SEÑOR DEL NORTE’S STORY.
“I have said, señorita, that the blood of the Hidalgoes is in my veins.
Perhaps you did not know that Miguel Hidalgo, the priest, was the
organizer of the first conspiracy against the Spanish provincial
government in Mexico. That was in the year eighteen hundred and ten. For
some time my people had been saying among themselves that they could
survive and flourish independent of a foreign government. There were the
signs and the spirit of nationality and independence. They wished to
become a nation in many respects like the United States. The influence
of the Spanish government was already declining when Miguel Hidalgo
started the insurrection in the province of Guanajuato. At first it was
a mere speck on the horizon. At the beginning he had less than a hundred
men, but his army grew swiftly until it finally became a host of a
hundred thousand men. He was brave and energetic, and would have
succeeded in his scheme had not he been betrayed by treacherous enemies.
He fell into the hands of the Spanish viceroy and was executed.
“That did not end the matter, however. Although the patriots were broken
up into small bands, another priest, by the name of Morelos, soon placed
himself at their head and carried on the war. A national congress was
convened, and an act was passed declaring the independence of Mexico.
“It may seem strange to you, señorita, that with a hundred thousand men
Hidalgo could not accomplish his design. It may seem strange that,
although as many men, and still more, flocked to the leadership of
Morelos, they were unable to crush the power of Spain. I will explain
why this was. The Spanish army came equipped in the best possible
manner, while hundreds of the patriots were without any arms save such
implements as they could manufacture themselves. Being thus poorly
armed, they were unable to cope with their enemies, and in December,
eighteen hundred and fifteen, Morelos was taken and shot.
“That was simply the beginning. In eighteen hundred and twenty-one one
of my ancestors, the son of Aneta Hidalgo, began again the work of
rousing the patriotism of my people. He was a young man, but full of
fire and energy, and he stirred up enthusiasm in a most astonishing
manner. In the same year came the news that the revolution had broken
out in Spain, and almost immediately the agitation in my country was
renewed afresh. At this juncture a great soldier arose, Colonel Don
Augustine Iturbide, and under him the son of Aneta Hidalgo, Guerrero del
Norte, fought with bravery and distinction. This movement drew the
support of the better class of the Mexicans, and in the end the revolt
was successful. The government in the provinces was quickly overthrown,
and the Spanish viceroy, Don Juan O’Donoju, was cooped up in the
capital. This city soon fell into the hands of the Nationals, and on
August twenty-fourth, eighteen hundred and twenty-one, O’Donoju signed a
treaty at Cordova by which the independence of Mexico was recognized.
“Now followed the thing that marred all the great work which had been
accomplished. The patriots proclaimed the victorious Iturbide emperor,
instead of forming a government similar to that of the United States, as
had been first contemplated. The disappointment of Guerrero del Norte
was intense, and he refused any compensation or reward from the hands of
the new emperor. He retired into the northern provinces, where he
gathered about him a band of desperate men, who pledged themselves never
to submit to the rule of the emperor and never to lay down their arms
until Mexico had become a government of the people, by the people, and
for the people.
“In the course of a few months another insurrection broke out at Vera
Cruz, under the leadership of Santa Anna, and Guerrero del Norte
hastened with his men to place himself under the command of the new
leader. Thus it happened that my ancestor took part in the struggle that
followed, and was one to be highly rewarded when Santa Anna finally
conquered and the Mexican republic was organized with nineteen states
and five territories. Del Norte was rewarded for his services by a large
land grant in Northwestern Mexico. Already he had traveled over the
territory awarded him, and had discovered that it was rich in minerals.
In many ways he was in advance of the people of that region, and he
believed the mines on his property would make him vastly wealthy.
“Without doubt, señorita, you will know how the new government was
forced to face a revolution in turn, and the chief magistrate was driven
from office. Since that time there have been many changes, but the
course of events finally placed General Santa Anna at the head of the
new government, and he at once reaffirmed Guerrero del Norte’s claim to
a large tract of land in Eastern Sonora. Thus you will see that Del
Norte had a double right to this property, yet since then there have
been many vicissitudes and many persons have arisen desiring to secure
possession of that land. The title to it finally descended into the
hands of my father. He attempted to open up some of the mines, but found
the region swarming with brigands and hostile Indians. On investigating,
he discovered that the Indians were incited to drive away certain
parties who should venture there, and the brigands were in the employ of
enemies who held counterclaims to the land. These counterclaims had been
granted by a chief magistrate, whose authority to make such grants no
one in all Mexico now recognized. Nevertheless, my father’s enemies were
persistent, and misfortune placed him in such a position, that he was
unable to raise the needed capital to carry out his plans.
“Finally he decided that he would seek to employ American capitalists.
He concluded to interest Americans and form a syndicate that would open
up the mines down there on his land. I was a very young boy then.
“On the night before my father intended leaving Tampico by steamer for
the United States he was murdered, as I have before told you. The
murderers sought to gain possession of his papers, but failed, as they
were at that time safely locked up in a vault. These papers were placed
in my hands by my mother when she died. I have them, and, at last, I
have decided to carry out the plans formed by my father. For that
purpose I am in this country. I came here to interest capitalists who
will join me in opening up the region that belongs to me and in
developing the mines down there. In pursuance of my purpose I became
acquainted with Henry Crossgrove, and was invited to join him on this
cruise.”
Del Norte paused a moment, and then added:
“I am very glad it happened so, even if I had not succeeded in
interesting Señor Crossgrove. I am very happy, for it has been a
delightful cruise, and I have met you—you! Pardon, señorita; I can’t
help it! I tell you frankly that I always speak what comes into my
heart. I can’t repress it. I can’t hold it in check. I am very, very
sorry you ever met Señor Merriwell. Wait, señorita; I know it’s now too
late for me to speak. My tongue must forever remain silent. Some day
when I form the syndicate in which many rich men are now interested—some
day when I have taken possession of all my land and my mines—some day
when the railroad we shall build runs through my property I will be a
very rich man. In that time, señorita, it would give me untold pleasure
to have one like you to share my success and my riches. Ah! even wealth
will not give me perfect happiness without that one. When I think of
that my heart is heavy and sad. When I think that in a few days more we
must part, perhaps never to meet again, there are tears in my eyes.”
Inza did not attempt to repress a laugh.
“Señor del Norte,” she said, “you will meet some one ready enough to
share your wealth with you. The American girl is looking out for the
main chance. Just convince her that you have the money and she’s
yours—or, rather, you will be hers, for she generally proposes to take
charge of affairs.”
“You can’t make me believe, señorita, that you have so little romance in
you,” he protested. “Do you not feel it—does not the night thrill you?
And is it possible you have no regret because we are to part so soon?
Ah, well! I will simply smile, though my heart is torn with anguish. I
will try to hide my secret, but now—now let me say—_adios_!”
Ere she suspected his purpose he had seized her hand and pressed it to
his burning lips.
Instantly she sprang erect.
“Señor del Norte, you are impudent!” she exclaimed. “If Frank were
here——”
“He is here,” said a quiet voice as Frank Merriwell himself stepped
forward.
So interested had Del Norte become in Inza, and so interested had she
been in his story, that neither of them had observed the approach of the
little boat that brought Frank back to the yacht. As they were sitting
on the port side, and he came aboard on the starboard side, neither of
them became aware of his presence until he spoke.
For a single instant Porfias del Norte seemed startled. Then he bowed
with courtly grace, his guitar in his left hand, saying:
“At last you have returned, Señor Merriwell. The señorita was lonely
without you, and I sought to interest her with music, song, and chat.”
Inza felt that Frank heartily disliked Del Norte, and she saw in Merry’s
manner a trace of suspicion and doubt. He glanced searchingly at her,
and then once more turned to survey the suave, smiling Mexican.
“You’re a very interesting person, Señor del Norte,” he said, in a cold
tone of voice. “From what I have seen of you I fancy you are a great
admirer of the ladies.”
Del Norte laughed softly and pleasantly.
“My dear Merriwell,” he said, with a touch of polite familiarity, “all
the men of my country admire the ladies. It’s as natural for them as it
is to breathe.”
“Quite so,” nodded Frank. “But you know there is such a thing as too
much adoration. An admirer who is both obnoxious and persistent becomes
a terrible bore in time. However, if you have amused Miss Burrage while
I was absent I am pleased.”
“He told me the most interesting tale, Frank,” said Inza. “He told me of
his family, and the history of the Del Nortes seems closely interwoven
with that of Mexico’s struggle for liberty.”
“I fancied you were startled by something, Inza, just as I appeared,”
said Merry in a low tone. “Was I mistaken?”
“If you could hear Señor del Norte’s story I believe it might startle
you, Frank,” she answered evasively.
It was not Inza’s intention or desire to deceive Merry, but she knew how
quickly her lover would administer reproof and chastisement to Del Norte
for his conduct in case she revealed what had happened. Not wishing to
bring about an encounter on board the _Sachem_, she thought it best to
evade revealing the truth at that time.
The girl now urged Merriwell to listen to Del Norte’s story, and once
more asked the Mexican to go over it.
It’s possible that Del Norte was relieved when he discovered she had no
intention of telling Frank what had taken place. He seated himself once
more, after Inza had resumed her chair, and invited Frank to draw up and
be comfortable.
“See how the moonlight turns the water to silver,” he said, stretching
out his hand toward the shimmering waves of the harbor. “See the town
nestling there at the foot of the dark mountain. Look yonder on the top
of the nearer and smaller mountain. Up there you can behold a star, but
it’s a light in the window of the hotel. To-morrow we are to go up
there. Señor Crossgrove has arranged it. We may climb the mountain on
foot or be taken up in carriages, just as we choose. They say we will be
entertained up there and be given a fine dinner, if we wish it. Ah, how
surprised my countrymen would be could they look on this beautiful scene
away up here in the so-called barren North! But they tell me this land
is buried deep in snow in the winter, while my own land is blooming with
flowers and is sweet with fragrance. It’s only for a very short time in
summer or in early fall that the inhabitants here really enjoy life.”
“That’s where you make a mistake, señor,” said Merry. “They enjoy life
the whole year round.”
“How can it be?” asked the Mexican unbelievingly. “They must work like
slaves during the pleasant weather in order to protect themselves from
hunger and cold through the bitter winters. Thus while they work at the
most beautiful time of the year they lose all the pleasure they might
have; and in the winter they are compelled to huddle by their fireside.
To me the people here are much like slaves. They know nothing of the
real enjoyment of life.”
“On the contrary,” denied Frank, “they enjoy life more fully than most
people. To them labor is enjoyment. They are ambitious, and not only do
they labor that they might eat, and drink, and be clothed and housed,
but they labor to accomplish something that will make the world better
and brighter. It’s from this frozen North that the most ambitious, most
energetic, most brainy men go forth into the world. By this I do not
mean that it’s from the State of Maine alone, or even from the New
England States, that such men go forth. It’s from the entire North, the
temperate portion of the country. The people of the far South are
inclined to be slothful. It’s in the atmosphere. The climate affects
them. If they have ambitions, they say to-morrow we will begin; but for
them to-morrow never comes.”
“Still,” persisted Del Norte, “I can’t see how any one who is forced to
labor may possibly be happy. To me it’s like slavery.”
“Nor can you comprehend, I presume,” said Merry, “that the people of the
North labor from choice. It’s a fact that many rich men and many rich
men’s sons labor because they love to work—they feel they must work.
It’s in their blood to do, to accomplish, to be something. But we have
strayed away from our subject, Señor del Norte. You have been telling
Miss Burrage an interesting tale of yourself and your family, and you
promised to repeat it for me.”
“Ah! yes, so I did,” murmured the Mexican as he rolled a fresh
cigarette. “I have thought for some time that I would tell you that
story, Señor Merriwell. I know you are interested in Mexico.”
He struck a match and lighted a cigarette, at which he puffed a moment
in silent meditation, his head bowed. It was a shapely head, with dark
hair, in which there was the slightest wavy curl. His profile as shown
by the moonlight of the far North seemed to carry with it the warm
atmosphere of the tropics. Still, there was about it something sad and
poetic.
Finally he began speaking, and once more he went over the story as told
to Inza. At times he turned his dark eyes toward Frank, and watched the
young American keenly, as if seeking to know the effect of the narrative
upon him.
“A most interesting tale, señor,” said Merriwell when it was finished.
“It is indeed too bad that the grant of land accorded your family should
have been made at such a time and by President Pedraza, whose power was
only temporary and passing, and whose acts have been recognized by few
of his followers in office as legitimate.”
Del Norte laughed softly.
“But you have forgotten, my dear Señor Merriwell, that the grant of
President Pedraza was reaffirmed by President Santa Anna.”
It was Frank’s turn to laugh.
“It happens, Señor del Norte,” he retorted, “that I know a little
something of Mexican history. It happens very strangely that I know
something of this very affair about which you have been speaking. I have
found it necessary on my own account to look into the legality of many
old land grants in Mexico. President Pedraza had the misfortune to be
overthrown by Santa Anna, who previously overthrew Don Augustine
Iturbide. In this new uprising of Santa Anna, Guerrero del Norte must
have been actively concerned in order to win favor of the victor. Santa
Anna conquered and was made president.
“It was about this time, señor, that the people in what now is known as
Texas became uneasy and restless. The central government of Mexico was
changed under Santa Anna. The constitution of eighteen hundred and
twenty-four was abolished and a new form of government, and more
substantial, was produced. Although the office of president was
retained, the executive powers were extended in a manner that
constituted a virtual dictatorship. Now, Santa Anna was no man to rule
by love. He was harsh, and cruel, and vindictive. Texas refused to
recognize his authority and bow beneath his iron hand. Then came the
uprising of the Texans and the war which followed in the rebellious
province. Santa Anna himself headed the army and attempted to crush the
rebellion by ruthless butchery. When captured, the Texans were not
treated as prisoners of war, but as traitors and spies, and were in many
cases murdered in cold blood. The name of Santa Anna is held in the
greatest detestation by the people of Texas. He sought to crush the
Texans, but he himself met defeat in the battle of San Jacinto, where he
was captured. In this manner Texas won her independence, and for a time
Santa Anna had no hand in the government of Mexico.
“During this time there were revolutions, and counter revolutions, and
broils, and turmoils unmentionable. The country was in a state of
disquietude and unrest, and no man knew that what he to-day called his
own would not belong to his neighbor on the morrow. Old laws were
changed and favors granted to citizens were annulled. It was during this
time, señor, that Guerrero del Norte was himself proclaimed an outlaw
and a price was placed upon his head.”
Porfias del Norte gave a slight start at this declaration, cast his
cigarette over the side, where it struck with a sizzling sound in the
water, and folded his arms.
“Am I not right, señor?” asked Frank, facing him squarely.
“It’s possible you are right,” admitted the Mexican. “In those days the
man who one day was a patriot the next day was declared a brigand. Your
knowledge is very wonderful, señor. It gives me great surprise.”
In Del Norte’s musical tones there was hidden the keenest sarcasm, which
the young American did not fail to observe.
“I told you at the outset,” said Merry, “that I had looked up many
things in connection with Mexican history. From the fact that I possess
certain interests in Eastern Sonora, I was led to investigate the career
of Guerrero del Norte. I found that not only was he proclaimed an
outlaw, but he became a leader of bandits. He retired to what he called
his own land, a vast stretch of mountains and plains, and gathered about
him a band of desperadoes and cutthroats. They did not labor, but they
lived on the fruits of others. They made various raids to the south and
to the north. At one time they ventured across the Rio Grande into
Texas, but were driven back without success and with great loss of life.
Guerrero, the chief, was himself seriously wounded. From this time until
his death I believe he remained practically an outlaw and a bandit.”
“Wait a minute, señor,” urged Del Norte. “Have you forgotten that in
eighteen hundred and fifty-three, for the fifth time, Santa Anna was
made president of Mexico? You must remember that General Santa Anna had
reasons for feeling most friendly toward Guerrero.”
“Perhaps that is true,” nodded Merry; “but by this time the life
Guerrero had been leading had taken such a hold upon him that he could
not abandon it. He had become a lover of brigandage. He chose to remain
a bandit and a plunderer to the end of his days, and thus did he remain.
Señor del Norte, I happen to know that in the end the grant of land made
to Guerrero was revoked and annulled and a price placed on the head of
your bandit ancestor. These are facts. You can’t deny them.”
Once more the Mexican laughed, but this time there was a trace of
annoyance in the sound.
“I must again confess,” he said, “that Señor Merriwell’s knowledge of
Mexican history and my own affairs is most astounding. It seems strange
indeed that he should know so very many things about my family.”
“It’s not so strange, Señor del Norte, when you consider that at the
present time I have a mine in Eastern Sonora located on territory given
to Guerrero in his land grant.”
“Ha!” cried Porfias. “Then your mine is on that land? I thought as much!
I was confident it must be! Señor, I am very sorry, but that mine
belongs to me!”
“You never made a greater mistake in your life,” said Merry quietly.
“Before spending any great sum of money in opening up that mine, señor,
I took pains to investigate thoroughly my right to the property. That’s
how I came to know so much about the history of your family. I found in
the City of Mexico a record of the old land grant made to Guerrero by
Pedraza. I found a record of its affirmation by President Santa Anna. I
also found a record of its annulment at a later period by President
Santa Anna. For your sake, Señor del Norte, I am sorry; but for my own I
am glad that you have not the remotest right to one inch of that land.”
“We shall see!” cried the Mexican, his eyes flashing. “You think, like
all Americans, that possession is nine points of the law. Well, it may
be; but again I say we shall see. You have money. You are seeking to
interest capitalists in opening up that country with a railroad. Ah!
Señor Merriwell, I am not idle. It’s not always my way to disclose my
plans, but, feeling sure of my ground, I tell you now that your railroad
will never be built. Instead of that, it’s I who will build the
railroad. It’s I who will reap the reward to be taken from that rich
country. I shall not fight you with violence, for the day of violence in
Mexico ought to be past. I shall fight you with the hand of the law.”
“Very well,” said Frank. “You may fancy that I am not aware that at the
present time you are doing everything in your power to induce the
Mexican government to reaffirm that old land grant. I happen to know all
about that. Señor del Norte, every move you make in Mexico is known to
me. I have men on the ground who are ready to meet those moves and
baffle them. President Diaz is a just and honorable man. He is also a
wise man and cannot be bamboozled. Your efforts will be vain, Señor del
Norte.”
“We shall see! we shall see!” muttered the Mexican, all the music gone
from his voice. “It was a strange chance that threw us together on this
yacht, Señor Merriwell, but I am very glad it happened. Although we met
here as friends, we know now that we are enemies, and I promise you, my
dear gringo, that I will keep you busy. You have boasted of the energy
and ambition of the men of the North; you shall see something of the
energy and ambition of the men of the South. I will give you no rest,
señor. If you become tired, beware lest while your eyes are closed I
gain a step on you. Beware lest when you awake you find your vaunted
possessions have passed from you and are in my grasp. Oh, it shall be a
noble struggle! Ha! ha! ha!”
The laugh of the Mexican sent a chill through the body of the listening
girl. Instantly she started up, grasping Frank’s arm.
“Come!” she said. “I am cold. Escort me to the cabin, please.”
Del Norte rose, bowing most profoundly and most gracefully.
“Good night, señorita,” he breathed. “May your dreams be as sweet as the
dreamer. Good night, Señor Merriwell; but beware lest you dream and
awake to regret it!”
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