BLAS EL GUERRILLERO--_continued_.
The worthy Señor Blas having quaffed a bumper of _Xeres seco_, by way of
drowning his sorrow, thus continued his story:--
I fell senseless on the mangled corpse of my beloved Fernando. How long
I remained in this state I know not, but I was aroused by the jeers of
some French soldiers, who, tearing me rudely from the now cold body of
my son, asked if I had fairly earned my compatriot's epaulettes; at the
same time very unceremoniously transferring them from my sash, into
which I had hastily thrust them, to their own havre-sacks.
I offered no resistance; but, when they were about to rob me as
unceremoniously of the chain and locket, proofs of my son's identity,
which my damp and blood-stained hand yet held in its convulsive grasp, I
checked their insolence by a look at my gory knife, taking at the same
time from my breast, and throwing towards them, the _carte de
protection_ of their general. They passed on, carrying off the
epaulettes, and laughing at and mimicking the grief and anger depicted
in my countenance.
I was again awakened to a sense of my misfortunes. At first I tried to
fancy it was all a dream; then, that I might still be mistaken in the
locket of my departed Alitéa; but a pocketbook, which, on further
search, I discovered on the person of my ill-fated son, established the
appalling fact, beyond the possibility of doubt.
I hastily dug a grave for my boy, but, ere returning the corse to its
native clay, I vowed to revenge his death upon the heartless foreigners,
who, having led me to commit this crime, and brought a dying curse upon
my head, had scoffed at my grief and misery. I accordingly took the
first opportunity of quitting the French army, and falling in with a
gang of lawless freebooters, who, under the pretext of fighting the
enemies of their country, robbed and plundered indiscriminately friend
and foe, I enlisted, a willing recruit, into the _quadrilla_.[183]
In the matter of plunder, I believe that the _best_ of the _guerrilla_
bands, which now began to be formed throughout the country, were as
little scrupulous as that of which I became a member, though they had
not the honesty to admit it. Many, certainly, were the acts of atrocity
committed by our band. We scoured the whole of Old Castile and Leon,
levying contributions wherever we moved; we hung upon the flank of the
English army in its retreat to Coruña, filling our pockets with
doubloons, and our pouches with ammunition; we slaughtered any luckless,
wearied, or wounded French straggler that came across our path, but
sought not for opportunities of exchanging shots with our invaders.
In this latter respect, the plan of our leader was too timid for me, and
I sometimes managed to join the red-coats in a skirmish with the common
enemy. On one of these occasions my life was saved by one of your
countrymen. From that day I have known how to value an Englishman, and
have never neglected an opportunity of evincing my gratitude to the
fellow-countrymen of my brave deliverer.
I had straggled away from our _quadrilla_, accompanied by two of my
comrades, to take part in a skirmish which was going on at the passage
of a small river, between the rear-guard of the English and their
pursuing enemies. The object in view was, of course, merely to retard
the advance of the French; since your army was in full retreat; and just
as the signal was given for the skirmishers to retire, I received a
carbine ball in my thigh which unhorsed me. My frightened charger
galloped off, as did also my two companions, leaving me to the tender
mercies of the advancing enemy. One of your countrymen happened,
however, to look round, and seeing me doomed to destruction, though
doing my best to hobble off, rode back amidst a shower of bullets to
render me assistance. "John," said he, "you're a brave fellow; give me
your hand and jump up behind me." I did the first part of his bidding;
but whilst in the act of climbing up in obedience to the second, a shot
disabled his left arm. The gallant lad immediately seized me with his
right hand, by the help of which I scrambled on his horse's back, when
another shot brought him to the ground. Poor fellow! one groan alone
escaped him. I was obliged to fly, but did not do so until I had
convinced myself that his life was extinct.
My own wound was but slight; and soon after this affair, thinking your
army had thrown away all its treasure, we betook ourselves to the
mountains of Asturias, returning along the northern coast of Spain into
Navarre, and thence into Catalonia, where we commenced a more decided
guerrilla warfare against the enemy; embracing every opportunity of
attacking him when _profit_ was to be gained without much risk.
I soon distinguished myself above the rest of the quadrilla by my daring
and unscrupulousness; and my influence, particularly amongst the most
reckless of the band, increased daily; so great, indeed, did it become,
that the chief and his chosen associates regarded me with extreme
jealousy. I was always urging them to leave the north of Spain, where we
had numerous competitors in the field, and proceed to the less
devastated province of Andalusia; for I longed for the opportunity of
settling my outstanding accounts with divers priests, _alcaldes_,
_hidalgos_, and others, for various little acts of _kindness_, shown me
during my contrabandista career; and I was anxious also to pay off a
debt of more serious amount, due to Don Benito; to explain which I must
go back a little in my story.
The pocket-book which I had found on the person of my unfortunate
Fernando contained several letters addressed to him by Don Benito, from
which, together with information they led me to seek by making a short
visit to Madrid, I learnt that my son had been removed from the care of
_Tia_ Dorotea, very soon after my transportation to Ceuta. About the
same period, it appeared, Don Benito had been suddenly called to Madrid,
from whence he had been sent as _Corregidor_ to some town in Galicia.
None of the various letters I wrote to my boy had been permitted to meet
his eye; and to his anxious inquiries after the fate of his convict
father, answer was made, that I had fallen a sacrifice to the unhealthy
climate of Africa.
On his removal from Olbera, Fernando had at once been sent to Salamanca
for his education, and was yet studying at the celebrated university of
that city, when the French invasion called the country to arms. With the
enthusiasm natural to youth, he burned to join the ranks of the
_Patriots_--as the ill-organized, worse directed, and in too many cases
shamefully betrayed bands of peasantry were called--and Don Benito, whom
it appeared had conceived a tardy affection for his grandson, had long
combated this desire. After vainly attempting, however, to turn him from
his purpose; and fearful, probably, by prolonged opposition, of being
himself denounced as an _Afrancesado_, he at length acceded to
Fernando's wishes, and procured for him a commission in a regiment of
cavalry, where he thought he would be less exposed to fatigue and
hardships than as a foot-soldier.
My gallant boy, as appeared as well by the letters found upon him, as by
a decoration at his breast, had already distinguished himself in the
field, when fate directed a father's hand to close his promising career.
Don Benito, I further learned, overwhelmed with grief by the death of
his grandson, had retired from Madrid to his native town. There,
clothed with power, I longed to beard him in his fancied security; to
tell him that his vile deceit had caused a son to raise his arm against
a father--had caused that father, in ignorance, to become the murderer
of his son; to tell him, in fine, that all his property, his ill-gotten
property--his life even--was at my disposal, to take and destroy as I
thought fit. To accomplish this was now the ruling desire within my
breast; my country's wrongs were but the pretence for acquiring power
amongst my companions.
Esteban, the leader of our _quadrilla_, was an overbearing, avaricious,
craven-hearted Catalan, who, fearful of venturing far from his own
mountain retreats, resolutely and effectually opposed my project of
making a dash at Andalusia. As a first step towards effecting my
purpose, therefore, it became necessary to dispose of him.
I have before stated that I had many friends in the troop, and by an
assumed generosity,--my share of plunder, unless consisting of arms,
horses, &c., being generally left to be divided amongst my comrades,--I
gradually succeeded in increasing the number of my adherents; thus
paving the way for becoming, one day, the leader of the band. In this I
but adopted the maxim of my favourite _Guzman de Alfarache_, who says,
"_ganar amigos es dar dinero a logro y sembrar en regadio_."[184] I
valued wealth, however, only as the means of obtaining _power_; and at
that moment, to give money was to gain friends, and to gain friends, to
attain power.
The friends I gained were very uncertain ones, it may be said. They were
such, nevertheless, as I could depend upon whilst fortune favoured me;
and what is friendship after all? a flimsy veil thrown over the double
face of mutual interest, which the slightest breath of adversity blows
aside! a mere footstep to the seat of power, which is trodden upon the
moment that seat is gained! Friendship! I have never in my eventful life
known it last when once the bond of interest was broken!
Strong, however, as my party had become, by the means I have stated, it
was not yet sufficiently so to warrant my coming to an open rupture with
Esteban, even had that been advisable. On the contrary, as the band
consisted principally of his countrymen, whose services I did not wish
to lose, it was desirable, in the step I meditated taking, to avoid even
the _suspicion_ of treachery. With this view, I arranged a plan with
three of my most faithful supporters, which was crowned with complete
success.
Esteban had obtained information, that, on a certain day, a convoy,
conveying treasure and ammunition for the use of the French division
employed at the siege of Gerona, would be sent from Figueras. The
escort, on account of the value of the convoy, would of course be
strong; but the avarice of our chief serving as a fillip to his courage,
we succeeded in persuading him to make an attempt to capture it. Taking
post, therefore, in a deep ravine, situated in the heart of a forest
through which the enemy must necessarily pass, a council was called to
consider the best mode of making the attack. Contrary to my usual
custom, I recommended the adoption of the most cautious proceedings. I
hinted that we must have been misinformed respecting the strength of the
escort; as, doubtless, so enormous a sum as that the enemy was sending
would be protected by a very strong body of troops. In fact, whilst
feeding Esteban's cupidity, I succeeded so completely in frightening
him, that he asked me to propose a plan for the attack.
I readily acquiesced; and my project meeting with unanimous approval,
was immediately acted upon. It was as follows. Two thirds of our force
were concealed in a hollow some distance from and to the right of the
road, beyond the pass. Their horses were muzzled to prevent detection by
their neighing, but were provided with slip knots to release them at a
moment's notice. The rest of the troop took post on foot on the left
side of the defilé, immediately over the road, three of the men retiring
some distance into the forest with the horses of this party, and keeping
them ready to bring up to the spot at the concerted signal.
The first party was placed under the command of the lieutenant of the
troop, the bosom friend of Esteban, who, screening his men carefully
from observation, was to allow the enemy's advanced guard to pass
unmolested until it had gained a comparatively open space clear of the
ravine, and then to charge it _à cierra ojos_,[185] for the purpose of
drawing to its support the main body of the escort, and so leave the
mules with the treasure but slightly protected. This done, he was to
retire, or not, according to circumstances.
Meanwhile, Esteban concealed himself in the thick foliage of an
evergreen oak that grew on the summit of an isolated crag, which,
standing out from the bank of the hollow way, protruded into and
commanded a perfect view of the road. From this elevated spot he was
(should he deem it advisable) to make the signal for a general attack by
liberating a huge eagle, which we always kept for this purpose; a signal
that, instead of exciting suspicion, we found rather tended to throw the
enemy off his guard. Our rendezvous was given for the night at a
village some ten miles from the scene of action.
As much of the detail of these arrangements had been left (out of
compliment) to me, I had no difficulty in selecting the _three men_ who
were to take charge of the horses of the dismounted party. As to myself,
to avoid suspicion, I volunteered joining the lieutenant's division,
which was likely to have the warmest work.
Every thing happened as I expected, if not altogether as I could have
wished; for the treasure was too well guarded to give us any chance of
attacking the escort with success. The enemy also advanced with great
caution; halted at the entrance of the pass, sent forward a cavalry
piquet to reconnoitre the road in advance, and detached infantry _en
eclaireurs_ up both banks of the hollow way. Having taken these
precautions, and closed up the train, they renewed their march.
Our scout gave timely notice of what was passing. We unmuzzled our
steeds, whose impatient neighing gave the enemy the first notice of our
vicinity, and that we had thrown ourselves between their main body and
somewhat compromised advanced guard. Our charge was like the swoop of an
eagle upon his prey, whilst the enemy's hurried notes of recall
resounded through the forest like the screams of a flight of terrified
plover. But the order for their return arrived too late. We fell upon
them ere they had time to make any disposition to receive our unlooked
for rear-attack, and sabred them to a man.
Whilst this was going forward, some slight confusion manifested itself
in the enemy's main body, but the commandant quickly restored order.
Sending forward all his horsemen to secure the head of the ravine, and
rally, as he hoped, his advanced guard, he reinforced his rear guard
with infantry, and then, recalling his tirailleurs to the edge of the
defilé, pushed on as quickly as possible to get through the pass, and
gain a field where discipline would resume its advantage over numbers.
The party with which I served was again drawn up, anxiously waiting for
the signal to renew the attack. We watched in vain, however, for the
rising of the bird of Jove. We heard a few scattered shots, which our
lieutenant very justly observed augured no good, and saw a formidable
body of cavalry deploying rapidly at the issue of the ravine, and
preparing to charge us. It was evident, therefore, that Esteban deemed
it hopeless to attack, and that it was high time for us to be off.
Indeed, had we been briskly attacked, the half of our party would most
certainly have been captured, but the good face we put upon it probably
led the enemy to suppose we were well supported, and they contented
themselves with firing a volley, as, putting spurs to our horses, we
dispersed in all directions.
On reassembling at the appointed rendezvous, the only person missing was
Esteban. As soon as prudence admitted, we returned to the late scene of
action to make search for our absent chieftain, and found his body lying
in the hollow way, but so hacked and disfigured as to render it
impossible to tell what had been the manner of his death. It was the
general opinion, therefore, since the shots we had heard could in no
other way be accounted for, that the enemy's tirailleurs must have
discovered him in the tree, and that the Frenchmen, enraged at their
severe loss, had thus cruelly mutilated him.
I did not attempt to combat this opinion, and the three men who had
_charge of the horses_ were quite silent in the matter, though they
could, perhaps, have told a different tale.
I see, _Caballeros_, that you are shocked at the little hesitation I
showed in taking this caitiff's life; but I can assure you no scruples
of conscience troubled me in the matter, for I had previously learnt
that the cowardly rascal had engaged the very men to shoot me, whom I
employed to perform that kind action towards him.
Esteban's death being thus placed beyond a doubt, it became necessary to
elect a new leader. Rodriguez (the lieutenant) and myself were the only
two competitors. I had, as I have already stated, many supporters in the
band; and some money which, no matter how, came at this time into my
possession, was liberally distributed to increase the number; but,
nevertheless, the Catalans and Biscayans, of whom the _quadrilla_
principally consisted, could not be brought over to my side, and
Rodriguez was preferred by a majority of votes. A separation was loudly
advocated by my friends; but to this, with affected humility, I refused
to listen. "No," said I, "we are all one family; let us not weaken our
strength by dissension. For my own part, I have no wish to command, and
will willingly yield obedience to Rodriguez."
The bait took; my friends stood out for a separation; and the supporters
of my competitor, charmed by my moderation, proposed (as a division
would probably lead to the destruction of both parties) that Rodriguez
and I should command alternately. This proposal was adopted with general
acclamation, for, whilst the Catalans acknowledged my superior talents
for command in the field, they thought the counsel of a Nestor like
Rodriguez would temper with prudence my somewhat venturesome projects;
besides which, he was better acquainted with the country where they
wished to act.
I knew that my coadjutor, though a brave old man, possessed no one other
quality to fit him for the leader of a band of guerrillas, who should be
decisive as well as courageous, full of resources as well as cautious,
and whose eye should be quick to turn ground to the best advantage, as
well as to acknowledge it as an old acquaintance. In order, therefore,
to let the band see his incompetency, and that he might become convinced
of it himself, I gave in to all his plans, without offering an
objection, and so effectually succeeded in my own, that, after
experiencing several severe checks, and reducing our _military chest_ to
a very small _box_, it became the general wish to change the scene of
operations, and proceed to a less devastated, and, consequently, less
protected country.
It was accordingly determined to make an experimental excursion into the
kingdom of Valencia, with which, whilst following the _contraband_ life,
I had become well acquainted.
Our _debût_ was most successful, for so unprepared was the enemy for our
sudden irruption that we captured a rich convoy under the very
walls[186] of the capital city, without the loss of a man. But a large
force being immediately despatched in pursuit, I (happening to be in
command for the day) directed the retreat upon Murcia, thereby enabling
the enemy to prevent our return to Catalonia.
This was a hazardous step, for the country to the north was not of a
nature to afford us either shelter or resources; whilst, to the south,
all the towns between us and the sea were occupied by French garrisons,
which, if we were not quick in our movements, or happened to meet with
any check, might easily cut short our further advance, and oblige us to
disperse.
To hesitate under these circumstances was to be lost; so, pushing on _à
cierra ojos_, we hardly drew rein until we had passed Guadix, when the
vicinity of the impracticable Alpujarra mountains secured us from attack
on the left, and, at the same time, assured us a safe retreat in the
event of being hard pressed. The enemy, however, seeing that further
pursuit would be unavailing, stopped short at Guadix; and, embracing the
opportunity of giving our wearied horses a few days' rest, we
established ourselves at the Fuente de la Gitana, the principal sources
of the little river Fardes, which, winding through a sequestered dell,
at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, is bordered with the richest
pasturage. The spot thus selected for our bivouac held out also the
advantage of enabling us to watch the high road from Guadix to Granada,
one of the principal lines of communication of the French army.
Whilst refreshing our horses in this secluded spot, numerous
opportunities of attacking the enemy presented themselves. But without a
certain prospect of obtaining booty, we were not to be tempted to give
the alarm by showing ourselves. Allowing, therefore, various parties to
pass to and fro without molestation, we succeeded in leading the enemy
to believe that we had crossed the sierra, and thrown ourselves upon the
stores of arms and gunpowder in the mining district of Adra.
No sooner were their fears allayed, and confidence restored, than we
seized the favourable occasion to pounce upon them. This was afforded us
by the march of a convoy, with provisions and money, from Guadix to
Granada. As soon as we had received certain advice of its having left
the first named city, and reached Diezma (its first day's march), we
broke up our camp, and, riding all night, took post in the Sierra
Jarana, where we commanded both the roads which, from Diezma, are
directed on Granada.
The enemy, wishing to keep as far as possible from the Sierra Nevada,
chose the upper or northern road, which was by far the most favourable
for our project, there being a difficult pass to get through, which
must unavoidably oblige a convoy to lengthen out and straggle. We
accordingly permitted the greater portion of the loaded animals to pass
unmolested, and then, falling suddenly upon the rear division, succeeded
in capturing and carrying off no less than thirty mules.
We did not, however, escape without loss; for Rodriguez was left dead
upon the field, and several of the band were severely wounded. I drew
the party off by a rugged pathway that leads round the sources of the
Darro; crossed the Genil below Guejar; and, by a rapid march, gained
Huelma that same night, ere the news of our exploit had well reached
Granada.
We had now got upon the high road from Granada to Alhama, and,
proceeding along it for some miles, struck off to the left, and
established our bivouac in a wooded sierra, above the village of Agron,
from whence we commanded both the great road we had left, and that from
Granada to Almuñecar and Motril.
Having eluded all pursuit, and gained a point which, whilst it favoured
our future operations, was in the vicinity of some of the most intricate
mountain country in Andalusia, but with which I was thoroughly
acquainted; I determined, if possible, to obtain possession of the
French governor of Granada's despatches to his subordinates commanding
the towns upon the sea-coast, with the view of ascertaining how his
forces were distributed, their strength, &c., as well as the steps he
purposed taking to interrupt or pursue my band.
Appointing, therefore, one of my most devoted adherents to the command
of the troop during my absence, I doffed my old contrabandista dress,
and, accompanied by one only of my men, proceeded to the ventas de
Huelma, where I understood the French orderlies were in the habit of
baiting their horses for half an hour when journeying to and from
Alhama.
The place consists only of two wretched _ventas_, and half a dozen
_ranchas_. We reached it about mid-day, and, as luck would have it, just
in time to see two French Dragoons ride in at the door of one of the
inns. After waiting a few minutes to make sure that they had not merely
called for their _goutte_, we also rode up to the venta, and alighted at
the portal, and, securing our horses to the stakes in the wall, entered,
as the saying is, _santamente en la casa_.[187]
The inn was crowded with people, and the two Frenchmen, having given
their horses a feed of barley, were holding forth to the _arrieros_ and
villagers grouped round them; who, with eager, though silent, interest,
were listening to their discourse. Our _Ave Maria purissima_ hardly
attracted notice, an old crone, seated in the chimney corner at her
spindle, being the only person to mumble in return the usual "_sin
pecado concebida_."[188] Addressing myself to the _ventero_, I begged he
would furnish me with a slice of bread, some oil, vinegar, and the other
ingredients requisite for making a _gazpacho_.
"_Caramba!_" exclaimed my host, looking inquisitively at me, "these are
not the cooling _alimentos_ Blas Maldonado used formerly to ask for!"
"They are _not_, good Pacheco," said I, finding that the number of years
which had elapsed since our last meeting had not prevented his
recognizing me,--"They are not, good Pacheco; but as the proverb says,
"'_Ajo crudo y vino puro_
_hacen andar al mozo seguro._'"[189]
And I gave a significant glance at the Frenchmen.
"Is it so!" replied he; "then to answer you with another proverb--'_à
perro viejo no has tus tus_'[190]--how can I serve you?"
"Tell me first," said I, "do you know those _gavachos_?"[191]
"I do; they have stopped here several times to bait their horses on the
way backwards and forwards to Alhama; but they are likely to send their
despatches under a more numerous escort for the future, if the news be
true that a band of _guerrillas_ has made its appearance close to
Granada; though they have, as _they_ say, cut it to pieces. But let us
draw near, and hear their story--of which I had only caught a few words
when you called me away."
"I can probably give you a better account of it than _they_," said I;
"therefore, tell me first what sort of men are they? Think you a couple
of resolute fellows could master them readily?"
"For the matter of that," replied Pacheco, "the _Cabo_ is, I suspect, a
determined dog; but the young fellow, who accompanies him, seems, like
most of his countrymen, to have _mas viento que fuego_[192] about him."
"Do they smoke?"
"Like two _Carboneras_."[193]
"That will do; now let us go and hear what the braggarts have to say;"
and, drawing my _Capa_ round so as to conceal the lower part of my face,
I joined the circle of _gobemouches_.
The younger of the two Frenchmen, with much gesticulation, and in very
bad Spanish, was giving an account of the action between my band and
his countrymen. It was well I had been there, otherwise, I certainly
should never have recognized it for the same affair; since he maintained
that we had been completely worsted--our chief and upwards of half the
band left dead upon the field, and the remainder dispersed in all
directions!
"Were no prisoners made?" said I--having first ascertained by a glance
all round that no old acquaintances were in the group of listeners.
"Prisoners, _mon brave_," replied he; "_pas un seul_--_Sacristie_! we
speared them like wild boars, without giving them time to translate
_quartel_[194] into French."
"You have prudently taken care to have ready the Spanish translation of
the French," I observed.--"And so you were yourself in the _melée_,
then?"
"_Je le crois bien! Sacrebleu!_" said the boaster, regardless of the
signs of his corporal to be less communicative, "I believe you!
_Sacrebleu!_ I, myself, spitted half a score of the _sacré gueux_, and I
think I should know the rest of the _canaille_ by their backs, if ever
my eyes lighted upon them again; for I pressed them hard enough; but my
horse was too tired to overtake them all."
"_A quien tanto ve, con un ojo le basta_,"[195] said I, adding, lest
the laugh my sarcasm had caused amongst my countrymen should excite the
corporal's suspicions, "however, I am glad you have given so good an
account of the scoundrels, and hope any other factious bands that may
attempt to disturb the tranquillity of our province may be similarly
dealt with. You must, however, I fear, be ill provided with cavalry,
since you have been so soon sent again on duty after such sharp
service?"
"Why, we are rather short of cavalry, no doubt," continued the
loquacious _gascon_; "but, I rather think, our despatches contain an
order for such as can be spared from Malaga to be sent to join us at
Granada; and then we shall serve them out in good style."
"Why, I thought you had dispersed them altogether?" said I.
"_Allons, allons!_" cried the corporal to his companion, "_à cheval!_"
adding, in the same language, which, doubtless, he conceived none of us
understood--"I like not that inquisitive _embossé_--what the d--l makes
you so communicative?"
"Communicative!" exclaimed the young dragoon; "why you know I have not
told them a word of truth, excepting about the order for the cavalry to
come and join us; and the sooner that piece of news is spread through
the country the better."
My attendant had not been an idle listener to the conversation I have
just narrated; but, having glided unobserved amongst the horses, had
quietly occupied himself in taking a fore shoe off the foot of one of
the dragoons' chargers. He now joined the circle, making me a sign that
all was right, and whispering a few words in the ear of the landlord,
whilst, despatching our _gazpacho fresco_, we mounted our horses and
rode off toward Alhama.
Before we had proceeded a mile, the two Frenchmen overtook us, and were
about to pass on at a brisk trot, when I called out that one of their
horses had thrown a shoe. It was that of the corporal. He dismounted,
and, after sundry _sacrés_, proposed to his companion that they should
return to the _venta_ for a smith. I said, if they had a spare shoe, I
could furnish them with a hammer and nails, which would, possibly, save
time. My offer was thankfully accepted, and the dragoon, dismounting and
placing himself between the two horses, so as to hold both their heads,
the corporal forthwith proceeded to work.
I waited, of course, to receive back my hammer, and, to pass the time,
struck a light and commenced smoking. "_Gasta usted tabaco?_"[196] asked
I, addressing myself to the young dragoon, presenting him at the same
time with a Frenchified looking cigar with a straw inserted at one end.
"Volontiers," said he, taking it and a piece of burning _yesca_,[197]
that I offered him on the flat side of my flint.--"_Volontiers!_ I am a
true dragoon."
In receiving the flint back, I purposely let it fall, and, begging he
would not trouble himself, dismounted to pick it up, drawing near to the
corporal, as if to see how he got on with his work. My companion now,
also, alighted to tighten the girths of his saddle, and, at the instant,
an explosion took place, the young dragoon was thrown on his back, and
the two horses, disengaged from his hold, started off in a fright,
pitching the corporal forward on his head. I instantly pinned him to the
earth with my knee, and plunged my knife into his neck; whilst my
comrade despatched the young dragoon--asking him how it was he had not
recognized us by our _backs_, and what he thought of _un cigarro
bomba_.[198]
We secured the despatches and horses, and made off for our bivouac with
all speed. On our arrival, I found the band at _Toros y cañas_;[199] the
followers of my late coadjutor, Rodriguez, insisting that another
captain should be joined with me in the command.
Having had sufficient experience of the inconveniences attending this
divided form of government, and being now so situated as to insist on
having my own way, I determined to cut the matter very short, exclaiming
"_à otro perro con ese hueso!_"[200] "Let those who choose turn back,
and God be with them! and I think--judging from the despatches that have
this day fallen into my hands--they will stand in great need of his
protection! Those who prefer following my fortunes shall obey no orders
but mine."
Alarmed at what I had hinted about the despatches, all but the
_aspirant_ to the joint dictatorship and two of his relatives, joined my
standard. These three _desgraciados_ determined to leave the band. In
vain I pointed out the danger of such a proceeding--the impossibility of
their making their way across a country with which they were
unacquainted, and that was now beset with enemies. They, sneeringly,
replied that the same road they had followed in coming would conduct
them back. This, however, for a reason which I shall hereafter explain,
I determined that it should _not_ do.
Detaining them, therefore, until the morrow, on the plea of receiving
their due proportion of the booty we had made, I despatched a trusty
messenger to Granada, who, presenting himself to the French governor,
informed him that the greater part of my troop had passed close under
the walls of Alhama, directing its march towards Velez, after having
killed the two dragoons bearing his despatches to the commandant of that
town; but adding, that he had heard, on very good authority, a
detachment of three men, conveying important communications from me, was
to return, on the following day, into the eastern provinces of the
kingdom, and that he had come to offer himself as a guide, to intercept
the party.
On the following morning, our seceders took their departure, having, I
may truly say, "_el despeñadero a los ojos, y lobos à las
espaldas_."[201] The next day my messenger returned, and informed me of
the result of his mission, giving out, however, that he had obtained
intelligence that a valuable convoy was about to proceed immediately
from Granada to Motril. The temptation was irresistible, and a rapid
counter-march on Alhendin was determined on that very night.
We reached our destination by dawn, where I was told (what I was already
fully informed of) that the convoy had already passed by, and that our
quondam companions had been seized and hung up on the road-side. There
they were, sure enough, dangling from the trees like _espata-lobos_,[202]
and on the forehead of each was nailed the following notice in the
French language.
"The undersigned, Lieutenant General of the Imperial French Army, and
governor of Granada for his Catholic majesty Joseph Napoleon, &c. &c.
&c., hereby gives notice, that the band of _factieux_, under the
infamous traitor Blas Maldonado, having appeared in the military
division under his command, all persons who may be persuaded to join,
harbour, or furnish information or provisions to the same, will, on
conviction thereof, be deemed equally traitors to their country, as the
aforesaid Blas and his band, and will meet with the condign summary
punishment due to their crimes; in witness whereof, he has this day
caused to be hanged the rebel hereunto annexed.
RIGHT
"---- ----."
This exceeded my hopes: the Basques of my party did not fail to give a
very literal translation of this notice to their comrades, who longed
for an opportunity of taking vengeance on our inhuman enemies. But it
was not with the motive of keeping alive the inextinguishable hate that
already existed between the _guerrillas_ and the French that I had got
up this melo-drama; but rather to deter the remaining Catalans of my
band from depending on themselves, should our interests jar on any
future occasion, and they be inclined to throw off their allegiance.
They were now made sensible how completely their want of acquaintance
with the country rendered them dependent upon me. On my own countrymen I
knew reliance might be placed, and I generally entrusted them with the
out-post duty.
I affected, nevertheless, to be much enraged at the treatment the
_Pobrecitos_, so lately our companions in arms, had experienced, and, a
chapel being at hand, readily acquiesced--for I liked to encourage
superstitious habits in my followers--in the proposal of offering up
masses for their souls; concluding our pious work with a vow not to
spare any French_man_, woman, or child, that should fall into our hands
for the next six months.
"Al hierro caliente
machacar de repente,"[203]
as the saying is. Having satisfied myself, from information collected
from the peasantry, that all the disposable French cavalry at Granada
had been laid upon the false scent I had furnished the governor, I
thought the opportunity favourable for enabling my men to keep their
pious vow, and, at the same time, fill their _fajas_[204] with _onzas_.
Descending, therefore, boldly into the fertile _Vega_ of Granada, we
made a dash at Santa Fé, reaching the little walled town at the very
moment a party of French soldiers were busily occupied in loading some
bullock carts with contributions raised in the surrounding district. So
scared were they by our sudden appearance, that, instead of shutting the
gates in our faces, and _haciendo la higa_,[205] as they might have
done, they took themselves off _à bride abattue_, and never stopped
until they had placed the Genil between us. So sudden, indeed, was our
arrival, and so precipitate their departure, that we caught two luckless
French commissaries, who, being busily engaged in taking an account of
barrels of flour stored in one of the churches at the further end of the
town, had not heard the alarm.
My troopers were anxious to _dar quito_[206] for their comrades hanged
at Alhendin; and I was far from being disposed to baulk their fancy, but
thought we would do it with _éclat_. Having, therefore, first plunged
the two caitiffs "_patos arriba_"[207] in one of their flour casks, we
took them to the city gate facing Granada; which, being old, and hanging
loosely upon its hinges, we were enabled, by cutting two small notches
in the side posts, to force their heads through, and so throttle them
by closing the gate upon its centre, leaving their heads sticking out,
like the mock-guns of a smuggler's _xebeque_.[208]
This done, I wrote with some chalk the following notice on the outside
of the gate.
"The undersigned, Principal Ratcatcher to his Catholic Majesty _Fernando
Septimo_, charged by an act of the _Junta_ of government now established
at Cadiz with the duty of clearing the province of Andalusia of the rats
and other vermin with which it is at this moment overrun, to the
destruction and undermining of the glorious fabric of our independence,
hereby gives notice, that any persons who may henceforth feed, harbour,
or encourage the same, will themselves be considered equally as
detrimental to the country as the aforesaid rats, and will, on
conviction, meet with the same condign summary punishment.
"In witness whereof, I have this day throttled the two weasels hereunto
made fast.
RIGHT
"BLAS MALDONADO."
I was ever afterwards called _El Ratonero_.