THE CONSPIRATORS.
More fortunate than dramatic authors, the romancers, being bound by no
rules of time and place, can, at their pleasure, transport their action
and characters from one country to another, and then return to their
starting point, not having any account to give of the time that has
elapsed, or of the space they have traversed. Employing in our turn this
privilege, we will momentarily quit the Indian border, on the skirt of
which our story has hitherto passed, and crossing at a leap over about
two hundred miles, beg the reader to follow us to Galveston, in the
centre of Texas, four months after the events we chronicled in our last
chapter.
At the period when our story is laid, that city, in which General
Lallemand wished to found the _Champ d'Asyle_--that sublime Utopia of a
noble and broken heart--was far from that commercial prosperity which
the progress of civilization, successive immigrations, and, most of all,
the speculations of bold capitalists, have caused it to attain during
the last few years. We shall therefore describe it such as it was during
our stay in America, leaving out of sight the enormous transformations
it has since undergone.
Galveston is built on the small sandy islet of St. Louis, which almost
closes up the mouth of the Rio Trinidad. At that time the houses were
low, mostly built of wood, and surrounded by gardens planted with
fragrant trees, which impregnated the atmosphere with delicious odours.
Unfortunately there is one thing that cannot alter--the climate and the
nature of the soil. The suffocating heat that almost continually
prevails in the town corrodes the earth and changes it into an
impalpable dust, in which you sink up to the knees, and which, at the
least breath of air, penetrates into the eyes, mouth, and nostrils;
myriads of mosquitoes, whose stings are extremely painful; and, above
all, the bad quality of the water, which the inhabitants collect with
great difficulty in plank reservoirs during the rainy season, and which
the sun renders boiling--these grievous occurrences, especially for
Europeans, render a residence at Galveston insupportable, and even most
dangerous.
The Texans themselves so greatly fear the deadly influence of this
climate that, during the torrid heat of summer, rich persons emigrate by
hundreds to the mainland, so that the town, which becomes almost
suddenly deserted by this momentary departure, assumes a look of sad
desolation which is painful to behold.
About four in the afternoon, at the moment when the rising sea breeze
began to refresh the atmosphere, a little Indian canoe, made of beech
bark, left the mainland, and vigorously impelled by two men supplied
with wide sculls, proceeded toward the city and pulled alongside the
plank quay, which served at that time as the landing place. So soon as
the canoe was stationary, a third person, carelessly reclining in the
stern sheets, rose, looked round him as if to recognise the spot where
he was; then, taking a spring, he landed on the quay. The canoe
immediately turned round, though not a syllable had been exchanged
between the scullers and the passenger they had brought.
The latter then pulled his hat over his eyes, wrapped himself carefully
in the folds of a wide zarapé of Indian fabric and striking colour, and
proceeded hastily towards the centre of the city. After a walk of a few
minutes the stranger stopped in front of a house, whose comfortable
appearance and well-tended garden showed that it belonged to a person
who, if not rich, was in easy circumstances. The door was ajar; the
stranger pushed it, entered, and closed it after him; then, without any
hesitation, like a man sure of what he was about, he crossed the garden,
in which he met nobody, entered the passage of the house, turned to the
right, and found himself in a room modestly, though comfortably
furnished.
On reaching this room the stranger fell into a butaca with the air of a
tired man delighted to rest after a long journey, took off his zarapé,
which he placed on the equipal, threw his hat upon it, and then, when he
had made himself comfortable, he rolled a husk cigarette, struck a light
with a gold mechero he took from his pocket, lit his papelito, and was
soon surrounded by a dense cloud of bluish and fragant smoke, which rose
above his head and formed a species of halo.
The stranger threw his body back, half closed his eyes, and fell into
that gentle ecstasy which the Italians call the _dolce far niente_, the
Turks, _kief_, and for which we northerns, with our more powerful
constitutions, have found no name, for the simple reason that we do not
know it.
The stranger had reached about the half of his second cigarette when
another person entered the room. This man, who did not appear to take
the slightest notice of the previous arrival, behaved, however,
precisely as he had done: he also took off his zarapé, reclined on a
butaca, and lit up a cigarette. Presently the garden sand creaked
beneath the footsteps of a third visitor, followed immediately by a
fourth, and then by a fifth; in short, at the end of an hour twenty
persons were assembled in this room. They all smoked with apparent
carelessness, and since their arrival had not exchanged a syllable.
Six o'clock struck from a clock standing on a sideboard. The last stroke
of the hour had scarce ceased vibrating ere the company, as if by common
agreement, threw away their cigars, and rose with a vivacity that
certainly was little to be expected after their previous carelessness.
At the same moment a secret door opened in the wall, and a man appeared
on the threshold.
This man was tall, elegant, and aristocratic, and appeared to be young.
A half-mask of velvet concealed the upper part of his face; as for his
attire, it was exactly similar to that of the other persons in the room,
but a brace of long pistols and a dagger were passed through the girdle
of red China crape which was wound tightly round his waist. At the
appearance of the stranger a quiver ran, like an electric current,
through the lines of visitors. The masked man, with head erect, arms
crossed on his chest, and body haughtily thrown back, gave his audience
a glance, which could be seen flashing through the holes in the velvet.
"It is well," he at length said, in a sonorous voice; "you are faithful
to your promise, Caballeros, not one of you have kept us waiting. This
is the eighth time I have assembled you during the month, and each time
I have found you equally prompt and faithful; thanks, in the name of the
country, Caballeros."
His auditors bowed silently, and the stranger continued, after a slight
pause--
"Time presses, gentlemen; the situation is growing with each moment more
serious; today we have no longer to attempt an adventurous stroke; the
hour has arrived to stake our heads resolutely in a glorious and
decisive game. Are you ready?"
"We are," they all answered unanimously.
"Reflect once more before pledging yourselves further," the Mask
continued, in a thrilling voice: "this time I repeat to you, we shall
take the bull by the horns, and have a hand-to-hand fight with it; of
one hundred chances, ninety-eight are against us."
"No matter," the person who first entered the room said, haughtily; "if
two chances are left us, they will be sufficient."
"I expected no less from you, John Davis," the stranger said, "you have
ever been full of devotion and self-denial; but, perhaps, among our
comrades some may not think as you do entirely. I do not regard this as
a crime, for a man may love his country and yet not consent to sacrifice
his life to it without regret; still, I must have perfect confidence in
those who follow me; they and I must have but one heart and one thought.
Let those, then, who feel a repugnance to share in the task we have to
perform tonight withdraw. I know that if prudence urges them to abstain
this time, under circumstances less desperate I should find them ready
to support me."
There was a lengthened silence, and no one stirred; at length the
stranger said, with an expression of joy which he did not try to
conceal--
"Come, I was not mistaken; you are brave fellows."
John Davis shrugged his shoulders.
"By heaven!" he said, "The trial was useless; you ought to have known
long ago what we are."
"Certainly I knew it, but my honour commanded me to act as I have done.
Now, all is said: we shall succeed or perish together."
"Very good, that is what I call speaking," the ex-slave dealer said,
with a hearty laugh; "the partisans of Santa Anna must have to hold
their own; for, if I am not greatly mistaken, ere long we shall cut them
into stirrup leathers."
At this moment a shrill whistle, although rather remote, was heard: a
second whistle, still nearer, replied.
"Gentlemen," the stranger said, "we are warned of the approach of an
enemy; perhaps it is only a false alarm, still the interest of the cause
we defend imperiously ordains prudence. Follow John Davis, while I
receive the troublesome fellow who is intruding on us."
"Come," said the American.
The conspirators, for they were no other, displayed some hesitation, for
they felt a repugnance to hide themselves.
"Leave me," the stranger went on, "you must."
All bowed and left the room after John Davis by the secret door, which
had offered passage to their Chief, and which closed upon them without
displaying a sign of its existence, as it was so carefully hidden in the
wall. A third whistle, close by, was heard at this moment.
"Yes, yes," the Chief said, with a smile, "whoever you may be, you can
come now; if you possessed the craft of the opossum and the eyes of the
eagle, I defy you to discover anything suspicious here."
He took off his mask, concealed his weapons, and lay back in a butaca.
Almost immediately the doors opened, and a man appeared. It was Lanzi,
the half-breed; he was dressed like the sailors of the port, with
canvas trousers drawn in round the hips, a white shirt, with a blue
turned down collar, with a white edging, and a tarpaulin hat.
"Well," the Chief asked, without turning, "why did you warn us, Lanzi?"
"It is highly necessary," the other answered.
"Is it serious, then?"
"You shall judge for yourself. The governor is coming hither with
several officers and a company of soldiers."
"General Rubio?"
"In person."
"Hang it!" the conspirator said, "Are we threatened with a domiciliary
visit?"
"You will soon know, for I hear him."
"Very good; we shall see what they want of us. In the meanwhile take
this mask and these weapons."
"The weapons too?" the other said in surprise.
"What shall I do with them? That is not the way in which I must fight
them at this moment. Be off, here they are!"
The half-breed took the mask and pistols, pressed a spring, and
disappeared through the door. The garden gravel could now be heard
creaking under the footsteps of several persons. At length the door of
the saloon was thrown open, and the General entered, followed by four or
five officers, who, like himself, were in full dress. The General
stopped on the threshold, and took a piercing glance around; the Chief
had risen, and was standing motionless in the centre of the apartment.
General Rubio was a thorough man of the world. He bowed politely, and
apologized for having thus entered the house without being announced;
but he found all the doors open, and no servant had come up to him.
"These excuses are useless, Caballero," the young man answered; "the
Mexican government has for a long time accustomed us to its
unceremonious way of behaving toward us; besides, the governor of the
city has the right, I presume, to enter any house when he thinks proper,
and if he does not find the door open, to have it opened, either with a
masterkey or a crowbar."
"Your remarks, Caballero," the General answered, "breathe an irritation
that must be regretted. The state of effervescence in which Texas is at
this moment would be more than sufficient to justify the unusual step I
am taking with you."
"I know not to what you are pleased to allude, Señor General," the young
man remarked, coldly; "it is possible that Texas may be in a state of
effervescence, and the annoyances the government have put on it would
completely justify this; but as concerns myself, personally, I might
perhaps have a right to complain of seeing my house invaded by an armed
force, without any previous summons, when nothing authorizes such an
arbitrary measure."
"Are you quite sure, Caballero, that I have not the right to act as I am
doing? Do you consider yourself so free from suspicion that you really
consider this measure arbitrary?"
"I repeat to you, Caballero," the young man continued, haughtily, "that
I do not at all understand the language you do me the honour of
addressing to me. I am a peaceable citizen; nothing in my conduct has,
as far as I know, aroused the jealous solicitude of the government; and
if it pleases its agents to make me undergo ill-deserved annoyance, it
is not in my power to oppose it otherwise than by protesting
energetically against the insult offered me. You have force on your
side, General, so do as you think proper; I am alone here, and shall not
attempt in any way to resist the measures you may think proper to take."
"That language, Caballero, evidently comes from a man assured of his
safety."
"You are mistaken, General; it is that of a free man, unjustly
insulted."
"It may be so, but I shall not discuss the point with you. You will
permit me, however, to remark, that for a man so justly indignant, and
apparently solitary, you are very carefully guarded; for, if the house
be empty, as you state, the environs are guarded by friends of yours,
who, I must allow, perform admirably the commission with which they were
intrusted, by warning you sufficiently early of unexpected visits for
you to take your precautions in consequence, and render it an easy
matter to get rid in a twinkling of persons whose presence here might
compromise you."
"Instead of speaking thus in enigmas, General, it would be better,
perhaps, to have a clear explanation; then, knowing the charge brought
against me, I might attempt to defend myself."
"Nothing is more easy, Caballero; still, you will allow me to remark
that we have been talking together for some time, and you have not yet
offered me a chair."
The young chieftain gave the General an ironical glance.
"Why should I employ toward you those conventional forms of politeness,
General? From the moment when, without my authority, and against my
will, you introduced yourself into this house, you should have
considered yourself as quite at home. It is I, then, who am the stranger
here, and in that position I am no longer permitted to do the honours of
this house."
"Caballero," the General answered, with a movement of impatience, "I am
grieved to find in you this stiffness and determination to quarrel. When
I entered this house, my intentions with respect to you were, perhaps,
not so hostile as you suppose; but, since you force me to a clear and
categorical explanation, I am prepared to satisfy you, and prove to you
that I am acquainted not only with your conduct, but with the plans you
entertain and are carrying out, with a tenacity and boldness which, if I
did not take, would lead inevitably to their speedy realization."
The young man started, and a flash burst from his wild eye at this
direct insinuation, which revealed to him the danger with which he was
menaced; but immediately regaining his presence of mind, and
extinguishing the fire of his glance, he replied, coolly--
"I am listening to you, General."
The latter turned to his officers.
"Do as I do, señores," he said, as he sat down; "take seats, as this
caballero refuses to offer them to us. As this friendly conversation may
be prolonged for some time yet, it is unnecessary that you should
fatigue yourselves by listening to it standing."
The officers bowed, and seated themselves comfortably on the butacas
with which the apartment was furnished. The General continued, after a
few moments of reflection, during which the young man looked at him
carelessly, while rolling a husk cigarette:
"And in the first place, to proceed regularly, and prove to you that I
am well-informed of all that concerns you," he said, purposely laying a
stress on the words, "I will begin by telling you your name."
"In truth, General, you should have begun with that," the young man
said, negligently.
"You are," the General went on, quietly, "the famous Chief whom the
insurgents and Freebooters have christened the Jaguar."
"Ah, ah!" he remarked, ironically, "So you know that, Señor Governor?"
"And a good many more things, as you shall see."
"Go on," he said, as he threw himself back with the graceful negligence
of a friend on a visit.
"After giving a powerful organization to your revolt on the Indian
border by seizing the Larch-tree hacienda, and allying yourself with
certain Comanche and Apache tribes, you understood that, to succeed, you
must give up that guerilla warfare, which I confess you had carried on
for some time with considerable success." "Thanks," said the Jaguar,
with an ironical bow.
"You therefore entrust the temporary command of your bands to one of
your comrades, and yourself come into the heart of Texas, with your most
faithful associates, in order to revolutionize the coast, and deal a
great blow by seizing a seaport. Galveston, by its position at the mouth
of the Trinidad river, is a strategical point of the utmost importance
for your plans. For two months past you have been concealed in this
house, which you have made the headquarters of your insurrection, and
where you are making all the preparations for the audacious enterprise
you wish to attempt. You have at your disposal numerous emissaries and
faithful conspirators; the government of the United States supply you
with abundance of arms and ammunition, which you think you will soon
have need of. Your measures have been so well taken, and your
machinations carried on with such great skill; you fancy yourself so
nearly on the point of success, that hardly an hour back you convened
here the principal members of your party, in order to give them their
final instructions. Is it so? Am I correctly informed? Answer me,
Caballero."
"What would you have me answer, Caballero," the young man said, with a
delightful smile, "since you know all?"
"Then, you confess that you are the Jaguar, the Chief of the
Freebooters!"
"Canarios, I should think so."
"You also allow that you came here with the intention of seizing the
city?"
"Incontestably," the other said, with an air of mockery; "it does not
allow the shadow of a doubt."
"Take care," the General remarked drily; "it is a much more serious
matter than you seem to think."
"What the deuce would you have me do General? It is not my fault. You
enter my house, without giving me notice, with a crowd of officers and
soldiers; you surround my residence, carry it by storm, and when you
have finished this pretty job worthy of an alguazil, without showing me
the slightest scrap of paper authorising you to act in that way, you
tell me to my face that I am the Chief of the bandits, a conspirator,
and Lord knows what; and then you request me to prove it. On my faith!
Any other in my place would act as I am doing; like me, he would bow to
the weight of so great a military force and such an entire conviction.
All this seems to me so extraordinary and novel, that I am beginning to
doubt my own identity, and I ask myself if I have not been hitherto
deceived in believing myself, Martin Gutierrez, the ranchero of Santa
Aldegonida, in the State of Sonora, and if I am not, on the contrary,
the ferocious Jaguar, of whom you speak to me, and for whom you do me
the honour of taking me. I confess to you, General, that all this
perplexes me in the highest degree, and I should feel greatly obliged if
you would kindly bring me to some settled conviction."
"Then, Caballero, up to the present you have been jesting!" the General
said hastily.
The Jaguar began laughing.
"_Cuerpo de Cristo_," he replied. "I should think so. What else could I
do in the face of such accusations? Discuss them with you? You know as
well as I do, General, that it is useless to attempt to overthrow a
conviction. Instead of telling me that I am the Jaguar, prove it to me,
and then I will bow to the truth. That is very simple, it appears to
me."
"Very simple, indeed, Caballero; I hope to be able soon to give you that
certainty."
"Very good; but till then, I would observe that you entered my house in
a way contrary to law, that the domicile of a citizen is inviolable, and
that what you have done today, only a juez de letras, armed with a legal
warrant, was empowered to do."
"You would possibly be correct, Caballero, if we lived in ordinary
times; but at this moment such is no longer the case; the State is in a
state of siege, the military power has taken the place of the civil
authority, and alone has the right to command and have carried out those
measures that relate to the maintenance of order."
The young man, while the General was speaking, had taken a side glance
at the clock. When the governor ceased he rose, and bowing
ceremoniously, said:
"To be brief, be kind enough, then, to explain to me categorically, and
without further circumlocution, the motives for your presence in my
house; we have been talking a long time and I have not yet been able to
read your intentions. I should, therefore, feel obliged by your making
them known to me without delay, as important business claims my presence
abroad; and if you insist on staying here, I shall be compelled to leave
you to yourselves."
"Oh, oh! You change your tone, I fancy, Caballero," the General said,
with a little irony. "I will tell you the motives you desire to learn;
as for your leaving the house without me or my sanction, which is the
same thing, I fancy you would find it rather difficult."
"Which means, I presume, that you look upon me as a prisoner, General?"
"Nearly so, Caballero. When your house has been carefully searched, and
we are convinced there is nothing suspicious in it, I may, perhaps,
permit you to be put aboard a ship which will carry you far away from
the territory of the Mexican Confederation."
"What! Without a warrant, by your mere will?"
"By my mere will: yes, Caballero."
"_Canarios_, Señor General, I see that your government has preserved the
healthy Spanish traditions, and is deliciously arbitrary," the Jaguar
said, mockingly; "the only question is whether I shall voluntarily
submit to such treatment."
"You must have already perceived that force is not on your side, at
least for the present."
"Oh, General, when a man has right on his side, force can soon be
found."
"Try it, then, Caballero; but I warn you that it will be at your own
risk and peril."
"Then you will employ force to coerce a single, unarmed man in his own
house?"
"That is my intention."
"Oh! If that be so, I thank you, for you leave me free to act."
"What do you mean by that remark, Caballero?" the General asked, with a
frown.
"What do you mean by yours, Señor Governor? I consider that all means
are good to escape an arbitrary arrest, and that I shall employ them
without the slightest hesitation."
"Try it," the officer said, ironically,
"When the moment for action arrives, I shall not wait for your
permission to do so, General," the Jaguar replied, with equal sarcasm.
Although this was the first time General Rubio and the Jaguar had met,
the Governor of Galveston had long been acquainted with the reputation
of the man with whom he had to deal; he knew how fertile in resources
his mind was, and the audacious temerity that formed the basis of his
character; personally he owed him a grudge for carrying off the conducta
de plata, and capturing the Larch-tree, hence he entertained a lively
desire to take an exemplary revenge on his bold adventurer.
The tone in which the Jaguar uttered the last words caused the General a
moment's anxiety; but after taking a glance round him, he was reassured.
In fact, owing to the precautions taken by the old soldier, it seemed
materially impossible that his prisoner could escape, for he was alone,
unarmed, in a house surrounded by soldiers, and watched by several
resolute officers; he, therefore, regarded his answer as bravado, and
took no further notice of it.
"I absolve you beforehand," he said disdainfully, "for any efforts you
may make to escape."
"I thank you, General," the Jaguar answered, with a ceremonious bow. "I
expected nothing else from your courtesy; I make a note of your
promise."
"Be it so. Now, with your permission we are about to commence our
domiciliary visit."
"Do so, General, pray do so; if you desire it, I will myself act as your
guide."
"In my turn I thank you for this obliging offer, but I do not wish to
put your kindness to a trial; the more so, as I am thoroughly acquainted
with this house."
"Do you think so, General?"
"Judge for yourself."
The Jaguar bowed without replying, and carelessly leant his elbow on the
couch upon which the clock stood.
"We will first begin with this saloon," the General continued.
"You mean that you will finish with it," the young man remarked, with an
ironical smile.
"Let us look first at the secret door in that wall."
"What! You know it then?"
"It seems so."
"Hang it all! You are better informed than I supposed."
"You do not know all yet."
"I hope so; judging from the commencement, I expect some extraordinary
discoveries."
"Perhaps so. Will you make the spring work yourself, Caballero, or would
you prefer my doing it?"
"On my word, General, I confess that all this interests me so hugely
that, until fresh orders, I desire to remain a simple spectator, in
order not to trouble my pleasure."
This continued irony produced an involuntary impression on the General;
the calm and coldly mocking attitude of the young man troubled him in
his heart; he feared a snare, without knowing when or how it would
reveal itself.
"Pay attention, Caballero," he said in a menacing tone to the Jaguar; "I
know for a fact that when I arrived you had a large party assembled
here; on my entrance, your comrades fled by that door."
"That is true," the young man said with a nod of assent.
"Take care," the General continued, "that if assassins are hidden behind
that door, the blood shed will fall on your head."
"General," the Jaguar said seriously, "press the spring, the passage is
empty; I require no aid but my own to deliver myself from your clutches
when I think proper."
The Governor no longer hesitated; he walked resolutely to the wall, and
pressed the spring; his officers had followed him, ready to aid him if
any danger presented itself. The Jaguar did not stir. The door opened,
and displayed a long and completely deserted corridor.
"Well, General, have I kept my word?" the Jaguar said.
"Yes, Señor, I must concede it. Now, Caballeros," the General continued,
addressing his officers, "draw swords, and forward!"
"One moment, if you please," said the Jaguar.
"What do you want, Señor?"
"You will remember that I warned you you would end your domiciliary
visit with this room?"
"Well?"
"I will keep that second promise as I did the first."
At the same instant, and ere the General and his officers could account
for what was happening, they felt the flooring give way beneath their
feet, and they rolled to the bottom of a vault, of slight depth, it is
true, but buried in the most intense gloom.
"A pleasant journey!" the Jaguar said with a laugh, as he closed the
trap again.