A little less than a quarter of a century ago the Navajo Indians were
the terror of the New Mexican settlements. It was no uncommon thing for
them to charge into the streets of a town, shoot down or spear the
citizens, plunder the shops, and seize upon such women as they wanted,
carrying these captives to their far-off fastnesses in the land of
Navajoa.
In the _canon_ de Chelley these savages had their headquarters, with the
temple and _estufa_, where the sacred fire of _Moctezuma_ was never
permitted to go out; and there, in times past, when Mexico was misruled
by the tyrant Santa Anna, might have been seen scores of white women,
captives to the Navajo nation, women well born and tenderly brought up,
torn from their homes on the Rio del Norte, and forced to become the
wives of their red-skinned captors--oftener their concubines and slaves.
White children, too, in like manner, growing up among the children of
their despoilers; on reaching manhood to forget all the ties of kindred,
with the _liens_ of civilised life--in short, to be as much savages as
those who had adopted them.
At no period was this despoliation more rife than in the time of which
we write. It had reached its climax of horrors, day after day
recurring, when Colonel Miranda became military commandant of the
district of Albuquerque; until not only this town, but Santa Fe, the
capital of the province itself, was menaced with destruction by the red
marauders. Not alone the Navajoes on the west, but the Apaches on the
south, and the Comanches who peopled the plains to the east, made
intermittent and frequent forays upon the towns and villages lying along
the renowned Rio del Norte. There were no longer any outlying
settlements or isolated plantations. The grand _haciendas_, as the
humble _ranchos_, were alike lain in ruins. In the walled town alone
was there safety for the white inhabitants of Nuevo Mexico, or for those
Indians, termed _mansos_, converted to Christianity, and leagued with
them in the pursuits of civilisation. And, indeed, not much safety
either within towns--even in Albuquerque itself.
Imbued with a spirit of patriotism, Colonel Miranda, in taking charge of
the district--his native place, as already known--determined on doing
his best to protect it from further spoliation; and for this purpose had
appealed to the central government to give him an increase to the forces
under his command.
It came in the shape of a squadron of lancers from Chihuahua, whose
garrison only spared them on their being replaced by a troop of like
strength, sent on from the capital of the country.
It was not very pleasant to the commandant of Albuquerque to see Captain
Gil Uraga in command of the subsidy thus granted him. But the lancer
officer met him in a friendly manner, professing cordiality, apparently
forgetful of their duelling feud, and, at least outwardly, showing the
submission due to the difference of their rank.
Engaged in frequent affairs with the Indians, and expeditions in pursuit
of them, for a while things seemed to go smoothly enough.
But as Adela Miranda had now returned home, and was residing with her
brother, in the interludes of tranquillity he could not help having some
concern for her. He was well aware of Uraga's aspirations; and, though
loathing the very sight of the man, he was, nevertheless, compelled to
tolerate his companionship to a certain extent, and could not well deny
him the _entree_ of his house.
At first the subordinate bore himself with becoming meekness. Mock
humility it was, and soon so proved itself. For, as the days passed,
rumours reached the distant department of New Mexico that the old tyrant
Santa Anna was again returning to power. And, in proportion as these
gained strength, so increased Gil Uraga's confidence in himself, till at
length he assumed an air of effrontery--almost insolence--towards his
superior officer; and towards the sister, in the interviews he was
permitted with her, a manner significantly corresponding.
These were few, and still less frequent, as his brusque behaviour began
to manifest itself. Observing it, Colonel Miranda at length came to the
determination that the lancer captain should no longer enter into his
house--at least, by invitation. Any future relations between them must
be in the strict execution of their respective military duties.
"Yes, sister," he said, one afternoon, as Adela was buckling on his
sword-belt, and helping to equip him for the evening parade, "Uraga must
come here no more. I well understand the cause of his contumacious
behaviour. The priest party is again getting the ascendency. If they
succeed, heaven help poor Mexico. And, I may add, heaven help us!"
Drawing the girl to his bosom with a fond affectionate embrace, he gave
her a brother's kiss. Then, striding forth, he sprang upon a saddled
horse held in waiting, and rode off to parade his troops on the _plaza_
of Albuquerque.
A ten minutes' trot brought him into their presence. They were not
drawn up in line, or other formation, to receive him. On the contrary,
as he approached the _cuartel_, he saw strange sights, and heard sounds
corresponding. Everything was in confusion--soldiers rushing to and
fro, uttering seditious cries. Among these were "Viva Santa Anna!"
"Viva el General Armijo!"
"Viva el _Coronel_ Uraga!"
Beyond doubt it was a _pronunciamento_. The old regime under which
Colonel Miranda held authority was passing away, and a new one about to
be initiated.
Drawing his sword and putting spur to his horse, he dashed in among the
disaffected men.
A few of the faithful ran up, and ranged themselves by his side.
Then commenced a struggle, with shouting, shooting, sabring, and
lance-thrusts. Several fell--some dead, some only disabled; among the
last, Colonel Miranda himself, gravely wounded.
In ten minutes it was all over; and the commandant of Albuquerque, no
longer commanding, lay lodged in the garrison _carcel_; Captain Gil
Uraga, now colonel, replacing him as the supreme military officer of the
district.
While all around ran the rumour that Don Antonio Lopes de Santa Anna was
once more master of Mexico; his satellite, Manuel Armijo, again Governor
of Santa Fe.