CHAPTER XVI.
THE POST HOUSE IN THE PAMPAS.
The Pampas are the _Steppes_ of South America, with this difference,that these immense plains, which extend from Buenos Aires, as far asSan Luis de Mendoza, to the foot of the Cordilleras, are clothed witha thick carpet of long grass, undulating with the softest breath ofthe wind, and are intersected by numerous water courses, some of greatmagnitude, which cut it up in every direction.
The aspect of the Pampas is desperately monotonous and mournful. Thereis neither wood nor mountain; not a single break of ground to form anoasis of sand or granite, on which to rest the eye in the midst of thisocean of green.
Only two roads traverse the Pampas, and connect the Atlantic with thePacific.
The first leads to Chili, passing by Mendoza; the second to Peru, byTucumen and Salta.
These vast solitudes are infested by two races of men, perpetually atwar with each other: the Indian Bravos, or Pampas, and the Guachos.
The Guachos, a caste peculiar to the Argentine provinces, are not to bemet elsewhere.
These men, charged with the supervision of the wild cattle and horseswhich range at large through the whole extent of these wide plains,are, for the most part, whites by race; but, crossed in blood with theaborigines for many years, they have in time become almost as barbarousas the Indians themselves, from whom they have learnt their cunning andcruelty.
They live on horseback, lie in the bare sun, support themselves on theflesh of their beasts when unlucky in the chase, and only approach thetowns and _haciendas_ for the purpose of exchanging their skins, their_nandu_ (the ostrich of the Pampas) plumes, and furs, for spirits,silver spurs, powder, knifes, and the cloths of gaudy colours withwhich they delight to adorn their persons.
The true Centaurs of the New World, as rapid as the Tartar riders ofthe _Steppes_ of Siberia, they transport themselves with prodigiousspeed from one extremity of the Banda Oriental to the other. Theyrecognise no law beyond the whim of the moment; no master but theirwill. For the most part, they do not know the proprietor who employsthem, and whom they only see at rare intervals.
The Guachos are almost as much to be dreaded as the Indians bytravellers, who dare not venture upon the Pampas except in considerablenumbers, so as to afford mutual protection against the aggressions towhich they are constantly exposed, either from Indians or from the wildbeasts.
The caravans are usually composed of fifteen, or even twenty, wagons,or _galeras_, drawn by six or eight oxen apiece. Their drivers,crouching under the hide covering of the _galeras_, urge them on withlong goads, slung over their heads, with which they can easily reachthe leading oxen of the team.
A _capataz_, or _major-domo_,--a resolute man, thoroughly acquaintedwith the Pampas,--commands the caravan, having under his orders somethirty _peones_, who, like himself, are mounted, and gallop around theconvoy, watch the relief cattle, and, in case of attack, defend thetravellers of every age whom they escort.
Nothing can be seen at once so picturesque and sad as the aspect thecaravans present as they extend themselves in a long serpentine lineover the Pampas, advancing at a slow and regular pace along roads fullof quagmires, over which the immense _galeras_ roll, groaning on theircroaking and massive wheels, tottering with indescribable swayings andjoltings along ruts, out of which the oxen, lowing and stretching theirsmoking nostrils to the ground, can hardly drag them.
Ofttimes these heavy caravans are passed by _arrieros_ (muleteers),whose _recua_ (string of mules) trots gaily on, to the tinklingof a silver bell attached to the neck of the _yegua madrina_ (theleading mule), and to the sound of "_Arrea, mulos_" (Get on mules),incessantly repeated, in all notes of the gamut, by the _arriero_ chiefand his _peones_ who gallop about the mules to prevent their strayingto right or left.
When night comes, the muleteers and ox drivers find precarious shelterin the post houses--a kind of _tambas_ or _caravanseries_, built, atconsiderable distances apart, in the Pampas. The _galeras_, detachedfrom the oxen, are ranged in single file; the burdens of the mules arepiled up in a circle; then, if the _corral_ (stables) be full, if therebe many travellers at the post house, beasts and men encamp together,and spend the night under the open sky,--a mode of sleeping which is nohardship in a country where cold is almost unknown. Then commence, bythe fantastic light of the bivouac fires, the long tales of the Pampas,interspersed with joyous bursts of laughter, with songs, and words oflove uttered in whispers.
Yet it is rare for the night to pass over without a quarrel of somesort arising between the muleteers and the drivers, who are by naturejealous of each other, and enemies by profession. Then blood flows, theconsequence of a _navajada_ or two; for the knife always plays a tooactive part among these men, whom no fear of consequences restrains intheir unbridled frenzy.
Now, on the night of the day on which our story begins, the lastpost house on the Portillo road, when you leave the Pampas, going toBuenos Aires, was overfilled with travellers. Two numerous _recuas demulas_ (strings of mules), which a month before had crossed the Altode Cumbre, and encamped on the Rio de la Cucoa, close to the Inca'sBridge, one of the most singular natural curiosities in the country,had lighted their fires before the post house, close to two or threeconvoys of _galeras_, whose oxen were quietly lying in the interior ofthe circle formed by the wagons.
The post house was a building of considerable extent, constructedof _adobas_ (sundried bricks.) The entrance was furnished with aportico--a species of peristyle formed of the trunks of four largetrees, planted in the ground in lieu of pillars, and supporting averanda broad enough to afford shelter from the piercing rays of thesun.
In the interior of the _toldo_, as they call these miserable hovels,resounded the songs and laughter of the drivers and muleteers, minglingwith the notes of a _vihuela_ (Spanish guitar), scraped with theknuckles of the hand in a manner sufficient to drive one to despair,and with the sharp and clamorous outcry of the postmaster, whosesqueaking voice strove in vain to quell the uproar, and regulate thedisorder.
Just at this moment the rapid gallop of many horses was heard; and twoparties of riders, coming from points diametrically opposite, stopped,as with one accord, before the porch of the _toldo_, after passing withgreat dexterity through the encampments before the post house, theapproaches to which were vastly obstructed by the _galeras_.
The first of these parties, consisting of only six riders, came fromthe direction of Mendoza; the second from the opposite side, from theheart of the Pampas: the latter comprised some thirty individuals atleast.
The unexpected arrival of the newcomers stopped, as by enchantment, theclamour which the _ranchero_, or owner of the house, had been unable tostill, and a sudden silence seized on the company, which had been sojoyously uproarious a few minutes before.
The muleteers and drivers glided like shadows out of the house, and,with furtive steps, regained their respective encampments, exchanginguneasy looks amongst themselves; so that the room was empty in atwinkling, and the _ranchero_ was able to come forward and receive theguests who had arrived so unexpectedly. But he had scarcely reached thethreshold, and cast a glance outside, when a mortal pallor overspreadhis visage, a convulsive shudder shook his frame, and his tones werealmost unintelligible, as he managed to stutter forth the essentialphrase of welcome in South America; "_iAve, Maria purisima!_" (Hail,purest Mary!)
"_iSin pecado concebida!_" (immaculately conceived) answered the roughvoice of a tall cavalier, with harsh features and a ferocious eye, whoseemed to be the leader of the more numerous party.
We must observe that the second party appeared in some degree to sharethe terror felt by the inhabitants of the post house; and havingperceived the others before their own presence was remarked, the sixcavaliers had prudently reined in their horses, and thrown themselvesinto the shade as far as possible, being little desirous, in allprobability, of being inadvertently seen by the dangerous fellowtravellers amongst whom chance or ill luck had unfortunately thrownthem.
Now,
who were these persons, the sight of whom sufficed of itself toinspire a general panic and womanly consternation in the breasts of thehardy explorers of the wilderness--of men whose life was a perpetualstruggle against the wild beasts, and who had so often confronted deathwithout blenching, that they almost fancied they were beyond his grasp?
At the time in which this story happens, the hateful and bloody tyrannyof that half-breed--that Nero who had nothing belonging to humanitybut its semblance, that ignorant and brutal _guacho_, that man-facedtiger, in a word, Don Juan Manuel de Rosas--which had so long crushedthe Argentine provinces, was still all-powerful; and these men were_federales_, hired assassins of that butcher in cold blood, whose nameis now damned by the execration of the world; in short, they weremembers of that horrible _restauradora_ (regeneratory) society, betterknown under the name of _mashorca_ (_mashorca_ signifies literally"more gallows"), which for several years filled all Buenos Aires withmourning. Constrained by public indignation, the Dictator, later on,had made a pretence of dissolving this society; but he did nothingof the sort, in reality; and up to the final fall of the uncleantyrant, it existed _de facto_, and at the slightest sign of its masterscattered murder, violation, and fire through the length and breadth ofthe confederation.
The reader can now understand the terror which seized upon the carelessand peaceable travellers assembled in the _toldo_, at the appearance ofthe ominous uniforms of these hired ruffians, to whom pity was unknown.
Compelled by one of these instinctive presentiments which are seldomfallacious, they felt that some misfortune threatened them. They creptout with slouching heads, and hiding themselves behind their bales,began to shudder in the darkness, without attempting to prepare forresistance, which they knew would be futile.
In the meantime, the _colorados_, or _federales_, had dismounted, andentered the _rancho_, marching on their toes, on account of theirenormous spur rowels, and allowing their heavy iron scabbards to trailbeside them: The clang made by these in their contact with the flooringseemed a sound of evil augury to the terrified listeners.
"Halloa!" cried the leader, in a harsh voice; "_irayo de Dios!_ Whatdoes this mean, _Caballeros?_ Does our arrival banish all pleasure fromthis dwelling?"
The _ranchero_ multiplied his obeisances till he addled his brains withbowing, and twisted his shapeless hat in both hands without findinga word to say. At the bottom of his heart, this worthy man, who wasacquainted with the expeditious habits of his unwelcome guests, had thegreatest dread of being hanged forthwith; a thought which by no meanshelped him to recover his presence of mind, and the coolness requiredby circumstances.
The large room was barely lighted by a single smoky candle, sheddinga yellow and doubtful light. The _colorado_, coming from the open,his eyes still clouded with the thick darkness on the Pampas, hadnot been able to distinguish objects at first; but as soon as he hadgot accustomed to the semi-obscurity which reigned around him, andperceived that, with the exception of the _ranchero_, the place wasempty, he frowned, and stamped on the ground in ire.
"_iValgame Dios!_" he exclaimed, looking furiously at the poor devilperspiring with fear before him, "Have I fallen unawares into a nestof serpents? Is this miserable hut the meeting place of _salvajesunitarios?_ Answer, wretch, or I will have your tongue torn out andthrown to the dogs!"
The post master grew green with fear when he heard this menace,--athreat he well knew these men capable of executing. He was still morefrightened at the expression _salvajes unitarios_, an epithet used todesignate the enemies of Rosas, and generally the prelude to a massacre.
"Senor General," cried he, with an heroic effort to utter a few words.
"I am not a general," broke in the _colorado_ in a somewhat smoothertone, for his pride was secretly flattered by the sonorous title;"I am not a general yet, though I hope to be one someday. I am only_teniente_ (lieutenant), which is already a pretty step; so call menothing else for the present. Now, go on."
"Senor _Teniente,_" replied the _ranchero_, a little comforted, "thereis nobody here except good friends of the well beloved General Rosas;we are all federals."
"Ha! I doubt that," said the terrible lieutenant. "You are too close toMonte Video to be thorough Rosistas."
We must state here that throughout the Argentine provinces there wasonly one town which had the noble courage to oppose itself to thesavage tyranny of the ruthless Dictator. This town, whose devotion tothe sacred cause of liberty has made it celebrated throughout both theOld and New Worlds, is Monte Video. Resolute to perish, if it must be,in the holy cause it bad embraced, it heroically sustained a siege ofnine years against the troops of Rosas, whose impotent efforts wererepeatedly shattered against its walls.
"Senor _Teniente_," replied the _ranchero_ obsequiously, "the peoplewho meet here are solely _arrieros_ and wagoners, who are onlypassers-by, and never meddle with politics."
This explanation, which the postmaster thought most adroit, had noinfluence on the _colorado._
"_iVive Dios!_" he cried, with haughty voice, "We will see; and woe tothe traitor I discover! Luco," he continued addressing his _cabo_, orcorporal, "just step and rouse up those brute beasts, and bring themhither. If any sleep too soundly, stir them up with the point of thesabre; it will exhilarate them and induce them to move more quickly."
The _cabo_ gave a malicious grin, and went out immediately to executehis orders.
The lieutenant, after addressing a few more questions of minorimportance to the _ranchero_, at last thought fit to seat himselfon the bench which ran round the room, and, to enliven the time ofthe corporal's absence, set himself to consume the liquor and foodassiduously placed before him by the host, who was swearing to himselfall the while at being obliged to find drink gratis for so many. Heknew well that, though the consumption of liquors by the soldiers wouldbe enormous, he would never see the colour of their money, and mightthink himself happy if he escaped without other damage.
The soldiers, except five or six who remained without in charge of thehorses, seated themselves by their officer, and followed his example indrinking like sponges.
The corporal's task was easier than he expected, for the poor devils ofmuleteers and drivers had overheard the peremptory order of the leader.Comprehending that resistance would not only be useless, but make theirsituation worse, they obeyed their officer's orders with resignation,and came back again into the room, attempting to hide their fright withill-counterfeited smiles.
"Aha!" cried the lieutenant; "I knew we should find some malcontentshere,--ay, good people?"
The peasants multiplied their excuses and protestations, to which thelieutenant listened with the greatest indifference, taking all thewhile short sips from an enormous goblet, filled to the brim with_refino de Catalonia_, the strongest spirit known.
"There, that will do," said he at last, making the steel scabbard ofhis sword rattle against the bench; "let us reconnoitre a little; andfirst of all, for whom are you, in the devil's name?"
The travellers, terrified by this demonstration, answered the questionby hastening to shout at the top of their voices, and with anenthusiasm the more demonstrative the less it was real:
"_Viva el benemerito General Rosas, Viva el libertador, Vivan losfederales, Mueren los salvajes unitarios. A degueello, a degueello conellos._"[1]
These well-known federal cries, which served as rallying calls in theirbloody expeditions, dispelled the doubts of the officer. He deigned tosmile; but it was a tiger's smile, exposing the white fangs ready tobite.
"_Bravos, Bravos_," he cried: "that is right at all events. These aretrue Rosistas. Come, _ranchero, trago de aguardiente_" (a draught ofbrandy) "for these worthy people. I intend to treat them."
The _ranchero_ could have easily dispensed with this factitiousgenerosity of the officer, the cost of which he well knew he shouldhave to pay out of his own pocket. However, he executed the order,hiding the chagrin he felt under the most gracious air he could assume.The cries and protestations of federalism were
renewed with redoubledardour: the brandy circulated, and joy seemed to have reached a climax.
The lieutenant next took a guitar, which happened to lie beside him.
"Come, _muchachos_," said he; "a _zambacueca_" (a Mexican dance)."_Voto a Dios_, Room for the dance."
There was no refusing. Whatever the secret fears of those present,the gracious invitation of the _colorado_ was so neatly put, that theywere obliged to take heart of grace, as the saying is, and play theirparts to the end. It was the best plan to resign themselves to theirlot. They were in the claws of the tiger, who might devour them at anymoment if the fancy seized him.
The middle of the room was cleared; the dancers, male and female, tooktheir places, their eyes fixed on the officer, in expectation of hissignal.
They had not long to wait; as soon as the lieutenant saw his victimsprepared, he swallowed an enormous bumper of _refino_, and set himselfto rattle on the guitar with his knuckles; while he sang, or ratherscreeched, in a shaky voice, the gay _zambacueca_ so well known in theArgentine provinces, and which begins with the following charming verse:
"Para que vas y vienes, Vienes y vas. Si otros andar menos, Consiguen mas?"[2]
It has been truly said that the Spaniards are excessively fond ofdancing; but in this, as in many other matters, the South Americanshave left them far behind They have carried this passion to such apitch, that it reaches the limits of folly. The scene we are about todescribe will prove the truth of our assertion.
These very men, who had only consented to dance because, as one maysay, the knife was at their throats, and were still under the influenceof extreme terror, had scarcely heard for a few minutes the groaningchords of the guitar, and the words which marked the time, than theyimmediately forgot their precarious position, and gave themselves upheart and soul, in a sort of savage frenzy, to their favourite pastime.
Those who at first had prudently kept themselves within bounds, inconsequence of their anxiety, were soon fascinated by the bounds of thedancers, and leaped and stamped, howling, like the others, with all thestrength of their lungs.
Thus at the close of a few minutes all constraint had vanished, and thenoise had again grown as deafening, and the uproar as stunning, as ithad been when the federals arrived.
Meanwhile the corporal had diligently carried out the orders he hadreceived from his superior; but, as we said above, the muleteers andwagoners, having accidentally stopped in front of the _rancho_, andthen entered the room of their own accord, had materially lightenedhis task. But that worthy officer, zealous in the performance of hisduty, had taken half a dozen soldiers with him, and scoured the severalencampments, passing the blades of their swords between the bales,looking into the insides of the _galeras,_--in a word, ferretingabout everywhere, with the sagacity of an old bloodhound which it isimpossible to baffle.
Persuaded at last, after the most minute search, that all those whomhe thus looked after had entered the _rancho_, he determined to followthem. But the uproar he heard inside convincing him that all was goingright, for the time at least, he changed his mind, and dismissing thesoldiers who were with him, and who desired nothing better than to jointhe merriment, remained outside.
As soon as he found himself alone, the corporal's whole demeanourchanged. He first satisfied himself that no indiscreet eye observed hismotions; he then rolled a cigarette between his fingers, lit it, and,walking backwards and forwards with the air of an idler enjoying hisleisure, gradually increased his distance from the porch.
After some ten minutes of this manoeuvring, which bore no badresemblance to a ship tacking against a contrary breeze in herendeavours to get away from her port, he found he had passed beyond thewagoners' camps, and was so far from the _rancho_, that, thanks to theobscurity of the night, it was impossible to see him from thence. Heimmediately stopped, looked once more round him, and threw the lightedcigar in the air.
The light _pajillo_ described a brilliant parabola against the sky, andthen fell to the ground, when the corporal extinguished it with hisfoot.
At the same moment a slender line of fire sparkled in the obscurity alittle way off.
"Good," growled the corporal; "see what it is to be prudent."
A second time he scanned the neighbourhood narrowly; then, reassured bythe obscurity which reigned around, he resolutely turned aside into thedarkness, humming under his breath these three verses of a song wellknown in the Pampas:
"O Libertad preciosa No comparado al oro Ni al bien mayor de laespaciosa tierra."[3]
Directly, a voice, low as a whisper, took up the subsequent verses:
"Mas rica y mas gozosa Que el mas precioso tesoro."[4]
At this response, which he doubtless expected, the corporal stoppedshort. He struck the end of his scabbard on the ground, rested himselfon the hilt, and said aloud, as if talking to himself:
"I should like to know why the _nandus_ (ostriches) have so suddenlytaken themselves off into the Pampas?"
"Because," answered the voice which had continued the song, "theysmelt the odour of dead bodies."
"That may be true," said the corporal, without seeming astonished atthe answer which came so oddly; "but then the _condors_ would come downfrom the Cordilleras."
"It is already twenty-one days since they passed the Alto de Cumbre."
"The sunset yesterday was red."
"His rays reflected the light of the conflagrations caused by the_mashorca_," said the voice again.
The corporal hesitated no longer.
"Approach, Don Leoncio," cried he; "you and your companions."
"We are here, Luco;" and the corporal was immediately surrounded by sixpersons, armed to the teeth.
It is useless to say that these men were the six persons who anhour before had arrived at the post house simultaneously with the_colorados_, and whom prudence had induced to remain concealed.
The dancing and shouting in the _rancho_ still went on. The merrimentwas gradually growing into a gigantic orgy.
Consequently the strangers were sure they should not be disturbed.Moreover, although the moon had now risen, and gave a certain amountof light, the little group, sheltered by the wagons behind which theystood, was in no danger of discovery; while, thanks to its position,nobody could leave the _rancho_, without being seen directly by thosecomposing it.
We will profit by the moonbeams to depict in a few words these freshpersonages; a task made more easy by the fact that they had dismounted,and were holding their horses by the bridles.
We said they were six in number: the first three were evidently_peones_; but their heavy silver spurs, their _tirador_, or girdleof embroidered velvet, their beautifully chased weapons, their rich_ponchos_ of fine Bolivian vicuna wool, and, above all, the respectfulfamiliarity which they used towards their masters, indicated that theyhad earned for themselves a certain degree of consideration.
These _peones_ were, in fact, not only servants, but friends; humbleones, it is true, but devoted ones, tried many a time in scenes offrightful danger.
Of the masters, two were men of about thirty-five, in all the vigour oftheir age and strength. Their dress, similar in cut to that of theirservants, was only distinguished from it by the superior richness andfineness of its texture.
The foremost was a tall and well-built person, with graceful mannersand elegant gestures. The outline of his face was proud and decided,and his hardy features expressed a kindness and frankness which, atfirst sight, won the sympathy and regard of all.
His name was Don Leoncio de Ribera.
His companion, of the same size and figure, and endowed with the samemanners, formed, nevertheless, a perfect contrast to Don Leoncio.
His soft blue eyes; the thick curls of blonde hair, which escaped inlarge masses from under his Panama hat, and flowed in disorder on hisshoulders; the cream-coloured skin, which contrasted with the oliveand slightly bronzed complexion of Don Leoncio,--seemed to indicatethat he was not born under the burning sun of South America. Yet thisca
valier could proudly claim, even more than the latter, the qualityof a veritable _hijo del pais_[5] since he descended in a direct linefrom the brave and unhappy Tupac Amaru, the last Inca, so baselyassassinated by the Spaniards.
He was called Manco Amaru, Diego de Solis y Villas Reales; and we begour reader's pardon for this litany of names.
Don Diego de Solis concealed the courage of the lion under theeffeminacy of a woman, and nerves of steel under the skin of his softwhite hands.
As to the third cavalier, who kept himself modestly retired behind theothers, he had wrapped himself up so carefully in the voluminous foldsof his _poncho_, and the rim of his hat was so well pulled down overhis countenance, that is was impossible to distinguish any part of himexcept two large black eyes, which flashed forth flames of fire. Hissmall size, delicate limbs, and a certain soft smoothness about hismovements, would lead one to suppose that he was still a youth, if thismasculine attire did not conceal a woman, which seemed more probable.
However that may be, no sooner did the corporal find himself in thepresence of the persons we have described, than there was a completemetamorphosis in his whole appearance. His rough and fierce demeanourwas exchanged for a flattering obsequiousness, denoting completedevotedness; and his countenance lost its mocking expression, to takethat of decided pleasure.
Don Leoncio had difficulty in moderating the outbursts of foolish joyto which the soldier gave vent, with the unconstraint of a man who atlength enjoys a happiness he has long been vainly expecting.
"There, there, Luco," said he; "be calm. You see it is I. There,there; be moderate, _muchacho_ this is not the time for outpourings ofaffection."
"It is true, _mi amo_" (my master); "but I am so happy to see you againafter such a length of time," and he brushed away the tears whichrolled down his bronzed cheeks.
Don Leoncio felt deeply moved by the affection of his old servant, andreplied:
"Thanks, Luco; you are indeed a good and trusty fellow."
"And yet, in spite of the happiness I feel in seeing you once more,I wish you had not returned at such an unlucky moment. _Mi amo_, thetimes are bad; the tyrant is more powerful than ever in Buenos Aires."
"I know. Unfortunately, I could not postpone my journey, in spite ofthe perils to which I should be exposed."
"_iValgame Dios_, senor! This is a terrible life we are now leading."
"What is to be done? We must all take our share of the unavoidable. Aremy orders fulfilled?"
"Yes, all, _mi amo:_ your brother is forewarned. Unluckily, I could notgo myself to inform him: I was forced to send a _guacho_, of whom Iknew little. But do not be uneasy, senor; your brother will not fail tobe here in a few hours."
"Good; but you seem to have come here in considerable numbers."
"Alas, it could not be helped; I am so spied after, _mi amo._ I wasobliged to use the most extraordinary efforts to induce the lieutenantto bring so few."
"We had very nearly run into his arms."
"Yes; and I was in a dreadful fright at the moment, for I hadrecognised you already, senor: God knows what would have happened hadyou met."
"And now, is this lieutenant to be trusted?"
Luco shook his head sorrowfully.
"He! _Mi amo_, take heed. He is one of the most ferocious_mashorqueras_ of that evil dog Rosas."
"The devil he is!" said Don Leoncio, with a troubled look. "I fear, mypoor Luco, your too great confidence has led us into a hornet's nest,out of which we shall have some trouble to escape safe and sound."
"It is a difficult case--I will not attempt to deny it. You must bevery cautious, and let no one strike your trail. The principal thing isto gain time."
"True," said Don Leoncio, plunging into a reverie.
"How many are there of you?" said Don Diego, mixing in the conversationfor the first time.
"Thirty-five, counting the lieutenant, senor; but he is a devilincarnate, and counts for four at least."
"Pooh!" replied Don Diego carelessly, while he stroked his blondemoustache; "we are seven when we count you, my good fellow."
"Who is this lieutenant?"
"Don Torribio, formerly a _guacho._"
"Oh," said Don Leoncio, disgusted, "Torribio _Degueello!_" (literally,Torribio the Butcher).
"_iVoto a brios!_" replied Don Diego; "How I should like to plant myknee on the breast of that wretch! Well, what are we to do?"
"You forget who is with us," said Don Leoncio, quickly, casting aglance at the motionless figure behind.
"It is true," said the young man; "I am mad. Forgive me, friend; wecannot be too cautious."
"It is lucky," observed Luco, "that you have not brought Dona Antoniawith you. Poor dear nina! she would die here, were she exposed to thedevils in whose midst we are."
All of a sudden before Don Leoncio had time to reply, a horribleclamour arose in the _rancho_, several shots were heard, and a score ofmen and women, frantic with fear, rushed into the open with shouts ofterror, and dispersed in all directions.
"Hide yourselves!" cried Luco. "Good God! What can this mean? I will beback directly; but, for God's sake, do not let them see you. Farewellfor a time! I must go and see what is the matter."
Leaving Don Leoncio and his companions in dreadful anxiety, thecorporal ran towards the house, where the tumult was increasing everyminute.