CHAPTER XV.
THE DEPARTURE.
French emigration, in America or elsewhere, has rarely, or, to speakmore truthfully, has never succeeded.
Whence does this result? The Frenchman is brave to rashness,intelligent, and laborious. He laughs and sings continually, supportingwith the greatest philosophy the rudest blows of fortune, and carelesslyconfiding in the future. All that is true. But the Frenchman is nocoloniser; that is to say, under all circumstances, he remains aFrenchman, and does not wish to be anything else.
The French emigrant, when he quits his country, retains always, not onlythe desire, but the intention of seeing it again some day. All hisefforts tend to acquire the necessary sum to return to the village ortown where he was born. No matter whether chance deserts him, he everregards himself as a traveller and not as a sojourner; whatever be theposition he may achieve, his eyes are incessantly fixed on France, theonly country, in his opinion, where men can live and die happily.
Infatuated by his nationality, never willing to make the slightestconcession to the habits, creeds, and manners of the people, with whomhe is temporarily obliged to live, esteeming them as far beneath himselfin intelligence and civilisation, the Frenchman passes through foreignnations with a sardonic smile on his lips, and a mockingglance--shrugging his shoulders in contempt at all that he sees, withouttrying to explain it, and preferring a sarcasm to a good lesson. Henceit generally happens that the Frenchman is not only not loved; but inspite of his open, frank, and merry character, is almost detested, byforeigners.
At San Francisco, the French emigrants--being without any socialities,and composed of individuals of every description, who shunned or triedto injure each other, instead of affording mutual aid--were, we areforced to confess, very slightly esteemed by the Americans, thosecolonisers _par excellence_. A few energetic men had contrivedindividually to make the French name respected.
Count de Prebois' expedition was consequently, in every respect, ablessing for his unhappy countrymen: in the first place by deliveringthem from the frightful want that held them in its iron clutches; andsecondly by elevating them in their own eyes, and in those of theadventurers of every country whom the _mineral yellow fever_ hadattracted to these parts.
The count's enterprise had the result of rendering the French colony, atfirst so despised, highly respectable; and the Americans now began tofeel secretly jealous of it. The enlistment of the French company towork the rich placers of Apacheria, was the important event of the day;it was spoken of everywhere. A number of adventurers burnt to take partin the expedition, and employed every means to gain acceptance.
But, as we have said, the count had laid down in this respect a line ofconduct from which he would not deviate: the principal condition ofenlistment was the fact of being a Frenchman; thus any number of poorfellows was rejected by the count, and many a violent enmity did hecollect on his head, but the count cared little for all the disturbance;he continued his work imperturbably. Thus, as we have said, whenValentine arrived at San Francisco, the company was almost complete, andcomposed of picked men.
The hunter heard the news from his friend's lips, with the greatestsatisfaction.
"Come," he said; "you have lost no time."
"Have I?"
"By Jove! To form a mining company, and collect a body of men in lessthan two months, is no trifle. I congratulate you with all my heart."
"Thank you. Still, without you nothing would have been effected; formark the fact, Valentine, that although I have the richest capitalistsand highest men in Mexico as shareholders in the _Atravida_, not one ofthem would have advanced me an ochavo to pay the expenses of theorganisation, which I was bound to settle alone."
"That is a clever arrangement, brother. You have to deal with cunningshareholders."
"All the better. I will soon prove to them that they did wrong in notgiving me all that confidence I deserve."
"I like that way of revenging yourself. But tell me----"
"What?"
"Have you influential men among your shareholders?"
"What do you mean by influential?"
"Why, men whose political position offers you a certain guaranteeagainst the annoyances which will be inevitably created down there, toprevent the success of your enterprise, and prepare its failure."
"I fear nothing of the sort."
"All the better."
"Judge for yourself. I have among my shareholders the French envoy atMexico, the French consul at Guaymas, the Governor of Sonora, and manyothers."
"Did you not say the Governor of Sonora?"
"Yes."
"Ah, ah, ah!"
"Well?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Yes, you mean something; so speak."
"Indeed, why should I make a mystery of it? Do you know this governor?"
"No. I only know that he is colossally rich, that his name is DonSebastian Guerrero, and he is a general."
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Well, you are mistaken in fancying you do not know him."
"Nonsense."
"Yes; and as it appears, you have even rendered him a great service."
"You are jesting; I never saw him."
"That is your mistake. Like the worthy knight errant, you are, you savedhim from the hands of the miscreants."
"Come, speak seriously."
"I am doing so. In one word, you saved his life and his daughter's."
"I? You are mad."
"Not the least in the world. Indeed the father, and especially the younglady--who, between ourselves, is delightful--entertain the mostaffecting reminiscences of you."
"Who on earth told you that fine story?"
"Who? why the general himself."
"That is a little too strong."
"Come, think a little. About three or four years back, I do not knowexactly which, did you not after leaving Guadalajara----?"
"Wait a minute," the count said hurriedly. "It would be strange if theperson I saved were really the same----"
"Strange or no, it is."
"Well, then, that is famous for us."
"By Jove! We have a powerful friend, who will defend us tooth and nailagainst all comers. That is famous. I really believe Providence isdeclaring for us."
"I did not know that the Mexicans were gifted with so excellent amemory."
"I rather think it is the Mexican ladies in this case."
"No matter; the circumstance is of good augury."
"I hope you will profit by it."
"As much as I can."
"Bravo! And now that your affairs are settled, or nearly so, when do youintend to make a move?"
"I have certain arrangements still to make; so I cannot leave SanFrancisco before ten days."
"Can I be of any service to you?"
"None here; but over there, great."
"That is to say----"
"Are you fatigued?"
"Fatigued of what?"
"Why, of riding about in the fashion you have done, for some time past?"
"Once for all, and let that be carefully understood between us, rememberthat I am never tired."
"Good! Then you can render me a service?"
"What is it?"
"Though I cannot start for ten days, you can be in the saddle bydaybreak, I suppose?"
"Of course."
"You must return by land to Sonora, to deliver three letters I will giveyou, one for Don Antonio Pavo, consular agent at Guaymas, the second forthe Governor of Sonora, and the third for a certain Canadian hunter whomyou will probably find at the Hacienda del Milagro, in the neighbourhoodof Tepic."
"I will do it. Is that all?"
"Yes. You understand that I do not wish to arrive there, beforepreparations have been made for my reception."
"You are right: so I start----"
"Tomorrow."
"You mean today: it is now two o'clock."
"By Jove! That is true. How time slips away."
"Where shall I wait for you?"
"At Guaymas."
"That is understood. Write the letters while Curumilla and I saddle thethree horses."
"Will you take your Spaniard with you?"
"Yes, he will be useful to me there."
"As you please."
Valentine and Curumilla went out, while Louis began his letters.Valentine, after saddling the horses, was conducted to the room whereDon Cornelio was asleep. We must do the Spaniard the justice of sayingthat he offered the most obstinate resistance to the hunter, and it wasnot till he was compelled, that he left the bed in which he slept socomfortably. At length, when Valentine had succeeded, part bypersuasion, part by carrying him, in placing him on his saddle andconfiding him to Curumilla, he returned to the room where he had lefthis foster brother. The letters were ready; and Valentine took them.
"Now, brother, good-bye," he said, "and may you be fortunate."
The two men remained for a long time in an affectionate embrace. Louisknew the hunter too well, to try and induce him to take a few hours'rest; he, therefore, accompanied him to the gate, where the four menexchanged a parting greeting, and, at a sign from Valentine, the horsesstarted at full speed. They soon disappeared in the darkness, but thesound of their horses' hoofs re-echoed for a long time on the hardenedsoil. Louis remained motionless in the gateway, so long as theslightest sound reached his ear, and then went in again, murmuring:--
"A man must be accursed who does not succeed, with such devotedfriends."
The count worked through the whole night, not thinking of taking amoment's rest. The sun was already high on the horizon, and he stillremained bent over the table, writing figures after figures. The dooropened; and the person we saw talking confidentially with the count onthe previous evening entered. Louis started at the noise, but onrecognising his visitor a smile played over his stern countenance.
"You are welcome, consul," he said gaily, as he offered him his hand;"you could not have arrived at a better moment. Have you come tobreakfast?"
"Yes, my dear count; for I wish to talk seriously with you."
"All the better, for I shall keep you the longer. Take a chair, andpardon my being surprised in this state, but I have spent the night inarranging these documents. Deuce take the man who invented writing andaccounts."
The consul, for the gentleman was no other than the Frenchrepresentative in California, sat down, smiling; and, by the count'sorders, an appetising breakfast was served almost immediately. The twogentlemen sat down opposite each other, and began a vigorous attack onthe dishes.
"Well," Louis said presently, "any news?"
"Bad."
"Ah, ah! That worthy Jonathan is yelping, I suppose?"
"Louder than ever."
"Look at that! And why, may I ask?"
"You can guess it."
"Nearly so; but no matter, out with it."
"You are aware that you have made a number of enemies here?"
"Well, it was not my own fault."
"That is true! Well, these enemies are stirring, and making loudremarks."
"About what?"
"Why, you know people can always find something to turn into scandal.They say that the expedition will fail, that you are reduced toexpedients, and that you do not know how to escape from your presentposition."
"Is that all?"
"No. They add, that you have contracted enormous debts, which you willnever succeed in paying."
"Good again!"
"You understand that these calumnies produce a very bad effect."
"Naturally."
"I have therefore come to you, my dear count. I am not rich,unfortunately; still, I have at my disposal some 20,000 piastres. I am ashareholder in the company, and it is therefore my duty to come to itsassistance; so I frankly offer you the money, which may be of someslight service to you."
The count cordially pressed his guest's hand.
"Thanks!" he said to him, with suppressed emotion, touched by thedelicacy of this noble and generous procedure.
"Yes," the consul continued, ransacking his pockets, and producing abundle of notes; "we must silence these scoundrels. Here is the amount."
And he offered the notes to the count, who declined them with a gentlesmile.
"You are mistaken as to the meaning of the word I used," he remarked. "Ithanked you, not because I accept your generous offer, but because itproves to me the esteem in which you hold me."
"Still----" the consul urged him.
"Again I thank you; but all my debts will be paid within an hour. I haveat this moment nearly 200,000 piastres at my disposal."
The consul looked at him, open-eyed.
"But yesterday----?" he said.
"Yes!" the count interrupted him quietly, "yesterday I had nothing,today I am rich. I will explain to you this very simple miracle."
When the count ended his narrative, the consul pressed his handjoyfully.
"Good gracious!" he said, "you do not know, my dear count, what pleasureyou cause me at this moment; you have staunch friends."
"Among whom I may reckon yourself."
"Oh! As for me," he said simply; "that is not astonishing; for am I notone of your shareholders?"
As soon as breakfast was over, the count set out to settle with hiscreditors, or rather those of the company, in order to destroy allexcuse for malevolence, and close the mouth of the envious. After this,the count lost no time in making his final arrangements, and enlistingthe few men he was still short of.
In a word, as he told Valentine when he left him, ten days had scarceelapsed since their nocturnal meeting, ere all the preparations wereended, and the company only awaited a favourable moment to embark andstart.
The day on which the French company embarked for Sonora was a memorableone for San Francisco. The North American, beneath his cold andstraight-laced appearance, conceals a warm and enthusiastic heart. Whenthe Frenchmen entered the boats which were to bear them to the ship, fora moment and as if by enchantment, all enmities were silenced; and anenthusiastic mob, congregated on the pier, accompanied them with shoutsand wishes for success, while waving their hats and handkerchiefs.
The count, as was his duty, was the last to embark. Several of hisfriends, among them being the consul, bore him company. As he leapedinto the boat, the count turned, and pressed the consul's hand inparting.
"Good-bye," he said. "I will succeed, or Sonora shall be my tomb."
"Good-bye, till we meet again, my friend," the other answered. "I willnot say farewell; I feel convinced that you will succeed."
"God grant it," Louis murmured, as he leaped into the boat and shook hishead sadly.
A formidable shout burst from the crowd. The count bowed with a smile,and the boat started. An hour later, the white sails of the ship thatbore the adventurers glistened, like a kingfisher's wing, on thehorizon. The consul, who remained on the beach till the last moment,slowly walked homeward, saying to himself:--
"Whatever may happen, that man is not an adventurer, but a hero. He hasmore genius than Cortez. Will he be equally lucky?"