CHAPTER SEVENTY NINE.
A BRACE OF CRAFTY COURIERS.
It is necessary to explain the cause of Don Mariano's advance towardsthe spot.
From the place in which he and his party had taken their stand, theycould witness most part of the pursuit, as well as the events thatfollowed it; but so confusedly, that it was impossible to tell by theeye who were the victors, and who the vanquished. The ear gave them abetter clue as to how the strife was turning; for the chase had not beencarried on in silence.
So long as the shores of the lake at that especial point were cleared ofpeople, it mattered little to Costal and Clara who should have theadvantage. With Don Mariano the case was difficult.
Convinced by what he had seen, that the leader of the sanguinary pursuitcould be no other than the Colonel Tres-Villas, whose life was nowalmost as precious to him as that of his own daughter--since hersdepended upon it--he stood for a while absorbed in the most painfuluncertainty. From the commencement of the drama he had, in fact,preserved a solemn silence--feeling that words could in no way relievethe anxiety of Gertrudis.
A vivid sentiment of curiosity had equally kept in silence Don Cornelioand his two followers, who at some paces from the _litera_ stoodlistening.
Don Mariano was still ignorant of the fact that the hacienda of SanCarlos had been captured and pillaged by the band of Arroyo. Had heknown of this, and other events of a yet more horrid nature, his soulmight have been harrowed by a far more agonising emotion than that ofmere uncertainty; and perhaps he might have become an actor instead ofspectator in the strife that was accruing.
As for Dona Gertrudis, she had easily distinguished that strange soundthat issued from the nostrils of the well-known steed; and with her eareagerly bent, she listened with mortal anguish to every breath that wasborne back from the scene of the struggle.
Costal, who was impatient to return with Clara towards the spot where hehad been so near capturing the white-robed Matlacuezc, was the first tobreak the prolonged silence.
"Whatever may be the result," said he, in hopes of inducing Don Marianoand his party to move away from the place, "the path is now clear foryou, Senor Don Mariano. If it is to the hacienda of Las Palmas you aregoing, you will find the road both open and safe."
"We are not going to Las Palmas," answered Don Mariano, with an air ofabstraction, at the same time advancing a few paces in order to have abetter view of what was passing.
"If I were in your place," persisted Costal, in a significant tone, "Ishould go there. It is the safest route you can take, and let me assureyou the moments are precious--_Carrambo_!" continued he, in an angrytone, and suddenly facing round, as the crackling of branches announcedthat some one was passing near through the thicket. "By all theserpents in the hair of Tlaloc, there are some more people in the woods.In the name of--"
The invoked deity was not mentioned, as just at that moment voices wereheard where the bushes were in motion, and Costal interrupted his speechto listen. The words were--
"This way, _compadre_--this way! I hear over yonder the voice of theman we are in search of. Listen! that's the Colonel's voice to acertainty. Quick, by all the devils! Let us run at full speed, or weshall miss him, again."
The voice of this speaker was not known to any of those who had heardit, and he who was addressed as "_compadre_" appeared not to have madeany reply. But the sound of their footsteps, and the swish of therecoiling branches, each moment became more indistinct, till at lengththe noises were lost in the distance.
It is scarcely necessary to say that the two men, who had thus passed sonear, were the messengers so often disappointed, Gaspar and Juan elZapote. As already known, they had been to the hacienda San Carlos,where they had learnt the direction taken by Don Rafael on leaving it.They had followed his tracks, which to Juan el Zapote, a skilled_rastreador_, was easy enough--especially in such a moonlight. They hadeven recognised Don Mariano and his party, on coming near the spot wherethe haciendado had halted; and for a moment Gaspar hesitated about goingup to the group and reporting himself to his master, as he ought to havedone.
From the performance of his duty he was dissuaded by his astuteassociate, who represented to him, that, in case of his reportinghimself, Don Mariano might countermand the message he had sent to theColonel, now that the latter was known to be on the ground. He mightprefer delivering the precious talisman in _propria persona_, and thenwhere would be the bounty they had long expected, and for which they hadmore than once risked their necks?
These arguments prevailed even with the honest Gaspar; and to such anextent, that from this very motive he had declined to answer thespeeches of Zapote, lest his voice might be recognised by Don Mariano,or some of his fellow-servants! Cautiously did the two make a detourthrough the trees, and so rapidly, that no one was likely to be able tointercept them, before they could reach the place to which the voice ofthe Colonel was guiding them.
As soon as the men had passed out of hearing, Costal and Clara, who sawthat Don Mariano showed no sign of following their advice, exchangedglances of vexatious disappointment. The haciendado still kept hisground; and with his ear catching every sound, was vainly endeavouringto obtain a solution to the painful uncertainty that surrounded him.
The moon, about to sink behind the summit of the enchanted hill, castoblique rays along the level shore of the lake. There he could make outa confused group of men and horses, some of the former dismounted andflinging long shadows over the plain. What was passing in the middle ofthis group? Some terrible scene, no doubt, was there being enacted--tojudge from the hurried movements of the men, and the angry intonation oftheir voices.
At that moment a frightful cry rose upon the air, and, borne upon thestill breeze, was distinctly heard by Don Mariano and the people aroundhim. It was the agonised cry of a wretch begging for mercy. The voiceeven could be distinguished by Don Mariano, by Costal, by Clara, and thedomestics. All knew it was the voice of Arroyo.
The cry was significant. Beyond doubt Don Rafael was the victor, andwas now executing upon the murderer of his father the act of mercilessjustice he had promised before the walls of Las Palmas.
Don Mariano hesitated no longer; but, giving the order to hisattendants, advanced towards the scene of vengeance.