THE EXPLOSION.
During Valentine's absence facts of extreme gravity had occurred at the
mission. The Count de Prébois Crancé had finished his correspondence,
and held in his hand the letters he had just written, while he gave
a peon, already mounted, his final instructions. At this moment
the advanced posts uttered the cry of "Who goes there?" which was
immediately taken up along the whole line. Louis felt his heart
contracted by this shout, to which he was, however, accustomed; a cold
perspiration beaded on his temples; a mortal pallor covered his face;
and he was forced to lean against a wall lest he should fall, so weak
did he feel.
"Good heavens!" he stammered in a low voice, "what can be the matter
with me?"
Let who can explain the cause of this strange emotion, this inner
presentiment which warned the count of a misfortune; for our part, we
confess our inability, and content ourselves with recording the fact.
The count, however, wrestled with this extraordinary emotion, for which
there was no plausible reason. Owing to a supreme effort of the will, a
perfect reaction took place in him, and he became once more cold, calm,
and stoical, ready to sustain, without weakness as without bravado, the
blow by which he instinctively felt himself menaced.
In the meanwhile an answer had been returned to the sentries' challenge,
and words exchanged. Don Cornelio came up to the count, his face quite
discomposed by astonishment, and himself a prey to the most lively
emotion.
"Señor conde----" he said in a panting voice, and then stopped.
"Well," the count asked, "what is the meaning of those challenges I
heard?"
"Señor," Don Cornelio continued with an effort, "General Guerrero,
accompanied by his daughter, several other ladies, a dozen officers, and
a powerful escort, requests to be introduced to your presence."
"He is welcome. At length, then, he consents to treat directly with me."
Don Cornelio withdrew to carry out the orders he had received, and soon
a brilliant cavalcalde, at the head of which was General Guerrero,
entered the mission. The general was pale, and frowned: it was easy
to see that he with difficulty suppressed a dumb fury that filled his
heart. The adventurers, in scattered groups, and haughtily wrapped up
in their rags, regarded curiously these smart Mexican officers, so vain
and so glittering with gold, who scarce deigned to bestow a glance upon
them. The count walked a few paces toward the general, and uncovered
with a movement full of singular grace.
"You are welcome, general," he said in his gentle voice; "I am happy to
receive your visit."
The general did not even lift his finger to his embroidered hat, but,
suddenly stopping his horse when scarce two paces from the count,--
"What is the meaning of this, sir?" he exclaimed in an angry voice. "You
are guarded as if in a fortress! You have, Heaven pardon me! sentries
and patrols round your encampment, as if you were in command of a
regular army."
The count bit his lips; but he restrained himself, and replied in a
calm, though grave voice,--
"We are on the edge of the _despoblados_ (deserts), general, and our
safety depends on our vigilance. Although I am not the commander of an
army, I answer for the safety of the men I have the honour of leading.
But will you not dismount, general, so that we may discuss more at our
ease the grave questions which doubtless bring you here?"
"I will not dismount, sir, nor anyone of my suite, before you have
explained to me your strange conduct."
Such a flash sparkled in the count's blue eye that, in spite of himself,
the general turned his head away. This conversation had taken place
under the vault of heaven, in the presence of the Frenchmen, who had
collected round the newcomers. The patience of the adventurers was
beginning to grow exhausted, and hoarse, mutterings were heard. With
a sign the count appeased the storm, and silence was immediately
re-established.
"General," Don Louis continued with perfect calmness, "the words you
address to me are severe. I was far from expecting them, especially
after the way in which I have acted since my landing in Mexico, and the
moderation I have constantly displayed."
"All that is trifling," the general said furiously. "You Frenchmen have
a honeyed tongue when you wish to deceive us. But, by heavens, I will
teach you differently! You are warned once for all."
The count drew himself up, and a feverish flush suffused his cheeks. He
put on again the hat he had hitherto held in his hand, and looked the
general boldly in the face.
"I would observe, Señor Don Sebastian Guerrero," he said, in a voice
broken by emotion, which he attempted in vain to check, "that you
have not returned me my salute, and that you employ strange language
in addressing a gentleman at least as noble as yourself. Is this the
boasted Mexican courtesy? Come to the facts, caballero, without holding
language unworthy of yourself or me; explain yourself frankly, that I
may know, once for all, what I have to hope or fear from these eternal
tergiversations, and the continued treachery of which I am the victim."
The general remained for a moment thoughtful after this rude apostrophe.
At length he made up his mind, removed his hat, saluted the count
graciously, and suddenly changed his manner.
"Pardon me, caballero," he said; "I was so far carried away by my temper
as to employ expressions which I deeply regret."
The count smiled disdainfully.
"Your apologies are sufficient, sir," he said.
At the word "apologies" the general quivered, but soon regained command
of himself.
"Where do you desire that I should communicate to you the orders of my
Government?"
"At this spot, sir. I have, thanks to Heaven, nothing to hide from my
brave comrades."
The general, though evidently annoyed, dismounted. The ladies and
officers who accompanied him did the same. The escort alone remained
on horseback, with their ranks closed up. At an order from Don Louis
several tables were produced, and instantaneously covered with
refreshments, of which the French officers began to do the honours with
the grace and gaiety that distinguish their nation. The general and the
count seated themselves on butacas, placed in the doorway of the mission
church, near a table, on which were pen, ink, and paper.
There was a lengthened silence. It was evident that neither wished to be
the first to speak. The general at length opened the conversation.
"Oh, oh!" he said, "you have guns with you?"
"Did you not know it, general?"
"My faith, no!"
And he added, with a sarcastic smile,--
"Do you intend to pursue the Apaches with such weapons?"
"At the present moment less than ever, general," Don Louis answered
dryly. "I do not know of what use this artillery will be to me. Still it
is good, and I am convinced that it will not betray me in the hour of
need."
"Is that a menace, sir?" the general asked significantly.
"What is the use of threatening when you can act?" the count said
concisely. "But that is not the question, for the present at least. I
am awaiting your pleasure, sir, to explain to me the intentions of your
Government with regard to me."
"They are kind and paternal, sir."
"I will wait till you have told me them ere I express any opinion."
"This is the message I am charged to deliver to you."
"Ah! have you a message for me?"
"Yes."
"I am listening, caballero."
"The message is quite paternal."
"I am certain of it. Let us see what your Government's intentions are."
"I should have wished them better, but I consider them acceptable in
their present form."
"Be kind enough to communicate them to me, general."
"I was anxious to come myself, señor conde, in order to lessen by my
presence any apparent bitterness these proposals might contain."
"Ah!" the count remarked, "propositions are made to me; in other words,
and speaking by the card, conditions which it is desired to impose on
me. Very good."
"Oh, conde, conde, how badly you take what I say to you!"
"Pardon me, general, you know that I do not speak your magnificent
Spanish very well; still I thank you from my heart for your kindness in
accepting the harsh mission of communicating these propositions to me."
This was said with an accent of fine raillery which completely
discountenanced the general.
"I would observe, general, that we are now only a few leagues from the
mine, and the alternative offered me is most painful, especially after
the evasive answers constantly made to me and the persons I sent with
full powers to treat personally with the authorities of the country."
"That is true; I can comprehend that. Colonel Florés, whom you sent
to me a few days back, will have told you how pained I felt at all
that is happening. I lose as much as yourself. Unfortunately, you will
understand me, my dearest count, I must obey, whether I like it or not."
"I understand perfectly," Louis answered ironically, "how deeply pained
you must feel."
"Alas!" the general said, more embarrassed than ever, and who began to
regret in his heart that he was not accompanied by a larger force.
"Well, as it is useless to prolong this position indefinitely, as it is
so cruel for you, explain yourself without further circumlocution, I
beg."
"Hum! Remember that I am in no way responsible."
The fact is the general was afraid.
"Go on--go on!"
"The propositions are as follow:--You are enjoined----"
"Oh! that is a harsh term," Louis observed.
The general shrugged his shoulders, as much as to say that he had
nothing to do with drawing up the document.
"Well, then," the count said, "we are enjoined----"
"Yes, First. Either to consent to give up your nationality as
Frenchmen----"
"Pardon me," the count interrupted, and laid his hand on the general's
arm, "an instant, if you please. As I see that what you are commissioned
to communicate to me interests all my comrades, it is my duty to invite
them to be present at the reading of these propositions; for you have
them in writing, I believe?"
"Yes," the general stammered, turning livid.
"Very good. Buglers!" the count shouted in a high and imperative voice,
"sound the assembly."
Ten minutes later the whole company was ranged round the table, at
which the general and the count were seated. Don Louis looked carefully
around, and then noticed the Mexican officers and ladies, who, curious
to know what was going on, had also drawn nearer.
"Chairs for these ladies and caballeros," he said. "Pray excuse me,
señoras, if I do not pay you all the attention you deserve; but I am
only a poor adventurer, and we are in the desert."
Then, when all had taken their seats,--
"Give me a copy of these proposals," he said to the general; "I will
read them myself."
The general obeyed mechanically.
"Gentlemen and dear comrades," Don Louis then said in a sharp voice,
in which, however, a scarcely suppressed anger could be noticed, "when
I enrolled you at San Francisco, I showed you the authentic documents
conferring on me the ownership of the mines of the Plancha de Plata, did
I not?"
"Yes!" the adventurers shouted with one voice.
"You read at the foot of those documents the names of Don Antonio
Pavo, President of the Mexican Republic, and of General Don Sebastian
Guerrero, present here at this moment. You then knew on what conditions
you enlisted, and also the engagements the Mexican Government entered
into with you. Today, after three months' marching and counter-marching;
after suffering without a murmur all the annoyances it pleased the
Mexican Government to inflict on you; when you have proved, by your good
conduct and severe discipline, that you were in every way worthy to
fulfil honourably the mission that was intrusted to you; when, finally,
in spite of the incessant obstacles continually raised in your path, you
have arrived within less than ten leagues of the mines, do you know what
the Mexican Government demands of you? Listen: I will tell you, for you
are even more interested than myself in the question."
A thrill of curiosity ran through the ranks of the adventurers.
"Speak--speak!" they shouted.
"You have three alternatives:--First. You are enjoined to resign your
French nationality, and become Mexicans, and will be permitted to
work the mines, without any pay, under the supreme command of General
Guerrero, whose aide-de-camp I shall become."
An Homeric burst of laughter greeted this proposition.
"The second--let us have the second!" some shouted.
"_Sapristi!_" others remarked, "these Mexicans are not fools to wish to
have us for their countrymen."
"Go on--go on!" the remainder howled.
The count gave a sign, and silence was re-established.
"Secondly. You are ordered to take out cards of surety if you wish to
remain Frenchmen. By means of such cards you can go anywhere: still,
as foreigners, you will be forbidden any possession--that is to say,
working--of the mines. You have quite understood me, I presume?"
"Yes, yes! The last one--the last one!"
"I did not fancy the Mexicans were such funny fellows," a soldier
remarked.
"Thirdly. I personally am ordered to reduce the company to fifty men, to
hand over my command to a Mexican officer, and on that condition you can
at once take possession of the mines."
When the captain had ended his reading there was such an explosion of
laughter, shouts, and yells, that for nearly a quarter of an hour it
was almost impossible to hear anything. At length the count succeeded
in restoring some degree of order and silence, though with considerable
difficulty.
"Such are the paternal intentions of the Mexican Government as regards
us. What do you think of them, my friends? Still, I implore you, do
not allow yourselves to be carried away by your just indignation,
but reflect deeply on what you think it your duty to do for your own
interests. As for myself, my resolution is formed--it is immutable; and
even if it cost my life, I shall not alter it. But you, my friends, my
brethren, your private interests cannot be mine; hence do not sacrifice
yourselves through friendship and devotion to me. You know me well
enough to put faith in my words. Those among you who wish to leave me
will be free to do so: not only will I not oppose their departure, but I
shall bear them no ill will. The strange position in which we are placed
by the ill faith of the Mexicans imposes on me obligations and a line of
conduct to which you can refuse to submit without disgrace. From this
moment I release you from every engagement with me. I am no longer your
chief, but I will ever be your friend and brother."
These words had scarce been uttered ere the adventurers, through an
irresistible impulse, overthrowing all in their way, rushed toward the
count, surrounded him with shouts and cries, lifted him in their arms,
and showered on him assurances of their complete devotion.
"Long live the count! Long live Louis! Long live our chief! Death to the
Mexicans! Down with the traitors!"
Their effervescence assumed proportions which threatened to become
dangerous to the Mexicans at the moment in the camp. The exasperation
was at its height. Still, owing to the influence the count exerted over
his comrades, and the energetic conduct of the officers, the tumult
gradually died out, and all returned nearly to the normal condition.
General Guerrero, at first alarmed by the effect produced on the French
by the untoward propositions of which he had constituted himself the
bearer, soon reassured himself, however, especially on seeing with
what abnegation and loyalty the count protected him against the just
indignation of his companions. Nearly sure of running no risk, owing to
the noble character of the man he had so unjustly deceived, he resolved
to strike the final blow.
"Caballeros," he said in that honeyed voice peculiar to the Mexicans,
"permit me to address a few words to you."
At this request the tumult was on the point of recommencing: still the
count succeeded in producing a stormy silence, if we may be allowed to
employ the phrase.
"General, you can speak," he said to him.
"Gentlemen," Don Sebastian went on, "I have only a few words to add.
The Count de Prébois Crancé has read you the conditions the Mexican
Government imposes, but he was unable to read to you the consequences of
a refusal to obey those conditions."
"That is true, sir. Be good enough, therefore, to make them known to us."
"It is a terrible duty for me to fulfil; still I must do so for your
benefit, caballeros."
"Come to the point!" the adventurers shouted.
The general unfolded a paper, and after a moment of hesitation he read
as follows, with a voice which, spite of all his efforts, slightly
trembled:--
"Count Don Louis de Prébois Crancé, and all the men who remain faithful
to him, will be regarded as pirates; placed without the pale of the law,
and arrested as such; tried by a military commission, and shot within
twenty-four hours."
"Is that all, sir?" the count asked coldly.
At a sign from the count the two papers containing the proposals and the
proclamation of outlawry were nailed on the trunk of a tree.
"And now, sir, you have fulfilled your mission, I believe? You have
nothing further to add?"
"I regret, señor conde----"
"Enough, sir. Were I really a pirate, as you so charitably call
me, it would be easy for me to retain you, as well as the persons
that accompany you, which would supply me with ample means for the
satisfaction of my vengeance; but, whatever you may say, neither I nor
the men I have the honour to command are pirates. You will leave here
as free as you came: still I fancy you would do well not to delay your
departure."
The general did not need to hear this twice. For two hours he had seen
death several times too near, or at least he fancied so, to desire to
prolong his stay in the camp; and hence he gave the necessary orders
for immediate departure. At this moment Doña Angela, suddenly emerged
from the group of ladies among whom she had hitherto stood, and walked
forward, majestically robed in her _rebozo_, her eye flashing with a
sombre fire.
"Stay!" she said with an accent so firm and so imposing that each was
silent, and regarded her with astonishment.
"Madam," Don Louis said to her, "I conjure you----"
"Let me speak," she said energetically; "let me speak, señor conde.
As no one in this hapless country dares to protest against the odious
treachery of which you are a victim, I--a woman, the daughter of your
most implacable enemy--declare openly before all, that you, count, are
the only man whose genius is powerful enough to regenerate this unhappy
country. You are misunderstood--insulted; and the epithet of pirate is
attached to your name. Well, pirate--be it so. Don Louis, I love you!
Henceforth I am yours--yours alone. Persevere in your noble enterprise.
As long as I live there will be a woman in this accursed land who will
pray for you. And now, farewell! I leave my heart with you."
The count knelt before the noble woman, kissed her hand respectfully,
and raised his eyes to heaven.
"Doña Angela," he said with emotion, "I thank you. I love you, and
whatever may happen, I will prove to you that I am worthy of your love."
"Now, my father, let us go," she said to the general, who was half
mad with rage, and who yet did not dare give way to his passion; and
turning for the last time to the count, she said, "Good-by, Don Louis!
My betrothed, we shall soon meet again."
And she left the camp, accompanied by the enthusiastic shouts of the
adventurers.
The Mexicans marched out with drooping heads and a blush on their
foreheads. In spite of themselves they were ashamed of the infamous
treachery they had dealt out to men whom they had earnestly summoned,
whom they had deluded during four months with false promises, and whom
they were now preparing to rush upon like wild beasts.
Scarce two hours after these events occurred Valentine re-entered the
camp.