Part 11 (2/2)
Lift thy dark eyes, for I love thee, Maid of Yi!
CHAPTER XV
In the evening Alday returned with a couple of his friends, and, as soon as an opportunity offered, I took hied him to let me have a horse to continue my journey to Montevideo He answered evasively that the horse I had lost in the neighbouring forest would probably be recovered in the course of two or three days I replied that if he would let ether with saddle, _poncho_, etc, could be claimed by him whenever they turned up He then said that he could not very well give me ahorse, ”with saddle and bridle also” It looked as if he wanted to keep me in his house for some purpose of his own, and this made me all the more determined to leave it ilances which Monica flashed oneyelashes I told him that if I could not have a horse I would leave his _estancia_ on foot That rather put hi and cheating at cards are looked on as venial offenses, to let a man leave your _estancia_ on foot is considered a very dishonourable thing He pondered overwith his friends, he promised to providemore about the revolution, but after supper Alday suddenly became very confidential, and said that the whole country would be up in arhly dangerous forby e of General Santa Coloainst the Colorado party then in power, and concluded by saying that my safest plan would be to join the rebels, and accoin almost immediately
I replied that I took no interest in the dissensions of the Banda Oriental, and did not wish to co a ed his shoulders, and, renewing his pro nextI found that the others were already up The horses were standing saddled at the door, and Alday, pointing out a very fair-looking animal, informed me that it had been saddled for me, and then added that he and his friends would ride one or two leagues with ht road to Montevideo He had suddenly become almost too kind, but in the si aht inhospitality of the day before
After partaking of bitter _mate_, I thanked my hostess, looked my last into Monica's dark, sorrowful eyes, lifted for one moment tofilling the child with astonish considerable amusement to the other members of the fa nearly parallel with the river, it struck ht one for me, at any rate I therefore checked my horse and told my companions that I would not trouble them to ride withme, ”you will, if you leave us now, infallibly fall into the hands of so you without a passport, will take you to El Molino, or to soh it would make no difference if you had a passport, for they would only tear it up and take you all the sao with us to El Molino, where General Santa Colo his forces, and you will then be able to explain your position to hirily, exasperated at his treachery
”You will then compel us to take you there,” he returned
I had no wish to beco that a bold stroke was necessary to keep my liberty, I suddenly reined up my horse and drew my revolver ”My friends,” I said, ”your road lies inthat direction; ”
I had scarcely finished speaking before a blow of a heavy whip-handle descended onaway a dozen yards
The blow had been dealt by one of Alday's two followers, who had just dropped a little to the rear, and the rascal certainly showed ae and pain, I scra my knife, threatened to stab the first e, I abused Alday for his cowardice and brutality He only smiled and replied that he considered ainstsuch intemperate words
”And now,uphis horse, ”let us waste no more time, but hasten on to El Molino, where you can state your case to the General”
As I did not wish to be tied on to no into the saddle with soe of El Molino at a swinging gallop The rough motion of the horse I rode increased the pain in my arm till it became intolerable; then one of the , after which I was able to travel reat deal
The day was excessively warm, and we did not reach our destination till about three o'clock in the afternoon Just before entering the toe rode through a little arauchos encaed cookinghorses, while others, in bodies of twenty or thirty, were going through cavalry exercises, the wholea scene of wonderful aniaucho costu carried lances, to which were attached little white, fluttering bannerets Passing through the encampment, we clattered into the town, cohty houses of stone or mud, some thatched, others with tiled roofs, and every house with a large garden attached to it At the official building facing the plaza a guard of ten men, armed with carbines, was stationed We dis, only to hear that the General had just left the town, and was not expected back till the following day
Alday spoke to an officer sitting at a table in the roo hirey eyes and a colourless face, and looked like a gentle a feords from Alday, he turned to me and said courteously that he was sorry to tell me I should have to reive an account of myself to him
”We do not,” he said in conclusion, ”wish to coner, or any Oriental even, to join our forces; but we are naturally suspicious of strangers, having already caught two or three spies in the neighbourhood Unfortunately you are not provided with a passport, and it is best that the General should see you”
”Sir officer,” I replied, ”by ill-treating and detaining an Englishood”
He answered that he was grieved that his people had found it necessary to treat , he said, short of liberating me, would be done to make my sojourn in El Molino pleasant
”If it is necessary that the General should see me himself before I can have my liberty, pray let these men take me to him at once,” I said
”He has not yet left El Molino,” said an orderly, standing in the room
”He is at the end of the town at the Casa Blanca, and does not leave till half-past three”
”It is nearly that now,” said the officer, consulting his watch ”Take him to the General at once, Lieutenant Alday”