by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER TWO.
A CITY OF DEVILS.
Our conquering army thus easily admitted into the City of the Angels,soon discovered it to be deserving of a far different appellation; andbefore we were a week within its walls there were few of our fellows whowould not have preferred taking the chance of "quarters in Timbuctoo."Notwithstanding our antipathy to the place, we were forced to remain init for a period of several months, as it was not deemed prudent toadvance directly upon the capital.
Between the "Vega" of Puebla and the "Valle" of Mexico extends a vastwall--the main "cordillera" of the Mexican Andes. It affords severalpoints capable of easy defence, against a force far superior to that ofthe defenders. It was reported that one or other of these points wouldbe fortified and sustained.
Moreover, the city of Mexico was not to be considered in the same lightas the many others in that Imperial Republic, already surrendered to uswith such facile freedom--Puebla among the number. The latter was butan outlying post; the former the heart and centre of a nation--up tothis time unvisited by foreign foe--for three centuries untainted by thestranger's footstep.
Around it would be gathered the chivalry of the land, ready to lay downits life in the defence of the modern city; as its Aztec owners freelydid, when it was the ancient Tenochtitlan.
Labouring under this romantic delusion, our timid commander-in-chiefdecreed that we should stay for a time in the City of the Angels.
It was a stay that cost us several thousands of brave men; for, as itafterwards proved, we might have continued our triumphant march into thecapital without hostile obstruction.
Fate, or Scott, ruling it, we remained in La Puebla.
If a city inhabited by _real_ angels be not a pleasanter place of abodethan that of the sham sort at Puebla, I fancy there are few of my oldcomrades would care to be quartered in it.
It is true we were in an enemy's town, with no great claim tohospitality. The people from the first stayed strictly within doors--that is, those of them who could afford to live without exposing theirpersons upon the street. Of the tradesmen we had enough; and, at theirprices, something more.
But the women--those windows full of dark-eyed _doncellas_ we had seenupon our first entry, and but rarely afterwards--appeared to have beensuddenly spirited away; and, with some exceptions, we never set eyes onthem again!
We fancied that they had their eyes upon us, from behind the deepshadowy _rejas_: and we had reason to believe they were only restrainedfrom shewing their fair faces by the jealous interference of their men.
As for the latter, we were not long in discovering _their_ proclivity.In a town of sixty thousand inhabitants--with house-room (as alreadystated) for twice or three times the number--a small _corps d'armee_,such as ours was, could scarce be discovered in the crowd. On days ofgeneral drill, or grand parade, we looked formidable enough--at least tooverawe the ruffianism around us.
But when the troops were distributed into their respective _cuartels_,widely separated from one another, the thing was quite different; and asky-blue soldier tramping it through the streets might have been likenedto a single honest man, moving in the midst of a thousand thieves!
The consequence was that the Poblanos became "muy valiente," and beganto believe, that they had too easily surrendered their city.
And the consequence of this belief, or hallucination on their part, wasan attitude of hostility towards our soldiers--resulting in rudebadinage, broils, and, not unfrequently, in blood.
The mere mob of "leperos" was not alone guilty of this misconception.The "swells" of the place took part in it--directing their hostilityagainst our subaltern officers--among them some good-natured fellows,who, quite unconscious of the intent, had for a time misconstrued it.
It resulted in a rumour--a repute I should rather call it--which becamecurrent throughout the country. The people themselves said, andaffected to believe it, that the _Americanos_, though brave in battle--or, at all events, hitherto successful--were _individually_ afraid oftheir foes, and shirked the _personal_ encounter!
This idea the _jeunesse dore_ propagated among their femaleacquaintances; and for a time it obtained credit.
Well do I remember the night when it was first made known to those whowere sufferers by the slander.
There were twelve of us busied over a basket of champagne--better Inever drank than that we discovered in the cellars of La Puebla.
There is always good wine in the proximity of a convent.
Some one joining our party reported: that he had been jostled whilepassing through the streets; not by a mob of _pelados_, but by men whowere known as the "young bloods" of the place.
Several others had like experiences to relate--if not of that night, ashaving occurred within the week.
The Monroe doctrine was touched; and along with it the Yankee "dander."
We rose to a man; and sallied forth into the street.
It was still early. The pavement was crowded with pedestrians.
I can only justify what followed, by stating that there had beenterrible provocation. I had been myself more than once the victim ofverbal insult--incredulous that it could have been so meant.
One and all of us were ripe for retaliation.
We proceeded to take it.
Scores of citizens--including the swells, that had hitherto disputed thepath--went rapidly to the wall: many of them to the gutter; and next daythe _banquette_ was left clear to any one wearing the uniform of "UncleSam."
The lesson, followed by good results, had also some evil ones. Our"rank and file," taking the hint from their officers, began to knock thePoblanos about like "old boots;" while the _leperos_ finding them alone,and in solitary places, freely retaliated--on several occasionsshortening the count of their messes.
The game continuing, soon became perilous to an extreme degree. Indaylight we might go where we pleased; but after nightfall--especiallyif it chanced to be a dark night--it was dangerous to set foot upon thestreets. If a single officer--or even two or three--had to dine at thequarters of any remote regiment, he must needs stay all night with hishosts, or take the chance of being waylaid on his way home!
In time the _lex talionis_ became thoroughly established; and astringent order had to be issued from head-quarters: that neithersoldier nor officer should go out upon the streets, without specialpermission from the commander of the regiment, troop, or detachment.
A revolt of the "angels," whom we had by this time discovered to be very"devils," was anticipated. Hence the motive for the precautionarymeasure.
From that time we were prohibited all out-door exercise, except such aswas connected with our drill duties and parade. We were in realityundergoing a sort of mild siege!
Safe sorties could only be made during the day; then only throughstreets proximate to the respective _cuartels_. Stragglers to remotesuburbs were assaulted _sub Jove_; while after night it was not safeanywhere, beyond hail of our own sentries!
A pretty pass had things come to in the City of the Angels!
