CHAPTER V.
THE COUNCIL.
While the travellers were listening with ever growing interest to theastonishing story told by Don Aurelio, other strangers, coming from allparts of the compass, flocked into the hacienda. They were principallyrich landowners of the province, or persons compromised in previousstruggles through their ardent love of liberty, and who, justly objectsof suspicion to the Spaniards, could only find security in a generaluprising. Don Anibal tried to offer all these visitors, the majorityof whom were followed by a numerous and well-armed escort, a largeand generous hospitality. Hence, the interior of the hacienda soonresembled a barrack, and though the dependencies of the mansion werelarge, they were crowded with men and horses, so that the latter wereobliged to be placed in the courtyards and the gardens.
At four in the evening the number of strangers assembled at thehacienda amounted to upwards of four thousand, which formed an imposingforce. Unfortunately, with the exception of a few experienced men whohad fought during the first tentatives made by the Mexicans to regaintheir liberty, the rest were only poor peons who had never smeltpowder, and were completely ignorant of war. Still, whatever theirintrinsic value might be from a military point of view, all thesemen burned with an ardent desire for liberty. They were devoted totheir masters, and if well led, it was plain that a good deal mightbe expected from them; and that when once trained and disciplined,they would become not only formidable through their numbers, but alsothrough their courage and the revolutionary fanaticism that animatedthem. In the meanwhile they offered a most miserable and pitiableappearance; pale, haggard, thin, scarce covered by their dirty raggedclothes, and mostly armed with pikes, bows and arrows, they could onlyexcite a pity blended with contempt in the well-fed, disciplined, andthoroughly-armed Spaniards.
However this may be, Don Anibal de Saldibar saw them enter the haciendawith a joy which he did not attempt to conceal, and he auguredfavourably for the success of the plans he had formed, through thepromptitude with which his friends replied to his summons. At lengththe moment arrived when it was impossible for another soul to enterthe hacienda, and the last comers were obliged to establish themselvesin an entrenched camp on the ground where in the morning so obstinatea fight had been waged with the Indians. At night the hacienda wassurrounded as it were by a glittering halo, produced by the bivouacfires of the rebels who were encamped on the plain.
When all the persons Don Anibal expected were assembled he gave ordersfor the hacienda gates to be shut, doubled the sentries, advised theutmost vigilance, and entered the reception hall, whither he hadordered his servants to conduct visitors of high rank. This hall, whichwas of large, almost grand proportions, was filled by some two hundredpersons, who were collected in groups and conversing together in alow voice, but with great animation. The entrance of Don Anibal wasgreeted with a prolonged "Ah!" which testified to the impatience of thevisitors.
The hacendero, after gracefully inviting his guests to take the seatsprepared for them, made his way through the groups, and approacheda table covered with a green cloth, round which were already seatedseveral strangers, among them being Don Aurelio Gutierrez, the twoCanadians, and Viscachu, who had contrived unnoticed to find hisway among the select company. Don Anibal waited until silence wasestablished, then he bowed several times to the visitors, and asked tosay a few words. Permission, was at once granted, for the company werepleased in their hearts at thus seeing him take the initiative, andassume the responsibility of the events which were about to take place.
"Senores," he said, in a firm, distinct voice, "permit me in the firstplace to thank you cordially, in the name of the country, for theeagerness you have kindly shown in accepting my invitation, in spiteof the difficulties of every description that opposed, the journeyyou were about to undertake, and the perils you must meet with on theroad. In spite of our continued defeats since the day when the generousHidalgo first called us to arms, in spite of the triumphs of ourhaughty oppressors, the cause we have sworn to defend, instead of beingdestroyed, has, on the contrary, prospered, because the cause is a holyone, as we fight for liberty, that undoubted right of all nations.Before approaching the immediate subject of our meeting, let medescribe in a few words the events accomplished during the last twelveyears, in order that we may be able to judge our position healthily,perceive whether the insurrection we are preparing is opportune, and ifits success is so certain as is asserted."
"Pardon me, senor," said Moonshine, as he rose to interrupt him, "Iperceive that you are preparing to discuss matters which are perfectlyindifferent to myself and my companions, as we are foreigners; we,therefore, ask your permission to withdraw before we have heard any ofyour secrets."
At these words, uttered with that crafty carelessness characteristic ofthe French Canadian, the company rose tumultuously, and remarks weremade violently from all parts of the hall. Some even shouted treachery.In a word, the confusion was tremendous. Don Anibal and Don Aurelioexchanged anxious glances, and tried in vain to appease the agitationof their friends, and establish some degree of order in the meeting. Atlength, by exhortations and entreaties, they succeeded in producing asemi-silence, of which they hastened to take advantage.
"What!" Don Aurelio exclaimed, addressing Moonshine, "Are we not toreckon on you and your comrade?"
"For what reason should you do so?" the adventurer said, bluntly. "Wehave made no bargain; to my knowledge, you have made me no propositionI am able to accept. _iViva Dios!_ business is business. The honourablegentlemen I command have a right to ask me of an account of the bloodthey have sold me. I suppose that they do not fight for mere amusement."
"You are perfectly in the right," Don Anibal said, prudently andpolitely. "Still, your noble and devoted conduct this morning lead usto suppose that you wished to defend our cause."
"A mistake," Moonshine replied, with a shake of his head. "My friendand myself only wished to give you a specimen of what these mencan do--that was all. And then, again, could we honourably abandontravellers who trusted to our loyalty, and whom we had promised todefend?"
"Certainly not," said the hacendero; "and in the name of thesecaballeros, as well as my own, I thank you for your brilliant conduct,and the valiant assistance you rendered them."
The company were beginning to grow tired of this conversation whichseemed to have no object. Shouts and threats were beginning to be heardagain. Don Anibal understood that he must come to an end as quickly aspossible.
"Tell me, senores," he said, "are you free from engagements?"
"Completely," the adventurer replied.
"Do you feel disposed to fight for us?"
"Yes, if your terms suit us."
"Very good. These are the terms. You, Caballero, are appointed colonelof a regiment of cavalry, which you will undertake to organize, and ofwhich your men will form the nucleus. Your pay will begin from today;your engagement is for three months; and you will receive a month and ahalf in advance. Do these terms suit you?"
"I find them very fair," the adventurer replied; "but how much will yougive my comrades?"
"Two piastres a man. Is that enough?"
"Certainly, if you are not too exacting."
"What do you mean?"
"If you will shut your eyes to certain things which take place after abattle or a siege."
"Colonel, as your regiment is a free corps, it cannot be subjected tothe strict discipline of regular troops."
"Very good, I understand," the Sumach said, with a wink of intensesignificance.
"Is that settled?"
"Yes; whatever may happen, I belong to you for three months."
"Good. As for you, senor," Don Anibal continued, addressing Moonshine,"what are your wishes?"
"Although my rifle knows how to talk when there is an opportunity, Irepeat that I am no soldier; I only ask to serve you as scout duringthe campaign at the rate of six ounces a month. You can take it orleave it."
"I accept," the hacendero said, quickly.
"Al
l right. You can count on me as on my friend."
Don Anibal, pleased with having settled this affair to the generalsatisfaction, and ensured the insurrection the assistance of men oftried bravery and experience, received the congratulations of hisfriends, and prepared to continue his address. During this, Don Aurelioleant over to the adventurers.
"I was convinced that you would join us," he said to them, in a lowvoice.
"What would you have?" they replied, in the same key; "We have noprejudices, and came to this country to take service with one or otherof the two parties. You met us first, that is all."
Don Aurelio could not restrain a smile of contempt, but made no answer.As for the Canadians, they were firmly convinced that their conduct wasmost honourable, and, as they were in a foreign country, they had theright of acting as they were doing; a reasoning which, by the way, wasneither incorrect nor illogical.
"Senores," the hacendero continued, "since the time of Hidalgo, who,carried away by his enthusiasm, believed that it was sufficient towish to be free to become so, our enemies have taught us to conquerthem; the battles of Tres Palos, Palmar, Acatita de Bajan, Cuautlo,Chilpancingo, and many others in which we defeated our ferociousadversaries, have proved that we were able to gain our liberty.Unhappily the death of Morelos, by delivering our enemies from theirmost formidable adversary, has plunged the nation into discouragement,and occasioned that discord which has glided into our ranks and onceagain riveted our almost broken fetters. Three mournful dates aremarked in our revolutionary annals: that of July 30, 1811, on whichHidalgo was shot; December 22, 1815, on which Morelos shared the samefate; and lastly, December 18, 1817, which saw the brave and generousMina also fall beneath the murderous bullets of the Spaniards. Do notall these glorious dead who lie in their bloodstained tombs excite youto emulate them? Has their precious blood been uselessly shed? I do notthink so; the glorious spark which is supposed to be extinguished issmouldering beneath the ashes, and one word, one cry from you will besufficient to rekindle it. Will you hesitate at this supreme hour torise and die, if need be, like those who so nobly preceded you in thearena?"
"No," Don Aurelio exclaimed enthusiastically, as he rose; "no, we willnot hesitate, for at your summons, Don Anibal, we flocked to you, readyto recommence the struggle, no matter what may happen."
"Yes," observed a hacendero, whose white hair, lofty stature, andimposing glances inspired respect, "we are ready to fight and die ifnecessary for that liberty which is so dear to us; but courage isnothing without discipline; who will command us, who is the chiefwe can select? The revolutionary martyrology is already long in ourcountry, although the contest only began ten years ago. In addition tothe three heroes you have mentioned, Don Anibal, and whom the Spaniardscowardly assassinated, what has become of those heroes who are moreobscure but equally worthy of mention, such as Matamoros, Galeana,Bravo, Mier y Teran, Victoria, and Guerrero? They are also dead orin flight. We do not lack soldiers but chiefs. What can we effectagainst the old Castilian generals, against that Viceroy Apodaca,who obtained from King Ferdinand the title of Count del Venadito forthe assassination of Mina, and who, employing with diabolical skillthe faults we have not ceased to commit, has almost succeeded inextinguishing that patriotic fire which emitted such dazzling flamesbut a few months back?"
"What!" Don Anibal remarked vehemently, "Would you despond? Do youbelieve that chiefs will be wanting, and that Providence who has up tothe present done so much for you, will abandon you?"
"Heaven forbid my entertaining such a thought," the old man replied;"for ten years I have furnished sufficient proof of my devotion tothe cause of Independence for my opinions not to be suspected. As yousaid yourself, Don Anibal, the struggle we are about to begin must bedecisive, and the last hour of liberty or slavery will strike for us!I confess with sorrow that although I have looked carefully around,I see no person capable of taking on himself the perilous honour ofcommanding us, no one worthy of marching at our head, no one whosemilitary talent can cope with that of the Spanish generals."
"Are you sure you are not mistaken? Are you quite convinced that yourmemory does not fail you at this moment, and that all the heroes whoformerly led us are dead?" Don Aurelio exclaimed, with a marked accentof irony.
The old man started at being thus addressed, and his brow wascontracted as if by the weight of a sorrowful remembrance.
"Alas, Don Aurelio," he replied sadly, "one man alone has hithertoescaped the death which all his comrades suffered in succession; buthis fate is only the more sorrowful. Confined in one of the dungeonsof the old Mexican Inquisition, he drags on in despair the rest of abranded existence, which his torturers appear to have only left himthrough derision. That man, were he free, might claim the honour ofcommanding us, and we would gladly follow him. But, alas! What use isit opening such cruel wounds? He will never be free, he will never beallowed to see the sun again; he is compelled to die of misery in hisfoetid dungeon."
"Are you quite sure of that?" Don Aurelio exclaimed. "Do you reallybelieve that heaven has so utterly abandoned us, and that the man towhom you allude cannot recover his liberty?"
"Unhappily, I am but too certain of it. During the two years which haveelapsed since the Spaniards have treacherously seized him, no one knowswhat has become of him. Shall I add that no one is certain that he isstill alive, and has not been strangled in his dungeon by the Viceroy'sorders?"
"Do you remember this person's name, senores?" Don Aurelio asked in aloud voice.
"Don Pelagio," the company, shouted unanimously.
"No one has forgotten it; his name is inscribed on our hearts."
"If he were to reappear, what would you do?" Don Anibal asked.
"It is impossible," the old man said, "he will not reappear; when theSpanish lion holds a victim beneath its powerful paw, it does not lethim go, but rends him asunder."
"But tell me," Don Anibal continued pressingly, "if Father Sandovalreappeared, what would you do? Answer me!"
"Since you insist on an answer," the old man said with an accent ofsupreme majesty, "I will give it you clearly and categorically, inthe name of all present, for I am persuaded that no one will dream ofcontradicting me. If Father Pelagio were to appear suddenly in themidst of us, we would immediately take an oath to conquer or die withhim."
"Do you swear it?" Don Aurelio asked again.
"Yes, we swear it!" all present exclaimed proudly.
Don Anibal took a step forward, and approaching Viscachu, who hadhitherto remained modestly concealed behind Don Aurelio, he bowedto him with marks of the deepest respect, and taking his hand, said--"Father, your Excellency can throw off your incognito without fear;there are none but true Mexicans here."
The Queen of the Savannah: A Story of the Mexican War Page 10
