CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
THE ISLE OF ROQUETA.
While thus on the summit of the _Voladero de los Hornos_ the IndianCostal and the negro Clara were debating between themselves how thecastle might be captured--the same subject was being discussed by twopersons of more importance in the tent of the insurgent general. Thesewere Morelos himself, and Don Hermenegildo Galeana--now usually styledthe "Marshal," to distinguish him from another Galeana, his own nephew,who was also an officer in the insurgent army.
The countenance of Morelos had not yet cast off the shadow caused by thefailure of their assault upon the castle; and his garments were stillsoiled with dust, which, under the agitation of violent passions, hedisdained to wipe off.
The brow of the Marshal was also clouded; but that was rather byreflecting the unpleasant thoughts that were troubling the spirit of hiswell-beloved General: for no care of his own ever darkened thecountenance of the warlike Galeana.
A chart of the bay and roadstead of Acapulco lay upon the table beforethem, illuminated by two candles, whose light was every moment becomingpaler, as the day began to break into the tent.
They had been for some time engaged in discussing the important matterin question. The Marshal had been endeavouring to press upon theGeneral the necessity of at least capturing the town: since the troopswere not only badly provided with tents and other equipage, but were insuch a position among the burning sands, that it was difficult totransport provisions to the camp. Moreover, the situation on theriver's bank was exceedingly unhealthy; and fever was daily thinning theranks, and prostrating some of their best soldiers. The Marshal urged,that, once inside the town, they would at least be better lodged, whilemany other evils might be avoided. The town could not hold out againsta determined assault. It might be, carried by a _coup de main_.
"I know all that, my dear Marshal," said Morelos, in reply to thearguments of Galeana; "we can easily take the town, but the castle willstill hold out, provisioned as it can always be through this unfortunateisle of Roqueta, with which the garrison is able to keep up a constantcommunication."
The isle in question lay in the roadway of Acapulco, two short leaguesfrom the town. There was a small fort upon it, with a Spanish garrison;and at the anchorage connected with this fort the Spanish ships,occasionally arriving with supplies for the fortress, could dischargetheir cargoes, to be afterwards transported to the castle in boats.
"Let us first capture Roqueta, then?" suggested Galeana.
"I fear the enterprise would be too perilous," replied Morelos; "we havescarce boats enough to carry sixty men--besides, the isle is two leaguesout to sea; and just at this season storms may be looked for everyhour--to say nothing of a mere handful of men landing to attack a stronggarrison behind their entrenchments."
"We can take them by surprise," continued the intrepid _Mariscal_."Leave it to me, General; I care not for the danger. In the glory ofyour name I shall undertake to capture La Roqueta."
"A perilous enterprise!" repeated Morelos, half in soliloquy. "Yes,friend Galeana," continued he, once more addressing himself to hisMarshal, "although you have taught me to believe in the success of anyenterprise you may undertake, this is really of such a nature as torequire serious consideration."
"Never fear for the result, Senor General! I promise to capture theisle on one condition."
"What is it?"
"That as soon as you see my signal, announcing that I have mastered thegarrison of Roqueta, you will take the town of Acapulco. YourExcellency will agree to that?"
Morelos remained for a moment thoughtful, and apparently reluctant topermit so perilous an attempt.
Just at that moment a rocket was seen ascending into the air, andtracing its curving course against the still sombre background of thesky. It had evidently been projected from the fort of Roqueta, which indaylight would have been visible from the camp of the insurgents.Morelos and his Marshal, through the open entrance of the marquee, sawthe rocket and conjectured it to be some signal for the garrison on theisle to the besieged within the fortress. Almost on the instant, thisconjecture was confirmed by another rocket seen rising from the citadelupon the summit of the cliffs, and in turn tracing its blue line acrossthe heavens. It was evidently the answer.
For some minutes the General and Galeana remained within the marquee,endeavouring to conjecture the object of these fiery telegraphs. Theyhad not succeeded in arriving at any satisfactory conclusion, when theGeneral's aide-de-camp, Captain Lantejas, entered the tent. His errandwas to announce to the Commander-in-chief that Costal, the scout, hadjust arrived in the encampment as the bearer of some importantintelligence.
"Will your Excellency permit him to come in?" requested the Marshal."This Indian has always some good idea in his head."
Morelos signified assent, and the next moment the Indian entered thetent.
"Senor General!" said he, after having received permission to speak, "Ihave just been up to the cliff of Los Hornos, and through the grey dawnI have seen a schooner at anchor by the isle of Roqueta. She must havearrived during the night: since she was not there yesterday."
"Well, what of it, friend Costal?"
"Why, General, I was just thinking how easy it would be for a party ofus, after it gets dark, to slip up alongside, and take possession ofher. Once masters of that schooner--"
"We could intercept all the supplies destined for the castle,"impetuously interrupted Galeana; "and then we shall reduce it by famine.Senor General, it is God who speaks by the mouth of this Indian. YourExcellency will no longer refuse the permission which I have asked?"
It is true, the danger apprehended was not diminished by the presence ofthe schooner; but, overcome by the earnest appeals of the Marshal, andthe prospect of the important results which would certainly arise fromthe possession of the vessel, Morelos at length consented to the attemptbeing made.
"If I know how to read the clouds," said Costal, whose counsel on thispoint was now requested, "I should say, from the way in which the sun isnow rising, we shall have a dark calm day and night--at least, until thehour of midnight--"
"After midnight?" demanded the Marshal.
"A tempest and a howling sea," replied Costal. "But before that timethe schooner and the isle of Roqueta may be ours."
"_Shall_ be ours!" cried Galeana, with enthusiasm.
In fine, and before the council broke up, the enterprise was planned.The expedition was to be commanded by the Marshal, accompanied by hisnephew, the younger Galeana, while Lantejas was to be the captain of acanoe, with Costal under his orders.
"The brave Don Cornelio would never forgive us," said Galeana, "if wewere to perform this exploit without him."
The Captain smiled as he endeavoured to assume a warlike expression ofcountenance. He thought to himself, however, how much more to his tasteit would be to have been deprived of the privilege accorded to him. Butaccording to the habit he had got into, and in conformity with theenergetic Spanish refrain: _Sacar de tripas corazon_ (Keep a stout heartagainst every fortune), he pretended to be delighted with the honourthat was yielded to him.
The prognostic of Costal about the weather appeared likely to berealised. During the whole day, while they were making preparations fortheir night expedition, the sky remained shadowed with sombre clouds;and, as evening arrived, the sun went down in the midst of a thickcumulus of vapour.