While thus on the summit of the _Voladero de los Hornos_ the Indian
Costal and the negro Clara were debating between themselves how the
castle might be captured--the same subject was being discussed by two
persons of more importance in the tent of the insurgent general. These
were Morelos himself, and Don Hermenegildo Galeana--now usually styled
the "Marshal," to distinguish him from another Galeana, his own nephew,
who was also an officer in the insurgent army.
The countenance of Morelos had not yet cast off the shadow caused by the
failure of their assault upon the castle; and his garments were still
soiled with dust, which, under the agitation of violent passions, he
disdained to wipe off.
The brow of the Marshal was also clouded; but that was rather by
reflecting the unpleasant thoughts that were troubling the spirit of his
well-beloved General: for no care of his own ever darkened the
countenance of the warlike Galeana.
A chart of the bay and roadstead of Acapulco lay upon the table before
them, illuminated by two candles, whose light was every moment becoming
paler, as the day began to break into the tent.
They had been for some time engaged in discussing the important matter
in question. The Marshal had been endeavouring to press upon the
General the necessity of at least capturing the town: since the troops
were not only badly provided with tents and other equipage, but were in
such a position among the burning sands, that it was difficult to
transport provisions to the camp. Moreover, the situation on the
river's bank was exceedingly unhealthy; and fever was daily thinning the
ranks, and prostrating some of their best soldiers. The Marshal urged,
that, once inside the town, they would at least be better lodged, while
many other evils might be avoided. The town could not hold out against
a determined assault. It might be, carried by a _coup de main_.
"I know all that, my dear Marshal," said Morelos, in reply to the
arguments of Galeana; "we can easily take the town, but the castle will
still hold out, provisioned as it can always be through this unfortunate
isle of Roqueta, with which the garrison is able to keep up a constant
communication."
The isle in question lay in the roadway of Acapulco, two short leagues
from the town. There was a small fort upon it, with a Spanish garrison;
and at the anchorage connected with this fort the Spanish ships,
occasionally arriving with supplies for the fortress, could discharge
their cargoes, to be afterwards transported to the castle in boats.
"Let us first capture Roqueta, then?" suggested Galeana.
"I fear the enterprise would be too perilous," replied Morelos; "we have
scarce boats enough to carry sixty men--besides, the isle is two leagues
out to sea; and just at this season storms may be looked for every
hour--to say nothing of a mere handful of men landing to attack a strong
garrison behind their entrenchments."
"We can take them by surprise," continued the intrepid _Mariscal_.
"Leave it to me, General; I care not for the danger. In the glory of
your name I shall undertake to capture La Roqueta."
"A perilous enterprise!" repeated Morelos, half in soliloquy. "Yes,
friend Galeana," continued he, once more addressing himself to his
Marshal, "although you have taught me to believe in the success of any
enterprise you may undertake, this is really of such a nature as to
require serious consideration."
"Never fear for the result, Senor General! I promise to capture the
isle on one condition."
"What is it?"
"That as soon as you see my signal, announcing that I have mastered the
garrison of Roqueta, you will take the town of Acapulco. Your
Excellency will agree to that?"
Morelos remained for a moment thoughtful, and apparently reluctant to
permit so perilous an attempt.
Just at that moment a rocket was seen ascending into the air, and
tracing its curving course against the still sombre background of the
sky. It had evidently been projected from the fort of Roqueta, which in
daylight would have been visible from the camp of the insurgents.
Morelos and his Marshal, through the open entrance of the marquee, saw
the rocket and conjectured it to be some signal for the garrison on the
isle to the besieged within the fortress. Almost on the instant, this
conjecture was confirmed by another rocket seen rising from the citadel
upon the summit of the cliffs, and in turn tracing its blue line across
the heavens. It was evidently the answer.
For some minutes the General and Galeana remained within the marquee,
endeavouring to conjecture the object of these fiery telegraphs. They
had not succeeded in arriving at any satisfactory conclusion, when the
General's aide-de-camp, Captain Lantejas, entered the tent. His errand
was to announce to the Commander-in-chief that Costal, the scout, had
just arrived in the encampment as the bearer of some important
intelligence.
"Will your Excellency permit him to come in?" requested the Marshal.
"This Indian has always some good idea in his head."
Morelos signified assent, and the next moment the Indian entered the
tent.
"Senor General!" said he, after having received permission to speak, "I
have just been up to the cliff of Los Hornos, and through the grey dawn
I have seen a schooner at anchor by the isle of Roqueta. She must have
arrived during the night: since she was not there yesterday."
"Well, what of it, friend Costal?"
"Why, General, I was just thinking how easy it would be for a party of
us, after it gets dark, to slip up alongside, and take possession of
her. Once masters of that schooner--"
"We could intercept all the supplies destined for the castle,"
impetuously interrupted Galeana; "and then we shall reduce it by famine.
Senor General, it is God who speaks by the mouth of this Indian. Your
Excellency will no longer refuse the permission which I have asked?"
It is true, the danger apprehended was not diminished by the presence of
the schooner; but, overcome by the earnest appeals of the Marshal, and
the prospect of the important results which would certainly arise from
the possession of the vessel, Morelos at length consented to the attempt
being made.
"If I know how to read the clouds," said Costal, whose counsel on this
point was now requested, "I should say, from the way in which the sun is
now rising, we shall have a dark calm day and night--at least, until the
hour of midnight--"
"After midnight?" demanded the Marshal.
"A tempest and a howling sea," replied Costal. "But before that time
the schooner and the isle of Roqueta may be ours."
"_Shall_ be ours!" cried Galeana, with enthusiasm.
In fine, and before the council broke up, the enterprise was planned.
The expedition was to be commanded by the Marshal, accompanied by his
nephew, the younger Galeana, while Lantejas was to be the captain of a
canoe, with Costal under his orders.
"The brave Don Cornelio would never forgive us," said Galeana, "if we
were to perform this exploit without him."
The Captain smiled as he endeavoured to assume a warlike expression of
countenance. He thought to himself, however, how much more to his taste
it would be to have been deprived of the privilege accorded to him. But
according to the habit he had got into, and in conformity with the
energetic Spanish refrain: _Sacar de tripas corazon_ (Keep a stout heart
against every fortune), he pretended to be delighted with the honour
that was yielded to him.
The prognostic of Costal about the weather appeared likely to be
realised. During the whole day, while they were making preparations for
their night expedition, the sky remained shadowed with sombre clouds;
and, as evening arrived, the sun went down in the midst of a thick
cumulus of vapour.