The Queen of the Savannah: A Story of the Mexican War

by Gustave Aimard

  CHAPTER XXXI.

  THE JACAL.

  The night was dark; the rain, driven by the wind lashed furiously;the Rio Sabina, swollen by the storm, rolled along its yellow, muddywaters, which were filled with trunks of trees and fragments of everydescription, with a lugubrious murmur. The town and camp were plungedin gloomy silence, only interrupted at long intervals by the mournfulcry, "_Sentinela, alerta_," with which the sentries on the rampartsand in the intrenchments called to each other. At times a vivid flash,immediately followed by a deafening peal of thunder, lit up the horizonwith a fantastic and transient gleam; then all fell again into deepersilence and more complete obscurity.

  In a miserable jacal, built in the centre of the camp, which every gustthreatened to blow away, two men, seated in equipales, in front of atable covered with maps and plans, were conversing by the light of asmoking candle. The jacal was the headquarters of the Mexican army,while the men were Padre Sandoval and Don Anibal de Saldibar. Outside,two sentries, wrapped up in their zarapes, were walking up and downin front of the door, cursing the wind and rain in a low voice, whileseveral horses, saddled and fastened to pickets, were champing theirfeet and pawing up the ground impatiently.

  "You see, my friend," Don Pelagio was saying at the moment we introducethe reader into the jacal, "everything favours us. Heaven is with us."

  "Yes," the hacendero answered; "but, General Cardenas is an oldsoldier, accustomed to European warfare. I doubt whether he will lethimself be caught in this trap."

  "You are a perfect St. Thomas, my friend," Don Pelagio continued, "anddoubt is your essence. The ruse I have invented is too simple for thegeneral not to be caught in it. For the last two days my spies haveprepared him by clever reports to fall into the trap we are setting forhim; and, moreover, I count upon an omnipotent ally."

  "An ally?" Don Anibal asked, curiously. "Who is he?"

  "The general's immense pride," the priest replied with a smile. "Youcannot imagine how this haughty man suffers at being held at bay like awild beast in its den by enemies whom he despises; be certain that hewill eagerly seize the opportunity to chastise us."

  "Hum!" the hacendero said, but slightly convinced.

  "Come," the other continued gaily; "there you are again with yourmonstrous doubt. If pride fails us, my friend, we have ambition."

  "What do you mean?"

  "The general only came to America to regain his ruined fortunes andcompromised reputation. The treaty signed between General Iturbide andthe Viceroy--a treaty which, between ourselves, will not be ratifiedby the cabinet of the Escurial--offers him a splendid chance. A battlewould restore hope to the Spaniards; momentarily re-establish theaffairs of Ferdinand VII.; will make the king regard General Cardenasas an indispensable man; will permit him to aspire to the highestdignities, and perhaps succeed O'Donoju. Do you now understand me?"

  "Yes, yes. You have thoroughly studied human passions, and nothingescapes your infallible glance; but, perhaps, you have let yourself becarried too far."

  "?Quien sabe?" Don Pelagio said gently; then he suddenly changed theconversation. "You have received no news from Barrio?"

  "None; which leads me to hope that all is well; were it otherwise, DonMelchior or Sotavento would have come to warn me."

  "You know, my friend, that I have several times remarked to you thatyou place too great confidence in that man."

  "I have ever found him faithful and devoted."

  "You think so; but take care. You know that I am rarely deceived in myappreciations. Now, I am convinced this man deceives, and is playing along studied part."

  "My dear friend, several persons have said to me what you are nowstating. I have watched the man with the greatest care, and neverhas anything suspicious in his conduct justified the unjust doubtsentertained about him."

  "Heaven grant that he may always be so, my friend; and that you may notbe aroused, at the moment when you least expect it, from your imprudentslumber by a thunderclap."

  At the same instant a dazzling flash shot athwart the sky, and thethunder burst forth furiously. The two men, involuntarily struck bythis strange coincidence, remained for a moment dumb and amazed,listening to the alarm cries of the sentries as they challenged eachother in the darkness, and feeling their hearts contracted by anundefinable sadness.

  "It is, perchance, a warning from heaven," Don Pelagio muttered in alow voice.

  "Oh! I cannot believe it," the hacendero replied, as he passed his handover his damp forehead.

  The general rose.

  "Come," he said, as he looked out, "that thunderclap is the last effortof the tempest, and the sky seems growing clearer. We shall have asplendid day tomorrow."

  "At what hour do you intend starting, General?" the hacendero asked him.

  Don Pelagio looked at his watch.

  "It is half past ten," he said; "the camp will not be completelyevacuated till midnight. We will set out at two o'clock, with the fewmen I have selected."

  "In that case, with your permission, I will retire and sleep till thehour for departure."

  "Do so, my friend; but mind and be here again at half past one."

  "That is settled, General."

  The two gentlemen shook hands affectionately, and Don Anibal walkedtowards the door of the jacal. Just as he was going, the noise ofseveral horses could be heard.

  "_?Quien vive?_" the sentry challenged.

  "_Mejico e independencia,_" a voice replied, which Don Anibal fanciedhe recognized.

  "_?Que gente?_" the soldier continued.

  "El Coronel Don Aurelio Gutierrez."

  "Let him come in, let him come in," the general shouted.

  "_Pase Vd: adelante,_" the sentry said.

  "Stay here," Don Pelagio said to the hacendero. "This unexpectedvisitor doubtless brings us valuable news."

  The horsemen dismounted; their heavy spurs could be heard clanking onthe saturated ground, and five men entered the jacal. Four remained atthe door, half hidden by the darkness, and the fifth alone walked up tothe general. It was Don Aurelio.

  "How comes it, Colonel," the general asked him quickly, without leavinghim time to speak, "that you are here, instead of remaining at the postI assigned you?"

  Don Aurelio bowed respectfully to his chief.

  "General," he replied, "I have strictly obeyed the orders you werepleased to give me. The division you placed under my command is atits post; but I thought it my duty myself to lead to you these fourpersons, who came to my main guard, and requested to be immediatelybrought into your presence."

  "Ah!" the general continued, taking an inquiring glance at thestrangers, whom the darkness prevented him from recognizing. "Who arethey?"

  "They will tell you themselves, General. Now that my task isaccomplished, permit me to retire and return to my post."

  "Go, senor. Perhaps it would have been better had you not left it."

  The colonel made no reply, but bowed and went out. Almost immediatelyafter he could be heard riding away at a gallop. There was a momentarysilence, during which Don Pelagio carefully examined the four personsstill standing motionless. At length he decided on addressing them.

  "Come hither, senores," he said, "and be good enough to tell me who youare."

  Only two advanced. When they reached the lighted portion of the jacal,they dropped the corner of the zarape which covered the lower part oftheir faces, and at the same moment doffed their vicuna hats, the broadbrims of which fell over their eyes.

  "The Canadian!" Don Anibal exclaimed, with a start of surprise.

  "Count de Melgosa?" Don Pelagio said, no less astonished.

  The newcomers were really Oliver Clary and the count.

  "It seems as if you did not expect us, General," the Canadian saidgaily.

  "On my word I did not," Don Pelagio replied, as he held out his handto both. "I did not expect either of you; but you are not the lesswelcome."

  "Thanks," said the count.

  "Why, I thought you were dead, Senor Clary," t
he priest continued.

  "Well," the Canadian said, "it was touch and go. You simply sent me toa wild beast. But, no matter; I managed to get out of his clutches."

  "All the better. But you must require rest. Who are the personsaccompanying you?"

  "One is a confidential peon of mine; the other a prisoner whom SenorDon Olivero took," the count answered.

  "Yes, yes," said the hunter; "we will talk about that scamp presently."

  "To what fortunate accident may I attribute your presence here, SenorConde?"

  "A wish to see you, caballero."

  "Ah, ah!" the general said, with a piercing glance, "Has grace fallenon you at last?--will you at length consent to join us? It would be agreat pleasure to us, Senor Conde."

  "You are nearer the truth than you suppose, Senor Padre," the countreplied with a smile. "I am not on your side, as you pretend tosuppose; but, on the other hand, I am no longer opposed to you; I havesent in my resignation, and, in one word, am neutral for the present."

  "That is a bad position, Conde."

  "Perhaps so, senor; but, for the present, I wish to keep it. Moreover,to be frank, I will confess that I have come more especially to see DonAnibal."

  "Me?" the hacendero exclaimed, as he stepped forward.

  "Yes, my friend; but before I explain to you the cause of my coming,allow Senor Don Olivero to report to your chief the way in which hecarried out the mission confided to him."

  "Very good," the hacendero answered, as he fell back a step.

  "Come, speak, Colonel," Father Sandoval said.

  "Am I still a colonel?" the hunter asked.

  "Hang it, as you are not dead, I see no reason why you should not be,especially as I am extremely pleased with your lieutenant, Moonshine,and your cuadrilla has done me eminent services."

  "In that case, all is well," the hunter said joyfully, as he snappedhis fingers, and coquettishly twisted his light moustache.

  After this outburst of joy, the hunter began his narrative, to whichthe general listened with the deepest attention. When he came to thecarrying off the papers, Don Pelagio interrupted him.

  "Have you those papers with you?" he asked eagerly.

  "Here they are," the hunter answered, as he drew them from the pocketinto which he had stuffed them, and laid them on the table.

  The general seized them, and going up to the candle, carefully perusedthem.

  "Oh!" he exclaimed, with a sudden outburst, "I was not mistaken; allis really as I foresaw; now I have him, and he will not escape me.Colonel, you performed your mission as a man of heart and intellect. Ishall remember it at the first opportunity. Now go on," he added, as hecarefully placed the papers in his bosom.

  "Well," the hunter gaily remarked, "it seems that I made a better haulthan I supposed."

  "You could not be more lucky."

  "All the better then. What you say to me, General, causes me thegreater pleasure, because I shall probably have to ask a favour of youere long."

  "It is granted beforehand, if it depends on me."

  "On you absolutely, General; moreover, it is a service I wish to renderDon Anibal de Saldibar, your friend."

  "Render me?" the hacendero exclaimed, in surprise.

  "Yes, you, senor."

  The count laid a finger on his lip, to recommend silence to Don Anibal.The latter, surprised at his friend's gesture, was silent, as ifinvoluntarily; but he suffered from a secret anxiety caused by thismystery, an explanation of which he racked his brains in vain to find.The hunter continued his narrative.

  "As I had the honour of telling you, General, we left the Hacienda delRio in the morning. Our horses, fatigued by a long ride, only advancedwith difficulty, and we were ourselves exhausted by the heat; moreover,it was already late, and the hour for the halt had arrived. At thismoment I noticed a cave close by, and proposed to the count that weshould rest in it, to which he assented. I entered this grotto, andafter exploring it thoroughly, made my comrades a sign to join me.This cave, which was very large, formed several galleries. Forgiveme, General, for entering into these details, which may appear to youprolix, but they are indispensable."

  "Go on, Colonel; I am listening with the most lively interest," thegeneral answered, though in his heart he wished the Canadian at thedeuce.

  "We consequently established ourselves as best we could, with ourhorses, in one of the most retired galleries. My comrades and theSenor Conde himself yielded to sleep, and I confess that I was aboutto follow their example, when suddenly the sound of footsteps verynear the spot where we were cacheed, made me prick up my ears, anddrove away my sleep. I lay down on the ground, and crawled cautiouslyin the direction of the noise I had heard. I was not mistaken; we wereno longer alone in the cavern; a man had entered it, and that man wasan Indian. I recognized this fact by his dress, for he had his backturned to me. After placing on the ground a rather large bundle, thisIndian looked cautiously around him. I held my breath for fear of beingdiscovered, so greatly did this man puzzle me. At length, feelingconvinced that he was quite alone, and no one could see him, he tookall his clothes off, and darted out of the cavern like a startled deer.I could not comprehend it at all, and was not far from taking the manfor a lunatic; but, when I saw him return, his paint had disappeared;he had merely plunged into the river to wash himself. When he was dry,he dressed himself again, but not in the same clothes, but in others hetook out of the bundle he had laid on the ground when he came in. Butthen a singular thing occurred--my Indian of just now was metamorphosedinto a Mexican!"

  "What?" the general and the hacendero exclaimed in surprise, "AMexican?"

  "A Mexican," the hunter continued calmly; "and more extraordinarystill, this Mexican I recognized so well that I could not restrain acry of surprise. He heard me, and turned round with a start. Doubt wasno longer possible. This Indian was Senor Don Anibal's majordomo."

  "Sotavento!" the hacendero exclaimed.

  "Ah, ah!" said the general, "Go on, my friend. What did you do then?"

  "On my word, General, seeing that I was discovered, I bounded uponhim. I am free to confess that he did not seem at all anxious to betaken, for he offered a desperate resistance; but, thank goodness, Iam tolerably strong, and in spite of all his efforts, I succeeded inmastering him, and brought him here, because his conduct appeared to meextremely suspicious, and the Senor Conde and myself wished to clear upcertain suspicions which had occurred to us with reference to him. Thatis all I have to say to you, General."

  The hunter ceased, apparently very pleased at having got so wellthrough so long and difficult a narrative.