. Accept or refuse, but come to a decision; for this is the last -time we shall meet face to face under the like conditions. The game we -are playing is a terrible one, and must end in the death of one of us; -and I shall show you no pity, as, doubtless, you will show me none. -Reflect seriously before answering yes or no, and I give you half an -hour to decide." - -The general burst into a sharp and nervous laugh. "_Viva Dios_, -caballero!" he exclaimed, with a contemptuous toss of his head, "I have -listened to you with extreme surprise. You dispose of my will with an -incomparable facility. I do not know who gives you the right to speak -and act as you are doing; but, by heaven, hatred, however active it may -be, can in no case possess this privilege. You fancy yourself much more -powerful than you really are, I fancy; but, at any rate, whatever may -happen, bear this carefully in mind--I will not retreat an inch before -you. Accepting your impudent and ridiculous conditions would be to -cover myself with shame and my utter ruin. Were you the genius of Evil -clothed in mortal form, I would not the less persist in the track I have -laid down for myself, and in which I will persevere at my own risk and -peril; however terrible may be the obstacles you raise, I will overthrow -them or succumb bravely, buried beneath the ruins of my abortive -plans and my destroyed fortunes. Hence consider yourself warned, Don -Valentine; that I despise your menaces, and they will not stop me. And -you, Don Martial, since such is your name, that I shall marry my ward, -in spite of the efforts you may make to prevent me, and shall do so -because I wish it, and because no man in the world has ever attempted -to resist my will without being at once mercilessly crushed. And now, -señores, as we have said all we have to say to each other, and I think -there is no more, and we can have no doubt as to our mutual intentions, -permit me to take leave of you, for I wish to go to the Santa Anna -theatre, and it is already very late." - -He rang the bell, and a footman came in. - -"Order the carriage," he said to him. - -"Then," Valentine said as he rose, "it is war to the death between us." - -"War to the death! be it so." - -"We shall only meet once again, general," the hunter remarked; "and that -will be on the eve of your death, when you are in Capilla." - -"I accept the meeting, and will bow uncomplainingly before you if you -are powerful enough to obtain that result; but, believe me, I am not -there yet." - -"You are nearer your fall than you perhaps suppose." - -"That is possible; but enough of this; any further conversation will be -useless. Light these gentlemen down," he said to the servant, who at -this moment entered the room. - -The three men rose, exchanged dumb bows with the general, and, -accompanied by him to the door of the room, they followed the footman, -who preceded them with candles. Two carriages were waiting at the foot -of the stairs; Valentine and his friends got into one of them, the -general took his seat in the other, and they heard him give the order in -a firm voice to drive to the Santa Anna theatre. The coachmen flogged -their horses, which started at a gallop, and the two carriages left the -house, the gates of which were closed after them. - -The Santa Anna theatre was built in 1844 by the Spanish architect, -Hidalgo. This building has externally nothing remarkable about it, -either in regard to frontage or position; but we are glad to state that -the interior is convenient, elegant, and even grand. - -After passing through the external portico, you enter a yard covered -with a glass dome, next come wide stairs with low steps, large and lofty -lobbies, a double row of galleries looking on the front yard, and airy -crush-rooms for the promenaders. - -The house is well built, well decorated, and spacious; it has three rows -of boxes, with a lower circle representing the pit boxes, and another -above the third circle for the lower classes. In the pit, it is worth -mentioning that each visitor has his stall, which he reaches easily and -comfortably by passages formed down the centre and round the theatre. -The boxes nearly all contain ten persons, and are separated from each -other by light colonnades and partitions. To each box is attached a -room, to which people withdraw between the acts, and, instead of the -balconies which in our theatres conceal a great part of the ladies' -toilets, the boxes have only a ledge a few inches in height, which -allows the splendid dresses of the audience to be fully admired. - -We have dwelt, perhaps with a little complacency, on this description of -the Santa Anna theatre, for we thought that, at the moment when it is -intended to rebuild the Opera and other Parisian theatres, there can be -no harm in displaying the difference that exists between the frightful -dens in which the spectators are thrust together pell-mell every night -in a city like Paris, which claims to be the first, not only in Europe, -but in the whole world, and the spacious airy theatres of a country like -Mexico, which in so many respects is inferior to us as regards ideas of -civilization and comfort. It would, however, be very easy, we fancy, to -obtain in Paris the advantageous results the Mexicans have enjoyed for -twenty years, and that at a slight expense. Unfortunately, whatever may -be said, the French are the most thorough routine nation in the world, -and we greatly fear that, in spite of incessant protests, things will -remain for a long time in the same state as they are today. - -When the general entered his box, which was in the first circle, -and almost facing the stage, the house presented a truly fairy-like -appearance. The extraordinary performance had brought an immense throng -of spectators and ladies, whose magnificent dresses were covered with -diamonds, which glittered and flashed beneath the light that played on -them. - -Don Sebastian, after bending forward for a moment to exchange bows with -his numerous acquaintances, and prove his presence, withdrew to the back -of the box, opened his glasses, and began looking carelessly about him. -But though, through a powerful effort of the will, his face was cold, -calm, and unmoved, a terrible storm was raging in the general's heart. - -The scene that had taken place a few minutes previously at his mansion, -had filled him with anxiety and gloomy forebodings, for he understood -that his adversaries must either believe or feel themselves very -strong thus to dare and defy him to the face, and audaciously enter -his very house. In vain he tortured his mind to find means to get rid -of his obstinate enemy; but time pressed, his situation became at each -moment more critical, and unless some bold and desperate stroke proved -successful, he felt instinctively that he was lost without chance of -salvation. - -The president's box was occupied by the first magistrate of the -Republic, and some of his aide-de-camps. Several times, Don Sebastian -fancied that the president's eyes were fixed on him with a strange -expression, after which he bent over and whispered some remarks to -the gentlemen who accompanied him. Perhaps, this was not real, and the -general's pricked conscience suggested to him suspicions far from the -thoughts of those against whom he had so many reasons to be on his -guard; but whether real or not, these suspicions tortured his heart and -proved to him the necessity of coming to an end at all risks. - -Still the performance went on; the curtain had just fallen before the -last act, and the general, devoured by anxiety, and persuaded that he -had remained long enough in the theatre to testify his presence, was -preparing to retire, when the door of his box opened, and Colonel Lupo -walked in. - -"Ah, is it you, colonel?" Don Sebastian said to him as he offered his -hand and gave him a forced smile. "You are welcome; I did not hope any -longer to have the pleasure of seeing you, and I was just going away." - -"Pray do not let me stop you, general, I have only a few words to say to -you." - -"Our business?" - -"Goes on famously." - -"No suspicion?" - -"Not the shadow." - -The general breathed like a man from whose chest a crushing weight has -been just removed. - -"Can I be of any service to you?" he said, absently. - -"For the present, I have only come for your sake." - -"How so?" - -"I was accosted today by a lepero, a villain of the worst sort, who -says that he wishes to avenge himself on a certain Frenchman, whom -he declares you know, and he desires to place himself under your -protection, in the event of the blade of his navaja accidentally -slipping into his enemy's body." - -"Hum! that is serious," the general said with an imperceptible start. "I -do not know how far I dare go in being bail for such a scoundrel." - -"He declares that you have known him a long time, and that while doing -his own business, he will be doing yours." - -"You know that I am no admirer of navajadas, for an assassination always -injures the character of a politician." - -"That is true; but you cannot be rendered responsible for the crimes any -villain may think proper to commit." - -"Did this worthy gentleman tell you his name, my dear colonel?" - -"Yes; but I believe that it would be better to mention it in the open -air, rather than in this place." - -"One word more; have you cleverly deceived him, and do you think that he -really intends to be useful to us?" - -"Useful to you, you mean." - -"As you please." - -"I could almost assert it." - -"Well, we will be off; have you weapons about you?" - -"I should think so; it would be madness to go about Mexico unarmed." - -"I have pistols in my pocket, so I will dismiss my carriage, and we will -walk home to my house; does that suit you, my dear colonel?" - -"Excellently, general, the more so because if you evince any desire to -see the scoundrel in question, nothing will be easier than for me to -take you to the den he occupies, without attracting attention." - -The general looked at his accomplice fixedly. "You have not told me all, -colonel?" he said. - -"I have not, general, but I am convinced that you understand the motive, -which at this moment keeps my mouth shut." - -"In that case, let us be off." - -He wrapped himself in his cloak and left the box, followed by the -colonel. A footman was waiting under the portico for his orders to bring -up the carriage. - -"Return to the house," the general said; "it is a fine night, and I feel -inclined for a walk." - -The footman retired. - -"Come, colonel," Don Sebastian went on. - -They left the theatre and proceeded slowly toward the Portales de -Mercaderes, which were entirely deserted at this advanced hour of the -night. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -EL ZARAGATE. - - -The night was clear, mild and starry, a profound calm prevailed in the -deserted streets, and it was in fact one of those delicious Mexican -nights, so filled with soft emanations, and which dispose the mind to -delicious reveries. - -The two gentlemen, carefully wrapped in their cloaks, walked side by -side, along the middle of the street, in fear of an ambuscade, examining -with practised eyes the doorways and the dark corners of side streets. -When they were far enough from the theatre no longer to fear indiscreet -eyes or ears, the general at length broke the silence. - -"Now, Señor Don Jaime," he said, "let us speak frankly, if you please." - -"I wish for nothing better," the colonel replied, with a bow. - -"And to begin," Don Sebastian continued, "tell me who the man is from -whom you hinted that I could derive some benefit." - -"Nothing is easier, excellency. This man is a villain of the worst sort, -as I already had the honour of telling you; his antecedents are, I -suppose, rather dark, and that is all I have been able to discover. This -man, who, I believe, belongs to no country, but who, in consequence of -his adventurous life, has visited them all and speaks all languages, -was at San Francisco when the Count de Prébois Crancé organized the -cuadrilla of bandits, at the head of which he undertook to dismember our -lovely country, and in which, between ourselves, he would probably have -succeeded had it not been for your skill and courage." - -"We will pass over that, my dear colonel," the general quickly -interrupted him; "I did my duty in that affair, as I shall always do it -when the interest of my country is at stake." - -The colonel bowed. - -"Well," he continued, "the villain I am speaking of could not let such -a magnificent opportunity slip; he enlisted in the count's cuadrilla. I -believe he was starving at San Francisco, and, for certain reasons best -known to himself, was not sorry to leave that city--but perhaps I weary -you by giving you all these details." - -"On the contrary, my dear colonel, I wish to be thoroughly acquainted -with this pícaro, in order to judge what reliance may be placed in his -protestations." - -"On arriving at Guaymas, our man became almost directly the secret -agent of that unhappy Colonel Fleury, who, as you well remember, was so -brutally assassinated by the Frenchmen." - -"Alas, yes!" the general said with a sardonic smile. - -"Señor Pavo also employed him several times," Don Jaime continued, "but, -unfortunately for our individual, Don Valentine, the count's friend, -was watching; he discovered, I knew not how, all his little tricks, and -insisted on his dismissal from the company, after a quarrel he had with -one of the French officers." - -"I think I can remember the affair being talked about at the time. Was -not this villain known by the sobriquet of the Zaragate?" - -"He was, general; furious at what happened to him, and attributing it to -Don Valentine, he took an oath to kill him whenever he met him, so soon -as the opportunity offered itself." - -"Well?" - -"It seems that, despite all his goodwill and his eager desire to get rid -of his enemy, the opportunity has not yet offered, as he has not killed -him." - -"That is true; but how did you come across this scoundrel, colonel?" - -"Well, general," he answered with some hesitation, "you know that I have -been compelled during the last few days, for the sake of our affair, -to keep rather bad company. This scoundrel came to offer his services. -I cross-questioned him, and knowing your enmity to that Frenchman, -I resolved to inform you of this acquisition. If I have done wrong, -forgive me, and we will say no more about it." - -"On the contrary, colonel," the general said eagerly. "The deuce! not -only have I nothing to forgive, but I feel very grateful to you, for -your confession has come at a most fortunate time. You shall judge, -however, for I wish to be frank with you, the more so because, apart -from the high esteem I feel for your character, our common welfare is at -stake at this moment." - -"You frighten me, general." - -"You will be more frightened directly; know that this Valentine, -this Frenchman, this demon, has I know not by what means, discovered -our conspiracy, holds all the threads of it, and, more than that, is -acquainted with all the members, beginning with myself." - -"_Voto a brios!_" the colonel exclaimed, with a start of surprise, and -turning pale with terror, "in that case we are lost." - -"Well, I confess that our chances of success are considerably -diminished." - -"Pardon me for asking, general," he continued in great agitation, "but -in circumstances like the present----" - -"Go on, go on, my dear colonel, do not be embarrassed." - -"Are you sure, general, perfectly certain as to the statement you have -just made to me?" - -"You shall judge. About an hour before the opening of the theatre, -Don Valentine himself--you understand me?--came to my house with two -friends, doubtless cutthroats in his pay, and revealed all to me; what -do you say to that?" - -"I say that if this man does not die we are hopelessly lost." - -"That is my opinion too," the general remarked coldly. - -"How came it that, in spite of this terrible revelations, you ventured -to show yourself at the theatre?" - -Don Sebastian smiled and shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. - -"Ought I to let even indifferent persons see the anxiety that devoured -me? Undeceive yourself, colonel, boldness alone can save us; do not -forget that we are risking our heads at this moment." - -"I am not likely to forget it." - -"As for this man, the Zaragate, I must not and will not see him; but -do you deal with him as you think proper. You understand that it is of -the utmost importance that I should be ignorant of the arrangements you -may make with him, and be able to prove, if necessary, that I had no -knowledge of this. Moreover, as you are aware, I am not one for extreme -measures; the sight of such a villain would be repulsive to me, for I -have such a horror of bloodshed. Alas!" he added, with a sigh, "I have -been forced to shed only too much in the course of my life." - -"I do not know exactly," the colonel muttered. - -"I have entire confidence in you; you are an intelligent man; I give you -full authority, and whatever you do will be well done. You understand -me, I trust?" - -"Yes, yes, general," the officer grunted ill-temperedly, "I understand -you only too well." - -"I see----" - -"What do you see?" the other interrupted him. - -"That, if we succeed, you will be a general and Governor of Sonora. That -is rather a pretty prospect, I fancy, and one worth risking something -for." - -"It is useless to remind me of your promises, general; you are well -aware that I am devoted to you." - -"I know it, of course, and on that account leave you. A longer -conversation in the moonlight might arouse suspicions. Good night, and -come and breakfast with me tomorrow." - -"I will not fail, general. Good night, and I kiss your excellency's -hands." - -The general pulled his hat over his eyes, wrapped himself in his cloak, -and went off hastily towards the Calle de Tacuba. On being left alone, -the colonel remained for a moment plunged in deep thought; the office -with which he was intrusted, for he perfectly caught the meaning of -the general's hints, was most serious. He must act vigorously without -compromising his chief, and in the shortest possible period, under the -penalty of being himself arrested and shot in four and twenty hours if -he failed. For the Mexicans, like their old masters the Spaniards, do -not jest in matters connected with revolutions, and boldly cut away the -evil at the root, by killing all the leaders of the abortive conspiracy. - -The situation was critical, and he must make up his mind, for the slight -delay might ruin all; but at so late an hour where was he to meet a man -like the Zaragate, who had probably no known domicile, and who led, a -no doubt most irregular life. - -Mexico, like all large cities, is amply endowed with suspicious houses, -frequented by rogues of all ages, who are continually wandering about -in search of adventures, more or less lucrative, under the complacent -protection of the moon. - -Moreover, although the worthy colonel had, in the course of his life, -frequented very mixed company, as he himself allowed, he was not at all -anxious to venture alone at night into the lower parts of the city, and -enter the velorios, thorough cut-throat dens, filled with robbers and -assassins, in which respectable persons do not even venture in bright -day without a shudder. - -At the moment when the colonel mechanically raised his head and looked -despairingly up to heaven, he fancied he saw several suspicious shadows -prowling about him in a suggestive manner. But the colonel was brave, -and the more so, because he had literally nothing to lose, hence he -quietly loosened his sword, opened his cloak, and at the instant when -four or five fellows attacked him at once with machetes and long -navajas, he was on guard according to all the rules of the art, with his -left foot supported a pillar, and his cloak wrapped like a buckler round -his arm. - -The attack was a rude one, but the colonel withstood it manfully; -besides, all went on in the Mexican way, without a shout or call for -help. When you are thus attacked in a Mexican street, you feel so -assured of death, that you generally confine yourself to the best -possible defence, without losing time in calling for help, which will -certainly not arrive. - -Still, the assailants being armed with short and heavy weapons, had a -marked disadvantage against the colonel's long and thin rapier, which -twisted like a snake, writhed round their weapons, and had already -pricked two of the men sharply enough to make the others reflect, and -display greater prudence in their attack. The colonel felt that they -were giving ground. - -"Come on, villains," he exclaimed, as he gave a terrific lunge, and ran -one of the bandits right through the body, who rolled on the pavement -with a yell of pain. "Let us come to an end of this, in the demon's -name!" - -"Stop, stop!" the man who seemed the leader of the bandits exclaimed; -"we are mistaken." - -As the bandits asked for nothing better than to stop, they retreated a -few steps without hesitation. - -"Yes, _Rayo de Dios_, you are mistaken, birbones," the exasperated -colonel shouted. - -"Can it possibly be you," the first speaker continued, "Señor Colonel -Don Jaime Lupo?" - -"Halloh!" the colonel said, falling back a step in surprise, "who -mentioned my name?" - -"I, excellency; a friend." - -"A friend? a strange friend who has been trying to assassinate me for -the last ten minutes." - -"Believe me, colonel, that had we known whom we had to deal with, we -should never have attacked you. All this is the result of a deplorable -misunderstanding, which you will, however, excuse." - -"But who are you, in the demon's name?" - -"What, excellency, do you not recognize the Zaragate?" - -"The Zaragate!" the colonel exclaimed, with glad surprise. "Well, -scoundrel, are you aware that yours is a singular trade?" - -"Alas! excellency, a man must do what he can," the bandit replied, in a -sorrowful voice. - -"Hum! then you have turned robber at present?" - -The scoundrel drew himself up with dignity. - -"No, excellency. I am serving, in the company of these honourable -caballeros the persons who claim my help." - -The honourable caballeros, seeing that the affair was going to end -peacefully, had returned their knives to their belts, and seemed -tolerably well satisfied at this unexpected conclusion, with the -exception of the man who had received the last thrust, and surrendered -his felon soul to the fiend; an acquisition, between ourselves, of no -great value to the spirit of darkness. - -"Can anyone have requested your services against me, Señor Zaragate?" -the colonel continued, as he returned his sword to its scabbard. - -"Not at all, excellency. I have already had the honour of remarking that -it was a mistake; we were waiting here for a young spark, who during -the last week has contracted the bad habit of prowling under the window -of a senator's mistress, and who asked me as a kindness to free him from -this troublesome fellow." - -"Caspita! Señor Zaragate, you have a rather quick way with you; and -your senator appears to me somewhat hasty. But as your little matter is -probably spoiled for tonight----" - -"I think, excellency, that the gallant heard the clash of steel, and -took very good care not to come on." - -"If he did so, he acted wisely; at any rate, if no other motive keeps -you here, and you have no objection to accompany me, I shall feel -obliged by your doing so, for I have to talk with you on very serious -matters, and, in fact, was looking for you." - -"Only see what a thing chance is!" the bandit exclaimed. - -"Hum! let us hope it will not be quite so brutal next time." - -The Zaragate burst into a laugh. - -"Stay!" the colonel continued, as he laid a gold coin in his hand, "be -good enough to give this in my name to these honourable caballeros, and -beg them to forgive the rather rough way in which, at the first moment, -I received their advances." - -"Oh, they will not owe you a grudge, my dear sir, you may be sure of -that." - -The bandits, perfectly reconciled with the colonel by means of the -coin, gave him tremendous bows, accompanied by offers of service, and -took leave of him, after exchanging a few sentences in a whisper with -their chief; then they went off to the right, while the colonel and his -companion turned to the left. - -"They seem to be rather determined fellows," the colonel said, in order -to broach his subject. - -"Perfect lions, excellency, and obedient as rastreros." - -"Excellent; and have you many of that sort under your hand?" - -"Nothing would be easier, in the case of need, than to make up a dozen." - -"All equally true?" - -"All." - -"That is really valuable, do you know that, Señor Zaragate; and you are -a lucky caballero!" - -"Your excellency flatters me." - -"On my word, no. I am expressing my honest opinion, that is all." - -"Pardon me, excellency; but may I ask where we are going?" - -"Have you an inclination for one direction more than another?" - -"Not the slightest, excellency; still, I confess that, as a general -rule, I like to know where I am going." - -"Every sensible man ought to be of the same way of thinking. Well, we -are going to my house; have you any objection to that?" - -"None at all. I think you said, excellency, that I was a lucky man?" - -"Indeed I did, and I repeat that I consider you very fortunate." - -"Hum, you know the proverb, excellency, 'everyone knows where the shoe -pinches him.'" - -"That is true, and I suppose the shoe pinches you, eh?" - -"It does," he replied, with a sigh. - -The colonel looked at him anxiously. "I understand the cause of your -grief," he said; "and it is the worse, because there is no remedy for -it." - -"Do you think so?" - -"Caspita! I am certain of it." - -"You may be mistaken, excellency." - -"Nonsense! You who so graciously place yourself at the service of those -who have an insult to avenge, are forced to renounce your own vengeance." - -"Oh, oh, excellency, what is that you are saying?" - -"I am speaking the truth. You hate the Frenchman whom you mentioned to -me today, but you are afraid of him." - -"Afraid!" he exclaimed angrily. - -"I believe so," the colonel answered coolly. - -"Oh! if I only made up my mind to it----" - -"Yes," the colonel remarked, with a laugh, "but you will not make up -your mind because, I repeat, you are afraid; and to prove to you the -truth of my assertion, although I do not know the man, and only take -an interest in the matter for your sake, I will make you a wager if you -like." - -"A wager?" - -"Yes." - -"What is it?" - -"I bet you that you will not dare avenge yourself on your enemy within -the next four and twenty hours, not even with the help of your twelve -companions." - -"And what will you bet, excellency?" - -"Well, I am so certain of running no risk, that I will bet you one -hundred ounces. Does that suit you?" - -"One hundred ounces!" the bandit exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with -greed. "_Viva Dios!_ I would kill my own brother for such a sum." - -"You are flattering yourself, I see." - -"Here we are at your door, excellency, so it is needless for me to go -any further. You said one hundred ounces, I think?" - -"I did." - -"Farewell. The coming day will not end before I am avenged!" - -"Nonsense, nonsense! you will think better of it. Good night, Señor -Zaragate." - -And the colonel entered his house, muttering to himself, in an aside, -"I fancy I managed that cleverly. If this accursed Frenchman escapes -from the bloodhounds I have let loose on him, he must be the demon the -general calls him." - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -AFTER THE INTERVIEW. - - -The house taken for Valentine by Mr. Rallier was, as we have already -stated, situated in the Calle de Tacuba, and by a strange accident, in -no way premeditated, only a few yards from the mansion belonging to -General Don Sebastian Guerrero. The latter had no suspicion of this, -for until the moment when the hunter thought it advisable to pay him -a visit, he had been completely ignorant of his enemy's presence in -Mexico, in spite of the crowd of spies whom he paid to inform him of his -arrival in the capital. - -The hunter, therefore, would only have had a few steps to go to reach -home after leaving the general. But suspecting that the latter might -have given orders to have his carriage followed, he ordered his coachman -to drive to the Alameda, and thence to the Paseo de Bucareli. - -As the night was far advanced, the promenaders had abandoned the -shady walks of the Alameda, which was now completely deserted. This, -doubtless, was what the hunter desired, for, on reaching about the -centre of the drive, he ordered the coachman to stop, and got out with -his companions. After recommending him to watch carefully over his mules -(in Mexico people do not use horses for their carriages), and not let -any one approach him, for fear of one of those surprises so frequent at -this hour at this place, the three men then disappeared in one of the -shady walks, though careful not to go too far, so that they could assist -their coachman in case of need. - -Valentine, like all men accustomed to desert life, that is to vast -horizons of verdure, had an instinctive distrust of stone walls, -behind which, in his fancy, a spy was continually listening. Hence, -when he had an important affair to discuss, or a serious matter to -communicate to his friends, he preferred--in spite of the care with -which his house had been chosen, and the faithful friends who passed as -servants there--going to the Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, the Vega, -or somewhere in the environs of Mexico, where after posting Curumilla -as a sentry, that is to say, the man in whom he had the most perfect -faith, and whose scent, if I may be allowed the term, was infallible, he -believed that he could safely confide his closest secrets to the friends -he conveyed to these strange open air councils. - -On reaching a thick clump of trees the hunter stopped. - -"We shall be comfortable here," he said, as he sat down on a stone bench -and invited his friends to imitate him, "and shall be able to talk -without fear." - -"The trees have eyes, and the leaves ears," Belhumeur answered -sententiously; "I fear nothing so much in the world as these transparent -screens of verdure, which allow everything to be seen and heard." - -"Yes," Valentine remarked with a smile, "if you do not take the -precaution to frighten away spies;" and at the same moment he imitated -the soft cadenced hiss of the coral snake. - -A similar hiss was heard from the centre of the clump and seemed like an -echo. - -"That is the chief's signal," the Canadian said. "He has been watching -for us there for nearly an hour. Do you now believe that we are in -safety?" - -"Certainly; when Curumilla watches over us we have no surprise to -apprehend." - -"Let us talk, then," said Don Martial. - -"One moment," Valentine remarked, "we must first hear the report of a -friend, which is most valuable, and will doubtless decide the measures -we have to adopt." - -"Whom are you alluding to?" - -"You shall see," Valentine answered, and clapped his hands thrice softly. - -Immediately a slight sound and a gentle rustling of leaves was heard in -a neighbouring thicket, and a man suddenly emerged, about four paces -from the hunters. It was Carnero, the capataz of General Guerrero. He -wore a vicuna skin hat, of which the large brim was bent over his eyes, -and he was wrapped up in a spacious cloak. - -"Good evening, señores," he said, with a polite bow, "I have been -awaiting your coming for nearly an hour, and almost despaired of seeing -you tonight." - -"We were detained longer than we expected by General Guerrero." - -"Do you come from him?" - -"Did I not tell you I should call on him?" - -"Yes; but I hardly believed that you would have the temerity to venture -so imprudently into the lion's den." - -"Nonsense," Valentine said with a disdainful smile, "the lion as you -call him, I assure you, was remarkably tame; he drew in his claws -completely, and received us with the most exquisite politeness." - -"In that case take care," the capataz replied, with a significant shake -of the head; "if he received you as you say, and I have no reason to -doubt it, he is, be assured, preparing a terrible countermine against -you." - -"I am of the same opinion; the question is, whether we shall allow him -the time to act." - -"He is very clever, my dear Valentine," the capataz continued, "and -seems to possess an intuition of evil. In spite of the oath I took to -you when, on your entreaty, I consented to remain in his service, there -are days when, although I possess a thorough knowledge of his character, -he terrifies even me, and I feel on the point of giving up the rude task -which, through devotion to you, I have imposed on myself." - -"Courage, my friend; persevere but a few days longer, and, believe me, -we shall be all avenged." - -"May heaven grant it!" the capataz said with a sigh; "but I confess that -I dare not believe it, even though it is you who assure me of the fact." - -"Have you learnt any important news since our last interview?" - -"Only one thing, but I think it is of the utmost gravity for you." - -"Speak, my friend." - -"What I have to tell you is short and gloomy, señores. The general, -after a secret conversation with his man of business, ordered me to -carry a letter to the Convent of the Bernardines." - -"To the convent?" Don Martial exclaimed. - -"Silence," said Valentine. "Do you know the contents of this letter?" - -"Doña Anita gave it me to read. The general informs the abbess that he -is resolved to finish the matter; that whether his ward be mad or not, -he means to marry her, and that at sunrise on the day after tomorrow, a -priest sent by him will present himself at the convent to arrange the -ceremony." - -"Great God! what is to be done?" the Tigrero exclaimed sadly; "how is -the execution of this odious machination to be prevented?" - -"Silence," Valentine repeated. "Is that all, Carnero?" - -"No; the general adds, that he requests the abbess to prepare the young -lady for this union, and that he will himself call at the convent -tomorrow, in order to explain more fully his inexorable wishes--these -are the very words of the letter." - -"Very good, my friend, I thank you for this precious information; it is -of the utmost importance that the general should be prevented from going -to the convent before three o'clock of the tarde. You understand, my -friend, this is of vital importance, so you must manage to effect it." - -"Do not be uneasy, my dear Valentine; the general shall not go to the -convent before the hour you indicate, whatever may be the means I am -forced to employ to prevent him." - -"I count on your promise, my friend; and now good-bye." - -He offered him his hand, which the capataz pressed forcibly. - -"When shall I see you, again?" he asked. - -"I will soon let you know," the hunter answered. - -The capataz bowed and went down a walk; the sound of his footsteps -rapidly decreased, and was quite inaudible within a few minutes. - -"My friends," Valentine then said, "we have now arrived at the moment -for the final struggle, which we have so long been preparing. We must -not let ourselves be led away by hatred, but act like judges, not as men -who are avenging themselves. Blood demands blood, it is true, according -to the law of the desert; but, remember, however culpable the man whom -we have condemned may be, his death would be an indelible spot, a brand -of infamy which would sully our honour." - -"But this monster," the Tigrero exclaimed, with a passion the more -violent because it was repressed, "is beyond the pale of humanity." - -"He may re-enter it to repent." - -"Are we priests then to practise forgetfulness of insults?" Don Martial -asked with a fiendish grin. - -"No, my friend, there are men in the grand and sublime acceptation of -the term; men who have often been faulty themselves, and who, rendered -better by the life of struggling they have led, and the grief which has -frequently bowed them beneath its iron yoke, inflict a chastisement, but -despise vengeance, which they leave to weak and pusillanimous minds. Who -of you, my friends, would dare to say that he has suffered more than I? -To Him alone will I concede the right of imposing his will on me, and -what He bids me do I will do." - -"Forgive me, my friend," the Tigrero answered, "you are ever good, ever -great. God, in imposing on you a heavy task, endowed you at the same -time with an energetic soul, and a heart which seems to expand in your -bosom under the blast of adversity, instead of withering. We, however, -are but common men, in whom the sanguinary instinct of the savage -is constantly revealed in spite of all our efforts, and who know no -other law save that of retaliation. Forget the senseless words my lips -uttered, and be assured that I will ever joyfully obey you, whatever -you may command, persuaded as I am, that you can only ask the man who -has utterly placed himself in your power to do just actions." - -The hunter, while his friend was speaking thus in a voice broken by -emotion, had let his head fall on his hands, and seemed absorbed in -gloomy and painful thought. - -"I have nothing to forgive you, my friend," he replied in a gentle, -sympathizing voice, "for through my own sufferings I can understand what -yours are. I, too, often feel my heart bound with wrath and indignation; -for, believe me, my friend, I have a constant struggle to wage against -myself, not to let myself be led away to make a vengeance of what must -only be a punishment. But enough on this head; time presses, and we must -arrange our plans, so as not to be foiled by our enemies. I went today -to the palace, where I had a secret conversation with the President of -the Republic, whom, as you are aware, I have known for many years, and -who honours me with a friendship of which I am far from believing myself -worthy. At the end of our interview he handed me a paper, a species of -blank signature, by the aid of which I can do what I think advisable for -the success of our plans." - -"Did you obtain such a paper?" - -"I have it in my pocket. Now, listen to me. You will go at sunrise -tomorrow to the house of Don Antonio Rallier; he will be informed of -your coming, and you will follow his instructions." - -"And you?" - -"Do not be anxious about my movements, good friend, and only think of -your own business, for, I repeat, the decisive moment is approaching. -The day after tomorrow begins the feast of the anniversary of Mexican -Independence; that is to say, on that day we shall do battle with our -enemy, and meet him face to face; and the combat will be a rude one, for -this man has a will of iron, and a terrible energy. We shall be able -to conquer him, but not to subdue him, and if we do not take care he -will slip through our hands like a serpent; hence our personal affairs -must be finished tomorrow. Though apparently absent, I shall be really -near you, that is to say, I will help you with all my power. Still, do -not forget that you must act with the most extreme prudence, and, above -all, the greatest moderation; a second of forgetfulness would ruin you, -by alarming the innumerable spies scattered round the Convent of the -Bernardines. I trust that you have heard and understood me, my friend?" - -"Yes, Don Valentine." - -"And you will act as I recommend?" - -"I promise it." - -"Reflect, that you are perhaps risking the loss of your future -happiness." - -"I will not forget your recommendation, I swear to you; I am risking too -great a stake in this game, which must decide my future life, to let -myself be induced to commit any act of violence." - -"Good; I am happy to hear you speak thus; but have confidence, my -friend, I feel certain that we shall succeed." - -"May heaven hear you!" - -"It always hears those who appeal to it with a pure heart and a lively -faith. Hope, I tell you; and now, my dear Don Martial, permit me to say -a few words to our worthy friend, Belhumeur." - -"I will withdraw." - -"What for? have I any secrets from you? You can hear what I am going to -say to him." - -"You have nothing to say to me, Valentine," the hunter said, with a -shake of his head, "nothing but what I know already; I have no other -interest in what is about to take place beyond the deep friendship that -attached me to the count and now to you. You think that the recollection -I have preserved of our unhappy friend cannot be sufficiently engraven -on my heart for me to risk my life at your side in avenging him; but you -are mistaken, Valentine, that's all. I will not abandon you in the hour -of combat; I will remain at your side even should you order me to leave -you. I tell you that I swear, and have taken an oath to that effect, to -make a shield of my body to protect you, if it should be necessary. Now, -give me your hand, and suppose we say no more about it?" - -Valentine remained silent for a moment; a scalding tear ran down his -bronzed cheeks, and he took the hand of the honest, simple-minded -Canadian, and merely uttered the words-- - -"Thank you; I accept." - -They then rose, and returned to their carriage, after Valentine had -warned his faithful bodyguard, Curumilla, by a signal that he could -leave his hiding place, as the interview was over. A quarter of an hour -later the three gentlemen reached the house in the Calle de Tacuba, were -Curumilla was already awaiting them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE BLANK SIGNATURE. - - -On the morrow, Mexico awoke to a holiday; nothing extraordinary, in -a country where the year is a perpetual holiday, and where the most -frivolous pretext suffices for letting off _cohetes_, that supreme -amusement of the Mexicans. - -This time the affair was serious, for the inhabitants wished to -celebrate in a proper manner the anniversary of the Proclamation of -Independence, of which the day to which we allude was the eve. - -At sunrise a formidable _bando_ issued from the government palace, and -went through all the streets and squares of the city, announcing with -a mighty clamour of bugles and drums, that on the next day there would -be a bull fight with "Jamaica" and "Monte Parnasso" for the leperos, -high mass celebrated in all the churches, theatres thrown open gratis, -a review of the garrison, and of all the troops quartered sixty miles -round, and fireworks and illuminations at night, with open air balls and -feria. - -The government did things nobly, it must be confessed; hence the people -issued from their houses, spread feverishly through the streets at an -early hour, laughing, shouting, and letting off squibs, while singing -the praises of the President of the Republic, and taking, after their -fashion, something on account of the morrow's festival. - -Don Martial, in order to throw out the spies doubtless posted round -Valentine's house, had left his friend in the middle of the night, and -gone to his lodgings, and a few minutes before day proceeded to the -house of Mr. Rallier. - -Although the sun was not yet above the horizon, the French gentleman was -already up and conversing with his brother Edward, while waiting for the -Tigrero. Edward was ready to start, and his brother was giving him his -parting recommendations. - -"You are welcome," the Frenchman said cordially, on perceiving Don -Martial; "I was busy with our affair. My brother Edward is just off to -our quinta, whither my mother and my brother Auguste proceeded two days -ago, so that we might find all in order on our arrival." - -Although the Tigrero did not entirely understand what the banker said to -him, he considered it unnecessary to show it, and hence bowed without -answering. - -"All is settled, then," Mr. Rallier continued, addressing his brother; -"get everything ready, for we shall probably arrive before midday--that -is to say, in time for lunch." - -"Your country house is not far from the city?" the Tigrero asked, for -the sake of saying something. - -"Hardly five miles; it is at St. Angel; but in an excellent position -for defence, in the event of an attack. You are aware that St. Angel -is built on the side of an extinct volcano, and surrounded by lava and -spongy scoria, which renders an approach very difficult." - -"I must confess my ignorance of the fact." - -"In a country like this, where the government is bound to think of its -own defence before troubling itself about individuals, it is as well to -take one's precautions, and be always perfectly on guard. And now be -off, my dear Edward; your weapons are all right, and two resolute peons -will accompany you; besides, the sun is now rising, and you will have a -pleasant ride; so good-by till we meet again." - -The two brothers shook hands, and the young man, after bowing to Don -Martial, left the house, followed by two servants well mounted, and -armed like himself. During this conversation the peons had put the -horses in a close carriage. - -"Get in," said Mr. Rallier. - -"What!" Don Martial replied, "are we going to drive?" - -"By Jove! do you think I would venture to go to the convent on -horseback? Why, we could not go along a street before we were -recognized." - -"But this carriage will betray you." - -"I admit it; but no one will know whom it contains when the shutters are -drawn up, which I shall be careful to do before leaving the house. Come, -get in." - -The Tigrero placed himself by the Frenchman's side; the latter pulled -up the shutters, and started at a gallop in a direction diametrically -opposed to that which it should have followed, in order to reach the -convent. - -"Where are we going?" the Tigrero asked presently. - -"To the Convent of the Bernardines." - -"I fancy we are not going the right road." - -"That is possible, but, at any rate, it is the safest." - -"I humbly confess that I cannot understand it at all." - -Mr. Rallier began laughing. - -"My good fellow," he replied, "you will understand at the right time, -so be easy. You need only know, that in acting as I am doing, I am -carrying out to the letter the instructions of Valentine, my friend and -yours. It was not for nothing that he has so long borne the name of the -Trail-hunter; besides, you remember the prairie adage, which has always -appeared to me full of good sense, 'The shortest road from one point to -another is a crooked line.' Well, we are following the crooked line, -that is all. Besides, in all that is about to take place, you must -remain completely out of the question, and restrict yourself to being a -spectator, rather than an actor, and willing to obey me in everything I -may order. Does this part displease you?" - -The Frenchman said this with the merry accent and delightful simplicity -which formed the basis of his character, and which caused everybody to -like him whom accident brought in contact with him. - -"I have no repugnance to obey you, Señor Don Antonio," the Tigrero -answered. "The confidence our common friend places in you is a sure -guarantee to me of your intentions. Hence dispose of me as you think -proper, without fearing the slightest objection on my part." - -"That is the way to talk," the banker said, with a laugh. "Now, to -begin, my dear señor, you will do me the pleasure of changing your -dress, for the one you wear is slightly too worldly for the place to -which we are going." - -"Change my dress?" the Tigrero exclaimed. "Diablos! you ought to have -told me so at your house." - -"Unnecessary, my dear sir. I have all you require here." - -"Here?" - -"Well, you shall see," he said, as he took from one of the coach pockets -a Franciscan's gown, while from the other he drew a pair of sandals and -a cord. "Have you not worn this dress before?" - -"I have." - -"Well, you are going to put it on again, and for the following reasons: -At the convent, people believe (or pretend to believe, which comes to -the same thing) that you are a Franciscan monk. For the sake, then, of -persons who are not in the secret, it is necessary that I should be -accompanied by a monk, and more, that they may be able, if required, to -take their oaths to the fact." - -"I obey you. But will not your coachman be surprised at seeing a -Franciscan emerge from the carriage into which he showed a caballero?" - -"My coachman? Pardon me, but I do not think you looked at him?" - -"Indeed, I did not. All these Indians are alike, and equally hideous." - -"That is true; however, look at him." - -Don Martial bent forward, and slightly lowered the shutter. - -"Curumilla!" he cried, in amazement, as he drew back. "He, and so well -disguised?" - -"Do you now believe that he will be surprised?" - -"I was wrong." - -"No, but you do not take the trouble to reflect." - -"Well, I will put on the gown since I must. Still, with your permission, -I will keep my weapons under it." - -"Caspita! my permission? On the contrary, I order you to do so. But what -are they?" - -"You shall see. A machete, a knife, and a pair of pistols." - -"That is first-rate. If necessary, I shall be able to find you a rifle. -Trust to me for that." - -While talking thus, the Tigrero had changed his dress; that is to say, -he had simply put the gown over his other clothes, fastened the rope -round his body, and substituted the sandals for his boots. - -"There," the Frenchman continued, "you are a perfect monk." - -"No; I want something more, something which is even indispensable." - -"What's that?" - -"The hat." - -"That's true." - -"That part of my costume I hardly know how we shall obtain." - -"Man of little faith!" the Frenchman said with a smile, "see, and be -confounded!" - -While speaking thus he raised the front cushion, opened the box it -covered, and pulled out the hat of a monk of St. Francis, which he gave -the Tigrero. - -"And now do you want anything else, pray?" he asked, mockingly. - -"Indeed, no. Why, your carriage is a perfect locomotive shop!" - -"Yes, it contains a little of everything. But we have arrived," he -added, seeing the carriage stop. "You remember that you must in no way -make yourself prominent, and simply confine yourself to doing what I -tell you. That is settled, I think?" - -The Frenchman opened the door, for the carriage had really stopped -in front of the Convent of the Bernardines. Two or three ill-looking -fellows were prowling about: and, in spite of their affected -indifference, it was easy to recognize them for spies. The Frenchman and -his companion were not deceived. They got out with an indifference as -well assumed as that of the spies, and approached the door slowly, which -was opened at their first knock, and closed again behind them with a -speed that proved the slight confidence the sister porter placed in the -individuals left outside. - -"What do you desire, señores?" she asked, politely, after curtseying to -the newcomers with a smile of recognition. - -"My dear sister," the Frenchman answered, "be good enough to inform -the holy mother abbess of our visit, and ask her to favour us with an -interview for a few moments." - -"It is still very early, brother," the nun answered, "and I do not know -if holy mother can receive you at this moment." - -"Merely mention my name to her, sister, and I feel convinced that she -will make no difficulty about receiving us." - -"I doubt it, brother, for, as I said before, it is very early. Still, I -am willing to tell her, in order to prove to you my readiness to serve -you." - -"I feel deeply grateful to you for the kindness, sister." - -The sister then left the parlour, after begging the two gentlemen to -wait a moment. During her absence the Frenchman and his companion did -not exchange a syllable; however, this absence was short, and only -lasted a few minutes. - -Without speaking, the sister made the visitors a sign to follow her, -and led them to the parlour where we have already taken the reader, and -where the abbess was waiting for them. - -The Mother Superior was pale, and seemed anxious and preoccupied. She -invited the two gentlemen to sit down, and waited silently till they -addressed her. They, on their side, seemed to be waiting for her to -inquire the nature of their visit; but, as she did not do so, and this -silence threatened to be prolonged for some time, Mr. Rallier resolved -on breaking it. - -"I had the honour, madam," he said, with a respectful bow, "to send you -yesterday, by one of my servants, a letter, in which I informed you of -this morning's visit." - -"Yes, caballero," she at once, answered, "I duly received this letter, -and your sister Helena is ready to go away with you, whenever you -express the wish. Still permit me to make one request of you." - -"Speak, madam, and if I can be of any service to you, believe me, that I -shall eagerly seize the opportunity." - -"I know not, caballero, how to explain myself, for what I have to say -to you is really so strange that I fear lest it should call up a smile -to your lips. Although Doña Helena has only been a few months in our -convent, she has made herself so beloved by all her companions, through -her charming character, that her departure is an occasion of mourning -for all of us." - -"You render me very happy and very proud by speaking thus of my sister, -madam." - -"This praise is only the expression of the strictest truth, caballero. -We are all really most grieved to see her leave us thus. Still, I should -not have ventured thus to make myself the interpreter of our regrets, -were there not a very strong reason that renders it almost a duty to -speak to you." - -"I am listening to you, madam, though I can guess beforehand what you -are going to say to me." - -She looked at him in surprise. - -"You guess! Oh, it is impossible, señor," she exclaimed. - -The Frenchman smiled. - -"My sister, Doña Helena, as is generally the case in convents, has -chosen one of her companions, whom she loves more than the others, and -made her her intimate friend. Is such the case, madam?" - -"How do you know it?" - -He continued; with a smile-- - -"Now, this young lady, so beloved not only by Helena but by you, -madam, and all your community, is a gentle, kind, loving girl, who, in -consequence of a great misfortune, became insane, but whom your tender -care has restored to reason. Still, you keep the latter fact a profound -secret, before all from her guardian, who, not contented with having -stripped her of her fortune, now insists of robbing her of her happiness -by forcing her to marry him." - -"Señor, señor," the abbess exclaimed, as she rose from her seat, with -an astonishment blended with terror, "who are you that you know so many -things of which I believed the whole world ignorant?" - -"Who am I, madam? the brother of Helena, that is to say, a man in whom -you can place the most entire confidence. Hence permit me to proceed." - -The abbess, still suffering from extreme agitation, sat down again. - -"Go on, caballero," she said. - -"The guardian of Doña Anita, either that he has suspicion, or for some -other motive, wrote to you yesterday, ordering you to prepare her to -marry him within twenty-four hours. Since the receipt of this fatal -letter, Doña Anita has been plunged in the deepest despair, a despair -further heightened by the sudden departure of my sister, the only friend -in whose arms she can safely reveal her heart's secrets. But you, -madam, who are so holy and good, are aware that God can at his pleasure -confound the projects of the wicked, and change wormwood into honey. Did -you not receive a visit yesterday from Don Serapio de la Ronda?" - -"Yes, that gentleman deigned to visit me a few moments before I -received the fatal letter to which you have referred." - -"Did not Don Serapio, on leaving you, say these words: 'Be kind enough -to inform Doña Anita that a friend is watching over her; that this -friend has already given her unequivocal proofs of the interest he -takes in her happiness, and that, on the day when she again sees the -Franciscan monk, to whom she confessed once before, all her misfortunes -will be ended?'" - -"Yes, Don Serapio did utter those words." - -"Well, madam, I am sent to you, not only by him, but by another person, -who is no less than the President of the Republic, not only to take away -my sister but also to ask you to deliver up to me Doña Anita, who will -accompany her." - -"Heaven is my witness, señor, that I would be delighted to do what you -ask of me. Unhappily, it is not in my power; Doña Anita was entrusted -to me by her sole relation, who is at the same time her guardian, and -though he is unworthy of that title, and my heart bleeds in refusing -you, it is to him alone that I am bound to deliver her." - -"This objection, madam, the justice of which I fully appreciate, has -been foreseen by the persons whose representative I am. Hence they -consulted on the means to remove the scruples by entirely releasing you -from responsibility. Father, give this lady the paper, of which you are -the bearer." - -Without uttering a word, Don Martial took from his pocket the blank -signature Valentine had entrusted to him, and handed it to the abbess. - -"What is this?" she asked. - -"Madam," the Frenchman answered, "that paper is a blank signature of the -President of the Republic, who orders you to deliver Doña Anita into my -hands." - -"I see it," she said, sorrowfully; "unfortunately this blank signature, -which would everywhere else have the strength of the law, is powerless -here. We only indirectly depend on the temporal power, but are -completely subjugated to the spiritual power, and we can only receive -orders from it." - -The Tigrero took a side glance, full of despair, at his companion, whose -face was still smiling. - -"What would you require, madam," he continued, "in order to consent to -give up this unhappy young lady to me?" - -"Alas, señor, it is not I who refuse compliance. Heaven is my witness -that it is my greatest desire to see her escape from her persecutor." - -"I am thoroughly convinced of that, madam; that is why, feeling -persuaded of your good feeling towards your charge, I ask you to tell me -what authority you require in order to give her up to me." - -"I cannot, señor, allow Doña Anita to quit this convent without a -perfectly regular order, signed by Monseigneur the Archbishop of Mexico, -who alone has the right to command here, and whom I am compelled to -obey." - -"And if I had that order, madam, all your scruples would be removed?" - -"Yes, all, señor." - -"You would have no further difficulty in allowing Doña Anita to depart?" - -"I would deliver her to you at once, señor." - -"Since that is the case, madam, I will ask you to do so, for I have -brought you that order." - -"You have it?" she said, with undisguised delight. - -"Here it is," he answered, as he took a paper from his pocketbook, and -handed it to her. - -She opened it at once, and eagerly perused it. - -"Oh now," she continued, "Doña Anita is free, and I will----" - -"One moment, madam," he interrupted her, "have you carefully read the -order I had the honour of giving you?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"In that case be kind enough to allow the young ladies to put on secular -clothing, and, as their departure must be kept secret, allow my carriage -to enter the front courtyard. I fancied I saw ill-looking fellows -prowling about the neighbourhood, who looked to me like spies." - -"What must I say, though, to the young lady's guardian? I am going to -see him today." - -"I am aware of that, madam. Gain time; tell him that his ward is -ill; that you have succeeded in gaining her consent to the projected -marriage, but, on the condition that it be deferred for eight and forty -hours. It is a falsehood I am suggesting to you, madam, but it is -necessary, and I feel convinced that heaven will pardon it." - -"Oh, do not be anxious about that, señor. I will gladly take on myself -the responsibility of this falsehood; Doña Anita's guardian will not -dare to oppose so short a delay, however well inclined he may be to do -so: but in forty-eight hours?" - -"In forty-hours, madam," the Frenchman answered in a hollow voice, -"General Guerrero will not come to claim the hand of Doña Anita." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -ON THE ROAD. - - -All the scruples of the Mother Superior--honourable scruples, let us -hasten to add--having thus been removed, one after the other, by Mr. -Rallier, by means of the double orders he had been careful to provide -himself with, the next thing was to see about getting the two boarders -away without further day. - -The abbess, who understood the importance of a speedy conclusion, -left her visitors in the parlour, and, in order to avoid any -misunderstanding, herself undertook to fetch the two young ladies, after -giving a lay sister orders to call the carriage into the first courtyard. - -In a religious community, one of women before all--we do not mean -this satirically--whatever may be done, and whatever precautions may -be taken, nothing can long be kept a secret. Hence, the two gentlemen -had scarcely entered the speaking room of the abbess ere the rumour of -the departure of Doña Anita and Doña Helena spread among the nuns with -extreme rapidity. Who spread the news no one could have told, and yet -everybody spoke about it as a certainty. - -The young ladies were naturally the first informed. At the outset their -anxiety was great, and Doña Anita trembled, for she believed that -she was fetched by order of her guardian, and that the monk speaking -with the abbess was the one sent by the general to make immediate -preparations for her marriage. Hence, when the abbess entered Doña -Helena's cell, she found the pair in each other's arms, and weeping -bitterly. - -Fortunately, the mistake was soon cleared up, and the sorrow converted -into joy when the abbess, who, through sympathy, wept as much as -her boarders, explained that of the two strangers, whom they feared -so greatly, one was the brother of Doña Helena, and the other the -Franciscan monk whom Doña Anita had already seen, and that they had -come, not to add to her sufferings, but to remove her from the tyranny -that oppressed her. - -Doña Helena, on hearing that her brother was at the convent, bounded -with joy, and removed her friend's last doubts, for, like all unhappy -persons. Doña Anita clung greedily to this new hope of salvation, which -was thus allowed to germinate in her heart at a moment when she believed -that she had no chance left of escaping her evil destiny. - -The abbess then urged them to complete their preparations for departure, -helped them to change their dress, and, after embracing them several -times, conducted them to the parlour. - -In order to avoid any disturbance when the young ladies left the -convent, where everybody adored them, the abbess had the good idea of -sending the nuns to their cells. It was a very prudent measure, which, -by preventing leave-taking, also prevented any noisy manifestations of -cries and tears, the sound of which might have been heard outside, and -have fallen on hostile ears. - -The leave-taking was short, for there was no time to lose in vain -compliments. The young ladies drew down their veils, and proceeded to -the courtyard under the guidance of the abbess. The carriage had been -drawn as close as possible to the cloisters, and the court was entirely -deserted, only the abbess, the sister porter, and a confidential nun -witnessing the departure. - -As the Frenchman opened the door of the carriage, a piece of paper lying -on the seat caught his eyes. He seized it without being seen, and hid it -in the hollow of his hand. After kissing the good abbess for the last -time, the young ladies took the back seat, and Don Martial the front, as -did Mr. Rallier, after previously whispering to the coachman, that is, -to Curumilla, two Indian words, to which he replied by a sinister grin. -Then, at a signal from the abbess, the convent gates were opened, and -the carriage started at full speed, drawn by six powerful mules. - -The crowd silently made room for it to pass, the gates closed again -immediately, and the carriage almost immediately disappeared round the -corner of the next street. - -It was about seven o'clock in the morning. The fugitives--for we can -give them no other name--galloped in silence for the first ten or -fifteen minutes, when the Frenchman gently touched his companion's -shoulder, and offered him the paper he had found in the carriage. - -"Read!" he said. - -The paper only contained two words, hurriedly written in pencil-- - -"Take care." - -"Oh, oh," the Tigrero exclaimed, turning pale, "what does this mean?" - -"By Jove," the Frenchman answered cautiously, "it means that in spite of -our precautions, or perhaps on account of them, for in these confounded -affairs a man never knows how to act in order to deceive the persons he -fears, we are discovered, and probably have spies at our heels." - -"Caray! and what will become of the young ladies in the event of a -dispute?" - -"In the event of a fight you mean, for there will be an obstinate one, -I foretell. Well, we will defend them as well as we can." - -"I know that; but suppose we are killed?" - -"Ah! there is that chance; but I never think of that till after the -event." - -"Oh heaven!" Doña Anita murmured, as she hid her head in her friend's -bosom. - -"Re-assure yourself, señorita," the Frenchman continued, "and, above -all, be silent, for the sound of your voice might be recognized, and -change into certainty what may still be only a suspicion. Besides, -remember that if you have enemies, you have also friends, since they -took the precaution to warn us. Now, in all probability, this unknown -offerer of advice will not have stopped there, but thought of the means -to come to our assistance in the most effectual manner." - -The carriage went along in the meanwhile at a breakneck pace, and had -nearly reached the city gates. We will now tell what had happened, and -how the Frenchman was warned of the danger that threatened him. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero had organized a band of spies composed -of leperos and scoundrels, who, however, possessed acknowledged -cleverness and skill, and if Valentine had escaped their surveillance -and foiled their machinations, it was solely through the habits which -he had contracted during a lengthened life in the prairies, and which -had become an intuition with him, so far did he carry the quality of -scenting and unmasking an enemy, whatever might be the countenance he -borrowed. But if he had not been recognized, it was not the same with -his friends, and the latter had not been able long to escape the lynx -eyes of the general's spies. - -The Convent of the Bernardines had naturally become for some days past -the centre of the surveillance, as it were the spying headquarters, of -Don Sebastian's agents. The arrival of a carriage with closed blinds -at the convent at once gave the alarm; and though Mr. Rallier was not -personally known, the fact of his being a Frenchman was sufficient to -rouse suspicions. - -While the Frenchman and the monk were conversing in the parlour with the -abbess, a lepero pretended to hurt himself, and was conveyed by two of -his acolytes to the convent gate, and the good hearted porter had not -refused him admission, but, on the contrary, had eagerly given him all -the assistance his condition seemed to require. - -While the lepero was gradually regaining his senses, his comrades asked -questions with that captious skill peculiar to their Mexican nature. -The sister porter was a worthy woman, endowed with a very small stock -of brains, and fond of talking. On finding this opportunity to indulge -in her favourite employment, she was easily led on, and, almost of her -own accord, told all she knew, not suspecting the harm she did. Let us -hasten to add that this all was very little; but, being understood and -commented on by intelligent men interested in discovering the truth, it -was extremely serious. - -When the three leperos had drawn all they could out of the sister -porter, they hastened to leave the convent. Just as they emerged into -the street, they found themselves face to face with Ño Carnero, the -general's capataz, whom his master had sent on a tour of discovery. They -ran up to him, and in a few words told him what had happened. - -This was grave, and the capataz trembled inwardly at the revelation, for -he understood the terrible danger by which his friends were menaced. But -Carnero was a clever man, and at once made up his mind to his course of -action. - -He greatly praised the leperos for the skill they had displayed in -discovering the secret, put some piastres into their hands, and sent -them off to the general, with the recommendation, which was most -unnecessary, to make all possible speed. Then, in his turn, he began -prowling round the convent, and especially the carriage, which Curumilla -made no difficulty in letting him approach, for the reader will -doubtless have guessed that the animosity the Indian had on several -occasions evinced for the capataz was pretended, and that they were -perfectly good friends when nobody could see or hear them. - -The capataz skilfully profited by the confusion created in the crowd by -the carriage entering the convent, to throw in, unperceived, the paper -Mr. Rallier had found. Certain now that his friends would be on their -guard, he went off in his turn, after recommending the spies he left -before the convent to keep up a good watch, and walked in the direction -of the Plaza Mayor smoking a cigarette. - -At the corner of the Calle de Plateros he saw a man standing in front of -a pulquería, engaged in smoking an enormous cigar. The capataz entered -the pulquería, drank a glass of Catalonian refino, but while paying, he -clumsily let fall a piastre which rolled to the foot of the man standing -in the doorway. The latter stooped, picked up the coin, and restored it -to its owner, and the capataz walked out, doubtless satisfied with the -quality of the spirit he had imbibed, and cautiously continued his way. -On reaching the plaza again, the man of the pulquería, who was probably -going the same road as himself, was at his heels. - -"Belhumeur?" the capataz asked in a low voice, without turning round. - -"Eh?" the other answered in the same key. - -"The general knows the affair at the convent; if you do not make haste, -Don Martial, Don Antonio, and the two ladies will be attacked on the -road while going to the quinta; warn your friend, for there is not a -moment to lose. Devil take the cigarette!" he added, throwing it away, -"it has gone out." - -When he turned back, Belhumeur had disappeared; the Canadian with -his characteristic agility was already running in the direction of -Valentine's house. As for the capataz, as he was in no particular hurry, -he quietly walked back to the general's, where he found his master in a -furious passion with all his people, and more particularly with himself. - -By an accident, too portentous not to have been arranged beforehand, not -one of his horses could be mounted; three were foundered, four others -had been bled, and the last three were without shoes. In the midst of -this the capataz arrived with a look of alarm, which only heightened his -master's passion. Carnero prudently allowed the general's fury to grow a -little calm, and then answered him. - -He proved to him in the first place that he would commit a serious act -of imprudence by himself starting in pursuit of the fugitives in the -present state of affairs, and especially on the eve of a pronunciamiento -which was about to decide his fortunes. Then he remarked to him that -six peons, commanded by a resolute man, would be sufficient to conquer -two men probably badly armed, and, in addition, shut up in a carriage -with two ladies, whom they would not expose to the risk of being killed. -These reasons being good, the general listened and yielded to them. - -"Very good," he said; "Carnero, you are one of my oldest servants, and -to you I entrust the duty of bringing back my niece." - -The capataz made a wry face. - -"There will be probably plenty of blows to receive, and very little -profit to derive from such an expedition." - -"I believed that you were devoted to me," the general remarked bitterly. - -"Your excellency is not mistaken; I am truly devoted to you, but I have -also a fondness for my skin." - -"I will give you twenty-five ounces for every slit it receives; is that -enough?" - -"Come, I see that your excellency wishes me to be cut into mincemeat!" -the capataz exclaimed joyously. - -"Then that is agreed?" - -"I should think so, excellency; at that price a man would be a fool to -refuse." - -"But about horses?" - -"We have at least ten or a dozen in the corral." - -"That is true; I did not think of that," the general exclaimed, striking -his forehead; "have seven lassoed at once." - -"Where must I take the señorita?" - -"Bring her to this house, for she shall not set foot in the convent -again." - -"Very good; when shall I start, general?" - -"At once, if it be possible." - -"In twenty minutes I shall have left the house." - -But the general's impatience was so great that he accompanied his -capataz to the corral, watched all the preparations for the departure, -and did not return to his apartments till he was certain that Carnero -had started in pursuit of the fugitives, with the peons he had selected. - -In the meanwhile the carriage dashed along; it passed at full gallop -through the San Lázaro gate, then turned suddenly to the right, and -entered a somewhat narrow street. At about the middle of this street it -stopped before a house of rather modest appearance, the gate of which -at once opened, and a man came out holding the bridles of two prairie -mustangs completely harnessed, and with a rifle at each saddle-bow. The -Frenchman got out, and invited his companion to follow his example. - -"Resume your usual dress," he said, as he led him inside the house. - -The Tigrero obeyed with an eager start of joy. While he doffed his gown, -his companion mounted, after saying to the young ladies-- - -"Whatever happens, not a word--not a cry; keep the shutters up; we will -gallop at the door, and remember your lives are in peril." - -Martial at this moment came out of the house attired as a caballero. - -"To horse, and let us be off," said Mr. Rallier. - -The Tigrero bounded onto the mustang held in readiness for him, and -the carriage, in which the mules had been changed, started again at -full speed. The house at which they had stopped was the one hired by -Valentine to keep his stud at. - -Half an hour thus passed, and the carriage disappeared in the thick -cloud of dust it raised as it dashed along. Don Martial felt new born; -the excitement had restored his old ardour as if by enchantment; -he longed to be face to face with his foe, and at length come to a -settlement with him. The Frenchman was calmer; though brave to rashness, -it was with secret anxiety he foresaw the probability of a fight, in -which his sister might be wounded; still he was resolved, in the event -of the worst, to confront the danger, no matter the number of men who -ventured to attack them. - -All at once the Indian uttered a cry. The two men looked back, and saw -a body of men coming up at full speed. At this moment the carriage was -following a road bounded on one side by a rather thick chaparral, on the -other by a deep ravine. - -At a sign from the Frenchman the carriage was drawn across the road, and -the ladies got out; went, under Curumilla's protection, to seek shelter -behind the trees. The two men, with their rifles to their shoulders -and fingers on the triggers, stood firmly in the middle of the road, -awaiting the onset of their adversaries, for, in all probability, the -newcomers were enemies. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -A SKIRMISH. - - -Curumilla, after concealing, with that Indian skill he so thoroughly -possessed, the young ladies at a spot where they were thoroughly -protected from bullets, had placed himself, rifle in hand, not by the -side of the two riders, but, with characteristic redskin prudence, he -ambuscaded himself behind the carriage, probably reflecting that he -represented the entire infantry force, and not caring, through a point -of honour, very absurd in his opinion, to expose himself to a death not -only certain, but useless to those he wished to defend. - -The horsemen, however, on coming within range of the persons they were -pursuing, stopped, and by their gestures seemed to evince a hesitation -the fugitives did not at all understand, after the fashion in which they -had hitherto been pursued. The motive for this hesitation, which the -Frenchman and his companions could not know, and which perplexed them so -greatly, was very simple. - -Carnero, for it was the general's capataz who was pursuing the carriage, -with his peons, all at once perceived, with a secret pleasure, it is -true, though he was careful not to let his companions notice it, that -while they were pursuing the carriage, other horsemen were pursuing -them, and coming up at headlong speed. On seeing this, as we said, the -party halted, much disappointed and greatly embarrassed as to what they -had better do. - -They were literally placed between two fires, and were the attacked -instead of the assailants; the situation was critical, and deserved -serious consideration. Carnero suggested a retreat, remarking, with a -certain amount of reason, that the sides were no longer equal, and that -success was highly problematical. The peons, all utter ruffians, and -expressly chosen by the general, but who entertained a profound respect -for the integrity of their limbs, and were but very slightly inclined -to have them injured in so disadvantageous a contest with people who -would not recoil, were disposed to follow the advice of the capataz and -retire, before a retreat became impossible. - -Unhappily, the Zaragate was among the peons. Believing, from his -conversation with the colonel, that he knew better than anyone the -general's intentions, and attracted by the hope of a rich reward if he -succeeded in delivering him of his enemy, that is to say, in killing -Valentine; and, moreover, probably impelled by the personal hatred he -entertained for the hunter, he would not listen to any observation, and -swore with horrible oaths that he would carry out the general's orders -at all hazards, and that, since the persons they were ordered to stop -were only a few paces before them, they ought not to retire until they -had, at least, attempted to perform their duty; and that if his comrades -were such cowards as to desert him, he would go on alone at his own -risk, certain that the general would be satisfied with the way in which -he behaved. - -After a declaration so distinct and peremptory, any hesitation became -impossible, the more so as the horsemen were rapidly coming up, and if -the capataz hesitated much longer he would be attacked in the rear. Thus -driven out of his last entrenchment, and compelled against his will to -fight, Carnero gave the signal to push on ahead. - -But the peons had scarce started, ere three shots were fired, and three -men rolled in the dust. The newcomers, in this way, warned their friends -to hold their ground, and that they were bringing help. The dismounted -peons were not wounded, though greatly shaken by their fall, and unable -to take part in the fight; their horses alone were hit, and that so -cleverly, that they at once fell. - -"Eh, eh!" the capataz said, as he galloped on; "these pícaros have a -very sure hand. What do you think of it?" - -"I say that there are still four of us; that is double the number of -those waiting for us down there, and we are sufficient to master them." - -"Don't be too sure, my good friend, Zaragate," the capataz said with a -grin; "they are men made of iron, who must be killed twice over before -they fall." - -The Tigrero and his companions had heard shots and seen the peons bite -the dust. - -"There is Valentine," said the Frenchman. - -"I believe so," Don Martial replied. - -"Shall we charge?" - -"Yes." - -And digging in their spurs, they dashed at the peons. - -Valentine and his two comrades, Belhumeur and Black Elk (for the -Frenchman was not mistaken, it was really the hunter coming up, whom the -Canadian had warned) fell on the peons simultaneously with Don Martial -and his companion. - -A terrible, silent, and obstinate struggle went on for some minutes -between these nine men; the foes had seized each other round the body, -as they were too close to use firearms, and tried to stab each other. -Nothing was heard but angry curses and panting, but not a word or cry, -for what is the use of insulting when you can kill? - -The Zaragate, so soon as he recognized the hunter, dashed at him. -Valentine, although taken off his guard, offered a vigorous resistance; -the two men were entwined like serpents, and, in their efforts to -dismount each other, at last both fell, and rolled beneath the feet of -the combatants who, without thinking of them, or perceiving their fall, -continued to attack each other furiously. - -The hunter was endowed with great muscular strength and unequalled -science and agility; but on this occasion he had found an adversary -worthy of him. The Zaragate, some years younger than Valentine, and -possessed of his full bodily strength, while urged on by the love of a -rich reward, made superhuman efforts to master his opponent and plunge -his navaja into his throat. Several times had each of them succeeded -in getting the other underneath, but, as so frequently happens in -wrestling, a sudden movement of the shoulders or loins had changed the -position of the adversaries and brought the one beneath who a moment -previously had been on the top. - -Still Valentine felt that his strength was becoming exhausted; -the unexpected resistance he met with from an enemy apparently so -little worthy of him, exasperated him and made him lose his coolness. -Collecting all his remaining vigour to attempt a final and decisive -effort, he succeeded in getting his enemy once again under him, and -pinned him down; but at the same moment Valentine uttered a cry of pain -and rolled on the ground--a horse's kick had broken his left arm. - -The Zaragate sprang up with a tiger's bound, and bursting into a yell -of delight, placed his knee on his enemy's chest, at the same time as -he prepared to bury his navaja in his heart. Valentine felt that he was -lost, and did not attempt to avoid the death that threatened him. - -"Poor Louis," he merely said, looking firmly and intrepidly at the -bandit. - -"Ah, ah!" the Zaragate said, with a ferocious grin, "I hold my vengeance -at length, accursed Trail-hunter." - -He did not complete the sentence; suddenly seized by his long hair, -while a knee, thrust between his shoulders, forced him to bend back, he -saw, as in a horrible dream, a ferocious face grinning above his head. -With a fearful groan he rolled on the ground; a knife had been buried in -his heart, while his scalp, which was suddenly removed, left his denuded -skull to inundate with blood the ground around. - -Curumilla raised in his arms the body of his friend, whose life he had -just saved once again, and bore it to the side of the road. Valentine -had fainted. - -The chief, so soon as he saw his friends charge the peons, left his -ambush, and while careful to remain behind them, followed them to the -battlefield. He had watched eagerly the long struggle between the hunter -and the Zaragate; trying vainly to assist his friend, but never able -to succeed. The two enemies were so entwined, their movements were so -rapid, and they changed their position so suddenly, that the chief was -afraid lest he might wound his friend in attempting to help him. Hence -he awaited with extreme anxiety an opportunity so long delayed, and -which the Zaragate himself offered by losing his time in insulting his -enemy instead of killing him at once, when the injury he received left -him defenceless in the bandit's power. - -The Araucano bounded like a wild beast on the Mexican, and without -hesitation scalped and stabbed him with the agility characteristic of -the redskins, and which he himself possessed in so high a degree. - -Almost at the same moment the horsemen also finished their fight. The -peons had offered a vigorous resistance, but being badly supported -by the capataz, who was disabled at the beginning of the skirmish by -Don Martial, and seeing the Zaragate dead and three of their friends -dismounted and incapable of coming to their assistance, they gave in. - -The capataz had been wounded at his own request by Don Martial, in order -to save appearance with the general; he had a wide gash on his right -arm, very severe at the first glance, but insignificant in reality. A -peon had been almost smashed by Belhumeur, so that the field of battle -fairly remained in the hands of the hunters. - -When their victory was insured they assembled anxiously round -Valentine, for they were alarmed at his condition, and most anxious -to be reassured. Valentine, whose arm Curumilla had at once set, with -the skill and coolness of an old practitioner, soon reopened his eyes, -reassured his friends by a smile, and offered the Indian chief his -right hand, which the latter laid on his heart with an expression of -indescribable happiness, as he uttered his favourite exclamation of Ugh! -the only word he permitted himself to use in joy or in sorrow, when he -felt himself choking with internal emotion. - -"Señores," the hunter said, "it is only an arm broken; thanks to the -chief, I have had an easy escape. Let us resume our journey before other -enemies come up." - -"And we, señor?" the capataz cried humbly. - -Valentine rose with the chiefs assistance, and took a furious glance at -the peons. "As for you, miserable assassins," he said with a terrible -accent, "return to your master and tell him in what way you were -received. But it is not sufficient to have chastised your perfidy, I -must have revenge for the odious snare into which my friends and I all -but fell. I will learn whether in open day, and some half a dozen miles -from Mexico, bandits can thus attack peaceable travellers with impunity. -Begone!" - -Valentine was slightly mistaken, for, although it was really the -intention of the peons to attack them, the hunters had actually begun -the fight by dismounting the three peons. But the fellows, convicted by -their conscience, did not notice this delicate distinction, and were -very happy to get off so cheaply, and be enabled to return peaceably, -when they feared that their conquerors would hand them over to the -police as they had a perfect right to do. - -Thus, far from raising any objections, they broke forth into apologies -and protestations of devotion, and hastened off, not troubling -themselves to pick up the body of their defunct comrade, el Zaragate, -which they left to the vultures which settled on it, so soon as the -highway was clear again. - -The capataz, under the pretext that his wound was very painful, but in -reality to give Valentine and his friends the requisite time to secure -themselves temporarily from pursuit, insisted on returning to the city -slowly, so that they did not reach the general's mansion till two hours -had elapsed. - -So soon as the peons in obedience to the hunter's orders had left the -battlefield, he, on his part, gave his companions the signal to start. -Don Martial had hurried to reassure the ladies, who were standing more -dead than alive at the spot where the chief had concealed them. He made -them get into the carriage again, without telling them anything except -that the danger was past, and that the rest of the journey would be -performed in safety. - -Valentine's friends tried in vain to induce him to get into the carriage -with the ladies. He would not consent, but insisted on mounting his -horse, assuring them, in the far from probable event of their being -attacked again, that he could still be of some service to his companions -in spite of his broken arm. The latter were too well acquainted with his -inflexible will to press him further, so Curumilla remounted the coach -box, and they started. - -The rest of the journey was performed without any incident, and they -reached the quinta twenty minutes later. The skirmish had taken place -scarce two miles from the country house. On reaching the gates, -Valentine took leave of his friend without dismounting. - -"What!" the latter said to him, "are you going, Valentine, without -resting for a moment?" - -"I must, my dear Rallier," he answered; "you know what imperious reasons -claim my presence in Mexico." - -"But you are wounded." - -"Have I not Curumilla to attend to my hurt? Do not be anxious about -me; besides, I intend to see you again soon. This quinta appears to me -strong enough to resist a surprise. Have you a garrison?" - -"I have a dozen servants and my two brothers." - -"In that case I am easy in my mind; besides, there is only one night to -pass, and I believe that after the lesson his people have received the -general will not venture on a second attack, for some days at least. -Besides, he reckons on the success of his pronunciamiento. You will come -to me tomorrow at daybreak, will you not?" - -"I shall not fail." - -"In that case I will be off." - -"Will you not say good-bye to the ladies?" - -"They are not aware of my presence, and it will be better for them not -to see me; so good-bye till tomorrow." - -And making a signal to his comrades who, including Curumilla, to whom a -horse was given, collected around him, Valentine started at a gallop for -Mexico, caring no more for his broken arm than if it were a mere scratch. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -LOS REGOCIJOS. - - -On his return to the mansion, the capataz did not see his master, at -which he was extremely pleased, for he desired to delay as long as -possible an explanation which, in spite of the wound he so complacently -displayed, he feared would turn out to his disadvantage, especially -when questioned by a man like the general, whose piercing glance would -descend to the bottom of his heart to discover the truth, however -cleverly hidden it might be behind a network of falsehoods. - -As only a few hours had still to elapse before the explosion of the -conspiracy, arranged with such care and mystery, the general was -compelled for a while to suspend his schemes for the satisfaction of his -love and his hatred, and only attend to those in which his ambition was -engaged. The principal conspirators had been summoned to Colonel Lupo's, -and there the final arrangements had been made for the morrow, and the -watchword given. - -Although the government appeared plunged in the most profound ignorance -of what was preparing against it, and evinced complete security, still -the President had made certain arrangements for the morrow's ceremonies -which did not fail greatly to trouble the men interested in knowing -everything, and to whom the apparently most futile thing naturally -created umbrage. - -The general, with the curiosity that distinguished him, was anxious to -know exactly the extent of the danger he had to meet, and proceeded to -the palace, merely accompanied by his two aides-de-camp. The general -president received Don Sebastian with a smile on his lips, and offered -him the most gracious reception. This reception, so cordial, perhaps -too cordial, instead of reassuring the general, had, on the contrary, -increased his anxiety, for he was a Mexican and knew the proverb of his -country--"Lips that smile, and mouth that tells falsehoods." - -The general was too calm to let his feelings be seen. He pretended to be -delighted, remained for some time with the President, who appeared to -treat him with a friendly familiarity, complained of the rarity of his -visits, and his obstinacy in not asking for a command. In a word, the -two men separated apparently highly satisfied with each other. - -Still, the general remarked that all the courts were stuffed with -soldiers, who were bivouacking in the open air; that several guns had -been placed, accidentally perhaps, so as to sweep completely the chief -entrance gate, and, more serious still, that the troops quartered in -the palace were commanded by officers strangers to him, and who had, -moreover, the reputation of being devoted to the President of the -Republic. - -After this daring visit, the general mounted his horse, and, under the -pretext of going for a walk, went all over the city. Everywhere the -preparations for the coming festival were being carried on with the -greatest activity. In the square of Necatitlan, for instance, situated -in one of the worst parts of the capital, a circus had been made for the -bullfights at which the president intended to be present. - -Numerous wooden erections, raised for the occasion, filled the space -usually devoted to tauromachy, and formed an immense hall of verdure, -with pleasant clumps of trees, mysterious walks, and charming retreats, -prepared with the greatest care, where everybody would go on the morrow -to eat and drink the atrocious productions of the Mexican art on -cookery, and enjoy what is called in that country Jamaica. - -Exactly in the centre of the arena a tree about twenty feet in height -was planted, with its branches and leaves entirely covered with coloured -pocket-handkerchiefs that floated in the breeze. This tree was the Monte -Parnasso, intended to serve as a maypole for the leperos, at the moment -when the bullfights begin, and a trial bull, _embolado_, that is to say, -with its horns terminating in balls, is let into the ring. - -All the pulquerías near the square were thronged with a hideous, ragged -mob, who howled, sang, shouted, and whistled their loudest, while -smoking, and, at intervals, exchanging knife thrusts, to the great -delight of the spectators. - -In all the streets the procession would pass through the houses were -decorated; Mexican flags were hoisted in profusion at every spot where -they could be displayed; and yet, by the side of all these holiday -preparations, there was, we repeat, something gloomy and menacing -that struck a chill to the heart. Through all the gates fresh troops -continually entered the city, and occupied admirably chosen strategic -points. The Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, and even the Vega, were -converted into bivouacs, and though these troops ostensibly only came to -Mexico to be present at the ceremony and be reviewed, they were equipped -for the field, and affected an earnestness which caused much thought to -those who saw them pass or visited their bivouacs. - -When a serious event is preparing, there are in the atmosphere certain -signs which never deceive the fosterers of revolutions; a vague and -apparently causeless anxiety seizes on the masses, and unconsciously -converts their joy into a species of feverish excitement, at which they -are themselves startled, as they know not to what to attribute this -change in their humour. - -Hence the population of Mexico, mad, merry, and joyous, as usual when -a festival is preparing, in the eyes of short-sighted persons, were in -reality sternly sad and suffering from great anxiety. The general did -not fail to observe these prognostics; gloomy presentiments occupied his -mind, for he understood that a terrible tempest was hidden beneath this -fictitious calmness. Valentine's gloomy predictions recurred to him. -He trembled to see the hunter's menaces realized; and, though unable -to discover when the danger would come, he foresaw that a great peril -was hanging over his head, and that his ambitious projects would soon, -perhaps, be drowned in floods of blood. - -Unfortunately it was too late to desist; he must, whatever might happen, -go on to the end, for he had not the time to give counter orders, -and urge the conspirators to defer the explosion of the plot till a -more favourable moment. Hence, after ripe reflection, the general -resolved to push on, and trust to accident. Ambitious men, by the way, -reckon, far more than is supposed, on hazard, and those magnificent -combinations which are admired when success has crowned them, are most -frequently merely the unforeseen results of fortuitous circumstances, -completely beyond the will of the man whom they have profited. -History, modern history especially, is full of these combinations, -these results impossible to foresee, which sensible men would not have -dared to suppose, and which have made the reputation of so-called -statesmen of genius, who are very small fry, when regarded through the -magnifying-glass or when actions are sifted. - -The general returned to his house at about six in the evening, -despairing, and already seeing his plans annihilated. The report of his -capataz added to his discouragement, for it was the drop of wormwood -which makes the brimful cup run over. He withdrew to his apartments in a -state of dull fury, and in his impotent rage accused himself for having -ventured into this frightful situation, for he felt himself rapidly -gliding down a fatal slope, where it would be impossible for him to stop. - -What added to his secret agony was, that he must incessantly send off -couriers, receive reports, talk with his confidants, and feign in their -presence not merely calmness and gaiety, but also encourage them, and -impart to them an ardour and hope which he no longer possessed. - -The whole night was spent thus. A terrible night, during which the -general endured all the tortures that assail an ambitious man on the eve -of a scandalous plot against a government which he has sworn to defend. -He was agitated by those dull murmurs of the conscience which can never -be thoroughly stifled, and which would inspire pity for these unhappy -men, were they not careful, by their own acts, to put themselves beyond -the pale of that humanity of which they have become real monsters. The -most wholesome lesson that could be given to those ambitious manikins, -so frequent in the lower strata of society, would be to render them -witnesses of the crushing agony that attacks any _cabecilla_ during the -night that precedes the outbreak of one of its horrible plots. - -Sunrise surprised the general giving his final orders. Worn out by the -fatigue of a long watch, with pallid brow, and eyes inflamed by fever, -he tried to take a few moments of restorative rest, which he so greatly -needed; but his efforts were fruitless, for he was suffering from an -excitement too intense, at the decisive hour, for sleep to come and -close his eyes. - -Already the bells of all the churches were pealing out, and filling the -air with their joyous notes. In all the streets, and in all the squares, -boys and leperos were letting off crackers, and uttering deafening -cries, which more resembled bursts of fury than demonstrations of joy. -The people, dressed in their holiday clothes, were leaving their houses -in masses, and spreading like a torrent over the city. - -The review was arranged for seven o'clock A.M., so that the troops might -be spared the great heat of the day. They were massed on the Paseo de -Bucareli and the road connecting that promenade with the Alameda. - -We have already stated that the Mexican army, twenty thousand strong, -has twenty-four thousand officers. Hence, in the enormous crowd -assembled to witness the review, uniforms were in a majority; for all -the officers living on half-pay in Mexico, for some reason or another, -considered themselves bound to attend the review as amateurs. - -At a quarter to eight o'clock the drums beat, the troops presented arms, -a deafening shout was raised by the crowd, and the President of the -Republic arrived on the Paseo, followed by a large staff, glistening -with gold and lace, and with a cloud of feathers waving in their cocked -hats. - -The Mexicans, much resembling in this respect another nation we are -acquainted with, adore feathers, aiguillettes, and, before all, -embroidered uniforms. Hence the President was warmly greeted by the -enthusiastic crowd, and his arrival was converted into an ovation. -General Guerrero had joined the President's staff in his full dress -uniform, as Colonel Lupo and other conspirators had also done; the -rest, dispersed among the crowd, and well armed under their cloaks, -were giving drink to the already half-intoxicated leperos, and secretly -exciting them to begin an insurrection. - -In the meanwhile the review went on without any hitch. It is true that -the President restricted himself to riding along the front, and then -ordering the troops to march past, for he did not dare, owing to the -notorious ignorance of the officers and soldiers, risk the execution of -any manoeuvre, for it would not have been understood, and would have -broken the charm under which the spectators were fascinated. Then the -President, still followed by his staff, proceeded to the cathedral. -We will not say anything about the official receptions, etc., which -occupied all the morning. - -The hour for the bullfight arrived. Since the review no one troubled -himself about the troops, who seemed to have suddenly disappeared--not -a soldier was visible in the streets; but the people did not think of -them, for they were letting off fireworks, laughing and shouting, which -was quite sufficient to amuse them. It was only noticed that these -soldiers, though invisible about the city, had apparently passed the -word to each other to be present at the bullfight. Nearly the whole of -the _palcos de sol_ in the circus, that is to say, the parts exposed -to the sun, were thronged with soldiers, grouped pell-mell with the -leperos, and offering the most pleasant contrast with these ragged -scamps, who were yelling and whistling. - -The President arrived, and the circus was, in a second, invaded by -the mob. Since an early hour the Jamaica had begun, that is to say, -the framework of verdure raised in the centre of the arena, forming -refreshment rooms, had, since daybreak, been filled with a countless -number of leperos, who ate and drank with cries of ferocious delight. - -Suddenly, at a given signal, the gate of the torril was opened, and a -bull, _embolado_, rushed into the arena. Then began an extraordinary -indescribable scene, resembling one of those diabolical meetings so -admirably designed by Callot. - -The leperos, surprised by the arrival of the bull, darted, shouting, -pushing, and upsetting each other, over the framework, which they threw -down and trampled underfoot in their terror, while seeking to escape the -pursuit of the _embolado_, who, also excited by the tumult, hunted them -vigorously. In a second the arena was deserted, the refreshment rooms -swept clean, and the performers in the Jamaica sought any shelter they -could find on the edge of the palcos or upon the columns, from which -they hung in hideous yelling and grimacing clusters. - -A few leperos, however, bolder than the rest, had darted to the Monte -Parnasso, not only to find a shelter there, but also to tear away all -the coloured handkerchiefs fastened to the branches. In a twinkling the -thick foliage was hidden by the crowd of leperos who invaded it. - -The bull, after amusing itself for some minutes in tossing about the -remains of the framework, stopped and looked cunningly around, and -soon noticed the tree, the only obstacle left to remove, in order to -completely empty the arena. - -It remained motionless for an instant, as if hesitating ere it formed -a resolution; then it bowed its head, made the sand fly with its -fore-feet, lashed its tail violently, and, rushing at the tree, dealt it -repeated and powerful blows. - -The leperos uttered a cry of despair. The tree, which was overladen, -and incessantly sapped at its base by the bull, swayed, and at last -fell sideways, carrying down in its fall the leperos clinging to the -branches. The audience clapped their hands and broke into frenzied -bravos, which changed into perfect yells of delight when a poor fellow, -who was limping away, was suddenly caught up by the bull, and tossed ten -feet high in the air. - -All at once, and at the moment when the joy was attaining its paroxysm, -several rounds of artillery were heard, followed by a well-sustained -musketry fire. As if by magic the bull was driven back to the torril; -the soldiers scattered about the circus leapt into the ring, and -becoming actors instead of spectators, drew up in good order, and -levelled their muskets at the occupiers of the galleries and boxes, who -remained motionless with terror, for they did not understand what was -going on. - -A door opened, and twenty bandsmen, followed by eight officers, and -escorted by a dozen soldiers, entered the ring, and began beating the -drums. It was a governmental _bando_. So soon as silence was restored -martial law was proclaimed, and sentence of outlawry passed on General -Don Sebastian Guerrero and his adherents, who had just raised the -standard of revolt, and pronounced against the established government. - -The crowd listened to the bando in a stupor which was heightened by the -fact that with each moment the firing became sharper, and the artillery -discharges shook the air at more rapid intervals. - -Mexico was once again the prey of one of those scenes of murder and -carnage which, since the Proclamation of Independence, has too often -stained her streets and squares with blood. - -The President was on horseback in the centre of the arena, sending off -orders, listening to messages, or detaching reinforcements wherever they -were wanted. The circus was converted into the headquarters of the army -of order, and the spectators, although allowed to depart after some -arrests had been effected among them, remained trembling in their seats, -preferring not to venture into the streets, which had been converted -into real battlefields. - -Still the pronunciamiento was assuming formidable proportions. General -Guerrero had not played for so heavy a stake without trying to secure to -his side all probable chances of success; and that success would most -ably have crowned his efforts, had he not been betrayed. For, in spite -of all the precautions taken by the government, the affair had been -begun so warmly and resolutely that, after the contest had continued for -three hours, it was impossible to say on which side the advantage would -remain. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO. - - -In any revolution, the insurgents have always an immense advantage over -the government they are attacking, from the fact that, as they hold -together, know their numbers, and act in accordance with a long worked -out plan, they are not only cognizant of what they want, but also, -whither they are proceeding. The government, on the other hand, however -well informed it may be, and however well on its guard, is obliged -to remain for a considerable length of time in an attitude of armed -expectation, without knowing whence the danger that menaces it will -come, or the strength of the rebellion it will have to combat. - -On the other hand, again, as the secret of the discovery of the plot -remains with a small band of confidential agents of the authorities, -the latter do not know at first whom to trust, or whom to reckon on. -They suspect everybody, even the very troops defending them, whom they -fear to see turning against them at any moment, and overthrowing them. -This is more especially the case in Mexico and all the old Spanish -colonies, where the governmental system is essentially military, and is -consequently only based on naturally unintelligent and venal troops, who -are utterly deficient of patriotic feelings, and whom interest alone, -that is to say, pay or promotion, can keep to their duty. - -The history of all the revolutions which, during the last fifty years, -have caused torrents of blood to flow in the New World, is entirely -contained in the last passage we have written. - -The President of the Republic had been informed of the designs of the -general, as far as that was possible; he had known for more than a month -that a vast plot was being formed; he even was aware of the probable day -fixed for the pronunciamiento, but he did not know a syllable about the -plans arranged by Don Sebastian and his adherents. As the plot was to -burst out in Mexico, the President had filled the capital with troops; -and called in those on whose fidelity he thought he could reckon with -the greatest certainty. - -But his preparations were necessarily restricted to this, and he had -been constrained to wait till the revolution commenced. - -It burst forth with the suddenness of a peal of thunder at twenty places -simultaneously, at about the second hour of the tarde. The President, -who was at once informed, and who had only come to the circus in order -not to be invested in the government palace, instantly took the measures -he thought most efficacious. - -The news, however, rapidly arrived, and became worse and worse, and the -insurrection was assuming frightful proportions. The revolters at first -tried to install themselves on the Plaza Major in order to seize the -government palace, but being repulsed with loss, after a very serious -contest, they ambuscaded themselves in Tacuba, Secunda Monterilla, and -San Agustin streets, erected barricades, and exchanged a sharp fire with -the faithful troops. - -The cannon roared in the square, and the balls made large gaps in the -ranks of the insurgents, who replied with yells of rage and increased -firing. - -Colonel Lupo had taken possession of two city gates, which he burned -down, and through which fresh reinforcements reached the insurgents, who -now proclaimed themselves masters of one-third of the city. The foreign -merchants, established in Mexico, had hoisted their national flags -over their houses, in which they remained shut up, and suffering great -anxiety. - -The President was still standing motionless in the centre of the circus, -frowning at each new message, or angrily striking the pommel of his -saddle with his clenched fist. - -All at once a man glided secretly between the horses' legs, and gently -touched the general's boot, who turned round quickly. - -"Ah!" he exclaimed, on recognizing him. "At last! Well, Curumilla?" - -But the Indian, without answering, thrust a folded paper into his hand, -and disappeared as rapidly as he had come. The general eagerly scanned -the letter, which only contained these words, written in French--"All is -going on well. Charge vigorously." - -The general's face grew brighter, he drew himself up haughtily, and -brandishing his sword with a martial air, shouted in a voice heard by -all, "Forward, Muchachos!" - -Then, digging his spurs into his horse's sides, he galloped out of -the circus, followed by the greater part of the troops, the remainder -receiving orders to hold their present position until further warning. - -"Now," said the President to the officers who pressed round him, "the -game is won; within an hour the insurrection will be conquered." - -In fact matters had greatly altered. This is what had occurred: - -Valentine, as we said, had taken a house in Tacuba Street, and another -in the vicinity of the San Lázaro gate. During the night that preceded -the pronunciamiento, four hundred resolute soldiers, commanded by -faithful officers, were introduced into the house in Tacuba Street, -where they remained so well hidden that no one suspected their presence. -A similar number of troops were stowed away in the house at the San -Lázaro gate. - -Don Martial, at the head of a large body of men, slipped into the small -house belonging to the capataz, and, being warned by the latter so -soon as the general had gone off to attend the review, he passed into -his mansion through the masked door we know, and occupied it without -striking a blow. - -The Tigrero straightway set a trap, in which several of the principal -chiefs of the insurgents were caught, believing that they would find -General Guerrero at home, and were at once made prisoners. - -These three points occupied, they waited. Colonel Lupo had attacked the -San Lázaro gate so vigorously and unexpectedly, that it was impossible -to prevent him burning it. A very obstinate fight at once began, and -the colonel, after a brave resistance, had been at length compelled to -retreat and fall back on the main body of the insurgents, who were still -masters, or nearly so, of the centre of the city. - -We have mentioned that in Mexico all the houses are flat roofed; hence, -in any revolution, the scenes in the street are repeated on the terraces -of the houses; for the tactics adopted in such cases are to line these -terraces with soldiers. Through a strange fatality the insurgents, while -seizing the principal streets, had forgotten, or rather neglected, to -occupy the houses, as they believed themselves masters of the situation. - -All at once the terraces in Tacuba Street, looking on the Plaza Mayor, -were covered with sharpshooters, who began a tremendous fire on the -insurgents collected beneath them. The same manoeuvre was simultaneously -executed in Monterilla and San Augustín Streets, and the terraces of the -palace were covered with troops also. - -The artillerymen, who had hitherto fired at long range, now brought up -their guns almost within pistol shot of the streets, and, in spite of -the musketry fire of the insurgents, bravely posted their batteries and -began hurtling showers of canister among the defenders of the barricades. - -Almost simultaneously, the troops faithful to the government appeared in -the rear of the rebels, and being supported by the sharpshooters on the -terraces, charged vigorously to the incessantly repeated cry of "Méjico, -Méjico, Independencia!" - -The insurgents felt they were lost, for they were caught between three -fires; still they offered a courageous resistance, for, knowing that -if they fell alive into the hands of the conqueror, they would be -mercilessly shot, they allowed themselves to be killed with Indian -stoicism, and did not yield an inch of ground. - -The general was in a terrible rage; without a hat, his face blackened -with gunpowder, and his uniform torn in several places, he leapt his -horse over the corpses, and dashed blindly into the thick of the -government troops, followed by a small band of friends, who bravely let -themselves be killed at his side. - -The fight was positively degenerating into a massacre; the two parties, -as unhappily always happens in civil wars, fought with the greater fury -and obstinacy because brothers were contending against brothers, and -many of them, for whom politics were only a pretext, took advantage of -the medley to satiate personal hatred and avenge old insults. - -However, this could not go on for long thus, and it was necessary to get -out of the situation at all risks. General Guerrero, unaware of the -occupation of his house, resolved to fight his way thither, barricade -himself, and obtain an honourable capitulation for himself and his -comrades. - -No sooner was the plan conceived than the execution was attempted. Don -Sebastian collected round him all the fighting men left, and formed -them into a small band--for the canister and bullets had made frightful -ravages in the ranks of the insurgents--and placed himself at their head. - -"Forward, forward!" he shouted as he rushed at the enemy. - -His men followed him with yells of fury. The collision was terrible, the -fight fearful; for four or five minutes a funereal silence brooded over -this confused mass of combatants, who attacked each so savagely. They -stabbed each other mercilessly, disdaining to use their firearms, and -preferring, as a speedier resource, the sharp points of their sabres and -bayonets. - -At length the President's troops fell back slightly, the insurgents -took advantage of it to redouble their efforts, which were already -superhuman, and reached the general's house. The doors were broken open -in an instant, and all rushed pell-mell into the courtyard. They were -saved! since they had at last reached the shelter where they hoped to -defend themselves. - -At this moment a frightful thing happened; the gallery commanding the -courtyard and the stairs was entirely occupied by soldiers, and so soon -as the insurgents appeared, the muskets were pointed down at them, -a tornado of fire passed over them like the blast of death, and in a -second a mass of corpses covered the ground. - -The insurgents, terrified by this sudden attack, which they were so far -from anticipating, hurriedly fell back, instinctively seeking an outlet -by which to escape. The tumult then became terrible, and the massacre -assumed the proportions of an organized butchery. Driven back into the -courtyard by the troops who pursued them, and met there by those who -had attacked them and now charged at the bayonet point, these wretched -men, rendered senseless by terror, did not dream any longer of employing -their weapons, but falling on their knees before their executioners, and -clasping their trembling hands, they implored the mercy of the troops, -who, intoxicated by the smell of blood, and affected by that horrible -murder fever which seizes upon even the coolest man on the battle field, -felled them, like oxen in the shambles, and plunged their sabres and -bayonets into their bodies with grins of delight and ferocious laughter, -and felt a horrible pleasure in seeing their victims writhe with -heartbreaking cries in the last convulsions of death. - -General Don Sebastian, though wounded, and who seemed to have been -protected by a charm throughout this scene of carnage, defended himself -like a lion against several soldiers, who tried in vain to transfix him -with their bayonets. Leaning against a column he whirled his sabre -round his head, evidently seeking death, but wishful to sell his life as -dearly as possible. - -Suddenly Valentine cleft his way through the combatants, followed by -Belhumeur, Black Elk, and Curumilla, who were engaged in warding off the -blows the soldiers incessantly made at him, and reached the general. - -"Ah!" the latter said on perceiving him, "here you are at last, then." - -And he dealt him a terrible blow, but Belhumeur parried it, and -Valentine continued to advance. - -"Withdraw," he said to the soldiers who surrounded the general, "this -man belongs to me." - -The soldiers, though they did not know the hunter, intimidated by the -accent with which he uttered these words, and recognizing in him one of -those rare men who can always impose on common natures, respectfully -fell back without making the slightest objection. - -The hunter threw his purse to them. - -"You dare to defy the lion at bay," the general shouted, gnashing his -teeth; "although attacked by dogs, he can still avenge his death." - -"You will not die," the hunter said coldly; "throw away that sabre, -which is now useless." - -"Ah, ah!" Don Sebastian said with a grin of rage; "I am not to die; and -why not, pray?" - -"Because," he answered, in a cutting voice, "death would be a mercy to -you, and you must be punished." - -"Oh!" he shrieked, and, blinded by rage, he rushed madly at the hunter. - -The latter, without falling back a step, contented himself with giving a -signal. At the same moment a slipknot fell on the general's shoulders, -and he rolled on the ground with a yell of rage. Curumilla had lassoed -him. - -In vain did Don Sebastian attempt further resistance; after useless -efforts he was reduced to utter impotence, and forced, not only to -confess he had been vanquished, but to yield himself to the mercy of his -conquerors. The latter, at a sign from Valentine, disarmed him first, -and then bound him, so that he could not make the slightest movement. - -The massacre was ended, the insurrection had been drowned in blood. The -few rebels who survived the carnage were prisoners; the victors, in the -first moment of enthusiasm, had shot several, and it required the most -energetic interference on the part of the officers to check this rather -too summary justice. - -At this moment joyous shouts burst forth, and the President of the -Republic entered the courtyard at the head of a large staff, glistening -with embroidery. - -"Ah, ah!" he said, as he took a contemptuous glance at the general, who -had been thrown on the stones, "so this is the man who wished to change -the institutions of his country?" - -Don Sebastian did not deign to reply; but he looked at the speaker with -such an expression of implacable hatred, that the President could not -endure it, and was forced to turn his head away. - -"Did this man surrender?" he asked one of his officers. - -"No, coward," the general answered, with clenched teeth, "I will not -surrender to hangmen." - -"Take this man to prison with the others," the President continued, "an -example must be made; but take care that they are not insulted by the -people." - -"Yes," the general muttered, "ever the same system." - -"A fall and entire pardon," the President continued, "will be granted to -the unhappy men who were led astray, and have recognized their crime. -The lesson they have received was rather rough, and I am convinced that -it will do them good." - -"Clemency after the massacre, that is the usual way," the general said -again. - -The President passed without answering him, and left the courtyard. A -few minutes later the prisoners were led away to prison, in spite of the -efforts of the exasperated populace to massacre them on the road. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero was one of the first to appear before the -tribunal. He disdained any defence, and during the whole trial preserved -a gloomy silence; he was unceremoniously condemned to be shot, his -estates confiscated, and his name was declared infamous. - -So soon as the sentence was recorded, the general was placed in the -chapel, where he was to remain three days before execution. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -THE CAPILLA. - - -The Spanish custom--a custom which has been kept up in all the old -colonies of that power--of placing persons condemned to death in a -chapel, requires explanation, in order that it may be thoroughly -understood and appreciated, as it deserves to be. - -Frenchmen, over whom the great revolution of '93 passed like a -hurricane, and carried off most of their belief in its sanguinary cloak, -may smile with pity and regard as a fanatic remainder from another -age, this custom of placing the condemned in chapel. Among us, it is -true, matters are managed much more simply: a man, when condemned by -the law, eats, drinks, and remains alone in his cell. If he desire it, -he is visited by the chaplain, whom he is at liberty to converse with, -if he likes; if not, he remains perfectly quiet, and nobody pays any -attention to him, during a period more or less long, and determined by -the rejection of his appeal. Then, one fine morning, when he is least -thinking of it, the governor of the prison announces to him, when he -wakes, as the most simple thing in the world, that he is to be executed -that same day, and only an hour is granted him to recommend his soul -to the divine clemency. The fatal toilet is made by the executioner and -his assistant, the condemned man is placed in a close carriage, conveyed -to the place of execution, and in a twinkling launched into eternity, -before he has had a moment to look round him. - -Is it right or wrong to act in this way? We dare not answer, yes or no. -This question is too difficult to decide, and would lead us the further, -because we should begin with asking society by what right it arrogates -to itself the power of killing one of its members, and thus committing a -cold-blooded assassination, under the pretext of doing justice; for we -confess that we have ever been among the most determined adversaries of -punishment by death, as we are persuaded that, in trying to deal a heavy -blow, human justice deceives itself, and goes beyond the object, because -it avenges when it ought merely to punish. - -We will, therefore, repeat here what we said in a previous work, in -explanation of what the Spaniards mean by the phrase "placing in chapel." - -When a man is condemned to death, from that moment he is, _de facto_, -cut off from that society to which he no longer belongs, through the -sentence passed on him; he is consequently separated from his fellow men. - -He is shut up in a room, at one end of which is an altar; the walls are -hung with black drapery, studded with silver tears, and here and there -mourning inscriptions, drawn from Holy Writ. Near his bed is placed the -coffin in which his body is to be deposited after execution, while two -priests, who relieve each other, but of whom one constantly remains in -the room, say mass in turn, and exhort the criminal to repent Of his -crimes, and implore divine clemency. This custom, which, if carried to -an extreme, would appear in our country before all, barbarous and cruel, -perfectly agrees with Spanish manners, and the thoroughly believing -spirit of this impressionable nation; it is intended to draw the culprit -back to pious thought, and rarely fails to produce the desired effect -upon him. - -The general was, therefore, placed in capilla, and two monks belonging -to the order of St. Francis, the most respected, and, in fact, -respectable in Mexico, entered it with him. - -The first hours he passed there were terrible; this proud mind, this -powerful organization, revolted against adversity, and would not accept -defeat. Gloomy and silent, with frowning brows, and fists clenched on -his bosom, the general sought shelter like a wild beast in a corner of -the room, recalling his whole life, and seeing with starts of terror the -bloody victims scattered along his path, and sacrificed in turn to his -devouring ambition, sadly defile before him. - -Then he reverted to his early years. When residing at the Palmar, his -magnificent family hacienda, his life passed away calm, pure, gentle, -and tranquil, without regrets, and without desires, among his faithful -servants. Then, he was so glad to be nothing, and to wish to be nothing. - -By degrees his thoughts followed the bias of his recollections: the -present was effaced; his contracted features grew softer, and two -burning tears, the first, perhaps, this man of iron had ever shed, -slowly coursed down his cheeks, which grief had hollowed. - -The monks, calm and contemplative, had eagerly followed the successive -changes on this eminently expressive face. They comprehended that their -mission of consolation was beginning, and approached the general softly, -and wept with him; then this man, whom nothing had been able to subdue, -felt his soul torn asunder; the cloud that covered his eyes melted away -like the winter snow before the first sunbeam, and he fell into the arms -open to receive him, exclaiming, with an expression of desperate grief -impossible to render-- - -"Have mercy, heaven! have mercy!" - -The struggle had been short but terrible; faith had conquered doubt, and -humanity had regained its rights. - -The general then had with the monks a conversation, protracted far into -the night, in which he confessed all his crimes and sins, and humbly -asked pardon of God whom he had outraged, and before whom he was about -to appear. - -The next day, a little after, sunrise, one of the monks, who had been -absent about an hour, returned, bringing with him the general's -capataz. It had only been with extreme reluctance that Carnero had -consented to come, for he justly dreaded his old master's reproaches. - -Hence his surprise was extreme at being received with a smile, and -kindly, and on finding that the general did not make the slightest -allusion to his treachery, which the evidence before the court-martial -had fully revealed. - -Carnero looked inquiringly at the two monks, for he did not dare put -faith in his master's words, and each moment expected to hear him burst -out into reproaches. But nothing of the sort took place; the general -continued the conversation as he had begun it, speaking to him gently -and kindly. - -At the moment when the capataz was about to withdraw, the general -stopped him. - -"One moment," he said to him; "you know Don Valentine, the French -hunter, for whom I so long cherished an insensate hatred?" - -"Yes," Carnero stammered. - -"Be kind enough to ask him to grant me the favour of a short visit; he -is a noble-hearted man, and I am convinced that he will not refuse to -come. I should be glad if he consented to bring with him Don Martial, -the Tigrero, who has so much cause to complain of me, as well as my -niece, Doña Anita de Torrés. Will you undertake this commission, the -last I shall doubtless give you?" - -"Yes, general," the capataz answered, affected in spite of himself by -such gentleness. - -"Now go; be happy and pray for me, for we shall never meet again." - -The capataz went out in a very different frame of mind from that in -which he had entered the capilla, and hastened off to Valentine. The -hunter was not at home, for he had gone to the presidential palace, but -he returned almost immediately. The capataz gave the message which his -old master had entrusted him with for him. - -"I will go," the hunter said simply, and he dismissed him. - -Curumilla was at once sent off to Mr. Rallier's quinta with a letter, -and during his absence Valentine had a long conversation with Belhumeur -and Black Elk. At about five in the evening, a carriage entered the -courtyard of Valentine's house at a gallop; it contained Mr. Rallier, -Anita, and Don Martial. - -"Thanks!" he said, on seeing them. - -"You ordered me to come, so I obeyed as usual," the Tigrero answered. - -"You were right, my friend." - -"And now what do you want of us?" - -"That you should accompany me to the place whither I am going at this -moment." - -"Would it be indiscreet to ask you----" - -"Where?" the hunter interrupted him with a laugh. - -"Not at all; I am going to lead you, Doña Anita, and the persons here -present, to the capilla in which General Guerrero is confined." - -"The capilla?" the Tigrero exclaimed in amazement, "for what purpose?" - -"What does that concern you? The general has requested to see you, and -you cannot refuse the request of a man who has but a few hours left to -live." - -The Tigrero hung his head without answering. - -"Oh! I will go!" Doña Anita exclaimed impulsively, as she wiped away the -tears that ran down her cheeks. - -"You are a woman, señorita, and therefore good and indulgent," the -hunter said; then turning to the Tigrero, he said, with a slight accent -of reproach, "you have not yet answered me, Don Martial." - -"Since you insist, Don Valentine, I will go," he at length answered, -with an effort. - -"I do not insist, my friend; I only ask, that is all." - -"Come, Martial, I implore you," Doña Anita said to him gently. - -"Your will be done in this as in all other things," he said. "I am ready -to follow you, Don Valentine." - -Valentine, Doña Anita, Mr. Rallier, and Don Martial got into the -carriage. The two Canadians and the chief followed them on horseback, -and they proceeded at a gallop to the chapel where the condemned man was -confined. - -All along the road they found marks of the obstinate struggle which had -deluged the city with blood a few days previously; the barricades had -not been entirely removed, and though the distance was, in reality, -very short, they did not reach the prison till nightfall, owing to the -detours they were forced to make. - -Valentine begged his friends to remain outside, and only entered with -Doña Anita and the Tigrero. The general was impatiently expecting them, -and testified a great joy on perceiving them. - -The young lady could not restrain her emotion, and threw herself into -her uncle's arms with an outburst of passionate grief. The general -pressed her tenderly to his bosom, and kissed her on the forehead. - -"I am the more affected by these marks of affection, my child," he said -with much emotion, "because I have been very harsh to you. Can you ever -forgive me the sufferings I have caused you?" - -"Oh, uncle, speak not so. Are you not, alas! the only relation I have -remaining?" - -"For a very short time," he said with a sad smile, "that is the reason -why I ought, without further delay, to provide for your future." - -"Do not talk about that at such a moment, uncle," she continued, -bursting into tears. - -"On the contrary, my child, it is at this moment when I am going to -leave you, that I am bound to insure you a protector. Don Martial, I -have done you great wrong; here is my hand, accept it as that of a man -who has completely recognized his faults, and sincerely repents the evil -he has done." - -The Tigrero, more affected than he liked to display, took a step -forward, and cordially pressed the hand offered him. - -"General," he said, in a voice which he tried in vain to render firm, -"this moment, which I never dared hope to see, fills me with joy, but at -the same time with grief." - -"Well, you can do something for me by proving to me that you have really -forgiven me." - -"Speak, general, and if it is in my power----," he exclaimed warmly. - -"I believe so," Don Sebastian answered, with his sad smile. "Consent to -accept my niece from my hand, and marry her at once in this chapel." - -"Oh, general!" he began, choking with emotion. - -"Uncle, at this awful moment!" the young lady murmured, timidly. - -"Allow me the supreme consolation of dying under the knowledge that -you are happy. Don Valentine, you have doubtless brought some of your -friends with you?" - -"They are awaiting your commands, general," the hunter answered. - -"Let them come in, in that case, for time presses." - -One of the monks had prepared everything beforehand. - -When the hunters and the French banker entered, followed by Curumilla, -and the officer commanding the capilla guard, who had been warned -beforehand, the general walked eagerly toward them. - -"Señores," he said, "I would ask you to do me the honour of witnessing -the marriage of my niece, Doña Anita de Torrés, with this caballero." - -The newcomers bowed respectfully. At a signal from one of the -Franciscans they knelt down and the ceremony began. It lasted hardly -twenty minutes, but never had a marriage mass been read or listened to -with more pious fervour. When it was ended, the witnesses wished to -retire. - -"One moment, señores, if you please," the general said to them. "I now -wish to make you witnesses of a great reparation." - -They stopped, and the general walked up to Valentine. - -"Caballero," he said to him, "I know all the motives of hatred you -have against me, and those motives I allow to be just. I am now in the -same position in which I placed Count de Prébois Crancé, your dearest -friend. Like him, I shall be shot tomorrow at daybreak; but with this -difference, that he fell as a martyr to a holy cause, and innocent of -the crimes of which I accused him, while I am guilty, and have deserved -the sentence passed on me. Don Valentine, I repent from the bottom of -my heart the iniquitous murder of your friend. Don Valentine, do you -forgive me?" - -"General Don Sebastian Guerrero, I forgive you the murder of my friend," -the hunter answered, in a firm voice. "I forgive you the life of grief -to which I am henceforth condemned by you." - -"You pardon me unreservedly?" - -"Unreservedly I do." - -"Thanks! We were made to love instead of hate each other. I -misunderstood you; but yours is a great and noble heart. Now, let death -come, and I shall accept it gladly; for I feel convinced that God will -have pity on me on account of my sincere repentance. Be happy, niece, -with the husband of your choice. Señores, all, accept my thanks. Don -Valentine, once more I thank you; and now leave me all, for I no longer -belong to the world, so let me think of my salvation." - -"But one word," Valentine said. "General, I have forgiven you, and it is -now my turn to ask your pardon. I have deceived you." - -"Deceived me!" - -"Yes: take this paper. The President of the Republic, employing his -sovereign right of mercy, has, on my pressing entreaty, revoked the -sentence passed on you. You are free." - -His hearers burst into a cry of admiration. - -The general turned pale; he tottered, and for a moment it was fancied -that he was about to fall. A cold perspiration stood on his temples. -Doña Anita sprang forward to support him, but he repulsed her gently, -and, with a great effort, exclaimed, in a choking voice-- - -"Don Valentine, Don Valentine, such then is your revenge. Oh! blind, -blind that I was to form such an erroneous opinion of you! You condemn -me to live. Well, be it so; I accept, and will not deceive your -expectations. Fathers," he said, turning to the monks, "lead me to your -monastery. General Guerrero is dead, and henceforth I shall be a monk of -your order." - -Don Sebastian's conversion was sincere. Grace had touched him, and he -persevered. Two months after professing, he died in the Franciscan -Monastery, crushed by remorse and worn out by the cruel penance he -inflicted on himself. - -Two days after the scene we have described, Valentine and his companions -left Mexico, and returned to Sonora. On reaching the frontier, the -hunter, in spite of the pressing entreaties of his friends, separated -from them, and returned to the desert. - -Don Martial and Doña Anita settled in Mexico, near the Ralliers. A month -after Valentine's departure, Doña Helena returned to the convent, and -at the end of a year, in spite of the entreaties of her family, who -were surprised at so strange a resolution, which nothing apparently -explained, the young lady took the vows. - -When I met Valentine Guillois on the banks of the Rio Joaquin, some -time after the events recorded in this long story, he was going with -Curumilla to attempt a hazardous expedition across the Rocky Mountains, -from which, he said to me, with that soft melancholy smile which he -generally assumed when speaking to me, he _hoped_ never to return. - - * * * * * - -I accompanied him for several days, and then we were compelled to -separate. He pressed my hand, and, followed by his dumb friend, he -entered the mountains. For a long time I looked after him, for I -involuntarily felt my heart contracted by a sad foreboding. He turned -round for the last time, waved his hand in farewell, and disappeared -round a bend of the track. - -I was fated never to see him again. - -Since then nothing has been heard of him, or of Curumilla. All my -endeavours to join them, or even obtain news of them, was vain. - -Are they still living?--no one can say. Darkness has settled down over -these two magnificent men, and time itself will, in all probability, -never remove the veil that conceals their fate; for all, unhappily, -leads me to suppose that they perished in that gloomy expedition from -which Valentine _hoped_, alas! never to return. - - - -END OF RED TRACK. - - - - -A BUFFALO HUNT[1] - -A STUDY OF THE AMERICAN WILD BULL. - - -Certain reasons, unnecessary to state here, had somewhat accidentally -led me to a Sonorian hacienda, called the Hacienda del Milagro, situated -a few leagues from Hermosillo, close to the Indian border, and belonging -to Don Rafael Garillas de Saavedra, one of the richest landowners in the -province. - -Don Rafael had spent what is called in Europe a wild life, and for many -years had traversed the deserts of Apacheria in company of a Canadian -adventurer of the name of Belhumeur. Although enormously rich, married -to a woman he adored, and surrounded by a delightful family, Don Rafael -had now and then moments of gloom, in which he regretted the time when, -unhappy and disinherited, he wandered, under the name of Loyal-heart, -from Arkansas to Apacheria, leading the precarious existence of wood -rangers, living from hand to mouth, forgetful of a past which only -summoned up bitter griefs, and careless about a future which he believed -would never realize the dreams of his poetical imagination. - -Like all men who have suffered and passed through a hard apprenticeship -of life, Don Rafael was kind and indulgent to others, and ever ready to -excuse a fault when it only emanated from a forgetfulness of propriety -or an error of judgment. - -Two days after my arrival at the Hacienda del Milagro, thanks to the -cordial reception given me, I was regarded as forming part of the -family, and was as much at my ease as if I had lived for years with -these new friends, who soon grew so old in my heart, and whose memory -will be ever dear to me. - -One evening a new guest arrived at the hacienda, where he was literally -received with open arms, which greatly surprised me; for I knew the -prejudices of Spaniards against Indians, and the newcomer was simply a -redskin. It is true that this redskin was the first sachem of a powerful -Comanche tribe, which was explained to me in two words by Belhumeur, the -Canadian hunter, with whom I had struck up a great friendship from my -first arrival at the hacienda. - -This sachem was called Eagle-head. He came, in the name of his tribe, to -invite Don Rafael, whom he obstinately called Loyal-heart, to a great -buffalo hunt which was to come off in Apacheria toward the middle of the -"Moon of the wild oats," that is to say, about September 15th. - -Don Rafael was greatly inclined to accept this invitation, but a -sorrowful look, which his wife gave him aside, made him understand how -anxious his absence would make her. He therefore expressed his inability -to be present at this hunt, which he would have so much liked to be, -but very important business compelled him to remain at the hacienda. -He added, however, that his friend Belhumeur would be happy to take -his place, in order to prove to Eagle-head the value he set on his -invitation and his lively desire to show him all the deference which so -great a chief as he merited. - -After a few words whispered in his ear, Belhumeur introduced me to the -Indian chief, to whom he mentioned that, as I had never witnessed a -buffalo hunt, I should be delighted with his permission to attend the -present one. The chief politely replied that Belhumeur was an adopted -son of the tribe, and that any persons he thought proper to bring -with him would be received not only with great pleasure, but with the -greatest kindness, according to the consecrated customs of Indian -hospitality. - -I warmly thanked, as I was bound to do, the chief, who was flattered to -hear me express myself with some degree of elegance in his own language; -and we agreed to meet at the winter village of the Comanches of the -Lakes, on the fifth sun of the Moon of the wild oats. - -Eagle-head took leave of us the same evening, in spite of all our -efforts to keep him at least till the next morning. He started in the -direction of the desert with the light and gymnastic step peculiar to -the redskins, which a trotting horse could not keep up with, and which -enables them to cover an enormous distance in a relatively very short -period. - -Two days later, Belhumeur, myself, and another Canadian hunter attached -to the hacienda, by the name of Black Elk, mounted on excellent -mustangs, and armed to the teeth, took leave of Don Rafael, who saw us -depart with a sigh of regret, and we proceeded in the direction of the -great western prairies. - -Belhumeur was a first-rate companion, of tried bravery; a thorough -adventurer, gay, daring, and reckless, whose life had been almost -entirely spent in the desert, and whom his attachment for Don Rafael had -alone determined to give up the free and independent life of a hunter to -confine himself, as he said with a smile, within stone walls, where he -ofttimes felt that fresh air was wanting for his lungs. - -Belhumeur was a book of which I turned over the leaves of at my -pleasure, and each page was full of attractions for me, and offered me -agreeable surprises. - -Although I had myself long lived in the desert, I had as yet only -traversed countries where buffalo is never met; hence I was extremely -anxious to obtain some positive information about this interesting -animal, so useful to the Indians, who profess for it a respect almost -approaching to veneration. In this way I hoped not to be quite a novice -when I joined the redskins, and would know not only in what way to -attack the new enemy I was about to confront, but also how to behave, so -as not to appear an utter ignoramus in the sight of the Indians. - -One evening, while seated at our watch fire after supper, smoking my -Indian pipe charged with _morrichée_, or prairie tobacco, I asked -Belhumeur, whose good nature was inexhaustible, to give me the most -circumstantial information about the buffalo, which he at once did with -his usual goodwill. - -This is what I learned in substance. I will ask my reader's pardon for -substituting my recollections for the Canadian's prolix narration, -for what they may lose in simplicity of expression they will gain -in brevity, which is not a thing to be so much despised as might be -supposed at the first blush. - -I am bound to state that all Belhumeur then told me about the manners -and habits of these singular animals was most rigorously exact, as I -was in a position to convince myself at a later date. This, then, was -Belhumeur's account. - -The Indians say proverbially that bees are the advanced guard of the -palefaces, and the buffaloes the vedettes of the redskins. In fact, -although it is impossible to explain the reason, bees constantly seek -to advance into the desert, and when they appear at the border of -clearings, it is certain that two or three days later emigrants will -turn up, with rifles on their shoulders, and followed by a long file of -waggons, carts, horses, and cattle. These bold pioneers of civilisation -come, impelled by their adventurous instincts, to set up their tents in -the heart of the desert, on the shady banks of some unknown river, and -their unceasing activity soon changes the character of the landscape. - -In the same way when the traveller advances into the savannahs, so soon -as he sights the buffalo he may be certain that he has reached the -territory of the redskins. - -Now, it appears to us that everything relating to so interesting an -animal as the buffalo, which is fatally destined so soon to disappear, -unless care be taken, and which is so eminently useful, is worth -recording. - -Purchas in his "Pilgrimage" (London edition, 1614), says that in certain -respects the buffalo resembles the lion, and in others the camel, ox, -horse, sheep, and goat. Civilization in its continuous onward march -destroys the great animals, and drives back the redskin and even the -hunter, unless he consent to modify his fashion of living. - -The buffalo, which, on its discovery in 1582 by Lusman, in the province -of Sinaloa, extended its wanderings over nearly the whole of North -America, now restricts its excursions more and more, and is only met -with at present in the wildest deserts situated to the west of the Rocky -Mountains, which proves a considerable diminution in their numbers, and -this is probably augmented by the Indian custom of only killing cows and -leaving the bulls. - -The Americans, however, ought to interfere, for the buffalo is capable -of being tamed, and crossing it with the European ox would produce a -strong, patient, and courageous breed, whose services would be of -immense utility in the immense settlement of the new states. We saw at -a Texan hacienda completely tamed buffaloes, which, according to their -owners, were an excellent substitute for the common ox. - -The buffalo lives longer than the domestic ox: its proportions are -greater, and though its front is ungraceful, the hinder parts are -handsome. The buffalo is generally brown, though spotted ones are met -with, and even some completely white; its face is very like that of the -bull; its head covered with thick wool, the long beard hanging from its -lower jaw, and its melancholy, gentle, and almost stupid eye give it a -singular and almost strange appearance. Its horns are short, rounded, -and capable of taking a fine polish; it has between its shoulders a very -prominent hump, whilst its hinder parts are covered with short, straight -hair, like that of European ruminants; its short tail terminates in a -tuft of curly hair. The age of a buffalo is discovered by the rings on -its horns, the first four counting for the first year. - -The meat of the cows is considered more delicate than that of the bulls, -especially in the rutting season. The parts most appreciated are the -heart, the tongue, the liver, the short rib, and the part called the -hunter's joint, that is to say, the chine near the shoulder blade. Eight -bones are considered marrowbones, they are those of the legs and thighs. -A cow supplies about three hundred pounds of excellent meat, exclusive -of the head, and several other parts of the animal; the marrow of a -single bone is sufficient for a meal. The Indians, in order to obtain -it, throw the bone into the fire after removing the meat, let it grill -for a few minutes, take it out, break it, and remove the marrow, which -is eaten, without seasoning, by means of a sharp stick. This marrow is -very delicate and succulent, and when baked, it assumes the colour and -consistency of meat; some hunters prefer to eat it raw, but we did not -find it so good in that state. - -When a manada of buffaloes is hunted, especially if it be composed of -bulls, a strong smell of musk is exhaled; when full galloping, their -hoofs crack the grass, as if it was dried. They have an extraordinary -fine scent, and smell a man two or even three miles off. - -This animal is extremely difficult to kill. On a certain occasion we -lodged sixteen bullets in the body of a buffalo, ere we could succeed -in killing. Wishing to assure oneself of the truth of a fact, which -physicians and hunters had affirmed, namely, that the frontal bone -of a buffalo is bullet-proof, we discharged our rifle, at ten paces' -distance, at the head of a dead bull. The bullet did not penetrate, but -was caught in the hair, where we found it again; still it had struck -exactly in the centre of the forehead, for it had left its mark there -before rebounding. - -We have not very exactly followed Belhumeur's account, for, carried -away by our sympathy for the noble animal he described to us, we have -placed our ideas in the stead of his. We openly confess here that we are -among those who sincerely regret that the proposal made in 1849, by -Mr. Lamarre Picquot, to introduce into France the buffalo, as at once -suitable for draught and for consumption, was not seriously discussed -and taken into consideration, for this animal is one of the most useful, -and would, we feel convinced, render valuable services. - -Our journey lasted more than a month; for the winter village of the -Comanches of the Lakes is hidden in a canyon, in the middle of the first -spurs of the Rocky Mountains. Mounted on a vigorous mustang, I generally -rode at the head of our small party, which I liked to do, in order to be -more by myself, and observe more at my ease. - -One morning I saw, at a spot where the trail I followed was wide and -open, and some distance ahead of me, a large hawk, which appeared to -be suffering, and making efforts to fly away. When I drew near enough -I found that it was enfolded by a long whip snake, which had writhed -several times round its body, and the bird had only one wing at liberty. - -In all probability the hawk had been the aggressor, and had dashed down -at the snake, but the latter, by cleverly enfolding its enemy, had -succeeded in escaping the danger. - -The whip snake is a very handsome reptile, seven to eight feet in -length, when it has attained its full growth. Along the greater part of -its body it is no larger than an ordinary ramrod. Its very thin neck -gradually tapers away down to the stomach, whence it has obtained its -name. For about three or four inches the upper side of the head and -neck is black and lustrous as the plumage of a crow; while the upper -side of the body is chocolate coloured, excepting the tail, which, -nearly all the way from the stomach, is black. - -There, however, is no general rule, except for the head, neck, and tail, -which are always black. I have come across snakes of the same family in -which the other parts of the body varied. This reptile is very quick, -and seems to fly over the surface of the ground. The most remarkable -thing about it is, that it possesses the faculty of running, while -supporting itself solely on the lower part of the tail, and holding its -body and head erect. - -I cite this fact from personal knowledge, for I was one day followed by -a very handsome whip snake, which kept erect and looked me in the face -from time to time, although I had made my horse trot rather sharply, in -order to see at what speed this snake could advance in such an attitude. -It, however, only seemed to follow me through curiosity, for it is not -at all venomous, is of a gentle character, and it appears familiar with -man. I was surprised to find it in these parts, for I believed it to be -an inhabitant of Eastern Florida. - -Thirty-three days after our departure from the Hacienda del Milagro, we -came in sight of the Comanche village, and during the whole long journey -had not been exposed to the slightest danger, or stopped by any annoying -accident. - -We were expected, and were received by the chiefs, at the head of whom -was Eagle-head, not merely as friends, but as children of the tribe. A -spacious cabin was placed at our disposal, and provisions were brought -us from all sides. - -We had arrived just at the right moment; the grand festival of the -buffaloes was to be held that very night--a very curious ceremony, whose -object is to implore the blessing of the Wacondah before beginning the -hunt. - -In the centre of the village a large open space had been prepared, about -sixty yards long by forty-five wide, surrounded by an inclosure of reeds -and willow branches twelve feet high, and slightly bent inwards. An -entrance had been left, facing the east. The four fires which are always -kept up in the medicine lodge, were burning in each corner, and the most -distinguished chiefs, among whom we were counted, sat in a semicircle to -the right of the inclosure. - -Eagle-head, in his quality of first sachem of the tribe, held the head -of the file; he had, expressly for this occasion, painted his face blue, -yellow, and white, and wore on his head a fillet of some red skin. - -The spectators, more especially the squaws, were sitting against the -palings silent and contemplative. The men, some in full paint, others -simply dressed or naked to the waist, went about the interior of the -inclosure irregularly. Children ranged round the fires threw in from -time to time willow branches, to keep them burning. - -At the signal given by _Chichikoués_ for the feast to begin, six old men -emerged from a calli, and stood in a row in front of the medicine lodge. - -These men are chosen by the chiefs to represent buffaloes, and after the -ceremony large presents are made to them. Each of them held in his hand -a long staff, at the end of which four black feathers were fixed, and -along the staves, at equal distances, were fastened small tufts of young -buffalo skin and bells. - -These men-buffaloes carried their clubs in the left hand, and two of -them bore what the Comanches call a "badger," that is to say, a blown-up -skin, which is beaten like a drum. They stood at the entrance of the -medicine lodge, shaking their staves incessantly, and in turn singing -and imitating, with rare perfection, the lowing of buffaloes, which -lasted some considerable time. - -Behind them marched a tall man with a ferocious face, whose head was -covered with a fur cap, because once on a time he had been scalped in -a fight with the Apaches. This man was the director of the feast, and -represented the leader of the old buffaloes; his name was "Raised-scalp." - -After a rather long station before the door, the men-buffaloes at length -entered the medicine lodge, and sate down against the palings, behind -one of the fires. - -So soon as they were all seated, each of them planted his staff on -the ground in front of him. Several young warriors then came in with -dishes of boiled beans and maize powdered with pemmican, which they -placed before the guests. These dishes went the round, each passing -them to his neighbour after eating a little. At times empty dishes were -placed before us, a ceremony of which I did not at first understand -the purport, and one of the bearers, a man of colossal stature, very -muscular, and almost naked, whose hair fell in long tresses on his -loins, came to fetch one of these empty dishes. Then Eagle-head hid his -face in his hands and began singing, after which he muttered a long -speech or prayer, winding up by returning the dish. - -This speech contained wishes for the success of the buffalo hunt, and -the Wacondah was also invoked to render him favourable to the hunters -and warriors. The longest speeches were the best; the bearer seemed -particularly satisfied; he bowed with an attentive look, nodded his head -as a sign of his pleasure, passed his hand along the orator's right arm -from the shoulder to the wrist, and, before removing the dish, answered -with a few words of thanks. - -This repast was prolonged for more than an hour; on all sides people ate -and held speeches for the success of the chase; during this the young -men standing in the middle of the inclosure prepared the calumets, and -brought them ready lighted to the chief, the old men, and the strangers. - -They stopped before each of us, walking from right to left, and -presented the calumet, the bowl of which they held in their hand. Each -man took two or three whiffs, while murmuring a prayer, and then the -calumet passed on to the next. - -After this, our calumet bearers frequently turned to the four cardinal -points, muttering mysterious words, and indulging in strange gestures -and imitations. - -During this time the six old men-buffaloes did not once leave off -singing, shaking their medicine staves behind the fire, and beating the -"badger." At a certain, moment they rose, thrust forward the upper part -of their body, and began dancing, though still singing, and shaking -their wands, while the badger beat time. When this dance had lasted long -enough, they resumed their places in the same order as before. - -It is impossible for anyone, unless he has been present, to form an idea -of the original sight offered by this quaint scene. These men painted -of different hues, their varying dresses, their songs, their drums, -their cries, and the noises of every description which blended with -them, borne from the desert on the wing of the night breeze, beneath -the dark and lugubriously starlit vault of heaven, while the immense -canopy of verdure formed as it were a majestic temple for this singular -ceremony--all this did not fail to possess a certain wild grandeur. - -After the dances had continued for more than two hours, the strangest -part of the festival began with the entrance of the squaws into the -inclosure. One of them, who was very young and remarkably pretty, came -up to her husband, and gave him her waist belt and petticoat to hold, so -that she was perfectly naked under her gown. She advanced dancing to -one of the most renowned warriors, passed her hand all down his right -arm, and then retired slowly, with her smiling face turned towards him. -The warrior thus invited, at once rose, and disappeared with her in -the wood. There, a man may ransom himself by making a present; but we -must avow, to the honour of the Indian fair sex, that few men do so. My -companions, Black Elk and Belhumeur, who were invited, took very good -care not to buy themselves off, and, on the contrary, readily followed -their dancer; but, for my part, I peremptorily refused, and remained -deaf to all the looks, and nods, and wanton smiles which the dear -charmers thought themselves obliged to lavish on me as a stranger. - -I must confess, to my sorrow, however, that it was not from virtuous -motives that I acted thus; I was in love, and courting at the time an -exquisite girl called "Boar's Head," whom I married eventually, and -with whom I lived happily for the five years we had arranged that our -marriage was to last. At the end of that period I sold her for three -female buffalo skins to another chief of my tribe. - -This feast lasted for four consecutive nights, from one sun to the next; -the same ceremony was repeated on each occasion with the most scrupulous -exactness, though we noticed that the squaws never invited the same -warrior twice, with the exception of the two Canadian hunters. - -When the ceremonies were quite ended, and all the symbolical rites -of the great medicine rigorously performed, one morning at sunrise, -twenty-five youthful warriors, chosen by Eagle-head, left the village, -mounted on excellent hunters, and each leading a second horse by the -bridle. - -These warriors form a vanguard intended to discover buffalo sign, and -watch their movements, and for that reason are called "buffalo scouts." -The main body of hunters, consisting of about eighty warriors, among -whom were my comrades and myself, did not start till two days later. - -The Indians when on the hunting trail, and especially when they are -desirous to surprise buffalo, travel with extreme care. The scent of the -buffaloes is very subtle, especially when they are to windward; though, -curiously enough, they frequent the same pasture as the elks, they have -no communion with them; still they do not seem at all disturbed by each -other; or the buffaloes, whose sight is not very good form a sort of -partnership with the elks, whom they convert into their sentinels. They -are watchful sentinels too, and, at the first suspicious sign, give the -alarm; whereupon buffaloes and elks disappear in company, escorted by -the red prairie wolves, troublesome followers that prowl round them, and -whom they can never succeed in getting entirely rid of. - -Each night we encamped on a hill at no great distance from a stream. -The trees were felled round the bivouac to guard us from a surprise; -the campfires were lighted, and the greater part of the night was -spent in relating hunting narratives and merry stories recounted in -turn, and which excited the heartiest gaiety among the Redskins. For -we will remark, in parenthesis, that the Indians, who are generally -represented as serious, cold, and stoical, on the contrary, have a very -jovial character; a mere nothing makes them laugh, and they indulge to -their heart's content, like all simple and primitive minds. Still, for -all that, they must be together, or in the company of people they are -well acquainted with. In the presence of whites the difficulty they -experience in making themselves understood, and the respect--I might -almost say the instinctive terror--the formidable strangers inspire them -with, completely paralyzes their faculties, and makes them appear almost -idiotic. - -We marched thus with easy journeys, in order not to tire our horses, in -the direction of the Rocky Mountains, for some fifty or sixty leagues, -killing a few prairie dogs, elks, and two or three striped sousliks -(_Spermophilus Hoodii_). At times a covey of larks rose at our approach, -or crows and rooks appeared in large numbers and settled down close to -us. - -Eagle-head would not consent to a halt for the sake of killing a few -isolated buffaloes we perceived in the distance. We had still thirty -miles to go before getting up with our scouts, and finding ourselves in -the real hunting ground. - -On the eighth day after leaving the village we reached a creek which -meandered through a plain, on which the grass was extremely high, -called, as far as I can remember, by the Indians, Green River. A rather -tall hill, situated on its hank, concealed our presence, and sheltered -us from the wind. - -Eagle-head gave orders to camp. The horses were allowed to graze, and a -fire of _bois de vâche_ was lighted to roast a few ducks and two elks -that composed our breakfast. - -This stream, owing to the advanced season, was nearly dry, and filled -with tall, closely-growing weeds. After a two hours' halt we continued -our march, passing over gently sloping hills, and we found a few of some -height, behind which herds of buffalo are usually found. Before reaching -the top, our party traversed a small valley filled with a narrow strip -of beech trees, elms, and nyundos, between clumps of roses, _prunus -padres_, and a few other shrubs, while the wild tine (_clematis_) hung -in festoons about the trees. - -On reaching the top of the last mound we halted, and a singular scene, -which was not without some wild grandeur, was suddenly offered to our -sight. - -All the crests of the hills, as far as sight could extend, were crowned -by the scouts sent ahead, and who, motionless as statues of Florentine -bronze, stood out boldly in the blue sky. - -These scouts were not seated in the saddle, but standing on it, holding -in the left hand their buffalo robes, which they at times waved, and in -their right their clubs, which they employed to indicate certain points -of the horizon. At our feet, in an immense valley intersected by a large -river, whose numerous capacious windings resembled a silver thread, a -multitude of black spots spotted the tall grass. - -These points, which were almost imperceptible owing to the great -distance, were buffaloes: we had at last reached the hunting ground. But -the day was too far advanced for us to dream of following the animals, -and hence the chief gave the signal for camping. - -The night was calm, and was spent like the previous ones, in outbursts -of the frankest and heartiest gaiety, and at sunrise we were all up and -ready to begin the hunt. The scouts were still at their posts, and it -might fairly be supposed that during the whole night they had not ceased -to watch the game. - -Eagle-head got on the back of his horse, and fired a musket loaded only -with powder, in order to attract the attention of the scouts. Then a -singular scene took place, which offered me much to think about, and -proved to me once again that the Redskins are neither so savage nor -unintelligent as some writers are pleased to represent them. - -By the aid of the buffalo robe he held in his hand and waved in every -direction, the sachem began a series of complicated signals, which would -have turned the most expert of our telegraphers pale if called upon to -interpret, for they were transmitted with headlong speed, and instantly -comprehended by the sachem and the scouts. - -Eagle-head, according to the information he received, sent off every -moment parties of hunters, for the purpose, as I afterwards learned, of -completely surrounding the buffaloes, and driving them to the middle -of the valley. The hunters picked out started at once at full speed, -galloping in a beeline, according to the Indian fashion, leaping over -all obstacles, and never deviating from the direct course. - -Ere long only ten hunters, among whom my companions and myself were, -remained with the chief. He gave a final signal, which was immediately -repeated by all the sentries, got into his saddle, and uttered his -war yell. He then dashed at full speed down into the plain, with the -rapidity of an avalanche, and this manoeuvre was imitated by the -other hunters scattered over the adjacent heights. The hunt, or more -correctly, the butchery, had begun. - -The Comanches possess such skill in this horse-hunting, that, in spite -of the difficulty in killing a buffalo, they rarely fire more than -one round at it. Singularly enough, they do not raise the gun to the -shoulder, but stretch out both arms, and fire, in this far from usual -posture, when they are some fifteen or twenty yards from the animal. - -They load the gun with incredible speed, for they do not use the ramrod, -but let the bullets, of which they always keep a certain number in their -mouths, fall immediately on the powder, to which it adheres, and which -expels it again at the same moment. Owing to this great speed, the -prairie hunters, in a little while, make a frightful massacre in a herd -of buffaloes, and this time two-thirds of the manada were killed, and -the animals covered the battlefield in heaps. - -The buffaloes, enclosed in a circle whence they could not escape, -terrified by the yells of the hunters, who dashed at them from all -sides, brandishing their weapons, and waving their robes, fled in all -directions, at a pace greater than I could have imagined, judging from -their enormous bulk. - -Belhumeur and I had settled onto an old buffalo, who gave us plenty -of work. Several point-blank shots had not proved sufficient to check -his pace. He frequently stopped, threw the earth over his head with a -convulsive movement, after digging it up with his fore-feet, assumed a -menacing attitude, and even pursued us for some ten or fifteen yards. -But we easily got away, and the restless animal discontinued its mad -and purposeless chase so soon as we stopped resolutely before it. Its -strength was at length exhausted, but it did not succumb until we had -given it at least twenty bullets. - -This first success gave me a liking for the sport and the whole time -the hunt lasted I was one of the most eager in pursuit. At last, at the -expiration of three days, Eagle-head ordered the end of the massacre. -Obeying the chief's signal, the hunters forced open a large gap, through -which the decimated relics of the unhappy herd dashed, lowing with -terror. - -Two hundred and seventy buffaloes had been killed in three days, an -almost miraculous hunt, which secured the Comanches of the Lakes -abundance of provisions during the rainy season. The victims were -loaded on horses, and we gaily returned to the village, where the -hunters were received on their arrival with marks of the liveliest joy -and the extraordinary rejoicings usual on such occasions. - -One last remark may be allowed me. Everything is valuable in the -buffalo: the meat, the hide, the bones, the horns, and even the hair, -which is made into hats comparable in beauty and substance to the best -beaver. Why is not the buffalo, then, acclimatised in Europe? The -Society of Acclimatisation so recently created, and which has already -produced such excellent results, is keeping, we doubt not, a place for -the buffalo, which we hope soon to see occupied. - - -[1] Although this animal is really the bison, it is so commonly called -buffalo that I have adhered to that term. - - - - -A MUSTANG. - -A STUDY OF THE PRAIRIE HORSE. - - -The aborigines of America were not acquainted with the horse prior to -the arrival of the Spaniards in their country. The Inca Garcillasso de -la Vega, in his "History of the Civil War in India," tells us that the -Peruvians, terrified at the sight of the first horseman, supposed that -the man and the horse only formed one and the same individual. At a -later date they imagined that the horses were formidable and malignant -deities, whom they tried to conciliate by placing gold and silver in -their mangers, and offering up prayers to them. - -The Spanish Conquistadors, most of whom came from Andalusia, were -mounted on steeds in whose veins flowed the blood of the Arabs, which -the Moors had succeeded in naturalizing in Spain during an occupation of -eight centuries. - -When the conquerors obtained quiet possession of the New World, and -began those internecine contests which cost so much blood, after every -battle the wounded horses were usually left behind, while those whose -masters were killed, escaped in obedience to that innate instinct in all -living creatures, which urges them to try and regain their liberty. - -These animals thus left to themselves, wandering haphazard over the -great savannahs, gradually entered the desert, interbred, and at length -multiplied so greatly that they formed bands or _manadas_, whose number -has so increased that it has now become incalculable. - -From these horses, which were originally abandoned and returned to -savage life, has issued the remarkable breed known in the New World by -the name of mustangs, or prairie horses. Now that racing is fashionable -in France, and horse breeding has made immense progress, we do not think -we are going out of our way in describing this valuable breed, which is -unknown in the Old World, and to which sufficient justice is not done -even in America. - -At the time when I was at Guaymas, during the expedition of the unhappy -Count de Raousset Boulbon I wanted a horse. Copers are as numerous in -Mexico as in Europe, and probably cleverer and more cunning than ours -in disguising the vices and defects of the animals they wish to get rid -of; but unluckily for these clever dealers, and luckily for me, my long -stay among the Indians of the Western Prairies had given me an almost -infallible perception, and rendered it extremely difficult to deceive -me as to the qualities of a horse. - -When my wish to purchase a horse was known, there was an extraordinary -rush of dealers to the house where I put up. I peremptorily declined -all the animals offered me. My friends began to joke me and say that I -should not find a horse to suit me, and be compelled to follow on foot -the cavalry corps I commanded, when, on the very eve of departure, I was -walking accidentally on the beach, and saw a Hiaquis Indian a few yards -ahead of me, mounted on a horse whose appearance, in my friends' sight, -had nothing very inviting about it, and so they laughingly invited me to -deal. I feigned to humour them, although I had at once recognized the -animal as a mustang of the Far West, and I took them at their word by -making the Indian a sign to come and speak to me. - -The horse was not handsome, I must allow; he was rather tall, had a big -head, and a round forehead; his mane, which was thick and ill-kempt, -hung down to his chest; his tail, which was not thick enough to wave, -almost swept the ground; but his chest was wide and his legs were firm, -while his eyes and nostrils announced fire, vigour, and bottom. Although -the animal had never been shod, and its master, like all the Indians, -had ill-treated it during the long journey it had made to reach Guaymas, -still its thick hoofs were not at all worn or even damaged. It was black -as night, with a white star about the size of a piastre, perfectly -designed, and situated in the exact centre of the forehead. - -At my summons the Indian started the horse at a gallop, and came up to -me. I asked him bluntly if he wanted to sell his horse. - -"Why not, excellency?" he answered with the wink peculiar to the -Hiaquis. "Negro is a good beast; I lassoed him myself in the heart of -the prairies of the Sierra de San Saba, hardly a month agone, and he has -constantly gone fifteen to sixteen leagues a day." - -"Yes, yes," I answered in Indian, "I know all that; but I know too that -you Hiaquis are clever horse dealers, and are perfectly up to the trick -of dressing a horse for sale." - -On hearing me speak his language, the Redskin, who was, moreover, -deceived by my hunting garb, took me for a wood ranger, and immediately -treated me with great respect. - -"Your excellency will try Negro, if it be really your pleasure to buy," -he said, at once reassuming the language of his tribe, instead of the -Spanish he had hitherto employed. - -"But," I continued, "supposing that Negro, as that is his name, suits -me, I must know the price you want for him." - -"Wah!" he said, with a cunning smile; "I will not let your excellency -have Negro under two ounces, and anyone else would pay much more." - -Two ounces are about six guineas of our money, so if I had judged the -horse aright, it was plain that I should make a good bargain. I made an -appointment with the Hiaquis for the next morning, and withdrew under -the ironical congratulations of my friends upon my excellent acquisition. - -The Indian was punctual. At daybreak I saw him at my door, mounted on -another horse and holding Negro by the bridle. I immediately got into -the saddle, and left Guaymas, accompanied by my Redskin, and started at -a smart trot for the forest. - -I soon perceived that Negro was a very easy goer, and that he did not -tire, though he was very eager--excellent qualities in a charger. -Moreover, I saw that, like all prairie horses, whose mouth is generally -hard, he was very sensitive to the spur. - -The expedition of which I had the honour to be a member was about to -proceed into half savage countries, where roads have never existed, -and we should have to go across sandy deserts, and through almost -impassable virgin forests; hence I wished to know at once what help I -had to expect from my horse, and what confidence I could place in him. -I therefore resolved to make him leap a stream several feet in width. -For this purpose I gave him his head, and pressed his flanks with my -knees without spurring; the intelligent animal seemed to understand that -it was on trial, and leapt over the obstacle with the agility of an -antelope. I turned round, and tried the leap over and over again, always -with the same result. Certain of his agility, I wished to try his -strength, consequently I took him to a muddy and very difficult morass. -Negro, however, entered it, smelling the water as if to judge its depth, -a proof of sagacity and prudence with which I was greatly pleased, and I -found him prompt and decided in the wheels and counter wheels I made him -take. - -I had still an experiment to make with Negro--could he swim? - -During the course of my travels, I have seen excellent horses, which -could not swim at all; they lay down on their side as if to float with -the current, so that their rider was obliged to swim himself and take -them to bank, unless he preferred to leave them to their fate, which -is a very serious difficulty when travelling. As a rather wide and -very rapid stream ran not far from us, I rode my horse right into it; -he at once took the current obliquely, with head well raised above the -surface, and dilated nostrils, though without making that painful snort -peculiar to horses under such circumstances; for, on the contrary, he -breathed regularly and without fatigue. He went up and down the stream, -and when I at last guided him to land, he stopped of his own accord and -shook the water off. - -Convinced, after all these experiments, that I could without risk -undertake the campaign with such a steed, I started back for Guaymas at -a gallop. On the road I brought down a duck, which Negro went up to as -if trained for shooting, and which I picked up without dismounting. - -I immediately gave the two ounces to the Hiaquis, and leaving my friends -to continue their jokes about my acquisition, I rubbed Negro down with -the greatest care. - -On the same day the expedition left Guaymas for Hermosillo, and in spite -of his savage ways and rather seedy appearance, the qualities of my -mustang were soon appreciated, as they deserved to be, by my companions, -whose domestic horses were far from coming up to him. - -I went through the whole campaign mounted on Negro, allowing him no -other food beyond the prairie grass, green alfalfa, and climbing peas, -or a few hen's eggs, when I could procure them, or a gourd; still, every -morning, two hours before mounting, I was careful to rub him down and -press his back with my hand, to assure myself that he was not grazed -by the saddle, after which I threw over him a zarapé folded double. At -night, before going to sleep, I washed him, threw a bucket of cold water -over his back, looked at his feet and cleaned them out with the utmost -caution. - -At the end of the first week, Negro had grown so attached to me that he -recognized my voice and obeyed me with extreme docility; to make him -gallop I only required to bend slightly forward. - -When the campaign was ended, instead of embarking at Guaymas for -California, after the fashion of my comrades, I started for Apacheria, -where I spent several months. After that I proceeded to Veracruz, -crossing Mexico in its widest part. I thus rode my horse, without -allowing him a single day's rest, about nine hundred and fifty leagues -calculated at nearly forty-five miles a day, and my mustang was as fresh -and healthy on his arrival as when he started. - -No European horse would be capable of accomplishing such a feat, which -I assert, without fear of contradiction, is only child's play for a -mustang of the prairies. Negro is in no way put forward here as a type -of his breed, and had no striking quality to recommend him; he was -certainly a good horse, but all his companions in the prairies resemble -him, and are quite as good as he. - -At my last halt, before reaching Veracruz, where I intended to embark -for France, I found a Mexican officer, either colonel or general, I -forget which, but his name was Don Pedro Aguirre, stopping at the same -_mesón_, and we left it together in the morning _en route_ for Veracruz. - -Señor Don Pedro Aguirre was mounted on a magnificent steed, which, -he told me, and it was very probable, had cost him four hundred -piastres--according to the Mexican fashion his _asistente_ led a second -horse by the bridle. - -I complimented the colonel on his splendid horse, to which compliment he -replied, rather cavalierly, while taking a contemptuous glance at Negro, -that he wished I had a similar one, so that he might have enjoyed my -society during the ride to Veracruz. - -I made no retort, although somewhat vexed at this answer, and confined -myself to asking him at what hour he expected to reach the port? - -"Sufficiently long before you, señor," he said with a smile, "to have -leisure to order supper at the hotel, on condition that you will consent -to join me at it." - -I bowed my thanks, while laughing in my sleeve at the bombastic -confidence of the Mexican officer, and the trick I was going to play -him. After a parting bow, Don Pedro made his horse curvet, dug in his -spurs, and started. But, alas! it was lost trouble; I arrived five -quarters of an hour before him at Veracruz; I ordered dinner; I put my -steed in the corral, and stationed myself in the doorway of the hotel, -where, when the colonel arrived, quite downcast by his defeat, I told -him, with a cunning look, that I was only waiting for him to dine. - -Still, I am bound to say, in praise of the colonel, that he took the -joke very kindly, and when his first impulse of ill-humour had passed -off, frankly complimented me on the excellence of my horse. - -A few days later, overcome by the entreaties of Don Pedro, I consented, -not without regret, to part with poor Negro, and let the colonel have -him, for the comparatively enormous sum of seven hundred and fifty -piastres; but, alas! I was going to embark for France the next week, and -my horse had become useless for me. - -I am convinced that the introduction of this breed of the Western -Prairies into our stud stables would serve greatly to improve our -horses, and that the majority of them would become first-rate racers. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Track, by Gustave Aimard - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - -***** This file should be named 42834-8.txt or 42834-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/8/3/42834/ - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. 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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 - - -Title: The Red Track - A Story of Social Life in Mexico - -Author: Gustave Aimard - -Translator: Lascelles Wraxall - -Release Date: May 29, 2013 [EBook #42834] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - - - - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - -<h1>THE RED TRACK</h1> - -<h3>A Story of Social life in Mexico</h3> - -<h3>BY</h3> - -<h2>GUSTAVE AIMARD</h2> - -<h4>AUTHOR OF "ADVENTURERS," "PEARL OF THE ANDES," "TRAIL HUNTER,"</h4> - -<h4>"PIRATES OF THE PRAIRIES," "TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER," "TIGER</h4> - -<h4>SLAYER," "GOLD SEEKERS," "INDIAN CHIEF," ETC.</h4> - - - -<h5>LONDON:</h5> - -<h5>CHARLES HENRY CLARKE, 13 PATERNOSTER ROW.</h5> - - - -<hr class="full" /> -<h4><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</a></h4> - - -<p>The present volume of <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span>'s works is a continuation of the -"Indian Chief," and conclusion of the series comprising that work, the -"Gold Seekers," and the "Tiger Slayer."</p> - -<p>At the present moment, when we are engaged in a war with Mexico, I feel -assured that the extraordinary and startling descriptions given in this -volume of the social condition and mode of life in the capital of that -country will be read with universal gratification; for I can assert -confidently that; no previous writer has ever produced such a graphic -and truthful account of a city with which the illustrated papers will -soon make us thoroughly acquainted.</p> - -<p>If a further recommendation be needed, it will be found in the fact that -the present volume appears in an English garb before being introduced to -French readers. <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span> is so gratified with the reception his -works have found in this country, through my poor assistance, that he -has considered he could not supply a better proof of his thankfulness -than by permitting his English readers to enjoy, on this occasion, the -first fruits of his versatile and clever pen. This is a compliment -which, I trust, will be duly appreciated; for, as to the merits of -the work itself, I have not the slightest doubt. Readers may imagine -it impossible for <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span> to surpass his previous triumphs in -the wildly romantic, or that he could invent anything equal to the -"Prairie Flower," a work which I venture to affirm, to be the finest -Indian tale ever yet written, in spite of the great authors who have -preceded <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">AIMARD</span>; but I ask my reader's special admiration for the "<span style="font-size: 0.8em;">RED -TRACK</span>," because in it our favourite author strikes out a new path, and -displays versatility which puts to the blush those bilious critics—few -in number—I grant, among the multitude of encouraging reviewers, who -have ventured an opinion that <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span> can only write about Indian -life, or, in point of fact, that he is merely a hunter describing his -own experiences under a transparent disguise.</p> - -<p>Well, be it so, I accept the assertion. <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span> is but a -hunter; he has seen nought but uncivilized life; he has spent years -among savages, and has returned to his own country to try and grow -Europeanized again. What then? The very objection is a proof of his -veracity; and I am fully of the conviction that every story he has told -us is true. It is not reasonable to suppose that a man who has spent the -greater part of his life in hunting the wild animals of America—who -has been an adopted son of the most powerful Indian tribes—who has for -years never known what the morrow would bring forth, should sit down -to invent. The storehouse of his mind is too amply filled with marvels -for him to take that needless trouble, and he simply repeats on paper -the tales which in olden limes he picked up at the camp fires, or heard -during his wanderings with the wood rangers.</p> - -<p>And it is as such that I wish <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span> to be judged by English -readers. His eminent quality is truth. He is a man who could not set -down a falsehood, no matter what the bribe might be, he has lived -through the incidents he describes, and has brought back to Europe -the adventures of a chequered life. He does not attempt to fascinate -his readers by a complicated plot. He does not possess the marvellous -invention of a Cooper, who, after a slight acquaintance with a few -powerless Indians, wrote books which all admirers of the English -language peruse. But <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span> possesses a higher quality, in the -fact that he only notes down incidents which he has seen, or which he -has received on undoubted evidence from his companions.</p> - -<p>The present is the twelfth volume of <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span>'s works to which. I -have put my name; and, with the exception of a few captious criticisms -whose motive may be read between the lines, the great body of the -British Press has greeted our joints efforts with the heartiest -applause. The success of this series has been unparalleled in the annals -of cheap literature. Day by day the number of readers increases, and the -publication of each successive volume creates an excitement which cannot -fail to be most gratifying to the publishers.</p> - -<p>To please all parties, the proprietors of <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">AIMARD</span>'s copyrights have -projected an Illustrated Series, to which I would invite most earnest -attention. Although by this time I am saturated with Indian life, I -confess that I never thoroughly understood it till I saw the engravings -after a Zwecker, a Huard, and a Corbould. The artists have carefully -studied their subjects, and gone to the fountain-head for information; -and the result is, that they have produced a series of works which only -need to be seen to be appreciated. The last volume illustrated is "The -Freebooters," which was entirely intrusted to Mr. Corbould, and though -I do not wish for a moment to depreciate the other artists, I felt, on -seeing the illustrations, that <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span> was worthily interpreted. -All I can urge upon readers is, that they should judge for themselves.</p> - -<p>To wind up this unusually long Preface, into which honest admiration for -the author has alone induced me, I wish to say that it affords me an -ever-recurring delight to introduce <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">GUSTAVE AIMARD</span>'s works to English -readers, while it causes me an extra pleasure, on this occasion, to be -enabled to repeat that the present volume appears on this side of the -Channel before it has been introduced to French readers. And, knowing as -I do the number of editions through which <span style="font-size: 0.8em;">AIMARD</span>'s books pass in his own -native land, I can appreciate the sacrifice he has made on this occasion -at its full value.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 75%; font-size: 0.8em;">LASCELLES WRAXALL.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p style="font-size: 0.8em;">DRAYTON TERRACE, WEST BROMPTON,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;"><i>March</i>, 1862.</span></p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4>CONTENTS.</h4> - - -<div class="center" style="font-size: 0.8em;"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">I.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">II.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">THE DEAD ALIVE</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">III.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">THE COMPACT</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">IV.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">THE TRAVELLERS</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">V.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMÈQUES</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">VI.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">THE SURPRISE</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">VII.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">THE EXPLANATION</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">VIII.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">A DECLARATION OF WAR</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">IX.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">MEXICO</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">X.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">THE RANCHO</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XI.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">THE PASEO DE BUCARELI</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XII.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XIII.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">DON MARTIAL</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XIV.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">THE VELORIO</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XV.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XVI.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">THE CONFESSOR</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XVII.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XVIII.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">A VISIT</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XIX.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">ASSISTANCE</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XX.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">EL ZARAGATE</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XXI.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">AFTER THE INTERVIEW</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XXII.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">THE BLANK SIGNATURE</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XXIII.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">ON THE ROAD</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XXIV.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">A SKIRMISH</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XXV.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">LOS REGOCIJOS</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XXVI.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">XXVII.</td><td align="left"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">THE CAPILLA</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="center">—</td><td align="left"><a href="#A_BUFFALO_HUNT">A BUFFALO HUNT</a></td></tr> -<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="center">—</td><td align="left"><a href="#A_MUSTANG">A MUSTANG</a></td></tr> -</table></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER.</h3> - - -<p>The Rocky Mountains form an almost impassable barrier between California -and the United States, properly so called; their formidable defiles, -their rude valleys, and the vast western plains, watered by rapid -streams, are even to the present day almost unknown to the American -adventurers, and are rarely visited by the intrepid and daring Canadian -trappers.</p> - -<p>The majestic mountain range called the Sierra of the Wind River, -especially offers a grand and striking picture, as it raises to the -skies its white and snow-clad peaks, which extend indefinitely in a -north-western direction, until they appear on the horizon like a white -cloud, although the experienced eye of the trapper recognizes in this -cloud the scarped outline of the Yellowstone Mountains.</p> - -<p>The Sierra of the Wind River is one of the most remarkable of the Rocky -Mountain range; it forms, so to speak, an immense plateau, thirty -leagues long, by ten or twelve in width, commanded by scarped peaks, -crowned with eternal snows, and having at their base narrow and deep -valleys filled with springs, streams, and rock-bound lakes. These -magnificent reservoirs give rise to some of the mighty rivers which, -after running for hundreds of miles through a picturesque territory, -become on one side the affluents of the Missouri, on the other of the -Columbia, and bear the tribute of their waters to the two oceans.</p> - -<p>In the stories of the wood rangers and trappers, the Sierra of the -Wind River is justly renowned for its frightful gorges, and the wild -country in its vicinity frequently serves as a refuge to the pirates of -the prairie, and has been, many a time and oft, the scene of obstinate -struggles between the white men and the Indians.</p> - -<p>Toward the end of June, 1854, a well-mounted traveller, carefully -wrapped up in the thick folds of a zarapé, raised to his eyes, was -following one of the most precipitous slopes of the Sierra of the -Wind River, at no great distance from the source of the Green River, -that great western Colorado which pours its waters into the Gulf of -California.</p> - -<p>It was about seven in the evening: the traveller rode along, shivering -from the effects of an icy wind which whistled mournfully through the -canyons. All around had assumed a saddening aspect in the vacillating -moonbeams. He rode on without hearing the footfall of his horse, as it -fell on the winding sheet of snow that covered the landscape; at times -the capricious windings of the track he was following compelled him to -pass through thickets, whose branches, bent by the weight of snow, stood -out before him like gigantic skeletons, and struck each other after he -had passed with a sullen snap.</p> - -<p>The traveller continued his journey, looking anxiously on both sides -of him. His horse, fatigued by a long ride, hobbled at every step, and -in spite of the repeated encouragement of its rider seemed determined -to stop short, when, after suddenly turning an angle in the track, it -suddenly entered a large clearing, where the close-growing grass formed -a circle about forty yards in diameter, and the verdure formed a cheery -contrast with the whiteness that surrounded it.</p> - -<p>"Heaven be praised!" the traveller exclaimed in excellent French, and -giving a start of pleasure; "Here is a spot at last where I can camp for -tonight night, without any excessive inconvenience. I almost despaired -of finding one."</p> - -<p>While thus congratulating himself, the traveller had stopped his horse -and dismounted. His first attention was paid to his horse, from which -he removed saddle and bridle, and which he covered with his zarapé, -appearing to attach no importance to the cold, which was, however, -extremely severe in these elevated regions. So soon as it was free, the -animal, in spite of its fatigue, began browsing heartily on the grass, -and thus reassured about his companion, the traveller began thinking -about making the best arrangements possible for the night.</p> - -<p>Tall, thin, active, with a lofty and capacious forehead, an intelligent -blue eye, sparkling with boldness, the stranger appeared to have been -long accustomed to desert life, and to find nothing extraordinary or -peculiarly disagreeable in the somewhat precarious position in which he -found himself at this moment.</p> - -<p>He was a man who had reached about middle life, on whose brow grief -rather than the fatigue of the adventurous life of the desert had formed -deep wrinkles, and sown numerous silver threads in his thick light -hair; his dress was a medium between that of the white trappers and -the Mexican gambusinos; but it was easy to recognize, in spite of his -complexion, bronzed by the seasons, that he was a stranger to the ground -he trod, and that Europe had witnessed his birth.</p> - -<p>After giving a final glance of satisfaction at his horse, which at -intervals interrupted its repast to raise its delicate and intelligent -head to him with an expression of pleasure, he carried his weapons and -horse trappings to the foot of a rather lofty rock, which offered him -but a poor protection against the gusts of the night breeze, and then -began collecting dry wood to light a watch fire.</p> - -<p>It was no easy task to find dry firewood at a spot almost denuded of -trees, and whose soil, covered with snow, except in the clearing, -allowed nothing to be distinguished; but the traveller was patient, he -would not be beaten, and within an hour he had collected sufficient -wood to feed through the night two such fires as he proposed kindling. -The branches soon crackled, and a bright flame rose joyously in a long -spiral to the sky.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said the traveller, who, like all men constrained to live alone, -seemed to have contracted the habit of soliloquizing aloud, "the fire -will do, so now for supper."</p> - -<p>Then, fumbling in the alforjas, or double pockets which travellers -always carry fastened to the saddle, he took from them all the requisite -elements of a frugal meal; that is to say, cecina, pemmican, and several -varas of tasajo, or meat dried in the sun. At the moment when, after -shutting up his alforjas, the traveller raised his head to lay his meat -on the embers to broil, he stopped motionless, with widely-opened mouth, -and it was only through a mighty strength of will that he suppressed a -cry of surprise and possibly of terror. Although no sound had revealed -his presence, a man, leaning on a long rifle, was standing motionless -before him, and gazing at him with profound attention.</p> - -<p>At once mastering the emotion he felt, the traveller carefully laid -the tasajo on the embers, and then, without removing his eye from this -strange visitor, he stretched out his arm to grasp his rifle, while -saying, in a tone of the most perfect indifference—</p> - -<p>"Whether friend or foe, you are welcome, mate. 'Tis a bitter night, so, -if you are cold, warm yourself, and if you are hungry, eat. When your -nerves have regained their elasticity, and your body its usual strength, -we will have a frank explanation, such as men of honour ought to have."</p> - -<p>The stranger remained silent for some seconds; then, after shaking his -head several times, he commenced in a low and melancholy voice, as it -were speaking to himself rather than replying to the question asked him—</p> - -<p>"Can any human being really exist in whose heart a feeling of pity still -remains?"</p> - -<p>"Make the trial, mate," the traveller answered quickly, "by accepting, -without hesitation, my hearty offer. Two men who meet in the desert must -be friends at first sight, unless private reasons make them implacable -enemies. Sit down by my side and eat."</p> - -<p>This dialogue had been held in Spanish, a language the stranger spoke -with a facility that proved his Mexican origin. He seemed to reflect for -a moment, and then instantly made up his mind.</p> - -<p>"I accept," he said, "for your voice is too sympathizing and your glance -too frank to deceive."</p> - -<p>"That is the way to speak," the traveller said, gaily. "Sit down and eat -without further delay, for I confess to you that I am dying of hunger."</p> - -<p>The stranger smiled sadly, and sat down on the ground by the traveller's -side. The two men, thus strangely brought together by accident, then -attacked with no ordinary vigour, which evidenced a long fast, the -provisions placed before them. Still, while eating, the traveller did -not fail to examine his singular companion; and the following was the -result of his observations.</p> - -<p>The general appearance of the stranger was most wretched, and his -ragged clothes scarce covered his bony, fleshless body; while his pale -and sickly features were rendered more sad and gloomy by a thick, -disordered beard that fell on his chest. His eyes, inflamed by fever, -and surrounded by black circles, glistened with a sombre fire, and at -times emitted flashes of magnetic radiance. His weapons were in as bad -a condition as his clothes, and in the event of a fight this man, with -the exception of his bodily strength, which must once have been great, -but which privations of every description, and probably endured for -a lengthened period, had exhausted, would not have been a formidable -adversary for the traveller. Still, beneath this truly wretched -appearance could be traced an organization crushed by grief. There was -in this man something grand and sympathetic, which appeared to emanate -from his person, and aroused not only pity but also respect for torture -so proudly hidden and so nobly endured. This man, in short, ere he fell -so low, must have been great, either in virtue or in vice; but assuredly -there was nothing common about him, and a mighty heart beat in his bosom.</p> - -<p>Such was the impression the stranger produced on his host, while both, -without the interchange of a word, appeased an appetite sharpened by -long hours of abstinence. Hunters' meals are short, and the present one -lasted hardly a quarter of an hour. When it was over, the traveller -rolled a cigarette, and, handing it to the stranger, said—</p> - -<p>"Do you smoke?"</p> - -<p>On this apparently so simple question being asked, a strange thing -happened which will only be understood by smokers who, long accustomed -to the weed, have for some reason or other been deprived of it for -a lengthened period. The stranger's face was suddenly lit up by the -effect of some internal emotion; his dull eye flashed, and, seizing the -cigarette with a nervous tremor, he exclaimed, in a voice choked by an -outburst of joy impossible to render—</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes; I used to smoke."</p> - -<p>There was a rather long silence, during which the two men slowly inhaled -the smoke of their cigarettes, and indulged in thought. The wind howled -fiercely Over their heads, the eddying snow was piling up around them, -and the echoes of the canyons seemed to utter notes of complaint. It was -a horrible night. Beyond the circle of light produced by the flickering -flame of the watch fire all was buried in dense gloom. The picture -presented by these two men, seated in the desert, strangely illumined -by the bluish flame, fend smoking calmly while suspended above an -unfathomable abyss, had something striking and awe-inspiring about it. -When the traveller had finished his cigarette, he rolled another, and -laid his tobacco-pouch between himself and his guest.</p> - -<p>"Now that the ice is broken between us," he said in a friendly voice, -"and that we have nearly formed an acquaintance—for we have been -sitting at the same fire, and have eaten and smoked together—the moment -has arrived, I fancy, for us to become thoroughly acquainted."</p> - -<p>The stranger nodded his head silently. It was a gesture that could be -interpreted affirmatively or negatively, at pleasure. The traveller -continued, with a good-humoured smile—</p> - -<p>"I make not the slightest pretence to compel you to reveal your secrets, -and you are at liberty to maintain your incognito without in any way -offending me. Still, whatever may be the result, let me give you an -example of frankness by telling you who I am. My story will not be long, -and only consists of a very few words. France is my country, and I was -born at Paris—which city, doubtless," he remarked, with a stifled sigh, -"I shall never see again. Reasons too lengthy to trouble you with, and -which would interest you but very slightly, led me to America. Chance, -or Providence, perhaps, by guiding me to the desert, and arousing my -instincts and aspirations for liberty, wished to make a wood ranger of -me, and I obeyed. For twenty years I have been traversing the prairies -and great savannahs in every direction, and I shall probably continue -to do so, till an Indian bullet comes from some thicket to stop my -wanderings for ever. Towns are hateful to me; passionately fond of the -grand spectacles of nature, which elevate the thought, and draw the -creature nearer to his Creator, I shall only mix myself up once again in -the chaos of civilization in order to fulfil a vow made on the tomb of a -friend. When I have done that, I shall fly to the most, unknown deserts, -in order to end a life henceforth useless, far from those men whose -paltry passions and base and ignoble hatred have robbed me of the small -amount of happiness to which I fancied I had a claim. And now, mate, you -know me as well as I do myself. I will merely add, in conclusion, that -my name among the white men, my countrymen, is Valentine Guillois, and -among the redskins, my adopted fathers, Koutonepi—that is to say, 'The -Valiant One.' I believe myself to be as honest and as brave as a man is -permitted to be with his imperfect organization. I never did harm with -the intention of doing so, and I have done services to my fellow men as -often as I had it in my power, without expecting from them thanks or -gratitude."</p> - -<p>The speech, which the hunter had commenced in that clear voice and with -that careless accent habitual to him, terminated involuntarily, under -the pressure of the flood of saddened memories that rose from his heart -to his lips, in a low and inarticulate voice, and when he concluded, -he let his head fall sadly on his chest, with a sigh that resembled a -sob. The stranger regarded him for a moment with an expression of gentle -commiseration.</p> - -<p>"You have suffered," he said; "suffered in your love, suffered in your -friendship. Your history is that of all men in this world: who of us, -but at a given hour, has felt his courage yield beneath the weight of -grief? You are alone, friendless, abandoned by all, a voluntary exile, -far from the men who only inspire you with hatred and contempt; you -prefer the society of wild beasts, less ferocious than they; but, at any -rate, you live, while I am a dead man!"</p> - -<p>The hunter started, and looked in amazement at the speaker.</p> - -<p>"I suppose you think me mad?" he continued, with a melancholy smile; -"reassure yourself, it is not so. I am in full possession of my senses, -my head is cool, and my thoughts are clear and lucid. For all that -though, I repeat to you, I am dead, dead in the sight of my relations -and friends, dead to the whole world in fine, and condemned to lead this -wretched existence for an indefinite period. Mine is a strange story, -and that you would recognize through one word, were you a Mexican, or -had you travelled in certain regions of Mexico."</p> - -<p>"Did I not tell you that, for twenty years, I have been travelling over -every part of America?" the traveller replied, his curiosity being -aroused to the highest pitch. "What is the word? Can you tell it me?"</p> - -<p>"Why not? I am alluding to the name I bore while I was still a living -man."</p> - -<p>"What is that name?"</p> - -<p>"It had acquired a certain celebrity, but I doubt whether, even if you -have heard it mentioned, it has remained in your memory."</p> - -<p>"Who knows? Perhaps you are mistaken."</p> - -<p>"Well, since you insist, learn, then, that I was called Martial el -Tigrero."</p> - -<p>"You?" the hunter exclaimed, under the influence of the uttermost -surprise; "why that is impossible!"</p> - -<p>"Of course so, since I am dead," the stranger answered, bitterly.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE DEAD ALIVE.</h3> - - -<p>The Tigrero had let his head fall on his chest again, and seemed engaged -with gloomy thoughts. The hunter, somewhat embarrassed by the turn the -conversation had taken, and anxious to continue it, mechanically stirred -up the fire with the blade of his navaja, while his eyes wandered -around, and were at times fixed on his companion with an expression of -deep sympathy.</p> - -<p>"Stay," he said, presently, as he thrust back with his foot a few embers -that had rolled out; "pardon me, sir, any insult which my exclamation -may seem to have contained. You have mistaken, I assure you, the -meaning of my remarks; although, as we have never met, we are not such -strangers as you suppose. I have known you for a long time."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero raised his head, and looked at the hunter incredulously.</p> - -<p>"You?" he muttered.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I, caballero, and it will not be difficult to prove it to you."</p> - -<p>"What good will it do?" he murmured; "what interest can I have in the -fact of your knowing me?"</p> - -<p>"My dear sir," the Frenchman continued, with several shakes of his head, -"nothing happens in this world by the effect of chance. Above us, an -intellect superior to ours directs everything here below; and if we have -been permitted to meet in a manner so strange and unexpected in these -desolate regions, it is because Providence has designs with us which we -cannot yet detect; let us, therefore, not attempt to resist God's will, -for what He has resolved will happen: who knows whether I may not be -unconsciously sent across your path to bring you a supreme consolation, -or to supply you with the means to accomplish a long meditated -vengeance, which you have hitherto deemed impossible?"</p> - -<p>"I repeat to you, señor," the Tigrero replied, "that your words are -those of a stout-hearted and brave man, and I feel involuntarily -attracted towards you. I think with you, that this accidental meeting, -after so many days of solitude and grief, with a man of your stamp, -cannot be the effect of unintelligent chance, and that at a moment -when, convinced of my impotence to escape from my present frightful -situation, I was reduced to despair and almost resolved on suicide, the -loyal hand you offer me can only be that of a friend. Question me, then, -without hesitation, and I will answer with the utmost frankness."</p> - -<p>"Thanks for that speech," the hunter said, with emotion, "for it proves -that we are beginning to understand each other, and soon, I hope, we -shall have no secrets; but I must, before all else, tell you how it is -that I have known you for a long time, although you were not aware of -the fact."</p> - -<p>"Speak, señor, I am listening to you with the most earnest attention."</p> - -<p>Valentine reflected for a moment, and then went on as follows:—</p> - -<p>"Some months ago, in consequence of circumstances unnecessary to remind -you of, but which you doubtless bear in mind, you met at the colony of -Guetzalli a Frenchman and a Canadian hunter, with whom you eventually -stood on most intimate terms."</p> - -<p>"It is true," the Tigrero replied, with a nervous start, "and the -Frenchman to whom you allude, is the Count de Prébois Crancé. Oh! I -shall never be able to discharge the debt of gratitude I have contracted -with him for the services he rendered me."</p> - -<p>A sad smile curled the hunter's lip. "You no longer owe him anything," -he said, with a melancholy shake of the head.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed, eagerly; "surely the count -cannot be dead!"</p> - -<p>"He is dead, caballero. He was assassinated on the shores of Guaymas. -His murderers laid him in his tomb, and his blood, so treacherously -shed, cries to Heaven for vengeance: but patience, Heaven will not -permit this horrible crime to remain unpunished."</p> - -<p>The hunter hurriedly wiped away the tears he had been unable to repress -while speaking of the count, and went on, in a voice choked by the -internal emotion which he strove in vain to conquer:—</p> - -<p>"But let us, for the present, leave this sad reminiscence to slumber -in our hearts. The count was my friend, my dearest friend, more than a -brother to me: he often spoke about you to me, and several times told me -your gloomy history, which terminated in a frightful catastrophe."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes," the Tigrero muttered; "it was, indeed, a frightful -catastrophe. I would gladly have found death at the bottom of the abyss -into which I rolled during my struggle with Black Bear, could I have -saved her I loved; but God decreed it otherwise, and may his holy name -be blessed and praised."</p> - -<p>"Amen!" the hunter said, sadly turning his head away.</p> - -<p>"Oh!" Don Martial continued a moment later, "I feel my recollections -crowding upon me at this moment. I feel as if the veil that covers my -memory is torn asunder, in order to recall events, already so distant, -but which have left so deep an impression on my mind. I, too, recognize -you now; you are the famous hunter whom the count was trying to find -in the desert; but he did not call you by any of the names you have -mentioned."</p> - -<p>"I dare say," Valentine answered, "that he alluded to me as the 'Trail -Hunter,' the name by which the white hunters and the Indians of the Far -West are accustomed to call me."</p> - -<p>"Yes; oh, now I remember perfectly, that was indeed the name he gave -you. You were right in saying that we had been long acquainted, though -we had never met."</p> - -<p>"And now that we meet in this desert," the hunter said, offering his -hand, "connected as we are by the memory of our deceased friend, shall -we be friends?"</p> - -<p>"No, not friends," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he heartily pressed the -hunter's honest hand; "not friends, but brothers."</p> - -<p>"Well, then, brothers, and each for the other against all comers," the -hunter answered. "And now that you are convinced that curiosity plays no -part in my eager desire to know what has befallen you since the moment -when you so hurriedly left your friends, speak, Don Martial, and then I -will tell you, in my turn, what are the motives that directed my steps -to these desolate regions."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero, in a few moments, began his narrative as follows:—</p> - -<p>"My friends must have fancied me dead, hence I cannot blame them for -having abandoned me, although they were, perhaps, too quick in doing so -without an attempt either to recover my corpse, or assure themselves at -least that I was really dead, and that assistance would be thrown away; -but though I am ignorant of what happened in the cavern after my fall, -the bodies left on the battlefield proved to me afterwards that they had -a tough fight, and were compelled to fly before the Indians; hence, I -say again that I do not blame them. You are aware that I was attacked by -Black Bear at the moment when I believed that I had succeeded in saving -those whom I had sworn to protect. It was on the very verge of the pit -that Black Bear and myself, enwreathed like two serpents, began a final -and decisive struggle: at the moment when I had all but succeeded in -foiling my enemy's desperate efforts, and was raising my arm to cut -his throat, the war yell of the Comanches suddenly burst forth at the -entrance of the cavern. By a supreme effort the Apache chief succeeded -in escaping from my clutch, bounded on his feet, and rushed towards -Doña Anita, doubtless with the intention of carrying her off, as the -unforeseen assistance arriving for us would prevent the accomplishment -of his vengeance. But the maiden repulsed him with that strength -which despair engenders, and sought refuge behind her father. Already -severely wounded by two shots, the chief tottered back to the edge of -the pit, where he lost his balance. Feeling that he was falling, by an -instinctive gesture, or, perhaps, through a last sentiment of fury, he -stretched out his arms as if to save himself, caught hold of me as I -rose, half-stunned by my recent contest, and we both rolled down the -pit, he with a triumphant laugh, and I with a shriek of despair. Forgive -me for having described thus minutely the last incidents of this fight, -but I was obliged to enter into these details to make you thoroughly -understand by what providential chance I was saved, when I fancied -myself hopelessly lost."</p> - -<p>"Go on, go on;" the hunter said, "I am listening to you with the -greatest attention."</p> - -<p>Don Martial continued:—</p> - -<p>"The Indian was desperately wounded, and his last effort, in which he -had placed all his remaining strength, cost him his life: it was a -corpse that dragged me down, for during the few seconds our fall lasted -he did not make a movement. The pit was not so deep as I fancied, not -more than twenty or five-and-twenty feet, and the sides were covered -with plants and grass, which, although they bent beneath our weight, -prevented us from falling perpendicularly. The chief was the first -to reach the bottom of the abyss, and I fell upon his body, which -deadened my fall, though it was serious enough entirely to deprive me -of consciousness. I cannot say how long I remained in this state, but, -from a calculation I made afterwards, my faint must have lasted two -hours. I was aroused by a cold sensation which suddenly affected me. I -opened my eyes again, and found myself in utter darkness. At the first -moment it was impossible for me to account for the situation in which -I found myself, or what events had placed me in it; but my memory -gradually returned, my thoughts became more lucid, and I only desired -to emerge as speedily as possible from the pit into which I had fallen. -I was suffering fearfully, although I was not actually wounded. I had -received numerous contusions in my fall, and the slightest movement -caused me an atrocious pain, for I was so bruised and shaken. In my -present state I must endure the evil patiently: attempting to scale -the sides of the pit when my strength was completely exhausted would -have been madness, and I therefore resigned myself to waiting. I was in -complete darkness, but that did not trouble me greatly, as I had about -me everything necessary to light a fire. Within a few moments I had a -light, and was enabled to look about me. I was lying at the bottom of a -species of funnel, for the pit grew narrower in its descent, which had -greatly helped to deaden my fall; my feet and legs almost to the knee -were bathed in a subterranean stream, while the upper part of my body -leant against the corpse of the Indian chief. The spot where I found -myself was thirty feet in circumference at the most, and I assured -myself by the help of my light that the sides of the pit, entirely -covered with creepers, and even sturdy shrubs, rose in a gentle slope, -and would not be difficult to escalade when my strength had sufficiently -returned. At this moment I could not dream of attempting the ascent, -so I bravely made up my mind, and although my anxiety was great about -the friends I had left in, the cavern, I resolved to wait a few hours -before proceeding to save myself. I remained thus for twenty hours -at the bottom of the pit, <i>tête-à-tête</i> with my enemy's corpse. Many -times during my excursions in the desert I had found myself in almost -desperate situations, but never, I call heaven to witness, had I felt -so completely abandoned and left in the hands of Providence. Still, -however deplorable my position might be, I did not despair; in spite -of the frightful pain I suffered, I had convinced myself that my limbs -were in a satisfactory state, and that all I needed was patience. When -I fancied my strength sufficiently restored, I lighted two torches, -which I fixed in the ground, in order to see more clearly. I threw my -rifle on my back, placed my navaja between my teeth, and clinging to the -shrubs, by a desperate effort I began my ascent. I will not tell you of -the difficulty I had in conquering the terrible shocks I was obliged -to give my aching bones in surmounting almost unsurpassable obstacles; -sufficient for you to know that I reached the mouth of the pit after -an hour and a half's struggle, in which I expended all the energy a -man possesses who hopes to save himself. When I reached the floor of -the cavern, I lay for more than half an hour on the sand, exhausted, -panting, unable to make the slightest movement, scarce breathing, -hearing nothing, seeing nothing, not even conscious of the frightful -state into which I was plunged. Fortunately for me, this terrible -condition did not last long, the refreshing air from without, reaching -me through the passages of the cavern, recovered me, and restored the -entire use of my mental faculties. The ground around me was covered with -dead bodies, and there had, doubtless, been a terrible struggle between -the white men and the redskins. I sought in vain for the corpses of Doña -Anita and her father. I breathed again, and hope re-entered my heart, -for my sacrifice had not been fruitless. Those for whom I had given my -life were saved, and I should see them again. This thought restored my -courage, and I felt quite a different man. I rose without any excessive -difficulty, and, supporting myself on my rifle, went toward the mouth of -the cavern, after removing my stock of provision, and taking two powder -horns from the stores I had previously <i>cached</i>, and which my friends -in their flight had not thought of removing. No words can describe the -emotion I felt when, after a painful walk through the grotto, I at -length reached the riverbank, and saw the sun once more: a man must have -been in a similar desperate situation to understand the cry, or rather -howl of joy which escaped from my surcharged bosom when I felt again the -blessed sunbeams, and inhaled the odorous breath of the savannah. By an -unreflecting movement, though it was suggested by my heart, I fell on my -knees, and piously clasping my hands, I thanked Him who had saved me, -and who alone could do so. This prayer, and the simple thanks expressed -by a grateful heart, were, I feel convinced, borne upwards to heaven on -the wings of my guardian angel.</p> - -<p>"As far as I could make out by the height of the sun, it was about the -second hour of the tarde. The deepest silence prevailed around me; so -far as the vision could extend, the prairie was deserted; Indians and -palefaces had disappeared: I was alone, alone with that God who had -saved me in so marvellous a fashion, and would not abandon me. Before -going further, I took a little nourishment, which the exhaustion of -my strength rendered necessary. When, in the company of Don Sylva de -Torrés and his daughter, I had sought a refuge in the cavern, our -horses had been abandoned with all the remaining forage in an adjacent -clearing, and I was too well acquainted with the instinct of these -noble animals to apprehend that they had fled. On the contrary, I knew -that, if the hunters had not taken them away, I should find them at -the very spot where I had left them. A horse was indispensable for -use, for a dismounted man is lost in the desert, and hence I resolved -to seek them. Rested by the long halt I had made, and feeling that my -strength had almost returned, I proceeded without hesitation towards -the forest. At my second call I heard a rather loud noise in a clump of -trees; the shrubs parted, and my horse galloped up and gladly rubbed its -intelligent head against my shoulder. I amply returned the caresses the -faithful companion of my adventures bestowed on me, and then returned -to the cavern, where my saddle was. An hour later, mounted on my good -horse, I bent my steps toward houses. My journey was a long one, owing -to my state of weakness and prostration, and when I reached Sonora the -news I heard almost drove me mad. Don Sylva de Torrés had been killed -in the fight with the Apaches, as was probably his daughter, for no -one could tell me anything about her. For a month I hovered between -life and death; but God in His wisdom, doubtless, had decided that I -should escape once again. When hardly convalescent, I dragged myself to -the house of the only man competent of giving me precise and positive -information about what I wanted to learn. This man refused to recognize -me, although I had kept up intimate relations with him for many years. -When I told him my name he laughed in my face, and when I insisted, -he had me expelled by his peons, telling me that I was mad, that Don -Martial was dead, and I an impostor. I went away with rage and despair -in my heart. As if they had formed an agreement, all my friends to whom -I presented myself refused to recognize me, so thoroughly was the report -of my death believed, and it had been accepted by them as a certainty. -All the efforts I attempted to dissipate this alarming mistake, and -prove the falsehood of the rumour were in vain, for too many persons -were interested in it being true, on account of the large estates I -possessed; and also, I suppose, through a fear of injuring the man to -whom I first applied—the only living relation of the Torrés family, -who, through his high position, has immense influence in Sonora. What -more need I tell you, my friend? Disgusted in every way, heartbroken -with grief, and recognising the inutility of the efforts I made -against the ingratitude and systematic bad faith of those with whom I -had to deal, I left the town, and, mounting my horse, returned to the -desert, seeking the most unknown spots and the most desolate regions in -which to hide myself and die whenever God decrees that I have suffered -sufficiently, and recalls me to Him."</p> - -<p>After saying this the Tigrero was silent, and his head sunk gloomily on -his chest.</p> - -<p>"Brother," Valentine said gently to him, slightly touching his shoulder -to attract his attention, "you have forgotten to tell me the name of -that influential person who had you turned out of his house, and treated -you as an impostor."</p> - -<p>"That is true," Don Martial answered; "his name is Don Sebastian -Guerrero, and he is military governor of the province of Sonora."</p> - -<p>The hunter quickly started to his feet with an exclamation of joy.</p> - -<p>"Don Martial," he said, "you may thank God for decreeing that we should -meet in the desert, in order that the punishment of this man should be -complete."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE COMPACT.</h3> - - -<p>Don Martial gazed at the hunter in amazement.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" he asked him. "I don't understand you."</p> - -<p>"You will soon do so, my friend," Valentine answered. "How long have you -been roaming about this neighbourhood?"</p> - -<p>"Nearly two months."</p> - -<p>"In that case you are well acquainted, I presume, with the mountains -among which we are at this moment?"</p> - -<p>"There is not a tree or a rock whose exact position I cannot tell, nor a -wild beast trail which I have not followed."</p> - -<p>"Good: are we far from a spot called the 'Fort of the Chichimèques?'"</p> - -<p>The Tigrero reflected for a moment.</p> - -<p>"Do you know by what Indians these mountains are inhabited?" he at -length asked.</p> - -<p>"Yes, by poor wretches who call themselves the Root-Eaters, and whom the -hunters and trappers designate by the name of the 'Worthy of Pity.' They -are, I believe, timid, harmless creatures, a species of incomplete men, -in whom brutal instincts have stifled the intellect; however, I only -speak of them from hearsay, for I never saw one of the poor devils."</p> - -<p>"You are perfectly well informed about them, and they are what you -depict them. I have often had opportunities of meeting them, and have -lamented the degree of brutalization into which this hapless race has -fallen."</p> - -<p>"Permit me to remark that I do not see what connection can exist between -this unhappy tribe and the information I ask of you."</p> - -<p>"There is a very great one. Since I have been roaming about these -mountains you are the first man of my own colour with whom I have -consented to enter into relations. The Root-Eaters have neither history -nor traditions. Their life is restricted to eating, drinking, and -sleeping, and I have not learned from them any of the names given to the -majestic peaks that surround us. Hence, though I perfectly well know the -spot to which you refer, unless you describe it differently, it will be -impossible for me to tell you its exact position."</p> - -<p>"That is true; but what you ask of me is very awkward, for this is the -first time I have visited these parts, and it will be rather difficult -for me to describe a place I am not acquainted with. Still, I will try. -There is, not far from here, I believe, a road which traverses the Rocky -Mountains obliquely, and runs from the United States to Santa Fe; at a -certain spot this road must intersect another which leads to California."</p> - -<p>"I am perfectly well acquainted with the roads to which you refer, and -the caravans of emigrants, hunters, and miners follow them in going to -California, or returning thence."</p> - -<p>"Good! At the spot where these two roads cross they form a species -of large square, surrounded on all sides by rocks that rise to a -considerable height. Do you know the place I mean?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," the Tigrero answered.</p> - -<p>"Well, about two gunshots from this square is a track winding nearly in -an east-south-east course, along the side of the mountains. This track, -at first so narrow that a horse even passes with difficulty, gradually -widens till it reaches a species of esplanade, or terrace, if you like -it better, which commands an extensive prospect, while on its edge -are the remains of barbarous erections, which can, however, be easily -recognized as an ancient parapet. This terrace is called the 'Fort of -the Chichimèques,' though for what reason I cannot tell you."</p> - -<p>"I know no more than you do on that head, although I can now assure -you that I am perfectly acquainted with the place to which you refer, -and have often camped there on stormy nights, because there is a deep -cavern, excavated by human hands, and divided into several passages, -every turning of which I know, and which has offered me a precious -shelter during those frightful tempests which, at intervals, overthrow -the face of nature in these regions."</p> - -<p>"I was not aware of the existence of this grotto," the hunter said, -with a glad start, "and I thank you for having told me of it; it will -be very useful for the execution of the plans I have formed. Are we any -great distance from this terrace?"</p> - -<p>"In a straight line, not more than five or six miles, and, if it were -day, I could show it to you; but as we must ride round to reach the -caravan road, which we are obliged to follow in order to reach the -tracks, we have about three hours' ride before us."</p> - -<p>"That is a trifle, for I was afraid I had lost my way in these -mountains, which are strange to me. I am delighted to find that my old -experience has not failed me this time, and that my hunter's instincts -have not deceived me."</p> - -<p>While saying this, Valentine had risen to explore the clearing. The -storm had ceased, the wind had swept away the clouds, the deep blue sky -was studded with brilliant stars, and the moon profusely shed its rays, -which imparted a fantastic appearance to the landscape by casting the -shadows of the lofty trees athwart the snow, whose pallid carpet spread -far as eye could see.</p> - -<p>"'Tis a magnificent night," the hunter said, after carefully examining -the sky for some moments. "It is an hour past midnight, and I do not -feel the slightest inclination to sleep. Are you fatigued?"</p> - -<p>"I am never so," the Tigrero answered, with a smile.</p> - -<p>"All right: in that case you are like myself, a thorough wood ranger. -What do you think of a ride in this magnificent moonlight?"</p> - -<p>"I think that after a good supper and an interesting conversation -nothing so thoroughly restores the balance of a man's thoughts as a -night ride in the company of a friend."</p> - -<p>"Bravo! that is what I call speaking. Now, as every ride to be -reasonable should have an object, we will go, if you have no objection, -as far as the Fort of the Chichimèques."</p> - -<p>"I was about to propose it; and, as we ride along, you will tell me in -your turn what imperious motive compelled you to come to these unknown -regions, and what the project is to which you alluded."</p> - -<p>"As for that," the hunter said, with a knowing smile, "I cannot satisfy -you; at any rate not for the present, as I wish you to have the pleasure -of a surprise. But be easy, I will not put your patience to too long a -trial."</p> - -<p>"You will act as you think proper, for I trust entirely to you. I know -not why, but I am persuaded, either through a sentiment or sympathy, -that in doing your own business you will be doing mine at the same time."</p> - -<p>"You are nearer the truth at this moment than you perhaps imagine, so be -of good cheer, brother."</p> - -<p>"The happy meeting has already made a different man of me," the Tigrero -said, as he rose.</p> - -<p>The hunter laid his hand on his shoulder. "One moment," he said to -him; "before leaving this bivouac, where we met so providentially, -let us clearly agree as to our facts, so as to avoid any future -misunderstanding."</p> - -<p>"Be it so," Don Martial answered. "Let us make a compact in the Indian -fashion, and woe to the one who breaks it."</p> - -<p>"Well said, my friend," Valentine remarked, as he drew his knife from -his belt. "Here is my navaja, brother; may it serve you as it has done -me to avenge your wrongs and mine."</p> - -<p>"I receive it in the face of that Heaven which I call as witness of the -purity of my intentions. Take mine in exchange, and one half my powder -and bullets, brother."</p> - -<p>"I accept it as a thing belonging to me, and here is half my ammunition -for you; henceforth we cannot fire at one another, all is in common -between us. Your friends will be my friends, and you will point out your -enemies to me, so that I may aid you in your vengeance. My horse is -yours."</p> - -<p>"Mine belongs to you, and in a few moments I will place it at your -service."</p> - -<p>Then the two men, leaning shoulder to shoulder, with clasped hands, eyes -fixed on heaven, and outstretched arm, uttered together the following -words:</p> - -<p>"I take God to witness that of my own free will, and without -reservation, I take as my friend and brother the man whose hand is at -this moment pressing mine. I will help him in everything he asks of -me, without hope of reward, ready by day and night to answer his first -signal, without hesitation, and without reproach, even if he asked me -for my life. I take this oath in the presence of God, who sees and -hears me and may He come to my help in all I undertake, and punish me -if I ever break my oath."</p> - -<p>There was something grand and solemn in this simple act, performed by -these two powerful men, beneath the pallid moonbeams, and in the heart -of the desert, alone, far from all human society, face to face with -God, confiding in each, and seeming thus to defy the whole world. After -repeating the words of the oath, they kissed each other's lips in turn, -then embraced, and finally shook hands again.</p> - -<p>"Now let us be off, brother," Valentine said; "I confide in you as in -myself; we shall succeed in triumphing over our enemies, and repaying -them all the misery they have caused us."</p> - -<p>"Wait for me ten minutes, brother; my horse is hidden close by."</p> - -<p>"Go; and during that time I will saddle mine, which is henceforth yours."</p> - -<p>Don Martial hurried away, leaving Valentine alone.</p> - -<p>"This time," he muttered, "I believe that I have at length met the man I -have been looking for so long, and whom I despaired to find; with him, -Curumilla, and Belhumeur, I can begin the struggle, for I am certain I -shall not be abandoned or treacherously surrendered to the enemy I wish -to combat."</p> - -<p>While indulging after his wont in this soliloquy, the hunter had lassoed -his horse, and was busily engaged in saddling it. He had just put the -bit in its mouth, when the Tigrero re-entered the clearing, mounted on -a magnificent black steed.</p> - -<p>Don Martial dismounted.</p> - -<p>"This is your horse, my friend," he said.</p> - -<p>"And this is yours."</p> - -<p>The exchange thus effected, the two men mounted, and left the clearing -in which they had met so strangely. The Tigrero had told no falsehood -when he said that a metamorphosis had taken place in him, and that -he felt a different man. His features had lost their marble-like -rigidity; his eyes were animated, and no longer burned with a sombre and -concentrated fire. Even though his glances were still somewhat haggard, -their expression was more frank and, before all, kinder; he sat firm and -upright in the saddle, and, in a word, seemed ten years younger.</p> - -<p>This unexpected change had not escaped the notice of the all-observing -Frenchman, and he congratulated himself for having effected this moral -cure, and saved a man of such promise from the despair which he had -allowed to overpower him.</p> - -<p>We have already said that it was a magnificent night. For men like -our characters, accustomed to cross the desert in all weathers, the -ride in the darkness was a relaxation rather than a fatigue. They rode -along side by side, talking on indifferent topics—hunting, trapping, -expeditions against the Indians—subjects always pleasing to wood -rangers, while rapidly advancing towards the spot they wished to reach.</p> - -<p>"By-the-bye," Valentine all at once said, "I must warn you, brother, -that if you are not mistaken, and we are really following the road to -the Fort of the Chichimèques, we shall probably meet several persons -there; they are friends of mine, with whom I have an appointment, and I -will introduce them to you; for reasons you will speedily learn, these -friends followed a different road from mine, and must have been waiting -for some time at the place of meeting."</p> - -<p>"I do not care who the persons are we meet, as they are friends of -yours," the Tigrero answered; "the main point is that we make no -mistake."</p> - -<p>"On my word, I confess my incompetence, so far as that is concerned; -this is the first time I have ventured into the Rocky Mountains, where -I hope never to come again, and so I deliver myself entirely into your -hands."</p> - -<p>"I will do my best, although I do not promise positively to lead you to -the place you want to reach."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense!" the hunter said with a smile; "two places like the one I -have described to you can hardly be found in these parts, picturesque -and diversified though they be, and it would be almost impossible to -lose our way."</p> - -<p>"At any rate," the Tigrero answered, "we shall soon know what we have to -depend on, for we shall be there within half an hour."</p> - -<p>The sky was beginning to grow paler; the horizon was belted by wide, -pellucid bands, which assumed in turn every colour of the rainbow. In -the flashing uncertain light of dawn, objects were invested with a -more fugitive appearance, although, on the other hand, they became more -distinct.</p> - -<p>The adventurers had passed the crossroads, and turned into a narrow -track, whose capricious windings ran along rocks, which were almost -suspended over frightful abysses. The riders had given up all attempts -to guide their horses, and trusted to their instinct; they had laid -their bridles on their necks, leaving them at liberty to go where they -pleased—a prudent precaution, which cannot be sufficiently recommended -to travellers under similar circumstances.</p> - -<p>All at once a streak of light illumined the landscape, and the sun rose -radiant and splendid; behind them the travellers still had the shadows -of night, while before them the snowy peaks of the mountains—were -glistening in the sun.</p> - -<p>"Well," the hunter exclaimed, "we can now see clearly, and I hope that -we shall soon perceive the Fort of the Chichimèques."</p> - -<p>"Look ahead of you over the jagged crest of that hill," the Tigrero -answered, stretching out his arm; "that is the terrace to which I am -leading you."</p> - -<p>The hunter stopped, for he felt giddy, and almost ready to fall off his -horse. About two miles from him, but separated from the spot where he -stood by an impassable canyon, an immense esplanade stretched out into -space in the shape of a <i>voladero</i>; that is to say, in consequence of -one of those earthquakes so common in these regions, the base of the -mountain had been undermined, while the crest remained intact, and hung -for a considerable distance above a valley, apparently about to fall at -any moment; the spectacle was at once imposing and terrific.</p> - -<p>"Heaven forgive me!" the hunter muttered, "but I really believe I was -frightened; I felt all my muscles tremble involuntarily. Oh! I will not -look at it again; let us get along, my friend."</p> - -<p>They set out again, still following the windings of the tract, which -gradually grew steeper; and, after a very zigzag course, reached the -terrace half an hour later.</p> - -<p>"This is certainly the place," the hunter exclaimed, as he pointed to -the decaying embers of a watch fire.</p> - -<p>"But your friends—?" the Tigrero asked.</p> - -<p>"Did you not tell me there was a grotto close by?"</p> - -<p>"I did."</p> - -<p>"Well, they doubtless concealed themselves in the grotto when they heard -us approaching."</p> - -<p>"That is possible."</p> - -<p>"It is true: look."</p> - -<p>The hunter discharged his gun, and at the sound three men appeared, -though it was impossible to say whence they came. They were Belhumeur, -Black Elk, and Eagle-head.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE TRAVELLERS.</h3> - - -<p>We must now leave Valentine and his companions on the esplanade of the -Fort of the Chichimèques, where we shall join them again however, in -order to attend to other persons destined to play an important part in -the narrative we have undertaken to tell the reader.</p> - -<p>About five or six leagues at the most from the spot where Valentine and -the Tigrero met, a caravan, composed of some ten persons, had halted on -the same night, and almost at the same moment as the hunter, in a narrow -valley completely sheltered from the wind by dense clumps of trees.</p> - -<p>The caravan was comfortably lodged on the bank of a running stream, the -mules had been unloaded, a tent raised, fires lighted; and when the -animals were hobbled, the travellers began to make preparations for -their supper.</p> - -<p>These travellers, or at any rate one of them, appeared to belong to the -highest class, for the rest were only servants or Indian peons. Still -the dress of this person was most simple, but his stiff manner, his -imposing demeanour, and haughty air, evidenced the man long accustomed -to give his orders without admitting refusal or even the slightest -hesitation.</p> - -<p>He had passed his fiftieth year; he was tall, well-built, and his -movements were extremely elegant. His broad forehead, his black eyes -large and flashing, his long gray moustaches and his short hair gave him -a military appearance, which his harsh, quick way of speaking did not -contradict. Although he affected a certain affability of manner, he at -times involuntarily betrayed himself, and it was easy to see that the -modest garb of a Mexican Campesino which he wore was only a disguise. -Instead of withdrawing beneath the tent prepared for him, this person -had sat down before the fire with the peons, who eagerly made way for -him with evident respect.</p> - -<p>Among the peons two men more especially attracted attention. One was a -redskin, the other a half-breed, with a crafty, leering manner, who, for -some reason or another, stood on more familiar terms with his master; -his comrades called him Ño Carnero, and at times gave him the title of -Capataz.</p> - -<p>Ño Carnero was the wit of the caravan, the funny fellow—ever ready to -laugh and joke, smoking an eternal cigar, and desperately strumming -an insupportable guitar. Perhaps, though, he concealed beneath this -frivolous appearance a more serious character and deeper thoughts than -he would have liked to display.</p> - -<p>The redskin formed the most complete contrast with the capataz; he was -a tall, thin, dry man, with angular features and gloomy and sad face, -illumined by two black eyes deeply set in their orbit, but constantly -in motion, and having an undefinable expression; his aquiline nose, his -wide mouth lined with large teeth as white as almonds, and his thin -pinched up lips, composed a far from pleasant countenance, which was -rendered still more lugubrious by the obstinate silence of this man, who -only spoke when absolutely compelled, and then only in monosyllables. -Like all the Indians, it was impossible to form any opinion as to his -age, for his hair was black as the raven's wing, and his parchment skin -had not a single wrinkle; at any rate he seemed gifted with no ordinary -strength.</p> - -<p>He had engaged at Santa Fé to act as guide to the caravan, and, with -the exception of his obstinate silence, there was every reason to be -satisfied with the way in which he performed his duty. The peons called -him The Indian, or sometimes José—a mocking term employed in Mexico to -designate the Indios mansos; but the redskin appeared as insensible to -compliments as to jokes, and continued coldly to carry out the task he -had imposed on himself. When supper was ended, and each had lit his pipe -or cigarette, the master turned to the capataz.</p> - -<p>"Carnero," he said to him, "although in such frightful weather, and in -these remote regions, we have but little to fear from horse thieves, -still do not fail to place sentries, for we cannot be too provident."</p> - -<p>"I have warned two men, <i>mi amo</i>," the capataz replied; "and, moreover, -I intend to make my rounds tonight; eh, José," he added, turning to -the Indian, "are you certain you are not mistaken, and that you really -lifted a trail?"</p> - -<p>The redskin shrugged his shoulders disdainfully, and continued his quiet -smoke.</p> - -<p>"Do you know to what nation the sign you discovered belongs?" the master -asked him.</p> - -<p>The Indian gave a nod of assent.</p> - -<p>"Is it a formidable nation?"</p> - -<p>"Crow," the redskin answered hoarsely.</p> - -<p>"Caray!" the master exclaimed, "if they are Crows, we shall do well to -be on our guard, for they are the cleverest plunderers in the Rocky -Mountains."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense!" Carnero remarked with a grin of derision, "do not believe -what that man tells you; the mezcal has got into his head, and he is -trying to make himself of importance; Indians tell as many lies as old -women."</p> - -<p>The Indian's eye flashed; without deigning to reply he drew a moccasin -from his breast, and threw it so adroitly at the capataz as to strike -him across the face. Furious at the insult so suddenly offered him by a -man whom he always considered inoffensive, the half-breed uttered a yell -of rage, and rushed knife in hand on the Indian.</p> - -<p>But the latter had not taken his eye off him, and by a slight movement -he avoided the desperate attack of the capataz; then, drawing himself -up, he caught him round the waist, raised him from the ground as easy -as he would have done a child, and hurled him into the fire, where he -writhed for a moment with cries of pain and impotent passion. When he -at length got out of the fire, half scorched, he did not think of -renewing the attack, but sat down growling and directing savage glances -at his adversary, like a turnspit punished by a mastiff. The master -had witnessed this aggression with the utmost indifference, and having -picked up the moccasin, which he carefully examined—</p> - -<p>"The Indian is right," he said, coldly, "this moccasin bears the mark of -the Crow nation. My poor Carnero, you must put up with it, for though -the punishment you received was severe, I am forced to allow that it was -deserved."</p> - -<p>The redskin had begun smoking again as quietly as if nothing had -occurred.</p> - -<p>"The dog will pay me for it with his traitor face," the capataz growled, -on hearing his master's warning. "I am no man if I do not leave his body -as food for the crows he discovers so cleverly."</p> - -<p>"My poor lad," his master continued, with a jeer, "you had better forget -this affair, which I allow might be disagreeable to your self-esteem; -for I fancy you would not be the gainer by recommencing the quarrel."</p> - -<p>The capataz did not answer; he looked round at the spectators to select -one on whom he could vent his spite, without incurring any extreme risk; -but the peons were on their guard, and offered him no chance. He then, -with an air of vexation, made a signal to two men to follow him, and -left the circle grumbling.</p> - -<p>The head of the caravan remained for a few minutes plunged in serious -thought; he then withdrew beneath his tent, the curtain of which fell -behind him; and the peons lay down on the ground, one after the other, -with their feet to the fire, and carefully wrapped up in their serapes, -and fell asleep.</p> - -<p>The Indian then took the pipe stem from his mouth, looked searchingly -around him, shook out the ashes, passed the pipe through his belt, -and, rising negligently, went slowly to crouch at the foot of a tree, -though not before he had taken the precaution of wrapping himself -in his buffalo robe, a measure which the sharp air rendered, if not -indispensable, at any rate necessary.</p> - -<p>Ere long, with the exception of the sentries leaning on their guns and -motionless as statues, all the travellers were plunged in deep sleep, -for the capataz himself, in spite of the promise he had made his master, -had laid himself across the entrance of the tent.</p> - -<p>An hour elapsed ere anything disturbed the silence that prevailed in the -camp. All at once a singular thing happened. The buffalo robe, under -which the Indian was sheltered, gently rose with an almost imperceptible -movement, and the redskin's face appeared, darting glances of fire into -the gloom. In a moment the guide raised himself slowly along the trunk -of the tree against which he had been lying, embraced it with his feet -and hands, and with undulating movements resembling those of reptiles, -he left the ground, and raised himself to the first branches, among -which he disappeared.</p> - -<p>This ascent was executed with such well-calculated slowness that it had -not produced the slightest sound. Moreover, the buffalo robe left at -the foot of the tree so well retained its primitive folds, that it was -impossible to discover, without touching it, that the man it sheltered -had left it.</p> - -<p>When the guide was thoroughly concealed among the leaves, he remained -for a moment motionless; though not in order to regain his breath after -having made such an expenditure of strength, for this man was made of -iron, and fatigue had no power over him. But he probably wished to look -about him, for with his body bent forward, and his eyes fixed on space, -he inhaled the breeze, and his glances seemed trying to pierce the gloom.</p> - -<p>Before selecting as his resting place the foot of the tree in which he -was now concealed, the guide had assured himself that this tree, which -was very high and leafy, was joined at about two-thirds of its height by -other trees, which gradually rose along the side of the mountain, and -formed a wall of verdure.</p> - -<p>After a few minutes' hesitation, the guide drew in his belt, placed his -knife between his teeth, and with a certainty and lightness of movement -which would have done honour to a monkey, he commenced literally hopping -from one tree to another, hanging by his arms, and clinging to the -creepers, waking up, as he passed, the birds, which flew away in alarm.</p> - -<p>This strange journey lasted about three-quarters of an hour. At length -the guide stopped, looked attentively around him, and gliding down the -trunk of the tree on which he was, reached the ground. The spot where -he now found himself was a rather spacious clearing, in the centre of -which blazed an enormous fire, serving to warm forty or fifty redskins, -completely armed and equipped for war. Still, singular to say, the -majority of these Indians, instead of their long lances and the bows -they usually employ, carried muskets of American manufacture, which -led to the supposition that they were picked warriors and great braves -of their nation; and this, too, was further proved by the numerous -wolf tails fastened to their heels, an honourable insignia which only -renowned warriors have the right to assume.</p> - -<p>This detachment of redskins was certainly on the war trail, or at any -rate on a serious expedition, for they had with them neither dogs nor -squaws. In spite of the slight care with which the Indians are wont to -guard themselves at night, the free and deliberate manner in which the -guide entered their encampment proved that he was expected by these -warriors, who evinced no surprise at seeing him, but, on the contrary, -invited him with hospitable gestures to take a seat at their fire. The -guide sat down silently, and began smoking the calumet which the chief -seated by his side immediately offered him. This chief was still a young -man, his marked features displaying the utmost craft and boldness. After -a rather lengthened interval, doubtless expressly granted the visitor to -let him draw breath and warm himself, the young chief bowed to him and -addressed him deferentially.</p> - -<p>"My father is welcome among his sons; they were impatiently awaiting his -arrival."</p> - -<p>The guide responded to this compliment with a grimace, in all -probability intended to pass muster for a smile. The chief continued:—</p> - -<p>"Our scouts have carefully examined the encampment of the Yoris, and the -warriors of the Jester are ready to obey the instructions given them by -their great sachem, Eagle-head. Is my father Curumilla satisfied with -his red children?"</p> - -<p>Curumilla (for the guide was no other than the reader's old acquaintance -the Araucano chief) laid his right hand on his chest, and uttered with a -guttural accent the exclamation, "Ugh!" which was with him a mark of the -greatest joy.</p> - -<p>The Jester and his warriors had been too long acquainted with Curumilla -for his silence to seem strange to them; hence they yielded without -repugnance to his mania, and carefully giving up the hope of getting a -syllable out of his closed lips, began with him a conversation in signs.</p> - -<p>We have already had occasion, in a previous work, to mention that the -redskins have two languages, the written and the sign language. The -latter, which has among them attained a high perfection, and which all -understand, is usually employed when hunting, or on expeditions, when -a word pronounced even in a low voice may reveal the presence of an -ambuscade to the enemy, whether men or beasts, whom they are pursuing, -and desire to surprise.</p> - -<p>It would have been interesting, and even amusing, for any stranger -who had been present at this interview to see with what rapidity the -gestures and signs were exchanged between these men, so strangely lit -up by the ruddy glow of the fire, and who resembled, with their strange -movements, their stern faces, and singular attitudes, a council of -demons. At times the Jester, with his body bent forward, and emphatic -gestures, held a dumb speech, which his comrades followed with the most -sustained attention, and which they answered with a rapidity that words -themselves could not have surpassed.</p> - -<p>At length this silent council terminated. Curumilla raised his hand to -heaven, and pointed to the stars, which were beginning to grow dim, and -then left the circle. The redskins respectfully followed him to the -foot of the tree by the aid of which he had entered their camp. When he -reached it, he turned round.</p> - -<p>"May the Wacondah protect my father!" the Jester then said. "His sons -have thoroughly understood his instructions, and will follow them -literally. The great pale hunter will have joined his friends by this -hour, and he is doubtless awaiting us. Tomorrow Koutonepi will see his -Comanche brothers. At the <i>enditha</i> the camp will be raised."</p> - -<p>"It is good," Curumilla answered, and saluting for the last time the -warriors, who bowed respectfully before him, the chief seized the -creeping plants, and, raising himself by the strength of his wrists, in -a second he reached the branches, and disappeared in the foliage.</p> - -<p>The journey the Indian had made was very important, and needed to be so -for him to run such great risks in order to have an interview at this -hour of the night with the redskins; but as the reader will soon learn -what were the consequences of this expedition, we deem it unnecessary to -translate the sign language employed during the council, or explain the -resolutions formed between Curumilla and the Jester.</p> - -<p>The chief recommenced his aerial trip with the same lightness and the -same good fortune. After a lapse of time comparatively much shorter than -that which he had previously employed, he reached the camp of the white -men. The same silence prevailed in its interior; the sentinels were -still motionless at their post, and the watch fires were beginning to -expire.</p> - -<p>The chief assured himself that no eye was fixed on him—that no spy -was on the watch; and, feeling certain of not being perceived, he slid -silently down the tree and resumed the place beneath the buffalo robe -which he was supposed not to have left during the night.</p> - -<p>At the moment when, after taking a final glance around, the Indian chief -disappeared beneath his robe, the capataz, who was lying athwart the -entrance of the hut, gently raised his head, and looked with strange -fixity of glance at the place occupied by the redskin.</p> - -<p>Had a suspicion been aroused in the Mexican's mind? Had he noticed the -departure and return of the chief? Presently he let his head fall again, -and it would have been impossible to read on his motionless features -what were the thoughts that troubled him.</p> - -<p>The remainder of the night passed tranquilly and peacefully.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMÈQUES.</h3> - - -<p>The sun rose; its beams played on the trembling yellow leaves of the -trees, and tinged them with a thousand shades of gold and purple. The -birds, cozily nestled in the bushes, struck up their matin carol; -the awakening of nature was as splendid and imposing as it is in all -mountainous countries.</p> - -<p>The leader of the caravan left his tent and gave orders to strike the -camp. The tent was at once folded up, the mules were loaded, and, so -soon as the horses were saddled, the party started without waiting for -the morning meal, for they generally breakfasted at the eleven o'clock -halt, while resting to let the great heat of the day subside.</p> - -<p>The caravan advanced along the road from Santa Fé to the United States, -at a speed unusual under such circumstances. A military system was -affected which was imposing, and, indeed, indispensable in these -regions, infested not merely by numerous bands of predatory Indians, but -also traversed by the pirates of the prairie, more dangerous bandits -still, who were driven by their enemies beyond the pale of the law, and -who, ambushed at the turnings of roads or in broken rocks, attacked the -caravans as they passed, and pitilessly massacred the travellers, after -plundering them of all they possessed.</p> - -<p>About twenty yards ahead of the caravan rode four men, with their rifles -on their thigh, preceded by the guide, who formed the extreme vanguard. -Next came the main body, composed of six well-armed peons, watching -the mules and baggage, under the immediate orders of the chief of the -caravan. Lastly, the capataz rode about thirty paces in the rear, having -under his orders four resolute men armed to the teeth.</p> - -<p>Thus arranged to face any event, the caravan enjoyed a relative -security, for it was not very probable that the white or red pillagers, -who were doubtless watching it, would dare to attack in open day -seventeen resolute and trained men. At night the horse thieves, who -glide silently in the darkness during the sleep of the travellers, and -carry off horses and baggage, were more formidable.</p> - -<p>Still, either through accident, or the prudential measures employed -by the chief of the caravan, since they had left Santa Fé, that is -to say for more than a month, the Mexicans had not seen an Indian, -or been alarmed. They had journeyed—apparently at least—with as -much tranquillity as if, instead of being in the heart of the Rocky -Mountains, they were moving along the roads in, the interior of Sonora. -This security, however, while augmenting their confidence, had not -caused their prudential measures to be neglected; and their chief, whom -this unusual leniency on the part of the villains who prowl about these -countries alarmed, redoubled his vigilance and precautions to avoid a -surprise and a collision with the plunderers.</p> - -<p>The discovery, made on the previous day by the guide, of an Indian -Crow trail—the most determined thieves in these mountains—added to -his apprehensions; for he did not hide from himself that, if he were -compelled to fight, in spite of the courage and discipline of his peons, -the odds would be against him, when fighting men thoroughly acquainted -with the country, and who would only attack him with numbers sufficient -to crush his band, however desperate the resistance offered might be.</p> - -<p>When he left the camp, the chief of the caravan, suffering perhaps from -a gloomy foreboding, spurred his horse and joined the Indian, who, as we -said, was marching alone in front, examining the bushes, and apparently -performing all the duties of an experienced guide. Curumilla, though he -heard the hurried paces of the Mexican's horse, did not turn round, but -continued trotting along carelessly on the sorry mule allotted to him -for this expedition.</p> - -<p>When the chief of the caravan joined him and brought his horse alongside -the Indian, instead of speaking to him, he attentively examined him -for some minutes, trying to pierce the mask of stoicism spread over -the guide's features, and to read his thoughts. But, after a rather -lengthened period, the Mexican was constrained to recognize the -inutility of his efforts, and to confess to himself the impossibility of -guessing the intentions of this man, for whom, in spite of the service -he had rendered the caravan, he felt an instinctive aversion, and whom -he would like to force, at all risks, to make a frank explanation.</p> - -<p>"Indian," he said to him in Spanish, "I wish to speak with you for a -few moments on an important subject, so be good enough to put off your -usual silence for awhile and answer, like an honest man, the questions I -propose asking you."</p> - -<p>Curumilla bowed respectfully.</p> - -<p>"You engaged with me, at Santa Fé, to lead me, for the sum of four -ounces, of which you received one half in advance, to lead me, I say, -safely to the frontiers of Upper Mexico. Since you have been in my -service I must allow that I have only had reason to praise the prudence -in which you have performed your duties; but we are at this moment in -the heart of the Rocky Mountains, that is to say, we have reached the -most dangerous part of our long journey. Two days ago you lifted the -trail of Crow Indians, very formidable enemies of caravans, and I want -to consult with you as to the means to employ to foil the snares in -which these Indians will try to catch us, and to know what measures you -intend to employ to avoid a meeting with them; in a word, I want to know -your plan of action."</p> - -<p>The Indian, without replying, felt in a bag of striped calico thrown -over his shoulder, and produced a greasy paper, folded in four, which he -opened and offered the Mexican.</p> - -<p>"What is this?" the latter asked, as he looked and ran through it. "Oh, -yes, certainly; your engagement. Well, what connection has this with the -question I asked you?"</p> - -<p>Curumilla, still impassive, laid his finger on the paper, at the last -paragraph of the engagement.</p> - -<p>"Well, what then?" the Mexican exclaimed, ill-humouredly. "It is said -there, it is true, that I must trust entirely to you, and leave you at -liberty to act as you please for the common welfare, without questioning -you."</p> - -<p>The Indian nodded his head in assent.</p> - -<p>"Well, <i>voto a Brios!</i>" the Mexican shouted, irritated by this studied -coolness, in spite of his resolve to curb his temper, and annoyed at -the man's obstinate refusal to answer, "what proves to me that you are -acting for our common welfare, and that you are not a traitor?"</p> - -<p>At this word traitor, so distinctly uttered by the Mexican, Curumilla -gave a tiger glance at the speaker, while his whole body was agitated by -a convulsive tremor: he uttered two or three incomprehensible guttural -exclamations, and ere the Mexican could suspect his intentions, he -was seized round the waist, lifted from the saddle, and hurled on the -ground, where he lay stunned.</p> - -<p>Curumilla leapt from his mule, drew from his belt two gold ounces, -hurled them at the Mexican, and then, bounding over the precipice -that bordered the road, glided to the bottom with headlong speed and -disappeared at once.</p> - -<p>What we have described occurred so rapidly that the peons who remained -behind, although they hurried up at full speed to their master's -assistance, arrived too late on the scene to prevent the Indian's flight.</p> - -<p>The Mexican had received no wound; the surprise and violence of the -fall had alone caused his momentary stupor; but almost immediately -he regained his senses, and comprehending the inutility and folly of -pursuit at such a spot with such an adversary, he devoured his shame and -passion, and, remounting his horse, which had been stopped, he coolly -gave orders to continue the journey, with an internal resolution that, -if ever the opportunity offered, he would have an exemplary revenge for -the insult he had received.</p> - -<p>For the moment he could not think of it, for more serious interests -demanded all his attention; it was evident to him that, in branding the -guide as a traitor, he had struck home, and that the latter, furious at -seeing himself unmasked, had proceeded to such extremities in order to -escape punishment, and find means to fly safely.</p> - -<p>The situation was becoming most critical for the chief of the caravan; -he found himself abandoned and left without a guide, in unknown regions, -doubtless watched by hidden foes, and exposed at any moment to an -attack, whose result could but be unfavourable to himself and his -people; hence he must form a vigorous resolve in order to escape, were -it possible, the misfortunes that menaced the caravan.</p> - -<p>The Mexican was a man endowed with an energetic organization, brave to -rashness, whom no peril, however great it might be, had ever yet had -the power to make him blench; in a few seconds he calculated all the -favourable chances left him, and his determination was formed. The road -he was following at this moment was assuredly the one frequented by the -caravans proceeding from the United States to California or Mexico; and -there was no other road but this in the mountains. Hence the Mexican -resolved to form an entrenched camp, at the spot that might appear to -him most favourable, fortify himself there as well as he could, and -await the passing of the first caravan, which he would join.</p> - -<p>This plan was exceedingly simple, and in addition very easy to execute. -As the travellers possessed an ample stock of provisions and ammunition, -they had no reason to fear scarcity, while, on the other hand, seven or -eight days in all probability would not elapse without the appearance of -a fresh caravan; and the Mexican believed himself capable of resisting, -behind good entrenchments, with his fifteen peons, any white or red -plunderers who dared to attack him.</p> - -<p>So soon as this resolution was formed, the Mexican at once prepared -to carry it out. After having briefly and in a few words explained -to his disheartened peons what his intentions were, and recommending -them to redouble their prudence, he left them, and pushed on in order -to reconnoitre the ground and select the most suitable spot for the -establishment of the camp.</p> - -<p>He started his horse at a gallop and soon disappeared in the windings -of the road, but, through fear of a sudden attack, he held his gun in -his hand, and his glances were constantly directed around him, examining -with the utmost care the thick chaparral which bordered the road on the -side of the mountain.</p> - -<p>The Mexican went on thus for about two hours, noticing that the further -he proceeded the narrower and more abrupt the track became. Suddenly -it widened out in front of him, and he arrived at an esplanade, across -which the road ran, and which was no other than the Fort of the -Chichimèques, previously described by us.</p> - -<p>The Mexican's practised eye at once seized the advantages of such a -position, and, without loss of time in examining it in detail, he turned -back to rejoin the caravan. The travellers, though marching much more -slowly than their chief, had, however, pushed on, so that he rejoined -them about three-quarters of an hour after the discovery of the terrace.</p> - -<p>The flight of the guide had nearly demoralized the Mexicans, more -accustomed to the ease of tropical regions, and whose courage the -snows of the Rocky Mountains had already weakened, if not destroyed. -Fortunately for the chief's plans he had over his servants that -influence which clever minds know how to impose on ordinary natures, and -the peons, on seeing their master gay and careless about the future, -began to hope that they would escape better than they had supposed from -the unlucky position in which they found themselves so suddenly placed. -The march was continued tranquilly; no suspicious sign was discovered, -and the Mexicans were justified in believing that, with the exception of -the time they would be compelled to lose in awaiting a new guide, the -flight of the Indian would entail no disagreeable consequences on them.</p> - -<p>Singularly enough, Carnero the capataz seemed rather pleased than -annoyed at the sudden disappearance of the guide. Far from complaining -or deploring the delay in the continuance of the journey he laughed at -what had happened, and made an infinitude of more or less witty jests -about it, which in the end considerably annoyed his master, whose joy -was merely on the surface, and who, in his heart, cursed the mishap -which kept them in the mountains, and exposed him to the insults of the -plunderers.</p> - -<p>"Pray, what do you find so agreeable in what has happened that you -are or affect to be so merry, Ño Carnero?" he at length asked with -considerable ill temper.</p> - -<p>"Forgive me, mi amo," the capataz answered humbly; "but you know the -proverb, 'What can't be cured must be endured,' and consequently I -forgot."</p> - -<p>"Hum!" said the master, without any other reply.</p> - -<p>"And besides," the capataz added, as he stooped down to the chief, and -almost whispering, "however bad our position may be, is it not better to -pretend to consider it good?"</p> - -<p>His master gave him a piercing look, but the other continued -imperturbably with an obsequious smile—</p> - -<p>"The duty of a devoted servant, mi amo, is to be always of his master's -opinion, whatever may happen. The peons were murmuring this morning -after your departure, and you know what the character of these brutes -is; if they feel alarmed we shall be lost, for it will be impossible -for us to get out of our position; hence I thought that I was carrying -out your views by attempting to cheer them up, and I feign a gaiety -which, be assured, I do not feel, under the supposition that it would be -agreeable to you."</p> - -<p>The Mexican shook his head dubiously, but the observations of the -capataz were so just, the reasons he offered appeared so plausible, -that he was constrained to yield and thank him, as he did not care to -alienate at this moment a man who by a word could change the temper of -his peons, and urge them to revolt instead of adhering to their duty.</p> - -<p>"I thank you, Ño Carnero," he said, with a conciliatory air. "You -perfectly understood my intentions. I am pleased with your devotion to -my person, and the moment will soon arrive, I hope, when it will be in -my power to prove to you the value I attach to you."</p> - -<p>"The certainty of having done my duty, now as ever, is the sole reward I -desire, mi amo," the capataz answered, with a respectful bow.</p> - -<p>The Mexican gave him a side glance, but he restrained himself, and -it was with a smile that he thanked the capataz for the second time. -The latter thought it prudent to break off the interview here, and, -stopping his horse, he allowed his master to pass him. The chief of the -caravan was one of those unhappily constituted men who after having -passed their life in deceiving or trying to deceive those with whom the -accidents of an adventurous existence have brought them into contact, -had reached that point when he had no confidence in anyone, and sought, -behind the most frivolous words, to discover an interested motive, which -most frequently did not exist. Although his capataz Carnero had been -for a long time in his service, and he granted him a certain amount of -familiarity—although he appeared to place great confidence in him, and -count on his devotion, still, in his heart, he not only suspected him, -but felt almost confident, without any positive proof, it is true, that -he was playing a double game with him, and was a secret agent of his -deceivers.</p> - -<p>What truth there might be in this supposition, which held a firm hold of -the Mexican's mind, we are unable to say at present; but the slightest -actions of his capataz were watched by him, and he felt certain that he -should, sooner or later, attain a confirmation of his doubts; hence, -while feigning the greatest satisfaction with him, he constantly kept on -his guard, ready to deal a blow, which would be the sharper because it -had been so long prepared.</p> - -<p>A little before eleven A.M. the caravan reached the terrace, and it was -with a feeling of joy, which they did not attempt to conceal, that the -peons recognized the strength of the position selected by their master -for the encampment.</p> - -<p>"We shall stop here for the present," the Mexican said. "Unload the -mules, and light the fires. Immediately after breakfast we will begin -entrenching ourselves in such a way as to foil all the assaults of -marauders."</p> - -<p>The peons obeyed with the speed of men who have made a long journey and -are beginning to feel hungry; the fires were lighted in an instant, and -a few moments later the peons vigorously attacked their maize tortillas, -their tocino, and their cecina—those indispensable elements of every -Mexican meal. When the hunger of his men was appeased, and they had -smoked their cigarettes, the chief rose.</p> - -<p>"Now," he said, "to work."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE SURPRISE.</h3> - - -<p>The position which the leader of the caravan fancied he had been the -first to discover, and where he had made up his mind to halt, was -admirably selected to establish an intrenched camp—strong enough to -resist for months the attacks of the Indians and the pirates of the -prairies. The immense voladero hovering at a prodigious height above -the precipices, and guarded on the right and left by enormous masses of -rock, offered such conditions of security that the peons regained all -their merry carelessness, and only regarded the mysterious flight of -the guide as an accident of no real importance, and which would have no -other consequences for them but to make their journey somewhat longer -than the time originally arranged.</p> - -<p>It was, hence, with well promising ardour that they rose on receiving -their chiefs command, and prepared under his directions to dig the -trench which was intended to protect them from a surprise. This trench -was to be bordered by a line of tall stakes, running across the open -space between the rocks, which gave the sole access to the terrace.</p> - -<p>The headquarters were first prepared, that is to say, the tent was -raised, and the horses hobbled near pickets driven into the ground.</p> - -<p>At the moment when the leader proceeded with several peons armed with -picks and spades toward the entrance, with the probable intention of -marking the exact spot where the trench was to be dug, the capataz -approached him obsequiously, and said with a respectful bow—</p> - -<p>"Mi amo, I have an important communication to make to you."</p> - -<p>His master turned and looked at him with ill-concealed distrust.</p> - -<p>"An important communication to make to me?" he repeated.</p> - -<p>"Yes, mi amo," the capataz replied with a bow.</p> - -<p>"What is it? Speak, but be brief, Carnero, for, as you see, I have no -time to lose."</p> - -<p>"I hope to gain you time, excellency," the capataz said with a silent -smile.</p> - -<p>"Ah, ah, what is it?"</p> - -<p>"If you will allow me to say two words aside, excellency, you will know -at once."</p> - -<p>"Diablo! a mystery, Master Carnero?"</p> - -<p>"Mi amo, it is my duty to inform no one but your excellency of my -discovery."</p> - -<p>"Hum! then you have discovered something?"</p> - -<p>The other bowed, but made no further answer.</p> - -<p>"Very well then," his master continued, "come this way: go on, -muchachos," he added, addressing the peons, "I will rejoin you in a -moment."</p> - -<p>The latter went on, while the leader retired for a few paces, followed -by the capataz. When he considered that he had placed a sufficient -distance between himself and the ears of his people, he addressed the -half-breed again—</p> - -<p>"Now, I suppose, Master Carnero," he said, "you will see no -inconvenience in explaining yourself?"</p> - -<p>"None at all, excellency."</p> - -<p>"Speak then, in the fiend's name, and keep me no longer in suspense."</p> - -<p>"This is the affair, excellency: I have discovered a grotto."</p> - -<p>"What?" his master exclaimed, in surprise, "you have discovered a -grotto?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, excellency."</p> - -<p>"Where?"</p> - -<p>"Here."</p> - -<p>"Here! that's impossible."</p> - -<p>"It's the fact, excellency."</p> - -<p>"But where?"</p> - -<p>"There," he said, stretching out his arm, "behind that mass of rocks."</p> - -<p>A suspicious look flashed from beneath his master's eyelashes.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" he muttered, "that is very singular, Master Carnero; may I ask in -what manner you discovered this grotto, and what motive was so imperious -as to take you among those rocks, when you were aware how indispensable -your presence was elsewhere?"</p> - -<p>The capataz was not affected by the tone in which these words were -uttered; he answered calmly, as if he did not perceive the menace they -contained—</p> - -<p>"Oh! mi amo, the discovery was quite accidental, I assure you."</p> - -<p>"I do not believe in chance," his master answered "but go on."</p> - -<p>"When we had finished breakfast," the capataz continued, soothingly, "I -perceived, on rising, that several horses, mine among them, had become -unfastened, and were straying in different directions."</p> - -<p>"That is true," his master muttered, apparently answering his own -thoughts rather than the remarks of the capataz.</p> - -<p>The latter gave an almost imperceptible smile. "Fearing," he continued, -"lest the horses might be lost, I immediately started in pursuit. They -were easy to catch, with the exception of one, which rambled among the -rocks, and I was obliged to follow it."</p> - -<p>"I understand; and so it led you to the mouth of the grotto."</p> - -<p>"Exactly, mi amo; I found it standing at the very entrance, and had no -difficulty in seizing the bridle."</p> - -<p>"That is indeed most singular. And did you enter the grotto, Master -Carnero?"</p> - -<p>"No, mi amo. I thought it my duty to tell you of it first."</p> - -<p>"You were right. Well, we will enter it together. Fetch some torches -of ocote wood, and show us the way. By the by, do not forget to bring -weapons, for we know not what men or beasts we may find in caverns thus -opening on a high road." This he said with a sarcastic air, which caused -the capataz to tremble inwardly in spite of his determined indifference.</p> - -<p>While he executed his master's orders, the latter selected six of his -peons, on whose courage he thought he could most rely, ordered them to -take their muskets, and, bidding the others to keep a good watch, but -not begin anything till he returned, he made a signal to the capataz -that he was ready to follow him. Ño Carnero had followed with an evil -eye the arrangements made by his master, but probably did not deem it -prudent to risk any remark, for he silently bowed his head, and walked -toward the pile of rocks that masked the entrance of the grotto.</p> - -<p>These granite blocks, piled one on top of the other, did not appear, -however, to have been brought there by accident, but, on the contrary, -they appeared to have belonged in some early and remote age to a -clumsy but substantial edifice, which was probably connected with the -breastwork still visible on the edge of the voladero on the side of the -precipice.</p> - -<p>The Mexicans crossed the rocks without difficulty, and soon found -themselves before the dark and frowning entrance of the cavern. The -chief gave his peons a signal to halt.</p> - -<p>"It would not be prudent," he said, "to venture without precautions into -this cavern. Prepare your arms, muchachos, and keep your eyes open; at -the slightest suspicious sound, or the smallest object that appears, -fire. Capataz, light the torches."</p> - -<p>The latter obeyed without a word; the leader of the caravan assured -himself at a glance that his orders had been properly carried out; then -taking his pistols from his belt, he cocked them, took one in each hand, -and said to Carnero—</p> - -<p>"Take the lead," he said, with a mocking accent; "it is only just that -you should do the honours of this place which you so unexpectedly -discovered. Forward, you others, and be on your guard," he added, -turning to the peons.</p> - -<p>The eight men then went into the cavern at the heels of the capataz, who -raised the torches above his head, doubtless in order to cast a greater -light on surrounding objects.</p> - -<p>This cavern, like most of those found in these regions, seemed to have -been formed through some subterranean convulsion. The walls were lofty, -dry, and covered at various spots with an enormous quantity of night -birds, which, blinded and startled by the light of the torches, took -to flight with hoarse cries, and flew heavily in circles round the -Mexicans. The latter drove them back with some difficulty by waving -their muskets. But the further they got into the interior of the cavern, -the greater the number of these birds became, and seriously encumbered -the visitors by flapping them with their long wings, and deafening them -with their discordant cries.</p> - -<p>They thus reached a rather large hall, into which several passages -opened. Although the Mexicans were a considerable distance from the -entrance, they found no difficulty in breathing, owing doubtless to -imperceptible fissures in the rock, through which the air was received.</p> - -<p>"Let us halt here for a moment," the leader said, taking a torch from -the capataz; "this hall, if the cavern has several issues as I suppose, -will afford us a certain refuge: let us examine the spot where we are."</p> - -<p>While speaking he walked round the hall, and convinced himself, by -certain still existing traces of man's handiwork, that at a former -period the cave had been inhabited. The peons seated themselves idly -on the blocks of granite scattered here and there, and with their guns -between their legs carelessly followed their master's movements.</p> - -<p>The latter felt the suspicions aroused in his mind by the sudden nature -of Carnero's discovery gradually dissipated. He felt certain that for -many years no human being had entered this gloomy cave, for none of -those flying traces which man always leaves in his passage, whatever -precaution he may take to hide his presence, had been discovered by him. -All, on the contrary, evidenced the most utter abandonment and solitude, -and hence the leader of the caravan was not indisposed to retire to this -spot, which was so easy of defence, instead of throwing up an intrenched -camp, always a long and difficult task, and which had the inconvenience -of leaving men and animals exposed to a deadly climate for individuals -accustomed to the heat of the Mexican temperature.</p> - -<p>"While continuing his explanations, the leader conversed with the -capataz in a more friendly manner than he had done for a long time, -congratulating him on his discovery, and explaining his views, to which -the latter listened with his usual crafty smile. All at once he stopped -and listened—the two men were at this moment at the entrance of one of -the passages to which we have referred.</p> - -<p>"Listen," he said to the capataz, as he laid his hand on his arm to -attract his attention, "do you not hear something?"</p> - -<p>The latter bent his body slightly forward, and remained motionless for -some seconds.</p> - -<p>"I do," he said, drawing himself up, "it sounds like distant thunder."</p> - -<p>"Is it not? or, perhaps, the rolling of subterranean waters."</p> - -<p>"Madre de Dios! mi amo," the capataz exclaimed gleefully. "I can swear -that you are right. It would be a piece of luck for us to find water in -the cave, for it would add greatly to our security, as we should not be -obliged to lead our horses, perhaps, a long distance to drink."</p> - -<p>"I will assure myself at once if there is any truth in the supposition. -The noise proceeds from that passage, so let us follow it. As for our -men they can wait for us here; we have nothing to fear now, for if the -pirates or the Indians were ambuscaded to surprise us, they would not -have waited so long before doing so, and hence the assistance of our -peons is unnecessary."</p> - -<p>The capataz shook his head doubtfully.</p> - -<p>"Hum," he said, "the Indians are very clever, mi amo; and who knows what -diabolical projects those redskins revolve in their minds? I believe it -would be more prudent to let the peons accompany us."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense," said his master, "it is unnecessary; we are two resolute -and well-armed men; we have nothing to fear, I tell you. Besides, if, -against all probability, we are attacked, our men will hear the noise -of the conflict, will run to our help, and will be at our side in an -instant."</p> - -<p>"It is not very probable, I grant, that we have any danger to apprehend; -still I considered it my duty as a devoted servant, mi amo, to warn -you, because in the event of Indians being hidden in these passages, -of whose windings we are ignorant, we should be caught like rats in a -trap, with no possibility of escape. Two men, however brave they may -be, are incapable of resisting twenty or thirty enemies, and you know -that Indians never attack white men save when they are almost certain of -success."</p> - -<p>These words seemed to produce a certain impression on the leader of -the caravan. He remained silent for a moment, apparently reflecting -seriously on what he had heard, but he soon raised his head, and shook -it resolutely.</p> - -<p>"Nonsense! I do not believe in the danger you seem to apprehend; after -all, if it really exist, it will be welcome. Wait here, my men, and be -ready to join us at the first signal," he added, addressing the peons, -who answered by rising and collecting in the middle of the hall.</p> - -<p>Their master left them a torch to light them during his exploration, -took the other, and turning to Carnero, said, "Let us go."</p> - -<p>They then entered the passage. It was very narrow, and ran downwards -with a steep incline, so that the two men, who were unacquainted with -its windings, were obliged to walk with the most serious attention, and -carefully examining all the spots they passed.</p> - -<p>The further they proceeded, the more distinct the sound of water became; -it was evident that at a very short distance from the spot where they -were, perhaps but a few steps, there ran one of those subterranean -streams so frequently found in natural caverns, and which are generally -rivers swallowed up by an earthquake.</p> - -<p>All at once, without being warned by the slightest sound, the leader of -the caravan felt himself seized round the waist, his torch was snatched -roughly from his hand, and extinguished against a rock, and himself -thrown down and securely bound, before he was able to attempt the -slightest resistance, so sudden and well calculated had the attack been. -Carnero had been thrown down at the same time as his master, and bound.</p> - -<p>"Cowards, demons!" the Mexican yelled, as he made a superhuman effort to -rise and burst his bonds; "show yourself, at least, so that I may know -with whom I have to deal."</p> - -<p>"Silence! General Don Sebastian Guerrero," a rough voice said to him, -whose accent made him start, in spite of all his courage; "resign -yourself to your fate, for you have fallen into the power of men who -will not liberate you till they have had a thorough explanation with -you."</p> - -<p>General Guerrero, whom the readers of the "Indian Chief" will doubtless -remember, made a movement of impotent rage, but he was silent; he -perceived that the originators of the snare of which he was a victim -were implacable enemies, as they had not feared to call him by his name, -and more formidable than the pirates of the prairies or the redskins, -with whom he at first thought he had to deal. Moreover, he thought that -the darkness that surrounded him would soon cease, and then he would see -his enemies face to face, and recognize them.</p> - -<p>But his expectations were deceived. When his conquerors had borne him to -the hall, where his peons were disarmed and guarded by peons, he saw, -by the light of the torch that faintly illumined the hall, that among -the men who surrounded him few wore the Mexican costume, it was true, -but had their faces hidden by a piece of black crape, forming a species -of mask, and so well fastened round their necks, that it was entirely -impossible to recognize them.</p> - -<p>"What do these men want with me?" he muttered as he let his head fall on -his chest sadly.</p> - -<p>"Patience!" said the man who had already spoken, and who overheard the -general's remark, "you will soon know."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE EXPLANATION.</h3> - - -<p>There was a short delay, during which the conquerors appeared to be -consulting together in a low voice; while doing so, an Indian chief, who -was no other than the Jester, entered the hall, and uttered a few words -in Comanche.</p> - -<p>The general and the capataz were again picked up by the redskins, -and at a sign from one of the masked men, transported on to the -voladero. The appearance of the terrace had entirely changed during the -general's short absence, and offered at this moment a most singular and -picturesque scene.</p> - -<p>One hundred and fifty to two hundred Indians, mostly armed with guns, -and ranged in good order round the terrace, the centre of which remained -free, faced the cavern, having among them the disarmed Mexicans, the -baggage, horses, and mules of the caravan.</p> - -<p>The tent still stood solitary in the middle of what Was to have been -the encampment; but the curtain Was raised, and a horseman was standing -in front of it, as if to defend the entrance, and protect the precious -articles it contained from pillage.</p> - -<p>At the moment when the party emerged from the cave, and appeared on the -terrace, the horsemen drawn up at the entrance of the defile opened -out to the right and left, leaving a passage for a small troop of men -dressed in hunters' garb, and whom it was easy to recognize as white -men, by the colour of their skin, although it was bronzed and freckled -by the sun; two ladies, mounted on ambling mules, were in the midst of -them.</p> - -<p>This troop of strangers was composed of eight persons altogether, -leading with them two baggage mules. As the men were disarmed, and -walked on foot amid some fifty Indian horsemen, they had, in all -probability, been surprised by a party of redskins, and made prisoners -in some skilfully-arranged ambuscade.</p> - -<p>The two ladies, one of whom was of a certain age while the other -appeared scarce eighteen, and who might be supposed closely related, -through the resemblance of their features, were treated with an -exquisite politeness they were far from expecting by the Indians, and -conducted to the tent, which they were requested to enter. The curtain -was then lowered, to conceal them from the glances of the Indians, whose -expression, although respectful, must necessarily be disagreeable to -them.</p> - -<p>The new comers, at a signal from their conductors, ranged themselves -with the other prisoners; they were powerful men with marked features, -whom the Indians had probably not given a chance to fight, otherwise -they looked as if they would sooner be killed than yield.</p> - -<p>They displayed neither fear nor depression, but their flashing looks -and frowning brows showed that though they silently submitted to their -fate, they were far from being resigned, and would eagerly seize the -first opportunity to regain the liberty of which they had been so -treacherously deprived.</p> - -<p>Still, in spite of the determination they had doubtless formed to remain -indifferent as to what took place around them, they soon felt themselves -interested more than they liked in the strange drama which they -involuntarily witnessed, and whose gloomy preparations were of a nature -to arouse their curiosity to an eminent degree.</p> - -<p>At the base of the rocks several blocks of granite had been arranged -in a semicircle, thus forming a resemblance to that terrible Vehmic -tribunal, which in olden times held its formidable assize on the banks -of the Rhine, before which kings and even emperors were at times -summoned to appear, and the resemblance was rendered more striking by -the care the assailants took in hiding their features.</p> - -<p>Two masked men took their seats on the granite blocks, and the Indians -who carried the general laid him on the ground in front of this species -of tribunal. The person who seemed to be the president of this sinister -assembly gave a sign, the prisoner's bonds at once fell off, and he -found himself once more able to move his limbs.</p> - -<p>The general drew himself up, crossed his hands on his chest, threw his -body back haughtily, raised his head and looked at the men who had -apparently constituted themselves his judges with a glance of withering -contempt.</p> - -<p>"What do you want with me, bandits?" he said; "enough of this; these -insolent manoeuvres will not alarm me."</p> - -<p>"Silence!" the president said coldly, "it is not your place to speak -thus."</p> - -<p>Then he remarked to the Jester, who was standing a few paces from him—</p> - -<p>"Bring up the other prisoners, old and new; everybody must hear what is -going to be said to this man."</p> - -<p>The Jester gave a signal to the warriors; some of them dismounted, -approached the prisoners, and, after loosening the cord that bound the -capataz, they led him, as well as the peons and the prisoners of the -second caravan, in front of the tribunal, where they ranged themselves -in line. Then, at a signal from the Jester, the horsemen closed up round -the white men, who were thus hemmed in by Comanche warriors.</p> - -<p>The spectacle offered by this assemblage of men, with their marked -features and quaint garb, grouped without any apparent regularity on -this voladero, which was suspended as if artificially over a terrible -gulf, and leant against lofty mountains, with their abrupt flanks and -snowy crest, was not without a certain grandeur.</p> - -<p>A deadly silence brooded at this moment over the esplanade; all chests -were heaving, every heart was oppressed. Redskins, hunters, and -Mexicans all understood instinctively that a grand drama was about to -be performed; invisible streams could be heard hoarsely murmuring in -the cavern, and at times a gust of wind whistled over the heads of the -horsemen.</p> - -<p>The prisoners, affected by a vague and undefined terror, waited with -secret anxiety, not knowing what fate these ferocious victors reserved -for them, but certain that, whatever the decision formed about them -might be, prayers would be impotent to move them, and that they would -have to endure the atrocious torture to which they would doubtless be -condemned.</p> - -<p>The president looked round the assembly, rose in the midst of a profound -silence, stretched out his arm towards the general, who stood cold and -passionless before him, and, after darting at him a withering glance -through the holes made in the crape that concealed his face, he said in -a grave, stern, and impressive voice—</p> - -<p>"Caballeros, remember the words you are about to hear, listen to them -attentively, so as to understand them, and not to be in error as to our -intentions. In the first place, in order to reassure you and restore -your entire freedom of mind, learn that you have not fallen into the -hands of Indians thirsting for your blood, or of pirates who intend to -plunder you first and assassinate you afterwards. No, you need not feel -the slightest alarm. When you have acted as impartial witnesses, and are -able to render testimony of what you have seen, should it be required, -you will be at liberty to continue your journey, without the forfeiture -of a single article. The men seated on my right and left, although -masked, are brave and honest hunters. The day may perhaps arrive when -you will know them; but reasons, whose importance you will speedily -recognize, compel them to remain unknown for the present. I was bound -to say this, señores, to you, against whom we bear no animosity, before -coming to a final settlement with this man."</p> - -<p>One of the travellers belonging to the second caravan stepped forward; -he was a young man, with elegant and noble features, tall and well built.</p> - -<p>"Caballero," he answered, in a distinct and sympathizing voice, "I thank -you, in the name of my companions and myself, for the reassuring words -you have spoken. I know how implacable the laws of the desert are, and -have ever submitted to them without a murmur; but permit me to ask you -one question."</p> - -<p>"Speak, caballero."</p> - -<p>"Is it an act of vengeance or justice you are about to carry out?"</p> - -<p>"Neither, señor. It would be an act of folly or weakness if the -inspirations of the heart could be blamed or doubted by honourable and -loyal men."</p> - -<p>"Enough of this, señor," the general said, haughtily; "and if you are, -as you assert, an honourable man, show me your face, in order that I -may know with whom I have to deal."</p> - -<p>The president shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.</p> - -<p>"No, Don Sebastian," he said, "for in that case the game would not be -even between us. But be patient, caballero, and soon you will learn, if -not who I am, at any rate the motives which have made me your implacable -foe."</p> - -<p>The general attempted to smile, but in spite of himself the smile died -away on his lips, and though his haughty bearing seemed to defy his -unknown enemies, a secret apprehension contracted his heart.</p> - -<p>There was a silence for some moments, during which no other sound was -audible save that of the breeze whistling through the denuded branches -and the distant murmur Of the invisible torrents in the quebradas.</p> - -<p>The president looked round with flashing eyes, and folding his arms on -his chest at the same time, as he raised his head, he began speaking -again in a sharp, cutting voice, whose accents caused his hearers to -tremble involuntarily. And yet they were brave men, accustomed to the -terrible incidents of a desert life, and whom the most serious dangers -could not have affected.</p> - -<p>"Now listen, señores," he said, "and judge this man impartially; but -do not judge him according to prairie law, but in your hearts. General -Don Sebastian Guerrero, who is standing so bold and upright before -you at this moment, is one of the greatest noblemen of Mexico, a -<i>Cristiano viejo</i> of the purest blood, descended in a direct line from -the Spanish Conquistadors. His fortune is immense, incalculable, and he -himself could not determine its amount. This man, by the mere strength -of his will, and the implacable egotism that forms the basis of his -character, has always succeeded in everything he has undertaken. Coldly -and resolutely ambitious, he has covered with corpses the bloody road -he was compelled to follow in order to attain his proposed object, and -he has done so without hesitation or remorse; he has looked on with a -smiling face, when his dearest friends and his nearest relations fell -by his side; for him nothing which men respect exists—faith and honour -are with him but empty sounds. He had a daughter, who was the perfection -of women, and he coldly lacerated that daughter's heart; he fatally -drove her to suicide, and the blood of the poor girl spirted on his -forehead, while he was triumphantly witnessing the legal murder of the -man she loved, and whose death he resolved on, because he refused to -palter with his honour, and aid this man in the infamous treachery he -was meditating. This human-faced tiger, this monster with the mocking, -sceptical face, you see, señores, has only one thought, one object, -one desire—it is, to attain the highest rank, even if, to effect it, -he were compelled to clamber over the panting corpses of his relations -and friends sacrificed to his ambition; and if he cannot carve out an -independent kingdom in this collapsing republic, which is called Mexico, -he wishes to seize, at least, on the supreme magistracy, and be elected -president. If this man's life merely comprised this egotistic ambition -and these infamous schemes to satisfy it, I should content myself -with despising, instead of hating him, and not being able to find an -excuse for him, I should forget him. But no; this man has done more—he -dared to lay hands on a man who was my friend, my brother, the Count -de Prébois Crancé, to whom I have already referred, señores, without -mentioning his name. Unable to conquer the count loyally, despairing of -winning him over to his shameful cause, he at first tried to poison him; -but, not having succeeded, and wishing to come to an end, he forgot that -his daughter, an angel, the sole creature who loved him, and implored -divine mercy for him, was the betrothed wife of the count, and that -killing him would be her condemnation to death. In his horrible thirst -for revenge, he ordered the judicial murder of my friend, and coldly -presided at the execution, not noticing, in the joyous deliverance of -his satisfied hatred, that his daughter had killed herself at his side, -and that he was trampling her corpse beneath his horse's feet. Such is -what this man has done; look at him well, in order to recognize him -hereafter; he is General Don Sebastian Guerrero, military governor of -Sonora."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" the audience said involuntarily, as they instinctively recoiled in -horror.</p> - -<p>"If this man is the ex-governor of Sonora," the hunter who had already -spoken said, in disgust "he is a wild beast, whom his ferocity has -placed beyond the pale of society, and it is the duty of honest men to -destroy him."</p> - -<p>"He must die! he must die!" the newcomers exclaimed.</p> - -<p>The general's peons were gloomy and downcast; they hung their heads -sadly, for they did not dare attempt to defend their master, and yet did -not like to accuse him.</p> - -<p>The general was still cool and unmoved; he was apparently calm, but a -fearful tempest was raging in his heart. His face was of an earthy and -cadaverous pallor; his brows were contracted till they touched, and his -violet lips were closed, as if he were making violent efforts not to -utter a word, and to restrain his fury from breaking out in insults. His -eyes flashed fire, and then his whole body was agitated by convulsive -movements, but he managed, through his self-command, to conquer his -emotion, and retain the expression of withering contempt, which he had -assumed since the beginning of this scene.</p> - -<p>Seeing that his accuser was silent, he took a step forward, and -stretched out his arm, as if he claimed the right of answering. But his -enemy gave him no time to utter a word.</p> - -<p>"Wait!" he shouted, "I have not said all yet; now that I have revealed -what you have done, I am bound to render the persons here present judges -not only of what I have done, but also of what I intend to do in future -against you."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h4> - -<h3>A DECLARATION OF WAR.</h3> - - -<p>The general shrugged his shoulders with a contemptuous smile.</p> - -<p>"Nonsense," he said, "you are mad, my fine fellow. I know now who -you are; your hatred of me has unconsciously discovered you. Remove -that veil which is no longer of any use; I know you, for, as you are -aware, hatred is clear-sighted. You are the French hunter whom I have -constantly met in my path to impede my projects, or overthrow my plans."</p> - -<p>"Add," the hunter interrupted, "and whom you will ever meet."</p> - -<p>"Be it so, unless I crush you beneath my heel like a noxious insect."</p> - -<p>"Ever so proud and so indomitable, do you not fear lest, exasperated by -your insults, I may forget the oath I have taken, and sacrifice you to -my vengeance?"</p> - -<p>"Nonsense," he replied, with a disdainful toss of his head, "you kill -me? that is impossible, for you are too anxious to enjoy your revenge to -stab me in a moment of passion."</p> - -<p>"That is true, this time you are right, Don Sebastian. I will not kill -you, because, however culpable you may be, I do not recognize the right -to do so. Blood does not wash out blood, it only increases the stain; -and I intend to take a more protracted vengeance on you than a stab or a -shot will grant us. Besides this, vengeance has already commenced."</p> - -<p>"Indeed!" the general said sarcastically.</p> - -<p>"Still," the hunter continued with some emotion, "as the vengeance -must be straightforward, I wish to give you, in the presence of all -these gentlemen, the proof that I fear you no more today than I did -when the struggle commenced between us. This veil which you reproach me -for wearing I am going to remove, not because you have recognized me, -but because I deem it unworthy of me to conceal my features from you -any longer. Brothers," he added, turning to his silent assistants, "my -mask alone must fall, retain yours, for it is important for my plans of -vengeance that you should remain unknown."</p> - -<p>The four men bowed their assent, and the hunter threw away the crape -that covered his features.</p> - -<p>"Valentine Guillois!" the general exclaimed; "I was sure of it."</p> - -<p>On hearing this celebrated name, the hunters of the second caravan made -a movement as if to rush forward, impelled either by curiosity or some -other motive.</p> - -<p>"Stay," the Frenchman shouted, stopping them by a quick wave of the -hand, "let me finish with this man first."</p> - -<p>They fell back with a bow.</p> - -<p>"Now," he continued, "we are really face to face. Well, listen patiently -to what still remains for me to tell you; and, perhaps, the assumed -calmness spread over your features will melt away before my words, like -the snow in the sunshine."</p> - -<p>"I will listen to you, because it is impossible for me to do otherwise -at this moment; but if you flatter yourself that you will affect me in -any way, I am bound to warn you that you will not succeed. The hatred I -feel for you is so thoroughly balanced by the contempt you inspire me -with, that nothing which emanates from you can move me in the slightest -degree."</p> - -<p>"Listen then," the hunter coldly continued; "when my unhappy friend -fell at Guaymas, in my paroxysm of grief I allow that I intended to -kill you; but reflection soon came, and I saw that it would be better -to let you live. Thanks to me, one week after the count's death, the -Mexican Government, not satisfied with disavowing your conduct publicly, -deprived you of your command, without inquiry, and refused, in spite of -your remonstrances, to explain to you the motives of their conduct."</p> - -<p>"Ah, ah," the general said, in a hissing but suppressed voice, "it was -to you, then, that I owe my recall?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, general, to me alone."</p> - -<p>"I am delighted to hear it."</p> - -<p>"You remained, then, in Sonora, without power or influence, hated and -despised by all, and marked on your forehead with that indelible brand -which God imprinted on Cain, the first murderer; but Mexico is a -blessed country, where ambitious men can easily fish in troubled waters, -when, like yourself, they are not restrained by any of those bonds of -honour, which too often fetter the genius of honest men. You could not -remain long bowed beneath the blow that had fallen on you, and you made -up your mind in a few days. You resolved to leave Sonora and proceed -to Mexico, where, thanks to your colossal fortune, and the influence -it would necessarily give you, you could carry on your ambitious -projects; by changing the scene, you hoped to cast the scandalous acts -of which you had been guilty into oblivion. Your preparations were soon -made—listen attentively, general, to this, for I assure you that I have -reached the most interesting part of my narration."</p> - -<p>"Go on, go on, señor," he replied carelessly, "I am listening to you -attentively; do not fear that I shall forget one of your words."</p> - -<p>"In spite of your affected indifference, señor, I will go on. As you -fancied, for certain reasons which to is unnecessary to remind you of, -that your enemies might try to lay some ambush for you, during the -long journey you were obliged to perform from Hermosillo to Mexico, -you thought it necessary to take the following precautions, the -inutility of some of which I presume that you have recognized by this -time. While, for the purpose of deceiving your enemies, you started -in disguise, and only accompanied by a few men, for California, in -order to return to Mexico across the Rocky Mountains; while you gave -questioners the fullest details of the road, you pretended to follow, -with your men—your real object was quite different. The man in whom -you placed your confidence, Don Isidro Vargas, a veteran of your War of -Independence, who had known you when a child, and whom you had converted -into your tool, took the shortest, and, consequently, most direct route -for the capital, having with him not only twelve mules loaded with gold -and silver, the fruit of your plunder during the period of your command, -but a more precious article still, the body of your unhappy daughter, -which you had embalmed, and which the captain had orders to inter with -your ancestors at your Hacienda del Palmar, which you left so long ago, -and to which you will, in all probability, never return. Your object -in acting thus was not only to divert attention from your ill-gotten -riches, but also to attract your enemies after yourself. Unfortunately -or fortunately, according as we regard the matter, I am an old hunter -so difficult to deceive that my comrades gave me long ago the glorious -title of the Trail-hunter, and hence, while everybody else was forming -speculations about you, I alone was not deceived, and guessed your plan."</p> - -<p>"Still, your presence here gives a striking denial to the assertion," -the general interrupted him, ironically.</p> - -<p>"You think so, señor, and that proves that you are not thoroughly -acquainted with me yet; but patience, I hope that you will, ere long, -appreciate me better. Moreover you have not reflected on the time that -has elapsed since your departure from Hermosillo."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" the general asked, with a sudden start of -apprehension.</p> - -<p>"I mean that before attacking you, I resolved to settle matters first -with the captain."</p> - -<p>"Ah!"</p> - -<p>"Well, general, it is my painful duty to inform you that four days -after he left Pitic, our brave friend Don Isidro, although an old -and experienced soldier, well versed in war stratagems, fell into an -ambuscade resembling the one into which you fell today, with this -exception——."</p> - -<p>"What exception?" the general asked, with greater interest than he would -have liked to display, for he was beginning to fear a catastrophe.</p> - -<p>"My men were so imprudent," the hunter continued, ironically, "as to -leave the captain the means of defending himself. The result was that he -died, bravely fighting to save the gold you had intrusted to him, and, -before all, the coffin containing your daughter's corpse."</p> - -<p>"Well, and I presume you plundered the caravan, and carried off the gold -and silver?" he asked, contemptuously.</p> - -<p>"You would most probably have acted thus under similar circumstances, -Don Sebastian," the hunter answered, giving him back insult for insult; -"but I thought it my duty to act differently. What could you expect? -I, a coarse, uneducated hunter, do not know how to plunder, for I did -not learn it when I had the honour to serve my own country, and I never -stood under your orders in Mexico. This is what I did: so soon as the -captain and the peons he commanded were killed—for the poor devils, I -must do them the justice of saying, offered a desperate resistance—I -myself, you understand, friend, I myself conveyed the money to your -Hacienda del Palmar, where it now remains in safety, as you can easily -assure yourself if you ever return to Palmar."</p> - -<p>The general breathed again, and smiled ironically. "Instead of blaming -you, señor," he said, "I, on the contrary, owe you thanks for this -chivalrous conduct, especially toward an enemy."</p> - -<p>"Do not be in such an hurry to thank me, caballero," the hunter -answered; "I have not told you all yet."</p> - -<p>These words were uttered with such an accent of gratified hatred, that -all the hearers, the general included, shuddered involuntarily, for they -understood that the hunter was about to make a terrible revelation, and -that the calmness he feigned concealed a tempest.</p> - -<p>"Ah," Don Sebastian murmured, "speak, I implore you, señor, for I am -anxious to know all the obligations I owe you."</p> - -<p>"Captain Don Isidro Vargas not only escorted the money I had conveyed to -Palmar," he said in a sharp, quick voice, "but there was also a coffin. -Well, general, why do you not ask me what has become of that coffin?"</p> - -<p>An electric shock ran through the audience on hearing the ironical -question so coldly asked by the hunter, whose eye, implacably fixed on -the general, seemed to flash fire.</p> - -<p>"What!" Don Sebastian exclaimed, "I can hardly think that you have -committed sacrilege?"</p> - -<p>Valentine burst into a loud and sharp laugh. "Your suppositions ever go -beyond the object. I commit sacrilege, oh, no! I loved the poor girl too -dearly when alive to outrage her after death. No, no, the betrothed of -my friend is sacred to me; but as, in my opinion, the assassin can have -no claim to the body of his victim, and you are morally your daughter's -murderer, I have robbed you of this body, which you are not worthy to -have, and which must rest by the side of him for whom she died."</p> - -<p>There was a moment's silence. The general's face, hitherto pale, assumed -a greenish hue, and his eyes were suffused with blood. Now and then he -made superhuman efforts to speak, which were unsuccessful, but at length -he yelled in a hoarse and hissing voice—</p> - -<p>"It is not true; you have not done this. You cannot have dared to rob a -father of his child's body."</p> - -<p>"I have done it, I tell you," the hunter said coldly. "I have taken -possession of the body of your victim, and now you understand me; -never shall you know where this poor body rests. But this is only -the beginning of my vengeance. What I wish to kill in you is the soul -and not the body; and now begone, go and forget at Mexico, amid your -ambitious intrigues, the scene that has passed between us; but remember -that you will find me in your path everywhere and ever. Farewell till we -meet again."</p> - -<p>"One last word," the general exclaimed, affected by the deepest despair, -"restore me my daughter's body; she was the only human creature I ever -loved."</p> - -<p>The hunter regarded him for a moment with an undefinable expression, and -then said in a harsh and coldly-mocking voice, "Never."</p> - -<p>Then, turning away, he re-entered the grotto, followed by his -assistants. The general tried to rush after him, but the Indians -restrained him, and, in spite of his resistance, compelled him to stop.</p> - -<p>Don Sebastian, who was the more overwhelmed by the last blow because -it was unexpected, stood for a moment like a man struck by lightning, -with pendant arms and seared eyes. At last a heartrending sob burst from -his bosom, two burning tears sprung from his eyes, and he rolled like a -corpse on the ground.</p> - -<p>The very Indians, those rough warriors to whom pity is a thing unknown, -felt moved by this frightful despair, and several of them turned away -not to witness it.</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile the Jester had ordered the peons to saddle the horses -and load the mules. The general was placed by two servants on a horse, -without appearing to notice what was done to him, and a few minutes -later the caravan left the Fort of the Chichimèques, and passed -unimpeded through the silent ranks of the Indians, who bowed as it -passed.</p> - -<p>"When the Mexicans had disappeared in the windings of the road, -Valentine emerged from the grotto, and walked courteously up to the -hunters of the second caravan.</p> - -<p>"Forgive me," he said to them, "not the delay I have occasioned you, -but the involuntary alarm I caused you; but I was compelled to act as I -did. You are going to Mexico, where I shall soon be myself, and it is -possible that I may require your testimony some day."</p> - -<p>"A testimony which will not be refused, my dear countryman," the hunter -who had hitherto spoken gracefully answered.</p> - -<p>"What!" the hunter exclaimed in amazement, "are you French?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, and all my companions are so, too. We have come from San -Francisco, where, thanks to Providence, we have amassed a very -considerable fortune, which we hope to double in the Mexican capital. -My name is Antoine Rallier, and these are my brothers, Edward and -Augustus; the two ladies who accompany us are my mother and sister, and -if you know nobody in Mexico, come straight to me, sir, and you will be -received, not only as a friend, but as a brother."</p> - -<p>The hunter pressed the hand his countryman offered him.</p> - -<p>"As this is the case," he said, "I will not let you go alone, for these -mountains are infested by bandits of every description, whom you may not -escape, but with my protection you can pass anywhere."</p> - -<p>"I heartily accept the offer; but why do you not come with us to Mexico?"</p> - -<p>"That is impossible for the present," the hunter answered pensively; -"but be at your ease. I shall not fail to demand the fulfilment of your -promise."</p> - -<p>"You will be welcome, friend, for we have been acquainted for a long -time, and we know that you have ever honourably represented France in -America."</p> - -<p>Two hours later the Fort of the Chichimèques had returned to its usual -solitude; white men and Indians had abandoned it for ever.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></h4> - -<h3>MEXICO.</h3> - - -<p>We will now leap over about two months and, leaving the Rocky Mountains, -invite the reader to accompany us to the heart of Mexico.</p> - -<p>The Spanish Conquistadors selected with admirable tact the sites on -which they founded the cities destined to insure their power, and become -at a later date the centres of their immense trade, and the entrepôts of -their incalculable wealth.</p> - -<p>Even at the present day, although owing to the negligence of the -Creoles and their continual fratricidal Wars, combined with the sudden -earthquakes, these cities are half ruined, and the life which the -powerful Spanish organization caused to circulate in them has died out, -these cities are still a subject of surprise to the traveller accustomed -to the morbid crowding of old European cities. He regards with awe -these vast squares, surrounded by cloister-like arcades; these broad -and regular streets through which refreshing waters continually flow; -these shady gardens in which thousands of gaily-plumaged birds twitter; -these bold bridges; these majestically simple buildings, whose interiors -contain incalculable wealth. And yet, we repeat, the majority of these -cities are only the shadow of themselves. They seem dead, and are only -aroused by the furious yells of an insurrection, to lead for a few -days a feverish existence under the excitement of political passions. -But so soon as the corpses are removed, and water has washed away the -blood stains, the streets revert to their solitude, the inhabitants -hide themselves in their carefully-closed houses, and all becomes again -gloomy, mournful, and silent, only to be galvanized afresh by the hoarse -murmurs of an approaching revolt.</p> - -<p>If we except Lima, the splendid "Ciudad de los Reyes," Mexico is -probably the largest and handsomest of all the cities that cover the -soil of ancient Spanish America.</p> - -<p>From whatever point we regard it, Mexico affords a magnificent view; -but if you wish to enjoy a really fairy-like sight, ascend at sunset one -of the towers of the cathedral, whence you will see the strangest and -most picturesque panorama imaginable unrolled at your feet.</p> - -<p>Mexico certainly existed before the discovery of America, and our -readers will probably pardon a digression showing how the foundation of -the city is narrated by old chroniclers.</p> - -<p>In the year of the death of Huetzin, King of Tezcuco, that is to say, -the "spot where people stop," because it was at this very place that the -migration of the Chichimèques terminated, the Mexicans made an eruption -into the country, and reached the place where Mexico now stands, at the -beginning of the year 1140 of our era. This place then formed part of -the dominions of Aculhua, Lord of Azcapotzalco.</p> - -<p>According to paintings and the old chronicles, these Indians came from -the empires of the province of Xalisco. It appears that they were of the -same race as the Toltecs, and of the family of the noble Huetzin, who -with his children and servants escaped during the destruction of the -Toltecs, and was residing at that period at Chapultepec, which was also -destroyed at a later date.</p> - -<p>It is recorded that he traversed with them the country of Michoacán, -and took refuge in the province of Atzlán, where he died, and had for -his successors Ozolopan, his son, and Aztlal, his grandson, whose heir -was Ozolopan II. The latter, remembering the country of his ancestors, -resolved to return thither with his entire nation, which was already -called Mezetin. After many adventures and combats, they at length -reached the banks of a great lake covered with an infinitude of islands, -and as the recollection of their country had been traditionally kept up -among them, they at once recognized it, though not one of them had even -seen it before. Too weak to resist the people that surrounded them, or -to establish themselves in the open country, they founded on several of -the islands, which they connected together, a town, which they called -after themselves, Mexico, and which at a later date was destined to be -the capital of a powerful empire.</p> - -<p>Although the Mexicans arrived on the banks of the lake in 1140, it was -not till two years later that the American Venice began to emerge from -the bosom of the waters.</p> - -<p>We have dwelt on these details in order to correct an error made by a -modern author, who attributes to the Aztecs the foundation of this city, -to which he gives the name of Tenochtitlan, instead of Temixtetlan, -which is the correct name.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> - -<p>Like Venice, its European sister, Mexico was only a collection of -cabins, offering a precarious shelter to wretched fishermen, who were -incessantly kept in a state of alarm by the attacks of their neighbours. -The Mexicans, at first scattered over a great number of small islands, -felt the necessity of collecting together in order to offer a better -resistance. By their patience and courage they succeeded in building -houses, raised on piles, and employing the mud of the lagoons, held -together by branches of trees, they created the <i>chinampas</i>, or floating -gardens, the most curious in the world, on which they sowed vegetables, -pimento, and maize, and thus, with the aquatic birds they managed to -catch on the lake, they contrived to be entirely independent of their -neighbours.</p> - -<p>Almost destroyed during the obstinate fights between the natives and the -Spaniards, Mexico, four years after the conquest, was entirely rebuilt -by Fernando Cortez. But the new city in no way resembled the old one. -Most of the canals were filled up, and paved over; magnificent palaces -and sumptuous monasteries rose as if by enchantment, and the city became -entirely Spanish.</p> - -<p>Mexico has been so frequently described by more practised pens than -ours, and we, in previous works, have had such frequent occasions -to allude to it, that we will not attempt any description here, but -continue our story without further delay.</p> - -<p>It was October 12th, 1854, two months, day for day, had elapsed since -the unfortunate Count de Prébois Crancé, victim of an iniquitous -sentence, had honourably fallen at Guaymas beneath the Mexican -bullets.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> A thick fog had hung over the city for the whole day, -changing at times into a fine drizzle, which after sunset became -sharper, although a heavy fog still prevailed. However, at about eight -in the evening the rain ceased to fall, and the stagnant waters of the -lake began to reflect a few particles of brighter sky. The snow-clad -summit of Iztaczihuatl, or the White Woman, feebly glistened in the pale -watery moonbeams, while Popocatepetl remained buried in the clouds.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> - -<p>The streets and squares were deserted, although the night was not yet -far advanced; for the loungers and promenaders, driven away by the -weather, had returned to their homes. A deep silence brooded over the -city, whose lights expired one after the other, and only at lengthened -intervals could be heard on the greasy pavement the footsteps of the -serenos, or watchmen, who performed their melancholy walk, with the -indifferent air peculiar to that estimable corporation. At times a few -discordant sounds, escaping from the velorios were borne along on the -breeze; but that was all—the city seemed asleep.</p> - -<p>Half past nine was striking by the cathedral clock at the moment when -a dull sound resembling the rustling of reeds shaken by the wind was -audible on the gigantic highway joining the city to the main land. This -sound soon became more distinct, and changed into the trampling of -horses, which was deadened by the damp air and the ground softened by -a lengthened rain. A black mass emerged from the fog, and two horsemen -wrapped in thick cloaks stood out distinctly in the moonlight.</p> - -<p>These horsemen seemed to have made a long journey; their steeds, -covered with mud, limped at each step, and only advanced with extreme -difficulty. They at length reached a low house, through whose dirty -panes a doubtful light issued, which showed that the inhabitants were -still awake.</p> - -<p>The horsemen stopped before this house, which was an inn, and without -dismounting, one of them gave the door two or three kicks, and called -the host in a loud sharp voice. The latter, doubtless disturbed by this -unusual summons at so improper an hour, was in no hurry to answer, and -would have probably left the strangers for some time in the cold, if the -man who had kicked, probably tired of waiting, had not thought of an -expeditious means of obtaining an answer.</p> - -<p>"<i>Voto a Brios!</i>" he shouted, as he drew a pistol from his holster, and -cocked it, "since this dog is resolved not to open, I will send a bullet -through his window."</p> - -<p>This menace had been scarce uttered ere the door opened as if by -enchantment, and the landlord appeared on the threshold. This man -resembled landlords in all countries; he had, like them, a sleek and -crafty look, but at this moment his obsequiousness badly concealed a -profound terror, evidenced by the earthy pallor of his face.</p> - -<p>"Hola, caballero," he said, with a respectful bow, "have a little -patience, if you please. Caramba! how quick you are; it is plain to -see that you are forasteros, and not acquainted with the custom of our -country."</p> - -<p>"No matter who I am," the stranger answered sharply; "are you a -landlord—yes or no?"</p> - -<p>"I have that honour, caballero," the host remarked, with a deeper bow -than the first.</p> - -<p>"If you are so, scoundrel," the stranger exclaimed angrily, "by what -right do you, whose duty it is to be at the orders of the public, dare -to keep me waiting thus at your door?"</p> - -<p>The landlord had a strong inclination to get into a passion, but the -resolute tone of the man who addressed him, and, above all, the pistol -he still held in his hand, urged him to prudence and moderation; hence -he answered with profound humility—</p> - -<p>"Believe me, señor, that if I had known what a distinguished caballero -did me the honour of stopping before my humble dwelling, I should have -hastened to open."</p> - -<p>"A truce to such impertinent remarks, and open the door."</p> - -<p>The landlord bowed without replying this time, and whistled a lad, -who came to help him in holding the travellers' horses; the latter -dismounted, and entered the inn, while their tired steeds were led to -the corral by the boy.</p> - -<p>The room into which the travellers were introduced was low, black, and -furnished with tables and benches in a filthy state, and mostly broken, -while the floor of stamped earth was greasy and uneven. Above the bar -was a statuette of the Virgin de la Soledad, before which burned a -greasy candle. In short, this inn had nothing attractive or comfortable -about it, and seemed to be a velorio of the lowest class, apparently -used by the most wretched and least honourable ranks of Mexican society.</p> - -<p>A glance was sufficient for the travellers to understand the place to -which accident had led them, still they did not display any of the -disgust which the sight of this cut-throat den inspired them with. They -seated themselves as comfortably as they could at a table, and the one -who had hitherto addressed mine host went on, while his silent companion -leaned against the wall, and drew the folds of his cloak still higher up -his face.</p> - -<p>"Look here," he said, "we are literally dying of hunger, patron; could -you not serve us up a morsel of something? I don't care what it is in -the shape of food."</p> - -<p>"Hum!" said the host with an embarrassed air, "it is very late, -caballero, and I don't believe I have even a maize tortilla left in the -whole house."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense," the traveller replied, "I know all about it, so let us deal -frankly with each other; give me some supper, for I am hungry, and we -will not squabble about the price."</p> - -<p>"Even if you paid me a piastre for every tortilla, excellency, I really -could not supply you with two," the landlord replied, with increased -constraint.</p> - -<p>The traveller looked at him fixedly for a moment or two, and then laid -his hand firmly on his arm, and pulled him toward the table.</p> - -<p>"Now, look here, Ño Lusacho," he said to him curtly, "I intend to pass -two hours in your hovel, at all risks; I know that between this and -eleven o'clock you expect a large party, and that all is prepared to -receive them."</p> - -<p>The landlord attempted to give a denial, but the traveller cut him short.</p> - -<p>"Silence," he continued, "I wish to be present at the meeting of these -persons; of course I do not mean them to see me; but I must not only -see them, but hear all they say. Put me where you please, that is your -concern; but as any trouble deserves payment, here are ten ounces for -you, and I will give you as many more when your visitors have gone, and -I assure you that what I ask of you will not in any way compromise -you, and that no one will ever know the bargain made between us—you -understand me, I suppose? Now, I will add, that if you obstinately -refuse the arrangement I offer——"</p> - -<p>"Well, suppose I do?"</p> - -<p>"I will blow out your brains," the traveller said distinctly; "my friend -here will put you on his shoulder, throw you into the water, and all -will be over. What do you think of my proposal?"</p> - -<p>"Hang it, excellency," the poor fellow answered, with a grimace which -attempted to resemble a smile, and trembling in all his limbs, "I think -that I have no choice, and am compelled to accept."</p> - -<p>"Good! now you are learning reason; but take these ounces as a -consolation."</p> - -<p>The landlord pocketed the money, as he raised his eyes to heaven and -gave a deep sigh.</p> - -<p>"Fear nothing, <i>viva Dios</i>!" the traveller continued; "all will pass off -better than you suppose. At what hour do you expect your visitors?"</p> - -<p>"At half past ten, excellency."</p> - -<p>"Good! it is half past nine, we have time before us. Where do you -propose to hide us?"</p> - -<p>"In this room, excellency."</p> - -<p>"Here, diablo; whereabouts?"</p> - -<p>"Behind the bar; no one will dream of looking for you there, and, -besides, I shall serve as a rampart to you."</p> - -<p>"Then you will be present at the meeting?"</p> - -<p>"Oh!" he said with a smile, "I am nobody; the more so, that if I spoke, -my house would be ruined."</p> - -<p>"That is true. Well, then, all is settled; when the hour arrives, you -will place us behind the bar; but can my companion and I sit there with -any degree of comfort?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, you will have plenty of room."</p> - -<p>"I fancy this is not the first time such a thing has occurred, eh?"</p> - -<p>The landlord smiled, but made no answer: the traveller reflected for a -moment.</p> - -<p>"Give us something to eat," he at length said; "here are two piastres in -addition for what you are going to place before us."</p> - -<p>The landlord took the money, and forgetting that he had declared a -few moments previously that he had nothing in the house, he instantly -covered the table with provisions, which, if not particularly delicate, -were, however, sufficiently appetizing, especially for men whose -appetite appeared to be powerfully excited.</p> - -<p>The two travellers vigorously attacked this improvised supper, and for -about twenty minutes no other sound was heard but that of their jaws. -When their hunger was at length appeased, the traveller who seemed to -speak for both, thrust away his plate, and addressed the landlord, who -was modestly standing behind him hat in hand.</p> - -<p>"And now for another matter," he said; "how many lads have you to help -you?"</p> - -<p>"Two, excellency—the one who took your horses to the corral, and -another."</p> - -<p>"Very good. I presume you will not require both those lads to wait on -your friends tonight?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly not, excellency; indeed, for greater security, I shall wait -on them alone."</p> - -<p>"Better still; then, you see no inconvenience in sending of them into -the Cuidad; of course on the understanding that he is well paid for the -trip?"</p> - -<p>"No inconvenience at all, excellency; what is the business?"</p> - -<p>"Simply," he said, taking a letter from his bosom, "to convey this -letter to Señor Don Antonio Rallier, in the Calle Secunda Monterilla, -and bring me back the answer in the shortest possible period to this -house."</p> - -<p>"That is easy, excellency; if you will have the kindness to intrust the -letter to me."</p> - -<p>"Here it is, and four piastres for the journey."</p> - -<p>The host bowed respectfully, and immediately left the room.</p> - -<p>"I fancy, Curumilla," the traveller then said to his companion, "that -our affairs are going well."</p> - -<p>The other replied by a silent nod of assent, and a moment the landlord -returned.</p> - -<p>"Well?" the traveller asked.</p> - -<p>"Your messenger has set off, excellency, but he will probably be some -time ere he returns."</p> - -<p>"Why so?"</p> - -<p>"Because people are not allowed to ride about the city at night without -a special authority, and he will be obliged to go and return on foot."</p> - -<p>"No consequence, so long as he returns before sunrise."</p> - -<p>"Oh, long before then, excellency."</p> - -<p>"In that case all is for the best; but I think the moment is at hand -when your friends will arrive."</p> - -<p>"It is, excellency, so have the kindness to follow me."</p> - -<p>"All right."</p> - -<p>The travellers rose; in a twinkling the landlord removed all signs of -supper, and then hid his guests behind the bar. This bar, which was -very tall and deep, offered them a perfectly secure, if not convenient, -hiding place, in which they crouched down with a pistol in each hand, in -order to be ready for any event. They had scarce installed themselves -ere several knocks, dealt in a peculiar fashion, were heard on the outer -door.</p> - - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> In order to protect themselves from the misfortunes -which had before crushed them, the Mexicans placed themselves under -the safeguard of the King of Azcapotzalco, on whose lands they had -established themselves. This prince gave them two of his sons as -governors, of whom the first was Acamapuhtli, chief of the Tenochcas. -On their arrival in Ahanuec, these Indians had found on the summit of a -rock a nopal, in which was an eagle devouring a serpent, and they took -their name from it. Acamapuhtli selected this emblem as the <i>totem</i> of -the race he was called upon to govern. During the War of Independence, -the insurgents adopted this hieroglyphic as the arms of the Mexican -Republic, in memory of the ancient and glorious origin of which it -reminded them.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> See the "Indian Chief." Same publishers.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> This second volcano, whose name indicates "The Smoking -Mountain," is near the former.</p></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE RANCHO.</h3> - - -<p>In one of our previous works we proved by documentary evidence -that, since the declaration of its independence, that is to say, in -about forty years, Mexico has reached its two hundred and thirtieth -revolution which gives an average of about five revolutions a year. In -our opinion, this is very decent for a country which, if it pleased, -regard being had to the retrograde measures adopted by the government, -would have been justified in having at least one a month.</p> - -<p>The causes of these revolutions are and must be ever the same in -a country where the sabre rules without control, and which counts -<i>twenty-four</i> thousand officers for an army of twenty thousand -men. These officers, very ignorant generally, and very ambitious -individually, incapable of executing the slightest manoeuvre, or -commanding the most simple movement, find in the general disorder -chances of promotion which they would not otherwise have, and many -Mexican generals have attained their elevated rank without having once -been present at a battle, or even seen any other fire than that of -the cigarettes they constantly have in their mouths. The real truth -is, they have skilfully pronounced themselves; each <i>pronunciamiento</i> -has gained them a step, sometimes two, and with pronunciamiento after -pronunciamiento, they have acquired the general's scarf, that is to say, -the probability, with the aid of luck, of being in their turn proclaimed -President of the Republic, which is the dream of all of them, and the -constant object of their efforts.</p> - -<p>We have said that the travellers had scarce time to conceal themselves -in the bar, ere several knocks on the door warned the landlord that the -mysterious guests he expected were beginning to arrive.</p> - -<p>Ño Lusacho was a fat little man, with constantly rolling gray eyes, a -cunning look, and a prominent stomach—the true type of the Mexican -Ranchero, who is more eager for gain than two Jews, and very ready when -circumstances demand it, that is to say, when his own interests are -concerned, to make a bargain with his conscience. He assured himself by -a glance that all was in order in the room, and that there was nothing -to cause the presence of strangers to be suspected, and then walked to -the door; but, before opening, with the probable intention of displaying -his zeal, he thought it advisable to challenge the arrivals.</p> - -<p>"¿Quién vive?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Gente de paz!" a rough voice answered; "open in the Fiend's name, if -you do not wish us to break in your door."</p> - -<p>Ño Lusacho doubtless recognized the voice, for the somewhat brusque -response appeared to him sufficient, and he immediately prepared to draw -back the bolts.</p> - -<p>The door was hardly ajar ere several men burst into the inn, thrusting -each other aside in their haste, as if afraid of being followed. These -men were seven or eight in number; and it was easy to see they were -officers, in spite of the precaution of some among them who had put on -civilian attire.</p> - -<p>They laughed and jested loudly, which proved that, if they were -conspirators, or, at least, if they were brought to this ill-famed den -by any illicit object, that object, whatever it might be, did not spoil -their gaiety or appear to them of sufficient importance to render -them unwontedly serious.</p> - -<p>They seated themselves at a table, and the landlord, who had doubtless -long been acquainted with their habits, placed before them a bottle of -Catalonian refino and a jug of pulque, which they straightway began -swallowing while rolling their cigarettes.</p> - -<p>The door of the rancho had been left ajar by the landlord, who probably -thought it unnecessary to close it; the officers succeeded each other -with great rapidity, and their number soon became so great, that the -room, though very spacious, was completely filled. The newcomers -followed the example of those who had preceded them; they seated -themselves at a table, and began drinking and smoking, not appearing to -trouble themselves about the earlier comers, to whom they merely bowed -as they entered.</p> - -<p>As for Ño Lusacho, he continually prowled round the tables, watching -everything with a corner of his eyes, and being careful not to serve the -slightest article without receiving immediate payment. At length one of -the officers rose, and, after rapping his glass on the table several -times to attract attention, he asked—</p> - -<p>"Is Don Sirven here?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, señor," a young man of twenty at the most answered as he rose. His -effeminate features were already worn by precocious debauchery.</p> - -<p>"Assure yourself that no person is absent."</p> - -<p>The young man bowed, and began walking from one table to the other, -exchanging two or three words in a low voice with each of the visitors. -When Don Sirven had gone round the room, he went to the person who had -addressed him, and said with a respectful bow—</p> - -<p>"Señor coronel, the meeting is complete, and only one person is absent; -but as he did not tell us certainly whether he would do us the honour of -being present tonight, I——"</p> - -<p>"That will do, alférez," the colonel interrupted him; "remain outside -the house, carefully watch the environs, and let no one approach without -challenging him, but if you know who arrives, introduce him immediately. -You have heard me, so execute my orders punctually; you understand the -importance of passive obedience for yourself."</p> - -<p>"You can trust to me, coronel," the young man answered; and, after -bowing to his superior officer, he left the room and closed the door -behind him.</p> - -<p>The officers, then, without getting up, turned round on the benches, and -thus found themselves face to face with the colonel, who had stationed -himself in the middle of the room. The latter waited a few minutes till -perfect silence was established, and then, after bowing to the audience, -he spoke as follows;—</p> - -<p>"Let me, in the first place, thank you, caballeros, for the punctuality -with which you have responded to the meeting I had the honour of -arranging with you. I am delighted at the confidence it has pleased you -to display in me, and, believe me, I shall show myself worthy of it; for -it proves to me once again that you are really devoted to the interests -of our country, and that it may freely reckon on you in the hour of -danger."</p> - -<p>This first portion of the colonel's speech was drowned in applause, -as was only fitting. This colonel was a man of about forty years of -age, of herculean stature, and looking more like a butcher than an -honest soldier. His cunning looks did not at all inspire confidence, -and every step in his profession had been the reward of an act of -treachery. He was a most valuable man in a conspiracy on this account, -for being so old a hand at pronunciamientos, people knew that he was too -clever to join a losing cause; hence, he inspired his accomplices with -unlimited confidence. After allowing time for the enthusiasm to calm, he -continued—</p> - -<p>"I am pleased, señores, not at this applause, but at the devotion you so -constantly display for the public welfare. You understand as well as I -do that we can no longer bow our necks beneath the despotic government -that tyrannizes over us. The man who at this moment holds our destinies -in his hands has shown himself unworthy of the mandate we confided to -him; by failing in his duties towards us, he has liberated us from the -oath of obedience we took to him. Human patience has its limits, and the -hour will soon strike for the man who has deceived us to be overthrown."</p> - -<p>The colonel had made a start, and would probably have continued his -plausible speech for a long time in an emphatic voice, had not one of -his audience, evidently wearied of finding nothing positive or clear in -this flood of sounding words, suddenly interrupted him—</p> - -<p>"That is all very fine, colonel," he said, "<i>Rayo de Dios!</i> we are all -aware that we are gentlemen devoted, body and soul, to our country; but -devotion must be paid for, <i>cuerpo de Cristo!</i> What shall we get by all -this after all? We have not assembled here to compliment each other; -but, on the contrary, to come to a definite understanding. So pray come -to the point at once."</p> - -<p>The colonel was at first slightly embarrassed by this warm apostrophe; -but he recovered himself at once, and turned with a smile to his -interrupter—</p> - -<p>"I was coming to it, my dear captain, at the very moment when you cut -across my speech."</p> - -<p>"Oh, that is different," the captain answered; "pray suppose that I had -not spoken, and explain the affair in a couple of words."</p> - -<p>"In the first place," the colonel went on, "I have news for you which I -feel assured you will heartily welcome. This is the last time we shall -meet."</p> - -<p>"Very good," said the practical captain, encouraged by the winks of his -companions, "let us hear first what the reward is."</p> - -<p>The colonel saw that he could no longer dally with the matter, for all -his hearers openly took part with their comrade, and murmurs of evil -augury were beginning to be audible. At the moment when he resolved to -tell all he knew, the door of the inn was opened, and a man wrapped -in a large cloak quickly entered the room, preceded by the Alferez Don -Sirven, who shouted in a loud voice—</p> - -<p>"The general. Caballeros, the general."</p> - -<p>At this announcement silence was re-established as if by enchantment. -The person called the general stopped in the middle of the room, looked -around him, and then took off his hat, let his cloak fall from his -shoulders, and appeared in the full-dress uniform of a general officer.</p> - -<p>"Long live General Guerrero!" the officers shouted, as they rose -enthusiastically.</p> - -<p>"Thanks, gentlemen, thanks," the general responded with numerous bows. -"This warm feeling fills me with delight; but pray be silent, that we -may properly settle the matter which has brought us here; moments are -precious, and, in spite of the precautions we have taken, our presence -at this inn may have been denounced."</p> - -<p>All collected round the general with a movement of interest easy to -understand. The latter continued—</p> - -<p>"I will come at once to facts," he said, "without entering into idle -speculations, which would cause us to waste valuable time. In a word, -then, what is it we want? To overthrow the present government, and -establish another more in conformity with our opinions and, above all, -our interests."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes," the officers exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"In that case we are conspiring against the established authority, -and are rebels in the eyes of the law," the general continued coolly -and distinctly; "as such, we stake our heads, and must not attempt -any self-deception on this point. If our attempt fails, we shall be -pitilessly shot by the victor; but we shall not fail," he hastily -added, on noticing the impression these ill-omened words produced on -his hearers; "we shall not fail, because we are resolutely playing a -terrible game, and each of us knows that his fortune depends on winning -the game. From the alférez up to the brigadier-general each knows that -success will gain him two steps of promotion, and such a stake is -sufficient to determine the least resolute to be staunch when the moment -arrives to begin the struggle."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes," the captain whose observations had, previous to the -general's arrival, so greatly embarrassed the colonel, said, "all that -is very fine. Jumping up two steps is a most agreeable thing; but we -were promised something else in your name, excellency."</p> - -<p>The general smiled.</p> - -<p>"You are right, captain," he remarked; "and I intend to keep all -promises made in my name—but not, as you might reasonably suppose, when -our glorious enterprise has succeeded. If I waited till then, you might -fear lest I should seek pretexts and excuses to evade their performance."</p> - -<p>"When then, pray?" the captain asked, curiously.</p> - -<p>"At once, señores," the general exclaimed, in a loud voice, and, -addressing the whole company, "I wish to prove to you that my confidence -in you is entire, and that I put faith in the word you pledged to me."</p> - -<p>Joy, astonishment, incredulity, perhaps, so paralyzed his hearers, that -they were unable to utter a syllable. The general examined them for a -moment, and then, turning away with a mocking smile, he walked to the -front door, which he opened. The officers eagerly watched his movements, -with panting chests, and the general, after looking out, coughed twice.</p> - -<p>"Here I am, excellency," a voice said, issuing from the fog.</p> - -<p>"Bring in the bags," Don Sebastian ordered, and then quietly returned to -the middle of the room.</p> - -<p>Almost immediately after a man entered, bearing a heavy leather -saddlebag. It was Carnero, the capataz. At a signal from his master, -he deposited his bundle and went out; but returned shortly after with -another bag, which he placed by the side of the first one. Then, after -bowing to his master, he withdrew, and the door closed upon him.</p> - -<p>The general opened the bags, and a flood of gold poured in a trickling -cascade on the table; the officers instinctively bent forward, and held -out their quivering hands.</p> - -<p>"Now, señores," the general said, still perfectly calm, as he carelessly -rested his arm on the pile of gold; "permit me to remind you of our -agreement; there are thirty-five of us at present, I believe?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, general, thirty-five," the captain replied, who seemed to have -appointed himself speaker in ordinary for self and partners.</p> - -<p>"Very good; these thirty-five caballeros are thus subdivided:—ten -alférez, who will each receive twenty-five ounces of silver. Señor Don -Jaime Lupo," he said, turning to the colonel, "will you be kind enough -to hand twenty-five ounces to each of these gentlemen?"</p> - -<p>The alférez, or sub-lieutenants, broke through the ranks, and boldly -came up to receive the ounces, which the colonel delivered to each of -them; then they fell back with a delight they did not attempt to conceal.</p> - -<p>"Now," the general continued, "twelve captains, to each of whom I wish -you to offer, on my behalf, Don Lupo, fifty ounces."</p> - -<p>The captains pocketed the money with no more ceremony than the alférez -had displayed.</p> - -<p>"We have ten tenientes, each of whom is to receive thirty-five ounces, I -believe?"</p> - -<p>The tenientes, or lieutenants, who had begun to frown on seeing the -captains paid before them, received their money with a bow.</p> - -<p>"There now remain three colonels, each of whom has a claim to one -hundred ounces," the general said; "be kind enough to pay them, my dear -colonel."</p> - -<p>The latter did not let the invitation be repeated twice. Still the -entire pile of gold was not exhausted, and a considerable sum still -remained on the table. Don Sebastian Guerrero passed his hands several -times through the glittering metal, and at length thrust it from him.</p> - -<p>"Señores," he said, with an engaging smile, "about five hundred ounces -remain, which I do not know what to do with; may I ask you to divide -them among you, as subsistence money while awaiting the signal you are -to receive from me."</p> - -<p>At this truly regal act of munificence, the enthusiasm attained its -highest pitch; the cries and protestations of devotion became frenzied. -The general alone remained impassive, and looked coldly at the division -made by the colonel.</p> - -<p>"When all the gold had disappeared, and the effervescence was beginning -to subside, Don Sebastian, who, like the Angel of Evil, had looked with -a profoundly mocking smile at these men so utterly under the influence -of cupidity, slightly tapped the table, to request silence.</p> - -<p>"Señores," he said, "I have kept all my promises, and have acquired the -right to count on you; we shall not meet again, but at a future day I -will let you know my intentions. Still be ready to act at the first -signal; in ten days is the anniversary festival of the Proclamation of -Independence, and, if nothing deranges my plans, I shall probably choose -that day to try, with your assistance, to deliver the country from the -tyrants who oppress it. However, I will be careful to have you warned. -So now let us separate; the night is far advanced, and a longer stay at -this spot might compromise the sacred interests for which we have sworn -to die."</p> - -<p>He bowed to the conspirators, but, on reaching the door, turned round -again.</p> - -<p>"Farewell, señores," he said, "be faithful to me."</p> - -<p>"We will die for you, general," Colonel Lupo answered, in the name of -all.</p> - -<p>The general gave a final bow and went out; almost immediately the hoofs -of several horses could be heard echoing on the paved street.</p> - -<p>"As we have nothing more to do here, caballeros," the colonel said, -"we had better separate without further delay; but do not forget the -general's parting recommendation."</p> - -<p>"Oh, no," the captain said, gleefully rattling the gold, with which his -pockets were filled. "Don Sebastian Guerrero is too generous for us not -to be faithful to him; besides, he appears to me at the present moment -the only man capable of saving our unhappy country from the abyss. We -are all too deeply attached to our country and too devoted to its real -interests, not to sacrifice ourselves for it, when circumstances demand -it."</p> - -<p>The conspirators laughingly applauded this speech of the captain's, and -after exchanging courteous bows, they withdrew as they had come; that is -to say, they left the inn one after the other, not to attract attention. -They carefully wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and went off in -parties of three and four, with their hands on their weapons, for fear -of any unpleasant encounter.</p> - -<p>A quarter of an hour later, the room was empty, and the landlord bolted -the door for the night.</p> - -<p>"Well, señores," he asked the two strangers, who now left the hiding -place in which they had been crouching for upwards of two hours, "are -you satisfied?"</p> - -<p>"We could not be more so," replied the one who had been the sole speaker -hitherto.</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes," the landlord continued, "three or four more -pronunciamientos, and I believe I shall be able to retire on a decent -competency."</p> - -<p>"That is what I wish you, Ño Lusacho, and, to begin, a thing promised is -a thing done; here are your ten ounces."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE PASEO DE BUCARELI.</h3> - - -<p>Mexico is a country of extensive prospects and magnificent views; and -the poet Carpio is right when he says enthusiastically, in the poem in -which he sings the praises of his country—</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"Qué magníficos tienes horizontes!"</span><br /> -</p> - -<p>In truth, the prospect is the first and greatest beauty of Mexico.</p> - -<p>The plateau of Mexico is situated exactly in the centre of a circle of -mountains. On all sides the landscape is bounded by admirable peaks, -whose snowy crests soar above the clouds, and in the golden beams of the -setting sun they offer the most sublime pictures of the imposing and -grand Alpine nature.</p> - -<p>In the general description we attempted of Mexico we omitted to allude -to its promenades, of which we intended previously to give a detailed -account.</p> - -<p>In Europe, and especially in France, promenades are wanting in the -interior of towns; and it is only during the last few years that Paris -has possessed any worthy of a capital. In Spain, on the contrary, the -smallest market town has at least one alameda, where, after the torrid -heat of the day, the inhabitants breathe the evening breeze, and rest -from their labours. Alameda, a soft and graceful word to pronounce, -which we might be tempted to take for Arabic, and to which some -ill-informed scholars, unacquainted with Spanish, attribute a Latin -origin, while it is simply Castilian, and literally signifies "a place -planted with poplars."</p> - -<p>The Alameda of Mexico is one of the most beautiful in America. It -is situated at one of the extremities of the city, and forms a long -square, with a wall of circumvallation bordered by a deep ditch, whose -muddy, fetid waters, owing to the negligence of the government, exhale -pestilential miasmas. At each corner of the promenade a gate offers -admission to carriages, riders, and pedestrians, who walk silently -beneath a thick awning of verdure, formed by willows, elms, and poplars -that border the principal road. These trees are selected with great -tact, and are always green, for although the leaves are renewed, it -takes place gradually and imperceptibly, so that the branches are never -entirely stripped of their foliage.</p> - -<p>Numerous walks converge to open spots adorned with gushing fountains, -and clumps of jessamine, myrtle, and rose bushes, surrounded by stone -benches for the tired promenaders. Statues, unfortunately far below -mediocrity in their execution, stand at the entrance of each walk; but, -thanks to the deep shadow, the whistling of the evening breeze in the -foliage, the buzz of the hummingbirds flying from flower to flower, and -the harmonious strains of the cenzontles hidden in the fragrant clumps, -you gradually forget those unlucky statues, and fall into a gentle -reverie, during which the mind is borne to unknown regions, and seems no -longer connected with earth.</p> - -<p>But Mexico is a thorough country of contrasts. At each step barbarism -elbows the most advanced civilization. Hence all the carriages, after -driving a few times round the Alameda, take the direction of the Paseo -de Bucareli, and the promenaders spread over a walk, in the Centre of -which there is a large window in the Wall, protected by rusty iron bars, -and through which come puffs of poisoned air. It is the window of the -Deadhouse, into which are daily thrown pell-mell the bodies of men, -women, and children, assassinated during the previous night, hideous, -bloody, and disfigured by death! What a brilliant, what a delicious -idea, to have placed the Deadhouse exactly between the two city walks!</p> - -<p>The Paseo, or promenade, of Bucareli—so called after the Viceroy who -gave it to Mexico—resembles the Champs Elysées of Paris. It is, in -reality, merely a wide road, with no other ornament than a double row of -willow and beech trees, with two circular places, in the centre of which -are fountains, adorned with detestable allegorical statues and stone -benches for pedestrians.</p> - -<p>At the entrance of the Paseo de Bucareli has been placed an equestrian -statue of Charles IV., which in 1824 adorned the Plaza Mayor of Mexico. -When the Emperor Iturbide fell, this monument was removed from the -square and placed in the University Palace yard—a lesson, we may here -remark, given by a comparatively barbarous people to civilized nations, -who in revolutions, as a first trial of liberty, and forgetting that -history records everything in her imperishable annals, carry their -Vandalism so far as to destroy everything that recalls the government -they have overthrown. Owing to the intelligent moderation of the -Mexicans, the promenaders can still admire, at the Bucareli, this really -remarkable statue, due to the talent of the Spanish sculptor, Manuel -Tolsa, and cast in one piece by Salvador de la Vega. The sight of this -masterpiece ought to induce the Mexican municipality to remove the -pitiable statues which disgrace the two finest promenades in the city.</p> - -<p>From the Paseo de Bucareli a magnificent prospect is enjoyed of the -panorama of mountains bathed in the luminous vapours of night; you -perceive, through the arches of the gigantic aqueduct the white fronts -of the haciendas clinging to the sides of the Sierra, the fields of -Indian corn bending softly before the breeze, and the snowy peaks of the -volcanoes, crowned with mist, and lost in the sky.</p> - -<p>It is not till night has almost set in that the promenaders, leaving -the Alameda, proceed to the Bucareli, where the carriages take two or -three turns, and then equipages, riders, and pedestrians, retire one -after the other. The promenade is deserted, the entire crowd, just now -so gay and noisy, has disappeared as if by enchantment, and you only see -between the trees some belated promenader, who, wrapped in his cloak, -and with eye and ear on the watch, is hastily returning home, for, after -nightfall, the thieves take possession of the promenade, and without the -slightest anxiety about the serenos and celadores appointed to watch -over the public security, they carry on their trade with a boldness -which the certainty of impunity can alone engender.</p> - -<p>It was evening, and, as usual, the Alameda was crowded; handsome -carriages, brilliant riders, and modest pedestrians were moving -backwards and forwards, with cries, laughter, and joyous calls, as they -sought or chased each other in the walks. Monks, soldiers, officers, men -of fashion, and leperos, were mixed together, carelessly smoking their -cigars and cigarettes under each other's noses, with the recklessness -and negligence peculiar to southern nations.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, the first stroke of the Oración broke through the air. At the -sound of the Angelus-bell, as if the entire crowd had been struck by an -enchanter's wand, horses, carriages, and pedestrians stopped, the seated -citizens left the benches on which they were resting, and a solemn -silence fell on all; every person took off his hat, crossed himself, -and for four or five minutes this crowd, an instant before so noisy, -remained dumb and silent. But the last stroke of the Oración had scarce -died away, ere horses and carriages set out again; the shouts, the -songs, and talking, became louder than before; each resumed the sentence -at the point where he had broken it off.</p> - -<p>By degrees, however, the promenaders proceeded toward the Bucareli: the -carriages became scarcer, and by the time night had quite set in, the -Alameda was completely deserted.</p> - -<p>A horseman, dressed in a rich Campesino costume, and mounted on a -magnificent horse, which he managed with rare skill, then entered the -Alameda, along which he galloped for about twenty minutes, examining the -sidewalks, the clumps of trees, and the densest bushes: in a word, he -seemed to be looking for somebody or something.</p> - -<p>However, after a while, whether he had convinced himself that his search -would have no result, or for some other motive, he gave the click of the -tongue peculiar to the Mexican jinetes, lifted his horse which started -at an amble, and proceeded toward the Paseo de Bucareli, after bowing -sarcastically to some ill-looking horsemen who were beginning to prowl -round him, but whom his vigorous appearance and haughty demeanour had -hitherto kept at arm's length.</p> - -<p>Although the darkness was too dense at this moment for it to be possible -to see the horseman's face distinctly, which was in addition half -covered by the brim of his vicuna hat, all about him evidenced strength -and youth; he was armed as if for a nocturnal expedition, and had on -his saddle, in spite of police regulations, a thin, carefully rolled up -reata.</p> - -<p>We will say, parenthetically, that the reata is considered in Mexico so -dangerous a weapon, that it requires special permission to carry one at -the saddle-bow, in the streets of Mexico.</p> - -<p>The salteadores, who occupy the streets after nightfall, and reign with -undisputed sway over them, employ no other weapon to stop the persons -they wish to plunder. They cast the running knot round their necks, dash -forward at full speed, and the unlucky man, half strangled, and dragged -from the saddle, falls unresistingly into their hands.</p> - -<p>At the moment when the traveller we are following reached the Bucareli, -the last carriages were leaving it, and it was soon as deserted as the -Alameda. He galloped up and down the promenade twice or thrice, looking -carefully down the side rides, and at the end of his third turn a -horseman, coming from the Alameda, passed on his right hand, giving him -in a low voice the Mexican salute, "Santísima noche, caballero!"</p> - -<p>Although this sentence had nothing peculiar about it, the horseman -started, and immediately turning his horse round, he started in pursuit -of the person who had thus greeted him. Within a minute the two horsemen -were side by side; the first comer, so soon as he saw that he was -followed, checked his horse's pace, as if with the intention of entering -into the most direct communication with the person he had addressed.</p> - -<p>"A fine night for a ride, señor," the first horseman said, politely -raising his hand to his hat.</p> - -<p>"It is," the second answered, "although it is beginning to grow late."</p> - -<p>"The moment is only the better chosen for certain private conversation."</p> - -<p>The second horseman looked around, and bending over to the speaker, -said—</p> - -<p>"I almost despaired of meeting you."</p> - -<p>"Did I not let you know that I should come?"</p> - -<p>"That is true; but I feared that some sudden obstacle——"</p> - -<p>"Nothing ought to impede an honest man in accomplishing a sacred duty," -the first horseman answered, with an emphasis on the words.</p> - -<p>"The other bowed with an air of satisfaction. Then," he said, "I can -count on you, Ño ——."</p> - -<p>"No names here, señor," the other sharply interrupted him. "Caspita, an -old wood ranger like you, a man who has long been a Tigrero, ought to -remember that the trees have ears and the leaves eyes."</p> - -<p>"Yes, you are right. I should and do remember it; but permit me to -remark that if it is not possible for us to talk about business here, I -do not know exactly where we can do so."</p> - -<p>"Patience, señor, I wish to serve you, as you know, for you were -recommended to me by a man to whom I can refuse nothing. Let yourself, -therefore, be guided by me, if you wish us to succeed in this affair, -which, I confess to you at once, offers enormous difficulties, and must -be managed with the greatest prudence."</p> - -<p>"I ask nothing better; still you must tell me what I ought to do."</p> - -<p>"For the present very little; merely follow me at a distance to the -place where I purpose taking you."</p> - -<p>"Are we going far?"</p> - -<p>"Only a few paces; behind the barracks of the Acordades, in a small -street called the Callejón del Pájaro."</p> - -<p>"Hum! and what am I to do in this street?"</p> - -<p>"What a suspicious man you are!" the first horseman said with a laugh. -"Listen to me then. About the middle of the Callejón I shall stop -before a house of rather poor appearance; a man will come and hold my -horse while I enter. A few minutes later you will pull up there; after -assuring yourself that you are not followed you will dismount; give your -horse to the man who is holding mine, and without saying a word to him, -or letting him see your face, you will enter the house, and shut the -door after you. I shall be in the yard, and will lead you to a place -where we shall be able to talk in safety. Does that suit you?"</p> - -<p>"Famously; although I do not understand why I, who have set foot in -Mexico today for the first time, should find it necessary to employ such -mighty precautions."</p> - -<p>The first horseman laughed sarcastically.</p> - -<p>"Do you wish to succeed?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Of course," the other exclaimed energetically, "even if it cost me my -life."</p> - -<p>"In that case do as you are recommended."</p> - -<p>"Go on, I follow you."</p> - -<p>"Is that settled? you understand all about it?"</p> - -<p>"I do."</p> - -<p>The second horseman then checked his steed to let the first one go on -ahead, and both keeping a short distance apart, proceeded at a smart -trot toward the statue of Charles IV., which, as we said, stands at the -entrance of the Paseo.</p> - -<p>While conversing, the two horsemen had forgotten the advanced hour of -the night, and the solitude that surrounded them. At the moment when -the first rider passed the equestrian statue, a slip knot fell on his -shoulders, and he was roughly dragged from his saddle.</p> - -<p>"Help!" he shouted in a choking voice.</p> - -<p>The second rider had seen all; quick as thought he whirled his lasso -round his head, and galloping at full speed, hurled it after the -Salteador at the moment when he passed twenty yards from him.</p> - -<p>The Salteador was stopped dead, and hurled from his horse; the worthy -robber had not suspected that another person beside himself could have a -lasso so handy. The horseman, without checking his speed, cut the reata -that was strangling his companion, and, turning back, dragged the robber -after him.</p> - -<p>The first horseman so providentially saved, freed himself from the -slip knot that choked him, and, hardly recovered from the alarm he had -experienced from his heavy fall, he whistled to his horse, which came up -at once, remounted as well as he could, and rejoined his liberator, who -had stopped a short distance off.</p> - -<p>"Thanks," he said to him, "henceforth we are stanch friends; you have -saved my life, and I shall remember it."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense," the other answered, "I only did what you would have done in -my place."</p> - -<p>"That is possible, but I shall be grateful to you on the word of a -Carnero," he exclaimed, forgetting in his joy the hint he had given a -short time previously, not to make use of names, and revealing his own -incognito; "is the pícaro dead?"</p> - -<p>"Very nearly so, I fancy; what shall we do with him?"</p> - -<p>"Make a corpse of him," the capataz said bluntly. "We are only -two paces from the deadhouse, and he can be carried there without -difficulty. Though he is an utter scoundrel and tried to assassinate -me, the police are so well managed in our unhappy country that if -we committed the imprudence of letting him live, we should have -interminable disputes with the magistrates."</p> - -<p>Then, dismounting, he stooped over the bandit, stretched senseless at -his feet, removed his lasso, and coolly dashed out his brains with a -blow of his pistol butt. Immediately after this summary execution, the -two men left the Paseo de Bucareli, but this time side by side, through -fear of a new accident.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></h4> - -<h3>A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION.</h3> - - -<p>Directly on emerging from the Paseo, the two men separated, as had been -agreed on between them; that is to say, the capataz went ahead, followed -at a respectful distance by Martial the Tigrero, whom the reader has -doubtless recognized.</p> - -<p>All happened as the capataz had announced. The streets were deserted, -the horsemen only met a few half sleeping serenos leaning against the -walls, and were only crossed by a patrol of celadores walking with a -hurried step, and who seemed more inclined to avoid them, than to try -and discover the motives that caused them thus to ride about the streets -of the capital at night, in defiance of the law.</p> - -<p>The Tigrero entered the Callejón del Pájaro, and about the middle of -the street saw the capataz's horse held by an ill-looking fellow, who -gazed curiously at him. Don Martial, following the instructions given -him, pulled his hat over his eyes to foil the mozo's curiosity, stopped -before the door, dismounted, threw his bridle to the fellow, and, -without saying a word to him, resolutely entered the house and carefully -closed the door after him.</p> - -<p>He then found himself in utter darkness, but after groping his way, -which was not difficult for him to do, as all Mexican houses are built -nearly on the same model, he pushed forward. After crossing the zaguán, -he entered a square yard on which several doors looked; one of these -doors was open, and a man was standing on the threshold with a cigarette -in his mouth. It was Carnero.</p> - -<p>The tiger-slayer went up to him; the other made room, and he walked on. -The capataz took him by the hand and whispered, "Come with me."</p> - -<p>In spite of the protestations of devotion previously made by the -capataz, the Tigrero in his heart was somewhat alarmed at the manner in -which he was introduced into this mysterious house; but as he was young, -vigorous, well armed, brave, and resolved, if necessary, to sell his -life dearly, he yielded his hand Unhesitatingly to Carnero, and allowed -him to guide him while seeking to pierce the darkness that surrounded -him.</p> - -<p>But all the windows were hermetically closed with shutters, which -allowed no gleam of light to enter from without.</p> - -<p>His guide led him through several rooms, the floors of which were -covered with matting that deadened the sound of footsteps; he took him -up a flight of stairs, and opening a door with a key he took from his -pocket, conducted him into a room faintly lighted by a lamp placed -before a statue of the Virgin, standing in one corner of the room, on -a species of pedestal attached to the wall, and covered with extremely -delicate lace.</p> - -<p>"Now," said Carnero, after closing the door, from which the Tigrero -noticed that he removed the key, "draw up a butaca, sit down and let us -talk, for we are in safety." Don Martial followed the advice given him, -and after carefully installing himself in a butaca, looked anxiously -around him.</p> - -<p>The room in which he found himself was rather spacious, furnished -tastefully and richly; several valuable pictures hung on the walls, -which were covered with embossed leather, while the furniture consisted -of splendid carved ebony or mahogany tables, sideboards, chiffonniers, -and butacas. On the floor was an Indian petate, several books were -scattered over the tables, and valuable plate was arranged on the -sideboard. In short, this room displayed a proper comprehension of -comfort, and the two windows, with their Moorish jalousies, gave -admission to the pure breeze which greatly refreshed the atmosphere.</p> - -<p>The capataz lighted two candles at the Virgin's lamp, placed them on -the table, and then fetching two bottles and two silver cups, which -he placed before the Tigrero, he drew up a butaca, and seated himself -opposite his guest.</p> - -<p>"Here is sherry which I guarantee to be real Xeres de los Caballeros; -this other bottle contains chinquirito, and both are at your service," -he said, with a laugh; "whether you have a weakness for sugar cane -spirits, or prefer wine."</p> - -<p>"Thanks," Don Martial replied, "but I do not feel inclined to drink."</p> - -<p>"You would not wish to insult me by refusing to hobnob with me?"</p> - -<p>"Very well; if you will permit me, I will take a few drops of -chinquirito in water, solely to prove to you that I am sensible of your -politeness."</p> - -<p>"All right," the capataz continued, as he handed him a crystal decanter, -covered with curiously worked silver filagree; "help yourself."</p> - -<p>When they had drunk, the capataz a glass of sherry, which he sipped like -a true amateur, and Don Tigrero a few drops of chinquirito drowned in a -glass of water, the capataz placed his glass again on the table with a -smack of his lips, and said—</p> - -<p>"Now, I must give you a few words in explanation of the slightly -mysterious way in which I brought you here, in order to dispel any -doubts which may have involuntarily invaded your mind."</p> - -<p>"I am listening to you," the Tigrero answered.</p> - -<p>"Take a cigar first, they are excellent." And he lit one, after pushing -the bundle over to Don Martial: the latter selected one, and soon the -two men were enveloped in a cloud of thin and fragrant smoke.</p> - -<p>"We are in the mansion of General Don Sebastian Guerrero," the capataz -continued.</p> - -<p>"What?" the Tigrero exclaimed, with a start of uneasiness.</p> - -<p>"Re-assure yourself, no one saw you enter, and your presence here is -quite unknown, for the simple reason that I brought you in by my private -entrance."</p> - -<p>"I do not understand you."</p> - -<p>"And yet it is very easy to explain; the house I led you through belongs -to me. For reasons too long to tell you, and which would interest you -but slightly, during Don Sebastian's absence as Governor of Sonora, I -had a passage made, and established a communication between my house -and this mansion. Everybody save myself is ignorant of the existence -of this communication, which," he added, with a glowing smile, "may at -a given moment be of great utility to me. The room in which we now are -forms part of the suite I occupy in the mansion, in which the general, -I am proud to say, has never yet set foot. The man who took your horse -is devoted to me, and even were he to betray me, it would be of little -consequence to me, for the secret door of the passage is so closely -concealed that I have no fear of its being discovered. Hence you see -that you have nothing to fear here, where your presence is unknown."</p> - -<p>"But suppose you were to be sent for, through the general happening to -want you suddenly?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly, but I have foreseen that; it is my system never to leave -anything to chance. Although it has never happened yet, no one can enter -here without my being informed soon enough to get rid of any person who -may be with me, supposing that, for some reason or another, that person -did not desire to be seen."</p> - -<p>"That is capitally arranged, and I am happy to see that you are a man of -prudence."</p> - -<p>"Prudence is, as you know, señor, the mother of safety; and in Mexico, -before all other countries, the proverb receives its application at -every moment."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero bowed politely, but in the fashion of a man who considers -that the speaker has dwelt sufficiently long on one subject, and wishes -to see him pass to another. The capataz appeared to read this almost -imperceptible hint on Don Martial's face, and continued with a smile—</p> - -<p>"But enough on that head, so let us pass, if you have no objection, to -the real purpose of our interview. A man, whose name it is unnecessary -to mention, but to whom, as I have already had the honour of telling -you, I am devoted body and soul, sent you to me to obtain certain -information you require, and which he supposes I am in a position to -give, I will now add, that what passed between us this evening, and the -generous way in which you rushed to my assistance, render it my bounden -duty not only to give you this information, but also to help you with -all my might in the success of the projects you are meditating, whatever -those projects may be, and the dangers I may incur in aiding you. So, -now speak openly with me; conceal nothing from me and you will only have -to praise my frankness towards you."</p> - -<p>"Señor," the Tigrero answered, with considerable emotion, "I thank you -the more heartily for your generous offer, for you know as well as I do -what perils are connected with the carrying out of these plans, to say -nothing of their success."</p> - -<p>"What you are saying is true, but it will be better, I fancy, for the -present, for me to assume to be ignorant of them, so as to leave you the -entire liberty you need for the questions you have to ask me."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes," he said, shaking his head sadly, "my position is so -precarious, the struggle I am engaged in is so wild, that, although I am -supported by sincere friends, I cannot be too prudent. Tell me, then, -what you know as to the fate of the unfortunate Doña Anita de Torrés. Is -she really dead, as the report spread alleged?"</p> - -<p>"Do you know what happened in the cavern after your fall down the -precipice?"</p> - -<p>"Alas! no; my ignorance is complete as to the facts that occurred after -I was abandoned as dead."</p> - -<p>Carnero reflected for a moment. "Listen, Don Martial: before I can -answer categorically the question you have asked me, I must tell you a -long story. Are you ready to hear it?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," the other answered, without hesitation, "for there are many -things I am ignorant of, which I ought to know. So speak without further -delay, señor, and though some parts of the narrative will be most -painful to me, hide nothing from me, I implore you!"</p> - -<p>"You shall be obeyed. Moreover, the night is not yet far advanced; time -does not press us, and in two hours you will know all."</p> - -<p>"I am impatiently waiting for you to begin."</p> - -<p>The capataz remained for some considerable time plunged in deep and -serious reflection. At length he raised his head, leant forward, and -setting his left elbow on the table, began as follows:—</p> - -<p>"At the time when the facts occurred I am about to tell you, I was -living at the Hacienda del Palmar, of which I was steward. Hence I was -only witness to a portion of the facts, and only know the rest from -hearsay. When the Comanches arrived, guided by the white men, Don Sylva -de Torrés was lying mortally wounded, holding in his stiffened arms his -daughter Anita, who had suddenly gone mad on seeing you roll down the -precipice in the grasp of the Indian chief. Don Sebastian Guerrero was -the only relation left to the hapless young lady, and hence she was -taken to his hacienda."</p> - -<p>"What?" Don Martial exclaimed in surprise. "Don Sebastian is a relation -of Doña Anita?"</p> - -<p>"Did you not know that?"</p> - -<p>"I had not the slightest idea of it; and yet I had for several years -been closely connected with the Torrés family, for I was their tigrero."</p> - -<p>"I know it. Well, this is how the relationship exists: Don Sebastian -married a niece of Don Sylva's, so you see they were closely connected. -Still, for reasons never thoroughly made known, a few years after the -general's marriage, a dispute broke out which led to a total suspension -of intimacy between the two families. That is probably the reason why -you never heard of the connection existing between the Sylvas and the -Torrés."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero shook his head. "Go on," he said. "How did the general -receive his relation?"</p> - -<p>"He was not at the hacienda at the time; but an express was sent off -to him, and I was the man. The general came post haste, seemed greatly -moved at the double misfortune that had befallen the young lady, gave -orders for her to be kindly treated, appointed several women to wait -on her, and returned to his post at Sonora, where events of the utmost -gravity summoned him."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes, I have heard of the French invasion, and that their leader -was shot by the general's orders. I presume you are alluding to that?"</p> - -<p>"Yes. Almost immediately after these events the general returned to -the Palmar. He was no longer the same man. The horrible death of his -daughter rendered him gloomier and harsher to any person whom chance -brought into contact with him. For a whole week he remained shut up in -his apartments, refusing to see any of us; but, at last, one day he -sent for me to inquire as to what had happened at the hacienda during -his absence. I had but little to tell him, for life was too simple and -uniform at this remote dwelling for anything at all interesting for him -to have occurred. Still he listened without interruption, with his head -in his hands, and apparently taking great interest in what I told him, -especially when it referred to poor Doña Anita, whose gentle interesting -madness drew tears from us rough men, when we saw her wandering, pale -and white as a spectre, about the huerta, murmuring in a low voice one -name, ever the same, which none of us could overhear, and raising to -heaven her lovely face, bathed in tears. The general let me say all I -had to say, and when I ended he, too, remained silent for some time. At -length, raising his head, he looked at me for a moment angrily."</p> - -<p>"'What are you doing there?' he asked."</p> - -<p>"'I am waiting,' I answered, 'for the orders it may please your -excellency to give me.'"</p> - -<p>"He looked at me for a few more moments as if trying to read my very -thoughts, and then laid his hand on my arm. 'Carnero,' he said to me, -'you have been a long time in my service, but take care lest I should -have to dismiss you. I do not like,' he said, with a stress on the -words, 'servants who are too intelligent and too clear-sighted,' and -when I tried to excuse myself, he added, 'Not a word—profit by the -advice I have given you, and now lead me to Doña Anita's apartments.'"</p> - -<p>"I obeyed with hanging head; the general remained an hour with the -young lady, and I never knew what was said between them. It is true -that now and then I heard the general speaking loudly and angrily, and -Doña Anita weeping, and apparently making some entreaty to him; but -that was all, for prudence warned me to keep at too great a distance -to overhear a single word. When the general came out he was pale, and -sharply ordered me to prepare everything for his departure. The morrow -at daybreak we set out for Mexico, and Doña Anita followed us, carried -in a palanquin. The journey was a long one, but so long as it lasted the -general did not once speak to the young lady, or approach the side of -her palanquin. So soon as we reached our journey's end, Doña Anita was -carried to the Convent of the Bernardines, where she had been educated, -and the good sisters received her with tears of sorrowful sympathy. The -general, owing to the influence he enjoyed, easily succeeded in getting -himself appointed guardian to the young lady, and immediately assumed -the management of her estates, which, as you doubtless are aware, are -considerable, even in this country where large fortunes are so common."</p> - -<p>"I know it," said the Tigrero, with a sigh.</p> - -<p>"All these matters settled," the capataz continued, "the general -returned to Sonora to arrange his affairs, and hand over the government -to the person appointed to succeed him, and who started for his post -some days previously. I will not tell you what happened then, as you -know it; besides, we have only been back in Mexico for a fortnight, and -you and your friends followed our track from the Rocky Mountains."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero raised his head. "Is that really all?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Yes," the capataz answered.</p> - -<p>"On your honour?" Don Martial added, looking fixedly at him.</p> - -<p>Carnero hesitated. "Well, no," he said at last, "there is something else -I must tell you."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h4> - -<h3>DON MARTIAL.</h3> - - -<p>The capataz rose, opened a door, went out for a moment, returned; to his -seat opposite the Tigrero, poured himself out a glass of sherry, which -he swallowed at a draught, and then letting his head fall in his hands, -remained silent.</p> - -<p>Don Martial watched with amazement the various movements of the -capataz. Seeing at last that he did not seem inclined to make the -confession he was so impatiently awaiting, he went over and touched him -slightly. Carnero started as if suddenly branded with a hot iron.</p> - -<p>"What you have to reveal to me must be very terrible," the Tigrero at -length said in a low voice.</p> - -<p>"So terrible, my friend," the capataz answered with an amount of terror -impossible to depict, "that though alone with you in this room, where no -spy can be concealed, I fear to tell it you."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero shook his head sadly. "Speak, my friend," he said, in a -gentle voice, "I have suffered such agony during the last few months, -that all the springs of my soul have been crushed by the fatal pressure -of despair. However horrible may be the blow that menaces me, I will -endure it without flinching; alas! grief has no longer power over me."</p> - -<p>"Yes, you are a man carved in granite. I know that you have struggled -triumphantly against lost fortunes; but, believe me, Don Martial, there -are sufferings a thousandfold more atrocious than death—sufferings -which I do not feel the right of inflicting on you."</p> - -<p>"The pity you testify for me is only weakness. I cannot die before -I have accomplished the task to which I have devoted the wretched -existence heaven left me in its wrath. I have sworn, at the peril of my -life, to protect the girl who was betrothed to me in happier times."</p> - -<p>"Carry out your oath, then, Don Martial; for the poor child was never in -greater peril than she is at present."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean? In heaven's name explain yourself," the Tigrero said -passionately.</p> - -<p>"I mean that Don Sebastian covets the incalculable wealth of his ward, -which he needs for the success of his ambitious plans; I mean that -remorselessly and shamelessly laying aside all human respect, forgetting -that the unfortunate girl the law has confided to him is insane, he -coldly intends to become her murderer."</p> - -<p>"Go on, go on! what frightful scheme can this man have formed?"</p> - -<p>"Oh!" the capataz continued with savage irony; "the plan is simple, -honest, and highly praised by some persons, who consider it admirable, -even sublime."</p> - -<p>"You will tell me?'</p> - -<p>"Well, know all, then; General Don Sebastian Guerrero intends to marry -his ward."</p> - -<p>"Marry his ward, he!" Don Martial exclaimed with horror, "'tis -impossible."</p> - -<p>"Impossible?" the capataz repeated with a laugh, "Oh, how little you -know this man with the implacable will, this wild beast with a human -face, who pitilessly breaks everyone who dares to resist him. He is -resolved to marry his ward in order to strip her of her fortune, and he -will do so, I tell you."</p> - -<p>"But she is mad!"</p> - -<p>"I allow she is."</p> - -<p>"What priest would be so unnatural as to bless this sacrilegious -marriage?"</p> - -<p>"Nonsense," the capataz said with a shrug of his shoulders, "you forget, -my good sir, that the general possesses the talisman which renders -everything possible, and purchases everything—men, women, honour, and -conscience; he has gold."</p> - -<p>"That is true, that is true," the Tigrero exclaimed in despair, and -burying his face in his hands, he remained motionless, as if suddenly -struck by lightning.</p> - -<p>There was a lengthened silence, during which nothing was audible but -the choking sobs that burst from Don Martial's heaving chest. It was a -heartrending sight to see this strong, brave man so tried by adversity, -now conquered and almost crushed by despair, and weeping like a -frightened child.</p> - -<p>The capataz, with his arms crossed on his chest, pale forehead and -eyebrows contracted almost till they met, looked at him with an -expression of gentle and sympathizing pity.</p> - -<p>"Don Martial," he at length said, in a sharp and imperative voice.</p> - -<p>"What do you want with me?" the Tigrero asked, looking up with surprise.</p> - -<p>"I want you to listen to me, for I have not said all yet."</p> - -<p>"What more can you have to tell me?" the other asked sadly.</p> - -<p>"Arouse yourself like the man you are, instead of remaining any longer -crushed beneath the pressure of despair, like a child or a weak woman. -Is there no hope left in your heart?"</p> - -<p>"Did you not tell me that this man had an implacable will which nothing -could resist?"</p> - -<p>"I did say so, I allow; but is that a reason for giving up the struggle? -Do you suppose him invulnerable?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," he exclaimed eagerly, "I can kill him."</p> - -<p>The capataz shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.</p> - -<p>"Kill him," he repeated, "nonsense; that is the vengeance of fools! -Moreover, you will still be able to do that when all other means failed. -No—you can do something else."</p> - -<p>Don Martial looked at him earnestly. "You hate him too then, since you -do not fear to speak to me as you are doing?"</p> - -<p>"No matter whether I hate him or not, so long as I am willing to serve -you."</p> - -<p>"That is true," the Tigrero muttered.</p> - -<p>"Besides," the capataz continued, "do you forget who recommended you to -me?"</p> - -<p>"Valentine," said Don Martial.</p> - -<p>"Valentine; yes, Valentine, who saved my life as you have done, and to -whom I have vowed an eternal gratitude."</p> - -<p>"Oh," Don Martial said mournfully, "Valentine himself has given up any -further contest with this demon."</p> - -<p>The capataz grinned savagely. "Do you believe that?" he asked ironically.</p> - -<p>"What matter?" the Tigrero muttered.</p> - -<p>"Grief makes you egotistic, Don Martial," the other replied; "but I -forgive you on account of the sufferings I have most unluckily caused -you."</p> - -<p>He broke off, poured out a glass of sherry, swallowed it, and sat down -again on his butaca.</p> - -<p>"He would be a bad physician," he continued, "who, having performed a -painful operation, did not know how to apply the proper remedies to -cicatrize and cure it."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed interested, in spite of -himself, by the tone in which those words were uttered.</p> - -<p>"Do you believe," the capataz continued, "do you believe, my friend, -that I would have inflicted such great pain on you if I had not -possessed the means to cause an immense joy to succeed it? Tell me, do -you believe that?"</p> - -<p>"Take care, señor," the Tigrero said in a trembling voice, "take care -what you are about, for I know not why, but I am beginning to regain -hope, and I warn you that if this last illusion which you are trying to -produce were to escape me this time, you would kill me as surely as if -you stabbed me with a dagger."</p> - -<p>The capataz smiled with ineffable gentleness. "Hope, my friend; hope, I -tell you," he said, "that is exactly what I want to bring you to; for I -wish you to have faith in me."</p> - -<p>"Speak, señor," he replied; "I will listen to you with confidence, for I -do not believe you capable of sporting so coldly with agony like mine."</p> - -<p>"Good, we have reached the point I have been aiming at so long. Now -listen to me. I told you, I think, that on her arrival in Mexico, Doña -Anita was taken by Don Sebastian to the Convent of the Bernardines?"</p> - -<p>"Yes! I fancy I can remember your saying so."</p> - -<p>"Very good. Doña Anita was received with open arms by the good nuns who -had educated her. The young lady, on finding herself again among the -companions of her childhood, treated with kind and intelligent care, -wandering unrestrained beneath the lofty trees that had sheltered her -early years, gradually felt calmness returning to her mind; her grief -by degrees gave way to a gentle melancholy; her ideas, overthrown by a -frightful catastrophe, regained their balance; in short, the madness -which had spread its black wings over her brain was driven away by the -soft caresses of the nuns, and soon entirely disappeared."</p> - -<p>"So, then," Don Martial exclaimed, "she has regained her reason?"</p> - -<p>"I will not venture to assert that, for she is still insane in the -opinion of everybody."</p> - -<p>"But in that case——," the Tigrero said in a panting voice.</p> - -<p>"In that case," the capataz continued, purposely laying a stress on -every word, while fixing a magnetic glance on the Tigrero, "as all the -world believes it, it must be so till the contrary is proved."</p> - -<p>"But how did you learn all these details?"</p> - -<p>"In the most simple manner. My master, Don Sebastian, has sent me -several times to the convent with messages, and chance decreed that I -recognized in the sister porter a relation of mine, whom I thought dead -long ago. The worthy woman, in her delight, and perhaps, too, to make -up for the long silence she is compelled to maintain, tells me whenever -she sees me all that is said and done in the convent, and there is a -good deal to learn from the conversation of a nun. She takes a good deal -of interest in me, and as I am fond of her too, I listen to her with -pleasure. Now, do you understand?"</p> - -<p>"Oh! go on. Go on!"</p> - -<p>"Well, this time I have nearly finished. It appears, from what my -relation tells me, that the nuns, and the Mother Superior before all, -are utterly opposed to the general's plans of marriage."</p> - -<p>"Oh, the holy women!" the Tigrero exclaimed with simple joy.</p> - -<p>"Are they not?" the capataz said with a laugh. "This is probably the -reason why they keep so secret the return of their boarder to her -senses, for they doubtless hope that, so long as the poor girl is mad, -the general will not dare contract the impious union he is meditating; -unfortunately, they do not know the man with whom they have to deal, -and the ferocious ambition that devours him; an ambition for the -gratification of which he will recoil from no crime, however atrocious -it may be."</p> - -<p>"Alas!" the Tigrero said despairingly; "you see, my friend, that I am -lost."</p> - -<p>"Wait, wait, my good sir; your situation, perhaps, is not so desperate -as you imagine it."</p> - -<p>"My heart is on fire."</p> - -<p>"Courage; and listen to me to the end. Yesterday I went to the convent, -the Mother Superior, to whom I had the honour of speaking, confided -to me, under the seal of secrecy—for she knows that, although I am a -servant of Don Sebastian, I take a deep interest in Doña Anita, and -would be glad to see her happy—that the young lady has expressed an -intention to confess."</p> - -<p>"Ah, for what reason! do you know?"</p> - -<p>"No, I do not!"</p> - -<p>"But that desire can be easily satisfied, I presume, there are plenty of -monks and priests attached to the convent."</p> - -<p>"Your observation is just; still it appears that, for reasons I am -equally ignorant of, neither the Mother Superior nor Doña Anita wishes -to have one of those monks or priests for confessor, hence——"</p> - -<p>"Hence?" Don Martial quickly interrupted him.</p> - -<p>"Well, the Mother Superior asked me to bring her a priest or monk in -whom I had confidence."</p> - -<p>"Ah!"</p> - -<p>"You understand, my friend."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes! Oh, God! go on!"</p> - -<p>"And to take him to the convent."</p> - -<p>"And," Don Martial asked in a choking voice, "have you found this -confessor?"</p> - -<p>"I believe so," the capataz answered with a smile; "and pray, what do -you think, Don Martial?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, I do too," he exclaimed joyfully. "At what time are you to take -this confessor to the convent?"</p> - -<p>"Tomorrow, at the Oración."</p> - -<p>"Very good, and I presume you have arranged a place to meet him?"</p> - -<p>"Caspita! I should think so; he is to meet me at the Parian, where I -shall be at the first stroke of the Oración."</p> - -<p>"I am certain that he will be punctual!"</p> - -<p>"And so am I; and now, señor, do you consider that you have lost your -time in listening to me?"</p> - -<p>"On the contrary," Don Martial replied, as he offered him his hand with -a smile, "I consider you a first-rate hand at telling a story."</p> - -<p>"You flatter me."</p> - -<p>"No, indeed I do not. I consider, too, that the nuns of St. Bernard are -excellent and holy women."</p> - -<p>"Caspita! I should think so; they have a relation of mine as portress."</p> - -<p>The two men burst into a frank and hearty laugh, whose explosion no one -could have anticipated from the way in which their interview began.</p> - -<p>"Now, we must separate," the capataz said, as he rose.</p> - -<p>"What, already?"</p> - -<p>"I have to accompany my master tonight on an excursion outside the city."</p> - -<p>"Some plot, I presume?"</p> - -<p>"I am afraid so; but what would you have; I am forced to obey."</p> - -<p>"In that case, turn me out of doors."</p> - -<p>"That is what I am going to do; by-the-bye, have you seen Don Valentine -since you arrived?"</p> - -<p>"Not yet. This long delay makes me anxious, and if it were not so late, -or if I knew my road, I would go and ask hospitality of Don Antonio -Rallier, his fellow countryman, so as to obtain news of him."</p> - -<p>"That is of no consequence. Do you know Don Antonio's address?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, he lives in the Secunda Monterilla."</p> - -<p>"It is close by; if you wish it, I will have you taken there."</p> - -<p>"I should feel greatly obliged; but by whom?"</p> - -<p>"Caspita! have you forgotten the man to whom you intrusted your horse? -He will act as your guide."</p> - -<p>"A thousand thanks!"</p> - -<p>"It is not worth them. Will you take a walk tomorrow in the Parian?"</p> - -<p>"I am so anxious to see your confessor that I shall not fail to be -there."</p> - -<p>The two men smiled again.</p> - -<p>"Now, give me your hand, and let us be off."</p> - -<p>They went out of the room; the capataz led the Tigrero by the same -passage, walking along in the darkness as if it were broad day, and -they soon found themselves beneath the zaguán of the small house. The -capataz thrust his head out, after opening the door cautiously. The -street was deserted, and after looking up and down it, he whistled in -a peculiar way, and in a few minutes footsteps were heard and the peon -appeared holding the Tigrero's horse by the bridle.</p> - -<p>"Good bye, señor," the capataz said. "I thank you for the delightful -evening you have caused me to spend. Pilloto, lead this señor, who is a -forastero, to the Secunda Monterilla, and point out to him the house of -Señor Don Antonio Rallier."</p> - -<p>"Yes, mi amo," the peon answered laconically.</p> - -<p>The two friends exchanged a parting salutation; the Tigrero mounted, -and followed Pilloto, while the capataz re-entered the house and closed -the door after him. After numberless turnings and windings, the rider -and the footman at length entered a street which, from its width, the -Tigrero suspected to form part of the fashionable quarter.</p> - -<p>"This is the Secunda Monterilla," said the peon, "and that gentleman," -he added, pointing to a horseman who was coming toward them, followed by -three footmen also mounted, and well-armed, "is the very Don Antonio you -are looking for."</p> - -<p>"You are sure of it?" the Tigrero asked.</p> - -<p>"Caray! I know him well."</p> - -<p>"If that is the case, accept this piastre, my friend, and go home, for I -no longer need your services."</p> - -<p>The peon bowed and retired. During the conversation the newcomer had -halted in evident alarm.</p> - -<p>"'Tis I, Don Antonio," the Tigrero shouted to him. "Come on without -fear—I am a friend."</p> - -<p>"Oh, oh! it is very late to meet a friend in the street," Don Antonio -answered, though he advanced without hesitation, after laying his hand -on his weapon to guard against a surprise.</p> - -<p>"I am Martial, the Tigrero."</p> - -<p>"Oh, that is different; what do you want? A lodging, eh? I will have you -led to my house by a servant, and there leave you till tomorrow, as I am -in a hurry."</p> - -<p>"Agreed; but allow me one word."</p> - -<p>"Speak!"</p> - -<p>"Where is Don Valentine?"</p> - -<p>"Do you want to see him?"</p> - -<p>"Excessively."</p> - -<p>"Then come with me, for I am going to him!"</p> - -<p>"Heaven has sent him thus opportunely," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he -drew his horse up alongside Don Antonio's.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE VELORIO.</h3> - - -<p>It was very late when the conspirators separated, and when the last -groups of officers left the rancho, the sound of the Indian horses and -mules proceeding to market was audible on the paved highway. Although -the darkness was still thick, the stars were beginning to die out in the -heavens, the cold was becoming sharper—in a word, all foretold that day -would soon break.</p> - -<p>The two travellers had seated themselves again at a corner of the table, -opposite one another, and were dumb and motionless as statues. The host -walked about the room with a busy air, apparently arranging and clearing -up, but very anxious in reality, and desirous, in his heart, to be rid -as soon as possible of these two singular customers, whose silence and -sobriety inspired him with but slight confidence.</p> - -<p>At length the person who had always spoken on his own behalf and that -of his companion struck the table twice, and the landlord hurried up at -this summons.</p> - -<p>"What do you wish for, excellency?" he asked, with an obsequious air.</p> - -<p>"I tell you what, landlord," the stranger continued, "it strikes me that -your criado is a long time in returning; he ought to have been back -before this."</p> - -<p>"Pardon me, excellency, but it is a long journey from here to the -Secunda Monterilla, especially when you are obliged to walk it. Still, I -believe the peon will soon be back."</p> - -<p>"May Heaven hear you! Give us each a glass of tamarind water."</p> - -<p>At this moment, when the landlord brought the draught, there was a tap -at the door.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps it is our man," the stranger said.</p> - -<p>"That is possible, your excellency," the landlord answered, as he went -to open the door on the chain, which left only a passage of a few -inches, much too narrow for the visitor to enter the house against the -wish of its owner. This precautionary measure, which is at once very -prudent and simple, is generally adopted all through Mexico, owing -to the slight confidence with which the police organization in this -blessed country, which is the refuge of scoundrels of every description, -inspires the inhabitants.</p> - -<p>After exchanging a few words in a low voice with the new arrival, the -landlord unhooked the chain and opened the door.</p> - -<p>"Excellency," he said to the stranger, who was slowly sipping his -tamarind water, "here is your messenger."</p> - -<p>"At last," the traveller said, gladly, as he placed his horn mug on the -table.</p> - -<p>The peon entered, politely doffed his hat and bowed.</p> - -<p>"Well, my friend," the stranger asked him, "did you find the person to -whom I sent you?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, excellency, I had the good fortune to find him at home on his -return from a tertulia in the Calle San Agustin."</p> - -<p>"Ah, ah! and what did he say on receiving my note?"</p> - -<p>"Well, excellency, he is a caballero, for sure; for he first gave me -a piastre, and then said to me, 'Go back as quick as you can walk, -and tell the gentleman who sent you that I shall be at the meeting he -appoints as soon as yourself.'"</p> - -<p>"So that——"</p> - -<p>"He will probably be here in a few minutes."</p> - -<p>"Very good, you are a clever lad," the stranger answered; "here is -another piastre for you, and now you can retire."</p> - -<p>"Thanks, your excellency," the peon said, joyfully pocketing his -piastre. "Caray! I should be a rich man with only two nights a month -like this."</p> - -<p>And after bowing a second time, he left the room to go and sleep, in -all probability, in the corral. The peon had told the truth, for he -had scarce left the room ten minutes ere a rather loud voice was heard -without: horses stamped, and not only was the door struck, but there -were several loud calls.</p> - -<p>"Open the door without fear," the stranger said; "I know that voice."</p> - -<p>The ranchero obeyed, and several persons entered the inn.</p> - -<p>"At last you have returned, my dear Valentine," the newcomer exclaimed -in French, as he walked quickly towards the travellers, who, for their -part, went to meet him.</p> - -<p>"Thanks for your promptitude in responding to my invitation, my dear -Rallier," the hunter answered.</p> - -<p>The ranchero bit his lips on hearing them talk in a language he did not -understand.</p> - -<p>"Hum! they are Ingleses," he muttered spitefully. "I suspected they must -be gringos."</p> - -<p>It is a general rule with the lower class Mexicans that all foreigners -are English, and consequently hunters or gringos.</p> - -<p>"Come here, Ño Lusacho," Valentine said, addressing the landlord, who -was turning his hat between his fingers with an air of considerable -embarrassment, "I have to talk on important matters with these -gentlemen, and as I do not wish to be disturbed by you, I propose that -you should give me up this room for an hour."</p> - -<p>"Excellency," he muttered.</p> - -<p>"I understand, you expect to be paid. Very good, I will pay you, but on -condition that no one, not even yourself, comes in till I call."</p> - -<p>"Still, your excellency——."</p> - -<p>"Listen to me without interruption. Day will not break for two hours, so -you will not open your rancho till then, and, consequently, you have no -customers to expect. I will pay an ounce for each hour; will that suit -you?"</p> - -<p>"I should think so, your excellency; at that price I will sell you the -whole day if you wish."</p> - -<p>"That is not necessary," the hunter said, with a laugh; "but you -understand I want fair play—no ears on the listen, or eyes at the slits -of the panelling."</p> - -<p>"I am an honest man, your excellency."</p> - -<p>"I am ready to believe so; but I warn you, because in the event of my -seeing an eye or an ear lap, I shall immediately fire a bullet at it as -a recommendation to prudence, and I have the ill luck to be a dead shot. -Does the bargain suit you with those conditions?"</p> - -<p>"Perfectly, your excellency. I shall keep a strict watch over my people, -so that you shall not be disturbed."</p> - -<p>"You are a splendid landlord, and I predict that you will make a rapid -fortune, for I see that you thoroughly understand your own interests."</p> - -<p>"I try to satisfy the gentry who honour my poor abode with their -presence."</p> - -<p>"Excellently reasoned! Here are the two promised ounces, and four -piastres in the bargain for the refreshments you are going to serve us. -Have these gentlemen's horses taken to the corral, and have the goodness -to leave us."</p> - -<p>The landlord bowed with a grimacing smile, brought, with a speed far -from common with people of his calling, the refreshments ordered, and -gave the hunter a deep bow.</p> - -<p>"Now," he said, "your excellency is in your own house, and no one shall -enter without your orders."</p> - -<p>While Valentine was making this bargain with the ranchero, his friends -remained silent, laughing inwardly at the hunter's singular mode of -proceeding, and the unanswerable arguments he employed to avoid an -espionage almost always to be found in such places, when the master does -not scruple to betray those who pay him best.</p> - -<p>"Now," said Valentine, so soon as the door closed behind the landlord, -"we shall talk at least in safety."</p> - -<p>"Speak Spanish, my friend," said M. Rallier.</p> - -<p>"Why so? It is so delightful to converse in one's own tongue, when, -like me, you have so few opportunities for doing so. I assure you that -Curumilla will not feel offended."</p> - -<p>"Hum; I did not say this on behalf of the chief, whose friendship for -you I am well acquainted with."</p> - -<p>"Who then?"</p> - -<p>"For Don Martial, who has accompanied me, and has important matters to -communicate to you."</p> - -<p>"Oh, oh, that changes the question," said the hunter, at once -substituting Spanish for the French he had hitherto employed. "Are you -there, my dear Don Martial?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, señor," the Tigrero answered, emerging from the gloom in which he -had remained up to this moment, "and very happy to see you."</p> - -<p>"Who else have you brought with you, Don Antonio?"</p> - -<p>"Me, my friend," said a third person, as he let the folds of his cloak -fall. "My brother thought that it would be better to have a companion, -in the event of an alarm."</p> - -<p>"Your brother was right, my dear Edward, and I thank him for the good -idea, which procures me the pleasure of shaking your hand a few moments -sooner. And now, señores, if you are agreeable, we will sit down and -talk, for, if I am not mistaken, we have certain things to tell each -other which are most important for us."</p> - -<p>"That is true!" Antonio Rallier answered, as he sat down, in which he -was immediately imitated by the rest.</p> - -<p>"If you like," Valentine continued, "we will proceed in regular -rotation; that is, I fancy, the way to finish more quickly, for you know -that moments are precious."</p> - -<p>"First, and before all else, my friend," said Antonio Rallier, "permit -me to thank you once again, in my own name and that of my family, for -the services you rendered me in our journey across the Rocky Mountains. -Without you, without your watchful friendship and courageous devotion, -we should never have emerged from those frightful gorges, but must have -perished miserably in them."</p> - -<p>"What good is it, my friend, to recall at this moment——"</p> - -<p>"Because," Antonio Rallier continued eagerly, "I wish you to be -thoroughly convinced that you can dispose of us all as you please. Our -arms, purses, and hearts, all belong to you."</p> - -<p>"I know it, my friend, and you see that I have not hesitated to make -use of you, at the risk even of compromising you. So let us leave this -subject, and come to facts. What have you done?"</p> - -<p>"I have literally followed your instructions; according to your wish, I -have hired and furnished for you a house in Tacuba Street."</p> - -<p>"Pardon me, but you know that I am very slightly acquainted with Mexico, -for I have visited that city but rarely, and each time without stopping."</p> - -<p>"The Tacuba is one of the principal streets in Mexico; it faces the -palace, and is close to the street in which I reside with my family."</p> - -<p>"That is famous. And in whose name did you take the house?"</p> - -<p>"In that of Don Serapio de la Ronda. Your servants arrived two days ago."</p> - -<p>"You mean——"</p> - -<p>"I mean Belhumeur and Black Elk; the former is your steward and the -latter your valet. They have made all the arrangements, and you can -arrive when you please."</p> - -<p>"Today, then."</p> - -<p>"I will act as your guide."</p> - -<p>"Thank you; what next?"</p> - -<p>"Next, my brother Edward has taken, in his own name, at the San Lázaro -gate, a small house, where ten horses, belonging to the purest mustang -breed, were at once placed in a magnificent corral."</p> - -<p>"That concerns Curumilla; he will live in that house with your brother."</p> - -<p>"And now one other thing, my friend."</p> - -<p>"Speak!"</p> - -<p>"You will not be angry with me?"</p> - -<p>"With you? nonsense!" said Valentine, holding out his hand.</p> - -<p>"Not knowing whether you had sufficient funds at your disposal—and you -will agree with me that you will require a large sum——?"</p> - -<p>"I know it. Well?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I——"</p> - -<p>"I see I must come to your assistance, my poor Antonio. As you believe -me a poor devil of a hunter not possessed of a farthing, and are so -delicate minded yourself, you have placed in a corner of the room, or -in some article of furniture, of which you want to give me the key and -don't know how, fifty or perhaps one hundred thousand piastres, with the -reservation to offer me more, should not that sum prove sufficient."</p> - -<p>"Would you be angry with me had I done so?"</p> - -<p>"On the contrary, I should be most grateful to you."</p> - -<p>"In that case I am glad."</p> - -<p>"Glad of what, my dear Antonio?"</p> - -<p>"That you accept the hundred thousand piastres."</p> - -<p>Valentine smiled.</p> - -<p>"I am delighted to find that you are the man I judged you to be. Still, -while thanking you from my heart for the service you wish to render me, -I do not accept it."</p> - -<p>"Do you refuse, Valentine?" he said mournfully.</p> - -<p>"Let us understand each other, my friend. I do not refuse; I simply tell -you that I do not want the money, and here is the proof," he added, -as he took from his pocket a folded paper, which, he handed to his -countryman, "you, as a banker, may know the firm of Thornwood, Davison, -and Co."</p> - -<p>"It is the richest in San Francisco."</p> - -<p>"Then open that paper and read."</p> - -<p>Mr. Rallier obeyed.</p> - -<p>"An unlimited credit opened at my house," he exclaimed in a voice -tremulous with joy.</p> - -<p>"Does that displease you?" Valentine asked with a smile.</p> - -<p>"On the contrary; but you must be rich in that case."</p> - -<p>A cloud of sadness passed over the hunter's forehead.</p> - -<p>"I have grieved you, my friend."</p> - -<p>"Alas! as you know, there are certain wounds which never close. Yes, my -friend, I am rich; Curumilla, Belhumeur, and myself alone, now that my -foster-mother is dead, know in Apacheria the richest placer that exists -in the world. It was for the purpose of going to this placer that I did -not accompany you to Mexico; now you understand; but what do I care for -this incalculable fortune, when my heart is dead, and the joy of my life -is for ever annihilated!"</p> - -<p>And under the weight of the deep emotion that crushed him, the hunter -hung his head down and stifled a sob. Curumilla arose amid the general -silence, for no one ventured to offer ordinary consolation for this -grief, and laid his hand on Valentine's shoulder—</p> - -<p>"Koutonepi," he said to him in a hollow voice, "remember that you have -sworn to avenge our brother."</p> - -<p>The hunter drew himself up as if stung by a serpent, and pressing the -hand the Indian offered him, he looked at him for a moment with strange -fixedness.</p> - -<p>"Women alone weep for the dead, because they are unable to avenge them," -the Indian continued in the same harsh, cutting accent.</p> - -<p>"Yes, you are right," the hunter answered with feverish energy; "I thank -you, chief, for having recalled me to myself."</p> - -<p>Curumilla laid his friend's hand on his heart, and stood for an instant -motionless; at length he let it fall, sat down again, and wrapping -himself in his zarapé, he returned to his habitual silence, from which -so grave a circumstance alone could have aroused him. Valentine passed -his hand twice over his forehead, which was bathed in cold perspiration, -and attempted a faint smile.</p> - -<p>"Forgive me, my friends, for having forgotten, during a moment, the -character I have assumed," he said in a gentle voice.</p> - -<p>Their hands were silently extended to him.</p> - -<p>"Now," he exclaimed in a firm voice, in whose notes traces of the past -tempest were still audible, "let us speak of that poor Doña Anita de -Torrés."</p> - -<p>"Alas!" said the elder Rallier, "I cannot tell you anything, although -my sister Helena, her companion at the Convent of the Bernardines, to -which I sent her in accordance with your wish, has let me know that she -would have grand news for us in a few days."</p> - -<p>"I will give you that news, with your permission," Don Martial said -at this moment, suddenly joining in the conversation, to which he had -hitherto listened with great indifference.</p> - -<p>"Do you know anything?" Valentine asked him.</p> - -<p>"Yes, something most important; that is why I was so anxious to speak -with you."</p> - -<p>"Speak then, my friend, speak, we are listening."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero, without further pressing, at once reported, in the fullest -details, his interview with Don Sebastian Guerrero's capataz. The three -Frenchmen listened with the most serious attention, and when he had -finished his story, Valentine rose—</p> - -<p>"Let us be off, señores," he said, "we have no time to lose; perhaps -heaven offers us, at this moment, the opportunity we have been so long -awaiting."</p> - -<p>The others rose without asking the hunter for any explanation, and a -few minutes later Valentine and his comrades were galloping along the -highway in the direction of Mexico.</p> - -<p>"I do not know what diabolical plot they are forming," Ño Lusacho -muttered, on seeing them disappear in the distance; "but they are worthy -gentlemen, and let the ounces slip through their fingers like so much -water."</p> - -<p>And he entered the rancho, the door of which he now left open, for day -was breaking.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES.</h3> - - -<p>The history of colonies is the same everywhere, that is to say, that you -find the old belief, the forgotten manners and customs of the mother -country intact, and almost exaggerated.</p> - -<p>Mexico was to Spain what Canada still is to France. In Mexico we, -therefore, find the Spain of the monks, with all the abuses of a -degenerate monastic life; for we are compelled to state that with -few, very few exceptions, the monks of Mexico are far from leading an -exemplary life. A few years ago a Papal legate arrived at Mexico, who -had been sent to try and introduce into the monasteries reforms which -had become urgent; but he soon recognized the impossibility of success, -and returned as he came. This is the history of yesterday and today, and -in the way things are going on, it will be the history of tomorrow.</p> - -<p>In spite of the innumerable revolutions the Mexican monks are still -very rich. Among other uses to which they put their money, the best is, -perhaps, lending it out at six per cent., which, let us hasten to add, -is a great blessing in a country where the ordinary interest on borrowed -money is sixteen to eighteen per cent. Still, it appears to us, and we -trust the remark will not be taken in bad part, but little in harmony -with the vocation of the monks and the pure doctrines of religion, which -is so opposed to lending money out at interest, for it has ever seen in -it disguised usury.</p> - -<p>We will add, at the risk of incurring the blame of some persons, and -of appearing to emit a paradox, that in this collection of Christian -religious buildings there seems to be kept up the tradition of the -great Mexican Teocali, which contained within its walls seventy-eight -buildings devoted to the Aztec worship.</p> - -<p>In the first place, what is the religion professed in Spanish America? -It certainly is not the Catholic faith; and this we can affirm with a -safe conscience, and supply proof if necessary. The Americans of the -south, like all southern peoples, are instinctively Pagans, fond of -war and holidays, making a god of each saint, adoring the Virgin under -a hundred different forms, digging up the old Aztec idols, placing -them in all the Mexican churches, and offering them worship under the -characteristic denomination of Santos antiguos, or ancient saints.</p> - -<p>What can be said after this? Simply that the Hispano-Americans never -understood the religion they were compelled to profess; that they care -but very little for it, and in their hearts cling to their old worship -in the terrific proportion of the native to the European population, -that is to say two-thirds to one. Hence the demoralization of the -masses, which is justly complained of, but is the fault of those persons -who, at the outset, believed they could establish the religion of -Christ in their countries by fire and sword—a system, we are bound to -add, scrupulously followed by the Spanish clergy, up to the Proclamation -of the Independence of the colonies.</p> - -<p>The Convent of the Bernardines is situated but a short distance from -the Paseo de Bucareli. Not one of the religious communities for women -scattered over Mexico is so rich as this one, for the kings of Spain -and nobles of the highest rank gave it large endowments, which, in the -course of time, have grown into an immense fortune.</p> - -<p>The vast site occupied by the Convent of the Bernardines, the thick -walls that surround it, and the numerous domes that crown it, -sufficiently indicate the importance it enjoys at the present day.</p> - -<p>Like all the Mexican convents, and especially that at San Francisco, to -which it bears a distant resemblance, the Convent of the Bernardines is -defended by thick walls, flanked by massive buttresses, which give it -the appearance of a fortress. Still the peaceful belfries, and their -cupolas of enamelled porcelain covering so many chapels, allow the pious -destination of the edifice to be recognized. An immense paved court -leads to the principal chapel, which is adorned with a luxury that it -would be difficult to form an idea of in our sceptical Europe.</p> - -<p>Behind this first court is the space reserved for the nuns, consisting -of immense cloisters, adorned with pictures by old masters, and white -jasper basins from which limpid fountains rise. Next come immense -huertas with umbrageous walks, wide courtyards, a rich and valuable -library in which the scientific wealth of Mexico lies buried, eight -spacious, comfortable, and airy dormitories, four hundred cells for -the nuns, and a refectory in which four hundred guests can sit without -crowding.</p> - -<p>On the day when we introduce the reader into the Convent of the -Bernardines, at about five in the evening, three persons, collected in -a leafy arbour, almost at the end of the garden, were talking together -with considerable animation.</p> - -<p>Of these persons, one, the eldest, was a nun, while the other two, girls -of from sixteen to eighteen years of age, wore the garb of novices.</p> - -<p>The first was the Mother Superior of the convent, a lady of about fifty -years of age, with delicate and aristocratic features, gentle manners, -and noble and majestic demeanour, whose face displayed kindness and -intelligence.</p> - -<p>The second was Doña Anita; we will not draw her portrait, for the reader -has long been acquainted with her.<a name="FNanchor_1_4" id="FNanchor_1_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_4" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> The poor girl, however, was pale -and white as a corpse, her fever-parched eyes were not easy, fixed on -any object, and she looked about her hurriedly and desperately.</p> - -<p>The third was Doña Helena Rallier, a light-haired, blue-eyed girl, with -a saucy look, whose velvety cheeks, and noble and well-defined features, -revealed the candour and innocence of youth, combined with the laughing -expressions of a boarder spoiled by an indulgent governess.</p> - -<p>Doña Helena was standing a little outside the arbour, leaning against -a tree, and seemed like a vigilant sentry carefully watching lest the -conversation between the Mother Superior and her companion should be -disturbed.</p> - -<p>Doña Anita, seated on a stone bench by the side of the Abbess, with her -hand in the elder lady's, and her head resting on her shoulder, was -speaking to her in a faltering voice and broken sentences which found -difficulty in passing her parted lips, while the tears silently ran down -her cheeks, which suffering had rendered pale.</p> - -<p>"My kind mother," she said, and her voice, was harmonious as the sigh -of an Æolian harp, "I know not how to thank you for your inexhaustible -kindness towards me. Alas! you are at present my only friend; why may -I not be allowed to remain always by your side? I should be so glad to -take my vows and pass my life in this convent under your benevolent -protection."</p> - -<p>"My dear child," the Abbess said gently, "God is great, his power is -infinite; hence, why despair? Alas! doubt leads to denial; you are still -almost a child. Who knows what joy and happiness the future may still -have in store for you?"</p> - -<p>The maiden gave a heavy sigh. "Alas!" she murmured, "the future no -longer exists for me, my kind mother; a poor orphan, abandoned without -protection to the power of an unnatural relation, I must endure fearful -tortures, and, under his iron yoke, lead a life of suffering and grief."</p> - -<p>"Child," the Abbess said, with gentle sternness, "do not blaspheme; you -are still ignorant, I repeat, of what the future may have in store for -you. You are ungrateful at this moment—ungrateful and selfish."</p> - -<p>"I ungrateful! holy mother!" the maiden objected.</p> - -<p>"Yes, you are ungrateful, Anita, to us and to yourself. Do you consider -it nothing, after the frightful misfortune that burst on you, to have -returned to this convent in which your childhood was spent, and to have -found among us that family which the world refused you? Is it nothing to -have near you hearts that pity you, and voices that incessantly urge you -to have courage?"</p> - -<p>"Courage, sister," Doña Helena's sweet voice said at this moment, like a -soft echo.</p> - -<p>The maiden hid her lovely tear-bedewed face in the bosom of the Mother -Superior.</p> - -<p>"Pardon me, mother," she continued, "pardon me, but I am crushed by this -struggle, which I have carried on so long without hope. The courage -you attempt to give me cannot, in spite of my efforts, penetrate to my -heart, for I have the fatal conviction that, whatever you may do, you -will not succeed in preventing the frightful misfortune suspended over -my head."</p> - -<p>"Let us reason a little, my child, like sensible persons; up to the -present, at least, we have succeeded in concealing from everybody the -happy return of your senses."</p> - -<p>"Happy!" she sighed.</p> - -<p>"Yes, happy; for with the intellect faith, that is to say, strength, -returned to you. Well, while your guardian believes you still insane, -and is compelled, in spite of himself, to suspend his schemes with -reference to you, I have been employing all the influence my high -position gives me, and my family connections. I have had a petition on -your behalf presented to the President of the Republic by sure hands; -this petition is supported by the greatest names in Mexico, and I ask in -it that the marriage with which you are menaced may not be contracted -against your will; in a word, I ask that your guardian may be prevented -taking any steps till you are in a proper condition to say yes or no."</p> - -<p>"Have you really done that, my good mother?" the maiden exclaimed, as -she threw her arms in real delight round the elder lady's neck.</p> - -<p>"Yes, I have done so, my child, and I am expecting every moment a reply, -which I hope will be favourable."</p> - -<p>"Oh, mother, my real mother, if that succeeds I shall be saved."</p> - -<p>"Do not go from one extreme to the other, my child; all is uncertain -yet, and heaven alone knows whether we shall be successful."</p> - -<p>"Oh, God will not abandon a poor orphan."</p> - -<p>"God, my child, chastens those He loves; have confidence in Him, and his -right hand will be extended over you to sustain you in adversity."</p> - -<p>"Sister Redemption is coming this way, holy mother," Doña Helena said at -this moment.</p> - -<p>At a sign from the Mother Superior, Doña Anita withdrew to the other end -of the bench on which she was seated, folded her arms on her chest, and -let her head droop.</p> - -<p>"Are you looking for our mother, sister?" Doña Helena asked a rather -elderly lay sister, who was looking to the right and left as if really -seeking somebody.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sister," the lay sister answered, "I wish to deliver a message -with which I am entrusted for our mother."</p> - -<p>"Then enter this arbour, sister, and you will find her reposing there."</p> - -<p>The lay sister entered the arbour, approached the Mother Superior, -stopped modestly three paces from her, folded her arms on her breast, -looked down respectfully, and waited till she was spoken to.</p> - -<p>"What do you desire, daughter?" the Mother Superior asked her.</p> - -<p>"Your blessing, in the first place, holy mother," the lay sister -answered.</p> - -<p>"I can give it you, daughter; and now what message have you for me?"</p> - -<p>"Holy mother, a gentleman of lofty bearing, called Don Serapio de la -Ronda, wishes to speak with you privately; the sister porter took him -into the parlour, where he is waiting for you."</p> - -<p>"I will be with him directly, daughter; tell the sister porter to -apologize in my name to the gentleman, if I keep him waiting longer than -I like, owing to my advanced age. Go on, I follow you."</p> - -<p>The lay sister bowed respectfully to the abbess, and went away to -deliver the message with which she was entrusted. The abbess rose, and -the two girls sprang forward to support her; but she stopped them.</p> - -<p>"Remain here till the Oración, my children," she said to them, "converse -together; but be prudent, and do not let yourselves be surprised; after -the Oración, you will come and converse in my cell."</p> - -<p>Then after giving Doña Anita a parting kiss, the Mother Superior went -away, sorely troubled in mind at this visit from a man she did not know, -and whose name she now heard for the first time. When she entered the -parlour, the abbess examined with a hasty glance the person who asked to -see her, and who, on perceiving her, rose from his chair, and bowed to -her respectfully. This first glance was favourable to the stranger, in -whom the reader has doubtless already recognized Valentine Guillois.</p> - -<p>"Pray resume your seat, caballero," the abbess said to him, "if your -conversation is to last any time, we shall talk more comfortably when -sitting."</p> - -<p>Valentine bowed, offered the lady a chair, and then returned to his own.</p> - -<p>"Señor Don Serapio de la Ronda was announced to me," the lady continued -after a short silence.</p> - -<p>"I am that gentleman, madam," Valentine said courteously.</p> - -<p>"I am at your orders, caballero, and ready to listen to any -communication you may have to make."</p> - -<p>"Madam, I have nothing personal to say to you; I am merely commissioned -by the Minister of the Home Department to deliver you this letter, to -which I have a few words to add."</p> - -<p>While uttering this sentence with exquisite politeness, Valentine -offered the abbess a letter bearing the ministerial arms.</p> - -<p>"Pray open the letter, madam," he added, on seeing that, through -politeness, she held it in her hand unopened, "you must render yourself -acquainted with its contents in order to understand the meaning of the -words I have to add."</p> - -<p>The abbess, who in her heart was impatient to know what the minister had -to say to her, offered no objection, and broke the seal of the letter, -which she hurriedly perused. On reading it a lively expression of joy -lit up her face.</p> - -<p>"Then," she exclaimed, "his excellency deigns to grant my request?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, madam; you remain, until fresh orders, responsible for your -young charge. You have only to deal with the minister in the matter; -and," he added, with a purposed stress on the words, "in the event of -General Guerrero, the guardian of Doña Anita, trying to force you into -surrendering her to him, you are authorized to conceal the young lady, -who is for so many reasons an object of interest, in any house of the -order you please."</p> - -<p>"Oh, señor," she answered, her eyes filling with tears of joy, "pray -thank his excellency in my name for the act of justice he has deigned to -perform in favour of this unfortunate young lady."</p> - -<p>"I will have that honour, madam," Valentine said, as he rose; "and now -that I have delivered my message, permit me to take leave of you, while -congratulating myself that I was selected by his Excellency the Minister -to be his intermediary with you."</p> - -<p>At the moment when Valentine left the convent, Carnero entered it, -accompanied by a monk, whose hood was pulled down over his face. The -hunter and the capataz exchanged a side glance, but did not speak.</p> - - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_4" id="Footnote_1_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_4"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> See "Tiger Slayer." Same publishers.</p></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE CONFESSOR.</h3> - - -<p>Mexico, as we have already stated, was, after the conquest, completely -rebuilt on the original plan, so that, at the present day, it offers -nearly the same sight as struck Cortez when he entered it for the first -time. The Plaza Mayor, especially, some years back, before the French -innovations, more or less good, were introduced, offered towards evening -a most picturesque scene.</p> - -<p>This immense square is bounded on one side by the Portales de -Mercaderes; heavy arches supported on one side by immense stones, and on -the other by pilasters, at the foot of which are the alacenas or shops.</p> - -<p>The ayuntamiento, the president's palace, the cathedral, the sagrario, -the portal de las flores, an immense bazaar for merchandize, and the -Parian, also a bazaar, complete, or rather completed, at the period when -our history takes place, the fourth side of the square, for recently -great changes have taken place, and the Parian, among other buildings, -has disappeared. The handsomest streets, such as the Tacuba, Mint, -Monterilla, Santo Domingo, etc., debouche on the great square.</p> - -<p>The cathedral stands exactly on the site of the ancient great Mexican -Teocali, all the buildings of which it has absorbed; unfortunately this -building, which is externally splendid, does not come up internally to -the idea formed of it, for its ornaments are in bad taste, poor and -paltry.</p> - -<p>Between five and six in the evening, or a few minutes before Oración, -the appearance of the Plaza Mayor becomes really fairy-like. The crowd -of strollers—a strange crowd were there ever one—flocks up from all -sides at once, composed of horsemen, pedestrians, officers, priests, -soldiers, campesinos, leperos, Indian women in red petticoats, ladies of -fashion in their sayas, and all the people come, go, cross and jostle -each other, mingling their conversation with the cries of children, -the vociferations of the leperos, who torment purchasers with their -impetuosity, and the shrill appeals of the sellers of tamales and -queratero, crouching in the shade of the porticos.</p> - -<p>A few minutes before the Oración, a Franciscan monk, recognizable by his -blue gown, and silken cord round his waist, and whose large white felt -hat, pulled down over the eyes, almost completely concealed his face, -came from the Calle Monterilla, and entered the Plaza Mayor.</p> - -<p>This man, who was tall and apparently powerfully built, walked slowly, -with hanging head and arms crossed on his chest, as if plunged in -serious reflection. Instead of entering the thronged Portales, he -crossed the square and proceeded towards the Parian, which was very -lively at the moment, for the Parian was a bazaar, resembling the Temple -of Paris, and was visited at this period by persons, the leanness of -whose purses only allowed them to purchase here their jewellery and -smart clothing, which, in any other part of the city would have been -much too expensive for them.</p> - -<p>Not attending to the noise or movement around him, the Franciscan leant -his shoulder against the stall of an evangelista, or public writer, and -looked absently and wearily across the square. He did not remain long in -this position, however, for just after he had reached the Parian, the -Oración began. At the first peal of the cathedral bells, all the noises -ceased in the square; the crowd stopped, heads were uncovered, and each -muttered a short prayer in a low voice.</p> - -<p>At the last stroke of the Oración, a hand was laid on the Franciscan's -shoulder, while a voice whispered in his ear—</p> - -<p>"You are exact to the rendezvous, Señor Padre."</p> - -<p>"I am performing my duty, my son," the monk at once answered, turning -round.</p> - -<p>In the person who addressed him he doubtless recognized a friend, for he -offered him his hand by a spontaneous movement.</p> - -<p>"Are you still resolved to attempt the adventure?" the first speaker -continued.</p> - -<p>"More than ever, señor."</p> - -<p>"Bear in mind that you must not mention my name; we do not know each -other; you are a monk from the San Franciscan monastery, whom I fetched -to confess a young novice at the Convent of the Bernardines. It is -understood that you do not know who I am?"</p> - -<p>"My brother, we poor monks are at the service of the afflicted; our duty -orders us to help them when they claim our support; as we have no name -for society, we are forbidden to ask that of those who summon us."</p> - -<p>"Excellently spoken," the other replied, repressing a smile. "You are -a monk according to my own heart. I see that I am not deceived with -respect to you; come then, my father, we must not keep the person -waiting who is expecting us."</p> - -<p>The Franciscan bowed his assent, placed himself in the right of his -singular friend, and both went away from the Parian, where the noise -had become louder than ever, after the angelos had ceased ringing. The -two men passed unnoticed through the crowd, and walked in the direction -of the Convent of the Bernardines, going along silently, side by side.</p> - -<p>We have said that at the convent gate they passed Don Serapio de la -Ronda, that is to say, Valentine Guillois, and that the three men -exchanged a side glance full of meaning. The sister porter made no -objection to admitting the Franciscan; and his guide, so soon as he -saw him inside the convent, took leave of him after exchanging a few -commonplace compliments with the sister. The latter respectfully led the -monk into a parlour, and after begging him to wait a moment, went away -to inform the Mother Superior of the arrival of the confessor whom the -young novice had requested to see.</p> - -<p>We will leave the Franciscan for a little while to his meditations, and -return to the two young ladies whom we left in the garden. So soon as -the abbess had withdrawn, they drew closer together, Doña Helena taking -the seat on the bench previously occupied by the abbess.</p> - -<p>"My dear Anita," she said, "let me profit by the few minutes we are left -alone to impart to you the contents of a letter I received this morning; -I feared that I should be unable to do so, and yet it seems to me that -what I have to tell you is most important."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean, my dear Helena? Does the letter to which you refer -interest me?"</p> - -<p>"I cannot positively explain to you, but it will be sufficient for you -to know that my brothers are very intimate with a countryman of ours who -takes the greatest interest in you, and what I have to tell you relates -to this Frenchman."</p> - -<p>"That is strange," said Doña Anita, pausing. "I never knew but one -Frenchman, and I have told you the sad story which was the cause of all -the misfortunes that overwhelmed me. But the Frenchman whom my father -wished me to marry died under frightful circumstances; then who can this -gentleman be who takes so lively an interest in me—do you know him?"</p> - -<p>"Very slightly," the young lady answered with a blush, "but sufficiently -to be able to assure you that he possesses a noble heart. He does not -know you personally; but," she added, as she drew a letter from her -bosom, and opened it, "this is the passage in my brother's letter which -refers to you and him. Shall I read it to you?"</p> - -<p>"Pray read it, my dear Helena, for I know the friendship you and your -family entertain for me; hence, it is with the greatest pleasure I -receive news of your brothers."</p> - -<p>"Listen then," the young lady continued, and she read, after seeking for -the passage—</p> - -<p>"'Valentine begs me, dear sister, to ask you to tell your friend'—that -is you," she said, breaking off.</p> - -<p>"Go on," Doña Anita answered, whose curiosity had been aroused by the -name Helena had pronounced, though it was impossible for her to know -who that person was.</p> - -<p>"'To tell your friend,' Doña Helena continued, 'that the confessor she -asked for will come to the convent this very day after the Oración. Doña -Anita must arm herself with courage, which is as necessary to endure -joy as grief, for she will learn today some news possessing immense -importance for the future.' That is underlined," the young lady added, -as she bent over to her friend, and pointed to the sentence with the tip -of her rosy finger.</p> - -<p>"That is strange," Doña Anita murmured. "Alas! what news can I learn?"</p> - -<p>"Who knows?" said her young companion, and then continued—"'Before -all, Doña Anita must be prudent; and however extraordinary what she -hears may appear to her, she must be careful to conceal the effect -produced by this revelation, for she must not forget that if she have -devoted friends, she is closely watched by all-powerful enemies, and the -slightest imprudence would hopelessly neutralize all the efforts that -we are making to save her. You cannot, my dear sister, lay sufficient -stress on this recommendation.' The rest," the maiden added, with a -smile, "only relates to myself, and it is, therefore, unnecessary for me -to read it to you."</p> - -<p>And she refolded the letter, which disappeared in her dress again.</p> - -<p>"And now, my darling, you are warned," she said; "so be prudent."</p> - -<p>"Good heaven! I do not understand the letter at all, nor do I know the -Valentine to whom it alludes. It was by your advice that I asked for a -confessor."</p> - -<p>"That is to say, by my brother's advice, who, as you know, Anita, placed -me here, not merely because I love you as a sister, but also to support -and encourage you."</p> - -<p>"And I am grateful both to you and him for it, dear Helena; if I had -not you near me, in spite of the friendship our worthy and kind mother -condescends to grant me, I should long ago have succumbed to my grief."</p> - -<p>"The question is not about me at this moment, my darling, but -solely about yourself. However obscure and mysterious my brother's -recommendation may be, I know him to be too earnest and too truly kind -for me to neglect it. Hence I cannot find language strong enough to urge -you to prudence."</p> - -<p>"I seek in vain to guess what the news is to which he refers; and I -acknowledge that I feel a secret repugnance to see the confessor he -announces to me. Alas! I have everything to fear, and nothing to hope -now."</p> - -<p>"Silence," Doña Helena said, quietly. "I hear the sound of footsteps in -the walk leading to this arbour. Someone is coming. So we must not let -ourselves be surprised."</p> - -<p>"In fact, almost at the same moment the lay sister, who had already -informed the Mother Superior of the arrival of Don Serapio de la Ronda, -appeared at the entrance of the arbour.</p> - -<p>"Señorita," she said, addressing Doña Helena, "our holy mother abbess -wishes to speak to you as well as to Doña Anita without delay. She is -waiting for you in her private cell in the company of a holy Franciscan -monk."</p> - -<p>The maidens exchanged a glance, and a transient flush appeared on Doña -Anita's pale cheeks.</p> - -<p>"We will follow you, sister," Doña Helena replied. The maidens rose; -Doña Helena passed her arm through her companion's, and stooping down, -whispered in her ear—</p> - -<p>"Courage, Querida."</p> - -<p>They followed the lay sister, who led them to the Mother Superior's -cell, and discreetly withdrew on reaching the door. The abbess appeared -to be talking rather excitedly with the Franciscan monk; but, on seeing -the two girls, she ceased speaking, and rose.</p> - -<p>"Come, my child," she said, as she held out her arms to Doña Anita, -"come and thank God who in his infinite goodness has deigned to perform -a miracle on your behalf."</p> - -<p>The maiden stopped through involuntary emotion, and looked wildly around -her. At a sign from the abbess the monk rose, and throwing back his hood -at the same time as he fell on his knees before the maiden, he said to -her in a voice faltering with emotion—</p> - -<p>"Anita, do you recognize me?"</p> - -<p>At the sound of this voice, whose sympathetic notes made all the fibres -of her heart vibrate, the maiden suddenly drew herself back, tottered -and fell into the arms of Doña Helena, as she shrieked with an accent -impossible to describe—</p> - -<p>"Martial! oh, Martial!"</p> - -<p>A sob burst from her overcharged bosom, and she burst into tears. She -was saved, since the immense joy she so suddenly experienced had not -killed her. The Tigrero, as weak as the woman he loved, could only find -tears to express all his feelings.</p> - -<p>For some minutes the abbess and Doña Helena trembled lest these two -beings, already so tried by misfortune, would not find within themselves -the necessary strength to resist so terrible an emotion; but a powerful -reaction suddenly took place in the tiger-slayer's mind; he sprang up -at one leap, and seized in his arms the maiden, who, on her side, was -making efforts to rush to him—</p> - -<p>"Anita, dear Anita," he cried, "I have found you again at last; oh, now -no human power will be able to separate us!"</p> - -<p>"Never, never!" she murmured, as she let her head fall on the young -man's shoulder; "Martial, my beloved Martial, protect me, save me!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, I will save you; angel of my life," he exclaimed, looking up -defiantly to heaven; "we will be united, I swear it to you."</p> - -<p>"Is that the prudence you promised me?" the abbess said, interposing; -"remember the perils of every description that surround you, and the -implacable foes who have sworn your destruction; lock up in your heart -these feelings which, if revealed before one of the countless spies who -watch you, would cause your death and that, perhaps, of the poor girl -you love."</p> - -<p>"Thank you, madam," the Tigrero replied; "thank you for having reminded -me of the part I must play for a few days longer. If I forgot it for -a few seconds, subdued by the passion that devours my heart, I will -henceforth adhere to it carefully. Do not fear lest I should imperil the -happiness that is preparing for me; no, I will restrain my feelings, and -let myself be guided by the counsel of the sincere friends to whom I owe -the moments of ineffable happiness I am now enjoying."</p> - -<p>"Oh! I now understand," Doña Anita exclaimed, "the mysterious hints -given me. Alas! misfortune made me suspicious; so forgive me, heaven, -forgive me, holy mother, and you too, Helena, my kind and faithful -friend. I did not dare hope, and feared a snare."</p> - -<p>"I forgive you, my poor child," the abbess answered; "who could blame -you?"</p> - -<p>Doña Helena pressed her friend to her heart without saying a word.</p> - -<p>"Oh, now our misfortunes are at an end, Anita," the Tigrero exclaimed -passionately; "we have friends who will not abandon us in the supreme -struggle we are engaging in with our common enemy. God, who has hitherto -done everything for us, will not leave his work incomplete; have faith -in Him, my beloved."</p> - -<p>"Martial," the maiden replied, with a firmness that astonished her -hearers, "I was weak because I was alone, but now that I know you live, -and are near me to support me, oh! if I were to fall dead at the feet -of my persecutor, I would not be false to the oath I took to be yours -alone. Believing you dead, I remained faithful to your memory; but now, -if persecution assailed me, I should find the strength to endure it."</p> - -<p>This scene would have been prolonged, but prudence urged that the abbess -should break it off as soon as possible. Doña Anita, rendered strong -merely by the nervous excitement which possessed her, soon felt faint; -she could scarcely stand, and Don Martial himself felt his energy -abandoning him.</p> - -<p>The separation was painful between these two beings so miraculously -re-united when they never expected to see each other again; but it was -soothed by the hope of soon meeting again under the protection of the -Mother Superior, who had done so much for them, and whose inexhaustible -kindness they had entirely gained for their cause.</p> - -<p>For the first time since she had entered the convent, Doña Anita smiled -through her tears, as she offered up to heaven her nightly prayers. -Don Martial went off rapidly to tell Valentine of what had taken place -at this interview, which he had so long desired. Doña Helena, however, -retired pensively to her cell; the maiden was dreaming—of what?</p> - -<p>No one could have said, and probably she herself was ignorant; but, for -some days past, an obtrusive thought unnecessarily occupied her mind, -and constantly troubled the calm mirror in which her virgin thoughts -were reflected.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE.</h3> - - -<p>Ambition is the most terrible and deceptious of all human passions, -in the sense that it completely dries up the heart, and can never be -satisfied.</p> - -<p>General Don Sebastian Guerrero was not one of those coldly cruel men, -solely governed by the instinct of art, or whom the smell of blood -intoxicates; but, with the implacable logic of ambitious persons, he -went direct to his object, overthrowing, without regret or remorse, all -the obstacles that barred his way to the object he had sworn to reach, -even if he were compelled to wade in blood up to his knees, and trample -on a pile of corpses. He only regarded men as pawns in the great game -of chess he was playing, and strove to justify himself, and stifle the -warnings of his terrified conscience, by the barbarous axiom employed by -the ambitious in all ages and all countries, that the end justifies the -means.</p> - -<p>His secret ambition, which, on a day of pretended frankness, he had -partly revealed in an interview with the Count de Prébois Crancé at -Hermosillo, was not to render himself independent, but simply to be -elected, by means of a well-arranged pronunciamiento, President of the -Mexican Republic.</p> - -<p>It was not through hatred that General Guerrero was so obstinately -bent on destroying the count. Ambitious men, who are ever ready to -sacrifice their feelings to the interests of their gloomy machinations, -know neither hatred nor friendship. Hence we must seek elsewhere the -cause of the judicial murder of the count which was so implacably -carried out. The general feared the count, as an adversary who would -constantly thwart him in Sonora, where the first meshes of the net he -wished to throw over Mexico were spun—an adversary ready to oppose the -execution of his plans by claiming the due performance of the articles -of partnership—a performance which, in the probable event of an -insurrection excited by the general, would have become impossible, by -plunging the country for a lengthened period into a state of crisis and -general suspension of trade, which would have been most hostile to the -success of the lofty conceptions of the noble French adventurer.<a name="FNanchor_1_5" id="FNanchor_1_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_5" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> - -<p>But the count had scarce fallen on the beach of Guaymas ere the general -recognized the falseness of his calculations, and the fault he had -committed in sacrificing him. In fact, leaving out of the question the -death of his daughter, the only being for whom he retained in some -corner of his heart a little of that fire which heaven illumes in all -parents for their children, he found that he had exchanged a loyal and -cautious adversary for an obstinate enemy—the more formidable because, -caring for nothing, and having no personal ambition, he would sacrifice -everything without hesitation or calculation in behalf of the vengeance -which he had solemnly vowed to obtain by any means, over the still -quivering body of his friend.</p> - -<p>This implacable enemy, whom neither seduction nor intimidation could -arrest or even draw back, was Valentine Guillois.</p> - -<p>Under these circumstances, the general committed a graver fault than his -first one—a fault which was fated to have incalculable consequences for -him. Being very imperfectly acquainted with Valentine Guillois, unaware -of his inflexible energy of will, and ranking him in his mind with -those wood rangers, the Pariahs of civilization, who have only courage -to fire, in a moment of despair, a shot from behind a tree, but whose -influence was after all insignificant, he despised him.</p> - -<p>Valentine was careful not to dissipate, by any imprudent step, his -enemy's mistake, or even arouse his suspicions.</p> - -<p>At the time of the Count de Prébois Crancé's first expedition, when -all seemed to smile on him, and his followers already saw the complete -success of their bold undertaking close at hand, Valentine had been -entrusted by his friend with various important operations and difficult -missions to the rich rancheros and hacenderos of the province. Valentine -had performed the duties his friend confided to him with his usual -loyalty and uprightness of mind, and had been so thoroughly appreciated -by the persons with whom chance had brought him into connection, that -all had remained on friendly terms with him and given him unequivocal -proofs of the sincerest friendship, especially upon the death of the -count.</p> - -<p>It only depended on the hunter's will to be rich, since he knew an -almost inexhaustible placer; and what the wood ranger would never -have consented to for himself, for the sake of paltry gain, he did -not hesitate to attempt in order to avenge his friend. Followed by -Curumilla, Belhumeur, and Black Elk, and leading a <i>recua</i> of ten mules, -he did what two hundred and fifty men could not have succeeded in doing. -He went through Apacheria, crossed the fearful desert of sand in which -the bones of the hapless companions of the Marquis de Lhorailles were -bleaching, and, after enduring superhuman fatigue and braving terrible -dangers, he at length reached the placer. But this time he did not come -to take an insignificant sum; he wanted to collect a fortune at one -stroke.</p> - -<p>The hunter returned with his ten mules laden with gold. He knew that he -was beginning a struggle with a man who was enormously rich, and wished -to conquer him with his own weapons. In the new world, as in the old, -money is the real sinew of war, and Valentine would not imperil the -success of his vengeance.</p> - -<p>On returning to Guaymas, he realized his fortune, and found himself, -in a single day, not one of the richest, but <i>the</i> richest private -person in Mexico, although it is a country in which fortunes attain -to a considerable amount. Thus the gold of the placer, which, at an -earlier period, had served to organize the count's expedition, and make -him believe for a moment in the realization of his dreams, was about to -serve in avenging him, after having indirectly caused his death.</p> - -<p>Then began between the general and the hunter a secret and unceasing -struggle, the more terrible through its hidden nature; and the general, -struck without knowing whence the blows dealt his ambition came, -struggled vainly, like a lion caught in a snare, while it was impossible -for him to discover the obstinate enemy who hunted him down.</p> - -<p>This man, who had hitherto succeeded in everything—who, during the -course of his long and stormy political career, had surmounted the -greatest obstacles and forced his very detractors to admire the luck -that constantly accompanied his wildest and rashest conceptions— -suddenly saw Fortune turn her back on him with such rapidity—we may -even say brutality—that, scarce six weeks after the execution of the -count, he was obliged to resign his office of Military Governor, and -quit, almost like a fugitive, the province of Sonora, where he had so -long reigned as a master, and on which his iron yoke had pressed so -heavily.</p> - -<p>This first blow, dealt the general in the midst of his ambitious -aspirations, when he had only just begun to recover from the grief his -daughter's death had caused him, was the more terrible because he did -not know to whom he should attribute his downfall.</p> - -<p>Still, he did not long remain in doubt. An hour before his departure -from Hermosillo he received a letter in which he was informed, in the -minutest details, of the oath of vengeance taken against him, and of -the steps taken to obtain his recall. This letter was signed "Valentine -Guillois." The hunter, despising darkness and mystery, tore down the -veil that covered him, and openly challenged his foe by manfully telling -him to be on his guard.</p> - -<p>On receiving this threatening declaration of war, the general fell into -an extraordinary passion, the more terrible because it was impotent, -and then, when his mind became calm again, and he began reflecting, he -felt frightened. In truth, the man who stood so boldly before him as an -enemy, must be very powerful and certain of success thus to dare and -defy him.</p> - -<p>His departure from Sonora was a disgraceful flight, in which he tried, -by craft and caution, to throw out his enemy; but the meeting at the -Fort of the Chichimèques, a meeting long prepared by the hunter, proved -to him that he was unmasked once again, and conquered by his enemy.</p> - -<p>The contemptuous manner in which Valentine dismissed him after his -stormy explanation with him, had internally filled the general with -terror. What sinister projects could the man be meditating, what private -vengeance was he arranging, that, when he held him quivering in his -grasp, he allowed his foe to escape, and refused to kill him, when that -would have been so easy? What torture more terrible than death did he -intend to inflict on him?</p> - -<p>The remainder of his journey across the Rocky Mountains, as far as -Mexico, was one protracted agony, during which, suffering from constant -apprehension, and extreme nervous excitement, his diseased imagination -inflicted on him moral torture in the stead of which any physical pain -would have been welcome.</p> - -<p>The loss of his daughter's corpse, and above all, the death of his -father's old comrade in arms, the only man in whom he put faith, and who -possessed his entire confidence, destroyed his energy, and for several -days he was so overwhelmed by this double misfortune, that he longed for -death.</p> - -<p>His punishment was beginning. But General Guerrero was one of those -powerful athletes who do not allow themselves to be overcome so easily; -they may totter in the struggle, and roll on the sand of the arena, -but they always rise again more terrible and menacing than before. His -revolted pride restored his expiring courage; and since an implacable -warfare was declared against him, he swore that he would fight to the -end, whatever the consequences for him might be.</p> - -<p>Moreover, two months had elapsed since his arrival in Mexico, and his -enemy had not revealed his presence by one of those terrible blows which -burst like a clap of thunder above his head. The general gradually -began supposing that the hunter had only wished to force him to abandon -Sonora, and that, in despair of carrying out his plans advantageously -in a city like Mexico, he was prudently keeping aloof, and if he had -not completely renounced his vengeance, circumstances at any rate, -independent of his will, compelled him to defer it.</p> - -<p>The general, so soon as he was settled in the capital of Mexico, -organized a large band of highly-paid spies, who had orders to be -constantly on the watch, and inform him of Valentine's arrival in the -city. Thus reassured by the reports of his agents, he continued with -feverish ardour the execution of his dark designs, for he felt convinced -that if he succeeded in attaining his coveted object, the hatred of the -man who pursued him would no longer be dangerous. This was the more -probable, because, so soon as he held the power in his own hands, he -would easily succeed in getting rid of an enemy, whom his position as a -foreigner isolated, and rendered an object of dislike to the populace.</p> - -<p>The general lived in a large house in the Calle de Tacuba; it was built -by one of his ancestors, and considered one of the handsomest in the -capital. We will describe in a few words the architecture of Mexico, -for, as all the houses are built on the same pattern, or nearly so, by -knowing one it is easy to form an idea of what the others must be.</p> - -<p>The Mexican architecture greatly resembles the Arabic, and as for the -mode of arranging the rooms, it is still entirely in its infancy; but, -since the Proclamation of the Independence, foreign architects have -succeeded, in most of the great towns, in opening side doors in the -suites of rooms, which formerly only communicated with one another, and -hence compelled you to go through a bedroom to enter a dining room, or -pass through a kitchen to reach the drawing room.</p> - -<p>The general's house was composed of four buildings, two stories in -height, and with terraced roofs. Two courts separated these buildings, -and an awning stretched over the four sides of the first yard, enabling -visitors to reach the wide stone steps dry footed. At the top of this -flight, a handsome covered gallery, adorned with vases of flowers and -exotic shrubs, led to a vast anteroom, which opened into a splendid -reception hall; after this came a considerable number of apartments, -splendidly furnished in the European style.</p> - -<p>The general only inhabited the first floor of his mansion. Although -most of the streets are paved at the present day, and the canals have -entirely disappeared, except in the lower districts of the city, water -is still found a few inches beneath the surface, which produces such -damp, that the ground floor, rendered uninhabitable, is given up to -stores and shops in nearly all the houses. The ground floor of the main -building, looking on the Calle de Tacuba, was, therefore, occupied by -brilliant shops, which rendered the façade of the general's house even -more striking.</p> - -<p>The paintings and the ornaments carved on the walls, after the Spanish -fashion, gave it a peculiar, but not unpleasant appearance, which -was completed by the profusion of shrubs that lined the terrace, and -converted it into a hanging garden, like those of Babylon, some sixty -feet above the ground. By-the-bye, these gardens, from which the cupolas -of the churches seem to emerge, give a really fairy-like aspect to the -city, when you survey it in a glowing sunset, from the cathedral towers.</p> - -<p>Seven or eight days had elapsed since the events we recorded in our last -chapter. General Guerrero, after a long conversation with Colonel Don -Jaime Lupo, Don Sirven, and two or three others of his most faithful -partizans—a conversation in which the final arrangements were made for -the pronunciamiento which was to be attempted immediately—gave audience -to two of his spies, who assured him that the person, whose movements -they were ordered to watch, had not yet arrived in Mexico.</p> - -<p>When the hour for going to the theatre arrived, the general, temporarily -freed from alarm, prepared to be present at an extraordinary performance -to be given, that same night, at the Santa Anna theatre; but at the -moment when he was about to give orders for his carriage to be brought -up, the door of the room, in which he was sitting, opened, and a footman -appeared on the threshold, with a respectful bow.</p> - -<p>"What do you want?" the general asked, turning round at the sound.</p> - -<p>"Excellency," the valet replied, "a caballero desires a few minutes' -conversation with your excellency."</p> - -<p>"At this hour?" the general said, looking at a clock, "it is -impossible;" but, suddenly reflecting, he asked, "anyone you know, -Isidro?"</p> - -<p>"No, excellency; it is a caballero whom I have not yet had the honour of -seeing in the house."</p> - -<p>"Hum," said the general, shaking his head thoughtfully, "is he a -gentleman?"</p> - -<p>"That I can assure your excellency; and he told me that he had a most -important communication to make to you."</p> - -<p>In the general's present position, as head of a conspiracy on the point -of breaking out, no detail must be neglected, no communication despised, -so, after reflecting a little, he continued—</p> - -<p>"You ought to have told the gentleman that I could not receive him so -late, and that he had better call again tomorrow."</p> - -<p>"I told him so, excellency."</p> - -<p>"And he insisted?"</p> - -<p>"Several times, excellency."</p> - -<p>"Well, do you know his name, at least?"</p> - -<p>"When I asked the caballero for it, he said it was useless, as you would -not know it; but if you wished to learn it, he would himself tell it to -your excellency."</p> - -<p>"What a strange person," the general muttered to himself; "very good," -he then added aloud, "lead the gentleman to the small mirror room, and I -will be with him immediately."</p> - -<p>The footman bowed respectfully.</p> - -<p>"Who can the man be, and what is the important matter he has to tell -me?" the general muttered, as he was alone. "Hum, probably some poor -devil mixed up in our conspiracy, who wants a little money. Well, he had -better be careful, for I am not the man to be plundered with impunity, -and so he will find out, if his communication is not serious."</p> - -<p>And, throwing on to a chair the plumed hat he held in his hand, he -proceeded to the mirror room.</p> - - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_5" id="Footnote_1_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_5"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> See "Goldseekers." Same publishers.</p></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></h4> - -<h3>A VISIT.</h3> - - -<p>The mirror room was an immense apartment, only separated from the -covered gallery by two anterooms. It was furnished with princely luxury, -and it was here that the general gave those sumptuous <i>tertulias,</i> which -are still talked about in the highest Mexican circles, although so many -years have elapsed.</p> - -<p>This room, merely lighted by two lamps, standing on a console, was at -this moment plunged into a semi-obscurity, when compared with the other -apartments in the mansion, which were full of light.</p> - -<p>A gentleman, dressed in full black, and with the red ribbon of the -Legion of Honour carelessly knotted in a buttonhole of his coat, was -leaning his elbow on the console where the lamps stood, and seemed so -lost in thought, that, when the general entered the room, the sound of -his steps, half subdued by the petates, did not reach the visitor's -ears, and he did not turn to receive him.</p> - -<p>Don Sebastian, after closing the door behind him, walked towards his -visitor, attempting to recognize him, which, however, the stranger's -position rendered temporarily impossible. It was not till he came almost -near enough to touch him that the stranger, at length warned of the -general's presence, raised his head; in spite of all the command Don -Sebastian had over himself, he started and fell back a couple of yards -on recognizing him.</p> - -<p>"Don Valentine!" he said, in a stifled voice, "you here?"</p> - -<p>"Myself, general," he replied, with an almost imperceptible smile and a -profound bow; "did you not expect a visit from me?"</p> - -<p>The Trail-hunter, according to his habit, at once assumed his position -before his adversary. A bitter smile played round the general's pale -lips, and mastering his emotion, he replied, sarcastically—</p> - -<p>"Certainly, caballero, I hoped to receive a visit from you; but not -here, and under such conditions, I did not venture, I confess, to -anticipate such an honour."</p> - -<p>"I am delighted," he replied, with another bow, "that I have thus -anticipated your wishes."</p> - -<p>"I will prove to you, señor," the general said, with set teeth, "the -value I attach to the visit you have been pleased to pay me."</p> - -<p>While saying this, he stretched out his arm towards a bell.</p> - -<p>"I beg your pardon, general," the Frenchman said, with imperturbable -coolness, "but I believe that you intend to summon some of your people?"</p> - -<p>"And supposing that was my intention, señor?" the general said, -haughtily.</p> - -<p>"If it were so," he replied, with icy politeness, "I think it would be -better for you to do nothing of the sort."</p> - -<p>"Oh, indeed, and for what reason, may I ask?"</p> - -<p>"For the simple reason, general, that as I have the honour to know you -thoroughly, I was not such a fool as to place myself in your power. -My carriage is waiting at this moment in front of your door; in that -carriage are two of my friends, and, in all probability, if they do not -see me come down the steps again in half an hour, they will not hesitate -to ask you what has taken place between us, and what has become of me."</p> - -<p>The general bit his lips.</p> - -<p>"You are mistaken as to my intentions, señor," he said. "I fear you no -more than you appear to do me. I am a gentleman, and were you ten times -more my enemy than you are, I would never attempt to free myself from -you by an assassination."</p> - -<p>"Be it so, general; I should be glad to be mistaken, and in that case I -beg you to accept my apologies; moreover, in coming thus to see you, I -give you, I believe, a proof of confidence."</p> - -<p>"For which I thank you, señor; but as I suppose that reasons of the -highest gravity alone induced you to present yourself here, and the -interview you ask of me must be long, I wished to give my people orders -to take out the horses, and take care that we are not interrupted."</p> - -<p>Valentine bowed without replying, but with an imperceptible smile, and -leaning again on the console, he twisted his long, fair, light moustache -while the general rang the bell. A servant came in.</p> - -<p>"Have the horses taken out," the general said, "and I am not at home to -anybody."</p> - -<p>The servant bowed, and prepared to leave the room.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said the general, suddenly stopping him, "on the part of this -caballero ask the gentlemen in his carriage to do me the honour of -coming up to my apartments, where they can await more comfortably the -end of a conversation which will probably be rather prolonged. You will -serve refreshments to these gentlemen in the blue room," he added, -looking fixedly at the Frenchman, "the one that follows this room."</p> - -<p>The servant retired.</p> - -<p>"If you still apprehend a trap, señor," he continued, turning to the -Frenchman, "your friends will be at hand, if necessary, to come to your -help."</p> - -<p>"I knew that you were brave to rashness, general," the Frenchman -answered politely, "and I am happy to see that you are no less -honourable."</p> - -<p>"And now, señor, be kind enough to sit down," Don Sebastian said, -pointing to a chair. "May I venture to offer you any refreshments?"</p> - -<p>"General," Valentine answered, as he seated himself, "permit me, for the -present, to decline them. In my youth I served in Africa, and in that -country people are only wont to break their fast with friends. As we -are, temporarily at least, enemies, I must ask you to let me retain my -present position toward you."</p> - -<p>"The custom to which you allude, señor, is also met with on our -prairies," the general replied; "still people sometimes depart from -it. However, act as you think proper. I wait till it may please you -to explain the purpose of this visit, at which I have a right to feel -surprised."</p> - -<p>"I will not abuse your patience any longer, general," he replied with a -bow. "I have merely come to propose a bargain."</p> - -<p>"A bargain?" Don Sebastian exclaimed with surprise, "I do not understand -you."</p> - -<p>"I will have the honour of explaining myself, señor."</p> - -<p>The general bowed and said, "I await your pleasure."</p> - -<p>"You are a diplomatist, general," Valentine continued, "and in that -capacity are, doubtless, aware that a bad treaty is better than a good -war."</p> - -<p>"In certain cases I allow it is so; but I will take the liberty of -remarking that, under present circumstances, señor, I must await your -propositions, instead of offering any of mine, as the war, to employ -your own expression, was not begun by me, but by you."</p> - -<p>"I think it will be better not to discuss that point, in which we should -find it difficult to agree; still, in order to remove any ambiguity, and -lay down the point at issue distinctly, I will remind you in a few words -of the motives which produced the hatred that divides us."</p> - -<p>"Those motives, señor, you have already explained to me most fully at -the Fort of the Chichimèques. Without discussing their validity with -you, I will content myself with saying that hatred, like friendship, -being a matter of sympathy, and not the result of reason, it is better -to confess frankly that we hate or love each other, without trying to -account for either of these feelings, which I consider completely beyond -the will."</p> - -<p>"You are at liberty to think so, señor, and though I do not agree -with you, I will not discuss the point; it is, however, certain that -the hatred we bear each other is implacable, and cannot possibly be -extinguished."</p> - -<p>"Still you spoke only a minute back of a bargain."</p> - -<p>"Certainly; but bargaining is not forgetting. I can, for certain -reasons, abstain from that hatred without renouncing it; and though -I may cease to injure you, I do not, on that account, contract the -slightest friendship with you."</p> - -<p>"I admit that in principle, señor; let us, therefore, come to facts -without further delay; be good enough to explain to me the nature of the -bargain which you think proper to propose to me today."</p> - -<p>"Allow me, in the first place, according to my notions of honour, to -explain to you what our position to each other is."</p> - -<p>"Since the beginning of this interview, señor, I must confess that you -have been talking enigmas inexplicable to me."</p> - -<p>"I will try to be clear, señor, and if I tell you what your plans -are, and the means you have employed for their realization, you will -understand, I have no doubt, that I have succeeded in countermining them -sufficiently to prevent a favourable issue."</p> - -<p>"Go on, señor," the general remarked, with a smile.</p> - -<p>"In two words, this is your position. In the first, you wish, by -a pronunciamiento, to overthrow General R——, and have yourself -proclaimed President of the Republic in his place."</p> - -<p>"Ah, ah," said the general, with a forced laugh; "you must know, señor, -that in our blessed country this ambition is constantly attributed to -all officers who, either on account of their fortune or personal merit, -hold a public position. This accusation, therefore, is not very serious."</p> - -<p>"It would not be so, if you limited yourself to mere wishes, possibly -legitimate in the present state of the country; but, unfortunately, it -is not so."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"I mean, general, that you are the head of a conspiracy; that this -conspiracy, several times already a failure in Sonora, you have renewed -in Mexico, under almost infallible conditions of success, and which, -in my opinion, would succeed, had I not resolved on causing them to -fail. I mean that, only a few days ago, your conspirators assembled in -a velorio kept by a certain Ño Lusacho. Through the agency of Don Jaime -Lupo, you divided among them two bags of gold, brought by you for them, -and emptied in your presence. I mean that, after this distribution, -the final arrangements were made, and the day was almost fixed for the -pronunciamiento. Am I deceived, general, or do you now see that I am -well informed, and that my spies are quite equal to yours, who were not -even able to inform you of my arrival at the Ciudad, where I have been -for more than a week, and you have not known a word about it?"</p> - -<p>"While Valentine was speaking thus, in his mocking way, with his elbow -carelessly laid on the arm of his chair, and his body slightly bent -forward, the general was in a state of passion which he tried in vain -to repress, his pale face assumed a cadaverous hue, his eyebrows met, -and his clenched teeth found difficulty in keeping the words back which -tried each moment to burst forth. When the Frenchman ceased speaking -he made a violent effort to check his rage which was on the point of -breaking out, and he answered in a hollow voice which emotion caused -involuntary to tremble—</p> - -<p>"I will imitate your frankness, señor. Of what use would it be to -dissimulate with an enemy so well informed as you pretend to be? What -you have said about a conspiracy is perfectly correct. Yes, I intend to -make a pronunciamiento, and that shortly. You see that I do not attempt -to conceal anything from you."</p> - -<p>"I presume, because you consider it useless," Valentine answered -sarcastically.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps so, señor. Although you are so well informed, you do not know -everything."</p> - -<p>"Do you think so?"</p> - -<p>"I am sure of it."</p> - -<p>"What is the thing I am ignorant of?"</p> - -<p>"That you will not leave this house again, and that I am going to blow -out your brains," the general exclaimed, as he started up and cocked a -pistol.</p> - -<p>The Frenchman did not make the slightest movement to prevent the -execution of the general's threat; he contented himself with looking -firmly at him, and saying, coldly—</p> - -<p>"I defy you."</p> - -<p>Don Sebastian remained motionless, with haggard eye, pale brow, and -trembling hand; then, in a few seconds, he uncocked the pistol, and fell -back utterly crushed in his chair.</p> - -<p>"You have gone too far or not far enough, caballero," Valentine went on -with perfect calmness. "Every threat should be executed at all risks so -soon as it is made. You have reflected, so let us say no more about it, -but resume our conversation."</p> - -<p>In a discussion of this nature, all the advantage is on the side -of the adversary who retains his coolness. The general, ashamed of -the passionate impulse to which he had yielded, and crushed by his -enemy's sarcastically contemptuous answer, remained dumb; he at length -understood that, with a man like the one before him, any contest must -turn to his disadvantage, unless he employed treachery, which his pride -forbade.</p> - -<p>"Let us, for the present," Valentine went on, still calmly and coldly, -"leave this conspiracy, to which we will revert presently, and pass to -a no less interesting subject. If I am correctly informed, Señor Don -Sebastian, you have a ward of the name of Doña Anita de Torrés?"</p> - -<p>The general started, but remained silent.</p> - -<p>"Now," continued Valentine, "in consequence of a frightful catastrophe, -this young lady became insane. But that does not prevent you from -insisting on marrying her, in contempt of all law, divine and human, -for the simple reason that she is enormously rich and you require her -fortune for the execution of your ambitious plans. It is true that the -young lady does not love you, and never did love you; it is also true -that her father intended her for another, and that other you insist on -declaring to be dead, although he is alive; but what do you care for -that? Unfortunately, one of my intimate friends, of whom you probably -never heard, Señor Don Serapio de la Ronda, has heard this affair -alluded to. I will tell you confidentially that Don Serapio is greatly -respected by certain parties, and has very considerable power. Don -Serapio, I know not why, takes an interest in Doña Anita, and has made -up his mind, whether you like it or not, to marry her to the man she -loves, and for whom her father intended her."</p> - -<p>"The villain is dead," the general exclaimed, furiously.</p> - -<p>"You are perfectly well aware of the contrary," Señor Valentine -answered, "and to remove any doubts you may still happen to have, I will -give you the proof. Don Martial," he said aloud, "come in, pray, and -tell General Guerrero yourself that you are not dead."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" the general muttered furiously, "this man is a demon."</p> - -<p>At this moment the door opened, and a new personage entered the room.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a></h4> - -<h3>ASSISTANCE.</h3> - - -<p>The man who now entered the hall of mirrors was dressed like the riders -who promenade at the Bucareli, and gallop at carriage doors—that is to -say, in trousers with silk stripes down the sides, and a broad-brimmed -hat decorated with a double gold string and tassels.</p> - -<p>He walked gracefully up to Don Sebastian, still holding his hat in his -right hand, bowed to him with that exquisite grace of which the Mexicans -alone seem to have the privilege, and thrusting his hand into his side, -he said, with an accent of cutting sarcasm, and in a harsh, metallic -voice—</p> - -<p>"Do you recognize me, Don Sebastian, and do you believe that I am really -alive, and that it is not the ghost of Martial the Tigrero which has -come from the grave to address you?"</p> - -<p>At the same moment Belhumeur's clever, knowing face could be seen -peering through the doorway. With his eyes obstinately fixed on the -general, he seemed to be impatiently expecting an answer, which the -latter, struggling with several different feelings, evidently hesitated -to give. Still, he was compelled to form a resolution, so he rose and -looked the Tigrero boldly in the face.</p> - -<p>"Who are you, señor?" he said, in a firm voice, "and by what right do -you question me?"</p> - -<p>"Well played," said Valentine, with a laugh; "by heaven, caballero, -it is a pleasure to contend with you, for, on my soul, you are a rude -adversary."</p> - -<p>"Do you think so?" Don Sebastian asked, with a hoarse laugh.</p> - -<p>"Certainly," the hunter continued, "and I am delighted to bear my -testimony to the fact; hence you had better yield at once, for you are -in a dilemma from which you cannot escape, not even by a master stroke."</p> - -<p>There was a silence, lasting some minutes. At length the general -seemed to make up his mind, for he turned to Belhumeur, who was still -listening, and bowed to him with ironical politeness.</p> - -<p>"Why stand half hidden by that door?" he said to him; "pray enter, -caballero, for your presence here will be most agreeable to the whole -company."</p> - -<p>The Canadian at once entered, and after giving the general a respectful -bow he leant over the back of Valentine's chair. The latter eagerly -followed all the incidents of the strange scene that was being played -before him, and in which he appeared to be a disinterested spectator -rather than an actor.</p> - -<p>"You see, señores," the general said, haughtily, "that I imitate your -example, and, like you, play fairly. I believe that you entered my house -in order to propose a bargain to me, Don Valentine? You, señor," he -said, turning to the Tigrero, "whom I told that I did not recognize, and -whom I have the honour of receiving at my house for the first time, have -doubtless come as witness for these caballeros, who are your friends. -Well, gentlemen, you shall all three be satisfied. I am awaiting your -proposal, Don Valentine. I allow, señor, that you, whose miraculous -resuscitation I have hitherto denied, are alive, and are really Don -Martial the ex-lover of Doña Anita de Torrés. As for you, señor, whom -I do not know, I authorize you to declare before any one you like the -truth of the words I utter. Are you all three satisfied, gentlemen? Is -there anything else I can do to afford you pleasure?—if so, speak, and -I am ready to satisfy you."</p> - -<p>"A man could not yield to what is inevitable with better grace," -Valentine replied, bowing ironically.</p> - -<p>"Thanks for your approval, caballero, and be kind enough to let me know, -without further delay, the conditions on which you are willing to leave -off pursuing me with that terrible hatred with which you incessantly -threaten me, and whose result is rather long in coming, according to my -judgment."</p> - -<p>These words were uttered with a mixture of pride and contempt impossible -to express, and which for a moment rendered Valentine dumb, so -extraordinary did the sudden change in his adversary's humour appear to -him.</p> - -<p>"I am waiting," the general added, as he fell back in his chair, with an -air of weariness.</p> - -<p>"We will bring matters to an end," Valentine said, drawing himself up -with an air of resolution.</p> - -<p>"That is what I wish," the general interrupted him, as he lit a -cigarette, which he began smoking with the most profound coolness.</p> - -<p>"These are my conditions," the hunter said distinctly and harshly, for -he was annoyed by this frigid indifference. "You will at once leave -Mexico, and give up Doña Anita, to whom you will not only restore her -liberty, but also the right of giving her hand and fortune to whomsoever -she pleases. You will sell your estates, and retire to the United -States, promising on oath never to return to Mexico. On my side, I -pledge myself to restore you your daughter's body, and never attempt to -injure you in any way."</p> - -<p>"Have you anything more to add?" the general asked, as he coolly watched -the blue smoke of his cigarette as it rose in circles to the ceiling.</p> - -<p>"Nothing; but take care, señor, I too have taken an oath, and from -what I have told you, you must have seen how far I have detected your -secrets. Accept or refuse, but come to a decision; for this is the last -time we shall meet face to face under the like conditions. The game we -are playing is a terrible one, and must end in the death of one of us; -and I shall show you no pity, as, doubtless, you will show me none. -Reflect seriously before answering yes or no, and I give you half an -hour to decide."</p> - -<p>The general burst into a sharp and nervous laugh. "<i>Viva Dios</i>, -caballero!" he exclaimed, with a contemptuous toss of his head, "I have -listened to you with extreme surprise. You dispose of my will with an -incomparable facility. I do not know who gives you the right to speak -and act as you are doing; but, by heaven, hatred, however active it may -be, can in no case possess this privilege. You fancy yourself much more -powerful than you really are, I fancy; but, at any rate, whatever may -happen, bear this carefully in mind—I will not retreat an inch before -you. Accepting your impudent and ridiculous conditions would be to -cover myself with shame and my utter ruin. Were you the genius of Evil -clothed in mortal form, I would not the less persist in the track I have -laid down for myself, and in which I will persevere at my own risk and -peril; however terrible may be the obstacles you raise, I will overthrow -them or succumb bravely, buried beneath the ruins of my abortive -plans and my destroyed fortunes. Hence consider yourself warned, Don -Valentine; that I despise your menaces, and they will not stop me. And -you, Don Martial, since such is your name, that I shall marry my ward, -in spite of the efforts you may make to prevent me, and shall do so -because I wish it, and because no man in the world has ever attempted -to resist my will without being at once mercilessly crushed. And now, -señores, as we have said all we have to say to each other, and I think -there is no more, and we can have no doubt as to our mutual intentions, -permit me to take leave of you, for I wish to go to the Santa Anna -theatre, and it is already very late."</p> - -<p>He rang the bell, and a footman came in.</p> - -<p>"Order the carriage," he said to him.</p> - -<p>"Then," Valentine said as he rose, "it is war to the death between us."</p> - -<p>"War to the death! be it so."</p> - -<p>"We shall only meet once again, general," the hunter remarked; "and that -will be on the eve of your death, when you are in Capilla."</p> - -<p>"I accept the meeting, and will bow uncomplainingly before you if you -are powerful enough to obtain that result; but, believe me, I am not -there yet."</p> - -<p>"You are nearer your fall than you perhaps suppose."</p> - -<p>"That is possible; but enough of this; any further conversation will be -useless. Light these gentlemen down," he said to the servant, who at -this moment entered the room.</p> - -<p>The three men rose, exchanged dumb bows with the general, and, -accompanied by him to the door of the room, they followed the footman, -who preceded them with candles. Two carriages were waiting at the foot -of the stairs; Valentine and his friends got into one of them, the -general took his seat in the other, and they heard him give the order in -a firm voice to drive to the Santa Anna theatre. The coachmen flogged -their horses, which started at a gallop, and the two carriages left the -house, the gates of which were closed after them.</p> - -<p>The Santa Anna theatre was built in 1844 by the Spanish architect, -Hidalgo. This building has externally nothing remarkable about it, -either in regard to frontage or position; but we are glad to state that -the interior is convenient, elegant, and even grand.</p> - -<p>After passing through the external portico, you enter a yard covered -with a glass dome, next come wide stairs with low steps, large and lofty -lobbies, a double row of galleries looking on the front yard, and airy -crush-rooms for the promenaders.</p> - -<p>The house is well built, well decorated, and spacious; it has three rows -of boxes, with a lower circle representing the pit boxes, and another -above the third circle for the lower classes. In the pit, it is worth -mentioning that each visitor has his stall, which he reaches easily and -comfortably by passages formed down the centre and round the theatre. -The boxes nearly all contain ten persons, and are separated from each -other by light colonnades and partitions. To each box is attached a -room, to which people withdraw between the acts, and, instead of the -balconies which in our theatres conceal a great part of the ladies' -toilets, the boxes have only a ledge a few inches in height, which -allows the splendid dresses of the audience to be fully admired.</p> - -<p>We have dwelt, perhaps with a little complacency, on this description of -the Santa Anna theatre, for we thought that, at the moment when it is -intended to rebuild the Opera and other Parisian theatres, there can be -no harm in displaying the difference that exists between the frightful -dens in which the spectators are thrust together pell-mell every night -in a city like Paris, which claims to be the first, not only in Europe, -but in the whole world, and the spacious airy theatres of a country like -Mexico, which in so many respects is inferior to us as regards ideas of -civilization and comfort. It would, however, be very easy, we fancy, to -obtain in Paris the advantageous results the Mexicans have enjoyed for -twenty years, and that at a slight expense. Unfortunately, whatever may -be said, the French are the most thorough routine nation in the world, -and we greatly fear that, in spite of incessant protests, things will -remain for a long time in the same state as they are today.</p> - -<p>When the general entered his box, which was in the first circle, -and almost facing the stage, the house presented a truly fairy-like -appearance. The extraordinary performance had brought an immense throng -of spectators and ladies, whose magnificent dresses were covered with -diamonds, which glittered and flashed beneath the light that played on -them.</p> - -<p>Don Sebastian, after bending forward for a moment to exchange bows with -his numerous acquaintances, and prove his presence, withdrew to the back -of the box, opened his glasses, and began looking carelessly about him. -But though, through a powerful effort of the will, his face was cold, -calm, and unmoved, a terrible storm was raging in the general's heart.</p> - -<p>The scene that had taken place a few minutes previously at his mansion, -had filled him with anxiety and gloomy forebodings, for he understood -that his adversaries must either believe or feel themselves very -strong thus to dare and defy him to the face, and audaciously enter -his very house. In vain he tortured his mind to find means to get rid -of his obstinate enemy; but time pressed, his situation became at each -moment more critical, and unless some bold and desperate stroke proved -successful, he felt instinctively that he was lost without chance of -salvation.</p> - -<p>The president's box was occupied by the first magistrate of the -Republic, and some of his aide-de-camps. Several times, Don Sebastian -fancied that the president's eyes were fixed on him with a strange -expression, after which he bent over and whispered some remarks to -the gentlemen who accompanied him. Perhaps, this was not real, and the -general's pricked conscience suggested to him suspicions far from the -thoughts of those against whom he had so many reasons to be on his -guard; but whether real or not, these suspicions tortured his heart and -proved to him the necessity of coming to an end at all risks.</p> - -<p>Still the performance went on; the curtain had just fallen before the -last act, and the general, devoured by anxiety, and persuaded that he -had remained long enough in the theatre to testify his presence, was -preparing to retire, when the door of his box opened, and Colonel Lupo -walked in.</p> - -<p>"Ah, is it you, colonel?" Don Sebastian said to him as he offered his -hand and gave him a forced smile. "You are welcome; I did not hope any -longer to have the pleasure of seeing you, and I was just going away."</p> - -<p>"Pray do not let me stop you, general, I have only a few words to say to -you."</p> - -<p>"Our business?"</p> - -<p>"Goes on famously."</p> - -<p>"No suspicion?"</p> - -<p>"Not the shadow."</p> - -<p>The general breathed like a man from whose chest a crushing weight has -been just removed.</p> - -<p>"Can I be of any service to you?" he said, absently.</p> - -<p>"For the present, I have only come for your sake."</p> - -<p>"How so?"</p> - -<p>"I was accosted today by a lepero, a villain of the worst sort, who -says that he wishes to avenge himself on a certain Frenchman, whom -he declares you know, and he desires to place himself under your -protection, in the event of the blade of his navaja accidentally -slipping into his enemy's body."</p> - -<p>"Hum! that is serious," the general said with an imperceptible start. "I -do not know how far I dare go in being bail for such a scoundrel."</p> - -<p>"He declares that you have known him a long time, and that while doing -his own business, he will be doing yours."</p> - -<p>"You know that I am no admirer of navajadas, for an assassination always -injures the character of a politician."</p> - -<p>"That is true; but you cannot be rendered responsible for the crimes any -villain may think proper to commit."</p> - -<p>"Did this worthy gentleman tell you his name, my dear colonel?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; but I believe that it would be better to mention it in the open -air, rather than in this place."</p> - -<p>"One word more; have you cleverly deceived him, and do you think that he -really intends to be useful to us?"</p> - -<p>"Useful to you, you mean."</p> - -<p>"As you please."</p> - -<p>"I could almost assert it."</p> - -<p>"Well, we will be off; have you weapons about you?"</p> - -<p>"I should think so; it would be madness to go about Mexico unarmed."</p> - -<p>"I have pistols in my pocket, so I will dismiss my carriage, and we will -walk home to my house; does that suit you, my dear colonel?"</p> - -<p>"Excellently, general, the more so because if you evince any desire to -see the scoundrel in question, nothing will be easier than for me to -take you to the den he occupies, without attracting attention."</p> - -<p>The general looked at his accomplice fixedly. "You have not told me all, -colonel?" he said.</p> - -<p>"I have not, general, but I am convinced that you understand the motive, -which at this moment keeps my mouth shut."</p> - -<p>"In that case, let us be off."</p> - -<p>He wrapped himself in his cloak and left the box, followed by the -colonel. A footman was waiting under the portico for his orders to bring -up the carriage.</p> - -<p>"Return to the house," the general said; "it is a fine night, and I feel -inclined for a walk."</p> - -<p>The footman retired.</p> - -<p>"Come, colonel," Don Sebastian went on.</p> - -<p>They left the theatre and proceeded slowly toward the Portales de -Mercaderes, which were entirely deserted at this advanced hour of the -night.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a></h4> - -<h3>EL ZARAGATE.</h3> - - -<p>The night was clear, mild and starry, a profound calm prevailed in the -deserted streets, and it was in fact one of those delicious Mexican -nights, so filled with soft emanations, and which dispose the mind to -delicious reveries.</p> - -<p>The two gentlemen, carefully wrapped in their cloaks, walked side by -side, along the middle of the street, in fear of an ambuscade, examining -with practised eyes the doorways and the dark corners of side streets. -When they were far enough from the theatre no longer to fear indiscreet -eyes or ears, the general at length broke the silence.</p> - -<p>"Now, Señor Don Jaime," he said, "let us speak frankly, if you please."</p> - -<p>"I wish for nothing better," the colonel replied, with a bow.</p> - -<p>"And to begin," Don Sebastian continued, "tell me who the man is from -whom you hinted that I could derive some benefit."</p> - -<p>"Nothing is easier, excellency. This man is a villain of the worst sort, -as I already had the honour of telling you; his antecedents are, I -suppose, rather dark, and that is all I have been able to discover. This -man, who, I believe, belongs to no country, but who, in consequence of -his adventurous life, has visited them all and speaks all languages, -was at San Francisco when the Count de Prébois Crancé organized the -cuadrilla of bandits, at the head of which he undertook to dismember our -lovely country, and in which, between ourselves, he would probably have -succeeded had it not been for your skill and courage."</p> - -<p>"We will pass over that, my dear colonel," the general quickly -interrupted him; "I did my duty in that affair, as I shall always do it -when the interest of my country is at stake."</p> - -<p>The colonel bowed.</p> - -<p>"Well," he continued, "the villain I am speaking of could not let such -a magnificent opportunity slip; he enlisted in the count's cuadrilla. I -believe he was starving at San Francisco, and, for certain reasons best -known to himself, was not sorry to leave that city—but perhaps I weary -you by giving you all these details."</p> - -<p>"On the contrary, my dear colonel, I wish to be thoroughly acquainted -with this pícaro, in order to judge what reliance may be placed in his -protestations."</p> - -<p>"On arriving at Guaymas, our man became almost directly the secret -agent of that unhappy Colonel Fleury, who, as you well remember, was so -brutally assassinated by the Frenchmen."</p> - -<p>"Alas, yes!" the general said with a sardonic smile.</p> - -<p>"Señor Pavo also employed him several times," Don Jaime continued, "but, -unfortunately for our individual, Don Valentine, the count's friend, -was watching; he discovered, I knew not how, all his little tricks, and -insisted on his dismissal from the company, after a quarrel he had with -one of the French officers."</p> - -<p>"I think I can remember the affair being talked about at the time. Was -not this villain known by the sobriquet of the Zaragate?"</p> - -<p>"He was, general; furious at what happened to him, and attributing it to -Don Valentine, he took an oath to kill him whenever he met him, so soon -as the opportunity offered itself."</p> - -<p>"Well?"</p> - -<p>"It seems that, despite all his goodwill and his eager desire to get rid -of his enemy, the opportunity has not yet offered, as he has not killed -him."</p> - -<p>"That is true; but how did you come across this scoundrel, colonel?"</p> - -<p>"Well, general," he answered with some hesitation, "you know that I have -been compelled during the last few days, for the sake of our affair, -to keep rather bad company. This scoundrel came to offer his services. -I cross-questioned him, and knowing your enmity to that Frenchman, -I resolved to inform you of this acquisition. If I have done wrong, -forgive me, and we will say no more about it."</p> - -<p>"On the contrary, colonel," the general said eagerly. "The deuce! not -only have I nothing to forgive, but I feel very grateful to you, for -your confession has come at a most fortunate time. You shall judge, -however, for I wish to be frank with you, the more so because, apart -from the high esteem I feel for your character, our common welfare is at -stake at this moment."</p> - -<p>"You frighten me, general."</p> - -<p>"You will be more frightened directly; know that this Valentine, -this Frenchman, this demon, has I know not by what means, discovered -our conspiracy, holds all the threads of it, and, more than that, is -acquainted with all the members, beginning with myself."</p> - -<p>"<i>Voto a brios!</i>" the colonel exclaimed, with a start of surprise, and -turning pale with terror, "in that case we are lost."</p> - -<p>"Well, I confess that our chances of success are considerably -diminished."</p> - -<p>"Pardon me for asking, general," he continued in great agitation, "but -in circumstances like the present——"</p> - -<p>"Go on, go on, my dear colonel, do not be embarrassed."</p> - -<p>"Are you sure, general, perfectly certain as to the statement you have -just made to me?"</p> - -<p>"You shall judge. About an hour before the opening of the theatre, -Don Valentine himself—you understand me?—came to my house with two -friends, doubtless cutthroats in his pay, and revealed all to me; what -do you say to that?"</p> - -<p>"I say that if this man does not die we are hopelessly lost."</p> - -<p>"That is my opinion too," the general remarked coldly.</p> - -<p>"How came it that, in spite of this terrible revelations, you ventured -to show yourself at the theatre?"</p> - -<p>Don Sebastian smiled and shrugged his shoulders disdainfully.</p> - -<p>"Ought I to let even indifferent persons see the anxiety that devoured -me? Undeceive yourself, colonel, boldness alone can save us; do not -forget that we are risking our heads at this moment."</p> - -<p>"I am not likely to forget it."</p> - -<p>"As for this man, the Zaragate, I must not and will not see him; but -do you deal with him as you think proper. You understand that it is of -the utmost importance that I should be ignorant of the arrangements you -may make with him, and be able to prove, if necessary, that I had no -knowledge of this. Moreover, as you are aware, I am not one for extreme -measures; the sight of such a villain would be repulsive to me, for I -have such a horror of bloodshed. Alas!" he added, with a sigh, "I have -been forced to shed only too much in the course of my life."</p> - -<p>"I do not know exactly," the colonel muttered.</p> - -<p>"I have entire confidence in you; you are an intelligent man; I give you -full authority, and whatever you do will be well done. You understand -me, I trust?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes, general," the officer grunted ill-temperedly, "I understand -you only too well."</p> - -<p>"I see——"</p> - -<p>"What do you see?" the other interrupted him.</p> - -<p>"That, if we succeed, you will be a general and Governor of Sonora. That -is rather a pretty prospect, I fancy, and one worth risking something -for."</p> - -<p>"It is useless to remind me of your promises, general; you are well -aware that I am devoted to you."</p> - -<p>"I know it, of course, and on that account leave you. A longer -conversation in the moonlight might arouse suspicions. Good night, and -come and breakfast with me tomorrow."</p> - -<p>"I will not fail, general. Good night, and I kiss your excellency's -hands."</p> - -<p>The general pulled his hat over his eyes, wrapped himself in his cloak, -and went off hastily towards the Calle de Tacuba. On being left alone, -the colonel remained for a moment plunged in deep thought; the office -with which he was intrusted, for he perfectly caught the meaning of -the general's hints, was most serious. He must act vigorously without -compromising his chief, and in the shortest possible period, under the -penalty of being himself arrested and shot in four and twenty hours if -he failed. For the Mexicans, like their old masters the Spaniards, do -not jest in matters connected with revolutions, and boldly cut away the -evil at the root, by killing all the leaders of the abortive conspiracy.</p> - -<p>The situation was critical, and he must make up his mind, for the slight -delay might ruin all; but at so late an hour where was he to meet a man -like the Zaragate, who had probably no known domicile, and who led, a -no doubt most irregular life.</p> - -<p>Mexico, like all large cities, is amply endowed with suspicious houses, -frequented by rogues of all ages, who are continually wandering about -in search of adventures, more or less lucrative, under the complacent -protection of the moon.</p> - -<p>Moreover, although the worthy colonel had, in the course of his life, -frequented very mixed company, as he himself allowed, he was not at all -anxious to venture alone at night into the lower parts of the city, and -enter the velorios, thorough cut-throat dens, filled with robbers and -assassins, in which respectable persons do not even venture in bright -day without a shudder.</p> - -<p>At the moment when the colonel mechanically raised his head and looked -despairingly up to heaven, he fancied he saw several suspicious shadows -prowling about him in a suggestive manner. But the colonel was brave, -and the more so, because he had literally nothing to lose, hence he -quietly loosened his sword, opened his cloak, and at the instant when -four or five fellows attacked him at once with machetes and long -navajas, he was on guard according to all the rules of the art, with his -left foot supported a pillar, and his cloak wrapped like a buckler round -his arm.</p> - -<p>The attack was a rude one, but the colonel withstood it manfully; -besides, all went on in the Mexican way, without a shout or call for -help. When you are thus attacked in a Mexican street, you feel so -assured of death, that you generally confine yourself to the best -possible defence, without losing time in calling for help, which will -certainly not arrive.</p> - -<p>Still, the assailants being armed with short and heavy weapons, had a -marked disadvantage against the colonel's long and thin rapier, which -twisted like a snake, writhed round their weapons, and had already -pricked two of the men sharply enough to make the others reflect, and -display greater prudence in their attack. The colonel felt that they -were giving ground.</p> - -<p>"Come on, villains," he exclaimed, as he gave a terrific lunge, and ran -one of the bandits right through the body, who rolled on the pavement -with a yell of pain. "Let us come to an end of this, in the demon's -name!"</p> - -<p>"Stop, stop!" the man who seemed the leader of the bandits exclaimed; -"we are mistaken."</p> - -<p>As the bandits asked for nothing better than to stop, they retreated a -few steps without hesitation.</p> - -<p>"Yes, <i>Rayo de Dios</i>, you are mistaken, birbones," the exasperated -colonel shouted.</p> - -<p>"Can it possibly be you," the first speaker continued, "Señor Colonel -Don Jaime Lupo?"</p> - -<p>"Halloh!" the colonel said, falling back a step in surprise, "who -mentioned my name?"</p> - -<p>"I, excellency; a friend."</p> - -<p>"A friend? a strange friend who has been trying to assassinate me for -the last ten minutes."</p> - -<p>"Believe me, colonel, that had we known whom we had to deal with, we -should never have attacked you. All this is the result of a deplorable -misunderstanding, which you will, however, excuse."</p> - -<p>"But who are you, in the demon's name?"</p> - -<p>"What, excellency, do you not recognize the Zaragate?"</p> - -<p>"The Zaragate!" the colonel exclaimed, with glad surprise. "Well, -scoundrel, are you aware that yours is a singular trade?"</p> - -<p>"Alas! excellency, a man must do what he can," the bandit replied, in a -sorrowful voice.</p> - -<p>"Hum! then you have turned robber at present?"</p> - -<p>The scoundrel drew himself up with dignity.</p> - -<p>"No, excellency. I am serving, in the company of these honourable -caballeros the persons who claim my help."</p> - -<p>The honourable caballeros, seeing that the affair was going to end -peacefully, had returned their knives to their belts, and seemed -tolerably well satisfied at this unexpected conclusion, with the -exception of the man who had received the last thrust, and surrendered -his felon soul to the fiend; an acquisition, between ourselves, of no -great value to the spirit of darkness.</p> - -<p>"Can anyone have requested your services against me, Señor Zaragate?" -the colonel continued, as he returned his sword to its scabbard.</p> - -<p>"Not at all, excellency. I have already had the honour of remarking that -it was a mistake; we were waiting here for a young spark, who during -the last week has contracted the bad habit of prowling under the window -of a senator's mistress, and who asked me as a kindness to free him from -this troublesome fellow."</p> - -<p>"Caspita! Señor Zaragate, you have a rather quick way with you; and -your senator appears to me somewhat hasty. But as your little matter is -probably spoiled for tonight——"</p> - -<p>"I think, excellency, that the gallant heard the clash of steel, and -took very good care not to come on."</p> - -<p>"If he did so, he acted wisely; at any rate, if no other motive keeps -you here, and you have no objection to accompany me, I shall feel -obliged by your doing so, for I have to talk with you on very serious -matters, and, in fact, was looking for you."</p> - -<p>"Only see what a thing chance is!" the bandit exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Hum! let us hope it will not be quite so brutal next time."</p> - -<p>The Zaragate burst into a laugh.</p> - -<p>"Stay!" the colonel continued, as he laid a gold coin in his hand, "be -good enough to give this in my name to these honourable caballeros, and -beg them to forgive the rather rough way in which, at the first moment, -I received their advances."</p> - -<p>"Oh, they will not owe you a grudge, my dear sir, you may be sure of -that."</p> - -<p>The bandits, perfectly reconciled with the colonel by means of the -coin, gave him tremendous bows, accompanied by offers of service, and -took leave of him, after exchanging a few sentences in a whisper with -their chief; then they went off to the right, while the colonel and his -companion turned to the left.</p> - -<p>"They seem to be rather determined fellows," the colonel said, in order -to broach his subject.</p> - -<p>"Perfect lions, excellency, and obedient as rastreros."</p> - -<p>"Excellent; and have you many of that sort under your hand?"</p> - -<p>"Nothing would be easier, in the case of need, than to make up a dozen."</p> - -<p>"All equally true?"</p> - -<p>"All."</p> - -<p>"That is really valuable, do you know that, Señor Zaragate; and you are -a lucky caballero!"</p> - -<p>"Your excellency flatters me."</p> - -<p>"On my word, no. I am expressing my honest opinion, that is all."</p> - -<p>"Pardon me, excellency; but may I ask where we are going?"</p> - -<p>"Have you an inclination for one direction more than another?"</p> - -<p>"Not the slightest, excellency; still, I confess that, as a general -rule, I like to know where I am going."</p> - -<p>"Every sensible man ought to be of the same way of thinking. Well, we -are going to my house; have you any objection to that?"</p> - -<p>"None at all. I think you said, excellency, that I was a lucky man?"</p> - -<p>"Indeed I did, and I repeat that I consider you very fortunate."</p> - -<p>"Hum, you know the proverb, excellency, 'everyone knows where the shoe -pinches him.'"</p> - -<p>"That is true, and I suppose the shoe pinches you, eh?"</p> - -<p>"It does," he replied, with a sigh.</p> - -<p>The colonel looked at him anxiously. "I understand the cause of your -grief," he said; "and it is the worse, because there is no remedy for -it."</p> - -<p>"Do you think so?"</p> - -<p>"Caspita! I am certain of it."</p> - -<p>"You may be mistaken, excellency."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense! You who so graciously place yourself at the service of those -who have an insult to avenge, are forced to renounce your own vengeance."</p> - -<p>"Oh, oh, excellency, what is that you are saying?"</p> - -<p>"I am speaking the truth. You hate the Frenchman whom you mentioned to -me today, but you are afraid of him."</p> - -<p>"Afraid!" he exclaimed angrily.</p> - -<p>"I believe so," the colonel answered coolly.</p> - -<p>"Oh! if I only made up my mind to it——"</p> - -<p>"Yes," the colonel remarked, with a laugh, "but you will not make up -your mind because, I repeat, you are afraid; and to prove to you the -truth of my assertion, although I do not know the man, and only take -an interest in the matter for your sake, I will make you a wager if you -like."</p> - -<p>"A wager?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"What is it?"</p> - -<p>"I bet you that you will not dare avenge yourself on your enemy within -the next four and twenty hours, not even with the help of your twelve -companions."</p> - -<p>"And what will you bet, excellency?"</p> - -<p>"Well, I am so certain of running no risk, that I will bet you one -hundred ounces. Does that suit you?"</p> - -<p>"One hundred ounces!" the bandit exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with -greed. "<i>Viva Dios!</i> I would kill my own brother for such a sum."</p> - -<p>"You are flattering yourself, I see."</p> - -<p>"Here we are at your door, excellency, so it is needless for me to go -any further. You said one hundred ounces, I think?"</p> - -<p>"I did."</p> - -<p>"Farewell. The coming day will not end before I am avenged!"</p> - -<p>"Nonsense, nonsense! you will think better of it. Good night, Señor -Zaragate."</p> - -<p>And the colonel entered his house, muttering to himself, in an aside, -"I fancy I managed that cleverly. If this accursed Frenchman escapes -from the bloodhounds I have let loose on him, he must be the demon the -general calls him."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a></h4> - -<h3>AFTER THE INTERVIEW.</h3> - - -<p>The house taken for Valentine by Mr. Rallier was, as we have already -stated, situated in the Calle de Tacuba, and by a strange accident, in -no way premeditated, only a few yards from the mansion belonging to -General Don Sebastian Guerrero. The latter had no suspicion of this, -for until the moment when the hunter thought it advisable to pay him -a visit, he had been completely ignorant of his enemy's presence in -Mexico, in spite of the crowd of spies whom he paid to inform him of his -arrival in the capital.</p> - -<p>The hunter, therefore, would only have had a few steps to go to reach -home after leaving the general. But suspecting that the latter might -have given orders to have his carriage followed, he ordered his coachman -to drive to the Alameda, and thence to the Paseo de Bucareli.</p> - -<p>As the night was far advanced, the promenaders had abandoned the -shady walks of the Alameda, which was now completely deserted. This, -doubtless, was what the hunter desired, for, on reaching about the -centre of the drive, he ordered the coachman to stop, and got out with -his companions. After recommending him to watch carefully over his mules -(in Mexico people do not use horses for their carriages), and not let -any one approach him, for fear of one of those surprises so frequent at -this hour at this place, the three men then disappeared in one of the -shady walks, though careful not to go too far, so that they could assist -their coachman in case of need.</p> - -<p>Valentine, like all men accustomed to desert life, that is to vast -horizons of verdure, had an instinctive distrust of stone walls, -behind which, in his fancy, a spy was continually listening. Hence, -when he had an important affair to discuss, or a serious matter to -communicate to his friends, he preferred—in spite of the care with -which his house had been chosen, and the faithful friends who passed as -servants there—going to the Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, the Vega, -or somewhere in the environs of Mexico, where after posting Curumilla -as a sentry, that is to say, the man in whom he had the most perfect -faith, and whose scent, if I may be allowed the term, was infallible, he -believed that he could safely confide his closest secrets to the friends -he conveyed to these strange open air councils.</p> - -<p>On reaching a thick clump of trees the hunter stopped.</p> - -<p>"We shall be comfortable here," he said, as he sat down on a stone bench -and invited his friends to imitate him, "and shall be able to talk -without fear."</p> - -<p>"The trees have eyes, and the leaves ears," Belhumeur answered -sententiously; "I fear nothing so much in the world as these transparent -screens of verdure, which allow everything to be seen and heard."</p> - -<p>"Yes," Valentine remarked with a smile, "if you do not take the -precaution to frighten away spies;" and at the same moment he imitated -the soft cadenced hiss of the coral snake.</p> - -<p>A similar hiss was heard from the centre of the clump and seemed like an -echo.</p> - -<p>"That is the chief's signal," the Canadian said. "He has been watching -for us there for nearly an hour. Do you now believe that we are in -safety?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly; when Curumilla watches over us we have no surprise to -apprehend."</p> - -<p>"Let us talk, then," said Don Martial.</p> - -<p>"One moment," Valentine remarked, "we must first hear the report of a -friend, which is most valuable, and will doubtless decide the measures -we have to adopt."</p> - -<p>"Whom are you alluding to?"</p> - -<p>"You shall see," Valentine answered, and clapped his hands thrice softly.</p> - -<p>Immediately a slight sound and a gentle rustling of leaves was heard in -a neighbouring thicket, and a man suddenly emerged, about four paces -from the hunters. It was Carnero, the capataz of General Guerrero. He -wore a vicuna skin hat, of which the large brim was bent over his eyes, -and he was wrapped up in a spacious cloak.</p> - -<p>"Good evening, señores," he said, with a polite bow, "I have been -awaiting your coming for nearly an hour, and almost despaired of seeing -you tonight."</p> - -<p>"We were detained longer than we expected by General Guerrero."</p> - -<p>"Do you come from him?"</p> - -<p>"Did I not tell you I should call on him?"</p> - -<p>"Yes; but I hardly believed that you would have the temerity to venture -so imprudently into the lion's den."</p> - -<p>"Nonsense," Valentine said with a disdainful smile, "the lion as you -call him, I assure you, was remarkably tame; he drew in his claws -completely, and received us with the most exquisite politeness."</p> - -<p>"In that case take care," the capataz replied, with a significant shake -of the head; "if he received you as you say, and I have no reason to -doubt it, he is, be assured, preparing a terrible countermine against -you."</p> - -<p>"I am of the same opinion; the question is, whether we shall allow him -the time to act."</p> - -<p>"He is very clever, my dear Valentine," the capataz continued, "and -seems to possess an intuition of evil. In spite of the oath I took to -you when, on your entreaty, I consented to remain in his service, there -are days when, although I possess a thorough knowledge of his character, -he terrifies even me, and I feel on the point of giving up the rude task -which, through devotion to you, I have imposed on myself."</p> - -<p>"Courage, my friend; persevere but a few days longer, and, believe me, -we shall be all avenged."</p> - -<p>"May heaven grant it!" the capataz said with a sigh; "but I confess that -I dare not believe it, even though it is you who assure me of the fact."</p> - -<p>"Have you learnt any important news since our last interview?"</p> - -<p>"Only one thing, but I think it is of the utmost gravity for you."</p> - -<p>"Speak, my friend."</p> - -<p>"What I have to tell you is short and gloomy, señores. The general, -after a secret conversation with his man of business, ordered me to -carry a letter to the Convent of the Bernardines."</p> - -<p>"To the convent?" Don Martial exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Silence," said Valentine. "Do you know the contents of this letter?"</p> - -<p>"Doña Anita gave it me to read. The general informs the abbess that he -is resolved to finish the matter; that whether his ward be mad or not, -he means to marry her, and that at sunrise on the day after tomorrow, a -priest sent by him will present himself at the convent to arrange the -ceremony."</p> - -<p>"Great God! what is to be done?" the Tigrero exclaimed sadly; "how is -the execution of this odious machination to be prevented?"</p> - -<p>"Silence," Valentine repeated. "Is that all, Carnero?"</p> - -<p>"No; the general adds, that he requests the abbess to prepare the young -lady for this union, and that he will himself call at the convent -tomorrow, in order to explain more fully his inexorable wishes—these -are the very words of the letter."</p> - -<p>"Very good, my friend, I thank you for this precious information; it is -of the utmost importance that the general should be prevented from going -to the convent before three o'clock of the tarde. You understand, my -friend, this is of vital importance, so you must manage to effect it."</p> - -<p>"Do not be uneasy, my dear Valentine; the general shall not go to the -convent before the hour you indicate, whatever may be the means I am -forced to employ to prevent him."</p> - -<p>"I count on your promise, my friend; and now good-bye."</p> - -<p>He offered him his hand, which the capataz pressed forcibly.</p> - -<p>"When shall I see you, again?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"I will soon let you know," the hunter answered.</p> - -<p>The capataz bowed and went down a walk; the sound of his footsteps -rapidly decreased, and was quite inaudible within a few minutes.</p> - -<p>"My friends," Valentine then said, "we have now arrived at the moment -for the final struggle, which we have so long been preparing. We must -not let ourselves be led away by hatred, but act like judges, not as men -who are avenging themselves. Blood demands blood, it is true, according -to the law of the desert; but, remember, however culpable the man whom -we have condemned may be, his death would be an indelible spot, a brand -of infamy which would sully our honour."</p> - -<p>"But this monster," the Tigrero exclaimed, with a passion the more -violent because it was repressed, "is beyond the pale of humanity."</p> - -<p>"He may re-enter it to repent."</p> - -<p>"Are we priests then to practise forgetfulness of insults?" Don Martial -asked with a fiendish grin.</p> - -<p>"No, my friend, there are men in the grand and sublime acceptation of -the term; men who have often been faulty themselves, and who, rendered -better by the life of struggling they have led, and the grief which has -frequently bowed them beneath its iron yoke, inflict a chastisement, but -despise vengeance, which they leave to weak and pusillanimous minds. Who -of you, my friends, would dare to say that he has suffered more than I? -To Him alone will I concede the right of imposing his will on me, and -what He bids me do I will do."</p> - -<p>"Forgive me, my friend," the Tigrero answered, "you are ever good, ever -great. God, in imposing on you a heavy task, endowed you at the same -time with an energetic soul, and a heart which seems to expand in your -bosom under the blast of adversity, instead of withering. We, however, -are but common men, in whom the sanguinary instinct of the savage -is constantly revealed in spite of all our efforts, and who know no -other law save that of retaliation. Forget the senseless words my lips -uttered, and be assured that I will ever joyfully obey you, whatever -you may command, persuaded as I am, that you can only ask the man who -has utterly placed himself in your power to do just actions."</p> - -<p>The hunter, while his friend was speaking thus in a voice broken by -emotion, had let his head fall on his hands, and seemed absorbed in -gloomy and painful thought.</p> - -<p>"I have nothing to forgive you, my friend," he replied in a gentle, -sympathizing voice, "for through my own sufferings I can understand what -yours are. I, too, often feel my heart bound with wrath and indignation; -for, believe me, my friend, I have a constant struggle to wage against -myself, not to let myself be led away to make a vengeance of what must -only be a punishment. But enough on this head; time presses, and we must -arrange our plans, so as not to be foiled by our enemies. I went today -to the palace, where I had a secret conversation with the President of -the Republic, whom, as you are aware, I have known for many years, and -who honours me with a friendship of which I am far from believing myself -worthy. At the end of our interview he handed me a paper, a species of -blank signature, by the aid of which I can do what I think advisable for -the success of our plans."</p> - -<p>"Did you obtain such a paper?"</p> - -<p>"I have it in my pocket. Now, listen to me. You will go at sunrise -tomorrow to the house of Don Antonio Rallier; he will be informed of -your coming, and you will follow his instructions."</p> - -<p>"And you?"</p> - -<p>"Do not be anxious about my movements, good friend, and only think of -your own business, for, I repeat, the decisive moment is approaching. -The day after tomorrow begins the feast of the anniversary of Mexican -Independence; that is to say, on that day we shall do battle with our -enemy, and meet him face to face; and the combat will be a rude one, for -this man has a will of iron, and a terrible energy. We shall be able -to conquer him, but not to subdue him, and if we do not take care he -will slip through our hands like a serpent; hence our personal affairs -must be finished tomorrow. Though apparently absent, I shall be really -near you, that is to say, I will help you with all my power. Still, do -not forget that you must act with the most extreme prudence, and, above -all, the greatest moderation; a second of forgetfulness would ruin you, -by alarming the innumerable spies scattered round the Convent of the -Bernardines. I trust that you have heard and understood me, my friend?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, Don Valentine."</p> - -<p>"And you will act as I recommend?"</p> - -<p>"I promise it."</p> - -<p>"Reflect, that you are perhaps risking the loss of your future -happiness."</p> - -<p>"I will not forget your recommendation, I swear to you; I am risking too -great a stake in this game, which must decide my future life, to let -myself be induced to commit any act of violence."</p> - -<p>"Good; I am happy to hear you speak thus; but have confidence, my -friend, I feel certain that we shall succeed."</p> - -<p>"May heaven hear you!"</p> - -<p>"It always hears those who appeal to it with a pure heart and a lively -faith. Hope, I tell you; and now, my dear Don Martial, permit me to say -a few words to our worthy friend, Belhumeur."</p> - -<p>"I will withdraw."</p> - -<p>"What for? have I any secrets from you? You can hear what I am going to -say to him."</p> - -<p>"You have nothing to say to me, Valentine," the hunter said, with a -shake of his head, "nothing but what I know already; I have no other -interest in what is about to take place beyond the deep friendship that -attached me to the count and now to you. You think that the recollection -I have preserved of our unhappy friend cannot be sufficiently engraven -on my heart for me to risk my life at your side in avenging him; but you -are mistaken, Valentine, that's all. I will not abandon you in the hour -of combat; I will remain at your side even should you order me to leave -you. I tell you that I swear, and have taken an oath to that effect, to -make a shield of my body to protect you, if it should be necessary. Now, -give me your hand, and suppose we say no more about it?"</p> - -<p>Valentine remained silent for a moment; a scalding tear ran down his -bronzed cheeks, and he took the hand of the honest, simple-minded -Canadian, and merely uttered the words—</p> - -<p>"Thank you; I accept."</p> - -<p>They then rose, and returned to their carriage, after Valentine had -warned his faithful bodyguard, Curumilla, by a signal that he could -leave his hiding place, as the interview was over. A quarter of an hour -later the three gentlemen reached the house in the Calle de Tacuba, were -Curumilla was already awaiting them.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII</a></h4> - -<h3>THE BLANK SIGNATURE.</h3> - - -<p>On the morrow, Mexico awoke to a holiday; nothing extraordinary, in -a country where the year is a perpetual holiday, and where the most -frivolous pretext suffices for letting off <i>cohetes</i>, that supreme -amusement of the Mexicans.</p> - -<p>This time the affair was serious, for the inhabitants wished to -celebrate in a proper manner the anniversary of the Proclamation of -Independence, of which the day to which we allude was the eve.</p> - -<p>At sunrise a formidable <i>bando</i> issued from the government palace, and -went through all the streets and squares of the city, announcing with -a mighty clamour of bugles and drums, that on the next day there would -be a bull fight with "Jamaica" and "Monte Parnasso" for the leperos, -high mass celebrated in all the churches, theatres thrown open gratis, -a review of the garrison, and of all the troops quartered sixty miles -round, and fireworks and illuminations at night, with open air balls and -feria.</p> - -<p>The government did things nobly, it must be confessed; hence the people -issued from their houses, spread feverishly through the streets at an -early hour, laughing, shouting, and letting off squibs, while singing -the praises of the President of the Republic, and taking, after their -fashion, something on account of the morrow's festival.</p> - -<p>Don Martial, in order to throw out the spies doubtless posted round -Valentine's house, had left his friend in the middle of the night, and -gone to his lodgings, and a few minutes before day proceeded to the -house of Mr. Rallier.</p> - -<p>Although the sun was not yet above the horizon, the French gentleman was -already up and conversing with his brother Edward, while waiting for the -Tigrero. Edward was ready to start, and his brother was giving him his -parting recommendations.</p> - -<p>"You are welcome," the Frenchman said cordially, on perceiving Don -Martial; "I was busy with our affair. My brother Edward is just off to -our quinta, whither my mother and my brother Auguste proceeded two days -ago, so that we might find all in order on our arrival."</p> - -<p>Although the Tigrero did not entirely understand what the banker said to -him, he considered it unnecessary to show it, and hence bowed without -answering.</p> - -<p>"All is settled, then," Mr. Rallier continued, addressing his brother; -"get everything ready, for we shall probably arrive before midday—that -is to say, in time for lunch."</p> - -<p>"Your country house is not far from the city?" the Tigrero asked, for -the sake of saying something.</p> - -<p>"Hardly five miles; it is at St. Angel; but in an excellent position -for defence, in the event of an attack. You are aware that St. Angel -is built on the side of an extinct volcano, and surrounded by lava and -spongy scoria, which renders an approach very difficult."</p> - -<p>"I must confess my ignorance of the fact."</p> - -<p>"In a country like this, where the government is bound to think of its -own defence before troubling itself about individuals, it is as well to -take one's precautions, and be always perfectly on guard. And now be -off, my dear Edward; your weapons are all right, and two resolute peons -will accompany you; besides, the sun is now rising, and you will have a -pleasant ride; so good-by till we meet again."</p> - -<p>The two brothers shook hands, and the young man, after bowing to Don -Martial, left the house, followed by two servants well mounted, and -armed like himself. During this conversation the peons had put the -horses in a close carriage.</p> - -<p>"Get in," said Mr. Rallier.</p> - -<p>"What!" Don Martial replied, "are we going to drive?"</p> - -<p>"By Jove! do you think I would venture to go to the convent on -horseback? Why, we could not go along a street before we were -recognized."</p> - -<p>"But this carriage will betray you."</p> - -<p>"I admit it; but no one will know whom it contains when the shutters are -drawn up, which I shall be careful to do before leaving the house. Come, -get in."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero placed himself by the Frenchman's side; the latter pulled -up the shutters, and started at a gallop in a direction diametrically -opposed to that which it should have followed, in order to reach the -convent.</p> - -<p>"Where are we going?" the Tigrero asked presently.</p> - -<p>"To the Convent of the Bernardines."</p> - -<p>"I fancy we are not going the right road."</p> - -<p>"That is possible, but, at any rate, it is the safest."</p> - -<p>"I humbly confess that I cannot understand it at all."</p> - -<p>Mr. Rallier began laughing.</p> - -<p>"My good fellow," he replied, "you will understand at the right time, -so be easy. You need only know, that in acting as I am doing, I am -carrying out to the letter the instructions of Valentine, my friend and -yours. It was not for nothing that he has so long borne the name of the -Trail-hunter; besides, you remember the prairie adage, which has always -appeared to me full of good sense, 'The shortest road from one point to -another is a crooked line.' Well, we are following the crooked line, -that is all. Besides, in all that is about to take place, you must -remain completely out of the question, and restrict yourself to being a -spectator, rather than an actor, and willing to obey me in everything I -may order. Does this part displease you?"</p> - -<p>The Frenchman said this with the merry accent and delightful simplicity -which formed the basis of his character, and which caused everybody to -like him whom accident brought in contact with him.</p> - -<p>"I have no repugnance to obey you, Señor Don Antonio," the Tigrero -answered. "The confidence our common friend places in you is a sure -guarantee to me of your intentions. Hence dispose of me as you think -proper, without fearing the slightest objection on my part."</p> - -<p>"That is the way to talk," the banker said, with a laugh. "Now, to -begin, my dear señor, you will do me the pleasure of changing your -dress, for the one you wear is slightly too worldly for the place to -which we are going."</p> - -<p>"Change my dress?" the Tigrero exclaimed. "Diablos! you ought to have -told me so at your house."</p> - -<p>"Unnecessary, my dear sir. I have all you require here."</p> - -<p>"Here?"</p> - -<p>"Well, you shall see," he said, as he took from one of the coach pockets -a Franciscan's gown, while from the other he drew a pair of sandals and -a cord. "Have you not worn this dress before?"</p> - -<p>"I have."</p> - -<p>"Well, you are going to put it on again, and for the following reasons: -At the convent, people believe (or pretend to believe, which comes to -the same thing) that you are a Franciscan monk. For the sake, then, of -persons who are not in the secret, it is necessary that I should be -accompanied by a monk, and more, that they may be able, if required, to -take their oaths to the fact."</p> - -<p>"I obey you. But will not your coachman be surprised at seeing a -Franciscan emerge from the carriage into which he showed a caballero?"</p> - -<p>"My coachman? Pardon me, but I do not think you looked at him?"</p> - -<p>"Indeed, I did not. All these Indians are alike, and equally hideous."</p> - -<p>"That is true; however, look at him."</p> - -<p>Don Martial bent forward, and slightly lowered the shutter.</p> - -<p>"Curumilla!" he cried, in amazement, as he drew back. "He, and so well -disguised?"</p> - -<p>"Do you now believe that he will be surprised?"</p> - -<p>"I was wrong."</p> - -<p>"No, but you do not take the trouble to reflect."</p> - -<p>"Well, I will put on the gown since I must. Still, with your permission, -I will keep my weapons under it."</p> - -<p>"Caspita! my permission? On the contrary, I order you to do so. But what -are they?"</p> - -<p>"You shall see. A machete, a knife, and a pair of pistols."</p> - -<p>"That is first-rate. If necessary, I shall be able to find you a rifle. -Trust to me for that."</p> - -<p>While talking thus, the Tigrero had changed his dress; that is to say, -he had simply put the gown over his other clothes, fastened the rope -round his body, and substituted the sandals for his boots.</p> - -<p>"There," the Frenchman continued, "you are a perfect monk."</p> - -<p>"No; I want something more, something which is even indispensable."</p> - -<p>"What's that?"</p> - -<p>"The hat."</p> - -<p>"That's true."</p> - -<p>"That part of my costume I hardly know how we shall obtain."</p> - -<p>"Man of little faith!" the Frenchman said with a smile, "see, and be -confounded!"</p> - -<p>While speaking thus he raised the front cushion, opened the box it -covered, and pulled out the hat of a monk of St. Francis, which he gave -the Tigrero.</p> - -<p>"And now do you want anything else, pray?" he asked, mockingly.</p> - -<p>"Indeed, no. Why, your carriage is a perfect locomotive shop!"</p> - -<p>"Yes, it contains a little of everything. But we have arrived," he -added, seeing the carriage stop. "You remember that you must in no way -make yourself prominent, and simply confine yourself to doing what I -tell you. That is settled, I think?"</p> - -<p>The Frenchman opened the door, for the carriage had really stopped -in front of the Convent of the Bernardines. Two or three ill-looking -fellows were prowling about: and, in spite of their affected -indifference, it was easy to recognize them for spies. The Frenchman and -his companion were not deceived. They got out with an indifference as -well assumed as that of the spies, and approached the door slowly, which -was opened at their first knock, and closed again behind them with a -speed that proved the slight confidence the sister porter placed in the -individuals left outside.</p> - -<p>"What do you desire, señores?" she asked, politely, after curtseying to -the newcomers with a smile of recognition.</p> - -<p>"My dear sister," the Frenchman answered, "be good enough to inform -the holy mother abbess of our visit, and ask her to favour us with an -interview for a few moments."</p> - -<p>"It is still very early, brother," the nun answered, "and I do not know -if holy mother can receive you at this moment."</p> - -<p>"Merely mention my name to her, sister, and I feel convinced that she -will make no difficulty about receiving us."</p> - -<p>"I doubt it, brother, for, as I said before, it is very early. Still, I -am willing to tell her, in order to prove to you my readiness to serve -you."</p> - -<p>"I feel deeply grateful to you for the kindness, sister."</p> - -<p>The sister then left the parlour, after begging the two gentlemen to -wait a moment. During her absence the Frenchman and his companion did -not exchange a syllable; however, this absence was short, and only -lasted a few minutes.</p> - -<p>Without speaking, the sister made the visitors a sign to follow her, -and led them to the parlour where we have already taken the reader, and -where the abbess was waiting for them.</p> - -<p>The Mother Superior was pale, and seemed anxious and preoccupied. She -invited the two gentlemen to sit down, and waited silently till they -addressed her. They, on their side, seemed to be waiting for her to -inquire the nature of their visit; but, as she did not do so, and this -silence threatened to be prolonged for some time, Mr. Rallier resolved -on breaking it.</p> - -<p>"I had the honour, madam," he said, with a respectful bow, "to send you -yesterday, by one of my servants, a letter, in which I informed you of -this morning's visit."</p> - -<p>"Yes, caballero," she at once, answered, "I duly received this letter, -and your sister Helena is ready to go away with you, whenever you -express the wish. Still permit me to make one request of you."</p> - -<p>"Speak, madam, and if I can be of any service to you, believe me, that I -shall eagerly seize the opportunity."</p> - -<p>"I know not, caballero, how to explain myself, for what I have to say -to you is really so strange that I fear lest it should call up a smile -to your lips. Although Doña Helena has only been a few months in our -convent, she has made herself so beloved by all her companions, through -her charming character, that her departure is an occasion of mourning -for all of us."</p> - -<p>"You render me very happy and very proud by speaking thus of my sister, -madam."</p> - -<p>"This praise is only the expression of the strictest truth, caballero. -We are all really most grieved to see her leave us thus. Still, I should -not have ventured thus to make myself the interpreter of our regrets, -were there not a very strong reason that renders it almost a duty to -speak to you."</p> - -<p>"I am listening to you, madam, though I can guess beforehand what you -are going to say to me."</p> - -<p>She looked at him in surprise.</p> - -<p>"You guess! Oh, it is impossible, señor," she exclaimed.</p> - -<p>The Frenchman smiled.</p> - -<p>"My sister, Doña Helena, as is generally the case in convents, has -chosen one of her companions, whom she loves more than the others, and -made her her intimate friend. Is such the case, madam?"</p> - -<p>"How do you know it?"</p> - -<p>He continued; with a smile—</p> - -<p>"Now, this young lady, so beloved not only by Helena but by you, -madam, and all your community, is a gentle, kind, loving girl, who, in -consequence of a great misfortune, became insane, but whom your tender -care has restored to reason. Still, you keep the latter fact a profound -secret, before all from her guardian, who, not contented with having -stripped her of her fortune, now insists of robbing her of her happiness -by forcing her to marry him."</p> - -<p>"Señor, señor," the abbess exclaimed, as she rose from her seat, with -an astonishment blended with terror, "who are you that you know so many -things of which I believed the whole world ignorant?"</p> - -<p>"Who am I, madam? the brother of Helena, that is to say, a man in whom -you can place the most entire confidence. Hence permit me to proceed."</p> - -<p>The abbess, still suffering from extreme agitation, sat down again.</p> - -<p>"Go on, caballero," she said.</p> - -<p>"The guardian of Doña Anita, either that he has suspicion, or for some -other motive, wrote to you yesterday, ordering you to prepare her to -marry him within twenty-four hours. Since the receipt of this fatal -letter, Doña Anita has been plunged in the deepest despair, a despair -further heightened by the sudden departure of my sister, the only friend -in whose arms she can safely reveal her heart's secrets. But you, -madam, who are so holy and good, are aware that God can at his pleasure -confound the projects of the wicked, and change wormwood into honey. Did -you not receive a visit yesterday from Don Serapio de la Ronda?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, that gentleman deigned to visit me a few moments before I -received the fatal letter to which you have referred."</p> - -<p>"Did not Don Serapio, on leaving you, say these words: 'Be kind enough -to inform Doña Anita that a friend is watching over her; that this -friend has already given her unequivocal proofs of the interest he -takes in her happiness, and that, on the day when she again sees the -Franciscan monk, to whom she confessed once before, all her misfortunes -will be ended?'"</p> - -<p>"Yes, Don Serapio did utter those words."</p> - -<p>"Well, madam, I am sent to you, not only by him, but by another person, -who is no less than the President of the Republic, not only to take away -my sister but also to ask you to deliver up to me Doña Anita, who will -accompany her."</p> - -<p>"Heaven is my witness, señor, that I would be delighted to do what you -ask of me. Unhappily, it is not in my power; Doña Anita was entrusted -to me by her sole relation, who is at the same time her guardian, and -though he is unworthy of that title, and my heart bleeds in refusing -you, it is to him alone that I am bound to deliver her."</p> - -<p>"This objection, madam, the justice of which I fully appreciate, has -been foreseen by the persons whose representative I am. Hence they -consulted on the means to remove the scruples by entirely releasing you -from responsibility. Father, give this lady the paper, of which you are -the bearer."</p> - -<p>Without uttering a word, Don Martial took from his pocket the blank -signature Valentine had entrusted to him, and handed it to the abbess.</p> - -<p>"What is this?" she asked.</p> - -<p>"Madam," the Frenchman answered, "that paper is a blank signature of the -President of the Republic, who orders you to deliver Doña Anita into my -hands."</p> - -<p>"I see it," she said, sorrowfully; "unfortunately this blank signature, -which would everywhere else have the strength of the law, is powerless -here. We only indirectly depend on the temporal power, but are -completely subjugated to the spiritual power, and we can only receive -orders from it."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero took a side glance, full of despair, at his companion, whose -face was still smiling.</p> - -<p>"What would you require, madam," he continued, "in order to consent to -give up this unhappy young lady to me?"</p> - -<p>"Alas, señor, it is not I who refuse compliance. Heaven is my witness -that it is my greatest desire to see her escape from her persecutor."</p> - -<p>"I am thoroughly convinced of that, madam; that is why, feeling -persuaded of your good feeling towards your charge, I ask you to tell me -what authority you require in order to give her up to me."</p> - -<p>"I cannot, señor, allow Doña Anita to quit this convent without a -perfectly regular order, signed by Monseigneur the Archbishop of Mexico, -who alone has the right to command here, and whom I am compelled to -obey."</p> - -<p>"And if I had that order, madam, all your scruples would be removed?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, all, señor."</p> - -<p>"You would have no further difficulty in allowing Doña Anita to depart?"</p> - -<p>"I would deliver her to you at once, señor."</p> - -<p>"Since that is the case, madam, I will ask you to do so, for I have -brought you that order."</p> - -<p>"You have it?" she said, with undisguised delight.</p> - -<p>"Here it is," he answered, as he took a paper from his pocketbook, and -handed it to her.</p> - -<p>She opened it at once, and eagerly perused it.</p> - -<p>"Oh now," she continued, "Doña Anita is free, and I will——"</p> - -<p>"One moment, madam," he interrupted her, "have you carefully read the -order I had the honour of giving you?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"In that case be kind enough to allow the young ladies to put on secular -clothing, and, as their departure must be kept secret, allow my carriage -to enter the front courtyard. I fancied I saw ill-looking fellows -prowling about the neighbourhood, who looked to me like spies."</p> - -<p>"What must I say, though, to the young lady's guardian? I am going to -see him today."</p> - -<p>"I am aware of that, madam. Gain time; tell him that his ward is -ill; that you have succeeded in gaining her consent to the projected -marriage, but, on the condition that it be deferred for eight and forty -hours. It is a falsehood I am suggesting to you, madam, but it is -necessary, and I feel convinced that heaven will pardon it."</p> - -<p>"Oh, do not be anxious about that, señor. I will gladly take on myself -the responsibility of this falsehood; Doña Anita's guardian will not -dare to oppose so short a delay, however well inclined he may be to do -so: but in forty-eight hours?"</p> - -<p>"In forty-hours, madam," the Frenchman answered in a hollow voice, -"General Guerrero will not come to claim the hand of Doña Anita."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII</a></h4> - -<h3>ON THE ROAD.</h3> - - -<p>All the scruples of the Mother Superior—honourable scruples, let us -hasten to add—having thus been removed, one after the other, by Mr. -Rallier, by means of the double orders he had been careful to provide -himself with, the next thing was to see about getting the two boarders -away without further day.</p> - -<p>The abbess, who understood the importance of a speedy conclusion, -left her visitors in the parlour, and, in order to avoid any -misunderstanding, herself undertook to fetch the two young ladies, after -giving a lay sister orders to call the carriage into the first courtyard.</p> - -<p>In a religious community, one of women before all—we do not mean -this satirically—whatever may be done, and whatever precautions may -be taken, nothing can long be kept a secret. Hence, the two gentlemen -had scarcely entered the speaking room of the abbess ere the rumour of -the departure of Doña Anita and Doña Helena spread among the nuns with -extreme rapidity. Who spread the news no one could have told, and yet -everybody spoke about it as a certainty.</p> - -<p>The young ladies were naturally the first informed. At the outset their -anxiety was great, and Doña Anita trembled, for she believed that -she was fetched by order of her guardian, and that the monk speaking -with the abbess was the one sent by the general to make immediate -preparations for her marriage. Hence, when the abbess entered Doña -Helena's cell, she found the pair in each other's arms, and weeping -bitterly.</p> - -<p>Fortunately, the mistake was soon cleared up, and the sorrow converted -into joy when the abbess, who, through sympathy, wept as much as -her boarders, explained that of the two strangers, whom they feared -so greatly, one was the brother of Doña Helena, and the other the -Franciscan monk whom Doña Anita had already seen, and that they had -come, not to add to her sufferings, but to remove her from the tyranny -that oppressed her.</p> - -<p>Doña Helena, on hearing that her brother was at the convent, bounded -with joy, and removed her friend's last doubts, for, like all unhappy -persons. Doña Anita clung greedily to this new hope of salvation, which -was thus allowed to germinate in her heart at a moment when she believed -that she had no chance left of escaping her evil destiny.</p> - -<p>The abbess then urged them to complete their preparations for departure, -helped them to change their dress, and, after embracing them several -times, conducted them to the parlour.</p> - -<p>In order to avoid any disturbance when the young ladies left the -convent, where everybody adored them, the abbess had the good idea of -sending the nuns to their cells. It was a very prudent measure, which, -by preventing leave-taking, also prevented any noisy manifestations of -cries and tears, the sound of which might have been heard outside, and -have fallen on hostile ears.</p> - -<p>The leave-taking was short, for there was no time to lose in vain -compliments. The young ladies drew down their veils, and proceeded to -the courtyard under the guidance of the abbess. The carriage had been -drawn as close as possible to the cloisters, and the court was entirely -deserted, only the abbess, the sister porter, and a confidential nun -witnessing the departure.</p> - -<p>As the Frenchman opened the door of the carriage, a piece of paper lying -on the seat caught his eyes. He seized it without being seen, and hid it -in the hollow of his hand. After kissing the good abbess for the last -time, the young ladies took the back seat, and Don Martial the front, as -did Mr. Rallier, after previously whispering to the coachman, that is, -to Curumilla, two Indian words, to which he replied by a sinister grin. -Then, at a signal from the abbess, the convent gates were opened, and -the carriage started at full speed, drawn by six powerful mules.</p> - -<p>The crowd silently made room for it to pass, the gates closed again -immediately, and the carriage almost immediately disappeared round the -corner of the next street.</p> - -<p>It was about seven o'clock in the morning. The fugitives—for we can -give them no other name—galloped in silence for the first ten or -fifteen minutes, when the Frenchman gently touched his companion's -shoulder, and offered him the paper he had found in the carriage.</p> - -<p>"Read!" he said.</p> - -<p>The paper only contained two words, hurriedly written in pencil—</p> - -<p>"Take care."</p> - -<p>"Oh, oh," the Tigrero exclaimed, turning pale, "what does this mean?"</p> - -<p>"By Jove," the Frenchman answered cautiously, "it means that in spite of -our precautions, or perhaps on account of them, for in these confounded -affairs a man never knows how to act in order to deceive the persons he -fears, we are discovered, and probably have spies at our heels."</p> - -<p>"Caray! and what will become of the young ladies in the event of a -dispute?"</p> - -<p>"In the event of a fight you mean, for there will be an obstinate one, -I foretell. Well, we will defend them as well as we can."</p> - -<p>"I know that; but suppose we are killed?"</p> - -<p>"Ah! there is that chance; but I never think of that till after the -event."</p> - -<p>"Oh heaven!" Doña Anita murmured, as she hid her head in her friend's -bosom.</p> - -<p>"Re-assure yourself, señorita," the Frenchman continued, "and, above -all, be silent, for the sound of your voice might be recognized, and -change into certainty what may still be only a suspicion. Besides, -remember that if you have enemies, you have also friends, since they -took the precaution to warn us. Now, in all probability, this unknown -offerer of advice will not have stopped there, but thought of the means -to come to our assistance in the most effectual manner."</p> - -<p>The carriage went along in the meanwhile at a breakneck pace, and had -nearly reached the city gates. We will now tell what had happened, and -how the Frenchman was warned of the danger that threatened him.</p> - -<p>General Don Sebastian Guerrero had organized a band of spies composed -of leperos and scoundrels, who, however, possessed acknowledged -cleverness and skill, and if Valentine had escaped their surveillance -and foiled their machinations, it was solely through the habits which -he had contracted during a lengthened life in the prairies, and which -had become an intuition with him, so far did he carry the quality of -scenting and unmasking an enemy, whatever might be the countenance he -borrowed. But if he had not been recognized, it was not the same with -his friends, and the latter had not been able long to escape the lynx -eyes of the general's spies.</p> - -<p>The Convent of the Bernardines had naturally become for some days past -the centre of the surveillance, as it were the spying headquarters, of -Don Sebastian's agents. The arrival of a carriage with closed blinds -at the convent at once gave the alarm; and though Mr. Rallier was not -personally known, the fact of his being a Frenchman was sufficient to -rouse suspicions.</p> - -<p>While the Frenchman and the monk were conversing in the parlour with the -abbess, a lepero pretended to hurt himself, and was conveyed by two of -his acolytes to the convent gate, and the good hearted porter had not -refused him admission, but, on the contrary, had eagerly given him all -the assistance his condition seemed to require.</p> - -<p>While the lepero was gradually regaining his senses, his comrades asked -questions with that captious skill peculiar to their Mexican nature. -The sister porter was a worthy woman, endowed with a very small stock -of brains, and fond of talking. On finding this opportunity to indulge -in her favourite employment, she was easily led on, and, almost of her -own accord, told all she knew, not suspecting the harm she did. Let us -hasten to add that this all was very little; but, being understood and -commented on by intelligent men interested in discovering the truth, it -was extremely serious.</p> - -<p>When the three leperos had drawn all they could out of the sister -porter, they hastened to leave the convent. Just as they emerged into -the street, they found themselves face to face with Ño Carnero, the -general's capataz, whom his master had sent on a tour of discovery. They -ran up to him, and in a few words told him what had happened.</p> - -<p>This was grave, and the capataz trembled inwardly at the revelation, for -he understood the terrible danger by which his friends were menaced. But -Carnero was a clever man, and at once made up his mind to his course of -action.</p> - -<p>He greatly praised the leperos for the skill they had displayed in -discovering the secret, put some piastres into their hands, and sent -them off to the general, with the recommendation, which was most -unnecessary, to make all possible speed. Then, in his turn, he began -prowling round the convent, and especially the carriage, which Curumilla -made no difficulty in letting him approach, for the reader will -doubtless have guessed that the animosity the Indian had on several -occasions evinced for the capataz was pretended, and that they were -perfectly good friends when nobody could see or hear them.</p> - -<p>The capataz skilfully profited by the confusion created in the crowd by -the carriage entering the convent, to throw in, unperceived, the paper -Mr. Rallier had found. Certain now that his friends would be on their -guard, he went off in his turn, after recommending the spies he left -before the convent to keep up a good watch, and walked in the direction -of the Plaza Mayor smoking a cigarette.</p> - -<p>At the corner of the Calle de Plateros he saw a man standing in front of -a pulquería, engaged in smoking an enormous cigar. The capataz entered -the pulquería, drank a glass of Catalonian refino, but while paying, he -clumsily let fall a piastre which rolled to the foot of the man standing -in the doorway. The latter stooped, picked up the coin, and restored it -to its owner, and the capataz walked out, doubtless satisfied with the -quality of the spirit he had imbibed, and cautiously continued his way. -On reaching the plaza again, the man of the pulquería, who was probably -going the same road as himself, was at his heels.</p> - -<p>"Belhumeur?" the capataz asked in a low voice, without turning round.</p> - -<p>"Eh?" the other answered in the same key.</p> - -<p>"The general knows the affair at the convent; if you do not make haste, -Don Martial, Don Antonio, and the two ladies will be attacked on the -road while going to the quinta; warn your friend, for there is not a -moment to lose. Devil take the cigarette!" he added, throwing it away, -"it has gone out."</p> - -<p>When he turned back, Belhumeur had disappeared; the Canadian with -his characteristic agility was already running in the direction of -Valentine's house. As for the capataz, as he was in no particular hurry, -he quietly walked back to the general's, where he found his master in a -furious passion with all his people, and more particularly with himself.</p> - -<p>By an accident, too portentous not to have been arranged beforehand, not -one of his horses could be mounted; three were foundered, four others -had been bled, and the last three were without shoes. In the midst of -this the capataz arrived with a look of alarm, which only heightened his -master's passion. Carnero prudently allowed the general's fury to grow a -little calm, and then answered him.</p> - -<p>He proved to him in the first place that he would commit a serious act -of imprudence by himself starting in pursuit of the fugitives in the -present state of affairs, and especially on the eve of a pronunciamiento -which was about to decide his fortunes. Then he remarked to him that -six peons, commanded by a resolute man, would be sufficient to conquer -two men probably badly armed, and, in addition, shut up in a carriage -with two ladies, whom they would not expose to the risk of being killed. -These reasons being good, the general listened and yielded to them.</p> - -<p>"Very good," he said; "Carnero, you are one of my oldest servants, and -to you I entrust the duty of bringing back my niece."</p> - -<p>The capataz made a wry face.</p> - -<p>"There will be probably plenty of blows to receive, and very little -profit to derive from such an expedition."</p> - -<p>"I believed that you were devoted to me," the general remarked bitterly.</p> - -<p>"Your excellency is not mistaken; I am truly devoted to you, but I have -also a fondness for my skin."</p> - -<p>"I will give you twenty-five ounces for every slit it receives; is that -enough?"</p> - -<p>"Come, I see that your excellency wishes me to be cut into mincemeat!" -the capataz exclaimed joyously.</p> - -<p>"Then that is agreed?"</p> - -<p>"I should think so, excellency; at that price a man would be a fool to -refuse."</p> - -<p>"But about horses?"</p> - -<p>"We have at least ten or a dozen in the corral."</p> - -<p>"That is true; I did not think of that," the general exclaimed, striking -his forehead; "have seven lassoed at once."</p> - -<p>"Where must I take the señorita?"</p> - -<p>"Bring her to this house, for she shall not set foot in the convent -again."</p> - -<p>"Very good; when shall I start, general?"</p> - -<p>"At once, if it be possible."</p> - -<p>"In twenty minutes I shall have left the house."</p> - -<p>But the general's impatience was so great that he accompanied his -capataz to the corral, watched all the preparations for the departure, -and did not return to his apartments till he was certain that Carnero -had started in pursuit of the fugitives, with the peons he had selected.</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile the carriage dashed along; it passed at full gallop -through the San Lázaro gate, then turned suddenly to the right, and -entered a somewhat narrow street. At about the middle of this street it -stopped before a house of rather modest appearance, the gate of which -at once opened, and a man came out holding the bridles of two prairie -mustangs completely harnessed, and with a rifle at each saddle-bow. The -Frenchman got out, and invited his companion to follow his example.</p> - -<p>"Resume your usual dress," he said, as he led him inside the house.</p> - -<p>The Tigrero obeyed with an eager start of joy. While he doffed his gown, -his companion mounted, after saying to the young ladies—</p> - -<p>"Whatever happens, not a word—not a cry; keep the shutters up; we will -gallop at the door, and remember your lives are in peril."</p> - -<p>Martial at this moment came out of the house attired as a caballero.</p> - -<p>"To horse, and let us be off," said Mr. Rallier.</p> - -<p>The Tigrero bounded onto the mustang held in readiness for him, and -the carriage, in which the mules had been changed, started again at -full speed. The house at which they had stopped was the one hired by -Valentine to keep his stud at.</p> - -<p>Half an hour thus passed, and the carriage disappeared in the thick -cloud of dust it raised as it dashed along. Don Martial felt new born; -the excitement had restored his old ardour as if by enchantment; -he longed to be face to face with his foe, and at length come to a -settlement with him. The Frenchman was calmer; though brave to rashness, -it was with secret anxiety he foresaw the probability of a fight, in -which his sister might be wounded; still he was resolved, in the event -of the worst, to confront the danger, no matter the number of men who -ventured to attack them.</p> - -<p>All at once the Indian uttered a cry. The two men looked back, and saw -a body of men coming up at full speed. At this moment the carriage was -following a road bounded on one side by a rather thick chaparral, on the -other by a deep ravine.</p> - -<p>At a sign from the Frenchman the carriage was drawn across the road, and -the ladies got out; went, under Curumilla's protection, to seek shelter -behind the trees. The two men, with their rifles to their shoulders -and fingers on the triggers, stood firmly in the middle of the road, -awaiting the onset of their adversaries, for, in all probability, the -newcomers were enemies.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.</a></h4> - -<h3>A SKIRMISH.</h3> - - -<p>Curumilla, after concealing, with that Indian skill he so thoroughly -possessed, the young ladies at a spot where they were thoroughly -protected from bullets, had placed himself, rifle in hand, not by the -side of the two riders, but, with characteristic redskin prudence, he -ambuscaded himself behind the carriage, probably reflecting that he -represented the entire infantry force, and not caring, through a point -of honour, very absurd in his opinion, to expose himself to a death not -only certain, but useless to those he wished to defend.</p> - -<p>The horsemen, however, on coming within range of the persons they were -pursuing, stopped, and by their gestures seemed to evince a hesitation -the fugitives did not at all understand, after the fashion in which they -had hitherto been pursued. The motive for this hesitation, which the -Frenchman and his companions could not know, and which perplexed them so -greatly, was very simple.</p> - -<p>Carnero, for it was the general's capataz who was pursuing the carriage, -with his peons, all at once perceived, with a secret pleasure, it is -true, though he was careful not to let his companions notice it, that -while they were pursuing the carriage, other horsemen were pursuing -them, and coming up at headlong speed. On seeing this, as we said, the -party halted, much disappointed and greatly embarrassed as to what they -had better do.</p> - -<p>They were literally placed between two fires, and were the attacked -instead of the assailants; the situation was critical, and deserved -serious consideration. Carnero suggested a retreat, remarking, with a -certain amount of reason, that the sides were no longer equal, and that -success was highly problematical. The peons, all utter ruffians, and -expressly chosen by the general, but who entertained a profound respect -for the integrity of their limbs, and were but very slightly inclined -to have them injured in so disadvantageous a contest with people who -would not recoil, were disposed to follow the advice of the capataz and -retire, before a retreat became impossible.</p> - -<p>Unhappily, the Zaragate was among the peons. Believing, from his -conversation with the colonel, that he knew better than anyone the -general's intentions, and attracted by the hope of a rich reward if he -succeeded in delivering him of his enemy, that is to say, in killing -Valentine; and, moreover, probably impelled by the personal hatred he -entertained for the hunter, he would not listen to any observation, and -swore with horrible oaths that he would carry out the general's orders -at all hazards, and that, since the persons they were ordered to stop -were only a few paces before them, they ought not to retire until they -had, at least, attempted to perform their duty; and that if his comrades -were such cowards as to desert him, he would go on alone at his own -risk, certain that the general would be satisfied with the way in which -he behaved.</p> - -<p>After a declaration so distinct and peremptory, any hesitation became -impossible, the more so as the horsemen were rapidly coming up, and if -the capataz hesitated much longer he would be attacked in the rear. Thus -driven out of his last entrenchment, and compelled against his will to -fight, Carnero gave the signal to push on ahead.</p> - -<p>But the peons had scarce started, ere three shots were fired, and three -men rolled in the dust. The newcomers, in this way, warned their friends -to hold their ground, and that they were bringing help. The dismounted -peons were not wounded, though greatly shaken by their fall, and unable -to take part in the fight; their horses alone were hit, and that so -cleverly, that they at once fell.</p> - -<p>"Eh, eh!" the capataz said, as he galloped on; "these pícaros have a -very sure hand. What do you think of it?"</p> - -<p>"I say that there are still four of us; that is double the number of -those waiting for us down there, and we are sufficient to master them."</p> - -<p>"Don't be too sure, my good friend, Zaragate," the capataz said with a -grin; "they are men made of iron, who must be killed twice over before -they fall."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero and his companions had heard shots and seen the peons bite -the dust.</p> - -<p>"There is Valentine," said the Frenchman.</p> - -<p>"I believe so," Don Martial replied.</p> - -<p>"Shall we charge?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>And digging in their spurs, they dashed at the peons.</p> - -<p>Valentine and his two comrades, Belhumeur and Black Elk (for the -Frenchman was not mistaken, it was really the hunter coming up, whom the -Canadian had warned) fell on the peons simultaneously with Don Martial -and his companion.</p> - -<p>A terrible, silent, and obstinate struggle went on for some minutes -between these nine men; the foes had seized each other round the body, -as they were too close to use firearms, and tried to stab each other. -Nothing was heard but angry curses and panting, but not a word or cry, -for what is the use of insulting when you can kill?</p> - -<p>The Zaragate, so soon as he recognized the hunter, dashed at him. -Valentine, although taken off his guard, offered a vigorous resistance; -the two men were entwined like serpents, and, in their efforts to -dismount each other, at last both fell, and rolled beneath the feet of -the combatants who, without thinking of them, or perceiving their fall, -continued to attack each other furiously.</p> - -<p>The hunter was endowed with great muscular strength and unequalled -science and agility; but on this occasion he had found an adversary -worthy of him. The Zaragate, some years younger than Valentine, and -possessed of his full bodily strength, while urged on by the love of a -rich reward, made superhuman efforts to master his opponent and plunge -his navaja into his throat. Several times had each of them succeeded -in getting the other underneath, but, as so frequently happens in -wrestling, a sudden movement of the shoulders or loins had changed the -position of the adversaries and brought the one beneath who a moment -previously had been on the top.</p> - -<p>Still Valentine felt that his strength was becoming exhausted; -the unexpected resistance he met with from an enemy apparently so -little worthy of him, exasperated him and made him lose his coolness. -Collecting all his remaining vigour to attempt a final and decisive -effort, he succeeded in getting his enemy once again under him, and -pinned him down; but at the same moment Valentine uttered a cry of pain -and rolled on the ground—a horse's kick had broken his left arm.</p> - -<p>The Zaragate sprang up with a tiger's bound, and bursting into a yell -of delight, placed his knee on his enemy's chest, at the same time as -he prepared to bury his navaja in his heart. Valentine felt that he was -lost, and did not attempt to avoid the death that threatened him.</p> - -<p>"Poor Louis," he merely said, looking firmly and intrepidly at the -bandit.</p> - -<p>"Ah, ah!" the Zaragate said, with a ferocious grin, "I hold my vengeance -at length, accursed Trail-hunter."</p> - -<p>He did not complete the sentence; suddenly seized by his long hair, -while a knee, thrust between his shoulders, forced him to bend back, he -saw, as in a horrible dream, a ferocious face grinning above his head. -With a fearful groan he rolled on the ground; a knife had been buried in -his heart, while his scalp, which was suddenly removed, left his denuded -skull to inundate with blood the ground around.</p> - -<p>Curumilla raised in his arms the body of his friend, whose life he had -just saved once again, and bore it to the side of the road. Valentine -had fainted.</p> - -<p>The chief, so soon as he saw his friends charge the peons, left his -ambush, and while careful to remain behind them, followed them to the -battlefield. He had watched eagerly the long struggle between the hunter -and the Zaragate; trying vainly to assist his friend, but never able -to succeed. The two enemies were so entwined, their movements were so -rapid, and they changed their position so suddenly, that the chief was -afraid lest he might wound his friend in attempting to help him. Hence -he awaited with extreme anxiety an opportunity so long delayed, and -which the Zaragate himself offered by losing his time in insulting his -enemy instead of killing him at once, when the injury he received left -him defenceless in the bandit's power.</p> - -<p>The Araucano bounded like a wild beast on the Mexican, and without -hesitation scalped and stabbed him with the agility characteristic of -the redskins, and which he himself possessed in so high a degree.</p> - -<p>Almost at the same moment the horsemen also finished their fight. The -peons had offered a vigorous resistance, but being badly supported -by the capataz, who was disabled at the beginning of the skirmish by -Don Martial, and seeing the Zaragate dead and three of their friends -dismounted and incapable of coming to their assistance, they gave in.</p> - -<p>The capataz had been wounded at his own request by Don Martial, in order -to save appearance with the general; he had a wide gash on his right -arm, very severe at the first glance, but insignificant in reality. A -peon had been almost smashed by Belhumeur, so that the field of battle -fairly remained in the hands of the hunters.</p> - -<p>When their victory was insured they assembled anxiously round -Valentine, for they were alarmed at his condition, and most anxious -to be reassured. Valentine, whose arm Curumilla had at once set, with -the skill and coolness of an old practitioner, soon reopened his eyes, -reassured his friends by a smile, and offered the Indian chief his -right hand, which the latter laid on his heart with an expression of -indescribable happiness, as he uttered his favourite exclamation of Ugh! -the only word he permitted himself to use in joy or in sorrow, when he -felt himself choking with internal emotion.</p> - -<p>"Señores," the hunter said, "it is only an arm broken; thanks to the -chief, I have had an easy escape. Let us resume our journey before other -enemies come up."</p> - -<p>"And we, señor?" the capataz cried humbly.</p> - -<p>Valentine rose with the chiefs assistance, and took a furious glance at -the peons. "As for you, miserable assassins," he said with a terrible -accent, "return to your master and tell him in what way you were -received. But it is not sufficient to have chastised your perfidy, I -must have revenge for the odious snare into which my friends and I all -but fell. I will learn whether in open day, and some half a dozen miles -from Mexico, bandits can thus attack peaceable travellers with impunity. -Begone!"</p> - -<p>Valentine was slightly mistaken, for, although it was really the -intention of the peons to attack them, the hunters had actually begun -the fight by dismounting the three peons. But the fellows, convicted by -their conscience, did not notice this delicate distinction, and were -very happy to get off so cheaply, and be enabled to return peaceably, -when they feared that their conquerors would hand them over to the -police as they had a perfect right to do.</p> - -<p>Thus, far from raising any objections, they broke forth into apologies -and protestations of devotion, and hastened off, not troubling -themselves to pick up the body of their defunct comrade, el Zaragate, -which they left to the vultures which settled on it, so soon as the -highway was clear again.</p> - -<p>The capataz, under the pretext that his wound was very painful, but in -reality to give Valentine and his friends the requisite time to secure -themselves temporarily from pursuit, insisted on returning to the city -slowly, so that they did not reach the general's mansion till two hours -had elapsed.</p> - -<p>So soon as the peons in obedience to the hunter's orders had left the -battlefield, he, on his part, gave his companions the signal to start. -Don Martial had hurried to reassure the ladies, who were standing more -dead than alive at the spot where the chief had concealed them. He made -them get into the carriage again, without telling them anything except -that the danger was past, and that the rest of the journey would be -performed in safety.</p> - -<p>Valentine's friends tried in vain to induce him to get into the carriage -with the ladies. He would not consent, but insisted on mounting his -horse, assuring them, in the far from probable event of their being -attacked again, that he could still be of some service to his companions -in spite of his broken arm. The latter were too well acquainted with his -inflexible will to press him further, so Curumilla remounted the coach -box, and they started.</p> - -<p>The rest of the journey was performed without any incident, and they -reached the quinta twenty minutes later. The skirmish had taken place -scarce two miles from the country house. On reaching the gates, -Valentine took leave of his friend without dismounting.</p> - -<p>"What!" the latter said to him, "are you going, Valentine, without -resting for a moment?"</p> - -<p>"I must, my dear Rallier," he answered; "you know what imperious reasons -claim my presence in Mexico."</p> - -<p>"But you are wounded."</p> - -<p>"Have I not Curumilla to attend to my hurt? Do not be anxious about -me; besides, I intend to see you again soon. This quinta appears to me -strong enough to resist a surprise. Have you a garrison?"</p> - -<p>"I have a dozen servants and my two brothers."</p> - -<p>"In that case I am easy in my mind; besides, there is only one night to -pass, and I believe that after the lesson his people have received the -general will not venture on a second attack, for some days at least. -Besides, he reckons on the success of his pronunciamiento. You will come -to me tomorrow at daybreak, will you not?"</p> - -<p>"I shall not fail."</p> - -<p>"In that case I will be off."</p> - -<p>"Will you not say good-bye to the ladies?"</p> - -<p>"They are not aware of my presence, and it will be better for them not -to see me; so good-bye till tomorrow."</p> - -<p>And making a signal to his comrades who, including Curumilla, to whom a -horse was given, collected around him, Valentine started at a gallop for -Mexico, caring no more for his broken arm than if it were a mere scratch.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.</a></h4> - -<h3>LOS REGOCIJOS.</h3> - - -<p>On his return to the mansion, the capataz did not see his master, at -which he was extremely pleased, for he desired to delay as long as -possible an explanation which, in spite of the wound he so complacently -displayed, he feared would turn out to his disadvantage, especially -when questioned by a man like the general, whose piercing glance would -descend to the bottom of his heart to discover the truth, however -cleverly hidden it might be behind a network of falsehoods.</p> - -<p>As only a few hours had still to elapse before the explosion of the -conspiracy, arranged with such care and mystery, the general was -compelled for a while to suspend his schemes for the satisfaction of his -love and his hatred, and only attend to those in which his ambition was -engaged. The principal conspirators had been summoned to Colonel Lupo's, -and there the final arrangements had been made for the morrow, and the -watchword given.</p> - -<p>Although the government appeared plunged in the most profound ignorance -of what was preparing against it, and evinced complete security, still -the President had made certain arrangements for the morrow's ceremonies -which did not fail greatly to trouble the men interested in knowing -everything, and to whom the apparently most futile thing naturally -created umbrage.</p> - -<p>The general, with the curiosity that distinguished him, was anxious to -know exactly the extent of the danger he had to meet, and proceeded to -the palace, merely accompanied by his two aides-de-camp. The general -president received Don Sebastian with a smile on his lips, and offered -him the most gracious reception. This reception, so cordial, perhaps -too cordial, instead of reassuring the general, had, on the contrary, -increased his anxiety, for he was a Mexican and knew the proverb of his -country—"Lips that smile, and mouth that tells falsehoods."</p> - -<p>The general was too calm to let his feelings be seen. He pretended to be -delighted, remained for some time with the President, who appeared to -treat him with a friendly familiarity, complained of the rarity of his -visits, and his obstinacy in not asking for a command. In a word, the -two men separated apparently highly satisfied with each other.</p> - -<p>Still, the general remarked that all the courts were stuffed with -soldiers, who were bivouacking in the open air; that several guns had -been placed, accidentally perhaps, so as to sweep completely the chief -entrance gate, and, more serious still, that the troops quartered in -the palace were commanded by officers strangers to him, and who had, -moreover, the reputation of being devoted to the President of the -Republic.</p> - -<p>After this daring visit, the general mounted his horse, and, under the -pretext of going for a walk, went all over the city. Everywhere the -preparations for the coming festival were being carried on with the -greatest activity. In the square of Necatitlan, for instance, situated -in one of the worst parts of the capital, a circus had been made for the -bullfights at which the president intended to be present.</p> - -<p>Numerous wooden erections, raised for the occasion, filled the space -usually devoted to tauromachy, and formed an immense hall of verdure, -with pleasant clumps of trees, mysterious walks, and charming retreats, -prepared with the greatest care, where everybody would go on the morrow -to eat and drink the atrocious productions of the Mexican art on -cookery, and enjoy what is called in that country Jamaica.</p> - -<p>Exactly in the centre of the arena a tree about twenty feet in height -was planted, with its branches and leaves entirely covered with coloured -pocket-handkerchiefs that floated in the breeze. This tree was the Monte -Parnasso, intended to serve as a maypole for the leperos, at the moment -when the bullfights begin, and a trial bull, <i>embolado</i>, that is to say, -with its horns terminating in balls, is let into the ring.</p> - -<p>All the pulquerías near the square were thronged with a hideous, ragged -mob, who howled, sang, shouted, and whistled their loudest, while -smoking, and, at intervals, exchanging knife thrusts, to the great -delight of the spectators.</p> - -<p>In all the streets the procession would pass through the houses were -decorated; Mexican flags were hoisted in profusion at every spot where -they could be displayed; and yet, by the side of all these holiday -preparations, there was, we repeat, something gloomy and menacing -that struck a chill to the heart. Through all the gates fresh troops -continually entered the city, and occupied admirably chosen strategic -points. The Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, and even the Vega, were -converted into bivouacs, and though these troops ostensibly only came to -Mexico to be present at the ceremony and be reviewed, they were equipped -for the field, and affected an earnestness which caused much thought to -those who saw them pass or visited their bivouacs.</p> - -<p>When a serious event is preparing, there are in the atmosphere certain -signs which never deceive the fosterers of revolutions; a vague and -apparently causeless anxiety seizes on the masses, and unconsciously -converts their joy into a species of feverish excitement, at which they -are themselves startled, as they know not to what to attribute this -change in their humour.</p> - -<p>Hence the population of Mexico, mad, merry, and joyous, as usual when -a festival is preparing, in the eyes of short-sighted persons, were in -reality sternly sad and suffering from great anxiety. The general did -not fail to observe these prognostics; gloomy presentiments occupied his -mind, for he understood that a terrible tempest was hidden beneath this -fictitious calmness. Valentine's gloomy predictions recurred to him. -He trembled to see the hunter's menaces realized; and, though unable -to discover when the danger would come, he foresaw that a great peril -was hanging over his head, and that his ambitious projects would soon, -perhaps, be drowned in floods of blood.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately it was too late to desist; he must, whatever might happen, -go on to the end, for he had not the time to give counter orders, -and urge the conspirators to defer the explosion of the plot till a -more favourable moment. Hence, after ripe reflection, the general -resolved to push on, and trust to accident. Ambitious men, by the way, -reckon, far more than is supposed, on hazard, and those magnificent -combinations which are admired when success has crowned them, are most -frequently merely the unforeseen results of fortuitous circumstances, -completely beyond the will of the man whom they have profited. -History, modern history especially, is full of these combinations, -these results impossible to foresee, which sensible men would not have -dared to suppose, and which have made the reputation of so-called -statesmen of genius, who are very small fry, when regarded through the -magnifying-glass or when actions are sifted.</p> - -<p>The general returned to his house at about six in the evening, -despairing, and already seeing his plans annihilated. The report of his -capataz added to his discouragement, for it was the drop of wormwood -which makes the brimful cup run over. He withdrew to his apartments in a -state of dull fury, and in his impotent rage accused himself for having -ventured into this frightful situation, for he felt himself rapidly -gliding down a fatal slope, where it would be impossible for him to stop.</p> - -<p>What added to his secret agony was, that he must incessantly send off -couriers, receive reports, talk with his confidants, and feign in their -presence not merely calmness and gaiety, but also encourage them, and -impart to them an ardour and hope which he no longer possessed.</p> - -<p>The whole night was spent thus. A terrible night, during which the -general endured all the tortures that assail an ambitious man on the eve -of a scandalous plot against a government which he has sworn to defend. -He was agitated by those dull murmurs of the conscience which can never -be thoroughly stifled, and which would inspire pity for these unhappy -men, were they not careful, by their own acts, to put themselves beyond -the pale of that humanity of which they have become real monsters. The -most wholesome lesson that could be given to those ambitious manikins, -so frequent in the lower strata of society, would be to render them -witnesses of the crushing agony that attacks any <i>cabecilla</i> during the -night that precedes the outbreak of one of its horrible plots.</p> - -<p>Sunrise surprised the general giving his final orders. Worn out by the -fatigue of a long watch, with pallid brow, and eyes inflamed by fever, -he tried to take a few moments of restorative rest, which he so greatly -needed; but his efforts were fruitless, for he was suffering from an -excitement too intense, at the decisive hour, for sleep to come and -close his eyes.</p> - -<p>Already the bells of all the churches were pealing out, and filling the -air with their joyous notes. In all the streets, and in all the squares, -boys and leperos were letting off crackers, and uttering deafening -cries, which more resembled bursts of fury than demonstrations of joy. -The people, dressed in their holiday clothes, were leaving their houses -in masses, and spreading like a torrent over the city.</p> - -<p>The review was arranged for seven o'clock A.M., so that the troops might -be spared the great heat of the day. They were massed on the Paseo de -Bucareli and the road connecting that promenade with the Alameda.</p> - -<p>We have already stated that the Mexican army, twenty thousand strong, -has twenty-four thousand officers. Hence, in the enormous crowd -assembled to witness the review, uniforms were in a majority; for all -the officers living on half-pay in Mexico, for some reason or another, -considered themselves bound to attend the review as amateurs.</p> - -<p>At a quarter to eight o'clock the drums beat, the troops presented arms, -a deafening shout was raised by the crowd, and the President of the -Republic arrived on the Paseo, followed by a large staff, glistening -with gold and lace, and with a cloud of feathers waving in their cocked -hats.</p> - -<p>The Mexicans, much resembling in this respect another nation we are -acquainted with, adore feathers, aiguillettes, and, before all, -embroidered uniforms. Hence the President was warmly greeted by the -enthusiastic crowd, and his arrival was converted into an ovation. -General Guerrero had joined the President's staff in his full dress -uniform, as Colonel Lupo and other conspirators had also done; the -rest, dispersed among the crowd, and well armed under their cloaks, -were giving drink to the already half-intoxicated leperos, and secretly -exciting them to begin an insurrection.</p> - -<p>In the meanwhile the review went on without any hitch. It is true that -the President restricted himself to riding along the front, and then -ordering the troops to march past, for he did not dare, owing to the -notorious ignorance of the officers and soldiers, risk the execution of -any manoeuvre, for it would not have been understood, and would have -broken the charm under which the spectators were fascinated. Then the -President, still followed by his staff, proceeded to the cathedral. -We will not say anything about the official receptions, etc., which -occupied all the morning.</p> - -<p>The hour for the bullfight arrived. Since the review no one troubled -himself about the troops, who seemed to have suddenly disappeared—not -a soldier was visible in the streets; but the people did not think of -them, for they were letting off fireworks, laughing and shouting, which -was quite sufficient to amuse them. It was only noticed that these -soldiers, though invisible about the city, had apparently passed the -word to each other to be present at the bullfight. Nearly the whole of -the <i>palcos de sol</i> in the circus, that is to say, the parts exposed -to the sun, were thronged with soldiers, grouped pell-mell with the -leperos, and offering the most pleasant contrast with these ragged -scamps, who were yelling and whistling.</p> - -<p>The President arrived, and the circus was, in a second, invaded by -the mob. Since an early hour the Jamaica had begun, that is to say, -the framework of verdure raised in the centre of the arena, forming -refreshment rooms, had, since daybreak, been filled with a countless -number of leperos, who ate and drank with cries of ferocious delight.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, at a given signal, the gate of the torril was opened, and a -bull, <i>embolado</i>, rushed into the arena. Then began an extraordinary -indescribable scene, resembling one of those diabolical meetings so -admirably designed by Callot.</p> - -<p>The leperos, surprised by the arrival of the bull, darted, shouting, -pushing, and upsetting each other, over the framework, which they threw -down and trampled underfoot in their terror, while seeking to escape the -pursuit of the <i>embolado</i>, who, also excited by the tumult, hunted them -vigorously. In a second the arena was deserted, the refreshment rooms -swept clean, and the performers in the Jamaica sought any shelter they -could find on the edge of the palcos or upon the columns, from which -they hung in hideous yelling and grimacing clusters.</p> - -<p>A few leperos, however, bolder than the rest, had darted to the Monte -Parnasso, not only to find a shelter there, but also to tear away all -the coloured handkerchiefs fastened to the branches. In a twinkling the -thick foliage was hidden by the crowd of leperos who invaded it.</p> - -<p>The bull, after amusing itself for some minutes in tossing about the -remains of the framework, stopped and looked cunningly around, and -soon noticed the tree, the only obstacle left to remove, in order to -completely empty the arena.</p> - -<p>It remained motionless for an instant, as if hesitating ere it formed -a resolution; then it bowed its head, made the sand fly with its -fore-feet, lashed its tail violently, and, rushing at the tree, dealt it -repeated and powerful blows.</p> - -<p>The leperos uttered a cry of despair. The tree, which was overladen, -and incessantly sapped at its base by the bull, swayed, and at last -fell sideways, carrying down in its fall the leperos clinging to the -branches. The audience clapped their hands and broke into frenzied -bravos, which changed into perfect yells of delight when a poor fellow, -who was limping away, was suddenly caught up by the bull, and tossed ten -feet high in the air.</p> - -<p>All at once, and at the moment when the joy was attaining its paroxysm, -several rounds of artillery were heard, followed by a well-sustained -musketry fire. As if by magic the bull was driven back to the torril; -the soldiers scattered about the circus leapt into the ring, and -becoming actors instead of spectators, drew up in good order, and -levelled their muskets at the occupiers of the galleries and boxes, who -remained motionless with terror, for they did not understand what was -going on.</p> - -<p>A door opened, and twenty bandsmen, followed by eight officers, and -escorted by a dozen soldiers, entered the ring, and began beating the -drums. It was a governmental <i>bando</i>. So soon as silence was restored -martial law was proclaimed, and sentence of outlawry passed on General -Don Sebastian Guerrero and his adherents, who had just raised the -standard of revolt, and pronounced against the established government.</p> - -<p>The crowd listened to the bando in a stupor which was heightened by the -fact that with each moment the firing became sharper, and the artillery -discharges shook the air at more rapid intervals.</p> - -<p>Mexico was once again the prey of one of those scenes of murder and -carnage which, since the Proclamation of Independence, has too often -stained her streets and squares with blood.</p> - -<p>The President was on horseback in the centre of the arena, sending off -orders, listening to messages, or detaching reinforcements wherever they -were wanted. The circus was converted into the headquarters of the army -of order, and the spectators, although allowed to depart after some -arrests had been effected among them, remained trembling in their seats, -preferring not to venture into the streets, which had been converted -into real battlefields.</p> - -<p>Still the pronunciamiento was assuming formidable proportions. General -Guerrero had not played for so heavy a stake without trying to secure to -his side all probable chances of success; and that success would most -ably have crowned his efforts, had he not been betrayed. For, in spite -of all the precautions taken by the government, the affair had been -begun so warmly and resolutely that, after the contest had continued for -three hours, it was impossible to say on which side the advantage would -remain.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO.</h3> - - -<p>In any revolution, the insurgents have always an immense advantage over -the government they are attacking, from the fact that, as they hold -together, know their numbers, and act in accordance with a long worked -out plan, they are not only cognizant of what they want, but also, -whither they are proceeding. The government, on the other hand, however -well informed it may be, and however well on its guard, is obliged -to remain for a considerable length of time in an attitude of armed -expectation, without knowing whence the danger that menaces it will -come, or the strength of the rebellion it will have to combat.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, again, as the secret of the discovery of the plot -remains with a small band of confidential agents of the authorities, -the latter do not know at first whom to trust, or whom to reckon on. -They suspect everybody, even the very troops defending them, whom they -fear to see turning against them at any moment, and overthrowing them. -This is more especially the case in Mexico and all the old Spanish -colonies, where the governmental system is essentially military, and is -consequently only based on naturally unintelligent and venal troops, who -are utterly deficient of patriotic feelings, and whom interest alone, -that is to say, pay or promotion, can keep to their duty.</p> - -<p>The history of all the revolutions which, during the last fifty years, -have caused torrents of blood to flow in the New World, is entirely -contained in the last passage we have written.</p> - -<p>The President of the Republic had been informed of the designs of the -general, as far as that was possible; he had known for more than a month -that a vast plot was being formed; he even was aware of the probable day -fixed for the pronunciamiento, but he did not know a syllable about the -plans arranged by Don Sebastian and his adherents. As the plot was to -burst out in Mexico, the President had filled the capital with troops; -and called in those on whose fidelity he thought he could reckon with -the greatest certainty.</p> - -<p>But his preparations were necessarily restricted to this, and he had -been constrained to wait till the revolution commenced.</p> - -<p>It burst forth with the suddenness of a peal of thunder at twenty places -simultaneously, at about the second hour of the tarde. The President, -who was at once informed, and who had only come to the circus in order -not to be invested in the government palace, instantly took the measures -he thought most efficacious.</p> - -<p>The news, however, rapidly arrived, and became worse and worse, and the -insurrection was assuming frightful proportions. The revolters at first -tried to install themselves on the Plaza Major in order to seize the -government palace, but being repulsed with loss, after a very serious -contest, they ambuscaded themselves in Tacuba, Secunda Monterilla, and -San Agustin streets, erected barricades, and exchanged a sharp fire with -the faithful troops.</p> - -<p>The cannon roared in the square, and the balls made large gaps in the -ranks of the insurgents, who replied with yells of rage and increased -firing.</p> - -<p>Colonel Lupo had taken possession of two city gates, which he burned -down, and through which fresh reinforcements reached the insurgents, who -now proclaimed themselves masters of one-third of the city. The foreign -merchants, established in Mexico, had hoisted their national flags -over their houses, in which they remained shut up, and suffering great -anxiety.</p> - -<p>The President was still standing motionless in the centre of the circus, -frowning at each new message, or angrily striking the pommel of his -saddle with his clenched fist.</p> - -<p>All at once a man glided secretly between the horses' legs, and gently -touched the general's boot, who turned round quickly.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" he exclaimed, on recognizing him. "At last! Well, Curumilla?"</p> - -<p>But the Indian, without answering, thrust a folded paper into his hand, -and disappeared as rapidly as he had come. The general eagerly scanned -the letter, which only contained these words, written in French—"All is -going on well. Charge vigorously."</p> - -<p>The general's face grew brighter, he drew himself up haughtily, and -brandishing his sword with a martial air, shouted in a voice heard by -all, "Forward, Muchachos!"</p> - -<p>Then, digging his spurs into his horse's sides, he galloped out of -the circus, followed by the greater part of the troops, the remainder -receiving orders to hold their present position until further warning.</p> - -<p>"Now," said the President to the officers who pressed round him, "the -game is won; within an hour the insurrection will be conquered."</p> - -<p>In fact matters had greatly altered. This is what had occurred:</p> - -<p>Valentine, as we said, had taken a house in Tacuba Street, and another -in the vicinity of the San Lázaro gate. During the night that preceded -the pronunciamiento, four hundred resolute soldiers, commanded by -faithful officers, were introduced into the house in Tacuba Street, -where they remained so well hidden that no one suspected their presence. -A similar number of troops were stowed away in the house at the San -Lázaro gate.</p> - -<p>Don Martial, at the head of a large body of men, slipped into the small -house belonging to the capataz, and, being warned by the latter so -soon as the general had gone off to attend the review, he passed into -his mansion through the masked door we know, and occupied it without -striking a blow.</p> - -<p>The Tigrero straightway set a trap, in which several of the principal -chiefs of the insurgents were caught, believing that they would find -General Guerrero at home, and were at once made prisoners.</p> - -<p>These three points occupied, they waited. Colonel Lupo had attacked the -San Lázaro gate so vigorously and unexpectedly, that it was impossible -to prevent him burning it. A very obstinate fight at once began, and -the colonel, after a brave resistance, had been at length compelled to -retreat and fall back on the main body of the insurgents, who were still -masters, or nearly so, of the centre of the city.</p> - -<p>We have mentioned that in Mexico all the houses are flat roofed; hence, -in any revolution, the scenes in the street are repeated on the terraces -of the houses; for the tactics adopted in such cases are to line these -terraces with soldiers. Through a strange fatality the insurgents, while -seizing the principal streets, had forgotten, or rather neglected, to -occupy the houses, as they believed themselves masters of the situation.</p> - -<p>All at once the terraces in Tacuba Street, looking on the Plaza Mayor, -were covered with sharpshooters, who began a tremendous fire on the -insurgents collected beneath them. The same manoeuvre was simultaneously -executed in Monterilla and San Augustín Streets, and the terraces of the -palace were covered with troops also.</p> - -<p>The artillerymen, who had hitherto fired at long range, now brought up -their guns almost within pistol shot of the streets, and, in spite of -the musketry fire of the insurgents, bravely posted their batteries and -began hurtling showers of canister among the defenders of the barricades.</p> - -<p>Almost simultaneously, the troops faithful to the government appeared in -the rear of the rebels, and being supported by the sharpshooters on the -terraces, charged vigorously to the incessantly repeated cry of "Méjico, -Méjico, Independencia!"</p> - -<p>The insurgents felt they were lost, for they were caught between three -fires; still they offered a courageous resistance, for, knowing that -if they fell alive into the hands of the conqueror, they would be -mercilessly shot, they allowed themselves to be killed with Indian -stoicism, and did not yield an inch of ground.</p> - -<p>The general was in a terrible rage; without a hat, his face blackened -with gunpowder, and his uniform torn in several places, he leapt his -horse over the corpses, and dashed blindly into the thick of the -government troops, followed by a small band of friends, who bravely let -themselves be killed at his side.</p> - -<p>The fight was positively degenerating into a massacre; the two parties, -as unhappily always happens in civil wars, fought with the greater fury -and obstinacy because brothers were contending against brothers, and -many of them, for whom politics were only a pretext, took advantage of -the medley to satiate personal hatred and avenge old insults.</p> - -<p>However, this could not go on for long thus, and it was necessary to get -out of the situation at all risks. General Guerrero, unaware of the -occupation of his house, resolved to fight his way thither, barricade -himself, and obtain an honourable capitulation for himself and his -comrades.</p> - -<p>No sooner was the plan conceived than the execution was attempted. Don -Sebastian collected round him all the fighting men left, and formed -them into a small band—for the canister and bullets had made frightful -ravages in the ranks of the insurgents—and placed himself at their head.</p> - -<p>"Forward, forward!" he shouted as he rushed at the enemy.</p> - -<p>His men followed him with yells of fury. The collision was terrible, the -fight fearful; for four or five minutes a funereal silence brooded over -this confused mass of combatants, who attacked each so savagely. They -stabbed each other mercilessly, disdaining to use their firearms, and -preferring, as a speedier resource, the sharp points of their sabres and -bayonets.</p> - -<p>At length the President's troops fell back slightly, the insurgents -took advantage of it to redouble their efforts, which were already -superhuman, and reached the general's house. The doors were broken open -in an instant, and all rushed pell-mell into the courtyard. They were -saved! since they had at last reached the shelter where they hoped to -defend themselves.</p> - -<p>At this moment a frightful thing happened; the gallery commanding the -courtyard and the stairs was entirely occupied by soldiers, and so soon -as the insurgents appeared, the muskets were pointed down at them, -a tornado of fire passed over them like the blast of death, and in a -second a mass of corpses covered the ground.</p> - -<p>The insurgents, terrified by this sudden attack, which they were so far -from anticipating, hurriedly fell back, instinctively seeking an outlet -by which to escape. The tumult then became terrible, and the massacre -assumed the proportions of an organized butchery. Driven back into the -courtyard by the troops who pursued them, and met there by those who -had attacked them and now charged at the bayonet point, these wretched -men, rendered senseless by terror, did not dream any longer of employing -their weapons, but falling on their knees before their executioners, and -clasping their trembling hands, they implored the mercy of the troops, -who, intoxicated by the smell of blood, and affected by that horrible -murder fever which seizes upon even the coolest man on the battle field, -felled them, like oxen in the shambles, and plunged their sabres and -bayonets into their bodies with grins of delight and ferocious laughter, -and felt a horrible pleasure in seeing their victims writhe with -heartbreaking cries in the last convulsions of death.</p> - -<p>General Don Sebastian, though wounded, and who seemed to have been -protected by a charm throughout this scene of carnage, defended himself -like a lion against several soldiers, who tried in vain to transfix him -with their bayonets. Leaning against a column he whirled his sabre -round his head, evidently seeking death, but wishful to sell his life as -dearly as possible.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Valentine cleft his way through the combatants, followed by -Belhumeur, Black Elk, and Curumilla, who were engaged in warding off the -blows the soldiers incessantly made at him, and reached the general.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" the latter said on perceiving him, "here you are at last, then."</p> - -<p>And he dealt him a terrible blow, but Belhumeur parried it, and -Valentine continued to advance.</p> - -<p>"Withdraw," he said to the soldiers who surrounded the general, "this -man belongs to me."</p> - -<p>The soldiers, though they did not know the hunter, intimidated by the -accent with which he uttered these words, and recognizing in him one of -those rare men who can always impose on common natures, respectfully -fell back without making the slightest objection.</p> - -<p>The hunter threw his purse to them.</p> - -<p>"You dare to defy the lion at bay," the general shouted, gnashing his -teeth; "although attacked by dogs, he can still avenge his death."</p> - -<p>"You will not die," the hunter said coldly; "throw away that sabre, -which is now useless."</p> - -<p>"Ah, ah!" Don Sebastian said with a grin of rage; "I am not to die; and -why not, pray?"</p> - -<p>"Because," he answered, in a cutting voice, "death would be a mercy to -you, and you must be punished."</p> - -<p>"Oh!" he shrieked, and, blinded by rage, he rushed madly at the hunter.</p> - -<p>The latter, without falling back a step, contented himself with giving a -signal. At the same moment a slipknot fell on the general's shoulders, -and he rolled on the ground with a yell of rage. Curumilla had lassoed -him.</p> - -<p>In vain did Don Sebastian attempt further resistance; after useless -efforts he was reduced to utter impotence, and forced, not only to -confess he had been vanquished, but to yield himself to the mercy of his -conquerors. The latter, at a sign from Valentine, disarmed him first, -and then bound him, so that he could not make the slightest movement.</p> - -<p>The massacre was ended, the insurrection had been drowned in blood. The -few rebels who survived the carnage were prisoners; the victors, in the -first moment of enthusiasm, had shot several, and it required the most -energetic interference on the part of the officers to check this rather -too summary justice.</p> - -<p>At this moment joyous shouts burst forth, and the President of the -Republic entered the courtyard at the head of a large staff, glistening -with embroidery.</p> - -<p>"Ah, ah!" he said, as he took a contemptuous glance at the general, who -had been thrown on the stones, "so this is the man who wished to change -the institutions of his country?"</p> - -<p>Don Sebastian did not deign to reply; but he looked at the speaker with -such an expression of implacable hatred, that the President could not -endure it, and was forced to turn his head away.</p> - -<p>"Did this man surrender?" he asked one of his officers.</p> - -<p>"No, coward," the general answered, with clenched teeth, "I will not -surrender to hangmen."</p> - -<p>"Take this man to prison with the others," the President continued, "an -example must be made; but take care that they are not insulted by the -people."</p> - -<p>"Yes," the general muttered, "ever the same system."</p> - -<p>"A fall and entire pardon," the President continued, "will be granted to -the unhappy men who were led astray, and have recognized their crime. -The lesson they have received was rather rough, and I am convinced that -it will do them good."</p> - -<p>"Clemency after the massacre, that is the usual way," the general said -again.</p> - -<p>The President passed without answering him, and left the courtyard. A -few minutes later the prisoners were led away to prison, in spite of the -efforts of the exasperated populace to massacre them on the road.</p> - -<p>General Don Sebastian Guerrero was one of the first to appear before the -tribunal. He disdained any defence, and during the whole trial preserved -a gloomy silence; he was unceremoniously condemned to be shot, his -estates confiscated, and his name was declared infamous.</p> - -<p>So soon as the sentence was recorded, the general was placed in the -chapel, where he was to remain three days before execution.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h4><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.</a></h4> - -<h3>THE CAPILLA.</h3> - - -<p>The Spanish custom—a custom which has been kept up in all the old -colonies of that power—of placing persons condemned to death in a -chapel, requires explanation, in order that it may be thoroughly -understood and appreciated, as it deserves to be.</p> - -<p>Frenchmen, over whom the great revolution of '93 passed like a -hurricane, and carried off most of their belief in its sanguinary cloak, -may smile with pity and regard as a fanatic remainder from another -age, this custom of placing the condemned in chapel. Among us, it is -true, matters are managed much more simply: a man, when condemned by -the law, eats, drinks, and remains alone in his cell. If he desire it, -he is visited by the chaplain, whom he is at liberty to converse with, -if he likes; if not, he remains perfectly quiet, and nobody pays any -attention to him, during a period more or less long, and determined by -the rejection of his appeal. Then, one fine morning, when he is least -thinking of it, the governor of the prison announces to him, when he -wakes, as the most simple thing in the world, that he is to be executed -that same day, and only an hour is granted him to recommend his soul -to the divine clemency. The fatal toilet is made by the executioner and -his assistant, the condemned man is placed in a close carriage, conveyed -to the place of execution, and in a twinkling launched into eternity, -before he has had a moment to look round him.</p> - -<p>Is it right or wrong to act in this way? We dare not answer, yes or no. -This question is too difficult to decide, and would lead us the further, -because we should begin with asking society by what right it arrogates -to itself the power of killing one of its members, and thus committing a -cold-blooded assassination, under the pretext of doing justice; for we -confess that we have ever been among the most determined adversaries of -punishment by death, as we are persuaded that, in trying to deal a heavy -blow, human justice deceives itself, and goes beyond the object, because -it avenges when it ought merely to punish.</p> - -<p>We will, therefore, repeat here what we said in a previous work, in -explanation of what the Spaniards mean by the phrase "placing in chapel."</p> - -<p>When a man is condemned to death, from that moment he is, <i>de facto</i>, -cut off from that society to which he no longer belongs, through the -sentence passed on him; he is consequently separated from his fellow men.</p> - -<p>He is shut up in a room, at one end of which is an altar; the walls are -hung with black drapery, studded with silver tears, and here and there -mourning inscriptions, drawn from Holy Writ. Near his bed is placed the -coffin in which his body is to be deposited after execution, while two -priests, who relieve each other, but of whom one constantly remains in -the room, say mass in turn, and exhort the criminal to repent Of his -crimes, and implore divine clemency. This custom, which, if carried to -an extreme, would appear in our country before all, barbarous and cruel, -perfectly agrees with Spanish manners, and the thoroughly believing -spirit of this impressionable nation; it is intended to draw the culprit -back to pious thought, and rarely fails to produce the desired effect -upon him.</p> - -<p>The general was, therefore, placed in capilla, and two monks belonging -to the order of St. Francis, the most respected, and, in fact, -respectable in Mexico, entered it with him.</p> - -<p>The first hours he passed there were terrible; this proud mind, this -powerful organization, revolted against adversity, and would not accept -defeat. Gloomy and silent, with frowning brows, and fists clenched on -his bosom, the general sought shelter like a wild beast in a corner of -the room, recalling his whole life, and seeing with starts of terror the -bloody victims scattered along his path, and sacrificed in turn to his -devouring ambition, sadly defile before him.</p> - -<p>Then he reverted to his early years. When residing at the Palmar, his -magnificent family hacienda, his life passed away calm, pure, gentle, -and tranquil, without regrets, and without desires, among his faithful -servants. Then, he was so glad to be nothing, and to wish to be nothing.</p> - -<p>By degrees his thoughts followed the bias of his recollections: the -present was effaced; his contracted features grew softer, and two -burning tears, the first, perhaps, this man of iron had ever shed, -slowly coursed down his cheeks, which grief had hollowed.</p> - -<p>The monks, calm and contemplative, had eagerly followed the successive -changes on this eminently expressive face. They comprehended that their -mission of consolation was beginning, and approached the general softly, -and wept with him; then this man, whom nothing had been able to subdue, -felt his soul torn asunder; the cloud that covered his eyes melted away -like the winter snow before the first sunbeam, and he fell into the arms -open to receive him, exclaiming, with an expression of desperate grief -impossible to render—</p> - -<p>"Have mercy, heaven! have mercy!"</p> - -<p>The struggle had been short but terrible; faith had conquered doubt, and -humanity had regained its rights.</p> - -<p>The general then had with the monks a conversation, protracted far into -the night, in which he confessed all his crimes and sins, and humbly -asked pardon of God whom he had outraged, and before whom he was about -to appear.</p> - -<p>The next day, a little after, sunrise, one of the monks, who had been -absent about an hour, returned, bringing with him the general's -capataz. It had only been with extreme reluctance that Carnero had -consented to come, for he justly dreaded his old master's reproaches.</p> - -<p>Hence his surprise was extreme at being received with a smile, and -kindly, and on finding that the general did not make the slightest -allusion to his treachery, which the evidence before the court-martial -had fully revealed.</p> - -<p>Carnero looked inquiringly at the two monks, for he did not dare put -faith in his master's words, and each moment expected to hear him burst -out into reproaches. But nothing of the sort took place; the general -continued the conversation as he had begun it, speaking to him gently -and kindly.</p> - -<p>At the moment when the capataz was about to withdraw, the general -stopped him.</p> - -<p>"One moment," he said to him; "you know Don Valentine, the French -hunter, for whom I so long cherished an insensate hatred?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," Carnero stammered.</p> - -<p>"Be kind enough to ask him to grant me the favour of a short visit; he -is a noble-hearted man, and I am convinced that he will not refuse to -come. I should be glad if he consented to bring with him Don Martial, -the Tigrero, who has so much cause to complain of me, as well as my -niece, Doña Anita de Torrés. Will you undertake this commission, the -last I shall doubtless give you?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, general," the capataz answered, affected in spite of himself by -such gentleness.</p> - -<p>"Now go; be happy and pray for me, for we shall never meet again."</p> - -<p>The capataz went out in a very different frame of mind from that in -which he had entered the capilla, and hastened off to Valentine. The -hunter was not at home, for he had gone to the presidential palace, but -he returned almost immediately. The capataz gave the message which his -old master had entrusted him with for him.</p> - -<p>"I will go," the hunter said simply, and he dismissed him.</p> - -<p>Curumilla was at once sent off to Mr. Rallier's quinta with a letter, -and during his absence Valentine had a long conversation with Belhumeur -and Black Elk. At about five in the evening, a carriage entered the -courtyard of Valentine's house at a gallop; it contained Mr. Rallier, -Anita, and Don Martial.</p> - -<p>"Thanks!" he said, on seeing them.</p> - -<p>"You ordered me to come, so I obeyed as usual," the Tigrero answered.</p> - -<p>"You were right, my friend."</p> - -<p>"And now what do you want of us?"</p> - -<p>"That you should accompany me to the place whither I am going at this -moment."</p> - -<p>"Would it be indiscreet to ask you——"</p> - -<p>"Where?" the hunter interrupted him with a laugh.</p> - -<p>"Not at all; I am going to lead you, Doña Anita, and the persons here -present, to the capilla in which General Guerrero is confined."</p> - -<p>"The capilla?" the Tigrero exclaimed in amazement, "for what purpose?"</p> - -<p>"What does that concern you? The general has requested to see you, and -you cannot refuse the request of a man who has but a few hours left to -live."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero hung his head without answering.</p> - -<p>"Oh! I will go!" Doña Anita exclaimed impulsively, as she wiped away the -tears that ran down her cheeks.</p> - -<p>"You are a woman, señorita, and therefore good and indulgent," the -hunter said; then turning to the Tigrero, he said, with a slight accent -of reproach, "you have not yet answered me, Don Martial."</p> - -<p>"Since you insist, Don Valentine, I will go," he at length answered, -with an effort.</p> - -<p>"I do not insist, my friend; I only ask, that is all."</p> - -<p>"Come, Martial, I implore you," Doña Anita said to him gently.</p> - -<p>"Your will be done in this as in all other things," he said. "I am ready -to follow you, Don Valentine."</p> - -<p>Valentine, Doña Anita, Mr. Rallier, and Don Martial got into the -carriage. The two Canadians and the chief followed them on horseback, -and they proceeded at a gallop to the chapel where the condemned man was -confined.</p> - -<p>All along the road they found marks of the obstinate struggle which had -deluged the city with blood a few days previously; the barricades had -not been entirely removed, and though the distance was, in reality, -very short, they did not reach the prison till nightfall, owing to the -detours they were forced to make.</p> - -<p>Valentine begged his friends to remain outside, and only entered with -Doña Anita and the Tigrero. The general was impatiently expecting them, -and testified a great joy on perceiving them.</p> - -<p>The young lady could not restrain her emotion, and threw herself into -her uncle's arms with an outburst of passionate grief. The general -pressed her tenderly to his bosom, and kissed her on the forehead.</p> - -<p>"I am the more affected by these marks of affection, my child," he said -with much emotion, "because I have been very harsh to you. Can you ever -forgive me the sufferings I have caused you?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, uncle, speak not so. Are you not, alas! the only relation I have -remaining?"</p> - -<p>"For a very short time," he said with a sad smile, "that is the reason -why I ought, without further delay, to provide for your future."</p> - -<p>"Do not talk about that at such a moment, uncle," she continued, -bursting into tears.</p> - -<p>"On the contrary, my child, it is at this moment when I am going to -leave you, that I am bound to insure you a protector. Don Martial, I -have done you great wrong; here is my hand, accept it as that of a man -who has completely recognized his faults, and sincerely repents the evil -he has done."</p> - -<p>The Tigrero, more affected than he liked to display, took a step -forward, and cordially pressed the hand offered him.</p> - -<p>"General," he said, in a voice which he tried in vain to render firm, -"this moment, which I never dared hope to see, fills me with joy, but at -the same time with grief."</p> - -<p>"Well, you can do something for me by proving to me that you have really -forgiven me."</p> - -<p>"Speak, general, and if it is in my power——," he exclaimed warmly.</p> - -<p>"I believe so," Don Sebastian answered, with his sad smile. "Consent to -accept my niece from my hand, and marry her at once in this chapel."</p> - -<p>"Oh, general!" he began, choking with emotion.</p> - -<p>"Uncle, at this awful moment!" the young lady murmured, timidly.</p> - -<p>"Allow me the supreme consolation of dying under the knowledge that -you are happy. Don Valentine, you have doubtless brought some of your -friends with you?"</p> - -<p>"They are awaiting your commands, general," the hunter answered.</p> - -<p>"Let them come in, in that case, for time presses."</p> - -<p>One of the monks had prepared everything beforehand.</p> - -<p>When the hunters and the French banker entered, followed by Curumilla, -and the officer commanding the capilla guard, who had been warned -beforehand, the general walked eagerly toward them.</p> - -<p>"Señores," he said, "I would ask you to do me the honour of witnessing -the marriage of my niece, Doña Anita de Torrés, with this caballero."</p> - -<p>The newcomers bowed respectfully. At a signal from one of the -Franciscans they knelt down and the ceremony began. It lasted hardly -twenty minutes, but never had a marriage mass been read or listened to -with more pious fervour. When it was ended, the witnesses wished to -retire.</p> - -<p>"One moment, señores, if you please," the general said to them. "I now -wish to make you witnesses of a great reparation."</p> - -<p>They stopped, and the general walked up to Valentine.</p> - -<p>"Caballero," he said to him, "I know all the motives of hatred you -have against me, and those motives I allow to be just. I am now in the -same position in which I placed Count de Prébois Crancé, your dearest -friend. Like him, I shall be shot tomorrow at daybreak; but with this -difference, that he fell as a martyr to a holy cause, and innocent of -the crimes of which I accused him, while I am guilty, and have deserved -the sentence passed on me. Don Valentine, I repent from the bottom of -my heart the iniquitous murder of your friend. Don Valentine, do you -forgive me?"</p> - -<p>"General Don Sebastian Guerrero, I forgive you the murder of my friend," -the hunter answered, in a firm voice. "I forgive you the life of grief -to which I am henceforth condemned by you."</p> - -<p>"You pardon me unreservedly?"</p> - -<p>"Unreservedly I do."</p> - -<p>"Thanks! We were made to love instead of hate each other. I -misunderstood you; but yours is a great and noble heart. Now, let death -come, and I shall accept it gladly; for I feel convinced that God will -have pity on me on account of my sincere repentance. Be happy, niece, -with the husband of your choice. Señores, all, accept my thanks. Don -Valentine, once more I thank you; and now leave me all, for I no longer -belong to the world, so let me think of my salvation."</p> - -<p>"But one word," Valentine said. "General, I have forgiven you, and it is -now my turn to ask your pardon. I have deceived you."</p> - -<p>"Deceived me!"</p> - -<p>"Yes: take this paper. The President of the Republic, employing his -sovereign right of mercy, has, on my pressing entreaty, revoked the -sentence passed on you. You are free."</p> - -<p>His hearers burst into a cry of admiration.</p> - -<p>The general turned pale; he tottered, and for a moment it was fancied -that he was about to fall. A cold perspiration stood on his temples. -Doña Anita sprang forward to support him, but he repulsed her gently, -and, with a great effort, exclaimed, in a choking voice—</p> - -<p>"Don Valentine, Don Valentine, such then is your revenge. Oh! blind, -blind that I was to form such an erroneous opinion of you! You condemn -me to live. Well, be it so; I accept, and will not deceive your -expectations. Fathers," he said, turning to the monks, "lead me to your -monastery. General Guerrero is dead, and henceforth I shall be a monk of -your order."</p> - -<p>Don Sebastian's conversion was sincere. Grace had touched him, and he -persevered. Two months after professing, he died in the Franciscan -Monastery, crushed by remorse and worn out by the cruel penance he -inflicted on himself.</p> - -<p>Two days after the scene we have described, Valentine and his companions -left Mexico, and returned to Sonora. On reaching the frontier, the -hunter, in spite of the pressing entreaties of his friends, separated -from them, and returned to the desert.</p> - -<p>Don Martial and Doña Anita settled in Mexico, near the Ralliers. A month -after Valentine's departure, Doña Helena returned to the convent, and -at the end of a year, in spite of the entreaties of her family, who -were surprised at so strange a resolution, which nothing apparently -explained, the young lady took the vows.</p> - -<p>When I met Valentine Guillois on the banks of the Rio Joaquin, some -time after the events recorded in this long story, he was going with -Curumilla to attempt a hazardous expedition across the Rocky Mountains, -from which, he said to me, with that soft melancholy smile which he -generally assumed when speaking to me, he <i>hoped</i> never to return.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>I accompanied him for several days, and then we were compelled to -separate. He pressed my hand, and, followed by his dumb friend, he -entered the mountains. For a long time I looked after him, for I -involuntarily felt my heart contracted by a sad foreboding. He turned -round for the last time, waved his hand in farewell, and disappeared -round a bend of the track.</p> - -<p>I was fated never to see him again.</p> - -<p>Since then nothing has been heard of him, or of Curumilla. All my -endeavours to join them, or even obtain news of them, was vain.</p> - -<p>Are they still living?—no one can say. Darkness has settled down over -these two magnificent men, and time itself will, in all probability, -never remove the veil that conceals their fate; for all, unhappily, -leads me to suppose that they perished in that gloomy expedition from -which Valentine <i>hoped</i>, alas! never to return.</p> - - - -<h4>END OF RED TRACK.</h4> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h3><a id="A_BUFFALO_HUNT"></a>A BUFFALO HUNT <a name="FNanchor_1_6" id="FNanchor_1_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_6" class="fnanchor"><span style="font-size: 0.8em;">[1]</span></a></h3> - -<h4>A STUDY OF THE AMERICAN WILD BULL.</h4> - - -<p>Certain reasons, unnecessary to state here, had somewhat accidentally -led me to a Sonorian hacienda, called the Hacienda del Milagro, situated -a few leagues from Hermosillo, close to the Indian border, and belonging -to Don Rafael Garillas de Saavedra, one of the richest landowners in the -province.</p> - -<p>Don Rafael had spent what is called in Europe a wild life, and for many -years had traversed the deserts of Apacheria in company of a Canadian -adventurer of the name of Belhumeur. Although enormously rich, married -to a woman he adored, and surrounded by a delightful family, Don Rafael -had now and then moments of gloom, in which he regretted the time when, -unhappy and disinherited, he wandered, under the name of Loyal-heart, -from Arkansas to Apacheria, leading the precarious existence of wood -rangers, living from hand to mouth, forgetful of a past which only -summoned up bitter griefs, and careless about a future which he believed -would never realize the dreams of his poetical imagination.</p> - -<p>Like all men who have suffered and passed through a hard apprenticeship -of life, Don Rafael was kind and indulgent to others, and ever ready to -excuse a fault when it only emanated from a forgetfulness of propriety -or an error of judgment.</p> - -<p>Two days after my arrival at the Hacienda del Milagro, thanks to the -cordial reception given me, I was regarded as forming part of the -family, and was as much at my ease as if I had lived for years with -these new friends, who soon grew so old in my heart, and whose memory -will be ever dear to me.</p> - -<p>One evening a new guest arrived at the hacienda, where he was literally -received with open arms, which greatly surprised me; for I knew the -prejudices of Spaniards against Indians, and the newcomer was simply a -redskin. It is true that this redskin was the first sachem of a powerful -Comanche tribe, which was explained to me in two words by Belhumeur, the -Canadian hunter, with whom I had struck up a great friendship from my -first arrival at the hacienda.</p> - -<p>This sachem was called Eagle-head. He came, in the name of his tribe, to -invite Don Rafael, whom he obstinately called Loyal-heart, to a great -buffalo hunt which was to come off in Apacheria toward the middle of the -"Moon of the wild oats," that is to say, about September 15th.</p> - -<p>Don Rafael was greatly inclined to accept this invitation, but a -sorrowful look, which his wife gave him aside, made him understand how -anxious his absence would make her. He therefore expressed his inability -to be present at this hunt, which he would have so much liked to be, -but very important business compelled him to remain at the hacienda. -He added, however, that his friend Belhumeur would be happy to take -his place, in order to prove to Eagle-head the value he set on his -invitation and his lively desire to show him all the deference which so -great a chief as he merited.</p> - -<p>After a few words whispered in his ear, Belhumeur introduced me to the -Indian chief, to whom he mentioned that, as I had never witnessed a -buffalo hunt, I should be delighted with his permission to attend the -present one. The chief politely replied that Belhumeur was an adopted -son of the tribe, and that any persons he thought proper to bring -with him would be received not only with great pleasure, but with the -greatest kindness, according to the consecrated customs of Indian -hospitality.</p> - -<p>I warmly thanked, as I was bound to do, the chief, who was flattered to -hear me express myself with some degree of elegance in his own language; -and we agreed to meet at the winter village of the Comanches of the -Lakes, on the fifth sun of the Moon of the wild oats.</p> - -<p>Eagle-head took leave of us the same evening, in spite of all our -efforts to keep him at least till the next morning. He started in the -direction of the desert with the light and gymnastic step peculiar to -the redskins, which a trotting horse could not keep up with, and which -enables them to cover an enormous distance in a relatively very short -period.</p> - -<p>Two days later, Belhumeur, myself, and another Canadian hunter attached -to the hacienda, by the name of Black Elk, mounted on excellent -mustangs, and armed to the teeth, took leave of Don Rafael, who saw us -depart with a sigh of regret, and we proceeded in the direction of the -great western prairies.</p> - -<p>Belhumeur was a first-rate companion, of tried bravery; a thorough -adventurer, gay, daring, and reckless, whose life had been almost -entirely spent in the desert, and whom his attachment for Don Rafael had -alone determined to give up the free and independent life of a hunter to -confine himself, as he said with a smile, within stone walls, where he -ofttimes felt that fresh air was wanting for his lungs.</p> - -<p>Belhumeur was a book of which I turned over the leaves of at my -pleasure, and each page was full of attractions for me, and offered me -agreeable surprises.</p> - -<p>Although I had myself long lived in the desert, I had as yet only -traversed countries where buffalo is never met; hence I was extremely -anxious to obtain some positive information about this interesting -animal, so useful to the Indians, who profess for it a respect almost -approaching to veneration. In this way I hoped not to be quite a novice -when I joined the redskins, and would know not only in what way to -attack the new enemy I was about to confront, but also how to behave, so -as not to appear an utter ignoramus in the sight of the Indians.</p> - -<p>One evening, while seated at our watch fire after supper, smoking my -Indian pipe charged with <i>morrichée</i>, or prairie tobacco, I asked -Belhumeur, whose good nature was inexhaustible, to give me the most -circumstantial information about the buffalo, which he at once did with -his usual goodwill.</p> - -<p>This is what I learned in substance. I will ask my reader's pardon for -substituting my recollections for the Canadian's prolix narration, -for what they may lose in simplicity of expression they will gain -in brevity, which is not a thing to be so much despised as might be -supposed at the first blush.</p> - -<p>I am bound to state that all Belhumeur then told me about the manners -and habits of these singular animals was most rigorously exact, as I -was in a position to convince myself at a later date. This, then, was -Belhumeur's account.</p> - -<p>The Indians say proverbially that bees are the advanced guard of the -palefaces, and the buffaloes the vedettes of the redskins. In fact, -although it is impossible to explain the reason, bees constantly seek -to advance into the desert, and when they appear at the border of -clearings, it is certain that two or three days later emigrants will -turn up, with rifles on their shoulders, and followed by a long file of -waggons, carts, horses, and cattle. These bold pioneers of civilisation -come, impelled by their adventurous instincts, to set up their tents in -the heart of the desert, on the shady banks of some unknown river, and -their unceasing activity soon changes the character of the landscape.</p> - -<p>In the same way when the traveller advances into the savannahs, so soon -as he sights the buffalo he may be certain that he has reached the -territory of the redskins.</p> - -<p>Now, it appears to us that everything relating to so interesting an -animal as the buffalo, which is fatally destined so soon to disappear, -unless care be taken, and which is so eminently useful, is worth -recording.</p> - -<p>Purchas in his "Pilgrimage" (London edition, 1614), says that in certain -respects the buffalo resembles the lion, and in others the camel, ox, -horse, sheep, and goat. Civilization in its continuous onward march -destroys the great animals, and drives back the redskin and even the -hunter, unless he consent to modify his fashion of living.</p> - -<p>The buffalo, which, on its discovery in 1582 by Lusman, in the province -of Sinaloa, extended its wanderings over nearly the whole of North -America, now restricts its excursions more and more, and is only met -with at present in the wildest deserts situated to the west of the Rocky -Mountains, which proves a considerable diminution in their numbers, and -this is probably augmented by the Indian custom of only killing cows and -leaving the bulls.</p> - -<p>The Americans, however, ought to interfere, for the buffalo is capable -of being tamed, and crossing it with the European ox would produce a -strong, patient, and courageous breed, whose services would be of -immense utility in the immense settlement of the new states. We saw at -a Texan hacienda completely tamed buffaloes, which, according to their -owners, were an excellent substitute for the common ox.</p> - -<p>The buffalo lives longer than the domestic ox: its proportions are -greater, and though its front is ungraceful, the hinder parts are -handsome. The buffalo is generally brown, though spotted ones are met -with, and even some completely white; its face is very like that of the -bull; its head covered with thick wool, the long beard hanging from its -lower jaw, and its melancholy, gentle, and almost stupid eye give it a -singular and almost strange appearance. Its horns are short, rounded, -and capable of taking a fine polish; it has between its shoulders a very -prominent hump, whilst its hinder parts are covered with short, straight -hair, like that of European ruminants; its short tail terminates in a -tuft of curly hair. The age of a buffalo is discovered by the rings on -its horns, the first four counting for the first year.</p> - -<p>The meat of the cows is considered more delicate than that of the bulls, -especially in the rutting season. The parts most appreciated are the -heart, the tongue, the liver, the short rib, and the part called the -hunter's joint, that is to say, the chine near the shoulder blade. Eight -bones are considered marrowbones, they are those of the legs and thighs. -A cow supplies about three hundred pounds of excellent meat, exclusive -of the head, and several other parts of the animal; the marrow of a -single bone is sufficient for a meal. The Indians, in order to obtain -it, throw the bone into the fire after removing the meat, let it grill -for a few minutes, take it out, break it, and remove the marrow, which -is eaten, without seasoning, by means of a sharp stick. This marrow is -very delicate and succulent, and when baked, it assumes the colour and -consistency of meat; some hunters prefer to eat it raw, but we did not -find it so good in that state.</p> - -<p>When a manada of buffaloes is hunted, especially if it be composed of -bulls, a strong smell of musk is exhaled; when full galloping, their -hoofs crack the grass, as if it was dried. They have an extraordinary -fine scent, and smell a man two or even three miles off.</p> - -<p>This animal is extremely difficult to kill. On a certain occasion we -lodged sixteen bullets in the body of a buffalo, ere we could succeed -in killing. Wishing to assure oneself of the truth of a fact, which -physicians and hunters had affirmed, namely, that the frontal bone -of a buffalo is bullet-proof, we discharged our rifle, at ten paces' -distance, at the head of a dead bull. The bullet did not penetrate, but -was caught in the hair, where we found it again; still it had struck -exactly in the centre of the forehead, for it had left its mark there -before rebounding.</p> - -<p>We have not very exactly followed Belhumeur's account, for, carried -away by our sympathy for the noble animal he described to us, we have -placed our ideas in the stead of his. We openly confess here that we are -among those who sincerely regret that the proposal made in 1849, by -Mr. Lamarre Picquot, to introduce into France the buffalo, as at once -suitable for draught and for consumption, was not seriously discussed -and taken into consideration, for this animal is one of the most useful, -and would, we feel convinced, render valuable services.</p> - -<p>Our journey lasted more than a month; for the winter village of the -Comanches of the Lakes is hidden in a canyon, in the middle of the first -spurs of the Rocky Mountains. Mounted on a vigorous mustang, I generally -rode at the head of our small party, which I liked to do, in order to be -more by myself, and observe more at my ease.</p> - -<p>One morning I saw, at a spot where the trail I followed was wide and -open, and some distance ahead of me, a large hawk, which appeared to -be suffering, and making efforts to fly away. When I drew near enough -I found that it was enfolded by a long whip snake, which had writhed -several times round its body, and the bird had only one wing at liberty.</p> - -<p>In all probability the hawk had been the aggressor, and had dashed down -at the snake, but the latter, by cleverly enfolding its enemy, had -succeeded in escaping the danger.</p> - -<p>The whip snake is a very handsome reptile, seven to eight feet in -length, when it has attained its full growth. Along the greater part of -its body it is no larger than an ordinary ramrod. Its very thin neck -gradually tapers away down to the stomach, whence it has obtained its -name. For about three or four inches the upper side of the head and -neck is black and lustrous as the plumage of a crow; while the upper -side of the body is chocolate coloured, excepting the tail, which, -nearly all the way from the stomach, is black.</p> - -<p>There, however, is no general rule, except for the head, neck, and tail, -which are always black. I have come across snakes of the same family in -which the other parts of the body varied. This reptile is very quick, -and seems to fly over the surface of the ground. The most remarkable -thing about it is, that it possesses the faculty of running, while -supporting itself solely on the lower part of the tail, and holding its -body and head erect.</p> - -<p>I cite this fact from personal knowledge, for I was one day followed by -a very handsome whip snake, which kept erect and looked me in the face -from time to time, although I had made my horse trot rather sharply, in -order to see at what speed this snake could advance in such an attitude. -It, however, only seemed to follow me through curiosity, for it is not -at all venomous, is of a gentle character, and it appears familiar with -man. I was surprised to find it in these parts, for I believed it to be -an inhabitant of Eastern Florida.</p> - -<p>Thirty-three days after our departure from the Hacienda del Milagro, we -came in sight of the Comanche village, and during the whole long journey -had not been exposed to the slightest danger, or stopped by any annoying -accident.</p> - -<p>We were expected, and were received by the chiefs, at the head of whom -was Eagle-head, not merely as friends, but as children of the tribe. A -spacious cabin was placed at our disposal, and provisions were brought -us from all sides.</p> - -<p>We had arrived just at the right moment; the grand festival of the -buffaloes was to be held that very night—a very curious ceremony, whose -object is to implore the blessing of the Wacondah before beginning the -hunt.</p> - -<p>In the centre of the village a large open space had been prepared, about -sixty yards long by forty-five wide, surrounded by an inclosure of reeds -and willow branches twelve feet high, and slightly bent inwards. An -entrance had been left, facing the east. The four fires which are always -kept up in the medicine lodge, were burning in each corner, and the most -distinguished chiefs, among whom we were counted, sat in a semicircle to -the right of the inclosure.</p> - -<p>Eagle-head, in his quality of first sachem of the tribe, held the head -of the file; he had, expressly for this occasion, painted his face blue, -yellow, and white, and wore on his head a fillet of some red skin.</p> - -<p>The spectators, more especially the squaws, were sitting against the -palings silent and contemplative. The men, some in full paint, others -simply dressed or naked to the waist, went about the interior of the -inclosure irregularly. Children ranged round the fires threw in from -time to time willow branches, to keep them burning.</p> - -<p>At the signal given by <i>Chichikoués</i> for the feast to begin, six old men -emerged from a calli, and stood in a row in front of the medicine lodge.</p> - -<p>These men are chosen by the chiefs to represent buffaloes, and after the -ceremony large presents are made to them. Each of them held in his hand -a long staff, at the end of which four black feathers were fixed, and -along the staves, at equal distances, were fastened small tufts of young -buffalo skin and bells.</p> - -<p>These men-buffaloes carried their clubs in the left hand, and two of -them bore what the Comanches call a "badger," that is to say, a blown-up -skin, which is beaten like a drum. They stood at the entrance of the -medicine lodge, shaking their staves incessantly, and in turn singing -and imitating, with rare perfection, the lowing of buffaloes, which -lasted some considerable time.</p> - -<p>Behind them marched a tall man with a ferocious face, whose head was -covered with a fur cap, because once on a time he had been scalped in -a fight with the Apaches. This man was the director of the feast, and -represented the leader of the old buffaloes; his name was "Raised-scalp."</p> - -<p>After a rather long station before the door, the men-buffaloes at length -entered the medicine lodge, and sate down against the palings, behind -one of the fires.</p> - -<p>So soon as they were all seated, each of them planted his staff on -the ground in front of him. Several young warriors then came in with -dishes of boiled beans and maize powdered with pemmican, which they -placed before the guests. These dishes went the round, each passing -them to his neighbour after eating a little. At times empty dishes were -placed before us, a ceremony of which I did not at first understand -the purport, and one of the bearers, a man of colossal stature, very -muscular, and almost naked, whose hair fell in long tresses on his -loins, came to fetch one of these empty dishes. Then Eagle-head hid his -face in his hands and began singing, after which he muttered a long -speech or prayer, winding up by returning the dish.</p> - -<p>This speech contained wishes for the success of the buffalo hunt, and -the Wacondah was also invoked to render him favourable to the hunters -and warriors. The longest speeches were the best; the bearer seemed -particularly satisfied; he bowed with an attentive look, nodded his head -as a sign of his pleasure, passed his hand along the orator's right arm -from the shoulder to the wrist, and, before removing the dish, answered -with a few words of thanks.</p> - -<p>This repast was prolonged for more than an hour; on all sides people ate -and held speeches for the success of the chase; during this the young -men standing in the middle of the inclosure prepared the calumets, and -brought them ready lighted to the chief, the old men, and the strangers.</p> - -<p>They stopped before each of us, walking from right to left, and -presented the calumet, the bowl of which they held in their hand. Each -man took two or three whiffs, while murmuring a prayer, and then the -calumet passed on to the next.</p> - -<p>After this, our calumet bearers frequently turned to the four cardinal -points, muttering mysterious words, and indulging in strange gestures -and imitations.</p> - -<p>During this time the six old men-buffaloes did not once leave off -singing, shaking their medicine staves behind the fire, and beating the -"badger." At a certain, moment they rose, thrust forward the upper part -of their body, and began dancing, though still singing, and shaking -their wands, while the badger beat time. When this dance had lasted long -enough, they resumed their places in the same order as before.</p> - -<p>It is impossible for anyone, unless he has been present, to form an idea -of the original sight offered by this quaint scene. These men painted -of different hues, their varying dresses, their songs, their drums, -their cries, and the noises of every description which blended with -them, borne from the desert on the wing of the night breeze, beneath -the dark and lugubriously starlit vault of heaven, while the immense -canopy of verdure formed as it were a majestic temple for this singular -ceremony—all this did not fail to possess a certain wild grandeur.</p> - -<p>After the dances had continued for more than two hours, the strangest -part of the festival began with the entrance of the squaws into the -inclosure. One of them, who was very young and remarkably pretty, came -up to her husband, and gave him her waist belt and petticoat to hold, so -that she was perfectly naked under her gown. She advanced dancing to -one of the most renowned warriors, passed her hand all down his right -arm, and then retired slowly, with her smiling face turned towards him. -The warrior thus invited, at once rose, and disappeared with her in -the wood. There, a man may ransom himself by making a present; but we -must avow, to the honour of the Indian fair sex, that few men do so. My -companions, Black Elk and Belhumeur, who were invited, took very good -care not to buy themselves off, and, on the contrary, readily followed -their dancer; but, for my part, I peremptorily refused, and remained -deaf to all the looks, and nods, and wanton smiles which the dear -charmers thought themselves obliged to lavish on me as a stranger.</p> - -<p>I must confess, to my sorrow, however, that it was not from virtuous -motives that I acted thus; I was in love, and courting at the time an -exquisite girl called "Boar's Head," whom I married eventually, and -with whom I lived happily for the five years we had arranged that our -marriage was to last. At the end of that period I sold her for three -female buffalo skins to another chief of my tribe.</p> - -<p>This feast lasted for four consecutive nights, from one sun to the next; -the same ceremony was repeated on each occasion with the most scrupulous -exactness, though we noticed that the squaws never invited the same -warrior twice, with the exception of the two Canadian hunters.</p> - -<p>When the ceremonies were quite ended, and all the symbolical rites -of the great medicine rigorously performed, one morning at sunrise, -twenty-five youthful warriors, chosen by Eagle-head, left the village, -mounted on excellent hunters, and each leading a second horse by the -bridle.</p> - -<p>These warriors form a vanguard intended to discover buffalo sign, and -watch their movements, and for that reason are called "buffalo scouts." -The main body of hunters, consisting of about eighty warriors, among -whom were my comrades and myself, did not start till two days later.</p> - -<p>The Indians when on the hunting trail, and especially when they are -desirous to surprise buffalo, travel with extreme care. The scent of the -buffaloes is very subtle, especially when they are to windward; though, -curiously enough, they frequent the same pasture as the elks, they have -no communion with them; still they do not seem at all disturbed by each -other; or the buffaloes, whose sight is not very good form a sort of -partnership with the elks, whom they convert into their sentinels. They -are watchful sentinels too, and, at the first suspicious sign, give the -alarm; whereupon buffaloes and elks disappear in company, escorted by -the red prairie wolves, troublesome followers that prowl round them, and -whom they can never succeed in getting entirely rid of.</p> - -<p>Each night we encamped on a hill at no great distance from a stream. -The trees were felled round the bivouac to guard us from a surprise; -the campfires were lighted, and the greater part of the night was -spent in relating hunting narratives and merry stories recounted in -turn, and which excited the heartiest gaiety among the Redskins. For -we will remark, in parenthesis, that the Indians, who are generally -represented as serious, cold, and stoical, on the contrary, have a very -jovial character; a mere nothing makes them laugh, and they indulge to -their heart's content, like all simple and primitive minds. Still, for -all that, they must be together, or in the company of people they are -well acquainted with. In the presence of whites the difficulty they -experience in making themselves understood, and the respect—I might -almost say the instinctive terror—the formidable strangers inspire them -with, completely paralyzes their faculties, and makes them appear almost -idiotic.</p> - -<p>We marched thus with easy journeys, in order not to tire our horses, in -the direction of the Rocky Mountains, for some fifty or sixty leagues, -killing a few prairie dogs, elks, and two or three striped sousliks -(<i>Spermophilus Hoodii</i>). At times a covey of larks rose at our approach, -or crows and rooks appeared in large numbers and settled down close to -us.</p> - -<p>Eagle-head would not consent to a halt for the sake of killing a few -isolated buffaloes we perceived in the distance. We had still thirty -miles to go before getting up with our scouts, and finding ourselves in -the real hunting ground.</p> - -<p>On the eighth day after leaving the village we reached a creek which -meandered through a plain, on which the grass was extremely high, -called, as far as I can remember, by the Indians, Green River. A rather -tall hill, situated on its hank, concealed our presence, and sheltered -us from the wind.</p> - -<p>Eagle-head gave orders to camp. The horses were allowed to graze, and a -fire of <i>bois de vâche</i> was lighted to roast a few ducks and two elks -that composed our breakfast.</p> - -<p>This stream, owing to the advanced season, was nearly dry, and filled -with tall, closely-growing weeds. After a two hours' halt we continued -our march, passing over gently sloping hills, and we found a few of some -height, behind which herds of buffalo are usually found. Before reaching -the top, our party traversed a small valley filled with a narrow strip -of beech trees, elms, and nyundos, between clumps of roses, <i>prunus -padres</i>, and a few other shrubs, while the wild tine (<i>clematis</i>) hung -in festoons about the trees.</p> - -<p>On reaching the top of the last mound we halted, and a singular scene, -which was not without some wild grandeur, was suddenly offered to our -sight.</p> - -<p>All the crests of the hills, as far as sight could extend, were crowned -by the scouts sent ahead, and who, motionless as statues of Florentine -bronze, stood out boldly in the blue sky.</p> - -<p>These scouts were not seated in the saddle, but standing on it, holding -in the left hand their buffalo robes, which they at times waved, and in -their right their clubs, which they employed to indicate certain points -of the horizon. At our feet, in an immense valley intersected by a large -river, whose numerous capacious windings resembled a silver thread, a -multitude of black spots spotted the tall grass.</p> - -<p>These points, which were almost imperceptible owing to the great -distance, were buffaloes: we had at last reached the hunting ground. But -the day was too far advanced for us to dream of following the animals, -and hence the chief gave the signal for camping.</p> - -<p>The night was calm, and was spent like the previous ones, in outbursts -of the frankest and heartiest gaiety, and at sunrise we were all up and -ready to begin the hunt. The scouts were still at their posts, and it -might fairly be supposed that during the whole night they had not ceased -to watch the game.</p> - -<p>Eagle-head got on the back of his horse, and fired a musket loaded only -with powder, in order to attract the attention of the scouts. Then a -singular scene took place, which offered me much to think about, and -proved to me once again that the Redskins are neither so savage nor -unintelligent as some writers are pleased to represent them.</p> - -<p>By the aid of the buffalo robe he held in his hand and waved in every -direction, the sachem began a series of complicated signals, which would -have turned the most expert of our telegraphers pale if called upon to -interpret, for they were transmitted with headlong speed, and instantly -comprehended by the sachem and the scouts.</p> - -<p>Eagle-head, according to the information he received, sent off every -moment parties of hunters, for the purpose, as I afterwards learned, of -completely surrounding the buffaloes, and driving them to the middle -of the valley. The hunters picked out started at once at full speed, -galloping in a beeline, according to the Indian fashion, leaping over -all obstacles, and never deviating from the direct course.</p> - -<p>Ere long only ten hunters, among whom my companions and myself were, -remained with the chief. He gave a final signal, which was immediately -repeated by all the sentries, got into his saddle, and uttered his -war yell. He then dashed at full speed down into the plain, with the -rapidity of an avalanche, and this manoeuvre was imitated by the -other hunters scattered over the adjacent heights. The hunt, or more -correctly, the butchery, had begun.</p> - -<p>The Comanches possess such skill in this horse-hunting, that, in spite -of the difficulty in killing a buffalo, they rarely fire more than -one round at it. Singularly enough, they do not raise the gun to the -shoulder, but stretch out both arms, and fire, in this far from usual -posture, when they are some fifteen or twenty yards from the animal.</p> - -<p>They load the gun with incredible speed, for they do not use the ramrod, -but let the bullets, of which they always keep a certain number in their -mouths, fall immediately on the powder, to which it adheres, and which -expels it again at the same moment. Owing to this great speed, the -prairie hunters, in a little while, make a frightful massacre in a herd -of buffaloes, and this time two-thirds of the manada were killed, and -the animals covered the battlefield in heaps.</p> - -<p>The buffaloes, enclosed in a circle whence they could not escape, -terrified by the yells of the hunters, who dashed at them from all -sides, brandishing their weapons, and waving their robes, fled in all -directions, at a pace greater than I could have imagined, judging from -their enormous bulk.</p> - -<p>Belhumeur and I had settled onto an old buffalo, who gave us plenty -of work. Several point-blank shots had not proved sufficient to check -his pace. He frequently stopped, threw the earth over his head with a -convulsive movement, after digging it up with his fore-feet, assumed a -menacing attitude, and even pursued us for some ten or fifteen yards. -But we easily got away, and the restless animal discontinued its mad -and purposeless chase so soon as we stopped resolutely before it. Its -strength was at length exhausted, but it did not succumb until we had -given it at least twenty bullets.</p> - -<p>This first success gave me a liking for the sport and the whole time -the hunt lasted I was one of the most eager in pursuit. At last, at the -expiration of three days, Eagle-head ordered the end of the massacre. -Obeying the chief's signal, the hunters forced open a large gap, through -which the decimated relics of the unhappy herd dashed, lowing with -terror.</p> - -<p>Two hundred and seventy buffaloes had been killed in three days, an -almost miraculous hunt, which secured the Comanches of the Lakes -abundance of provisions during the rainy season. The victims were -loaded on horses, and we gaily returned to the village, where the -hunters were received on their arrival with marks of the liveliest joy -and the extraordinary rejoicings usual on such occasions.</p> - -<p>One last remark may be allowed me. Everything is valuable in the -buffalo: the meat, the hide, the bones, the horns, and even the hair, -which is made into hats comparable in beauty and substance to the best -beaver. Why is not the buffalo, then, acclimatised in Europe? The -Society of Acclimatisation so recently created, and which has already -produced such excellent results, is keeping, we doubt not, a place for -the buffalo, which we hope soon to see occupied.</p> - - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_6" id="Footnote_1_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_6"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Although this animal is really the bison, it is so commonly -called buffalo that I have adhered to that term.</p></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h3><a name="A_MUSTANG" id="A_MUSTANG">A MUSTANG.</a></h3> - -<h4>A STUDY OF THE PRAIRIE HORSE.</h4> - - -<p>The aborigines of America were not acquainted with the horse prior to -the arrival of the Spaniards in their country. The Inca Garcillasso de -la Vega, in his "History of the Civil War in India," tells us that the -Peruvians, terrified at the sight of the first horseman, supposed that -the man and the horse only formed one and the same individual. At a -later date they imagined that the horses were formidable and malignant -deities, whom they tried to conciliate by placing gold and silver in -their mangers, and offering up prayers to them.</p> - -<p>The Spanish Conquistadors, most of whom came from Andalusia, were -mounted on steeds in whose veins flowed the blood of the Arabs, which -the Moors had succeeded in naturalizing in Spain during an occupation of -eight centuries.</p> - -<p>When the conquerors obtained quiet possession of the New World, and -began those internecine contests which cost so much blood, after every -battle the wounded horses were usually left behind, while those whose -masters were killed, escaped in obedience to that innate instinct in all -living creatures, which urges them to try and regain their liberty.</p> - -<p>These animals thus left to themselves, wandering haphazard over the -great savannahs, gradually entered the desert, interbred, and at length -multiplied so greatly that they formed bands or <i>manadas</i>, whose number -has so increased that it has now become incalculable.</p> - -<p>From these horses, which were originally abandoned and returned to -savage life, has issued the remarkable breed known in the New World by -the name of mustangs, or prairie horses. Now that racing is fashionable -in France, and horse breeding has made immense progress, we do not think -we are going out of our way in describing this valuable breed, which is -unknown in the Old World, and to which sufficient justice is not done -even in America.</p> - -<p>At the time when I was at Guaymas, during the expedition of the unhappy -Count de Raousset Boulbon I wanted a horse. Copers are as numerous in -Mexico as in Europe, and probably cleverer and more cunning than ours -in disguising the vices and defects of the animals they wish to get rid -of; but unluckily for these clever dealers, and luckily for me, my long -stay among the Indians of the Western Prairies had given me an almost -infallible perception, and rendered it extremely difficult to deceive -me as to the qualities of a horse.</p> - -<p>When my wish to purchase a horse was known, there was an extraordinary -rush of dealers to the house where I put up. I peremptorily declined -all the animals offered me. My friends began to joke me and say that I -should not find a horse to suit me, and be compelled to follow on foot -the cavalry corps I commanded, when, on the very eve of departure, I was -walking accidentally on the beach, and saw a Hiaquis Indian a few yards -ahead of me, mounted on a horse whose appearance, in my friends' sight, -had nothing very inviting about it, and so they laughingly invited me to -deal. I feigned to humour them, although I had at once recognized the -animal as a mustang of the Far West, and I took them at their word by -making the Indian a sign to come and speak to me.</p> - -<p>The horse was not handsome, I must allow; he was rather tall, had a big -head, and a round forehead; his mane, which was thick and ill-kempt, -hung down to his chest; his tail, which was not thick enough to wave, -almost swept the ground; but his chest was wide and his legs were firm, -while his eyes and nostrils announced fire, vigour, and bottom. Although -the animal had never been shod, and its master, like all the Indians, -had ill-treated it during the long journey it had made to reach Guaymas, -still its thick hoofs were not at all worn or even damaged. It was black -as night, with a white star about the size of a piastre, perfectly -designed, and situated in the exact centre of the forehead.</p> - -<p>At my summons the Indian started the horse at a gallop, and came up to -me. I asked him bluntly if he wanted to sell his horse.</p> - -<p>"Why not, excellency?" he answered with the wink peculiar to the -Hiaquis. "Negro is a good beast; I lassoed him myself in the heart of -the prairies of the Sierra de San Saba, hardly a month agone, and he has -constantly gone fifteen to sixteen leagues a day."</p> - -<p>"Yes, yes," I answered in Indian, "I know all that; but I know too that -you Hiaquis are clever horse dealers, and are perfectly up to the trick -of dressing a horse for sale."</p> - -<p>On hearing me speak his language, the Redskin, who was, moreover, -deceived by my hunting garb, took me for a wood ranger, and immediately -treated me with great respect.</p> - -<p>"Your excellency will try Negro, if it be really your pleasure to buy," -he said, at once reassuming the language of his tribe, instead of the -Spanish he had hitherto employed.</p> - -<p>"But," I continued, "supposing that Negro, as that is his name, suits -me, I must know the price you want for him."</p> - -<p>"Wah!" he said, with a cunning smile; "I will not let your excellency -have Negro under two ounces, and anyone else would pay much more."</p> - -<p>Two ounces are about six guineas of our money, so if I had judged the -horse aright, it was plain that I should make a good bargain. I made an -appointment with the Hiaquis for the next morning, and withdrew under -the ironical congratulations of my friends upon my excellent acquisition.</p> - -<p>The Indian was punctual. At daybreak I saw him at my door, mounted on -another horse and holding Negro by the bridle. I immediately got into -the saddle, and left Guaymas, accompanied by my Redskin, and started at -a smart trot for the forest.</p> - -<p>I soon perceived that Negro was a very easy goer, and that he did not -tire, though he was very eager—excellent qualities in a charger. -Moreover, I saw that, like all prairie horses, whose mouth is generally -hard, he was very sensitive to the spur.</p> - -<p>The expedition of which I had the honour to be a member was about to -proceed into half savage countries, where roads have never existed, -and we should have to go across sandy deserts, and through almost -impassable virgin forests; hence I wished to know at once what help I -had to expect from my horse, and what confidence I could place in him. -I therefore resolved to make him leap a stream several feet in width. -For this purpose I gave him his head, and pressed his flanks with my -knees without spurring; the intelligent animal seemed to understand that -it was on trial, and leapt over the obstacle with the agility of an -antelope. I turned round, and tried the leap over and over again, always -with the same result. Certain of his agility, I wished to try his -strength, consequently I took him to a muddy and very difficult morass. -Negro, however, entered it, smelling the water as if to judge its depth, -a proof of sagacity and prudence with which I was greatly pleased, and I -found him prompt and decided in the wheels and counter wheels I made him -take.</p> - -<p>I had still an experiment to make with Negro—could he swim?</p> - -<p>During the course of my travels, I have seen excellent horses, which -could not swim at all; they lay down on their side as if to float with -the current, so that their rider was obliged to swim himself and take -them to bank, unless he preferred to leave them to their fate, which -is a very serious difficulty when travelling. As a rather wide and -very rapid stream ran not far from us, I rode my horse right into it; -he at once took the current obliquely, with head well raised above the -surface, and dilated nostrils, though without making that painful snort -peculiar to horses under such circumstances; for, on the contrary, he -breathed regularly and without fatigue. He went up and down the stream, -and when I at last guided him to land, he stopped of his own accord and -shook the water off.</p> - -<p>Convinced, after all these experiments, that I could without risk -undertake the campaign with such a steed, I started back for Guaymas at -a gallop. On the road I brought down a duck, which Negro went up to as -if trained for shooting, and which I picked up without dismounting.</p> - -<p>I immediately gave the two ounces to the Hiaquis, and leaving my friends -to continue their jokes about my acquisition, I rubbed Negro down with -the greatest care.</p> - -<p>On the same day the expedition left Guaymas for Hermosillo, and in spite -of his savage ways and rather seedy appearance, the qualities of my -mustang were soon appreciated, as they deserved to be, by my companions, -whose domestic horses were far from coming up to him.</p> - -<p>I went through the whole campaign mounted on Negro, allowing him no -other food beyond the prairie grass, green alfalfa, and climbing peas, -or a few hen's eggs, when I could procure them, or a gourd; still, every -morning, two hours before mounting, I was careful to rub him down and -press his back with my hand, to assure myself that he was not grazed -by the saddle, after which I threw over him a zarapé folded double. At -night, before going to sleep, I washed him, threw a bucket of cold water -over his back, looked at his feet and cleaned them out with the utmost -caution.</p> - -<p>At the end of the first week, Negro had grown so attached to me that he -recognized my voice and obeyed me with extreme docility; to make him -gallop I only required to bend slightly forward.</p> - -<p>When the campaign was ended, instead of embarking at Guaymas for -California, after the fashion of my comrades, I started for Apacheria, -where I spent several months. After that I proceeded to Veracruz, -crossing Mexico in its widest part. I thus rode my horse, without -allowing him a single day's rest, about nine hundred and fifty leagues -calculated at nearly forty-five miles a day, and my mustang was as fresh -and healthy on his arrival as when he started.</p> - -<p>No European horse would be capable of accomplishing such a feat, which -I assert, without fear of contradiction, is only child's play for a -mustang of the prairies. Negro is in no way put forward here as a type -of his breed, and had no striking quality to recommend him; he was -certainly a good horse, but all his companions in the prairies resemble -him, and are quite as good as he.</p> - -<p>At my last halt, before reaching Veracruz, where I intended to embark -for France, I found a Mexican officer, either colonel or general, I -forget which, but his name was Don Pedro Aguirre, stopping at the same -<i>mesón</i>, and we left it together in the morning <i>en route</i> for Veracruz.</p> - -<p>Señor Don Pedro Aguirre was mounted on a magnificent steed, which, -he told me, and it was very probable, had cost him four hundred -piastres—according to the Mexican fashion his <i>asistente</i> led a second -horse by the bridle.</p> - -<p>I complimented the colonel on his splendid horse, to which compliment he -replied, rather cavalierly, while taking a contemptuous glance at Negro, -that he wished I had a similar one, so that he might have enjoyed my -society during the ride to Veracruz.</p> - -<p>I made no retort, although somewhat vexed at this answer, and confined -myself to asking him at what hour he expected to reach the port?</p> - -<p>"Sufficiently long before you, señor," he said with a smile, "to have -leisure to order supper at the hotel, on condition that you will consent -to join me at it."</p> - -<p>I bowed my thanks, while laughing in my sleeve at the bombastic -confidence of the Mexican officer, and the trick I was going to play -him. After a parting bow, Don Pedro made his horse curvet, dug in his -spurs, and started. But, alas! it was lost trouble; I arrived five -quarters of an hour before him at Veracruz; I ordered dinner; I put my -steed in the corral, and stationed myself in the doorway of the hotel, -where, when the colonel arrived, quite downcast by his defeat, I told -him, with a cunning look, that I was only waiting for him to dine.</p> - -<p>Still, I am bound to say, in praise of the colonel, that he took the -joke very kindly, and when his first impulse of ill-humour had passed -off, frankly complimented me on the excellence of my horse.</p> - -<p>A few days later, overcome by the entreaties of Don Pedro, I consented, -not without regret, to part with poor Negro, and let the colonel have -him, for the comparatively enormous sum of seven hundred and fifty -piastres; but, alas! I was going to embark for France the next week, and -my horse had become useless for me.</p> - -<p>I am convinced that the introduction of this breed of the Western -Prairies into our stud stables would serve greatly to improve our -horses, and that the majority of them would become first-rate racers.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Track, by Gustave Aimard - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - -***** This file should be named 42834-h.htm or 42834-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/8/3/42834/ - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. 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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 - - -Title: The Red Track - A Story of Social Life in Mexico - -Author: Gustave Aimard - -Translator: Lascelles Wraxall - -Release Date: May 29, 2013 [EBook #42834] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - - - - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - - - - -THE RED TRACK - -A Story of Social life in Mexico - -BY - -GUSTAVE AIMARD - - -AUTHOR OF "ADVENTURERS," "PEARL OF THE ANDES," "TRAIL HUNTER," -"PIRATES OF THE PRAIRIES," "TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER," "TIGER -SLAYER," "GOLD SEEKERS," "INDIAN CHIEF," ETC. - - - -LONDON: - -CHARLES HENRY CLARKE, 13 PATERNOSTER ROW. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The present volume of GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works is a continuation of the -"Indian Chief," and conclusion of the series comprising that work, the -"Gold Seekers," and the "Tiger Slayer." - -At the present moment, when we are engaged in a war with Mexico, I feel -assured that the extraordinary and startling descriptions given in this -volume of the social condition and mode of life in the capital of that -country will be read with universal gratification; for I can assert -confidently that; no previous writer has ever produced such a graphic -and truthful account of a city with which the illustrated papers will -soon make us thoroughly acquainted. - -If a further recommendation be needed, it will be found in the fact that -the present volume appears in an English garb before being introduced to -French readers. GUSTAVE AIMARD is so gratified with the reception his -works have found in this country, through my poor assistance, that he -has considered he could not supply a better proof of his thankfulness -than by permitting his English readers to enjoy, on this occasion, the -first fruits of his versatile and clever pen. This is a compliment -which, I trust, will be duly appreciated; for, as to the merits of -the work itself, I have not the slightest doubt. Readers may imagine -it impossible for GUSTAVE AIMARD to surpass his previous triumphs in -the wildly romantic, or that he could invent anything equal to the -"Prairie Flower," a work which I venture to affirm, to be the finest -Indian tale ever yet written, in spite of the great authors who have -preceded AIMARD; but I ask my reader's special admiration for the "RED -TRACK," because in it our favourite author strikes out a new path, and -displays versatility which puts to the blush those bilious critics--few -in number--I grant, among the multitude of encouraging reviewers, who -have ventured an opinion that GUSTAVE AIMARD can only write about Indian -life, or, in point of fact, that he is merely a hunter describing his -own experiences under a transparent disguise. - -Well, be it so, I accept the assertion. GUSTAVE AIMARD is but a -hunter; he has seen nought but uncivilized life; he has spent years -among savages, and has returned to his own country to try and grow -Europeanized again. What then? The very objection is a proof of his -veracity; and I am fully of the conviction that every story he has told -us is true. It is not reasonable to suppose that a man who has spent the -greater part of his life in hunting the wild animals of America--who -has been an adopted son of the most powerful Indian tribes--who has for -years never known what the morrow would bring forth, should sit down -to invent. The storehouse of his mind is too amply filled with marvels -for him to take that needless trouble, and he simply repeats on paper -the tales which in olden limes he picked up at the camp fires, or heard -during his wanderings with the wood rangers. - -And it is as such that I wish GUSTAVE AIMARD to be judged by English -readers. His eminent quality is truth. He is a man who could not set -down a falsehood, no matter what the bribe might be, he has lived -through the incidents he describes, and has brought back to Europe -the adventures of a chequered life. He does not attempt to fascinate -his readers by a complicated plot. He does not possess the marvellous -invention of a Cooper, who, after a slight acquaintance with a few -powerless Indians, wrote books which all admirers of the English -language peruse. But GUSTAVE AIMARD possesses a higher quality, in the -fact that he only notes down incidents which he has seen, or which he -has received on undoubted evidence from his companions. - -The present is the twelfth volume of GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works to which. I -have put my name; and, with the exception of a few captious criticisms -whose motive may be read between the lines, the great body of the -British Press has greeted our joints efforts with the heartiest -applause. The success of this series has been unparalleled in the annals -of cheap literature. Day by day the number of readers increases, and the -publication of each successive volume creates an excitement which cannot -fail to be most gratifying to the publishers. - -To please all parties, the proprietors of AIMARD'S copyrights have -projected an Illustrated Series, to which I would invite most earnest -attention. Although by this time I am saturated with Indian life, I -confess that I never thoroughly understood it till I saw the engravings -after a Zwecker, a Huard, and a Corbould. The artists have carefully -studied their subjects, and gone to the fountain-head for information; -and the result is, that they have produced a series of works which only -need to be seen to be appreciated. The last volume illustrated is "The -Freebooters," which was entirely intrusted to Mr. Corbould, and though -I do not wish for a moment to depreciate the other artists, I felt, on -seeing the illustrations, that GUSTAVE AIMARD was worthily interpreted. -All I can urge upon readers is, that they should judge for themselves. - -To wind up this unusually long Preface, into which honest admiration for -the author has alone induced me, I wish to say that it affords me an -ever-recurring delight to introduce GUSTAVE AIMARD'S works to English -readers, while it causes me an extra pleasure, on this occasion, to be -enabled to repeat that the present volume appears on this side of the -Channel before it has been introduced to French readers. And, knowing as -I do the number of editions through which AIMARD'S books pass in his own -native land, I can appreciate the sacrifice he has made on this occasion -at its full value. - - LASCELLES WRAXALL. - -DRAYTON TERRACE, WEST BROMPTON, - _March_, 1862. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - I. THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER - II. THE DEAD ALIVE - III. THE COMPACT - IV. THE TRAVELLERS - V. THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMEQUES - VI. THE SURPRISE - VII. THE EXPLANATION - VIII. A DECLARATION OF WAR - IX. MEXICO - X. THE RANCHO - XI. THE PASEO DE BUCARELI - XII. A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION - XIII. DON MARTIAL - XIV. THE VELORIO - XV. THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES - XVI. THE CONFESSOR - XVII. THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE - XVIII. A VISIT - XIX. ASSISTANCE - XX. EL ZARAGATE - XXI. AFTER THE INTERVIEW - XXII. THE BLANK SIGNATURE - XXIII. ON THE ROAD - XXIV. A SKIRMISH - XXV. LOS REGOCIJOS - XXVI. THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO - XXVII. THE CAPILLA - - A BUFFALO HUNT - A MUSTANG - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -THE SIERRA OF THE WIND RIVER. - - -The Rocky Mountains form an almost impassable barrier between California -and the United States, properly so called; their formidable defiles, -their rude valleys, and the vast western plains, watered by rapid -streams, are even to the present day almost unknown to the American -adventurers, and are rarely visited by the intrepid and daring Canadian -trappers. - -The majestic mountain range called the Sierra of the Wind River, -especially offers a grand and striking picture, as it raises to the -skies its white and snow-clad peaks, which extend indefinitely in a -north-western direction, until they appear on the horizon like a white -cloud, although the experienced eye of the trapper recognizes in this -cloud the scarped outline of the Yellowstone Mountains. - -The Sierra of the Wind River is one of the most remarkable of the Rocky -Mountain range; it forms, so to speak, an immense plateau, thirty -leagues long, by ten or twelve in width, commanded by scarped peaks, -crowned with eternal snows, and having at their base narrow and deep -valleys filled with springs, streams, and rock-bound lakes. These -magnificent reservoirs give rise to some of the mighty rivers which, -after running for hundreds of miles through a picturesque territory, -become on one side the affluents of the Missouri, on the other of the -Columbia, and bear the tribute of their waters to the two oceans. - -In the stories of the wood rangers and trappers, the Sierra of the -Wind River is justly renowned for its frightful gorges, and the wild -country in its vicinity frequently serves as a refuge to the pirates of -the prairie, and has been, many a time and oft, the scene of obstinate -struggles between the white men and the Indians. - -Toward the end of June, 1854, a well-mounted traveller, carefully -wrapped up in the thick folds of a zarape, raised to his eyes, was -following one of the most precipitous slopes of the Sierra of the -Wind River, at no great distance from the source of the Green River, -that great western Colorado which pours its waters into the Gulf of -California. - -It was about seven in the evening: the traveller rode along, shivering -from the effects of an icy wind which whistled mournfully through the -canyons. All around had assumed a saddening aspect in the vacillating -moonbeams. He rode on without hearing the footfall of his horse, as it -fell on the winding sheet of snow that covered the landscape; at times -the capricious windings of the track he was following compelled him to -pass through thickets, whose branches, bent by the weight of snow, stood -out before him like gigantic skeletons, and struck each other after he -had passed with a sullen snap. - -The traveller continued his journey, looking anxiously on both sides -of him. His horse, fatigued by a long ride, hobbled at every step, and -in spite of the repeated encouragement of its rider seemed determined -to stop short, when, after suddenly turning an angle in the track, it -suddenly entered a large clearing, where the close-growing grass formed -a circle about forty yards in diameter, and the verdure formed a cheery -contrast with the whiteness that surrounded it. - -"Heaven be praised!" the traveller exclaimed in excellent French, and -giving a start of pleasure; "Here is a spot at last where I can camp for -tonight night, without any excessive inconvenience. I almost despaired -of finding one." - -While thus congratulating himself, the traveller had stopped his horse -and dismounted. His first attention was paid to his horse, from which -he removed saddle and bridle, and which he covered with his zarape, -appearing to attach no importance to the cold, which was, however, -extremely severe in these elevated regions. So soon as it was free, the -animal, in spite of its fatigue, began browsing heartily on the grass, -and thus reassured about his companion, the traveller began thinking -about making the best arrangements possible for the night. - -Tall, thin, active, with a lofty and capacious forehead, an intelligent -blue eye, sparkling with boldness, the stranger appeared to have been -long accustomed to desert life, and to find nothing extraordinary or -peculiarly disagreeable in the somewhat precarious position in which he -found himself at this moment. - -He was a man who had reached about middle life, on whose brow grief -rather than the fatigue of the adventurous life of the desert had formed -deep wrinkles, and sown numerous silver threads in his thick light -hair; his dress was a medium between that of the white trappers and -the Mexican gambusinos; but it was easy to recognize, in spite of his -complexion, bronzed by the seasons, that he was a stranger to the ground -he trod, and that Europe had witnessed his birth. - -After giving a final glance of satisfaction at his horse, which at -intervals interrupted its repast to raise its delicate and intelligent -head to him with an expression of pleasure, he carried his weapons and -horse trappings to the foot of a rather lofty rock, which offered him -but a poor protection against the gusts of the night breeze, and then -began collecting dry wood to light a watch fire. - -It was no easy task to find dry firewood at a spot almost denuded of -trees, and whose soil, covered with snow, except in the clearing, -allowed nothing to be distinguished; but the traveller was patient, he -would not be beaten, and within an hour he had collected sufficient -wood to feed through the night two such fires as he proposed kindling. -The branches soon crackled, and a bright flame rose joyously in a long -spiral to the sky. - -"Ah!" said the traveller, who, like all men constrained to live alone, -seemed to have contracted the habit of soliloquizing aloud, "the fire -will do, so now for supper." - -Then, fumbling in the alforjas, or double pockets which travellers -always carry fastened to the saddle, he took from them all the requisite -elements of a frugal meal; that is to say, cecina, pemmican, and several -varas of tasajo, or meat dried in the sun. At the moment when, after -shutting up his alforjas, the traveller raised his head to lay his meat -on the embers to broil, he stopped motionless, with widely-opened mouth, -and it was only through a mighty strength of will that he suppressed a -cry of surprise and possibly of terror. Although no sound had revealed -his presence, a man, leaning on a long rifle, was standing motionless -before him, and gazing at him with profound attention. - -At once mastering the emotion he felt, the traveller carefully laid -the tasajo on the embers, and then, without removing his eye from this -strange visitor, he stretched out his arm to grasp his rifle, while -saying, in a tone of the most perfect indifference-- - -"Whether friend or foe, you are welcome, mate. 'Tis a bitter night, so, -if you are cold, warm yourself, and if you are hungry, eat. When your -nerves have regained their elasticity, and your body its usual strength, -we will have a frank explanation, such as men of honour ought to have." - -The stranger remained silent for some seconds; then, after shaking his -head several times, he commenced in a low and melancholy voice, as it -were speaking to himself rather than replying to the question asked him-- - -"Can any human being really exist in whose heart a feeling of pity still -remains?" - -"Make the trial, mate," the traveller answered quickly, "by accepting, -without hesitation, my hearty offer. Two men who meet in the desert must -be friends at first sight, unless private reasons make them implacable -enemies. Sit down by my side and eat." - -This dialogue had been held in Spanish, a language the stranger spoke -with a facility that proved his Mexican origin. He seemed to reflect for -a moment, and then instantly made up his mind. - -"I accept," he said, "for your voice is too sympathizing and your glance -too frank to deceive." - -"That is the way to speak," the traveller said, gaily. "Sit down and eat -without further delay, for I confess to you that I am dying of hunger." - -The stranger smiled sadly, and sat down on the ground by the traveller's -side. The two men, thus strangely brought together by accident, then -attacked with no ordinary vigour, which evidenced a long fast, the -provisions placed before them. Still, while eating, the traveller did -not fail to examine his singular companion; and the following was the -result of his observations. - -The general appearance of the stranger was most wretched, and his -ragged clothes scarce covered his bony, fleshless body; while his pale -and sickly features were rendered more sad and gloomy by a thick, -disordered beard that fell on his chest. His eyes, inflamed by fever, -and surrounded by black circles, glistened with a sombre fire, and at -times emitted flashes of magnetic radiance. His weapons were in as bad -a condition as his clothes, and in the event of a fight this man, with -the exception of his bodily strength, which must once have been great, -but which privations of every description, and probably endured for -a lengthened period, had exhausted, would not have been a formidable -adversary for the traveller. Still, beneath this truly wretched -appearance could be traced an organization crushed by grief. There was -in this man something grand and sympathetic, which appeared to emanate -from his person, and aroused not only pity but also respect for torture -so proudly hidden and so nobly endured. This man, in short, ere he fell -so low, must have been great, either in virtue or in vice; but assuredly -there was nothing common about him, and a mighty heart beat in his bosom. - -Such was the impression the stranger produced on his host, while both, -without the interchange of a word, appeased an appetite sharpened by -long hours of abstinence. Hunters' meals are short, and the present one -lasted hardly a quarter of an hour. When it was over, the traveller -rolled a cigarette, and, handing it to the stranger, said-- - -"Do you smoke?" - -On this apparently so simple question being asked, a strange thing -happened which will only be understood by smokers who, long accustomed -to the weed, have for some reason or other been deprived of it for -a lengthened period. The stranger's face was suddenly lit up by the -effect of some internal emotion; his dull eye flashed, and, seizing the -cigarette with a nervous tremor, he exclaimed, in a voice choked by an -outburst of joy impossible to render-- - -"Yes, yes; I used to smoke." - -There was a rather long silence, during which the two men slowly inhaled -the smoke of their cigarettes, and indulged in thought. The wind howled -fiercely Over their heads, the eddying snow was piling up around them, -and the echoes of the canyons seemed to utter notes of complaint. It was -a horrible night. Beyond the circle of light produced by the flickering -flame of the watch fire all was buried in dense gloom. The picture -presented by these two men, seated in the desert, strangely illumined -by the bluish flame, fend smoking calmly while suspended above an -unfathomable abyss, had something striking and awe-inspiring about it. -When the traveller had finished his cigarette, he rolled another, and -laid his tobacco-pouch between himself and his guest. - -"Now that the ice is broken between us," he said in a friendly voice, -"and that we have nearly formed an acquaintance--for we have been -sitting at the same fire, and have eaten and smoked together--the moment -has arrived, I fancy, for us to become thoroughly acquainted." - -The stranger nodded his head silently. It was a gesture that could be -interpreted affirmatively or negatively, at pleasure. The traveller -continued, with a good-humoured smile-- - -"I make not the slightest pretence to compel you to reveal your secrets, -and you are at liberty to maintain your incognito without in any way -offending me. Still, whatever may be the result, let me give you an -example of frankness by telling you who I am. My story will not be long, -and only consists of a very few words. France is my country, and I was -born at Paris--which city, doubtless," he remarked, with a stifled sigh, -"I shall never see again. Reasons too lengthy to trouble you with, and -which would interest you but very slightly, led me to America. Chance, -or Providence, perhaps, by guiding me to the desert, and arousing my -instincts and aspirations for liberty, wished to make a wood ranger of -me, and I obeyed. For twenty years I have been traversing the prairies -and great savannahs in every direction, and I shall probably continue -to do so, till an Indian bullet comes from some thicket to stop my -wanderings for ever. Towns are hateful to me; passionately fond of the -grand spectacles of nature, which elevate the thought, and draw the -creature nearer to his Creator, I shall only mix myself up once again in -the chaos of civilization in order to fulfil a vow made on the tomb of a -friend. When I have done that, I shall fly to the most, unknown deserts, -in order to end a life henceforth useless, far from those men whose -paltry passions and base and ignoble hatred have robbed me of the small -amount of happiness to which I fancied I had a claim. And now, mate, you -know me as well as I do myself. I will merely add, in conclusion, that -my name among the white men, my countrymen, is Valentine Guillois, and -among the redskins, my adopted fathers, Koutonepi--that is to say, 'The -Valiant One.' I believe myself to be as honest and as brave as a man is -permitted to be with his imperfect organization. I never did harm with -the intention of doing so, and I have done services to my fellow men as -often as I had it in my power, without expecting from them thanks or -gratitude." - -The speech, which the hunter had commenced in that clear voice and with -that careless accent habitual to him, terminated involuntarily, under -the pressure of the flood of saddened memories that rose from his heart -to his lips, in a low and inarticulate voice, and when he concluded, -he let his head fall sadly on his chest, with a sigh that resembled a -sob. The stranger regarded him for a moment with an expression of gentle -commiseration. - -"You have suffered," he said; "suffered in your love, suffered in your -friendship. Your history is that of all men in this world: who of us, -but at a given hour, has felt his courage yield beneath the weight of -grief? You are alone, friendless, abandoned by all, a voluntary exile, -far from the men who only inspire you with hatred and contempt; you -prefer the society of wild beasts, less ferocious than they; but, at any -rate, you live, while I am a dead man!" - -The hunter started, and looked in amazement at the speaker. - -"I suppose you think me mad?" he continued, with a melancholy smile; -"reassure yourself, it is not so. I am in full possession of my senses, -my head is cool, and my thoughts are clear and lucid. For all that -though, I repeat to you, I am dead, dead in the sight of my relations -and friends, dead to the whole world in fine, and condemned to lead this -wretched existence for an indefinite period. Mine is a strange story, -and that you would recognize through one word, were you a Mexican, or -had you travelled in certain regions of Mexico." - -"Did I not tell you that, for twenty years, I have been travelling over -every part of America?" the traveller replied, his curiosity being -aroused to the highest pitch. "What is the word? Can you tell it me?" - -"Why not? I am alluding to the name I bore while I was still a living -man." - -"What is that name?" - -"It had acquired a certain celebrity, but I doubt whether, even if you -have heard it mentioned, it has remained in your memory." - -"Who knows? Perhaps you are mistaken." - -"Well, since you insist, learn, then, that I was called Martial el -Tigrero." - -"You?" the hunter exclaimed, under the influence of the uttermost -surprise; "why that is impossible!" - -"Of course so, since I am dead," the stranger answered, bitterly. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THE DEAD ALIVE. - - -The Tigrero had let his head fall on his chest again, and seemed engaged -with gloomy thoughts. The hunter, somewhat embarrassed by the turn the -conversation had taken, and anxious to continue it, mechanically stirred -up the fire with the blade of his navaja, while his eyes wandered -around, and were at times fixed on his companion with an expression of -deep sympathy. - -"Stay," he said, presently, as he thrust back with his foot a few embers -that had rolled out; "pardon me, sir, any insult which my exclamation -may seem to have contained. You have mistaken, I assure you, the -meaning of my remarks; although, as we have never met, we are not such -strangers as you suppose. I have known you for a long time." - -The Tigrero raised his head, and looked at the hunter incredulously. - -"You?" he muttered. - -"Yes, I, caballero, and it will not be difficult to prove it to you." - -"What good will it do?" he murmured; "what interest can I have in the -fact of your knowing me?" - -"My dear sir," the Frenchman continued, with several shakes of his head, -"nothing happens in this world by the effect of chance. Above us, an -intellect superior to ours directs everything here below; and if we have -been permitted to meet in a manner so strange and unexpected in these -desolate regions, it is because Providence has designs with us which we -cannot yet detect; let us, therefore, not attempt to resist God's will, -for what He has resolved will happen: who knows whether I may not be -unconsciously sent across your path to bring you a supreme consolation, -or to supply you with the means to accomplish a long meditated -vengeance, which you have hitherto deemed impossible?" - -"I repeat to you, senor," the Tigrero replied, "that your words are -those of a stout-hearted and brave man, and I feel involuntarily -attracted towards you. I think with you, that this accidental meeting, -after so many days of solitude and grief, with a man of your stamp, -cannot be the effect of unintelligent chance, and that at a moment -when, convinced of my impotence to escape from my present frightful -situation, I was reduced to despair and almost resolved on suicide, the -loyal hand you offer me can only be that of a friend. Question me, then, -without hesitation, and I will answer with the utmost frankness." - -"Thanks for that speech," the hunter said, with emotion, "for it proves -that we are beginning to understand each other, and soon, I hope, we -shall have no secrets; but I must, before all else, tell you how it is -that I have known you for a long time, although you were not aware of -the fact." - -"Speak, senor, I am listening to you with the most earnest attention." - -Valentine reflected for a moment, and then went on as follows:-- - -"Some months ago, in consequence of circumstances unnecessary to remind -you of, but which you doubtless bear in mind, you met at the colony of -Guetzalli a Frenchman and a Canadian hunter, with whom you eventually -stood on most intimate terms." - -"It is true," the Tigrero replied, with a nervous start, "and the -Frenchman to whom you allude, is the Count de Prebois Crance. Oh! I -shall never be able to discharge the debt of gratitude I have contracted -with him for the services he rendered me." - -A sad smile curled the hunter's lip. "You no longer owe him anything," -he said, with a melancholy shake of the head. - -"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed, eagerly; "surely the count -cannot be dead!" - -"He is dead, caballero. He was assassinated on the shores of Guaymas. -His murderers laid him in his tomb, and his blood, so treacherously -shed, cries to Heaven for vengeance: but patience, Heaven will not -permit this horrible crime to remain unpunished." - -The hunter hurriedly wiped away the tears he had been unable to repress -while speaking of the count, and went on, in a voice choked by the -internal emotion which he strove in vain to conquer:-- - -"But let us, for the present, leave this sad reminiscence to slumber -in our hearts. The count was my friend, my dearest friend, more than a -brother to me: he often spoke about you to me, and several times told me -your gloomy history, which terminated in a frightful catastrophe." - -"Yes, yes," the Tigrero muttered; "it was, indeed, a frightful -catastrophe. I would gladly have found death at the bottom of the abyss -into which I rolled during my struggle with Black Bear, could I have -saved her I loved; but God decreed it otherwise, and may his holy name -be blessed and praised." - -"Amen!" the hunter said, sadly turning his head away. - -"Oh!" Don Martial continued a moment later, "I feel my recollections -crowding upon me at this moment. I feel as if the veil that covers my -memory is torn asunder, in order to recall events, already so distant, -but which have left so deep an impression on my mind. I, too, recognize -you now; you are the famous hunter whom the count was trying to find -in the desert; but he did not call you by any of the names you have -mentioned." - -"I dare say," Valentine answered, "that he alluded to me as the 'Trail -Hunter,' the name by which the white hunters and the Indians of the Far -West are accustomed to call me." - -"Yes; oh, now I remember perfectly, that was indeed the name he gave -you. You were right in saying that we had been long acquainted, though -we had never met." - -"And now that we meet in this desert," the hunter said, offering his -hand, "connected as we are by the memory of our deceased friend, shall -we be friends?" - -"No, not friends," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he heartily pressed the -hunter's honest hand; "not friends, but brothers." - -"Well, then, brothers, and each for the other against all comers," the -hunter answered. "And now that you are convinced that curiosity plays no -part in my eager desire to know what has befallen you since the moment -when you so hurriedly left your friends, speak, Don Martial, and then I -will tell you, in my turn, what are the motives that directed my steps -to these desolate regions." - -The Tigrero, in a few moments, began his narrative as follows:-- - -"My friends must have fancied me dead, hence I cannot blame them for -having abandoned me, although they were, perhaps, too quick in doing so -without an attempt either to recover my corpse, or assure themselves at -least that I was really dead, and that assistance would be thrown away; -but though I am ignorant of what happened in the cavern after my fall, -the bodies left on the battlefield proved to me afterwards that they had -a tough fight, and were compelled to fly before the Indians; hence, I -say again that I do not blame them. You are aware that I was attacked by -Black Bear at the moment when I believed that I had succeeded in saving -those whom I had sworn to protect. It was on the very verge of the pit -that Black Bear and myself, enwreathed like two serpents, began a final -and decisive struggle: at the moment when I had all but succeeded in -foiling my enemy's desperate efforts, and was raising my arm to cut -his throat, the war yell of the Comanches suddenly burst forth at the -entrance of the cavern. By a supreme effort the Apache chief succeeded -in escaping from my clutch, bounded on his feet, and rushed towards -Dona Anita, doubtless with the intention of carrying her off, as the -unforeseen assistance arriving for us would prevent the accomplishment -of his vengeance. But the maiden repulsed him with that strength -which despair engenders, and sought refuge behind her father. Already -severely wounded by two shots, the chief tottered back to the edge of -the pit, where he lost his balance. Feeling that he was falling, by an -instinctive gesture, or, perhaps, through a last sentiment of fury, he -stretched out his arms as if to save himself, caught hold of me as I -rose, half-stunned by my recent contest, and we both rolled down the -pit, he with a triumphant laugh, and I with a shriek of despair. Forgive -me for having described thus minutely the last incidents of this fight, -but I was obliged to enter into these details to make you thoroughly -understand by what providential chance I was saved, when I fancied -myself hopelessly lost." - -"Go on, go on;" the hunter said, "I am listening to you with the -greatest attention." - -Don Martial continued:-- - -"The Indian was desperately wounded, and his last effort, in which he -had placed all his remaining strength, cost him his life: it was a -corpse that dragged me down, for during the few seconds our fall lasted -he did not make a movement. The pit was not so deep as I fancied, not -more than twenty or five-and-twenty feet, and the sides were covered -with plants and grass, which, although they bent beneath our weight, -prevented us from falling perpendicularly. The chief was the first -to reach the bottom of the abyss, and I fell upon his body, which -deadened my fall, though it was serious enough entirely to deprive me -of consciousness. I cannot say how long I remained in this state, but, -from a calculation I made afterwards, my faint must have lasted two -hours. I was aroused by a cold sensation which suddenly affected me. I -opened my eyes again, and found myself in utter darkness. At the first -moment it was impossible for me to account for the situation in which -I found myself, or what events had placed me in it; but my memory -gradually returned, my thoughts became more lucid, and I only desired -to emerge as speedily as possible from the pit into which I had fallen. -I was suffering fearfully, although I was not actually wounded. I had -received numerous contusions in my fall, and the slightest movement -caused me an atrocious pain, for I was so bruised and shaken. In my -present state I must endure the evil patiently: attempting to scale -the sides of the pit when my strength was completely exhausted would -have been madness, and I therefore resigned myself to waiting. I was in -complete darkness, but that did not trouble me greatly, as I had about -me everything necessary to light a fire. Within a few moments I had a -light, and was enabled to look about me. I was lying at the bottom of a -species of funnel, for the pit grew narrower in its descent, which had -greatly helped to deaden my fall; my feet and legs almost to the knee -were bathed in a subterranean stream, while the upper part of my body -leant against the corpse of the Indian chief. The spot where I found -myself was thirty feet in circumference at the most, and I assured -myself by the help of my light that the sides of the pit, entirely -covered with creepers, and even sturdy shrubs, rose in a gentle slope, -and would not be difficult to escalade when my strength had sufficiently -returned. At this moment I could not dream of attempting the ascent, -so I bravely made up my mind, and although my anxiety was great about -the friends I had left in, the cavern, I resolved to wait a few hours -before proceeding to save myself. I remained thus for twenty hours -at the bottom of the pit, _tete-a-tete_ with my enemy's corpse. Many -times during my excursions in the desert I had found myself in almost -desperate situations, but never, I call heaven to witness, had I felt -so completely abandoned and left in the hands of Providence. Still, -however deplorable my position might be, I did not despair; in spite -of the frightful pain I suffered, I had convinced myself that my limbs -were in a satisfactory state, and that all I needed was patience. When -I fancied my strength sufficiently restored, I lighted two torches, -which I fixed in the ground, in order to see more clearly. I threw my -rifle on my back, placed my navaja between my teeth, and clinging to the -shrubs, by a desperate effort I began my ascent. I will not tell you of -the difficulty I had in conquering the terrible shocks I was obliged -to give my aching bones in surmounting almost unsurpassable obstacles; -sufficient for you to know that I reached the mouth of the pit after -an hour and a half's struggle, in which I expended all the energy a -man possesses who hopes to save himself. When I reached the floor of -the cavern, I lay for more than half an hour on the sand, exhausted, -panting, unable to make the slightest movement, scarce breathing, -hearing nothing, seeing nothing, not even conscious of the frightful -state into which I was plunged. Fortunately for me, this terrible -condition did not last long, the refreshing air from without, reaching -me through the passages of the cavern, recovered me, and restored the -entire use of my mental faculties. The ground around me was covered with -dead bodies, and there had, doubtless, been a terrible struggle between -the white men and the redskins. I sought in vain for the corpses of Dona -Anita and her father. I breathed again, and hope re-entered my heart, -for my sacrifice had not been fruitless. Those for whom I had given my -life were saved, and I should see them again. This thought restored my -courage, and I felt quite a different man. I rose without any excessive -difficulty, and, supporting myself on my rifle, went toward the mouth of -the cavern, after removing my stock of provision, and taking two powder -horns from the stores I had previously _cached_, and which my friends -in their flight had not thought of removing. No words can describe the -emotion I felt when, after a painful walk through the grotto, I at -length reached the riverbank, and saw the sun once more: a man must have -been in a similar desperate situation to understand the cry, or rather -howl of joy which escaped from my surcharged bosom when I felt again the -blessed sunbeams, and inhaled the odorous breath of the savannah. By an -unreflecting movement, though it was suggested by my heart, I fell on my -knees, and piously clasping my hands, I thanked Him who had saved me, -and who alone could do so. This prayer, and the simple thanks expressed -by a grateful heart, were, I feel convinced, borne upwards to heaven on -the wings of my guardian angel. - -"As far as I could make out by the height of the sun, it was about the -second hour of the tarde. The deepest silence prevailed around me; so -far as the vision could extend, the prairie was deserted; Indians and -palefaces had disappeared: I was alone, alone with that God who had -saved me in so marvellous a fashion, and would not abandon me. Before -going further, I took a little nourishment, which the exhaustion of -my strength rendered necessary. When, in the company of Don Sylva de -Torres and his daughter, I had sought a refuge in the cavern, our -horses had been abandoned with all the remaining forage in an adjacent -clearing, and I was too well acquainted with the instinct of these -noble animals to apprehend that they had fled. On the contrary, I knew -that, if the hunters had not taken them away, I should find them at -the very spot where I had left them. A horse was indispensable for -use, for a dismounted man is lost in the desert, and hence I resolved -to seek them. Rested by the long halt I had made, and feeling that my -strength had almost returned, I proceeded without hesitation towards -the forest. At my second call I heard a rather loud noise in a clump of -trees; the shrubs parted, and my horse galloped up and gladly rubbed its -intelligent head against my shoulder. I amply returned the caresses the -faithful companion of my adventures bestowed on me, and then returned -to the cavern, where my saddle was. An hour later, mounted on my good -horse, I bent my steps toward houses. My journey was a long one, owing -to my state of weakness and prostration, and when I reached Sonora the -news I heard almost drove me mad. Don Sylva de Torres had been killed -in the fight with the Apaches, as was probably his daughter, for no -one could tell me anything about her. For a month I hovered between -life and death; but God in His wisdom, doubtless, had decided that I -should escape once again. When hardly convalescent, I dragged myself to -the house of the only man competent of giving me precise and positive -information about what I wanted to learn. This man refused to recognize -me, although I had kept up intimate relations with him for many years. -When I told him my name he laughed in my face, and when I insisted, -he had me expelled by his peons, telling me that I was mad, that Don -Martial was dead, and I an impostor. I went away with rage and despair -in my heart. As if they had formed an agreement, all my friends to whom -I presented myself refused to recognize me, so thoroughly was the report -of my death believed, and it had been accepted by them as a certainty. -All the efforts I attempted to dissipate this alarming mistake, and -prove the falsehood of the rumour were in vain, for too many persons -were interested in it being true, on account of the large estates I -possessed; and also, I suppose, through a fear of injuring the man to -whom I first applied--the only living relation of the Torres family, -who, through his high position, has immense influence in Sonora. What -more need I tell you, my friend? Disgusted in every way, heartbroken -with grief, and recognising the inutility of the efforts I made -against the ingratitude and systematic bad faith of those with whom I -had to deal, I left the town, and, mounting my horse, returned to the -desert, seeking the most unknown spots and the most desolate regions in -which to hide myself and die whenever God decrees that I have suffered -sufficiently, and recalls me to Him." - -After saying this the Tigrero was silent, and his head sunk gloomily on -his chest. - -"Brother," Valentine said gently to him, slightly touching his shoulder -to attract his attention, "you have forgotten to tell me the name of -that influential person who had you turned out of his house, and treated -you as an impostor." - -"That is true," Don Martial answered; "his name is Don Sebastian -Guerrero, and he is military governor of the province of Sonora." - -The hunter quickly started to his feet with an exclamation of joy. - -"Don Martial," he said, "you may thank God for decreeing that we should -meet in the desert, in order that the punishment of this man should be -complete." - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE COMPACT. - - -Don Martial gazed at the hunter in amazement. - -"What do you mean?" he asked him. "I don't understand you." - -"You will soon do so, my friend," Valentine answered. "How long have you -been roaming about this neighbourhood?" - -"Nearly two months." - -"In that case you are well acquainted, I presume, with the mountains -among which we are at this moment?" - -"There is not a tree or a rock whose exact position I cannot tell, nor a -wild beast trail which I have not followed." - -"Good: are we far from a spot called the 'Fort of the Chichimeques?'" - -The Tigrero reflected for a moment. - -"Do you know by what Indians these mountains are inhabited?" he at -length asked. - -"Yes, by poor wretches who call themselves the Root-Eaters, and whom the -hunters and trappers designate by the name of the 'Worthy of Pity.' They -are, I believe, timid, harmless creatures, a species of incomplete men, -in whom brutal instincts have stifled the intellect; however, I only -speak of them from hearsay, for I never saw one of the poor devils." - -"You are perfectly well informed about them, and they are what you -depict them. I have often had opportunities of meeting them, and have -lamented the degree of brutalization into which this hapless race has -fallen." - -"Permit me to remark that I do not see what connection can exist between -this unhappy tribe and the information I ask of you." - -"There is a very great one. Since I have been roaming about these -mountains you are the first man of my own colour with whom I have -consented to enter into relations. The Root-Eaters have neither history -nor traditions. Their life is restricted to eating, drinking, and -sleeping, and I have not learned from them any of the names given to the -majestic peaks that surround us. Hence, though I perfectly well know the -spot to which you refer, unless you describe it differently, it will be -impossible for me to tell you its exact position." - -"That is true; but what you ask of me is very awkward, for this is the -first time I have visited these parts, and it will be rather difficult -for me to describe a place I am not acquainted with. Still, I will try. -There is, not far from here, I believe, a road which traverses the Rocky -Mountains obliquely, and runs from the United States to Santa Fe; at a -certain spot this road must intersect another which leads to California." - -"I am perfectly well acquainted with the roads to which you refer, and -the caravans of emigrants, hunters, and miners follow them in going to -California, or returning thence." - -"Good! At the spot where these two roads cross they form a species -of large square, surrounded on all sides by rocks that rise to a -considerable height. Do you know the place I mean?" - -"Yes," the Tigrero answered. - -"Well, about two gunshots from this square is a track winding nearly in -an east-south-east course, along the side of the mountains. This track, -at first so narrow that a horse even passes with difficulty, gradually -widens till it reaches a species of esplanade, or terrace, if you like -it better, which commands an extensive prospect, while on its edge -are the remains of barbarous erections, which can, however, be easily -recognized as an ancient parapet. This terrace is called the 'Fort of -the Chichimeques,' though for what reason I cannot tell you." - -"I know no more than you do on that head, although I can now assure -you that I am perfectly acquainted with the place to which you refer, -and have often camped there on stormy nights, because there is a deep -cavern, excavated by human hands, and divided into several passages, -every turning of which I know, and which has offered me a precious -shelter during those frightful tempests which, at intervals, overthrow -the face of nature in these regions." - -"I was not aware of the existence of this grotto," the hunter said, -with a glad start, "and I thank you for having told me of it; it will -be very useful for the execution of the plans I have formed. Are we any -great distance from this terrace?" - -"In a straight line, not more than five or six miles, and, if it were -day, I could show it to you; but as we must ride round to reach the -caravan road, which we are obliged to follow in order to reach the -tracks, we have about three hours' ride before us." - -"That is a trifle, for I was afraid I had lost my way in these -mountains, which are strange to me. I am delighted to find that my old -experience has not failed me this time, and that my hunter's instincts -have not deceived me." - -While saying this, Valentine had risen to explore the clearing. The -storm had ceased, the wind had swept away the clouds, the deep blue sky -was studded with brilliant stars, and the moon profusely shed its rays, -which imparted a fantastic appearance to the landscape by casting the -shadows of the lofty trees athwart the snow, whose pallid carpet spread -far as eye could see. - -"'Tis a magnificent night," the hunter said, after carefully examining -the sky for some moments. "It is an hour past midnight, and I do not -feel the slightest inclination to sleep. Are you fatigued?" - -"I am never so," the Tigrero answered, with a smile. - -"All right: in that case you are like myself, a thorough wood ranger. -What do you think of a ride in this magnificent moonlight?" - -"I think that after a good supper and an interesting conversation -nothing so thoroughly restores the balance of a man's thoughts as a -night ride in the company of a friend." - -"Bravo! that is what I call speaking. Now, as every ride to be -reasonable should have an object, we will go, if you have no objection, -as far as the Fort of the Chichimeques." - -"I was about to propose it; and, as we ride along, you will tell me in -your turn what imperious motive compelled you to come to these unknown -regions, and what the project is to which you alluded." - -"As for that," the hunter said, with a knowing smile, "I cannot satisfy -you; at any rate not for the present, as I wish you to have the pleasure -of a surprise. But be easy, I will not put your patience to too long a -trial." - -"You will act as you think proper, for I trust entirely to you. I know -not why, but I am persuaded, either through a sentiment or sympathy, -that in doing your own business you will be doing mine at the same time." - -"You are nearer the truth at this moment than you perhaps imagine, so be -of good cheer, brother." - -"The happy meeting has already made a different man of me," the Tigrero -said, as he rose. - -The hunter laid his hand on his shoulder. "One moment," he said to -him; "before leaving this bivouac, where we met so providentially, -let us clearly agree as to our facts, so as to avoid any future -misunderstanding." - -"Be it so," Don Martial answered. "Let us make a compact in the Indian -fashion, and woe to the one who breaks it." - -"Well said, my friend," Valentine remarked, as he drew his knife from -his belt. "Here is my navaja, brother; may it serve you as it has done -me to avenge your wrongs and mine." - -"I receive it in the face of that Heaven which I call as witness of the -purity of my intentions. Take mine in exchange, and one half my powder -and bullets, brother." - -"I accept it as a thing belonging to me, and here is half my ammunition -for you; henceforth we cannot fire at one another, all is in common -between us. Your friends will be my friends, and you will point out your -enemies to me, so that I may aid you in your vengeance. My horse is -yours." - -"Mine belongs to you, and in a few moments I will place it at your -service." - -Then the two men, leaning shoulder to shoulder, with clasped hands, eyes -fixed on heaven, and outstretched arm, uttered together the following -words: - -"I take God to witness that of my own free will, and without -reservation, I take as my friend and brother the man whose hand is at -this moment pressing mine. I will help him in everything he asks of -me, without hope of reward, ready by day and night to answer his first -signal, without hesitation, and without reproach, even if he asked me -for my life. I take this oath in the presence of God, who sees and -hears me and may He come to my help in all I undertake, and punish me -if I ever break my oath." - -There was something grand and solemn in this simple act, performed by -these two powerful men, beneath the pallid moonbeams, and in the heart -of the desert, alone, far from all human society, face to face with -God, confiding in each, and seeming thus to defy the whole world. After -repeating the words of the oath, they kissed each other's lips in turn, -then embraced, and finally shook hands again. - -"Now let us be off, brother," Valentine said; "I confide in you as in -myself; we shall succeed in triumphing over our enemies, and repaying -them all the misery they have caused us." - -"Wait for me ten minutes, brother; my horse is hidden close by." - -"Go; and during that time I will saddle mine, which is henceforth yours." - -Don Martial hurried away, leaving Valentine alone. - -"This time," he muttered, "I believe that I have at length met the man I -have been looking for so long, and whom I despaired to find; with him, -Curumilla, and Belhumeur, I can begin the struggle, for I am certain I -shall not be abandoned or treacherously surrendered to the enemy I wish -to combat." - -While indulging after his wont in this soliloquy, the hunter had lassoed -his horse, and was busily engaged in saddling it. He had just put the -bit in its mouth, when the Tigrero re-entered the clearing, mounted on -a magnificent black steed. - -Don Martial dismounted. - -"This is your horse, my friend," he said. - -"And this is yours." - -The exchange thus effected, the two men mounted, and left the clearing -in which they had met so strangely. The Tigrero had told no falsehood -when he said that a metamorphosis had taken place in him, and that -he felt a different man. His features had lost their marble-like -rigidity; his eyes were animated, and no longer burned with a sombre and -concentrated fire. Even though his glances were still somewhat haggard, -their expression was more frank and, before all, kinder; he sat firm and -upright in the saddle, and, in a word, seemed ten years younger. - -This unexpected change had not escaped the notice of the all-observing -Frenchman, and he congratulated himself for having effected this moral -cure, and saved a man of such promise from the despair which he had -allowed to overpower him. - -We have already said that it was a magnificent night. For men like -our characters, accustomed to cross the desert in all weathers, the -ride in the darkness was a relaxation rather than a fatigue. They rode -along side by side, talking on indifferent topics--hunting, trapping, -expeditions against the Indians--subjects always pleasing to wood -rangers, while rapidly advancing towards the spot they wished to reach. - -"By-the-bye," Valentine all at once said, "I must warn you, brother, -that if you are not mistaken, and we are really following the road to -the Fort of the Chichimeques, we shall probably meet several persons -there; they are friends of mine, with whom I have an appointment, and I -will introduce them to you; for reasons you will speedily learn, these -friends followed a different road from mine, and must have been waiting -for some time at the place of meeting." - -"I do not care who the persons are we meet, as they are friends of -yours," the Tigrero answered; "the main point is that we make no -mistake." - -"On my word, I confess my incompetence, so far as that is concerned; -this is the first time I have ventured into the Rocky Mountains, where -I hope never to come again, and so I deliver myself entirely into your -hands." - -"I will do my best, although I do not promise positively to lead you to -the place you want to reach." - -"Nonsense!" the hunter said with a smile; "two places like the one I -have described to you can hardly be found in these parts, picturesque -and diversified though they be, and it would be almost impossible to -lose our way." - -"At any rate," the Tigrero answered, "we shall soon know what we have to -depend on, for we shall be there within half an hour." - -The sky was beginning to grow paler; the horizon was belted by wide, -pellucid bands, which assumed in turn every colour of the rainbow. In -the flashing uncertain light of dawn, objects were invested with a -more fugitive appearance, although, on the other hand, they became more -distinct. - -The adventurers had passed the crossroads, and turned into a narrow -track, whose capricious windings ran along rocks, which were almost -suspended over frightful abysses. The riders had given up all attempts -to guide their horses, and trusted to their instinct; they had laid -their bridles on their necks, leaving them at liberty to go where they -pleased--a prudent precaution, which cannot be sufficiently recommended -to travellers under similar circumstances. - -All at once a streak of light illumined the landscape, and the sun rose -radiant and splendid; behind them the travellers still had the shadows -of night, while before them the snowy peaks of the mountains--were -glistening in the sun. - -"Well," the hunter exclaimed, "we can now see clearly, and I hope that -we shall soon perceive the Fort of the Chichimeques." - -"Look ahead of you over the jagged crest of that hill," the Tigrero -answered, stretching out his arm; "that is the terrace to which I am -leading you." - -The hunter stopped, for he felt giddy, and almost ready to fall off his -horse. About two miles from him, but separated from the spot where he -stood by an impassable canyon, an immense esplanade stretched out into -space in the shape of a _voladero_; that is to say, in consequence of -one of those earthquakes so common in these regions, the base of the -mountain had been undermined, while the crest remained intact, and hung -for a considerable distance above a valley, apparently about to fall at -any moment; the spectacle was at once imposing and terrific. - -"Heaven forgive me!" the hunter muttered, "but I really believe I was -frightened; I felt all my muscles tremble involuntarily. Oh! I will not -look at it again; let us get along, my friend." - -They set out again, still following the windings of the tract, which -gradually grew steeper; and, after a very zigzag course, reached the -terrace half an hour later. - -"This is certainly the place," the hunter exclaimed, as he pointed to -the decaying embers of a watch fire. - -"But your friends--?" the Tigrero asked. - -"Did you not tell me there was a grotto close by?" - -"I did." - -"Well, they doubtless concealed themselves in the grotto when they heard -us approaching." - -"That is possible." - -"It is true: look." - -The hunter discharged his gun, and at the sound three men appeared, -though it was impossible to say whence they came. They were Belhumeur, -Black Elk, and Eagle-head. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE TRAVELLERS. - - -We must now leave Valentine and his companions on the esplanade of the -Fort of the Chichimeques, where we shall join them again however, in -order to attend to other persons destined to play an important part in -the narrative we have undertaken to tell the reader. - -About five or six leagues at the most from the spot where Valentine and -the Tigrero met, a caravan, composed of some ten persons, had halted on -the same night, and almost at the same moment as the hunter, in a narrow -valley completely sheltered from the wind by dense clumps of trees. - -The caravan was comfortably lodged on the bank of a running stream, the -mules had been unloaded, a tent raised, fires lighted; and when the -animals were hobbled, the travellers began to make preparations for -their supper. - -These travellers, or at any rate one of them, appeared to belong to the -highest class, for the rest were only servants or Indian peons. Still -the dress of this person was most simple, but his stiff manner, his -imposing demeanour, and haughty air, evidenced the man long accustomed -to give his orders without admitting refusal or even the slightest -hesitation. - -He had passed his fiftieth year; he was tall, well-built, and his -movements were extremely elegant. His broad forehead, his black eyes -large and flashing, his long gray moustaches and his short hair gave him -a military appearance, which his harsh, quick way of speaking did not -contradict. Although he affected a certain affability of manner, he at -times involuntarily betrayed himself, and it was easy to see that the -modest garb of a Mexican Campesino which he wore was only a disguise. -Instead of withdrawing beneath the tent prepared for him, this person -had sat down before the fire with the peons, who eagerly made way for -him with evident respect. - -Among the peons two men more especially attracted attention. One was a -redskin, the other a half-breed, with a crafty, leering manner, who, for -some reason or another, stood on more familiar terms with his master; -his comrades called him No Carnero, and at times gave him the title of -Capataz. - -No Carnero was the wit of the caravan, the funny fellow--ever ready to -laugh and joke, smoking an eternal cigar, and desperately strumming -an insupportable guitar. Perhaps, though, he concealed beneath this -frivolous appearance a more serious character and deeper thoughts than -he would have liked to display. - -The redskin formed the most complete contrast with the capataz; he was -a tall, thin, dry man, with angular features and gloomy and sad face, -illumined by two black eyes deeply set in their orbit, but constantly -in motion, and having an undefinable expression; his aquiline nose, his -wide mouth lined with large teeth as white as almonds, and his thin -pinched up lips, composed a far from pleasant countenance, which was -rendered still more lugubrious by the obstinate silence of this man, who -only spoke when absolutely compelled, and then only in monosyllables. -Like all the Indians, it was impossible to form any opinion as to his -age, for his hair was black as the raven's wing, and his parchment skin -had not a single wrinkle; at any rate he seemed gifted with no ordinary -strength. - -He had engaged at Santa Fe to act as guide to the caravan, and, with -the exception of his obstinate silence, there was every reason to be -satisfied with the way in which he performed his duty. The peons called -him The Indian, or sometimes Jose--a mocking term employed in Mexico to -designate the Indios mansos; but the redskin appeared as insensible to -compliments as to jokes, and continued coldly to carry out the task he -had imposed on himself. When supper was ended, and each had lit his pipe -or cigarette, the master turned to the capataz. - -"Carnero," he said to him, "although in such frightful weather, and in -these remote regions, we have but little to fear from horse thieves, -still do not fail to place sentries, for we cannot be too provident." - -"I have warned two men, _mi amo_," the capataz replied; "and, moreover, -I intend to make my rounds tonight; eh, Jose," he added, turning to -the Indian, "are you certain you are not mistaken, and that you really -lifted a trail?" - -The redskin shrugged his shoulders disdainfully, and continued his quiet -smoke. - -"Do you know to what nation the sign you discovered belongs?" the master -asked him. - -The Indian gave a nod of assent. - -"Is it a formidable nation?" - -"Crow," the redskin answered hoarsely. - -"Caray!" the master exclaimed, "if they are Crows, we shall do well to -be on our guard, for they are the cleverest plunderers in the Rocky -Mountains." - -"Nonsense!" Carnero remarked with a grin of derision, "do not believe -what that man tells you; the mezcal has got into his head, and he is -trying to make himself of importance; Indians tell as many lies as old -women." - -The Indian's eye flashed; without deigning to reply he drew a moccasin -from his breast, and threw it so adroitly at the capataz as to strike -him across the face. Furious at the insult so suddenly offered him by a -man whom he always considered inoffensive, the half-breed uttered a yell -of rage, and rushed knife in hand on the Indian. - -But the latter had not taken his eye off him, and by a slight movement -he avoided the desperate attack of the capataz; then, drawing himself -up, he caught him round the waist, raised him from the ground as easy -as he would have done a child, and hurled him into the fire, where he -writhed for a moment with cries of pain and impotent passion. When he -at length got out of the fire, half scorched, he did not think of -renewing the attack, but sat down growling and directing savage glances -at his adversary, like a turnspit punished by a mastiff. The master -had witnessed this aggression with the utmost indifference, and having -picked up the moccasin, which he carefully examined-- - -"The Indian is right," he said, coldly, "this moccasin bears the mark of -the Crow nation. My poor Carnero, you must put up with it, for though -the punishment you received was severe, I am forced to allow that it was -deserved." - -The redskin had begun smoking again as quietly as if nothing had -occurred. - -"The dog will pay me for it with his traitor face," the capataz growled, -on hearing his master's warning. "I am no man if I do not leave his body -as food for the crows he discovers so cleverly." - -"My poor lad," his master continued, with a jeer, "you had better forget -this affair, which I allow might be disagreeable to your self-esteem; -for I fancy you would not be the gainer by recommencing the quarrel." - -The capataz did not answer; he looked round at the spectators to select -one on whom he could vent his spite, without incurring any extreme risk; -but the peons were on their guard, and offered him no chance. He then, -with an air of vexation, made a signal to two men to follow him, and -left the circle grumbling. - -The head of the caravan remained for a few minutes plunged in serious -thought; he then withdrew beneath his tent, the curtain of which fell -behind him; and the peons lay down on the ground, one after the other, -with their feet to the fire, and carefully wrapped up in their serapes, -and fell asleep. - -The Indian then took the pipe stem from his mouth, looked searchingly -around him, shook out the ashes, passed the pipe through his belt, -and, rising negligently, went slowly to crouch at the foot of a tree, -though not before he had taken the precaution of wrapping himself -in his buffalo robe, a measure which the sharp air rendered, if not -indispensable, at any rate necessary. - -Ere long, with the exception of the sentries leaning on their guns and -motionless as statues, all the travellers were plunged in deep sleep, -for the capataz himself, in spite of the promise he had made his master, -had laid himself across the entrance of the tent. - -An hour elapsed ere anything disturbed the silence that prevailed in the -camp. All at once a singular thing happened. The buffalo robe, under -which the Indian was sheltered, gently rose with an almost imperceptible -movement, and the redskin's face appeared, darting glances of fire into -the gloom. In a moment the guide raised himself slowly along the trunk -of the tree against which he had been lying, embraced it with his feet -and hands, and with undulating movements resembling those of reptiles, -he left the ground, and raised himself to the first branches, among -which he disappeared. - -This ascent was executed with such well-calculated slowness that it had -not produced the slightest sound. Moreover, the buffalo robe left at -the foot of the tree so well retained its primitive folds, that it was -impossible to discover, without touching it, that the man it sheltered -had left it. - -When the guide was thoroughly concealed among the leaves, he remained -for a moment motionless; though not in order to regain his breath after -having made such an expenditure of strength, for this man was made of -iron, and fatigue had no power over him. But he probably wished to look -about him, for with his body bent forward, and his eyes fixed on space, -he inhaled the breeze, and his glances seemed trying to pierce the gloom. - -Before selecting as his resting place the foot of the tree in which he -was now concealed, the guide had assured himself that this tree, which -was very high and leafy, was joined at about two-thirds of its height by -other trees, which gradually rose along the side of the mountain, and -formed a wall of verdure. - -After a few minutes' hesitation, the guide drew in his belt, placed his -knife between his teeth, and with a certainty and lightness of movement -which would have done honour to a monkey, he commenced literally hopping -from one tree to another, hanging by his arms, and clinging to the -creepers, waking up, as he passed, the birds, which flew away in alarm. - -This strange journey lasted about three-quarters of an hour. At length -the guide stopped, looked attentively around him, and gliding down the -trunk of the tree on which he was, reached the ground. The spot where -he now found himself was a rather spacious clearing, in the centre of -which blazed an enormous fire, serving to warm forty or fifty redskins, -completely armed and equipped for war. Still, singular to say, the -majority of these Indians, instead of their long lances and the bows -they usually employ, carried muskets of American manufacture, which -led to the supposition that they were picked warriors and great braves -of their nation; and this, too, was further proved by the numerous -wolf tails fastened to their heels, an honourable insignia which only -renowned warriors have the right to assume. - -This detachment of redskins was certainly on the war trail, or at any -rate on a serious expedition, for they had with them neither dogs nor -squaws. In spite of the slight care with which the Indians are wont to -guard themselves at night, the free and deliberate manner in which the -guide entered their encampment proved that he was expected by these -warriors, who evinced no surprise at seeing him, but, on the contrary, -invited him with hospitable gestures to take a seat at their fire. The -guide sat down silently, and began smoking the calumet which the chief -seated by his side immediately offered him. This chief was still a young -man, his marked features displaying the utmost craft and boldness. After -a rather lengthened interval, doubtless expressly granted the visitor to -let him draw breath and warm himself, the young chief bowed to him and -addressed him deferentially. - -"My father is welcome among his sons; they were impatiently awaiting his -arrival." - -The guide responded to this compliment with a grimace, in all -probability intended to pass muster for a smile. The chief continued:-- - -"Our scouts have carefully examined the encampment of the Yoris, and the -warriors of the Jester are ready to obey the instructions given them by -their great sachem, Eagle-head. Is my father Curumilla satisfied with -his red children?" - -Curumilla (for the guide was no other than the reader's old acquaintance -the Araucano chief) laid his right hand on his chest, and uttered with a -guttural accent the exclamation, "Ugh!" which was with him a mark of the -greatest joy. - -The Jester and his warriors had been too long acquainted with Curumilla -for his silence to seem strange to them; hence they yielded without -repugnance to his mania, and carefully giving up the hope of getting a -syllable out of his closed lips, began with him a conversation in signs. - -We have already had occasion, in a previous work, to mention that the -redskins have two languages, the written and the sign language. The -latter, which has among them attained a high perfection, and which all -understand, is usually employed when hunting, or on expeditions, when -a word pronounced even in a low voice may reveal the presence of an -ambuscade to the enemy, whether men or beasts, whom they are pursuing, -and desire to surprise. - -It would have been interesting, and even amusing, for any stranger -who had been present at this interview to see with what rapidity the -gestures and signs were exchanged between these men, so strangely lit -up by the ruddy glow of the fire, and who resembled, with their strange -movements, their stern faces, and singular attitudes, a council of -demons. At times the Jester, with his body bent forward, and emphatic -gestures, held a dumb speech, which his comrades followed with the most -sustained attention, and which they answered with a rapidity that words -themselves could not have surpassed. - -At length this silent council terminated. Curumilla raised his hand to -heaven, and pointed to the stars, which were beginning to grow dim, and -then left the circle. The redskins respectfully followed him to the -foot of the tree by the aid of which he had entered their camp. When he -reached it, he turned round. - -"May the Wacondah protect my father!" the Jester then said. "His sons -have thoroughly understood his instructions, and will follow them -literally. The great pale hunter will have joined his friends by this -hour, and he is doubtless awaiting us. Tomorrow Koutonepi will see his -Comanche brothers. At the _enditha_ the camp will be raised." - -"It is good," Curumilla answered, and saluting for the last time the -warriors, who bowed respectfully before him, the chief seized the -creeping plants, and, raising himself by the strength of his wrists, in -a second he reached the branches, and disappeared in the foliage. - -The journey the Indian had made was very important, and needed to be so -for him to run such great risks in order to have an interview at this -hour of the night with the redskins; but as the reader will soon learn -what were the consequences of this expedition, we deem it unnecessary to -translate the sign language employed during the council, or explain the -resolutions formed between Curumilla and the Jester. - -The chief recommenced his aerial trip with the same lightness and the -same good fortune. After a lapse of time comparatively much shorter than -that which he had previously employed, he reached the camp of the white -men. The same silence prevailed in its interior; the sentinels were -still motionless at their post, and the watch fires were beginning to -expire. - -The chief assured himself that no eye was fixed on him--that no spy -was on the watch; and, feeling certain of not being perceived, he slid -silently down the tree and resumed the place beneath the buffalo robe -which he was supposed not to have left during the night. - -At the moment when, after taking a final glance around, the Indian chief -disappeared beneath his robe, the capataz, who was lying athwart the -entrance of the hut, gently raised his head, and looked with strange -fixity of glance at the place occupied by the redskin. - -Had a suspicion been aroused in the Mexican's mind? Had he noticed the -departure and return of the chief? Presently he let his head fall again, -and it would have been impossible to read on his motionless features -what were the thoughts that troubled him. - -The remainder of the night passed tranquilly and peacefully. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE FORT OF THE CHICHIMEQUES. - - -The sun rose; its beams played on the trembling yellow leaves of the -trees, and tinged them with a thousand shades of gold and purple. The -birds, cozily nestled in the bushes, struck up their matin carol; -the awakening of nature was as splendid and imposing as it is in all -mountainous countries. - -The leader of the caravan left his tent and gave orders to strike the -camp. The tent was at once folded up, the mules were loaded, and, so -soon as the horses were saddled, the party started without waiting for -the morning meal, for they generally breakfasted at the eleven o'clock -halt, while resting to let the great heat of the day subside. - -The caravan advanced along the road from Santa Fe to the United States, -at a speed unusual under such circumstances. A military system was -affected which was imposing, and, indeed, indispensable in these -regions, infested not merely by numerous bands of predatory Indians, but -also traversed by the pirates of the prairie, more dangerous bandits -still, who were driven by their enemies beyond the pale of the law, and -who, ambushed at the turnings of roads or in broken rocks, attacked the -caravans as they passed, and pitilessly massacred the travellers, after -plundering them of all they possessed. - -About twenty yards ahead of the caravan rode four men, with their rifles -on their thigh, preceded by the guide, who formed the extreme vanguard. -Next came the main body, composed of six well-armed peons, watching -the mules and baggage, under the immediate orders of the chief of the -caravan. Lastly, the capataz rode about thirty paces in the rear, having -under his orders four resolute men armed to the teeth. - -Thus arranged to face any event, the caravan enjoyed a relative -security, for it was not very probable that the white or red pillagers, -who were doubtless watching it, would dare to attack in open day -seventeen resolute and trained men. At night the horse thieves, who -glide silently in the darkness during the sleep of the travellers, and -carry off horses and baggage, were more formidable. - -Still, either through accident, or the prudential measures employed -by the chief of the caravan, since they had left Santa Fe, that is -to say for more than a month, the Mexicans had not seen an Indian, -or been alarmed. They had journeyed--apparently at least--with as -much tranquillity as if, instead of being in the heart of the Rocky -Mountains, they were moving along the roads in, the interior of Sonora. -This security, however, while augmenting their confidence, had not -caused their prudential measures to be neglected; and their chief, whom -this unusual leniency on the part of the villains who prowl about these -countries alarmed, redoubled his vigilance and precautions to avoid a -surprise and a collision with the plunderers. - -The discovery, made on the previous day by the guide, of an Indian -Crow trail--the most determined thieves in these mountains--added to -his apprehensions; for he did not hide from himself that, if he were -compelled to fight, in spite of the courage and discipline of his peons, -the odds would be against him, when fighting men thoroughly acquainted -with the country, and who would only attack him with numbers sufficient -to crush his band, however desperate the resistance offered might be. - -When he left the camp, the chief of the caravan, suffering perhaps from -a gloomy foreboding, spurred his horse and joined the Indian, who, as we -said, was marching alone in front, examining the bushes, and apparently -performing all the duties of an experienced guide. Curumilla, though he -heard the hurried paces of the Mexican's horse, did not turn round, but -continued trotting along carelessly on the sorry mule allotted to him -for this expedition. - -When the chief of the caravan joined him and brought his horse alongside -the Indian, instead of speaking to him, he attentively examined him -for some minutes, trying to pierce the mask of stoicism spread over -the guide's features, and to read his thoughts. But, after a rather -lengthened period, the Mexican was constrained to recognize the -inutility of his efforts, and to confess to himself the impossibility of -guessing the intentions of this man, for whom, in spite of the service -he had rendered the caravan, he felt an instinctive aversion, and whom -he would like to force, at all risks, to make a frank explanation. - -"Indian," he said to him in Spanish, "I wish to speak with you for a -few moments on an important subject, so be good enough to put off your -usual silence for awhile and answer, like an honest man, the questions I -propose asking you." - -Curumilla bowed respectfully. - -"You engaged with me, at Santa Fe, to lead me, for the sum of four -ounces, of which you received one half in advance, to lead me, I say, -safely to the frontiers of Upper Mexico. Since you have been in my -service I must allow that I have only had reason to praise the prudence -in which you have performed your duties; but we are at this moment in -the heart of the Rocky Mountains, that is to say, we have reached the -most dangerous part of our long journey. Two days ago you lifted the -trail of Crow Indians, very formidable enemies of caravans, and I want -to consult with you as to the means to employ to foil the snares in -which these Indians will try to catch us, and to know what measures you -intend to employ to avoid a meeting with them; in a word, I want to know -your plan of action." - -The Indian, without replying, felt in a bag of striped calico thrown -over his shoulder, and produced a greasy paper, folded in four, which he -opened and offered the Mexican. - -"What is this?" the latter asked, as he looked and ran through it. "Oh, -yes, certainly; your engagement. Well, what connection has this with the -question I asked you?" - -Curumilla, still impassive, laid his finger on the paper, at the last -paragraph of the engagement. - -"Well, what then?" the Mexican exclaimed, ill-humouredly. "It is said -there, it is true, that I must trust entirely to you, and leave you at -liberty to act as you please for the common welfare, without questioning -you." - -The Indian nodded his head in assent. - -"Well, _voto a Brios!_" the Mexican shouted, irritated by this studied -coolness, in spite of his resolve to curb his temper, and annoyed at -the man's obstinate refusal to answer, "what proves to me that you are -acting for our common welfare, and that you are not a traitor?" - -At this word traitor, so distinctly uttered by the Mexican, Curumilla -gave a tiger glance at the speaker, while his whole body was agitated by -a convulsive tremor: he uttered two or three incomprehensible guttural -exclamations, and ere the Mexican could suspect his intentions, he -was seized round the waist, lifted from the saddle, and hurled on the -ground, where he lay stunned. - -Curumilla leapt from his mule, drew from his belt two gold ounces, -hurled them at the Mexican, and then, bounding over the precipice -that bordered the road, glided to the bottom with headlong speed and -disappeared at once. - -What we have described occurred so rapidly that the peons who remained -behind, although they hurried up at full speed to their master's -assistance, arrived too late on the scene to prevent the Indian's flight. - -The Mexican had received no wound; the surprise and violence of the -fall had alone caused his momentary stupor; but almost immediately -he regained his senses, and comprehending the inutility and folly of -pursuit at such a spot with such an adversary, he devoured his shame and -passion, and, remounting his horse, which had been stopped, he coolly -gave orders to continue the journey, with an internal resolution that, -if ever the opportunity offered, he would have an exemplary revenge for -the insult he had received. - -For the moment he could not think of it, for more serious interests -demanded all his attention; it was evident to him that, in branding the -guide as a traitor, he had struck home, and that the latter, furious at -seeing himself unmasked, had proceeded to such extremities in order to -escape punishment, and find means to fly safely. - -The situation was becoming most critical for the chief of the caravan; -he found himself abandoned and left without a guide, in unknown regions, -doubtless watched by hidden foes, and exposed at any moment to an -attack, whose result could but be unfavourable to himself and his -people; hence he must form a vigorous resolve in order to escape, were -it possible, the misfortunes that menaced the caravan. - -The Mexican was a man endowed with an energetic organization, brave to -rashness, whom no peril, however great it might be, had ever yet had -the power to make him blench; in a few seconds he calculated all the -favourable chances left him, and his determination was formed. The road -he was following at this moment was assuredly the one frequented by the -caravans proceeding from the United States to California or Mexico; and -there was no other road but this in the mountains. Hence the Mexican -resolved to form an entrenched camp, at the spot that might appear to -him most favourable, fortify himself there as well as he could, and -await the passing of the first caravan, which he would join. - -This plan was exceedingly simple, and in addition very easy to execute. -As the travellers possessed an ample stock of provisions and ammunition, -they had no reason to fear scarcity, while, on the other hand, seven or -eight days in all probability would not elapse without the appearance of -a fresh caravan; and the Mexican believed himself capable of resisting, -behind good entrenchments, with his fifteen peons, any white or red -plunderers who dared to attack him. - -So soon as this resolution was formed, the Mexican at once prepared -to carry it out. After having briefly and in a few words explained -to his disheartened peons what his intentions were, and recommending -them to redouble their prudence, he left them, and pushed on in order -to reconnoitre the ground and select the most suitable spot for the -establishment of the camp. - -He started his horse at a gallop and soon disappeared in the windings -of the road, but, through fear of a sudden attack, he held his gun in -his hand, and his glances were constantly directed around him, examining -with the utmost care the thick chaparral which bordered the road on the -side of the mountain. - -The Mexican went on thus for about two hours, noticing that the further -he proceeded the narrower and more abrupt the track became. Suddenly -it widened out in front of him, and he arrived at an esplanade, across -which the road ran, and which was no other than the Fort of the -Chichimeques, previously described by us. - -The Mexican's practised eye at once seized the advantages of such a -position, and, without loss of time in examining it in detail, he turned -back to rejoin the caravan. The travellers, though marching much more -slowly than their chief, had, however, pushed on, so that he rejoined -them about three-quarters of an hour after the discovery of the terrace. - -The flight of the guide had nearly demoralized the Mexicans, more -accustomed to the ease of tropical regions, and whose courage the -snows of the Rocky Mountains had already weakened, if not destroyed. -Fortunately for the chief's plans he had over his servants that -influence which clever minds know how to impose on ordinary natures, and -the peons, on seeing their master gay and careless about the future, -began to hope that they would escape better than they had supposed from -the unlucky position in which they found themselves so suddenly placed. -The march was continued tranquilly; no suspicious sign was discovered, -and the Mexicans were justified in believing that, with the exception of -the time they would be compelled to lose in awaiting a new guide, the -flight of the Indian would entail no disagreeable consequences on them. - -Singularly enough, Carnero the capataz seemed rather pleased than -annoyed at the sudden disappearance of the guide. Far from complaining -or deploring the delay in the continuance of the journey he laughed at -what had happened, and made an infinitude of more or less witty jests -about it, which in the end considerably annoyed his master, whose joy -was merely on the surface, and who, in his heart, cursed the mishap -which kept them in the mountains, and exposed him to the insults of the -plunderers. - -"Pray, what do you find so agreeable in what has happened that you -are or affect to be so merry, No Carnero?" he at length asked with -considerable ill temper. - -"Forgive me, mi amo," the capataz answered humbly; "but you know the -proverb, 'What can't be cured must be endured,' and consequently I -forgot." - -"Hum!" said the master, without any other reply. - -"And besides," the capataz added, as he stooped down to the chief, and -almost whispering, "however bad our position may be, is it not better to -pretend to consider it good?" - -His master gave him a piercing look, but the other continued -imperturbably with an obsequious smile-- - -"The duty of a devoted servant, mi amo, is to be always of his master's -opinion, whatever may happen. The peons were murmuring this morning -after your departure, and you know what the character of these brutes -is; if they feel alarmed we shall be lost, for it will be impossible -for us to get out of our position; hence I thought that I was carrying -out your views by attempting to cheer them up, and I feign a gaiety -which, be assured, I do not feel, under the supposition that it would be -agreeable to you." - -The Mexican shook his head dubiously, but the observations of the -capataz were so just, the reasons he offered appeared so plausible, -that he was constrained to yield and thank him, as he did not care to -alienate at this moment a man who by a word could change the temper of -his peons, and urge them to revolt instead of adhering to their duty. - -"I thank you, No Carnero," he said, with a conciliatory air. "You -perfectly understood my intentions. I am pleased with your devotion to -my person, and the moment will soon arrive, I hope, when it will be in -my power to prove to you the value I attach to you." - -"The certainty of having done my duty, now as ever, is the sole reward I -desire, mi amo," the capataz answered, with a respectful bow. - -The Mexican gave him a side glance, but he restrained himself, and -it was with a smile that he thanked the capataz for the second time. -The latter thought it prudent to break off the interview here, and, -stopping his horse, he allowed his master to pass him. The chief of the -caravan was one of those unhappily constituted men who after having -passed their life in deceiving or trying to deceive those with whom the -accidents of an adventurous existence have brought them into contact, -had reached that point when he had no confidence in anyone, and sought, -behind the most frivolous words, to discover an interested motive, which -most frequently did not exist. Although his capataz Carnero had been -for a long time in his service, and he granted him a certain amount of -familiarity--although he appeared to place great confidence in him, and -count on his devotion, still, in his heart, he not only suspected him, -but felt almost confident, without any positive proof, it is true, that -he was playing a double game with him, and was a secret agent of his -deceivers. - -What truth there might be in this supposition, which held a firm hold of -the Mexican's mind, we are unable to say at present; but the slightest -actions of his capataz were watched by him, and he felt certain that he -should, sooner or later, attain a confirmation of his doubts; hence, -while feigning the greatest satisfaction with him, he constantly kept on -his guard, ready to deal a blow, which would be the sharper because it -had been so long prepared. - -A little before eleven A.M. the caravan reached the terrace, and it was -with a feeling of joy, which they did not attempt to conceal, that the -peons recognized the strength of the position selected by their master -for the encampment. - -"We shall stop here for the present," the Mexican said. "Unload the -mules, and light the fires. Immediately after breakfast we will begin -entrenching ourselves in such a way as to foil all the assaults of -marauders." - -The peons obeyed with the speed of men who have made a long journey and -are beginning to feel hungry; the fires were lighted in an instant, and -a few moments later the peons vigorously attacked their maize tortillas, -their tocino, and their cecina--those indispensable elements of every -Mexican meal. When the hunger of his men was appeased, and they had -smoked their cigarettes, the chief rose. - -"Now," he said, "to work." - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE SURPRISE. - - -The position which the leader of the caravan fancied he had been the -first to discover, and where he had made up his mind to halt, was -admirably selected to establish an intrenched camp--strong enough to -resist for months the attacks of the Indians and the pirates of the -prairies. The immense voladero hovering at a prodigious height above -the precipices, and guarded on the right and left by enormous masses of -rock, offered such conditions of security that the peons regained all -their merry carelessness, and only regarded the mysterious flight of -the guide as an accident of no real importance, and which would have no -other consequences for them but to make their journey somewhat longer -than the time originally arranged. - -It was, hence, with well promising ardour that they rose on receiving -their chiefs command, and prepared under his directions to dig the -trench which was intended to protect them from a surprise. This trench -was to be bordered by a line of tall stakes, running across the open -space between the rocks, which gave the sole access to the terrace. - -The headquarters were first prepared, that is to say, the tent was -raised, and the horses hobbled near pickets driven into the ground. - -At the moment when the leader proceeded with several peons armed with -picks and spades toward the entrance, with the probable intention of -marking the exact spot where the trench was to be dug, the capataz -approached him obsequiously, and said with a respectful bow-- - -"Mi amo, I have an important communication to make to you." - -His master turned and looked at him with ill-concealed distrust. - -"An important communication to make to me?" he repeated. - -"Yes, mi amo," the capataz replied with a bow. - -"What is it? Speak, but be brief, Carnero, for, as you see, I have no -time to lose." - -"I hope to gain you time, excellency," the capataz said with a silent -smile. - -"Ah, ah, what is it?" - -"If you will allow me to say two words aside, excellency, you will know -at once." - -"Diablo! a mystery, Master Carnero?" - -"Mi amo, it is my duty to inform no one but your excellency of my -discovery." - -"Hum! then you have discovered something?" - -The other bowed, but made no further answer. - -"Very well then," his master continued, "come this way: go on, -muchachos," he added, addressing the peons, "I will rejoin you in a -moment." - -The latter went on, while the leader retired for a few paces, followed -by the capataz. When he considered that he had placed a sufficient -distance between himself and the ears of his people, he addressed the -half-breed again-- - -"Now, I suppose, Master Carnero," he said, "you will see no -inconvenience in explaining yourself?" - -"None at all, excellency." - -"Speak then, in the fiend's name, and keep me no longer in suspense." - -"This is the affair, excellency: I have discovered a grotto." - -"What?" his master exclaimed, in surprise, "you have discovered a -grotto?" - -"Yes, excellency." - -"Where?" - -"Here." - -"Here! that's impossible." - -"It's the fact, excellency." - -"But where?" - -"There," he said, stretching out his arm, "behind that mass of rocks." - -A suspicious look flashed from beneath his master's eyelashes. - -"Ah!" he muttered, "that is very singular, Master Carnero; may I ask in -what manner you discovered this grotto, and what motive was so imperious -as to take you among those rocks, when you were aware how indispensable -your presence was elsewhere?" - -The capataz was not affected by the tone in which these words were -uttered; he answered calmly, as if he did not perceive the menace they -contained-- - -"Oh! mi amo, the discovery was quite accidental, I assure you." - -"I do not believe in chance," his master answered "but go on." - -"When we had finished breakfast," the capataz continued, soothingly, "I -perceived, on rising, that several horses, mine among them, had become -unfastened, and were straying in different directions." - -"That is true," his master muttered, apparently answering his own -thoughts rather than the remarks of the capataz. - -The latter gave an almost imperceptible smile. "Fearing," he continued, -"lest the horses might be lost, I immediately started in pursuit. They -were easy to catch, with the exception of one, which rambled among the -rocks, and I was obliged to follow it." - -"I understand; and so it led you to the mouth of the grotto." - -"Exactly, mi amo; I found it standing at the very entrance, and had no -difficulty in seizing the bridle." - -"That is indeed most singular. And did you enter the grotto, Master -Carnero?" - -"No, mi amo. I thought it my duty to tell you of it first." - -"You were right. Well, we will enter it together. Fetch some torches -of ocote wood, and show us the way. By the by, do not forget to bring -weapons, for we know not what men or beasts we may find in caverns thus -opening on a high road." This he said with a sarcastic air, which caused -the capataz to tremble inwardly in spite of his determined indifference. - -While he executed his master's orders, the latter selected six of his -peons, on whose courage he thought he could most rely, ordered them to -take their muskets, and, bidding the others to keep a good watch, but -not begin anything till he returned, he made a signal to the capataz -that he was ready to follow him. No Carnero had followed with an evil -eye the arrangements made by his master, but probably did not deem it -prudent to risk any remark, for he silently bowed his head, and walked -toward the pile of rocks that masked the entrance of the grotto. - -These granite blocks, piled one on top of the other, did not appear, -however, to have been brought there by accident, but, on the contrary, -they appeared to have belonged in some early and remote age to a -clumsy but substantial edifice, which was probably connected with the -breastwork still visible on the edge of the voladero on the side of the -precipice. - -The Mexicans crossed the rocks without difficulty, and soon found -themselves before the dark and frowning entrance of the cavern. The -chief gave his peons a signal to halt. - -"It would not be prudent," he said, "to venture without precautions into -this cavern. Prepare your arms, muchachos, and keep your eyes open; at -the slightest suspicious sound, or the smallest object that appears, -fire. Capataz, light the torches." - -The latter obeyed without a word; the leader of the caravan assured -himself at a glance that his orders had been properly carried out; then -taking his pistols from his belt, he cocked them, took one in each hand, -and said to Carnero-- - -"Take the lead," he said, with a mocking accent; "it is only just that -you should do the honours of this place which you so unexpectedly -discovered. Forward, you others, and be on your guard," he added, -turning to the peons. - -The eight men then went into the cavern at the heels of the capataz, who -raised the torches above his head, doubtless in order to cast a greater -light on surrounding objects. - -This cavern, like most of those found in these regions, seemed to have -been formed through some subterranean convulsion. The walls were lofty, -dry, and covered at various spots with an enormous quantity of night -birds, which, blinded and startled by the light of the torches, took -to flight with hoarse cries, and flew heavily in circles round the -Mexicans. The latter drove them back with some difficulty by waving -their muskets. But the further they got into the interior of the cavern, -the greater the number of these birds became, and seriously encumbered -the visitors by flapping them with their long wings, and deafening them -with their discordant cries. - -They thus reached a rather large hall, into which several passages -opened. Although the Mexicans were a considerable distance from the -entrance, they found no difficulty in breathing, owing doubtless to -imperceptible fissures in the rock, through which the air was received. - -"Let us halt here for a moment," the leader said, taking a torch from -the capataz; "this hall, if the cavern has several issues as I suppose, -will afford us a certain refuge: let us examine the spot where we are." - -While speaking he walked round the hall, and convinced himself, by -certain still existing traces of man's handiwork, that at a former -period the cave had been inhabited. The peons seated themselves idly -on the blocks of granite scattered here and there, and with their guns -between their legs carelessly followed their master's movements. - -The latter felt the suspicions aroused in his mind by the sudden nature -of Carnero's discovery gradually dissipated. He felt certain that for -many years no human being had entered this gloomy cave, for none of -those flying traces which man always leaves in his passage, whatever -precaution he may take to hide his presence, had been discovered by him. -All, on the contrary, evidenced the most utter abandonment and solitude, -and hence the leader of the caravan was not indisposed to retire to this -spot, which was so easy of defence, instead of throwing up an intrenched -camp, always a long and difficult task, and which had the inconvenience -of leaving men and animals exposed to a deadly climate for individuals -accustomed to the heat of the Mexican temperature. - -"While continuing his explanations, the leader conversed with the -capataz in a more friendly manner than he had done for a long time, -congratulating him on his discovery, and explaining his views, to which -the latter listened with his usual crafty smile. All at once he stopped -and listened--the two men were at this moment at the entrance of one of -the passages to which we have referred. - -"Listen," he said to the capataz, as he laid his hand on his arm to -attract his attention, "do you not hear something?" - -The latter bent his body slightly forward, and remained motionless for -some seconds. - -"I do," he said, drawing himself up, "it sounds like distant thunder." - -"Is it not? or, perhaps, the rolling of subterranean waters." - -"Madre de Dios! mi amo," the capataz exclaimed gleefully. "I can swear -that you are right. It would be a piece of luck for us to find water in -the cave, for it would add greatly to our security, as we should not be -obliged to lead our horses, perhaps, a long distance to drink." - -"I will assure myself at once if there is any truth in the supposition. -The noise proceeds from that passage, so let us follow it. As for our -men they can wait for us here; we have nothing to fear now, for if the -pirates or the Indians were ambuscaded to surprise us, they would not -have waited so long before doing so, and hence the assistance of our -peons is unnecessary." - -The capataz shook his head doubtfully. - -"Hum," he said, "the Indians are very clever, mi amo; and who knows what -diabolical projects those redskins revolve in their minds? I believe it -would be more prudent to let the peons accompany us." - -"Nonsense," said his master, "it is unnecessary; we are two resolute -and well-armed men; we have nothing to fear, I tell you. Besides, if, -against all probability, we are attacked, our men will hear the noise -of the conflict, will run to our help, and will be at our side in an -instant." - -"It is not very probable, I grant, that we have any danger to apprehend; -still I considered it my duty as a devoted servant, mi amo, to warn -you, because in the event of Indians being hidden in these passages, -of whose windings we are ignorant, we should be caught like rats in a -trap, with no possibility of escape. Two men, however brave they may -be, are incapable of resisting twenty or thirty enemies, and you know -that Indians never attack white men save when they are almost certain of -success." - -These words seemed to produce a certain impression on the leader of -the caravan. He remained silent for a moment, apparently reflecting -seriously on what he had heard, but he soon raised his head, and shook -it resolutely. - -"Nonsense! I do not believe in the danger you seem to apprehend; after -all, if it really exist, it will be welcome. Wait here, my men, and be -ready to join us at the first signal," he added, addressing the peons, -who answered by rising and collecting in the middle of the hall. - -Their master left them a torch to light them during his exploration, -took the other, and turning to Carnero, said, "Let us go." - -They then entered the passage. It was very narrow, and ran downwards -with a steep incline, so that the two men, who were unacquainted with -its windings, were obliged to walk with the most serious attention, and -carefully examining all the spots they passed. - -The further they proceeded, the more distinct the sound of water became; -it was evident that at a very short distance from the spot where they -were, perhaps but a few steps, there ran one of those subterranean -streams so frequently found in natural caverns, and which are generally -rivers swallowed up by an earthquake. - -All at once, without being warned by the slightest sound, the leader of -the caravan felt himself seized round the waist, his torch was snatched -roughly from his hand, and extinguished against a rock, and himself -thrown down and securely bound, before he was able to attempt the -slightest resistance, so sudden and well calculated had the attack been. -Carnero had been thrown down at the same time as his master, and bound. - -"Cowards, demons!" the Mexican yelled, as he made a superhuman effort to -rise and burst his bonds; "show yourself, at least, so that I may know -with whom I have to deal." - -"Silence! General Don Sebastian Guerrero," a rough voice said to him, -whose accent made him start, in spite of all his courage; "resign -yourself to your fate, for you have fallen into the power of men who -will not liberate you till they have had a thorough explanation with -you." - -General Guerrero, whom the readers of the "Indian Chief" will doubtless -remember, made a movement of impotent rage, but he was silent; he -perceived that the originators of the snare of which he was a victim -were implacable enemies, as they had not feared to call him by his name, -and more formidable than the pirates of the prairies or the redskins, -with whom he at first thought he had to deal. Moreover, he thought that -the darkness that surrounded him would soon cease, and then he would see -his enemies face to face, and recognize them. - -But his expectations were deceived. When his conquerors had borne him to -the hall, where his peons were disarmed and guarded by peons, he saw, -by the light of the torch that faintly illumined the hall, that among -the men who surrounded him few wore the Mexican costume, it was true, -but had their faces hidden by a piece of black crape, forming a species -of mask, and so well fastened round their necks, that it was entirely -impossible to recognize them. - -"What do these men want with me?" he muttered as he let his head fall on -his chest sadly. - -"Patience!" said the man who had already spoken, and who overheard the -general's remark, "you will soon know." - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -THE EXPLANATION. - - -There was a short delay, during which the conquerors appeared to be -consulting together in a low voice; while doing so, an Indian chief, who -was no other than the Jester, entered the hall, and uttered a few words -in Comanche. - -The general and the capataz were again picked up by the redskins, -and at a sign from one of the masked men, transported on to the -voladero. The appearance of the terrace had entirely changed during the -general's short absence, and offered at this moment a most singular and -picturesque scene. - -One hundred and fifty to two hundred Indians, mostly armed with guns, -and ranged in good order round the terrace, the centre of which remained -free, faced the cavern, having among them the disarmed Mexicans, the -baggage, horses, and mules of the caravan. - -The tent still stood solitary in the middle of what Was to have been -the encampment; but the curtain Was raised, and a horseman was standing -in front of it, as if to defend the entrance, and protect the precious -articles it contained from pillage. - -At the moment when the party emerged from the cave, and appeared on the -terrace, the horsemen drawn up at the entrance of the defile opened -out to the right and left, leaving a passage for a small troop of men -dressed in hunters' garb, and whom it was easy to recognize as white -men, by the colour of their skin, although it was bronzed and freckled -by the sun; two ladies, mounted on ambling mules, were in the midst of -them. - -This troop of strangers was composed of eight persons altogether, -leading with them two baggage mules. As the men were disarmed, and -walked on foot amid some fifty Indian horsemen, they had, in all -probability, been surprised by a party of redskins, and made prisoners -in some skilfully-arranged ambuscade. - -The two ladies, one of whom was of a certain age while the other -appeared scarce eighteen, and who might be supposed closely related, -through the resemblance of their features, were treated with an -exquisite politeness they were far from expecting by the Indians, and -conducted to the tent, which they were requested to enter. The curtain -was then lowered, to conceal them from the glances of the Indians, whose -expression, although respectful, must necessarily be disagreeable to -them. - -The new comers, at a signal from their conductors, ranged themselves -with the other prisoners; they were powerful men with marked features, -whom the Indians had probably not given a chance to fight, otherwise -they looked as if they would sooner be killed than yield. - -They displayed neither fear nor depression, but their flashing looks -and frowning brows showed that though they silently submitted to their -fate, they were far from being resigned, and would eagerly seize the -first opportunity to regain the liberty of which they had been so -treacherously deprived. - -Still, in spite of the determination they had doubtless formed to remain -indifferent as to what took place around them, they soon felt themselves -interested more than they liked in the strange drama which they -involuntarily witnessed, and whose gloomy preparations were of a nature -to arouse their curiosity to an eminent degree. - -At the base of the rocks several blocks of granite had been arranged -in a semicircle, thus forming a resemblance to that terrible Vehmic -tribunal, which in olden times held its formidable assize on the banks -of the Rhine, before which kings and even emperors were at times -summoned to appear, and the resemblance was rendered more striking by -the care the assailants took in hiding their features. - -Two masked men took their seats on the granite blocks, and the Indians -who carried the general laid him on the ground in front of this species -of tribunal. The person who seemed to be the president of this sinister -assembly gave a sign, the prisoner's bonds at once fell off, and he -found himself once more able to move his limbs. - -The general drew himself up, crossed his hands on his chest, threw his -body back haughtily, raised his head and looked at the men who had -apparently constituted themselves his judges with a glance of withering -contempt. - -"What do you want with me, bandits?" he said; "enough of this; these -insolent manoeuvres will not alarm me." - -"Silence!" the president said coldly, "it is not your place to speak -thus." - -Then he remarked to the Jester, who was standing a few paces from him-- - -"Bring up the other prisoners, old and new; everybody must hear what is -going to be said to this man." - -The Jester gave a signal to the warriors; some of them dismounted, -approached the prisoners, and, after loosening the cord that bound the -capataz, they led him, as well as the peons and the prisoners of the -second caravan, in front of the tribunal, where they ranged themselves -in line. Then, at a signal from the Jester, the horsemen closed up round -the white men, who were thus hemmed in by Comanche warriors. - -The spectacle offered by this assemblage of men, with their marked -features and quaint garb, grouped without any apparent regularity on -this voladero, which was suspended as if artificially over a terrible -gulf, and leant against lofty mountains, with their abrupt flanks and -snowy crest, was not without a certain grandeur. - -A deadly silence brooded at this moment over the esplanade; all chests -were heaving, every heart was oppressed. Redskins, hunters, and -Mexicans all understood instinctively that a grand drama was about to -be performed; invisible streams could be heard hoarsely murmuring in -the cavern, and at times a gust of wind whistled over the heads of the -horsemen. - -The prisoners, affected by a vague and undefined terror, waited with -secret anxiety, not knowing what fate these ferocious victors reserved -for them, but certain that, whatever the decision formed about them -might be, prayers would be impotent to move them, and that they would -have to endure the atrocious torture to which they would doubtless be -condemned. - -The president looked round the assembly, rose in the midst of a profound -silence, stretched out his arm towards the general, who stood cold and -passionless before him, and, after darting at him a withering glance -through the holes made in the crape that concealed his face, he said in -a grave, stern, and impressive voice-- - -"Caballeros, remember the words you are about to hear, listen to them -attentively, so as to understand them, and not to be in error as to our -intentions. In the first place, in order to reassure you and restore -your entire freedom of mind, learn that you have not fallen into the -hands of Indians thirsting for your blood, or of pirates who intend to -plunder you first and assassinate you afterwards. No, you need not feel -the slightest alarm. When you have acted as impartial witnesses, and are -able to render testimony of what you have seen, should it be required, -you will be at liberty to continue your journey, without the forfeiture -of a single article. The men seated on my right and left, although -masked, are brave and honest hunters. The day may perhaps arrive when -you will know them; but reasons, whose importance you will speedily -recognize, compel them to remain unknown for the present. I was bound -to say this, senores, to you, against whom we bear no animosity, before -coming to a final settlement with this man." - -One of the travellers belonging to the second caravan stepped forward; -he was a young man, with elegant and noble features, tall and well built. - -"Caballero," he answered, in a distinct and sympathizing voice, "I thank -you, in the name of my companions and myself, for the reassuring words -you have spoken. I know how implacable the laws of the desert are, and -have ever submitted to them without a murmur; but permit me to ask you -one question." - -"Speak, caballero." - -"Is it an act of vengeance or justice you are about to carry out?" - -"Neither, senor. It would be an act of folly or weakness if the -inspirations of the heart could be blamed or doubted by honourable and -loyal men." - -"Enough of this, senor," the general said, haughtily; "and if you are, -as you assert, an honourable man, show me your face, in order that I -may know with whom I have to deal." - -The president shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. - -"No, Don Sebastian," he said, "for in that case the game would not be -even between us. But be patient, caballero, and soon you will learn, if -not who I am, at any rate the motives which have made me your implacable -foe." - -The general attempted to smile, but in spite of himself the smile died -away on his lips, and though his haughty bearing seemed to defy his -unknown enemies, a secret apprehension contracted his heart. - -There was a silence for some moments, during which no other sound was -audible save that of the breeze whistling through the denuded branches -and the distant murmur Of the invisible torrents in the quebradas. - -The president looked round with flashing eyes, and folding his arms on -his chest at the same time, as he raised his head, he began speaking -again in a sharp, cutting voice, whose accents caused his hearers to -tremble involuntarily. And yet they were brave men, accustomed to the -terrible incidents of a desert life, and whom the most serious dangers -could not have affected. - -"Now listen, senores," he said, "and judge this man impartially; but -do not judge him according to prairie law, but in your hearts. General -Don Sebastian Guerrero, who is standing so bold and upright before -you at this moment, is one of the greatest noblemen of Mexico, a -_Cristiano viejo_ of the purest blood, descended in a direct line from -the Spanish Conquistadors. His fortune is immense, incalculable, and he -himself could not determine its amount. This man, by the mere strength -of his will, and the implacable egotism that forms the basis of his -character, has always succeeded in everything he has undertaken. Coldly -and resolutely ambitious, he has covered with corpses the bloody road -he was compelled to follow in order to attain his proposed object, and -he has done so without hesitation or remorse; he has looked on with a -smiling face, when his dearest friends and his nearest relations fell -by his side; for him nothing which men respect exists--faith and honour -are with him but empty sounds. He had a daughter, who was the perfection -of women, and he coldly lacerated that daughter's heart; he fatally -drove her to suicide, and the blood of the poor girl spirted on his -forehead, while he was triumphantly witnessing the legal murder of the -man she loved, and whose death he resolved on, because he refused to -palter with his honour, and aid this man in the infamous treachery he -was meditating. This human-faced tiger, this monster with the mocking, -sceptical face, you see, senores, has only one thought, one object, -one desire--it is, to attain the highest rank, even if, to effect it, -he were compelled to clamber over the panting corpses of his relations -and friends sacrificed to his ambition; and if he cannot carve out an -independent kingdom in this collapsing republic, which is called Mexico, -he wishes to seize, at least, on the supreme magistracy, and be elected -president. If this man's life merely comprised this egotistic ambition -and these infamous schemes to satisfy it, I should content myself -with despising, instead of hating him, and not being able to find an -excuse for him, I should forget him. But no; this man has done more--he -dared to lay hands on a man who was my friend, my brother, the Count -de Prebois Crance, to whom I have already referred, senores, without -mentioning his name. Unable to conquer the count loyally, despairing of -winning him over to his shameful cause, he at first tried to poison him; -but, not having succeeded, and wishing to come to an end, he forgot that -his daughter, an angel, the sole creature who loved him, and implored -divine mercy for him, was the betrothed wife of the count, and that -killing him would be her condemnation to death. In his horrible thirst -for revenge, he ordered the judicial murder of my friend, and coldly -presided at the execution, not noticing, in the joyous deliverance of -his satisfied hatred, that his daughter had killed herself at his side, -and that he was trampling her corpse beneath his horse's feet. Such is -what this man has done; look at him well, in order to recognize him -hereafter; he is General Don Sebastian Guerrero, military governor of -Sonora." - -"Oh!" the audience said involuntarily, as they instinctively recoiled in -horror. - -"If this man is the ex-governor of Sonora," the hunter who had already -spoken said, in disgust "he is a wild beast, whom his ferocity has -placed beyond the pale of society, and it is the duty of honest men to -destroy him." - -"He must die! he must die!" the newcomers exclaimed. - -The general's peons were gloomy and downcast; they hung their heads -sadly, for they did not dare attempt to defend their master, and yet did -not like to accuse him. - -The general was still cool and unmoved; he was apparently calm, but a -fearful tempest was raging in his heart. His face was of an earthy and -cadaverous pallor; his brows were contracted till they touched, and his -violet lips were closed, as if he were making violent efforts not to -utter a word, and to restrain his fury from breaking out in insults. His -eyes flashed fire, and then his whole body was agitated by convulsive -movements, but he managed, through his self-command, to conquer his -emotion, and retain the expression of withering contempt, which he had -assumed since the beginning of this scene. - -Seeing that his accuser was silent, he took a step forward, and -stretched out his arm, as if he claimed the right of answering. But his -enemy gave him no time to utter a word. - -"Wait!" he shouted, "I have not said all yet; now that I have revealed -what you have done, I am bound to render the persons here present judges -not only of what I have done, but also of what I intend to do in future -against you." - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A DECLARATION OF WAR. - - -The general shrugged his shoulders with a contemptuous smile. - -"Nonsense," he said, "you are mad, my fine fellow. I know now who -you are; your hatred of me has unconsciously discovered you. Remove -that veil which is no longer of any use; I know you, for, as you are -aware, hatred is clear-sighted. You are the French hunter whom I have -constantly met in my path to impede my projects, or overthrow my plans." - -"Add," the hunter interrupted, "and whom you will ever meet." - -"Be it so, unless I crush you beneath my heel like a noxious insect." - -"Ever so proud and so indomitable, do you not fear lest, exasperated by -your insults, I may forget the oath I have taken, and sacrifice you to -my vengeance?" - -"Nonsense," he replied, with a disdainful toss of his head, "you kill -me? that is impossible, for you are too anxious to enjoy your revenge to -stab me in a moment of passion." - -"That is true, this time you are right, Don Sebastian. I will not kill -you, because, however culpable you may be, I do not recognize the right -to do so. Blood does not wash out blood, it only increases the stain; -and I intend to take a more protracted vengeance on you than a stab or a -shot will grant us. Besides this, vengeance has already commenced." - -"Indeed!" the general said sarcastically. - -"Still," the hunter continued with some emotion, "as the vengeance -must be straightforward, I wish to give you, in the presence of all -these gentlemen, the proof that I fear you no more today than I did -when the struggle commenced between us. This veil which you reproach me -for wearing I am going to remove, not because you have recognized me, -but because I deem it unworthy of me to conceal my features from you -any longer. Brothers," he added, turning to his silent assistants, "my -mask alone must fall, retain yours, for it is important for my plans of -vengeance that you should remain unknown." - -The four men bowed their assent, and the hunter threw away the crape -that covered his features. - -"Valentine Guillois!" the general exclaimed; "I was sure of it." - -On hearing this celebrated name, the hunters of the second caravan made -a movement as if to rush forward, impelled either by curiosity or some -other motive. - -"Stay," the Frenchman shouted, stopping them by a quick wave of the -hand, "let me finish with this man first." - -They fell back with a bow. - -"Now," he continued, "we are really face to face. Well, listen patiently -to what still remains for me to tell you; and, perhaps, the assumed -calmness spread over your features will melt away before my words, like -the snow in the sunshine." - -"I will listen to you, because it is impossible for me to do otherwise -at this moment; but if you flatter yourself that you will affect me in -any way, I am bound to warn you that you will not succeed. The hatred I -feel for you is so thoroughly balanced by the contempt you inspire me -with, that nothing which emanates from you can move me in the slightest -degree." - -"Listen then," the hunter coldly continued; "when my unhappy friend -fell at Guaymas, in my paroxysm of grief I allow that I intended to -kill you; but reflection soon came, and I saw that it would be better -to let you live. Thanks to me, one week after the count's death, the -Mexican Government, not satisfied with disavowing your conduct publicly, -deprived you of your command, without inquiry, and refused, in spite of -your remonstrances, to explain to you the motives of their conduct." - -"Ah, ah," the general said, in a hissing but suppressed voice, "it was -to you, then, that I owe my recall?" - -"Yes, general, to me alone." - -"I am delighted to hear it." - -"You remained, then, in Sonora, without power or influence, hated and -despised by all, and marked on your forehead with that indelible brand -which God imprinted on Cain, the first murderer; but Mexico is a -blessed country, where ambitious men can easily fish in troubled waters, -when, like yourself, they are not restrained by any of those bonds of -honour, which too often fetter the genius of honest men. You could not -remain long bowed beneath the blow that had fallen on you, and you made -up your mind in a few days. You resolved to leave Sonora and proceed -to Mexico, where, thanks to your colossal fortune, and the influence -it would necessarily give you, you could carry on your ambitious -projects; by changing the scene, you hoped to cast the scandalous acts -of which you had been guilty into oblivion. Your preparations were soon -made--listen attentively, general, to this, for I assure you that I have -reached the most interesting part of my narration." - -"Go on, go on, senor," he replied carelessly, "I am listening to you -attentively; do not fear that I shall forget one of your words." - -"In spite of your affected indifference, senor, I will go on. As you -fancied, for certain reasons which to is unnecessary to remind you of, -that your enemies might try to lay some ambush for you, during the -long journey you were obliged to perform from Hermosillo to Mexico, -you thought it necessary to take the following precautions, the -inutility of some of which I presume that you have recognized by this -time. While, for the purpose of deceiving your enemies, you started -in disguise, and only accompanied by a few men, for California, in -order to return to Mexico across the Rocky Mountains; while you gave -questioners the fullest details of the road, you pretended to follow, -with your men--your real object was quite different. The man in whom -you placed your confidence, Don Isidro Vargas, a veteran of your War of -Independence, who had known you when a child, and whom you had converted -into your tool, took the shortest, and, consequently, most direct route -for the capital, having with him not only twelve mules loaded with gold -and silver, the fruit of your plunder during the period of your command, -but a more precious article still, the body of your unhappy daughter, -which you had embalmed, and which the captain had orders to inter with -your ancestors at your Hacienda del Palmar, which you left so long ago, -and to which you will, in all probability, never return. Your object -in acting thus was not only to divert attention from your ill-gotten -riches, but also to attract your enemies after yourself. Unfortunately -or fortunately, according as we regard the matter, I am an old hunter -so difficult to deceive that my comrades gave me long ago the glorious -title of the Trail-hunter, and hence, while everybody else was forming -speculations about you, I alone was not deceived, and guessed your plan." - -"Still, your presence here gives a striking denial to the assertion," -the general interrupted him, ironically. - -"You think so, senor, and that proves that you are not thoroughly -acquainted with me yet; but patience, I hope that you will, ere long, -appreciate me better. Moreover you have not reflected on the time that -has elapsed since your departure from Hermosillo." - -"What do you mean?" the general asked, with a sudden start of -apprehension. - -"I mean that before attacking you, I resolved to settle matters first -with the captain." - -"Ah!" - -"Well, general, it is my painful duty to inform you that four days -after he left Pitic, our brave friend Don Isidro, although an old -and experienced soldier, well versed in war stratagems, fell into an -ambuscade resembling the one into which you fell today, with this -exception----." - -"What exception?" the general asked, with greater interest than he would -have liked to display, for he was beginning to fear a catastrophe. - -"My men were so imprudent," the hunter continued, ironically, "as to -leave the captain the means of defending himself. The result was that he -died, bravely fighting to save the gold you had intrusted to him, and, -before all, the coffin containing your daughter's corpse." - -"Well, and I presume you plundered the caravan, and carried off the gold -and silver?" he asked, contemptuously. - -"You would most probably have acted thus under similar circumstances, -Don Sebastian," the hunter answered, giving him back insult for insult; -"but I thought it my duty to act differently. What could you expect? -I, a coarse, uneducated hunter, do not know how to plunder, for I did -not learn it when I had the honour to serve my own country, and I never -stood under your orders in Mexico. This is what I did: so soon as the -captain and the peons he commanded were killed--for the poor devils, I -must do them the justice of saying, offered a desperate resistance--I -myself, you understand, friend, I myself conveyed the money to your -Hacienda del Palmar, where it now remains in safety, as you can easily -assure yourself if you ever return to Palmar." - -The general breathed again, and smiled ironically. "Instead of blaming -you, senor," he said, "I, on the contrary, owe you thanks for this -chivalrous conduct, especially toward an enemy." - -"Do not be in such an hurry to thank me, caballero," the hunter -answered; "I have not told you all yet." - -These words were uttered with such an accent of gratified hatred, that -all the hearers, the general included, shuddered involuntarily, for they -understood that the hunter was about to make a terrible revelation, and -that the calmness he feigned concealed a tempest. - -"Ah," Don Sebastian murmured, "speak, I implore you, senor, for I am -anxious to know all the obligations I owe you." - -"Captain Don Isidro Vargas not only escorted the money I had conveyed to -Palmar," he said in a sharp, quick voice, "but there was also a coffin. -Well, general, why do you not ask me what has become of that coffin?" - -An electric shock ran through the audience on hearing the ironical -question so coldly asked by the hunter, whose eye, implacably fixed on -the general, seemed to flash fire. - -"What!" Don Sebastian exclaimed, "I can hardly think that you have -committed sacrilege?" - -Valentine burst into a loud and sharp laugh. "Your suppositions ever go -beyond the object. I commit sacrilege, oh, no! I loved the poor girl too -dearly when alive to outrage her after death. No, no, the betrothed of -my friend is sacred to me; but as, in my opinion, the assassin can have -no claim to the body of his victim, and you are morally your daughter's -murderer, I have robbed you of this body, which you are not worthy to -have, and which must rest by the side of him for whom she died." - -There was a moment's silence. The general's face, hitherto pale, assumed -a greenish hue, and his eyes were suffused with blood. Now and then he -made superhuman efforts to speak, which were unsuccessful, but at length -he yelled in a hoarse and hissing voice-- - -"It is not true; you have not done this. You cannot have dared to rob a -father of his child's body." - -"I have done it, I tell you," the hunter said coldly. "I have taken -possession of the body of your victim, and now you understand me; -never shall you know where this poor body rests. But this is only -the beginning of my vengeance. What I wish to kill in you is the soul -and not the body; and now begone, go and forget at Mexico, amid your -ambitious intrigues, the scene that has passed between us; but remember -that you will find me in your path everywhere and ever. Farewell till we -meet again." - -"One last word," the general exclaimed, affected by the deepest despair, -"restore me my daughter's body; she was the only human creature I ever -loved." - -The hunter regarded him for a moment with an undefinable expression, and -then said in a harsh and coldly-mocking voice, "Never." - -Then, turning away, he re-entered the grotto, followed by his -assistants. The general tried to rush after him, but the Indians -restrained him, and, in spite of his resistance, compelled him to stop. - -Don Sebastian, who was the more overwhelmed by the last blow because -it was unexpected, stood for a moment like a man struck by lightning, -with pendant arms and seared eyes. At last a heartrending sob burst from -his bosom, two burning tears sprung from his eyes, and he rolled like a -corpse on the ground. - -The very Indians, those rough warriors to whom pity is a thing unknown, -felt moved by this frightful despair, and several of them turned away -not to witness it. - -In the meanwhile the Jester had ordered the peons to saddle the horses -and load the mules. The general was placed by two servants on a horse, -without appearing to notice what was done to him, and a few minutes -later the caravan left the Fort of the Chichimeques, and passed -unimpeded through the silent ranks of the Indians, who bowed as it -passed. - -"When the Mexicans had disappeared in the windings of the road, -Valentine emerged from the grotto, and walked courteously up to the -hunters of the second caravan. - -"Forgive me," he said to them, "not the delay I have occasioned you, -but the involuntary alarm I caused you; but I was compelled to act as I -did. You are going to Mexico, where I shall soon be myself, and it is -possible that I may require your testimony some day." - -"A testimony which will not be refused, my dear countryman," the hunter -who had hitherto spoken gracefully answered. - -"What!" the hunter exclaimed in amazement, "are you French?" - -"Yes, and all my companions are so, too. We have come from San -Francisco, where, thanks to Providence, we have amassed a very -considerable fortune, which we hope to double in the Mexican capital. -My name is Antoine Rallier, and these are my brothers, Edward and -Augustus; the two ladies who accompany us are my mother and sister, and -if you know nobody in Mexico, come straight to me, sir, and you will be -received, not only as a friend, but as a brother." - -The hunter pressed the hand his countryman offered him. - -"As this is the case," he said, "I will not let you go alone, for these -mountains are infested by bandits of every description, whom you may not -escape, but with my protection you can pass anywhere." - -"I heartily accept the offer; but why do you not come with us to Mexico?" - -"That is impossible for the present," the hunter answered pensively; -"but be at your ease. I shall not fail to demand the fulfilment of your -promise." - -"You will be welcome, friend, for we have been acquainted for a long -time, and we know that you have ever honourably represented France in -America." - -Two hours later the Fort of the Chichimeques had returned to its usual -solitude; white men and Indians had abandoned it for ever. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -MEXICO. - - -We will now leap over about two months and, leaving the Rocky Mountains, -invite the reader to accompany us to the heart of Mexico. - -The Spanish Conquistadors selected with admirable tact the sites on -which they founded the cities destined to insure their power, and become -at a later date the centres of their immense trade, and the entrepots of -their incalculable wealth. - -Even at the present day, although owing to the negligence of the -Creoles and their continual fratricidal Wars, combined with the sudden -earthquakes, these cities are half ruined, and the life which the -powerful Spanish organization caused to circulate in them has died out, -these cities are still a subject of surprise to the traveller accustomed -to the morbid crowding of old European cities. He regards with awe -these vast squares, surrounded by cloister-like arcades; these broad -and regular streets through which refreshing waters continually flow; -these shady gardens in which thousands of gaily-plumaged birds twitter; -these bold bridges; these majestically simple buildings, whose interiors -contain incalculable wealth. And yet, we repeat, the majority of these -cities are only the shadow of themselves. They seem dead, and are only -aroused by the furious yells of an insurrection, to lead for a few -days a feverish existence under the excitement of political passions. -But so soon as the corpses are removed, and water has washed away the -blood stains, the streets revert to their solitude, the inhabitants -hide themselves in their carefully-closed houses, and all becomes again -gloomy, mournful, and silent, only to be galvanized afresh by the hoarse -murmurs of an approaching revolt. - -If we except Lima, the splendid "Ciudad de los Reyes," Mexico is -probably the largest and handsomest of all the cities that cover the -soil of ancient Spanish America. - -From whatever point we regard it, Mexico affords a magnificent view; -but if you wish to enjoy a really fairy-like sight, ascend at sunset one -of the towers of the cathedral, whence you will see the strangest and -most picturesque panorama imaginable unrolled at your feet. - -Mexico certainly existed before the discovery of America, and our -readers will probably pardon a digression showing how the foundation of -the city is narrated by old chroniclers. - -In the year of the death of Huetzin, King of Tezcuco, that is to say, -the "spot where people stop," because it was at this very place that the -migration of the Chichimeques terminated, the Mexicans made an eruption -into the country, and reached the place where Mexico now stands, at the -beginning of the year 1140 of our era. This place then formed part of -the dominions of Aculhua, Lord of Azcapotzalco. - -According to paintings and the old chronicles, these Indians came from -the empires of the province of Xalisco. It appears that they were of the -same race as the Toltecs, and of the family of the noble Huetzin, who -with his children and servants escaped during the destruction of the -Toltecs, and was residing at that period at Chapultepec, which was also -destroyed at a later date. - -It is recorded that he traversed with them the country of Michoacan, -and took refuge in the province of Atzlan, where he died, and had for -his successors Ozolopan, his son, and Aztlal, his grandson, whose heir -was Ozolopan II. The latter, remembering the country of his ancestors, -resolved to return thither with his entire nation, which was already -called Mezetin. After many adventures and combats, they at length -reached the banks of a great lake covered with an infinitude of islands, -and as the recollection of their country had been traditionally kept up -among them, they at once recognized it, though not one of them had even -seen it before. Too weak to resist the people that surrounded them, or -to establish themselves in the open country, they founded on several of -the islands, which they connected together, a town, which they called -after themselves, Mexico, and which at a later date was destined to be -the capital of a powerful empire. - -Although the Mexicans arrived on the banks of the lake in 1140, it was -not till two years later that the American Venice began to emerge from -the bosom of the waters. - -We have dwelt on these details in order to correct an error made by a -modern author, who attributes to the Aztecs the foundation of this city, -to which he gives the name of Tenochtitlan, instead of Temixtetlan, -which is the correct name.[1] - -Like Venice, its European sister, Mexico was only a collection of -cabins, offering a precarious shelter to wretched fishermen, who were -incessantly kept in a state of alarm by the attacks of their neighbours. -The Mexicans, at first scattered over a great number of small islands, -felt the necessity of collecting together in order to offer a better -resistance. By their patience and courage they succeeded in building -houses, raised on piles, and employing the mud of the lagoons, held -together by branches of trees, they created the _chinampas_, or floating -gardens, the most curious in the world, on which they sowed vegetables, -pimento, and maize, and thus, with the aquatic birds they managed to -catch on the lake, they contrived to be entirely independent of their -neighbours. - -Almost destroyed during the obstinate fights between the natives and the -Spaniards, Mexico, four years after the conquest, was entirely rebuilt -by Fernando Cortez. But the new city in no way resembled the old one. -Most of the canals were filled up, and paved over; magnificent palaces -and sumptuous monasteries rose as if by enchantment, and the city became -entirely Spanish. - -Mexico has been so frequently described by more practised pens than -ours, and we, in previous works, have had such frequent occasions -to allude to it, that we will not attempt any description here, but -continue our story without further delay. - -It was October 12th, 1854, two months, day for day, had elapsed since -the unfortunate Count de Prebois Crance, victim of an iniquitous -sentence, had honourably fallen at Guaymas beneath the Mexican -bullets.[2] A thick fog had hung over the city for the whole day, -changing at times into a fine drizzle, which after sunset became -sharper, although a heavy fog still prevailed. However, at about eight -in the evening the rain ceased to fall, and the stagnant waters of the -lake began to reflect a few particles of brighter sky. The snow-clad -summit of Iztaczihuatl, or the White Woman, feebly glistened in the pale -watery moonbeams, while Popocatepetl remained buried in the clouds.[3] - -The streets and squares were deserted, although the night was not yet -far advanced; for the loungers and promenaders, driven away by the -weather, had returned to their homes. A deep silence brooded over the -city, whose lights expired one after the other, and only at lengthened -intervals could be heard on the greasy pavement the footsteps of the -serenos, or watchmen, who performed their melancholy walk, with the -indifferent air peculiar to that estimable corporation. At times a few -discordant sounds, escaping from the velorios were borne along on the -breeze; but that was all--the city seemed asleep. - -Half past nine was striking by the cathedral clock at the moment when -a dull sound resembling the rustling of reeds shaken by the wind was -audible on the gigantic highway joining the city to the main land. This -sound soon became more distinct, and changed into the trampling of -horses, which was deadened by the damp air and the ground softened by -a lengthened rain. A black mass emerged from the fog, and two horsemen -wrapped in thick cloaks stood out distinctly in the moonlight. - -These horsemen seemed to have made a long journey; their steeds, -covered with mud, limped at each step, and only advanced with extreme -difficulty. They at length reached a low house, through whose dirty -panes a doubtful light issued, which showed that the inhabitants were -still awake. - -The horsemen stopped before this house, which was an inn, and without -dismounting, one of them gave the door two or three kicks, and called -the host in a loud sharp voice. The latter, doubtless disturbed by this -unusual summons at so improper an hour, was in no hurry to answer, and -would have probably left the strangers for some time in the cold, if the -man who had kicked, probably tired of waiting, had not thought of an -expeditious means of obtaining an answer. - -"_Voto a Brios!_" he shouted, as he drew a pistol from his holster, and -cocked it, "since this dog is resolved not to open, I will send a bullet -through his window." - -This menace had been scarce uttered ere the door opened as if by -enchantment, and the landlord appeared on the threshold. This man -resembled landlords in all countries; he had, like them, a sleek and -crafty look, but at this moment his obsequiousness badly concealed a -profound terror, evidenced by the earthy pallor of his face. - -"Hola, caballero," he said, with a respectful bow, "have a little -patience, if you please. Caramba! how quick you are; it is plain to -see that you are forasteros, and not acquainted with the custom of our -country." - -"No matter who I am," the stranger answered sharply; "are you a -landlord--yes or no?" - -"I have that honour, caballero," the host remarked, with a deeper bow -than the first. - -"If you are so, scoundrel," the stranger exclaimed angrily, "by what -right do you, whose duty it is to be at the orders of the public, dare -to keep me waiting thus at your door?" - -The landlord had a strong inclination to get into a passion, but the -resolute tone of the man who addressed him, and, above all, the pistol -he still held in his hand, urged him to prudence and moderation; hence -he answered with profound humility-- - -"Believe me, senor, that if I had known what a distinguished caballero -did me the honour of stopping before my humble dwelling, I should have -hastened to open." - -"A truce to such impertinent remarks, and open the door." - -The landlord bowed without replying this time, and whistled a lad, -who came to help him in holding the travellers' horses; the latter -dismounted, and entered the inn, while their tired steeds were led to -the corral by the boy. - -The room into which the travellers were introduced was low, black, and -furnished with tables and benches in a filthy state, and mostly broken, -while the floor of stamped earth was greasy and uneven. Above the bar -was a statuette of the Virgin de la Soledad, before which burned a -greasy candle. In short, this inn had nothing attractive or comfortable -about it, and seemed to be a velorio of the lowest class, apparently -used by the most wretched and least honourable ranks of Mexican society. - -A glance was sufficient for the travellers to understand the place to -which accident had led them, still they did not display any of the -disgust which the sight of this cut-throat den inspired them with. They -seated themselves as comfortably as they could at a table, and the one -who had hitherto addressed mine host went on, while his silent companion -leaned against the wall, and drew the folds of his cloak still higher up -his face. - -"Look here," he said, "we are literally dying of hunger, patron; could -you not serve us up a morsel of something? I don't care what it is in -the shape of food." - -"Hum!" said the host with an embarrassed air, "it is very late, -caballero, and I don't believe I have even a maize tortilla left in the -whole house." - -"Nonsense," the traveller replied, "I know all about it, so let us deal -frankly with each other; give me some supper, for I am hungry, and we -will not squabble about the price." - -"Even if you paid me a piastre for every tortilla, excellency, I really -could not supply you with two," the landlord replied, with increased -constraint. - -The traveller looked at him fixedly for a moment or two, and then laid -his hand firmly on his arm, and pulled him toward the table. - -"Now, look here, No Lusacho," he said to him curtly, "I intend to pass -two hours in your hovel, at all risks; I know that between this and -eleven o'clock you expect a large party, and that all is prepared to -receive them." - -The landlord attempted to give a denial, but the traveller cut him short. - -"Silence," he continued, "I wish to be present at the meeting of these -persons; of course I do not mean them to see me; but I must not only -see them, but hear all they say. Put me where you please, that is your -concern; but as any trouble deserves payment, here are ten ounces for -you, and I will give you as many more when your visitors have gone, and -I assure you that what I ask of you will not in any way compromise -you, and that no one will ever know the bargain made between us--you -understand me, I suppose? Now, I will add, that if you obstinately -refuse the arrangement I offer----" - -"Well, suppose I do?" - -"I will blow out your brains," the traveller said distinctly; "my friend -here will put you on his shoulder, throw you into the water, and all -will be over. What do you think of my proposal?" - -"Hang it, excellency," the poor fellow answered, with a grimace which -attempted to resemble a smile, and trembling in all his limbs, "I think -that I have no choice, and am compelled to accept." - -"Good! now you are learning reason; but take these ounces as a -consolation." - -The landlord pocketed the money, as he raised his eyes to heaven and -gave a deep sigh. - -"Fear nothing, _viva Dios_!" the traveller continued; "all will pass off -better than you suppose. At what hour do you expect your visitors?" - -"At half past ten, excellency." - -"Good! it is half past nine, we have time before us. Where do you -propose to hide us?" - -"In this room, excellency." - -"Here, diablo; whereabouts?" - -"Behind the bar; no one will dream of looking for you there, and, -besides, I shall serve as a rampart to you." - -"Then you will be present at the meeting?" - -"Oh!" he said with a smile, "I am nobody; the more so, that if I spoke, -my house would be ruined." - -"That is true. Well, then, all is settled; when the hour arrives, you -will place us behind the bar; but can my companion and I sit there with -any degree of comfort?" - -"Oh, you will have plenty of room." - -"I fancy this is not the first time such a thing has occurred, eh?" - -The landlord smiled, but made no answer: the traveller reflected for a -moment. - -"Give us something to eat," he at length said; "here are two piastres in -addition for what you are going to place before us." - -The landlord took the money, and forgetting that he had declared a -few moments previously that he had nothing in the house, he instantly -covered the table with provisions, which, if not particularly delicate, -were, however, sufficiently appetizing, especially for men whose -appetite appeared to be powerfully excited. - -The two travellers vigorously attacked this improvised supper, and for -about twenty minutes no other sound was heard but that of their jaws. -When their hunger was at length appeased, the traveller who seemed to -speak for both, thrust away his plate, and addressed the landlord, who -was modestly standing behind him hat in hand. - -"And now for another matter," he said; "how many lads have you to help -you?" - -"Two, excellency--the one who took your horses to the corral, and -another." - -"Very good. I presume you will not require both those lads to wait on -your friends tonight?" - -"Certainly not, excellency; indeed, for greater security, I shall wait -on them alone." - -"Better still; then, you see no inconvenience in sending of them into -the Cuidad; of course on the understanding that he is well paid for the -trip?" - -"No inconvenience at all, excellency; what is the business?" - -"Simply," he said, taking a letter from his bosom, "to convey this -letter to Senor Don Antonio Rallier, in the Calle Secunda Monterilla, -and bring me back the answer in the shortest possible period to this -house." - -"That is easy, excellency; if you will have the kindness to intrust the -letter to me." - -"Here it is, and four piastres for the journey." - -The host bowed respectfully, and immediately left the room. - -"I fancy, Curumilla," the traveller then said to his companion, "that -our affairs are going well." - -The other replied by a silent nod of assent, and a moment the landlord -returned. - -"Well?" the traveller asked. - -"Your messenger has set off, excellency, but he will probably be some -time ere he returns." - -"Why so?" - -"Because people are not allowed to ride about the city at night without -a special authority, and he will be obliged to go and return on foot." - -"No consequence, so long as he returns before sunrise." - -"Oh, long before then, excellency." - -"In that case all is for the best; but I think the moment is at hand -when your friends will arrive." - -"It is, excellency, so have the kindness to follow me." - -"All right." - -The travellers rose; in a twinkling the landlord removed all signs of -supper, and then hid his guests behind the bar. This bar, which was -very tall and deep, offered them a perfectly secure, if not convenient, -hiding place, in which they crouched down with a pistol in each hand, in -order to be ready for any event. They had scarce installed themselves -ere several knocks, dealt in a peculiar fashion, were heard on the outer -door. - - -[1] In order to protect themselves from the misfortunes which had before -crushed them, the Mexicans placed themselves under the safeguard of the -King of Azcapotzalco, on whose lands they had established themselves. -This prince gave them two of his sons as governors, of whom the first -was Acamapuhtli, chief of the Tenochcas. On their arrival in Ahanuec, -these Indians had found on the summit of a rock a nopal, in which was an -eagle devouring a serpent, and they took their name from it. Acamapuhtli -selected this emblem as the _totem_ of the race he was called upon to -govern. During the War of Independence, the insurgents adopted this -hieroglyphic as the arms of the Mexican Republic, in memory of the -ancient and glorious origin of which it reminded them. - -[2] See the "Indian Chief." Same publishers. - -[3] This second volcano, whose name indicates "The Smoking Mountain," is -near the former. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE RANCHO. - - -In one of our previous works we proved by documentary evidence -that, since the declaration of its independence, that is to say, in -about forty years, Mexico has reached its two hundred and thirtieth -revolution which gives an average of about five revolutions a year. In -our opinion, this is very decent for a country which, if it pleased, -regard being had to the retrograde measures adopted by the government, -would have been justified in having at least one a month. - -The causes of these revolutions are and must be ever the same in -a country where the sabre rules without control, and which counts -_twenty-four_ thousand officers for an army of twenty thousand -men. These officers, very ignorant generally, and very ambitious -individually, incapable of executing the slightest manoeuvre, or -commanding the most simple movement, find in the general disorder -chances of promotion which they would not otherwise have, and many -Mexican generals have attained their elevated rank without having once -been present at a battle, or even seen any other fire than that of -the cigarettes they constantly have in their mouths. The real truth -is, they have skilfully pronounced themselves; each _pronunciamiento_ -has gained them a step, sometimes two, and with pronunciamiento after -pronunciamiento, they have acquired the general's scarf, that is to say, -the probability, with the aid of luck, of being in their turn proclaimed -President of the Republic, which is the dream of all of them, and the -constant object of their efforts. - -We have said that the travellers had scarce time to conceal themselves -in the bar, ere several knocks on the door warned the landlord that the -mysterious guests he expected were beginning to arrive. - -No Lusacho was a fat little man, with constantly rolling gray eyes, a -cunning look, and a prominent stomach--the true type of the Mexican -Ranchero, who is more eager for gain than two Jews, and very ready when -circumstances demand it, that is to say, when his own interests are -concerned, to make a bargain with his conscience. He assured himself by -a glance that all was in order in the room, and that there was nothing -to cause the presence of strangers to be suspected, and then walked to -the door; but, before opening, with the probable intention of displaying -his zeal, he thought it advisable to challenge the arrivals. - -"?Quien vive?" he asked. - -"Gente de paz!" a rough voice answered; "open in the Fiend's name, if -you do not wish us to break in your door." - -No Lusacho doubtless recognized the voice, for the somewhat brusque -response appeared to him sufficient, and he immediately prepared to draw -back the bolts. - -The door was hardly ajar ere several men burst into the inn, thrusting -each other aside in their haste, as if afraid of being followed. These -men were seven or eight in number; and it was easy to see they were -officers, in spite of the precaution of some among them who had put on -civilian attire. - -They laughed and jested loudly, which proved that, if they were -conspirators, or, at least, if they were brought to this ill-famed den -by any illicit object, that object, whatever it might be, did not spoil -their gaiety or appear to them of sufficient importance to render -them unwontedly serious. - -They seated themselves at a table, and the landlord, who had doubtless -long been acquainted with their habits, placed before them a bottle of -Catalonian refino and a jug of pulque, which they straightway began -swallowing while rolling their cigarettes. - -The door of the rancho had been left ajar by the landlord, who probably -thought it unnecessary to close it; the officers succeeded each other -with great rapidity, and their number soon became so great, that the -room, though very spacious, was completely filled. The newcomers -followed the example of those who had preceded them; they seated -themselves at a table, and began drinking and smoking, not appearing to -trouble themselves about the earlier comers, to whom they merely bowed -as they entered. - -As for No Lusacho, he continually prowled round the tables, watching -everything with a corner of his eyes, and being careful not to serve the -slightest article without receiving immediate payment. At length one of -the officers rose, and, after rapping his glass on the table several -times to attract attention, he asked-- - -"Is Don Sirven here?" - -"Yes, senor," a young man of twenty at the most answered as he rose. His -effeminate features were already worn by precocious debauchery. - -"Assure yourself that no person is absent." - -The young man bowed, and began walking from one table to the other, -exchanging two or three words in a low voice with each of the visitors. -When Don Sirven had gone round the room, he went to the person who had -addressed him, and said with a respectful bow-- - -"Senor coronel, the meeting is complete, and only one person is absent; -but as he did not tell us certainly whether he would do us the honour of -being present tonight, I----" - -"That will do, alferez," the colonel interrupted him; "remain outside -the house, carefully watch the environs, and let no one approach without -challenging him, but if you know who arrives, introduce him immediately. -You have heard me, so execute my orders punctually; you understand the -importance of passive obedience for yourself." - -"You can trust to me, coronel," the young man answered; and, after -bowing to his superior officer, he left the room and closed the door -behind him. - -The officers, then, without getting up, turned round on the benches, and -thus found themselves face to face with the colonel, who had stationed -himself in the middle of the room. The latter waited a few minutes till -perfect silence was established, and then, after bowing to the audience, -he spoke as follows;-- - -"Let me, in the first place, thank you, caballeros, for the punctuality -with which you have responded to the meeting I had the honour of -arranging with you. I am delighted at the confidence it has pleased you -to display in me, and, believe me, I shall show myself worthy of it; for -it proves to me once again that you are really devoted to the interests -of our country, and that it may freely reckon on you in the hour of -danger." - -This first portion of the colonel's speech was drowned in applause, -as was only fitting. This colonel was a man of about forty years of -age, of herculean stature, and looking more like a butcher than an -honest soldier. His cunning looks did not at all inspire confidence, -and every step in his profession had been the reward of an act of -treachery. He was a most valuable man in a conspiracy on this account, -for being so old a hand at pronunciamientos, people knew that he was too -clever to join a losing cause; hence, he inspired his accomplices with -unlimited confidence. After allowing time for the enthusiasm to calm, he -continued-- - -"I am pleased, senores, not at this applause, but at the devotion you so -constantly display for the public welfare. You understand as well as I -do that we can no longer bow our necks beneath the despotic government -that tyrannizes over us. The man who at this moment holds our destinies -in his hands has shown himself unworthy of the mandate we confided to -him; by failing in his duties towards us, he has liberated us from the -oath of obedience we took to him. Human patience has its limits, and the -hour will soon strike for the man who has deceived us to be overthrown." - -The colonel had made a start, and would probably have continued his -plausible speech for a long time in an emphatic voice, had not one of -his audience, evidently wearied of finding nothing positive or clear in -this flood of sounding words, suddenly interrupted him-- - -"That is all very fine, colonel," he said, "_Rayo de Dios!_ we are all -aware that we are gentlemen devoted, body and soul, to our country; but -devotion must be paid for, _cuerpo de Cristo!_ What shall we get by all -this after all? We have not assembled here to compliment each other; -but, on the contrary, to come to a definite understanding. So pray come -to the point at once." - -The colonel was at first slightly embarrassed by this warm apostrophe; -but he recovered himself at once, and turned with a smile to his -interrupter-- - -"I was coming to it, my dear captain, at the very moment when you cut -across my speech." - -"Oh, that is different," the captain answered; "pray suppose that I had -not spoken, and explain the affair in a couple of words." - -"In the first place," the colonel went on, "I have news for you which I -feel assured you will heartily welcome. This is the last time we shall -meet." - -"Very good," said the practical captain, encouraged by the winks of his -companions, "let us hear first what the reward is." - -The colonel saw that he could no longer dally with the matter, for all -his hearers openly took part with their comrade, and murmurs of evil -augury were beginning to be audible. At the moment when he resolved to -tell all he knew, the door of the inn was opened, and a man wrapped -in a large cloak quickly entered the room, preceded by the Alferez Don -Sirven, who shouted in a loud voice-- - -"The general. Caballeros, the general." - -At this announcement silence was re-established as if by enchantment. -The person called the general stopped in the middle of the room, looked -around him, and then took off his hat, let his cloak fall from his -shoulders, and appeared in the full-dress uniform of a general officer. - -"Long live General Guerrero!" the officers shouted, as they rose -enthusiastically. - -"Thanks, gentlemen, thanks," the general responded with numerous bows. -"This warm feeling fills me with delight; but pray be silent, that we -may properly settle the matter which has brought us here; moments are -precious, and, in spite of the precautions we have taken, our presence -at this inn may have been denounced." - -All collected round the general with a movement of interest easy to -understand. The latter continued-- - -"I will come at once to facts," he said, "without entering into idle -speculations, which would cause us to waste valuable time. In a word, -then, what is it we want? To overthrow the present government, and -establish another more in conformity with our opinions and, above all, -our interests." - -"Yes, yes," the officers exclaimed. - -"In that case we are conspiring against the established authority, -and are rebels in the eyes of the law," the general continued coolly -and distinctly; "as such, we stake our heads, and must not attempt -any self-deception on this point. If our attempt fails, we shall be -pitilessly shot by the victor; but we shall not fail," he hastily -added, on noticing the impression these ill-omened words produced on -his hearers; "we shall not fail, because we are resolutely playing a -terrible game, and each of us knows that his fortune depends on winning -the game. From the alferez up to the brigadier-general each knows that -success will gain him two steps of promotion, and such a stake is -sufficient to determine the least resolute to be staunch when the moment -arrives to begin the struggle." - -"Yes, yes," the captain whose observations had, previous to the -general's arrival, so greatly embarrassed the colonel, said, "all that -is very fine. Jumping up two steps is a most agreeable thing; but we -were promised something else in your name, excellency." - -The general smiled. - -"You are right, captain," he remarked; "and I intend to keep all -promises made in my name--but not, as you might reasonably suppose, when -our glorious enterprise has succeeded. If I waited till then, you might -fear lest I should seek pretexts and excuses to evade their performance." - -"When then, pray?" the captain asked, curiously. - -"At once, senores," the general exclaimed, in a loud voice, and, -addressing the whole company, "I wish to prove to you that my confidence -in you is entire, and that I put faith in the word you pledged to me." - -Joy, astonishment, incredulity, perhaps, so paralyzed his hearers, that -they were unable to utter a syllable. The general examined them for a -moment, and then, turning away with a mocking smile, he walked to the -front door, which he opened. The officers eagerly watched his movements, -with panting chests, and the general, after looking out, coughed twice. - -"Here I am, excellency," a voice said, issuing from the fog. - -"Bring in the bags," Don Sebastian ordered, and then quietly returned to -the middle of the room. - -Almost immediately after a man entered, bearing a heavy leather -saddlebag. It was Carnero, the capataz. At a signal from his master, -he deposited his bundle and went out; but returned shortly after with -another bag, which he placed by the side of the first one. Then, after -bowing to his master, he withdrew, and the door closed upon him. - -The general opened the bags, and a flood of gold poured in a trickling -cascade on the table; the officers instinctively bent forward, and held -out their quivering hands. - -"Now, senores," the general said, still perfectly calm, as he carelessly -rested his arm on the pile of gold; "permit me to remind you of our -agreement; there are thirty-five of us at present, I believe?" - -"Yes, general, thirty-five," the captain replied, who seemed to have -appointed himself speaker in ordinary for self and partners. - -"Very good; these thirty-five caballeros are thus subdivided:--ten -alferez, who will each receive twenty-five ounces of silver. Senor Don -Jaime Lupo," he said, turning to the colonel, "will you be kind enough -to hand twenty-five ounces to each of these gentlemen?" - -The alferez, or sub-lieutenants, broke through the ranks, and boldly -came up to receive the ounces, which the colonel delivered to each of -them; then they fell back with a delight they did not attempt to conceal. - -"Now," the general continued, "twelve captains, to each of whom I wish -you to offer, on my behalf, Don Lupo, fifty ounces." - -The captains pocketed the money with no more ceremony than the alferez -had displayed. - -"We have ten tenientes, each of whom is to receive thirty-five ounces, I -believe?" - -The tenientes, or lieutenants, who had begun to frown on seeing the -captains paid before them, received their money with a bow. - -"There now remain three colonels, each of whom has a claim to one -hundred ounces," the general said; "be kind enough to pay them, my dear -colonel." - -The latter did not let the invitation be repeated twice. Still the -entire pile of gold was not exhausted, and a considerable sum still -remained on the table. Don Sebastian Guerrero passed his hands several -times through the glittering metal, and at length thrust it from him. - -"Senores," he said, with an engaging smile, "about five hundred ounces -remain, which I do not know what to do with; may I ask you to divide -them among you, as subsistence money while awaiting the signal you are -to receive from me." - -At this truly regal act of munificence, the enthusiasm attained its -highest pitch; the cries and protestations of devotion became frenzied. -The general alone remained impassive, and looked coldly at the division -made by the colonel. - -"When all the gold had disappeared, and the effervescence was beginning -to subside, Don Sebastian, who, like the Angel of Evil, had looked with -a profoundly mocking smile at these men so utterly under the influence -of cupidity, slightly tapped the table, to request silence. - -"Senores," he said, "I have kept all my promises, and have acquired the -right to count on you; we shall not meet again, but at a future day I -will let you know my intentions. Still be ready to act at the first -signal; in ten days is the anniversary festival of the Proclamation of -Independence, and, if nothing deranges my plans, I shall probably choose -that day to try, with your assistance, to deliver the country from the -tyrants who oppress it. However, I will be careful to have you warned. -So now let us separate; the night is far advanced, and a longer stay at -this spot might compromise the sacred interests for which we have sworn -to die." - -He bowed to the conspirators, but, on reaching the door, turned round -again. - -"Farewell, senores," he said, "be faithful to me." - -"We will die for you, general," Colonel Lupo answered, in the name of -all. - -The general gave a final bow and went out; almost immediately the hoofs -of several horses could be heard echoing on the paved street. - -"As we have nothing more to do here, caballeros," the colonel said, -"we had better separate without further delay; but do not forget the -general's parting recommendation." - -"Oh, no," the captain said, gleefully rattling the gold, with which his -pockets were filled. "Don Sebastian Guerrero is too generous for us not -to be faithful to him; besides, he appears to me at the present moment -the only man capable of saving our unhappy country from the abyss. We -are all too deeply attached to our country and too devoted to its real -interests, not to sacrifice ourselves for it, when circumstances demand -it." - -The conspirators laughingly applauded this speech of the captain's, and -after exchanging courteous bows, they withdrew as they had come; that is -to say, they left the inn one after the other, not to attract attention. -They carefully wrapped themselves in their cloaks, and went off in -parties of three and four, with their hands on their weapons, for fear -of any unpleasant encounter. - -A quarter of an hour later, the room was empty, and the landlord bolted -the door for the night. - -"Well, senores," he asked the two strangers, who now left the hiding -place in which they had been crouching for upwards of two hours, "are -you satisfied?" - -"We could not be more so," replied the one who had been the sole speaker -hitherto. - -"Yes, yes," the landlord continued, "three or four more -pronunciamientos, and I believe I shall be able to retire on a decent -competency." - -"That is what I wish you, No Lusacho, and, to begin, a thing promised is -a thing done; here are your ten ounces." - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -THE PASEO DE BUCARELI. - - -Mexico is a country of extensive prospects and magnificent views; and -the poet Carpio is right when he says enthusiastically, in the poem in -which he sings the praises of his country-- - - "Que magnificos tienes horizontes!" - -In truth, the prospect is the first and greatest beauty of Mexico. - -The plateau of Mexico is situated exactly in the centre of a circle of -mountains. On all sides the landscape is bounded by admirable peaks, -whose snowy crests soar above the clouds, and in the golden beams of the -setting sun they offer the most sublime pictures of the imposing and -grand Alpine nature. - -In the general description we attempted of Mexico we omitted to allude -to its promenades, of which we intended previously to give a detailed -account. - -In Europe, and especially in France, promenades are wanting in the -interior of towns; and it is only during the last few years that Paris -has possessed any worthy of a capital. In Spain, on the contrary, the -smallest market town has at least one alameda, where, after the torrid -heat of the day, the inhabitants breathe the evening breeze, and rest -from their labours. Alameda, a soft and graceful word to pronounce, -which we might be tempted to take for Arabic, and to which some -ill-informed scholars, unacquainted with Spanish, attribute a Latin -origin, while it is simply Castilian, and literally signifies "a place -planted with poplars." - -The Alameda of Mexico is one of the most beautiful in America. It -is situated at one of the extremities of the city, and forms a long -square, with a wall of circumvallation bordered by a deep ditch, whose -muddy, fetid waters, owing to the negligence of the government, exhale -pestilential miasmas. At each corner of the promenade a gate offers -admission to carriages, riders, and pedestrians, who walk silently -beneath a thick awning of verdure, formed by willows, elms, and poplars -that border the principal road. These trees are selected with great -tact, and are always green, for although the leaves are renewed, it -takes place gradually and imperceptibly, so that the branches are never -entirely stripped of their foliage. - -Numerous walks converge to open spots adorned with gushing fountains, -and clumps of jessamine, myrtle, and rose bushes, surrounded by stone -benches for the tired promenaders. Statues, unfortunately far below -mediocrity in their execution, stand at the entrance of each walk; but, -thanks to the deep shadow, the whistling of the evening breeze in the -foliage, the buzz of the hummingbirds flying from flower to flower, and -the harmonious strains of the cenzontles hidden in the fragrant clumps, -you gradually forget those unlucky statues, and fall into a gentle -reverie, during which the mind is borne to unknown regions, and seems no -longer connected with earth. - -But Mexico is a thorough country of contrasts. At each step barbarism -elbows the most advanced civilization. Hence all the carriages, after -driving a few times round the Alameda, take the direction of the Paseo -de Bucareli, and the promenaders spread over a walk, in the Centre of -which there is a large window in the Wall, protected by rusty iron bars, -and through which come puffs of poisoned air. It is the window of the -Deadhouse, into which are daily thrown pell-mell the bodies of men, -women, and children, assassinated during the previous night, hideous, -bloody, and disfigured by death! What a brilliant, what a delicious -idea, to have placed the Deadhouse exactly between the two city walks! - -The Paseo, or promenade, of Bucareli--so called after the Viceroy who -gave it to Mexico--resembles the Champs Elysees of Paris. It is, in -reality, merely a wide road, with no other ornament than a double row of -willow and beech trees, with two circular places, in the centre of which -are fountains, adorned with detestable allegorical statues and stone -benches for pedestrians. - -At the entrance of the Paseo de Bucareli has been placed an equestrian -statue of Charles IV., which in 1824 adorned the Plaza Mayor of Mexico. -When the Emperor Iturbide fell, this monument was removed from the -square and placed in the University Palace yard--a lesson, we may here -remark, given by a comparatively barbarous people to civilized nations, -who in revolutions, as a first trial of liberty, and forgetting that -history records everything in her imperishable annals, carry their -Vandalism so far as to destroy everything that recalls the government -they have overthrown. Owing to the intelligent moderation of the -Mexicans, the promenaders can still admire, at the Bucareli, this really -remarkable statue, due to the talent of the Spanish sculptor, Manuel -Tolsa, and cast in one piece by Salvador de la Vega. The sight of this -masterpiece ought to induce the Mexican municipality to remove the -pitiable statues which disgrace the two finest promenades in the city. - -From the Paseo de Bucareli a magnificent prospect is enjoyed of the -panorama of mountains bathed in the luminous vapours of night; you -perceive, through the arches of the gigantic aqueduct the white fronts -of the haciendas clinging to the sides of the Sierra, the fields of -Indian corn bending softly before the breeze, and the snowy peaks of the -volcanoes, crowned with mist, and lost in the sky. - -It is not till night has almost set in that the promenaders, leaving -the Alameda, proceed to the Bucareli, where the carriages take two or -three turns, and then equipages, riders, and pedestrians, retire one -after the other. The promenade is deserted, the entire crowd, just now -so gay and noisy, has disappeared as if by enchantment, and you only see -between the trees some belated promenader, who, wrapped in his cloak, -and with eye and ear on the watch, is hastily returning home, for, after -nightfall, the thieves take possession of the promenade, and without the -slightest anxiety about the serenos and celadores appointed to watch -over the public security, they carry on their trade with a boldness -which the certainty of impunity can alone engender. - -It was evening, and, as usual, the Alameda was crowded; handsome -carriages, brilliant riders, and modest pedestrians were moving -backwards and forwards, with cries, laughter, and joyous calls, as they -sought or chased each other in the walks. Monks, soldiers, officers, men -of fashion, and leperos, were mixed together, carelessly smoking their -cigars and cigarettes under each other's noses, with the recklessness -and negligence peculiar to southern nations. - -Suddenly, the first stroke of the Oracion broke through the air. At the -sound of the Angelus-bell, as if the entire crowd had been struck by an -enchanter's wand, horses, carriages, and pedestrians stopped, the seated -citizens left the benches on which they were resting, and a solemn -silence fell on all; every person took off his hat, crossed himself, -and for four or five minutes this crowd, an instant before so noisy, -remained dumb and silent. But the last stroke of the Oracion had scarce -died away, ere horses and carriages set out again; the shouts, the -songs, and talking, became louder than before; each resumed the sentence -at the point where he had broken it off. - -By degrees, however, the promenaders proceeded toward the Bucareli: the -carriages became scarcer, and by the time night had quite set in, the -Alameda was completely deserted. - -A horseman, dressed in a rich Campesino costume, and mounted on a -magnificent horse, which he managed with rare skill, then entered the -Alameda, along which he galloped for about twenty minutes, examining the -sidewalks, the clumps of trees, and the densest bushes: in a word, he -seemed to be looking for somebody or something. - -However, after a while, whether he had convinced himself that his search -would have no result, or for some other motive, he gave the click of the -tongue peculiar to the Mexican jinetes, lifted his horse which started -at an amble, and proceeded toward the Paseo de Bucareli, after bowing -sarcastically to some ill-looking horsemen who were beginning to prowl -round him, but whom his vigorous appearance and haughty demeanour had -hitherto kept at arm's length. - -Although the darkness was too dense at this moment for it to be possible -to see the horseman's face distinctly, which was in addition half -covered by the brim of his vicuna hat, all about him evidenced strength -and youth; he was armed as if for a nocturnal expedition, and had on -his saddle, in spite of police regulations, a thin, carefully rolled up -reata. - -We will say, parenthetically, that the reata is considered in Mexico so -dangerous a weapon, that it requires special permission to carry one at -the saddle-bow, in the streets of Mexico. - -The salteadores, who occupy the streets after nightfall, and reign with -undisputed sway over them, employ no other weapon to stop the persons -they wish to plunder. They cast the running knot round their necks, dash -forward at full speed, and the unlucky man, half strangled, and dragged -from the saddle, falls unresistingly into their hands. - -At the moment when the traveller we are following reached the Bucareli, -the last carriages were leaving it, and it was soon as deserted as the -Alameda. He galloped up and down the promenade twice or thrice, looking -carefully down the side rides, and at the end of his third turn a -horseman, coming from the Alameda, passed on his right hand, giving him -in a low voice the Mexican salute, "Santisima noche, caballero!" - -Although this sentence had nothing peculiar about it, the horseman -started, and immediately turning his horse round, he started in pursuit -of the person who had thus greeted him. Within a minute the two horsemen -were side by side; the first comer, so soon as he saw that he was -followed, checked his horse's pace, as if with the intention of entering -into the most direct communication with the person he had addressed. - -"A fine night for a ride, senor," the first horseman said, politely -raising his hand to his hat. - -"It is," the second answered, "although it is beginning to grow late." - -"The moment is only the better chosen for certain private conversation." - -The second horseman looked around, and bending over to the speaker, -said-- - -"I almost despaired of meeting you." - -"Did I not let you know that I should come?" - -"That is true; but I feared that some sudden obstacle----" - -"Nothing ought to impede an honest man in accomplishing a sacred duty," -the first horseman answered, with an emphasis on the words. - -"The other bowed with an air of satisfaction. Then," he said, "I can -count on you, No ----." - -"No names here, senor," the other sharply interrupted him. "Caspita, an -old wood ranger like you, a man who has long been a Tigrero, ought to -remember that the trees have ears and the leaves eyes." - -"Yes, you are right. I should and do remember it; but permit me to -remark that if it is not possible for us to talk about business here, I -do not know exactly where we can do so." - -"Patience, senor, I wish to serve you, as you know, for you were -recommended to me by a man to whom I can refuse nothing. Let yourself, -therefore, be guided by me, if you wish us to succeed in this affair, -which, I confess to you at once, offers enormous difficulties, and must -be managed with the greatest prudence." - -"I ask nothing better; still you must tell me what I ought to do." - -"For the present very little; merely follow me at a distance to the -place where I purpose taking you." - -"Are we going far?" - -"Only a few paces; behind the barracks of the Acordades, in a small -street called the Callejon del Pajaro." - -"Hum! and what am I to do in this street?" - -"What a suspicious man you are!" the first horseman said with a laugh. -"Listen to me then. About the middle of the Callejon I shall stop -before a house of rather poor appearance; a man will come and hold my -horse while I enter. A few minutes later you will pull up there; after -assuring yourself that you are not followed you will dismount; give your -horse to the man who is holding mine, and without saying a word to him, -or letting him see your face, you will enter the house, and shut the -door after you. I shall be in the yard, and will lead you to a place -where we shall be able to talk in safety. Does that suit you?" - -"Famously; although I do not understand why I, who have set foot in -Mexico today for the first time, should find it necessary to employ such -mighty precautions." - -The first horseman laughed sarcastically. - -"Do you wish to succeed?" he asked. - -"Of course," the other exclaimed energetically, "even if it cost me my -life." - -"In that case do as you are recommended." - -"Go on, I follow you." - -"Is that settled? you understand all about it?" - -"I do." - -The second horseman then checked his steed to let the first one go on -ahead, and both keeping a short distance apart, proceeded at a smart -trot toward the statue of Charles IV., which, as we said, stands at the -entrance of the Paseo. - -While conversing, the two horsemen had forgotten the advanced hour of -the night, and the solitude that surrounded them. At the moment when -the first rider passed the equestrian statue, a slip knot fell on his -shoulders, and he was roughly dragged from his saddle. - -"Help!" he shouted in a choking voice. - -The second rider had seen all; quick as thought he whirled his lasso -round his head, and galloping at full speed, hurled it after the -Salteador at the moment when he passed twenty yards from him. - -The Salteador was stopped dead, and hurled from his horse; the worthy -robber had not suspected that another person beside himself could have a -lasso so handy. The horseman, without checking his speed, cut the reata -that was strangling his companion, and, turning back, dragged the robber -after him. - -The first horseman so providentially saved, freed himself from the -slip knot that choked him, and, hardly recovered from the alarm he had -experienced from his heavy fall, he whistled to his horse, which came up -at once, remounted as well as he could, and rejoined his liberator, who -had stopped a short distance off. - -"Thanks," he said to him, "henceforth we are stanch friends; you have -saved my life, and I shall remember it." - -"Nonsense," the other answered, "I only did what you would have done in -my place." - -"That is possible, but I shall be grateful to you on the word of a -Carnero," he exclaimed, forgetting in his joy the hint he had given a -short time previously, not to make use of names, and revealing his own -incognito; "is the picaro dead?" - -"Very nearly so, I fancy; what shall we do with him?" - -"Make a corpse of him," the capataz said bluntly. "We are only -two paces from the deadhouse, and he can be carried there without -difficulty. Though he is an utter scoundrel and tried to assassinate -me, the police are so well managed in our unhappy country that if -we committed the imprudence of letting him live, we should have -interminable disputes with the magistrates." - -Then, dismounting, he stooped over the bandit, stretched senseless at -his feet, removed his lasso, and coolly dashed out his brains with a -blow of his pistol butt. Immediately after this summary execution, the -two men left the Paseo de Bucareli, but this time side by side, through -fear of a new accident. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION. - - -Directly on emerging from the Paseo, the two men separated, as had been -agreed on between them; that is to say, the capataz went ahead, followed -at a respectful distance by Martial the Tigrero, whom the reader has -doubtless recognized. - -All happened as the capataz had announced. The streets were deserted, -the horsemen only met a few half sleeping serenos leaning against the -walls, and were only crossed by a patrol of celadores walking with a -hurried step, and who seemed more inclined to avoid them, than to try -and discover the motives that caused them thus to ride about the streets -of the capital at night, in defiance of the law. - -The Tigrero entered the Callejon del Pajaro, and about the middle of -the street saw the capataz's horse held by an ill-looking fellow, who -gazed curiously at him. Don Martial, following the instructions given -him, pulled his hat over his eyes to foil the mozo's curiosity, stopped -before the door, dismounted, threw his bridle to the fellow, and, -without saying a word to him, resolutely entered the house and carefully -closed the door after him. - -He then found himself in utter darkness, but after groping his way, -which was not difficult for him to do, as all Mexican houses are built -nearly on the same model, he pushed forward. After crossing the zaguan, -he entered a square yard on which several doors looked; one of these -doors was open, and a man was standing on the threshold with a cigarette -in his mouth. It was Carnero. - -The tiger-slayer went up to him; the other made room, and he walked on. -The capataz took him by the hand and whispered, "Come with me." - -In spite of the protestations of devotion previously made by the -capataz, the Tigrero in his heart was somewhat alarmed at the manner in -which he was introduced into this mysterious house; but as he was young, -vigorous, well armed, brave, and resolved, if necessary, to sell his -life dearly, he yielded his hand Unhesitatingly to Carnero, and allowed -him to guide him while seeking to pierce the darkness that surrounded -him. - -But all the windows were hermetically closed with shutters, which -allowed no gleam of light to enter from without. - -His guide led him through several rooms, the floors of which were -covered with matting that deadened the sound of footsteps; he took him -up a flight of stairs, and opening a door with a key he took from his -pocket, conducted him into a room faintly lighted by a lamp placed -before a statue of the Virgin, standing in one corner of the room, on -a species of pedestal attached to the wall, and covered with extremely -delicate lace. - -"Now," said Carnero, after closing the door, from which the Tigrero -noticed that he removed the key, "draw up a butaca, sit down and let us -talk, for we are in safety." Don Martial followed the advice given him, -and after carefully installing himself in a butaca, looked anxiously -around him. - -The room in which he found himself was rather spacious, furnished -tastefully and richly; several valuable pictures hung on the walls, -which were covered with embossed leather, while the furniture consisted -of splendid carved ebony or mahogany tables, sideboards, chiffonniers, -and butacas. On the floor was an Indian petate, several books were -scattered over the tables, and valuable plate was arranged on the -sideboard. In short, this room displayed a proper comprehension of -comfort, and the two windows, with their Moorish jalousies, gave -admission to the pure breeze which greatly refreshed the atmosphere. - -The capataz lighted two candles at the Virgin's lamp, placed them on -the table, and then fetching two bottles and two silver cups, which -he placed before the Tigrero, he drew up a butaca, and seated himself -opposite his guest. - -"Here is sherry which I guarantee to be real Xeres de los Caballeros; -this other bottle contains chinquirito, and both are at your service," -he said, with a laugh; "whether you have a weakness for sugar cane -spirits, or prefer wine." - -"Thanks," Don Martial replied, "but I do not feel inclined to drink." - -"You would not wish to insult me by refusing to hobnob with me?" - -"Very well; if you will permit me, I will take a few drops of -chinquirito in water, solely to prove to you that I am sensible of your -politeness." - -"All right," the capataz continued, as he handed him a crystal decanter, -covered with curiously worked silver filagree; "help yourself." - -When they had drunk, the capataz a glass of sherry, which he sipped like -a true amateur, and Don Tigrero a few drops of chinquirito drowned in a -glass of water, the capataz placed his glass again on the table with a -smack of his lips, and said-- - -"Now, I must give you a few words in explanation of the slightly -mysterious way in which I brought you here, in order to dispel any -doubts which may have involuntarily invaded your mind." - -"I am listening to you," the Tigrero answered. - -"Take a cigar first, they are excellent." And he lit one, after pushing -the bundle over to Don Martial: the latter selected one, and soon the -two men were enveloped in a cloud of thin and fragrant smoke. - -"We are in the mansion of General Don Sebastian Guerrero," the capataz -continued. - -"What?" the Tigrero exclaimed, with a start of uneasiness. - -"Re-assure yourself, no one saw you enter, and your presence here is -quite unknown, for the simple reason that I brought you in by my private -entrance." - -"I do not understand you." - -"And yet it is very easy to explain; the house I led you through belongs -to me. For reasons too long to tell you, and which would interest you -but slightly, during Don Sebastian's absence as Governor of Sonora, I -had a passage made, and established a communication between my house -and this mansion. Everybody save myself is ignorant of the existence -of this communication, which," he added, with a glowing smile, "may at -a given moment be of great utility to me. The room in which we now are -forms part of the suite I occupy in the mansion, in which the general, -I am proud to say, has never yet set foot. The man who took your horse -is devoted to me, and even were he to betray me, it would be of little -consequence to me, for the secret door of the passage is so closely -concealed that I have no fear of its being discovered. Hence you see -that you have nothing to fear here, where your presence is unknown." - -"But suppose you were to be sent for, through the general happening to -want you suddenly?" - -"Certainly, but I have foreseen that; it is my system never to leave -anything to chance. Although it has never happened yet, no one can enter -here without my being informed soon enough to get rid of any person who -may be with me, supposing that, for some reason or another, that person -did not desire to be seen." - -"That is capitally arranged, and I am happy to see that you are a man of -prudence." - -"Prudence is, as you know, senor, the mother of safety; and in Mexico, -before all other countries, the proverb receives its application at -every moment." - -The Tigrero bowed politely, but in the fashion of a man who considers -that the speaker has dwelt sufficiently long on one subject, and wishes -to see him pass to another. The capataz appeared to read this almost -imperceptible hint on Don Martial's face, and continued with a smile-- - -"But enough on that head, so let us pass, if you have no objection, to -the real purpose of our interview. A man, whose name it is unnecessary -to mention, but to whom, as I have already had the honour of telling -you, I am devoted body and soul, sent you to me to obtain certain -information you require, and which he supposes I am in a position to -give, I will now add, that what passed between us this evening, and the -generous way in which you rushed to my assistance, render it my bounden -duty not only to give you this information, but also to help you with -all my might in the success of the projects you are meditating, whatever -those projects may be, and the dangers I may incur in aiding you. So, -now speak openly with me; conceal nothing from me and you will only have -to praise my frankness towards you." - -"Senor," the Tigrero answered, with considerable emotion, "I thank you -the more heartily for your generous offer, for you know as well as I do -what perils are connected with the carrying out of these plans, to say -nothing of their success." - -"What you are saying is true, but it will be better, I fancy, for the -present, for me to assume to be ignorant of them, so as to leave you the -entire liberty you need for the questions you have to ask me." - -"Yes, yes," he said, shaking his head sadly, "my position is so -precarious, the struggle I am engaged in is so wild, that, although I am -supported by sincere friends, I cannot be too prudent. Tell me, then, -what you know as to the fate of the unfortunate Dona Anita de Torres. Is -she really dead, as the report spread alleged?" - -"Do you know what happened in the cavern after your fall down the -precipice?" - -"Alas! no; my ignorance is complete as to the facts that occurred after -I was abandoned as dead." - -Carnero reflected for a moment. "Listen, Don Martial: before I can -answer categorically the question you have asked me, I must tell you a -long story. Are you ready to hear it?" - -"Yes," the other answered, without hesitation, "for there are many -things I am ignorant of, which I ought to know. So speak without further -delay, senor, and though some parts of the narrative will be most -painful to me, hide nothing from me, I implore you!" - -"You shall be obeyed. Moreover, the night is not yet far advanced; time -does not press us, and in two hours you will know all." - -"I am impatiently waiting for you to begin." - -The capataz remained for some considerable time plunged in deep and -serious reflection. At length he raised his head, leant forward, and -setting his left elbow on the table, began as follows:-- - -"At the time when the facts occurred I am about to tell you, I was -living at the Hacienda del Palmar, of which I was steward. Hence I was -only witness to a portion of the facts, and only know the rest from -hearsay. When the Comanches arrived, guided by the white men, Don Sylva -de Torres was lying mortally wounded, holding in his stiffened arms his -daughter Anita, who had suddenly gone mad on seeing you roll down the -precipice in the grasp of the Indian chief. Don Sebastian Guerrero was -the only relation left to the hapless young lady, and hence she was -taken to his hacienda." - -"What?" Don Martial exclaimed in surprise. "Don Sebastian is a relation -of Dona Anita?" - -"Did you not know that?" - -"I had not the slightest idea of it; and yet I had for several years -been closely connected with the Torres family, for I was their tigrero." - -"I know it. Well, this is how the relationship exists: Don Sebastian -married a niece of Don Sylva's, so you see they were closely connected. -Still, for reasons never thoroughly made known, a few years after the -general's marriage, a dispute broke out which led to a total suspension -of intimacy between the two families. That is probably the reason why -you never heard of the connection existing between the Sylvas and the -Torres." - -The Tigrero shook his head. "Go on," he said. "How did the general -receive his relation?" - -"He was not at the hacienda at the time; but an express was sent off -to him, and I was the man. The general came post haste, seemed greatly -moved at the double misfortune that had befallen the young lady, gave -orders for her to be kindly treated, appointed several women to wait -on her, and returned to his post at Sonora, where events of the utmost -gravity summoned him." - -"Yes, yes, I have heard of the French invasion, and that their leader -was shot by the general's orders. I presume you are alluding to that?" - -"Yes. Almost immediately after these events the general returned to -the Palmar. He was no longer the same man. The horrible death of his -daughter rendered him gloomier and harsher to any person whom chance -brought into contact with him. For a whole week he remained shut up in -his apartments, refusing to see any of us; but, at last, one day he -sent for me to inquire as to what had happened at the hacienda during -his absence. I had but little to tell him, for life was too simple and -uniform at this remote dwelling for anything at all interesting for him -to have occurred. Still he listened without interruption, with his head -in his hands, and apparently taking great interest in what I told him, -especially when it referred to poor Dona Anita, whose gentle interesting -madness drew tears from us rough men, when we saw her wandering, pale -and white as a spectre, about the huerta, murmuring in a low voice one -name, ever the same, which none of us could overhear, and raising to -heaven her lovely face, bathed in tears. The general let me say all I -had to say, and when I ended he, too, remained silent for some time. At -length, raising his head, he looked at me for a moment angrily." - -"'What are you doing there?' he asked." - -"'I am waiting,' I answered, 'for the orders it may please your -excellency to give me.'" - -"He looked at me for a few more moments as if trying to read my very -thoughts, and then laid his hand on my arm. 'Carnero,' he said to me, -'you have been a long time in my service, but take care lest I should -have to dismiss you. I do not like,' he said, with a stress on the -words, 'servants who are too intelligent and too clear-sighted,' and -when I tried to excuse myself, he added, 'Not a word--profit by the -advice I have given you, and now lead me to Dona Anita's apartments.'" - -"I obeyed with hanging head; the general remained an hour with the -young lady, and I never knew what was said between them. It is true -that now and then I heard the general speaking loudly and angrily, and -Dona Anita weeping, and apparently making some entreaty to him; but -that was all, for prudence warned me to keep at too great a distance -to overhear a single word. When the general came out he was pale, and -sharply ordered me to prepare everything for his departure. The morrow -at daybreak we set out for Mexico, and Dona Anita followed us, carried -in a palanquin. The journey was a long one, but so long as it lasted the -general did not once speak to the young lady, or approach the side of -her palanquin. So soon as we reached our journey's end, Dona Anita was -carried to the Convent of the Bernardines, where she had been educated, -and the good sisters received her with tears of sorrowful sympathy. The -general, owing to the influence he enjoyed, easily succeeded in getting -himself appointed guardian to the young lady, and immediately assumed -the management of her estates, which, as you doubtless are aware, are -considerable, even in this country where large fortunes are so common." - -"I know it," said the Tigrero, with a sigh. - -"All these matters settled," the capataz continued, "the general -returned to Sonora to arrange his affairs, and hand over the government -to the person appointed to succeed him, and who started for his post -some days previously. I will not tell you what happened then, as you -know it; besides, we have only been back in Mexico for a fortnight, and -you and your friends followed our track from the Rocky Mountains." - -The Tigrero raised his head. "Is that really all?" he asked. - -"Yes," the capataz answered. - -"On your honour?" Don Martial added, looking fixedly at him. - -Carnero hesitated. "Well, no," he said at last, "there is something else -I must tell you." - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -DON MARTIAL. - - -The capataz rose, opened a door, went out for a moment, returned; to his -seat opposite the Tigrero, poured himself out a glass of sherry, which -he swallowed at a draught, and then letting his head fall in his hands, -remained silent. - -Don Martial watched with amazement the various movements of the -capataz. Seeing at last that he did not seem inclined to make the -confession he was so impatiently awaiting, he went over and touched him -slightly. Carnero started as if suddenly branded with a hot iron. - -"What you have to reveal to me must be very terrible," the Tigrero at -length said in a low voice. - -"So terrible, my friend," the capataz answered with an amount of terror -impossible to depict, "that though alone with you in this room, where no -spy can be concealed, I fear to tell it you." - -The Tigrero shook his head sadly. "Speak, my friend," he said, in a -gentle voice, "I have suffered such agony during the last few months, -that all the springs of my soul have been crushed by the fatal pressure -of despair. However horrible may be the blow that menaces me, I will -endure it without flinching; alas! grief has no longer power over me." - -"Yes, you are a man carved in granite. I know that you have struggled -triumphantly against lost fortunes; but, believe me, Don Martial, there -are sufferings a thousandfold more atrocious than death--sufferings -which I do not feel the right of inflicting on you." - -"The pity you testify for me is only weakness. I cannot die before -I have accomplished the task to which I have devoted the wretched -existence heaven left me in its wrath. I have sworn, at the peril of my -life, to protect the girl who was betrothed to me in happier times." - -"Carry out your oath, then, Don Martial; for the poor child was never in -greater peril than she is at present." - -"What do you mean? In heaven's name explain yourself," the Tigrero said -passionately. - -"I mean that Don Sebastian covets the incalculable wealth of his ward, -which he needs for the success of his ambitious plans; I mean that -remorselessly and shamelessly laying aside all human respect, forgetting -that the unfortunate girl the law has confided to him is insane, he -coldly intends to become her murderer." - -"Go on, go on! what frightful scheme can this man have formed?" - -"Oh!" the capataz continued with savage irony; "the plan is simple, -honest, and highly praised by some persons, who consider it admirable, -even sublime." - -"You will tell me?' - -"Well, know all, then; General Don Sebastian Guerrero intends to marry -his ward." - -"Marry his ward, he!" Don Martial exclaimed with horror, "'tis -impossible." - -"Impossible?" the capataz repeated with a laugh, "Oh, how little you -know this man with the implacable will, this wild beast with a human -face, who pitilessly breaks everyone who dares to resist him. He is -resolved to marry his ward in order to strip her of her fortune, and he -will do so, I tell you." - -"But she is mad!" - -"I allow she is." - -"What priest would be so unnatural as to bless this sacrilegious -marriage?" - -"Nonsense," the capataz said with a shrug of his shoulders, "you forget, -my good sir, that the general possesses the talisman which renders -everything possible, and purchases everything--men, women, honour, and -conscience; he has gold." - -"That is true, that is true," the Tigrero exclaimed in despair, and -burying his face in his hands, he remained motionless, as if suddenly -struck by lightning. - -There was a lengthened silence, during which nothing was audible but -the choking sobs that burst from Don Martial's heaving chest. It was a -heartrending sight to see this strong, brave man so tried by adversity, -now conquered and almost crushed by despair, and weeping like a -frightened child. - -The capataz, with his arms crossed on his chest, pale forehead and -eyebrows contracted almost till they met, looked at him with an -expression of gentle and sympathizing pity. - -"Don Martial," he at length said, in a sharp and imperative voice. - -"What do you want with me?" the Tigrero asked, looking up with surprise. - -"I want you to listen to me, for I have not said all yet." - -"What more can you have to tell me?" the other asked sadly. - -"Arouse yourself like the man you are, instead of remaining any longer -crushed beneath the pressure of despair, like a child or a weak woman. -Is there no hope left in your heart?" - -"Did you not tell me that this man had an implacable will which nothing -could resist?" - -"I did say so, I allow; but is that a reason for giving up the struggle? -Do you suppose him invulnerable?" - -"Yes," he exclaimed eagerly, "I can kill him." - -The capataz shrugged his shoulders contemptuously. - -"Kill him," he repeated, "nonsense; that is the vengeance of fools! -Moreover, you will still be able to do that when all other means failed. -No--you can do something else." - -Don Martial looked at him earnestly. "You hate him too then, since you -do not fear to speak to me as you are doing?" - -"No matter whether I hate him or not, so long as I am willing to serve -you." - -"That is true," the Tigrero muttered. - -"Besides," the capataz continued, "do you forget who recommended you to -me?" - -"Valentine," said Don Martial. - -"Valentine; yes, Valentine, who saved my life as you have done, and to -whom I have vowed an eternal gratitude." - -"Oh," Don Martial said mournfully, "Valentine himself has given up any -further contest with this demon." - -The capataz grinned savagely. "Do you believe that?" he asked ironically. - -"What matter?" the Tigrero muttered. - -"Grief makes you egotistic, Don Martial," the other replied; "but I -forgive you on account of the sufferings I have most unluckily caused -you." - -He broke off, poured out a glass of sherry, swallowed it, and sat down -again on his butaca. - -"He would be a bad physician," he continued, "who, having performed a -painful operation, did not know how to apply the proper remedies to -cicatrize and cure it." - -"What do you mean?" the Tigrero exclaimed interested, in spite of -himself, by the tone in which those words were uttered. - -"Do you believe," the capataz continued, "do you believe, my friend, -that I would have inflicted such great pain on you if I had not -possessed the means to cause an immense joy to succeed it? Tell me, do -you believe that?" - -"Take care, senor," the Tigrero said in a trembling voice, "take care -what you are about, for I know not why, but I am beginning to regain -hope, and I warn you that if this last illusion which you are trying to -produce were to escape me this time, you would kill me as surely as if -you stabbed me with a dagger." - -The capataz smiled with ineffable gentleness. "Hope, my friend; hope, I -tell you," he said, "that is exactly what I want to bring you to; for I -wish you to have faith in me." - -"Speak, senor," he replied; "I will listen to you with confidence, for I -do not believe you capable of sporting so coldly with agony like mine." - -"Good, we have reached the point I have been aiming at so long. Now -listen to me. I told you, I think, that on her arrival in Mexico, Dona -Anita was taken by Don Sebastian to the Convent of the Bernardines?" - -"Yes! I fancy I can remember your saying so." - -"Very good. Dona Anita was received with open arms by the good nuns who -had educated her. The young lady, on finding herself again among the -companions of her childhood, treated with kind and intelligent care, -wandering unrestrained beneath the lofty trees that had sheltered her -early years, gradually felt calmness returning to her mind; her grief -by degrees gave way to a gentle melancholy; her ideas, overthrown by a -frightful catastrophe, regained their balance; in short, the madness -which had spread its black wings over her brain was driven away by the -soft caresses of the nuns, and soon entirely disappeared." - -"So, then," Don Martial exclaimed, "she has regained her reason?" - -"I will not venture to assert that, for she is still insane in the -opinion of everybody." - -"But in that case----," the Tigrero said in a panting voice. - -"In that case," the capataz continued, purposely laying a stress on -every word, while fixing a magnetic glance on the Tigrero, "as all the -world believes it, it must be so till the contrary is proved." - -"But how did you learn all these details?" - -"In the most simple manner. My master, Don Sebastian, has sent me -several times to the convent with messages, and chance decreed that I -recognized in the sister porter a relation of mine, whom I thought dead -long ago. The worthy woman, in her delight, and perhaps, too, to make -up for the long silence she is compelled to maintain, tells me whenever -she sees me all that is said and done in the convent, and there is a -good deal to learn from the conversation of a nun. She takes a good deal -of interest in me, and as I am fond of her too, I listen to her with -pleasure. Now, do you understand?" - -"Oh! go on. Go on!" - -"Well, this time I have nearly finished. It appears, from what my -relation tells me, that the nuns, and the Mother Superior before all, -are utterly opposed to the general's plans of marriage." - -"Oh, the holy women!" the Tigrero exclaimed with simple joy. - -"Are they not?" the capataz said with a laugh. "This is probably the -reason why they keep so secret the return of their boarder to her -senses, for they doubtless hope that, so long as the poor girl is mad, -the general will not dare contract the impious union he is meditating; -unfortunately, they do not know the man with whom they have to deal, -and the ferocious ambition that devours him; an ambition for the -gratification of which he will recoil from no crime, however atrocious -it may be." - -"Alas!" the Tigrero said despairingly; "you see, my friend, that I am -lost." - -"Wait, wait, my good sir; your situation, perhaps, is not so desperate -as you imagine it." - -"My heart is on fire." - -"Courage; and listen to me to the end. Yesterday I went to the convent, -the Mother Superior, to whom I had the honour of speaking, confided -to me, under the seal of secrecy--for she knows that, although I am a -servant of Don Sebastian, I take a deep interest in Dona Anita, and -would be glad to see her happy--that the young lady has expressed an -intention to confess." - -"Ah, for what reason! do you know?" - -"No, I do not!" - -"But that desire can be easily satisfied, I presume, there are plenty of -monks and priests attached to the convent." - -"Your observation is just; still it appears that, for reasons I am -equally ignorant of, neither the Mother Superior nor Dona Anita wishes -to have one of those monks or priests for confessor, hence----" - -"Hence?" Don Martial quickly interrupted him. - -"Well, the Mother Superior asked me to bring her a priest or monk in -whom I had confidence." - -"Ah!" - -"You understand, my friend." - -"Yes, yes! Oh, God! go on!" - -"And to take him to the convent." - -"And," Don Martial asked in a choking voice, "have you found this -confessor?" - -"I believe so," the capataz answered with a smile; "and pray, what do -you think, Don Martial?" - -"Yes, I do too," he exclaimed joyfully. "At what time are you to take -this confessor to the convent?" - -"Tomorrow, at the Oracion." - -"Very good, and I presume you have arranged a place to meet him?" - -"Caspita! I should think so; he is to meet me at the Parian, where I -shall be at the first stroke of the Oracion." - -"I am certain that he will be punctual!" - -"And so am I; and now, senor, do you consider that you have lost your -time in listening to me?" - -"On the contrary," Don Martial replied, as he offered him his hand with -a smile, "I consider you a first-rate hand at telling a story." - -"You flatter me." - -"No, indeed I do not. I consider, too, that the nuns of St. Bernard are -excellent and holy women." - -"Caspita! I should think so; they have a relation of mine as portress." - -The two men burst into a frank and hearty laugh, whose explosion no one -could have anticipated from the way in which their interview began. - -"Now, we must separate," the capataz said, as he rose. - -"What, already?" - -"I have to accompany my master tonight on an excursion outside the city." - -"Some plot, I presume?" - -"I am afraid so; but what would you have; I am forced to obey." - -"In that case, turn me out of doors." - -"That is what I am going to do; by-the-bye, have you seen Don Valentine -since you arrived?" - -"Not yet. This long delay makes me anxious, and if it were not so late, -or if I knew my road, I would go and ask hospitality of Don Antonio -Rallier, his fellow countryman, so as to obtain news of him." - -"That is of no consequence. Do you know Don Antonio's address?" - -"Yes, he lives in the Secunda Monterilla." - -"It is close by; if you wish it, I will have you taken there." - -"I should feel greatly obliged; but by whom?" - -"Caspita! have you forgotten the man to whom you intrusted your horse? -He will act as your guide." - -"A thousand thanks!" - -"It is not worth them. Will you take a walk tomorrow in the Parian?" - -"I am so anxious to see your confessor that I shall not fail to be -there." - -The two men smiled again. - -"Now, give me your hand, and let us be off." - -They went out of the room; the capataz led the Tigrero by the same -passage, walking along in the darkness as if it were broad day, and -they soon found themselves beneath the zaguan of the small house. The -capataz thrust his head out, after opening the door cautiously. The -street was deserted, and after looking up and down it, he whistled in -a peculiar way, and in a few minutes footsteps were heard and the peon -appeared holding the Tigrero's horse by the bridle. - -"Good bye, senor," the capataz said. "I thank you for the delightful -evening you have caused me to spend. Pilloto, lead this senor, who is a -forastero, to the Secunda Monterilla, and point out to him the house of -Senor Don Antonio Rallier." - -"Yes, mi amo," the peon answered laconically. - -The two friends exchanged a parting salutation; the Tigrero mounted, -and followed Pilloto, while the capataz re-entered the house and closed -the door after him. After numberless turnings and windings, the rider -and the footman at length entered a street which, from its width, the -Tigrero suspected to form part of the fashionable quarter. - -"This is the Secunda Monterilla," said the peon, "and that gentleman," -he added, pointing to a horseman who was coming toward them, followed by -three footmen also mounted, and well-armed, "is the very Don Antonio you -are looking for." - -"You are sure of it?" the Tigrero asked. - -"Caray! I know him well." - -"If that is the case, accept this piastre, my friend, and go home, for I -no longer need your services." - -The peon bowed and retired. During the conversation the newcomer had -halted in evident alarm. - -"'Tis I, Don Antonio," the Tigrero shouted to him. "Come on without -fear--I am a friend." - -"Oh, oh! it is very late to meet a friend in the street," Don Antonio -answered, though he advanced without hesitation, after laying his hand -on his weapon to guard against a surprise. - -"I am Martial, the Tigrero." - -"Oh, that is different; what do you want? A lodging, eh? I will have you -led to my house by a servant, and there leave you till tomorrow, as I am -in a hurry." - -"Agreed; but allow me one word." - -"Speak!" - -"Where is Don Valentine?" - -"Do you want to see him?" - -"Excessively." - -"Then come with me, for I am going to him!" - -"Heaven has sent him thus opportunely," the Tigrero exclaimed, as he -drew his horse up alongside Don Antonio's. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE VELORIO. - - -It was very late when the conspirators separated, and when the last -groups of officers left the rancho, the sound of the Indian horses and -mules proceeding to market was audible on the paved highway. Although -the darkness was still thick, the stars were beginning to die out in the -heavens, the cold was becoming sharper--in a word, all foretold that day -would soon break. - -The two travellers had seated themselves again at a corner of the table, -opposite one another, and were dumb and motionless as statues. The host -walked about the room with a busy air, apparently arranging and clearing -up, but very anxious in reality, and desirous, in his heart, to be rid -as soon as possible of these two singular customers, whose silence and -sobriety inspired him with but slight confidence. - -At length the person who had always spoken on his own behalf and that -of his companion struck the table twice, and the landlord hurried up at -this summons. - -"What do you wish for, excellency?" he asked, with an obsequious air. - -"I tell you what, landlord," the stranger continued, "it strikes me that -your criado is a long time in returning; he ought to have been back -before this." - -"Pardon me, excellency, but it is a long journey from here to the -Secunda Monterilla, especially when you are obliged to walk it. Still, I -believe the peon will soon be back." - -"May Heaven hear you! Give us each a glass of tamarind water." - -At this moment, when the landlord brought the draught, there was a tap -at the door. - -"Perhaps it is our man," the stranger said. - -"That is possible, your excellency," the landlord answered, as he went -to open the door on the chain, which left only a passage of a few -inches, much too narrow for the visitor to enter the house against the -wish of its owner. This precautionary measure, which is at once very -prudent and simple, is generally adopted all through Mexico, owing -to the slight confidence with which the police organization in this -blessed country, which is the refuge of scoundrels of every description, -inspires the inhabitants. - -After exchanging a few words in a low voice with the new arrival, the -landlord unhooked the chain and opened the door. - -"Excellency," he said to the stranger, who was slowly sipping his -tamarind water, "here is your messenger." - -"At last," the traveller said, gladly, as he placed his horn mug on the -table. - -The peon entered, politely doffed his hat and bowed. - -"Well, my friend," the stranger asked him, "did you find the person to -whom I sent you?" - -"Yes, excellency, I had the good fortune to find him at home on his -return from a tertulia in the Calle San Agustin." - -"Ah, ah! and what did he say on receiving my note?" - -"Well, excellency, he is a caballero, for sure; for he first gave me -a piastre, and then said to me, 'Go back as quick as you can walk, -and tell the gentleman who sent you that I shall be at the meeting he -appoints as soon as yourself.'" - -"So that----" - -"He will probably be here in a few minutes." - -"Very good, you are a clever lad," the stranger answered; "here is -another piastre for you, and now you can retire." - -"Thanks, your excellency," the peon said, joyfully pocketing his -piastre. "Caray! I should be a rich man with only two nights a month -like this." - -And after bowing a second time, he left the room to go and sleep, in -all probability, in the corral. The peon had told the truth, for he -had scarce left the room ten minutes ere a rather loud voice was heard -without: horses stamped, and not only was the door struck, but there -were several loud calls. - -"Open the door without fear," the stranger said; "I know that voice." - -The ranchero obeyed, and several persons entered the inn. - -"At last you have returned, my dear Valentine," the newcomer exclaimed -in French, as he walked quickly towards the travellers, who, for their -part, went to meet him. - -"Thanks for your promptitude in responding to my invitation, my dear -Rallier," the hunter answered. - -The ranchero bit his lips on hearing them talk in a language he did not -understand. - -"Hum! they are Ingleses," he muttered spitefully. "I suspected they must -be gringos." - -It is a general rule with the lower class Mexicans that all foreigners -are English, and consequently hunters or gringos. - -"Come here, No Lusacho," Valentine said, addressing the landlord, who -was turning his hat between his fingers with an air of considerable -embarrassment, "I have to talk on important matters with these -gentlemen, and as I do not wish to be disturbed by you, I propose that -you should give me up this room for an hour." - -"Excellency," he muttered. - -"I understand, you expect to be paid. Very good, I will pay you, but on -condition that no one, not even yourself, comes in till I call." - -"Still, your excellency----." - -"Listen to me without interruption. Day will not break for two hours, so -you will not open your rancho till then, and, consequently, you have no -customers to expect. I will pay an ounce for each hour; will that suit -you?" - -"I should think so, your excellency; at that price I will sell you the -whole day if you wish." - -"That is not necessary," the hunter said, with a laugh; "but you -understand I want fair play--no ears on the listen, or eyes at the slits -of the panelling." - -"I am an honest man, your excellency." - -"I am ready to believe so; but I warn you, because in the event of my -seeing an eye or an ear lap, I shall immediately fire a bullet at it as -a recommendation to prudence, and I have the ill luck to be a dead shot. -Does the bargain suit you with those conditions?" - -"Perfectly, your excellency. I shall keep a strict watch over my people, -so that you shall not be disturbed." - -"You are a splendid landlord, and I predict that you will make a rapid -fortune, for I see that you thoroughly understand your own interests." - -"I try to satisfy the gentry who honour my poor abode with their -presence." - -"Excellently reasoned! Here are the two promised ounces, and four -piastres in the bargain for the refreshments you are going to serve us. -Have these gentlemen's horses taken to the corral, and have the goodness -to leave us." - -The landlord bowed with a grimacing smile, brought, with a speed far -from common with people of his calling, the refreshments ordered, and -gave the hunter a deep bow. - -"Now," he said, "your excellency is in your own house, and no one shall -enter without your orders." - -While Valentine was making this bargain with the ranchero, his friends -remained silent, laughing inwardly at the hunter's singular mode of -proceeding, and the unanswerable arguments he employed to avoid an -espionage almost always to be found in such places, when the master does -not scruple to betray those who pay him best. - -"Now," said Valentine, so soon as the door closed behind the landlord, -"we shall talk at least in safety." - -"Speak Spanish, my friend," said M. Rallier. - -"Why so? It is so delightful to converse in one's own tongue, when, -like me, you have so few opportunities for doing so. I assure you that -Curumilla will not feel offended." - -"Hum; I did not say this on behalf of the chief, whose friendship for -you I am well acquainted with." - -"Who then?" - -"For Don Martial, who has accompanied me, and has important matters to -communicate to you." - -"Oh, oh, that changes the question," said the hunter, at once -substituting Spanish for the French he had hitherto employed. "Are you -there, my dear Don Martial?" - -"Yes, senor," the Tigrero answered, emerging from the gloom in which he -had remained up to this moment, "and very happy to see you." - -"Who else have you brought with you, Don Antonio?" - -"Me, my friend," said a third person, as he let the folds of his cloak -fall. "My brother thought that it would be better to have a companion, -in the event of an alarm." - -"Your brother was right, my dear Edward, and I thank him for the good -idea, which procures me the pleasure of shaking your hand a few moments -sooner. And now, senores, if you are agreeable, we will sit down and -talk, for, if I am not mistaken, we have certain things to tell each -other which are most important for us." - -"That is true!" Antonio Rallier answered, as he sat down, in which he -was immediately imitated by the rest. - -"If you like," Valentine continued, "we will proceed in regular -rotation; that is, I fancy, the way to finish more quickly, for you know -that moments are precious." - -"First, and before all else, my friend," said Antonio Rallier, "permit -me to thank you once again, in my own name and that of my family, for -the services you rendered me in our journey across the Rocky Mountains. -Without you, without your watchful friendship and courageous devotion, -we should never have emerged from those frightful gorges, but must have -perished miserably in them." - -"What good is it, my friend, to recall at this moment----" - -"Because," Antonio Rallier continued eagerly, "I wish you to be -thoroughly convinced that you can dispose of us all as you please. Our -arms, purses, and hearts, all belong to you." - -"I know it, my friend, and you see that I have not hesitated to make -use of you, at the risk even of compromising you. So let us leave this -subject, and come to facts. What have you done?" - -"I have literally followed your instructions; according to your wish, I -have hired and furnished for you a house in Tacuba Street." - -"Pardon me, but you know that I am very slightly acquainted with Mexico, -for I have visited that city but rarely, and each time without stopping." - -"The Tacuba is one of the principal streets in Mexico; it faces the -palace, and is close to the street in which I reside with my family." - -"That is famous. And in whose name did you take the house?" - -"In that of Don Serapio de la Ronda. Your servants arrived two days ago." - -"You mean----" - -"I mean Belhumeur and Black Elk; the former is your steward and the -latter your valet. They have made all the arrangements, and you can -arrive when you please." - -"Today, then." - -"I will act as your guide." - -"Thank you; what next?" - -"Next, my brother Edward has taken, in his own name, at the San Lazaro -gate, a small house, where ten horses, belonging to the purest mustang -breed, were at once placed in a magnificent corral." - -"That concerns Curumilla; he will live in that house with your brother." - -"And now one other thing, my friend." - -"Speak!" - -"You will not be angry with me?" - -"With you? nonsense!" said Valentine, holding out his hand. - -"Not knowing whether you had sufficient funds at your disposal--and you -will agree with me that you will require a large sum----?" - -"I know it. Well?" - -"Well, I----" - -"I see I must come to your assistance, my poor Antonio. As you believe -me a poor devil of a hunter not possessed of a farthing, and are so -delicate minded yourself, you have placed in a corner of the room, or -in some article of furniture, of which you want to give me the key and -don't know how, fifty or perhaps one hundred thousand piastres, with the -reservation to offer me more, should not that sum prove sufficient." - -"Would you be angry with me had I done so?" - -"On the contrary, I should be most grateful to you." - -"In that case I am glad." - -"Glad of what, my dear Antonio?" - -"That you accept the hundred thousand piastres." - -Valentine smiled. - -"I am delighted to find that you are the man I judged you to be. Still, -while thanking you from my heart for the service you wish to render me, -I do not accept it." - -"Do you refuse, Valentine?" he said mournfully. - -"Let us understand each other, my friend. I do not refuse; I simply tell -you that I do not want the money, and here is the proof," he added, -as he took from his pocket a folded paper, which, he handed to his -countryman, "you, as a banker, may know the firm of Thornwood, Davison, -and Co." - -"It is the richest in San Francisco." - -"Then open that paper and read." - -Mr. Rallier obeyed. - -"An unlimited credit opened at my house," he exclaimed in a voice -tremulous with joy. - -"Does that displease you?" Valentine asked with a smile. - -"On the contrary; but you must be rich in that case." - -A cloud of sadness passed over the hunter's forehead. - -"I have grieved you, my friend." - -"Alas! as you know, there are certain wounds which never close. Yes, my -friend, I am rich; Curumilla, Belhumeur, and myself alone, now that my -foster-mother is dead, know in Apacheria the richest placer that exists -in the world. It was for the purpose of going to this placer that I did -not accompany you to Mexico; now you understand; but what do I care for -this incalculable fortune, when my heart is dead, and the joy of my life -is for ever annihilated!" - -And under the weight of the deep emotion that crushed him, the hunter -hung his head down and stifled a sob. Curumilla arose amid the general -silence, for no one ventured to offer ordinary consolation for this -grief, and laid his hand on Valentine's shoulder-- - -"Koutonepi," he said to him in a hollow voice, "remember that you have -sworn to avenge our brother." - -The hunter drew himself up as if stung by a serpent, and pressing the -hand the Indian offered him, he looked at him for a moment with strange -fixedness. - -"Women alone weep for the dead, because they are unable to avenge them," -the Indian continued in the same harsh, cutting accent. - -"Yes, you are right," the hunter answered with feverish energy; "I thank -you, chief, for having recalled me to myself." - -Curumilla laid his friend's hand on his heart, and stood for an instant -motionless; at length he let it fall, sat down again, and wrapping -himself in his zarape, he returned to his habitual silence, from which -so grave a circumstance alone could have aroused him. Valentine passed -his hand twice over his forehead, which was bathed in cold perspiration, -and attempted a faint smile. - -"Forgive me, my friends, for having forgotten, during a moment, the -character I have assumed," he said in a gentle voice. - -Their hands were silently extended to him. - -"Now," he exclaimed in a firm voice, in whose notes traces of the past -tempest were still audible, "let us speak of that poor Dona Anita de -Torres." - -"Alas!" said the elder Rallier, "I cannot tell you anything, although -my sister Helena, her companion at the Convent of the Bernardines, to -which I sent her in accordance with your wish, has let me know that she -would have grand news for us in a few days." - -"I will give you that news, with your permission," Don Martial said -at this moment, suddenly joining in the conversation, to which he had -hitherto listened with great indifference. - -"Do you know anything?" Valentine asked him. - -"Yes, something most important; that is why I was so anxious to speak -with you." - -"Speak then, my friend, speak, we are listening." - -The Tigrero, without further pressing, at once reported, in the fullest -details, his interview with Don Sebastian Guerrero's capataz. The three -Frenchmen listened with the most serious attention, and when he had -finished his story, Valentine rose-- - -"Let us be off, senores," he said, "we have no time to lose; perhaps -heaven offers us, at this moment, the opportunity we have been so long -awaiting." - -The others rose without asking the hunter for any explanation, and a -few minutes later Valentine and his comrades were galloping along the -highway in the direction of Mexico. - -"I do not know what diabolical plot they are forming," No Lusacho -muttered, on seeing them disappear in the distance; "but they are worthy -gentlemen, and let the ounces slip through their fingers like so much -water." - -And he entered the rancho, the door of which he now left open, for day -was breaking. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE CONVENT OF THE BERNARDINES. - - -The history of colonies is the same everywhere, that is to say, that you -find the old belief, the forgotten manners and customs of the mother -country intact, and almost exaggerated. - -Mexico was to Spain what Canada still is to France. In Mexico we, -therefore, find the Spain of the monks, with all the abuses of a -degenerate monastic life; for we are compelled to state that with -few, very few exceptions, the monks of Mexico are far from leading an -exemplary life. A few years ago a Papal legate arrived at Mexico, who -had been sent to try and introduce into the monasteries reforms which -had become urgent; but he soon recognized the impossibility of success, -and returned as he came. This is the history of yesterday and today, and -in the way things are going on, it will be the history of tomorrow. - -In spite of the innumerable revolutions the Mexican monks are still -very rich. Among other uses to which they put their money, the best is, -perhaps, lending it out at six per cent., which, let us hasten to add, -is a great blessing in a country where the ordinary interest on borrowed -money is sixteen to eighteen per cent. Still, it appears to us, and we -trust the remark will not be taken in bad part, but little in harmony -with the vocation of the monks and the pure doctrines of religion, which -is so opposed to lending money out at interest, for it has ever seen in -it disguised usury. - -We will add, at the risk of incurring the blame of some persons, and -of appearing to emit a paradox, that in this collection of Christian -religious buildings there seems to be kept up the tradition of the -great Mexican Teocali, which contained within its walls seventy-eight -buildings devoted to the Aztec worship. - -In the first place, what is the religion professed in Spanish America? -It certainly is not the Catholic faith; and this we can affirm with a -safe conscience, and supply proof if necessary. The Americans of the -south, like all southern peoples, are instinctively Pagans, fond of -war and holidays, making a god of each saint, adoring the Virgin under -a hundred different forms, digging up the old Aztec idols, placing -them in all the Mexican churches, and offering them worship under the -characteristic denomination of Santos antiguos, or ancient saints. - -What can be said after this? Simply that the Hispano-Americans never -understood the religion they were compelled to profess; that they care -but very little for it, and in their hearts cling to their old worship -in the terrific proportion of the native to the European population, -that is to say two-thirds to one. Hence the demoralization of the -masses, which is justly complained of, but is the fault of those persons -who, at the outset, believed they could establish the religion of -Christ in their countries by fire and sword--a system, we are bound to -add, scrupulously followed by the Spanish clergy, up to the Proclamation -of the Independence of the colonies. - -The Convent of the Bernardines is situated but a short distance from -the Paseo de Bucareli. Not one of the religious communities for women -scattered over Mexico is so rich as this one, for the kings of Spain -and nobles of the highest rank gave it large endowments, which, in the -course of time, have grown into an immense fortune. - -The vast site occupied by the Convent of the Bernardines, the thick -walls that surround it, and the numerous domes that crown it, -sufficiently indicate the importance it enjoys at the present day. - -Like all the Mexican convents, and especially that at San Francisco, to -which it bears a distant resemblance, the Convent of the Bernardines is -defended by thick walls, flanked by massive buttresses, which give it -the appearance of a fortress. Still the peaceful belfries, and their -cupolas of enamelled porcelain covering so many chapels, allow the pious -destination of the edifice to be recognized. An immense paved court -leads to the principal chapel, which is adorned with a luxury that it -would be difficult to form an idea of in our sceptical Europe. - -Behind this first court is the space reserved for the nuns, consisting -of immense cloisters, adorned with pictures by old masters, and white -jasper basins from which limpid fountains rise. Next come immense -huertas with umbrageous walks, wide courtyards, a rich and valuable -library in which the scientific wealth of Mexico lies buried, eight -spacious, comfortable, and airy dormitories, four hundred cells for -the nuns, and a refectory in which four hundred guests can sit without -crowding. - -On the day when we introduce the reader into the Convent of the -Bernardines, at about five in the evening, three persons, collected in -a leafy arbour, almost at the end of the garden, were talking together -with considerable animation. - -Of these persons, one, the eldest, was a nun, while the other two, girls -of from sixteen to eighteen years of age, wore the garb of novices. - -The first was the Mother Superior of the convent, a lady of about fifty -years of age, with delicate and aristocratic features, gentle manners, -and noble and majestic demeanour, whose face displayed kindness and -intelligence. - -The second was Dona Anita; we will not draw her portrait, for the reader -has long been acquainted with her.[1] The poor girl, however, was pale -and white as a corpse, her fever-parched eyes were not easy, fixed on -any object, and she looked about her hurriedly and desperately. - -The third was Dona Helena Rallier, a light-haired, blue-eyed girl, with -a saucy look, whose velvety cheeks, and noble and well-defined features, -revealed the candour and innocence of youth, combined with the laughing -expressions of a boarder spoiled by an indulgent governess. - -Dona Helena was standing a little outside the arbour, leaning against -a tree, and seemed like a vigilant sentry carefully watching lest the -conversation between the Mother Superior and her companion should be -disturbed. - -Dona Anita, seated on a stone bench by the side of the Abbess, with her -hand in the elder lady's, and her head resting on her shoulder, was -speaking to her in a faltering voice and broken sentences which found -difficulty in passing her parted lips, while the tears silently ran down -her cheeks, which suffering had rendered pale. - -"My kind mother," she said, and her voice, was harmonious as the sigh -of an AEolian harp, "I know not how to thank you for your inexhaustible -kindness towards me. Alas! you are at present my only friend; why may -I not be allowed to remain always by your side? I should be so glad to -take my vows and pass my life in this convent under your benevolent -protection." - -"My dear child," the Abbess said gently, "God is great, his power is -infinite; hence, why despair? Alas! doubt leads to denial; you are still -almost a child. Who knows what joy and happiness the future may still -have in store for you?" - -The maiden gave a heavy sigh. "Alas!" she murmured, "the future no -longer exists for me, my kind mother; a poor orphan, abandoned without -protection to the power of an unnatural relation, I must endure fearful -tortures, and, under his iron yoke, lead a life of suffering and grief." - -"Child," the Abbess said, with gentle sternness, "do not blaspheme; you -are still ignorant, I repeat, of what the future may have in store for -you. You are ungrateful at this moment--ungrateful and selfish." - -"I ungrateful! holy mother!" the maiden objected. - -"Yes, you are ungrateful, Anita, to us and to yourself. Do you consider -it nothing, after the frightful misfortune that burst on you, to have -returned to this convent in which your childhood was spent, and to have -found among us that family which the world refused you? Is it nothing to -have near you hearts that pity you, and voices that incessantly urge you -to have courage?" - -"Courage, sister," Dona Helena's sweet voice said at this moment, like a -soft echo. - -The maiden hid her lovely tear-bedewed face in the bosom of the Mother -Superior. - -"Pardon me, mother," she continued, "pardon me, but I am crushed by this -struggle, which I have carried on so long without hope. The courage -you attempt to give me cannot, in spite of my efforts, penetrate to my -heart, for I have the fatal conviction that, whatever you may do, you -will not succeed in preventing the frightful misfortune suspended over -my head." - -"Let us reason a little, my child, like sensible persons; up to the -present, at least, we have succeeded in concealing from everybody the -happy return of your senses." - -"Happy!" she sighed. - -"Yes, happy; for with the intellect faith, that is to say, strength, -returned to you. Well, while your guardian believes you still insane, -and is compelled, in spite of himself, to suspend his schemes with -reference to you, I have been employing all the influence my high -position gives me, and my family connections. I have had a petition on -your behalf presented to the President of the Republic by sure hands; -this petition is supported by the greatest names in Mexico, and I ask in -it that the marriage with which you are menaced may not be contracted -against your will; in a word, I ask that your guardian may be prevented -taking any steps till you are in a proper condition to say yes or no." - -"Have you really done that, my good mother?" the maiden exclaimed, as -she threw her arms in real delight round the elder lady's neck. - -"Yes, I have done so, my child, and I am expecting every moment a reply, -which I hope will be favourable." - -"Oh, mother, my real mother, if that succeeds I shall be saved." - -"Do not go from one extreme to the other, my child; all is uncertain -yet, and heaven alone knows whether we shall be successful." - -"Oh, God will not abandon a poor orphan." - -"God, my child, chastens those He loves; have confidence in Him, and his -right hand will be extended over you to sustain you in adversity." - -"Sister Redemption is coming this way, holy mother," Dona Helena said at -this moment. - -At a sign from the Mother Superior, Dona Anita withdrew to the other end -of the bench on which she was seated, folded her arms on her chest, and -let her head droop. - -"Are you looking for our mother, sister?" Dona Helena asked a rather -elderly lay sister, who was looking to the right and left as if really -seeking somebody. - -"Yes, sister," the lay sister answered, "I wish to deliver a message -with which I am entrusted for our mother." - -"Then enter this arbour, sister, and you will find her reposing there." - -The lay sister entered the arbour, approached the Mother Superior, -stopped modestly three paces from her, folded her arms on her breast, -looked down respectfully, and waited till she was spoken to. - -"What do you desire, daughter?" the Mother Superior asked her. - -"Your blessing, in the first place, holy mother," the lay sister -answered. - -"I can give it you, daughter; and now what message have you for me?" - -"Holy mother, a gentleman of lofty bearing, called Don Serapio de la -Ronda, wishes to speak with you privately; the sister porter took him -into the parlour, where he is waiting for you." - -"I will be with him directly, daughter; tell the sister porter to -apologize in my name to the gentleman, if I keep him waiting longer than -I like, owing to my advanced age. Go on, I follow you." - -The lay sister bowed respectfully to the abbess, and went away to -deliver the message with which she was entrusted. The abbess rose, and -the two girls sprang forward to support her; but she stopped them. - -"Remain here till the Oracion, my children," she said to them, "converse -together; but be prudent, and do not let yourselves be surprised; after -the Oracion, you will come and converse in my cell." - -Then after giving Dona Anita a parting kiss, the Mother Superior went -away, sorely troubled in mind at this visit from a man she did not know, -and whose name she now heard for the first time. When she entered the -parlour, the abbess examined with a hasty glance the person who asked to -see her, and who, on perceiving her, rose from his chair, and bowed to -her respectfully. This first glance was favourable to the stranger, in -whom the reader has doubtless already recognized Valentine Guillois. - -"Pray resume your seat, caballero," the abbess said to him, "if your -conversation is to last any time, we shall talk more comfortably when -sitting." - -Valentine bowed, offered the lady a chair, and then returned to his own. - -"Senor Don Serapio de la Ronda was announced to me," the lady continued -after a short silence. - -"I am that gentleman, madam," Valentine said courteously. - -"I am at your orders, caballero, and ready to listen to any -communication you may have to make." - -"Madam, I have nothing personal to say to you; I am merely commissioned -by the Minister of the Home Department to deliver you this letter, to -which I have a few words to add." - -While uttering this sentence with exquisite politeness, Valentine -offered the abbess a letter bearing the ministerial arms. - -"Pray open the letter, madam," he added, on seeing that, through -politeness, she held it in her hand unopened, "you must render yourself -acquainted with its contents in order to understand the meaning of the -words I have to add." - -The abbess, who in her heart was impatient to know what the minister had -to say to her, offered no objection, and broke the seal of the letter, -which she hurriedly perused. On reading it a lively expression of joy -lit up her face. - -"Then," she exclaimed, "his excellency deigns to grant my request?" - -"Yes, madam; you remain, until fresh orders, responsible for your -young charge. You have only to deal with the minister in the matter; -and," he added, with a purposed stress on the words, "in the event of -General Guerrero, the guardian of Dona Anita, trying to force you into -surrendering her to him, you are authorized to conceal the young lady, -who is for so many reasons an object of interest, in any house of the -order you please." - -"Oh, senor," she answered, her eyes filling with tears of joy, "pray -thank his excellency in my name for the act of justice he has deigned to -perform in favour of this unfortunate young lady." - -"I will have that honour, madam," Valentine said, as he rose; "and now -that I have delivered my message, permit me to take leave of you, while -congratulating myself that I was selected by his Excellency the Minister -to be his intermediary with you." - -At the moment when Valentine left the convent, Carnero entered it, -accompanied by a monk, whose hood was pulled down over his face. The -hunter and the capataz exchanged a side glance, but did not speak. - - -[1] See "Tiger Slayer." Same publishers. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -THE CONFESSOR. - - -Mexico, as we have already stated, was, after the conquest, completely -rebuilt on the original plan, so that, at the present day, it offers -nearly the same sight as struck Cortez when he entered it for the first -time. The Plaza Mayor, especially, some years back, before the French -innovations, more or less good, were introduced, offered towards evening -a most picturesque scene. - -This immense square is bounded on one side by the Portales de -Mercaderes; heavy arches supported on one side by immense stones, and on -the other by pilasters, at the foot of which are the alacenas or shops. - -The ayuntamiento, the president's palace, the cathedral, the sagrario, -the portal de las flores, an immense bazaar for merchandize, and the -Parian, also a bazaar, complete, or rather completed, at the period when -our history takes place, the fourth side of the square, for recently -great changes have taken place, and the Parian, among other buildings, -has disappeared. The handsomest streets, such as the Tacuba, Mint, -Monterilla, Santo Domingo, etc., debouche on the great square. - -The cathedral stands exactly on the site of the ancient great Mexican -Teocali, all the buildings of which it has absorbed; unfortunately this -building, which is externally splendid, does not come up internally to -the idea formed of it, for its ornaments are in bad taste, poor and -paltry. - -Between five and six in the evening, or a few minutes before Oracion, -the appearance of the Plaza Mayor becomes really fairy-like. The crowd -of strollers--a strange crowd were there ever one--flocks up from all -sides at once, composed of horsemen, pedestrians, officers, priests, -soldiers, campesinos, leperos, Indian women in red petticoats, ladies of -fashion in their sayas, and all the people come, go, cross and jostle -each other, mingling their conversation with the cries of children, -the vociferations of the leperos, who torment purchasers with their -impetuosity, and the shrill appeals of the sellers of tamales and -queratero, crouching in the shade of the porticos. - -A few minutes before the Oracion, a Franciscan monk, recognizable by his -blue gown, and silken cord round his waist, and whose large white felt -hat, pulled down over the eyes, almost completely concealed his face, -came from the Calle Monterilla, and entered the Plaza Mayor. - -This man, who was tall and apparently powerfully built, walked slowly, -with hanging head and arms crossed on his chest, as if plunged in -serious reflection. Instead of entering the thronged Portales, he -crossed the square and proceeded towards the Parian, which was very -lively at the moment, for the Parian was a bazaar, resembling the Temple -of Paris, and was visited at this period by persons, the leanness of -whose purses only allowed them to purchase here their jewellery and -smart clothing, which, in any other part of the city would have been -much too expensive for them. - -Not attending to the noise or movement around him, the Franciscan leant -his shoulder against the stall of an evangelista, or public writer, and -looked absently and wearily across the square. He did not remain long in -this position, however, for just after he had reached the Parian, the -Oracion began. At the first peal of the cathedral bells, all the noises -ceased in the square; the crowd stopped, heads were uncovered, and each -muttered a short prayer in a low voice. - -At the last stroke of the Oracion, a hand was laid on the Franciscan's -shoulder, while a voice whispered in his ear-- - -"You are exact to the rendezvous, Senor Padre." - -"I am performing my duty, my son," the monk at once answered, turning -round. - -In the person who addressed him he doubtless recognized a friend, for he -offered him his hand by a spontaneous movement. - -"Are you still resolved to attempt the adventure?" the first speaker -continued. - -"More than ever, senor." - -"Bear in mind that you must not mention my name; we do not know each -other; you are a monk from the San Franciscan monastery, whom I fetched -to confess a young novice at the Convent of the Bernardines. It is -understood that you do not know who I am?" - -"My brother, we poor monks are at the service of the afflicted; our duty -orders us to help them when they claim our support; as we have no name -for society, we are forbidden to ask that of those who summon us." - -"Excellently spoken," the other replied, repressing a smile. "You are -a monk according to my own heart. I see that I am not deceived with -respect to you; come then, my father, we must not keep the person -waiting who is expecting us." - -The Franciscan bowed his assent, placed himself in the right of his -singular friend, and both went away from the Parian, where the noise -had become louder than ever, after the angelos had ceased ringing. The -two men passed unnoticed through the crowd, and walked in the direction -of the Convent of the Bernardines, going along silently, side by side. - -We have said that at the convent gate they passed Don Serapio de la -Ronda, that is to say, Valentine Guillois, and that the three men -exchanged a side glance full of meaning. The sister porter made no -objection to admitting the Franciscan; and his guide, so soon as he -saw him inside the convent, took leave of him after exchanging a few -commonplace compliments with the sister. The latter respectfully led the -monk into a parlour, and after begging him to wait a moment, went away -to inform the Mother Superior of the arrival of the confessor whom the -young novice had requested to see. - -We will leave the Franciscan for a little while to his meditations, and -return to the two young ladies whom we left in the garden. So soon as -the abbess had withdrawn, they drew closer together, Dona Helena taking -the seat on the bench previously occupied by the abbess. - -"My dear Anita," she said, "let me profit by the few minutes we are left -alone to impart to you the contents of a letter I received this morning; -I feared that I should be unable to do so, and yet it seems to me that -what I have to tell you is most important." - -"What do you mean, my dear Helena? Does the letter to which you refer -interest me?" - -"I cannot positively explain to you, but it will be sufficient for you -to know that my brothers are very intimate with a countryman of ours who -takes the greatest interest in you, and what I have to tell you relates -to this Frenchman." - -"That is strange," said Dona Anita, pausing. "I never knew but one -Frenchman, and I have told you the sad story which was the cause of all -the misfortunes that overwhelmed me. But the Frenchman whom my father -wished me to marry died under frightful circumstances; then who can this -gentleman be who takes so lively an interest in me--do you know him?" - -"Very slightly," the young lady answered with a blush, "but sufficiently -to be able to assure you that he possesses a noble heart. He does not -know you personally; but," she added, as she drew a letter from her -bosom, and opened it, "this is the passage in my brother's letter which -refers to you and him. Shall I read it to you?" - -"Pray read it, my dear Helena, for I know the friendship you and your -family entertain for me; hence, it is with the greatest pleasure I -receive news of your brothers." - -"Listen then," the young lady continued, and she read, after seeking for -the passage-- - -"'Valentine begs me, dear sister, to ask you to tell your friend'--that -is you," she said, breaking off. - -"Go on," Dona Anita answered, whose curiosity had been aroused by the -name Helena had pronounced, though it was impossible for her to know -who that person was. - -"'To tell your friend,' Dona Helena continued, 'that the confessor she -asked for will come to the convent this very day after the Oracion. Dona -Anita must arm herself with courage, which is as necessary to endure -joy as grief, for she will learn today some news possessing immense -importance for the future.' That is underlined," the young lady added, -as she bent over to her friend, and pointed to the sentence with the tip -of her rosy finger. - -"That is strange," Dona Anita murmured. "Alas! what news can I learn?" - -"Who knows?" said her young companion, and then continued--"'Before -all, Dona Anita must be prudent; and however extraordinary what she -hears may appear to her, she must be careful to conceal the effect -produced by this revelation, for she must not forget that if she have -devoted friends, she is closely watched by all-powerful enemies, and the -slightest imprudence would hopelessly neutralize all the efforts that -we are making to save her. You cannot, my dear sister, lay sufficient -stress on this recommendation.' The rest," the maiden added, with a -smile, "only relates to myself, and it is, therefore, unnecessary for me -to read it to you." - -And she refolded the letter, which disappeared in her dress again. - -"And now, my darling, you are warned," she said; "so be prudent." - -"Good heaven! I do not understand the letter at all, nor do I know the -Valentine to whom it alludes. It was by your advice that I asked for a -confessor." - -"That is to say, by my brother's advice, who, as you know, Anita, placed -me here, not merely because I love you as a sister, but also to support -and encourage you." - -"And I am grateful both to you and him for it, dear Helena; if I had -not you near me, in spite of the friendship our worthy and kind mother -condescends to grant me, I should long ago have succumbed to my grief." - -"The question is not about me at this moment, my darling, but -solely about yourself. However obscure and mysterious my brother's -recommendation may be, I know him to be too earnest and too truly kind -for me to neglect it. Hence I cannot find language strong enough to urge -you to prudence." - -"I seek in vain to guess what the news is to which he refers; and I -acknowledge that I feel a secret repugnance to see the confessor he -announces to me. Alas! I have everything to fear, and nothing to hope -now." - -"Silence," Dona Helena said, quietly. "I hear the sound of footsteps in -the walk leading to this arbour. Someone is coming. So we must not let -ourselves be surprised." - -"In fact, almost at the same moment the lay sister, who had already -informed the Mother Superior of the arrival of Don Serapio de la Ronda, -appeared at the entrance of the arbour. - -"Senorita," she said, addressing Dona Helena, "our holy mother abbess -wishes to speak to you as well as to Dona Anita without delay. She is -waiting for you in her private cell in the company of a holy Franciscan -monk." - -The maidens exchanged a glance, and a transient flush appeared on Dona -Anita's pale cheeks. - -"We will follow you, sister," Dona Helena replied. The maidens rose; -Dona Helena passed her arm through her companion's, and stooping down, -whispered in her ear-- - -"Courage, Querida." - -They followed the lay sister, who led them to the Mother Superior's -cell, and discreetly withdrew on reaching the door. The abbess appeared -to be talking rather excitedly with the Franciscan monk; but, on seeing -the two girls, she ceased speaking, and rose. - -"Come, my child," she said, as she held out her arms to Dona Anita, -"come and thank God who in his infinite goodness has deigned to perform -a miracle on your behalf." - -The maiden stopped through involuntary emotion, and looked wildly around -her. At a sign from the abbess the monk rose, and throwing back his hood -at the same time as he fell on his knees before the maiden, he said to -her in a voice faltering with emotion-- - -"Anita, do you recognize me?" - -At the sound of this voice, whose sympathetic notes made all the fibres -of her heart vibrate, the maiden suddenly drew herself back, tottered -and fell into the arms of Dona Helena, as she shrieked with an accent -impossible to describe-- - -"Martial! oh, Martial!" - -A sob burst from her overcharged bosom, and she burst into tears. She -was saved, since the immense joy she so suddenly experienced had not -killed her. The Tigrero, as weak as the woman he loved, could only find -tears to express all his feelings. - -For some minutes the abbess and Dona Helena trembled lest these two -beings, already so tried by misfortune, would not find within themselves -the necessary strength to resist so terrible an emotion; but a powerful -reaction suddenly took place in the tiger-slayer's mind; he sprang up -at one leap, and seized in his arms the maiden, who, on her side, was -making efforts to rush to him-- - -"Anita, dear Anita," he cried, "I have found you again at last; oh, now -no human power will be able to separate us!" - -"Never, never!" she murmured, as she let her head fall on the young -man's shoulder; "Martial, my beloved Martial, protect me, save me!" - -"Oh, yes, I will save you; angel of my life," he exclaimed, looking up -defiantly to heaven; "we will be united, I swear it to you." - -"Is that the prudence you promised me?" the abbess said, interposing; -"remember the perils of every description that surround you, and the -implacable foes who have sworn your destruction; lock up in your heart -these feelings which, if revealed before one of the countless spies who -watch you, would cause your death and that, perhaps, of the poor girl -you love." - -"Thank you, madam," the Tigrero replied; "thank you for having reminded -me of the part I must play for a few days longer. If I forgot it for -a few seconds, subdued by the passion that devours my heart, I will -henceforth adhere to it carefully. Do not fear lest I should imperil the -happiness that is preparing for me; no, I will restrain my feelings, and -let myself be guided by the counsel of the sincere friends to whom I owe -the moments of ineffable happiness I am now enjoying." - -"Oh! I now understand," Dona Anita exclaimed, "the mysterious hints -given me. Alas! misfortune made me suspicious; so forgive me, heaven, -forgive me, holy mother, and you too, Helena, my kind and faithful -friend. I did not dare hope, and feared a snare." - -"I forgive you, my poor child," the abbess answered; "who could blame -you?" - -Dona Helena pressed her friend to her heart without saying a word. - -"Oh, now our misfortunes are at an end, Anita," the Tigrero exclaimed -passionately; "we have friends who will not abandon us in the supreme -struggle we are engaging in with our common enemy. God, who has hitherto -done everything for us, will not leave his work incomplete; have faith -in Him, my beloved." - -"Martial," the maiden replied, with a firmness that astonished her -hearers, "I was weak because I was alone, but now that I know you live, -and are near me to support me, oh! if I were to fall dead at the feet -of my persecutor, I would not be false to the oath I took to be yours -alone. Believing you dead, I remained faithful to your memory; but now, -if persecution assailed me, I should find the strength to endure it." - -This scene would have been prolonged, but prudence urged that the abbess -should break it off as soon as possible. Dona Anita, rendered strong -merely by the nervous excitement which possessed her, soon felt faint; -she could scarcely stand, and Don Martial himself felt his energy -abandoning him. - -The separation was painful between these two beings so miraculously -re-united when they never expected to see each other again; but it was -soothed by the hope of soon meeting again under the protection of the -Mother Superior, who had done so much for them, and whose inexhaustible -kindness they had entirely gained for their cause. - -For the first time since she had entered the convent, Dona Anita smiled -through her tears, as she offered up to heaven her nightly prayers. -Don Martial went off rapidly to tell Valentine of what had taken place -at this interview, which he had so long desired. Dona Helena, however, -retired pensively to her cell; the maiden was dreaming--of what? - -No one could have said, and probably she herself was ignorant; but, for -some days past, an obtrusive thought unnecessarily occupied her mind, -and constantly troubled the calm mirror in which her virgin thoughts -were reflected. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE BEGINNING OF THE STRUGGLE. - - -Ambition is the most terrible and deceptious of all human passions, -in the sense that it completely dries up the heart, and can never be -satisfied. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero was not one of those coldly cruel men, -solely governed by the instinct of art, or whom the smell of blood -intoxicates; but, with the implacable logic of ambitious persons, he -went direct to his object, overthrowing, without regret or remorse, all -the obstacles that barred his way to the object he had sworn to reach, -even if he were compelled to wade in blood up to his knees, and trample -on a pile of corpses. He only regarded men as pawns in the great game -of chess he was playing, and strove to justify himself, and stifle the -warnings of his terrified conscience, by the barbarous axiom employed by -the ambitious in all ages and all countries, that the end justifies the -means. - -His secret ambition, which, on a day of pretended frankness, he had -partly revealed in an interview with the Count de Prebois Crance at -Hermosillo, was not to render himself independent, but simply to be -elected, by means of a well-arranged pronunciamiento, President of the -Mexican Republic. - -It was not through hatred that General Guerrero was so obstinately -bent on destroying the count. Ambitious men, who are ever ready to -sacrifice their feelings to the interests of their gloomy machinations, -know neither hatred nor friendship. Hence we must seek elsewhere the -cause of the judicial murder of the count which was so implacably -carried out. The general feared the count, as an adversary who would -constantly thwart him in Sonora, where the first meshes of the net he -wished to throw over Mexico were spun--an adversary ready to oppose the -execution of his plans by claiming the due performance of the articles -of partnership--a performance which, in the probable event of an -insurrection excited by the general, would have become impossible, by -plunging the country for a lengthened period into a state of crisis and -general suspension of trade, which would have been most hostile to the -success of the lofty conceptions of the noble French adventurer.[1] - -But the count had scarce fallen on the beach of Guaymas ere the general -recognized the falseness of his calculations, and the fault he had -committed in sacrificing him. In fact, leaving out of the question the -death of his daughter, the only being for whom he retained in some -corner of his heart a little of that fire which heaven illumes in all -parents for their children, he found that he had exchanged a loyal and -cautious adversary for an obstinate enemy--the more formidable because, -caring for nothing, and having no personal ambition, he would sacrifice -everything without hesitation or calculation in behalf of the vengeance -which he had solemnly vowed to obtain by any means, over the still -quivering body of his friend. - -This implacable enemy, whom neither seduction nor intimidation could -arrest or even draw back, was Valentine Guillois. - -Under these circumstances, the general committed a graver fault than his -first one--a fault which was fated to have incalculable consequences for -him. Being very imperfectly acquainted with Valentine Guillois, unaware -of his inflexible energy of will, and ranking him in his mind with -those wood rangers, the Pariahs of civilization, who have only courage -to fire, in a moment of despair, a shot from behind a tree, but whose -influence was after all insignificant, he despised him. - -Valentine was careful not to dissipate, by any imprudent step, his -enemy's mistake, or even arouse his suspicions. - -At the time of the Count de Prebois Crance's first expedition, when -all seemed to smile on him, and his followers already saw the complete -success of their bold undertaking close at hand, Valentine had been -entrusted by his friend with various important operations and difficult -missions to the rich rancheros and hacenderos of the province. Valentine -had performed the duties his friend confided to him with his usual -loyalty and uprightness of mind, and had been so thoroughly appreciated -by the persons with whom chance had brought him into connection, that -all had remained on friendly terms with him and given him unequivocal -proofs of the sincerest friendship, especially upon the death of the -count. - -It only depended on the hunter's will to be rich, since he knew an -almost inexhaustible placer; and what the wood ranger would never -have consented to for himself, for the sake of paltry gain, he did -not hesitate to attempt in order to avenge his friend. Followed by -Curumilla, Belhumeur, and Black Elk, and leading a _recua_ of ten mules, -he did what two hundred and fifty men could not have succeeded in doing. -He went through Apacheria, crossed the fearful desert of sand in which -the bones of the hapless companions of the Marquis de Lhorailles were -bleaching, and, after enduring superhuman fatigue and braving terrible -dangers, he at length reached the placer. But this time he did not come -to take an insignificant sum; he wanted to collect a fortune at one -stroke. - -The hunter returned with his ten mules laden with gold. He knew that he -was beginning a struggle with a man who was enormously rich, and wished -to conquer him with his own weapons. In the new world, as in the old, -money is the real sinew of war, and Valentine would not imperil the -success of his vengeance. - -On returning to Guaymas, he realized his fortune, and found himself, -in a single day, not one of the richest, but _the_ richest private -person in Mexico, although it is a country in which fortunes attain -to a considerable amount. Thus the gold of the placer, which, at an -earlier period, had served to organize the count's expedition, and make -him believe for a moment in the realization of his dreams, was about to -serve in avenging him, after having indirectly caused his death. - -Then began between the general and the hunter a secret and unceasing -struggle, the more terrible through its hidden nature; and the general, -struck without knowing whence the blows dealt his ambition came, -struggled vainly, like a lion caught in a snare, while it was impossible -for him to discover the obstinate enemy who hunted him down. - -This man, who had hitherto succeeded in everything--who, during the -course of his long and stormy political career, had surmounted the -greatest obstacles and forced his very detractors to admire the luck -that constantly accompanied his wildest and rashest conceptions-- -suddenly saw Fortune turn her back on him with such rapidity--we may -even say brutality--that, scarce six weeks after the execution of the -count, he was obliged to resign his office of Military Governor, and -quit, almost like a fugitive, the province of Sonora, where he had so -long reigned as a master, and on which his iron yoke had pressed so -heavily. - -This first blow, dealt the general in the midst of his ambitious -aspirations, when he had only just begun to recover from the grief his -daughter's death had caused him, was the more terrible because he did -not know to whom he should attribute his downfall. - -Still, he did not long remain in doubt. An hour before his departure -from Hermosillo he received a letter in which he was informed, in the -minutest details, of the oath of vengeance taken against him, and of -the steps taken to obtain his recall. This letter was signed "Valentine -Guillois." The hunter, despising darkness and mystery, tore down the -veil that covered him, and openly challenged his foe by manfully telling -him to be on his guard. - -On receiving this threatening declaration of war, the general fell into -an extraordinary passion, the more terrible because it was impotent, -and then, when his mind became calm again, and he began reflecting, he -felt frightened. In truth, the man who stood so boldly before him as an -enemy, must be very powerful and certain of success thus to dare and -defy him. - -His departure from Sonora was a disgraceful flight, in which he tried, -by craft and caution, to throw out his enemy; but the meeting at the -Fort of the Chichimeques, a meeting long prepared by the hunter, proved -to him that he was unmasked once again, and conquered by his enemy. - -The contemptuous manner in which Valentine dismissed him after his -stormy explanation with him, had internally filled the general with -terror. What sinister projects could the man be meditating, what private -vengeance was he arranging, that, when he held him quivering in his -grasp, he allowed his foe to escape, and refused to kill him, when that -would have been so easy? What torture more terrible than death did he -intend to inflict on him? - -The remainder of his journey across the Rocky Mountains, as far as -Mexico, was one protracted agony, during which, suffering from constant -apprehension, and extreme nervous excitement, his diseased imagination -inflicted on him moral torture in the stead of which any physical pain -would have been welcome. - -The loss of his daughter's corpse, and above all, the death of his -father's old comrade in arms, the only man in whom he put faith, and who -possessed his entire confidence, destroyed his energy, and for several -days he was so overwhelmed by this double misfortune, that he longed for -death. - -His punishment was beginning. But General Guerrero was one of those -powerful athletes who do not allow themselves to be overcome so easily; -they may totter in the struggle, and roll on the sand of the arena, -but they always rise again more terrible and menacing than before. His -revolted pride restored his expiring courage; and since an implacable -warfare was declared against him, he swore that he would fight to the -end, whatever the consequences for him might be. - -Moreover, two months had elapsed since his arrival in Mexico, and his -enemy had not revealed his presence by one of those terrible blows which -burst like a clap of thunder above his head. The general gradually -began supposing that the hunter had only wished to force him to abandon -Sonora, and that, in despair of carrying out his plans advantageously -in a city like Mexico, he was prudently keeping aloof, and if he had -not completely renounced his vengeance, circumstances at any rate, -independent of his will, compelled him to defer it. - -The general, so soon as he was settled in the capital of Mexico, -organized a large band of highly-paid spies, who had orders to be -constantly on the watch, and inform him of Valentine's arrival in the -city. Thus reassured by the reports of his agents, he continued with -feverish ardour the execution of his dark designs, for he felt convinced -that if he succeeded in attaining his coveted object, the hatred of the -man who pursued him would no longer be dangerous. This was the more -probable, because, so soon as he held the power in his own hands, he -would easily succeed in getting rid of an enemy, whom his position as a -foreigner isolated, and rendered an object of dislike to the populace. - -The general lived in a large house in the Calle de Tacuba; it was built -by one of his ancestors, and considered one of the handsomest in the -capital. We will describe in a few words the architecture of Mexico, -for, as all the houses are built on the same pattern, or nearly so, by -knowing one it is easy to form an idea of what the others must be. - -The Mexican architecture greatly resembles the Arabic, and as for the -mode of arranging the rooms, it is still entirely in its infancy; but, -since the Proclamation of the Independence, foreign architects have -succeeded, in most of the great towns, in opening side doors in the -suites of rooms, which formerly only communicated with one another, and -hence compelled you to go through a bedroom to enter a dining room, or -pass through a kitchen to reach the drawing room. - -The general's house was composed of four buildings, two stories in -height, and with terraced roofs. Two courts separated these buildings, -and an awning stretched over the four sides of the first yard, enabling -visitors to reach the wide stone steps dry footed. At the top of this -flight, a handsome covered gallery, adorned with vases of flowers and -exotic shrubs, led to a vast anteroom, which opened into a splendid -reception hall; after this came a considerable number of apartments, -splendidly furnished in the European style. - -The general only inhabited the first floor of his mansion. Although -most of the streets are paved at the present day, and the canals have -entirely disappeared, except in the lower districts of the city, water -is still found a few inches beneath the surface, which produces such -damp, that the ground floor, rendered uninhabitable, is given up to -stores and shops in nearly all the houses. The ground floor of the main -building, looking on the Calle de Tacuba, was, therefore, occupied by -brilliant shops, which rendered the facade of the general's house even -more striking. - -The paintings and the ornaments carved on the walls, after the Spanish -fashion, gave it a peculiar, but not unpleasant appearance, which -was completed by the profusion of shrubs that lined the terrace, and -converted it into a hanging garden, like those of Babylon, some sixty -feet above the ground. By-the-bye, these gardens, from which the cupolas -of the churches seem to emerge, give a really fairy-like aspect to the -city, when you survey it in a glowing sunset, from the cathedral towers. - -Seven or eight days had elapsed since the events we recorded in our last -chapter. General Guerrero, after a long conversation with Colonel Don -Jaime Lupo, Don Sirven, and two or three others of his most faithful -partizans--a conversation in which the final arrangements were made for -the pronunciamiento which was to be attempted immediately--gave audience -to two of his spies, who assured him that the person, whose movements -they were ordered to watch, had not yet arrived in Mexico. - -When the hour for going to the theatre arrived, the general, temporarily -freed from alarm, prepared to be present at an extraordinary performance -to be given, that same night, at the Santa Anna theatre; but at the -moment when he was about to give orders for his carriage to be brought -up, the door of the room, in which he was sitting, opened, and a footman -appeared on the threshold, with a respectful bow. - -"What do you want?" the general asked, turning round at the sound. - -"Excellency," the valet replied, "a caballero desires a few minutes' -conversation with your excellency." - -"At this hour?" the general said, looking at a clock, "it is -impossible;" but, suddenly reflecting, he asked, "anyone you know, -Isidro?" - -"No, excellency; it is a caballero whom I have not yet had the honour of -seeing in the house." - -"Hum," said the general, shaking his head thoughtfully, "is he a -gentleman?" - -"That I can assure your excellency; and he told me that he had a most -important communication to make to you." - -In the general's present position, as head of a conspiracy on the point -of breaking out, no detail must be neglected, no communication despised, -so, after reflecting a little, he continued-- - -"You ought to have told the gentleman that I could not receive him so -late, and that he had better call again tomorrow." - -"I told him so, excellency." - -"And he insisted?" - -"Several times, excellency." - -"Well, do you know his name, at least?" - -"When I asked the caballero for it, he said it was useless, as you would -not know it; but if you wished to learn it, he would himself tell it to -your excellency." - -"What a strange person," the general muttered to himself; "very good," -he then added aloud, "lead the gentleman to the small mirror room, and I -will be with him immediately." - -The footman bowed respectfully. - -"Who can the man be, and what is the important matter he has to tell -me?" the general muttered, as he was alone. "Hum, probably some poor -devil mixed up in our conspiracy, who wants a little money. Well, he had -better be careful, for I am not the man to be plundered with impunity, -and so he will find out, if his communication is not serious." - -And, throwing on to a chair the plumed hat he held in his hand, he -proceeded to the mirror room. - - -[1] See "Goldseekers." Same publishers. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -A VISIT. - - -The mirror room was an immense apartment, only separated from the -covered gallery by two anterooms. It was furnished with princely luxury, -and it was here that the general gave those sumptuous _tertulias,_ which -are still talked about in the highest Mexican circles, although so many -years have elapsed. - -This room, merely lighted by two lamps, standing on a console, was at -this moment plunged into a semi-obscurity, when compared with the other -apartments in the mansion, which were full of light. - -A gentleman, dressed in full black, and with the red ribbon of the -Legion of Honour carelessly knotted in a buttonhole of his coat, was -leaning his elbow on the console where the lamps stood, and seemed so -lost in thought, that, when the general entered the room, the sound of -his steps, half subdued by the petates, did not reach the visitor's -ears, and he did not turn to receive him. - -Don Sebastian, after closing the door behind him, walked towards his -visitor, attempting to recognize him, which, however, the stranger's -position rendered temporarily impossible. It was not till he came almost -near enough to touch him that the stranger, at length warned of the -general's presence, raised his head; in spite of all the command Don -Sebastian had over himself, he started and fell back a couple of yards -on recognizing him. - -"Don Valentine!" he said, in a stifled voice, "you here?" - -"Myself, general," he replied, with an almost imperceptible smile and a -profound bow; "did you not expect a visit from me?" - -The Trail-hunter, according to his habit, at once assumed his position -before his adversary. A bitter smile played round the general's pale -lips, and mastering his emotion, he replied, sarcastically-- - -"Certainly, caballero, I hoped to receive a visit from you; but not -here, and under such conditions, I did not venture, I confess, to -anticipate such an honour." - -"I am delighted," he replied, with another bow, "that I have thus -anticipated your wishes." - -"I will prove to you, senor," the general said, with set teeth, "the -value I attach to the visit you have been pleased to pay me." - -While saying this, he stretched out his arm towards a bell. - -"I beg your pardon, general," the Frenchman said, with imperturbable -coolness, "but I believe that you intend to summon some of your people?" - -"And supposing that was my intention, senor?" the general said, -haughtily. - -"If it were so," he replied, with icy politeness, "I think it would be -better for you to do nothing of the sort." - -"Oh, indeed, and for what reason, may I ask?" - -"For the simple reason, general, that as I have the honour to know you -thoroughly, I was not such a fool as to place myself in your power. -My carriage is waiting at this moment in front of your door; in that -carriage are two of my friends, and, in all probability, if they do not -see me come down the steps again in half an hour, they will not hesitate -to ask you what has taken place between us, and what has become of me." - -The general bit his lips. - -"You are mistaken as to my intentions, senor," he said. "I fear you no -more than you appear to do me. I am a gentleman, and were you ten times -more my enemy than you are, I would never attempt to free myself from -you by an assassination." - -"Be it so, general; I should be glad to be mistaken, and in that case I -beg you to accept my apologies; moreover, in coming thus to see you, I -give you, I believe, a proof of confidence." - -"For which I thank you, senor; but as I suppose that reasons of the -highest gravity alone induced you to present yourself here, and the -interview you ask of me must be long, I wished to give my people orders -to take out the horses, and take care that we are not interrupted." - -Valentine bowed without replying, but with an imperceptible smile, and -leaning again on the console, he twisted his long, fair, light moustache -while the general rang the bell. A servant came in. - -"Have the horses taken out," the general said, "and I am not at home to -anybody." - -The servant bowed, and prepared to leave the room. - -"Ah!" said the general, suddenly stopping him, "on the part of this -caballero ask the gentlemen in his carriage to do me the honour of -coming up to my apartments, where they can await more comfortably the -end of a conversation which will probably be rather prolonged. You will -serve refreshments to these gentlemen in the blue room," he added, -looking fixedly at the Frenchman, "the one that follows this room." - -The servant retired. - -"If you still apprehend a trap, senor," he continued, turning to the -Frenchman, "your friends will be at hand, if necessary, to come to your -help." - -"I knew that you were brave to rashness, general," the Frenchman -answered politely, "and I am happy to see that you are no less -honourable." - -"And now, senor, be kind enough to sit down," Don Sebastian said, -pointing to a chair. "May I venture to offer you any refreshments?" - -"General," Valentine answered, as he seated himself, "permit me, for the -present, to decline them. In my youth I served in Africa, and in that -country people are only wont to break their fast with friends. As we -are, temporarily at least, enemies, I must ask you to let me retain my -present position toward you." - -"The custom to which you allude, senor, is also met with on our -prairies," the general replied; "still people sometimes depart from -it. However, act as you think proper. I wait till it may please you -to explain the purpose of this visit, at which I have a right to feel -surprised." - -"I will not abuse your patience any longer, general," he replied with a -bow. "I have merely come to propose a bargain." - -"A bargain?" Don Sebastian exclaimed with surprise, "I do not understand -you." - -"I will have the honour of explaining myself, senor." - -The general bowed and said, "I await your pleasure." - -"You are a diplomatist, general," Valentine continued, "and in that -capacity are, doubtless, aware that a bad treaty is better than a good -war." - -"In certain cases I allow it is so; but I will take the liberty of -remarking that, under present circumstances, senor, I must await your -propositions, instead of offering any of mine, as the war, to employ -your own expression, was not begun by me, but by you." - -"I think it will be better not to discuss that point, in which we should -find it difficult to agree; still, in order to remove any ambiguity, and -lay down the point at issue distinctly, I will remind you in a few words -of the motives which produced the hatred that divides us." - -"Those motives, senor, you have already explained to me most fully at -the Fort of the Chichimeques. Without discussing their validity with -you, I will content myself with saying that hatred, like friendship, -being a matter of sympathy, and not the result of reason, it is better -to confess frankly that we hate or love each other, without trying to -account for either of these feelings, which I consider completely beyond -the will." - -"You are at liberty to think so, senor, and though I do not agree -with you, I will not discuss the point; it is, however, certain that -the hatred we bear each other is implacable, and cannot possibly be -extinguished." - -"Still you spoke only a minute back of a bargain." - -"Certainly; but bargaining is not forgetting. I can, for certain -reasons, abstain from that hatred without renouncing it; and though -I may cease to injure you, I do not, on that account, contract the -slightest friendship with you." - -"I admit that in principle, senor; let us, therefore, come to facts -without further delay; be good enough to explain to me the nature of the -bargain which you think proper to propose to me today." - -"Allow me, in the first place, according to my notions of honour, to -explain to you what our position to each other is." - -"Since the beginning of this interview, senor, I must confess that you -have been talking enigmas inexplicable to me." - -"I will try to be clear, senor, and if I tell you what your plans -are, and the means you have employed for their realization, you will -understand, I have no doubt, that I have succeeded in countermining them -sufficiently to prevent a favourable issue." - -"Go on, senor," the general remarked, with a smile. - -"In two words, this is your position. In the first, you wish, by -a pronunciamiento, to overthrow General R----, and have yourself -proclaimed President of the Republic in his place." - -"Ah, ah," said the general, with a forced laugh; "you must know, senor, -that in our blessed country this ambition is constantly attributed to -all officers who, either on account of their fortune or personal merit, -hold a public position. This accusation, therefore, is not very serious." - -"It would not be so, if you limited yourself to mere wishes, possibly -legitimate in the present state of the country; but, unfortunately, it -is not so." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I mean, general, that you are the head of a conspiracy; that this -conspiracy, several times already a failure in Sonora, you have renewed -in Mexico, under almost infallible conditions of success, and which, -in my opinion, would succeed, had I not resolved on causing them to -fail. I mean that, only a few days ago, your conspirators assembled in -a velorio kept by a certain No Lusacho. Through the agency of Don Jaime -Lupo, you divided among them two bags of gold, brought by you for them, -and emptied in your presence. I mean that, after this distribution, -the final arrangements were made, and the day was almost fixed for the -pronunciamiento. Am I deceived, general, or do you now see that I am -well informed, and that my spies are quite equal to yours, who were not -even able to inform you of my arrival at the Ciudad, where I have been -for more than a week, and you have not known a word about it?" - -"While Valentine was speaking thus, in his mocking way, with his elbow -carelessly laid on the arm of his chair, and his body slightly bent -forward, the general was in a state of passion which he tried in vain -to repress, his pale face assumed a cadaverous hue, his eyebrows met, -and his clenched teeth found difficulty in keeping the words back which -tried each moment to burst forth. When the Frenchman ceased speaking -he made a violent effort to check his rage which was on the point of -breaking out, and he answered in a hollow voice which emotion caused -involuntary to tremble-- - -"I will imitate your frankness, senor. Of what use would it be to -dissimulate with an enemy so well informed as you pretend to be? What -you have said about a conspiracy is perfectly correct. Yes, I intend to -make a pronunciamiento, and that shortly. You see that I do not attempt -to conceal anything from you." - -"I presume, because you consider it useless," Valentine answered -sarcastically. - -"Perhaps so, senor. Although you are so well informed, you do not know -everything." - -"Do you think so?" - -"I am sure of it." - -"What is the thing I am ignorant of?" - -"That you will not leave this house again, and that I am going to blow -out your brains," the general exclaimed, as he started up and cocked a -pistol. - -The Frenchman did not make the slightest movement to prevent the -execution of the general's threat; he contented himself with looking -firmly at him, and saying, coldly-- - -"I defy you." - -Don Sebastian remained motionless, with haggard eye, pale brow, and -trembling hand; then, in a few seconds, he uncocked the pistol, and fell -back utterly crushed in his chair. - -"You have gone too far or not far enough, caballero," Valentine went on -with perfect calmness. "Every threat should be executed at all risks so -soon as it is made. You have reflected, so let us say no more about it, -but resume our conversation." - -In a discussion of this nature, all the advantage is on the side -of the adversary who retains his coolness. The general, ashamed of -the passionate impulse to which he had yielded, and crushed by his -enemy's sarcastically contemptuous answer, remained dumb; he at length -understood that, with a man like the one before him, any contest must -turn to his disadvantage, unless he employed treachery, which his pride -forbade. - -"Let us, for the present," Valentine went on, still calmly and coldly, -"leave this conspiracy, to which we will revert presently, and pass to -a no less interesting subject. If I am correctly informed, Senor Don -Sebastian, you have a ward of the name of Dona Anita de Torres?" - -The general started, but remained silent. - -"Now," continued Valentine, "in consequence of a frightful catastrophe, -this young lady became insane. But that does not prevent you from -insisting on marrying her, in contempt of all law, divine and human, -for the simple reason that she is enormously rich and you require her -fortune for the execution of your ambitious plans. It is true that the -young lady does not love you, and never did love you; it is also true -that her father intended her for another, and that other you insist on -declaring to be dead, although he is alive; but what do you care for -that? Unfortunately, one of my intimate friends, of whom you probably -never heard, Senor Don Serapio de la Ronda, has heard this affair -alluded to. I will tell you confidentially that Don Serapio is greatly -respected by certain parties, and has very considerable power. Don -Serapio, I know not why, takes an interest in Dona Anita, and has made -up his mind, whether you like it or not, to marry her to the man she -loves, and for whom her father intended her." - -"The villain is dead," the general exclaimed, furiously. - -"You are perfectly well aware of the contrary," Senor Valentine -answered, "and to remove any doubts you may still happen to have, I will -give you the proof. Don Martial," he said aloud, "come in, pray, and -tell General Guerrero yourself that you are not dead." - -"Oh!" the general muttered furiously, "this man is a demon." - -At this moment the door opened, and a new personage entered the room. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -ASSISTANCE. - - -The man who now entered the hall of mirrors was dressed like the riders -who promenade at the Bucareli, and gallop at carriage doors--that is to -say, in trousers with silk stripes down the sides, and a broad-brimmed -hat decorated with a double gold string and tassels. - -He walked gracefully up to Don Sebastian, still holding his hat in his -right hand, bowed to him with that exquisite grace of which the Mexicans -alone seem to have the privilege, and thrusting his hand into his side, -he said, with an accent of cutting sarcasm, and in a harsh, metallic -voice-- - -"Do you recognize me, Don Sebastian, and do you believe that I am really -alive, and that it is not the ghost of Martial the Tigrero which has -come from the grave to address you?" - -At the same moment Belhumeur's clever, knowing face could be seen -peering through the doorway. With his eyes obstinately fixed on the -general, he seemed to be impatiently expecting an answer, which the -latter, struggling with several different feelings, evidently hesitated -to give. Still, he was compelled to form a resolution, so he rose and -looked the Tigrero boldly in the face. - -"Who are you, senor?" he said, in a firm voice, "and by what right do -you question me?" - -"Well played," said Valentine, with a laugh; "by heaven, caballero, -it is a pleasure to contend with you, for, on my soul, you are a rude -adversary." - -"Do you think so?" Don Sebastian asked, with a hoarse laugh. - -"Certainly," the hunter continued, "and I am delighted to bear my -testimony to the fact; hence you had better yield at once, for you are -in a dilemma from which you cannot escape, not even by a master stroke." - -There was a silence, lasting some minutes. At length the general -seemed to make up his mind, for he turned to Belhumeur, who was still -listening, and bowed to him with ironical politeness. - -"Why stand half hidden by that door?" he said to him; "pray enter, -caballero, for your presence here will be most agreeable to the whole -company." - -The Canadian at once entered, and after giving the general a respectful -bow he leant over the back of Valentine's chair. The latter eagerly -followed all the incidents of the strange scene that was being played -before him, and in which he appeared to be a disinterested spectator -rather than an actor. - -"You see, senores," the general said, haughtily, "that I imitate your -example, and, like you, play fairly. I believe that you entered my house -in order to propose a bargain to me, Don Valentine? You, senor," he -said, turning to the Tigrero, "whom I told that I did not recognize, and -whom I have the honour of receiving at my house for the first time, have -doubtless come as witness for these caballeros, who are your friends. -Well, gentlemen, you shall all three be satisfied. I am awaiting your -proposal, Don Valentine. I allow, senor, that you, whose miraculous -resuscitation I have hitherto denied, are alive, and are really Don -Martial the ex-lover of Dona Anita de Torres. As for you, senor, whom -I do not know, I authorize you to declare before any one you like the -truth of the words I utter. Are you all three satisfied, gentlemen? Is -there anything else I can do to afford you pleasure?--if so, speak, and -I am ready to satisfy you." - -"A man could not yield to what is inevitable with better grace," -Valentine replied, bowing ironically. - -"Thanks for your approval, caballero, and be kind enough to let me know, -without further delay, the conditions on which you are willing to leave -off pursuing me with that terrible hatred with which you incessantly -threaten me, and whose result is rather long in coming, according to my -judgment." - -These words were uttered with a mixture of pride and contempt impossible -to express, and which for a moment rendered Valentine dumb, so -extraordinary did the sudden change in his adversary's humour appear to -him. - -"I am waiting," the general added, as he fell back in his chair, with an -air of weariness. - -"We will bring matters to an end," Valentine said, drawing himself up -with an air of resolution. - -"That is what I wish," the general interrupted him, as he lit a -cigarette, which he began smoking with the most profound coolness. - -"These are my conditions," the hunter said distinctly and harshly, for -he was annoyed by this frigid indifference. "You will at once leave -Mexico, and give up Dona Anita, to whom you will not only restore her -liberty, but also the right of giving her hand and fortune to whomsoever -she pleases. You will sell your estates, and retire to the United -States, promising on oath never to return to Mexico. On my side, I -pledge myself to restore you your daughter's body, and never attempt to -injure you in any way." - -"Have you anything more to add?" the general asked, as he coolly watched -the blue smoke of his cigarette as it rose in circles to the ceiling. - -"Nothing; but take care, senor, I too have taken an oath, and from -what I have told you, you must have seen how far I have detected your -secrets. Accept or refuse, but come to a decision; for this is the last -time we shall meet face to face under the like conditions. The game we -are playing is a terrible one, and must end in the death of one of us; -and I shall show you no pity, as, doubtless, you will show me none. -Reflect seriously before answering yes or no, and I give you half an -hour to decide." - -The general burst into a sharp and nervous laugh. "_Viva Dios_, -caballero!" he exclaimed, with a contemptuous toss of his head, "I have -listened to you with extreme surprise. You dispose of my will with an -incomparable facility. I do not know who gives you the right to speak -and act as you are doing; but, by heaven, hatred, however active it may -be, can in no case possess this privilege. You fancy yourself much more -powerful than you really are, I fancy; but, at any rate, whatever may -happen, bear this carefully in mind--I will not retreat an inch before -you. Accepting your impudent and ridiculous conditions would be to -cover myself with shame and my utter ruin. Were you the genius of Evil -clothed in mortal form, I would not the less persist in the track I have -laid down for myself, and in which I will persevere at my own risk and -peril; however terrible may be the obstacles you raise, I will overthrow -them or succumb bravely, buried beneath the ruins of my abortive -plans and my destroyed fortunes. Hence consider yourself warned, Don -Valentine; that I despise your menaces, and they will not stop me. And -you, Don Martial, since such is your name, that I shall marry my ward, -in spite of the efforts you may make to prevent me, and shall do so -because I wish it, and because no man in the world has ever attempted -to resist my will without being at once mercilessly crushed. And now, -senores, as we have said all we have to say to each other, and I think -there is no more, and we can have no doubt as to our mutual intentions, -permit me to take leave of you, for I wish to go to the Santa Anna -theatre, and it is already very late." - -He rang the bell, and a footman came in. - -"Order the carriage," he said to him. - -"Then," Valentine said as he rose, "it is war to the death between us." - -"War to the death! be it so." - -"We shall only meet once again, general," the hunter remarked; "and that -will be on the eve of your death, when you are in Capilla." - -"I accept the meeting, and will bow uncomplainingly before you if you -are powerful enough to obtain that result; but, believe me, I am not -there yet." - -"You are nearer your fall than you perhaps suppose." - -"That is possible; but enough of this; any further conversation will be -useless. Light these gentlemen down," he said to the servant, who at -this moment entered the room. - -The three men rose, exchanged dumb bows with the general, and, -accompanied by him to the door of the room, they followed the footman, -who preceded them with candles. Two carriages were waiting at the foot -of the stairs; Valentine and his friends got into one of them, the -general took his seat in the other, and they heard him give the order in -a firm voice to drive to the Santa Anna theatre. The coachmen flogged -their horses, which started at a gallop, and the two carriages left the -house, the gates of which were closed after them. - -The Santa Anna theatre was built in 1844 by the Spanish architect, -Hidalgo. This building has externally nothing remarkable about it, -either in regard to frontage or position; but we are glad to state that -the interior is convenient, elegant, and even grand. - -After passing through the external portico, you enter a yard covered -with a glass dome, next come wide stairs with low steps, large and lofty -lobbies, a double row of galleries looking on the front yard, and airy -crush-rooms for the promenaders. - -The house is well built, well decorated, and spacious; it has three rows -of boxes, with a lower circle representing the pit boxes, and another -above the third circle for the lower classes. In the pit, it is worth -mentioning that each visitor has his stall, which he reaches easily and -comfortably by passages formed down the centre and round the theatre. -The boxes nearly all contain ten persons, and are separated from each -other by light colonnades and partitions. To each box is attached a -room, to which people withdraw between the acts, and, instead of the -balconies which in our theatres conceal a great part of the ladies' -toilets, the boxes have only a ledge a few inches in height, which -allows the splendid dresses of the audience to be fully admired. - -We have dwelt, perhaps with a little complacency, on this description of -the Santa Anna theatre, for we thought that, at the moment when it is -intended to rebuild the Opera and other Parisian theatres, there can be -no harm in displaying the difference that exists between the frightful -dens in which the spectators are thrust together pell-mell every night -in a city like Paris, which claims to be the first, not only in Europe, -but in the whole world, and the spacious airy theatres of a country like -Mexico, which in so many respects is inferior to us as regards ideas of -civilization and comfort. It would, however, be very easy, we fancy, to -obtain in Paris the advantageous results the Mexicans have enjoyed for -twenty years, and that at a slight expense. Unfortunately, whatever may -be said, the French are the most thorough routine nation in the world, -and we greatly fear that, in spite of incessant protests, things will -remain for a long time in the same state as they are today. - -When the general entered his box, which was in the first circle, -and almost facing the stage, the house presented a truly fairy-like -appearance. The extraordinary performance had brought an immense throng -of spectators and ladies, whose magnificent dresses were covered with -diamonds, which glittered and flashed beneath the light that played on -them. - -Don Sebastian, after bending forward for a moment to exchange bows with -his numerous acquaintances, and prove his presence, withdrew to the back -of the box, opened his glasses, and began looking carelessly about him. -But though, through a powerful effort of the will, his face was cold, -calm, and unmoved, a terrible storm was raging in the general's heart. - -The scene that had taken place a few minutes previously at his mansion, -had filled him with anxiety and gloomy forebodings, for he understood -that his adversaries must either believe or feel themselves very -strong thus to dare and defy him to the face, and audaciously enter -his very house. In vain he tortured his mind to find means to get rid -of his obstinate enemy; but time pressed, his situation became at each -moment more critical, and unless some bold and desperate stroke proved -successful, he felt instinctively that he was lost without chance of -salvation. - -The president's box was occupied by the first magistrate of the -Republic, and some of his aide-de-camps. Several times, Don Sebastian -fancied that the president's eyes were fixed on him with a strange -expression, after which he bent over and whispered some remarks to -the gentlemen who accompanied him. Perhaps, this was not real, and the -general's pricked conscience suggested to him suspicions far from the -thoughts of those against whom he had so many reasons to be on his -guard; but whether real or not, these suspicions tortured his heart and -proved to him the necessity of coming to an end at all risks. - -Still the performance went on; the curtain had just fallen before the -last act, and the general, devoured by anxiety, and persuaded that he -had remained long enough in the theatre to testify his presence, was -preparing to retire, when the door of his box opened, and Colonel Lupo -walked in. - -"Ah, is it you, colonel?" Don Sebastian said to him as he offered his -hand and gave him a forced smile. "You are welcome; I did not hope any -longer to have the pleasure of seeing you, and I was just going away." - -"Pray do not let me stop you, general, I have only a few words to say to -you." - -"Our business?" - -"Goes on famously." - -"No suspicion?" - -"Not the shadow." - -The general breathed like a man from whose chest a crushing weight has -been just removed. - -"Can I be of any service to you?" he said, absently. - -"For the present, I have only come for your sake." - -"How so?" - -"I was accosted today by a lepero, a villain of the worst sort, who -says that he wishes to avenge himself on a certain Frenchman, whom -he declares you know, and he desires to place himself under your -protection, in the event of the blade of his navaja accidentally -slipping into his enemy's body." - -"Hum! that is serious," the general said with an imperceptible start. "I -do not know how far I dare go in being bail for such a scoundrel." - -"He declares that you have known him a long time, and that while doing -his own business, he will be doing yours." - -"You know that I am no admirer of navajadas, for an assassination always -injures the character of a politician." - -"That is true; but you cannot be rendered responsible for the crimes any -villain may think proper to commit." - -"Did this worthy gentleman tell you his name, my dear colonel?" - -"Yes; but I believe that it would be better to mention it in the open -air, rather than in this place." - -"One word more; have you cleverly deceived him, and do you think that he -really intends to be useful to us?" - -"Useful to you, you mean." - -"As you please." - -"I could almost assert it." - -"Well, we will be off; have you weapons about you?" - -"I should think so; it would be madness to go about Mexico unarmed." - -"I have pistols in my pocket, so I will dismiss my carriage, and we will -walk home to my house; does that suit you, my dear colonel?" - -"Excellently, general, the more so because if you evince any desire to -see the scoundrel in question, nothing will be easier than for me to -take you to the den he occupies, without attracting attention." - -The general looked at his accomplice fixedly. "You have not told me all, -colonel?" he said. - -"I have not, general, but I am convinced that you understand the motive, -which at this moment keeps my mouth shut." - -"In that case, let us be off." - -He wrapped himself in his cloak and left the box, followed by the -colonel. A footman was waiting under the portico for his orders to bring -up the carriage. - -"Return to the house," the general said; "it is a fine night, and I feel -inclined for a walk." - -The footman retired. - -"Come, colonel," Don Sebastian went on. - -They left the theatre and proceeded slowly toward the Portales de -Mercaderes, which were entirely deserted at this advanced hour of the -night. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -EL ZARAGATE. - - -The night was clear, mild and starry, a profound calm prevailed in the -deserted streets, and it was in fact one of those delicious Mexican -nights, so filled with soft emanations, and which dispose the mind to -delicious reveries. - -The two gentlemen, carefully wrapped in their cloaks, walked side by -side, along the middle of the street, in fear of an ambuscade, examining -with practised eyes the doorways and the dark corners of side streets. -When they were far enough from the theatre no longer to fear indiscreet -eyes or ears, the general at length broke the silence. - -"Now, Senor Don Jaime," he said, "let us speak frankly, if you please." - -"I wish for nothing better," the colonel replied, with a bow. - -"And to begin," Don Sebastian continued, "tell me who the man is from -whom you hinted that I could derive some benefit." - -"Nothing is easier, excellency. This man is a villain of the worst sort, -as I already had the honour of telling you; his antecedents are, I -suppose, rather dark, and that is all I have been able to discover. This -man, who, I believe, belongs to no country, but who, in consequence of -his adventurous life, has visited them all and speaks all languages, -was at San Francisco when the Count de Prebois Crance organized the -cuadrilla of bandits, at the head of which he undertook to dismember our -lovely country, and in which, between ourselves, he would probably have -succeeded had it not been for your skill and courage." - -"We will pass over that, my dear colonel," the general quickly -interrupted him; "I did my duty in that affair, as I shall always do it -when the interest of my country is at stake." - -The colonel bowed. - -"Well," he continued, "the villain I am speaking of could not let such -a magnificent opportunity slip; he enlisted in the count's cuadrilla. I -believe he was starving at San Francisco, and, for certain reasons best -known to himself, was not sorry to leave that city--but perhaps I weary -you by giving you all these details." - -"On the contrary, my dear colonel, I wish to be thoroughly acquainted -with this picaro, in order to judge what reliance may be placed in his -protestations." - -"On arriving at Guaymas, our man became almost directly the secret -agent of that unhappy Colonel Fleury, who, as you well remember, was so -brutally assassinated by the Frenchmen." - -"Alas, yes!" the general said with a sardonic smile. - -"Senor Pavo also employed him several times," Don Jaime continued, "but, -unfortunately for our individual, Don Valentine, the count's friend, -was watching; he discovered, I knew not how, all his little tricks, and -insisted on his dismissal from the company, after a quarrel he had with -one of the French officers." - -"I think I can remember the affair being talked about at the time. Was -not this villain known by the sobriquet of the Zaragate?" - -"He was, general; furious at what happened to him, and attributing it to -Don Valentine, he took an oath to kill him whenever he met him, so soon -as the opportunity offered itself." - -"Well?" - -"It seems that, despite all his goodwill and his eager desire to get rid -of his enemy, the opportunity has not yet offered, as he has not killed -him." - -"That is true; but how did you come across this scoundrel, colonel?" - -"Well, general," he answered with some hesitation, "you know that I have -been compelled during the last few days, for the sake of our affair, -to keep rather bad company. This scoundrel came to offer his services. -I cross-questioned him, and knowing your enmity to that Frenchman, -I resolved to inform you of this acquisition. If I have done wrong, -forgive me, and we will say no more about it." - -"On the contrary, colonel," the general said eagerly. "The deuce! not -only have I nothing to forgive, but I feel very grateful to you, for -your confession has come at a most fortunate time. You shall judge, -however, for I wish to be frank with you, the more so because, apart -from the high esteem I feel for your character, our common welfare is at -stake at this moment." - -"You frighten me, general." - -"You will be more frightened directly; know that this Valentine, -this Frenchman, this demon, has I know not by what means, discovered -our conspiracy, holds all the threads of it, and, more than that, is -acquainted with all the members, beginning with myself." - -"_Voto a brios!_" the colonel exclaimed, with a start of surprise, and -turning pale with terror, "in that case we are lost." - -"Well, I confess that our chances of success are considerably -diminished." - -"Pardon me for asking, general," he continued in great agitation, "but -in circumstances like the present----" - -"Go on, go on, my dear colonel, do not be embarrassed." - -"Are you sure, general, perfectly certain as to the statement you have -just made to me?" - -"You shall judge. About an hour before the opening of the theatre, -Don Valentine himself--you understand me?--came to my house with two -friends, doubtless cutthroats in his pay, and revealed all to me; what -do you say to that?" - -"I say that if this man does not die we are hopelessly lost." - -"That is my opinion too," the general remarked coldly. - -"How came it that, in spite of this terrible revelations, you ventured -to show yourself at the theatre?" - -Don Sebastian smiled and shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. - -"Ought I to let even indifferent persons see the anxiety that devoured -me? Undeceive yourself, colonel, boldness alone can save us; do not -forget that we are risking our heads at this moment." - -"I am not likely to forget it." - -"As for this man, the Zaragate, I must not and will not see him; but -do you deal with him as you think proper. You understand that it is of -the utmost importance that I should be ignorant of the arrangements you -may make with him, and be able to prove, if necessary, that I had no -knowledge of this. Moreover, as you are aware, I am not one for extreme -measures; the sight of such a villain would be repulsive to me, for I -have such a horror of bloodshed. Alas!" he added, with a sigh, "I have -been forced to shed only too much in the course of my life." - -"I do not know exactly," the colonel muttered. - -"I have entire confidence in you; you are an intelligent man; I give you -full authority, and whatever you do will be well done. You understand -me, I trust?" - -"Yes, yes, general," the officer grunted ill-temperedly, "I understand -you only too well." - -"I see----" - -"What do you see?" the other interrupted him. - -"That, if we succeed, you will be a general and Governor of Sonora. That -is rather a pretty prospect, I fancy, and one worth risking something -for." - -"It is useless to remind me of your promises, general; you are well -aware that I am devoted to you." - -"I know it, of course, and on that account leave you. A longer -conversation in the moonlight might arouse suspicions. Good night, and -come and breakfast with me tomorrow." - -"I will not fail, general. Good night, and I kiss your excellency's -hands." - -The general pulled his hat over his eyes, wrapped himself in his cloak, -and went off hastily towards the Calle de Tacuba. On being left alone, -the colonel remained for a moment plunged in deep thought; the office -with which he was intrusted, for he perfectly caught the meaning of -the general's hints, was most serious. He must act vigorously without -compromising his chief, and in the shortest possible period, under the -penalty of being himself arrested and shot in four and twenty hours if -he failed. For the Mexicans, like their old masters the Spaniards, do -not jest in matters connected with revolutions, and boldly cut away the -evil at the root, by killing all the leaders of the abortive conspiracy. - -The situation was critical, and he must make up his mind, for the slight -delay might ruin all; but at so late an hour where was he to meet a man -like the Zaragate, who had probably no known domicile, and who led, a -no doubt most irregular life. - -Mexico, like all large cities, is amply endowed with suspicious houses, -frequented by rogues of all ages, who are continually wandering about -in search of adventures, more or less lucrative, under the complacent -protection of the moon. - -Moreover, although the worthy colonel had, in the course of his life, -frequented very mixed company, as he himself allowed, he was not at all -anxious to venture alone at night into the lower parts of the city, and -enter the velorios, thorough cut-throat dens, filled with robbers and -assassins, in which respectable persons do not even venture in bright -day without a shudder. - -At the moment when the colonel mechanically raised his head and looked -despairingly up to heaven, he fancied he saw several suspicious shadows -prowling about him in a suggestive manner. But the colonel was brave, -and the more so, because he had literally nothing to lose, hence he -quietly loosened his sword, opened his cloak, and at the instant when -four or five fellows attacked him at once with machetes and long -navajas, he was on guard according to all the rules of the art, with his -left foot supported a pillar, and his cloak wrapped like a buckler round -his arm. - -The attack was a rude one, but the colonel withstood it manfully; -besides, all went on in the Mexican way, without a shout or call for -help. When you are thus attacked in a Mexican street, you feel so -assured of death, that you generally confine yourself to the best -possible defence, without losing time in calling for help, which will -certainly not arrive. - -Still, the assailants being armed with short and heavy weapons, had a -marked disadvantage against the colonel's long and thin rapier, which -twisted like a snake, writhed round their weapons, and had already -pricked two of the men sharply enough to make the others reflect, and -display greater prudence in their attack. The colonel felt that they -were giving ground. - -"Come on, villains," he exclaimed, as he gave a terrific lunge, and ran -one of the bandits right through the body, who rolled on the pavement -with a yell of pain. "Let us come to an end of this, in the demon's -name!" - -"Stop, stop!" the man who seemed the leader of the bandits exclaimed; -"we are mistaken." - -As the bandits asked for nothing better than to stop, they retreated a -few steps without hesitation. - -"Yes, _Rayo de Dios_, you are mistaken, birbones," the exasperated -colonel shouted. - -"Can it possibly be you," the first speaker continued, "Senor Colonel -Don Jaime Lupo?" - -"Halloh!" the colonel said, falling back a step in surprise, "who -mentioned my name?" - -"I, excellency; a friend." - -"A friend? a strange friend who has been trying to assassinate me for -the last ten minutes." - -"Believe me, colonel, that had we known whom we had to deal with, we -should never have attacked you. All this is the result of a deplorable -misunderstanding, which you will, however, excuse." - -"But who are you, in the demon's name?" - -"What, excellency, do you not recognize the Zaragate?" - -"The Zaragate!" the colonel exclaimed, with glad surprise. "Well, -scoundrel, are you aware that yours is a singular trade?" - -"Alas! excellency, a man must do what he can," the bandit replied, in a -sorrowful voice. - -"Hum! then you have turned robber at present?" - -The scoundrel drew himself up with dignity. - -"No, excellency. I am serving, in the company of these honourable -caballeros the persons who claim my help." - -The honourable caballeros, seeing that the affair was going to end -peacefully, had returned their knives to their belts, and seemed -tolerably well satisfied at this unexpected conclusion, with the -exception of the man who had received the last thrust, and surrendered -his felon soul to the fiend; an acquisition, between ourselves, of no -great value to the spirit of darkness. - -"Can anyone have requested your services against me, Senor Zaragate?" -the colonel continued, as he returned his sword to its scabbard. - -"Not at all, excellency. I have already had the honour of remarking that -it was a mistake; we were waiting here for a young spark, who during -the last week has contracted the bad habit of prowling under the window -of a senator's mistress, and who asked me as a kindness to free him from -this troublesome fellow." - -"Caspita! Senor Zaragate, you have a rather quick way with you; and -your senator appears to me somewhat hasty. But as your little matter is -probably spoiled for tonight----" - -"I think, excellency, that the gallant heard the clash of steel, and -took very good care not to come on." - -"If he did so, he acted wisely; at any rate, if no other motive keeps -you here, and you have no objection to accompany me, I shall feel -obliged by your doing so, for I have to talk with you on very serious -matters, and, in fact, was looking for you." - -"Only see what a thing chance is!" the bandit exclaimed. - -"Hum! let us hope it will not be quite so brutal next time." - -The Zaragate burst into a laugh. - -"Stay!" the colonel continued, as he laid a gold coin in his hand, "be -good enough to give this in my name to these honourable caballeros, and -beg them to forgive the rather rough way in which, at the first moment, -I received their advances." - -"Oh, they will not owe you a grudge, my dear sir, you may be sure of -that." - -The bandits, perfectly reconciled with the colonel by means of the -coin, gave him tremendous bows, accompanied by offers of service, and -took leave of him, after exchanging a few sentences in a whisper with -their chief; then they went off to the right, while the colonel and his -companion turned to the left. - -"They seem to be rather determined fellows," the colonel said, in order -to broach his subject. - -"Perfect lions, excellency, and obedient as rastreros." - -"Excellent; and have you many of that sort under your hand?" - -"Nothing would be easier, in the case of need, than to make up a dozen." - -"All equally true?" - -"All." - -"That is really valuable, do you know that, Senor Zaragate; and you are -a lucky caballero!" - -"Your excellency flatters me." - -"On my word, no. I am expressing my honest opinion, that is all." - -"Pardon me, excellency; but may I ask where we are going?" - -"Have you an inclination for one direction more than another?" - -"Not the slightest, excellency; still, I confess that, as a general -rule, I like to know where I am going." - -"Every sensible man ought to be of the same way of thinking. Well, we -are going to my house; have you any objection to that?" - -"None at all. I think you said, excellency, that I was a lucky man?" - -"Indeed I did, and I repeat that I consider you very fortunate." - -"Hum, you know the proverb, excellency, 'everyone knows where the shoe -pinches him.'" - -"That is true, and I suppose the shoe pinches you, eh?" - -"It does," he replied, with a sigh. - -The colonel looked at him anxiously. "I understand the cause of your -grief," he said; "and it is the worse, because there is no remedy for -it." - -"Do you think so?" - -"Caspita! I am certain of it." - -"You may be mistaken, excellency." - -"Nonsense! You who so graciously place yourself at the service of those -who have an insult to avenge, are forced to renounce your own vengeance." - -"Oh, oh, excellency, what is that you are saying?" - -"I am speaking the truth. You hate the Frenchman whom you mentioned to -me today, but you are afraid of him." - -"Afraid!" he exclaimed angrily. - -"I believe so," the colonel answered coolly. - -"Oh! if I only made up my mind to it----" - -"Yes," the colonel remarked, with a laugh, "but you will not make up -your mind because, I repeat, you are afraid; and to prove to you the -truth of my assertion, although I do not know the man, and only take -an interest in the matter for your sake, I will make you a wager if you -like." - -"A wager?" - -"Yes." - -"What is it?" - -"I bet you that you will not dare avenge yourself on your enemy within -the next four and twenty hours, not even with the help of your twelve -companions." - -"And what will you bet, excellency?" - -"Well, I am so certain of running no risk, that I will bet you one -hundred ounces. Does that suit you?" - -"One hundred ounces!" the bandit exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with -greed. "_Viva Dios!_ I would kill my own brother for such a sum." - -"You are flattering yourself, I see." - -"Here we are at your door, excellency, so it is needless for me to go -any further. You said one hundred ounces, I think?" - -"I did." - -"Farewell. The coming day will not end before I am avenged!" - -"Nonsense, nonsense! you will think better of it. Good night, Senor -Zaragate." - -And the colonel entered his house, muttering to himself, in an aside, -"I fancy I managed that cleverly. If this accursed Frenchman escapes -from the bloodhounds I have let loose on him, he must be the demon the -general calls him." - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -AFTER THE INTERVIEW. - - -The house taken for Valentine by Mr. Rallier was, as we have already -stated, situated in the Calle de Tacuba, and by a strange accident, in -no way premeditated, only a few yards from the mansion belonging to -General Don Sebastian Guerrero. The latter had no suspicion of this, -for until the moment when the hunter thought it advisable to pay him -a visit, he had been completely ignorant of his enemy's presence in -Mexico, in spite of the crowd of spies whom he paid to inform him of his -arrival in the capital. - -The hunter, therefore, would only have had a few steps to go to reach -home after leaving the general. But suspecting that the latter might -have given orders to have his carriage followed, he ordered his coachman -to drive to the Alameda, and thence to the Paseo de Bucareli. - -As the night was far advanced, the promenaders had abandoned the -shady walks of the Alameda, which was now completely deserted. This, -doubtless, was what the hunter desired, for, on reaching about the -centre of the drive, he ordered the coachman to stop, and got out with -his companions. After recommending him to watch carefully over his mules -(in Mexico people do not use horses for their carriages), and not let -any one approach him, for fear of one of those surprises so frequent at -this hour at this place, the three men then disappeared in one of the -shady walks, though careful not to go too far, so that they could assist -their coachman in case of need. - -Valentine, like all men accustomed to desert life, that is to vast -horizons of verdure, had an instinctive distrust of stone walls, -behind which, in his fancy, a spy was continually listening. Hence, -when he had an important affair to discuss, or a serious matter to -communicate to his friends, he preferred--in spite of the care with -which his house had been chosen, and the faithful friends who passed as -servants there--going to the Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, the Vega, -or somewhere in the environs of Mexico, where after posting Curumilla -as a sentry, that is to say, the man in whom he had the most perfect -faith, and whose scent, if I may be allowed the term, was infallible, he -believed that he could safely confide his closest secrets to the friends -he conveyed to these strange open air councils. - -On reaching a thick clump of trees the hunter stopped. - -"We shall be comfortable here," he said, as he sat down on a stone bench -and invited his friends to imitate him, "and shall be able to talk -without fear." - -"The trees have eyes, and the leaves ears," Belhumeur answered -sententiously; "I fear nothing so much in the world as these transparent -screens of verdure, which allow everything to be seen and heard." - -"Yes," Valentine remarked with a smile, "if you do not take the -precaution to frighten away spies;" and at the same moment he imitated -the soft cadenced hiss of the coral snake. - -A similar hiss was heard from the centre of the clump and seemed like an -echo. - -"That is the chief's signal," the Canadian said. "He has been watching -for us there for nearly an hour. Do you now believe that we are in -safety?" - -"Certainly; when Curumilla watches over us we have no surprise to -apprehend." - -"Let us talk, then," said Don Martial. - -"One moment," Valentine remarked, "we must first hear the report of a -friend, which is most valuable, and will doubtless decide the measures -we have to adopt." - -"Whom are you alluding to?" - -"You shall see," Valentine answered, and clapped his hands thrice softly. - -Immediately a slight sound and a gentle rustling of leaves was heard in -a neighbouring thicket, and a man suddenly emerged, about four paces -from the hunters. It was Carnero, the capataz of General Guerrero. He -wore a vicuna skin hat, of which the large brim was bent over his eyes, -and he was wrapped up in a spacious cloak. - -"Good evening, senores," he said, with a polite bow, "I have been -awaiting your coming for nearly an hour, and almost despaired of seeing -you tonight." - -"We were detained longer than we expected by General Guerrero." - -"Do you come from him?" - -"Did I not tell you I should call on him?" - -"Yes; but I hardly believed that you would have the temerity to venture -so imprudently into the lion's den." - -"Nonsense," Valentine said with a disdainful smile, "the lion as you -call him, I assure you, was remarkably tame; he drew in his claws -completely, and received us with the most exquisite politeness." - -"In that case take care," the capataz replied, with a significant shake -of the head; "if he received you as you say, and I have no reason to -doubt it, he is, be assured, preparing a terrible countermine against -you." - -"I am of the same opinion; the question is, whether we shall allow him -the time to act." - -"He is very clever, my dear Valentine," the capataz continued, "and -seems to possess an intuition of evil. In spite of the oath I took to -you when, on your entreaty, I consented to remain in his service, there -are days when, although I possess a thorough knowledge of his character, -he terrifies even me, and I feel on the point of giving up the rude task -which, through devotion to you, I have imposed on myself." - -"Courage, my friend; persevere but a few days longer, and, believe me, -we shall be all avenged." - -"May heaven grant it!" the capataz said with a sigh; "but I confess that -I dare not believe it, even though it is you who assure me of the fact." - -"Have you learnt any important news since our last interview?" - -"Only one thing, but I think it is of the utmost gravity for you." - -"Speak, my friend." - -"What I have to tell you is short and gloomy, senores. The general, -after a secret conversation with his man of business, ordered me to -carry a letter to the Convent of the Bernardines." - -"To the convent?" Don Martial exclaimed. - -"Silence," said Valentine. "Do you know the contents of this letter?" - -"Dona Anita gave it me to read. The general informs the abbess that he -is resolved to finish the matter; that whether his ward be mad or not, -he means to marry her, and that at sunrise on the day after tomorrow, a -priest sent by him will present himself at the convent to arrange the -ceremony." - -"Great God! what is to be done?" the Tigrero exclaimed sadly; "how is -the execution of this odious machination to be prevented?" - -"Silence," Valentine repeated. "Is that all, Carnero?" - -"No; the general adds, that he requests the abbess to prepare the young -lady for this union, and that he will himself call at the convent -tomorrow, in order to explain more fully his inexorable wishes--these -are the very words of the letter." - -"Very good, my friend, I thank you for this precious information; it is -of the utmost importance that the general should be prevented from going -to the convent before three o'clock of the tarde. You understand, my -friend, this is of vital importance, so you must manage to effect it." - -"Do not be uneasy, my dear Valentine; the general shall not go to the -convent before the hour you indicate, whatever may be the means I am -forced to employ to prevent him." - -"I count on your promise, my friend; and now good-bye." - -He offered him his hand, which the capataz pressed forcibly. - -"When shall I see you, again?" he asked. - -"I will soon let you know," the hunter answered. - -The capataz bowed and went down a walk; the sound of his footsteps -rapidly decreased, and was quite inaudible within a few minutes. - -"My friends," Valentine then said, "we have now arrived at the moment -for the final struggle, which we have so long been preparing. We must -not let ourselves be led away by hatred, but act like judges, not as men -who are avenging themselves. Blood demands blood, it is true, according -to the law of the desert; but, remember, however culpable the man whom -we have condemned may be, his death would be an indelible spot, a brand -of infamy which would sully our honour." - -"But this monster," the Tigrero exclaimed, with a passion the more -violent because it was repressed, "is beyond the pale of humanity." - -"He may re-enter it to repent." - -"Are we priests then to practise forgetfulness of insults?" Don Martial -asked with a fiendish grin. - -"No, my friend, there are men in the grand and sublime acceptation of -the term; men who have often been faulty themselves, and who, rendered -better by the life of struggling they have led, and the grief which has -frequently bowed them beneath its iron yoke, inflict a chastisement, but -despise vengeance, which they leave to weak and pusillanimous minds. Who -of you, my friends, would dare to say that he has suffered more than I? -To Him alone will I concede the right of imposing his will on me, and -what He bids me do I will do." - -"Forgive me, my friend," the Tigrero answered, "you are ever good, ever -great. God, in imposing on you a heavy task, endowed you at the same -time with an energetic soul, and a heart which seems to expand in your -bosom under the blast of adversity, instead of withering. We, however, -are but common men, in whom the sanguinary instinct of the savage -is constantly revealed in spite of all our efforts, and who know no -other law save that of retaliation. Forget the senseless words my lips -uttered, and be assured that I will ever joyfully obey you, whatever -you may command, persuaded as I am, that you can only ask the man who -has utterly placed himself in your power to do just actions." - -The hunter, while his friend was speaking thus in a voice broken by -emotion, had let his head fall on his hands, and seemed absorbed in -gloomy and painful thought. - -"I have nothing to forgive you, my friend," he replied in a gentle, -sympathizing voice, "for through my own sufferings I can understand what -yours are. I, too, often feel my heart bound with wrath and indignation; -for, believe me, my friend, I have a constant struggle to wage against -myself, not to let myself be led away to make a vengeance of what must -only be a punishment. But enough on this head; time presses, and we must -arrange our plans, so as not to be foiled by our enemies. I went today -to the palace, where I had a secret conversation with the President of -the Republic, whom, as you are aware, I have known for many years, and -who honours me with a friendship of which I am far from believing myself -worthy. At the end of our interview he handed me a paper, a species of -blank signature, by the aid of which I can do what I think advisable for -the success of our plans." - -"Did you obtain such a paper?" - -"I have it in my pocket. Now, listen to me. You will go at sunrise -tomorrow to the house of Don Antonio Rallier; he will be informed of -your coming, and you will follow his instructions." - -"And you?" - -"Do not be anxious about my movements, good friend, and only think of -your own business, for, I repeat, the decisive moment is approaching. -The day after tomorrow begins the feast of the anniversary of Mexican -Independence; that is to say, on that day we shall do battle with our -enemy, and meet him face to face; and the combat will be a rude one, for -this man has a will of iron, and a terrible energy. We shall be able -to conquer him, but not to subdue him, and if we do not take care he -will slip through our hands like a serpent; hence our personal affairs -must be finished tomorrow. Though apparently absent, I shall be really -near you, that is to say, I will help you with all my power. Still, do -not forget that you must act with the most extreme prudence, and, above -all, the greatest moderation; a second of forgetfulness would ruin you, -by alarming the innumerable spies scattered round the Convent of the -Bernardines. I trust that you have heard and understood me, my friend?" - -"Yes, Don Valentine." - -"And you will act as I recommend?" - -"I promise it." - -"Reflect, that you are perhaps risking the loss of your future -happiness." - -"I will not forget your recommendation, I swear to you; I am risking too -great a stake in this game, which must decide my future life, to let -myself be induced to commit any act of violence." - -"Good; I am happy to hear you speak thus; but have confidence, my -friend, I feel certain that we shall succeed." - -"May heaven hear you!" - -"It always hears those who appeal to it with a pure heart and a lively -faith. Hope, I tell you; and now, my dear Don Martial, permit me to say -a few words to our worthy friend, Belhumeur." - -"I will withdraw." - -"What for? have I any secrets from you? You can hear what I am going to -say to him." - -"You have nothing to say to me, Valentine," the hunter said, with a -shake of his head, "nothing but what I know already; I have no other -interest in what is about to take place beyond the deep friendship that -attached me to the count and now to you. You think that the recollection -I have preserved of our unhappy friend cannot be sufficiently engraven -on my heart for me to risk my life at your side in avenging him; but you -are mistaken, Valentine, that's all. I will not abandon you in the hour -of combat; I will remain at your side even should you order me to leave -you. I tell you that I swear, and have taken an oath to that effect, to -make a shield of my body to protect you, if it should be necessary. Now, -give me your hand, and suppose we say no more about it?" - -Valentine remained silent for a moment; a scalding tear ran down his -bronzed cheeks, and he took the hand of the honest, simple-minded -Canadian, and merely uttered the words-- - -"Thank you; I accept." - -They then rose, and returned to their carriage, after Valentine had -warned his faithful bodyguard, Curumilla, by a signal that he could -leave his hiding place, as the interview was over. A quarter of an hour -later the three gentlemen reached the house in the Calle de Tacuba, were -Curumilla was already awaiting them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -THE BLANK SIGNATURE. - - -On the morrow, Mexico awoke to a holiday; nothing extraordinary, in -a country where the year is a perpetual holiday, and where the most -frivolous pretext suffices for letting off _cohetes_, that supreme -amusement of the Mexicans. - -This time the affair was serious, for the inhabitants wished to -celebrate in a proper manner the anniversary of the Proclamation of -Independence, of which the day to which we allude was the eve. - -At sunrise a formidable _bando_ issued from the government palace, and -went through all the streets and squares of the city, announcing with -a mighty clamour of bugles and drums, that on the next day there would -be a bull fight with "Jamaica" and "Monte Parnasso" for the leperos, -high mass celebrated in all the churches, theatres thrown open gratis, -a review of the garrison, and of all the troops quartered sixty miles -round, and fireworks and illuminations at night, with open air balls and -feria. - -The government did things nobly, it must be confessed; hence the people -issued from their houses, spread feverishly through the streets at an -early hour, laughing, shouting, and letting off squibs, while singing -the praises of the President of the Republic, and taking, after their -fashion, something on account of the morrow's festival. - -Don Martial, in order to throw out the spies doubtless posted round -Valentine's house, had left his friend in the middle of the night, and -gone to his lodgings, and a few minutes before day proceeded to the -house of Mr. Rallier. - -Although the sun was not yet above the horizon, the French gentleman was -already up and conversing with his brother Edward, while waiting for the -Tigrero. Edward was ready to start, and his brother was giving him his -parting recommendations. - -"You are welcome," the Frenchman said cordially, on perceiving Don -Martial; "I was busy with our affair. My brother Edward is just off to -our quinta, whither my mother and my brother Auguste proceeded two days -ago, so that we might find all in order on our arrival." - -Although the Tigrero did not entirely understand what the banker said to -him, he considered it unnecessary to show it, and hence bowed without -answering. - -"All is settled, then," Mr. Rallier continued, addressing his brother; -"get everything ready, for we shall probably arrive before midday--that -is to say, in time for lunch." - -"Your country house is not far from the city?" the Tigrero asked, for -the sake of saying something. - -"Hardly five miles; it is at St. Angel; but in an excellent position -for defence, in the event of an attack. You are aware that St. Angel -is built on the side of an extinct volcano, and surrounded by lava and -spongy scoria, which renders an approach very difficult." - -"I must confess my ignorance of the fact." - -"In a country like this, where the government is bound to think of its -own defence before troubling itself about individuals, it is as well to -take one's precautions, and be always perfectly on guard. And now be -off, my dear Edward; your weapons are all right, and two resolute peons -will accompany you; besides, the sun is now rising, and you will have a -pleasant ride; so good-by till we meet again." - -The two brothers shook hands, and the young man, after bowing to Don -Martial, left the house, followed by two servants well mounted, and -armed like himself. During this conversation the peons had put the -horses in a close carriage. - -"Get in," said Mr. Rallier. - -"What!" Don Martial replied, "are we going to drive?" - -"By Jove! do you think I would venture to go to the convent on -horseback? Why, we could not go along a street before we were -recognized." - -"But this carriage will betray you." - -"I admit it; but no one will know whom it contains when the shutters are -drawn up, which I shall be careful to do before leaving the house. Come, -get in." - -The Tigrero placed himself by the Frenchman's side; the latter pulled -up the shutters, and started at a gallop in a direction diametrically -opposed to that which it should have followed, in order to reach the -convent. - -"Where are we going?" the Tigrero asked presently. - -"To the Convent of the Bernardines." - -"I fancy we are not going the right road." - -"That is possible, but, at any rate, it is the safest." - -"I humbly confess that I cannot understand it at all." - -Mr. Rallier began laughing. - -"My good fellow," he replied, "you will understand at the right time, -so be easy. You need only know, that in acting as I am doing, I am -carrying out to the letter the instructions of Valentine, my friend and -yours. It was not for nothing that he has so long borne the name of the -Trail-hunter; besides, you remember the prairie adage, which has always -appeared to me full of good sense, 'The shortest road from one point to -another is a crooked line.' Well, we are following the crooked line, -that is all. Besides, in all that is about to take place, you must -remain completely out of the question, and restrict yourself to being a -spectator, rather than an actor, and willing to obey me in everything I -may order. Does this part displease you?" - -The Frenchman said this with the merry accent and delightful simplicity -which formed the basis of his character, and which caused everybody to -like him whom accident brought in contact with him. - -"I have no repugnance to obey you, Senor Don Antonio," the Tigrero -answered. "The confidence our common friend places in you is a sure -guarantee to me of your intentions. Hence dispose of me as you think -proper, without fearing the slightest objection on my part." - -"That is the way to talk," the banker said, with a laugh. "Now, to -begin, my dear senor, you will do me the pleasure of changing your -dress, for the one you wear is slightly too worldly for the place to -which we are going." - -"Change my dress?" the Tigrero exclaimed. "Diablos! you ought to have -told me so at your house." - -"Unnecessary, my dear sir. I have all you require here." - -"Here?" - -"Well, you shall see," he said, as he took from one of the coach pockets -a Franciscan's gown, while from the other he drew a pair of sandals and -a cord. "Have you not worn this dress before?" - -"I have." - -"Well, you are going to put it on again, and for the following reasons: -At the convent, people believe (or pretend to believe, which comes to -the same thing) that you are a Franciscan monk. For the sake, then, of -persons who are not in the secret, it is necessary that I should be -accompanied by a monk, and more, that they may be able, if required, to -take their oaths to the fact." - -"I obey you. But will not your coachman be surprised at seeing a -Franciscan emerge from the carriage into which he showed a caballero?" - -"My coachman? Pardon me, but I do not think you looked at him?" - -"Indeed, I did not. All these Indians are alike, and equally hideous." - -"That is true; however, look at him." - -Don Martial bent forward, and slightly lowered the shutter. - -"Curumilla!" he cried, in amazement, as he drew back. "He, and so well -disguised?" - -"Do you now believe that he will be surprised?" - -"I was wrong." - -"No, but you do not take the trouble to reflect." - -"Well, I will put on the gown since I must. Still, with your permission, -I will keep my weapons under it." - -"Caspita! my permission? On the contrary, I order you to do so. But what -are they?" - -"You shall see. A machete, a knife, and a pair of pistols." - -"That is first-rate. If necessary, I shall be able to find you a rifle. -Trust to me for that." - -While talking thus, the Tigrero had changed his dress; that is to say, -he had simply put the gown over his other clothes, fastened the rope -round his body, and substituted the sandals for his boots. - -"There," the Frenchman continued, "you are a perfect monk." - -"No; I want something more, something which is even indispensable." - -"What's that?" - -"The hat." - -"That's true." - -"That part of my costume I hardly know how we shall obtain." - -"Man of little faith!" the Frenchman said with a smile, "see, and be -confounded!" - -While speaking thus he raised the front cushion, opened the box it -covered, and pulled out the hat of a monk of St. Francis, which he gave -the Tigrero. - -"And now do you want anything else, pray?" he asked, mockingly. - -"Indeed, no. Why, your carriage is a perfect locomotive shop!" - -"Yes, it contains a little of everything. But we have arrived," he -added, seeing the carriage stop. "You remember that you must in no way -make yourself prominent, and simply confine yourself to doing what I -tell you. That is settled, I think?" - -The Frenchman opened the door, for the carriage had really stopped -in front of the Convent of the Bernardines. Two or three ill-looking -fellows were prowling about: and, in spite of their affected -indifference, it was easy to recognize them for spies. The Frenchman and -his companion were not deceived. They got out with an indifference as -well assumed as that of the spies, and approached the door slowly, which -was opened at their first knock, and closed again behind them with a -speed that proved the slight confidence the sister porter placed in the -individuals left outside. - -"What do you desire, senores?" she asked, politely, after curtseying to -the newcomers with a smile of recognition. - -"My dear sister," the Frenchman answered, "be good enough to inform -the holy mother abbess of our visit, and ask her to favour us with an -interview for a few moments." - -"It is still very early, brother," the nun answered, "and I do not know -if holy mother can receive you at this moment." - -"Merely mention my name to her, sister, and I feel convinced that she -will make no difficulty about receiving us." - -"I doubt it, brother, for, as I said before, it is very early. Still, I -am willing to tell her, in order to prove to you my readiness to serve -you." - -"I feel deeply grateful to you for the kindness, sister." - -The sister then left the parlour, after begging the two gentlemen to -wait a moment. During her absence the Frenchman and his companion did -not exchange a syllable; however, this absence was short, and only -lasted a few minutes. - -Without speaking, the sister made the visitors a sign to follow her, -and led them to the parlour where we have already taken the reader, and -where the abbess was waiting for them. - -The Mother Superior was pale, and seemed anxious and preoccupied. She -invited the two gentlemen to sit down, and waited silently till they -addressed her. They, on their side, seemed to be waiting for her to -inquire the nature of their visit; but, as she did not do so, and this -silence threatened to be prolonged for some time, Mr. Rallier resolved -on breaking it. - -"I had the honour, madam," he said, with a respectful bow, "to send you -yesterday, by one of my servants, a letter, in which I informed you of -this morning's visit." - -"Yes, caballero," she at once, answered, "I duly received this letter, -and your sister Helena is ready to go away with you, whenever you -express the wish. Still permit me to make one request of you." - -"Speak, madam, and if I can be of any service to you, believe me, that I -shall eagerly seize the opportunity." - -"I know not, caballero, how to explain myself, for what I have to say -to you is really so strange that I fear lest it should call up a smile -to your lips. Although Dona Helena has only been a few months in our -convent, she has made herself so beloved by all her companions, through -her charming character, that her departure is an occasion of mourning -for all of us." - -"You render me very happy and very proud by speaking thus of my sister, -madam." - -"This praise is only the expression of the strictest truth, caballero. -We are all really most grieved to see her leave us thus. Still, I should -not have ventured thus to make myself the interpreter of our regrets, -were there not a very strong reason that renders it almost a duty to -speak to you." - -"I am listening to you, madam, though I can guess beforehand what you -are going to say to me." - -She looked at him in surprise. - -"You guess! Oh, it is impossible, senor," she exclaimed. - -The Frenchman smiled. - -"My sister, Dona Helena, as is generally the case in convents, has -chosen one of her companions, whom she loves more than the others, and -made her her intimate friend. Is such the case, madam?" - -"How do you know it?" - -He continued; with a smile-- - -"Now, this young lady, so beloved not only by Helena but by you, -madam, and all your community, is a gentle, kind, loving girl, who, in -consequence of a great misfortune, became insane, but whom your tender -care has restored to reason. Still, you keep the latter fact a profound -secret, before all from her guardian, who, not contented with having -stripped her of her fortune, now insists of robbing her of her happiness -by forcing her to marry him." - -"Senor, senor," the abbess exclaimed, as she rose from her seat, with -an astonishment blended with terror, "who are you that you know so many -things of which I believed the whole world ignorant?" - -"Who am I, madam? the brother of Helena, that is to say, a man in whom -you can place the most entire confidence. Hence permit me to proceed." - -The abbess, still suffering from extreme agitation, sat down again. - -"Go on, caballero," she said. - -"The guardian of Dona Anita, either that he has suspicion, or for some -other motive, wrote to you yesterday, ordering you to prepare her to -marry him within twenty-four hours. Since the receipt of this fatal -letter, Dona Anita has been plunged in the deepest despair, a despair -further heightened by the sudden departure of my sister, the only friend -in whose arms she can safely reveal her heart's secrets. But you, -madam, who are so holy and good, are aware that God can at his pleasure -confound the projects of the wicked, and change wormwood into honey. Did -you not receive a visit yesterday from Don Serapio de la Ronda?" - -"Yes, that gentleman deigned to visit me a few moments before I -received the fatal letter to which you have referred." - -"Did not Don Serapio, on leaving you, say these words: 'Be kind enough -to inform Dona Anita that a friend is watching over her; that this -friend has already given her unequivocal proofs of the interest he -takes in her happiness, and that, on the day when she again sees the -Franciscan monk, to whom she confessed once before, all her misfortunes -will be ended?'" - -"Yes, Don Serapio did utter those words." - -"Well, madam, I am sent to you, not only by him, but by another person, -who is no less than the President of the Republic, not only to take away -my sister but also to ask you to deliver up to me Dona Anita, who will -accompany her." - -"Heaven is my witness, senor, that I would be delighted to do what you -ask of me. Unhappily, it is not in my power; Dona Anita was entrusted -to me by her sole relation, who is at the same time her guardian, and -though he is unworthy of that title, and my heart bleeds in refusing -you, it is to him alone that I am bound to deliver her." - -"This objection, madam, the justice of which I fully appreciate, has -been foreseen by the persons whose representative I am. Hence they -consulted on the means to remove the scruples by entirely releasing you -from responsibility. Father, give this lady the paper, of which you are -the bearer." - -Without uttering a word, Don Martial took from his pocket the blank -signature Valentine had entrusted to him, and handed it to the abbess. - -"What is this?" she asked. - -"Madam," the Frenchman answered, "that paper is a blank signature of the -President of the Republic, who orders you to deliver Dona Anita into my -hands." - -"I see it," she said, sorrowfully; "unfortunately this blank signature, -which would everywhere else have the strength of the law, is powerless -here. We only indirectly depend on the temporal power, but are -completely subjugated to the spiritual power, and we can only receive -orders from it." - -The Tigrero took a side glance, full of despair, at his companion, whose -face was still smiling. - -"What would you require, madam," he continued, "in order to consent to -give up this unhappy young lady to me?" - -"Alas, senor, it is not I who refuse compliance. Heaven is my witness -that it is my greatest desire to see her escape from her persecutor." - -"I am thoroughly convinced of that, madam; that is why, feeling -persuaded of your good feeling towards your charge, I ask you to tell me -what authority you require in order to give her up to me." - -"I cannot, senor, allow Dona Anita to quit this convent without a -perfectly regular order, signed by Monseigneur the Archbishop of Mexico, -who alone has the right to command here, and whom I am compelled to -obey." - -"And if I had that order, madam, all your scruples would be removed?" - -"Yes, all, senor." - -"You would have no further difficulty in allowing Dona Anita to depart?" - -"I would deliver her to you at once, senor." - -"Since that is the case, madam, I will ask you to do so, for I have -brought you that order." - -"You have it?" she said, with undisguised delight. - -"Here it is," he answered, as he took a paper from his pocketbook, and -handed it to her. - -She opened it at once, and eagerly perused it. - -"Oh now," she continued, "Dona Anita is free, and I will----" - -"One moment, madam," he interrupted her, "have you carefully read the -order I had the honour of giving you?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"In that case be kind enough to allow the young ladies to put on secular -clothing, and, as their departure must be kept secret, allow my carriage -to enter the front courtyard. I fancied I saw ill-looking fellows -prowling about the neighbourhood, who looked to me like spies." - -"What must I say, though, to the young lady's guardian? I am going to -see him today." - -"I am aware of that, madam. Gain time; tell him that his ward is -ill; that you have succeeded in gaining her consent to the projected -marriage, but, on the condition that it be deferred for eight and forty -hours. It is a falsehood I am suggesting to you, madam, but it is -necessary, and I feel convinced that heaven will pardon it." - -"Oh, do not be anxious about that, senor. I will gladly take on myself -the responsibility of this falsehood; Dona Anita's guardian will not -dare to oppose so short a delay, however well inclined he may be to do -so: but in forty-eight hours?" - -"In forty-hours, madam," the Frenchman answered in a hollow voice, -"General Guerrero will not come to claim the hand of Dona Anita." - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -ON THE ROAD. - - -All the scruples of the Mother Superior--honourable scruples, let us -hasten to add--having thus been removed, one after the other, by Mr. -Rallier, by means of the double orders he had been careful to provide -himself with, the next thing was to see about getting the two boarders -away without further day. - -The abbess, who understood the importance of a speedy conclusion, -left her visitors in the parlour, and, in order to avoid any -misunderstanding, herself undertook to fetch the two young ladies, after -giving a lay sister orders to call the carriage into the first courtyard. - -In a religious community, one of women before all--we do not mean -this satirically--whatever may be done, and whatever precautions may -be taken, nothing can long be kept a secret. Hence, the two gentlemen -had scarcely entered the speaking room of the abbess ere the rumour of -the departure of Dona Anita and Dona Helena spread among the nuns with -extreme rapidity. Who spread the news no one could have told, and yet -everybody spoke about it as a certainty. - -The young ladies were naturally the first informed. At the outset their -anxiety was great, and Dona Anita trembled, for she believed that -she was fetched by order of her guardian, and that the monk speaking -with the abbess was the one sent by the general to make immediate -preparations for her marriage. Hence, when the abbess entered Dona -Helena's cell, she found the pair in each other's arms, and weeping -bitterly. - -Fortunately, the mistake was soon cleared up, and the sorrow converted -into joy when the abbess, who, through sympathy, wept as much as -her boarders, explained that of the two strangers, whom they feared -so greatly, one was the brother of Dona Helena, and the other the -Franciscan monk whom Dona Anita had already seen, and that they had -come, not to add to her sufferings, but to remove her from the tyranny -that oppressed her. - -Dona Helena, on hearing that her brother was at the convent, bounded -with joy, and removed her friend's last doubts, for, like all unhappy -persons. Dona Anita clung greedily to this new hope of salvation, which -was thus allowed to germinate in her heart at a moment when she believed -that she had no chance left of escaping her evil destiny. - -The abbess then urged them to complete their preparations for departure, -helped them to change their dress, and, after embracing them several -times, conducted them to the parlour. - -In order to avoid any disturbance when the young ladies left the -convent, where everybody adored them, the abbess had the good idea of -sending the nuns to their cells. It was a very prudent measure, which, -by preventing leave-taking, also prevented any noisy manifestations of -cries and tears, the sound of which might have been heard outside, and -have fallen on hostile ears. - -The leave-taking was short, for there was no time to lose in vain -compliments. The young ladies drew down their veils, and proceeded to -the courtyard under the guidance of the abbess. The carriage had been -drawn as close as possible to the cloisters, and the court was entirely -deserted, only the abbess, the sister porter, and a confidential nun -witnessing the departure. - -As the Frenchman opened the door of the carriage, a piece of paper lying -on the seat caught his eyes. He seized it without being seen, and hid it -in the hollow of his hand. After kissing the good abbess for the last -time, the young ladies took the back seat, and Don Martial the front, as -did Mr. Rallier, after previously whispering to the coachman, that is, -to Curumilla, two Indian words, to which he replied by a sinister grin. -Then, at a signal from the abbess, the convent gates were opened, and -the carriage started at full speed, drawn by six powerful mules. - -The crowd silently made room for it to pass, the gates closed again -immediately, and the carriage almost immediately disappeared round the -corner of the next street. - -It was about seven o'clock in the morning. The fugitives--for we can -give them no other name--galloped in silence for the first ten or -fifteen minutes, when the Frenchman gently touched his companion's -shoulder, and offered him the paper he had found in the carriage. - -"Read!" he said. - -The paper only contained two words, hurriedly written in pencil-- - -"Take care." - -"Oh, oh," the Tigrero exclaimed, turning pale, "what does this mean?" - -"By Jove," the Frenchman answered cautiously, "it means that in spite of -our precautions, or perhaps on account of them, for in these confounded -affairs a man never knows how to act in order to deceive the persons he -fears, we are discovered, and probably have spies at our heels." - -"Caray! and what will become of the young ladies in the event of a -dispute?" - -"In the event of a fight you mean, for there will be an obstinate one, -I foretell. Well, we will defend them as well as we can." - -"I know that; but suppose we are killed?" - -"Ah! there is that chance; but I never think of that till after the -event." - -"Oh heaven!" Dona Anita murmured, as she hid her head in her friend's -bosom. - -"Re-assure yourself, senorita," the Frenchman continued, "and, above -all, be silent, for the sound of your voice might be recognized, and -change into certainty what may still be only a suspicion. Besides, -remember that if you have enemies, you have also friends, since they -took the precaution to warn us. Now, in all probability, this unknown -offerer of advice will not have stopped there, but thought of the means -to come to our assistance in the most effectual manner." - -The carriage went along in the meanwhile at a breakneck pace, and had -nearly reached the city gates. We will now tell what had happened, and -how the Frenchman was warned of the danger that threatened him. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero had organized a band of spies composed -of leperos and scoundrels, who, however, possessed acknowledged -cleverness and skill, and if Valentine had escaped their surveillance -and foiled their machinations, it was solely through the habits which -he had contracted during a lengthened life in the prairies, and which -had become an intuition with him, so far did he carry the quality of -scenting and unmasking an enemy, whatever might be the countenance he -borrowed. But if he had not been recognized, it was not the same with -his friends, and the latter had not been able long to escape the lynx -eyes of the general's spies. - -The Convent of the Bernardines had naturally become for some days past -the centre of the surveillance, as it were the spying headquarters, of -Don Sebastian's agents. The arrival of a carriage with closed blinds -at the convent at once gave the alarm; and though Mr. Rallier was not -personally known, the fact of his being a Frenchman was sufficient to -rouse suspicions. - -While the Frenchman and the monk were conversing in the parlour with the -abbess, a lepero pretended to hurt himself, and was conveyed by two of -his acolytes to the convent gate, and the good hearted porter had not -refused him admission, but, on the contrary, had eagerly given him all -the assistance his condition seemed to require. - -While the lepero was gradually regaining his senses, his comrades asked -questions with that captious skill peculiar to their Mexican nature. -The sister porter was a worthy woman, endowed with a very small stock -of brains, and fond of talking. On finding this opportunity to indulge -in her favourite employment, she was easily led on, and, almost of her -own accord, told all she knew, not suspecting the harm she did. Let us -hasten to add that this all was very little; but, being understood and -commented on by intelligent men interested in discovering the truth, it -was extremely serious. - -When the three leperos had drawn all they could out of the sister -porter, they hastened to leave the convent. Just as they emerged into -the street, they found themselves face to face with No Carnero, the -general's capataz, whom his master had sent on a tour of discovery. They -ran up to him, and in a few words told him what had happened. - -This was grave, and the capataz trembled inwardly at the revelation, for -he understood the terrible danger by which his friends were menaced. But -Carnero was a clever man, and at once made up his mind to his course of -action. - -He greatly praised the leperos for the skill they had displayed in -discovering the secret, put some piastres into their hands, and sent -them off to the general, with the recommendation, which was most -unnecessary, to make all possible speed. Then, in his turn, he began -prowling round the convent, and especially the carriage, which Curumilla -made no difficulty in letting him approach, for the reader will -doubtless have guessed that the animosity the Indian had on several -occasions evinced for the capataz was pretended, and that they were -perfectly good friends when nobody could see or hear them. - -The capataz skilfully profited by the confusion created in the crowd by -the carriage entering the convent, to throw in, unperceived, the paper -Mr. Rallier had found. Certain now that his friends would be on their -guard, he went off in his turn, after recommending the spies he left -before the convent to keep up a good watch, and walked in the direction -of the Plaza Mayor smoking a cigarette. - -At the corner of the Calle de Plateros he saw a man standing in front of -a pulqueria, engaged in smoking an enormous cigar. The capataz entered -the pulqueria, drank a glass of Catalonian refino, but while paying, he -clumsily let fall a piastre which rolled to the foot of the man standing -in the doorway. The latter stooped, picked up the coin, and restored it -to its owner, and the capataz walked out, doubtless satisfied with the -quality of the spirit he had imbibed, and cautiously continued his way. -On reaching the plaza again, the man of the pulqueria, who was probably -going the same road as himself, was at his heels. - -"Belhumeur?" the capataz asked in a low voice, without turning round. - -"Eh?" the other answered in the same key. - -"The general knows the affair at the convent; if you do not make haste, -Don Martial, Don Antonio, and the two ladies will be attacked on the -road while going to the quinta; warn your friend, for there is not a -moment to lose. Devil take the cigarette!" he added, throwing it away, -"it has gone out." - -When he turned back, Belhumeur had disappeared; the Canadian with -his characteristic agility was already running in the direction of -Valentine's house. As for the capataz, as he was in no particular hurry, -he quietly walked back to the general's, where he found his master in a -furious passion with all his people, and more particularly with himself. - -By an accident, too portentous not to have been arranged beforehand, not -one of his horses could be mounted; three were foundered, four others -had been bled, and the last three were without shoes. In the midst of -this the capataz arrived with a look of alarm, which only heightened his -master's passion. Carnero prudently allowed the general's fury to grow a -little calm, and then answered him. - -He proved to him in the first place that he would commit a serious act -of imprudence by himself starting in pursuit of the fugitives in the -present state of affairs, and especially on the eve of a pronunciamiento -which was about to decide his fortunes. Then he remarked to him that -six peons, commanded by a resolute man, would be sufficient to conquer -two men probably badly armed, and, in addition, shut up in a carriage -with two ladies, whom they would not expose to the risk of being killed. -These reasons being good, the general listened and yielded to them. - -"Very good," he said; "Carnero, you are one of my oldest servants, and -to you I entrust the duty of bringing back my niece." - -The capataz made a wry face. - -"There will be probably plenty of blows to receive, and very little -profit to derive from such an expedition." - -"I believed that you were devoted to me," the general remarked bitterly. - -"Your excellency is not mistaken; I am truly devoted to you, but I have -also a fondness for my skin." - -"I will give you twenty-five ounces for every slit it receives; is that -enough?" - -"Come, I see that your excellency wishes me to be cut into mincemeat!" -the capataz exclaimed joyously. - -"Then that is agreed?" - -"I should think so, excellency; at that price a man would be a fool to -refuse." - -"But about horses?" - -"We have at least ten or a dozen in the corral." - -"That is true; I did not think of that," the general exclaimed, striking -his forehead; "have seven lassoed at once." - -"Where must I take the senorita?" - -"Bring her to this house, for she shall not set foot in the convent -again." - -"Very good; when shall I start, general?" - -"At once, if it be possible." - -"In twenty minutes I shall have left the house." - -But the general's impatience was so great that he accompanied his -capataz to the corral, watched all the preparations for the departure, -and did not return to his apartments till he was certain that Carnero -had started in pursuit of the fugitives, with the peons he had selected. - -In the meanwhile the carriage dashed along; it passed at full gallop -through the San Lazaro gate, then turned suddenly to the right, and -entered a somewhat narrow street. At about the middle of this street it -stopped before a house of rather modest appearance, the gate of which -at once opened, and a man came out holding the bridles of two prairie -mustangs completely harnessed, and with a rifle at each saddle-bow. The -Frenchman got out, and invited his companion to follow his example. - -"Resume your usual dress," he said, as he led him inside the house. - -The Tigrero obeyed with an eager start of joy. While he doffed his gown, -his companion mounted, after saying to the young ladies-- - -"Whatever happens, not a word--not a cry; keep the shutters up; we will -gallop at the door, and remember your lives are in peril." - -Martial at this moment came out of the house attired as a caballero. - -"To horse, and let us be off," said Mr. Rallier. - -The Tigrero bounded onto the mustang held in readiness for him, and -the carriage, in which the mules had been changed, started again at -full speed. The house at which they had stopped was the one hired by -Valentine to keep his stud at. - -Half an hour thus passed, and the carriage disappeared in the thick -cloud of dust it raised as it dashed along. Don Martial felt new born; -the excitement had restored his old ardour as if by enchantment; -he longed to be face to face with his foe, and at length come to a -settlement with him. The Frenchman was calmer; though brave to rashness, -it was with secret anxiety he foresaw the probability of a fight, in -which his sister might be wounded; still he was resolved, in the event -of the worst, to confront the danger, no matter the number of men who -ventured to attack them. - -All at once the Indian uttered a cry. The two men looked back, and saw -a body of men coming up at full speed. At this moment the carriage was -following a road bounded on one side by a rather thick chaparral, on the -other by a deep ravine. - -At a sign from the Frenchman the carriage was drawn across the road, and -the ladies got out; went, under Curumilla's protection, to seek shelter -behind the trees. The two men, with their rifles to their shoulders -and fingers on the triggers, stood firmly in the middle of the road, -awaiting the onset of their adversaries, for, in all probability, the -newcomers were enemies. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -A SKIRMISH. - - -Curumilla, after concealing, with that Indian skill he so thoroughly -possessed, the young ladies at a spot where they were thoroughly -protected from bullets, had placed himself, rifle in hand, not by the -side of the two riders, but, with characteristic redskin prudence, he -ambuscaded himself behind the carriage, probably reflecting that he -represented the entire infantry force, and not caring, through a point -of honour, very absurd in his opinion, to expose himself to a death not -only certain, but useless to those he wished to defend. - -The horsemen, however, on coming within range of the persons they were -pursuing, stopped, and by their gestures seemed to evince a hesitation -the fugitives did not at all understand, after the fashion in which they -had hitherto been pursued. The motive for this hesitation, which the -Frenchman and his companions could not know, and which perplexed them so -greatly, was very simple. - -Carnero, for it was the general's capataz who was pursuing the carriage, -with his peons, all at once perceived, with a secret pleasure, it is -true, though he was careful not to let his companions notice it, that -while they were pursuing the carriage, other horsemen were pursuing -them, and coming up at headlong speed. On seeing this, as we said, the -party halted, much disappointed and greatly embarrassed as to what they -had better do. - -They were literally placed between two fires, and were the attacked -instead of the assailants; the situation was critical, and deserved -serious consideration. Carnero suggested a retreat, remarking, with a -certain amount of reason, that the sides were no longer equal, and that -success was highly problematical. The peons, all utter ruffians, and -expressly chosen by the general, but who entertained a profound respect -for the integrity of their limbs, and were but very slightly inclined -to have them injured in so disadvantageous a contest with people who -would not recoil, were disposed to follow the advice of the capataz and -retire, before a retreat became impossible. - -Unhappily, the Zaragate was among the peons. Believing, from his -conversation with the colonel, that he knew better than anyone the -general's intentions, and attracted by the hope of a rich reward if he -succeeded in delivering him of his enemy, that is to say, in killing -Valentine; and, moreover, probably impelled by the personal hatred he -entertained for the hunter, he would not listen to any observation, and -swore with horrible oaths that he would carry out the general's orders -at all hazards, and that, since the persons they were ordered to stop -were only a few paces before them, they ought not to retire until they -had, at least, attempted to perform their duty; and that if his comrades -were such cowards as to desert him, he would go on alone at his own -risk, certain that the general would be satisfied with the way in which -he behaved. - -After a declaration so distinct and peremptory, any hesitation became -impossible, the more so as the horsemen were rapidly coming up, and if -the capataz hesitated much longer he would be attacked in the rear. Thus -driven out of his last entrenchment, and compelled against his will to -fight, Carnero gave the signal to push on ahead. - -But the peons had scarce started, ere three shots were fired, and three -men rolled in the dust. The newcomers, in this way, warned their friends -to hold their ground, and that they were bringing help. The dismounted -peons were not wounded, though greatly shaken by their fall, and unable -to take part in the fight; their horses alone were hit, and that so -cleverly, that they at once fell. - -"Eh, eh!" the capataz said, as he galloped on; "these picaros have a -very sure hand. What do you think of it?" - -"I say that there are still four of us; that is double the number of -those waiting for us down there, and we are sufficient to master them." - -"Don't be too sure, my good friend, Zaragate," the capataz said with a -grin; "they are men made of iron, who must be killed twice over before -they fall." - -The Tigrero and his companions had heard shots and seen the peons bite -the dust. - -"There is Valentine," said the Frenchman. - -"I believe so," Don Martial replied. - -"Shall we charge?" - -"Yes." - -And digging in their spurs, they dashed at the peons. - -Valentine and his two comrades, Belhumeur and Black Elk (for the -Frenchman was not mistaken, it was really the hunter coming up, whom the -Canadian had warned) fell on the peons simultaneously with Don Martial -and his companion. - -A terrible, silent, and obstinate struggle went on for some minutes -between these nine men; the foes had seized each other round the body, -as they were too close to use firearms, and tried to stab each other. -Nothing was heard but angry curses and panting, but not a word or cry, -for what is the use of insulting when you can kill? - -The Zaragate, so soon as he recognized the hunter, dashed at him. -Valentine, although taken off his guard, offered a vigorous resistance; -the two men were entwined like serpents, and, in their efforts to -dismount each other, at last both fell, and rolled beneath the feet of -the combatants who, without thinking of them, or perceiving their fall, -continued to attack each other furiously. - -The hunter was endowed with great muscular strength and unequalled -science and agility; but on this occasion he had found an adversary -worthy of him. The Zaragate, some years younger than Valentine, and -possessed of his full bodily strength, while urged on by the love of a -rich reward, made superhuman efforts to master his opponent and plunge -his navaja into his throat. Several times had each of them succeeded -in getting the other underneath, but, as so frequently happens in -wrestling, a sudden movement of the shoulders or loins had changed the -position of the adversaries and brought the one beneath who a moment -previously had been on the top. - -Still Valentine felt that his strength was becoming exhausted; -the unexpected resistance he met with from an enemy apparently so -little worthy of him, exasperated him and made him lose his coolness. -Collecting all his remaining vigour to attempt a final and decisive -effort, he succeeded in getting his enemy once again under him, and -pinned him down; but at the same moment Valentine uttered a cry of pain -and rolled on the ground--a horse's kick had broken his left arm. - -The Zaragate sprang up with a tiger's bound, and bursting into a yell -of delight, placed his knee on his enemy's chest, at the same time as -he prepared to bury his navaja in his heart. Valentine felt that he was -lost, and did not attempt to avoid the death that threatened him. - -"Poor Louis," he merely said, looking firmly and intrepidly at the -bandit. - -"Ah, ah!" the Zaragate said, with a ferocious grin, "I hold my vengeance -at length, accursed Trail-hunter." - -He did not complete the sentence; suddenly seized by his long hair, -while a knee, thrust between his shoulders, forced him to bend back, he -saw, as in a horrible dream, a ferocious face grinning above his head. -With a fearful groan he rolled on the ground; a knife had been buried in -his heart, while his scalp, which was suddenly removed, left his denuded -skull to inundate with blood the ground around. - -Curumilla raised in his arms the body of his friend, whose life he had -just saved once again, and bore it to the side of the road. Valentine -had fainted. - -The chief, so soon as he saw his friends charge the peons, left his -ambush, and while careful to remain behind them, followed them to the -battlefield. He had watched eagerly the long struggle between the hunter -and the Zaragate; trying vainly to assist his friend, but never able -to succeed. The two enemies were so entwined, their movements were so -rapid, and they changed their position so suddenly, that the chief was -afraid lest he might wound his friend in attempting to help him. Hence -he awaited with extreme anxiety an opportunity so long delayed, and -which the Zaragate himself offered by losing his time in insulting his -enemy instead of killing him at once, when the injury he received left -him defenceless in the bandit's power. - -The Araucano bounded like a wild beast on the Mexican, and without -hesitation scalped and stabbed him with the agility characteristic of -the redskins, and which he himself possessed in so high a degree. - -Almost at the same moment the horsemen also finished their fight. The -peons had offered a vigorous resistance, but being badly supported -by the capataz, who was disabled at the beginning of the skirmish by -Don Martial, and seeing the Zaragate dead and three of their friends -dismounted and incapable of coming to their assistance, they gave in. - -The capataz had been wounded at his own request by Don Martial, in order -to save appearance with the general; he had a wide gash on his right -arm, very severe at the first glance, but insignificant in reality. A -peon had been almost smashed by Belhumeur, so that the field of battle -fairly remained in the hands of the hunters. - -When their victory was insured they assembled anxiously round -Valentine, for they were alarmed at his condition, and most anxious -to be reassured. Valentine, whose arm Curumilla had at once set, with -the skill and coolness of an old practitioner, soon reopened his eyes, -reassured his friends by a smile, and offered the Indian chief his -right hand, which the latter laid on his heart with an expression of -indescribable happiness, as he uttered his favourite exclamation of Ugh! -the only word he permitted himself to use in joy or in sorrow, when he -felt himself choking with internal emotion. - -"Senores," the hunter said, "it is only an arm broken; thanks to the -chief, I have had an easy escape. Let us resume our journey before other -enemies come up." - -"And we, senor?" the capataz cried humbly. - -Valentine rose with the chiefs assistance, and took a furious glance at -the peons. "As for you, miserable assassins," he said with a terrible -accent, "return to your master and tell him in what way you were -received. But it is not sufficient to have chastised your perfidy, I -must have revenge for the odious snare into which my friends and I all -but fell. I will learn whether in open day, and some half a dozen miles -from Mexico, bandits can thus attack peaceable travellers with impunity. -Begone!" - -Valentine was slightly mistaken, for, although it was really the -intention of the peons to attack them, the hunters had actually begun -the fight by dismounting the three peons. But the fellows, convicted by -their conscience, did not notice this delicate distinction, and were -very happy to get off so cheaply, and be enabled to return peaceably, -when they feared that their conquerors would hand them over to the -police as they had a perfect right to do. - -Thus, far from raising any objections, they broke forth into apologies -and protestations of devotion, and hastened off, not troubling -themselves to pick up the body of their defunct comrade, el Zaragate, -which they left to the vultures which settled on it, so soon as the -highway was clear again. - -The capataz, under the pretext that his wound was very painful, but in -reality to give Valentine and his friends the requisite time to secure -themselves temporarily from pursuit, insisted on returning to the city -slowly, so that they did not reach the general's mansion till two hours -had elapsed. - -So soon as the peons in obedience to the hunter's orders had left the -battlefield, he, on his part, gave his companions the signal to start. -Don Martial had hurried to reassure the ladies, who were standing more -dead than alive at the spot where the chief had concealed them. He made -them get into the carriage again, without telling them anything except -that the danger was past, and that the rest of the journey would be -performed in safety. - -Valentine's friends tried in vain to induce him to get into the carriage -with the ladies. He would not consent, but insisted on mounting his -horse, assuring them, in the far from probable event of their being -attacked again, that he could still be of some service to his companions -in spite of his broken arm. The latter were too well acquainted with his -inflexible will to press him further, so Curumilla remounted the coach -box, and they started. - -The rest of the journey was performed without any incident, and they -reached the quinta twenty minutes later. The skirmish had taken place -scarce two miles from the country house. On reaching the gates, -Valentine took leave of his friend without dismounting. - -"What!" the latter said to him, "are you going, Valentine, without -resting for a moment?" - -"I must, my dear Rallier," he answered; "you know what imperious reasons -claim my presence in Mexico." - -"But you are wounded." - -"Have I not Curumilla to attend to my hurt? Do not be anxious about -me; besides, I intend to see you again soon. This quinta appears to me -strong enough to resist a surprise. Have you a garrison?" - -"I have a dozen servants and my two brothers." - -"In that case I am easy in my mind; besides, there is only one night to -pass, and I believe that after the lesson his people have received the -general will not venture on a second attack, for some days at least. -Besides, he reckons on the success of his pronunciamiento. You will come -to me tomorrow at daybreak, will you not?" - -"I shall not fail." - -"In that case I will be off." - -"Will you not say good-bye to the ladies?" - -"They are not aware of my presence, and it will be better for them not -to see me; so good-bye till tomorrow." - -And making a signal to his comrades who, including Curumilla, to whom a -horse was given, collected around him, Valentine started at a gallop for -Mexico, caring no more for his broken arm than if it were a mere scratch. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -LOS REGOCIJOS. - - -On his return to the mansion, the capataz did not see his master, at -which he was extremely pleased, for he desired to delay as long as -possible an explanation which, in spite of the wound he so complacently -displayed, he feared would turn out to his disadvantage, especially -when questioned by a man like the general, whose piercing glance would -descend to the bottom of his heart to discover the truth, however -cleverly hidden it might be behind a network of falsehoods. - -As only a few hours had still to elapse before the explosion of the -conspiracy, arranged with such care and mystery, the general was -compelled for a while to suspend his schemes for the satisfaction of his -love and his hatred, and only attend to those in which his ambition was -engaged. The principal conspirators had been summoned to Colonel Lupo's, -and there the final arrangements had been made for the morrow, and the -watchword given. - -Although the government appeared plunged in the most profound ignorance -of what was preparing against it, and evinced complete security, still -the President had made certain arrangements for the morrow's ceremonies -which did not fail greatly to trouble the men interested in knowing -everything, and to whom the apparently most futile thing naturally -created umbrage. - -The general, with the curiosity that distinguished him, was anxious to -know exactly the extent of the danger he had to meet, and proceeded to -the palace, merely accompanied by his two aides-de-camp. The general -president received Don Sebastian with a smile on his lips, and offered -him the most gracious reception. This reception, so cordial, perhaps -too cordial, instead of reassuring the general, had, on the contrary, -increased his anxiety, for he was a Mexican and knew the proverb of his -country--"Lips that smile, and mouth that tells falsehoods." - -The general was too calm to let his feelings be seen. He pretended to be -delighted, remained for some time with the President, who appeared to -treat him with a friendly familiarity, complained of the rarity of his -visits, and his obstinacy in not asking for a command. In a word, the -two men separated apparently highly satisfied with each other. - -Still, the general remarked that all the courts were stuffed with -soldiers, who were bivouacking in the open air; that several guns had -been placed, accidentally perhaps, so as to sweep completely the chief -entrance gate, and, more serious still, that the troops quartered in -the palace were commanded by officers strangers to him, and who had, -moreover, the reputation of being devoted to the President of the -Republic. - -After this daring visit, the general mounted his horse, and, under the -pretext of going for a walk, went all over the city. Everywhere the -preparations for the coming festival were being carried on with the -greatest activity. In the square of Necatitlan, for instance, situated -in one of the worst parts of the capital, a circus had been made for the -bullfights at which the president intended to be present. - -Numerous wooden erections, raised for the occasion, filled the space -usually devoted to tauromachy, and formed an immense hall of verdure, -with pleasant clumps of trees, mysterious walks, and charming retreats, -prepared with the greatest care, where everybody would go on the morrow -to eat and drink the atrocious productions of the Mexican art on -cookery, and enjoy what is called in that country Jamaica. - -Exactly in the centre of the arena a tree about twenty feet in height -was planted, with its branches and leaves entirely covered with coloured -pocket-handkerchiefs that floated in the breeze. This tree was the Monte -Parnasso, intended to serve as a maypole for the leperos, at the moment -when the bullfights begin, and a trial bull, _embolado_, that is to say, -with its horns terminating in balls, is let into the ring. - -All the pulquerias near the square were thronged with a hideous, ragged -mob, who howled, sang, shouted, and whistled their loudest, while -smoking, and, at intervals, exchanging knife thrusts, to the great -delight of the spectators. - -In all the streets the procession would pass through the houses were -decorated; Mexican flags were hoisted in profusion at every spot where -they could be displayed; and yet, by the side of all these holiday -preparations, there was, we repeat, something gloomy and menacing -that struck a chill to the heart. Through all the gates fresh troops -continually entered the city, and occupied admirably chosen strategic -points. The Alameda, the Paseo de Bucareli, and even the Vega, were -converted into bivouacs, and though these troops ostensibly only came to -Mexico to be present at the ceremony and be reviewed, they were equipped -for the field, and affected an earnestness which caused much thought to -those who saw them pass or visited their bivouacs. - -When a serious event is preparing, there are in the atmosphere certain -signs which never deceive the fosterers of revolutions; a vague and -apparently causeless anxiety seizes on the masses, and unconsciously -converts their joy into a species of feverish excitement, at which they -are themselves startled, as they know not to what to attribute this -change in their humour. - -Hence the population of Mexico, mad, merry, and joyous, as usual when -a festival is preparing, in the eyes of short-sighted persons, were in -reality sternly sad and suffering from great anxiety. The general did -not fail to observe these prognostics; gloomy presentiments occupied his -mind, for he understood that a terrible tempest was hidden beneath this -fictitious calmness. Valentine's gloomy predictions recurred to him. -He trembled to see the hunter's menaces realized; and, though unable -to discover when the danger would come, he foresaw that a great peril -was hanging over his head, and that his ambitious projects would soon, -perhaps, be drowned in floods of blood. - -Unfortunately it was too late to desist; he must, whatever might happen, -go on to the end, for he had not the time to give counter orders, -and urge the conspirators to defer the explosion of the plot till a -more favourable moment. Hence, after ripe reflection, the general -resolved to push on, and trust to accident. Ambitious men, by the way, -reckon, far more than is supposed, on hazard, and those magnificent -combinations which are admired when success has crowned them, are most -frequently merely the unforeseen results of fortuitous circumstances, -completely beyond the will of the man whom they have profited. -History, modern history especially, is full of these combinations, -these results impossible to foresee, which sensible men would not have -dared to suppose, and which have made the reputation of so-called -statesmen of genius, who are very small fry, when regarded through the -magnifying-glass or when actions are sifted. - -The general returned to his house at about six in the evening, -despairing, and already seeing his plans annihilated. The report of his -capataz added to his discouragement, for it was the drop of wormwood -which makes the brimful cup run over. He withdrew to his apartments in a -state of dull fury, and in his impotent rage accused himself for having -ventured into this frightful situation, for he felt himself rapidly -gliding down a fatal slope, where it would be impossible for him to stop. - -What added to his secret agony was, that he must incessantly send off -couriers, receive reports, talk with his confidants, and feign in their -presence not merely calmness and gaiety, but also encourage them, and -impart to them an ardour and hope which he no longer possessed. - -The whole night was spent thus. A terrible night, during which the -general endured all the tortures that assail an ambitious man on the eve -of a scandalous plot against a government which he has sworn to defend. -He was agitated by those dull murmurs of the conscience which can never -be thoroughly stifled, and which would inspire pity for these unhappy -men, were they not careful, by their own acts, to put themselves beyond -the pale of that humanity of which they have become real monsters. The -most wholesome lesson that could be given to those ambitious manikins, -so frequent in the lower strata of society, would be to render them -witnesses of the crushing agony that attacks any _cabecilla_ during the -night that precedes the outbreak of one of its horrible plots. - -Sunrise surprised the general giving his final orders. Worn out by the -fatigue of a long watch, with pallid brow, and eyes inflamed by fever, -he tried to take a few moments of restorative rest, which he so greatly -needed; but his efforts were fruitless, for he was suffering from an -excitement too intense, at the decisive hour, for sleep to come and -close his eyes. - -Already the bells of all the churches were pealing out, and filling the -air with their joyous notes. In all the streets, and in all the squares, -boys and leperos were letting off crackers, and uttering deafening -cries, which more resembled bursts of fury than demonstrations of joy. -The people, dressed in their holiday clothes, were leaving their houses -in masses, and spreading like a torrent over the city. - -The review was arranged for seven o'clock A.M., so that the troops might -be spared the great heat of the day. They were massed on the Paseo de -Bucareli and the road connecting that promenade with the Alameda. - -We have already stated that the Mexican army, twenty thousand strong, -has twenty-four thousand officers. Hence, in the enormous crowd -assembled to witness the review, uniforms were in a majority; for all -the officers living on half-pay in Mexico, for some reason or another, -considered themselves bound to attend the review as amateurs. - -At a quarter to eight o'clock the drums beat, the troops presented arms, -a deafening shout was raised by the crowd, and the President of the -Republic arrived on the Paseo, followed by a large staff, glistening -with gold and lace, and with a cloud of feathers waving in their cocked -hats. - -The Mexicans, much resembling in this respect another nation we are -acquainted with, adore feathers, aiguillettes, and, before all, -embroidered uniforms. Hence the President was warmly greeted by the -enthusiastic crowd, and his arrival was converted into an ovation. -General Guerrero had joined the President's staff in his full dress -uniform, as Colonel Lupo and other conspirators had also done; the -rest, dispersed among the crowd, and well armed under their cloaks, -were giving drink to the already half-intoxicated leperos, and secretly -exciting them to begin an insurrection. - -In the meanwhile the review went on without any hitch. It is true that -the President restricted himself to riding along the front, and then -ordering the troops to march past, for he did not dare, owing to the -notorious ignorance of the officers and soldiers, risk the execution of -any manoeuvre, for it would not have been understood, and would have -broken the charm under which the spectators were fascinated. Then the -President, still followed by his staff, proceeded to the cathedral. -We will not say anything about the official receptions, etc., which -occupied all the morning. - -The hour for the bullfight arrived. Since the review no one troubled -himself about the troops, who seemed to have suddenly disappeared--not -a soldier was visible in the streets; but the people did not think of -them, for they were letting off fireworks, laughing and shouting, which -was quite sufficient to amuse them. It was only noticed that these -soldiers, though invisible about the city, had apparently passed the -word to each other to be present at the bullfight. Nearly the whole of -the _palcos de sol_ in the circus, that is to say, the parts exposed -to the sun, were thronged with soldiers, grouped pell-mell with the -leperos, and offering the most pleasant contrast with these ragged -scamps, who were yelling and whistling. - -The President arrived, and the circus was, in a second, invaded by -the mob. Since an early hour the Jamaica had begun, that is to say, -the framework of verdure raised in the centre of the arena, forming -refreshment rooms, had, since daybreak, been filled with a countless -number of leperos, who ate and drank with cries of ferocious delight. - -Suddenly, at a given signal, the gate of the torril was opened, and a -bull, _embolado_, rushed into the arena. Then began an extraordinary -indescribable scene, resembling one of those diabolical meetings so -admirably designed by Callot. - -The leperos, surprised by the arrival of the bull, darted, shouting, -pushing, and upsetting each other, over the framework, which they threw -down and trampled underfoot in their terror, while seeking to escape the -pursuit of the _embolado_, who, also excited by the tumult, hunted them -vigorously. In a second the arena was deserted, the refreshment rooms -swept clean, and the performers in the Jamaica sought any shelter they -could find on the edge of the palcos or upon the columns, from which -they hung in hideous yelling and grimacing clusters. - -A few leperos, however, bolder than the rest, had darted to the Monte -Parnasso, not only to find a shelter there, but also to tear away all -the coloured handkerchiefs fastened to the branches. In a twinkling the -thick foliage was hidden by the crowd of leperos who invaded it. - -The bull, after amusing itself for some minutes in tossing about the -remains of the framework, stopped and looked cunningly around, and -soon noticed the tree, the only obstacle left to remove, in order to -completely empty the arena. - -It remained motionless for an instant, as if hesitating ere it formed -a resolution; then it bowed its head, made the sand fly with its -fore-feet, lashed its tail violently, and, rushing at the tree, dealt it -repeated and powerful blows. - -The leperos uttered a cry of despair. The tree, which was overladen, -and incessantly sapped at its base by the bull, swayed, and at last -fell sideways, carrying down in its fall the leperos clinging to the -branches. The audience clapped their hands and broke into frenzied -bravos, which changed into perfect yells of delight when a poor fellow, -who was limping away, was suddenly caught up by the bull, and tossed ten -feet high in the air. - -All at once, and at the moment when the joy was attaining its paroxysm, -several rounds of artillery were heard, followed by a well-sustained -musketry fire. As if by magic the bull was driven back to the torril; -the soldiers scattered about the circus leapt into the ring, and -becoming actors instead of spectators, drew up in good order, and -levelled their muskets at the occupiers of the galleries and boxes, who -remained motionless with terror, for they did not understand what was -going on. - -A door opened, and twenty bandsmen, followed by eight officers, and -escorted by a dozen soldiers, entered the ring, and began beating the -drums. It was a governmental _bando_. So soon as silence was restored -martial law was proclaimed, and sentence of outlawry passed on General -Don Sebastian Guerrero and his adherents, who had just raised the -standard of revolt, and pronounced against the established government. - -The crowd listened to the bando in a stupor which was heightened by the -fact that with each moment the firing became sharper, and the artillery -discharges shook the air at more rapid intervals. - -Mexico was once again the prey of one of those scenes of murder and -carnage which, since the Proclamation of Independence, has too often -stained her streets and squares with blood. - -The President was on horseback in the centre of the arena, sending off -orders, listening to messages, or detaching reinforcements wherever they -were wanted. The circus was converted into the headquarters of the army -of order, and the spectators, although allowed to depart after some -arrests had been effected among them, remained trembling in their seats, -preferring not to venture into the streets, which had been converted -into real battlefields. - -Still the pronunciamiento was assuming formidable proportions. General -Guerrero had not played for so heavy a stake without trying to secure to -his side all probable chances of success; and that success would most -ably have crowned his efforts, had he not been betrayed. For, in spite -of all the precautions taken by the government, the affair had been -begun so warmly and resolutely that, after the contest had continued for -three hours, it was impossible to say on which side the advantage would -remain. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -THE PRONUNCIAMIENTO. - - -In any revolution, the insurgents have always an immense advantage over -the government they are attacking, from the fact that, as they hold -together, know their numbers, and act in accordance with a long worked -out plan, they are not only cognizant of what they want, but also, -whither they are proceeding. The government, on the other hand, however -well informed it may be, and however well on its guard, is obliged -to remain for a considerable length of time in an attitude of armed -expectation, without knowing whence the danger that menaces it will -come, or the strength of the rebellion it will have to combat. - -On the other hand, again, as the secret of the discovery of the plot -remains with a small band of confidential agents of the authorities, -the latter do not know at first whom to trust, or whom to reckon on. -They suspect everybody, even the very troops defending them, whom they -fear to see turning against them at any moment, and overthrowing them. -This is more especially the case in Mexico and all the old Spanish -colonies, where the governmental system is essentially military, and is -consequently only based on naturally unintelligent and venal troops, who -are utterly deficient of patriotic feelings, and whom interest alone, -that is to say, pay or promotion, can keep to their duty. - -The history of all the revolutions which, during the last fifty years, -have caused torrents of blood to flow in the New World, is entirely -contained in the last passage we have written. - -The President of the Republic had been informed of the designs of the -general, as far as that was possible; he had known for more than a month -that a vast plot was being formed; he even was aware of the probable day -fixed for the pronunciamiento, but he did not know a syllable about the -plans arranged by Don Sebastian and his adherents. As the plot was to -burst out in Mexico, the President had filled the capital with troops; -and called in those on whose fidelity he thought he could reckon with -the greatest certainty. - -But his preparations were necessarily restricted to this, and he had -been constrained to wait till the revolution commenced. - -It burst forth with the suddenness of a peal of thunder at twenty places -simultaneously, at about the second hour of the tarde. The President, -who was at once informed, and who had only come to the circus in order -not to be invested in the government palace, instantly took the measures -he thought most efficacious. - -The news, however, rapidly arrived, and became worse and worse, and the -insurrection was assuming frightful proportions. The revolters at first -tried to install themselves on the Plaza Major in order to seize the -government palace, but being repulsed with loss, after a very serious -contest, they ambuscaded themselves in Tacuba, Secunda Monterilla, and -San Agustin streets, erected barricades, and exchanged a sharp fire with -the faithful troops. - -The cannon roared in the square, and the balls made large gaps in the -ranks of the insurgents, who replied with yells of rage and increased -firing. - -Colonel Lupo had taken possession of two city gates, which he burned -down, and through which fresh reinforcements reached the insurgents, who -now proclaimed themselves masters of one-third of the city. The foreign -merchants, established in Mexico, had hoisted their national flags -over their houses, in which they remained shut up, and suffering great -anxiety. - -The President was still standing motionless in the centre of the circus, -frowning at each new message, or angrily striking the pommel of his -saddle with his clenched fist. - -All at once a man glided secretly between the horses' legs, and gently -touched the general's boot, who turned round quickly. - -"Ah!" he exclaimed, on recognizing him. "At last! Well, Curumilla?" - -But the Indian, without answering, thrust a folded paper into his hand, -and disappeared as rapidly as he had come. The general eagerly scanned -the letter, which only contained these words, written in French--"All is -going on well. Charge vigorously." - -The general's face grew brighter, he drew himself up haughtily, and -brandishing his sword with a martial air, shouted in a voice heard by -all, "Forward, Muchachos!" - -Then, digging his spurs into his horse's sides, he galloped out of -the circus, followed by the greater part of the troops, the remainder -receiving orders to hold their present position until further warning. - -"Now," said the President to the officers who pressed round him, "the -game is won; within an hour the insurrection will be conquered." - -In fact matters had greatly altered. This is what had occurred: - -Valentine, as we said, had taken a house in Tacuba Street, and another -in the vicinity of the San Lazaro gate. During the night that preceded -the pronunciamiento, four hundred resolute soldiers, commanded by -faithful officers, were introduced into the house in Tacuba Street, -where they remained so well hidden that no one suspected their presence. -A similar number of troops were stowed away in the house at the San -Lazaro gate. - -Don Martial, at the head of a large body of men, slipped into the small -house belonging to the capataz, and, being warned by the latter so -soon as the general had gone off to attend the review, he passed into -his mansion through the masked door we know, and occupied it without -striking a blow. - -The Tigrero straightway set a trap, in which several of the principal -chiefs of the insurgents were caught, believing that they would find -General Guerrero at home, and were at once made prisoners. - -These three points occupied, they waited. Colonel Lupo had attacked the -San Lazaro gate so vigorously and unexpectedly, that it was impossible -to prevent him burning it. A very obstinate fight at once began, and -the colonel, after a brave resistance, had been at length compelled to -retreat and fall back on the main body of the insurgents, who were still -masters, or nearly so, of the centre of the city. - -We have mentioned that in Mexico all the houses are flat roofed; hence, -in any revolution, the scenes in the street are repeated on the terraces -of the houses; for the tactics adopted in such cases are to line these -terraces with soldiers. Through a strange fatality the insurgents, while -seizing the principal streets, had forgotten, or rather neglected, to -occupy the houses, as they believed themselves masters of the situation. - -All at once the terraces in Tacuba Street, looking on the Plaza Mayor, -were covered with sharpshooters, who began a tremendous fire on the -insurgents collected beneath them. The same manoeuvre was simultaneously -executed in Monterilla and San Augustin Streets, and the terraces of the -palace were covered with troops also. - -The artillerymen, who had hitherto fired at long range, now brought up -their guns almost within pistol shot of the streets, and, in spite of -the musketry fire of the insurgents, bravely posted their batteries and -began hurtling showers of canister among the defenders of the barricades. - -Almost simultaneously, the troops faithful to the government appeared in -the rear of the rebels, and being supported by the sharpshooters on the -terraces, charged vigorously to the incessantly repeated cry of "Mejico, -Mejico, Independencia!" - -The insurgents felt they were lost, for they were caught between three -fires; still they offered a courageous resistance, for, knowing that -if they fell alive into the hands of the conqueror, they would be -mercilessly shot, they allowed themselves to be killed with Indian -stoicism, and did not yield an inch of ground. - -The general was in a terrible rage; without a hat, his face blackened -with gunpowder, and his uniform torn in several places, he leapt his -horse over the corpses, and dashed blindly into the thick of the -government troops, followed by a small band of friends, who bravely let -themselves be killed at his side. - -The fight was positively degenerating into a massacre; the two parties, -as unhappily always happens in civil wars, fought with the greater fury -and obstinacy because brothers were contending against brothers, and -many of them, for whom politics were only a pretext, took advantage of -the medley to satiate personal hatred and avenge old insults. - -However, this could not go on for long thus, and it was necessary to get -out of the situation at all risks. General Guerrero, unaware of the -occupation of his house, resolved to fight his way thither, barricade -himself, and obtain an honourable capitulation for himself and his -comrades. - -No sooner was the plan conceived than the execution was attempted. Don -Sebastian collected round him all the fighting men left, and formed -them into a small band--for the canister and bullets had made frightful -ravages in the ranks of the insurgents--and placed himself at their head. - -"Forward, forward!" he shouted as he rushed at the enemy. - -His men followed him with yells of fury. The collision was terrible, the -fight fearful; for four or five minutes a funereal silence brooded over -this confused mass of combatants, who attacked each so savagely. They -stabbed each other mercilessly, disdaining to use their firearms, and -preferring, as a speedier resource, the sharp points of their sabres and -bayonets. - -At length the President's troops fell back slightly, the insurgents -took advantage of it to redouble their efforts, which were already -superhuman, and reached the general's house. The doors were broken open -in an instant, and all rushed pell-mell into the courtyard. They were -saved! since they had at last reached the shelter where they hoped to -defend themselves. - -At this moment a frightful thing happened; the gallery commanding the -courtyard and the stairs was entirely occupied by soldiers, and so soon -as the insurgents appeared, the muskets were pointed down at them, -a tornado of fire passed over them like the blast of death, and in a -second a mass of corpses covered the ground. - -The insurgents, terrified by this sudden attack, which they were so far -from anticipating, hurriedly fell back, instinctively seeking an outlet -by which to escape. The tumult then became terrible, and the massacre -assumed the proportions of an organized butchery. Driven back into the -courtyard by the troops who pursued them, and met there by those who -had attacked them and now charged at the bayonet point, these wretched -men, rendered senseless by terror, did not dream any longer of employing -their weapons, but falling on their knees before their executioners, and -clasping their trembling hands, they implored the mercy of the troops, -who, intoxicated by the smell of blood, and affected by that horrible -murder fever which seizes upon even the coolest man on the battle field, -felled them, like oxen in the shambles, and plunged their sabres and -bayonets into their bodies with grins of delight and ferocious laughter, -and felt a horrible pleasure in seeing their victims writhe with -heartbreaking cries in the last convulsions of death. - -General Don Sebastian, though wounded, and who seemed to have been -protected by a charm throughout this scene of carnage, defended himself -like a lion against several soldiers, who tried in vain to transfix him -with their bayonets. Leaning against a column he whirled his sabre -round his head, evidently seeking death, but wishful to sell his life as -dearly as possible. - -Suddenly Valentine cleft his way through the combatants, followed by -Belhumeur, Black Elk, and Curumilla, who were engaged in warding off the -blows the soldiers incessantly made at him, and reached the general. - -"Ah!" the latter said on perceiving him, "here you are at last, then." - -And he dealt him a terrible blow, but Belhumeur parried it, and -Valentine continued to advance. - -"Withdraw," he said to the soldiers who surrounded the general, "this -man belongs to me." - -The soldiers, though they did not know the hunter, intimidated by the -accent with which he uttered these words, and recognizing in him one of -those rare men who can always impose on common natures, respectfully -fell back without making the slightest objection. - -The hunter threw his purse to them. - -"You dare to defy the lion at bay," the general shouted, gnashing his -teeth; "although attacked by dogs, he can still avenge his death." - -"You will not die," the hunter said coldly; "throw away that sabre, -which is now useless." - -"Ah, ah!" Don Sebastian said with a grin of rage; "I am not to die; and -why not, pray?" - -"Because," he answered, in a cutting voice, "death would be a mercy to -you, and you must be punished." - -"Oh!" he shrieked, and, blinded by rage, he rushed madly at the hunter. - -The latter, without falling back a step, contented himself with giving a -signal. At the same moment a slipknot fell on the general's shoulders, -and he rolled on the ground with a yell of rage. Curumilla had lassoed -him. - -In vain did Don Sebastian attempt further resistance; after useless -efforts he was reduced to utter impotence, and forced, not only to -confess he had been vanquished, but to yield himself to the mercy of his -conquerors. The latter, at a sign from Valentine, disarmed him first, -and then bound him, so that he could not make the slightest movement. - -The massacre was ended, the insurrection had been drowned in blood. The -few rebels who survived the carnage were prisoners; the victors, in the -first moment of enthusiasm, had shot several, and it required the most -energetic interference on the part of the officers to check this rather -too summary justice. - -At this moment joyous shouts burst forth, and the President of the -Republic entered the courtyard at the head of a large staff, glistening -with embroidery. - -"Ah, ah!" he said, as he took a contemptuous glance at the general, who -had been thrown on the stones, "so this is the man who wished to change -the institutions of his country?" - -Don Sebastian did not deign to reply; but he looked at the speaker with -such an expression of implacable hatred, that the President could not -endure it, and was forced to turn his head away. - -"Did this man surrender?" he asked one of his officers. - -"No, coward," the general answered, with clenched teeth, "I will not -surrender to hangmen." - -"Take this man to prison with the others," the President continued, "an -example must be made; but take care that they are not insulted by the -people." - -"Yes," the general muttered, "ever the same system." - -"A fall and entire pardon," the President continued, "will be granted to -the unhappy men who were led astray, and have recognized their crime. -The lesson they have received was rather rough, and I am convinced that -it will do them good." - -"Clemency after the massacre, that is the usual way," the general said -again. - -The President passed without answering him, and left the courtyard. A -few minutes later the prisoners were led away to prison, in spite of the -efforts of the exasperated populace to massacre them on the road. - -General Don Sebastian Guerrero was one of the first to appear before the -tribunal. He disdained any defence, and during the whole trial preserved -a gloomy silence; he was unceremoniously condemned to be shot, his -estates confiscated, and his name was declared infamous. - -So soon as the sentence was recorded, the general was placed in the -chapel, where he was to remain three days before execution. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -THE CAPILLA. - - -The Spanish custom--a custom which has been kept up in all the old -colonies of that power--of placing persons condemned to death in a -chapel, requires explanation, in order that it may be thoroughly -understood and appreciated, as it deserves to be. - -Frenchmen, over whom the great revolution of '93 passed like a -hurricane, and carried off most of their belief in its sanguinary cloak, -may smile with pity and regard as a fanatic remainder from another -age, this custom of placing the condemned in chapel. Among us, it is -true, matters are managed much more simply: a man, when condemned by -the law, eats, drinks, and remains alone in his cell. If he desire it, -he is visited by the chaplain, whom he is at liberty to converse with, -if he likes; if not, he remains perfectly quiet, and nobody pays any -attention to him, during a period more or less long, and determined by -the rejection of his appeal. Then, one fine morning, when he is least -thinking of it, the governor of the prison announces to him, when he -wakes, as the most simple thing in the world, that he is to be executed -that same day, and only an hour is granted him to recommend his soul -to the divine clemency. The fatal toilet is made by the executioner and -his assistant, the condemned man is placed in a close carriage, conveyed -to the place of execution, and in a twinkling launched into eternity, -before he has had a moment to look round him. - -Is it right or wrong to act in this way? We dare not answer, yes or no. -This question is too difficult to decide, and would lead us the further, -because we should begin with asking society by what right it arrogates -to itself the power of killing one of its members, and thus committing a -cold-blooded assassination, under the pretext of doing justice; for we -confess that we have ever been among the most determined adversaries of -punishment by death, as we are persuaded that, in trying to deal a heavy -blow, human justice deceives itself, and goes beyond the object, because -it avenges when it ought merely to punish. - -We will, therefore, repeat here what we said in a previous work, in -explanation of what the Spaniards mean by the phrase "placing in chapel." - -When a man is condemned to death, from that moment he is, _de facto_, -cut off from that society to which he no longer belongs, through the -sentence passed on him; he is consequently separated from his fellow men. - -He is shut up in a room, at one end of which is an altar; the walls are -hung with black drapery, studded with silver tears, and here and there -mourning inscriptions, drawn from Holy Writ. Near his bed is placed the -coffin in which his body is to be deposited after execution, while two -priests, who relieve each other, but of whom one constantly remains in -the room, say mass in turn, and exhort the criminal to repent Of his -crimes, and implore divine clemency. This custom, which, if carried to -an extreme, would appear in our country before all, barbarous and cruel, -perfectly agrees with Spanish manners, and the thoroughly believing -spirit of this impressionable nation; it is intended to draw the culprit -back to pious thought, and rarely fails to produce the desired effect -upon him. - -The general was, therefore, placed in capilla, and two monks belonging -to the order of St. Francis, the most respected, and, in fact, -respectable in Mexico, entered it with him. - -The first hours he passed there were terrible; this proud mind, this -powerful organization, revolted against adversity, and would not accept -defeat. Gloomy and silent, with frowning brows, and fists clenched on -his bosom, the general sought shelter like a wild beast in a corner of -the room, recalling his whole life, and seeing with starts of terror the -bloody victims scattered along his path, and sacrificed in turn to his -devouring ambition, sadly defile before him. - -Then he reverted to his early years. When residing at the Palmar, his -magnificent family hacienda, his life passed away calm, pure, gentle, -and tranquil, without regrets, and without desires, among his faithful -servants. Then, he was so glad to be nothing, and to wish to be nothing. - -By degrees his thoughts followed the bias of his recollections: the -present was effaced; his contracted features grew softer, and two -burning tears, the first, perhaps, this man of iron had ever shed, -slowly coursed down his cheeks, which grief had hollowed. - -The monks, calm and contemplative, had eagerly followed the successive -changes on this eminently expressive face. They comprehended that their -mission of consolation was beginning, and approached the general softly, -and wept with him; then this man, whom nothing had been able to subdue, -felt his soul torn asunder; the cloud that covered his eyes melted away -like the winter snow before the first sunbeam, and he fell into the arms -open to receive him, exclaiming, with an expression of desperate grief -impossible to render-- - -"Have mercy, heaven! have mercy!" - -The struggle had been short but terrible; faith had conquered doubt, and -humanity had regained its rights. - -The general then had with the monks a conversation, protracted far into -the night, in which he confessed all his crimes and sins, and humbly -asked pardon of God whom he had outraged, and before whom he was about -to appear. - -The next day, a little after, sunrise, one of the monks, who had been -absent about an hour, returned, bringing with him the general's -capataz. It had only been with extreme reluctance that Carnero had -consented to come, for he justly dreaded his old master's reproaches. - -Hence his surprise was extreme at being received with a smile, and -kindly, and on finding that the general did not make the slightest -allusion to his treachery, which the evidence before the court-martial -had fully revealed. - -Carnero looked inquiringly at the two monks, for he did not dare put -faith in his master's words, and each moment expected to hear him burst -out into reproaches. But nothing of the sort took place; the general -continued the conversation as he had begun it, speaking to him gently -and kindly. - -At the moment when the capataz was about to withdraw, the general -stopped him. - -"One moment," he said to him; "you know Don Valentine, the French -hunter, for whom I so long cherished an insensate hatred?" - -"Yes," Carnero stammered. - -"Be kind enough to ask him to grant me the favour of a short visit; he -is a noble-hearted man, and I am convinced that he will not refuse to -come. I should be glad if he consented to bring with him Don Martial, -the Tigrero, who has so much cause to complain of me, as well as my -niece, Dona Anita de Torres. Will you undertake this commission, the -last I shall doubtless give you?" - -"Yes, general," the capataz answered, affected in spite of himself by -such gentleness. - -"Now go; be happy and pray for me, for we shall never meet again." - -The capataz went out in a very different frame of mind from that in -which he had entered the capilla, and hastened off to Valentine. The -hunter was not at home, for he had gone to the presidential palace, but -he returned almost immediately. The capataz gave the message which his -old master had entrusted him with for him. - -"I will go," the hunter said simply, and he dismissed him. - -Curumilla was at once sent off to Mr. Rallier's quinta with a letter, -and during his absence Valentine had a long conversation with Belhumeur -and Black Elk. At about five in the evening, a carriage entered the -courtyard of Valentine's house at a gallop; it contained Mr. Rallier, -Anita, and Don Martial. - -"Thanks!" he said, on seeing them. - -"You ordered me to come, so I obeyed as usual," the Tigrero answered. - -"You were right, my friend." - -"And now what do you want of us?" - -"That you should accompany me to the place whither I am going at this -moment." - -"Would it be indiscreet to ask you----" - -"Where?" the hunter interrupted him with a laugh. - -"Not at all; I am going to lead you, Dona Anita, and the persons here -present, to the capilla in which General Guerrero is confined." - -"The capilla?" the Tigrero exclaimed in amazement, "for what purpose?" - -"What does that concern you? The general has requested to see you, and -you cannot refuse the request of a man who has but a few hours left to -live." - -The Tigrero hung his head without answering. - -"Oh! I will go!" Dona Anita exclaimed impulsively, as she wiped away the -tears that ran down her cheeks. - -"You are a woman, senorita, and therefore good and indulgent," the -hunter said; then turning to the Tigrero, he said, with a slight accent -of reproach, "you have not yet answered me, Don Martial." - -"Since you insist, Don Valentine, I will go," he at length answered, -with an effort. - -"I do not insist, my friend; I only ask, that is all." - -"Come, Martial, I implore you," Dona Anita said to him gently. - -"Your will be done in this as in all other things," he said. "I am ready -to follow you, Don Valentine." - -Valentine, Dona Anita, Mr. Rallier, and Don Martial got into the -carriage. The two Canadians and the chief followed them on horseback, -and they proceeded at a gallop to the chapel where the condemned man was -confined. - -All along the road they found marks of the obstinate struggle which had -deluged the city with blood a few days previously; the barricades had -not been entirely removed, and though the distance was, in reality, -very short, they did not reach the prison till nightfall, owing to the -detours they were forced to make. - -Valentine begged his friends to remain outside, and only entered with -Dona Anita and the Tigrero. The general was impatiently expecting them, -and testified a great joy on perceiving them. - -The young lady could not restrain her emotion, and threw herself into -her uncle's arms with an outburst of passionate grief. The general -pressed her tenderly to his bosom, and kissed her on the forehead. - -"I am the more affected by these marks of affection, my child," he said -with much emotion, "because I have been very harsh to you. Can you ever -forgive me the sufferings I have caused you?" - -"Oh, uncle, speak not so. Are you not, alas! the only relation I have -remaining?" - -"For a very short time," he said with a sad smile, "that is the reason -why I ought, without further delay, to provide for your future." - -"Do not talk about that at such a moment, uncle," she continued, -bursting into tears. - -"On the contrary, my child, it is at this moment when I am going to -leave you, that I am bound to insure you a protector. Don Martial, I -have done you great wrong; here is my hand, accept it as that of a man -who has completely recognized his faults, and sincerely repents the evil -he has done." - -The Tigrero, more affected than he liked to display, took a step -forward, and cordially pressed the hand offered him. - -"General," he said, in a voice which he tried in vain to render firm, -"this moment, which I never dared hope to see, fills me with joy, but at -the same time with grief." - -"Well, you can do something for me by proving to me that you have really -forgiven me." - -"Speak, general, and if it is in my power----," he exclaimed warmly. - -"I believe so," Don Sebastian answered, with his sad smile. "Consent to -accept my niece from my hand, and marry her at once in this chapel." - -"Oh, general!" he began, choking with emotion. - -"Uncle, at this awful moment!" the young lady murmured, timidly. - -"Allow me the supreme consolation of dying under the knowledge that -you are happy. Don Valentine, you have doubtless brought some of your -friends with you?" - -"They are awaiting your commands, general," the hunter answered. - -"Let them come in, in that case, for time presses." - -One of the monks had prepared everything beforehand. - -When the hunters and the French banker entered, followed by Curumilla, -and the officer commanding the capilla guard, who had been warned -beforehand, the general walked eagerly toward them. - -"Senores," he said, "I would ask you to do me the honour of witnessing -the marriage of my niece, Dona Anita de Torres, with this caballero." - -The newcomers bowed respectfully. At a signal from one of the -Franciscans they knelt down and the ceremony began. It lasted hardly -twenty minutes, but never had a marriage mass been read or listened to -with more pious fervour. When it was ended, the witnesses wished to -retire. - -"One moment, senores, if you please," the general said to them. "I now -wish to make you witnesses of a great reparation." - -They stopped, and the general walked up to Valentine. - -"Caballero," he said to him, "I know all the motives of hatred you -have against me, and those motives I allow to be just. I am now in the -same position in which I placed Count de Prebois Crance, your dearest -friend. Like him, I shall be shot tomorrow at daybreak; but with this -difference, that he fell as a martyr to a holy cause, and innocent of -the crimes of which I accused him, while I am guilty, and have deserved -the sentence passed on me. Don Valentine, I repent from the bottom of -my heart the iniquitous murder of your friend. Don Valentine, do you -forgive me?" - -"General Don Sebastian Guerrero, I forgive you the murder of my friend," -the hunter answered, in a firm voice. "I forgive you the life of grief -to which I am henceforth condemned by you." - -"You pardon me unreservedly?" - -"Unreservedly I do." - -"Thanks! We were made to love instead of hate each other. I -misunderstood you; but yours is a great and noble heart. Now, let death -come, and I shall accept it gladly; for I feel convinced that God will -have pity on me on account of my sincere repentance. Be happy, niece, -with the husband of your choice. Senores, all, accept my thanks. Don -Valentine, once more I thank you; and now leave me all, for I no longer -belong to the world, so let me think of my salvation." - -"But one word," Valentine said. "General, I have forgiven you, and it is -now my turn to ask your pardon. I have deceived you." - -"Deceived me!" - -"Yes: take this paper. The President of the Republic, employing his -sovereign right of mercy, has, on my pressing entreaty, revoked the -sentence passed on you. You are free." - -His hearers burst into a cry of admiration. - -The general turned pale; he tottered, and for a moment it was fancied -that he was about to fall. A cold perspiration stood on his temples. -Dona Anita sprang forward to support him, but he repulsed her gently, -and, with a great effort, exclaimed, in a choking voice-- - -"Don Valentine, Don Valentine, such then is your revenge. Oh! blind, -blind that I was to form such an erroneous opinion of you! You condemn -me to live. Well, be it so; I accept, and will not deceive your -expectations. Fathers," he said, turning to the monks, "lead me to your -monastery. General Guerrero is dead, and henceforth I shall be a monk of -your order." - -Don Sebastian's conversion was sincere. Grace had touched him, and he -persevered. Two months after professing, he died in the Franciscan -Monastery, crushed by remorse and worn out by the cruel penance he -inflicted on himself. - -Two days after the scene we have described, Valentine and his companions -left Mexico, and returned to Sonora. On reaching the frontier, the -hunter, in spite of the pressing entreaties of his friends, separated -from them, and returned to the desert. - -Don Martial and Dona Anita settled in Mexico, near the Ralliers. A month -after Valentine's departure, Dona Helena returned to the convent, and -at the end of a year, in spite of the entreaties of her family, who -were surprised at so strange a resolution, which nothing apparently -explained, the young lady took the vows. - -When I met Valentine Guillois on the banks of the Rio Joaquin, some -time after the events recorded in this long story, he was going with -Curumilla to attempt a hazardous expedition across the Rocky Mountains, -from which, he said to me, with that soft melancholy smile which he -generally assumed when speaking to me, he _hoped_ never to return. - - * * * * * - -I accompanied him for several days, and then we were compelled to -separate. He pressed my hand, and, followed by his dumb friend, he -entered the mountains. For a long time I looked after him, for I -involuntarily felt my heart contracted by a sad foreboding. He turned -round for the last time, waved his hand in farewell, and disappeared -round a bend of the track. - -I was fated never to see him again. - -Since then nothing has been heard of him, or of Curumilla. All my -endeavours to join them, or even obtain news of them, was vain. - -Are they still living?--no one can say. Darkness has settled down over -these two magnificent men, and time itself will, in all probability, -never remove the veil that conceals their fate; for all, unhappily, -leads me to suppose that they perished in that gloomy expedition from -which Valentine _hoped_, alas! never to return. - - - -END OF RED TRACK. - - - - -A BUFFALO HUNT[1] - -A STUDY OF THE AMERICAN WILD BULL. - - -Certain reasons, unnecessary to state here, had somewhat accidentally -led me to a Sonorian hacienda, called the Hacienda del Milagro, situated -a few leagues from Hermosillo, close to the Indian border, and belonging -to Don Rafael Garillas de Saavedra, one of the richest landowners in the -province. - -Don Rafael had spent what is called in Europe a wild life, and for many -years had traversed the deserts of Apacheria in company of a Canadian -adventurer of the name of Belhumeur. Although enormously rich, married -to a woman he adored, and surrounded by a delightful family, Don Rafael -had now and then moments of gloom, in which he regretted the time when, -unhappy and disinherited, he wandered, under the name of Loyal-heart, -from Arkansas to Apacheria, leading the precarious existence of wood -rangers, living from hand to mouth, forgetful of a past which only -summoned up bitter griefs, and careless about a future which he believed -would never realize the dreams of his poetical imagination. - -Like all men who have suffered and passed through a hard apprenticeship -of life, Don Rafael was kind and indulgent to others, and ever ready to -excuse a fault when it only emanated from a forgetfulness of propriety -or an error of judgment. - -Two days after my arrival at the Hacienda del Milagro, thanks to the -cordial reception given me, I was regarded as forming part of the -family, and was as much at my ease as if I had lived for years with -these new friends, who soon grew so old in my heart, and whose memory -will be ever dear to me. - -One evening a new guest arrived at the hacienda, where he was literally -received with open arms, which greatly surprised me; for I knew the -prejudices of Spaniards against Indians, and the newcomer was simply a -redskin. It is true that this redskin was the first sachem of a powerful -Comanche tribe, which was explained to me in two words by Belhumeur, the -Canadian hunter, with whom I had struck up a great friendship from my -first arrival at the hacienda. - -This sachem was called Eagle-head. He came, in the name of his tribe, to -invite Don Rafael, whom he obstinately called Loyal-heart, to a great -buffalo hunt which was to come off in Apacheria toward the middle of the -"Moon of the wild oats," that is to say, about September 15th. - -Don Rafael was greatly inclined to accept this invitation, but a -sorrowful look, which his wife gave him aside, made him understand how -anxious his absence would make her. He therefore expressed his inability -to be present at this hunt, which he would have so much liked to be, -but very important business compelled him to remain at the hacienda. -He added, however, that his friend Belhumeur would be happy to take -his place, in order to prove to Eagle-head the value he set on his -invitation and his lively desire to show him all the deference which so -great a chief as he merited. - -After a few words whispered in his ear, Belhumeur introduced me to the -Indian chief, to whom he mentioned that, as I had never witnessed a -buffalo hunt, I should be delighted with his permission to attend the -present one. The chief politely replied that Belhumeur was an adopted -son of the tribe, and that any persons he thought proper to bring -with him would be received not only with great pleasure, but with the -greatest kindness, according to the consecrated customs of Indian -hospitality. - -I warmly thanked, as I was bound to do, the chief, who was flattered to -hear me express myself with some degree of elegance in his own language; -and we agreed to meet at the winter village of the Comanches of the -Lakes, on the fifth sun of the Moon of the wild oats. - -Eagle-head took leave of us the same evening, in spite of all our -efforts to keep him at least till the next morning. He started in the -direction of the desert with the light and gymnastic step peculiar to -the redskins, which a trotting horse could not keep up with, and which -enables them to cover an enormous distance in a relatively very short -period. - -Two days later, Belhumeur, myself, and another Canadian hunter attached -to the hacienda, by the name of Black Elk, mounted on excellent -mustangs, and armed to the teeth, took leave of Don Rafael, who saw us -depart with a sigh of regret, and we proceeded in the direction of the -great western prairies. - -Belhumeur was a first-rate companion, of tried bravery; a thorough -adventurer, gay, daring, and reckless, whose life had been almost -entirely spent in the desert, and whom his attachment for Don Rafael had -alone determined to give up the free and independent life of a hunter to -confine himself, as he said with a smile, within stone walls, where he -ofttimes felt that fresh air was wanting for his lungs. - -Belhumeur was a book of which I turned over the leaves of at my -pleasure, and each page was full of attractions for me, and offered me -agreeable surprises. - -Although I had myself long lived in the desert, I had as yet only -traversed countries where buffalo is never met; hence I was extremely -anxious to obtain some positive information about this interesting -animal, so useful to the Indians, who profess for it a respect almost -approaching to veneration. In this way I hoped not to be quite a novice -when I joined the redskins, and would know not only in what way to -attack the new enemy I was about to confront, but also how to behave, so -as not to appear an utter ignoramus in the sight of the Indians. - -One evening, while seated at our watch fire after supper, smoking my -Indian pipe charged with _morrichee_, or prairie tobacco, I asked -Belhumeur, whose good nature was inexhaustible, to give me the most -circumstantial information about the buffalo, which he at once did with -his usual goodwill. - -This is what I learned in substance. I will ask my reader's pardon for -substituting my recollections for the Canadian's prolix narration, -for what they may lose in simplicity of expression they will gain -in brevity, which is not a thing to be so much despised as might be -supposed at the first blush. - -I am bound to state that all Belhumeur then told me about the manners -and habits of these singular animals was most rigorously exact, as I -was in a position to convince myself at a later date. This, then, was -Belhumeur's account. - -The Indians say proverbially that bees are the advanced guard of the -palefaces, and the buffaloes the vedettes of the redskins. In fact, -although it is impossible to explain the reason, bees constantly seek -to advance into the desert, and when they appear at the border of -clearings, it is certain that two or three days later emigrants will -turn up, with rifles on their shoulders, and followed by a long file of -waggons, carts, horses, and cattle. These bold pioneers of civilisation -come, impelled by their adventurous instincts, to set up their tents in -the heart of the desert, on the shady banks of some unknown river, and -their unceasing activity soon changes the character of the landscape. - -In the same way when the traveller advances into the savannahs, so soon -as he sights the buffalo he may be certain that he has reached the -territory of the redskins. - -Now, it appears to us that everything relating to so interesting an -animal as the buffalo, which is fatally destined so soon to disappear, -unless care be taken, and which is so eminently useful, is worth -recording. - -Purchas in his "Pilgrimage" (London edition, 1614), says that in certain -respects the buffalo resembles the lion, and in others the camel, ox, -horse, sheep, and goat. Civilization in its continuous onward march -destroys the great animals, and drives back the redskin and even the -hunter, unless he consent to modify his fashion of living. - -The buffalo, which, on its discovery in 1582 by Lusman, in the province -of Sinaloa, extended its wanderings over nearly the whole of North -America, now restricts its excursions more and more, and is only met -with at present in the wildest deserts situated to the west of the Rocky -Mountains, which proves a considerable diminution in their numbers, and -this is probably augmented by the Indian custom of only killing cows and -leaving the bulls. - -The Americans, however, ought to interfere, for the buffalo is capable -of being tamed, and crossing it with the European ox would produce a -strong, patient, and courageous breed, whose services would be of -immense utility in the immense settlement of the new states. We saw at -a Texan hacienda completely tamed buffaloes, which, according to their -owners, were an excellent substitute for the common ox. - -The buffalo lives longer than the domestic ox: its proportions are -greater, and though its front is ungraceful, the hinder parts are -handsome. The buffalo is generally brown, though spotted ones are met -with, and even some completely white; its face is very like that of the -bull; its head covered with thick wool, the long beard hanging from its -lower jaw, and its melancholy, gentle, and almost stupid eye give it a -singular and almost strange appearance. Its horns are short, rounded, -and capable of taking a fine polish; it has between its shoulders a very -prominent hump, whilst its hinder parts are covered with short, straight -hair, like that of European ruminants; its short tail terminates in a -tuft of curly hair. The age of a buffalo is discovered by the rings on -its horns, the first four counting for the first year. - -The meat of the cows is considered more delicate than that of the bulls, -especially in the rutting season. The parts most appreciated are the -heart, the tongue, the liver, the short rib, and the part called the -hunter's joint, that is to say, the chine near the shoulder blade. Eight -bones are considered marrowbones, they are those of the legs and thighs. -A cow supplies about three hundred pounds of excellent meat, exclusive -of the head, and several other parts of the animal; the marrow of a -single bone is sufficient for a meal. The Indians, in order to obtain -it, throw the bone into the fire after removing the meat, let it grill -for a few minutes, take it out, break it, and remove the marrow, which -is eaten, without seasoning, by means of a sharp stick. This marrow is -very delicate and succulent, and when baked, it assumes the colour and -consistency of meat; some hunters prefer to eat it raw, but we did not -find it so good in that state. - -When a manada of buffaloes is hunted, especially if it be composed of -bulls, a strong smell of musk is exhaled; when full galloping, their -hoofs crack the grass, as if it was dried. They have an extraordinary -fine scent, and smell a man two or even three miles off. - -This animal is extremely difficult to kill. On a certain occasion we -lodged sixteen bullets in the body of a buffalo, ere we could succeed -in killing. Wishing to assure oneself of the truth of a fact, which -physicians and hunters had affirmed, namely, that the frontal bone -of a buffalo is bullet-proof, we discharged our rifle, at ten paces' -distance, at the head of a dead bull. The bullet did not penetrate, but -was caught in the hair, where we found it again; still it had struck -exactly in the centre of the forehead, for it had left its mark there -before rebounding. - -We have not very exactly followed Belhumeur's account, for, carried -away by our sympathy for the noble animal he described to us, we have -placed our ideas in the stead of his. We openly confess here that we are -among those who sincerely regret that the proposal made in 1849, by -Mr. Lamarre Picquot, to introduce into France the buffalo, as at once -suitable for draught and for consumption, was not seriously discussed -and taken into consideration, for this animal is one of the most useful, -and would, we feel convinced, render valuable services. - -Our journey lasted more than a month; for the winter village of the -Comanches of the Lakes is hidden in a canyon, in the middle of the first -spurs of the Rocky Mountains. Mounted on a vigorous mustang, I generally -rode at the head of our small party, which I liked to do, in order to be -more by myself, and observe more at my ease. - -One morning I saw, at a spot where the trail I followed was wide and -open, and some distance ahead of me, a large hawk, which appeared to -be suffering, and making efforts to fly away. When I drew near enough -I found that it was enfolded by a long whip snake, which had writhed -several times round its body, and the bird had only one wing at liberty. - -In all probability the hawk had been the aggressor, and had dashed down -at the snake, but the latter, by cleverly enfolding its enemy, had -succeeded in escaping the danger. - -The whip snake is a very handsome reptile, seven to eight feet in -length, when it has attained its full growth. Along the greater part of -its body it is no larger than an ordinary ramrod. Its very thin neck -gradually tapers away down to the stomach, whence it has obtained its -name. For about three or four inches the upper side of the head and -neck is black and lustrous as the plumage of a crow; while the upper -side of the body is chocolate coloured, excepting the tail, which, -nearly all the way from the stomach, is black. - -There, however, is no general rule, except for the head, neck, and tail, -which are always black. I have come across snakes of the same family in -which the other parts of the body varied. This reptile is very quick, -and seems to fly over the surface of the ground. The most remarkable -thing about it is, that it possesses the faculty of running, while -supporting itself solely on the lower part of the tail, and holding its -body and head erect. - -I cite this fact from personal knowledge, for I was one day followed by -a very handsome whip snake, which kept erect and looked me in the face -from time to time, although I had made my horse trot rather sharply, in -order to see at what speed this snake could advance in such an attitude. -It, however, only seemed to follow me through curiosity, for it is not -at all venomous, is of a gentle character, and it appears familiar with -man. I was surprised to find it in these parts, for I believed it to be -an inhabitant of Eastern Florida. - -Thirty-three days after our departure from the Hacienda del Milagro, we -came in sight of the Comanche village, and during the whole long journey -had not been exposed to the slightest danger, or stopped by any annoying -accident. - -We were expected, and were received by the chiefs, at the head of whom -was Eagle-head, not merely as friends, but as children of the tribe. A -spacious cabin was placed at our disposal, and provisions were brought -us from all sides. - -We had arrived just at the right moment; the grand festival of the -buffaloes was to be held that very night--a very curious ceremony, whose -object is to implore the blessing of the Wacondah before beginning the -hunt. - -In the centre of the village a large open space had been prepared, about -sixty yards long by forty-five wide, surrounded by an inclosure of reeds -and willow branches twelve feet high, and slightly bent inwards. An -entrance had been left, facing the east. The four fires which are always -kept up in the medicine lodge, were burning in each corner, and the most -distinguished chiefs, among whom we were counted, sat in a semicircle to -the right of the inclosure. - -Eagle-head, in his quality of first sachem of the tribe, held the head -of the file; he had, expressly for this occasion, painted his face blue, -yellow, and white, and wore on his head a fillet of some red skin. - -The spectators, more especially the squaws, were sitting against the -palings silent and contemplative. The men, some in full paint, others -simply dressed or naked to the waist, went about the interior of the -inclosure irregularly. Children ranged round the fires threw in from -time to time willow branches, to keep them burning. - -At the signal given by _Chichikoues_ for the feast to begin, six old men -emerged from a calli, and stood in a row in front of the medicine lodge. - -These men are chosen by the chiefs to represent buffaloes, and after the -ceremony large presents are made to them. Each of them held in his hand -a long staff, at the end of which four black feathers were fixed, and -along the staves, at equal distances, were fastened small tufts of young -buffalo skin and bells. - -These men-buffaloes carried their clubs in the left hand, and two of -them bore what the Comanches call a "badger," that is to say, a blown-up -skin, which is beaten like a drum. They stood at the entrance of the -medicine lodge, shaking their staves incessantly, and in turn singing -and imitating, with rare perfection, the lowing of buffaloes, which -lasted some considerable time. - -Behind them marched a tall man with a ferocious face, whose head was -covered with a fur cap, because once on a time he had been scalped in -a fight with the Apaches. This man was the director of the feast, and -represented the leader of the old buffaloes; his name was "Raised-scalp." - -After a rather long station before the door, the men-buffaloes at length -entered the medicine lodge, and sate down against the palings, behind -one of the fires. - -So soon as they were all seated, each of them planted his staff on -the ground in front of him. Several young warriors then came in with -dishes of boiled beans and maize powdered with pemmican, which they -placed before the guests. These dishes went the round, each passing -them to his neighbour after eating a little. At times empty dishes were -placed before us, a ceremony of which I did not at first understand -the purport, and one of the bearers, a man of colossal stature, very -muscular, and almost naked, whose hair fell in long tresses on his -loins, came to fetch one of these empty dishes. Then Eagle-head hid his -face in his hands and began singing, after which he muttered a long -speech or prayer, winding up by returning the dish. - -This speech contained wishes for the success of the buffalo hunt, and -the Wacondah was also invoked to render him favourable to the hunters -and warriors. The longest speeches were the best; the bearer seemed -particularly satisfied; he bowed with an attentive look, nodded his head -as a sign of his pleasure, passed his hand along the orator's right arm -from the shoulder to the wrist, and, before removing the dish, answered -with a few words of thanks. - -This repast was prolonged for more than an hour; on all sides people ate -and held speeches for the success of the chase; during this the young -men standing in the middle of the inclosure prepared the calumets, and -brought them ready lighted to the chief, the old men, and the strangers. - -They stopped before each of us, walking from right to left, and -presented the calumet, the bowl of which they held in their hand. Each -man took two or three whiffs, while murmuring a prayer, and then the -calumet passed on to the next. - -After this, our calumet bearers frequently turned to the four cardinal -points, muttering mysterious words, and indulging in strange gestures -and imitations. - -During this time the six old men-buffaloes did not once leave off -singing, shaking their medicine staves behind the fire, and beating the -"badger." At a certain, moment they rose, thrust forward the upper part -of their body, and began dancing, though still singing, and shaking -their wands, while the badger beat time. When this dance had lasted long -enough, they resumed their places in the same order as before. - -It is impossible for anyone, unless he has been present, to form an idea -of the original sight offered by this quaint scene. These men painted -of different hues, their varying dresses, their songs, their drums, -their cries, and the noises of every description which blended with -them, borne from the desert on the wing of the night breeze, beneath -the dark and lugubriously starlit vault of heaven, while the immense -canopy of verdure formed as it were a majestic temple for this singular -ceremony--all this did not fail to possess a certain wild grandeur. - -After the dances had continued for more than two hours, the strangest -part of the festival began with the entrance of the squaws into the -inclosure. One of them, who was very young and remarkably pretty, came -up to her husband, and gave him her waist belt and petticoat to hold, so -that she was perfectly naked under her gown. She advanced dancing to -one of the most renowned warriors, passed her hand all down his right -arm, and then retired slowly, with her smiling face turned towards him. -The warrior thus invited, at once rose, and disappeared with her in -the wood. There, a man may ransom himself by making a present; but we -must avow, to the honour of the Indian fair sex, that few men do so. My -companions, Black Elk and Belhumeur, who were invited, took very good -care not to buy themselves off, and, on the contrary, readily followed -their dancer; but, for my part, I peremptorily refused, and remained -deaf to all the looks, and nods, and wanton smiles which the dear -charmers thought themselves obliged to lavish on me as a stranger. - -I must confess, to my sorrow, however, that it was not from virtuous -motives that I acted thus; I was in love, and courting at the time an -exquisite girl called "Boar's Head," whom I married eventually, and -with whom I lived happily for the five years we had arranged that our -marriage was to last. At the end of that period I sold her for three -female buffalo skins to another chief of my tribe. - -This feast lasted for four consecutive nights, from one sun to the next; -the same ceremony was repeated on each occasion with the most scrupulous -exactness, though we noticed that the squaws never invited the same -warrior twice, with the exception of the two Canadian hunters. - -When the ceremonies were quite ended, and all the symbolical rites -of the great medicine rigorously performed, one morning at sunrise, -twenty-five youthful warriors, chosen by Eagle-head, left the village, -mounted on excellent hunters, and each leading a second horse by the -bridle. - -These warriors form a vanguard intended to discover buffalo sign, and -watch their movements, and for that reason are called "buffalo scouts." -The main body of hunters, consisting of about eighty warriors, among -whom were my comrades and myself, did not start till two days later. - -The Indians when on the hunting trail, and especially when they are -desirous to surprise buffalo, travel with extreme care. The scent of the -buffaloes is very subtle, especially when they are to windward; though, -curiously enough, they frequent the same pasture as the elks, they have -no communion with them; still they do not seem at all disturbed by each -other; or the buffaloes, whose sight is not very good form a sort of -partnership with the elks, whom they convert into their sentinels. They -are watchful sentinels too, and, at the first suspicious sign, give the -alarm; whereupon buffaloes and elks disappear in company, escorted by -the red prairie wolves, troublesome followers that prowl round them, and -whom they can never succeed in getting entirely rid of. - -Each night we encamped on a hill at no great distance from a stream. -The trees were felled round the bivouac to guard us from a surprise; -the campfires were lighted, and the greater part of the night was -spent in relating hunting narratives and merry stories recounted in -turn, and which excited the heartiest gaiety among the Redskins. For -we will remark, in parenthesis, that the Indians, who are generally -represented as serious, cold, and stoical, on the contrary, have a very -jovial character; a mere nothing makes them laugh, and they indulge to -their heart's content, like all simple and primitive minds. Still, for -all that, they must be together, or in the company of people they are -well acquainted with. In the presence of whites the difficulty they -experience in making themselves understood, and the respect--I might -almost say the instinctive terror--the formidable strangers inspire them -with, completely paralyzes their faculties, and makes them appear almost -idiotic. - -We marched thus with easy journeys, in order not to tire our horses, in -the direction of the Rocky Mountains, for some fifty or sixty leagues, -killing a few prairie dogs, elks, and two or three striped sousliks -(_Spermophilus Hoodii_). At times a covey of larks rose at our approach, -or crows and rooks appeared in large numbers and settled down close to -us. - -Eagle-head would not consent to a halt for the sake of killing a few -isolated buffaloes we perceived in the distance. We had still thirty -miles to go before getting up with our scouts, and finding ourselves in -the real hunting ground. - -On the eighth day after leaving the village we reached a creek which -meandered through a plain, on which the grass was extremely high, -called, as far as I can remember, by the Indians, Green River. A rather -tall hill, situated on its hank, concealed our presence, and sheltered -us from the wind. - -Eagle-head gave orders to camp. The horses were allowed to graze, and a -fire of _bois de vache_ was lighted to roast a few ducks and two elks -that composed our breakfast. - -This stream, owing to the advanced season, was nearly dry, and filled -with tall, closely-growing weeds. After a two hours' halt we continued -our march, passing over gently sloping hills, and we found a few of some -height, behind which herds of buffalo are usually found. Before reaching -the top, our party traversed a small valley filled with a narrow strip -of beech trees, elms, and nyundos, between clumps of roses, _prunus -padres_, and a few other shrubs, while the wild tine (_clematis_) hung -in festoons about the trees. - -On reaching the top of the last mound we halted, and a singular scene, -which was not without some wild grandeur, was suddenly offered to our -sight. - -All the crests of the hills, as far as sight could extend, were crowned -by the scouts sent ahead, and who, motionless as statues of Florentine -bronze, stood out boldly in the blue sky. - -These scouts were not seated in the saddle, but standing on it, holding -in the left hand their buffalo robes, which they at times waved, and in -their right their clubs, which they employed to indicate certain points -of the horizon. At our feet, in an immense valley intersected by a large -river, whose numerous capacious windings resembled a silver thread, a -multitude of black spots spotted the tall grass. - -These points, which were almost imperceptible owing to the great -distance, were buffaloes: we had at last reached the hunting ground. But -the day was too far advanced for us to dream of following the animals, -and hence the chief gave the signal for camping. - -The night was calm, and was spent like the previous ones, in outbursts -of the frankest and heartiest gaiety, and at sunrise we were all up and -ready to begin the hunt. The scouts were still at their posts, and it -might fairly be supposed that during the whole night they had not ceased -to watch the game. - -Eagle-head got on the back of his horse, and fired a musket loaded only -with powder, in order to attract the attention of the scouts. Then a -singular scene took place, which offered me much to think about, and -proved to me once again that the Redskins are neither so savage nor -unintelligent as some writers are pleased to represent them. - -By the aid of the buffalo robe he held in his hand and waved in every -direction, the sachem began a series of complicated signals, which would -have turned the most expert of our telegraphers pale if called upon to -interpret, for they were transmitted with headlong speed, and instantly -comprehended by the sachem and the scouts. - -Eagle-head, according to the information he received, sent off every -moment parties of hunters, for the purpose, as I afterwards learned, of -completely surrounding the buffaloes, and driving them to the middle -of the valley. The hunters picked out started at once at full speed, -galloping in a beeline, according to the Indian fashion, leaping over -all obstacles, and never deviating from the direct course. - -Ere long only ten hunters, among whom my companions and myself were, -remained with the chief. He gave a final signal, which was immediately -repeated by all the sentries, got into his saddle, and uttered his -war yell. He then dashed at full speed down into the plain, with the -rapidity of an avalanche, and this manoeuvre was imitated by the -other hunters scattered over the adjacent heights. The hunt, or more -correctly, the butchery, had begun. - -The Comanches possess such skill in this horse-hunting, that, in spite -of the difficulty in killing a buffalo, they rarely fire more than -one round at it. Singularly enough, they do not raise the gun to the -shoulder, but stretch out both arms, and fire, in this far from usual -posture, when they are some fifteen or twenty yards from the animal. - -They load the gun with incredible speed, for they do not use the ramrod, -but let the bullets, of which they always keep a certain number in their -mouths, fall immediately on the powder, to which it adheres, and which -expels it again at the same moment. Owing to this great speed, the -prairie hunters, in a little while, make a frightful massacre in a herd -of buffaloes, and this time two-thirds of the manada were killed, and -the animals covered the battlefield in heaps. - -The buffaloes, enclosed in a circle whence they could not escape, -terrified by the yells of the hunters, who dashed at them from all -sides, brandishing their weapons, and waving their robes, fled in all -directions, at a pace greater than I could have imagined, judging from -their enormous bulk. - -Belhumeur and I had settled onto an old buffalo, who gave us plenty -of work. Several point-blank shots had not proved sufficient to check -his pace. He frequently stopped, threw the earth over his head with a -convulsive movement, after digging it up with his fore-feet, assumed a -menacing attitude, and even pursued us for some ten or fifteen yards. -But we easily got away, and the restless animal discontinued its mad -and purposeless chase so soon as we stopped resolutely before it. Its -strength was at length exhausted, but it did not succumb until we had -given it at least twenty bullets. - -This first success gave me a liking for the sport and the whole time -the hunt lasted I was one of the most eager in pursuit. At last, at the -expiration of three days, Eagle-head ordered the end of the massacre. -Obeying the chief's signal, the hunters forced open a large gap, through -which the decimated relics of the unhappy herd dashed, lowing with -terror. - -Two hundred and seventy buffaloes had been killed in three days, an -almost miraculous hunt, which secured the Comanches of the Lakes -abundance of provisions during the rainy season. The victims were -loaded on horses, and we gaily returned to the village, where the -hunters were received on their arrival with marks of the liveliest joy -and the extraordinary rejoicings usual on such occasions. - -One last remark may be allowed me. Everything is valuable in the -buffalo: the meat, the hide, the bones, the horns, and even the hair, -which is made into hats comparable in beauty and substance to the best -beaver. Why is not the buffalo, then, acclimatised in Europe? The -Society of Acclimatisation so recently created, and which has already -produced such excellent results, is keeping, we doubt not, a place for -the buffalo, which we hope soon to see occupied. - - -[1] Although this animal is really the bison, it is so commonly called -buffalo that I have adhered to that term. - - - - -A MUSTANG. - -A STUDY OF THE PRAIRIE HORSE. - - -The aborigines of America were not acquainted with the horse prior to -the arrival of the Spaniards in their country. The Inca Garcillasso de -la Vega, in his "History of the Civil War in India," tells us that the -Peruvians, terrified at the sight of the first horseman, supposed that -the man and the horse only formed one and the same individual. At a -later date they imagined that the horses were formidable and malignant -deities, whom they tried to conciliate by placing gold and silver in -their mangers, and offering up prayers to them. - -The Spanish Conquistadors, most of whom came from Andalusia, were -mounted on steeds in whose veins flowed the blood of the Arabs, which -the Moors had succeeded in naturalizing in Spain during an occupation of -eight centuries. - -When the conquerors obtained quiet possession of the New World, and -began those internecine contests which cost so much blood, after every -battle the wounded horses were usually left behind, while those whose -masters were killed, escaped in obedience to that innate instinct in all -living creatures, which urges them to try and regain their liberty. - -These animals thus left to themselves, wandering haphazard over the -great savannahs, gradually entered the desert, interbred, and at length -multiplied so greatly that they formed bands or _manadas_, whose number -has so increased that it has now become incalculable. - -From these horses, which were originally abandoned and returned to -savage life, has issued the remarkable breed known in the New World by -the name of mustangs, or prairie horses. Now that racing is fashionable -in France, and horse breeding has made immense progress, we do not think -we are going out of our way in describing this valuable breed, which is -unknown in the Old World, and to which sufficient justice is not done -even in America. - -At the time when I was at Guaymas, during the expedition of the unhappy -Count de Raousset Boulbon I wanted a horse. Copers are as numerous in -Mexico as in Europe, and probably cleverer and more cunning than ours -in disguising the vices and defects of the animals they wish to get rid -of; but unluckily for these clever dealers, and luckily for me, my long -stay among the Indians of the Western Prairies had given me an almost -infallible perception, and rendered it extremely difficult to deceive -me as to the qualities of a horse. - -When my wish to purchase a horse was known, there was an extraordinary -rush of dealers to the house where I put up. I peremptorily declined -all the animals offered me. My friends began to joke me and say that I -should not find a horse to suit me, and be compelled to follow on foot -the cavalry corps I commanded, when, on the very eve of departure, I was -walking accidentally on the beach, and saw a Hiaquis Indian a few yards -ahead of me, mounted on a horse whose appearance, in my friends' sight, -had nothing very inviting about it, and so they laughingly invited me to -deal. I feigned to humour them, although I had at once recognized the -animal as a mustang of the Far West, and I took them at their word by -making the Indian a sign to come and speak to me. - -The horse was not handsome, I must allow; he was rather tall, had a big -head, and a round forehead; his mane, which was thick and ill-kempt, -hung down to his chest; his tail, which was not thick enough to wave, -almost swept the ground; but his chest was wide and his legs were firm, -while his eyes and nostrils announced fire, vigour, and bottom. Although -the animal had never been shod, and its master, like all the Indians, -had ill-treated it during the long journey it had made to reach Guaymas, -still its thick hoofs were not at all worn or even damaged. It was black -as night, with a white star about the size of a piastre, perfectly -designed, and situated in the exact centre of the forehead. - -At my summons the Indian started the horse at a gallop, and came up to -me. I asked him bluntly if he wanted to sell his horse. - -"Why not, excellency?" he answered with the wink peculiar to the -Hiaquis. "Negro is a good beast; I lassoed him myself in the heart of -the prairies of the Sierra de San Saba, hardly a month agone, and he has -constantly gone fifteen to sixteen leagues a day." - -"Yes, yes," I answered in Indian, "I know all that; but I know too that -you Hiaquis are clever horse dealers, and are perfectly up to the trick -of dressing a horse for sale." - -On hearing me speak his language, the Redskin, who was, moreover, -deceived by my hunting garb, took me for a wood ranger, and immediately -treated me with great respect. - -"Your excellency will try Negro, if it be really your pleasure to buy," -he said, at once reassuming the language of his tribe, instead of the -Spanish he had hitherto employed. - -"But," I continued, "supposing that Negro, as that is his name, suits -me, I must know the price you want for him." - -"Wah!" he said, with a cunning smile; "I will not let your excellency -have Negro under two ounces, and anyone else would pay much more." - -Two ounces are about six guineas of our money, so if I had judged the -horse aright, it was plain that I should make a good bargain. I made an -appointment with the Hiaquis for the next morning, and withdrew under -the ironical congratulations of my friends upon my excellent acquisition. - -The Indian was punctual. At daybreak I saw him at my door, mounted on -another horse and holding Negro by the bridle. I immediately got into -the saddle, and left Guaymas, accompanied by my Redskin, and started at -a smart trot for the forest. - -I soon perceived that Negro was a very easy goer, and that he did not -tire, though he was very eager--excellent qualities in a charger. -Moreover, I saw that, like all prairie horses, whose mouth is generally -hard, he was very sensitive to the spur. - -The expedition of which I had the honour to be a member was about to -proceed into half savage countries, where roads have never existed, -and we should have to go across sandy deserts, and through almost -impassable virgin forests; hence I wished to know at once what help I -had to expect from my horse, and what confidence I could place in him. -I therefore resolved to make him leap a stream several feet in width. -For this purpose I gave him his head, and pressed his flanks with my -knees without spurring; the intelligent animal seemed to understand that -it was on trial, and leapt over the obstacle with the agility of an -antelope. I turned round, and tried the leap over and over again, always -with the same result. Certain of his agility, I wished to try his -strength, consequently I took him to a muddy and very difficult morass. -Negro, however, entered it, smelling the water as if to judge its depth, -a proof of sagacity and prudence with which I was greatly pleased, and I -found him prompt and decided in the wheels and counter wheels I made him -take. - -I had still an experiment to make with Negro--could he swim? - -During the course of my travels, I have seen excellent horses, which -could not swim at all; they lay down on their side as if to float with -the current, so that their rider was obliged to swim himself and take -them to bank, unless he preferred to leave them to their fate, which -is a very serious difficulty when travelling. As a rather wide and -very rapid stream ran not far from us, I rode my horse right into it; -he at once took the current obliquely, with head well raised above the -surface, and dilated nostrils, though without making that painful snort -peculiar to horses under such circumstances; for, on the contrary, he -breathed regularly and without fatigue. He went up and down the stream, -and when I at last guided him to land, he stopped of his own accord and -shook the water off. - -Convinced, after all these experiments, that I could without risk -undertake the campaign with such a steed, I started back for Guaymas at -a gallop. On the road I brought down a duck, which Negro went up to as -if trained for shooting, and which I picked up without dismounting. - -I immediately gave the two ounces to the Hiaquis, and leaving my friends -to continue their jokes about my acquisition, I rubbed Negro down with -the greatest care. - -On the same day the expedition left Guaymas for Hermosillo, and in spite -of his savage ways and rather seedy appearance, the qualities of my -mustang were soon appreciated, as they deserved to be, by my companions, -whose domestic horses were far from coming up to him. - -I went through the whole campaign mounted on Negro, allowing him no -other food beyond the prairie grass, green alfalfa, and climbing peas, -or a few hen's eggs, when I could procure them, or a gourd; still, every -morning, two hours before mounting, I was careful to rub him down and -press his back with my hand, to assure myself that he was not grazed -by the saddle, after which I threw over him a zarape folded double. At -night, before going to sleep, I washed him, threw a bucket of cold water -over his back, looked at his feet and cleaned them out with the utmost -caution. - -At the end of the first week, Negro had grown so attached to me that he -recognized my voice and obeyed me with extreme docility; to make him -gallop I only required to bend slightly forward. - -When the campaign was ended, instead of embarking at Guaymas for -California, after the fashion of my comrades, I started for Apacheria, -where I spent several months. After that I proceeded to Veracruz, -crossing Mexico in its widest part. I thus rode my horse, without -allowing him a single day's rest, about nine hundred and fifty leagues -calculated at nearly forty-five miles a day, and my mustang was as fresh -and healthy on his arrival as when he started. - -No European horse would be capable of accomplishing such a feat, which -I assert, without fear of contradiction, is only child's play for a -mustang of the prairies. Negro is in no way put forward here as a type -of his breed, and had no striking quality to recommend him; he was -certainly a good horse, but all his companions in the prairies resemble -him, and are quite as good as he. - -At my last halt, before reaching Veracruz, where I intended to embark -for France, I found a Mexican officer, either colonel or general, I -forget which, but his name was Don Pedro Aguirre, stopping at the same -_meson_, and we left it together in the morning _en route_ for Veracruz. - -Senor Don Pedro Aguirre was mounted on a magnificent steed, which, -he told me, and it was very probable, had cost him four hundred -piastres--according to the Mexican fashion his _asistente_ led a second -horse by the bridle. - -I complimented the colonel on his splendid horse, to which compliment he -replied, rather cavalierly, while taking a contemptuous glance at Negro, -that he wished I had a similar one, so that he might have enjoyed my -society during the ride to Veracruz. - -I made no retort, although somewhat vexed at this answer, and confined -myself to asking him at what hour he expected to reach the port? - -"Sufficiently long before you, senor," he said with a smile, "to have -leisure to order supper at the hotel, on condition that you will consent -to join me at it." - -I bowed my thanks, while laughing in my sleeve at the bombastic -confidence of the Mexican officer, and the trick I was going to play -him. After a parting bow, Don Pedro made his horse curvet, dug in his -spurs, and started. But, alas! it was lost trouble; I arrived five -quarters of an hour before him at Veracruz; I ordered dinner; I put my -steed in the corral, and stationed myself in the doorway of the hotel, -where, when the colonel arrived, quite downcast by his defeat, I told -him, with a cunning look, that I was only waiting for him to dine. - -Still, I am bound to say, in praise of the colonel, that he took the -joke very kindly, and when his first impulse of ill-humour had passed -off, frankly complimented me on the excellence of my horse. - -A few days later, overcome by the entreaties of Don Pedro, I consented, -not without regret, to part with poor Negro, and let the colonel have -him, for the comparatively enormous sum of seven hundred and fifty -piastres; but, alas! I was going to embark for France the next week, and -my horse had become useless for me. - -I am convinced that the introduction of this breed of the Western -Prairies into our stud stables would serve greatly to improve our -horses, and that the majority of them would become first-rate racers. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Track, by Gustave Aimard - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED TRACK *** - -***** This file should be named 42834.txt or 42834.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/8/3/42834/ - -Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe at -http://www.freeliterature.org (Images generously made -available by the Internet Archive - University of -California) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. 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