CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CAPTURE OF THE BEGGARS.
When Bark Lingall and Jacob Lobo arrived atGibraltar, they went to the Club–House Hotelto inquire for the fugitive. He was not there; but theyspent half an hour questioning the landlord and othersabout the hall, in regard to the town and its hotelsand boarding–houses. Then they went to the King’sArms; and, in the course of another half–hour, theylearned that Henry Raymond had left this hotel withinan hour. Where had he gone? The landlord couldnot tell. No steamer had left that day; he might haveleft by crossing the Neutral Ground, or he might havegone over to Algeciras in a boat.
“I wonder why he cleared out so suddenly,” saidBark, very much annoyed at the situation.
“I suppose he was frightened at something,” repliedJacob. “Very likely he saw you when we went intothe Club–House.”
“But he wouldn’t run away from me. He and I arethe best of friends.”
“But circumstances alter cases,” laughed the interpreter.“He may have supposed you had gone over tothe enemy, and had come here to entrap him in someway.”
“It may be; but I hardly believe it,” mused Bark.
Jacob Lobo had no suspicion that he had been thecause of Raymond’s hurried departure; and he did notsuggest the true solution of the problem. But the fugitivewas gone; and all they had to do was to lookhim up. They were zealous in the mission with whichthey were charged, and lost not a moment in prosecutingthe search. But they had almost gained the battlein obtaining a clew to the fugitive. Lobo declared thatit would be easy enough to trace him out of the town,for he must have gone by the Neutral Ground, which isthe strip of land separating the Rock from the mainland,or crossed to Algeciras in a boat. They were ontheir way to the landing–port, when the evening gunwas fired.
“That’s as far as we can go to–night,” said Lobo,coming to a sudden halt.
“Why? what’s the matter now?” asked Bark.
“That’s the gun, and the gate will be closed in afew minutes,” replied Lobo. “They wouldn’t openit to oblige the King of Spain, if he happened alonghere about this time.”
It was no use to argue the matter in the face offact; and they spent the rest of the day in makinginquiries about the town. They went to the drivers ofcabs, and to those who kept horses and mules to let.They questioned men and women located near thegate. No one had seen such a person as was described.They went to the King’s Arms for the night;and as soon as the gate was opened in the morningthey hastened to the landing–port to make inquiriesamong the boatmen. They found one with whom theyhad spoken when they landed the day before. Hewanted a job, as all of them do. He had seen a youngman answering to the description given; and he hadgone over to Algeciras in the very boat that broughtthem over. Would they like to go over to Algeciras?They would, immediately after breakfast; for they hadleft their bags, and had not paid their bill at the hotel.
The wind was light, and it took them two hours tocross the bay. With but little difficulty they found thestable at which the fugitive had obtained his mules, andlearned that the name of the guide was José Barca.The keeper of the _fonda_ volunteered the informationthat José was a brigand and a rascal; but the stable–keeper,who had furnished the guide, insisted that thelandlord spoke ill of José because he had not obtainedthe job for his own man.
“About all these guides are ex–brigands and smugglers,”said Lobo.
“But the landlord of the _fonda_ looks like a morehonest man than the stable–keeper,” added Bark. “Ithink I should prefer to trust him.”
“I believe you are right, Mr. Lingall; but either ofthem would cheat you if he got the chance,” laughedLobo; but, being a courier himself, it was for his interestto cry down the men with whom travellers have todeal, in order to enhance the value of his own calling.
The landlord would furnish mules and a guide; andin an hour the animals were ready for a start. It wasnot known where Raymond had gone: he had takenthe mules for San Roque, but with the understandingthat he could go as far as he pleased with them. Thename of the landlord’s guide was Julio Piedra. Hewas armed to the teeth, as Raymond’s guide had been.He was a good–natured, talkative fellow; and the fugitivewould certainly have done better, so far as theagreeableness of his companion was concerned, if hehad patronized the landlord instead of the stable–keeper.
When the party arrived at the hotel in San Roque,their store of information was increased by the knowledgethat Raymond had started that morning forRonda. The pursuit looked very hopeful now, and thetravellers resumed their journey.
“We are not making more than three or four knotsan hour on this tack,” said Bark, when they had riddena short distance.
“Three miles an hour is all you can average onmules through this country,” replied Lobo.
“Can’t we offer the guide a bonus to hurry up?”
“You can’t stand it to ride any faster; and, as it is,you will be very sore when you get out of bed to–morrowmorning.”
“I can stand any thing in this chase,” added Barkconfidently.
“What good will it do to hurry?” persisted Lobo.“It is one o’clock now; and Raymond has five hoursthe start of us. It will be impossible to overtake himto–day. The mules can go about so far; and at sixo’clock we shall reach the place where Raymondstopped to dine. That will be Barca de Cuenca; andthat will be the place for us to stop over night.”
“Over night! I don’t want to stop anywhere till wecome up with Raymond,” replied Bark.
“You won’t say that when you get to Barca,” laughedLobo. “You will be tired enough to go to bed withoutyour supper. Besides, the mules will want rest, if youdo not; for the distance will be twenty miles from Algeciras.Raymond stopped over night at San Roque.”
“But where shall we catch up with him?”
“Not till we get to Ronda, as things now stand.”
“I don’t like the idea of dragging after him in thislazy way,” protested Bark.
“What do you wish to do?” demanded Lobo, whohad been over this road twenty times or more, andknew all about the business.
“I don’t believe in stopping anywhere over night,”replied Bark with enthusiasm.
“Very well, Mr. Lingall,” added Lobo, laughing.“If when you get to Barca, and have had your supper,you wish to go any farther, I will see what can be done.I can make a trade with Julio to go on with thesemules, or we can hire others.”
“You say that Raymond left at noon the placewhere we shall be at supper–time: where will he be atthat time?” asked Bark.
“He will go on to Barca de Cortes, which is twelvemiles farther; unless he takes it into his head, as youdo, that he will travel in the night.”
“I am in favor of going on to that place where hesleeps.”
“You are in favor of it now; but, take my word forit, you will not be in favor of it when you get to Barcade Cuenca,” laughed Lobo.
“It will be only four hours more; and I can standthat, if I am tired, as I have no doubt I shall be. Infact, I am tired now, for I am not used to riding onhorseback, or muleback either.”
Before six o’clock they reached Barca de Cuenca;and Bark was certainly very tired. The motion of themule made him uncomfortable, and he had walked agood part of the distance. But, in spite of his weariness,he was still in favor of proceeding that night to theplace where it was supposed the fugitive lodged. Itwould save going about twenty miles in all; and hethought he should come out of the journey better in theend if he were relieved of riding this distance. Juliowas willing to take out his mules again after they hadrested two hours, for a consideration.
While they were making these arrangements in thecourt of the _venta_, or inn, a man mounted on one mule,and leading another, entered the yard. He was dressedand armed in the same style as Julio. At this momentthe landlord called the party to supper. Bark wasdemocratic in his ideas; and he insisted that the guideshould take a seat at the table with Lobo and himself.Julio was a little backward, but he finally took the seatassig
ned to him. He said something in Spanish to theinterpreter as soon as he had taken his chair, whichseemed to excite the greatest astonishment on the partof the latter. Lobo plied him with a running fire ofquestions, which Julio answered as fast as they wereput. Bark judged, that, as neither of them touched thefood which was on their plates, the subject of the conversationmust be exceedingly interesting.
“What is it, Lobo?” he asked, when he had listened,as long as his patience held out, to the exciting talk hecould not understand.
“Did you notice the man that rode into the yard ona mule, leading another?” said Lobo.
“I did: he was dressed like Julio,” replied Bark.
“That was José Barca, who came from Algeciras asRaymond’s guide.”
“But what has he done with Raymond?” demandedBark, now as much excited as his companions.
“We don’t know. Julio has quarrelled with José,and refuses to speak to him; and he says José wouldnot answer him if he did.”
“Do you suppose any thing has gone wrong withRaymond?” asked Bark anxiously.
“I don’t know; but it looks bad to see this fellowcoming back at this time.”
“Well, can’t you see José, and ask him what hasbecome of Raymond?”
“Certainly I can; but whether he will tell me isanother thing.”
“Of course he will tell you: why shouldn’t he?”
“Circumstances alter cases. If Raymond has dismissedhim in order to continue his journey in someother way, José will tell all he knows about it.”
“Do you suppose that is what he has done?”
“I am afraid not,” answered Lobo seriously.
“What has become of him, then?” asked Bark,almost borne down by anxiety for his friend.
“There is only one other thing that can have happenedto him; and that is, that he has been set upon bybrigands, and made a prisoner for the sake of theransom. If this is the case, José will not be so likelyto tell what he knows about the matter.”
“Brigands!” exclaimed Bark, startled at the word.
“A party of English people were captured last year;but I have not heard of any being on the road thisyear,” added Lobo. “But they won’t hurt him if he isquiet, and don’t attempt to resist.”
After supper Lobo had a talk with José. He didnot know what had become of the young gentleman.Three beggars had met them on the road, and Raymondhad gone away with them. They wanted toshow him a cave in the mountains, and he accompaniedthem. José had waited two hours for him, and thenhad gone to look for him, but could not find him.
“Where was this?” demanded Lobo.
“Less than two leagues from here,” replied José.
Lobo translated this story to Bark, and declaredthat every word of it was a lie.
“Raymond went from this _venta_ five hours ago;and it must have taken six or seven hours for all thatJosé describes to take place,” added Lobo. “But wemust pretend to believe the story, and not say a word.”
Bark could not say a word except to the interpreter,who had a talk with Julio next; and the guide presentlydisappeared. Lobo had formed his plan, andput it into execution.
“The route by which we have come is not by thegreat road from San Roque to Ronda, but a shorterone by which two leagues are saved,” said Lobo,explaining his operations to Bark. “All the guidestake this route. About a league across the country, isa considerable town, which is the headquarters of thecivil guard, sent here last year after the English partywas captured, to guard the roads. This is an extraforce; and I have sent Julio over to bring a squad ofthem to this place. José will spend the night here, andstart for home to–morrow morning. I want some ofthe civil guard before he goes; and they will be here inthe course of a couple of hours. Julio is glad enoughof a chance to get José into trouble.”
“But do you believe José has done any thing wrong,even if Raymond has been captured by brigands?”asked Bark.
“Very likely he is to have a share of the plunderand the ransom; and I think you will find him readyto negotiate for the ransom now.”
This proved to be the case; for in the course of anhour José broached the subject to Lobo. He thought,if the friends of the young man would pay liberally forthe trouble of looking him up, he might possibly befound. He did not know what had become of him;but he would undertake to find him. He was a poorman, and he could not afford to spend his time in thesearch for nothing. Lobo encouraged him to talk asmuch as he could, and mentioned several sums of money.They were too small. The beggars had probablylured the young man into the mountains; and he didnot believe they would let him go without a reward.He thought that the beggars would be satisfied withfifty thousand _reales_.
While they were talking about the price, Julio returnedwith an officer and ten soldiers, who at oncetook José into custody. It seemed that he had beenmixed up in some other irregular transaction, andthe officers knew their man. Lobo stated the substanceof his conversation with José, who protestedhis innocence in the strongest terms. It was evidentthat he preferred to deal with the friends of Raymond,rather than the civil guard.
The officer of the guard examined the guide veryclosely; and his story was quite different from that hehad told Lobo, though he still insisted that the menwhom they had encountered were beggars. Theofficer was very prompt in action. José was requiredto conduct the party to the spot where the young manhad been captured. Bark and Lobo mounted theirmules again, and Julio led the way as before.
“Can any thing be done in the night?” asked Bark.
“The officer says the night is the best time to huntup these gentlemen of the road,” replied Lobo. “Theyoften make fires, and cook their victuals, for the soldiersdo not like to follow them in the dark.”
When the procession had been in motion an hourand a quarter, José indicated that it had reached theplace where the beggars—as he still persisted in callingthem—had stopped the traveller. For some reasonor other, he told the truth, halting the soldiers atthe rock which made a corner in the road. He alsoindicated the place where the beggars had taken to thehills. The officer of the civil guard disposed of hisforce for a careful but silent search of the region nearthe road. Many of the soldiers were familiar with thelocality; for they had examined it in order to becomeacquainted with the haunts of brigands. The memberswere widely scattered, so as to cover as much territoryas possible. Bark and Lobo were required to remainwith the officer.
Not a sound could be heard while the soldiers werecreeping stealthily about among the rocks, and visitingthe various caverns they had discovered in their formersurvey. In less than half an hour, several of the guardreturned together, reporting a fire they had all seen atabout the same time. One of them described the placeas being not more than ten minutes’ walk from theroad; and he knew all about the cave in which the firewas built.
“The mouth of the cave is covered with mats; butthey do not conceal the light of the fire,” continuedthe soldier; and Lobo translated his description toBark. “The smoke goes out at a hole in the fartherend of the cave; and, when the brigands are attackedin front, they will try to escape by this opening in therear.”
“We will provide for that,” replied the officer.
He sent out some of the men to call in the rest ofthe party; and, at a safe distance from the fire, theyused a whistle for this purpose. In a short time allthe soldiers were collected in the road, at the nearestpoint to the cave. The lieutenant sent five of his mento the rear of the cave, and four to the front, leavingJosé in charge of one of them.
“Tell him not to let his men fire into the cave,” saidBark to the interpreter. “I am afraid they will shootRaymond.”
“I will speak to him; but I do not think there willbe any firing,” replied Lobo. “When the beggars findthey are in any danger, they will try to get out at thehole in the rear; and the lieutenant will bag them asthey come out.”
The officer directed the men in front not to fire atall, unless the brigands came out of the cave; and notthen, if they
could capture them without. Bark andLobo accompanied the party to the rear, which startedbefore the others. They went by a long roundaboutway, creeping like cats the whole distance. Theyfound the hole, and could see the light of the firethrough the aperture.
The beggars appeared to be having a jolly goodtime in the cavern, for they were singing and joking;and Lobo said they were drinking the health of theprisoner while he was listening at the aperture. Thelieutenant thought that one of their number had beento a town, a league from the place, to procure wineand provisions with the money they had taken fromRaymond; for they could smell the garlic in the stewthat was doubtless cooking on the fire. And thisexplained the lateness of the hour at which they werehaving their repast.
Bark looked into the hole. It appeared to beformed of two immense bowlders, which had beenthrown together so as to form an angular space underthem. The aperture was quite small at the rear end,and the bottom of the cave sloped sharply down to thepart where the beggars were. Raymond could notbe seen; but Bark heard his voice, as he spoke incheerful tones, indicating that he had no great fearsfor the future. But, while Bark was looking into theden, the soldiers in front of the cave set up a tremendousyell, as they had been instructed to do; and thebrigands sprang to their feet.
The rear opening into the cave was partly concealedby the rocks and trees: and probably the brigandssupposed the cave was unknown to the soldiers. Theofficer pulled Bark away from the hole, and placedhimself where he could see into it.
“_Arrida! Alto ahi!_” (Up! Up there!) shoutedone of the brigands; and in a moment Raymondappeared at the opening, with his hands tied behindhim, urged forward by the leader of the beggars.
They evidently intended to make sure of their prisoner,and were driving him out of the cave beforethem. The moment the first beggar appeared, he wasseized by a couple of the soldiers; and in like mannerfour others were captured, for their number had beenincreased since Raymond was captured. Bark wasoverjoyed when he found that his friend was safe. Hecut the rope that bound his hands behind him, andthen actually hugged him.
“Who are you?” demanded Raymond; for it was toodark, coming from the bright light of the fire, for himto identify the person who was so demonstrative.
“Why, don’t you know me, Henry?” asked Bark,wringing the hand of his friend.
“What! Is it Bark?” demanded Raymond, overwhelmedwith astonishment to find his late associateat this place.
“Of course it is Bark.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I came after you; and I think, under the circumstances,it is rather fortunate I did come,” added Bark.
“God bless you, Bark! for you have saved me fromthese vagabonds, who might have kept me for months,so that I could not join my ship.”
That was all the harm the fugitive seemed to thinkwould come of his capture. The soldiers had led thebrigands down into the cavern, and the young men followedthem. The fire was still burning briskly, andthe pot over it was boiling merrily. Everybody washappy except the brigands; and the leader of thesedid not appear to be much disturbed by the accidentthat had happened to him.
“_For Dios_,” said Raymond, extending his hand tothis latter worthy.
“_Perdon usted por Dios hermano_,” replied the leader,shrugging his shoulders.
Raymond informed the lieutenant that this was themanner the interview on the road had commenced.The officer ordered the ruffians to be searched; and thepurse and watch of Raymond were found upon thechief beggar. They were restored to the owner, withthe request that he would see if the money was all inthe purse.
“I was not fool enough to give the beggar all I had,”answered Raymond. “I have a large sum of money inmy belt, which was not disturbed.”
The good–natured leader of the beggars opened hiseyes at this statement.
“There were six _Isabelinos_ in the purse, and nowthere are but five,” added Raymond.
“We spent one of them for food and wine,” saidthe gentle beggar. “We had nothing to eat for twodays, till we got some bread we bought with this money.We were going to have a good supper before we startedfor the mountains; but you have spoiled it.”
The officer was good–natured enough to let them eattheir supper, as it was ready by this time. But Raymondand Bark did not care to wait, and started forthe _venta_, where they intended to pass the night.Julio walked, and Raymond rode his mule.
“I congratulate the Count de Escarabajosa on hisescape,” said Lobo, as they mounted the mules.
“I thank you; but where did you get that title,which I will thank you never to apply to me again?”replied Raymond rather coldly.
“I beg your pardon; but I meant no offence,” saidLobo, rather startled by the coldness and dignity ofRaymond.
“He is a good friend; and if it hadn’t been for himI never should have found you, Henry,” interposedBark.
“I do not understand where he learned about thattitle, and I do not know who he is,” added Raymond.“If you say he is a friend, Bark, I am satisfied.”
“He is, and a good friend. But why did you leaveGibraltar so suddenly?” asked Bark, thinking it bestto change the subject.
“I left because I saw you and your companion gointo the Club–House Hotel; and I knew that youwould come to the King’s Arms next,” replied Raymond.
“You left because you saw me!” exclaimed Bark,astonished at this statement. “Why, I was sent afteryou because the principal thought you would not dodgeout of sight if you saw Scott or me.”
“I did not dodge out of sight because I saw you,but because I saw you had a companion I did notknow: I came to the conclusion that your friend wasthe detective sent after me.”
Bark explained who and what Lobo was; and Raymondapologized to the interpreter for his coldness.Before the party reached the _venta_, the messenger ofthe principal had explained the situation as it waschanged by the death of Don Alejandro. Raymondwas happy in being justified for his past conduct, andglad that his uncle had died confessing his sins and atpeace with the Church.
The fugitive and his friend were asleep when thesoldiers arrived with the prisoners. In the morningRaymond read the letter of Don Francisco, and immediatelywrote a reply to it, requesting him to takecharge of his affairs in Barcelona; and to ask theadvice of his uncle in New York. Bark wrote to theprincipal a full account of his adventures in searchof Raymond. These letters were mailed at Ronda,where the prisoners were taken, and where Raymondhad to go as a witness. The testimony was abundantto convict them all; but Spanish courts were so slow,that Bark and Raymond were detained in Ronda fortwo weeks, though Lobo was sent back to Malaga atonce.
The three brigands were sentenced to a long imprisonment;the two men who were found in the cave withthem to a shorter term, as accomplices; but nothingwas proved against José. Raymond made a handsomepresent to each of the soldiers, and to Julio, for theservice they had rendered him; and, though his gratitudeto Bark could not be expressed in this way, it wasearnest and sincere. Julio and José were still in Rondawith their mules; and it was decided to return to Gibraltaras they had come. During their stay in thismountain city, the two students had seen the sights ofthe place; and they departed with a lively appreciationof this wild locality.
In two days they arrived at Gibraltar, to find thatthe fleet had been there, and left. Both of them wereastonished at this information, which was given themat the King’s Arms, where they had both been guestsbefore. They had been confident that the squadronwould take her final departure for the “Isles of theSea” from this port.
“Left!” exclaimed both of them in the same breath.
“The three vessels sailed three days ago,” repliedthe landlord.
“Where have they gone?” asked Raymond, who haddepended upon meeting his friends on board of theTritonia that evening.
“That I couldn’t tell you.”
They walked about the town, making inquiries inregard to the fleet; but no one knew where it hadgone. The custom–house was closed for the day; an
dthey were obliged to sleep without knowing whether ornot the vessels were on their way across the ocean, orgone to some port in Spain.