"It gives me pain, ladies," said I, speaking in Spanish, "to inform you
that you must be disappointed. I fear the return of your brother to-day
is impossible."
"But why, Captain?--why?"
"Our lines are completely around Vera Cruz, and all intercourse to and
from the city is at an end."
Had a shell fallen into Don Cosme's drawing-room it could not have
caused a greater change in the feelings of its inmates. Knowing nothing
of military life, they had no idea that our presence there had drawn an
impassable barrier between them and a much-loved member of their family.
In a seclusion almost hermetical they knew that a war existed between
their country and the United States; but that was far away upon the Rio
Grande. They had heard, moreover, that our fleet lay off Vera Cruz, and
the pealing of the distant thunder of San Juan had from time to time
reached their ears; but they had not dreamed, on seeing us, that the
city was invested by land. The truth was now clear; and the anguish of
the mother and daughters became afflicting when we informed them of what
we were unable to conceal--that it was the intention of the American
commander to _bombard the city_.
The scene was to us deeply distressing.
Dona Joaquina wrung her hands, and called upon the Virgin with all the
earnestness of entreaty. The sisters clung alternately to their mother
and Don Cosme, weeping and crying aloud, "_Pobre Narcisso! nuestro
hermanito--le asesinaran_!" (Poor Narcisso, our little brother!--they
will murder him!)
In the midst of this distressing scene the door of the drawing-room was
thrown suddenly open, and a servant rushed in, shouting in an agitated
voice, "_El norte! el norte_!"