by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER FORTY NINE.
A TALE OF STARVATION.
It was the garden of Don Ignacio's _casa de campo_; the ladies, hisdaughter and the Condesa. The lovely night, with balm in the air and abright moon shining through the sky, had drawn them out, and theystrolled through the grounds, keeping step, as it were, to thatmatchless melody, the song of the _czenzontle_. But note of nonightingale was in their thoughts, which were engrossed by graverthemes.
"'Tis so strange our never hearing from them, and not a word of them.What do you make of it, Ysabel? Is it a bad sign?"
The question was asked by the Dona Luisa.
"That we haven't heard from them is--in a way," responded the Countess."Yet that may be explained, too. The probability is, from the roadsbeing all watched and guarded, as we know they are, they'd be cautiousabout communicating with us. If they've sent a messenger--which I hopethey haven't--he must have been intercepted and made prisoner. Andthen, the message; that might compromise us. But I know Ruperto will becareful. Not to have heard of them is all for the best--the very best.It should almost assure us that they're still free, and safe somewhere.Had they been recaptured, we'd have known before this. All Mexico wouldbe talking about it."
"True," assented Don Ignacio's daughter, with a feeling of relief."They cannot have been retaken. But I wonder where they are now."
"So I myself, Luisita. I hope, however, not at that old monastery ofwhich Ruperto gave me a description in one of his letters. It'ssomewhere up in the mountains. But with the country all around sooccupied by troops it would seem an unsafe place. I trust they've gotover the Sierra, and down to Acapulco. If they have, we needn't feel sovery anxious about them."
"Why not, Ysabel?"
"Why not? Ah! that's a question you haven't yet come to understand.But never mind the reason now. You'll know it in good time; and whenyou do, I've no fear but you'll be satisfied; your father too."
Don Ignacio's daughter was both puzzled and surprised at the strangewords. But she knew the Countess had strange ways; and, though a bosomfriend, was not without some secrets she kept to herself. This was oneof them, no doubt, and she forebore pressing for an explanation.
What the Condesa hinted at was that disaffection in the south, theexpected _pronunciamento_, which, if successful, would not only deposethe Dictator, but of course also his Cabinet Ministers, her friend'sfather among them. With some knowledge of coming events, she declinedimparting this to the Dona Luisa through delicacy. Right was she, also,in her surmise as to the messenger; none had been intercepted, nonehaving been sent out, just for the reason surmised by her.
They had made a turn or two of the grounds, thus conversing, when bothcame to a sudden stop, simultaneously uttering exclamations of alarm,"_Santissima_!" and "_Madre de Dios_!"
"What can it be?" gasped Dona Luisa. "Is it a man?"
No wonder she should so doubtingly interrogate, since her questionreferred to that strange creature on the top of the wall, seeming moreape than human being.
That he was human, however, was to be proved by his being gifted withthe power of speech, put forth on the instant after. Before theCountess could make answer to the question (of course overheard by him),he interposed, saying--
"Pray, don't be alarmed, your ladyships, at a poor miserable creaturelike me. I know that my body is anything but shapely; but my soul--that, I trust, is different. But, Senoritas, surely you remember me?"
While speaking, he had raised himself into an upright attitude, and themoonlight falling upon him showed his shape in all its grotesqueness ofoutline. This, with his words, at once recalled their having seen himbefore. Yes; it was the _enano_, whom the big Texan had swung up to thebox of their carriage.
Astonishment hindering reply to his interrogatory, he continued--
"Well, your ladyships, I'm sorry you don't recognise me; the more frommy being one of your best friends, or, at all events, the friend of yourfriends."
"Of whom do you speak, sir?" asked the Countess, first to recovercomposure, the Dona Luisa echoing the interrogatory. Both were alikeanxious for the answer, better than half divining.
"Two worthy gentlemen, who, like my poor self, had the misfortune to getshut up in the Acordada; more than that, set to work in the filthysewers. Thanks to the luck of your ladyship's carriage coming past at aconvenient time we all escaped; and so far have been successful ineluding the search that's been made for us."
"You have succeeded--all?" both asked in a breath their eagernessthrowing aside reserve.
"Oh yes; as I've said, so far. But it's been hard times with us in ourhiding-place; so hard, indeed, we might well have wished ourselves backin the prison."
"How so, sir? Tell us all! You needn't fear to speak out; we'll notbetray you."
"_Por Dios_! I'm not afraid of your ladyships doing that. Why shouldI, since I'm here on account of your own friends, and on an errand ofmercy?"
"An errand of mercy?"
"Yes. And one of necessity as well. Ah! that far more."
"Go on, sir! Please tell us what it is!"
"Well, Senoritas, I've been deputed on a foraging expedition. For we'rein a terrible strait--all four of us. You may remember there werefour."
"We do. But, how in a terrible strait?"
"How? Why, for want of food; starving. Up in the mountains, wherewe've been hiding for now nearly a month, all we've had to live upon waswild fruits and roots; often eating them raw, too. We daren't any of usventure down, as the roads all round have been beset by spies andsoldiers. It's only in sheer desperation I've stolen through them; theSenor Don Ruperto sending me to San Augustin in the hope I might be ableto pick up some provisions. I was just slipping the village the backway, when an alguazil coming along made it necessary for me to climb uphere and hide myself. The unlucky part of it all is, that even if I getsafe in, I haven't the wherewith to buy the eatables, and must beg them.That I fear won't be easy; people are so hard-hearted."
For a time his surprised listeners stood silent, giving way to sadreflections. Florencio and Ruperto starving!
"May I hope," continued the lying wretch, "your ladyships will let melook upon this accidental encounter as a God-send, and that you willgive me something to buy--"
"Oh, sir," interrupted the Countess, "we will give you that. Luisa,have you any money in your purse? I haven't in mine--nothing tosignify."
"Nor I either--how unfortunate! We must--"
"Never mind money, your ladyships; money's worth will do quite as well.A _reloja_, rings, anything in the way of jewellery. I chance to know aplace in the village where I can convert them into cash."
"Here, take this!" cried the Countess, handing him her watch, the samewhich had been hypothecated to Jose, but redeemed by a money payment.
"And this!" said the Dona Luisa, also holding out a watch, both of whichhe speedily took possession of.
"'Tis very generous of your ladyships," he said, stowing them away amonghis rags; "the proceeds of these ought to support us for a long time,even allowing for the reduced rate I'll have to accept from thepawnbroker. Afterwards we must do the best we can."
As he spoke, his little sparkling eyes were avariciously bent uponcertain other objects he saw scintillating in the moonlight--bracelets,rings upon their fingers and in their ears. The hint was hardly needed.Enough for them the thought that more help might be required by thosedear to them, and at a time when they could not extend it.
In less than five minutes after both had divested themselves of everyarticle in the way of gold or gems adorning them. They even plucked thependants from their ears, thrusting all indiscriminately into theoutstretched hands of the hunchback.
"_Gracias!--mil gracias_!" he ejaculated, crowding everything into hispocket. "But your ladyships will scarce care to accept thanks from me.'Twill be more to your satisfaction to know that your generosity will bethe saving of valuable lives, two of them, if I mistake not, very dearto you. Oh! won't the Se
nores Don Ruperto and Don Florencio bedelighted at the tale I shall take back--the Virgin seeing me safe! Notfor the provisions I may carry, but how I obtained the means ofpurchasing them. But as time's pressing, Senorita, I won't say a wordmore, only _Adios_!"
Without waiting for permission to depart, or rejoinder of any kind, heslipped down from the wall, and disappeared on its other side.
It was an abrupt leave-taking, which alike surprised and disappointedthem. For they had many questions to ask, and intended asking him--manyanxieties they wished set at rest.
