We must now shift our scene to a different part of the world, and to a
period much antecedent to that of which we have hitherto been speaking.
The spot to which we allude is on the eastern coast of South America, in
the northern part of that vast territory colonised by the inhabitants of
Spain. There is a beautiful bay, or rather gulf, surrounded by lofty
and picturesque cliffs, with deep ravines running up between them and
several _haciendas_, or large farm-houses, on the surrounding ground,
generally picturesquely situated, with a view of the sea in the
distance. Several vessels lay at anchor, proudly pre-eminent among
which was a frigate, from whose peak the ensign of Great Britain floated
in the breeze.
Some way inland was a mansion of considerable size, though only one
story, surrounded with deep verandas--the style of architecture general
in the country. It stood at the head of a ravine, towards which the
windows of its principal rooms opened, so that the inhabitants enjoyed a
fine view of cliffs and rocks, and trees of every form and hue, between
which a sparkling torrent found its way to the ocean, which was seen
beyond the shipping in the harbour. In a room within the house, a
beautiful girl was seated close to the window, but she looked not on the
scene without. Her eyes were turned downwards, for at her feet knelt a
youth; his glance met hers; and there was a wildness in his look, an
expression of pain on his brow, which seemed to demand her pity. He was
dressed in the British uniform, the single epaulet on his shoulder
betokening that he held the rank of lieutenant; but his complexion was
swarthy in the extreme, and his tongue spoke with facility the language
of Spain.
"Hear me, beloved one!" he exclaimed, passionately pressing her hand to
his lips. "My ship sails hence in a few days, but I cannot tear myself
from you. For your sake I will quit my profession, my country, and the
thing men call honour, and will run the risk of death, if I am
retaken,--all--all for your sake. Do you love me, dearest one?"
The girl smiled faintly, and her eyes filled with tears. He again
pressed her hand to his lips.
"Yes, yes; I feel that I am blessed, indeed," he continued in the same
tone. "But you must conceal me, beloved one. My life is in your hands.
There will be a strict search made for me in every direction when I am
missed. You will hear vile tales invented to induce those who might be
sheltering me to give me up, but believe them not. Will you promise to
be my preserver, my guardian angel, my idol, and I will live but to show
my gratitude?"
Where is the woman's heart which could resist such an appeal? The
maiden's doubts and hesitations were gradually disappearing.
"But we have seen little of each other, senor. Your love for a poor
girl like me cannot be so strong as for my sake to make you give up all
men hold most dear. The sacrifice is surely not worth the price. I do
not even know your name."
"Call me Juan, then," he answered. "But if my fiery, ardent love meets
no return, I will quit you; though, perchance, to suffer death. On
board yonder accursed ship I cannot live. I am hated there; and hate in
return."
"Oh, no, senor! I will not expose you to such danger," answered the
maiden. "I have heard sad stories of that ship. Even yesterday, it is
said, one of the officers murdered another, and that the murderer has
fled into the country."
The young man started and turned pale, but instantly recovering himself,
he looked up affectionately into her countenance.
"But do you believe the tale?" he asked.
"I cannot but believe, senor," she answered; "one of our slaves saw the
murdered man on the beach where he fell, and the dagger sticking in his
bosom."
"But how can you suppose from that circumstance that an Englishman did
the deed."
"Because the dagger was such as the young officers wear," answered the
girl; "and they were seen walking together."
"Know you the name, then, of the supposed murderer?" he asked.
"I could not pronounce it if I did," she said.
"It matters not--but believe not the tale--at all events, you would not
believe me guilty of such a deed?"
"Oh, heavens, certainly not!" she replied, casting a glance which told
plainly the secret of her heart.
He saw that the victory was gained, and clasping her to his bosom, he
urged her to form a plan for his concealment.
"No one saw me approach the house," he observed, "so you will not be
suspected; yet hasten, for should I now be observed, our difficulties
would be increased."
Where woman's wit is sharpened by love, she finds no difficulties in
serving him she loves. In a short time the stranger was concealed
within the roof of the mansion, where she might, without exciting
suspicion, constantly communicate with him.
Juanetta, having thus obeyed the impulse of her heart, returned to her
seat near the window to meditate on the act she had performed, and the
responsible office she had undertaken.
"Yet who is the stranger to whom I have given my heart?" she thought;
"he loves me, surely, or he would not tell me so; and I love him--he is
so handsome, so eloquent--he narrates adventures so surprising--he has
done such daring deeds. It is strange, too, that he should seek to
leave the ship, and that another officer should have committed a
murder--oh, horrible! what fierce, bad men those on board must be,
except my Juan!"
Poor girl! she was young, loving, and ignorant of the wickedness in the
world, or she would have suspected even him. Her meditations were
interrupted by the appearance of her father, accompanied by the alcalde,
and two officers in British uniforms. They were conversing earnestly as
they passed the widow, and they thus did not observe her.
"There can be no doubt of it, senor," observed the alcalde to one of the
English officers: "the murder must have been committed by him--his
flight proves it."
"Where can he have concealed himself?" said the officer. "I would give
a high reward to whoever discovers him, for such a crime must not go
unpunished."
"He must still be wandering about near the coast, for without a horse--
and I cannot learn that any person has supplied him with one--he cannot
have escaped into the interior. The scouts also I sent out bring no
intelligence of him."
On hearing these words Juanetta turned pale, for dreadful suspicions
crossed her mind; but she had vowed to protect the stranger, and she
felt the necessity of appearing calm. She had scarcely time to compose
herself before her father and his guests entered the apartment.
Refreshments were ordered, and as she was obliged to busy herself in
performing the duties of a hostess, her agitation was not observed.
During the repast she listened eagerly to gain further information, but
what she heard only served to increase her doubts and fears. At length
her father, telling her that he would soon return, took his departure
with his guests.
Unhappy Juanetta! she dared not believe what yet her reason told her was
too true. Left alone, she burst into tears. They afforded some relief
to her aching heart, and when calmness had again returned, she hastened
to the place where she had concealed her dangerous guest. As she went,
she resolved to tell him that she would see him no more, yet to assure
him that her promise given, he was safe while under her father's roof.
She thought she would confess all that had passed to her father, and
trusting to his generosity, entreat him to aid her in favouring the
escape of the suspected criminal.
Fortunate for her had she been firm in her resolve. Alas! that passion
should too often triumph over the dictates of reason! yet who can fathom
the deep well of a woman's heart? Surely not she herself, while it
remains free from the rubbish, the wickedness, the knowledge of the
world, those things which choke it up and foul its pure waters. Juan
lay sleeping on the hard floor, yet so lightly, that he started the
moment she slowly raised the trap-door which opened into the chamber,
and grasping a pistol on which his hand had rested, he sprang to his
feet. When he saw who was his visitor, his glance became less fierce,
but still he did not quit his hold of his weapon. He was about to
speak, but she, placing her finger to her mouth, signified to him to be
silent till she had carefully closed the place of ingress.
"I have come, senor, to bid you prepare for instant flight." She spoke
in a low tone, and her voice faltered. "You cannot remain here in
safety, for I have heard dreadful stories, and I feel sure you will be
sought for here. They cannot be true; I know they cannot; but yet I
wish they had not been spoken."
"Should all the world desert me, my Juanetta will still believe me
true," exclaimed the young man as he approached her and knelt at her
feet. "Do not credit those tales, dearest; they are told by my foes and
tyrants to destroy me; but my vengeance will yet alight on their heads.
Yet what care I what they they say or do while you, sweet angel, are my
protector?"
He took the maiden's hand, and she did not withdraw it. He pressed her
hand to his lips, and his imploring glance met her eyes, already
suffused with tears. She smiled, for she could not believe him false;
that youth with his gallant air and bold look; crime cannot be an
inhabitant of a figure so noble, she thought.
An arch-traitor was within the garrison, and the deceiver was victorious
over the simple maiden. She dared not remain long in his company, lest
her absence might betray her guest. To one person alone did she confide
her secret, a black slave who had attended her from a child, and loved
her faithfully. Her word was his law, and Mauro promised that no harm
should befall the stranger. His own conceptions of right and wrong were
not very clear, nor did he make very minute inquiries as to the truth of
the story his mistress told him. He believed that the Englishman had
been ill-treated, and had avenged himself, and he was acute enough to
discover that his young mistress loved the handsome stranger. He
therefore considered it his duty to please her to the utmost of his
power.