I aroused half-a-dozen of my men from their midnight slumbers. Among
them was one who had some skill in surgery, derived from a long
experience as hospital assistant.
There was a _catre_, or leathern bedstead, in the tent--a common article
of camp furniture among the officers of the Mexican army. By splicing a
pair of tent-poles along its sides, it could be converted into a
"stretcher" of a superior kind.
The transformation was soon made; and, returning to the chapparal, we
placed the wounded man upon the _catre_, with as much tenderness as if,
instead of an enemy, he had been one of our own comrades.
He had by this time so far recovered as to be sensible of what was
passing; but it was not until he had been carried within the tent, and
his wound carefully dressed by the ex-hospital assistant, that I
consented to an interview between him and his "querida Lola."
Mistrusting the effect of any sudden excitement--even though caused by
joy--I had entreated the girl to remain out of sight; and though
suffering from a painful impatience to speak to her beloved Calros, she
had obeyed me.
Being assured by the improvised surgeon that there was no real danger;
that the wound was not likely to prove fatal; and that the syncope of
the wounded man had been caused by weakness from loss of blood, I
withdrew the restriction.
In an instant after, the beautiful Lola flew into the arms of her lover.
It was an affecting scene, and touched even my rude companions, who
stood around the _catre_. To me it was not pleasant--I might almost say
it was painful--to listen to that interchange of endearing epithets. I
coveted the caresses that were being lavished upon the handsome Jarocho.
Soon the soldiers withdrew, to resume their interrupted repose, the
hospital assistant going with the rest. I was left in the tent with
Calros and Lola.
I could not help envying the invalid. For the sake of being tended by
such a nurse, I would willingly have changed situations with him!
Lola had heard the assurance given by the hospital assistant, and
communicated it to the wounded man. There was no longer the dread of
death to hinder them from indulging in a free interchange of thought.
Perhaps they had something to say to each other which should not be
overheard by any one? Under the idea that my presence might be a
restraint, I withdrew; I shall not say without reluctance.
Throwing my cloak over my shoulders, I walked out of the tent, leaving
them alone.
The night was still; the silence more solemn than ever. Not a sound
disturbed it. Even the moanings of the disabled men, who lay here and
there over the field of battle, which at an earlier hour had been well
nigh continuous, seemed now to have ceased.
I was astonished by this circumstance, and mentally endeavoured to
account for it. Perhaps the report of my pistol had awed them into
silence, under the belief that the "strippers" were abroad, and that it
was better to endure their agonies in silence than to guide those
vultures in their villainous search! This was the only explanation I
could think of.
I strolled off into the chapparal; but I soon found my way back into the
neighbourhood of the tent. Under that piece of spread canvas, rendered
luminous by the lamp burning inside, there was an attraction that drew
me nearer and nearer. It was irresistible; and involuntarily yielding
to it, I at length found myself in front of the arcade-like entrance,
gazing inward.
The flap was thrown back; and I could see the occupants inside, the
invalid stretched upon the _catre_, lying on his back as we had left
him, the girl bending over him, her eyes fixed steadily upon his face.
I could see that he was asleep; but not the less affectionately were
those beautiful eyes bent upon his slumbering features.
The tableau should have gratified;--it tortured me!