Gerald kept alongside my horse for some little distance. "Do tell him
that I wish he would take me too," he said; "I will ask our father's
leave--and I think he will give it. If I can't handle a lance as well
as a grown man, I can use a carbine and pistols, and might do duty as an
ensign."
I told him that I would mention his wish to the general, but that I
thought he ought to remain and assist our father in protecting the
family; indeed, I had no wish, young as he was, that he should be
exposed to the dangers he would inevitably have to go through. At last,
wringing his hand, I told him to go back, while I galloped on.
The general was pleased with my alacrity. He immediately ordered six of
his own guard to escort my father, and afterwards to rejoin him at the
foot of the hills.
I set off at the head of the men. My family had in the meantime
recommenced their journey, and I met them approaching the bamboo-bridge.
Soon afterwards I had the satisfaction of seeing them cross it in
safety, under the escort of the llaneros; for it was still entire,
notwithstanding the severe strain put on it.
The doctor and the padre had meanwhile arrived; and having paid their
respects to the general, they promised to rejoin him in the plains, and
then hastened after my family. The doctor, as he was going, told me
that he could not bring himself to abandon his chests, and that he hoped
to find means to carry them in safety down the Orinoco to Angostura,
whence he could ship them to Europe, he having learned that the whole of
that part of the country was in the hands of the patriots.
For a few days I felt very strange with my wild, untutored associates,
but I soon got into their ways; and by never hesitating to perform any
deed however daring, by activity, and unfailing attention to my duties,
I gained their respect, and found that, young as I was, they obeyed me
willingly. I had the satisfaction, too, of receiving the very kind
commendations of the general, which encouraged me to persevere.
By rapid marches and desperate onslaughts we beat the Spaniards wherever
we encountered them; though they were better clothed and disciplined,
according to military notions, and often more numerous, than we were.
By a sudden dash we gained the city of Bogota; and the Spaniards being
driven to the sea-coast, the whole of the mountainous part of the
country declared for the Republican cause. We then descended into the
plains, and lay encamped not far from the banks of the Rio Mita,--one of
the numerous streams which, having their source in the Andes, flow into
the Orinoco. The region was wild in the extreme; the river made its way
between lofty cliffs rising perpendicularly out of the stream, which
rushed down in a succession of cataracts between them.
The troops were engaged in getting ready for the coming campaign, which,
it was expected, would be a brilliant one; repairing saddles, polishing
up their arms and appointments, and breaking-in fresh horses. I was
fully occupied in my various duties; still, I was occasionally able to
take my gun and go into the woods, with one or two companions, for a few
hours. Neither the doctor nor the padre had yet made their appearance--
possibly from not being able to find us--so I had not for long heard of
my family, and was feeling somewhat anxious about them.
I had taken my gun, one day, and was making my way along the bank of the
river, when I stopped to observe one of the curious nests hanging at the
extreme end of a palm-branch. Its structure was very curious; and I
observed that it had a small hole in the side, which served as a doorway
to the owner, a black bird--with an orange-yellow tail--about the size
of a dove. I watched one bringing food to his mate; who put out her
beak to receive it, and then fed her nestlings within. These nests are
equally secure from snakes or monkeys, as neither can descend the
delicate boughs to which they are pendent--nor can, indeed, climb the
smooth stems of the trees. Before me rose a perpendicular cliff, like a
wall of cyclopean masonry, surmounted by trees and shrubs; all around
hung from the wide-stretching boughs a rich tracery of sepos and
creepers of all sorts; vast arums hung suspended in the air, and
numberless gay-coloured flowers; while at my feet rushed, boiling and
foaming, the rapid stream, amid rocks, against which the water broke in
masses of spray.
It was a place where I could scarcely have believed it possible that any
boat, however strongly-built, could have ventured to descend; yet, as I
looked, I saw a canoe or pongo, guided by two natives with long poles--
the one in the bow and the other in the stern--while in the centre sat
composedly, amidst a cargo of cases, a passenger, with his gun placed
before him ready for use. In this passenger, as the canoe shot by, I
recognised my friend the doctor. I shouted and waved to him, and then
pointed down the stream, to let him understand that I would hurry on to
the nearest landing-place and meet him. He waved in return; but the
roar of the waters prevented our voices being heard by each other.
In a moment he was out of sight, so I hastened on, in the hope of
finding before long some calm water where the canoe could have ventured
to put in to the shore. I went on and on, but the water was still
rushing as furiously as at first. In vain did I look for the canoe;
nothing could I see of her, and I began to fear that she had been dashed
to pieces against some of the ugly dark rocks whose tops rose above the
surface.
I had gone a mile or more, when I saw a person approaching, and soon
afterwards the doctor and I were shaking hands.
"I have been a long time in coming," he said; "but I could find no men
to convey my chests to the river: and when, at length, I did find them,
and reached the first navigable portion, no canoe was forthcoming.
However, I was able at last to embark, having engaged two faithful
fellows who promised to pilot me to the ocean, if I wished to go as far.
So you see me here: and if General Bermudez is still willing to accept
my services, I will remain with him."
I replied that, as we were about to recommence operations against the
enemy, I was sure that the general would be glad that he should remain.
I then eagerly inquired about my family.
"They are living in a cottage hastily put up near your old house, which
your father is engaged in rebuilding," answered the doctor; "and I
understand that your uncles are re-roofing and repairing Castle
Concannan."
I asked him if my father had received any intelligence from Don Fernando
Serrano--whether his house had escaped an attack from Aqualonga.
"Yes," he said. "The very day before I left, a messenger arrived from
Don Fernando, bringing an invitation to the ladies of your family to
stay with him while your house is rebuilding; and I believe it was
accepted by your sister Norah, though your mother preferred remaining
with the children in their present abode. The messenger told us that
they had been greatly alarmed by the near approach of the bandit chief;
but that, happily, he was encountered by some of the patriot troops and
put to flight--though he is supposed to be still in arms in the
mountains. Our friend Kanimapo has returned to his tribe, many of his
people, influenced by Spanish emissaries, being in a state of
insubordination."
"I trust that Norah will have a good escort, if she undertakes the
journey," I observed. "I wish that I could have been at home to
accompany her; for with these banditti still in arms on the one side,
and the wild Indians on the other, she would run a greater risk than I
should like her to be exposed to."
The doctor laughed at what he called my brotherly anxiety, and remarked
that the distance was but short; that my father would certainly send
Tim, and probably Gerald, with two or three trustworthy, well-armed
blacks to escort her.
On reaching the pongo, the doctor directed his men to remain where they
were while he accompanied me to the camp. The general was pleased to
see him, and at once sent a mule to bring back his portmanteau,
medicine-chest, and surgical instruments; giving him a free pass for his
men, with a letter to a store-keeper at Angostura, to whom he
recommended him to confide his cases till he could despatch them to
Europe.
Soon after this we were on the march, and were joined by other bodies of
cavalry. I was gratified to see that none surpassed those of General
Bermudez, however, either in their appointments, discipline, or the
appearance of the horses and men.
General Bolivar was at Angostura with most of the infantry regiments of
the Republic, with General Paez and other leaders of distinction; while
the Spaniards held most of the towns on the northern coast. Our object
was to harass the enemy in every possible way: to cut off their supplies
of provisions; to attack their foraging-parties; and prevent them from
communicating with each other. For this work our llaneros were
specially suited.
It was wild work in which we were engaged. Sometimes, in the darkness
of night, we discovered the enemy's position by their camp-fires,--when,
advancing at a slow pace, so that our horses' hoofs might not be heard
till we were close upon them, at a signal from our chief we dashed
forward like a whirlwind, swooping down upon our sleeping foe; and
before a man had time to seize his arms, we were in their midst, cutting
down all we encountered, traversing the camp from end to end, and
carrying off all the horses we could capture,--then galloping off to a
distance, out of the reach of their musketry.
We now heard that the Spanish generals, Morillo and La Torre, had drawn
off their forces from Caracas,--the first to Valencia, and the latter to
Calabozo; leaving but a small garrison in the former city. No sooner
did our active general receive this information, than he resolved to
attempt the capture of the chief city of the province.
Our forces were at once put in motion. Each one carried his own
provisions in his haversack, and forage of some sort was always to be
obtained for our hardy steeds, so that we marched across the country
with incredible rapidity. As the inhabitants of the district through
which we passed were in our favour, no one gave information of our
movements to the enemy; and in a few days we reached the neighbourhood
of the beautiful city--just at nightfall. The greater part of the night
was spent in recruiting our horses and ourselves; and before dawn we
were again in the saddle, pushing on at a rapid rate towards our
destination. We halted but for a few moments, to form our ranks, as the
city appeared in sight. Then the order to advance was given; and almost
before the garrison were aware of our approach, we were rushing through
the gates. But little or no opposition was offered, for the Spanish
troops threw down their arms and endeavoured to conceal themselves.
Those who were discovered were, I am sorry to say, slain without mercy;
and in a few minutes the city was ours.
Most of the inhabitants were in our favour, so that we had no difficulty
in holding it till some infantry regiments arrived to relieve us and
garrison the place.
General Bermudez then led us into the plains of Apure, where the
Independent army was preparing to go in search of the Spanish forces.
On the march the general sent for me, and told me that he wished to send
some important despatches to Bolivar, and asked if I would undertake to
convey them. "There is some danger in the undertaking, for you will
have to pass near places occupied by the Spaniards; but I trust to your
courage and sagacity to avoid them," he observed.
"I am ready to go wherever you desire to send me, general," I answered.
"I knew that I could count on you," he replied in a satisfied tone.
"When will the despatches be ready?" I asked.
"They are already written. Here they are!" he said, putting them into
my hand.