CHAPTER SIXTY.
EL ZAPOTE AND GASPAR.
Just about the moment when Pepe Lobos and his comrades had made theirdispositions for advancing into the thicket, Don Rafael awoke from hisprolonged slumber. On first opening his eyes, the glare of the sunlightso dazzled them, that he inquired of himself where he was. Presently,however, objects appeared more distinctly; and he became aware of theextraordinary situation in which he had placed himself.
He had scarce time for a single reflection, when his attention was drawnto a rustling among the leaves at a short distance off; and, lookingdiagonally downward, he perceived two men on foot advancing towards thecedrela.
On first awaking, he had felt such an extreme lassitude throughout allhis limbs, that he could scarce believe himself to have slept as long ashe had done. The height of the sun, however, proclaimed that he hadslumbered for many hours.
Notwithstanding the strong desire he had to descend from hisuncomfortable couch, at the sight of the two men he prudently deferredhis intention. He took the precaution, however, to untie the sash thatbound him to the branches--doing this as gently as possible--while hekept his eyes fixed upon the new-comers, who, to say the least,presented a suspicious appearance.
The costume of both was odd enough, and altogether unsuited fortraversing such a thorny jungle as that through which they were passing.It consisted merely of a shirt and cotton drawers--while each of themcarried in hand a large parcel. Although the night had been drythroughout, the garments of both pedestrians appeared saturated withwater!
Without the slightest suspicion that Don Rafael was in the tree, or thatany other human being was near, the two men were nevertheless movingwith cautious steps. Now they looked to the right, and then to theleft, with quick earnest glances--as if they were either searching forsomething, or in dread that an enemy might be concealed in the bushes.
"These droll fellows," said the Colonel to himself, "are eithersearching for some one, or fear that some one is searching for them--which of the two?"
He watched them, listening attentively.
The same reason which had induced Don Rafael to select this part of thewood as a hiding-place--that is the impenetrability of the thicket thatsurrounded it--seemed to have influenced in like manner the twothinly-clad pedestrians.
"We had better stop here," said one to the other, as both came to ahalt, "at least until we can put on our clothes again."
"Agreed," was the response; "but we must make our stay as short aspossible: we should by this time have been far along the road toHuajapam."
Each at the same moment untied the parcel which he carried, and whichconsisted of his upper garments that had been kept dry. Then strippingoff their wet shirts and drawers, they commenced dressing themselves intheir proper habiliments.
"So, amigo!" said the first speaker, pointing to a small packet whichthe other had been carrying, "that, you tell me, is worth its weight ingold?"
"Yes; and you shall soon find that you have nothing to regret in helpingme to escape, and sharing with me the douceur we shall receive onpresenting it. If we are only lucky enough to get away from thisneighbourhood--I have no doubt they will pursue us."
"We may be certain of that, _compadre_; but don't be uneasy about theirfinding us. If we should fall into the hands of any of those who arebesieging Del Valle, trust me for getting clear of them. As they are mycomrades, and don't know yet that I have run away, I shall be able tomislead them. I can tell them, that I have been sent along with you, toreceive the ransom of one of our prisoners."
"What if they should carry us back to Arroyo's camp?"
"Why, in that case we shall both be hanged. What matters it, a littlesooner or later--it is the common lot?" philosophically added Juan elZapote--for it was he, in company with the messenger whom he had aidedin making his escape. "Never mind, _compadrito_," he continued in amore cheering tone, "I shall do my best to get _you_ clear of the scrapeanyhow."
"_Santa Virgen_!" mentally ejaculated the Colonel. "This droll fellow,who thinks it is the lot of all men to be hanged sooner or later,appears to be so sure of the fact, that it would not expose him to muchmore risk to conduct me also to a safer harbour."
And in making this reflection, Don Rafael caught hold of the llianas bywhich he had climbed up; and at the risk of leaving some of his garmentsbehind him, sprang out from between the branches, and dropped downbetween the two pedestrians with a suddenness that stupefied them.
The man who was to pay so dear for the precious packet sent him byGertrudis, was now face to face with the messenger who bore it; and yetneither of them knew the other!
"Hush!" said the Colonel, taking the initiative, "you have nothing tofear. I promise you my protection; but first lay down your arms!"
Zapote had drawn his long dagger, and stood ready to use it against thefirst enemy who came near, with that indifference peculiar to one whobelieved in the rope or garotte as the necessary termination of hislife. But Don Rafael had at the same instant caught hold of his arm,which he held with a grasp, that proved he could also become as terriblean antagonist as he might be a powerful protector.
"Who are you?" simultaneously inquired the two fugitives.
"Ah! it might be indiscreet in me to tell you that," replied Don Rafael."I am a young man who has just sprung down from the tree above you, asyou may see by my hat still sticking up there among the branches."
Without letting go his hold of Zapote the Colonel raised himself on histoes; and, stretching his arm upwards, proceeded to disengage theinsurgent's hat from among the branches.
"So, amigos!" continued he as soon as he had recovered his hat. "Youare fleeing from the guerilleros of Arroyo? Well--so am I: that isenough for you to know at present. You are two and I only one; but letme plainly tell you, that if you do not make common cause with me, Ishall be under the necessity of killing you both. Now you may choose--Yes or no!"
"_Carrambo_!" exclaimed Zapote, not ill pleased with the frank, off-handmanner of the stranger, "what a capital trader you would make with yourroundabout way of coming to terms! Well, cavallero! what can we do foryou?"
"Pass me off with these fellows of Arroyo: as you are intending to doyour comrade here. Say that I am charged with the ransom of a prisonerat the hacienda Del Valle, and thus obtain for me permission to pass thelines. If you do this, I promise you a recompense. And since you areboth about to share the bounty of some one between you--"
"Only a little commission," interrupted Zapote; "and if you knew what itis--"
"Oh, I have no intention of claiming my third in the reward. I don'tcare to know what it is."
"But you shall know, for all that," replied Zapote, apparently carriedaway by an irresistible desire of giving his confidence. "Amongfriends--for we are so at present--there should be no concealment."
"Well, then, what is it?" inquired the Colonel.
"It is the will of a rich uncle in favour of a nephew who believedhimself disinherited, and to whom we are now taking it. You may fancywhether we have just grounds for expecting a good perquisite."
"Are you sure that the will is not a false one?" inquired the Colonel,not without suspicions as to the veracity of Zapote.
"Neither of us knows how to read," replied the ex-guerillero, with anair of affected innocence.
"But take my word for it, cavallero," he hastily added, "we had betterget out of this place as quickly as we can. We have already lost toomuch time."
"But my horse," objected the Colonel, "what's to be done with him?"
"Oh, you have a horse? Well, then, the best way is to leave him behind:he will only embarrass you."
"He would certainly do so," interrupted the messenger, "if he was like ahorse I once knew. Ah, that was a devil of an animal! If you had onlyheard--"
The man was alluding to a horse he had once seen in the stables of hismaster, Don Mariano de Silva, and which was no other than Roncadorhimself. He was about to recount the peculiarities of this f
amoussteed--which would no doubt have led to a recognition between himselfand Don Rafael--when his speech was interrupted by voices heard indifferent directions, as if men were approaching the spot from differentsides.
Both Don Rafael and the messenger interrogated with anxious regard thecountenance of Zapote.
"_Carrambo_!" exclaimed the latter, "it may be more serious than Ithought."
The voices had now broken forth into shouts and cries--as if uttered bymen engaged in a chase; and the sounds expressed a sort of vengefulresolve--on the part of those who uttered them--not to show mercy orgive quarter.
El Zapote looked for some moments with fixed gaze upon the royalistfugitive, who with the felt hat of an insurgent, the jacket of aninfantry soldier, and the pantaloons of a dragoon officer, presented asomewhat motley appearance.
"You are a man who has just dropped down from a tree," said he. "I willnot deny that fact; but if you are the only one about here, I should saythere is a royalist in this wood, that these fellows are about to huntto death."
"On my side I shall be frank with you," answered Don Rafael. "You haveguessed rightly: I am in the King's cause."
"These shouts," continued Zapote, "the meaning of which I understandfull well, denote that there is a royalist hidden in these woods, who isto be taken dead or alive. Have the men who are pursuing you ever seenyou?"
"I killed two of their number yesterday evening. There were others who,no doubt, saw me."
"Then there is no hope of my being able to pass you off as an ordinaryprisoner, like my companion here, who is neither royalist norinsurgent."
"It is very doubtful, to say the least," remarked Don Rafael, in adesponding tone.
"Altogether impossible; but I can promise you one thing, however: thatwe shall not betray you, should we fall in with these pursuers.Moreover, I shall endeavour to throw them off your scent: for I ambeginning to tire of this brigand life of theirs. On one condition, however."
"Name it!" said the Colonel.
"That you will permit us to part company with you. I can do nothing tosave you--you know it--while you may only ruin us, without any profit toyourself. On the other hand your fate has become in a manner linkedwith ours; and to abandon you in the midst of danger would be a basenessfor which I could never pardon myself."
There was in the words of Zapote an accent of loyalty, which moved theColonel to admiration, in spite of himself.
"Have no care for me," resolutely rejoined Don Rafael. "Go which wayyou please without me; and I hope," he added with a smile, "that youwill reach that nephew you speak of, and safely deliver to him hisuncle's will!"
"After all, _amigo_," he continued in a more serious tone, "I have butlittle reason to care for life more than yourself. A little sooner or alittle later, what matters it? Only," added he, smiling, "I should notexactly fancy to be hanged."
"Thanks for your permission that we should part from you," said Zapote;"but, Senor Cavallero, a word before you go. If you take my advice, youwill climb back into that tree where no one will suspect your presence."
"No," interrupted Don Rafael. "Up there I should be as a jaguar pursuedby hounds--without the power to defend myself; and I am like theIndians, I wish, on entering the other world, to send as many enemiesbefore me as possible."
"Well, then, do better still--make towards the river; keep due southfrom this place; and, on reaching the banks of the Ostuta, you will seea vast thicket of bamboos--in which my comrade and myself have justfound a refuge, and where we might have remained safe from enemies tillthe day of judgment, had we not to go forward upon our errand. If youcan only succeed in reaching the bamboos, you are saved."
Saying this El Zapote, followed by his companion, turned his facenorthward, and striking off into the thicket but were soon lost to DonRafael's sight.