CHAPTER VIII.
THE ENVOY.
After the count's somewhat precipitate retreat, and the missionintrusted to Don Anibal to detain him at the hacienda, if only for afew hours, the Mexican insurgents continued discussing in the hallthe most fitting measures to obtain a speedy and good result for thenew uprising which was preparing. Father Pelagio then informed theconspirators that this time the leaders of the revolutionary partywished to deal a heavy blow, and finish, at all risks, with the Spanishgovernment. The secret societies spread over the country, and therecently created Masonic lodges, had, in a general meeting, electedas commander-in-chief of the national army Colonel Iturbide, whosewell-known military talents were a guarantee of success.
Colonel Iturbide, who was destined hereafter to proclaim himselfemperor, under the name of Agustin I., and fall beneath the bulletsof his own subjects, who condemned him and mercilessly shot him, whenhe tried to regain the power he had allowed to slip from his grasp;Iturbide, we say, is the sole truly skilful statesman Mexico hasproduced since the revolution. He had served with distinction in theSpanish army, and had on several occasions displayed a devotion to thegovernment which bordered on cruelty. Now that he was gained over tothe revolution, nothing would arrest him in attaining the object of hissecret ambition.
This time the Mexicans wished to avoid a serious fault into which theyhad previously fallen, and which had not only fairly compromised theircause but almost ruined it. This was the circumstance: When, in 1814,the Spanish armies, beaten in every encounter, seemed on the point ofgiving up the game, and yielding to the revolutionary turmoil, whosetriumphant principles seemed solidly established on the territory ofnew Spain, General Morelos, at that time the most influential chiefof the liberal party, whose ideas secretly inclined to a republic,established on the same basis as that of the United States, thoughtthat the hour had arrived to convene a national congress.
This congress, at first composed of only a dozen members, began itssession at Chilpancingo, where it promulgated decree upon decree; butthe discussing power had scarce been established by side of the armedand acting power, ere, instead of combining their efforts for thetriumph of the cause they had sworn to defend, they began contendingtogether, each impeding the measures they should have taken in common,and by deplorable conflict destroyed their means of action. Thecongress tried to restrict the power of the general-in-chief, andprevented on every occasion his operations, so that the latter found italmost impossible to act.
These internal dissensions gave the Spaniards time to regain theircourage. The Mexican republic was dead ere it lived, and the insurgentswere obliged a second time to undergo the yoke from which they fanciedthemselves forever free.
As Colonel Iturbide and the chief of the liberal party were not yetquite ready to commence the insurrectionary movement, the greatpoint was to wait and, before all, gain time; for this Fray Pelagioonly saw one plan: to send to the general commanding the provincea messenger-order to make him certain proposals, and bearing arespectful petition addressed to the Viceroy. During the absence ofthis ambassador, resistance would be quietly organized, and they wouldbe ready to act when the signal for revolt was given by the chiefs.The conspirators enthusiastically applauded this proposal, whichseemed to them fully to carry out the object proposed, namely cheatingthe Spaniards. Still, when it came to select the ambassador, seriousdifficulties arose.
Most of the persons present were rich hacenderos, long known to belongto the liberal party, and whom the government carefully watched; manyof them had had to undergo numerous annoyances either in their estatesor their persons from the Spaniards, and they were not at all anxiousto surrender themselves to the mercy of enemies whose summary treatmentthey were acquainted with. In fact, the Spanish generals made noscruple about hanging or shooting the insurgents who fell into theirhands, and there was no plausible reason for supposing that they wouldrespect the person of an ambassador, sent by men whom they regardedas rebels, and with whom the law of nations and of war need not befollowed. Consequently each found an excuse to escape the dangeroushonour of being sent to the general.
The question became difficult of solution. Father Pelagio only sawaround him long drawn faces, which foreboded no good for the executionof his plan; he was, therefore, considerably embarrassed and did notsee how to escape the difficulty, when Don Aurelio suddenly came to hishelp at the moment when he least expected it.
"iCanarios!" the Mexican exclaimed, "It must be allowed, caballeros,that we are pulling singular faces, and bear a strong likeness to therats in Yriarte's fable, that wished to bell the sleeping cat."
In spite of the gravity of the situation, this sally was so true thatit unwrinkled all the foreheads, and caused a general laugh.
"In truth," Don Pelagio observed, "_Dios me perdone_, we look as if wedid not know exactly what to resolve."
"Yet I fancy that nothing is easier than the choice we propose making."
"How so?" the priest asked.
"Whom do we want as ambassador? A true man; we are all so, I believe.Still this man must be through his position sufficiently free andindependent to be able honourably to fulfil the important missionintrusted to him. Is it not so?"
"Yes, you are right," Fray Pelagio answered, not knowing what thehacendero wished to arrive at.
All the company, puzzled in the highest degree, looked anxiously atDon Aurelio, unable to detect what the result would be. The lattercontinued quietly, as he laid his hands on the Sumach's shoulder, who,very indifferent to what was said, was carelessly listening to thediscussion as he leant on his rifle.
"Well, the man you seek is here," he said: "our excellent colonel--healone can worthily fulfil this great and glorious mission."
"What?" the adventurer exclaimed, starting as if a snake had stung him,"No jokes, if you please. If it be a joke, I warn you that I considerit a poor one."
"I am not joking at all, Colonel," the hacendero continued with agracious smile, "on the contrary, I am speaking very seriously."
"Nonsense, my dear sir. Your idea may seem to you a good one, but, formy part, I consider it absurd and in every way impracticable. Hang it,"he added, as he passed his hand round his neck, "I know the Spanishgentry, and am not at all anxious to go and thrust my head down thewolfs throat out of bravado."
Father Pelagio at once perceived what advantage this plan possessedfor everybody, hence he resolved to carry it out, and convince theadventurer, who, in fact, was the only man who could risk, owing to hisvery insignificance, going to the Spanish authorities.
"You are mistaken, Colonel," he said to the Canadian. "Don Aurelio'sidea is an excellent one, and I give you credit for such good sensethat you will agree with me in a moment."
"I doubt it hugely, caballero. I confess that I am curious to know howyou will set about proving to me that I must go and be hanged or shotfor the greater benefit of your cause," he answered with an ironicalsmile.
"Oh, that is very easy, Colonel. Understand me thoroughly."
"Oh, I am all ears."
"You alone can carry out this difficult duty, for the followingreasons: in the first place you are a foreigner, citizen of a countrywith which the Spanish government would think twice before seeking aquarrel; and then you are a colonel in our army. You may be sure thatany insult offered to you will not be left unpunished, and that I, yourgeneral, will take an exemplary vengeance."
"All that is very fine," the adventurer answered with a grin. "I allowthat the Spaniards will be unable to confiscate my property, for evenif I possess any, it is, thank heaven, out of their reach. But they canimprison and even shoot me. That is of some importance, I suppose; and,once I am dead, will you restore me the life taken from me? What shallI care then for the more or less exemplary manner in which you avengemy death? I shall not be the less securely buried."
"I repeat to you that the Spaniards will not dare touch a hair of yourhead; moreover, you will not go alone; the noble count whom you sawhere just now will pledge himself to prote
ct and defend you, for hewill introduce you to the person to whom I am about to send you."
"Hum!" the adventurer continued, "All this is not very clear; but howdo you know that the count will assume this responsibility? You havenot yet asked him the question."
"No; but while your colonel's commission is being made out, and twomonths' advance are paid you for your outfit, I will go and speak tothe count, and obtain his word that you shall incur no danger from theSpanish authorities, and that when your mission is completed, everysecurity will be granted for your safe return."
The adventurer scratched his head as if very far from convinced. Itwas plain that, in spite of his general's explanations and the finepromises, he did not particularly care for the mission confided tohim. Still, at the expiration of a moment, he drew himself up with adetermined air, shook his head several times as if to drive away atroublesome idea, and said--
"Well, well, I see that madmen must always be madmen; so deuce takefear. The Spaniards, I suppose, are not more formidable than tigers; Ishall not be sorry to have a nearer look at them, and so I accept youroffer. When am I to start?"
"Tomorrow, with the count; he will escort you to the general."
"That is settled."
"Now, give your name to Don Aurelio Gutierrez, in order that yourcommission may be filled up, and your letters of credit written."
"Good; my name is Oliver Clary, called the Sumach; this time I will notdeny my name, for I believe that I shall see death pretty closely. Iwas born at Quebec, and I am thirty-two years of age. Is that enough,or do you want any further information?"
"No, Senor Don Oliver, that is more than sufficient; now I will leaveyou for a few moments, and settle matters with the count."
"Do so, General, I trust to your promise."
"Depend on me."
And Father Pelagio left the room. The adventurer was at once surroundedby the conspirators, who warmly thanked him for his devotion to theircause, and the courage with which he was going to trace an imminentand terrible danger in order to serve it. The Canadian shruggedhis shoulders, and quietly turned his back on them. So soon as hiscommission and letters of credit were ready, and he had received hismoney, he carefully placed all in his waist belt, and, making a sign toMoonshine, left the room with him.
We have already described in what way Father Pelagio obtained thecount's assent; we will, therefore, not return to that subject, butmerely state that the priest hastened to inform the Canadian, whom hemet, of the success of his application, while warning him that he mustbe ready to start at sunrise of the next day.
"You know," he added, in a low voice, and with a smile, "that anambassador must have eyes and ears; I trust to you to see and hear allthat it may be useful for us to know."
"Good, good, leave me alone, I will prove to the Gachupinos that theGodos are not the only clever people, and that the Canadians aredescended from the Normans; they will not catch a weasel asleep in me."
Father Pelagio exchanged a few more remarks with him, and then left,after wishing him success once again. The two Canadians then left thehouse and proceeded to the garden, where they sought the most secludedspot. On reaching one, where they did not fear being overheard, theystopped and sat down side by side on the ground.
"Friend Moonshine," the adventurer said, "I have brought you herebecause I wish to ask a service of you."
"I suspected it; speak, Oliver, you know that I am ready to doeverything you wish."
"I do not know how I let myself be humbugged into accepting thisconfounded embassy, in which there are ninety chances in a hundred thatI shall lose my hide; but what is done cannot be undone. Listen to me:during my absence you will take the command of my men, and I will givethem orders to obey you as myself."
Moonshine gave a nod of assent.
"Now," the adventurer continued, "take this belt; it contains not onlythe gold I have just received, but also some savings of my own."
"What am I to do with it?"
"If I am killed by the Godos, I do not wish them to profit by my money.You will keep as much as you like, and send the rest to my old mother,you know where."
"I will send it all; I shall not need money, for if those brigands ofSpaniards assassinate you I must revenge your death, and money will beuseless to me."
"That is true; in that case you will send all. That is settled, thankyou."
"There is nothing to thank me for; what you ask of me is simple."
"Yes, yes," the other said, with a shake of his head; "but who knowswhat turn matters will take?"
"Well, up to the present we have no cause to grumble, I fancy."
"It is true that we have succeeded in everything; my measures were sowell taken that, without exciting the slightest suspicion, we managedto gain the very thing we aimed at; but we must wait for the end."
"Nonsense; we shall succeed; set your mind at rest about that, Sumach.Besides, our project is most honourable, as we wish to render a serviceto people to whom we do not owe the slightest obligation, and whom wedo not even know."
"That is true. Well, let us trust to heaven. One last word."
"Out with it."
"Distrust that cunning-looking majordomo. I know not why, but heinspires me with an invincible repulsion."
"All right; I will watch him."
"Very good; now let us go to dinner."
The two men rose and went back to the house as quiet and careless as ifthey had been conversing about indifferent matters. Immediately afterdinner, the adventurer assembled his comrades, made them recognizeMoonshine as their chief during his absence, and then all his affairsbeing thus settled, he wrapped himself in his zarape, lay down on theground, and almost immediately fell asleep.
The Queen of the Savannah: A Story of the Mexican War Page 13
