Roger the Bold: A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico

by F. S. Brereton

  CHAPTER VII

  The Hand of the Traitor

  Alvarez de Logas, the frank and friendly Spaniard, had proved false, hadacted worse than dishonourably, for he had stolen the confidence of thecrew of the brigantine, and the golden disc at the same time. He was atraitor to his new comrades, and a murderer at heart, for he had struckRoger with his dagger.

  "Where am I? What has happened to me, and why are we here in theforest?" asked our hero three days later, when he opened his eyes forthe first time since he had received the treacherous stroke. "Is thatyou, Tamba? Tell me what has happened. I have been dreaming. I thoughtthat we had come to this New Spain, to Terra Firma, and that you and Iand----"

  He suddenly broke off with a feeble groan, while the native knelt besidehim, taking his hand to comfort him.

  "I do not understand, my lord," he said. "You speak your own tongue, andforget that I cannot. What are the questions?"

  Roger repeated them feebly, while he closed his eyes, for even there therays of the sun were trying. But Tamba was a discerning nurse, and atonce placed a screen of huge leaves, secured to a stake, between therays and Roger's eyes.

  "You were hurt," he whispered. "The treacherous Spaniard proved to beall that you suspected, and he snatched his opportunity. He is gone, andthree days have passed since I saw the last of him."

  "And he has stolen the golden disc? Then follow! Do not lose anotherinstant. Follow at once, and pursue him till you come up with him. Thedisc was entrusted to my care, and what am I to say when we return tothe brigantine?"

  In his dismay he leaned upon his elbow, only to sink again to the softbed of dried leaves with which the native had provided him, while thelatter raised his eyes at the mention of the brigantine.

  "I would chase him to the end of the land were I able to do so, master,"he said. "But what then would have happened to you? You were feeble. Youlay senseless in the water, and the blood poured from your wound. Ithought of running after this Alvarez. Then I thought of you, and I saidto myself that your life was more valuable to me and to the English thanwas this disc. I stayed, therefore, and Alvarez is gone. But not forgood. Master, when you are strong we shall come up with him, andthen----"

  Even beneath the brown skin of the native there could be seen a tinge ofred colour as the blood rose to his forehead and cheeks, called there byhis hatred and indignation. For Tamba was one of those simple fellows, achild of the Cuban forest, with few wants, and few likes and dislikes.His was a faithful nature, which even the cruel whip of the Spanishoverseer had been unable to destroy, and where he had placed his faithhe kept it. Roger was more than his friend and master, and to see himstruck down was an agony to Tamba. Why, then, should he chase after aSpaniard while his lord bled slowly to death? He put aside the ideawithout a second thought, and on that fatal day promptly set to work todo what was possible. Taking Roger in his arms, he dragged him along thestream to the most suitable open spot, and there he placed him on a softpiece of turf, while he himself sought for roots and herbs, and forsomething with which to dress the wound. A piece of Roger's clothing hadsufficed for the last, and Tamba had been able to stop the bleeding.Then he went to the shore in search of the English soldiers. But theywere nowhere to be seen, though the brigantine lay in the offing, hercanvas at full stretch, beating out to sea, two Spanish vessels being inclose chase of her. It was a terrible blow, and the native hardly knewhow to break the news to Roger.

  "You were hurt," he ventured gently. "And I could not pursue the traitorwhile you lay in the stream. You would have been smothered by the waterhad the bleeding not killed you. So I brought you here, and I built ahut over you while you lay insensible. I am thankful that you are nowable to speak."

  Roger opened his eyes and looked round in amazement, and now that thescreen of leaves had been placed between him and the sun he could easilysee. His eyes blinked at the unaccustomed light, but for all that hecould make out that he lay on a comfortable bed, that a hut constructedof poles cut from the forest, and of broad leaves as thatch, coveredhim, while a cool breeze swept in through the open sides. There, too,was the stream which he had lately traversed, and all about him, onevery side, the virgin forest, huge trunks with towering foliage, giantcreepers which crept from branch to branch and bridged the spaces, andthousands of gaudy flowers. The air, too, seemed to be full of thetwitter of birds which flitted here and there. Then his eye went to thespot through which they had come, and he remembered the sea, thebrigantine, and his comrades.

  "Where are they?" he demanded suddenly, sitting up with another start."How is it, if I have been here three days, that they are not with me,that our apothecary has not attended, that Sir Thomas has not been tohear my news? But perhaps they came while I lay senseless or asleep, forI think I must have been unconscious. I have dreamed one long dream.And, Tamba----"

  The native was beside him at once, holding his hand, and lifting a gourdof water to his lips.

  "Tamba, I dreamed that this Alvarez had killed me, and that he had madefor Mexico, and had taken the treasure. But tell me of my comrades.Perhaps they thought it better that I should rest here. Has Philip beento see me?"

  "He is not here. None are within call, for the brigantine sailed whenthis traitor struck his blow."

  The news was stunning. Roger opened his mouth in amazement, and laythere aghast.

  "The brigantine gone without us. They would never desert their friends!There must be some mistake. They have coasted along, and will return."

  He looked at Tamba eagerly, as if fearful to hear his answer.

  "They went three days ago, as I have said, my lord," said the native."When I had tended to you and returned to the shore the ship was out onthe horizon, and two Spaniards were in chase of her. She has notappeared since, though I have been to look. But one of the Spaniards hasreturned, and yesterday she sent men ashore to search. But they failedto come this way, and returned to their vessel. We are safe for themoment."

  "But what is to become of us? We are stranded in an unknown land. We arealone, without friends, and who knows how many enemies about us? Perhapseven this Alvarez will return with his friends and murder us."

  "He has gone for good," was the reassuring answer. "I followed his trackwhen you were well enough to be left, and it goes straight on forleagues. He fled without turning, never dreaming that the ship wouldleave us here. But we shall live through this trial, my lord. This coastis not far from the part for which we sailed--of that I feel sure; forwould this Alvarez have run just here had the distance been over great?What he can do, we can also."

  "And will!" exclaimed Roger, with more strength and energy than he hadhitherto displayed. "We also will make for Mexico, and do our best totreat with Montezuma, or, rather, with his successor. What fun if Peterand the others followed us to find the matter all arranged! How Peterwould bridle! How his face and nose would shine! But I must not fly toofar. I have yet to get well. What is the nature of the injury, Tamba?"

  "A simple dagger wound, just beneath the shoulder blade, whichpenetrated the lung, and nearly killed because of the bleeding. My lordlay there and coughed for hours, till I thought that he would die. Thenthe blood ceased to come from his lips, and he grew better. To-day youhave spoken for the first time."

  "And from this moment I proceed to get strong and well, for I cannotbear to lie here while my comrades are gone. Nor can I stay much longerand think that Alvarez has possession of the golden disc. By his ownword--honest words, I feel sure--this disc keeps the secret of thetreasure of the Mexicans. And we are bound to Mexico with the thought oftaking some of those riches from the Spaniards before all are gone. Thenthere is no time to lose. I must grow strong, and follow, and then,Tamba, should I see this Alvarez, I swear to punish him for thistreachery, not because I have suffered a wound, but because all aboardthe brigantine will have suffered. He shall die, and I will kill him."

  There was an ugly gleam in the sick youth's eye--a gleam which hisfriends had seen there before when the brigantine had laid her
selfaboard the Spanish galleon. Roger was not vindictive, nor evenpugnacious, but a wrong was a wrong, and treachery was the worst ofoffences. As to the riches in Mexico, it never occurred to our hero tothink what right he and his comrades had to them. The expedition wasformed, as many were to be in later days, to obtain gold, to wrest itfrom the Spaniards or from the natives, and preferably from the former,for it is easier to stand aside and watch while one man gathers goldthan to collect it one's self. And also, the prize to be obtained isthen greater. Nowadays such an expedition would be inexcusable; but thenit was different. It was common for nations who were friendly in homewaters to come to blows when far away, and these expeditions for thegathering of gold were looked upon as legitimate, a fair adventure, notas open piracy, as we should now consider them to be. However, Rogerneed not be blamed if he gave little thought to the matter, consideringhis age; and, besides, he had other things to occupy his mind. Histhoughts, in fact, were busy with Alvarez, while he blamed himself timeand again because he had not preserved more caution.

  "I was a fool," he thought, "to turn my back even for a second, and, ofcourse, the fellow took advantage of the fact. But how he hoodwinked usall! Even I could never prove that he was a rogue. But now one can seethrough the whole matter. He was selected, for what reason I dare notsay, nor why a big galleon was not sent--but he came out in a tiny boat,and sailed from Cuba towards the west. No doubt he was on the look outfor us, and therefore saw us before we caught sight of him. What waseasier, then, than to tear the sail, to disarrange the boat, and tothrow food and water overboard as soon as he was sure that he wasdiscovered? And I have my suspicions that he could talk something of ourlanguage, for he progressed amazingly. In any case, he played the partwell, and we were deceived. And this is the result!"

  Roger sat up and surveyed himself and his long legs in dismay. It wasthe very first time that he had ever been laid up, and the experiencewas new to him. He felt strangely weak, and trembled after the slightestexertion. But he could think, if he could not move, and he spent histime in watching Tamba, and in wondering how this adventure wouldterminate. Nor had he missed the mark by much when he spoke of theSpaniard; for a clever trick had been successfully played upon theleader of the English. It happened that not far from the mine in Cuba onthe very day on which it was captured was a Spaniard, this same Alvarez,and his quick ears detected the noise of firing. That led him toinvestigate during the following night, for he, too, had heard of thepresence of an English ship on the coast. He had found the mine in thehands of the enemy, and he had debated what he ought to do. If he leftfor the nearest Spanish post the ship would be gone, while if he stayedshe would go when her damages were repaired. Then he thought of thedisc, for which a big reward had been offered, and, being an adventurousfellow, and one, moreover, accustomed to Englishmen, for he had onceattended an ambassador at the court of St. James, he determined to seekfor the reward himself. He knew of a boat along the coast, and spent afew days in fetching her. Then he despatched a native to his comrades,telling them of his discovery, timing its arrival so that none couldinterfere.

  "None can save the situation but myself," he wrote. "But I have faith inEnglish humanity, and I will risk the attempt. If successful, I willclaim the reward of Fernando Cortes."

  The reader will have seen that Alvarez had made no mistake. NoEnglishman worthy of the name would have done ought else than succour aderelict man, and the Spaniard, having a specious story, was able toingratiate himself. With the result that the disc was gone, and ourhero, the giant crossbow-man and lieutenant, lay fretting in the forest,chained by stronger links than were ever worn by a prisoner.

  A week later Roger was able to rise, while within ten days he couldwalk. Then, too, the wound was healed, thanks to the attention of Tamba.Meanwhile, nothing had been seen of the brigantine.

  "You say that you have seen the Spaniard in the offing, and nearer inonce or twice," said Roger, thoughtfully, as he and the native crouchedover the fire which burned at the foot of one of the trees. "Then I fearthat the coast is being patrolled, and that our friends are unable toreturn. Did you hear firing on that day when Alvarez struck me?"

  "None. Not a gun, my lord. I saw the brigantine away at sea, and twogalleons after her; but there was no fighting."

  "Then Sir Thomas practised the old ruse," said Roger. "He doubled backat night, and I have little doubt sailed towards the land. But findingit patrolled, he sheered off again, and sailed right away, with theintention of returning. He will do that if he is allowed to, and in casewe are gone, we will place a mark or a letter on the shore. Let us waitfor three weeks, and then we will march. Now tell me of these nativesyou have seen."

  Tamba had, in fact, seen some strange natives on the far side of theforest, and hastened to speak of them.

  "They are tall, well clothed, and have straight black hair, such as Ihave," he said. "They were in a body, some forty strong, and I thinkthat they were hunting. But I did not approach nearer, for the forestgoes very far, and it was past noon."

  "Then let us make an expedition there when we have put our mark up onthe shore," said Roger. "We will take three days over it, and returnhere again. It will be a good chance for me to test my strength."

  On the following morning they went down to the beach, and there, havingstripped a large piece of bark from a tree, Roger, who had learned towrite--a very unusual accomplishment in those days--cut letters upon it."We are well, and await your return," he said. "We are going into thecountry for three days from this, and shall be back in case you come."

  "There!" he added, showing it to Tamba. "There is no date, for thesimple reason that I don't know what month it is, nor the day of themonth; but if they come they can, and will, wait for three days. Now wewill go. Let us take our crossbow and our other weapons, for thesenatives may prove unfriendly. Food we can get on the way, for the forestwill be full of fruit."

  "In the open spaces there is plenty, but not in the depths of thejungle," answered Tamba. "Then there are animals. I have seen deer inthe clearings, snakes, and other beasts that I do not know. We aresecure from starvation, while water is plentiful."

  "Then we can set out with a light heart. Now, you give the lead, onlyrecollect that the direction is almost due north."

  Tamba could have found his way through the forest almost blindfolded, soaccustomed was he to the work, and Roger soon found him invaluable; forour hero was not yet so strong that he could march all day, strugglingthrough the underwood, and then search for his evening meal. In fact, hehad to take frequent rests, while Tamba went off into the forest, alwayswith the knowledge that he could find his master with the greatest ease.It was on one of these occasions, when Roger lay full length in theshade, fanning himself with a leaf, that a beautiful creature, a deer ofsome species, leaped into the natural clearing on the edge of whichRoger lay, and paused there, listening to the crash as Tamba pushed hisway through the underwood. It was a fine opportunity, and for the firsttime for many a day Roger tried his hand with his favourite weapon. Hishand sought the crossbow slowly and silently, and a shaft was fitted ina twinkling. But even the creak of the cord as the bow was sprung backwas sufficient to alarm this wild creature. It lifted its headsuspiciously, sniffed the air, and, catching sight of the strange figureat the base of the tree, bounded away in the opposite direction. Rogersat up suddenly and brought the bow to his shoulder. He took a rapidaim, and fired just as the deer was disappearing. Then he gave vent to ashout of triumph, which brought Tamba racing back to him.

  "A meal of flesh is more acceptable than one of fruit; at least it is soto me," said Roger, joyously. "Now, Tamba, set to work with me, and wewill skin the beast, and cut him into quarters. But, tell me, how muchfarther have we to march before we come to the open country?"

  "About six leagues. Three hours will take us there, my lord."

  "Then we will push on as soon as the beast is quartered, and will carrythe joints. To-night we will rest and feast, and to-morrow we will marchinto the open lands." />
  Now that he was recovering, and feeling stronger and better every day,his heart was as light as a boy's, and he had long ago ceased to fretabout the loss of his comrades.

  "We shall meet them again sooner or later," he said to Tamba, "and noamount of worrying will bring them to us earlier. Let us be happy andcontented, and make the most of this experience. What would those athome give to see such forests, and to live such a life? They have noidea that these things exist, no thought of such trees and such flowersand fruit."

  The life was, indeed, an enchanting one, and Roger revelled in it. Nowalls surrounded him, and he slept in no stuffy cabin; indeed, had henow returned to the brigantine he would have found it difficult to bearthe closeness and heat of the 'tween decks, and would have felt partlysmothered, just as a campaigner does when for the first time for many amonth he finds a roof above his head, even if it be only a canvas tent.Then the beauty of the herbage, the bright sun, and the dazzling flowersand butterflies delighted him, while the meals out-of-doors, when, ifthere was meat, it was cooked over a blazing wood fire, were a source ofreal pleasure. Tamba and Roger would lounge on such occasions and watchthe steaks seething and spluttering, till the faithful native wouldpronounce them done to a turn. He would take the wooden spit and thrustit into the ground at their feet, and would sit again, and wait for hismaster to commence. Then, the meal finished, he would look at Roger asif to ask his permission, and then would produce his bag, and presentlywould be puffing at his tobacco. It was all so new, so entrancing, thatRoger felt the days pass as if in a dream. However, after a sumptuousmeal on that evening, they turned into their beds, consisting of a fewleaves gathered from the trees, and awoke on the following morning tofind themselves bivouacked on the fringe of the forest, while to thenorth of them was open land, a rolling stretch of green, broken in thefar distance by some rugged mountainous ranges, while far inland theland seemed to continue in a dead, yellow flat, devoid of allvegetation.

  "We must go with care," said Tamba, as the two ate their meal within thescreen of the trees. "That is why I lit the fire here this morning, forotherwise the smoke would be seen. I have watched for an hour, and havenot been able to find these natives of whom I spoke. But I havediscovered the sea; we are within a few leagues of it, and must haveadvanced very near to it."

  He took Roger to a slight eminence, from which he could see the ocean,sparkling in the sun, and a ship upon it.

  "Spanish," said Roger, with decision; "and a galleon. Is that the onewhich you say is patrolling the coast?"

  "Who can say, master? All ships are the same to me, except in size. ButI think it is the same. Her duty seems to be to sail up and down andkeep your friends away."

  "So that we need not expect them in three days, nor in thirty, so longas the weather lasts. Then I shall take longer over this expedition thanI had intended, and we will see who these natives were. Let us take ajoint from the deer and push on."

  They were soon on their way, Tamba having selected a dip in the landwhich promised to give them shelter. Overhead a grilling sun sailed inthe sky, while all around was delightful green, freshened by some recentrains. Deer occasionally looked at the intruders with curiosity,bounding off long before they could get close enough for a shot.

  "They are wild, and yet their presence here seems to tell us that no oneelse is about," said Roger. "What do you say?"

  "That we are the only ones in this part. I think that those natives whomI saw must have been a hunting party in search of deer, for they werewidely separated, probably for the purpose of driving the beasts to acommon centre. We can push on, therefore, without fear of being seen,though it will be wise to keep our eyes open."

  "In case of surprise," added Roger. "Yes; for it has suddenly occurredto me that if Fernando Cortes has been here before, he and his men willhave earned the hatred of some, at least, of the natives."

  "Of all," exclaimed Tamba, passionately. "They come with their guns andtheir horses, and they give fair promises. They speak of friendlytreaties and of their religion; but behind it all is greed for gold."

  "It is their cruel way," answered Roger. "But to return to what I wassaying--they will have surely earned the hatred of some, and were theyto go alone as we, they would do so in terror of their lives."

  "That is so," admitted Tamba "In my country, far off in the forests andin the interior, a Spaniard dared not go; for he knew that a cruel deathawaited him. Yes, we had become cruel in our turn, though we hadformerly been quiet and peaceful. We were driven to desperation, orrather to despair."

  "Some here may be desperate. They may see us, and then they will thinkthat I am a Spaniard."

  Roger saw Tamba shrink at the idea. His face went pale, even beneath thedusk, while he looked at his master with frightened eyes.

  "You could say that you were not Spanish, my lord. You would tell themthat you belong to England."

  "What did you know about England?" asked Roger, calmly. "Nothing. Then,how will these natives? But I am imagining a difficulty. Let us push on,and trust to good fortune."

  That night found the two on the edge of the broad plain which they hadtraversed, and approaching the range of mountains, which they could nowsee were broken into many chains, and into separate pinnacles. Theylooked for a suitable bivouac, and selecting a huge overhanging rock,which promised to keep the heavy dew away, they lit their fire and atetheir meal. Three hours later, while they slept, for they were both wornout by a long day's march, a hundred dark figures surrounded them, andskilful fingers drew their weapons away. Then they were pounced upon,beaten heavily, and dragged away into the darkness. A bandage was tiedfirmly round their eyes, so that they could see nothing, and their limbssecured with soft cords. Then Roger felt himself lifted on to theshoulders of four tall men--at least, he thought that they weretall--and was carried off at a pace which must have taxed the strengthof his bearers. Indeed, he heard their heavy breathing, and remarkswhich he thought referred to his length and weight.

  "Prisoners," he thought, with a shudder. "These fellows will do as Isaid, and take me for a Spaniard. I can expect little mercy from them,for if we are in the neighbourhood of Mexico many of the inhabitantswill have been killed. But there is no use in bothering. As well preparefor the worst, and rest, so as to be fresh to bear what comes on themorrow."

  With this philosophic determination, he lay flat on the palanquin onwhich he had been thrown, and presently, in spite of his dread of thefuture, fell fast asleep; for the bandage about his eyes seemed to makehim drowsy. And, then, he was as yet not fully recovered from his wound,and from the weakness consequent therefrom, and the march had been longand fatiguing. How long he slept he never knew, but he was awakened by ablast of cold air, which fanned his face, and by a movement of hisbearers. They lowered him to the ground, not roughly, or as if theydesired to harm him, but with every care, as if he were some person ofimportance. Then one of them removed the bandage, while the others stoodhim upon his feet. It was day; the dawn had broken but a few minutesbefore, and the crest of the sun was just risen over a mountain range. Acry escaped from Roger--a cry of amazement; for down below him, at theend of the long straggling track which led down from the pass over whichthe party had been travelling, was a huge lake, nestling amongst brokenmountain chains which did not run to its shores, but which stood backfrom them, giving the lake ample space. And attached to this lake wasanother, to the right and a little nearer, while at different pointsalong the shores of both were towns, huge clusters of houses, withtowers as high as St. Paul's in London, which he knew so well, towerswhich glistened and sparkled in the sun. But that was not all. Therugged mountain track descended to the plain in which lay the lakes, andcrossed it direct to a viaduct, a straight line some two leagues inlength, which pushed its granite walls out into the larger lake, to ahuge city, standing white in the sun, and showing a hundred and moretowers. Other viaducts cut off from it here and there, while he couldsee dots moving on the water. What a scene! Who could paint it? For thewalls of the hou
ses reflected the rays, while a dazzling light playedupon the sides of the numerous towers, and upon their summits. But allwas not white, for on nearly every flat roof the red and blue anddazzling pink of gorgeous flowers was given back, while gardens lay oneither side of this lake city, seeming, as was actually the fact, tofloat on the water. In a flash it came to Roger's mind that this city,those viaducts, and those tiny boats were true to the plan which wasengraved on the golden disc, now in the possession of Alvarez. The scenewas stupendous. The wonder of it took his breath away, while he wasamazed at the thought that he was so soon within sight of the goal forwhich the brigantine had sailed.

  "Mexico! Mexico!" he almost shouted. "The city for which we were bound."

  There was no answer. For a few minutes the natives allowed him to feasthis eyes upon the sight. Then they put the bandage about his head again,and lifted him on to the litter. He was raised on to their shoulders,and they set off at a run down the slope. Presently they were crossingthe viaduct, and when at length Roger was permitted to look again, hefound that his bonds were being removed, and that he and Tamba sat sideby side in an enormous wooden cage, placed in the centre of a square ofhuge dimensions, and close alongside another cage of similararrangement, in which were some two hundred other prisoners.

  What would have been his feelings had he known that he was in the heartof the city of Mexico, the fairest city of those times, the fairest citythat has ever been, and that this cage in which he found himself was inthe courtyard of the chief temple, a prison kept for the purpose ofholding captives destined for the sacrifice. Yes; that was the custom ofthe Mexicans. They practised human sacrifice, as many a Spaniard was toknow to his cost, and they kept ready at hand a number of wretchedprisoners who were doomed to end their lives on the summit of thegreatest temple.

  When Roger learned the news the terror of it almost unmanned him, and hesank helpless upon his knees.