BRINGING BACK THE SILVER.
WITH the utmost eagerness the men fell to unloading the baggage from
the mules, which were then turned out to graze on the rich pastures
that grew in these high altitudes. Then, armed with mattocks and
spades, a score of lusty seamen followed my father, Jack, and me into
the mine, leaving the remainder standing to their arms lest the
Spaniards should, by any possibility, follow and attempt to surprise
us.
It was a matter of some difficulty to traverse the narrow winding
defile, the rocks on either side being worn smooth by the action of
the moving sand. The alkali-like dust lay thick on the path, and as
we wormed our way, edgewise at times, the cloud of disturbed sand
well-nigh choked us.
With us we trailed a long rope, twice the length of the defile, a
stout snatch-block, and a long narrow bag made of the strongest
canvas, for the use of these articles formed the only practical way
of removing the precious metal.
Presently the natural cutting opened up into a vast circular pit, the
brink of which seemed more than a thousand feet above us. Even in the
subdued daylight, for the sun was not high enough to shine into the
pit, we could see the rocks gleaming with the virgin silver.
Lustily we fell to work, cutting and hacking at the mineral, and
placing it in the canvas sack. As fast as the latter was filled it
was hauled through a defile, emptied, and pulled back to be
replenished. This we continued for two hours, till, caked with dust
and sweat, we were glad to desist and allow our places to be taken by
another relay of seamen.
Long before nightfall we had taken enough silver to more than load
our mules, so leaving twenty men to continue the work of mining, we
started at daybreak to traverse the mountain pass once more.
This we successfully accomplished, and, having hidden the load,
returned with the unladen animals well before dusk.
On the following morning the mules were again laden, and as much of
our baggage as could be dispensed with was thrown aside and carefully
hidden lest any wandering party of Spaniards or Indians should find
the mine.
Then for the fourth time we negotiated the fearsome pass, though,
strangely enough, elated by our success and hardened by familiarity
with the dangers of the mountains, we pursued our way with fair speed
and no little confidence.
At length we came to the end of the defile, and below us swept the
vast tree-covered plain. The want of fresh water urged us to reach
the banks of a stream we knew of ere night, so, leaving the mules
under the care of a party of seamen to follow more leisurely, the
rest of us pushed on to find a camping-place for the night.
Eager to leave the arid sands around us, Jack Staynton and I hastened
ahead. Just as we gained the first outlying tree--'twas little better
than a stunted thorn--we espied what appeared to be a broad series of
furrows running athwart our path. As we approached we found that
'twas the hoofprints of many animals still fresh in the dust.
"Let us hasten back, Ralph!" exclaimed Jack. "There's something
strange about these marks--horses, it may be, and if so, it means
that the Spaniards are nigh."
Swiftly, yet cautiously, we regained our main body, which,
fortunately, remained in a shallow depression betwixt the mountains
and the forest, though screened from the latter by the ridge of low
rocks.
My father looked grave at the news.
"We must await the coming of the mules," said he. "Then, if it comes
to the worst, we can make a good stand on yonder ridge. Do you,
Coombes, make haste back to the baggage train and bid them come up to
us hot foot."
While the mate had gone on his errand, three men, swift of foot, were
sent on to explore the ridge, having been given strict orders not to
fire their pieces or unnecessarily show themselves unless discovered
and attacked by the Spaniards.
Just as the mule train came up with us one of the scouts returned
with the news that everything seemed quiet in front. Accordingly, the
order was given to continue the march, and three hours before sunset
the whole of our little force occupied the crest of the rocks
abutting on the forest.
Here we made preparations to spend the night, piling up big stones to
form loopholes for the musketeers, and hedges of prickly thorn to
keep off a charge of horse. Of water we had barely enough to go
round, but in spite of the heat and their thirst the patient mules,
tethered in the centre of our fortifications, maintained almost
perfect silence.
An hour later we were startled to hear the sound of heavy firing
proceeding from the direction of the forest, and presently we espied
our Indian bearers streaming in flight towards us. Evidently their
terror of the brutal Spaniards was greater than their dread of the
smoking mountain.
The fugitives ran with almost incredible swiftness, their feet
skimming over the sand, while a hundred paces in the rear floundered
some threescore Spanish horsemen. They had, for the most part,
discarded their steel plates, and wore the thick but light cotton
clothing adapted from the conquered Mexicans. They had slung some
musketoons across their backs, and, lance or sword in hand, were hard
in pursuit of the Indians. With cries of "San Iago!" they rode
eagerly with loose rein.
Now, as luck would have it, the pursued headed almost straight
towards our fortalice, keeping slightly to our right. Unperceived by
friend or foe, we lay still, with arquebuses at the ready, awaiting
the signal to fire a volley.
"Let 'em have it!" shouted my father.
The hiss of the smouldering matches was drowned by the crash of
twoscore pieces, and when the smoke had cleared away a fearsome sight
met our eyes.
The ground about our right front was littered with dead and wounded
men and horses. Of the survivors some of the more dauntless still
pressed forward; others, irresolute in the face of new danger, reined
in their steeds, cursing in impotent rage, while a few turned tail
and rode away from the scene of the ambush.
Although no order had been given to that effect, our men had almost
invariably aimed at the riders, and when they fell, their steeds,
trained to superb discipline, remained standing by their dead or
dying masters, save where, maddened by wounds, the horses followed
the fugitives from the field.
There were not sufficient survivors to offer much resistance.
Throwing down our discharged weapons, we fell upon them with our
swords. One or two fought bravely till pulled from their horses; but
those who did not seek safety in flight were soon prisoners in our
hands.
"Would we had netted the lot," said my father, gazing towards the
rapidly vanishing Spaniards. "They'll make trouble for us ere we see
the _Damsel of Lyme_ once more." Then turning to one of the
prisoners, evidently an officer of rank, he addressed him in Spanish.
But the man obstinately refused to reply, and though my father
appeared to threaten him, not a word would he utter, merely scowling
with black rage upon his captor.
Nor were we any more successful with the other prisoners--seven in
number. With the utmost resolution they kept silence, although
threatened with death should they withhold the required information.
"'Tis not my purpose to do them hurt," said my father in an
undertone. "Yet must we find out whether our retreat is threatened."
By this time the fugitive Indians, seeing that their pursuers
themselves had been put to flight, began to return. In reply to our
inquiries, one of their number, who spoke Spanish fairly well, told
us that they had been surprised in the woods by the Spaniards, but
had managed to get clear with the loss of seven killed and wounded by
the first discharge of the Spaniards' arquebuses.
"Threaten to turn 'em over to the Indians, sir," counselled one of
our men, who had himself been a prisoner of the Dons, and had
suffered accordingly.
Acting upon this advice my father again addressed the Spanish
officer, and, at the mere threat of such a fate, the prisoner gave
the desired information.
It was startling enough in all sooth. News of our expedition had
filtered through--possibly by means of the Indians we had
engaged--and a strong force, of which the party we had overcome was
the advance guard, was on its way from the city of Vera Cruz to
intercept us on our march to the sea.
On this we held another council of war. Some proposed that we should
hide the silver and march light, taking another route to the coast;
others that we should hold what we had, and trust to Providence and
our own strength to fight our way to the sea; while others even more
daring suggested that we should retrace our steps, cross to the great
ocean that lies on the west side of the Spanish Main, and there build
a ship large enough to take us round the great cape that lies towards
the cold unknown ocean of the south.
After much deliberation it was decided to adopt the middle course,
holding to the hard-gotten silver at all costs; and at daybreak,
having ordered the beasts of burden, and shared their loads with the
Indian carriers, we resumed our march, keeping strict military
formation on our return to the sea.
Unmolested, though worn out with ceaseless vigilance, we progressed
till within a day's march of the haven where we had left the _Damsel
of Lyme_. Here, instead of following the left bank of the turbulent
stream, we crossed and followed the opposite bank, thus putting a
river that increased in size and strength as we descended betwixt our
foes and ourselves.
Now we came in touch with the Spaniards once more, for strong bodies
of musketeers and archers appeared on the foreside of the river and
opened a heavy fire whenever they caught a glimpse of us through the
thick brushwood.
We now thought it advisable to release our prisoners, with the
exception of the officer, for they greatly hampered our movements by
reason of the men required to guard them.
That night we encamped, lighting huge watch-fires, but before
midnight we were once more on the move, leaving the fires to delude
the enemy into the belief that we were halting till daybreak.
'Twas well that we did so, for barely had we covered two leagues when
we heard the sounds of firing. The Spaniards had contrived to cross
the river, and had made a surprise attack upon our abandoned
camping-site.
In a measure this was fortunate, for we had diverted their march from
the direction of the creek in which the pinnace lay hidden; but, at
the same time, we were separated from her by an arm of the sea nearly
three miles in breadth.
At length we came in sight of the ocean once more, for on emerging
from the dense scrub we found ourselves on a narrow neck of land
surrounded on three sides by low cliffs, and forming one of the arms
that enclosed the estuary of the river.
Here we immediately proceeded to entrench ourselves, for there was no
time to be lost. A shallow ditch was dug, and a low breastwork was
thrown up across the narrowest part of the projecting land, while on
the farthermost side of the ditch a wall of thorns was constructed
that would greatly hamper a charge of horse, but at the same time
would offer no impediment to our bullets.
Then, having finished with the Indians and the mules, we dismissed
them, knowing that the former could make good their escape with ease
ere the Spaniards were upon us. At the same time, we promised good
payment to the Indians should they be able to furnish us with
supplies of food before we were closely beset.
Acting upon a prearranged plan, we made three separate fires, damping
the wood so that it threw up a dense smoke. This was for the recall
of our consort, the _Nonsuch_, although we knew not whether she was
still in the offing.
Water there was in abundance, there being several springs close to
the sand at the edge of the sea; yet, though separated from the salt
ocean only by a few paces, the liquid was perfectly sweet and
wholesome.
"Courage, my lads!" exclaimed my father. "Here we can hold out for
weeks, if needs be."
"I'd rather that we had the pinnace to fall back upon, sir," observed
Coombes. "I would make an essay to bring her across."
"But how so?" asked my father. "She is dismantled, with no sails
aboard. And, moreover, how are we to get across the mouth of the
river?"
"I'll swim for it, sir, if three others are willing to make the
attempt. Then trust me to get her across somehow."
"Then go, and God speed you, Coombes," replied my father.
Had he needed them, the mate could have had a score of men to
accompany him, for all who could swim well were ready to make the
attempt, though they knew the dangers, both from the reptiles that
infested the river and from sharks that came in across the bar.
Undeterred by these terrors, Coombes selected his three comrades and
made ready for the swim.