THE ARREST.
The appearance of Valparaíso had greatly changed. It was no longer
the careless, laughing town which we have described, echoing from
morning to night with gay love songs, and whirling round with a wild
sambacueca. No! its gaiety had faded away to make room for sombre
anxieties. Although its sky was still as pure, its sun as hot, and
its women as lovely, a veil of sadness had spread over the forehead
of the inhabitants, and chilled the smile on every lip. The streets,
usually so full of promenaders and so noisy, were gloomy and silent.
The shops--nearly all deserted and closed--no longer displayed to
purchasers from all countries those thousand charming trifles of which
the Creoles are so fond.
Numerous troops of soldiers were encamped in all the squares; strong
patrols marched through each district, and the ships anchored in the
bay, with nettings triced up and ports opened, were awaiting the moment
for action; while at intervals the beating of the drums or the dull
ringing of the tocsin, terrified the timid citizens in their houses,
where they hid themselves under triple bolts and locks.
What was occurring, however, was sufficient to excuse the terror of
the alarmed population. Tahi-Mari, the great Molucho chief, at the
head of the twelve allied Araucano nations, after seizing the forts
of Araucas and Tulcapel, and massacring their garrisons, had taken
Valdivia, which he plundered, and continuing his march with more than
two hundred thousand Indians, had subjugated Talcahueno, Concepción,
Maule, and Talca. In spite of the desperate efforts and courage of
General Don Pedro Sallazar, who at the head of six thousand men had
vainly attempted to arrest the invader, the Spanish army, conquered in
five successive actions, was dispersed, leaving Tahi-Mari at liberty to
march upon Santiago, the capital of Chili.
Only one resource was left Don Pedro Sallazar, that of collecting the
relics of his defeated army, and entrenching himself on the banks
of the Massucho, in order to dispute its passage with the Indians,
who were preparing to cross the river. This he did with the help; of
four thousand men, whom Don Juan brought to him, though not without
difficulty.
The President of the Republic had called under arms all the youth
of Chili, and in the towns, pueblos, and villages, the citizens had
eagerly placed themselves at the disposal of the military authorities,
who had armed and sent them off to Valparaíso, which was selected as
headquarters, owing to the proximity of that town and Santiago.
On the eighth day after the arrival of General Soto-Mayor's daughters
at the convent of the Purísima Concepción, at about midday, three or
four thousand men, forming the volunteer contingent, were piously
kneeling in the Plaza del Gobernador and attending the divine service,
which the Bishop of Valparaíso was celebrating in the cathedral for the
success of their arms. In all the towns of the republic, novenas and
public prayers had been ordered, to implore heaven to save the country
from the immense danger which menaced it.
When mass was ended, the soldiers rose to their feet and closed up in
line. Then a brilliant staff, composed of general officers, at the head
of whom was the commandant of Valparaíso, came out of the cathedral and
stood on the last step of the peristyle. The governor stretched out his
arm as a signal that he wished to speak, and the drums beat a prolonged
roll. When silence was re-established, he said:--
"Chilians! the hand of God presses heavily upon us: the ferocious
Indians have rushed upon our territory like wild beasts; they are
firing our towns, and plundering, burning, massacring, and violating on
their passage. Soldiers, you are about to fight for your homes; you are
the last hope of your country, who is looking at you and counting on
your courage; will you deceive its expectations?"
"No!" the volunteers shouted, brandishing their weapons frenziedly.
"Lead us against the Indians!"
"Very good," the general continued; "I am happy to see the noble ardour
which animates you, and I know that I can trust to your promise. The
President of the Republic, in his solicitude for you, has chosen as
your commander one of the noblest veterans of our War of Independence,
who has claimed the honour of marching at your head--General Don Juan
de Soto-Mayor."
"Long live General Soto-Mayor," the soldiers cried. The general, upon
this, stationed himself by the side of the governor, and all were
silent for the sake of listening to him.
"Soldiers!" he exclaimed, in a fierce voice, and with a glance
sparkling with enthusiasm, "I have sworn to the President of the
Republic that the enemy should only reach Santiago by passing over our
corpses."
"Yes, yes, we will all die. Long live General Soto-Mayor!"
At this moment the doors of the cathedral, which had been shut, were
noisily opened; a religious band could be heard; the bells rang
out loudly; a cloud of incense obscured the air; and an imposing
procession, with the bishop at its head, came out under the portico,
and ranged itself there while singing pious hymns. On seeing this,
soldiers and generals knelt down.
"Christians!" said the bishop, a venerable, white-haired old man, whom
two vicars held under the arms, "go whither duty summons you. Save your
country, or die for it. I give you my pastoral blessing."
Then, seizing a magnificent standard, on which sparkled a figure of the
Virgin, embroidered in gold, he said--
"Take this consecrated flag. I place it in the hands of your general,
and Nuestra Señora de la Merced will give you the victory!"
At these words, pronounced by the worthy bishop, a perfect delirium
seized upon his hearers, and they swore with many imprecations and with
tears in their eyes to defend the flag which General Soto-Mayor waved
over their heads with a martial air, and to conquer or die in following
him. The volunteers then marched past the staff and the clergy, and
returned to their cantonments at the Almendral.
The general had already taken leave of the governor, as the troops had
completely evacuated the square, and was preparing to return to the
mansion which he had inhabited since his arrival from Valdivia, when
he heard his name pronounced behind him just as he was on the point of
mounting his horse. He turned his head quickly, and uttered a cry of
joy on recognising Captain Leon Delbès.
"You here!" he said.
"Heaven be praised, I have found you, general!"
"Where are my girls?" the old gentleman asked, anxiously.
"Saved."
The general opened his arms to the young man, who rushed into them.
"Oh, my friend, what do I not owe you! My poor children! for mercy's
sake take me at once to them. Where have you left them?"
"At the convent of the Purísima Concepción, general, as I pledged
myself to do."
"Thanks! Come then with me; while we are going we will talk together,
and you will tell me how I can recompense the eminent service which you
have done me."
"General, I beg you do not revert to this subject. When I started to
seek the two young ladies who had been torn from you I accomplished a
duty, and I cannot and will not accept any reward."
The general looked at Leon, seeking to read his thoughts in his face,
but he could not divine anything.
"Ah!" he answered, "we shall see. Caramba! You are a man of heart, but
I have a desire to be a man of my word. Let us hasten at once to the
convent, for I am longing to embrace my poor girls."
"But, general, my presence may perhaps be inopportune--I am only a
stranger, and--"
"Sir! the man who devoted himself to save my children cannot be
regarded as a stranger either by them or me."
The captain bowed.
"Let us start," Don Juan continued. "You are on foot, so I will send my
horse home."
"Pray do not do so, general, for my horse is waiting a few yards off."
Leon whistled in a peculiar manner, and almost immediately the general
saw a horseman, leading another horse by the bridle, turn out of the
Calle San Agostino. It was our old acquaintance, Wilhelm.
"Here it is," said Leon.
Wilhelm had come up, and after saluting the general, said to the
smuggler, in a low voice:
"Captain, here is a letter which has arrived for you, and which Master
Crevel bade me to give you, adding that it was very pressing."
"Very good," said Leon, taking it and putting it in his pocket, without
even looking at the handwriting. And he leapt on his horse.
"Follow us," he shouted to Wilhelm.
"All right, captain."
The two gentlemen rode off in the direction of the convent, escorted by
Wilhelm, and followed by the general's servant. On the road the general
overwhelmed Leon with questions as to the way in which he had contrived
to find his daughters; and the captain described his expedition to
him. When he came to the rescue which he accomplished by pretending to
deliver Inez and Maria from the possession of the fiend, the general
could not restrain a burst of laughter.
"On my word, captain, what you did there denotes on your part great
boldness and profound skill. I knew that you were a courageous fellow,
but I now see that you are a man of genius."
Leon tried to defend himself against such a flattering qualification,
but the general insisted, while repeating the expression of his
gratitude. In this way they reached the convent gates, and the general
and Leon went in. Here again the young man was obliged to repeat to the
curious abbess the details of his Odyssey.
The general yielded to all the transports of a real joy, and never
tired of lavishing the tenderest caresses on those whom he had thought
eternally lost. It was then that the memory of the beloved wife who no
longer lived returned to him with all the greater force. Heavy tears
poured from his eyes, and were mingled with those of his daughters.
"My children," he said to them, "Heaven has recalled your mother from
my side, and your brother, Don Juan, is at this moment exposed to all
the horrors of civil war. Hence I should only have you to cherish if
my son succumbed beneath the blows of our cruel enemies. Remain here,
then, my children, in this holy house, until the re-establishment of
peace restores us better days."
"What! are you going away again, father?" Inez asked.
"I must. I have been intrusted with the command of a division, and I
owe the little blood left me to the defence of my country."
"Oh, Heaven!" the young ladies exclaimed.
"Reassure yourselves: I hope to see you again soon: the walls of this
convent will preserve you from external dangers. I leave you here
without anxiety, until I return to be present at your taking the veil,
my good Maria, and your marriage with Don Pedro Sallazar, my dear Inez."
The young ladies made no reply, but simultaneously glanced at the
smuggler, whose face was extremely pale.
"It is to you that I confide them, my sister," the general continued,
addressing the abbess. "Watch carefully over them, and whatever may
happen, only act on my orders, or those of my son, if I am killed,
as regards Maria's taking the veil or Inez's departure, for the war
may--produce great changes and unforeseen catastrophes."
"You shall be obeyed, general," the abbess replied.
The general embraced his daughters for the last time, and prepared to
depart; but at the moment of separating from their father they appeared
visibly affected. Maria looked at Leon, striving to read in his face an
encouragement to confess to the general the slight inclination she felt
for a conventual life. The captain understood the maiden's desire, but
his face did not speak, and hence Maria's lips did not move.
On her side Inez appeared to have formed some violent resolution, for
with purpled cheeks she addressed the general, while repressing the
beating of her heart.
"Father," she said to him, with an effort, "before you leave us, I wish
to say a few words to you without witnesses."
The tone in which these words were uttered produced a certain
impression on the general.
"What have you to tell me, my child?"
"You shall know directly, father."
"Allow me to withdraw, general," said Leon; "besides," he added, "I
have some business to settle, and--"
"Señor, Inez has secrets to reveal to me," the old gentleman said, with
a smile. "I will let you go; but only on condition that you come and
see me tonight before I set out for Santiago."
"I shall not fail, general."
"Good-bye then, for the present, captain."
Leon bowed, and after exchanging a few compliments with the persons
present, left the room. The abbess also retired, though somewhat
reluctantly, followed by Maria, and the general found himself alone
with Inez. Let us leave him and his daughter together for a moment, and
accompany Leon, who found Wilhelm waiting at the gate.
"What is the matter with you?" he asked him, as he mounted his horse;
"you have a very singular look today."
"Well," the German replied, "it is because I see some fellows I do not
like prowling about here."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, except that we had better be on our guard."
"Nonsense, you are mad!"
"We shall see."
"In the meanwhile, let us make haste, for Diego is waiting for us at
the Rio Claro, and time is slipping away."
The two smugglers rode off in the direction of the spot fixed by
Diego for the meeting he had given the captain. Leon was thinking of
the scene which he had just witnessed at the convent, and was asking
himself what Inez could have to say to her father. Wilhelm was looking
around him suspiciously. They rode on thus for about ten minutes, when
just as they were turning the corner of the great Almendral street and
preparing to leave Valparaíso, a dozen alguaciles barred their passage.
"In the name of the law I arrest you, Señor Delbès!" one of them said,
addressing Leon.
"I beg your pardon," the smuggler said, laying his hands on his
pistols, and raising his head.
Wilhelm followed his example.
"Shall we drop them?" he asked, eagerly, in a whisper.
"We two could certainly kill eight!" Leon replied; "but I fancy that
would do us no good, as we are beset."
In fact, the first two men were joined by other ten, and a large band
of serenos speedily surrounded them.
"Surrender!" said the man who had before spoken.
"I must do so," Leon replied; "but tell me why you arrest me?" Then
he bent down to Wilhelm and whispered--"You know where we were going;
proceed there alone, and tell Diego what has happened to me."
"All right; trust to me."
"Gentlemen," Leon continued, "I have asked you for what motive you
arrest me; will you be good enough to tell me?"
"We do not know," the head of the serenos answered. "I have orders to
make certain of your body and the rest does not concern me. For the
third time, are you willing to follow us peaceably?"
Leon reflected for a few seconds, and answered in the affirmative.
"In that case, uncock your pistols."
He raised his arms and discharged his pistols in the air.
"Why, what are you about?" the sereno exclaimed; "you will give an
alarm!"
"You told me to uncock my pistols, and I did more, I unloaded them.
What more would you have?"
"Enough argument; march!" said the man.
"March!" the captain repeated.
And surrounded by a strong squad of police, Leon was carried off to the
governor's house. This arrest, and the two shots heard in this part of
the town, had brought to the spot a large number of curious persons.
Wilhelm mingled among them, and joined the mob that was awaiting the
prisoner coming out.
Ten minutes passed, and at the expiration of that time Leon reappeared,
escorted by twenty serenos, who led him to the Calabozo, situated on
the Almendral, at no great distance from the Convent of the Purísima
Concepción, where he was safely placed under lock and key. Wilhelm
understood that he would have no hope of seeing his captain again by
waiting longer.
"Good!" he said to himself, "I know where to find him now: let us make
haste to go and warn Diego or Tahi-Mari, for I really do not know what
to think of our friend and foe, the captain's lieutenant."
Whereupon the worthy German buried his wide spurs in his horse's
flanks, which started at a gallop in the direction of the Rio Claro.
"No matter; all this does not appear to me clear," the smuggler
muttered. "Well, we shall see."
Night was beginning to fall. As he left the town, the angelus was
ringing in all the churches, and the tattoo sounding in all the streets
of Valparaíso.