CHAPTER XXII.
AFTER THE VICTORY.
Never before had a more brilliant victory been gained by troopsnumerically so weak, and under conditions apparently so unfavourable.The Mexican array evacuated Hermosillo in the utmost disorder,abandoning three hundred dead and wounded, baggage of every description,guns, ammunition, and flags. The rout was complete.
General Guerrero, shame on his brow and rage in his heart, fled at fullspeed along the Ures road, pursued closely by the French cavalry. Thecount had made a large number of prisoners, among whom were severalMexican officers.
The joy of the adventurers bordered on madness. Still the brilliantadvantages had not been gained without a sensible loss, regard being hadto the numerical strength of the army. It had lost twenty-two men--anenormous amount, which evidenced the obstinacy of the fight, and thecourage with which the Mexicans had fought. Among the dead the count hadto regret several of his best-beloved officers, brave young fellows, whohad fallen at the head of their sections while urging their men on.
The count, although his clothes were riddled with bullets, had notreceived a scratch: it seemed as if a charm protected him, for no onehad spared his life less than himself during the fight. He had ever beenin the thickest of the action, in advance of his comrades, encouragingthem by word and deed, and only employing his sabre to ward off blowsthat came too near him.
So soon as the battle was over the count proceeded to the Cabildo,whither the Mexican authorities were convened, in order to settle withhim as to the safety of the city. Don Cornelio had not left him duringthe fight: he had done his duty bravely by his side.
"Don Cornelio," he said to him, "I am pleased with you; you behaved mostbravely. I wish to reward you by intrusting to you a mission of thehighest importance. Are you too tired to get on horseback?"
"No, senor conde. Besides, you know that I am a thorough _jinete_."
"That is true. Here are two letters, one for Don Rafael, which you willdeliver in passing the Hacienda del Milagro: when you get in sight of LaMagdalena you will tear the envelope off the other, and carry it to theaddress you will read on it; but in the event of your being stopped ortaken prisoner on the road, that letter must not be found on you, and noone must know its contents. You understand me?"
"Perfectly, senor conde, and if necessary it shall be destroyed."
"Very good. Now get a fresh horse and start without the loss of amoment: it is a question of life and death."
"I start, Don Louis; you will hear of me again."
These words were accompanied by a sinister smile, which passed unnoticedby the count. Don Cornelio left the room, and five minutes later hishorse's hoofs could be heard echoing on the pavement.
At this moment Valentine entered. The hunter's features, usually socalm, were convulsed, and he seemed suffering from extreme agitation. Helooked around him on entering.
"What are you looking for?" the count asked him; "and what is themeaning of the state in which I see you?"
"It means----" Valentine answered. "But stay, better so. Take a glanceat these papers which I seized in the house of General Guerrero."
He handed the count a bundle of letters and other papers, which theother rapidly read through.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, stamping his foot passionately, "such greatingratitude after so many acts of kindness! A thousand devils! this landis, then, accursed, that treason should spring up under every blade ofgrass."
"Fortunately we have the proofs to hand. I will take on myself to arrestthe villain."
"It is too late."
"How too late?" the hunter exclaimed. "Where is he, then?"
"He has set out on a mission of the highest importance, which Iintrusted to him for the leaders of the malcontents."
"Confusion!" the hunter said; "what is to be done? It is plain that thescoundrel will sell our secrets to the enemy."
"Wait. I gave him a letter for Don Rafael, which he cannot fail todeliver."
"That is true: if only to lull suspicion to sleep, he will do so. I willbe off to the hacienda at once."
"Go, my friend: unfortunately I cannot accompany you."
"It is unnecessary. I swear that if this devil's own Don Cornelio fallsinto my hands, I will crush him like the viper he is. Good-by."
The hunter hurriedly left the Cabildo, and a few minutes later, followedby Belhumeur, Black Elk, Curumilla, and Eagle-head, he was galloping atfull speed along the road to the hacienda.
The count then occupied himself, before taking a moment's rest, inorganising the tranquillity and security of the city. As most of theMexican authorities had taken flight, he appointed others, had the deadburied, and arranged an hospital for the sick, the direction of which hegave to Father Seraphin, whose evangelic devotion was beyond all praise.
Posts and main guards were established, and patrols received ordersto march about the city in order to maintain tranquillity--a uselessmeasure of precaution, for the inhabitants appeared as joyful as theFrench. The streets were hung with flags, and on all sides could beheard shouts of "Long live France! long live Sonora!" repeated with anexpression of indescribable satisfaction.
When the count had discharged these imperious duties, his mind being nolonger over-excited by the necessity of the moment, nature, conqueredfor an instant, gained the upper hand with an extreme of reaction, andDon Louis fell back almost fainting into the chair where he had beenworking without relaxation for nearly eight hours. He remained thuswithout help until a late hour of the night, for he had not the strengthto call for assistance.
At length Captain de Laville entered to make his chief a report aboutthe result of the pursuit of the Mexicans. He was terrified at the statein which he found Don Louis; for the count was suffering from a violentfever, attended by delirium. The captain immediately summoned thecompany's surgeon, and the count was laid in a hastily-prepared bed.
The surgeon could not be found, and a Mexican doctor came in his stead.This man declared that the count was suffering from an attack ofdysentery, and made him drink a potion which he prepared at once. Thecount fell into a species of lethargic sleep which lasted ten hours.Fortunately the company's surgeon at length arrived. After a glance atthe count, and examining the few drops of the potion left in the glass,the doctor immediately had eggs beaten in milk administered to thecount, and ordered all his limbs to be rubbed with hot napkins.
"Why, doctor," the captain remarked to him, "what sort of treatment isthis? The physician assured me that the count had the dysentery."
The doctor smiled sorrowfully.
"Yes," he said, "he has a dysentery; but do you know what the physiciangave him?"
"No."
"Belladonna; that is to say, poison."
"Oh!" the captain said in horror.
"Silence!" the surgeon continued. "Let this remain a secret between ustwo."
At this moment the physician entered. He was a plump little man, withthe look of a frightened cat. The captain seized him by the collar, anddragged him into a corner of the room.
"Look here!" he said to him, pointing to the glass the surgeon stillheld in his hand. "Of what was that potion composed you gave the count?"
The Mexican turned pale.
"Why?" he stammered.
"Poison, you villain!" the captain shouted violently.
"Poison!" he exclaimed, raising his eyes and arms to heaven. "Could itbe possible? Oh, let us see!"
He examined the glass with feigned attention.
"It is true," he said after a moment. "_Por Dios,_ what inadvertence!"
The word appeared so precious to the Frenchmen that, in spite of theiranger and alarm, they could not prevent it, but burst into a loud laugh.The little doctor took advantage of this attack of gaiety to escape veryquietly, and could never be found again, though carefully sought for: hehad probably left the city.
Thanks to the intelligent and affectionate care of the surgeon, however,the effects of the poison were neutralised. The count felt a littlebetter, and gave
orders that the company should assemble at once in thepatio of the Cabildo. The command was rapidly obeyed, and within an hourthe company was drawn up under arms in the courtyard. The count camedown, leaning on the arm of Captain de Laville.
"My comrades," he said, "I am ill, as you can see. Still I have calledyou together to inform you of an engagement I have made in your namewith the inhabitants of Hermosillo. I declared that even if you walkedover piles of piastres and ounces, you would not stoop down to pick themup. Was I wrong?"
"No," they all exclaimed; "you were quite right."
"We are no pirates, whatever they may say," the count continued, "andthe hour has arrived to prove it."
"We will do so."
"Thank you, comrades."
The company was dismissed, and carefully kept its promise: not awaist-buckle was stolen by these half-naked men, who for four months hadbeen suffering the most horrible privations.
The count's condition, however, instead of becoming better, grew worsedaily, in spite of the anxious attentions of the doctor and FatherSeraphin, who had posted himself by his bed, and never left him. In DonLouis the mind wore out the body. Since Don Cornelio's departure he hadreceived no news either of the Spaniard or Valentine. Two faithful men,sent to the Hacienda del Milagro, had not returned, and neither DonRafael nor Dona Angela gave a sign of life.
This silence became incomprehensible. On the other hand, the situationof the company was growing daily more serious. The count, master of apowerful city, found himself more isolated than before; the pueblos thatshould have risen did not stir; the man to whom the count had written,and who had pledged himself to give the signal for revolt, gave noreply to the appeal, and remained indifferent to the repeated entreatiesDon Louis made him.
Unfortunately dysentery is one of those frightful diseases whichcompletely annihilate a man's faculties, and for a very long periodthe count was incapable of attending to anything. Senor Pavo had comeat full speed from Guaymas to Hermosillo, ostensibly to felicitate thecount on his gallant exploit, but in reality to be able to betray himwith greater facility.
Don Louis was alone, without friends in whom he could trust, lyingon a bed of pain, internally devoured by a mortal restlessness, anda prey to a profound despair at seeing himself reduced to a state ofpowerlessness, and losing the fruits of his toil and fatigues.
Captain de Laville, the only man in whom he could have trusted at themoment, was attacked by the same illness as his chief, and, like him,was incapable of acting. Senor Pavo skilfully profited by this stateof affairs to sow seeds of disaffection among the Frenchmen. The countwas the soul of the company--the only tie that rendered it compact andunited: in his absence from his duties all went wrong.
A system was then organised in the shade by Don Pavo. This systemconsisted in continual demonstrations on the part of the adventurers,who at every hour of the day came one after the other to lay beforethe count the most absurd grievances, and threaten to leave him. Atlast matters reached such a pitch that it was necessary to come to somedecision.
Two courses offered themselves: the first, to give up the results of thevictory of Hermosillo, and retreat on Guaymas. This was suggested tothe count by the French representative, Senor Don Antonio Mendez Pavo.The second was to await at Hermosillo, while holding their ground byforce and risking a siege, the succours which must speedily arrive fromCalifornia, where they were being rapidly organised. So greatly had thenews of the brilliant victory gained by the count electrified the mindsof the adventurers, and inflamed their imagination.
These two courses were equally repugnant to the count. The first seemedto him shameful; the second impracticable. Still the situation wasgrowing every day more and more intolerable, when at this moment astrange event occurred, which, had we been writing a romance instead ofa history, would have seemed to us too startling for credibility.
The company, incessantly excited by the hypocritical pity of SenorPavo, and the dark intrigues he set at work, had fallen into a stateof perfect insubordination towards the count, and almost open revolt.Seeing that Don Louis was too ill to act vigorously, and incapable ofopposing anything they pleased to do, the men let him know that, unlesshe consented to give the order for retreat, they would leave Hermosilloand abandon him.
The count was forced to yield. General Guerrero had pledged his wordthat the retreat should not be disquieted, Don Louis succeeded inobtaining hostages who responded for the safety of the sick he wascompelled to leave behind, and with a breaking heart, no strength orcourage left, he was borne away in a litter. A reaction took placeamong the volunteers at the sight of their well-beloved chief, reducedto this miserable state, and almost dead of sorrow. They pressed roundhim, swearing obedience and fidelity, and promising him to fall to thelast man for him. A melancholy smile played round the pallid lips ofthe dying man, for these proofs of devotion came too late. The count,crushed by a succession of insults, had drunk the cup to the dregs: heno longer put faith in his comrades.
The retreat commenced. In spite of the general's solemn pledge, it wasan uninterrupted succession of skirmishes; but a final ray of glorywas reflected on the French. The adventurers, aroused by the smell ofpowder, found all their courage once more to victoriously repulse theattacks of the Mexicans, whom they compelled to retreat pitiably, andgive up any further annoyances.
The company camped about three leagues from Guaymas, resolved to forcea passage, and enter that port the next day in spite of any opposition.The count, slightly revived by the prospect of an approaching combat,had fallen asleep after making all his preparations, when towardmidnight he was aroused by the arrival of a flag of truce.
The envoys were Senor Pavo and a merchant of Guaymas, who came on behalfof General Guerrero. They were bearers of an armistice for forty-eighthours; and a letter from the general, who earnestly begged the count tocome to him in order to arrange the terms of peace.
"I consent to the armistice," the count replied. "Let the general sendme an escort, and I will go to him."
His companions objected.
"Why not take your cavalry?" one of them said to him.
"For what use?" he said with discouragement. "I am the only person theycare for: if a trap is set for me, I will fall into it alone."
The adventurers insisted, but he remained inflexible.
"We no longer understand one another," he said to them.
Then he turned to the negotiators.
"Return to Guaymas, gentlemen, and be good enough to tell GeneralGuerrero that I thank him, and am awaiting his escort."
The escort arrived at daybreak, and the count set out, after a last andmelancholy glance at his comrades, who witnessed his departure withaching hearts and tears in their eyes. Henceforth the divorce betweenthe count and the adventurers was accomplished.
General Guerrero, on the count's entrance to Guaymas, ordered thehonours due to a commander-in-chief to be paid him. Don Louis smiledwith disdain. What did he care for these empty ceremonies?
The count and the general had a lengthened conversation together. Thegeneral had not yet given up his projects of seduction; but this time,like the first, the count answered with a positive refusal.
The company was henceforth surrendered defencelessly to the machinationsof Senor Pavo. This man lost no time, and by his advice the adventurerssent as a deputation to the count two ignorant sailors, with orders tocome to a settlement with him at any price. These two emissaries wereselected by Senor Pavo, for the worthy man knew perfectly well what hewas about. The two sailors presented themselves at the count's house,who sent out a message to them that he was engaged at the moment, andbegged them to wait a little while. The ambassadors, ruffled in theirself-esteem, and puffed up with the importance of the mission intrustedto them, left the count's house immediately, swearing at his insolence,and went straight to the palace of General Guerrero.
The latter, advised beforehand, knew what would happen, and wasimpatiently awaiting them. He ordered them to be admitted at once sosoon as t
hey sent in their names, and received them most graciously:then, when he had sufficiently intoxicated them with flattery, he madethem sign--that is to say, make a cross at the foot of--a treaty, inwhich they recognised that, having been _deceived and abandoned ina cowardly manner_ by their chief, they pledged themselves to laydown their arms and quit the country for a sum of _eleven thousandpiastres_.[1] We must confess that General Guerrero made a capitalbargain, for the arms came into his possession. Oh! the Mexicans arefamous negotiators, and, above all, most crafty diplomatists.
Unable to vanquish the company, the Mexicans bought it of twoscoundrels, by the intervention of a third, whose duty it was to defendit.
Thus the Atrevida Company had committed suicide. It effected its owndissolution without even attempting to see once again that chief who hadbeen its idol, and whom it abandoned writhing on a bed of suffering.
We must mention, to the honour of the French plenipotentiaries that, inthe treaty they signed, the liberty of the count was formally guaranteed.
Now let us see by what extraordinary concourse of circumstances thecount, when in such a critical position, was thus abandoned by all hisfriends. How was it that General Guerrero, his obstinate foe, had shownhimself so kind and almost generous toward Don Louis during the lastevents we have narrated?
We will proceed to explain this; but, in order to do so, we must take upevents further back, and return to Valentine and his comrades, whom weleft galloping at full speed along the road to the hacienda.
[1] A little over L2000.