CHAPTER VI.
WE LEAVE THE HIDDEN VALLEY
Now, before proceeding with my story, it will be well to mention here onepiece of information which Jose, not caring, perhaps, to add to mytroubles, did not give me. Indeed, very little was said about it at anytime, for reasons which will be clear to any one who makes himselfacquainted with this narrative.
On the very morning after my flight from Lima, a servant of thegovernment paid my mother a visit of official importance. He broughtwith him a notable document full of curious legal phrases, which, put insimple language, meant that all my father's vast estates had beenconfiscated and given over to that loyal and worthy Spaniard Don FelipeMontilla. As an act of mercy, my mother was permitted to retain thehouse and grounds at Lima during her lifetime.
In presenting this famous letter, the messenger was, of course, onlydoing his duty, but it is certain that in some way he failed in therespect due to a noble lady. He may have been one of those mean-spiritedpeople who delight in trampling on the fallen. There are, strange tosay, many such in the world.
My mother never alluded to the incident, which was related to me by TomasPeraza, an old and faithful servant, next in importance to Jose himself.
"The man had been with my lady nearly an hour," said he, in describingthe event, "when her bell rang, and I went into the room. She stood inthe centre of the apartment, her cheeks very red, and her eyes flashinglike summer stars.
"'Peraza,' she exclaimed, 'our house has fallen very low, but even so itsmembers brook insolence from no man. Bid my servants bring stout sticksand chastise this rude fellow back to the place from which he came!'
"You may be sure that I lost no time in obeying. The fellow drew hissword even in the presence of a lady; but it was knocked from his grasp,and we drove him from the grounds with blows and buffets. It was astrange spectacle, and the people came flocking to us in crowds. Atfirst they would have interfered, but on hearing me cry, 'This forinsulting the Donna Maria Crawford!' they desisted. And in this way wepursued him right to the Government House, where he flung himself uponthe protection of the soldiers."
It was a harsh measure, perhaps; but then no man should be wanting inrespect to a woman, and the fellow had but himself to blame.
Jose, as I have said, withheld the news, or I should have gone at allrisks to Lima. As it was, I stayed contentedly in the valley, waitinguntil the Indians received the signal to move.
From that time we heard rumours of hard fighting in various parts of thecountry, and about the middle of March 1821 a messenger arrived fromRaymon Sorillo. He brought the order for thirty men to march to Pisco,on the sea-coast, where a small patriot detachment had landed under thecommand of Colonel Miller.
"A countryman of ours, Jack," remarked Jose, "and, from what I hear, oneof the finest fellows in South America. The patriots think almost asmuch of him as they do of the famous Lord Cochrane."
"What is he like?"
"I haven't seen him; but he is quite young--not twenty-four yet--thoughhe has been soldiering for the last eight years. He served underWellington in Spain, fought all through the Chilian War, was Cochrane'sright-hand man at the capture of Valdivia, and now he has come to helpus. He has been shipwrecked, taken prisoner, wounded times out ofnumber, blown up by a powder explosion--after which he was confined forsix weeks in a dark room and fed through a plaster mask--and nearlykilled by fever. I should say he has crowded as much excitement into hislife as any man in the world."
"He seems to be a lively customer!"
"He is," laughed Jose; "and nothing will ever kill him, in my opinion!"
"Don't you think we might join him?" I asked, my blood being fired byJose's description.
"Well," said my companion, after a pause, "that's what I was about tosuggest. You must throw in somewhere, and I'm not over anxious forSorillo to get hold of you. He's a cruel fellow, though kind enough tous, and all the cut-throats in the country are likely to flock to him.I'm sorry for the Spaniards who fall into his hands!"
Quilca was rather opposed to our plans, but finding us determined, he atlast agreed that we should accompany him on the next expedition.
Day had but just broken when we rode from the valley and I turned to takea farewell glance at the place which had been my home so long. I had notbeen altogether unhappy there, yet I was glad to go into the world again,to take the first step on the road to Lima and my mother.
The march to Pisco passed without incident. We suffered horribly, it istrue, from thirst, and from choking, blinding sandstorms; but there wereno Spaniards in that desolate district to bar our way.
A few hours' march from the town we fell in with some Indian scouts, andlearned from them that the Patriots lay encamped in the Chincha Baja, abeautiful valley. Our joy at these tidings was, however, soon dashed bythe report that they were in a deplorable condition--suffering from feverand ague, and unable to move.
The gloomy picture was not overdrawn. The valley was a hospital, butalmost destitute of doctors and medicine. The sentries, selected fromthe strongest of the troops, could barely stand, staggering even underthe weight of their muskets. Privates and officers alike were prostrate,and a score of strong men could have killed them all without effort.
As it chanced, the enemy, stationed in an adjoining valley, thoughsuffering less severely, were in no condition to make an attack, and thetwo parties could do no more than idly watch each other.
Ordering his men to dismount, Quilca went to find an officer, and soonreturned with the startling intelligence that the colonel himself laydangerously ill in one of the huts.
"Not an encouraging start!" I remarked.
"A bad beginning often makes a good ending," answered Jose cheerfully."Let us go to see him."
The doctor, a Spaniard, was attending his patient when we entered thehut, and he beckoned us toward the bed.
I could not repress a start at the sight which met our eyes. The colonelwas turning restlessly but feebly from side to side; his eyes wereunnaturally bright; his cheek bones stood out sharp and prominent. Hemumbled to himself in short snatches, but so faintly that only a wordhere and there reached us.
Once he smiled pleasantly, saying, "Yes, I see the steeple! Dear oldWingham!"
I did not at that time understand the allusion, but afterwards it becameplain that he referred to his home, the home of his childhood, a placecalled Wingham, in Kent.
"Do you know," said Jose sharply, turning to the doctor, "that yourpatient is dying?"
"Perfectly; but what can I do?" replied he. "He is suffering from thetertian ague; the valley is permeated with it."
"We must get him out of it," said Jose, with decision.
"But where will you take him? the town is as bad."
"On shipboard, and give him a sea-breeze."
"The Chilian squadron is absent, cruising."
"Then we must beg, borrow, or steal a trading-vessel; for go he must andshall."
It was wonderful how the doctor brightened up at these words, and stillmore wonderful how he allowed himself to be commanded by a stranger. ButJose was a strong man though not often exerting his strength, and therewas that in his face which made most men chary of coming to handgripswith him.
"Come, Jack," said he, "let us go to the bay and find a ship, if we wishto save the colonel's life. Another week of this pestilence and he willbe dead, and Peru can't afford to lose him just yet."
"But suppose," said I, as we rode away from the valley, "that theauthorities won't allow him to be moved?"
"Why, we'll move him in spite of them. Quilca's men can be trusted tohelp us. 'Twill be a little campaign on our own account!" said he, witha jovial laugh.
Even Jose, however, could not impress a vessel that had no existence, andthe bay was empty. A few boats only lay peacefully resting on the placidwaters, but of a ship there was no sign. We stood for an hour staringseaward, as if our will could conjure up a vessel, and then returned tothe town. We paid a visit to
the governor, but he could not help us. Itwas unlikely there would be a vessel, he said, until Lord Cochranereturned with the squadron from Callao.
"When will that be?" I asked.
The governor gave his shoulders an expressive shrug.
"The gallant Englishman does not confide in me," he replied. "He maycome to-day; he may not come for a twelvemonth."
It was getting late now, and nothing further could be done till thefollowing morning. Jose was disappointed, but in no way disheartened.
"If we can't get what we want," said he, "we must be satisfied with whatwe can get. There's a fine bit of philosophy for you!"
"And what can we get?"
"A house at the seaside. We'll look for a sheltered place on the beachto-morrow, bring down some men to build a hut, and have the colonelremoved to it. With the sea air filling his lungs, he may yet have achance of recovery."
Instead of returning to camp, we slept that night at Pisco, and after anearly breakfast went again to the beach. Jose had just selected anadmirable spot for the hut, when we suddenly heard a shout of "Sail ho!sail ho! There's another--and another! Why, it must be Cochrane'ssquadron!"
In an instant we were gazing seaward, and there, sure enough, roundingthe corner of the bay, were several vessels, led by a stately ship.
By this time a number of people had assembled, and more were coming inhot haste from the town. They talked and gesticulated violently--themajority, I observed being doubtful if the incoming vessels were friendsor foes.
As they drew nearer, however, all misgiving vanished, every one agreeingthat the leading ship was the _San Martin_, so named in honour of thegreat general.
"The luck's with us!" cried Jose joyfully. "Before nightfall we'll havethe colonel on board one of those craft. How beautifully the admiral'sship is handled! she comes sweeping in like a great sea-bird."
"Hadn't we better get a couple of men to pull us out to her? she'llanchor soon."
"The very thing! we can't afford to lose time."
Our arrangements did not take long to make, and we were soon speedingacross the bay, our crazy boat being propelled by two wiry Indians. Thewhole squadron was now well within the bay, the smaller craft lying closein, and flying the Chilian colours; but Jose directed the boatmen to pullfor the flagship.
"_San Martin_ ahoy!" he yelled, standing up in the stern and hailing theship in what he believed to be sailor fashion.
"Hullo! Who are you?" came the answer.
"Is Admiral Cochrane on board?"
"Well, he was a minute ago."
"Throw a rope, will you? we're coming up."
This conversation was carried on in English, for many officers in theChilian navy were Englishmen; and now the man on the _San Martin_exclaimed, "Well, you're a cool customer anyhow! Walt a bit while I tellthe captain."
"Hang the captain!" roared Jose; "it's a matter of life and death." Andthose on deck, seeing how terribly in earnest he was, flung over a rope,and we scrambled up the ship's side.
"Now, my man," exclaimed a sharp voice, "what is it you are in such atremendous hurry about?"
"I want to see Lord Cochrane immediately," said Jose.
"His lordship is engaged in his cabin. Give your message to me."
"I prefer to manage my own business, thank you," replied Jose coolly."Tell the admiral I have come from Colonel Miller."
As he finished speaking, a distinguished-looking officer, accompanied byseveral others, appeared on deck, and I knew instinctively that we werein the presence of the famous Admiral Cochrane, whose marvellous exploitshad gained for him the admiration of the world.
Hearing the name of Miller, he stopped, and looking at us, said, "What isthat about Colonel Miller?"
"He is dying, sir!" exclaimed Jose, as much at ease with an admiral aswith a private sailor. "His men are all down with ague, and the colonelwill be dead inside a week unless you remove him at once."
"Mr. Welsh," remarked the admiral to a handsome young fellow standingnear, "this is your affair. Do whatever you think best; but remember, Iwould rather lose a ship than Miller. He's the one man we can rely uponashore." Then looking at us, he added, "You are not soldiers?"
"This lad," replied Jose, pointing to me, "is Jack Crawford. His fatherwas one of the largest landowners in Peru, and a great patriot. TheSpaniards shot him some time ago, and the boy has been hiding ever since.Yesterday we arrived at Pisco to join the detachment there, asvolunteers, and found the colonel delirious with fever. A few dayslonger in camp will finish him."
"He shall be removed at once," exclaimed the Admiral.--"CaptainWilkinson, will you order a boat to be lowered!" and then he began toquestion Jose further concerning the condition of the troops.
Very quickly the boat was got ready, Mr. Welsh took his seat, and at hissuggestion we followed, giving instructions to our own men to return toshore.
"Are you a doctor?" asked Jose of our companion.
"Yes; I am Lord Cochrane's private surgeon, though, fortunately, he givesme but little work to do," and he laughed merrily. I have said that hewas a handsome fellow, with a boyish, fresh-coloured face, and bright,sparkling eyes. He talked to us cheerfully about the campaign, and wouldnot allow that Colonel Miller was in danger of dying.
"You don't know him as well as we do," he said, with a laugh. "Most menwho had been through what he has would be dead already; but Miller standsalone. The last time we brought him from Pisco he had a ball in theright arm, another had smashed his left hand, while a third had gonethrough his chest, fractured a rib, and passed out at the back. Ofcourse we gave him up, but he pulled through comfortably."
"Well, he is pretty bad now," said Jose significantly.
"He'll be leading a bayonet charge in a month," laughed the youngsurgeon, "if the war lasts as long. For my part, I expect it to be oversooner."
"I had no idea," said I, "that the Spaniards would be beaten so easily."
"The odds are all against them, you see. Lord Cochrane has scooped uptheir navy, San Martin is waiting to pounce on Lima, they have to watchGeneral Bolivar in the north, and most of the people are in favour of therevolution. Hullo! here we are! I suppose you'll come with me to thecamp?"
"Yes," said Jose, "and back to the ship if you will let us. We can do nogood here."
"All right. I daresay we can find you a berth."
The young surgeon came near to losing his self-possession when he saw theactual state of things.
"Whew!" exclaimed he, "this will have to be altered. Why, the men aredying on their feet! And I suppose it's the same old story--not enoughdoctors, no proper attendants, and musty drugs. Well, we'll clear thecolonel out of it first, and then see what can be done for the others."
While he attended to his patient, we had a litter made ready, in whichthe colonel was placed and carried to the water's edge, where the ship'sboat was in waiting. The sailors rowed steadily and well, and we soonhad the satisfaction of seeing the sick man comfortably installed in oneof the ship's cabins.
Lord Cochrane showed the greatest concern at his old friend's shockingcondition, and did everything possible to help forward his recovery.
As it chanced, I was much in the sick man's cabin; the doctor, to whom Ihad taken a singular liking, using me as a sort of assistant. In theearly evening he went ashore with the admiral, who also took Jose withhim, and together they visited the sick camp. It was late when theyreturned, but our patient had suffered no hurt during their absence.Indeed he lay very still and quiet, while from time to time I wiped thesweat from his brow and gave him cooling drinks.
Jose did not come into the cabin again, but I heard from the doctor thatit had been decided to bring the soldiers on board, in the hope that asea voyage would set up their strength. Our own particular Indiansreturned to the Hidden Valley, but in the course of a day or two the restof the troops were embarked on the flagship. Then we stood out to sea,bearing southward, the other vessels of the squadron taking the oppositedire
ction.
Thanks partly to the young surgeon's skill, but chiefly, perhaps, to hisown marvellous constitution, the colonel began to mend slowly. The feverabated, he was able to take some nourishing food, and at last a day camewhen we carried him on deck.
It was extraordinary to behold the joy with which his appearance wasgreeted, not only by his own troops, but by every man on board. Some ofthem knew him only by report, but most of the sailors had witnessed hisdaring deeds, while the marines had taken part in them.
The officers, too, from the admiral downward, came about him, and thoughtoo weak as yet for much talk, he acknowledged their kindness by acharming and fascinating smile.
At the end of an hour the doctor gave orders that he should be carriedback to his cabin, saying with a laugh, "That's enough excitement for thefirst day, colonel. Mustn't overdo it, you know."
Whether it was the bracing effect of the fresh sea air, or the sight ofhis men's most obvious improvement, I know not, but from that day hisstrength increased with astonishing rapidity.
During this period of convalescence he talked with me a good deal, and inthe kindest manner, so that shortly I became as ardent a hero-worshipperas the others. He sent for Jose, too, thanked him for his prompt action,and declared that in a sense he was indebted to him for his life.
"But," said he, smiling, "I don't know yet who you are, or how you cameto turn up at Pisco just at the right moment!" Whereupon Jose gave himan outline of our story.
He listened attentively, and at the end said, "I have heard of yourfather, my boy, through General San Martin, who will be glad to make youracquaintance. Meanwhile I shall charge myself with your welfare--thatis, if you care to share my fortunes."
"I ask for nothing better, sir," I replied, flushing with pleasure."There is no leader I would rather choose to follow."
"Then you shall have your wish," said he, "unless the general finds otherwork for you."