When we retired to rest, all night long I dreamed of the unhappy
descendant of the Inca who was beneath our roof. Some of the incidents
of which I had read in Peruvian history were strongly mixed up in my
mind with the reality, with the indistinctness which generally occurs in
dreams.
I thought our guest was the mild and unfortunate Huascar, the rightful
Inca of Peru, who was a prisoner in the hands of his fierce brother
Atahualpa when the Spaniards attacked Peru with their small but
determined band of robber-warriors. I thought I was aiding Huascar to
escape from among his brother's army. We had passed the guards, who
were fast asleep, when we came to a broad river. We attempted to swim
across, when I felt my strength failing me. Huascar was bravely
buffeting the stream by my side. Suddenly the bank was lined with
troops. They shouted to us, and let fly a cloud of arrows at the Inca.
He stopped swimming. I endeavoured to drag him on; but as I grasped at
him he sank below the water. The shouts grew louder. I awoke. The
noise was real, for I heard the voices of some men calling in Spanish at
the court-yard gate, and desiring to be let in.
I trembled with alarm; for I at once suspected that the strangers must
be the emissaries of government come in search of our guest. I jumped
up and began to dress myself, intending to go out to inquire who they
were; but before I had left my room I heard Jose, the servant, hold a
parley with them at the gate.
"Who are you," he asked, "who come at this unreasonable hour to disturb
a quiet family?"
"Open in the king's name, and we will let you know," was the answer he
received.
"I must get my master's leave first, and he is fast asleep," he replied.
"We are government officers in search of a fugitive malefactor, and are
benighted on our road; so you must awake your master whoever he is, and
he will not refuse to give us shelter," they exclaimed.
I now went out to join Jose. He was afraid they were robbers; and I
suspected that they by some means knew that the fugitive was harboured
in the house, and only made this a pretext to gain an entrance.
Fortunately my father was not awakened by the noise, or he might have
had more difficulty than had the servant in answering the questions put
by the officers of justice. Opening a slide in the gate through which
he could look out, Jose let the light of the lantern fall on the
strangers, and the inspection convinced him that they were what they
represented themselves to be.
"Be quick there," said the strangers, "for we have but a short time to
rest, and we must speedily be again on our road."
"What shall I do, Master David?" said Jose. "If we do not let them in
they will batter down the door; but still I do not like to disturb the
Senor Rexton. They do not look like robbers, so it is all right." With
the knowledge that the Indian concealed in the house was in all
probability the fugitive the officers were seeking, I felt that it was
all wrong, and would have given much to have kept them out; but still I
saw that it would be equally dangerous to attempt to do so. My heart
all the time was beating audibly with agitation; and I was afraid that
even Jose would suspect the secret. However, I replied, "Let them in,
Jose, by all means, and do you attend to what they require."
He accordingly withdrew the bolts and bars of the gate, and two chief
officers--alguazils they are called--and four subordinates made their
appearance.
Two of them remained without to take care of their horses. They were
all fierce, rough-looking fellows, armed with muskets, pistols in their
belts, and swords by their sides. The officers of justice (though I do
not think the name is a proper one) were often pardoned banditti,
cut-throats and robbers of the blackest dye, who were glad to accept the
office as an alternative for the garotte; and I believe our visitors
were of that description. The inferiors were Mestizos, half Indian and
half Spaniards by descent, with dark brown complexions and savage
countenances--altogether gentlemen of a very unprepossessing appearance.
They were accompanied by a dog, a huge, savage-looking hound, whom they
called by the very ugly name of Demonio. If he was a bloodhound, as at
first I thought he was, I felt that the detection of the Indian would be
certain.
"You were a long time opening the gate, friend," observed, one of them
as they strode into the house. "You took us for robbers, I suppose?"
"O no, Senor, not at all," said Jose; "but a servant should not let
strangers into the house without his master's leave."
"Is that young senor your master then?" inquired the alguazil.
"He is my master's son; my master is Senor Rexton, an Englishman, and he
is fast asleep," said Jose.
"Well, you need not disturb him then; all we want is food and shelter
for the night," replied the alguazil. "Be quick with the former, some
straw and blankets will serve us for beds. While, hark you, do you send
some one to show the way to the stables, that our beasts may be looked
after; they require food as much as we do."
"All shall be done you request, Senores; in the mean time, follow me,"
said Jose; and what was my dismay to see him lead the way to the large
empty room I have spoken of, close to which the Indian was concealed! I
dared not interfere, lest I might excite their suspicions; so I thought
it best to let Jose follow his own course. Having dragged in a table
from one of the other rooms, he placed a lighted candle on it, and then
hurried off to call up some of the other servants to help him, leaving
me alone with the officers. I was afraid of speaking to them, lest they
should ask me questions; so I made signs that the servant would quickly
return with what they required. I dared not even look towards the door
of the secret passage, to which every instant I expected to see some of
them go for the purpose of examining it. However, somewhat to my
relief, they seemed not to notice the door, but throwing themselves on
the ground, stretched out their limbs to rest themselves, while their
hound Demonio crouched down at their feet with his head between his
fore-paws, ready to spring up in a moment. I saw by the glare of his
half-closed eyes that he was all the time wide awake, and eager to
spring upon any one who might molest him or his masters.
My anxiety made me fancy that Jose was a long time absent, but he had
really been away only a few minutes, when he returned with another
servant, bringing a supply of bread and meat, and wine. Some chairs
were carried into the room; and the officers being joined by their
companions, they attacked the viands with a good will. Had Jose been in
the secret, he might have betrayed it, but his perfectly collected
manner gave no cause for suspicion.
"You do not chance to have seen or heard anything of an Indian, an
atrocious villain who has escaped from justice, and is supposed to have
taken the path by this up the mountains?" asked one of the officers.
O how my heart did beat as I heard this! Jose assured them with an air
of perfect disembarrassment that he knew nothing of any Indian fugitive.
His answers seemed to satisfy them. He next brought in some bundles of
straw and blankets to serve as bedding.
"There, Senores, I hope that you will make yourselves at home, and sleep
soundly after your supper," he observed, as he deposited them in
different parts of the room.
"No fear of it, friend; we will not forget your hospitality," said the
chief alguazil, as he helped himself to a large tumbler of wine.
I was glad to see them apparently so well satisfied; but at the same
time I thought I detected a sinister expression in the eye of the
speaker, with which I was not altogether satisfied. The hound Demonio,
too, gave me some uneasiness; for though he came back to catch the
pieces of meat thrown to him by the officers, he employed himself
meanwhile in snuffing round the room in a very suspicious manner. Jose
stood quietly by to attend to their wants.
"Can I do anything more for you, Senores!" he asked.
"Another flask of this wine will not be objectionable, and a bundle of
cigars would be welcome," answered the chief alguazil, laughing at the
thought of the comfortable quarters into which he had fallen, and
determined to make the most of them.
"Certainly, Senores; I am sure my master would not object to afford all
you require," said Jose, going out to fetch what was asked for.
While he was absent, what was my horror to see the dog, who had now
finished his meal, begin to snuff vehemently under the door of the
secret passage, and then to work away with his paws, as if to try and
open it! I turned pale with alarm, for I knew that all must be
discovered; but still I thought it best to take no notice of the
circumstance.
"What does the dog want there?" said one of the men.
"Rats are there, I suppose," remarked another, whose wits the wine had
somewhat dulled.
"Demonio has a strange fancy for rats," said a third.
"Rats or not, I should like to have a look behind the door," observed
the chief alguazil, as the dog's excitement increased.
I said nothing, and the officers seemed to fancy that I could not
understand Spanish, so they did not trouble me with questions. Just
then Jose returned.
"What is inside that door?" asked the chief alguazil abruptly.
"Nothing that I know of but an empty cupboard," he answered quietly.
"The room is little used, so that I never saw it opened."
"Bring the key, and let us see," said the alguazil.
"I have not the key; and if there is one, my master must have it, and I
cannot disturb him for such a fancy," replied Jose. "The dog smells a
rat; there are many in the house, and he will soon be quiet."
But the dog would not be quiet, neither was the alguazil satisfied; and
at last Jose was obliged to say that he would go and ask my father for
the key. I followed him out of the room.
"Jose, I will go to my father and get the key, while you stay with the
strangers," I said to him. "Give them plenty of wine, and amuse them as
long as you can."
I hurried to my father's room to consult what was to be done; though I
intended not to mention that the key had been asked for till he had come
into the passage, as of course my mother would be very much alarmed at
hearing of it.
I had got him out into the passage, and was mentioning the unwelcome
arrival of the Spaniards in as calm a tone as I could command, when it
struck me that I might prevent his being implicated in the secretion of
the fugitive if I took the whole blame upon myself. I at last told him
of the suspicions the behaviour of the horrid dog had aroused in the
minds of the officers; and entreated him, by every argument I could
think of, to let me manage the affair as best I could.
"They can scarcely inflict any severe punishment on me," I observed,
"while they might drag you off to prison, and leave my mother and
brother and sisters without a protector."
"I must take the consequences of what I have done," he returned. "At
the same time I do not repent having endeavoured to save the poor
fellow. The act was right, and that must be my consolation."
But I was not so easily to be turned aside from my purpose; and at last
he consented to let me take the key, and to use it if driven so to do,
while he remained in his room. I returned, as may be supposed, in no
great hurry to the hall; and as I got close to it I heard, amid the loud
talking of the Spaniards and Jose, who was doing his best to amuse them,
the scratching and snarling of the savage brute at the door.
"My master is incapable of breaking the laws; that I can assure your
Excellencies," I heard Jose say. "If the man you seek is inside there,
he did not put him in, you may depend on it. If you find anything, it
will be a rat or a little mouse, perhaps, for which all this fuss is to
be made."
"What you say may be true, friend; but if the key is not brought we must
break open the door," observed one of the Spaniards. "The dog is not a
pure bloodhound; but he has enough of the race in him to know the
difference between an Indian and a rat."
At last I thought it better to go in with the key. When I reached the
door of the passage, the brute snarled at me savagely, and I fully
believe would have sprung upon me and torn me limb from limb, had not
his masters called him off. I trembled so with agitation that I could
scarcely apply the key to the keyhole. Luckily the light did not fall
on me, or it would have been perceived.
"Come, young Senor, be quick about it; somebody is in there--of that I
can be sworn," exclaimed the alguazil.
"There, take the key yourself, and try and open it," I answered, hoping
that as he did so the Indian would rush out and make his escape, though
his chance was a forlorn one. The officer took the key; some of his men
approached with lights, while others held their swords and pistols ready
for use. Jose looked very much astonished, though in no way alarmed at
the proceedings; but I knew too well what was about to be revealed. The
door flew open, and the men and their hateful dog rushed in. The fate
of the poor Indian was sealed, I thought. I followed, expecting to see
them tearing him to pieces. What, then, was my astonishment and
satisfaction to find not a trace of him remaining! The bedding, and
even the dishes in which his food had been carried to him, were nowhere
to be seen.
"There, I told you so," exclaimed Jose triumphantly, "there were nothing
but rats."
But the dog was not so easily satisfied; and to my horror he rushed down
the narrow flight of steps leading to the secret outlet. The door at
the bottom I knew was locked, and I too justly feared that the Indian
would be found there. The officers hesitated about descending; for as
only one could go at a time, they saw that a determined man might kill
them in detail, if so inclined; so they sent their inferiors forward to
make the experiment. I stood by, waiting the result with increased
anxiety; for I felt that if the Indian should kill some of the officers,
the difficulties of our position would be still more increased. The dog
led the way, and I hoped would be the only victim; the others followed
very reluctantly. Some time passed; but still there was no sign of
their having discovered the fugitive.
"Have you found the rat?" shouted Jose, laughingly, from above.
"Bring the key of the other door," thundered the alguazil in return from
below. I had got it, but I did not say so.
"Of what door do you speak?" asked Jose, in real ignorance of the fact
that there was a door. I was anxious to gain all the time possible,
believing that the Indian must have made his escape through the passage;
so I let them talk on till the alguazil peremptorily ordered me to open
the door, threatening me with all sorts of pains and penalties if I
refused to obey.
"I have heard that there is a long passage leading no one knows where,"
exclaimed Jose; "so, Senores, if you are going to explore it, you had
better take some torches, or you may chance lose your way."
"Bring them here instantly," shouted the alguazil.
"If you are wise men you will amuse yourselves with the wine flasks
while I go to prepare them," said Jose. The advice was too agreeable to
be neglected, and I was very glad to see the men return and again seat
themselves at the table. While they were drinking and Jose was absent,
the dog however continued running up and down the steps, and smelling in
every direction.
The officers seemed to enjoy their wine so much that I was in hopes that
their suspicions were lulled, and at all events I rejoiced that the
Indian would have more time afforded him for making his escape. Jose at
last returned with the torches, which were composed of twisted straw
dipped in pitch; and the chief officer descending with less caution than
before, led the way, the rest following. At the bottom of the steps was
a tolerably broad space, which enabled me to pass the men so as to reach
the door, where the hound, snarling at me as I approached, stood ready
to rush through at his prey as I supposed. How the Indian could have
escaped, still, however, remained a mystery to me. After several
attempts I succeeded in turning the rusty lock, and a dark passage cut
through the solid rock opened before us. The wet dropped from the roof
as we proceeded, and, combined with the noxious exhalations which
proceeded from the farther end, almost extinguished the torches.
"It is folly in me accompanying these men," I thought to myself; and
just then a recess appearing in the rock, I stepped into it and let the
rest pass me. Jose was the last; I touched him as he reached me, and
whispered to him to return.
He either did not hear me, or wished to watch the proceedings of the
alguazil and his subordinates. As I had no torch, I groped my way with
no little difficulty to the foot of the stairs, thinking Jose was
following me. To my horror, just as I was about to ascend, I heard the
low-muttered growl of the savage hound, and the next instant I found my
leg seized in his jaws.
"Help, Jose, help!" I cried out, but not loud, lest the officers should
hear me; "the brute will kill me else."
But Jose was not, as I supposed, at hand. I felt the dog moving his
jaws higher up my leg, as if he evidently was about to pull me to the
ground, while the pain he inflicted almost paralysed me. I certainly
was no coward, but I shrieked in my agony. In another moment he would
have mastered me, when, by the faint light which came through the door
of the room above, I saw a dark figure spring down the steps. The dog
let go his hold of me to fly at the new-comer but was met by the point
of a sharp dagger, which pierced his breast, and uttering a low yell of
pain and rage, the brute fell dead at my feet. The Indian--for my
preserver was the fugitive--without speaking, assisted me in dragging
the dog out of sight under the steps, and then whispering, "Say not a
word about the dog, he will not be discovered," again sprung up the
steps.
I followed him, fearing that the men in the room above would discover
him. I caught sight of him as he ascended to the roof of the alcove, by
means of a single rope which hung to the ground. In the roof was a
trap-door, through which he disappeared, and closed it silently after
him, having first drawn up the rope. Again going below, I met Jose, and
told him that the dog was dead, charging him to ask no questions, and to
say nothing about it.
I was much afraid lest the men should discover the dog; for the fact of
his remaining near the stairs might make them suspect that the Indian
was concealed near at hand. My trousers were fortunately only a little
torn, though, as the brute's teeth had met in the calf of my leg, I felt
a considerable amount of pain; but I did my best to conceal it, lest the
men should accuse me of killing the dog. I might with truth have
replied that I had not killed him, but they would then have asked who
did, to which question I could not have replied. As the life of a
fellow-being was at stake, I felt the importance of being very
circumspect in everything I did.
When we returned to the room, the two men who had been left there
inquired what had become of their comrades.
"Hunting rats or spirits, for they will find nothing else down there I
am sure," answered Jose, unconcernedly. "They will be back soon, I
warrant, after their fool's chase, begging your pardon, Senores."
His words were verified more speedily than he expected, for at that
moment cries and shouts were heard, and the officers came tumbling up
the steps as fast as their legs could carry them, with their hair almost
standing on end, and their eye-balls starting from their heads. One had
lost his cap, another his sword, and all their torches; they were also
wet and dirty from scraping against the sides of the cavern. They
declared that they had been set upon by a whole legion of demons, who
had blown out their torches and attacked them with teeth and claws, so
that they were glad to escape with their lives.
"For the love of heaven shut the door, or they will be up here after
us!" shouted the last of the men, as he rushed into the room.
I, as may be supposed, hurried down with joyful alacrity to obey the
order, and coming back without encountering any of the demons, closed
the upper door after me.
"I said you were going on a fool's errand," said Jose; "your pardon for
the remark, Senores. But let me fill up your glasses, the wine will
soon make you forget your mishaps." The men were easily induced to
apply the proposed remedy.
"But what has become of the dog?" asked the chief.
"Carried off by the demons," observed Jose.
"Let him go," growled one who was the most bruised and dirty. "He led
us into the scrape, and deserves his fate; if it had not been for him,
we should not have known of that horrid vault."
The chief, notwithstanding these remarks, ordered his men to go and look
for the dog; but as he showed no readiness to set the example, none of
the others would obey him, declaring that they would rather be shot at
once than venture again among such horrors. I felt very much relieved
at the turn events had taken. The Indian had escaped, the means of the
bloodhound's death was not suspected, and the officers would probably at
early dawn continue their search after the fugitive.
"Ask them if they wish to return to the vault; for if not, I will take
the keys up to my father," I whispered to Jose.
"No, no," answered the men. "We have had enough of the vault, and
demons, and monsters, and spirits it contains. Tell your master all we
want is plenty of this good wine to keep them away."
Telling Jose to give them as much as they required and to keep a careful
watch over them, I hurried back to my father to inform him that the
danger was over.
"I never fear the consequence of having performed a good action, my
boy," he replied; "yet we should be grateful to Providence for having
preserved us from much suffering, both of mind and body. The poor
Indian is for the present safe. I can guess the way he escaped; but we
will talk on the matter more to-morrow. Now, David, go to your room and
rest, for you look pale and fatigued."
I did not tell my father that the dog had bit me, though I should have
been wiser had I done so, as he would have had proper remedies applied,
had the wounds required them. Jose, however, soon after came into my
room and fomented my leg with a mixture which he said was very
efficacious in preventing inflammation from the bite of an animal. It
at all events relieved me from the pain I was suffering; and when Jose
left me to keep watch with the other servants on the officers, I threw
myself on my bed in the hopes of obtaining some sleep. Whenever I
dropped off, my mind recurred to the unfortunate descendant of the
Incas, and the scenes I had just witnessed; and every instant I was
jumping up, fancying I heard the shout of the officers as they
discovered his place of concealment.