CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
PEPE GAGO.
Besides his military chapeau, the lieutenant of cavalry held in his handa piece of folded paper; and although he had already stated his errand,his countenance exhibited considerable embarrassment.
"What, leave of absence?" said the General, smiling benignantly upon hisaide-de-camp. "You, friend Lantejas--you think of quitting us? and atsuch a time, too, when all is going well!"
"It is necessity, General, that drives me to make the application.There are family affairs that require me at home, and--" Lantejas herepaused, as if inwardly ashamed of the deceit he was practising."Besides, General, to say the truth, this soldier's life is not suitedto me, nor I to it. I was born to be a priest, and would greatly desireto complete my theological studies, and enter upon that career to whichmy inclinations lead me. Now that success has crowned your army, youwill no longer require me?"
"_Vita Cristo_!" exclaimed Morelos, "not require you! Ah, friendLantejas, you are too valiant a soldier of the Church militant to bespared so easily as that. Like that faithful adherent of some Frenchking, whose name I do not now remember, you would be the very man towish yourself hanged if Acapulco were taken without you. I must refuseyour application, then, although I see it vexes you. I refuse it,because I am too well satisfied with your services to let you go. Youwere my first follower; and do you know what people say, that the threebravest men in our little army are Don Hermenegildo Galeana, ManuelCostal, and yourself? And what at this moment still more endears you tome is, that you propose leaving me just as fortune is showering herfavours upon me; whereas, with most other friends, the reverse isusually what may be expected. I have just heard that the Captain DonFrancisco Gonzales has been killed in the affair of Tonaltepec. Youwill replace him in the command of his company--Now? _Captain_Lantejas?"
The new captain bowed his thanks in silence, and was about to retire.
"Do not go yet!" commanded the General; "I have something more to say toyou. You have, I believe, some relative or relatives living nearTehuantepec. Well, I have a commission for some one to that part of thecountry, and I require a man of courage and prudence to execute it. Ihave thought of sending _you_, as soon as we have taken Acapulco--whichI trust will be in a very short time."
Lantejas was about to open his mouth, and inquire the nature of thisconfidential mission, when he was interrupted by the entrance of two meninto the tent. One of these was Costal the Indian; the other was astranger both to Morelos and the captain. The latter was again about toretire, when Morelos signed him to stay.
"There's the General," said Costal, pointing out the commander-in-chiefto the man who accompanied him, and who was in the costume of a Spanishofficer.
The latter regarded for an instant, and not without surprise, thesimply-clad individual whose name at that moment had become so widelyrenowned. Although evidently a person of imperturbable coolness, thestranger said nothing, leaving it to the General to open theconversation.
"Who are you, my friend, and what do you want?" inquired Morelos.
"To speak a word in confidence with you," replied the man. "Thisindividual," continued he, pointing to Costal, "whom I encounteredphilosophising upon the sea-beach, has promised me that his word wouldenable me to obtain an interview with your Excellency, and safe conductthrough your camp. On this promise I have followed him."
"Costal," said the General, "was my first bugler, and with his greatconch sounded the signals to less than twenty horsemen, who at that timecomposed my whole army. I confirm the parole he has given you. Speakfreely."
"With your Excellency's permission, then, my name is Pepe Gago. I am aGallician, an officer of artillery, and command a battery in the castleof Acapulco--which your Excellency, if I am not mistaken, desires tocapture."
"It is a pleasure which I intend affording myself one of these days."
"Perhaps your Excellency is confounding the castle with the town? Thelatter you can take whenever it pleases you."
"I know that."
"But you would not be able to hold it, so long as we are masters of thecitadel."
"I know that also."
"Ah, then, your Excellency, we are likely to understand one another."
"It is just for that reason that I decline taking the town till I havefirst captured the castle."
"Now I think we are still nearer comprehending each other: since it isjust that which you wish to have, that I come to offer you. I will notsay to _sell_: for my price will be so moderate that it will deserverather to be called a gift I am making you. _Apropos_, however, of theprice--is your Excellency in funds?"
"Well, you have heard, no doubt, that I have just captured from theSpanish general, Paris, eleven hundred fusils, five pieces of cannon--tosay nothing of the eight hundred prisoners we have made--and tenthousand dollars in specie. That is about ten times the price of afortress, which in a short time I may have for nothing."
"Be not so sure of that, your Excellency. We have no scarcity ofprovisions. The Isle of Roqueta--"
"I shall capture that also."
"Serves us," continued the Spaniard, without noticing the interruption,"as a port of supply, by which the ships can always throw provisionsinto the castle. But not to dispute the point, am I to understand thatyour Excellency fixes the price at a thousand dollars? I agree to thatsum. You say you have captured ten thousand. Unfortunately for me, Ihave the opportunity of selling the fortress only once."
"A thousand dollars down, do you mean?" inquired the General.
"Oh, no," replied the artilleryman; "what security would you have of mykeeping my word? Five hundred, cash down, and the balance when thecastle is delivered up to you."
"Agreed! And now, Senor Pepe Gago, what are your means for bringingabout the surrender?"
"I shall have the command of the portcullis guard from two till fiveto-morrow morning. A lantern hung up on the bridge of Hornos to adviseme of your approach--a password between us--and your presence. Ipresume your Excellency will not yield to any one the taking of theplace?"
"I shall be there in person," replied Morelos. "With regard to thepassword, here it is."
The General handed to the Gallician a scrap of paper, on which he hadwritten two words, which neither Costal nor Lantejas were near enough toread.
A somewhat prolonged conversation was now commenced between Morelos andPepe Gago, but carried on in a tone so low that the others did notunderstand it import. At length the Spaniard was about to take hisdeparture, when Costal, advancing towards him, laid his hand firmly onhis shoulder.
"Listen to me, Pepe Gago!" said he to the Gallician in a serious voice."It is I who am responsible for you here; but I swear by the bones ofthe Caciques of Tehuantepec--from whom I have the undoubted honour ofbeing descended--if you play traitor in this affair, look out forCostal, the Zapoteque. Though you may dive like the sharks to thebottom of the ocean, or like the jaguars hide yourself in the thickestjungles of the forest, you shall not escape, any more than shark orjaguar, from my carbine or my knife. I have said it."
The Spaniard again repeated his declarations of good faith, and retiredfrom the tent under the safe conduct of Costal.
"By-and-by," said the General to Lantejas when the others had gone, "Ishall speak to you of the mission I intend sending you upon. Meanwhile,go and get some rest, as I shall want you at an early hour in themorning. At four o'clock I shall myself take a party of men up to thecastle. As it is best that no one should know our intention, you andCostal must hang a lantern on the bridge of Hornos. That is to be thesignal for our approach to the gate."
Saying this, the commander-in-chief dismissed his captain--who strodeforth out of the marquee, with no very sanguine anticipations ofobtaining a tranquil night's rest.