by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT.
THE COCHERO DOGGED.
Just after the ladies had been proclaimed under arrest, but before thesentinels were posted around the house, a man might have been seenoutside their line, making all haste away from it. He had need, hiscapture being also contemplated. Jose it was, who, from a place ofconcealment, had not only seen what passed, but heard the conversationbetween Santander and the Senoritas. The words spoken by his youngmistress, and the rejoinder received, were all he waited for. Givinghim his cue for departure, they also gave him hopes of something morethan the saving of his own life. That the last was endangered he knewnow--forfeited, indeed, should he fall into the hands of those who hadinvaded the place. So, instead of returning to the stable-yard, fromwhich he had issued on hearing the _fracas_ in front, he retreatedrearwards, first through the ornamental grounds, then over the wall uponwhich the hunchback had perched himself on the preceding night. Jose,however, did not stay on it for more than a second's time. Soon asmounting to its summit, he slid down on the other side, and ran alongthe lane in the direction of the main road.
Before reaching this, however, a reflection caused him to slacken pace,and then come to a stop. It was still daylight, and there would be aguard stationed by the front gate, sure to see him along the road. Theground on the opposite side of the lane was a patch of rocky scrub--inshort, a _chapparal_--into which in an instant after he plunged, andwhen well under cover again made stop, this time dropping down on hishands and knees. The attitude gave him a better opportunity oflistening; and listen he did--all ears.
To hear voices all around the house, loudest in the direction of thestable-yard. In tones not of triumph, but telling of disappointment.For in truth it was so; the shouts of the soldiers searching for hisvery self, and swearing because he could not be found. He had reason tocongratulate himself in having got outside the enclosure. It was nowbeing quartered everywhere, gardens, grounds, and all.
For the time he felt comparatively safe; but he dared not return to thelane. And less show himself on the open road; as scouting parties weresure of being sent out after him. There was no alternative, therefore,but stay where he was till the darkness came down. Luckily, he wouldnot have long to wait for it. The sun had set, and twilight in theMexican valley is but a brief interval between day and night. In a fewminutes after commencement it is over.
Short as it was, it gave him time to consider his future course ofaction, though that required little consideration. It had been alreadytraced out for him, partly by the Condesa, in an interview he held withher but an hour before and partly by instructions he had received whenup at the old convent direct from the lips of Don Ruperto. Therefore,hurried as was his retreat, he was not making it as one who went blindlyand without definite aim. He had this, with a point to be reached,which, could he only arrive at, not only might his own safety besecured, but that of those he was equally anxious about, now moreimperilled than himself.
With a full comprehension of their danger, and the hope of being able toavert it, soon as the twilight deepened to darkness he forsook histemporary place of concealment, and, returning to the lane, glidednoiselessly along it towards the main road. Coming out upon this, heturned to the left, and without looking behind, hurried up the hill asfast as his limbs could carry him.
Perhaps better for him had he looked behind; and yet in the end it mighthave been worse. Whether or no, he was followed by a man--if it were aman--and, if a thing, not his own shadow. A grotesque creature,seemingly all arms and legs, moved after, keeping pace with him, nomatter how rapidly he progressed. Not overtaking him; though it lookedas if able to do so, but did not wish. Just so it was--the stalkerbeing Zorillo.
The stalk had risen rather accidentally. The hunchback--now in a mannerattached to the party of Hussars--had been himself loitering near theend of the lane, and saw the _cochero_ as he came out on the road. Heknew the latter was being sought for, and by no one more zealously thanhimself. Besides cupidity, he was prompted by burning revenge. Thedisappearance of his ill-gotten treasure was no longer a mystery to him.The abandoned halters, with the horses for which they had beenintended, told him all. Only the _cochero_ could have carried thethings off.
And now, seeing the latter as he stole away in retreat, his firstimpulse was to raise the hue and cry, and set the soldiers after. Butother reflections, quick succeeding, restrained him. They might not bein time to secure a capture. In the darkness there was every chance ofthe _mertizo_ eluding them. A tract of forest was not far off, and hewould be into it before they could come up. Besides, the hunchback hadalso conjectured that the failure of their over-night expedition was dueto Jose. He must have overheard that conversation with the colonel ofHussars, and carried it direct to those whom it so seriously concerned,thus saving them from the surprise intended. In all likelihood he wasnow on his way to another interview with them.
If so, and if he, Zorillo, could but spot the place, and bring backreport of it to Santander, it would give him a new claim for services,and some compensation for the loss he had sustained through the nowhated _cochero_.
Soon as resolved he lost not a moment in making after, keeping just suchdistance between as to hinder Jose from observing him. He had theadvantage in being behind, as it was all uphill, and from below he couldsee the other by the better light above, while himself in obscurity.But he also availed himself of the turnings of the road, and the scrubthat grew alongside it, through which he now and then made way. Hislong legs gave a wonderful power of speed, and he could have come upwith the _mertizo_ at any moment. He knew that, but knew also it wouldlikely cost him his life. For the _cochero_ must be aware of what hehad done--enough to deserve death at his hands. He might well dread anencounter, and was careful to avoid it. Indeed, but for his belief thathe was an overmatch for the other in speed, he would not have venturedafter him.
For nearly five miles up the mountain road the stalk was continued.Then he, whose footsteps were so persistently dogged, was seen to turninto a side path, which led along a ravine still upward. But thechange, of course, did not throw off the sleuth-hound skulking on histrack, the latter also entering the gorge, and gliding on after.
There it was darker, from the shadow of the overhanging cliffs; and fora time the hunchback lost sight of him he was following. Still, he kepton, groping his way, and at length was rewarded by seeing a light--agreat blaze. It came from a bivouac fire, which threw its red glare onthe rocks around, embracing within its circle the forms of men andhorses. Armed men they were, and horses caparisoned for war, as couldbe told by the glint of weapons and accoutrement given back to thefire's blaze.
There appeared to be over a hundred of them; but the hunchback did notapproach near enough to make estimate of their number. Enough for himto know who they were; and this knowledge he obtained by seeing a man ofgigantic size standing by the side of the fire--the "big _Tejano_!" Hesaw, too, that the _cochero_ had got upon the ground, his arrivalcreating an excitement. But he stayed to see no more: his purpose wasfulfilled; and turning back down the ravine, he again got out to theroad, where he put on his best speed in return for Tlalpam.
