Les fils de la tortue. English

  CHAPTER XXX.

  THE CONFESSION.

  General Soto-Mayor had been hurriedly raised by the volunteers, whomthe report of the two pistol shots had attracted to his room, a surgeonattached to the reinforcing column was summoned, and hastened to dressthe old gentleman's frightful wounds. The terrible pain which thescalping caused him, and the immense quantity of blood he had lost,had plunged him into a profound fainting fit, from which it seemedimpossible for him to recover. Upwards of three hours passed beforehe gave any signs of life. At length a faint sigh issued from hisoppressed chest: he made a slight movement, his eyes opened slightly,and he muttered in a low and broken voice--

  "Something to drink."

  A servant brought him a bowl filled with a potion prepared by thedoctor.

  "Oh!" he said, a moment after, "my head is burning; what frightfulpain!"

  The surgeon begged him to be silent, administered a second potion, anda few minutes after the patient's eyes closed. He had fallen asleep.

  "That is what I wanted," the surgeon said, as he felt his pulse andlooked at him attentively.

  "Well, doctor," an officer asked, "what do you think of the general'sstate?"

  "I cannot say anything about it yet, gentlemen," he answered,addressing the persons who surrounded the old gentleman's bed; "hiswounds are very serious, and yet I do not believe them mortal. Wehave numerous examples of scalped persons who have been perfectlycured. Hence it is not the wound on the head that alarms me the most,although it is the most painful. Tomorrow, as soon as I have removedthe bandages, I shall be able to tell you what we have to fear or hope.Now, be kind enough to withdraw; thanks to the potion, the general isenjoying a calm sleep, but the slightest noise might disturb him. Iwill instal myself at his bedside, and not stir till he is either deador saved."

  Upon this the doctor dismissed all the persons who filled the room,drew an armchair up to the bed, sat down in it in the most comfortableposture, took a book from his pocket, and prepared to spend the nightas well as he could in reading. The peons accompanying the general, onseeing their master in so pitiable a state, unloaded the baggage andcarried it into the casa. Then each resumed possession of his lodging,while congratulating himself in his heart at being no longer compelledto expose himself to the dangers of war.

  After the misfortune which occurred to the general, the officer whotook the command of the volunteers in his place sent out heavy patrolsin all directions in pursuit of the Indians; but their search had noresult, and they returned one after the other without discovering theslightest sign which could put them on the track of the assassins. Theywere, therefore, obliged to give up for the present all thoughts oftaking vengeance for the odious attack which had been committed on theperson of General Soto-Mayor.

  Still this affair exerted a salutary influence over the mind of thevolunteers. At the sight of so terrible a fact as the one whichhad just occurred, they understood how necessary prudence was whenengaged with enemies so invisible and formidable as the Indians. They,therefore, began subjecting themselves to the claims of discipline. Inconsequence, they ceased their cries and songs, and fulfilled theirmilitary duties much more seriously than they had hitherto done.

  The rest of the night passed away calmly and peaceably, and with theexception of two or three false alarms which the sentries in theirinexperience gave, nothing happened to disturb the tranquillity of thevolunteers encamped under the walls of the Casa de Campos. At sunrise,when the country illumined by the hot beams had lost the sinister andgloomy aspect which darkness imparted to it, the Chilians, who, withoutconfessing it, had been in a state of real terror, gradually regainedcourage and recommenced their gasconade, though it was moderated by therecollections of the night.

  At about eight in the morning the general woke up, and though he wasvery low and his weakness was extreme, the long sleep which he hadenjoyed seemed to have greatly relieved his sufferings. The doctor,after carefully counting his pulse, began removing the bandages whichhe had placed. The appearance of the wounds was excellent; the fleshoffered no extraordinary signs of inflammation--in a word, the patientwas going on as well as could be expected. The wounds were washed,fresh bandages put on, and another potion made the general fall backalmost immediately into the lethargic sleep from which he had rousedhimself.

  When midday came, the suppurating fever set in with great intensity.The old man uttered inarticulate cries, made fearful efforts to leapout of bed, and talked with extraordinary vivacity, making unconnectedremarks, whose meaning it was impossible to understand. The namesof Diego, of Tahi-Mari, and of the different members of his familyincessantly returned. The general was evidently suffering from somehorrible delirium aroused by the terrible scene of which he had beenthe victim on the previous evening. Four powerful men were scarcesufficient to keep him down in his bed.

  From three to four o'clock in the afternoon an improvement took place;the fever relaxed, the sick man's eyes lost that frightful stare andexpression of wildness which terrified his attendants. He recognisedhis domestics, the doctor waiting on him, and even the officers whosurrounded him. Everything led to the hope that the general would besaved; such at least was the opinion of the surgeon, who expressed itloudly.

  At about six o'clock, the officers whom the general had dispatched toSantiago, returned to the country house, bearing the instructions ofthe President of the Republic. The officer who commanded the expeditionin the general's place, opened and read them. They were formal.

  The president gave orders to General Soto-Mayor to proceed by forcedmarches on the capital, which was in the greatest peril: he addedthat he could send him no officers, in spite of his urgent request,and concluded by requesting the general to read the despatch to thesoldiers, in order to make them understand how much he reckoned ontheir patriotism in answering the appeal of the menaced country.

  The officer intrusted with the interim command obeyed the orders whichhe received. He assembled the troops, read to them in a loud voice thecontents of the despatch, and made them a short speech, in which, whileexalting the powerful help which they might afford to the inhabitantsof Santiago, he asked whether he could really reckon on them. Auniversal and enthusiastic outburst was the response to the general'sspeech, and immediate preparations were made for the departure.

  The commandant--who did not wish to abandon General Soto-Mayordefencelessly in his house, which was open to all comers, and might atany moment be invaded by the Indians--chose from among his volunteersfifty men, to whom he entrusted the defence of the casa, afterexhorting them to behave properly, and placing them under the commandof an alferez. Then, this duty fulfilled, he took leave of the surgeon,after recommending him to neglect nothing in restoring the general'shealth, and took the road to Santiago at the head of his volunteers.

  The night passed without any incidents worthy of record. The menleft in charge of the house had closed the gates and had entrenchedthemselves in the interior. Toward morning they heard the sound ofa horse galloping at full speed. They had scarce time to notice therider, who departed rapidly, after halting for an instant before thehouse. Some inarticulate sounds reached the ears of the sentries, butbefore the latter could think of challenging, horse and rider were along distance off. It was Diego returning to Santiago with his victim.

  The general's state was satisfactory; the fever had considerablydecreased, the wounds continued to offer the most favourable aspect,and with the exception of the atrocious sufferings he felt in his head,the old gentleman had regained a little calmness. Suddenly a loud soundof horses was heard on the road, and a servant hastened into the sickman's chamber, announcing that Captain Leon Delbes had just arrived,and had important news to communicate to the general. The surgeon triedto oppose the interview which Leon requested, alleging that his patientneeded absolute repose; but, on the repeated entreaties of the latter,he was obliged to consent, though resolved to put a stop to it wheneverhe thought it advisable.

  The captain, as we know, had left Valparaiso in the com
pany of Maria,with the intention of proceeding under the escort of his band toSantiago, where he expected to find the general. But, while passingin front of the country house, he was astonished at seeing; the gatesopen, and a picket of lanceros in the courtyard. Not knowing to whatto attribute the warlike appearance which this peaceful mansion hadassumed, he halted his band and went up to the gate for the purposeof enquiring. The old manservant, who had been left as guardian, andhad admitted his master two days previously, was at this very momentoccupied in front of the house, and Leon questioned him.

  The worthy man then told him in the fullest details the assassinationattempted on the person of his master, and the hopeless efforts whichhad been made to discover the perpetrators. On listening to thenarrative, the captain trembled and guessed at once that Diego musthave passed that way. In truth he was the only man he knew capableof committing a similar crime and surrounding it with such mystery.Moreover, the project of vengeance which Diego nourished against theSoto-Mayor family, sufficiently indicated him to Leon for the latter toentertain no doubt as to his guilt.

  Locking up in his bosom the feeling of horror which the half-breed'sdeed inspired him with, the captain returned to Maria to announce toher that her father, rather seriously wounded, was at the moment atthe Casa de Campos, and hence it was unnecessary to go farther, and ifshe saw no inconvenience, he would at once place her in his hands. Theyoung lady who, in following Leon, had no other object but to join herfather and place herself under his protection, begged to be at onceled to him. But, on Leon remarking that her unexpected presence mightbe fatal to the general, by causing him too lively an emotion, sheconsented that Leon should warn him first.

  The captain led his band into the courtyard, and then sent a footmanto the old gentleman to request an interview. When he entered thegeneral's bedroom, and found him lying on a bed of pain, with his headwrapped up and his face more livid than that of a dying man, he feltaffected by the deepest compassion. It was in fact a melancholy sightto see this old man, who had but a few days previously been so strongand robust, now broken by suffering and lying there horribly mutilated.

  "Senor Don Juan, it is I, Leon Delbes," he said, addressing the woundedman.

  The general offered him his left hand, and a smile played round hisbloodless lips.

  "Have you any new misfortune to announce to me, captain?" the old mansaid, in an almost unintelligible voice. "Speak--speak."

  Leon started at the sound of this faint voice, and held his tongue,not daring to tell an unhappy man who was on the brink of the grave ofthe new misfortune which had fallen on him without his knowledge. Thegeneral noticed the young man's agitation, and felt that he had guessedaright.

  "It concerns my daughters, does it not?"

  "Yes, general," Leon replied, hanging his head sadly.

  "Are they dead?" the old man asked, with a tremor in his voice.

  The surgeon read in his face the nature of the feelings he wasundergoing, and seemed to fear the captain's answer, but the latterhastened to speak.

  "No, general, they are alive, and one of them accompanies me."

  "But the other?"

  "Is no longer in Valparaiso."

  "What has happened, then, at the Convent of the Conception?--speak."

  "It has been attacked, general."

  "I understand," the old man said, "one of my daughters has fallen againinto the hands of the Indians--the name of her who is left me?"

  "Dona Maria, general!"

  "And it is again you who restore her to me, my friend. Thank you, andHeaven grant that I may soon be able to reward you in the way youdeserve."

  Leon gave a gesture of refusal.

  "Oh! I know how a noble heart like yours should be rewarded."

  Leon bowed and made no answer.

  "But, for mercy's sake, tell me what you know with reference to Inez,and do not be afraid of grieving me, for I am resigned to undergo allthe misfortunes which God may send me as an expiation for my sins."

  The young man then told him of the rape of Maria's sister, whilecarefully holding his tongue as to the circumstances under which he hadrecovered the other young lady. Then he told him of his intention ofgoing to Santiago to find Diego, in whose power Inez was. On hearingthat it was Tahi-Mari, who had robbed him of his child, the general, inspite of his courage, felt tears of grief bedew his eyes.

  "O God!" he exclaimed, "punish me if I have offended you, and I willbow my head beneath the punishment but will you allow this man, thisvillain, to heap up crime upon crime, to strip me of what I hold thedearest?"

  There was a moment's silence, which the old gentleman was the first tointerrupt.

  "My friend," he said to Leon, "you told me that Maria had been saved byyou, and yet I do not see her."

  "She awaits your permission to present herself to you, general."

  "Let her come--let her come!"

  A peon was ordered to go and fetch Maria, who was kneeling in hermother's room, and soon after, the maiden was standing before herfather; but on seeing the condition in which the murderer had left him,she could only sob. The old man made a sign that he wished to embraceher.

  "My daughter," he said, after pressing his lips on the novice's virginforehead, "since the walls of a convent have not protected you from thefury of my enemies, and I know not whether I shall ever see my otherchildren again, you will henceforth remain with me, if," he added,"Heaven grant me the strength to live."

  "Oh, thanks, father--thanks! for the convent is death, and I wish tolive to love and cherish you."

  "What do you say?"

  "Forgive me, father, but I suffered so deeply at being separated fromthose whom I love."

  "This is strange! and yet your sister Inez asked three days ago tospeak to me in private, and asked my permission to take the veil inthe Convent of the Conception, as she was determined not to marry DonSallazar, who loves her. I believed that it was you, child, who hadpersuaded her to this."

  "Oh, no!" Maria murmured.

  The doctor, who had hitherto contented himself with displaying thedissatisfaction which he felt on seeing the general fatigue himselfwith talking, thought it prudent not to allow the interview to go on,and made an observation to that effect.

  "Thanks, doctor," said the general, "for the interest you take in mycure."

  "General," said Leon, "the doctor is right; my presence is no longernecessary here. I will hasten to Santiago, and ere long I hope youshall hear from me. Senora Dona Maria does not require my servicesfurther, and so I will retire."

  "Oh, father!" Maria could not refrain from saying, "if you only knewhow brave and generous he is!"

  The general made no reply, and seemed to be reflecting.

  "Doctor," he said, suddenly addressing the surgeon, "you must arrangesome plan for transporting me to Santiago."

  "What are you thinking of, general?" the other exclaimed, falling backa couple of steps, so great was his surprise; "it is impossible."

  "And yet it must be," the old man remarked calmly. "If my son is stillalive, he is at Santiago with General Don Sallazar; I wish to see them."

  "What?" said Leon.

  "Once again, it is impossible," remarked the doctor, who was grieved tosee the obstinacy with which his patient supported his resolve.

  "You, Captain Leon," Don Juan continued, "will go on ahead, since youstill offer me your assistance, which has been so precious to me; weshall meet at my cousin's, Senator Don Henriquez de Castago."

  "But, general?"

  "But, doctor, you will do whatever you like; have a litter made, orinvent any mode of transport that you please, for I intend to go toSantiago with my daughter Maria, even if I die on arriving."

  "At least, wait a week."

  "It is your opinion that I cannot be removed today?"

  "Most certainly."

  "Well, I will wait till the day after tomorrow; between this and thenprepare all that you want, and do not trouble yourself about the rest.If an accident happens to me, the blame wil
l rest on myself alone."

  "General!"

  "I have spoken, and I warn you that, if you do not consent, I shallblow out my brains, or rather tear off my bandages, and die here."

  And the old gentleman prepared to suit the action to the word.

  "Stay!" exclaimed the surgeon, who found himself compelled to yield, "Iwill act in accordance with your wishes."

  "Very good," the general replied; "and now I will try to take somerest, for my strength is exhausted, I feel."

  Leon prepared to bid farewell to the general, and leave the countryhouse.

  "Good-bye, my friend," the patient murmured; "in two days we shallmeet again, or, if not, it is to you--you alone--I confine the care ofguarding Maria. Go, and may Heaven aid you to find Inez."

  Leon bent his knee before the old man.

  "Sir," he said to him, with profound emotion, "my life and heart belongto you; take one and break the other if you like, for I can no longerconceal from you the secret that devours me--I love your daughter, DonaMaria."

  "Father, father!" Maria also exclaimed, as she fell on her knees by theside of the general's bed; "forgive me, for I love him in return."

  As his sole answer, Don Juan de Soto-Mayor held out his hand to theyoung people, who covered it with kisses and burning tears. A glance ofineffable happiness was exchanged between the smuggler and the novice.

  "Now I am strong," Leon exclaimed, as he rose. "You shall be avenged,Don Juan."

  And he rushed out of the house. In a second, all his men were ready tostart.

  "Companions!" he shouted, as he leaped on the back of his mustang, "toSantiago at full gallop!"

  A whirlwind of dust rose, enveloping men and horses, who disappeared onthe horizon. Two days later, a young lady on horseback was riding bythe side of a litter carried by two mules, in which lay an old man, anda military surgeon and fifty lanceros escorted them. They were Maria deSoto-Mayor, the general her father, and the doctor, who were proceedingto Santiago.