Part 23 (1/2)
An overwhelming anguish seized the spirit of the student; and once more he sprang from his couch and rushed towards the window. This time it was with the design of disavowing all partic.i.p.ation in the insurrection--like the early Christians, who in the midst of an idolatrous host of persecutors still continued to avow their faith in G.o.d.
But the evil genius of Don Cornelio was yet by his side; and, at the moment when he was about opening his lips to deny all complicity with the enemies of Spain, his senses again gave way; and, without knowing what came out of his mouth, he cried in a loud voice, ”_Viva Mexico, muera el tyran_!” Then, overcome by the effort, he staggered back to his couch.
This time his syncope was of short duration. On recovering his senses, he perceived that his bed was surrounded by armed men; who, judging from their looks and speeches, were examining him with more than ordinary interest. Among others he recognised the voice of Morelos himself!
”How can one explain this sudden sympathy with our cause?” Morelos was inquiring. ”It seems as if the young man was under the hallucination of his fever?”
”Something more than that, General,” suggested an officer of the name of Valdovinos. ”If the most ardent patriotism was not boiling at the bottom, the foam would not thus rise to the surface.”
”No matter!” rejoined Morelos, ”but I cannot think that my ascendancy--”
A new-comer interrupted the speech of the _cura_ of Caracuaro, just as Lantejas had got his eyes fairly open. This was a man of robust and vigorous appearance, with a n.o.ble martial air, and a bold open countenance. His large beard, and hair slightly grizzled, betrayed his age to be somewhere near fifty.
”And why not, General?” said he, taking hold of the hand which Morelos stretched out to him. ”Why should not this brave young man have submitted to your ascendancy at first sight, just as I have done? It is only this morning I have seen you for the first time, and yet you have no follower more devoted than myself. I shall answer for this young stranger. He is one of us, beyond doubt.”
As the new-comer p.r.o.nounced these words, he cast upon Lantejas a glance so winning and at the same time so severe, that it completely subjugated the spirit of the student with a sort of invincible charm, and hindered him from making any attempt to contradict the engagement which was thus made in his name. On the contrary, he rather confirmed it with an involuntary gesture, which he could not restrain himself from making.
The man who had thus intervened was he whom historians delight to call _the grand, the terrible, the invincible Hermenegildo Galeana_--the Murat of the Mexican revolution; he who afterwards, in more than a hundred actions, was seen to place his lance in rest, and dash into the thickest of the enemy's lines, like a G.o.d of battles, vociferating his favourite war-cry, _Aqui esta Galeana_! (Here comes Galeana!) A redoubtable enemy--a friend tender and devoted--such was Don Hermenegildo Galeana.
More fortunate than Murat, Galeana met his death on the battle-field, in the midst of hosts slain by his own hand. Still more fortunate than the French warrior, he died faithful to the principles as well as to the inn to whom he had consecrated his life.
”Well--however the thing may be,” said Valdovinos, pursuing the subject of Don Cornelio's dubious patriotism, ”I know this, that General Calleja has set a price upon this young man's head as well as on our own.”
”Come, _Alferez_ Don Cornelio!” added Galeana, ”get ready to start in the morning; and show yourself worthy of the commission that has been bestowed upon you. You will soon find opportunity, I promise you.”
At that moment the report of a cannon reverberated under the window, to the astonishment of Morelos himself: who had not yet been made aware that he had a piece of artillery under his orders.
”Senor General,” said Galeana, explaining the presence of the gun, ”that cannon is part of the patrimonial inheritance of our family. When a Galeana is born or one dies, it serves to signalise our joy or our sorrow. To-day we consecrate it to the service of the whole Mexican family. It is yours, as our swords and lives are yours.”
As Galeana finished speaking, he advanced towards the window; and in that formidable voice which often struck terror into the hearts of the Spaniards, he cried out--”_Viva el General Morelos_!”
Responsive _vivas_ rose up from the court below, mingled with the clanking of sabres, as they leaped forth from their scabbards, and the cras.h.i.+ng jar of fusils dashed heavily against the pavement; while the horses, catching up the general enthusiasm, sent forth a loud, wild neighing.
In another instant the chamber was emptied of its guests. Morelos had gone down into the courtyard to press the hands of his new adherents, and the other officers had followed him.
Far from partaking of the universal warlike ardour, the student was suffering at the moment the most terrible anguish of heart. The thought of his theological studies being thus interrupted, in order that he might figure in the middle of an insurgent camp, was rendering him completely miserable; but still more the unpleasant information he had just received, that he had been declared a rebel, and that a price was set upon his head. All this, too, had been brought about by the shameful stinginess of his father, in providing him with that sorry mule--just as his former misfortunes had arisen, from his having no better horse than the old steed of the _picador_.
It is scarce necessary to say, that under these circ.u.mstances he pa.s.sed a wretched night of it, and that his dreams were a continued series of horrid visions. He fancied himself engaged in numerous sanguinary battles: and that the insurgent army in which he was enrolled had suddenly changed into a legion of demons, with horns and hoofs!
On waking with the first dawn of day, his dreams, instead of being terminated, appeared to be continued. He heard a noisy tumult in the court below; and rising far above the general clamour could be distinguished a strange trumpet-like sound, now shrill, now hoa.r.s.ely bellowing--as if the fiend himself was sounding the signal of ”Boots and Saddles” to his infernal legions. Bathed in a cold sweat, he started up from his couch; and approaching the window, cast a glance into the courtyard. As before, he saw that it was crowded with armed men in every kind of equipment. The cannon was there, standing in the middle of the court. A negro was reloading it. It was not without surprise that Don Cornelio recognised in the negro the same man who, along with the tiger-hunter, had conducted him to the hacienda of Las Palmas.
Yes, the artillerist was no other than Clara; who was thus improvised as full commander of the solitary piece of cannon--the first which Morelos had at his disposal, and which, under the name of _El Nino_, became afterwards so celebrated in the history of the Mexican revolution. The student also saw the instrument that had been bellowing forth those infernal tones, which he had been fancying he had heard somewhere before. His fancy was not at fault, as he now ascertained--on seeing near the cannon a tall Indian, who was holding to his lips an immense sea-sh.e.l.l, from which proceeded the mysterious sounds. It was Costal and his conch, at that moment performing the _metier_ of first bugler in the army of Morelos. Morelos himself, surrounded by a staff of officers, stood at one end of the s.p.a.cious courtyard, in the act of distributing fusils to the newly enrolled troops.
Lantejas perceived the necessity of making ready for the departure which was evidently about to take place; and having dressed himself, he descended to the court and mingled among the other officers--beyond doubt the most lugubrious ensign in all the insurgent army.
The first person he encountered was the terrible Galeana; and he trembled lest the piercing glance of the warrior should detect under the lion's skin the heart of the hare.
Luckily for him, however, Galeana had at that moment something else to think of, than to scrutinise the thoughts of an obscure ensign; and all the rest were deceived by the martial air which he had done his best to a.s.sume.
Morelos, as stated, was at the moment making a distribution of fusils, a large quant.i.ty of which appeared by his side piled along the pavement of the courtyard.