CHAPTER XXI.
SANDOVAL.
"Yes," the Jaguar continued presently in a broken voice; "this letterwas entirely in Carmela's handwriting. Would you like to know thecontents?"
The American looked around him.
"Well, what matter?" the Jaguar exclaimed with some violence; "Are notthese brave lads our friends, faithful and devoted friends? Why keepsecret from them a thing I should be forced to tell them, perhapstomorrow?"
John Davis bowed.
"You did not understand my thought," he said. "I am not afraid aboutthem, but of those who may be possibly listening outside."
The young man shook his head.
"No, no," he said, "fear nothing, John Davis, my old friend; no one islistening to us."
"Read the letter in that case, for I am anxious to know its contents."
Although the dawn was beginning to tinge the horizon with all theprismatic colours, the light was not sufficient yet for it to bepossible to read by it. Lanzi, therefore, seized the candil, whose smokywick smouldered without spreading any great light, snuffed it intrepidlywith his fingers, and held it in a line with the Jaguar's face. Thelatter, after a moment's hesitation, drew from the pocket of his velvetjacket a dirty and crumpled piece of paper, unfolded it, and read:
"_To the Chief of the Texan Freebooters, surnamed the Jaguar._"
"If you really take that interest in me you have so often offered toprove to me, save me, save the daughter of your friend! Having leftGalveston to go in search of my father, I have fallen into the hands ofmy most cruel enemy. I have only hope in two men in this world, yourselfand Colonel Melendez. My father is too far for me to be allowed to hopeeffectual assistance from him. And besides, his life is too precious tome for me to consent to him risking it. Whatever may happen, I trust inyou as in God; will you fail me?
"The disconsolate CARMELA."
"Hum!" the American muttered; "Is that all?"
"No," the young man answered, "there is a second note written below thefirst."
"Ah, ah! By Carmela?"
"No."
"By whom, then?"
"I do not know, for it is not signed."
"And do you suspect nobody?"
"Perhaps I do--but before telling you whom I suspect, I had better readyou the second letter."
"For what reason?"
"In order to know whether you share in my suspicions, and if theycorroborate mine."
"Good, I understand you. Read!"
The Jaguar took up the paper again and read:
"This letter, written in duplicate, is addressed by Dona Carmela to twopersons, Senor El Jaguar and Colonel Melendez; but the second copy hasnot yet been delivered, as I am awaiting the Jaguar's answer ere doingso. It depends on him not only to save a young lady, interesting inevery respect, but also, if he will, to secure the triumph of the causefor which he is combating so valiantly. For this purpose, he has only aneasy thing to do: he will proceed, between eight and nine o'clock in themorning, to the Cueva del Venado; a man will issue from the grotto, andtell him on what conditions he consents to aid him in this doubleenterprise."
The Jaguar folded up the paper, and placed it in his jacket pocket.
"Is that all?" the American asked a second time.
"This time, yes, it is all," the young man answered; "now what do youthink of this epistle?"
"Why, I think that the man who wrote it is the same who handed you theletter."
"We are agreed, for I think so too. And what, in your opinion, ought Ito do?"
"Ah, that is a more difficult question than the first; the case isserious."
"Remember that it concerns Carmela."
"I am well aware of it. But reflect that this rendezvous may conceal asnare."
"For what object?"
"Why, to seize you."
"Well, and what then?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why, supposing that it is a trap, what will be the result of it?"
"In the first place that you will be a prisoner, and Texas be deprivedof one of her most devoted defenders. In short, in your place I wouldnot go, that is my brief and candid opinion. And," turning to hisauditors, who had remained silent and motionless since their entrance,he asked them, "and you, Senores, what do you think of it?"
"It would be madness for the Jaguar to trust a man he does not know, andwhose intentions may be bad," said Lanzi.
"He must remain here," Quoniam backed his friend up.
"The antelope is the wildest of animals, and yet its instinct makes itescape the hunters," the Comanche Chief said sententiously; "my brotherwill remain with his friends."
"The Jaguar walked up and down the jacal with visible annoyance andfebrile impatience, while each thus gave his opinion.
"No," he said, with some violence, as he suddenly stopped; "no, I willnot abandon Dona Carmela when she claims my assistance, for it would bean act of cowardice, which I will not commit, whatever the consequencesmay be: I will go to the Cueva del Venado."
"You will reflect, my friend," John Davis remarked.
"My reflections are all made; I will save Dona Carmela, even at the riskof my life."
"You will not do that, my friend," the American continued gently.
"Why shall I not?"
"Because honour forbids you; because, besides the heart, there is duty;besides private feelings, public interests. Stationed at the rear-guard,you are responsible for the safety of the army; and if you are killed ormade prisoner, the army is perhaps lost, or, at any rate, in danger;that is why you will not do so, my friend."
The Jaguar let his head droop and sank quite crushed into an equipal.
"What is to be done; my God! What is to be done?" he murmured indespair.
"Hope!" John Davis answered. And, making a signal to his friends whichthe latter understood, for they immediately rose and left the hut, hecontinued:
"Jaguar, my friend, my brother, is it for me to restore yourcourage--you, a man with a lion's heart, and so strong in battle; whomadversity has never forced to bow his head? Do you dare to place yourlove for a woman and your devotion to the country on the same level? Doyou dare to lament your lost love, Carmela, a prisoner, or even dead,when your native land is succumbing beneath the repeated blows of itsoppressors? Do you forget that if you grow weak, or even hesitate toaccomplish your glorious sacrifice, tomorrow, perhaps, that country,which is so dear to you for so many reasons--which has shed its best andmost precious blood in a hopeless struggle, will be buried eternally, byyour fault, beneath the corpses of the last of its children? Brother,brother, the hour is supreme; we must conquer or die for the salvationof all. The general welfare must put down all paltry or selfishpassions. To hesitate is to act as a traitor. Up, brother, and do notdishonour yourself by a cowardly weakness!"
The young man started up as if a serpent had stung him on hearing theseharsh words; but he suddenly subdued the wild flash of his eye, while asad smile covered his handsome face like a winding sheet.
"Thanks, brother," he replied, as he seized John Davis's hand, andpressed it convulsively; "thanks for having reminded me of my duty. Iwill die at my post."
"Ah, I find you again at length," the American exclaimed joyfully. "Ifelt certain that your heart would not remain deaf to the call of duty,and that you would carry out your glorious sacrifice to the end."
The young man heaved a deep sigh; but he did not feel within him thestrength to respond to the praise which in his heart he knew he did notdeserve. At this moment the clang of arms and the sound of horses wasaudible without.
"What is the matter now?" the Jaguar asked.
"I do not know," the American answered; "but I fancy that we shall soonbe informed."
In fact, the sentry had challenged; and, after an apparentlysatisfactory reply, a horseman entered the camp.
"A flag of truce!" Lanzi said, appearing in the doorway of the jacal.
"A flag of truce!" the Jaguar repeated, giving John Davis a glance ofsurprise.
/> "Perhaps it is the help you expect from heaven, and which has been sentyou," the American answered.
The young man smiled incredulously, but turned to Lanzi and said,
"Let him enter."
"Come, senor," said the half-breed, addressing a person who was stillinvisible; "the Commandant is ready to receive you."
Lanzi fell back, and made room for an individual who at once entered.The Jaguar started on recognising him. It was Sandoval, who haddelivered him the letter on the previous day. The Pirate Chief bowedpolitely to the two persons in whose presence he found himself.
"You are surprised to see me, I think, Caballeros," he said, with asmile to the Jaguar.
"I confess it," the latter said, with a bow no less polite than the onemade to him.
"The matter is clear enough, however. I like a plain and distinctunderstanding. In the letter I delivered to you myself yesterday, I gaveyou the meeting at the Cueva del Venado, to discuss grave matters; asyou will remember."
"I allow it."
"But," Sandoval continued, with the calmness and intrepid coolness thatcharacterised him, "we had hardly separated ere I made a reflection."
"Ah! And would it be indiscreet to ask its nature?"
"Not at all. I reflected that, under the circumstances, regarding theposition in which we stand to each other, and as I had not the honour ofyour acquaintance, it might possibly happen that you would place in meall the confidence I deserve, and that you might leave me to kick myheels in the grotto."
The two insurgents exchanged a smiling glance, which Sandovalintercepted.
"Ah, ah!" he said, with a laugh; "it appears that I guessed right. Inshort, as I repeat that we have serious matters to discuss, I resolvedto come direct to you, and so cut this difficulty."
"You did well, and I thank you for it."
"It is not worth while, for I am working as much for myself as for youin this business."
"Be it so; but that does not render your conduct less honourable. Thenyou are not a flag of truce?"
"I; not a bit in the world. It was merely a title I thought it better toassume, in order to find my way to you more easily."
"No matter; so long as you remain with us you shall be treated as such,so do not feel alarmed."
"I alarmed! About what, pray? Am I not under the safeguard of yourhonour?"
"Thanks for the good opinion you are kind enough to have of me, and Iwill justify it. Now, if you think proper, we will come to the point."
"I ask nothing better," Sandoval answered with some hesitation, andlooking dubiously at the American.
"This caballero is my intimate friend," the Jaguar said, understandinghis meaning; "you can, speak frankly before him."
"Hum!" said Sandoval, with a toss of the head. "My mother, who was aholy woman, repeated to me frequently, that when two are enough tosettle a matter, it is useless to call in a third."
"Your mother was right, my fine fellow," John Davis said, with a laugh;"and since you are so unwilling to have me as an auditor, I willretire."
"It is perfectly indifferent to me whether you hear me or not," Sandovalsaid, carelessly; "I only said so for the sake of the Senor, who may notwish a third party to hear what I have to say."
"If that be really your sole motive," the Jaguar continued, "you canspeak, for I repeat to you I have no secrets from this Caballero."
"All right then," said Sandoval.
He seated himself on an equipal, rolled a husk cigarette, lit it by thecandil, whose light had become quite unnecessary, owing to the daylightbecoming each moment brighter, and then turned easily to his twohearers.
"Senores," he said, puffing out a large quantity of smoke from his mouthand his nostrils, "it is as well for you to know that I am therecognised Chief of a numerous and brave band of banished men, orproscripts, whichever you may call them, whom the so-called honesttownsfolk fancied they branded by calling them skimmers of the Savannah,or pirates of the prairies, both of which titles are equally false."
At this strange revelation, made with such cool cynicism, the two mengave a start and regarded each other with considerable surprise. Thepirate watched this double movement, and probably satisfied mentally bythe effect he had produced, he continued:
"I have reasons that you should know my social position," he said, "foryou to understand what is going to follow."
"Good," John Davis interrupted; "but what motive urged you to take thepresent step?"
"Two important reasons," Sandoval answered, distinctly; "the first is,that I wish to avenge myself; the second, the desire of gaining a largesum of money by selling you in the first battle, for the highest price Ican obtain, the co-operation of the cuadrilla I have the honour tocommand, a cuadrilla composed of thirty well armed and famously mountedmen."
"Now go on, but be brief, for time presses."
"Do not be frightened, I am not fond of chattering; how much do youoffer me for my cuadrilla?"
"I cannot personally make a bargain with you," the Jaguar said; "I mustrefer the matter to the General in Chief."
"That is perfectly true."
"Still, you can tell me the price you ask; I will submit it to theGeneral and he will decide."
"Very good; you will give me fifty thousand piastres,[1] half down, therest after the battle is won. You see that I am not exorbitant in mydemands."
"Your price is reasonable; but how can we communicate?"
"Nothing is easier; when you desire to speak to me you will fasten redpendants to the lances of your cavalry, and I will do the same when Ihave any important communication to make to you."
"That is settled; now for the other matter."
"It is this: one day a monk of the name of Fray Antonio sent me awounded man."
"The White Scalper?" John Davis exclaimed.
"Do you know him?" the pirate asked.
"Yes, but go on."
"He is a pretty scamp, I think?"
"I am quite of your opinion."
"Well, I greeted him as a brother and gave him the best I had; do youknow what he did?"
"On my word, I do not."
"He tried to debauch my comrades and supplant me."
"Oh, oh! That was rather strong."
"Was it not? Fortunately I was watching, and managed to parry the blow;about this time General Santa Anna offered to engage us as a FreeCorps."
"Oh!" the Jaguar uttered, in disgust.
"It was not very tempting," the pirate continued, being mistaken in theyoung man's exclamation, "but I had an idea."
"What was it?"
"The one I had the honour of explaining to you a moment back."
"Ah! very good."
"Hence, I selected thirty resolute men from my band and started to jointhe Mexican army; of course, you understand, I was paid."
"Of course, nothing could be more fair."
"I was careful to bring this demon of a man with me, for you canunderstand that I did not care to leave him behind."
"I should think so."
"We went on very quietly till a day or two back, when, in beating up thecountry, I captured a girl, who, only escorted by three men, who fledlike cowards at the first shot, was trying to join the Texan army."
"Poor Carmela!" the Jaguar murmured.
"Do not pity her, but rejoice, on the contrary, that she fell into myhands; who knows what might have happened with anyone else?"
"That is true, go on."
"I was willing enough to let the poor girl continue her journey, but theScalper opposed it. It seemed that he knew her, for on seeing her heexclaimed--'Oh, oh! This time she shall not escape me;' is that clear,eh?"
The two men bowed their assent.
"However, the prisoner was mine, as I had captured her."
"Ah!" said the Jaguar, with a sigh of relief.
"Yes, and I would not consent to surrender her to the Scalper at anyprice."
"Good, very good! You are a worthy man."
The pirate smiled modestly.
"Yes," he said, "I am all right, but my comrade, seeing that I would notgive up the girl to him, offered me a bargain."
"What was its nature?"
"To give me twenty-five gold onzas, on condition that I never restoredmy prisoner to liberty."
"And did you accept?" the Jaguar asked, eagerly.
"Hang it! Business is business, and twenty ounces are a tidy sum."
"Villain!" the young man exclaimed, as he rose furiously.
John Davis restrained him, and made him sit down again.
"Patience," he said.
"Hum!" Sandoval muttered, "You are deucedly quick; I allow that Ipromised not to set her at liberty, but not to prevent her flight; did Inot tell you that I was a man of ideas?"
"That is true."
"The girl interested me, she wept. It is very foolish, but I do not liketo see women cry since the day when----but that is not the point,"--hecaught himself up--"she told me her name and story; I was affected inspite of myself, and the more so, as I saw a prospect of taking myrevenge."
"Then you propose to me to carry her off?"
"That's the very thing."
"How much do you want for that?"
"Nothing," the Pirate answered with a magnificent gesture ofdisinterestedness.
"How, nothing?"
"Dear me, no."
"That is impossible."
"It is so, however, though I will propose two conditions."
"Ah! Ah! There we have it."
The pirate smiled in reply.
"Let us hear them," the young man continued.
"In order not to compromise myself unnecessarily, you will carry off thegirl during the first battle, when I come over to your side. Do not befrightened, it will not be long first, if I may believe certainforebodings."
"Good, that is granted. Now for the second."
"The second is, that you swear to free me from the White Scalper, andkill him, no matter in what way."
"Done again--I swear it. But now permit me one question."
"Out with it."
"How is it that as you hate this man so deeply, you have not killed himyourself, as there could have been no lack of opportunity?"
"Certainly not, I could have done it a hundred times."
"Well, why did you not do it?"
"Are you desirous of knowing?"
"Yes."
"Well, it was because the man has been my guest and slept under my roofby my side, eaten and drank at my table; but what it is not permitted meto do, others can do in my place. But now good bye, Senores, when willyou give me a definite answer?"
"This very evening; I shall have seen the General in a few hours."
"This evening, then."
And bowing politely to the two men, he quietly left the jacal, mountedhis horse, and set out at a gallop, leaving the two men terrified at hisimperturbable effrontery and profound perversity.
[1] About L10,000.