I overtook my companions as they were entering the woods. Clayley, who
had been looking back from time to time, brushed alongside, as if
wishing to enter into conversation.
"Hard work, Captain, to leave such quarters. By Jove! I could have
stayed for ever."
"Come, Clayley--you are in love."
"Yes; they who live in glass houses--. Oh! if I could only speak the
lingo as you do!"
I could not help smiling, for I had overheard him through the trees
making the most he could of his partner's broken English. I was curious
to know how he had sped, and whether he had been as `quick upon the
trigger' as myself. My curiosity was soon relieved.
"I tell you, Captain," he continued, "if I could only have talked it, I
would have put the question on the spot. I did try to get a `yes' or a
`no' out of her; but she either couldn't or wouldn't understand me. It
was all bad luck."
"Could you not make her understand you? Surely she knows English enough
for that?"
"I thought so too; but when I spoke about love she only laughed and
slapped me on the face with her fan. Oh, no; the thing must be done in
Spanish, that's plain; and you see I am going to set about it in
earnest. She loaned me these."
Saying this, he pulled out of the crown of his foraging-cap a couple of
small volumes, which I recognised as a Spanish grammar and dictionary.
I could not resist laughing aloud.
"Comrade, you will find the best dictionary to be the lady herself."
"That's true; but how the deuce are we to get back again? A mule-hunt
don't happen every day."
"I fancy there will be some difficulty in it."
I had already thought of this. It was no easy matter to steal away from
camp--one's brother-officers are so solicitous about your appearance at
drills and parades. Don Cosme's rancho was at least ten miles from the
lines, and the road would not be the safest for the solitary lover. The
prospect of frequent returns was not at all flattering.
"Can't we steal out at night?" suggested Clayley. "I think we might
mount half a dozen of our fellows, and do it snugly. What do you say,
Captain?"
"Clayley, I cannot return without this brother. I have almost given my
word to that effect."
"You have? That is bad! I fear there is no prospect of getting him out
as you propose."
My companion's prophetic foreboding proved but too correct,
for on nearing the camp we were met by an aide-de-camp of the
commander-in-chief, who informed me that, on that very morning, all
communication between the foreign ships of war and the besieged city had
been prohibited.
Don Cosme's journey, then, would be in vain. I explained this, advising
him to return to his family.
"Do not make it known--say that some time is required, and you have left
the matter in my hands. Be assured I shall be among the first to enter
the city, and I shall find the boy, and bring him to his mother in
safety."
This was the only consolation I could offer.
"You are kind, Capitan--very kind; but I know that nothing can now be
done. We can only hope and pray."
The old man had dropped into a bent attitude, his countenance marked by
the deepest melancholy.
Taking the Frenchman, Raoul, along with me, I rode back until I had
placed him beyond the danger of the straggling plunderer, when we shook
hands and parted. As he left me, I turned to look after him. He still
sat in that attitude that betokens deep dejection, his shoulders bent
forward over the neck of his mule, while he gazed vacantly on the path.
My heart sank at the spectacle, and, sad and dispirited, I rode at a
lagging pace towards the camp.
Not a shot had as yet been fired against the town, but our batteries
were nearly perfected, and several mortars were mounted and ready to
fling in their deadly missiles. I knew that every shot and shell would
carry death into the devoted city, for there was not a point within its
walls out of range of a ten-inch howitzer. Women and children must
perish along with armed soldiers; and the boy--he, too, might be a
victim. Would this be the tidings I should carry to his home? And how
should I be received by her with such a tale upon my lips? Already had
I sent back a sorrowing father.
"Is there no way to save him, Raoul?"
"Captain?" inquired the man, starting at the vehemence of my manner.
A sudden thought had occurred to me.
"Are you well acquainted with Vera Cruz?"
"I know every street, Captain."
"Where do those arches lead that open from the sea? There is one on
each side of the mole."
I had observed these when visiting a friend, an officer of the navy, on
board his ship.
"They are conductors, Captain, to carry off the overflow of the sea
after a norther. They lead under the city, opening at various places.
I have had the pleasure of passing through them."
"Ha! How?"
"On a little smuggling expedition."
"It is possible, then, to reach the town by these?"
"Nothing easier, unless they may have a guard at the mouth; but that is
not likely. They would not dream of anyone's making the attempt."
"How would _you_ like to make it?"
"If the Captain wishes it, I will bring him a bottle of _eau-de-vie_
from the Cafe de Santa Anna."
"I do not wish you to go alone. I would accompany you."
"Think of it, Captain; there is risk for _you_ in such an undertaking.
_I_ may go safely. No one knows that I have joined you, I believe. If
_you_ are taken--."
"Yes, yes; I know well the result."
"The risk is not great, either," continued the Frenchman, in a
half-soliloquy. "Disguised as Mexicans, we might do it; you speak the
language as well as I. If you wish it, Captain--."
"I do."
"I am ready, then."
I knew the fellow well: one of those dare-devil spirits, ready for
anything that promised adventure--a child of fortune--a stray waif
tumbling about upon the waves of chance--gifted with head and heart of
no common order--ignorant of books, yet educated in experience. There
was a dash of the heroic in his character that had won my admiration,
and I was fond of his company.
It was a desperate adventure--I knew that; but I felt stronger interest
than common in the fate of this boy. My own future fate, too, was in a
great degree connected with his safety. There was something in the very
danger that lured me on to tempt it. I felt that it would be adding
another chapter to a life which I have termed "adventurous."