Along with a score of other prisoners, the "chain-gang" of the Acordada,
Kearney, Rock, Rivas, and the dwarf were conducted out into the street,
and on the Calle de Plateros. Dominguez, the gaoler, went with them--
having received orders to that effect--carrying a heavy _cuarta_ with
hard raw-hide lash knotted at the end. Their escort consisted of two or
three files of the prison guard, dirty looking soldiers of the
_infanteria_, in coarse linen uniforms, stiff shakoes on their heads,
their arm the old-fashioned flint-lock musket.
The scavengers had still their ankle chains on, coupled two and two,
these lengthened, however, to give more freedom to their work. One
reason for keeping them chained is to economise the strength of the
guard, a single sentry thus being as good as a dozen. Of course, it is
an additional precaution against escape, a thing which might seem
impossible under the muzzles of muskets and bayonets fixed. But to
desperadoes such as are some of the Acordada gaol-birds it would not be
so if left leg free. More than once had the attempt been made, and with
success; for in no city is it easier, or indeed so easy. In the Mexican
metropolis there are whole districts where the policeman fears to show
his face, and a criminal pursued, even by soldiers in uniform, would
have every door thrown open to him, and every opportunity given for
stowing himself away. Get he but out into the country, and up to the
mountains--on all sides conveniently near--his chances are even better,
since the first man there met may be either footpad or _salteador_.
As said, the street to which the scavengers were taken was the Calle de
Plateros, where it ends at the Alameda Gate. The covering flags of the
_zancas_ had been already lifted off, exposing to view the drain brimful
of liquid filth the tools were beside--scoops, drags, and shovels having
been sent on before.
Soon, on arriving on its edge, Dominguez, who kept close by the two
couples in which were the Tejanos, ordered them to lay hold and fall to.
There could be no question of refusal or disobedience. From the way he
twirled the _quirt_ between his fingers it looked as though he wished
there was, so that he might have an excuse for using it. Besides, any
hanging back would be rewarded by a blow from the butt of a musket, and,
persisted in, possibly a bayonet thrust--like as not to lame the
refractory individual for life.
There was no need for such violent measures now. The others of the gang
had done scavenger work before; and knowing its ways, went at it as soon
as the word was given. _Nolens volens_ Kearney and Cris Rock, with
their chain partners, had to do likewise; though, perhaps, never man
laid hold of labourer's tool with more reluctance than did the Texan.
It was a long shafted shovel that had been assigned to him, and the
first use he made of the implement was to swing it round his head, as
though he intended bringing it down on that of one of the sentries who
stood beside.
"Durnashun!" he shrieked out, still brandishing the tool and looking the
soldier straight in the face. "If 'twarn't that the thing 'ud be o' no
use, an' _you_ ain't the one as is to blame, I'd brain ye on the spot,
ye ugly yaller-belly. Wage! Let me get back to Texas, and grip o' a
good rifle, the Mexikin as kums my way may look out for partickler
forked lightnin'!"
Though not comprehending a word of what was said the little manikin of a
_militario_ was so frightened by the big fellow's gestures as to spring
back several feet, with a look of alarm so intense, yet so comical, as
to set the Texan off into a roar of laughter. And still laughing, he
faced towards the sewer, plunged in his implement, and set to work with
the others.
At first the task was comparatively clean and easy--a sort of skimming
affair--the scavengers keeping upon the pavement. The necessity had not
yet arisen for them going down into the drain.
After a time, however, as the liquid got lower and the sediment at the
bottom too stiff to be _conveniently_ scooped up, a number of them were
ordered to "step in." It was a cruel, brutal order, and Bill Sykes
would have declined sending his "bull-dawg" into that sewer after rats.
But Dominguez, a sort of Mexican Bill Sykes, had no scruples about this
with the unfortunates he had charge of, and with a "_carajo_," and a
threatening flourish of his whip, he repeated the order. One or two of
the _forzados_ took the plunge good-humouredly, even to laughing, as
they dropped into the stuff, waist deep, sending the mud in splashes all
round. The dainty ones went in more leisurely, some of them needing a
little persuasion at the point of the bayonet.
Cris Rock was already down, having gone voluntarily. Only one of each
couple had been ordered below; and, much as he disliked the dwarf, he
had no wish to see him drowned or suffocated, which the diminutive
creature would well-nigh have been in the horrible cesspool. Tall as
the Texan was, the stuff reached up to his thighs, the surface of the
street itself being on a level with his arm-pits, while only the heads
of the others could be seen above the stones.
Neither Kearney nor Rivas had yet taken the plunge. They still stood on
the brink, discussing the question of precedence. Not that either
wished the other to do the disagreeable; instead, the reverse. Strange
as it may appear, knowing or believing him to be a bandit, the young
Irishman had taken a liking to the Mexican, and the feeling was
reciprocated, so that each was now trying to restrain the other from
entering the ugly gulf.
But their friendly contest was cut short by the brutal gaoler; who,
advancing, grasped Rivas by the shoulder, and with his other hand
pointing downward shouted "_Abajo_!"
There was no help for it but obey; the alternative sure of being
something worse. For the man so rudely commanded went down willingly;
indeed, with alacrity, to satisfy his impulse of friendship for the
_Irlandes_.
Had Carlos Santander been there likely the position would have been
reversed, and Kearney compelled to "take the ditch." But the Governor
of the Acordada had control of details, and to his hostility and spleen,
late stirred by that wordy encounter with Rivas, the latter was no doubt
indebted for the partiality shown him by Don Pedro's head turnkey.
In time, all were disposed of: one of each couple down in the sewer,
pitching out its sweet contents; the other pressing them back upon the
pavement to prevent their oozing in again. Either way the work was now
nasty enough; but for those below, it was a task too repulsive to set
even the lowest pariah at.