CHAPTER XVIII.
TREACHERY.
There is one remark which has been often made. It is this: That,generally speaking, men who delight to dabble in gore--whounhesitatingly commit the most atrocious cruelties, and exercise theirpowers in exciting the terror they love to inspire--are cowards; andwhen they happen to meet with effective resistance, their cowardicefalls to a baseness beyond comparison. Jackals and hyenas are ferociousand cowardly; men are jackals and hyenas--the thing is explained.
At the answer of the leader of the strangers, the _mashorqueras_ becameconvulsed with terror. They comprehended that they were face to facewith resolute foes, without having it in their power to retreat aninch. They crowded close to each other, and fixed their eyes in frightand amazement on the six men who, sitting calmly and impassively beforethem, bid them defiance.
Don Torribio alone felt no fear. The man was a savage brute, whomthe smell of blood intoxicated, and who could only breathe freelyin an atmosphere of carnage. Crossing his arms and raising his headdefiantly, he answered the words of the unknown with a long laugh ofcontempt; then, turning to his terror-stricken soldiers:
"Will you suffer yourselves to be intimidated by six men?" he cried."Come, my children; face about. _iVive Dios!_ these _picaros_ dare notstand against us."
The soldiers, aroused by the tones of the voice they had so longobeyed, and ashamed of their hesitation, fell in as well as they could,and formed a line in front of the _rancho._ The lieutenant, puttingspurs to his horse, made him execute a _demivolte_, and resolutelyplaced himself at the head of his troop. The strangers, notwithstandingthe inequality of numbers, did not hesitate a moment, but chargedthe federalists sword and pistol in hand. Don Torribio received thembravely without retreating a foot. Having discharged their pistols,they took to the sword, and in an instant the _melee_ grew terrible. Inspite of their prodigies of valour and gigantic efforts, the strangerswould, in all probability, have had the worst of it, when suddenlyCorporal Luco, who had remained spectator of the fight, with four orfive of his comrades, made his horse bound to the front, and, insteadof ranging himself on the side of the federalists, attacked themvigorously in flank, and came with his comrades to place himself besideDon Leoncio.
This defection of a party of his soldiers raised Don Torribio's ireto seething point--the more so, as the _mashorqueras_, not knowingto what cause to attribute the strange conduct of the corporal andhis comrades, began to suspect treason, to lose courage, and to replybut feebly to the blows of the assailants; who, seeing them falter,redoubled their efforts for victory.
The _arrieros_ and wagoners, having in some measure recovered fromtheir fright, and seeing the favourable opportunity of avenging theinsults and villainies the hirelings of Rosas had so long heapedupon them, armed themselves with anything that fell in their way,and, burning to make up for lost time, rushed headforemost on theirferocious enemies.
But at this very moment loud cries reached their ears. Some fortymounted men entered at full gallop the zone of light proceeding fromthe post house, and, deploying with amazing dexterity and despatch,surrounded the _rancho_ on all sides.
The riders who had galloped up so opportunely for the assailants and soinopportunely for the _colorados_, were Don Guzman de Ribera and his_peones_.
Having left Buenos Aires several hours ago, they ought long before thisto have reached the _rancho_, which lay on the road they had to followin order to get to the _hacienda_ where Don Guzman hoped to meet hisbrother. But at a little distance from the town, Don Bernardo Pedrosahad managed somehow or other to cut his bonds; he slipped off the horseon which he had been placed, threw himself among the tall grasses, anddisappeared before anyone suspected his flight.
Don Guzman had lost a good deal of time in marching for the fugitive,whose traces he could not find, and had only abandoned the pursuitwhen convinced that all his efforts to recover his prisoner were invain. Recalling his _peones_, who were scattered right and left, he hadresumed the road to the _hacienda_, feeling extremely uneasy for theconsequences of his prisoner's escape; for he knew Don Bernardo toowell to suppose for an instant that he would not strain every nerve toavenge the insult he had met with at his hands.
When Don Guzman was still about half a league from the _rancho_, somefugitives, escaped from the massacre, had run blindly among his men,and warned him of what was going on. Without suspecting how importantthese news might be to himself, his natural generosity excited the wishto assist, if possible, the persons engaged in this terrible affray;so Don Guzman, well acquainted with the ferocity of the Buenos-Aireantyrant ruffians, had increased the pace of his horses, and galloped into aid the unfortunate people in their contest with the _mashorqueras._His unexpected arrival decided the affair.
The lieutenant, finding flight impossible, retired step by step,fighting like a lion, and withdrew all his men into the _rancho_,himself remaining last in order to secure their retreat.
Don Torribio--the Butcher, as he was called--scorned to ask quarter.He himself had never granted it to a soul. The extremity to which hefound himself reduced, far from diminishing his courage, had increasedit tenfold. Feeling his last hour was come--that no human aid couldsave him--he resolved to fight to the last breath, and sell his life asdearly as possible.
The _mashorqueras_, following the example of their leader, drew freshcourage from the depths of their despair, and once within the _rancho_,busied themselves in fortifying it, so as to carry on the strife aslong as they could, and to fall after an heroic resistance.
The doors and windows were barricaded with the utmost care; holes wereknocked in the walls; and the ruffians, half-intoxicated with previousand still-continued libations, waited firmly for the attack, determinedto die bravely in the assault their enemies would soon make on the_rancho._
However contrary to their expectations, a long time elapsed withouttheir adversaries commencing the attack. This suspension ofhostilities, which was incomprehensible,--for they were ignorant of allthat was going on outside,--gave them great uneasiness, and made thebravest of them tremble.
Man is so constituted that, however firmly he may have made up hismind to face death--however convinced he may be that his last hour iscome--however prepared for the struggle, the consequences of which heknows and accepts beforehand--if that final struggle is delayed, hisresolution fades, the fever that sustained him dies out, and he beginsto fear, not death, for that he knows to be inevitable, but the agonieswhich he fancies may precede death. He creates a thousand sinisterchimeras; and the unknown danger which threatens him, without his beingable to divine how or whence it will come, appears to him a thousandtimes more terrible than that which he was prepared to face bravely andwith a resolute heart.
The _mashorqueras_ vainly sought, in copious draughts of _aguardiente_,a remedy for the wild terror which gradually overcame them. Themournful silence which reigned around them, the obscurity, wrappingthem up as in a shroud, and the forced inaction to which they werecondemned, concurred, in spite of their efforts, to increase theinvincible terror that had seized upon them. The lieutenant alonepreserved his ferocious energy, and awaited patiently the striking ofthe hour for his last battle.
Let us see what was passing among the assailants, and what hadoccasioned the delay in the assault.
Don Guzman de Ribera, as soon as the soldiers had shut themselves up inthe _rancho_, wished to know, before he finished with the latter, whothe persons were to whom his providential arrival had done such goodservice.
It was not long before his curiosity was satisfied; his brother DonLeoncio, who had recognised him from the first, rushed forward tooffer his thanks.
The two brothers, who had been so long separated, threw themselvesinto each other's arms with tears of joy, and for some time forgoteverything but themselves in the unexpected happiness of meeting.
When the first shock of their sudden reunion was over, Don Guzman tookhis brother's hand, and, leading him apart, uttered the single word,"Well?" with a smile which was in
tended to be gay.
"She is here," said Don Leoncio, trying to stifle a sigh.
"Did she consent to come?"
"It was she who wished it."
"That is indeed astonishing," said Don Guzman.
"Why so? Dona Antonia is one of those rare spirits who never recoilbefore an obligation, however hard it may be, when they know thathonour binds them."
"True. Well, be it so; it is perhaps better as it is and that she iswith you."
"Have you forgotten, brother, what occurred exactly a year ago today,at sunrise, between you and me, when, in a moment of folly, I confessedto you my love for Dona Antonia de Solis?"
"What is the good of recurring to it, brother? We are reconciled now,thank God; and I hope nothing may happen to separate us again."
"Do not hope so, brother," replied Don Leoncio in melancholy accents.
"What do you mean, brother? My wife--"
"Your wife has never ceased to be worthy of you; you will go and seeher?"
Don Guzman hesitated.
"No," said he, at length; "not now; let us first finish with theserascals; then I will give myself up to happiness."
"Let it be so," said Don Leoncio, rejoiced.
Two persons now made their appearance; they were Don Diego de Solis,and Dona Antonia, his sister, and the wife of Don Guzman.
On seeing his wife, who had been compelled to withdraw from BuenosAires in order to escape from the pursuit of Don Bernardo Pedrosa, DonGuzman, notwithstanding his resolve not to make himself known to herfor the present, could not resist the temptation of pressing her to hisheart.
The lady uttered a cry of joy on finding herself once more in herhusband's arms.
Don Leoncio, a few months after the confession he had made to hisbrother, seemed to have forgotten his passion, and had espoused thesecond sister of Don Diego de Solis, four months prior to the day theevents of which we are now recording.
So when Don Guzman was forced into a temporary separation from hiswife, he had not hesitated to confide her to his brother, convincedthat the latter's love for Dona Antonia had changed into honourable andlasting friendship.
"Why have you returned?" said Don Guzman, kissing his wife.
"It was necessary," she replied in a low voice, and suppressing agesture of fear; "my sister herself recommended me to do so."
"It was very imprudent, my darling."
"Oh! I have no fears at your side. Will you not embrace your son, too?"
"Have you brought him with you?"
"I will not leave you again, whatever may happen." Then, bending to herhusband's ear she whispered: "Your brother is as much in love with meas ever; his wife discovered his passion for me, and it is she and DonDiego who advised my return, as my position was growing intolerable."
Don Guzman's eyes flashed fire.
"They did well," said he; "but silence: my brother is watching us."
In fact, Don Leoncio, uneasy at this conversation apart, had guessed,with the intuition peculiar to the guilty, that he was the subject oftheir discussion, and exhibited signs of restlessness which all hisefforts could not conceal. At last, unable to bear the suspense anylonger, he approached his brother, and said to him curtly:
"What are we to do now?"
"Whatever you please," answered Don Guzman, who had been disagreeablyaffected by the sound of his voice after what his wife had told him.
Don Leoncio perceived the aversion his brother felt for him; he bit hislips, but dissembled his resentment.
"It is for you to decide," said he, "since it is you who have rescuedus."
"I am at your service, brother. Don Diego," he continued, turning tothe young man, "I trust my wife to your care. We shall most likelycommence the assault at once. She and her infant must not be exposed todanger."
"Set your heart at rest: I will be answerable for them," said Diego,pressing his hand.
Before he left her, Dona Antonia threw herself once more on herhusband's breast.
"Beware!" she whispered in his ear; "Don Leoncio is meditating treasonagainst you."
"He would not dare!" firmly replied Don Guzman.
"Go; and fear not."
The lady, only half-consoled, followed her brother, and the two soondisappeared behind the bales and wagons.
The two brothers were left alone, and there was a long silence betweenthem.
Don Guzman, with his arms crossed, and his head bent down, was in deepmeditation.
Don Leoncio was watching his brother intently, with a strangeexpression on his countenance, and a sardonic smile on his lips.
At last Don Guzman raised his head.
"Enough of this," he said, "it has lasted too long." Don Leonciostarted: he fancied these words were addressed to him; but his brothercontinued:
"Before attacking these ruffians we must summon them to surrender."
"Can you think of such a thing, brother. These men are _mashorqueras!_"
"So much the greater reason to prove to them that we are not rascals oftheir own kind, and that we practise the laws of warfare, which theyglory in setting at nought."
"I submit, brother; although I know we are only losing valuable time."
Don Leoncio immediately ordered torches of resinous wood to be lighted,so that the besieged might clearly see him; and, tying his handkerchiefto the point of his sword, resolutely advanced towards the _rancho._
When Don Torribio saw the light of the torches, he comprehended thatthe assailants wished to enter into communication with him, andunbarred a window, holding himself in readiness for the parley.
As soon as Don Leoncio got within a pace or two of the door, he halted.
"Flag of truce!" said he.
A window was thrown open, at which the burly figure of the lieutenantmade its appearance.
"What is it you want?" he replied, carelessly leaning his elbows on thewindowsill.
"We demand that you surrender," said Don Leoncio.
"Do you, really?" said Don Torribio, bursting into a laugh; "And why doyou want us to surrender?"
"Because all resistance is futile."
"You think so, do you?" replied the officer, with another laugh; "Tryand dislodge us, and see what it will cost you!"
"Much less than you think."
"Pooh! I should be glad to know how."
"Enough! Will you surrender, or not?"
"It is ridiculous! May the devil embrace me, if you know with whom youhave to deal! Do we ever demand quarter--we, _mashorqueras?_ If wesurrender, you will kill us, that is all. What is the good of it?"
"Then you are determined not to listen to terms?"
"Upon my soul, this is growing too tiresome!"
"You are resolved to defend yourself to the last?"
"_Canarios_, comrade! I should think so; tooth and nail. I will notstay any longer. Be off!"
"Well, we shall have you all soon."
"Try it, _compadre;_ try it. In the meantime, as your conversation haslittle attraction for me, I shall take the liberty of breaking it off.Good luck!"
Saying this, he closed the window abruptly.
Don Leoncio turned to his brother, who had advanced to his side.
"Did I not tell you so?" said he, with a shrug; "Was I mistaken?"
"No; I admit it. Now, having saved our honour, we can act as we please."
Don Guzman leaned towards his brother, and spoke a few words in hisear; the latter smiled, and left him.
The _peones, arrieros_, and wagoners were posted behind the _galeras_,so as to be sheltered from the balls of the besieged. There theyawaited the signal for the assault.
Don Leoncio busied himself during all this time in heaping dry grassand branches around the _rancho._ When sufficient had been collected,he set fire to it, and his men cast their burning torches on the roof.
The fire, fed by the wind, soon extended itself; and in a very shorttime the _rancho_ was enveloped in flames.
The besieged gave vent to a cry of horror; the besiegers replied b
y ashout of triumph.
After all, the _mashorqueras_ had no reason to complain; it was metedto them as they would have meted to others: they were undergoing the_lex talionis._
In the meanwhile, the position of the besieged grew intolerable.Blinded by the smoke and scorched by the fire, which ran up the wallsin long tongues of flame, calcining as they licked them, a sortiebecame inevitable, if they would not be burnt alive.
The lieutenant ordered the door to be unfastened: he opened itsuddenly, and threw himself, followed by his men, into the thickestranks of the assailants.
The latter opened their ranks to receive them, then closed in uponthem, and surrounded them with a circle of steel.
At the moment when the last morsel of wall crashed into the fieryfurnace, the last _mashorquera_ fell, with his head cloven to thechine. All had fallen around Don Torribio, who had fought to the lastmoment with the desperate frenzy which makes a man almost invincible.
The sun rose in his majesty, illumining the savage depths of the Pampas.
The _arrieros_ and wagoners, cowed by the night's work, and dreadingthe consequences, hastened to span the oxen to the heavy _galeras_, andload their mules. Anxious to quit the place, they were soon dispersingin all directions. Don Guzman and his _peones_ remained masters of thefield.
Soon after the attack commenced, Don Guzman was surprised that he didnot see his brother near him; but he did not attach much importance tothe fact, being more seriously occupied with other matters. Now, whenthe affray was over, he burned with desire to see his wife. He wasamazed that Don Diego had not brought her to him as soon as all dangerfor her was over.
But he was not very anxious. Don Diego had probably not wished toexpose the lady to the horror of crossing the field of battle, andsoiling her feet with the blood in which the earth was soaked. Heapplauded his delicacy, and waited a few minutes, during which herepaired the disorder of his dress, and removed the traces of thecombat.
At last he determined to look for his wife, whose long absence began tomake him very uneasy.
Corporal Luco, as anxious as himself, undertook to guide him; he had afaint recollection of seeing Don Diego, accompanied by Dona Antonia,the nurse, and two or three more, going in the direction of a hollow inthe ground at a little distance.
All of a sudden, the two men uttered a shout of sorrow, and recoiled inhorror from the dreadful spectacle before their eyes.
Don Diego was lying on the ground, his chest pierced through andthrough. He was dead; and close to him Dona Antonia and the nurse werelying senseless. The nurse was Corporal Luco's wife.
Don Guzman fell on his knees beside his wife; he then perceived apaper, which she was clutching convulsively in her right hand.
The unhappy man had great difficulty in releasing it from her grasp;some words were written on it. Don Guzman cast his eyes over the lines,and threw himself on the ground with an agonising cry of despair.
The paper contained these words:
"Brother,--You have deprived me of the woman I love; I deprive you ofyour son: we are quits."
"DON LEONCIO DE RIBERA."
No doubts were possible after reading this: Don Leoncio was really theauthor of this odious abduction. He had contrived this horrible pieceof treachery while his brother was coming, in all his confidence, tomeet him. With an incredible refinement of wickedness, and in order toenjoy his revenge to the utmost, he had delayed the stroke, with thedetermination to make it fall on his brother's head like a thunderbolt.
For a long time, Don Guzman remained crouching on the Pampas, holdingin his arms the lifeless body of his wife, whom he tried in vain toresuscitate. He lay there, absorbed in doubts, and trembling; seeingnothing; hearing nothing; lamenting the death of his wife; deprived ofhis child.
He was suddenly roused by a heavy stroke on his shoulder. He raised hishead. A man was standing before him, with a smile on his lips.
"Don Guzman de Ribera," said he, with a mocking salutation, "you are myprisoner."
It was Don Bernardo Pedrosa, with a numerous escort of soldiers.