CHAPTER FIFTY ONE.
A GENEROUS ENEMY.
The situation of Don Rafael had now become as critical as was that ofLantejas but the moment before. His pistols had been discharged; hissabre, broken in the battle, he had flung from him; and the only arm ofwhich he could now avail himself was the dagger so near being sheathedin the heart of Don Cornelio.
During the Mexican revolutionary war but few prisoners were taken by theRoyalists; and the cruelties exercised upon those that were, naturallyled to retaliation. On both sides it was a war of extermination. Thelives of captives were rarely spared, even after they had voluntarilysurrendered.
Don Rafael, therefore, had made up his mind to sell his life as dearlyas he could, rather than fall into the hands of his enemies, when one ofthem, an officer, addressing Lantejas, called out, in a voice which thelatter recognised--
"Ah! Captain Lantejas! haste and come this way. The General wishes tothank you for the victory which you have given us."
Don Rafael also recognised the officer, who was advancing at a gallop;and brave though Tres-Villas was, it was not without satisfaction thatthe enemy he saw coming towards him was Colonel Trujano, theex-muleteer.
Trujano, on his side, at the same instant recognised the royalistofficer.
Don Rafael, too proud to appeal to old friendships for protection--evento one whose life he had saved, in return for a similar service--putspurs to his horse, and galloped towards Trujano. With such impetuositydid he ride, that in another instant the two horses would have come intocollision, had not the bridle of Don Rafael's been grasped by a hand--the hand of Lantejas! The Captain, at the risk of being crushed underthe hoofs of both horses--moved by the generosity which Don Rafael hadso lately bestowed upon him--rushed between the two horsemen as amediator.
"Colonel Trujano!" cried he, "I do not know what you mean in saying thatthe General is indebted to me for a victory; but, if I have doneanything that deserves a recompense, I do not wish any other than thelife and liberty of Don Rafael Tres-Villas."
"I ask favours from no one," interrupted Don Rafael, with a haughtyglance towards Trujano.
"You will grant me one--that of giving me your hand," said theex-muleteer, at the same time cordially holding out his own.
"Never to a conqueror!" exclaimed Don Rafael, though evidently affected,in spite of himself, by the action and speech of his generous enemy.
"Here there is neither conqueror nor conquered," rejoined Trujano, withthat winning smile that gained all hearts. "There is a man, however,who always remembers a service done to him."
"And another who never forgets one," repeated Don Rafael, with warmth,at the same time grasping the hand that was still held towards him.
Then the two horsemen drew their horses nearer, and exchanged the mostcordial greetings.
Trujano profited by this occasion to whisper in the ear of his enemy,and with a delicacy which still further moved Don Rafael, whose pride hehad treated with such condescension--
"Go--you are free. Only promise not to cut the hair off the heads ofany more poor women; although it is said there was one whose hearttrembled with pride that the conqueror of Aguas Calientes should sendher such a terrible souvenir. Go!" added he, withdrawing his hand fromthe convulsive grasp of Don Rafael, "deliver yourself up a prisoner atthe hacienda Las Palmas, where the road is open for you, believe me."
Then, as if he had too long occupied himself with the trivial affairs ofthe world, the countenance of Trujano resumed its expression of asceticgravity, and when the eye of Don Rafael was interrogating it, in hopesof reading there the true signification of the last words, the insurgentchieftain called out--
"Let Don Rafael Tres-Villas pass free! Let every one forget what hasoccurred."
Saying this, he formally saluted the Royalist colonel with his sword,who could only return the salute with a glance of the most profoundgratitude.
Don Rafael pressed the hand of the Captain; and bowing coldly to theother insurgents, rode out from their midst. Then, urging his horseinto a gallop, he followed the road that led outward from the plain ofHuajapam.
On finding himself alone, he reduced the speed of his horse to a walk,and became absorbed in a reverie of reflection. The last words ofTrujano--what could they mean? "_The road is open for you, believeme_." Was it an assurance that he should be welcomed at the hacienda ofLas Palmas? Should he proceed thither, as the insurgent colonel hadcounselled him? or should he go direct to Del Valle, to makearrangements for his last campaign against the brigand Arroyo?
Once more had commenced the struggle between love and duty.
Don Rafael would not have hesitated long as to the course he shouldpursue, had some good genius only made known to him a certain fact--thatat that same hour an accident was occurring at the hacienda Del Valle,of a nature to reconcile the two conflicting sentiments that had warpedthe thread of his destiny.
A messenger from Don Mariano--the same who had brought back Roncador toDel Valle--had on that very day again presented himself at the hacienda.This time his errand was one of a purely personal nature--to Don RafaelTres-Villas himself.
"Where are you from?" demanded Veraegui of the messenger, in his usualblunt Catalonian fashion.
"Oajaca!"
"Who has sent you?"
"Don Mariano de Silva."
"What do you want with the Colonel?"
"I can only declare my errand to the Colonel himself."
"Then you will have to go to Huajapam first--that is, unless you preferto wait till he arrives here. We expect him in three or four days."
"I prefer going to Huajapam," rejoined the man "my errand is of such anature that it will not bear delay."
This messenger was on his way to Huajapam, and not more than thirtyleagues from the town, at the moment when Don Rafael was leaving it toproceed in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile Trujano, returning to the field of battle covered with thebodies of his dead and wounded enemies, caused all his soldiers tokneel, and publicly render thanks to God for having delivered them fromtheir long and painful siege. Morelos at the same moment ordered histroops to prostrate themselves in prayer; and then a psalm was sung byall in chorus, to consecrate the important victory they had gained.
Don Rafael was still not so distant from the field but that he couldhear the swelling of many voices in the pious chaunt. The sounds fellwith melancholy effect upon his ears, until the tears began to chasethemselves over his cheeks.
In reviewing the circumstances which had influenced him to change hisline of conduct in regard to this revolution, he reflected that had hegiven way to more generous instincts, and not allowed himself to beforced astray by the desire of fulfilling a rash vow, his voice would atthat moment have been mingling with theirs--one of the loudest in givingthanks for the success of a cause of which he was now the irreconcilableenemy!
With an effort he repulsed these reflections, and sternly resolved upongoing to the hacienda Del Valle, to re-steel his heart over the tomb ofhis father.
A perilous journey it would be for him. The whole province--the capitaland one or two other places excepted--was now in the hands of theinsurgents; and a royalist officer could not travel the roads withoutgreat risk of falling into their hands.
"God protects him who does his duty," muttered Don Rafael, as he againturned his horse to the roads, spurring him into a gallop, in order thatthe sound of his hoofs might drown that pious song, which, by stirringup sad souvenirs, was fast weakening his resolution.
In another hour he had crossed the Sierra which bounded the plain ofHuajapam, and was following the road which led southward to the haciendaDel Valle.