A DISAGREEABLE MISSION.
Instead of taking a few hours of repose, Don Tadeo, as soon as he was
alone, seated himself at a table, and began to send off orders.
Several hours had passed away thus; the morning was advanced, and Don
Tadeo had despatched all his couriers. At this moment Don Ramón Sandias
appeared.
"Well, Don Ramón," Don Tadeo said in a friendly accent, "you are still
among us."
"Yes, Excellency," the senator replied.
"Have you cause to complain, Don Ramón?" asked Don Tadeo.
"Oh, no!" said the senator, "quite the contrary."
"I am ready to weep tears of blood when I reflect that I have allowed
myself to be seduced by a silly ambition, which--"
"Well, what you have lost, if you like, I will restore to you," said
Don Tadeo.
"Oh! speak! speak! what would I not do for that?"
"Even return among the Aucas?" said Don Tadeo.
"Why, no--"
"Stop a moment!" Don Tadeo interrupted; "this is what I expect of you:
listen attentively."
"I listen, your Excellency," the senator replied, bowing humbly.
Don Gregorio entered.
"What is the matter?" asked Don Tadeo.
"The Indian named Joan, who once served you as a guide, has just
arrived."
"Let him come in! let him come in!" cried Don Tadeo, rising.
Joan now entered.
"What brings you here?" asked Don Tadeo. "Speak! my friend!"
"The white chiefs are preparing to set out upon the track of
Antinahuel."
"God bless them! they are noble hearts!" Don Tadeo exclaimed.
"My father was sad last night when he parted from us."
"Yes, yes," the poor father murmured.
"Before taking the track, Don Valentine felt his heart softened at the
thoughts of the uneasiness you would doubtless experience; he therefore
made his brother with the dove's eyes trace this necklace."
Saying these words, he drew out the letter which was carefully
concealed under the ribbon that confined his hair, and presented it to
Don Tadeo.
"Thanks!" cried the father as he placed the letter in his bosom and
held out his hand graciously to the warrior; "thanks to those who sent
you, and thanks to you, my brother: you shall remain with me, and when
the moment arrives you shall conduct me to my daughter."
"I will do so; my father may depend upon me."
"I do depend upon you, Joan."
"I am at the service of my father, as is the horse which the warrior
mounts," Joan replied, respectfully.
"One instant," said Don Tadeo, clapping his hands, to which a servant
responded.
"I desire," he said, in an emphatic manner, "that every respect he paid
to this warrior: he is my friend, and is at liberty to do just as he
likes; let everything be given to him that he asks for."
The Indian warrior left the apartment.
"A noble nature!" cried Don Tadeo.
"Yes." said Don Ramón, "for a savage."
The King of Darkness was recalled to himself by the voice which thus
mingled its harsh notes with his thoughts; his eyes fell upon the
senator, whom he no longer thought of.
"Ah!" said he, "I had forgotten you, Don Ramón."
The latter bit his tongue and repented too late.
"Did you not tell me," Don Tadeo resumed, "that you would give a great
deal to be at your hacienda?"
The senator shook his head affirmatively.
"I will offer you," Don Tadeo continued, "a chance of regaining the
happiness you sigh for. You will set out immediately for Concepción.
One would think you did not like the mission."
"I will go."
"That is well; a pleasant journey to you."
The senator asked--
"If the Araucanians surprise me, and get possession of this paper?"
"You will be shot--that's all," said Don Tadeo.
"Why, this is a trap!" the terrified senator exclaimed.
"You have but twenty minutes to make the preparations for your
departure."
The senator seized the letter eagerly, and, without replying, rushed
out of the room like a madman. Don Tadeo could not repress a smile at
his extreme terror, and said to himself--
"Poor devil! he little suspects that I should be highly pleased if the
Araucanians obtained the paper."
"Everything is ready," said Don Gregorio, entering.
"That is well. Let the troops be drawn up in two bodies just outside
the city. Where is Joan?"
"I am here," the latter replied, coming forward.
"I wish to confide to my brother a mission of life and death."
"I will accomplish it, or die in the attempt."
"Deliver this necklace to the Spanish general, Fuentes, who commands
in Concepción." Don Tadeo drew from his breast a dagger of a curious
shape, the bronze knob of which served as a seal. "My brother will also
take this dagger; on seeing it the general will know that Joan comes
from me."
"Good," the warrior replied, taking the weapon.
"That weapon is poisoned--: the slightest scratch will inflict certain
death."
"Oh--oh!" said the Indian, "that is indeed a good weapon! When shall I
set out?"
"A horse shall be given to my brother, to whom I have only one more
word to say: let him take care not to get killed; I would have him
return to me."
"I shall come back again," said the Indian, confidently. "Farewell."
Don Tadeo and Don Gregorio left the cabildo. The orders of the King
of Darkness had been executed with the greatest punctuality and
promptitude. Two bodies of troops were drawn up; one, of nine hundred
men, was charged with the attack on Arauca, the other, of nearly two
thousand, under the immediate orders of Don Tadeo himself.
In addition to a numerous troop of cavalry, the Chilians took with them
ten pieces of mountain artillery. The troops filed off at a quick step
before the inhabitants, who saluted them with hearty shouts.
When they were about to separate, Don Tadeo took his friend aside.
"This evening, when you have established your camp for the night, Don
Gregorio," he said, "you will give up the command to your lieutenant
and rejoin me."
"That is understood; I thank you for the favour you confer upon me."
After a last shake of the hands the two leaders separated, to place
themselves at the head of their respective troops, which were advancing
rapidly into the plain.