THE FLIGHT FROM THE HATTO.
Without taking the time to peruse the letters that were handed him,
Don Sancho concealed them in his doublet, and proceeded hastily to his
sister's apartment.
She was anxiously awaiting him.
"Here you are at last, brother," she exclaimed on perceiving him.
"What," the young man replied, as he kissed her hand, "were you
expecting me?"
"Oh, yes, that I was; but you are very late--what has kept you so
long?" she asked, in agitation.
"Where have I been? Why, s'death! I have been hunting, the only
pleasure allowed a gentleman in this horrible country."
"What, at this hour?"
"Zounds, my dear Clara, a man gets home when he can, especially in this
country, where we ought to feel very happy at reaching home again at
all."
"You are speaking in enigmas, brother, and I do not at all understand
you; be kind enough, therefore, to explain yourself clearly--have you
fallen into bad company?"
"Yes, and very bad, too; but forgive me, my dear Clara, if you have no
objection, let us proceed regularly. You desired to see me immediately
on my return, and here I am at your orders; be kind enough, therefore,
to tell me how I can possibly be of service to you, and then I will
narrate the series of singular events with which my today's sport
has been diversified. I will not hide from you that I have certain
questions to ask of you, and certain explanations, which I feel sure
you will not refuse to give me."
"What do you mean, Sancho?"
"Nothing at present; do you speak first, sister."
"Well, if you insist on it--"
"I do not insist at all, sister--I only request it."
"Very good, I yield to your request; I have received several letters."
"So I have; but I confess that I have not read them yet, and do not
think they are of any great importance."
"I have read mine, and do you know what they tell me beside other news?"
"Indeed, no, unless it be my appointment to the post of Alcade Mayor
of Hispaniola, which, I allow, would greatly surprise me," he said,
laughingly.
"Do not jest so, Sancho; the matter is very serious."
"Really? In that case speak, little sister. You see I have as solemn a
face as your dear husband."
"It is exactly to him I refer."
"Stuff! My brother-in-law? Has any accident happened to him in the
performance of his noble and wearisome duties?"
"No, on the contrary, he is in better health than usual."
"In that case, all the better for him; I wish him no harm, though he is
the most fastidious gentleman of my acquaintance."
"Will you listen to me--yes or no?" she asked, impatiently.
"Why, I am doing so, dear sister."
"You are really insupportable."
"Come, do not be angry--I have done; I will not laugh anymore."
"Have you seen the two Fifties encamped in front of the hatto?"
"Yes, and I must allow that I was greatly surprised to see them."
"You will be much more surprised on hearing that my husband is coming
here."
"He? Impossible, sister! He did not say a word to me about the journey."
"Because it is secret."
"Ah, ah!" the young man remarked, with a frown; "And are you sure that
he is coming?"
"Certain. The person who writes me so was present at his departure,
which no one suspects; the courier who brought me the news, and to whom
the greatest diligence was recommended, is only a few hours ahead of
him."
"This is, indeed, serious," the young man muttered.
"What is to be done?"
"S'death!" the young man replied, carelessly, but gazing fixedly at
Doña Clara--"Welcome him."
"Oh!" the lady exclaimed, twisting her hands despairingly, "I have been
betrayed--he is coming to avenge himself!"
"Avenge himself? For what, sister?"
She gave him a look of strange significance, and then bent over him.
"I am ruined, brother," she said, in a hollow voice, "for this man
knows everything, and will kill me."
Don Sancho, in spite of himself, was affected by this sorrow; he adored
his sister, and felt ashamed of the part he was playing at this moment
before her.
"And I, too, Clara," he said to her, "know everything."
"You! Oh, you are jesting, brother."
"No, I am not; I love you, and wish to save you, even if I gave my life
to do so: hence, reassure yourself, and do not fix upon me eyes haggard
with grief."
"What do you know, in heaven's name?"
"I know that which probably a traitor, as you called him, has sold to
your husband, that is to say, that you left the hatto, went aboard a
vessel, which conveyed you to Nevis, and there--"
"Oh! Not a word more, brother," she exclaimed as she fell into his
arms; "you are really well informed, but I swear to you, brother,
in the name of what is most sacred in the world, that, although
appearances condemn me, I am innocent."
"I know it, sister, and never doubted it; what is your intention, will
you await your husband here?"
"Never, never! Did I not tell you he would kill me?"
"What is to be done then?"
"Fly, fly without delay; at once."
"But where shall we go?"
"How do I know? To the cliff or the forest, live among the wild beasts
sooner than remain any longer here."
"Very good, we will go, I know where to take you."
"You?"
"Yes, did I not tell you that sundry accidents happened to me today
while hunting?"
"So you did; but what has that to do with it?"
"A great deal," he interrupted; "the Major-domo, who accompanied me,
and I tumbled over an encampment of filibusters."
"Ah," she said, turning paler than she had been before.
"Yes, and I intend to conduct you to that encampment; besides, one of
the buccaneers entrusted me with a message for you."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I am saying, sister."
She appeared to reflect for an instant, and then turned resolutely to
the young man.
"Well, be it so, brother, let us go to those men, though they are
represented as so cruel; perhaps every human feeling has not been
extinguished in their hearts, and they will take pity on me."
"When shall we go?"
"As speedily as possible."
"That is true, but the hatto is probably watched and the soldiers have
doubtless secret orders, you may be a prisoner without suspecting it,
my poor sister; for what other reason would the two Fifties be here?"
"Oh! In that case I am lost."
"Perhaps there is one way, and the orders given doubtless only affect
you; but unfortunately the journey will be long, fatiguing, and beset
with numberless perils."
"What matter, brother? I am strong, do not be anxious about me."
"Very good, we will try; you are absolutely determined on flight?"
"Yes, whatever may befall me."
"Well then, we will put our trust in heaven, wait for me a moment."
The young man left the room and returned a few minutes later, bearing a
rather large bundle under his arm.
"Here are my page's clothes, I do not know how they happen to be in
my possession, but my valet probably placed them in my portmanteau by
mistake, for they are new, and I remember that the tailor brought them
home a few minutes before my departure from Saint Domingo, but I thank
accident for causing it to be so. Dress yourself, wrap yourself up
in a cloak, put this hat on your head, I will answer for everything.
Besides, this costume is preferable to your woman's clothes for
crossing the savannah; mind and not forget to place these pistols and
this dagger in your belt, for there is no knowing what may happen."
"Thanks brother! I shall be ready in a quarter of an hour."
"Good; during that time I will go and reconnoitre; do not open the door
to anyone but me."
"You may depend upon me."
The young man lit a cigarette and left the apartment with the most
careless air he could assume.
On entering the zaguán, the Count found himself face to face with the
Major-domo. Señor Birbomono had such an anxious look that it did not
escape Don Sancho; still he continued to advance, pretending not to
notice it.
But the Major-domo came straight up to him.
"I am glad to meet you, Excellency," he said, "if you had not come
within ten minutes, I should have knocked at the door of your
apartment."
"Ah!" Don Sancho observed, "What pressing motive was there to urge you
to such a step?"
"Is your Excellency aware of what is taking place?" the Major-domo
continued, without appearing to notice the young man's ironical tone.
"What! Is there really anything happening?"
"Does not your Excellency know it?"
"Probably not, as I ask you; after all, as the news, I am sure,
interests me but very slightly, you are quite at liberty not to tell it
to me."
"On the contrary, Excellency, it interests you as well as all the
inhabitants of the hatto."
"Oh! oh! What is it then?"
"It appears that the commander of the two Fifties, has placed sentries
all round the hatto."
"Very good, in that case, we need not fear being attacked by the
buccaneers, of whom you are so afraid, and I will thank the commandant
for it."
"You are at liberty to do so, Excellency, but I fancy you will find it
difficult."
"Why so?"
"Because orders are given to let anyone enter the hatto but nobody
leave it."
A shudder ran through the young man's veins on hearing this; he turned
frightfully pale, but recovering himself almost immediately, remarked
carelessly,
"Stuff! that order cannot affect me."
"Pardon me, Excellency, it is general."
"In that case, you think that, if I tried to go out--"
"You would be stopped."
"Confound it, that is very annoying, not that I have any intention of
going out, but as by my character, I am very fond of doing things which
are prohibited--"
"You would like to take a walk, I suppose, Excellency?"
Don Sancho looked at Birbomono, as if trying to read his thoughts.
"And suppose such were my intention?" he resumed presently.
"I would undertake to get you out."
"You?"
"Yes, I; am I not the Major-domo of the hatto?"
"That is true; thus, the prohibition does not extend to you?"
"To me, as to the rest, Excellency; but the soldiers do not know the
hatto as I know; I could Slip between their fingers, whenever I liked."
"I have strong inclination to try it."
"Do so, Excellency; I have three horses at a spot where no one but
myself could find them."
"Why, three horses?" the young man asked, pricking up his ears.
"Because, doubtless, you do not wish to ride with me only, but will
take someone with you."
Don Sancho, understanding that the Major-domo had penetrated his
thoughts, made up his mind at once.
"Let us play fairly," he said, "can you be faithful."
"I am so, and devoted too, Excellency, as you have a proof."
"What assures me that you are not laying a trap for me?"
"With what object?"
"That of obtaining a reward from the Count."
"No, Excellency, no reward would induce me to betray my mistress; I may
be anything you please, but I love Doña Clara, who has always been kind
to me, and has often protected me."
"I am willing to believe you, and indeed have no time to discuss the
point, but here are my conditions: a bullet through the head if you
betray me, a thousand piastres if you are faithful; do you accept them?"
"I do, Excellency, the thousand piastres are gained."
"You know that I do not threaten in vain."
"I know you."
"Very good, what must we do?"
"Follow me, that is all; our flight will be most easy, for I prepared
everything on my return; I had my suspicions on seeing those demons
of soldiers, suspicions which were soon changed into certainty, after
some skilful inquiries here and there; my devotion to my mistress
rendered me clear sighted, and you see that I acted wisely in taking my
precautions."
The accent with which the Major-domo pronounced these words, had such a
stamp of truth, his face was so frank and open, that the young Count's
last suspicions were dissipated.
"Wait for me," he said, "I will go and fetch my sister."
And he hurried away.
"Oh!" said Birbomono, with a grin, so soon as he was alone, "I do not
know whether Señor don Stenio de Bejar will be pleased at seeing his
wife escape in this way, when he felt so certain of holding her; poor
señora! She is so good to us all, that it would be infamous to betray
her, and then, after all, this is a good deed which brings me one
thousand piastres," he added, rubbing his hands, "that is a very decent
amount."
It was about eleven o'clock at night, all the lights in the hatto
were extinguished by orders of the Major-domo, who had provided for
everything; the slaves had been dismissed to their huts, and a solemn
silence brooded over the landscape, a silence solely interrupted at
regular intervals, by the sentries who challenged each other in a
monotonous voice.
Don Sancho soon returned, accompanied by his sister, wrapped up like
himself, in a long mantle.
Doña Clara did not speak, but on joining the Major-domo, she
gracefully held out her right hand to him, on which he respectfully
impressed his lips.
Although the officers had told the soldiers to keep a good guard, and
watch carefully, not only the hatto, but its environs, the latter,
slightly reassured by the darkness on one hand, and on the other,
by the gloomy and mysterious depths of the forests that surrounded
them, stood motionless behind the trees, contenting themselves with
responding to the challenge, every half hour, but not venturing to go
even a few yards from the shelter they had chosen.
The reasons for this apparent cowardice, were simple, and although we
have explained them, we will repeat them here, for the sake of greater
clearness.
In the early times of the buccaneers landing on Saint Domingo, the
Fifties sent by the governor in pursuit of them, were armed with
muskets; but after several encounters with the French, in which the
latter gave them an awful thrashing, their terror of the adventurers
became so great that, whenever they were sent on an expedition against
these men, whom they almost regarded as demons, no sooner did they
enter the forests, or the mountain gorges, or even the savannahs, where
they might suppose the buccaneers to be ambushed, than they began
to fire their pieces right and left, for the purpose of warning the
enemies, and inducing them to withdraw.
The result of this clever manoeuvre was that the adventurers, thus
warned, decamped in reality, and thus became intangible; the governor
noticing this result, eventually guessed its cause, and hence, in order
to avoid such a thing in future, he took the muskets away from the
soldiers and substituted lances. This change, let us hasten to add, was
not at all to the liking of these brave soldiers, who thus saw their
ingenious scheme foiled, and were even more exposed to the blows of
their formidable enemies.
It was almost without being obliged to take any other precaution than
that of walking noiselessly and not speaking, that the Major-domo and
the two persons he served as guide, succeeded in quitting the hatto on
the opposite side to that on which the Fifties had established their
bivouac.
Once the line of sentries was passed, the fugitives hurried on more
rapidly, and soon reached a thicket in the midst of which three fully
accoutred horses were so thoroughly hidden that unless known to be
there, it would have been impossible to find them; for a greater
precaution, and to prevent them from neighing, the Major-domo had
fastened a cord round their nostrils.
So soon as the three were mounted, and before starting, Birbomono
turned to Don Sancho,--
"Where are we going, Excellency?" he asked.
"Do you know the spot where the buccaneers we met today are
bivouacked?" the young man replied.
"Yes, Excellency."
"Do you think you could succeed in finding the bivouac in the midst of
the darkness?"
The Major-domo smiled.
"Nothing is more easy," he said.
"In that case lead us to those men."
"Very good; but, Excellency, be good enough not press your horse on at
present, for we are still near the house, and the slightest imprudence
would be sufficient to give an alarm."
"Do you think, then, that they would venture to pursue us?"
"Separately, certainly not; but as they are so numerous, they would
not hesitate; the less so, because from what I heard them say, they
feel certain that the buccaneers have never come into these parts. This
redoubles their bravery, and they would perhaps not be sorry to furnish
a proof of it at our expense."
"Excellent reasoning; regulate our pace, therefore, as you think
proper, and we will only act in accordance with your judgment."
They set out; with the exception of the precautions they were obliged
to take not to be discovered, the journey had nothing disagreeable
about it, on a bright and perfumed night, beneath a sky studded with
brilliant stars, and in the midst of a most delightful scenery, whose
slightest diversities the transparency of the atmosphere allowed to be
seen.
After an hour spent in a moderate trot, their pace became insensibly
more rapid, and the horses growing gradually more excited, eventually
broke into a gallop, at which their riders kept them for a considerable
period.
Doña Clara bent over her horse's neck, and with her eyes eagerly fixed
ahead, seemed to upbraid the slowness of this ride, which, however, had
assumed the headlong speed of a pursuit: at times she leant over to her
brother, who constantly kept by her side, and asked him in a choking
voice--
"Shall we soon arrive?"
"Yes, have patience, sister," the young man said, suppressing a sigh of
pity for the agony which preyed on his sister's heart.
And their pace grew more rapid than ever.
The stars were already expiring in the heavens, the atmosphere was
growing refreshed, the horizon was striped by long mother-o'-pearl
coloured bands, a light sea breeze brought up to the travellers its
alkaline odours, and the night had passed. Suddenly, at the moment
when the three riders were about to emerge from a thick wood, in which
they had been following a track made by the wild cattle for nearly an
hour, the Major-domo, who was a few yards ahead, pulled up his horse
and leant back.
"Stop, in Heaven's name!" he exclaimed, in a low voice.
The young couple obeyed, though they did not comprehend this order.
The Major-domo went up to them.
"Look!" he muttered, and stretched out his arm toward the savannah.
A rapid gallop, that drew nearer every second, but which the noise of
their own march had prevented them from hearing, now smote their ears,
and almost at the same moment they saw through the screen of foliage
which hid them from sight, several horsemen pass as if borne along by a
hurricane.
A branch struck off the hat of one of the riders as he passed.
"Don Stenio!" Doña Clara exclaimed in horror.
"Zounds!" Don Sancho said, "We were just in time."