CHAPTER VI.
GENERAL FRAY PELAGIO.
It is impossible to describe the enthusiasm which broke out among thepatriots at this revelation which burst upon them like a thunderclap.In truth, it was really Father Pelagio Sandoval. The result obtainedby this surprise, which was so thoroughly to the Mexican taste, wasimmense. For a moment the worthy priest literally ran a risk of beingstifled, so lovingly did his partizans press round him; everyone wishedto get near him, clasp his hand; or kiss some part of his garments.For more than a quarter of an hour there was an indescribable tumultand disorder in the hall; everybody spoke at once; each exalted theremarkable qualities of the chief who had been so long lost, and whoreappeared, as if by a miracle, at the moment when they least hoped tosee him.
The two Canadians were dumb with surprise; the effervescence, however,gradually calmed, and silence was re-established. Before aught else,Father Pelagio was obliged to explain to his followers in what wayhe had succeeded, after two years of captivity, comparable withthe Neapolitan _carcere duro_, in leaving his dungeon by the aidof a faithful friend, in spite of the vigilant watch and constantespionage the Spaniards had established around him. So soon as he hadsatisfied their curiosity to the best of his ability, Father Sandoval,understanding the value of time well employed, and not wishing to letthe enthusiasm of his adherents cool, asked leave to speak.
A deep silence at once fell, as if by enchantment, upon the crowd amoment previously so turbulent and disorderly; each with body bentforward, and an attentive ear, prepared to listen to the words whicha mouth, they had fancied closed for ever, was about to utter. FatherPelagio still retained the calm, benign, and intellectual appearancewhich illumined his face the first time when we introduced him to thereader; a few wrinkles more, furrowed by the terrible struggle he hadcarried on for so many years, marked his pale forehead; his eyes hadacquired a greater magnetic force, and his face, pale and thinned bysuffering, had assumed that appearance of asceticism which Zurbaran hasso well depicted on immortal canvas.
In spite of his common dress, so soon as the priest had thrown farfrom him the broad-brimmed hat which partly covered his features, and,under the influence of the feelings that agitated him at the moment,drew himself up to his full height, his face changed so thoroughly, hisdemeanour all at once became so majestic, that all the spectators, whengazing on him, felt themselves filled with a respect for which they didnot even attempt to account.
"Listen to me, brothers and friends," he said in that melodious andsympathetic voice which gained him all hearts, "Don Anibal said to you,only a moment ago, the time is ripe for our beloved country, the hourof liberty has struck for Mexico. If we really wish to break the yokewhich has so long weighed on us, the moment for the final strugglehas arrived; the salvation of our country depends on you, and all isprepared for the grand act which it is our mission to accomplish. Paythe greatest attention to my words, for the news you are about to hearis serious. You are ignorant, I suppose, of the name of the man whoopened the door of the dungeon in which I was buried alive, withouthope of ever leaving it; this man is Don Agustin de Iturbide, the sameman who shot Matamoros, that stoical martyr of our liberty--Iturbide,that ferocious colonel of militia, who has hitherto proved himselfthe most obstinate enemy of the Mexican insurgents. Don Agustin deIturbide, that skilful, active, enterprising, and ambitious chief, wholearnt the art of war in the ranks of our enemies, has all at once leftthe false path on which he has hitherto marched in order to become oneof our most zealous defenders. Great changes effected in the mothercountry by Riego's pronunciamiento, have led to the establishment ofthe Cortes, and the abolition of the Inquisition throughout the Spanishpossessions. As you see, the times are changed, the sun is beginningto shine for us through the clouds, our most obstinate adversaries arebecoming our warmest partizans. Lastly, the Count del Venadito has beenrecalled by the Spanish government and is no longer Viceroy, his placebeing taken by O'Donoju. Let us take advantage of this interregnum, letus make our last heroic effort, and if we like we shall be free; ourfate depends on ourselves, is in our hands. Shall we hesitate to rendour fetters?"
At those words, warmly pronounced with a cheering accent and inspiredface, the audience felt electrified; an indescribable enthusiasmseized on them, and, drawing their sabres and swords, which theybrandished over their heads, they shouted, in a voice of thunder,"Liberty! Liberty!" The priest waited a few minutes, until thegenerous effervescence caused by his speech had slightly calmed; then,commanding silence by a gesture full of majesty, he continued--
"Iturbide is only waiting for our signal to declare himself forindependence, and overthrow the metropolitan government; the southernprovinces are already in a flame. Shall we remain behindhand? You areall witnesses of what took place here this very morning; the Spaniards,advised by their spies of the meeting which was to take place at thishacienda, and having no plausible excuse to break it up, assumed theIndian garb to attack us, in order to deceive us, and be able, in thecase of a check, to disavow all participation in this unjustifiableact. Their ostensible motive, it is true, senores, was to break up ourmeeting; but their real motive, the important object they had in view,was to carry me off, and thus paralyze your attempts at insurrection.Caballeros, brothers, and countrymen, one last word, which contains ourthought, and traces our duty for us--'To arms! Liberty or death!'"
The effect of these words, pronounced with feverish energy, was immense.
"To arms! Liberty or death!" all his hearers shouted.
At this moment the door opened, and a young man appeared; it wasDon Melchior, the lad saved by Don Anibal some fourteen years back,and brought up by him as his son. Don Aurelio had spoken the truth;Melchior was really a charming cavalier, tall and gracefully built,with regular, noble features, and soft black eyes. His dress, withoutbeing rich, was extremely neat, and held a middle place between that ofthe conspirators and of the desert hunters; a straight sabre, calleda machete, unsheathed, and passed through an iron ring, hung from hisleft side, and the butts of two long pistols peered out of the _faja_,or red China crape girdle, fastened round his hips. Don Melchior, afterlooking curiously around him, glided through the groups and made hisway up to Father Pelagio, in whose ear he whispered a few words; thepriest started, and his face was slightly flushed, but, recoveringhimself immediately, he said, raising his voice so as to commandattention--
"Senores, I have just heard something which neither you nor Ianticipated. Count de Melgosa has just arrived at the hacienda, andinsists on being shown in to you, as he says that he has matters of theutmost importance to communicate to us."
This news produced all the effect which the chief of the insurgentsexpected. All frowned angrily, and a menacing expression of dullirritation appeared on every face.
"What do you propose doing?" Don Aurelio asked. "If our friends givetheir consent," Fray Pelagio replied, "I will receive him at once.What good is it any longer hiding ourselves? We have sufficient forceto hold head against an enemy more dangerous than the count can be.Let us burn our vessels bravely, and make head against the storm. Whatmatter whether our enemies learn two hours sooner or later, that we arerecommencing the struggle?"
"Viva Dios, you are right," Don Anibal exclaimed impetuously; "let usconfront the storm."
"Let us show," the old man supported him, who had already taken part inthe discussion several times; "let us show these haughty Spaniards thatwe are not afraid of them."
"That is talking like a man of heart," Father Pelagio said with asmile. "Melchior, my child," he added, as he turned to the young man,"be kind enough to introduce El Senor Conde de Melgosa. So great aperson must not be kept waiting any longer in the anteroom of a poorCreole."
The last words were uttered with an accent of pure raillery, whichbrought a smile to the lips of several of the hearers. Don Melchior,without replying, bowed to the priest and left the room. Father Pelagiothen drew Don Anibal and Don Aurelio on one side, and began an earnestconversation with them in a low voice. The do
or ere long again openedand Melchior appeared preceding another person, whom he introduced asCount de Melgosa. At the time when we bring him on the stage the countwas about fifty-five years of age, although he seemed scarce forty, sogreatly had his powerful constitution hitherto preserved him againstthe assaults of old age.
He was a tall and well proportioned man, with a cold and ceremoniousmanner. His angular features were stern and haughty, and the expressionof his face ironical. His eyes, deep set beneath his brows, flasheda gloomy and concentrated fire. There was about his whole personsomething stiff and constrained, which prevented sympathy. He wasdressed in a rich military uniform, and wore the insignia of a colonelin the Spanish army.
A profound silence greeted his entrance into the hall. Not appearing atall affected by this cold and significant reception he lightly raisedhis hand to his hat without deigning to uncover, and walked with a firmand deliberate step up to Don Anibal de Saldibar, who, at a sign fromFather Pelagio, came to meet him, moving aside the persons in his wayso as to offer a free passage to a visitor who was so little desired.When the two men were opposite each other they bowed ceremoniously, andDon Anibal, as master of the house, spoke first.
"What fortunate accident, my lord," he said, "procures me the honour ofthe unexpected visit which you deign to pay me?"
The count smiled bitterly, and, looking ironically round the company,whose eyes were fixed on him with an ill restrained expression ofhatred and anger, said--
"An unexpected visit, I can believe, caballero; and, doubtless, verylittle desired."
"Why so?" Senor Conde, the hacendero continued with the most exquisitepoliteness; "Be assured that I shall be always highly honoured whenyou, the alcade mayor of the province, deign to visit my humbleresidence."
"Are you speaking seriously, Senor Don Anibal, and can I credit thewords which it pleases you to address to me at this moment?"
"Why should it not be so, Senor Conde?" the hacendero said, with analmost imperceptible tinge of sarcasm.
"Why?" the count remarked with considerable vehemence; but at oncechecking himself he continued in that cold and lightly mockingtone natural to him, "A truce, if you please, to compliments andprotestations in which neither of us believes, and let us come tofacts."
"Be it so, Senor Conde," Don Anibal replied, still obsequious. "Let uscome to facts, I desire nothing more."
There was a silence for two or three moments. At length the countcontinued--
"Caballero, I have come to visit you, not as alcade mayor of theprovince, a title I do not possess, and to which I have no claim, butmerely as alcade of the town of Leona Vicario, in the territory ofwhich your property is partly included, and from the jurisdiction ofwhich you naturally append."
"Naturally!" the hacendero repeated. "Ah! I depend from thejurisdiction of Leona Vicario. I thank you for the information,Senor Conde. I confess to you that I was completely ignorant of thefact, having, whether rightly or wrongly, a habit of recognizing nojurisdiction but my own in matters that occur on my estates."
"As you see, caballero, you are wrong."
"Be it so; but in my turn, Senor Conde, I will say, with yourpermission, enough of this. For I suppose that it is not with thepurpose of giving me this most important information, for which I thankyou, that you have ridden such a distance, and taken the trouble tocome hither."
"You are right, caballero, I had another motive in coming here."
"And may I hope that you will deign to let me know it?"
"Without further delay, senor."
"I am waiting with the most lively impatience, Senor Conde."
"I have come, caballero," the alcade mayor continued with a tinge ofthreatening hauteur, "to ask you by what right you have assembled atyour hacienda so large a number of individuals who have all been longknown as haters of the king's government?"
Don Anibal was preparing to answer this question in a manner at leastquite as haughty as that in which it was asked, but Father Pelagio,who had hitherto seemed to attach but slight importance to theconversation, suddenly drew himself up, and seizing Don Anibal by thearm gently thrust him on one side, and coldly said to the count--
"It is my place to answer this, Senor Alcade."
At this interpellation, which he was far from expecting, the countlooked with surprise at the man who was addressing him, and noticinghis shabby clothes said disdainfully--
"Who are you, my good fellow, and by what right do you take the libertyof addressing me?"
"Ah, ah, it appears that my disguise is good, Senor Conde," the priestsaid mockingly, "since you, to whom my features are so familiar, do notrecognize me."
"Can it be possible?" the count exclaimed in surprise, after examiningthe speaker more attentively. "What, you here! Oh, I am no longerastonished at the ferments of revolt which are springing up again inall parts of the province. It is you, unworthy minister of a God ofpeace, who, forgetting your holy mission, are spreading discord andpreaching insurrection to the masses."
"You are mistaken, count," the priest answered, "I preach a holy war:but, believe me, caballero, threats or insults are unadvisable betweenus; it would be neither prudent nor courteous on your part to offerthem to me, and I warn you that I will not put up with them. You wantto know what we are doing here? I will tell you. We are conspiringthe overthrow of the government you serve, and at the moment when youarrived we were taking an oath to conquer or die in regaining ourliberty. Is there anything else you desire to know? Speak, and I amready to satisfy you."
The count smiled sorrowfully.
"No," he answered, "poor madmen, I have nothing more to learn. What canyou tell me that I do not already know? Was not the long struggle youhave sustained up to this day sufficient to prove to you the inutilityof a mad resistance against a power too strongly established for yourobstinate efforts to succeed even in shaking it? Listen to what I aminstructed to say to you in the name of his Excellency the Viceroy."
"Speak," Fray Pelagio said, coldly, "and speak loud, Senor Conde, sothat we may clearly hear the propositions you have to make to us."
"Propositions?" he replied haughtily. "I have none to make to you. Ihave orders to intimate, nothing else."
"Orders? That is very haughty language. Have you forgotten where youare, and who are the men surrounding you?"
"I have forgotten nothing I ought to remember, caballero, believe me.Renounce an impossible contest; withdraw peacefully, all of you, toyour houses; and possibly the government, taking pity on you, willconsent to close its eyes upon this insensate and purposeless attempt."
A frightful outburst of yells and threats greeted this contemptuoussummons. The count, with a smile on his lips, a calm brow, and headaloft, remained unmoved by this general indignation.
"Silence," the Father shouted; "and you, Senor Conde," he added,addressing the alcade mayor, "how many lives have you to risk when youdare offer us such an insult? Do you think yourself in perfect safety?In your turn listen to our reply--it will be brief."
"I am listening," he said.
"The weapons we take up today we shall not lay down till the lastSpaniard has quitted the soil of Mexico."
Frenzied applause and shouts of joy arose from all sides at these words.
"Be it so, senores," the count replied; "the blood shed will beon your own heads. In the name of the king I declare you infamoustraitors, and, as such, outlaws. Farewell!"
And without condescending to bow to the company, the count, afterlooking defiantly around him, turned and left the hall with the samecalm and measured step as when he entered it. Father Pelagio then bentdown to Don Anibal's ear.
"Follow him," he said in a low voice, "and do not let him quit thehacienda till you know his instructions and the repressive measures thegovernment intend to employ against us."
"That will be difficult," the hacendero observed.
"Not so much so as you suppose. The count is an old friend ofyours. Take advantage of the late hour to oblige him to accept yourhospitality, and
remain here till tomorrow. In our present position,twenty-four hours gained may ensure the success of our plans. I reckonon your skill to decide him."
"I will try," Don Anibal answered, shaking his head doubtfully; "but Iam afraid I shall fail in this delicate mission."
"Try impossibilities, my friend," Fray Pelagio pressed him.
Don Anibal bowed and left the hall.