CHAPTER XIII.
The cavalier was roused from his slumbers by a cause at firstincomprehensible. The moonlight had vanished from the prison, and deepobscurity had succeeded; but in the little light remaining, he saw, ashe started up, the figures of several men, one of whom had been tuggingat his shoulder, and now whispered to him, as he instinctively graspedat his dagger,
"Peace, cavalier! I am a friend, and I give you liberty."
"I will thank thee for the gift, when I am sure I enjoy it," said theneophyte, already on his feet; "I remember thy voice--thou art one ofthe followers of the knave Narvaez?"
"I am one who laments, without extenuating, the folly of the general,"said the voice of Duero. "But tarry not to question. Hasten,--thy horseis ready."
"Where is the youth Fabueno? It is not in my power to desert thesecretary."
"Here, senor!" whispered Lorenzo. "I am ready."
"Ah, friend Fabueno! I am glad to hear thee speak so cheerily;--itassures me thy wound does not afflict thee.--And my varlets, senor?"
"They wait for thee, Don Amador. Delay not: the door is open. Themagician will guide thee to thy kinsman.--Commend me to Cortes; and ifthou art at any time found fighting on the pyramid of Zempoala,remember that Duero is not thine enemy."
"By heaven, I should think I dream!" said Amador. "Stay, senor! I wouldthank thee for thy honourable and most noble benevolence; and, inaddition, would tax thy charity in favour of a certain Moor----"
"_Tetragrammaton!_ thou pratest as if thou wert among thy friends inChristendom! and of infidels too, as if there were no Christians to bethought of!" said a voice, in which Amador instantly recognised thetones of the enchanter. "I said, the captive should be freed; but nevera jot that he should not be reduced to bonds again by his own folly!--Besilent, and follow me."
The neophyte had collected his scattered senses, and instantly assumingthe prudence, which, he now understood, was necessary to his safety, heissued from the prison. The moon was sinking behind the vast andmajestic peaks of the interior. A deep shadow lay over the great square,on one side of which stood the dungeon; and only on the top of theprincipal tower trembled a lingering ray. A silence still deeper thanthe darkness, invested the Indian city; and Amador could distinctly hearthe foot-fall of a sentinel as he strode to and fro over the terrace ofthe pyramid. He looked to that quarter, whence, as he judged, had comethe shafts which had so nearly robbed him of his fellow-prisoner. Thecrossbowmen slept on their post, in the mild and quiet air, at the baseof the temple.
"Give me thy hand, Fabueno," said Amador, drawing his poniard again fromthe sheath. "I will shield thee from the dogs this time. And now that Isnuff the breath of freedom! I think it will need a craftier knave'strick than that of Salvatierra, to deprive me of it a second time."
Following the magician, as he stole cautiously along, the brothers inmisfortune crept on with a stealthy pace, under the shadows of buildingsand trees; till, exchanging the more exposed openness of the square forthe safer gloom of a street, they advanced with greater assurance andrapidity. The stone dwellings of the Tlatoani gave place to the earthenand wicker cabins of the suburbs.--The gray glimpses of morning had notyet visited the east, when they reached the extreme edge of the town,and betook themselves to the covert of a clump of trees, under which, inthe figures that were there visible, Don Amador recognised with joy hiswar-horse and his followers.
"Rejoice in silence," said Botello, interrupting his raptures; "forthere is an ear at no great distance very ready to hear thee. Mount andbe ready.--Senor secretary, thy sorrel is tied to the mimosa.--You canlook to your equipments a little, while I see if heaven will not confirmthe fate of visions; for I dreamed I should ride back to Cortes on agood roan charger to-day."
The magician disappeared, and Amador, scarcely suppressing his ardour,when he found that not only his attendants and horses, but even thewell-fleshed sword wrested from him in the evening, was in readiness tobe restored to him, grasped it with exultation, and sprang into thesaddle. Then passing towards Fabueno, and finding that his arm causedhim much pain in the act of mounting, he assisted him to ascend with hisown hand; a condescension that went to the heart of the secretary. FromFabueno also he learned, in a few words, somewhat of the secret of theirliberation. Less than an hour after Amador had fallen asleep, and whileLorenzo was still kept awake by the pain of his wound, the door of theprison was opened, and Botello thrust in; who comforted the secretarywith a mystic, but still an unequivocal assurance of freedom beforesunrise; and commanded him not to wake the novice, but to follow hisexample--he would need invigoration from slumber to support the toils ofthe coming day. What previous understanding might have existed betweenthe enchanter and the senor Duero, he knew not; but, certain he was,Botello had predicted a speedy deliverance for all; and all were nowdelivered.
"I have often considered," said the novice, thoughtfully, "that theexistence of magical powers, either for the purposes of prediction orenchantment, was incompatible with the known goodness and wisdom of God;for surely if the power to foresee would have added any thing to thehappiness of man, God would not have denied it to men generally. And asfor the powers of enchantment, as they can only be used for good or badpurposes, it seems to me that to employ them for the first, would be toaccuse the Divinity of an insufficient benevolence; while to exercisethem for the last, would imply a supposition that heaven had not all menequally under its protection. This, therefore, is my opinion; though Imust confess that, sometimes, when governed more by passion orimagination than by reason, I have had my misgivings on the subject.Nevertheless, good Fabueno, in this particular case of Botello, I mustadvise thee not too much to abuse thy credulity; for, I think, allcircumstances go to show, he grounded his prophecy of our deliverancemore on a knowledge of the resolutions of the good senor Duero than onthe revelations of stars or spirits. Yet must I confess," continuedAmador, "that this very goodness of Duero, implying, as it truly does, astate of opposition and rebellion to the will of the uncivil Narvaez,his general, is so very miraculous, as almost itself to look likemagic."
Before the secretary could reply, the sound of hoofs was heardapproaching; and Botello, as they discovered by his voice, rode up tothe trees.
"The dream was true, the imp that speaks to slumber was not a liar!" hecried, exultingly. "We leave the jailor afoot; and Kalidon-Sadabathshall swing on a galloping horse. God is over all, by night and byday, afoot and on horse, in battle and in flight, Amen!--Now ride,and Santiago for Spain!"--He shouted this sudden cry with a voicethat amazed Amador, after his often-repeated injunctions forsilence,--"Santiago for Spain! San Pedro for the Invaders! and San Pablofor flying prisoners! Whip and spur, guide and cheer! and rocks andthorns spread over the path of pursuers!"
As Don Amador anticipated, the shout of the lunatic, for such he beganto esteem Botello, was carried even to the head-quarters of theBiscayan. An arquebuse was discharged from the pyramid, and, as thefugitives began their flight, the flourish of a trumpet in one quarterof the town, and the roll of a drum in another, convinced them that thealarm had been given, and was spreading from post to post in a mannerthat might prove exceedingly inconvenient. The cavalier pressed to theside of Botello,--an achievement of some little difficulty, for heperceived his guide was well mounted.
"Senor Magico," he cried, as he galloped in company with him, "dost thouknow thou couldst not have fallen upon a better plan to oppose ourflight, and perhaps reduce us again to bonds, than by the indulgence ofthis same untimely and obstreperous shouting?"
"Trust in God, and fear not," replied the magician. "This day shalt thoulook upon the face of Cortes; and though the enemy follow us, yet shallhis pursuit be vain and unlucky."
"I will allow that such may be the termination," said Amador; "yet,notwithstanding, can I perceive no advantage in being pursued; but muchthat is to be deprecated, inasmuch as we shall exhaust that strength ofour horses in our hurry, which might have been reserved for a morehonourable contingency."
"Yo
ur valour will by-and-by perceive there is more wisdom than looks tothe moment," said Botello, coolly, without slacking his pace: "and,provided you can keep your followers from swerving from the path, andthat inexperienced youth from falling out of his saddle, I will, withmy head, answer for your safety."
Amador dropped behind a little: Lazaro and Baltasar required noinstructions to keep them in the neighbourhood of their master; and thesecretary, though complaining that he rode in pain, professed himselfable to keep up with the party. From his henchmen, as he rode, DonAmador obtained but little to unravel the mystery of his escape. The twoattendants had been quartered alone in a deserted building, in thegarden of which they were instructed to provide for their steeds. Theyhad been roused by a cavalier, who commanded them to follow him to theirmaster, in token of whose authority he showed them the well-known bladeof the novice. He had conducted them to the grove, and left them, withcharges to remain, as they had done, in tranquillity, until theappearance of Don Amador.
At the dawn of day, the neophyte became convinced he had ridden morethan the distance which, he supposed, separated the camps of the rivalgenerals; and wondering at the absence of all signs of life in theforest through which he was passing, he again betook himself to Botello.
The magician had halted on the brow of an eminence, where, though thedense wood, as well as the obscurity of the hour, greatly contracted thesphere of vision, he looked back as if striving to detect the figures ofpursuers among the thick shadows. The shouts of men were heard farbehind; but this circumstance, instead of filling the mind of Botellowith alarm, gave, on the contrary, to his countenance an expression ofgreat satisfaction.
"We are pursued, enchanter; and yet, I perceive neither tent norout-post of thy friends, to give us refuge from our enemies," said DonAmador.
"Let them come," cried Botello, tranquilly: "It is worse for the stag,when the pack is scattered; but better for the kite, when the pheasantshave broke the covey."
"There may be much wisdom in thy tropes, as well as in thine actions,"said the novice; "yet am I slow to discover it in either. Whether we areto be considered the stag or the hounds, the hawk or the pheasants,entirely passes my comprehension; but sure am I that, in either case,our safety may be considered quite as metaphorical as thy speech. Iunderstood from thee, last night, and I remember it very well, becauseit was that communication which exasperated me into a quarrel with thegovernor,--that the river whereon Cortes was encamped, was but a leaguefrom Zempoala; yet am I persuaded we have galloped twice that distance."
"He travels no straight road who creeps through the country of afoeman," said Botello, resuming his journey, though at a more moderategait than before; "and Don Amador should be content, if he can avoid themany scouts and vedettes that infest the path, by riding thrice the twoleagues he has compassed already."
"Fogoso is strong, and, it seems to me, his spirit revives at every newstep he takes through these fresh forests," said the cavalier; "yet evenfor his sake, were there no other reason, would I be fain to pick theshortest road that leads to the camp of Cortes. I am greatly concernedabout my young friend, the secretary, who, as thou hast doubtlesslearned, was last night shot through the arm with an arrow, by thoseknaves who kept watch at the window of the prison; and therefore, forhis sake, am I desirous to find a resting place as soon as possible. IfI should give thee my counsel, (a thing I am loath to do, as thouseemest experienced in all the intricacies of this woody wilderness, inwhich I am a stranger,) it would be, to forsake all these crooked andendless by-ways without delay, and strike upon the shortest path,without consideration of any small party of scouts we might meet. For,even excluding the wounded Fabueno, we are here together four strongmen, armed, and well mounted, who, fighting our way to freedom, woulddoubtless be an over-match for twice the number of enemies."
"The youth must learn the science of a soldier," said Botello, "andsuffering is the first letter of its alphabet. Happy will he be if, inthe life he covets, he encounter no more agony than he shall endureto-day. When we have time to rest, I will anoint his arm with a salvemore powerful than the unguents of a physician.--What I do, senor, andwhither I guide, are best; as you will acknowledge, when the journey isover. Why should your honour desire to exchange blows with poor scouts?I shall win better thanks of the knight Calavar, when I conduct you tohim unharmed.--Faster, senor--the pursuers are gaining on us."
The neophyte gave the rein to Fogoso, and greatly inflamed by themention of his kinsman's name, rode by the side of Botello, to demand ofhim such intelligence of the knight as it might be in his power toimpart. Little more, however, had the astrologer to communicate thanAmador had already acquired. The knight Calavar was in the camp ofCortes, among the most honoured of his followers, if such he could becalled, who divided the perils, without claiming to share the profits ofthe campaign, and fought less when he was commanded or entreated thanwhen moved by his own wayward impulses. That he was in good bodilyhealth, was also another point on which Botello was able to satisfycuriosity; and as he made no mention of another subject, on which DonAmador scrupled to speak, he was glad to believe the distractions of thenew world had given some relief to the mental maladies of his kinsman.
A very little circumstance served, however, almost at the same moment toreveal one of his own infirmities. As the morning dawned, and objectswere seen more distinctly, he began to bend an eye of observation on thehorse which Botello rode,--a spirited beast, as he had alreadydetermined, by many evidences of fleetness and mettle. When he came toregard it more closely, he perceived, by signs not to be mistaken, thatit was no other than the animal which had, the day before, caracoledunder the weight of Salvatierra. Botello grinned, when an exclamationmade him acquainted with the thoughts of the cavalier. To the demandwhere and how he had obtained possession of the charger, the answer wasbrief and significant. The captain Salvatierra, like many other officersof Narvaez, preferred rather to waste the moonlight nights with theolive-cheeked Dalilahs of the suburbs, than with enemies and prisoners,even though they might be men of such merit and distinction as DonAmador. This was a peculiarity with which (he did not say whether by theinstrumentality of his art, or the intervention of human agents,)Botello had contrived to become acquainted; and being also apprised ofSalvatierra's favourite retreat, which was at no great distance from thegrove wherein Don Amador had found his followers, he did not hesitate todeprive him of so superfluous an appendage as his charger.
"By St. John!" cried the neophyte, in a heat, "I would have bestowedupon thee more cruzadoes than thou canst gain by a month's exercise ofthine art, hadst thou but made me acquainted with his hiding-place. Inow know, the man who could strike a boy, and attack one he hated frombehind, is a most execrable caitiff, more worthy of misprision thanrevenge; but despite all this, I should have begun this day's labourswith more tranquillity and self-approval, had I but enjoyed two momentsof conference with him previously."
"Your worship may have a day for acquitting scores with him moreconveniently than you could have done this morning," said Botello.
"Hark'ee, Botello," cried Amador, eagerly--"It is thy absolute opinionwe are at this moment pursued,--is it not?"
"I do not doubt it--I hear shouts behind, ever and anon."
"I will tell thee what I will do," continued the neophyte: "I will tarryhere with Lazaro and Baltasar: thou, if thou thinkest fit, canst advancewith the secretary--I should be loath to bring him into combat beforehis wound is healed, and before Lazaro has given him some instructionsin the management of his arms----"
"All this thou wilt do then," said Botello, interrupting him, "on thepresumption that Salvatierra is among the pursuers? Your worship maysatisfy yourself, the vigilant cavalier is, at this moment, eitherabiding the reproof of Narvaez for his negligence, or biting his thumbswith disgust, as, among mounted captains, he walks through the streetsof Zempoala. Horses are not in this land so plentiful as rabbits; and Ithank the blessed influences, which have given to me so good a friendthis day," he went on,
patting the neck of the steed,--"so very good,that, until there comes a new fleet from Cuba, the captain Salvatierrawill be scarce able to follow after his charger. This may satisfy yourhonour on one point. As to another, I beg to assure you, Don Amador,that I am no lying juggler, selling my revelations for money. I tellwhat is told me, when I am moved by the spirit that is given to dwellwithin me; and neither real of silver nor doubloon of gold can otherwisebuy me to open my lips!"