CHAPTER XXIII.
THE HACIENDA DEL MILAGRO.
The road from Hermosillo to the Hacienda del Milagro is perfectly welltraced, straight and wide along the entire distance. Although the nightwas gloomy and unlit by the moon, as the five horsemen galloped on sideby side, it would have been impossible for them to pass Don Corneliowithout seeing him, had they caught him up; but they reached thehacienda without receiving any tidings of him.
The road had been so trampled in every direction during the last fewdays, both by French and Mexicans, that it was impossible for theseexperienced hunters to distinguish or take up any imprint which couldserve to guide them in their researches. The traces of horses, wagons,and men were so interlaced in each other, that they were completelyillegible, even to the most practised eye. Several times Valentinetried, though in vain, to read this book of the desert. Hence, thenearer the hunters drew to their destination, the more alarmed andanxious they became.
It was about eight in the morning when they reached the hacienda: theyhad travelled the whole night through without stopping, save to searchfor traces of the man they were pursuing. The hacienda was tranquil; thepeons were engaged in their ordinary labours; the ganado was grazingat liberty on the prairies. When the hunters entered, Don Rafael waspreparing to mount on horse, seemingly to take a ride round his farm.A peon was holding a magnificent mustang, which champed its bit andsnorted impatiently at being held so long. When the hacendero perceivedthe newcomers he ran toward them, playfully menacing them with hischicote.
"Ah!" he said with a laugh, "here are my deserters returned. Goodmorning, gentlemen."
The latter, astonished at this merry reception, which they did not atall comprehend, remained dumb. Don Rafael then noticed their gloomy andembarrassed air.
"Hilloh! what is the matter with you?" he asked seriously. "Are you thebearers of ill news?"
"Perhaps so," Valentine answered sadly. "May Heaven grant that I ammistaken!"
"Speak--explain yourself. I was mounting to go and obtain news aboutyou; but as you are here, it is unnecessary."
The hunters exchanged an intelligent glance.
"Of course we will furnish you with all the details you may wish for."
"All the better. In the first place, then, dismount and come into thehouse, where we shall converse more at our ease."
The hunters obeyed, and followed Don Rafael into a vast apartment whichserved as the hacendero's business room. When they entered Valentineopposed the closing of the door.
"In that way," he said, "we shall not have to fear listeners."
"Why such precautions?"
"I will tell you. Where are Dona Angela and Dona Luz at this moment?"
"They are probably still asleep."
"Very good. Tell me, Loyal Heart, have you received any visitor duringthe last twenty-four hours?"
"I have not seen a living soul since the departure of the Count dePrebois Crance."
"Ah!" the hunter said, "then a courier did not arrive last night?"
"None."
"So that you are ignorant of the deeds accomplished yesterday?"
"Utterly."
"You are not aware that the count fought a battle yesterday?"
"No."
"That he took Hermosillo by assault?"
"No."
"And that General Guerrero's army is utterly routed?"
"No. Is what you tell me really the truth?"
"The most perfect truth."
"In that case the count is victor?"
"Yes, and is now installed at Hermosillo."
"It is almost incredible. And now, my friend, as I have answered allyour questions frankly and without comment, will you do me the kindnessto tell me why you asked them?"
"Yesterday, so soon as the count was master of Hermosillo, he thought ofyou, perhaps of somebody else, and he sent off a courier ordered to giveyou a letter."
"Me! That is strange. The courier was doubtlessly a native, an Indian?"
"No, he was Don Cornelio Mendoza, a Spanish gentleman, whom you probablyremember."
"Certainly--a jolly, excellent companion, who was continually strummingthe vihuela."
"The same man," Valentine said ironically. "Well, this jolly, excellentcompanion, who was continually strumming the vihuela, my dear LoyalHeart, is simply a traitor who sold all our secrets to the enemy."
"Oh, Valentine! you must be very sure ere you bring such an accusationagainst a caballero."
"Unfortunately," the hunter said sadly, "the slightest doubt on thesubject is impossible; the count holds in his hands all the fellow'scorrespondence with General Guerrero."
"_Cuerpo de Cristo!_" Don Rafael exclaimed, "do you know, my friend,this is very serious?"
"I am so fully of your opinion that, in spite of the fatigue thatoverpowered me, I begged these gentlemen to accompany me, and startedat full gallop, hoping to surprise him on the road and seize him; for,beside the letter he had to deliver to you, he had others of a mostcompromising nature, addressed to several influential persons in theprovince."
"That is an awkward affair," Loyal Heart said with a pensive air: "it isevident that the scoundrel, instead of coming here, has gone straight tohand the papers to the general."
"There is not, unfortunately, the least doubt of that."
"What is to be done?" Don Rafael muttered mechanically.
There was a moment's silence: each reflected on the means to be employedin order to neutralise the effects of this treachery. Curumilla andEagle-head rose, and prepared to leave the room.
"Where are you going?" Valentine asked them.
"While our brothers are consulting," the Araucano replied, "the Indianchiefs will go on the discovery."
"You are right, chief: go, go," the hunter said. "I do not know why," headded mournfully, "but I have a foreboding of misfortune."
The two Indians went out.
"Do you know the contents of the letter the count wrote me?" Don Rafaelasked presently.
"On my faith, no; but it is probable that he told you of the victory,and begged you to conduct Dona Angela to Hermosillo. In any case theletter was most compromising."
"As for that, I am very slightly alarmed, for General Guerrero willthink twice before he attacks me.
"What is the use of this long deliberation, and such a loss of precioustime? We have only one thing to do, and that is to go to Hermosillo asescort to Dona Angela," Belhumeur said.
"In truth, that is the most simple," Valentine said in confirmation.
"Yes," Don Rafael remarked; "the count can only be pleased with thatcourse."
"Come, let us carry out the plan without further delay," Belhumeurcontinued. "While Black Elk and myself make all the preparations forthe journey, do you, Loyal Heart, go and inform Dona Angela of thedetermination we have come to."
"Do so, and, above all, make haste," Valentine said. "I do not knowwhy, but I should have liked to be off already."
Without further words they separated, and the hunter remained alone. Inspite of himself Valentine was a prey to the most poignant uneasiness.He walked in agitation up and down the room, stopping at times to listenor look out of the windows, as if he expected to see an enemy rise. Atlength, no longer able to endure the uncertainty, he went out.
The two hunters were busily engaged in lassoing horses and saddlingthem, while the peons were bringing in mules to carry the baggage.Valentine felt his disquietude augmented with every moment. He helpedhis comrades with feverish impatience, and urged each to make haste. Anhour passed away. All was then ready, and they only awaited Dona Angela,who arrived, accompanied by Dona Luz and Don Rafael.
"At last!" Valentine exclaimed. "To horse, to horse! Let us start atonce!"
"Let us go," his friends repeated.
Each mounted; but suddenly a great noise was heard outside, andCurumilla appeared with agitated features, and panting violently.
"Fly, fly!" he shouted; "they are coming."
"Forward!" Valentine exclai
med.
But an insurmountable obstacle rose before them. At the moment they werepassing through the gate of the hacienda it was suddenly blocked up bythe cattle the peons were driving back from the fields, probably toprevent them being carried off by marauders. The poor beasts pressedinto the gateway, each anxious to be first, while uttering lamentablemoans, and goaded behind by the peons. It was useless to hope gettingout before the ganado had entered, and there was no chance of clearingthe gateway by driving it back. Hence the fugitives were compelled towait, whether they would or not. Valentine was half mad with anger.
"I knew it, I knew it," he muttered in a hoarse voice, and clenching hisfists in rage.
At length, after nearly an hour (for Don Rafael possessed numerousherds), the gate was free.
"Let us be off in Heaven's name!" Valentine shouted.
"It is too late," Eagle-head said, appearing suddenly in the gateway.
"Maldicion!" the hunter yelled as he rushed forward.
Valentine looked around him, and uttered a cry of alarm. The haciendawas completely surrounded by nearly five hundred Mexican cavalry, in themidst of whom General Guerrero could be distinguished.
"Ah, the wretched traitor!" the hunter exclaimed.
"Come, let us not be discouraged," Loyal Heart said. "_Cuerpo deCristo!_ it is not so long since I gave up desert life that I shouldhave forgotten all its stratagems. We will not give these troops time tolook about them. Let us charge, and make a hole through them."
"No," Valentine said authoritatively; "close and bar the gate,Belhumeur."
The Canadian hastened to obey.
"Stay," Don Rafael said.
"Loyal Heart," Valentine continued, "you are no longer the master to actas you please, and throw yourself headlong into desperate enterprises.You must live for your wife and your children; besides, can we exposeDona Angela to the risk of being killed among us?"
"That is true," he answered. "Pardon me; I was mad."
"Oh!" Dona Angela exclaimed, "what do I care about death if I am not tosee again the man I love?"
"Senorita," the hunter said sententiously, "allow events to follow theircourse. Who knows if things are not better so? For the present return tothe house, and leave us to manage this affair."
"Come, my child, come," Dona Luz said to her affectionately; "yourpresence is useless here, and perhaps it may soon become injurious."
"I obey you, senora," the maiden said sadly; and she retired slowly,leaning on the arm of Dona Luz, who lavished on her all the consolationsher heart dictated. Don Rafael had given all his servants orders to arm,and hold themselves in readiness to offer a vigorous resistance in casethe hacienda was attacked, an event which, from the orders given by thegeneral to his troops, might be expected at any moment. The peons of thehacienda were numerous, and devoted to their master; hence the strugglethreatened to be serious.
Suddenly repeated blows were struck on the gate. Valentine, who hadbeen thinking deeply for several moments, bent down to Don Rafael's ear,and whispered a few words.
"Oh!" the latter replied, "that is almost cowardice, Don Valentine."
"You must," the hunter said obstinately.
And while Loyal Heart proceeded very unwillingly to the gate, he quicklyentered the house. Don Rafael opened a trap door in the gate, and askedwho was there, and what was wanted; then, to the great surprise of all,after negotiating for a few moments with the men who demanded entrancein so peremptory a manner, he ordered the gate to be unbarred. In aninstant it was thrown open, and the general appeared, accompanied byseveral officers, with whom he rode boldly in.
"I beg your pardon for keeping you waiting, general, but I did not knowit was you," Don Rafael said to him.
"Caramba! amigo," the general remarked with a smile as he looked round,"you have a numerous garrison here, as far as I can judge."
"After the late events that have taken place in Sonora the roads areinfested with marauders," Don Rafael replied: "it is wise to takeprecautions."
The general shrugged his shoulders.
"Very good, caballero," he replied dryly; "but it does not please meto see so many men armed without any legal motive. Lay down your arms,gentlemen."
The peons looked at their master; the latter bit his lips, but madethem a sign to obey. All the weapons were then thrown on the ground.
"I am very vexed, Don Rafael, but I am about to leave a garrison in yourhacienda. You and all the persons present are my prisoners. Get ready tofollow me to Guaymas."
"Is that the reward for allowing you to enter my house?" Don Rafael saidbitterly.
"I should have entered in any case," the general replied sternly. "Andnow send my daughter here at once."
"Here I am, my father," the young lady said as she appeared at the headof the steps.
Dona Angela came down slowly into the courtyard, walked toward herfather, and stopped two paces from him.
"What would you of me?" she said to him.
"Give you the order to follow me," he answered dryly.
"I can do no other than obey you. Still you know me, father: myresolution is inflexible. I have in my hands the means to liberatemyself from your tyranny when it appears to me too heavy for endurance.Your conduct will regulate mine. Now let us start."
The only affection that remained warm and pure in the heart of theambitious man was his love for his daughter; but that love was immenseand unbounded. This man, who recoiled before no deed, however cruel itmight be, to attain the object he proposed to himself, trembled at afrown from this child of sixteen, who, knowing the tyrannical power sheexercised over her father, abused it unscrupulously. On his side, DonSebastian knew the iron will and untamable character of his daughter.Hence he trembled in his heart on listening to her cold declaration,although he allowed nothing to be seen. He turned away with an air ofdisdain, and gave orders for departure.
A quarter of an hour later all the prisoners were _en route_ forGuaymas, and no one was left at the hacienda but General Don Ramon andDona Luz, who were watched by a garrison of fifty men, commanded by anofficer, who had orders not to let them communicate with anybody.
Valentine, on seeing the general so speedily recovered from his defeat,judged the position of affairs at a glance. With his usual perspicuityhe understood that, owing to Don Cornelio's treachery, the pueblos wouldnot rise, that the hacenderos who had pledged their word would keepaloof, that the revolt would prove abortive, and that the count, ill andabandoned by everybody, would probably soon be reduced to treat with theman he had conquered. This was the reason why he urged Don Rafael notto attempt a useless resistance, which could only have compromised him;and, at the same time, he persuaded Dona Angela to feign acceptance ofher father's conditions, and return with him.
We see that the hunter had reasoned well, and that his previsions werecorrect. Still he was mistaken in supposing that he would manage toadvise his foster-brother of all that had occurred. The orders givenby the general in reference to the prisoners were executed with suchextreme precision, that it was impossible even to tell the count of hiswhereabouts. And now that we have recounted the events that took placeat the hacienda, we will approach the conclusion of this long drama.