Part 17 (2/2)

”So be it, Captain. Stand here under the shelter, then.”

”Hot as thunder!” growled the major, wiping the perspiration from his broad, red cheeks.

”In five minutes, Senor Coronel, you will be chilled. At this point the heated atmosphere is now compressed. Patience! it will soon be scattered.”

”How long will the storm continue?” I asked. ”_Por Dios_! Senor, it is impossible to tell how long the `_norte_' may rage: sometimes for days; perhaps only for a few hours. This appears to be a `_huracana_'.

If so, it will be short, but terrible while it lasts. _Carrambo_!”

A puff of cold, sharp wind came whistling past like an arrow. Another followed, and another, like the three seas that roll over the stormy ocean. Then, with a loud, rus.h.i.+ng sound, the broad, full blast went sweeping--strong, dark, and dusty--bearing upon its mane the screaming and terrified birds, mingled with torn and flouted leaves.

The olives creaked and tossed about. The tall palms bowed and yielded, flinging out their long pinions like streamers. The broad leaves of the plantains flapped and whistled, and, bending gracefully, allowed the fierce blast to pa.s.s over.

Then a great cloud came rolling down; a thick vapour seemed to fill the s.p.a.ce; and the air felt hot and dark and heavy. A choking, sulphureous smell rendered the breathing difficult, and for a moment day seemed changed to night.

Suddenly the whole atmosphere blazed forth in a sheet of flame, and the trees glistened as though they were on fire. An opaque darkness succeeded. Another flash, and along with it the cras.h.i.+ng thunder--the artillery of heaven--deafening all other sounds.

Peal followed peal; the vast cloud was breached and burst by a hundred fiery bolts; and like an avalanche the heavy tropical rain was precipitated to the earth.

It fell in torrents, but the strength of the tempest had been spent on the first onslaught. The dark cloud pa.s.sed on to the south, and a piercing cold wind swept after it.

”_Vamos a bajar, senores_!” (Let us descend, gentlemen), said Don Cosme with a s.h.i.+ver, and he conducted us back to the stairway.

Clayley and the major looked towards me with an expression that said, ”Shall we go in?” There were several reasons why our return to the drawing-room was unpleasant to myself and my companions. A scene of domestic affliction is ever painful to a stranger. How much more painful to us, knowing, as we did, that our countrymen--that _we_--had been the partial agents of this calamity! We hesitated a moment on the threshold.

”Gentlemen, we must return for a moment: we have been the bearers of evil tidings--let us offer such consolation as we may think of. Come!”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

A LITTLE FAIR WEATHER AGAIN.

On re-entering the _sala_ the picture of woe was again presented, but in an altered aspect. A change, sudden as the atmospheric one we had just witnessed, had taken place; and the scene of wild weeping was now succeeded by one of resignation and prayer.

On one side was Dona Joaquina, holding in her hands a golden rosary with its crucifix. The girls were kneeling in front of a picture--a portrait of Dolores with the fatal dagger; and the ”Lady of Grief” looked not more sorrowful from the canvas than the beautiful devotees that bent before her.

With their heads slightly leaning, their arms crossed upon their swelling bosoms, and their long loose hair trailing upon the carpet, they formed a picture at once painful and prepossessing.

Not wis.h.i.+ng to intrude upon this sacred sorrow, we made a motion to retire.

”No, Senores,” said Don Cosme, interrupting us. ”Be seated; let us talk calmly--let us know the worst.”

We then proceeded to inform Don Cosme of the landing of the American troops and the manner in which our lines were drawn around the city, and pointed out to him the impossibility of anyone pa.s.sing either in or out.

”There is still a hope, Don Cosme,” said I, ”and that, perhaps, rests with yourself.”

The thought had struck me that a Spaniard of Don Cosme's evident rank and wealth might be enabled to procure access to the city by means of his consul, and through the Spanish s.h.i.+p of war that I recollected was lying off San Juan.

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