Part 29 (1/2)
”Well, to be frank with you, holy father, I confess to soe you should, reatly perplexed at what you've seen and heard since you came up here, with much before
But the tiar and listen”
CHAPTER FORTY FIVE
THE FREE LANCES
”Try a Manilla this ti out to take a cigar from the case ”Most people believe that the best can only come from Cuba A mistake, that There are some made in the Philippine Islands equal--in my opinion, superior--to any Havannahs I speak of a very choice article, which don't ever get into the hands of the dealers, and's only known to the initiated Some of our _ricos_ import them by way of Acapulco Those are a fair sa Irishman made trial of the weed thus warmly recommended; to discover what contradicted all his preconceived ideas in the sars are Havannahs; but, after a fehiffs froar shop, he illing to give up the ”I one of the saive you the promised explanation That the monks of my community are of an order neither very devout nor austere, you've already observed, no doubt, and may have a suspicion they're notseen service, and allant deeds When I speak of them as soldiers, you will understand it in its true sense, Senor With one or two exceptions, all have held commissions in our arentleain cursed our country by restoring its chronic tyrant, Santa Anna, of course threw the proscribed, with a price set upon their heads”
”Then you're not robbers?”
This was said without thought, the words involuntarily escaping Kearney's lips But the counterfeit abbot, so far froood-huo mio_! who told you ere that?”
The Irish he had co to y It arose fro around in the prison Be assured, I neither did nor could believe it”
”Thank you, Senor!” returned the Mexican ”Your apologies are appreciated And,” he added, putting on a peculiar smile, ”in a way superfluous I believe we do enjoy that repute a our enemies; and, to confess the truth, not without some reason”
Kearney pricked up his ears, perplexity, with just a shade of trouble, again appearing upon his face He said nothing, however, allowing the other to proceed
”_Carramba_, yes!” continued the proscript ”'Tis quite true we do a little in the plundering line--now and then We need doing it, Don Florencio But for that, I ood a breakfast before you; nor wines of such quality, nor yet these delectable cigars If you look to the right down there, you'll see the _pueblo_ of San Augustin, and just outside its suburbs, a large yellow house From that came our last supply of drinkable and sany and everything A forced contribution, as I've hinted at But, Senor, I should be sorry to have you think we levy blackmail indiscriminately He from whom they were taken is one of our bitterest enemies; equally an enemy of our country
'Twas all in the way of reprisal; fair, as you'll admit, when you come to comprehend the circumstances”
”I comprehend them now,” returned the listener, relieved, ”quite; and I trust you'll accept y”
”_Sans arriere pensee_,” responded the Mexican, who could speak French, if not English, ”I do frankly, freely No reproach to you for supposing us robbers I believee make appearance
Southward, however, in the State of Oaxaca, we are better known as 'the Free Lances'; a title not so appropriate, either, since our weapons are only at the disposal of the Republic--our lives as well”
”But,” questioned Kearney, ”may I ask why you are habited as I now see you?”
”For a good reason, _a all sorts of opportunities Throughout Mexico, the cowl of the monk is the best passport athethat this old ain becoious order Of course we don't allow any of the rustics to approach it Luckily, they are not curious enough to care for that, against the toil of cli up here If they attempt it, we have sentinels to stay them For ourselves, we have learned to play the part of the holy friar, so that there would be difficulty in detecting the counterfeit As it chances, we have with us one or tho once wore the cowl These perverts have taught us all the tricks and passwords current a the fraternity Hitherto they have availed us, and I trust will, till the ti on the soldier's coat That day is not distant, Don Florencio; nearer than I expected, from what my comrades have told me since we came up The State of Oaxaca is disaffected; as, indeed, the whole southern side of Acapulco, and a _grito_ is anticipated ere long--possibly within a month Alvarez, who controls in that quarter, will be the man to raise it; and the old Pinto chief will expect to be joined by the 'Free Lances' Nor will he be disappointed
We are all burning to be at it So, caballero, you see how it is with us And now,” he added, changing tone and looking his listener earnestly in the face, ”I have a question to put to yourself”
”What?” asked the Irish it
”Will you be one of us?”
It was now Kearney's turn to hesitate about the answer he ought to ht with such consequences required consideration
To ould he be co himself if he consented? And what if he should refuse? Besides, under the circumstances, was he free to refuse?