Part 55 (1/2)
”But there is another name which I also bear, is there not?” inquired Don Cornelio, without losing countenance.
”Don Cornelio Lantejas,” added Clara.
”The proofs--the proofs!” cried the guerillero, pacing rapidly backward and forward, like a caged tiger who sees the spectators outside the bars of his prison without being able to devour them, ”the proofs!--I must have them at once.”
At this moment confused and violent noises were heard outside the door, and rising above all the voice of Costal. The door was suddenly burst open, and the Indian rushed into the middle of the room, holding in one hand a b.l.o.o.d.y dagger, while the other was enveloped in a shapeless ma.s.s of what seemed to be cloth. The latter was serving him for a s.h.i.+eld against the attack of several guerilleros, who were pressing him from behind.
Costal, on getting inside, turned abruptly and stood facing his adversaries.
These, finding themselves in the presence of their chief, desisted for a moment from the attack--one of them crying out to Arroyo, that the Indian had poniarded their comrade Gas.p.a.cho.
”I did it to get back my own property,” replied Costal, ”or rather that of Captain Lantejas; and here it is.”
In saying these words, the Zapoteque unwound from his left arm what had served him as a buckler, and which was now seen to be the cloak so inopportunely missing.
Don Cornelio seized it from him with an exclamation of joy, and at once plunged his hands into the pockets.
”Here are my proofs!” cried he, drawing out a number of papers, so stained with blood, fresh from the veins of the slain robber, as to be scarce legible. Enough, however, could be read to establish the ident.i.ty of Don Cornelio and the authority under which he was acting.
The names of Morelos and Galeana in the midst of this band of brigands were, for him, like the whisper of the Lord to Daniel in the den of lions. Even the two ferocious leaders lowered their tone at the mention of these names, so universally feared and respected.
”You may go, then!” cried Arroyo, yielding reluctantly to the authority that had awed him; ”but if you ever boast of the arrogant language you have used to me, _Carajo_!” and the brigand hissed out the infamous oath. ”As for General Morelos,” he added, ”you may say to him, that each of us fights according to his own way; and, notwithstanding his threats, I shall follow mine.”
Saying this, an order was issued to let the three prisoners pa.s.s free, after delivering up to them their arms and horses.
”Let six hors.e.m.e.n get ready to pursue this runaway Senora!” cried the bandit chief, as Don Cornelio and his companions were leaving the room.
”Some one bridle my horse, and quickly. I shall go along with them, and you too, Bocardo.”
Bocardo made no reply, but not equally silent was Arroyo's female companion.
”What want you with the Senora?” she inquired, in a tone of angry jealousy. ”Have you got the keg of dollars to satisfy you!”
”I have told you already,” rejoined Arroyo, with a demoniac glance at his wife, ”that I want her for the purpose of enabling me to extract a ransom from her father. I want her, and will have her. You stay here, and guard the treasure; and by all the devils if you don't behave yourself better--”
The bandit drew his dagger with such an air of resolution and menace, that the hag, cowed by the gesture, no longer offered opposition to his will. Shrinking to one side, she appeared to busy herself in looking after the keg of dollars.
Meanwhile Don Cornelio and his two acolytes, not caring to remain in such company longer than was absolutely necessary, hastened from the room; and, mounting their restored steeds, rode off into the darkness of the night.
CHAPTER SIXTY NINE.
THE CATALAN LIEUTENANT.
It is already known how Don Rafael Tres-Villas had fortified his hacienda of Del Valle, and how, when called elsewhere by his military duties, he had left its garrison of nearly a hundred men, under the command of a Catalonian officer, Lieutenant Veraegui.
On the same day in which he had made a sortie from the hacienda, and succeeded in capturing ten of the besieging guerilleros, the Lieutenant received a despatch from the governor of the province, ordering him, without further delay, to attack the band of Arroyo, and annihilate it, if possible. Then, with his whole troop, to repair to Oajaca, which was now in danger of being besieged by Morelos. The despatch also conveyed to Veraegui the additional intelligence of the raising of the siege of Huaj.a.pam, and the total defeat of the besieging forces.
The news was anything but agreeable to the Catalonian Lieutenant. In the _alcavala_--which he had for the past two years been accustomed to levy on all the traffic between Puebla and Oajaca--he had found excellent pay for his soldiers; and being a man not over scrupulous, though brave as a lion, he felt greatly disinclined to change his comfortable quarters. A fierce royalist, moreover, the news from Huaj.a.pam excited his fury against the insurgents to the highest pitch; and he blamed himself for the clemency he had displayed that very morning in hanging four of the guerilleros he had taken, up by the neck, instead of by the heels--as he had done with three of their comrades.
About an hour after Don Cornelio Lantejas and his travelling companions had pa.s.sed Del Valle--and only a few minutes from the time, when, thanks to the darkness of the night, two of Arroyo's followers had found an opportunity to carry off the heads of their three comrades--two men presented themselves in front of the fortified hacienda.