A Sentence of Death
"Run quickly, dog, and do not drag so behind," suddenly exclaimed the
trooper who had made Roger's leading rope fast to the pummel of his
saddle. "There is no need to pull behind as if you were afraid that this
beast of mine would stumble and fall. Or perhaps you are fearful of him,
like all the other natives. Come, long legs make long paces."
He gave a violent jerk to the rope, which caused the utmost pain.
Indeed, Roger had already suffered considerably, for his hands were
firmly lashed together, and the slightest pull on them caused him agony.
And yet a little pain now might be life for all he knew. For that reason
he had steadily dragged on the rope, causing the man to fall behind his
comrades.
"Perhaps we shall come to some difficult part," thought Roger, "when I
will give a tug and then jump at the horse. A good push, with all my
weight behind my foot, might send him rolling over, and kill the rider.
It is worth trying, and even if unsuccessful the sudden execution which
would follow would only anticipate my fate by an hour or two."
But he affected to be unacquainted with the Spanish language, and still
dragged, in spite of the man's words, till suddenly the Spaniard turned
in his saddle with a curse and a savage jerk of the rope. He pulled on
his rein, and having brought the animal to a stop, vaulted from his
saddle, while his comrades pulled up beside him.
"Now, what is the trouble? Why are you delaying?" demanded the officer,
fretfully. "Do you not know that we are in the enemy's country, and that
a halt may mean capture and more besides?"
He shuddered as he spoke, for even now, when reinforcements of men and
horses had come to Cortes, and the campaign was about to be resumed, a
dread fear of capture lurked in the minds of all. For that meant a visit
to the summit of the huge tower in Mexico, and death on the altar. It
was a hideous nightmare to scores of these Spaniards--these adventurers
who had by now proved their bravery in many and many an unequal tussle.
The very mention of the sacrifice appalled him, though these same men
thought nothing of the awful tortures inflicted by their own side, or of
the hangings and burnings which were often practised. And this leader of
the little band which had captured Roger was one of the many who had
fears, only he thought more of the matter perhaps than did others.
"Hasten," he said fretfully. "Do not let us waste a minute that can be
saved. Come, Juan, what ails you, man? Why dismount now?"
"To let you or some other fool take the captive," was the cool answer,
discipline in the invading army being none of the strictest. "If you are
in haste, take the rope and lead this dog yourself while we ride on. I
warrant that within a little while your leg will chafe against the
rope, and you will find this fellow dragging like a load which is dead.
And slowly you will fall behind, till your comrades are well in advance.
Then, captain, a push from this captive's shoulder does the work, and
you and your steed fall heavily. Mayhap you are killed, and better for
you. Mayhap you live, and this dog, having smothered your voice,
contrives to free his hands and carry you off. Then--ah, then comes the
trouble."
He grinned at his comrades, who enjoyed his subtle joke, and sat their
horses, smiling openly; for their leader was a weak and an unpopular
man, and they openly derided him.
"Then comes the trouble," repeated Juan, with relish. "The dog smothers
you, cuts his bonds, and then whistles to his friends. You are taken,
and that very night the Mexicans enjoy a royal feast, to which they
invite all friends. Spaniards are rare morsels, captain, and a leader of
Spaniards a dainty bit which will not meet with refusal."
There was a shout, while the leader stamped angrily on the ground,
gnawing at his moustache in his annoyance. His face was flushed, and it
was clear that he was thoroughly angry. But beyond that, in his heart of
hearts these words brought terror to his mind; for the Mexican custom
was not only to offer prisoners before the altars, but to roast and eat
the bodies, the captor being given this special privilege.
"Cease your chatter!" he exclaimed wrathfully, "and let us move on. What
caused you to halt?"
"The prisoner and the rope," was the smooth answer. "The dog has
attempted to do what I spoke of; he was gradually pulling me back. But
I will make an end of the matter. See here!"
He had been busily loosening the rope from the pummel of his saddle, and
now that it was free he took the slack in his hand, and, grasping it
firmly, jerked on it with such force that Roger turned suddenly, the
pain causing him to twist round.
"See here, dog of a Mexican, I have no desire to make the feast for thy
tables, and, so that you may not attempt to take me, will have a new
arrangement. Drive a pig, not lead one, is the right motto, and that
shall be my plan. I will drive you, and will hold this lance at your
back so that you may have sharp reminder should you feel disposed to
fall back. Now, on to your place, and, remember, fall back at your
peril."
Again he jerked the rope, but Roger affected not to understand, and made
no movement till the soldier took him roughly, and by dint of signs
accompanied by many an oath, intimated to him what was to happen.
"Recollect," he said again, in his fierce voice, staring into his
captive's face till Roger could have killed him--"recollect, behind
there is a lance which has run through many a Mexican dog, and would
pierce you as if you were made of paper."
"Come, come, gently, Juan!" exclaimed the officer, still scowling in his
anger. "Even if he is a dog of a Mexican, treat him fairly and well, for
it may happen that I shall have to report. His Honour, Fernando Cortes,
generalissimo in this country, sent me here for a certain purpose,
namely, to capture the giant who was leading the Mexicans, and of whose
journey his spies had given him information. Well, I have succeeded,
but if one of my men should spoil that success, if he should kill when
the order was 'bring the dog alive,' then perhaps even I could not save
your neck from the rope."
It was an excellent counter-thrust, and Juan scowled and swore under his
breath with a heartiness never even exceeded by a British sailor. As for
his comrades, though they did not favour their captain, still they could
enjoy a joke, and they roared at the expense of their comrade.
"We will come and look on. We will encourage you and keep up your
courage till the noose pulls tight," laughed one, in a husky whisper.
"Silence! Let us be going," ordered the captain. "Lead us, Juan, and we
will see that you are secure."
They set out again down the side of the mountain, Roger in advance. All
his plans were thus destroyed, and he ran on moodily, wondering where he
would be taken to and how long he would be allowed to live.
"Rescue will be attempted; of that I am sure," he said to himself, by
way of comfort. "Teotlili and the Mexican lords will never allow me to
perish without making an attempt, for there is no doubt that they look
up to me as to one of their hateful deities. How strange it all is, and
how my father's eyes would open were he here to see and know all that
has happened."
How strange, indeed, that he, a simple crossbow youth, should now be
virtually ruler of Mexico; for his lightest word was obeyed, and
Guatemozin and his lords deferred every question to him. Indeed, had
Roger desired it, he could have been elected as king, the rightful lord
taking place as his minister. But he declined the suggestion made by the
priests. In any case, he occupied a position which his wildest fancies
had never attained to; and if he were successful, then there would be
wealth on his return home, and even honour, for had he not already won
praise and promotion on the brigantine?
"Halt! What is the report?"
The cavalcade had come to the base of the hill, and had met some three
hundred natives, allies of the Spaniards. One of these lifted his hand
to signal the horsemen to stop, and then advanced with an interpreter.
"There is huge commotion in the country," he said. "Since early morning
men have been hurrying to and fro, and some cross the track between this
and Tlascala. You must ride faster if you wish to pass there in safety."
"Then mount the prisoner. Let the lightest man take him."
"And get his throat cut for his pains," growled Juan, as he prepared to
free the rope.
"But no. We want a strong man, above all," suddenly added the captain.
"Juan, I think you lay claim to strength, for I have heard you challenge
any of your comrades to combat with you. You shall still hold the
captive. Put him behind you, facing about, and we will surround you."
The task was not an enviable one, and Juan made his preparations for it
with a very ill grace, while a sinister smile played about the corners
of his leader's face. However, delay was to be avoided if they wished to
reach their quarters in safety, and very soon Roger was astride the
horse, his ankles lashed together, while a rope was passed about his
waist, securing him to Juan. The troop got in motion again, and,
breaking into a canter--a movement which made riding comfortable and
easy for our hero--bore straight across the open towards a distant town,
that of Tlascala, where Cortes then resided, and where his brigantines
were in course of construction. An hour later, as the party approached a
little closer, and the wall which surrounded the town became clearly
visible, some three hundred dark figures burst from a ravine a little to
the left, and raced towards the horsemen, uttering shrill whistles and
shouts. Roger turned his head, and thought he saw Teotlili at their
head, while the dress of the natives proclaimed them as friends and
allies of the Mexicans. Then an attempt at rescue was about to be made.
His late captors were true to him.
"Gallop! Lances down, and gallop!"
The leader gave the order in high-pitched words, and then took his place
at the head of the troop.
"Surround the prisoner; and, Juan, do you lean well forward in the
saddle, so as to stretch the prisoner and make movement difficult. Our
men will protect you in front, while Pedro will hold his sword handy to
slay the dog should he make an attempt to escape or to delay us."
The advice given to Juan was undoubtedly good, for as the Spaniard
carried out the movement, Roger found that the lashing about his ankles
tautened, while the leaning-back attitude made struggling on his part
almost out of the question. Still, he resolved to make an effort if the
time came, even if a sword were held in his face. By now the troop was
galloping at a sharp pace, the leader having selected a long stretch of
open ground favourable to horses, and across this he led them at an
angle which slightly inclined towards the Mexicans and their allies. It
looked as if all his efforts were concentrated in an attempt to fly past
them without giving them battle, and at the thought the natives swerved
from their course, and raced to cut off the party. Soon they were so
close that Roger could hear their voices, and stirred uneasily, till the
man who threatened him with his sword placed the point close to his
breast.
"Stir so much as a finger's breadth and I thrust the blade home," he
growled, while he looked askance at the enemy. "One hand's breadth,
remember!"
"Give us our god of air! Halt, and hand him over, when you may go free!"
came a ringing voice from the natives.
"Charge! To the left! To the left!"
The captain of the troop, who, to do him but fair justice, was, in spite
of his many fears of capture, a good and plucky leader, tugged at his
reins, and, standing in his stirrups, directed his troop at the heart of
the rushing enemy; in fact, his plan from the first had been to delude
them, to make it appear as if he were about to escape to one side, and
then at the last moment to turn and plunge through the natives. He
relied for success upon the poor weapons which the Mexicans and their
allies possessed, and upon their horror of the horses, whose weight
ought to be able to burst a way through such footmen. But he counted his
success too quickly, for Roger's teaching was to bear excellent fruit.
There was a shout of dismay as the natives saw the horses charging down
upon them, and many fled for their lives. But suddenly a figure became
prominent in their midst, and all came to a stop.
"Shout! Wave your arms and shout! Then throw yourselves on the ground
and hack at the horses, or endeavour to seize the legs of the riders.
Men with the crossbows to one side, and search their ranks with your
shafts. Beware of harming the prisoner. Death to the one who is so
reckless."
Had Teotlili had a force of pure Mexicans with him, men who had
undergone some training under Roger's orders, the success of his plan
would perhaps have been perfect. But he had to deal with allies, men who
had heard of the new and wonderful white man and of his methods, but who
had not practised the latter. Still, if they had had no practice, they
had at least the most abject and absolute faith in his advice, and at
the command all came to a stop. Then the men with the crossbows, but six
in number, ran to the side and placed shafts in their weapons, while the
remainder waited, their eyes fixed on the noble who stood in their
midst. And down upon them, lance lowered, or sword ready to deliver
thrust or cut, rode the Spaniards, excellent masters of their horses,
and with complete confidence in themselves. In fact, the horsemen had
never known yet what it was to fail when opposed to the natives in this
New Spain, for their weapons were even less terrifying to the Mexicans
and their allies than were their horses. For the natives looked upon
these strange beasts as little short of gods, the superstition with
which their whole systems were permeated leading them to attribute the
utmost powers to the steeds ridden by the Spaniards. What wonder, too,
when it is recollected that none in the whole country had ever seen such
a huge animal before, and that no form of animal labour was known of,
the human being undertaking every sort.
"Charge! Through them and then on to the town. Charge!"
It was the Spanish captain's turn now, and he rose to his full height in
his stirrups; for he had at last caught a glimpse of the eyes of the
natives, an infallible sign that the moment for the crash was at hand.
He had waited for it before on many an occasion, and had stood so in his
stirrups. Then the crash had come, his sword had whirled this way and
that, and the natives had disappeared as if they had sunk into the
ground. He selected Teotlili, and rode full at him.
"Shout! Shout and wave your arms!"
The gallant noble never moved, for he had braced his courage to the
task, a task which might well have caused the boldest to give way,
particularly under the circumstances. He stood firmly, and at his signal
the natives shouted lustily and tossed their hands into the air. Shrill
whistles came from others, while at the same moment six crossbow shafts,
tipped with iron taken from Spaniards who had fallen at Mexico, flew
towards the horsemen. One struck the armour of the leader with a dull
metallic sound, dinting it deeply but failing to penetrate. A second
caught one of the troopers beneath the arm as he swung his sword above
his shoulder, and, penetrating to his heart, brought him to the ground
like a stone. Of the remainder, two found a mark in the horses, bringing
them with a terrific concussion to the soil, where their riders were
immediately surrounded. But the main body still swept on till close to
the natives. Then indeed did Roger's advice bear good fruit. For
suddenly the horses reared and pawed the air. Some swerved to one side,
one of the last throwing his rider, while others turned, and charging
into those who followed, caused the utmost confusion. But a considerable
number who occupied a position in rear still kept on, and rode right
over the enemy. Once clear, they halted for a few moments, and then,
seeing some of their comrades had fallen, they turned and charged back
again. However, a flight of crossbow shafts and the determined attitude
of the natives caused them to reconsider their decision. They were
stunned by their unusual want of success, and by the methods adopted by
an enemy who had hitherto been almost helpless. Then, as the latter ran
towards them, eager to renew the conflict, they swept round and galloped
off to Tlascala, carrying their prisoner with them. The unfortunate
Spaniards who had been left behind, and who were not already dead, were
pounced upon with eagerness, and carried off to the nearest town, there
to suffer the horrible fate which had almost come to Roger. But the
greater portion of the enemy gathered about Teotlili, and discussed
their plans for rescue.
"Halt! Let us count our losses. A curse on the villains! Who could have
expected such a manoeuvre?"
The Spanish leader threw his sword blade above his head, and at the
signal the troop came to a halt, the men eyeing one another askance, and
as if they were ashamed. For this particular branch of the invading army
had been wont to accept the praise of all, and to hold their heads very
high. Time and again had their mere presence awed a multitude of many
thousands of native enemies, till it came to be a saying in Fernando
Cortes' force that the horsemen could subdue a nation if given time. And
now----!
"A curse on them!" growled the captain again, as he looked round at his
men and noticed the gaps in their ranks. "I would that we had never had
cause to go on this expedition. For here have we one prisoner alone to
show, and there are--how many are gone?"
"Five, captain. Pedro killed by an arrow. Never have I seen one of their
shafts strike so true and so forcibly. Leon thrown by his horse, and
Alonso dragged from his saddle by that man who led the enemy. Then there
is Peter of Arragon, and John his brother, both thrown by their horses,
which were struck by shafts. May mercy be shown to them!"
The second in command told them off on his fingers, nodding sadly at
each name, while the captain listened with glowering looks. The men
glanced uneasily at one another, while they peered over their shoulders
at the pursuing natives.
"Five gone, and all for this dog. Hah! He is safe, then, though the
price is dear. But listen, my men. We have never had such a tale to tell
before."
"And hope never to have such evil fortune again," growled the second in
command.
"Nor such a low task to perform," said Juan, feeling the weight of his
prisoner, and fearful lest he should yet lead to his own captivity and
death.
"We have always been the victors, and men who have been taken have
strayed from the line of march. We were met in the early hours by a huge
force. You will recollect that."
He held his hand up and motioned with his forefinger as if to impress
his words.
"A big force, in the half light of the early morning. We hastened to
carry out our orders by dashing in to capture this tall native. We were
beset on every side, and this is the result. We have the prisoner, but
the five are gone. The tale will make good telling. Adhere to the
facts."
It was a rough and ready and a none too honest method of making their
own actions appear all that was desirable before their comrades and
their generalissimo, and the men took to the tale eagerly. They set
spurs then to their horses, and galloped on to the town, the natives
following some little way, till the appearance of others, allies of the
Spaniards, caused them to beat a tardy retreat. Then the troop slackened
its pace, and trotted through the big gateway into the long, wide street
of Tlascala, the houses of which were defended by a magnificent wall
such as the invaders had never seen in their lives before. And here they
found thousands of natives, all bustling with preparations for the
coming siege of Mexico, and for the review which Fernando Cortes was
about to hold of all his troops, Spanish and allies. In one spot, where
there was a wide clearing, Roger saw many hundreds at work upon masses
of woodwork, which they seemed to be taking to pieces. These were, in
fact, the many brigantines of various sizes which Cortes had had built,
under the able guidance of a shipwright in his company; and having been
erected, they were now under process of disunion, so that they might
easily be conveyed to the lake of Tezcuco. A few minutes later the troop
came to the Spanish quarters, and having halted and dismounted, handed
their horses over to native servants, of whom each soldier had several
to attend to his wants. Roger was dragged from the saddle as soon as his
ankles had been unlashed. Then a guard fell in beside him, and the
captain led the way.
"To the generalissimo's quarters," he said, in grand tones, pointing to
the broad flag of Castile which flew from one of the finest buildings.
"There we will tell our tale and leave this dog. Hah! I have scarcely
looked at him before. He is tall and very fair! Surely not unlike our
own people, or those other fellows who have pestered the coast."
"His fine feathers make him a native, but in appearance he is English,"
ventured the commander of the guard.
"Not far from the mark, I should say," agreed the captain, staring
closely at his prisoner, and taking careful stock of him. "And were I
asked I would swear almost that he understood every word spoken by us.
There is a movement of his eye which seems to tell that he listens to
every word."
"Then he would know of our ill-luck, and might----"
"He had better keep a still tongue between his fine white teeth," said
the captain, in threatening tones. "He who tells tales of our branch of
the service will have need to make them of the right sort, or else----"
"We shall quarrel with him, captain," smiled the commander of the guard,
sardonically. "It would be a bad day when the troops looked at the
cavalry as common arquebusiers, or as men who wield the crossbow."
For a little while they discussed the matter in low tones, their
conclusion being that their prisoner was undoubtedly an Englishman,
though as to his knowledge of Spanish they were more than doubtful.
However, their doubts were set at rest within a little while, while the
captain and his men went hot and cold at the thought of the easy revenge
which Roger might take; for already the tale of their losses, and of the
manner in which a huge force had been attacked, had been sent round the
camp in Tlascala. Roger was marched along the main street--a street
which, compared with ours of to-day, would still be awarded the prize
for general excellence of design, ample width and air space, and
accommodation for any possible amount of traffic, and was ushered into
the huge building over which the flag waved. In a courtyard behind, a
council of officers was sitting, and the guard and their captive came to
a halt opposite them. At once all eyes went to the tall figure of the
captive, while Roger himself allowed his gaze to wander calmly around
the circle, from the gaudily dressed native caciques and nobles in
their feather cloaks to the Spaniards. Lastly, his eye riveted itself
upon one of medium height, who occupied a central position. He was fair
for a Spaniard, though he had the usual swarthy complexion of the race.
But there was a certain dignity about this man which marked him as a
leader--a decision of manner which his lips, his nose, the set of his
chin, and the general poise of his head and body seemed to indicate. And
yet, though he had not said a word so far, and none had addressed him,
Roger felt sure that he was the redoubtable Fernando Cortes, the man who
had come to Cuba as a debtor, with nothing before him, and who, owing to
some little favour which the governor of that island had shown him, had
at length attained to the leadership of one of the numerous expeditions
which left the new Spanish possessions every year without a single
exception. The reader will recollect how that command had been snatched
away again within an hour almost of its having been given. And here
before him Roger saw the man who had dared so much, who had defied
authority, had so skilfully managed his men that they had fought and
clung to him even through adversity, while they had not grumbled when
his reckless and wilful act of destroying the fleet had left a paltry
five hundred Spaniards face to face with races already bitterly hostile,
and able to put armies into the field amounting to many hundreds of
thousands.
"Cool and calm," thought Roger. "Says what he means, and sees that his
orders are carried out. Trusts his inferiors, and believes that he and
his men are born fighters."
"The white giant, the interpreter of the party. At last the net has
fallen round them," Cortes was saying to himself as he looked at Roger,
and yet without giving those who were present the impression that he did
more than glance at the prisoner. "A bold fighter, I am told. Skilled
with the crossbow, and not without skill in ordering battle. His few
weeks of authority have made a man of him, and he looks dignified and
strong, though only a lad; but he must be frightened."
"The captive," said the leader of the troop of horse, anxious to make
his voice heard. "According to orders, generalissimo, I rode from the
town last night, and----"
"You have done well, though I like not the loss of five men," exclaimed
Cortes, cutting him short, and showing that every piece of information
was brought to him. Indeed, he was wonderfully served by numerous spies.
"Stand back while I question the man. Your name?"
Roger could see the captain of his escort turn sallow under his bronzed
skin as the words were addressed in Spanish, and almost smiled at the
flush and the startled look which the unhappy leader of horse displayed
as he answered.
"You are the interpreter of this beggarly ship which came from England.
You went ashore to the south, and the ship left you there, being chased
by a Spaniard. You then made your way to Mexico, where I hear that you
occupy the position once given to me by their hateful priests."
"It is true. You have the story correctly," said Roger.
"And your comrades sailed for these parts because of a golden disc
which was captured. Who has that disc? Speak."
For a moment Roger wondered whether he should tell his story. Then he
reflected that the probabilities were that Alvarez, the traitor, still
had it, though he could not be sure. Perhaps there was some trick in
this question, and, in any case, if Alvarez still had the disc, and was
keeping it for his own private services, as seemed now to be most
likely, then it would be better to leave that matter a secret. He could
answer truthfully with a denial of any knowledge.
"The golden disc," he said quietly; "the one with the sun on one side
and a plan on the other? I cannot say where it is. Doubtless Sir Thomas
could tell you."
"He cannot. He refuses to speak. But I will find a means to alter his
decision." A scowl came over his face, and he glowered upon Roger,
hoping to see his prisoner quail. But he was disappointed. However, one
thing he did accomplish. He startled our hero by his words.
"Captured! Can the men of the brigantine be captured?"
"Yes," continued Cortes, as if answering Roger's question, "this Sir
Thomas and his men can say nothing of the disc. I have questioned them.
They are prisoners. But you might know."
"I have already answered. I do not know," said Roger, firmly.
"Then we must employ other means to this leader of yours. But you can
and will speak of other matters. You have been an honoured noble--a god
even!" he sneered. "Mexico welcomed you with open arms, and made you a
general. Therefore you can speak of the defences--of measures taken to
hold our attacks in check. You have been brought here for that purpose.
Speak, now, so that all may hear."
"To do so would be to betray those who are my friends. I am on their
side, and their secrets are mine, and are safe."
Roger faced the general quietly, his arms folded, and his head and
shoulders towering over the members of the meeting. His eye swept along
the line, and he looked coldly into every face till he arrived at that
of the captain who had effected his capture.
"You mean that you will not speak?"
Roger nodded.
"I give you two minutes to tell your tale. If you fail when the time is
gone, you shall be hanged. To-morrow morning at dawn you will be tossed
from the branch of a tree and left to dangle."
The general looked at Roger with scowling brows, while the company
leaned forward expectantly. But Roger was not to be frightened, though
he had expected death from the moment of being captured.
"Why wait till to-morrow, general?" he asked coldly. "I have said that
they are my friends. Would you act the part of traitor? Then do not ask
me to do such a thing. Hang me if you wish it, but let me be true to my
side."
"One minute has passed," was the answer, as the general drew out a
cumbersome watch. "Less than one minute remains. Afterwards----"
He greeted his prisoner with another ominous look; but Roger stood his
ground without flinching. He looked calmly at his enemies, and bowed
when the time had passed--bowed so coolly, and showed so little concern,
that there was a murmur of applause, while Fernando Cortes, though he
was bound to preserve an immovable countenance, displayed some
admiration. But he was a stern man, and his word was his word.
"At six of the clock to-morrow morning," he said, snapping the watch to.
"Captain, you will see to the execution. I shall be there. March the
prisoner out."