Part 18 (1/2)
”Oh! name it, Captain; name it!” cried he, while at the word ”hope” the ladies had rushed forward, and stood clinging around me.
”There is a Spanish s.h.i.+p of war lying under the walls of Vera Cruz.”
”We know it--we know it!” replied Don Cosme eagerly.
”Ah! you know it, then?”
”Oh, yes!” said Guadalupe. ”Don Santiago is on board of her.”
”Don Santiago?” inquired I; ”who is he?”
”He is a relation of ours, Captain,” said Don Cosme; ”an officer in the Spanish navy.”
This information pained me, although I scarcely knew why.
”You have a friend, then, aboard the Spanish s.h.i.+p,” said I to the elder of the sisters. ”'Tis well; it will be in his power to restore to you your brother.”
A ring of brightening faces was around me while I uttered these cheering words; and Don Cosme, grasping me by the hand, entreated me to proceed.
”This Spanish s.h.i.+p,” I continued, ”is still allowed to keep up a communication with the town. You should proceed aboard at once, and by the a.s.sistance of this friend you may bring away your son before the bombardment commences. I see no difficulty; our batteries are not yet formed.”
”I will go this instant!” said Don Cosme, leaping to his feet, while Dona Joaquina and her daughters ran out to make preparations for his journey.
Hope--sweet hope--was again in the ascendant.
”But how, Senor?” asked Don Cosme, as soon as they were gone; ”how can I pa.s.s your lines? Shall I be permitted to reach the s.h.i.+p?”
”It will be necessary for me to accompany you, Don Cosme,” I replied; ”and I regret exceedingly that my duty will not permit me to return with you at once.”
”Oh, Senor!” exclaimed the Spaniard, with a painful expression.
”My business here,” continued I, ”is to procure pack-mules for the American army.”
”Mules?”
”Yes. We were crossing for that purpose to a plain on the other side of the woods, where we had observed some animals of that description.”
”'Tis true, Captain; there are a hundred or more; they are mine--take them all!”
”But it is our intention to pay for them, Don Cosme. The major here has the power to contract with you.”
”As you please, gentlemen; but you will then return this way, and proceed to your camp?”
”As soon as possible,” I replied. ”How far distant is this plain?”
”Not more than a league. I would go with you, but--” Here Don Cosme hesitated, and, approaching, said in a low tone: ”The truth is, Senor Capitan, I should be glad if you could take them _without my consent_.
I have mixed but little in the politics of this country; but Santa Anna is my enemy--he will ask no better motive for despoiling me.”
”I understand you,” said I. ”Then, Don Cosme, we will take your mules by force, and carry yourself a prisoner to the American camp--a Yankee return for your hospitality.”