The Hand of the Traitor
Alvarez de Logas, the frank and friendly Spaniard, had proved false, had
acted worse than dishonourably, for he had stolen the confidence of the
crew of the brigantine, and the golden disc at the same time. He was a
traitor to his new comrades, and a murderer at heart, for he had struck
Roger with his dagger.
"Where am I? What has happened to me, and why are we here in the
forest?" asked our hero three days later, when he opened his eyes for
the first time since he had received the treacherous stroke. "Is that
you, Tamba? Tell me what has happened. I have been dreaming. I thought
that we had come to this New Spain, to Terra Firma, and that you and I
and----"
He suddenly broke off with a feeble groan, while the native knelt beside
him, taking his hand to comfort him.
"I do not understand, my lord," he said. "You speak your own tongue, and
forget that I cannot. What are the questions?"
Roger repeated them feebly, while he closed his eyes, for even there the
rays of the sun were trying. But Tamba was a discerning nurse, and at
once placed a screen of huge leaves, secured to a stake, between the
rays and Roger's eyes.
"You were hurt," he whispered. "The treacherous Spaniard proved to be
all that you suspected, and he snatched his opportunity. He is gone, and
three days have passed since I saw the last of him."
"And he has stolen the golden disc? Then follow! Do not lose another
instant. Follow at once, and pursue him till you come up with him. The
disc was entrusted to my care, and what am I to say when we return to
the brigantine?"
In his dismay he leaned upon his elbow, only to sink again to the soft
bed of dried leaves with which the native had provided him, while the
latter raised his eyes at the mention of the brigantine.
"I would chase him to the end of the land were I able to do so, master,"
he said. "But what then would have happened to you? You were feeble. You
lay senseless in the water, and the blood poured from your wound. I
thought of running after this Alvarez. Then I thought of you, and I said
to myself that your life was more valuable to me and to the English than
was this disc. I stayed, therefore, and Alvarez is gone. But not for
good. Master, when you are strong we shall come up with him, and
then----"
Even beneath the brown skin of the native there could be seen a tinge of
red colour as the blood rose to his forehead and cheeks, called there by
his hatred and indignation. For Tamba was one of those simple fellows, a
child of the Cuban forest, with few wants, and few likes and dislikes.
His was a faithful nature, which even the cruel whip of the Spanish
overseer had been unable to destroy, and where he had placed his faith
he kept it. Roger was more than his friend and master, and to see him
struck down was an agony to Tamba. Why, then, should he chase after a
Spaniard while his lord bled slowly to death? He put aside the idea
without a second thought, and on that fatal day promptly set to work to
do what was possible. Taking Roger in his arms, he dragged him along the
stream to the most suitable open spot, and there he placed him on a soft
piece of turf, while he himself sought for roots and herbs, and for
something with which to dress the wound. A piece of Roger's clothing had
sufficed for the last, and Tamba had been able to stop the bleeding.
Then he went to the shore in search of the English soldiers. But they
were nowhere to be seen, though the brigantine lay in the offing, her
canvas at full stretch, beating out to sea, two Spanish vessels being in
close chase of her. It was a terrible blow, and the native hardly knew
how to break the news to Roger.
"You were hurt," he ventured gently. "And I could not pursue the traitor
while you lay in the stream. You would have been smothered by the water
had the bleeding not killed you. So I brought you here, and I built a
hut over you while you lay insensible. I am thankful that you are now
able to speak."
Roger opened his eyes and looked round in amazement, and now that the
screen of leaves had been placed between him and the sun he could easily
see. His eyes blinked at the unaccustomed light, but for all that he
could make out that he lay on a comfortable bed, that a hut constructed
of poles cut from the forest, and of broad leaves as thatch, covered
him, while a cool breeze swept in through the open sides. There, too,
was the stream which he had lately traversed, and all about him, on
every side, the virgin forest, huge trunks with towering foliage, giant
creepers which crept from branch to branch and bridged the spaces, and
thousands of gaudy flowers. The air, too, seemed to be full of the
twitter of birds which flitted here and there. Then his eye went to the
spot through which they had come, and he remembered the sea, the
brigantine, and his comrades.
"Where are they?" he demanded suddenly, sitting up with another start.
"How is it, if I have been here three days, that they are not with me,
that our apothecary has not attended, that Sir Thomas has not been to
hear my news? But perhaps they came while I lay senseless or asleep, for
I think I must have been unconscious. I have dreamed one long dream.
And, Tamba----"
The native was beside him at once, holding his hand, and lifting a gourd
of water to his lips.
"Tamba, I dreamed that this Alvarez had killed me, and that he had made
for Mexico, and had taken the treasure. But tell me of my comrades.
Perhaps they thought it better that I should rest here. Has Philip been
to see me?"
"He is not here. None are within call, for the brigantine sailed when
this traitor struck his blow."
The news was stunning. Roger opened his mouth in amazement, and lay
there aghast.
"The brigantine gone without us. They would never desert their friends!
There must be some mistake. They have coasted along, and will return."
He looked at Tamba eagerly, as if fearful to hear his answer.
"They went three days ago, as I have said, my lord," said the native.
"When I had tended to you and returned to the shore the ship was out on
the horizon, and two Spaniards were in chase of her. She has not
appeared since, though I have been to look. But one of the Spaniards has
returned, and yesterday she sent men ashore to search. But they failed
to come this way, and returned to their vessel. We are safe for the
moment."
"But what is to become of us? We are stranded in an unknown land. We are
alone, without friends, and who knows how many enemies about us? Perhaps
even this Alvarez will return with his friends and murder us."
"He has gone for good," was the reassuring answer. "I followed his track
when you were well enough to be left, and it goes straight on for
leagues. He fled without turning, never dreaming that the ship would
leave us here. But we shall live through this trial, my lord. This coast
is not far from the part for which we sailed--of that I feel sure; for
would this Alvarez have run just here had the distance been over great?
What he can do, we can also."
"And will!" exclaimed Roger, with more strength and energy than he had
hitherto displayed. "We also will make for Mexico, and do our best to
treat with Montezuma, or, rather, with his successor. What fun if Peter
and the others followed us to find the matter all arranged! How Peter
would bridle! How his face and nose would shine! But I must not fly too
far. I have yet to get well. What is the nature of the injury, Tamba?"
"A simple dagger wound, just beneath the shoulder blade, which
penetrated the lung, and nearly killed because of the bleeding. My lord
lay there and coughed for hours, till I thought that he would die. Then
the blood ceased to come from his lips, and he grew better. To-day you
have spoken for the first time."
"And from this moment I proceed to get strong and well, for I cannot
bear to lie here while my comrades are gone. Nor can I stay much longer
and think that Alvarez has possession of the golden disc. By his own
word--honest words, I feel sure--this disc keeps the secret of the
treasure of the Mexicans. And we are bound to Mexico with the thought of
taking some of those riches from the Spaniards before all are gone. Then
there is no time to lose. I must grow strong, and follow, and then,
Tamba, should I see this Alvarez, I swear to punish him for this
treachery, not because I have suffered a wound, but because all aboard
the brigantine will have suffered. He shall die, and I will kill him."
There was an ugly gleam in the sick youth's eye--a gleam which his
friends had seen there before when the brigantine had laid herself
aboard the Spanish galleon. Roger was not vindictive, nor even
pugnacious, but a wrong was a wrong, and treachery was the worst of
offences. As to the riches in Mexico, it never occurred to our hero to
think what right he and his comrades had to them. The expedition was
formed, as many were to be in later days, to obtain gold, to wrest it
from the Spaniards or from the natives, and preferably from the former,
for it is easier to stand aside and watch while one man gathers gold
than to collect it one's self. And also, the prize to be obtained is
then greater. Nowadays such an expedition would be inexcusable; but then
it was different. It was common for nations who were friendly in home
waters to come to blows when far away, and these expeditions for the
gathering of gold were looked upon as legitimate, a fair adventure, not
as open piracy, as we should now consider them to be. However, Roger
need not be blamed if he gave little thought to the matter, considering
his age; and, besides, he had other things to occupy his mind. His
thoughts, in fact, were busy with Alvarez, while he blamed himself time
and again because he had not preserved more caution.
"I was a fool," he thought, "to turn my back even for a second, and, of
course, the fellow took advantage of the fact. But how he hoodwinked us
all! Even I could never prove that he was a rogue. But now one can see
through the whole matter. He was selected, for what reason I dare not
say, nor why a big galleon was not sent--but he came out in a tiny boat,
and sailed from Cuba towards the west. No doubt he was on the look out
for us, and therefore saw us before we caught sight of him. What was
easier, then, than to tear the sail, to disarrange the boat, and to
throw food and water overboard as soon as he was sure that he was
discovered? And I have my suspicions that he could talk something of our
language, for he progressed amazingly. In any case, he played the part
well, and we were deceived. And this is the result!"
Roger sat up and surveyed himself and his long legs in dismay. It was
the very first time that he had ever been laid up, and the experience
was new to him. He felt strangely weak, and trembled after the slightest
exertion. But he could think, if he could not move, and he spent his
time in watching Tamba, and in wondering how this adventure would
terminate. Nor had he missed the mark by much when he spoke of the
Spaniard; for a clever trick had been successfully played upon the
leader of the English. It happened that not far from the mine in Cuba on
the very day on which it was captured was a Spaniard, this same Alvarez,
and his quick ears detected the noise of firing. That led him to
investigate during the following night, for he, too, had heard of the
presence of an English ship on the coast. He had found the mine in the
hands of the enemy, and he had debated what he ought to do. If he left
for the nearest Spanish post the ship would be gone, while if he stayed
she would go when her damages were repaired. Then he thought of the
disc, for which a big reward had been offered, and, being an adventurous
fellow, and one, moreover, accustomed to Englishmen, for he had once
attended an ambassador at the court of St. James, he determined to seek
for the reward himself. He knew of a boat along the coast, and spent a
few days in fetching her. Then he despatched a native to his comrades,
telling them of his discovery, timing its arrival so that none could
interfere.
"None can save the situation but myself," he wrote. "But I have faith in
English humanity, and I will risk the attempt. If successful, I will
claim the reward of Fernando Cortes."
The reader will have seen that Alvarez had made no mistake. No
Englishman worthy of the name would have done ought else than succour a
derelict man, and the Spaniard, having a specious story, was able to
ingratiate himself. With the result that the disc was gone, and our
hero, the giant crossbow-man and lieutenant, lay fretting in the forest,
chained by stronger links than were ever worn by a prisoner.
A week later Roger was able to rise, while within ten days he could
walk. Then, too, the wound was healed, thanks to the attention of Tamba.
Meanwhile, nothing had been seen of the brigantine.
"You say that you have seen the Spaniard in the offing, and nearer in
once or twice," said Roger, thoughtfully, as he and the native crouched
over the fire which burned at the foot of one of the trees. "Then I fear
that the coast is being patrolled, and that our friends are unable to
return. Did you hear firing on that day when Alvarez struck me?"
"None. Not a gun, my lord. I saw the brigantine away at sea, and two
galleons after her; but there was no fighting."
"Then Sir Thomas practised the old ruse," said Roger. "He doubled back
at night, and I have little doubt sailed towards the land. But finding
it patrolled, he sheered off again, and sailed right away, with the
intention of returning. He will do that if he is allowed to, and in case
we are gone, we will place a mark or a letter on the shore. Let us wait
for three weeks, and then we will march. Now tell me of these natives
you have seen."
Tamba had, in fact, seen some strange natives on the far side of the
forest, and hastened to speak of them.
"They are tall, well clothed, and have straight black hair, such as I
have," he said. "They were in a body, some forty strong, and I think
that they were hunting. But I did not approach nearer, for the forest
goes very far, and it was past noon."
"Then let us make an expedition there when we have put our mark up on
the shore," said Roger. "We will take three days over it, and return
here again. It will be a good chance for me to test my strength."
On the following morning they went down to the beach, and there, having
stripped a large piece of bark from a tree, Roger, who had learned to
write--a very unusual accomplishment in those days--cut letters upon it.
"We are well, and await your return," he said. "We are going into the
country for three days from this, and shall be back in case you come."
"There!" he added, showing it to Tamba. "There is no date, for the
simple reason that I don't know what month it is, nor the day of the
month; but if they come they can, and will, wait for three days. Now we
will go. Let us take our crossbow and our other weapons, for these
natives may prove unfriendly. Food we can get on the way, for the forest
will be full of fruit."
"In the open spaces there is plenty, but not in the depths of the
jungle," answered Tamba. "Then there are animals. I have seen deer in
the clearings, snakes, and other beasts that I do not know. We are
secure from starvation, while water is plentiful."
"Then we can set out with a light heart. Now, you give the lead, only
recollect that the direction is almost due north."
Tamba could have found his way through the forest almost blindfolded, so
accustomed was he to the work, and Roger soon found him invaluable; for
our hero was not yet so strong that he could march all day, struggling
through the underwood, and then search for his evening meal. In fact, he
had to take frequent rests, while Tamba went off into the forest, always
with the knowledge that he could find his master with the greatest ease.
It was on one of these occasions, when Roger lay full length in the
shade, fanning himself with a leaf, that a beautiful creature, a deer of
some species, leaped into the natural clearing on the edge of which
Roger lay, and paused there, listening to the crash as Tamba pushed his
way through the underwood. It was a fine opportunity, and for the first
time for many a day Roger tried his hand with his favourite weapon. His
hand sought the crossbow slowly and silently, and a shaft was fitted in
a twinkling. But even the creak of the cord as the bow was sprung back
was sufficient to alarm this wild creature. It lifted its head
suspiciously, sniffed the air, and, catching sight of the strange figure
at the base of the tree, bounded away in the opposite direction. Roger
sat up suddenly and brought the bow to his shoulder. He took a rapid
aim, and fired just as the deer was disappearing. Then he gave vent to a
shout of triumph, which brought Tamba racing back to him.
"A meal of flesh is more acceptable than one of fruit; at least it is so
to me," said Roger, joyously. "Now, Tamba, set to work with me, and we
will skin the beast, and cut him into quarters. But, tell me, how much
farther have we to march before we come to the open country?"
"About six leagues. Three hours will take us there, my lord."
"Then we will push on as soon as the beast is quartered, and will carry
the joints. To-night we will rest and feast, and to-morrow we will march
into the open lands."
Now that he was recovering, and feeling stronger and better every day,
his heart was as light as a boy's, and he had long ago ceased to fret
about the loss of his comrades.
"We shall meet them again sooner or later," he said to Tamba, "and no
amount of worrying will bring them to us earlier. Let us be happy and
contented, and make the most of this experience. What would those at
home give to see such forests, and to live such a life? They have no
idea that these things exist, no thought of such trees and such flowers
and fruit."
The life was, indeed, an enchanting one, and Roger revelled in it. No
walls surrounded him, and he slept in no stuffy cabin; indeed, had he
now returned to the brigantine he would have found it difficult to bear
the closeness and heat of the 'tween decks, and would have felt partly
smothered, just as a campaigner does when for the first time for many a
month he finds a roof above his head, even if it be only a canvas tent.
Then the beauty of the herbage, the bright sun, and the dazzling flowers
and butterflies delighted him, while the meals out-of-doors, when, if
there was meat, it was cooked over a blazing wood fire, were a source of
real pleasure. Tamba and Roger would lounge on such occasions and watch
the steaks seething and spluttering, till the faithful native would
pronounce them done to a turn. He would take the wooden spit and thrust
it into the ground at their feet, and would sit again, and wait for his
master to commence. Then, the meal finished, he would look at Roger as
if to ask his permission, and then would produce his bag, and presently
would be puffing at his tobacco. It was all so new, so entrancing, that
Roger felt the days pass as if in a dream. However, after a sumptuous
meal on that evening, they turned into their beds, consisting of a few
leaves gathered from the trees, and awoke on the following morning to
find themselves bivouacked on the fringe of the forest, while to the
north of them was open land, a rolling stretch of green, broken in the
far distance by some rugged mountainous ranges, while far inland the
land seemed to continue in a dead, yellow flat, devoid of all
vegetation.
"We must go with care," said Tamba, as the two ate their meal within the
screen of the trees. "That is why I lit the fire here this morning, for
otherwise the smoke would be seen. I have watched for an hour, and have
not been able to find these natives of whom I spoke. But I have
discovered the sea; we are within a few leagues of it, and must have
advanced very near to it."
He took Roger to a slight eminence, from which he could see the ocean,
sparkling in the sun, and a ship upon it.
"Spanish," said Roger, with decision; "and a galleon. Is that the one
which you say is patrolling the coast?"
"Who can say, master? All ships are the same to me, except in size. But
I think it is the same. Her duty seems to be to sail up and down and
keep your friends away."
"So that we need not expect them in three days, nor in thirty, so long
as the weather lasts. Then I shall take longer over this expedition than
I had intended, and we will see who these natives were. Let us take a
joint from the deer and push on."
They were soon on their way, Tamba having selected a dip in the land
which promised to give them shelter. Overhead a grilling sun sailed in
the sky, while all around was delightful green, freshened by some recent
rains. Deer occasionally looked at the intruders with curiosity,
bounding off long before they could get close enough for a shot.
"They are wild, and yet their presence here seems to tell us that no one
else is about," said Roger. "What do you say?"
"That we are the only ones in this part. I think that those natives whom
I saw must have been a hunting party in search of deer, for they were
widely separated, probably for the purpose of driving the beasts to a
common centre. We can push on, therefore, without fear of being seen,
though it will be wise to keep our eyes open."
"In case of surprise," added Roger. "Yes; for it has suddenly occurred
to me that if Fernando Cortes has been here before, he and his men will
have earned the hatred of some, at least, of the natives."
"Of all," exclaimed Tamba, passionately. "They come with their guns and
their horses, and they give fair promises. They speak of friendly
treaties and of their religion; but behind it all is greed for gold."
"It is their cruel way," answered Roger. "But to return to what I was
saying--they will have surely earned the hatred of some, and were they
to go alone as we, they would do so in terror of their lives."
"That is so," admitted Tamba "In my country, far off in the forests and
in the interior, a Spaniard dared not go; for he knew that a cruel death
awaited him. Yes, we had become cruel in our turn, though we had
formerly been quiet and peaceful. We were driven to desperation, or
rather to despair."
"Some here may be desperate. They may see us, and then they will think
that I am a Spaniard."
Roger saw Tamba shrink at the idea. His face went pale, even beneath the
dusk, while he looked at his master with frightened eyes.
"You could say that you were not Spanish, my lord. You would tell them
that you belong to England."
"What did you know about England?" asked Roger, calmly. "Nothing. Then,
how will these natives? But I am imagining a difficulty. Let us push on,
and trust to good fortune."
That night found the two on the edge of the broad plain which they had
traversed, and approaching the range of mountains, which they could now
see were broken into many chains, and into separate pinnacles. They
looked for a suitable bivouac, and selecting a huge overhanging rock,
which promised to keep the heavy dew away, they lit their fire and ate
their meal. Three hours later, while they slept, for they were both worn
out by a long day's march, a hundred dark figures surrounded them, and
skilful fingers drew their weapons away. Then they were pounced upon,
beaten heavily, and dragged away into the darkness. A bandage was tied
firmly round their eyes, so that they could see nothing, and their limbs
secured with soft cords. Then Roger felt himself lifted on to the
shoulders of four tall men--at least, he thought that they were
tall--and was carried off at a pace which must have taxed the strength
of his bearers. Indeed, he heard their heavy breathing, and remarks
which he thought referred to his length and weight.
"Prisoners," he thought, with a shudder. "These fellows will do as I
said, and take me for a Spaniard. I can expect little mercy from them,
for if we are in the neighbourhood of Mexico many of the inhabitants
will have been killed. But there is no use in bothering. As well prepare
for the worst, and rest, so as to be fresh to bear what comes on the
morrow."
With this philosophic determination, he lay flat on the palanquin on
which he had been thrown, and presently, in spite of his dread of the
future, fell fast asleep; for the bandage about his eyes seemed to make
him drowsy. And, then, he was as yet not fully recovered from his wound,
and from the weakness consequent therefrom, and the march had been long
and fatiguing. How long he slept he never knew, but he was awakened by a
blast of cold air, which fanned his face, and by a movement of his
bearers. They lowered him to the ground, not roughly, or as if they
desired to harm him, but with every care, as if he were some person of
importance. Then one of them removed the bandage, while the others stood
him upon his feet. It was day; the dawn had broken but a few minutes
before, and the crest of the sun was just risen over a mountain range. A
cry escaped from Roger--a cry of amazement; for down below him, at the
end of the long straggling track which led down from the pass over which
the party had been travelling, was a huge lake, nestling amongst broken
mountain chains which did not run to its shores, but which stood back
from them, giving the lake ample space. And attached to this lake was
another, to the right and a little nearer, while at different points
along the shores of both were towns, huge clusters of houses, with
towers as high as St. Paul's in London, which he knew so well, towers
which glistened and sparkled in the sun. But that was not all. The
rugged mountain track descended to the plain in which lay the lakes, and
crossed it direct to a viaduct, a straight line some two leagues in
length, which pushed its granite walls out into the larger lake, to a
huge city, standing white in the sun, and showing a hundred and more
towers. Other viaducts cut off from it here and there, while he could
see dots moving on the water. What a scene! Who could paint it? For the
walls of the houses reflected the rays, while a dazzling light played
upon the sides of the numerous towers, and upon their summits. But all
was not white, for on nearly every flat roof the red and blue and
dazzling pink of gorgeous flowers was given back, while gardens lay on
either side of this lake city, seeming, as was actually the fact, to
float on the water. In a flash it came to Roger's mind that this city,
those viaducts, and those tiny boats were true to the plan which was
engraved on the golden disc, now in the possession of Alvarez. The scene
was stupendous. The wonder of it took his breath away, while he was
amazed at the thought that he was so soon within sight of the goal for
which the brigantine had sailed.
"Mexico! Mexico!" he almost shouted. "The city for which we were bound."
There was no answer. For a few minutes the natives allowed him to feast
his eyes upon the sight. Then they put the bandage about his head again,
and lifted him on to the litter. He was raised on to their shoulders,
and they set off at a run down the slope. Presently they were crossing
the viaduct, and when at length Roger was permitted to look again, he
found that his bonds were being removed, and that he and Tamba sat side
by side in an enormous wooden cage, placed in the centre of a square of
huge dimensions, and close alongside another cage of similar
arrangement, in which were some two hundred other prisoners.
What would have been his feelings had he known that he was in the heart
of the city of Mexico, the fairest city of those times, the fairest city
that has ever been, and that this cage in which he found himself was in
the courtyard of the chief temple, a prison kept for the purpose of
holding captives destined for the sacrifice. Yes; that was the custom of
the Mexicans. They practised human sacrifice, as many a Spaniard was to
know to his cost, and they kept ready at hand a number of wretched
prisoners who were doomed to end their lives on the summit of the
greatest temple.
When Roger learned the news the terror of it almost unmanned him, and he
sank helpless upon his knees.