CHAPTER FIFTY.
A SPLENDID STROKE.
Surrounded by his staff, Morelos still continued to watch the progressof events. From the commanding position which he held, almost everyincident of the battle could be observed. Even those occurring at themost distant point of the field were observable through the medium ofthe telescope. Among other objects that had attracted his notice was ahorseman going at full gallop along the crossroad, which led from thefield of maize to the Royalist encampment.
"Ha!" exclaimed he to an officer of his staff; "if I'm not mistaken, itis our Captain Lantejas who is galloping down yonder. Where can he begoing? No doubt he is about to strike one of those improvised, decisiveblows in which he excels--as when at Cuautla, he dashed his horse fulltilt against the gigantic Spanish cuirassier, and received the sabrestroke that might else have fallen upon my own skull. Fortunately hissword turned in the hand of the Spaniard, and Don Cornelio was struck bythe flat side of the blade, which only knocked him out of his saddle,without doing him any great injury."
"Senor General," remarked the officer, with some show of hesitation;"there are evil-disposed persons, who pretend to say that--that--"
"What do they pretend to say?" demanded Morelos.
"Why, that on the occasion of which your Excellency speaks, the horse ofSenor Lantejas was running away with him."
"An odious calumny!" pronounced Morelos, in a severe tone. "Envy isalways the proof of merit."
At this moment, Don Cornelio disappeared from off the crossroad; andMorelos now saw coming in the same direction a Spanish officer alsogoing at a gallop.
"_Santissima_!" cried Morelos, recognising the latter through his glass."As I live, it is the brave Caldelas, who also appears to have beenseized with vertigo! What can all this galloping mean?"
It was in reality Caldelas, who, pistol in hand, was searching forRegules, to accomplish the threat he had made.
Just then Don Cornelio again appeared in the crossroad; but this timegoing in the opposite direction, as if charging forward to meetCaldelas.
"See!" cried Morelos to his staff. "Look yonder--an encounter betweenCaldelas and the Captain! Ha! what was I saying to you? _Viva Dios_!--did you ever see such a beautiful _coup de lance_? He has struck downthe most formidable of our enemies. Huzza! Victory is ours! TheSpaniards are scattering! They yield the ground, and all because theirbravest leader has been slain. Now, sir!" continued the General,turning to the officer who had doubted the courage of Don Cornelio;"will that silence the detractors of Senor Lantejas? To whom, if not tohim, are we indebted for this splendid victory? Presently you will seehim ride with his accustomed modesty, to say that he has simply done hisduty. Otherwise, should he present himself to be complimented, he shallfind his mistake: I must reprimand him for being too rash."
"Happy is he whom your Excellency is pleased to reprimand in suchfashion," said the officer, withdrawing to one side.
"Let us onward!" exclaimed Morelos. "The action is over--the siege israised, and our enemies are in full retreat. To Yanguitlan, and then--to take up our winter-quarters in the capital of Oajaca!"
On pronouncing these word, Morelos remounted his horse and rode off,followed by his officers.
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We return to Colonel Tres-Villas and the ex-student of theology.
Notwithstanding the violent wrath of Don Rafael against the man who hadkilled his brave comrade, Caldelas, there was something so ludicrouslycomic in the countenance of the ex-student--so much innocent simplicityin its expression--that the resentment of Don Rafael vanished upon theinstant. Then, quick as a flash of lightning, came over him theremembrance of that day--at the same time terrible and delightful--whenparting from the student of theology, he had hurried forward to seeGertrudis, and receive from her the avowal of her love--alas! too soonforgotten!
These souvenirs--but more especially that recalling the daughter of DonMariano--formed the aegis of the ex-student. A bitter smile curled uponthe lip of Don Rafael, as he looked upon the pale and feeble youthwithin his grasp. "If such a man," thought he, "has been able to givehis death-blow to the valiant Caldelas--whose very glance he couldscarce have borne--it must be that the hours of the vice-royalty arenumbered."
"You may thank your stars," he continued, addressing himself toLantejas, "for having fallen into the hands of one, who is hindered byold memories from revenging upon you the death of the valiant Caldelas,the bravest of the Spanish chiefs."
"Ah! is the brave Caldelas dead?" inquired Don Cornelio, scarce sensibleof what he was saying. "Is it possible? But it must be so, if you sayit. In any case, I pardon him, and you too."
"Very gracious of you," rejoined Don Rafael, with a sarcastic smile.
"More than you think," replied the ex-student, a little restored to hissenses at finding his exploit was to be forgiven. "You have no idea ofthe terrible fright that he and you caused me just now. But, Senor DonRafael--with your permission--I am in a _very_ uncomfortable positionfor conversing--"
"Perhaps you will pardon me again for setting you safe and sound uponyour feet?" said Don Rafael, permitting the captain to slide gently tothe ground. "Adieu, then, Captain!" continued he, about to ride away."I leave you, regretting that I have not time to inquire how it is thatthe peace-loving student, so terribly frightened at the mandate of theBishop of Oajaca against the insurrection has become transformed into anofficer of the insurgent army?"
"And I," replied Lantejas, "I should like to know how it is that acaptain in the Queen's Dragoons, who did not appear to view that samemandate with a favourable eye, is to-day one of the bitterestadversaries of the insurrection? If it pleases you, Senor Don Rafael,to sit down here beside me, and let us discourse a bit--like the oldPaladins, who often interrupted their deadliest combats for such apurpose--it would be much more agreeable to me than returning to thebattle-field."
A sombre shadow passed over the countenance of Don Rafael at theallusion made to the change of his opinions. Both officers presented astriking example of how little man can do to direct his own destiny, andhow much he is the sport of circumstances. Both were, in fact, servingthe cause opposed to that of their heart's choice.
Just then a series of loud huzzas and _vivas_ of triumph came from bothsides of the battle-field; but it was impossible for either of them totell upon which side the victory had declared itself.
"Ah! Senor Don Rafael," cried the ex-student, "if our side hassuccumbed, then I am your prisoner."
"And if you are victorious, I am _not_ yours," responded the Colonel,casting towards Lantejas a glance of contempt that he could notconceal--while at the same time he gathered up the reins of his bridle.
As he did so, at both extremities of the road appeared a number ofmounted men, whose half-military equipments proclaimed them to beinsurgents. One was heard to call out--
"Senor Colonel! Yonder he is--Don Cornelio still living and well!"
It was Costal who spoke.
In another moment both the Captain and Don Rafael were surrounded by thehorsemen.