by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
IN THE SEWERS.
Along with a score of other prisoners, the "chain-gang" of the Acordada,Kearney, Rock, Rivas, and the dwarf were conducted out into the street,and on the Calle de Plateros. Dominguez, the gaoler, went with them--having received orders to that effect--carrying a heavy _cuarta_ withhard raw-hide lash knotted at the end. Their escort consisted of two orthree files of the prison guard, dirty looking soldiers of the_infanteria_, in coarse linen uniforms, stiff shakoes on their heads,their arm the old-fashioned flint-lock musket.
The scavengers had still their ankle chains on, coupled two and two,these lengthened, however, to give more freedom to their work. Onereason for keeping them chained is to economise the strength of theguard, a single sentry thus being as good as a dozen. Of course, it isan additional precaution against escape, a thing which might seemimpossible under the muzzles of muskets and bayonets fixed. But todesperadoes such as are some of the Acordada gaol-birds it would not beso if left leg free. More than once had the attempt been made, and withsuccess; for in no city is it easier, or indeed so easy. In the Mexicanmetropolis there are whole districts where the policeman fears to showhis face, and a criminal pursued, even by soldiers in uniform, wouldhave every door thrown open to him, and every opportunity given forstowing himself away. Get he but out into the country, and up to themountains--on all sides conveniently near--his chances are even better,since the first man there met may be either footpad or _salteador_.
As said, the street to which the scavengers were taken was the Calle dePlateros, where it ends at the Alameda Gate. The covering flags of the_zancas_ had been already lifted off, exposing to view the drain brimfulof liquid filth the tools were beside--scoops, drags, and shovels havingbeen sent on before.
Soon, on arriving on its edge, Dominguez, who kept close by the twocouples in which were the Tejanos, ordered them to lay hold and fall to.
There could be no question of refusal or disobedience. From the way hetwirled the _quirt_ between his fingers it looked as though he wishedthere was, so that he might have an excuse for using it. Besides, anyhanging back would be rewarded by a blow from the butt of a musket, and,persisted in, possibly a bayonet thrust--like as not to lame therefractory individual for life.
There was no need for such violent measures now. The others of the ganghad done scavenger work before; and knowing its ways, went at it as soonas the word was given. _Nolens volens_ Kearney and Cris Rock, withtheir chain partners, had to do likewise; though, perhaps, never manlaid hold of labourer's tool with more reluctance than did the Texan.It was a long shafted shovel that had been assigned to him, and thefirst use he made of the implement was to swing it round his head, asthough he intended bringing it down on that of one of the sentries whostood beside.
"Durnashun!" he shrieked out, still brandishing the tool and looking thesoldier straight in the face. "If 'twarn't that the thing 'ud be o' nouse, an' _you_ ain't the one as is to blame, I'd brain ye on the spot,ye ugly yaller-belly. Wage! Let me get back to Texas, and grip o' agood rifle, the Mexikin as kums my way may look out for particklerforked lightnin'!"
Though not comprehending a word of what was said the little manikin of a_militario_ was so frightened by the big fellow's gestures as to springback several feet, with a look of alarm so intense, yet so comical, asto set the Texan off into a roar of laughter. And still laughing, hefaced towards the sewer, plunged in his implement, and set to work withthe others.
At first the task was comparatively clean and easy--a sort of skimmingaffair--the scavengers keeping upon the pavement. The necessity had notyet arisen for them going down into the drain.
After a time, however, as the liquid got lower and the sediment at thebottom too stiff to be _conveniently_ scooped up, a number of them wereordered to "step in." It was a cruel, brutal order, and Bill Sykeswould have declined sending his "bull-dawg" into that sewer after rats.But Dominguez, a sort of Mexican Bill Sykes, had no scruples about thiswith the unfortunates he had charge of, and with a "_carajo_," and athreatening flourish of his whip, he repeated the order. One or two ofthe _forzados_ took the plunge good-humouredly, even to laughing, asthey dropped into the stuff, waist deep, sending the mud in splashes allround. The dainty ones went in more leisurely, some of them needing alittle persuasion at the point of the bayonet.
Cris Rock was already down, having gone voluntarily. Only one of eachcouple had been ordered below; and, much as he disliked the dwarf, hehad no wish to see him drowned or suffocated, which the diminutivecreature would well-nigh have been in the horrible cesspool. Tall asthe Texan was, the stuff reached up to his thighs, the surface of thestreet itself being on a level with his arm-pits, while only the headsof the others could be seen above the stones.
Neither Kearney nor Rivas had yet taken the plunge. They still stood onthe brink, discussing the question of precedence. Not that eitherwished the other to do the disagreeable; instead, the reverse. Strangeas it may appear, knowing or believing him to be a bandit, the youngIrishman had taken a liking to the Mexican, and the feeling wasreciprocated, so that each was now trying to restrain the other fromentering the ugly gulf.
But their friendly contest was cut short by the brutal gaoler; who,advancing, grasped Rivas by the shoulder, and with his other handpointing downward shouted "_Abajo_!"
There was no help for it but obey; the alternative sure of beingsomething worse. For the man so rudely commanded went down willingly;indeed, with alacrity, to satisfy his impulse of friendship for the_Irlandes_.
Had Carlos Santander been there likely the position would have beenreversed, and Kearney compelled to "take the ditch." But the Governorof the Acordada had control of details, and to his hostility and spleen,late stirred by that wordy encounter with Rivas, the latter was no doubtindebted for the partiality shown him by Don Pedro's head turnkey.
In time, all were disposed of: one of each couple down in the sewer,pitching out its sweet contents; the other pressing them back upon thepavement to prevent their oozing in again. Either way the work was nownasty enough; but for those below, it was a task too repulsive to seteven the lowest pariah at.
