III.--THE GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD.
We will for the moment quit the meson of San Juan, and proceed about twoleagues further on, where certain persons, with whom the reader mustform an acquaintance, are assembled.
Hardly one hundred and fifty yards beyond the meson the road begins togrow narrower; the mountains approach, as if wishful to shake hands, andthat so abruptly and unexpectedly, that they form all at once a narrowand long gorge, which is known throughout the country as the _barrancadel mal paso_.
After passing through this gorge, the scenery leaves its abrupt andsavage aspect to resume a smiling character; the road widens again; acharming valley, intersected by a stream, presents itself to sight; andon all sides the eye surveys a deliciously accidented horizon.
On either side of the barranca begin impenetrable forests, through whicha road can only be cut axe in hand, unless the traveller has a deepknowledge of the narrow and almost invisible paths which lead into theinterior with innumerable twinings.
We must ask the reader to follow us to one of the most hidden and leastknown resorts in this forest.
In the centre of a vast clearing, where burned a cedar eighty feet inheight, emitting incessant sparks, some twenty men in sordid garments--ahorrible medley of luxury and indigence--with faces in which crime waswritten in capital letters, but all armed to the teeth, were assembledin groups of three or four each, drinking, eating, smoking, and singing.
Not far from them, their horses, saddled and ready to mount at the firstsignal, were eating their provender of alfalfa and climbing peas; while,on the edge of the covert, four or five men, motionless as bronzestatues, were attentively surveying the surrounding country.
A little on one side, two men, seated on low stools, were talking andpuffing in each other's faces enormous volleys of smoke. The first andelder of the two appeared about eight-and-twenty years of age; his long,light hair fell in heavy curls on his shoulders; his features wereeffeminate; but his aquiline nose, his bright blue eyes, and narrowforehead, imparted to his face a character of baseness and cold cruelty.He wore the splendid costume of the Mexican hacenderos, and wascarelessly playing with the trigger of a splendid silver-mountedAmerican rifle.
His companion offered a striking contrast to him: while the first wastall, well built, and endowed with pleasing manners, the second wasshort, stumpy, heavy, and repulsive in face, gestures, and even inlanguage. The richness of his attire only seemed to render more strikingthe hideousness imprinted as an indelible stigma on this odious person.Everything announced in him the prowling jackal, that possesses all theferocity of the lion, but none of that animal's nobility or courage.
The clearing we have described was one of the principal haunts of theVulture, that terrible bandit who, at the time we write of, wasravaging the state of Guadalajara. The men collected in it formed hisband, and the two men we have just introduced were, the first, _ElBuitre_ himself; the second, _El Garrucholo_, his lieutenant and dearestfriend.
At the moment we bring them on the stage, these two interestingpersonages were engaged, as we shall see, in a confidentialconversation. We may observe that, strangely enough, this conversationwas not held in Spanish, but in English.
"Hem!" El Garrucholo said, as he inhaled a mouthful of smoke, which heimmediately sent forth again from his mouth and nostrils. "What do youfind so disagreeable in our profession, John? For my part, I consider itdelightful. These worthy Mexicans are gentle as lambs; they allowthemselves to be plundered with unequalled patience; and you will agreewith me, my dear fellow, that we gain more by cutting the buttons fromtheir _calzoneras_ than by easing the richest gentleman down there."
"All that is possible, my friend," El Buitre answered, throwing away hiscigarette with a gesture of impatience. "I do not assert the contrary.Assuredly the profit is large, and the risk nothing, I grant; but--"
"Well, why do you stop? Go on."
"In a word, I was not born for such a trade."
El Garrucholo gave vent to a hearty laugh.
"That's where the shoe galls you, then?" he said, with a shrug of hisshoulders. "You are mad, comrade: every man is born for the trade hecarries on, especially when he chose it himself."
"Would you assert by that----?"
"What I say I mean. When I picked you up in Mexico, under the arcades ofthe Plaza Mayor, with a dagger buried in your breast up to the hilt, andnot a real in your pockets, I should have done better, deuce take me, tolet you die like a masterless dog, instead of curing you; at least, Ishould not have heard such nonsense from you."
"Why did you not do so? At any rate I should have died withoutdishonouring an honourable name."
"Deuce take the honourable name, and the man who bears it! My dearfellow, you annoy me by your ridiculous pretensions; you forget, withyour mania for nobility, that you are only a foundling."
El Buitre frowned and seized his lieutenant's arm.
"Enough on that subject, Red Blood; you know that I have already warnedyou that I would not suffer any jesting on that head."
"Bah! What's the odds about being a foundling? A man ought not to feelannoyed at that; it is one of those accidents for which the most honestfellow cannot be responsible."
"You are my friend, Red Blood; or, at least, seem to be so."
"In your turn, my noble Mr. John Stanley," the bandit sharplyinterrupted him, "do not express such doubts about me; they grieve andinsult me more than I can express. I am attached to you as the blade ofmy bowie-knife is to the hilt I am yours, body and soul. I have onlythat one virtue, if it be one; so pray do not strip me of it."
El Buitre remained silent for a moment, and then continued in aconciliating voice,--
"I am wrong. Pardon me, brother; in truth, I have had sufficient proofsof your friendship to have no right to doubt it. Still it seems to me sostrange, that I at times ask myself how it comes that you, Red Blood,who hate humanity in a mass--you to whom nothing is respectable orsacred--feel for me a friendship which rises to the most completeabnegation and the most utter weakness. That appears to me soextraordinary, that I would give much to hold the solution of theproblem."
"You are an ass, John!" the bandit replied in a mocking tone. "What isthe use of telling you why I love you? You would not understand me.Suffice it for you to know that it is so. Do you believe me, then, aperfect ferocious brute, incapable of generous instincts?"
"I do not say that."
"You think it, which comes to the same thing. But it is of no matter tome: I dispense you from gratitude; you may even hate me, and I shouldnot care. I do not love you for yourself, but for myself. But suppose wetalk of something else, if you are agreeable?"
"I wish nothing better, for I see that I should lose as much time intrying to draw a good reason from you as in washing a blackamoorwhite."
"Ta, ta, ta! You are an ass, I repeat. But let me alone; if a certainthing I am now scheming succeed, we shall soon bury El Buitre to bringJohn Stanley to life again."
The salteador quivered.
"May Heaven hear you!" he exclaimed involuntarily.
"You had better appeal to the other place if you wish to succeed," thebandit said with a grin; "but you trust to me. Soon, I hope, we shall socompletely change our skins that fellows will be very clever whorecognise us. Look ye, John: in, this world all that is needful is totake the ball on the bound and turn with the wind."
"I confess, my good fellow, that I do not understand a syllable of whatyou are saying to me."
"Eh! What do you want to understand for? You never were the worse offfor leaving me to guide you. Two words are as good as a thousand. Beforelong we shall turn our coats, and change, not the trade we carry on soagreeably, but the name under which we do it, to assume one bettersounding and more lofty. Look there!" he added, pointing sarcasticallyat his comrades. "What an imposing collection of honest fellows we shallrestore to circulation under our auspices! Will it not be magnificent,after having so long plundered individuals, to become suddenly thedefenders of a nati
on to the prejudice of the government?"
"Yes," El Buitre said thoughtfully, "I have always dreamed--"
"Of carrying on our trade on a grand scale, eh? You were right: thereis nothing like doing things properly, if you wish to be held inestimation. Well, be at ease; I will procure that pleasure. At any rate,if luck desert you, you will have the advantage of being shot instead ofbeing hanged or garotted, and that is a consolation."
"Yes," El Buitre said quickly; "in that way a man dies like agentleman."
"And is not dishonoured, I allow. Ah! The filibusters of old were luckyfellows; they conquered empires, and handed down their names toposterity, the exploits of the hero easily causing the crimes of thebandit to be forgotten."
"Will you never be serious?"
"I am only too much so, on the contrary; for, as you see, although youdid not confide in me, I am preparing you a place by the side of theCortez, the Almagros, and Pizarros, whose glory has so long preventedyou sleeping."
"You may jest, Red Blood," the salteador said with an accent of profoundemotion; "but if, as I suppose, you appreciate my character at its truevalue, you know that I only seek one thing--to regenerate these unhappyraces, whom a brutalising subjection has plunged during so manycenturies into a degrading barbarism."
"You only wish for the welfare of humanity of course," the bandit saidwith an ironical laugh. "We should not be worthy sons of Uncle Sam, thatland of liberty and theoretical philanthropy, did we not dream of theamelioration of society. That is the reason why, while biding our time,we have become of our private authority redressers of wrong, andgentlemen of the road--a charming trade, I may remark parenthetically,and which we carry on conscientiously."
"Go to the deuce, you inexplicable scamp!" the young man exclaimed in apassion. "Shall I never know how to speak or how to deal with you?"
"No," he replied seriously, "no, John, so long as you try to play athide and seek with me, who know every thought of your heart. Cease todisplay these pretensions to honesty, which deceive nobody, not evenyourself, and become frankly a bandit chief till you can be somethingelse. When the moment has arrived it will be time to put on a cloak ofhypocrisy, which will deceive the fools, and consolidate the positionyou have acquired."
At this moment the shriek of the owl was heard in the thickest part ofthe forest.
"What's that?" El Buitre asked, not sorry to break off a conversationwhich was taking a personal turn rather disagreeable to him.
"A signal given by a sentry," El Garrucholo answered; "a spy whodoubtlessly brings us news. We are awaiting, as you know, the passing ofcertain travellers."
"I know it; but they are said to be well armed, and under good escort."
"All the better; they will defend themselves, and that will be achange."
"The truth is, that those we have stopped for some time past seemed tohave agreed to let themselves be plundered without a murmur."
"If the information I have received be exact, that will not be the casewith the present party."
The owl cry was heard a second time, but now much nearer.
"It is time," El Garrucholo observed.
The two chiefs then put on black velvet masks, and almost immediately aman appeared, led by two bandits. On entering the clearing thisindividual threw around a glance rather of astonishment than terror:nothing in his conduct showed that he had fallen into an ambuscade, forhis face was calm, though rather pale, and his step was assured.
The bandits who escorted him led him before the two chiefs, who examinedhim attentively through the holes in their masks. El Buitre thenaddressed the bandits in Spanish.
"Where the deuce did you catch that scoundrel?" he said in a roughvoice. "He has not an ochavo about him. Hang him, and let us have nomore bother."
"Yes," the lieutenant observed, "he is only fit for that, as he was suchan ass as to rush into the net prepared for more noble game."
"Permit me, excellency," one of the bandits said, bowing respectfully;"this man was not caught by us."
"How is he here, then?"
"Because, illustrious captain, he earnestly asked to be led into yourexcellency's presence, as he had matters of the utmost importance toimpart to you."
"Ah!" the chief said, but added, "I know the fellow; he is, if I am notmistaken, the huesped of the meson of San Juan."
The prisoner bowed in affirmation.
It was really the worthy Saccaplata himself. After sending off hiscriado, and while Don Cornelio was with the colonel, the host thoughtthat nobody could do one's business so well as one's self; and as he wasprobably anxious that it should succeed, he had started off after thepeon, whom he had no difficulty in catching up, for the poor fellow wasnot at all anxious to execute the commission his master had intrusted tohim. Saccaplata sent him back to the meson; and, while the peon returnedin delight, had himself attempted the adventure.
"Indeed!" the lieutenant remarked. "Does Senor Saccaplata wish to enterinto business relations with us? That would be an excellent idea."
"I do not say no, honourable caballero," the landlord replied in ahoneyed voice. "Business is very bad at this moment, and it is certainthat a little extra profit, honestly come by, would be acceptable; but,for the present, I only desire--"
"To the point," El Buitre suddenly interrupted him; "we have no time tolose in silly remarks."
The landlord understood that he must be brief, if he did not wish tobring down certain unpleasantnesses on himself.
"The fact is this," he said: "I have in my house, at the present moment,several rich travellers."
"We know it. What next?"
"Among them is the Senor Colonel--"
"Don Sebastian Guerrero, proceeding to Tepic with his daughter and fourservants," the lieutenant interrupted him. "What next?"
"What next?" the landlord said, sadly discountenanced.
"Yes, what next?"
"That is all."
"What, you scoundrel! And you had the effrontery to venture among us,only to tell us a thing we knew as well as yourself?" El Garrucholoexclaimed.
"I thought I was doing you a service."
"You wished to be a spy on us."
"I!"
"Of course. Do you take us for fools like yourself, you wretch? But youshall remember this visit. The _orejada_" he added, turning to the twobandits, who had remained by the landlord's side.
"One moment," the captain said.
Saccaplata, fancying he should escape with the fright, grimaced a smile.
"I will tell you," the captain continued, "why you came to us. You wantto revenge yourself on Colonel Guerrero, who a few hours back inflictedon you a well-merited correction."
"But--" the landlord ventured.
"Silence! Do not attempt to deny it. I was there. I saw what occurred.As you are too great a coward to dare to avenge yourself, you thought ofus, supposing that we should not refuse to render you that slightservice. What do you say--is that the truth?"
"Hum! I would not venture to contradict your excellency," the landlordsaid, now beginning to regret having entered this wasp's nest.
The bandits, attracted by the colloquy, had gradually drawn nearer, andformed a circle round the speakers, while laughing cunningly to eachother. Still, although accustomed to the pleasing eccentricities oftheir worthy chief, they were far from anticipating the _denouement_ ofthis scene.
After having proved to Saccaplata as clearly as the day that he knew themotive that led him to offer his good services to the salteadores, thecaptain continued in these terms, while smiling cunningly:--
"Dear huesped of my heart, we do not refuse to undertake revenging you,the more so as we had already made up our minds to stop the colonel."
"Ah!" the landlord said, beginning to feel easier.
"Yes: still, after reflecting on it thoroughly, we gave up the plan. Thecolonel is brave--he will defend himself; moreover, he has with him fourwell-armed and determined men. My faith, it was too great a risk; but ifyou insist--"
&n
bsp; "Immensely!" the other exclaimed, deceived by the bandit's feignedkindliness.
"Very good," the other answered, changing his tone; "then it is a matterof business between us. Now, such things are always paid for, as youknow, my scamp."
Saccaplata turned involuntarily toward the other salteadores, who weregrinning affably at him.
"Consequently," the captain continued with perfect calmness, "you willpay me twenty ounces for your vengeance, which I take on my own account,and ten for your ransom."
"Heaven save me!" the landlord said, clasping his hands in despair. "Inever possessed such a sum, not even in a dream."
"That is a matter of perfect indifference to me. I never recall mydecision under any circumstances. Another time you will think twicebefore venturing so rashly into the claws of El Buitre. The orejada--"
"Oh, my lord!" the luckless Saccaplata exclaimed, as he fell on hisknees, "I am a poor devil. Have pity on me, noble captain, I imploreyou!"
"Come, put an end to this."
In spite of his cries and protestations, the landlord was seized andhaled off by his guardians, amid the laughter and sarcasms of thebandits, whom the sight promised by the captain delighted.
"Stop!" the huesped suddenly exclaimed; "I think I have a little moneyabout me."
"No, no!" the salteadores shouted. "Give him the orejada all the same."
El Garrucholo made a sign, and order was restored.
"Let us see," he said.
The wretch gave a sigh, and with extreme difficulty, after ransackingall his pockets with many a protestation that he was utterly ruined,which the bandits listened to with stoical indifference, he at lastsucceeded in making up a little more than half the sum.
"Hum!" the lieutenant said as he pocketed the money, "that is nothing;but I am a good fellow. You have no more?"
"Oh! I swear it, excellency," he said, turning out all his pockets.
"Well," El Garrucholo continued philosophically, "no man is bound to doimpossibilities, and as you have only that--"
"I am sure of it," the other said, fancying himself saved.
"Well, then," the lieutenant continued, "let him be only attached by oneear: we must be honest."
An immense burst of laughter from the whole band greeted thisproposition. The landlord was carried off to a tree, and before heunderstood what they meant to do to him, he uttered a frightful yell ofpain. A bandit had fastened him to the tree by the right ear, by simplydriving his knife through it.
"There, that's settled," the lieutenant said. "Now, I warn you that, ifyou continue to howl, I will have you gagged."
"Traitors, dogs, assassins, kill me!"
"No. But listen; that wound is nothing. It is easy for you to deliveryourself by a slight tug. Your ear will be torn, I allow, but you can'thave everything. As soon as you are free, return home; one of ourfriends will accompany you, and you will pay him the rest of the sum."
"Never!" the landlord howled, "Never! I would sooner die!"
"Very good; then you shall die, and after that we will carry off thecontents of the hiding place you have so cleverly made in the wall ofyour cuarto, by placing before it a picture of Nuestra Senora deGuadalupe. Eh! What do you think of that?"
The lieutenant had hardly finished speaking ere the landlord, by a sharpmovement, had regained his liberty. Without thinking of hisfrightfully-mutilated ear, he threw himself at the feet of ElGarrucholo.
"I accept, my lord, I accept; but I implore you, do not ruin me."
"I was certain you would understand. Be off, scoundrel; and if it is anyconsolation, know that you will be avenged on the colonel."
"Yes," the landlord muttered to himself, "but who will avenge me on you?Thanks," he added aloud; "that promise causes me to forget mysuffering."
"All the better; but mind you, no treachery, or we shall manage to gethold of you again."
Saccaplata bowed, but made no reply. He understood that it would havebeen better for him to remain at home, and allow matters to follow theircourse, without seeking a problematic vengeance which cost him thirtygold ounces and an ear. On reaching the meson he paid the rest of hisransom, and banging the door in the face of the bandit who accompaniedhim, and thanked him with an air of mockery, he sank on a bench, andovercome by so many terrible emotions, fainted away.