HOW HARRY AND KATIE MANAGE TO ENJOY THEMSELVES IN THEIR CAPTIVE
STATE.
The train moved off; and as the puffing and panting of the engine,
the rumble of the wheels, and the shriek of the whistle died away in
the distance, the captive passengers felt desolate indeed, for it
seemed as though hope itself had been taken from them.
The Carlist chief then spent some time in examining the contributions
of the loyal subjects of King Charles. These appeared to give him
much satisfaction, and, after due inspection, were gathered up and
deposited in a stout oaken chest.
He now turned his attention to the prisoners, and briefly examined
them as to their nationality, residence, etc. Harry acted as general
interpreter, so that there was no difficulty in coming to a full
understanding. The chief informed them that they would have to be
conveyed to another place for fuller examination. He deplored the
necessity of this, and advised them to be patient, telling them that
they should be put to as little trouble as possible, and that all
would no doubt turn out well in the end. This he said first to the
Russell party, and afterward to Ashby. The Russell party had nothing
to say, except old Russell himself, who said, perhaps, more than was
prudent under such delicate circumstances. He chafed and fumed, all
in English, and muttered something about British ironclads and
writing to the Times. He also made some vague threats about the wrath
of England, and made the statement that Britons never would be
slaves. But this was in English, and Harry did not think it worth
while, on the whole, to translate it to the Carlist chief. Nor did
Harry feel very much inclined to say anything on his own behalf.
There was, indeed, nothing to be said; and, besides, he happened to
be enjoying himself very much with the young ladies.
The Carlist chief made the same statement to Ashby, who once more
tried to effect a communication with his friends.
"Will you allow me now, Senor Captain," he said, "to join the other
foreign prisoners? They are my fellow-countrymen, and, in fact, my
intimate friends."
"Certainly, senor," said the Carlist chief, graciously. "For my own
part, I have no objection--that is, for the present. But I must first
see what they have to say about it."
He did so.
Ashby would have gained his wish if it had not been for Russell. When
the Carlist chief informed them that the other Englishman wished to
join them, Russell made Harry translate this to him. The moment that
he understood the request, he burst forth into a passionate tirade
against Ashby; and all the rage and fury that might be due to this
misadventure was now poured forth upon Ashby's head.
"The infernal puppy!" he cried. "He join us? Never! I'd rather turn
Carlist myself, or brigand. If he is forced upon us, I will keep my
wife and my ward apart and aloof from him. Oh, curse it all! if I
could only speak Spanish! But, Mr. Rivers, I insist upon your telling
this Spanish captain that we will not have it."
And so on. Harry found it useless to argue with him, and so he told
the Carlist chief that Russell objected. The Carlist chief then
returned and told Ashby, to whom this was another cruel blow.
"It will make no difference," said the Carlist chief, who saw his
dejection, "as you will all be taken to the same place."
Two mules were now driven up, harnessed to a curious vehicle that
might have taken Noah and family to the ark. Into this the Russell
party entered, namely, Mr. Russell, Mrs. Russell, Katie, Dolores, and
Harry. In addition to these there was the driver. Armed men followed
on foot.
Another similar vehicle drove up to take the luggage, and into this
Ashby was told to go. Some time was occupied in loading this, so that
when Ashby started the others were already far ahead.
The Russell party were conveyed very slowly. At first their route lay
along a plain, and then when this was traversed they began to ascend
among the mountains. The pace had all along been slow enough, but now
it became a crawl. The party were variously occupied. Russell was
grumbling and growling; Mrs. Russell was sighing and whining; Dolores
was silent and thoughtful; Harry, however, maintained his usual flow
of spirits, and found in Katie a congenial soul. These two had been
devoting themselves to one another during the whole journey, and by
this time they felt quite like old friends. Each had a lively
disposition, too buoyant to remain depressed, and each was glad to
take any opportunity of rallying from the strokes of adverse fortune.
Thus each was able to assist the other bravely in the noble effort to
rise superior to circumstances.
"This is a bore," said Harry, "a beastly bore! I know what I should
like to do--I should walk, if it were not that I very much prefer
being with you."
"But I should like to walk too," said Katie. "Do you think they will
let us, Mr. Rivers? It would be too lovely!"
"Will you, really?" said Harry, in a joyous voice. "Oh, they'll let
us, fast enough. I'll ask."
So Harry asked, and permission was granted readily enough, for the
mules could then go on faster, and there was no danger of these two
escaping from twenty armed men. Accordingly, Harry got out and
assisted Katie in the usual way, namely, by lifting her down. They
then fell behind the wagon, walking along at a slow pace, having this
advantage, that, although they were not making any greater progress
than before, they were left more to themselves, and were under less
restraint.
"Do you like this?" asked Harry, as they trudged along.
"Oh, very much indeed."
"It's better than the wagon, isn't it?"
"I'm so _awfully_ tired of the wagon!" said Katie.
"And we can talk without being overheard," said Harry. "Of course I
don't mean to say that we say anything that everybody mightn't hear;
but then, you know, Miss Westlotorn, one can talk much more freely
when one isn't surrounded by a coldly critical audience."
At this Katie laughed, and stole a shy, sidelong glance at him, as
though she suspected some deeper meaning in his words than that which
appeared on the surface.
"Do you feel very much frightened at this adventure?" continued
Harry.
"Me frightened?" said Katie. "Not at all. What an idea!"
"Really not?"
"No, really. Do you know, I'm rather fond of adventures."
"But isn't this a little too serious?"
"Why, Mr. Rivers, I'm sure I think it's delightful. These men are
Carlists, and all Carlists are gentlemen. I dote on Carlists--I do,
really."
"Well, so do I--if you do," said Harry, laughingly; "only you must
allow that it isn't a very gentlemanly thing to stop us on our
journey, relieve us of our purses, and carry us off to parts unknown
in a mule-cart."
"Oh, you shouldn't look at it in that light. That's too awfully
prosaic. Now I'm romantic, and I'm positively grateful to them for
providing me with such a delightful little adventure."
"Do you love adventures?"
"Love them?" replied Katie, with the drollest look in the world.
"Why, I positively dote on them!"
Her smile was so sweet, and her face so bewitching, that Harry
thought he never saw any face so lovely.
"You see," continued Katie, "I mope and mope, and keep moping so; and
things grow so tiresome, that I fairly ache for an adventure."
"Well, but suppose that you were in an awful hurry to meet some one,
and were stopped in this fashion?"
At this Katie's whole expression changed. She looked at Harry with a
face full of sympathy, behind which there was visible the most
intense curiosity.
"Oh, Mr. Rivers," said she, "I'm so sorry! And are you in an awful
hurry to meet some one?"
"Awful!" said Harry.
"Oh, Mr. Rivers, I'm so sorry!" said Katie again. "And won't you tell
me all about it, please?"
Now Harry was by nature inclined to make the world his confidant; and
how much more was he ready to confide in such a one as Katie, who
invited his confidence with such tender sympathy! Besides, he already
felt, as has been said, quite like an old acquaintance. Ashby's
relations to Katie made her seem nearer to him. She was his friend's
betrothed. And then, too, he had been chatting with her all day long.
"You see," said he, "I'm on the lookout for a friend."
At this Katie smiled with indescribable comicality.
"Won't I do?" she asked.
Harry stared at her for a moment, and then burst into a laugh, in
which Katie joined merrily.
"I dare say now, Mr. Rivers," said she, "you think I'm too slight an
acquaintance to be trusted; but you know, in Spain, when one meets
with a fellow-countryman who can speak English, why, you know, one
can't help feeling quite like an old friend, and that sort of thing;
and, mind you, when one has been taken prisoner by the Carlists, one
feels much more so, you know. But all the same, I hope you'll excuse
me; I didn't mean any harm."
At this Harry laughed still more.
"You're not mad?" said Katie, with a droll assumption of anxiety.
"Will you really be my friend?" asked Harry.
"Of course. Didn't I say as much?" said Katie.
"Then let's shake hands over it," said Harry, "and swear an eternal
friendship."
Saying this, he held out his baud, and Katie held out hers. Harry
pressed it warmly and tenderly.
"Well," said Harry, after a pause, "I'll tell you all about it, for I
want your--your sympathy, you know, and your advice, you know, and
all that sort of thing, you know."
"Well, do you know, Mr. Rivers," said Katie, "that's my strong point.
I always have at my disposal any amount of sympathy; and as for
advice, why, I could begin and go on advising, and advising, and
advising, from now till--well, not to be too extravagant, I'll merely
say till doomsday. So now--won't you begin?"