CHAPTER II.
A BARGAIN.
There is in the rapidity with which all news spread, a mystery which hasremained, up to the present, incomprehensible. It seems that an electriccurrent bears them along at headlong speed, and takes a cruel pleasurein spreading them everywhere.
The most minute precautions had been taken by the Jaguar and El Alferezto keep their double expedition a secret, and hide their success untilthey had found time to make certain arrangements necessary to secure theresults of their daring attempts. The means of communication were atthat period, and still are, extremely rare and difficult. Only one man,Colonel Melendez, was at all cognizant of what had happened, and we haveseen that it was impossible for him to have said anything. And yet,scarce two hours after the events we have described were accomplished, avague rumour, which had come no one knew whence, already ran about thetown.
This rumour, like a rising tide, swelled from instant to instant, andassumed gigantic proportions; for, as always happens under similarcircumstances, the truth, buried in a mass of absurd and impossibledetails, disappeared almost entirely to make way for a monstrouscollection of reports, each more absurd than the other, but whichterrified the population, and plunged it into extreme anxiety.
Among other things, it was stated that the insurgents were advancing onthe town with a formidable fleet of twenty-five ships, having on boardten thousand troops, amply provided with cannon and ammunition of everydescription. Nothing less was spoken of than the immediate bombardmentof Galveston by the insurgents, large parties of whom, it was stated,were scouring the country to intercept all communication between thetown and the mainland.
Terror never calculates or reasons. In spite of the materialimpossibility of the insurgents being able to collect so considerable afleet and army, no one doubted the truth of the rumour, and thetownspeople, with their eyes anxiously fixed on the sea, fancied in eachgull whose wing flashed on the horizon, they saw the vanguard of theTexan fleet.
General Rubio was himself very much alarmed. If he did not place entirefaith on these stupid rumours, still one of those secret forebodings,that never deceive, warned him that grave events were preparing, andwould soon burst like a thundercloud over the town. The Colonel'sprolonged absence, whose motive the General was ignorant of, added stillfurther to his anxiety. Still the situation was too critical for theGeneral not to try to escape from it by any means, or dispel the stormthat was constantly menacing.
Unfortunately, through its position and commerce, Galveston is athoroughly American town, and the Mexican element is found there in butvery limited proportions. The General was perfectly aware that theNorth. Americans who represented the mercantile houses, sympathized withthe revolution, and only waited for a favourable opportunity to raisethe mask and declare themselves overtly. The Mexican population itselfwas not at all desirous of running the risk of a siege: it preferred toa contest, which is ever injurious to commercial interests, anarrangement, no matter its nature, which would protect them. Money hasno country, and hence, politically regarded, the population of Galvestoncared very little whether it was Texan or Mexican, provided that it wasnot ruined, which was the essential point.
In the midst of all this egotism and vexation, the General felt the moreembarrassed, because he possessed but a very weak armed force, incapableof keeping the population in check, if they felt any desire to revolt.After vainly awaiting the Colonel's return till eleven o'clock, theGeneral resolved to summon to his house the most influential merchantsof the town, in order to consult with them on the means to protectindividuals, and place the town in a posture of defence, were thatpossible. The merchants responded to the General's summons with aneagerness which, to any man less thoroughly acquainted with the Americancharacter, would have seemed a good omen, but which produced adiametrically opposite effect on the General. At about half-an hourafter midnight, the General's saloon was crowded: some thirty merchants,the elite of Galveston, were collected there.
His Excellency, Don Jose Maria Rubio, was essentially a man of action,frank, loyal, and convinced that in all cases the best way of dealing isto go straight to the point. After the first compliments, he beganspeaking, and without any tergiversation or weakness, explained clearlyand distinctly the state of their situation, and claimed the assistanceof the notable inhabitants of the town to ward off the dangers thatthreatened it, promising, if that help were assured him, to hold outagainst the whole revolutionary army, and compel it to retire. Themerchants were far from expecting such a requests which literallystunned them. For some minutes they knew not what answer to give; but atlast, after consulting in whispers, the oldest and most influential ofthem undertook to reply in the names of all, and began speaking withthat feigned frankness which forms the basis of the Anglo-Americancharacter--a frankness which conceals so much duplicity, and by whichonly those who are unacquainted with the inhabitants of the UnitedStates are at times entrapped.
This merchant, a native of Tennessee, had in his youth carried on nearlyall those trades more or less acknowledgeable, by means of which men inthe new world contrive in so short a time to raise the scaffoldings of alarge fortune. Coming to Texas as a slave-dealer, he had graduallyextended his trade; then he became a speculator, corn-dealer, and allsorts of things. In a word, he worked so well, that in less than tenyears he was in possession of several millions. Morally, he was an oldfox, without faith or law; a Greek by instinct, and a Jew bytemperament. His name was Lionel Fisher; he was short and stout, andappeared scarce sixty years of age, although he was in reality close onseventy.
"Senor General," he said in an obsequious voice, after bowing with thathaughty humility which distinguishes parvenus, "we are extremely painedby the sad news your excellency has thought it right to communicate tous, for none are more affected than ourselves by the calamities of ourhapless country. We deplore in our hearts the situation into which Texasis suddenly cast, for we shall be the first assailed in our fortunes andaffections. We should be glad to make the greatest sacrifices in orderto prevent disasters and ward off the fearful catastrophe that menacesus. But, alas! What can we do?--nothing. In spite of our good will andwarm desire to prove to your excellency that you possess all oursympathies, our hands are tied. Our assistance, far from helping theMexican Government, would, on the contrary, injure it, because thepopulace and vagabonds who flock to all seaports, and who are in amajority at Galveston, delighted at having found a pretext for disorder,would immediately revolt, apparently to defend the insurrection, but inreality to plunder us. This consideration, therefore, compels us mostreluctantly to remain neutral."
"Reflect, Senores," the General answered, "that the sacrifice I ask ofyou is but a trifle. Each of you will give me a thousand piastres; it isnot too much, I suppose, to guarantee the security of your money andgoods? For with the sum you collect, I pledge myself to preserve youfrom all harm by collecting a sufficient number of men to foil anyexpedition made against the town by the insurgents."
At this point-blank appeal the merchants made a frightful grimace, whichthe General did not appear to notice.
"The offering I claim from you at such a moment," he continued, "is notexorbitant; is it not just that in the hour of need you should come tothe aid of a government under whose protection you have grown rich, andwhich, although it would have been perfectly justified in doing so, has,up to this day, demanded nothing from you?"
Caught in this dilemma, the merchants did not know what to answer. Theywere not all desirous to give their money in the defence of a causewhich their secret efforts tended on the contrary to destroy, but whenthus pressed by the General, their embarrassment was extreme; they didnot dare openly to refuse, and wished still less to say yes. It is asingular fact, though perfectly true, that those men who have grown richwith the greatest facility, cling the most to their fortunes. Of all thenatives of the New World, the North American is the one who most cravesmoney. He professes a profound love for the precious metals; with himmoney is everything, and to gain it he wou
ld sacrifice relatives andfriends without remorse and without pity. It is the North American whoinvented that egotistic and heartless proverb, which so thoroughlydisplays the character of the people, _time is money_. Ask what you willof a North American, and he will give it you, but do not try to burrow adollar of him, for he will bluntly refuse, however great the obligationshe owes you may be.
The great American bankruptcies which a few years back terrified the OldWorld by their cynical effrontery, edified us as to the commercialhonesty of this country, which in its dealings never says, yes, and isso afraid of letting; its thoughts be penetrated, that even in the mostfrivolous conversations the people, through fear of compromisingthemselves by an affirmative, say at each sentence, "I suppose," "Ibelieve," "I think."
General Rubio, who had been a long time in Texas, and accustomed todaily dealings with the Americans, was perfectly well aware in what wayhe should treat them, hence he was not at all disturbed by theirembarrassed denials, their protestations of devotion, or their downcastfaces. After leaving them a few moments for reflection, seeing that theycould not make up their minds to answer him, he continued in his calmestvoice and with his most pleasant air--
"I see, Senores, that the reasons I have had the honour of laying beforeyou have not had the good fortune to convince you, and I am really vexedat it. Unfortunately, we are in one of those fatal crises where longdeliberations are impossible. Ever since the President of the Republicappointed me Military Chief of this State, I have ever been anxious tosatisfy you, and not make you feel too heavily the weight of the powerentrusted to me, taking on myself on several occasions, to modify anyharshness in the orders I received from high quarters with reference toyou. I venture to believe that you will do me the justice of saying thatyou have always found me kind and complaisant toward you."
The merchants naturally burst into affirmations as the Generalcontinued.
"Unfortunately it can no longer be so. In the face of this obstinate andunpatriotic refusal you so peremptorily give me, I am, to my greatregret, constrained to carry out literally the orders I havereceived,--orders that concern you, Senores, and whose tenor, I repeat,I find myself utterly unable to modify."
At this declaration, made in a sarcastic voice, the merchants beganshivering; they understood that the General was about to take abrilliant revenge, although they did not know yet what was about tohappen. For all that, they began to repent having accepted theinvitation, and placed themselves so simply in the wolf's mouth. TheGeneral kept smiling, but the smile had something bitter and mocking inits expression, which was far from reassuring them. At this moment aclock, standing on a bracket, struck two.
"Caramba," said the General, "is it so late as that already? How quicklytime passes in your agreeable company. Senores, we must wind up thebusiness. I should be in despair if I kept you longer from yourhomes--the more so, as you must be desirous of rest."
"In truth," stammered the merchant who had hitherto spoken in the nameof all, "whatever pleasure we feel at being here----"
"You would feel greater still at being elsewhere," the Generalinterrupted, with a laugh; "I perfectly understand that, Don Lionel,hence I will not abuse your patience much longer. I only ask you for afew minutes more, and then I will set you at liberty, so be kind enoughto sit down again."
The merchants obeyed, while exchanging a glance of despair on the sly.The General seemed on this night to be deaf and blind, for he saw andheard nothing. He struck a bell; at the summons a door opened, and anofficer walked in.
"Captain Saldana," the General asked, "is all ready?"
"Yes, General," the Captain answered, with a respectful bow.
"Senores," the Governor continued, "I have received from the MexicanGovernment orders to lay on the rich merchants of this town a war tax ofsixty thousand piastres in cash. As you are aware, Senores a soldier canonly obey. Still, I had taken on myself to reduce this contribution byone-half, desiring, as far as in me lay, to prove to you up to the lastmoment, the interest I take in you. You would not understand me; I amvexed at it, but nothing is now left me save obedience. Here is theorder," he added, as he took a paper from the table and unfolded it, "itis peremptory; still, I am ready to grant you five minutes to make upyour minds; but when that period has elapsed, I shall be compelled to domy duty, and you are sufficiently well acquainted with me, Senores, toknow that I shall do it at all hazards."
"But, General," the old merchant hazarded, "your Excellency will permitme to observe, that the sum is enormous."
"Nonsense, Senores; there are thirty of you--it only amounts to twothousand piastres per head, which is only a trifle to you. I made you anoffer to knock off half, but you were not willing."
"Business has been very flat for some years, and money is becomingexcessively scarce."
"To whom do you say that, Don Lionel? I fancy I am better aware of thatfact than anybody else."
"Perhaps if you were to grant us a delay of a month or a fortnight, bycollecting all our resources and making enormous sacrifices, we mightmanage to scrape together one-half the amount."
"Unfortunately, I cannot even grant you an hour."
"In that case, General, it is impossible."
"Nonsense! I feel certain that you have not reflected. Besides, that isno affair of mine: in asking you for this money, I carry out the ordersI have received, it is for your to judge whether you will consent ornot. I, personally, am completely out of the affair."
"Really, General," the old merchant continued, deceived, in spite of allhis craft, by the Governor's tone, "really, it is impossible for us topay the smallest amount."
All bowed in affirmation, supporting the remarks of their spokesman.
"Very good," the General continued, still in a coolly mocking tone,"that is clearly understood, then. Still, you will not, I trust, renderme responsible for the consequences which this refusal may entail onyou."
"Oh, General, you cannot suppose that!"
"Thanks. You heard, Captain?" he added, turning to the officer, who wasstanding motionless by the door; "order in the detachment."
"Yes, General."
And the officer quitted the room. The merchants gave a start of terror,for this mysterious order caused them to reflect seriously, and theiranxiety became the greater, when they heard the clang of arms in thepatios, and the heavy footfalls of approaching troops.
"What is the meaning of this, General?" they cried in terror, "Can wehave fallen into a trap?"
"What do you mean?" the General said. "Oh, I beg your pardon, but Iforgot to communicate to you the end of this order, which concerns youparticularly, however, that will be soon done. I am instructed to haveall persons shot, who refuse to subscribe to the loan demanded by thegovernment, in order to get over the serious embarrassments themalcontents occasion it."
At the same instant, the doors were thrown wide open, and a detachmentof fifty men silently surrounded the American merchants. The latter weremore dead than alive--they fancied they were having a frightful dream,or suffering from a horrible nightmare. Certain that the General wouldnot hesitate to execute the threat he had made them, the merchants didnot know how to get out of the scrape. The Governor himself had made nochange in his demeanour--his face was still gracious, and his voicegentle.
"Come, Senors," he said, "pray accept my heartfelt sympathy. Captain,lead away these gentlemen, and treat them with all the kindness theirsad position claims."
He then bowed, and prepared to leave the room.
"One moment," the old merchant said, quite appalled by the approach ofdeath; "are there no means of settling this business, General?"
"I only know one--paying."
"I am well aware of that," he said with a sigh; "but, alas! we areruined."
"What can I do? You know, and yourselves allowed, that I am quiteunconnected with this unhappy affair."
"Alas," the poor merchants exclaimed in chorus, "you will not kill us,surely, General; we are fathers of families, what will become of ourwives and
children?"
"I pity you, but, unfortunately, can do no more than that."
"General," they cried, falling at his knees, "in the name of what youhold dearest, have pity on us, we implore you."
"I am really in despair at what has occurred, and should like to come toyour aid; unhappily I do not see my way, and then, again, you donothing to help me."
"Alas!" they repeated, sobbing and clasping their hands desperately.
"I am well aware that you have not the money, and there is theinsurmountable difficulty, believe me. However, let us see," he added,apparently reflecting.
The poor devils, who felt themselves so near death, looked at him witheyes sparkling with hope. There was a rather lengthened silence, duringwhich you might have heard the heart throbs of these men, who knew thatlife and death depended on the man who held them panting under his eye.
"Listen," he continued, "this is all I can do for you, and believe me,that, in acting thus, I assume an enormous responsibility; there arethirty of you, I think?"
"Yes, Excellency," they exclaimed unanimously.
"Well, only ten of you shall be shot. You shall select them yourselves,and those you designate will be immediately led into the patio andexecuted. But now ask me for nothing further, as I shall be constrainedto refuse you; and that you may have time to make your selectioncarefully, I grant you ten minutes."
This was a proof of incontestable cleverness on the part of the General.By breaking, through this decision, the agreement that had hithertoprevailed among the merchants, by opposing them to one another, he wascertain of obtaining the result which, without, he would probably nothave secured. For we prefer to suppose, for the honour of the General,whose career up to this day had been so free from excesses, and acts ofthis nature, that the threat of death was only a mode employed to causethese men, whom he knew to be opposed to the government he represented,into undoing their purse strings, and that he would not have been socruel as to carry matters to extremities, and shoot in cold blood thirtyof the most respectable townsmen.
Whatever General Rubio's intentions might have been, however, theAmericans believed him, and acted accordingly. After two or threeminutes' hesitation, the merchants came one after the other, to givetheir consent to the loan. But their tergiversation had cost them athousand dollars a-piece. It was dear, hence we must allow that theyconsented with very ill grace. But the soldiers were there ready to obeythe slightest sign from their chief; the muskets were loaded, and thepatio two paces off. There was no chance of getting out of it.
Still, the General did not let them off so cheaply. The Americans wereled home one after the other by four soldiers and an officer, whoseinstructions were to shoot the prisoner at the slightest attemptedescape, and it was not till the General had the two thousand piastres inhis hands that a second prisoner was sent home in the same fashion. Thiswent on until the whole sum was collected, and the only personsremaining in the saloon were the General and old Lionel.
"Oh, Excellency!" he said, reproachfully, "How is it possible that you,who have hitherto been so kind to us, could have had the thought ofcommitting such an act of cruelty?"
The General burst out laughing.
"Do you imagine I would have done it?" he said, with a shrug of hisshoulder.
The merchant struck his forehead with a gesture of despair.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, "We were idiots."
"Hang it, did you have such a bad opinion of me? Caramba, Senor, I donot commit such acts as that."
"Ah," the merchant said, with a laugh, "I have not paid yet."
"Which means?"
"That now I know what I have to expect. I shall not pay."
"Really, I believed you cleverer than that."
"Why so?"
"What? You do not understand that a man may hesitate to execute thirtypersons, but when it comes to only one man, who, like yourself, has agreat number of misdeeds on his conscience, his execution is consideredan act of justice, and carried out without hesitation?"
"Then, you would shoot me?"
"Without the slightest remorse."
"Come, come, General, you are decidedly stronger than I am."
"You flatter me, Senor Lionel."
"No, I tell you what I think; it was cleverly played."
"You are a judge."
"Thanks," he answered, with a modest smile. "To spare you the trouble ofhaving me executed, I will execute myself," he added, good temperedly,as he felt his coat pocket.
He drew out a pocketbook crammed with Bank of England notes, and made upthe sum of two thousand piastres, which he laid on the table.
"I have now only to thank you," the General said, as he picked up thenotes.
"And I you, Excellency," he answered.
"Why so?"
"Because you have given me a lesson by which I shall profit when theoccasion offers."
"Take care, Senor Lionel," the General said, meaningly; "you will not,perhaps, come across a man so good-natured as myself."
The merchant restored the portfolio to his pocket, bowed to the General,and went out. It was three o'clock; all had been finished in less thanan hour; it was quick work.
"Poor scamps, after all, those gringos," the General said, when he wasalone; "oh, if we had not to deal with mountaineers and campesinos weshould soon settle this population."
"General," said an aide-de-camp, as he opened the door, "ColonelMelendez asks whether you will deign to receive him, in spite of thelate hour?"
"Is Colonel Melendez here?" the General asked in surprise.
"He has this instant arrived, General; can he come in?"
"Of course; show him in at once."
In a few minutes the Colonel appeared.
"Here you are at last," the General cried, as he went to meet him; "Ifancied you were either dead or a prisoner."
"It was a tossup that one of the two events did not happen."
"Oh, oh! Then you have something serious to tell me."
"Most serious, General."
"Hang it, my friend, take a chair and let us talk."
"Before all, General," the Colonel remarked, "do you know our position?"
"What do you mean?"
"Only, General, that you may possibly be ignorant of certain events thathave happened."
"I think I have heard grave events rumoured, though I do not exactlyknow what has happened."
"Listen, then! The _Libertad_ corvette is in the hands of theinsurgents."
"Impossible!" the General exclaimed, bounding in his chair.
"General," the young officer said, in a mournful voice, "I have toinform you of something more serious still."
"Pardon me, my friend, perhaps I am mistaken, but it seems to me highlyimprobable that you could have obtained such positive news during thepleasure trip you have been making."
"Not only, General, have the insurgents seized the _Libertad_, but theyhave also made themselves masters of the Fort of the Point."
"Oh!" the General shouted, as he rose passionately, "this time, Colonel,you are badly informed; the Fort of the Point is impregnable."
"It was taken in an hour by thirty Freebooters, commanded by theJaguar."
The General hid his face in his hands, with an expression of despairimpossible to render.
"Oh! It is too much at once," he exclaimed.
"That is not all," the Colonel continued, sharply.
"What have you to tell me more terrible than what you have just said?"
"A thing that will make you leap with rage and blush with shame,General."
The old soldier laid his hand on his heart, as if wishful to arrest itshurried beating, and then said to the Colonel, in a tone of supremeresignation--
"Speak, my friend; I am ready to hear all."
The Colonel remained silent for some minutes; the despair of the braveold soldier made him shiver.
"General," he said, "perhaps it would be better to defer till tomorrowwhat I have to say to you; you appear fatigued, and a few h
ours, more orless, are not of much consequence."
"Colonel Melendez," the General said, giving the young officer asearching glance, "under present circumstances a minute is worth an age.I order you to speak."
"The insurgents request a parley," the Colonel said, distinctly.
"To parley with me?" the General answered, with an almost imperceptibletinge of irony in his voice. "These Caballeros do me a great honour. Andwhat about, pray?"
"As they think themselves capable of seizing Galveston, they wish toavoid bloodshed by treating with you."
The General rose, and walked sharply up and down the room for someminutes. At length he stopped before the Colonel.
"And what would you do in my place?"
"I should treat," the young officer replied, unhesitatingly.