Part 35 (1/2)
”No. They're true as good. Not a bit of exaggeration, I a.s.sure you.
The gold only wants to be got at, and then taken.”
”Ah! there may be difficulty about that?” rejoins the doubting Diaz.
”Do you expect to finger sixty thousand _pesos_ without taking the trouble to stretch out your hand?”
”Oh, no. I'm not so unreasonable. For that I'd be willing to stretch out both hands, with a knife in one, and a pistol in the other.”
”Well, it's not likely to need either, if skilfully managed. I ask you again, are you the men to go in for it?”
”I'm one,” answers Diaz.
”And I another,” growls Rocas.
”I'm not going to say nay,” a.s.sents Calderon, glancing significantly at the questioner.
”Enough!” exclaims De Lara; ”so far you all consent to the partners.h.i.+p.
But before entering fully into it, it will be necessary to have a more thorough understanding, as also a more formal one. Are you willing to be bound, that there shall be truth between us?”
”We are!” is the simultaneous response of all three.
”And fidelity to the death!”
”To the death.”
”_Bueno_! But we must take an oath to that effect. After which, you shall know what it's for. Enough now to say it's a thing that needs swearing upon. If there's to be treason, there shall be perjury also.
Are you ready to take the oath?”
They signify a.s.sent unanimously.
”To your feet, then!” commands the chief conspirator. ”It will be more seemly to take it standing.”
All four spring up from their chairs, and stand facing the table.
De Lara draws a dagger and lays it down before him. The others have their stilettos too--a weapon carried by most Spanish Californians.
Each exhibits his own, laying it beside that already on the table.
With the four De Lara forms a cross--Maltese fas.h.i.+on, and then standing erect, Diaz opposite, Rocas and Calderon on either flank--he repeats in firm, solemn voice, the others after him:
”_In the deed we this day agree to do, acting together and jointly, we swear to be true to each other--to stand by one another, if need be, to the death; to keep what we do a secret from all the world; and if any one betray it, the other three swear to follow him wherever he may flee, seek him wherever he may shelter himself, and take vengeance upon him, by taking his life. If any of us fail in this oath, may we be accursed ever after. Amen_!”
CHAPTER FORTY THREE.
THE ”BONANZA.”
The infamous ceremony duly ratified, a drink of the fiery spirit of the _mescal_ plant--a fit finale--is quaffed. Then they take up their stilettos, replace them in their sheaths, and again sitting down, listen to De Lara, to learn from him the nature of that deed, for doing which they have so solemnly compacted.
In a short time he makes it known, the disclosure calling for but a few words. It is after all but a common affair, though one that needs skill and courage. Simply a ”bit of burglary,” but a big thing of its kind.