own course, during the last of which neither of us had spoken much,
when my companion suddenly exclaimed, “We are stopped; here is a gate!”
and sure enough the gate, with large wide folding compartments and a
mud fence--as far as the darkness would allow our sight to extend--was
distinctly visible, though no habitation nor the trace of human being
could be seen. Immediately alighting and securing our horses to the
gate-posts, we cautiously reconnoitred; but all ingress by that way
appeared impossible, without climbing over. To propose and to perform
were synonymous, and in a few minutes we were safely landed within the
walls. Following the track of a narrow path for about a quarter of a
mile, our progress was arrested by hearing the strains of music, and
shortly afterwards a female voice, of exquisite tone, commenced the
evening hymn to the Virgin. Sailors are naturally superstitious, and at
this moment, yielding to the romantic fervour of my disposition, all
seemed enchantment. Never, perhaps, was there a voice more harmonious,
or more calculated to work upon the softer emotions of the soul.
There was no laboured execution--all was pure nature, offering up its
sacrifice of heartfelt devotion. The sounds ceased. “Surely,” said I to
my companion, “those are the sweetest notes that could ever charm the
coldest nature.”--“Truly,” replied he; “for now we shall get something
to eat, at all events!” This answer called me from my _heroics_, and we
proceeded onwards.
Not a light was to be seen--not the least vestige of a house in view;
yet we followed the path till a low, but extensive range of buildings
displayed itself. It was on one floor, and on turning the corner, a
sudden blaze of light burst upon us.
In a small but neat chapel, such as is usually attached to country
residences among the Catholics, a number of wax candles illuminated the
altar. The gray-haired sire stood before it, whilst his wife, children,
and domestics knelt in a semicircle round him. He raised the emblem of
redemption in his hand, and pressed it upon his breast; then kneeling
down, his aged head reclined upon the cross as he poured forth his
fervent petitions. Rising from this attitude, he replaced the crucifix
upon the altar, and turning towards the assembled group, his hands were
outstretched to dispense a parent’s blessing. There was something in
the whole scene so truly descriptive of a patriarchal benediction, that
I felt all the emotions of my breast indulging in their full energies.
“Sidney,” whispered I to my companion, “this is indeed delicious.
What fervour, what devotion, what----.” “Nonsense,” said he, “let
us see the roast beef and a bottle of wine, and then I’ll talk to
you.” We introduced ourselves at the close of the service, and were
received with the most hospitable welcome. Servants were despatched
for our poor jaded horses, we were ushered into a large hall, and
the table soon groaned with substantial fare, amongst which was hot
beef, cooked in the hide. Our host informed us we were upon a farm
belonging to himself, and after refreshing ourselves, he introduced us
to his family. They were nine in number, nor was I long in discovering
from whom those dulcet warblings had proceeded, which made such an
impression upon my mind. It was the old man’s pride,--his eldest
daughter, in her sixteenth year. In that country, nature is extremely
bountiful to females; sixteen is considered the age of maturity, and
few marriages are contracted after that period. Mariqueta was lovely,
yet it was not that sort of beauty that strikes the beholder with
mere admiration; it was a loveliness that interested the heart. Among
the attendants was one who seemed to watch our movements with marked
attention; he almost anticipated our wants, and I frequently observed
the shades of deep sorrow pass across his features. He had once been
handsome, but age had dimmed the lustre of his eye, and I fancied that
his countenance still bore marks of hurried passion and guilty daring.
Of the Spanish language, myself and companion scarcely knew any thing,
nor was there an individual in the place to interpret; nevertheless,
we contrived to hold something like a conversation, though frequently
the subject was left to chance for decision. The old man expressed
his undisguised resentment against the invasion of the English, but
scorned to withhold hospitality from benighted travellers, though they
were his enemies. He spoke of the _paysános_ as terrific people, and
rejoiced that we had not fallen into their hands. On retiring to rest,
he placed a hand on each of our heads, and offered up a prayer. We then
saluted the family round, and never were my lips pressed to those of a
female with more unblemished purity or chastity of thought than when
they touched the cheek of Mariqueta.--After a night of sweet refreshing
slumber, we arose and contemplated the surrounding scenery. The farm
was erected in a secluded spot, far in the interior, for the purpose of
catching wild cattle, and jerking or salting the flesh, which, at Monte
Viedo, formed a great branch of commerce. The hides and tallow were
also carefully preserved.
At a short distance from the house was a large garden, tastefully
arranged, and beyond this was an orchard. There was an air truly
English in the decorations and manner of laying out the grounds that
caused very great surprise, as being totally different from any thing
else I had seen in this part of the world; but I could gain no other
information on the point, than that it was performed by the attendant,
or chief man, whom I have mentioned before. Suspecting he might have
been in England, I spoke to him; but he shook his head and seemed
totally ignorant of the language. After breakfast we prepared for our
departure, but the old gentleman, our kind host, would not suffer us,
as he feared danger was abroad, and we might be attacked; nor was
he altogether wrong, but how he derived his intelligence we did not
discover. Thus another day was passed at the farm, and passed in the
society of Mariqueta. Young, ardent, and enthusiastic, the folly of
entertaining any partiality or affection for a female, whom a few hours
would probably separate from us for ever, did not enter my thoughts.
I felt she was amiable--I saw she was beautiful, and the difficulties
which presented themselves only served to enhance the treasure. The
attendant frequently addressed her, and I could plainly perceive his
language was in my favour, while the aged parent seemed rather to
encourage than to repel my assiduity. The following day, our horses
were led to the gate, and the attendant was ready to conduct us on our
way. We bade farewell to the parents, and Mariqueta in their presence
bound a bracelet of her own hair round my wrist, while I pressed upon
her acceptance a plain gold ring. As soon as we had reached the road,
our guide stopped; then coming close by my side (while Sidney was some
distance in advance) and addressing me in my native tongue, said, “Sir,
I am an Englishman, your countryman; I have written a few particulars
on this piece of paper, which I request, if possible, you will attend
to. Be secret and be faithful; do not let your friend know who or what
I am, and now farewell.” Having uttered this, he wheeled his horse
round, and the swift animal soon bore him from my sight. In a few hours
we arrived safe in the city, and found every one of the party, for
though each had _met with adventures_, yet all had returned uninjured.
On perusing the paper so mysteriously given to me, it contained, as
near as I can recollect, as follows:--
“I am the son of a clergyman, who for an alleged crime was convicted
and sentenced to transportation. The convicts seized the ship and
brought her into the River Plate. In this I had no participation,
but the guilt rests upon me, and I must die a stranger in a foreign
land. My acquaintance with the Spanish tongue has deceived many into
a belief that I am a native, but there are others who wish to drag
me into battle against my countrymen. I will see you again, and then
be prepared to say whether I can entertain a hope of escape. If not,
provide me with a few books, particularly a bible and prayer book, and
be secret, as my life is now in your hands.”
There was no name signed, and I immediately recollected the
circumstance of the convicts taking the ship Jane Shore from the crew
several years before; but why the man should place such confidence in
me seemed inexplicable. However, I instantly set about an inquiry as
to his prospects of protection, but the grounds were not sufficient to
warrant any assurance of it; and as he had not mentioned when I should
see him again, the affair would most probably have been soon forgotten,
had it not been for the memorial of Mariqueta and the recollection of
herself.
There are some feelings in the human mind so exquisitely delicate in
their nature, and yet so firm in their endurance, that neither time
can impair nor distance efface them. Who is there, even when “their
strength becomes labour and sorrow,” that does not with a retrospective
eye glance back upon his early days, and call to remembrance the scenes
of his youth in all their sunny vigour? Oh, there is an enchantment in
it which sweetens life and lightens toil! But to my tale.
Upon an enthusiastic mind, nothing fixes an impression more deeply
than the danger attendant upon an enterprise and the difficulties of
accomplishing it, and such I experienced in my attachment to Mariqueta.
The remembrance of her beauty, her retiring modesty, and her kindness
to an enemy and a stranger, filled my thoughts day after day; while,
in the stillness of night, fancy renewed the vision in my dreams. The
risks which myself and companions had run in our excursion, produced
an order from the commander-in-chief forbidding similar undertakings,
except to a certain distance from the town; and often have I rode to
the very verge of the precincts, entertaining the flatterer Hope, yet
destitute of expectation.
It was about three weeks after my visit to the farm that Sidney
accompanied me in my ride, and on our return we were overtaken by
a storm, which raged with the utmost fury. The rain came down in
torrents, and was swept like sheets of foaming spray across the plain.
The wind in its fury tore up the trees and scattered the branches
in every direction, threatening to crush us beneath their ponderous
weight. Completely drenched with rain and worn with the efforts to keep
our horses under curb, we arrived at the first village in our homeward
path. A straggling place it was, formed of a few miserable cottages, or
huts, with a chapel in the centre.
We stopped at the wine-house, (the only decent place,) and put our
frightened animals into a shed; after which we entered the room
appropriated for travellers, and found it was nearly filled with
Spaniards. Near the fire were ranged several persons attached to the
commissariat department, who had come from the city to bargain with
the hunters for cattle. The hunters, arrayed in their _ponchos_ and
broad-brimmed hats with small crowns, were mingling with the former
and carrying on a traffic, using the most violent gesticulations.
Stretched in one corner lay several guerillas with their fusees by
their side, ready at a moment’s notice in case of alarm. They were
soundly sleeping; but even in this placid state their features retained
the most hardened ferocity. Distinct by himself, in another corner, sat
a man in the guerilla costume, who on our entering, muffled up his face
as if he wished to be concealed from observation. Conviction instantly
flashed upon my mind that this was the individual I had been seeking,
but prudence dictated that the present moment was no time to recognise
him.
Our entrance produced a momentary silence, and all eyes that were not
closed in slumber were directed towards us. The guerillas, whom noise
could not disturb, instantly awoke at the cessation of it, and raising
themselves up, stared with a gleaming fierceness upon us; but finding
we were alone, they growled a few indistinct curses, and again resumed
their former position. Without betraying any surprise at the strange
company we had fallen into, we drew near the fire, but nevertheless, I
determined to quit the place as soon as we had obtained refreshment,
preferring rather to trust to the storm, than run the hazard of the
long and shining blades which each guerilla knew so well how to use.
The day was waning apace when the marauders suddenly took their
departure, and, in a few minutes afterwards, the man who sat alone
followed them. In a country where, among the lower orders, wild and
lawless passions usurp the place of reason, and baleful revenge steels
the heart against every generous feeling of humanity, the departure
of the guerillas came across my mind like a prophetic warning of evil
intentions. I walked to the door; the storm still raged as these
desperadoes were slowly putting their horses in motion. No time was to
be lost; one half hour’s ride would place us in security at the British
out-posts, where a company of the ---- regiment was stationed.
As soon as the guerilla band had disappeared, we hastily mounted and
pursued our way. But darkness came stealing upon us, and the plain was
so inundated that we found it difficult to keep the beaten track; while
the lightning, rendered more visible by the gloom, alarmed the spirited
animals we rode, and greatly impeded our progress. When we had gained
midway between the village and the out-post, the road lay through a
deep ravine, formed by two craggy and almost perpendicular rocks. It
was a wild and dreary spot, where several skirmishes had taken place,
and many a mangled body still lay beneath huge piles of stones. Scarce
had we advanced a few paces in the defile, when a shot was fired from
above, and several others immediately succeeded it. Happily, our horses
knew the road, and dashed forward with amazing swiftness; but the
guerillas also were well mounted and possessed every advantage over
us, though after the first discharge I trusted to the state of the
weather to prevent them firing again, and so it proved. Still, however,
we could distinguish them in close pursuit, the leading men gaining
rapidly upon us. The out-post was in view, when I heard the noose of
the lasso whistle past my ears, and saw it encircling the neck of the
horse. The moment was one of desperation, yet I had the presence of
mind instantly to check the animal and stand still. By this means the
lasso was slackened; but while I was endeavouring to clear him from
restraint, the guerilla was by my side, and his arm upraised to strike
the fatal blow. My hanger was unsheathed, though fighting on horseback
was something new to me; but death from the unerring aim of the ruffian
seemed inevitable. At this very instant, while the glittering blade
hung over me, I heard the report of a gun, and the guerilla fell
backwards from his horse in the agonies of death; but so vengeful had
been his purpose and so strong his arm, that the knife designed for me
was buried deep in the shoulder of his generous steed. This, however,
was only a reprieve, for others came pressing on, and no doubt we
should have been sacrificed to the memory of their companion, but for a
whole volley from about fifty men who had advanced from the out-post.
The guerillas immediately wheeled round, and sought safety in flight.
On joining the party who had thus snatched us from destruction, the
first object that met my view was the man whom I had seen at the
wine-house, and recognised as the attendant or chief man at the
farm, and to him I was indebted for rescuing me from the party. I
have already mentioned that he quitted the house directly after the
guerillas, and leading his horse to a distance, in a contrary direction
to them, he had there mounted and sought the British out-post; where
giving information of our danger, the commanding officer instantly
despatched a party for our protection. The attendant acted as their
guide, and from his fusee it was that death was dealt to my opponent at
the critical juncture, when my own life was trembling upon the verge of
eternity.
On reaching a place of safety, I told him that his expectations could
not be complied with; but, from the recent service he had performed,
I would make a proper representation to the commander-in-chief, and
hoped to succeed. He then inquired for the bible and prayer book,
which were given to him, as I had constantly carried them about me,
under the hope of falling in with him. His gratitude for the gift I
shall never forget; he pressed them to his heart, and the tears flowed
down his furrowed cheek. He opened the bible and read these words,
“Yet never saw I the righteous forsaken, or his seed begging their
bread.” A sudden ejaculation of--“Oh, my father!” followed. It came
with double force upon my heart. His father had been a holy man; but
there was another parent, whose name he had been taught to lisp in
early infancy, as “Our Father, which art in heaven;” and though his
earthly sire could no longer pour the balm of consolation on his mind,
yet HE whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, hath respect unto the
lowly and heareth the contrite in heart. As soon as grief would give
him utterance, he told me of his early days, and then the conversation
turned upon his present situation. He had nothing to complain of as to
treatment, but his soul still clung to the land of fond remembrances.
He mentioned Mariqueta, and I had to ask some questions which respect
for his sorrows had restrained. “She was well,” he said; “but the
gayety of her heart had fled, and her chief pleasure was to sit in
the little chapel and sing the evening hymn which had so delighted
me. She frequented those spots where we had been together, and her
whole conduct manifested a remembrance of the stranger, which became
more deeply rooted by time. But,” continued he, “I must depart; those
demons, if they knew who had frustrated their design, would wreak their
vengeance on the innocent and helpless.” He struck his forehead,--“I
must away, yet do not forget me. I claim no memorial for what I have
done, but think that a fellow-creature, a countryman, sues for your
pity, and may the Almighty reward your efforts.” Having uttered this,
contrary to every persuasion, he prepared to go. In addition to the
books for the attendant, I had also carried with me a present for
Mariqueta; it was a miniature of myself, plainly set, but allowed to
be an excellent likeness, and with this and my ardent expressions of
regard, he bade me farewell.
As soon as I had reached the city, no time was lost in making the
necessary representations to the commander-in-chief, and I pointed
out the extreme danger to which the family would be exposed in the
event of the guerillas discovering that they had afforded shelter to
Englishmen, and that one connected with the farm had given intelligence
against them. My persuasions and my entreaties had their weight, and
the following afternoon I was despatched with a party of men to take
post at the farm, and escort the family into the town. Never shall I
forget the feelings which agitated my breast as the guide conducted us
the nearest route to the spot, and when the gates appeared in view, my
heart throbbed with tumultuous agitation. I should see Mariqueta--I
should press her in my arms and conduct her to a place of safety. The
gates stood open, and a damp hung upon my spirits, as I had witnessed
the caution with which they had been closed as evening approached.
Still a herd of cattle might have entered, or a hundred things have
occurred to prevent it; so without stopping to conjecture, we entered
within the walls. But deeming the appearance of so large a party might
alarm the inmates, I dismounted, and giving my horse to one of the men,
requested the whole to wait until my return.
With a light elastic step I bounded on. The night was beautifully
clear, the stars shone in their effulgent glory, and the beautiful
cross of the south was at its meridian height. I reached the building,
but all was calm serenity. In the little chapel a single lamp burned
by the side of the altar, while a dark substance screened its feeble
rays. I entered the door, and beheld a negress sitting on the steps of
the sanctuary, with her face concealed in her hands, which were resting
on her knees. To the left of the altar lay several persons, covered
over, apparently wrapt in slumber; while in front, upon a raised
platform, spread over with white satin, was a dead body. The noise of
my footsteps aroused the negress, who, upon seeing me, shrieked most
piteously, and taking the lamp in her hand beckoned me to advance. An
instinctive impulse urged me on. I sprang forward, and, as the pale
gleam of light fell upon the corpse, beheld the perishing remains of
the still lovely Mariqueta. Yes, there she lay, like a lily blighted
by the tempest, or a flower seared by the lightning’s flash. The hand
of the destroyer had indeed been speedy, for those whom I had deemed
at rest were also in the cold sleep of death. Parents, kindred, all
cut off, and there was none to deliver. Oh, the agony of that moment!
Years have since passed away, but years cannot efface the recollection
from my mind; and even now, a sick shuddering creeps upon my soul. Yes,
there lay the beautiful Mariqueta--beautiful even in death. The negress
removed the coverlet, and displayed a deep wound in her bosom, from
which her pure spirit had escaped.
Frenzy took possession of my reason. I tore the cover from the bodies
beside the altar, and the first countenance that met my view was the
aged sire. Near him lay the other members of the family--all cold--all
dead. Full of desperate resolve, I called my party, pointed to the
bleeding bodies, and urged my comrades to avenge their fall. We
searched the house, but all displayed marks of the bloody hand of the
plunderer. The negress informed us that the guerillas had attacked the
farm the day before, and committed acts of atrocious barbarity. The
gentle Mariqueta had received her wound while shielding her father
from the fiends; who, after murdering all they could find, had carried
the attendant and the servants away as prisoners. She had escaped by
secreting herself beneath the altar. “The Englishman had fought,”
she said, “and some of the guerillas had fallen.” With this vague
intelligence, after leaving a guard at the farm, we sallied forth, our
guide undertaking to show us the haunts of the murderers.