The Rebel Chief: A Tale of Guerilla Life

"You are welcome, my friend," he said affectionately offering him his hand; "I was impatient to see you, for you are the only man who understands me, and with whom I can talk frankly; stay, set down by my side, and let us talk, if you are willing."

"I find, you sorrowful, General; has anything annoying happened to you?"

"No, my friend, nothing; but you know that for a long time past I have not had much cause for gaiety, I have just left Madame Miramón, the poor woman is trembling, not for herself, dear and gentle creature, but for her children. She sees everything in dark colours, and foresees terrible disasters. She has been weeping, and that is why you find me sad."

"But why not, General, send Madame Miramón away from this city, which may be besieged any day?"

"I have proposed it to her several times, I have insisted by trying to make her understand that the interests of her children, their safety, imperiously demanded this separation, but she refused; you know how dearly she loves me. She is divided between the love she bears me, and her affections for her children, and she cannot make up her mind; as for me, I dare not force her to leave me, and hence my perplexity is extreme."

The General turned his head away, and subdued a sigh. There was a silence. Don Jaime understood that it was for him to turn the conversation to a subject less painful for the General.

"And your prisoners?" he asked him.

"Ah, that matter is all arranged, thank heaven; they have nothing now to fear as regards their safety, now I have authorized them to leave the city and visit their friends and relations."

"All the better, General, I confess to you that I was for a moment frightened for them."

"On my word, my friend, I may now say frankly that I was even more frightened than you, for in this affair it was my honour that was at stake."

"That is true, but come, have you any new plan?"

Before answering, the General walked round the room, and opened all the doors to make certain that nobody was listening.

"Yes," he at length said, returning to Don Jaime.

"Yes, my friend, I have a plan, for I wish to have an end to this once for all, I shall either succumb, or my enemies will be crushed for ever."

"Heaven grant you success, General."

"My victory of yesterday has given me back courage, if not hope; and I mean to attempt a decisive stroke. I have nothing at present to take into consideration; I mean to risk everything for everything, and fortune may again smile on me."

They then approached a table, on which was stretched out an immense map of the Mexican Confederation, with pins stuck into it at a great number of points.

The President continued: – "Don Benito Juárez, from his capital of Veracruz, has ordered the concentration of his troops, and their immediate march on Mexico, where we are shut in, the only point of the territory we still hold; alas! Here is General Ortega's corps composed of 11,000 veteran troops, it is coming from the interior, that is to say, from Guadalajara, picking up on its passage all the small detachments scattered over the country. Amondea and Gazza are coming from Jalapa, bringing with them nearly 6000 regulars, and flanked on the right and left by the guerillas of Cuellar, Carbajal, and Don Felipe Neri Irzabal."

"As for the last, General, you need not trouble yourself about him further: he is dead."

"Granted, but his band still exists."

"That is true."

"Now, these bands arriving from different directions simultaneously, will ere long, if we allow it, join and enclose us in a circle of steel; they form an effective strength of nearly 20,000 men. What forces have we to oppose to them?"

"Well – "

"I will tell you: by exhausting all our resources I could not bring together more than 7000 men, or 8000 at the most by arming the leperos, sir; a very weak army, you will allow."

"In the open country, yes, that is possible, General, but being in Mexico, with the formidable artillery you have at your disposal, more than 120 guns, it is easy for you to organise a serious resistance; if the enemy resolve to lay siege to the capital, torrents of blood will be shed ere they succeed in rendering themselves masters of it."

"Yes, my friend, what you say is true, but, as you know, I am a humane and moderate man, the city is not disposed to defend itself, we have neither the provisions nor means of obtaining them, since the country no longer belongs to us, and everything is hostile to us, except for a radius of about three leagues round the city. Do you understand, my friend, what would be the horrors of a siege endured under such disadvantageous conditions, the ravages to which the capital of Mexico, the noblest and most beautiful city in the New World, would fall victim? No, the mere thought of the extremities to which this hapless population would be exposed, lacerates my heart, and I would never consent to such a measure."

"Good, General, you speak like a man of honour, who really loves his country, I wish that your enemies could hear you express yourself thus."

"Why, my friend, those whom you call my enemies do not in reality exist, as I am perfectly well aware; overtures have been made me personally on several occasions, offering me very advantageous and honourable conditions: when I have fallen, I shall offer the singular peculiarity, rare in Mexico, of a President of the Republic, overthrown by people who esteem him, and bearing with him in his fall the sympathy of his enemies."

"Yes, yes, General, and not so long ago, had you consented to remove certain persons, whom I will not name, all would have been arranged amicably."

"I know it as well as you, my friend, but it would have been a cowardice, and I was unwilling to commit it; the persons to whom you allude, are devoted to me, they love me; we shall fall or triumph together."

"The sentiments you express, General, are too noble for me to attempt to discuss them."

"Thanks, let us quit this subject and return to what we were saying; I do not wish by my fault to entail the destruction of the capital, and expose it to the sanguinary horrors of pillage, which always follow the capture of a besieged city. I know Juárez's guerillas, the bandits who compose them would cause irreparable misfortunes if the city were handed over to them, they would not leave one stone on the other, be assured my friend."

"Unfortunately, that is only too probable, General, but what do you propose doing? What is your plan? Of course you do not intend to surrender to your enemies?"

"I had that thought for a moment, but gave it up: this is the plan I have formed, it is simply – to leave the city with 6000 men, the élite of my troops, march straight on the enemy, surprise and beat them in detail, ere the different corps have had time to effect their junction."

"The plan is really very simple, General; and in my opinion offers great chance of success."

"Everything will depend on the first battle. Gained – I am saved: lost – everything is hopelessly lost."

"God is great, General; victory is not always with the heavy battalions."

"Well, live and learn."

"When do you propose carrying out your plans?"

"In a few days; for I require time to prepare it. Before ten days I shall be in a position to act, and will immediately quit the city. I can reckon on you, I suppose?"

"Of course, General; am I not yours, body and soul?"

"I know it, my friend: but enough of politics at present. Pray accompany me to the apartments of Madame Miramón; she eagerly desires to see you."

"This gracious invitation fills me with joy, General; and yet I should have liked to speak with you about a very important matter."

"Later, later, a truce, I implore you, to business. Perhaps it relates to a new defection, or a traitor to punish? During the last few days I have heard enough of such bad news to desire the enjoyment of a few hours' respite, as the ancient said, 'tomorrow serious business.'"

"Yes," Don Jaime answered significantly, "and on the morrow it was too late."

"Well, I trust to God. Let us enjoy the present. It is the only blessing left us, as the future no longer belongs to us."

And taking Don Jaime by the arm, he gently led him to the apartments of Madame Miramón, a charming, timid, and loving woman – the true guardian angel of the General; who was terrified by her husband's greatness and was only happy in private life, between her two children.

CHAPTER XXXV

JOSÉ DOMINQUEZ

At the end of an hour, Don Jaime left the palace followed by Lopez, went to the house in the suburbs, where he found the Count and his friend, who wholly occupied with their love, and indifferent to the events that were going on around them, spent whole days with those whom they loved, enjoying with, the happy carelessness of youth the present, which seemed to them so sweet, without wishing to think of the future.

"Oh, here you are at last, brother!" Doña Maria exclaimed joyfully. "What a stranger you have grown!"

"Business!" the adventurer answered with a smile.

The table was laid in the centre of the room. The Count's two menservants were preparing to serve, and Leo Carral, with a napkin on his arm, was waiting for the party to sit down.

"My faith, since supper is on the table," Don Jaime said gaily, "I will not let you sup alone with these caballeros, if you will permit me to bear you company."

"What happiness!" Doña Carmen exclaimed.

The gentlemen offered a hand to the ladies and led them to their seats, after which they sat down by their side. The supper began. It was as it should be among persons who had loved and known each other for a long time – that is to say, cheerful and full of pleasant intimacy. Never had the young ladies been so happy, for this unexpected pleasure charmed them. The hours passed rapidly, but no one thought of calling attention to the fact: all at once midnight struck on a clock standing on a console in the dining room The twelve strokes fell one after the other with a majestic slowness into the midst of the conversation, which they suddenly chilled and stopped.

"Good gracious!" Doña Dolores exclaimed, with a slight start of terror, "So late!"

"How time passes!" Don Jaime said carelessly. "We must now think of going."

They left the table; and the three friends, after promising to visit the three recluses as often and soon as possible, at length withdrew, leaving the ladies at liberty to retire. Lopez was waiting for his master under the zaguán.

"What do you want?" the latter asked him.

"We are spied," the peon answered. He led him to the gate and noiselessly pulled back the bolt.

Don Jaime looked out. Exactly opposite the gate a man was standing, almost confounded with the darkness that prevailed in a hollow formed by the scaffolding of a house under repair. It would have escaped any less piercing glance than that of the adventurer.

"I believe you are right," Don Jaime said to the peon. "In any case, it is urgent to make sure, and I will undertake it," he added between his teeth, with a terrible expression. "Change cloak and hat with me. You will accompany these caballeros. The man saw three persons enter, and he must see three depart. Now mount and be off."

"But," said Dominique, "I fancy it would be more simple to kill the man."

"That may happen," Don Jaime answered; "but I wish to make certain beforehand that he is a spy: I do not care to commit a mistake. Do not be anxious about me, within half an hour I will join you again and inform you of what has taken place between this man and myself."

"Good-bye for the present, then," the Count said, shaking his hand.

"Good-bye."

They then went out, followed by Leo Carral and the Count's two servants. Doña Maria's old servant closed the gate with a bang, but was careful to open it again noiselessly. Don Jaime placed himself at the wicket, whence it was easy to watch all the movements of the supposed spy. At the noise caused by the departure of the young men, the latter eagerly bent forward, doubtless to remark the direction they followed, and then returned to his dark corner, where he resumed his statuesque immobility. Nearly a quarter of an hour passed ere the man made the slightest movement. Don Jaime did not lose him out of sight. At length he cautiously emerged from his hiding place, looked carefully around him, and reassured by the solitude of the street, he ventured to take a few steps forward; then, after a moment's hesitation, he boldly advanced toward the house, crossing the street in a straight line. Suddenly the gate opened and he found himself face to face with Don Jaime. He made a sudden backward movement and tried to fly, but the adventurer seized his arm which he held as in a vice, and dragging him after him, in spite of the obstinate resistance he offered, he drew him up to a statuette of the Virgin placed in a niche above a shop, in front of which some tapers were burning, and then, with a backhander he knocked off his prisoner's hat and curiously examined his features.

"Ah, Señor José Dominquez," he said an instant after, in an ironical voice, "is it you? ¡Viva Dios! I did not expect to meet you here."

The poor wretch looked piteously at the man in whose power he was, but made no answer. The adventurer waited a moment, then seeing that his prisoner was decidedly determined, on not answering him, he said, as he gave him a rough shake: —

"Come, scoundrel, are you going to answer or no?"

The prisoner gave a hollow groan.

"It is El Rayo or the Fiend!" he muttered in horror, as he looked despairingly at the masked face of the man who held him so securely.

"It is certainly one or the other," the adventurer continued with a laugh. "So you are in good hands and need not feel alarmed. Now be good enough to tell me how it is that you, a guerillero and highway robber, have become a spy and doubtless an assassin, if necessary, in this capital."

"Misfortunes, Excellency. I was calumniated. I was too honest!"

"You? Hang me if I believe a word of it. I know you too thoroughly, scoundrel, for you to try to deceive me. Hence decide to tell me the truth, and that at once, without further subterfuge, or I will kill you like the cowardly zopilote you are."

"Would you have any objection, Excellency, to hold my arm not quite so tightly? You are twisting it so cruelly, that it must be broken."

"Very good," he said, loosing his hold; "but make no attempt to fly, for you would suffer for it. Now speak."

José Dominquez, on feeling himself delivered from the adventurer's rough grasp, gave a sigh of relief, shook his arm several times, in order to re-establish the circulation, and then decided on speaking.

"I will tell you first, Excellency," he said, "that I am still a guerillero, and have risen to the rank of lieutenant."

"All the better for you. But what are you doing here?"

"I am on an expedition,"

"On an expedition, alone, in Mexico? What! Are you laughing at me, villain?"

"I swear, on the share I hope in Paradise, that I am telling you the strict truth, Excellency. Besides, I am not here alone; my captain accompanies me, and it was by his express orders I came."

"Ah, ah! And who is this captain?"

"Oh, you know him, Excellency,"

"That is probable. But he has a name, I suppose?"

"Certainly Excellency. He is Don Melchior de la Cruz."

"I suspected it. Now I can guess all. You are ordered to spy Doña Dolores de la Cruz, I suppose?"

"Yes, Excellency."

"Good, what next?"

"Well, that is all, Excellency."

"Oh, no, it is not, my scamp; there is something more yet."

"But I assure you – "

"Ah, I see I must employ a grand method," he said, coldly, cocking a pistol.

"Why, what are you doing, Excellency?" he exclaimed, in terror.

"I should think you can see that I am simply preparing to blow out your brains. Hence, if you wish to try and commend your soul to Heaven, make haste and do it, as you have only two minutes left to live."

"But that is not the way to make me speak," he said, with simplicity.

"No," the adventurer answered, coldly; "but it will make you hold your tongue."

"Hum," he said, "you employ such excellent arguments, Excellency, that it is impossible to resist you. I prefer telling you everything!"

"You will act wisely."

"Well, this is the matter in a few words. I was not only ordered to watch Doña Dolores, but also the old and young ladies with whom she resides, as well as all the persons who visit them."

"Hang it all! That was work enough for one man."

"Not too much, Excellency. They hardly receive any visits."

"And since when have you carried on this honourable trade, scoundrel?"

"About ten or twelve days, Excellency."

"So, then, you were one of the bandits who attempted to enter the house by main force?"

"Yes, Excellency, but we did not succeed."

"I know it. Are you well paid by your employer?"

"He has not given me anything yet, I must allow; but he has promised me fifty ounces."

"Oh! Promises cost Don Melchior nothing. It is easier to promise fifty ounces than to give ten piastres."

"Do you think so, Excellency? Is he not rich?"

"He? He is poorer than yourself."

"In that case he must be badly off, for up to the present all my savings consist of debts."

"I really think you are a precious ass, and that you deserve what has happened to you."

"I! Excellency?"

"Hang it! Yes, who else? What, scoundrel! You attach yourself to a villain who has not a farthing – who is hopelessly ruined, instead of taking side with those who could pay you."

"Who are they, if you please, Excellency? I confess that I have very long fingers, and would serve such persons enthusiastically."

"I do not doubt it. Do you fancy that I am going to amuse myself by giving you advice?"

"Ah! if you would, Excellency, I should be delighted to serve you."

"You? Nonsense."

"Why not, Excellency?"

"Hang it! As you are the enemy of those whom I love, you must be my enemy too."

"Oh! If I had only known it!"

"What would you have done?"

"I do not know, but certainly I should not have played the spy on them. Employ me, Excellency, I implore you."

"You are fit for nothing."

"Try me, and you will see, Excellency; that is all I say."

The adventurer pretended to reflect. José Dominquez anxiously waited.

"No," he said at last; "you are a man who cannot be trusted."

"Oh, how badly you know me, Excellency, when I am so devoted to you!"

The adventurer burst into a laugh.

"That is a devotion which has sprung up very rapidly," he said. "Well, I consent to make a trial: but suppose you deceive me?"

"It is enough, Excellency: I know you; you will be contented with me. What do you want?"

"You will only have to turn your dolman, that is all."

"Good, I understand, that is easy: my master will not take a step without your being warned of it."

"Good! Has not our dear Don Melchior an intimate friend?"

"Yes, Excellency, a certain Don Antonio Cacerbas. They are united like the fingers of a hand."

"There will be no harm in your watching him, too."

"I am quite willing."

"And as all trouble deserves payment, I will give you half an ounce in advance."

"Half an ounce?" he exclaimed, with a radiant look.

"And as you are in want of money, I will advance you twenty days' pay."

"Ten ounces! You will give me ten ounces, Excellency! To me! Oh! It is impossible!"

"It is so possible that here they are," he continued, taking them from his pocket, and placing them in José's hand.

The bandit clutched them with a movement of feverish joy.

"Oh!" he exclaimed; "Don Melchior and his friend had better look out."

"Be adroit, for they are clever."

"I know them; but they have to do with a cleverer fellow: trust to me for that."

"That is your business. At the slightest mistake, I give you up."

"I do not fear that happiness."

"Did you not allude to the dexterity of your fingers?"

"Yes, I did, Excellency."

"Well, if by chance these gentlemen let any papers of importance fall, you will do well to pick them up and bring them to me at once. I am of a very curious nature."

"Enough. If I do not find any lying about, I will look for them."

"That is a good idea, which I approve of. Ah! Remember this: the papers count separately. Each of them, if worth it, will fetch you three ounces. If you make a mistake it will be all the worse for you, as you will receive nothing."

"I will take my precautions, Excellency. Now will you be kind enough to tell me where I can find you when I have communications to make, or papers to deliver?"

"That is very easy. I walk every afternoon from three till five along the canal de Las Vigas."

"I will be there."

"Pray be prudent."

"As an opossum, Excellency."

"Good-bye: watch attentively."

"Excellency. I have the honour to salute you."

They separated. Don Jaime, after ordering his sister's old servant who, during the whole of this conversation had held the gate open to go in and secure it on the inside, proceeded toward the residence of the young man rubbing his hands. The Count and his friend, disturbed by Don Jaime's long absence, were awaiting him with a feeling of lively anxiety, they were already preparing to go in search of him, when he entered: they received him with warm testimonies of joy, and then asked him about his expedition. Don Jaime saw no reason for keeping them in ignorance of what had taken place, and he repeated to them in detail his conversation with José Dominquez, and how he had led him to betray his master. This narrative greatly amused the young men. The three remained together till daybreak: shortly before sunrise they separated, Don Jaime's last remark on leaving them being the following:

"My friends, though my conduct may seem to you so extraordinary, do not judge of it yet: in a few days at the most, I shall strike the great blow which I have been preparing for so many years. Everything will then be explained to you, whatever the result may be, and hence be patient, for you are more interested than you suppose in the success of this affair: remember what you promised me and hold yourselves in readiness to act when I claim your assistance. Farewell."

He pressed their hands affectionately and withdrew, a whole week passed away without any events worthy of record. Still a dull anxiety prevailed in the city: numerous meetings in which all the new political movements were discussed, were held in the squares and in the streets. In the mercantile quarters of the city, the shops were only opened for a few hours, and provisions became more and more scarce, and consequently dearer, as only a few Indians came to the city and brought very little with them. A vague agitation, without any known or definite cause prevailed among the population: it was felt that the critical moment was approaching and that the storm; so long suspended over Mexico would soon burst with; a terrible fury.

Don Jaime, apparently at least, led the idle life of a man whom his position places above all accidents, and for whom political events possess no importance: he strolled about the squares and streets, smoking his cigar, listening to everything that was said with the simplicity of a believer, accepting as true all the monstrous absurdities invented by the novelists of the street corners, and not saying a word himself. Every day he took a walk on the canal de Las Vigas, accident made him meet José Dominquez, they conversed for a long time while walking side by side, and then separated apparently mutually satisfied. For the last two or three days, however, Don Jaime had not seemed so pleased with his spy, sharp words and covert threats were exchanged between them.

"My friend José Dominquez;" Don Jaime said to his spy at the six or seventh interview he had with him: "take care; I fancy I can perceive that you have been trying to play a double game, I have a fine nose as you are aware, and scent treachery."

"Oh, Excellency," José Dominquez exclaimed, "you are mistaken; I am on the contrary most faithful, be assured of that, for men do not betray a generous caballero like yourself."

"That is possible; at any rate you are warned, and act accordingly; and mind not to forget to bring me tomorrow the papers you have promised me for the last three days."