when he heard his own name called from above, and,looking up, he saw Miguel and Baltar descending towards him withthreatening gestures.
"What, Senhor Rodrigo, is this the faith you swore to keep with us? Butwe are even with you, you see."
"I came but to hide this further booty I have collected; so banish yourfears, my friends," he answered.
While he was speaking, having advanced a little way towards them, thedoor was suddenly forced open, and a man appeared before them, bearingin his arms a female form. The robbers started, as if they had beheldan apparition from the grave; for the gloomy appearance of the spot wasincreased by being contrasted with the bright glare which the burninghouses and churches in the neighbourhood cast on the surrounding ruins.It was some seconds before their courage returned; for, daring andsavage as they were, anything which they fancied supernatural hadgreater power over their minds than either fear of the wrath of Heavenor of their fellow-men.
"Thank Heaven, loved one, we are at length freed from that dreadfulvault. Speak, my Clara--speak, to assure me that you have trulyrecovered!" exclaimed Don Luis; for he it was who, with Donna Clara, hadthus, by the unintentional agency of the robbers, been restored toliberty.
When the robbers entered the vault for the first time, he had beenremaining for some hours in a state of stupor, hanging over Clara, whowas in one of those deep swoons which, in some instances, have beenprolonged for several days. The first rush of fresh air completelyrestored his senses, as it aided to revive her; but his dismay may beconceived, when, unperceived by them,--for the ruffians passed close tohim,--he discovered, by their conversation, their desperate characters.Summoning all his presence of mind to his aid, he remained perfectlyquiet, trusting that the men would quickly retire, and allow him toescape with his precious burden in safety. He felt her pulse: italready beat more strongly, and he prayed Heaven to restore hercompletely. Anxiously he waited till the robbers had secured theirtreasure, when, what was his horror to hear them close the door behindthem! He trusted, however, to be able to force open the door, towardswhich, bearing Clara in his arms, he groped his way, aided by glimmeringstreams of light, which found an entrance through various crevices inthe door, affording to his eyes, so long accustomed to darkness,sufficient assistance to enable him to reach it. He was driven then tothe most maddening despair, when he found that all his strength was notsufficient to open it. He called loudly for assistance; but no oneheard him, till at length, in hopeless agony, he seated himself on theground, with Clara in his arms, under the dreadful anticipation of alingering and painful death;--though it was not for himself he felt, itwas for the loved being he supported; and it was more with regret thanjoy that he found her gradually reviving. After some time, she uttereda few incoherent words, as one just awaking from sleep; but she wasagain silent, evidently with the impression that she was labouring undersome dreadful dream; and Luis felt that it would be cruelty to assureher of the truth: he was fearful of making even the slightest movement,lest it should recall her to consciousness; and he now mourned that shehad not rather died at the first shock of the earthquake, than sufferedthe tortures she must now too probably undergo.
The return of Rodrigo, and alone, gave him renewed hopes of escape,which were quickly disappointed, when he found that the robber haddesisted from opening the door, and was, besides, joined by hiscompanions. During the dispute of the ruffians, Luis, finding that thedoor yielded to his pressure, forced it open; and, trusting that theywould be too eagerly occupied in their own quarrel to pay attention tohim, with tottering steps he bore Clara from the vault. The fresh airrevived his strength; he looked with horrified amazement at the scene ofdestruction around him, lit up, as we have said, by the blazing houses;but this was no time for thinking; so, without further delay, hecommenced climbing the ruins on the opposite side to that where theruffians stood. He had already reached the summit of the mound, and wasable to look on every side, to decide in which direction he shouldattempt to escape, when the robbers recovered from their surprise.
"What ho! a spy on our secrets!" exclaimed Rodrigo, climbing after him."Know that no one passes through this city without paying tribute to us,so deliver up the burden you carry, fair sir."
On hearing these alarming demands, Luis, removing Clara to his leftside, and supporting her with his arm, drew his sword, prepared todefend her to the last. As he stood thus on the summit of the pile ofruins, a few shattered walls of the neighbouring church still remainingat a little distance, the red glare of the burning houses casting abright reflection on one side of his figure, he offered a fine subjectfor the painter.
As Rodrigo approached him, now that every feature of his countenance wasso clearly visible, he recognised in him the Count San Vincente's enemy,whom he had been hired to murder, and the fidalgo who had slain hisbrother in the forest, and deprived him of his booty.
"Ah! senhor, we at length meet again, where there are none to interfereand save you," he exclaimed, attempting to reach the spot where Luisstood; but the latter kept him at bay with his sword, and the ruffianhaving no other arms than his knife, was afraid of closing with him tillhis companions came to his assistance.
Luis saw that to speak to them would be useless, and that he must dependentirely upon his own courage and firmness, and had he had but oneassailant to contend with, he might have been successful in defendinghimself, and the being dearer to him than life; but while Rodrigo wasattacking him in front, the other two robbers, climbing up the ruins,suddenly seized him from behind, and the dagger of the former had almostreached his bosom, when the ruffian's arm was arrested by a person whohad sprung up to the spot without being perceived by any of the party.
"What, ye villains! were ye about to murder my friend, Don Luis, whilehe was protecting a lady, too?" exclaimed a loud voice; and Rodrigo,turning fiercely on the new comer, beheld Fre Lopez.
"What demon brings you here, when you are not wanted?" cried the robber,turning on him fiercely, while his companions still held Luis, who invain endeavoured to break from them.
"Don Luis's good demon, I suppose," answered the Friar. "You forgetthat your figures can be clearly seen from the street; so, as I chancedto be passing, and observed some fighting going forward, I came to seewhat it was about. Ah! as I live, that is the very lady who gave us somuch trouble in the forest! Hark you, Rodrigo--" Saying which, theFriar drew the robber aside. Their conference was but of shortduration, yet it seemed perfectly satisfactory to both; when the Friaraddressed Luis, who still remained completely in the power of the othertwo: "I regret to say, senhor, that though I have been the means ofsaving your life, I can do nothing further for you; and you must consentto this gentleman's terms, though you may think them rather hard."
"Gladly. Any sum he fixes on I will endeavour to pay," answered Luis;"and you, senhor, who have already done me so great a service, will, Itrust, aid me in conveying this lady to a place of safety."
"You are mistaken, senhor," interrupted the miscreant, with a laugh ofderision. "I give the Padre your life; but I am to have the lady for myshare; so yield her up without further delay."
"Never! I will die first!" exclaimed Luis; but, at that instant, by asignal from Rodrigo, one of the men who held him threw a handkerchiefover his head, and dragged him backwards, while the principal ruffianforced Clara from his arms. She was by this time sufficiently recoveredto comprehend fully all the horrors of her situation; but the wretchheeded not her cries for mercy as he bore her away, while Luis exertedall his energies to free himself from the others; but they, throwingthemselves on him, held him down securely, though with considerabledifficulty. His struggles exhausted their patience.
"Give him a taste of the steel!" muttered Miguel; "that will keep himquiet enough."
"Hold!" said the Friar, who stood by, a quiet spectator, withoutattempting to interfere; "Rodrigo will soon be at a sufficient distance,and then you may set the young fidalgo at liberty. In the mean time,senhor," he added, turning to Luis, "I would advise you to be q
uiet;your exertions only fatigue, without benefitting yourself in theslightest degree."
"Either destroy me at once, or let me fly to save that lady," exclaimedLuis, in a tone of agony.
"It is not wise to seek death before your time," returned the Friar;"and as for saving the lady, who is already a long way from this, I havenot the power to do it. Had I not arrived at the moment I did, the ladywould have been in the same condition she now is, and you would havebeen dead; so you, at all events, have to thank me for your life."
Luis scarcely heard what was said; indeed, so intense were his feelings,that they deprived him of utterance and power of thought, except theall-engrossing one of Clara's fate. Had he been aware of the lawlesslicense practising in the city, his agony would, if possible, have