The incidents of the day preyed upon my spirits, and I was far from
feeling easy about the future. I knew that my betrothed would be true
till death; and I felt ashamed that I had doubted her, even for a
moment. About her loyalty I had no uneasiness, and I mentally vowed
never more to give way to suspicion.
It was no thought of that that now troubled me, but an anxiety about
_her personal safety_; and this grew stronger the more I pondered upon
it, till it assumed almost the form of a fear.
The man who had used such bitter threats, and behaved with so much
rudeness, would scarcely stop at anything. 'Tis true I had deprived him
of much of his power over her, by stripping him of the dangerous
documents; but it was not this time, nor was he the man, to stand upon
nice distinctions of legality, where jealousy and cupidity were the
incentives to action. Holding a sort of irresponsible office as the
chief of what was less a patriotic guerrilla than a band of brigands, it
was difficult to tell what such a monster might or might not attempt.
In our absence from the post the ruffian would be full master of the
neighbourhood. What deed might he not accomplish with impunity, holding
his power directly from the unprincipled dictator, whom he was
accustomed to imitate as a model, and who would indorse any act of
villainy, provided it was the act of one of his own satellites? I
shuddered as I reflected.
The reappearance of Ijurra and his band--for I doubted not that his
followers were near--their reappearance in that vicinity, and at such a
crisis--just as we were being withdrawn--had something ominous in it.
They must have known ere this of the plan of campaign designed for the
American army. Wheatley's rumour had proved well founded. The new
commander-in-chief, Scott, had arrived upon the ground, and
three-fourths of the "army of occupation" had been draughted to form the
expedition destined to act upon Vera Cruz. As this greedy general
stripped our old favourite "Rough and Ready" of _only_ his best troops,
we had the consolation of knowing that the "rangers" were among the
"picked;" though, for all that, many of us would have preferred
remaining with the brave veteran who had already led us so often to
victory. I can answer for Wheatley and myself; I might also vouch for
Holingsworth, though far different were his motives for wishing to
remain on the Rio Grande. His sweetheart was revenge--in his breast
long cherished--to his heart faithful and true.
I have said that our design must have been known to the enemy ere this;
indeed our army was already in movement. Troops and brigades were
marching upon Brazos Santiago, and Tampico, there to be embarked for the
south, and all that were to go had received their orders. The provinces
on the Rio Grande were not to be entirely abandoned, but the army left
there was to have its lines contracted, and would therefore cover much
less ground. Not only was our little post to be deserted, but the
neighbouring town, which had long been the head-quarters of a division,
was also to be evacuated. No force of ours would remain within fifty
miles of the rancheria; and perhaps no American troop would ever again
visit that isolated village. The reflection rendered me more than
melancholy.
No doubt of it, then, the enemy was apprised of our movements. In our
special case--that _we_ the rangers were to march on the following
morning, was well known to the people of the neighbourhood. It had been
known to them for several days; and it had not passed unobserved by us
that the citizens of the place--those who were not Ayankieados--had
lately shown themselves more sulky and inhospitable, in proportion as
the time approached for our departure. This _brusquerie_ had led to
several street-conflicts, in which knives had been drawn and blood
spilled, and much "bad blood" begotten on both sides.
Another circumstance was not unnoticed amongst us. Ribald pasquinades,
rudely written, and accompanied by threats of proscription, were at this
time thrust under the doors of such of the citizens as had been friendly
to us. Even the alcalde had received some documents of this character--
perhaps emanating from a jealous _tiendero_ who had looked with bitter
eye upon the courtship of Wheatley and Conchita. It was not till
afterwards I learned that similar missives had "come to hand" in a
quarter that more concerned myself.
Some scouted the absurdity of these acts--alleging that they sprung from
personal enmity, or originated in the mob-patriotism of the _leperos_.
It was not so, as we afterwards learned; the government of the country--
or, at all events, several of its prominent members--countenanced the
meanness; and at their instigation, a "black list" was made out in every
town and village through which the American army had occasion to pass.
Let the minister, Senor O--, make answer to this accusation.
I was musing on this disagreeable theme, after my return from the cerro,
and endeavouring to sketch out some plan for the safety of my betrothed
during my absence; but my thoughts proved barren.
With a sort of faint hope that the villain Ijurra might yet fall into
our hands, I had despatched Holingsworth--nothing loath for the duty--
with a party of rangers upon his trail, and I was impatiently awaiting
their return.
The voice of Wheatley aroused me from my reverie.
"Well, lieutenant, what is it?"
"Only that precious boy," answered he, with a significant smile, at the
same time ushering "Cyprio" into the room.
The lad carried a note, which I opened. A green sprig of juniper was
enclosed, and the simple word "_tuya_" was written in pencil.
I knew the symbol well. The juniper is _tuya_ in that most beautiful of
tongues, and _tuya_ from a lady signifies "yours."
"Anything more?" I asked of the messenger.
"Nothing, Senor Capitan," answered the intelligent boy; "only to inquire
if you had arrived safe."
She had been anxious then!
I separated the branchlet into two equal parts: one I placed in my
bosom; the other, having fervently kissed, I enclosed in a folded sheet,
upon which I wrote the words--
"_Tuyo_--_tuyo_--_hasta la muerte_!"
Cyprio bore back my parting message.
At midnight Holingsworth and his party came in from the scout. Nothing
had been seen of the guerrilla.