Beadle's Dime Library No. 151 — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

--- -——— ee ow =~ met hteamaties : _ a —_—— A A A AR pw pte lions, and those who fall into our power m eternally bear the mark of our powerful claws. What this man has done for an object honorable in his eyes, another might be tempted to do to satisfy a sordid passion. Death is 8 the end of life, a moment to endure; many men desire it, through wearin orn Don Lopez has himself told us that he wished to give us Speer ys lesson; and he is not mistaken, for we rofit by it. In kill- ing him we should but accomplish his dearest wish, as self said; let him live, as we desire to punish Nisa, bus let that life he retains be such a burden to so miserable, that he may forever regret not having fallen beneath our daggers; this man is young, handsome, rich, and honored by his fellow- citizens; let us deprive him, not of his riches, for that is not in pur power, but of his beauty, that flower of youth of which he is so proud, make him the most wretched and despicable being in cre- <Sem. that way our vengeance will be complete; we have attained our object by imprinting a just terror on the hearts of those who may be tempted hereafter to follow his example.” The conspirators, despite all their resolution and ferocity, ced a secret terror on hearing the savage words of their chief, whose gloomy counte- nance reflected a terrible energy. “ Don Lopez Hidalgo d'Avila," the Jaguar contin- ued, in a hollow voice, “traitor to your brothers, your false tongue will be plucked out and your ears cut off. Such is the sentence which I, the chief of the oom, pase on you; and in order that everybody may know that you are a traitor, a T will be cut on your forehead between your eye- brows.”’ This sentence caused a momentary stspor among ell burst from the company; but soon a tiger-like all their panting chests, oat was with a tremor of ferocious joy that these men prepared to out the atrocious sentence pronounced by their Chief. vain to burst the bonds The a st led oat eld him. vain he demanded death with cries. As the Jaguar had said, the lion's paw was on him; the co in the sentence was An hour later, Don ing and mutilated, was de ted at the door of the vernor’s palace. On his chest was fastened a on which were written in blood the “CopaRDE! TRAIDOR!"’ After this fearful execution, the conspirators con- tinued their meeting as if nothing extraordinary had interrupted them. But the Jaguar’s revenge was irators we exorable, and out ina its rigor. d’Avila, bleed- two words: f least pertiatiy' for when the unhappy vic- tim was picked up at daybreak he was dead. Don Lopez had found the strength and to dash cou out his brains against the wall of the then! near which he had been thrown as an unclean animal. CHAPTER XVII. THE PULQUERIA. THE same day on which we resume our narrative, - on the firing of the cannon from the fort that com- mands the entrance to the port of Galveston, to an- nounce the setting of the sun, whose glowing disk had just disappeared in the sea, coloring the horizon with a ruddy hue for a long distance, the town, which had, during the “4 been plunged into a mournful torpor owing to the heat, woke up ali at once with lengthened and joyous clamor. The streets, hitherto solitary, were peopled asif by enchantment by an immense crowd, which emerged in disorder from all the houses, so r were they to breathe the fresh air of evening which the sea breeze ht up on its humid wing; the shops were opened and lit up with an infinite number of colored paper lamps. Ere long there was in this town, where, scarce an hour earlier, such silence and solitude pre- vailed, a medley of individuals of all classes and countries, all “vere d in Pye poten oe rey women ue wrap n rebdozos, dart- ing to the right and left provocative glances; ) = ambulating tradesmen vaunting their merchandise, and serenos, armed to the teeth, trying to maintain good order. All of this crowd came and went, and ne and elbowing and laughing, sing- shou and quarreling, making the dogs bar the children cry. . Two rouse gentlemen dressed in the simple but graceful orm of officers of the United States navy, who were coming from the interior of the town, forced their way with some difficulty through the crowd that impeded their every step on the port, as they proceeded toward the pier, where a 8 number of boats of all shapes and sizes were tied up. ) had scarce reached the landing-place ere the were surrounded by some twenty boatmen, who of- ¢ their services, while ex rating in their P bo af fashion the surp ng qualities and speed of their boats, doing so in the bastard patois which belo to no language, butis formed of words culled hap-hazard from all, and by means of which, in every seaport, the le of the country and strangers contrive to understand each other, and which is called in the Scales of the Levant the linguafranca. After giving a careless glance at the numerous skiffs dancing before them, the officers abruptly dis- missed the boatmen by peremptorily declining their services; but they did not get rid of them till they had told them they had a t of their own, and scattered some cha among them. The boatmen withdrew, half vexed, half satisfied, and the officers were at length left alone on the jetty. We have said that the sun had set for some time, ‘nd hence the night was gloomy. Still, the two of- in order, doubtless, to assure themselves that the darkness concealed ne SPY, walked several times up and down the jetty, while conve to- gether io a low voice, and examining with the most scrupulous attention those spots which might have afforded shelter to any one. They were ce alone. One of them then drew from his breast one of those silver whistles, such as boatswains employ on board ships,and then produced a soft and pro- longed note thrice repeated. A few moments passed and nothing proved to the officers that their signal had been heard. At last, a soft whistle traversed the air and expired on the ears of the two men who were listening, with bodies bent forward and faces turned to the sea. ‘They are coming,’ said one. They carefully wrapped themselves in their cloaks & *. the damp sea_ breeze; to guard themselves | ; they leaned against an old gun that served to tie boats up, and rem ed motionless as statues. A few min- utes passed thus; the noises of the town bly died out, and the promenaders, driven away by the coolness of the night, quitted the seashore for the interior of the town, The beach was soon completely deserted— two officers alone remained le against the gun. At length a remote sound, scarcely perceptible, but which practiced ears could r se, rose from the sea. is sound became ually more and more distinct, and it was easy, ly for sailors, to e sharp and cadenced sound of oars ss t the tholes and dipping into the sea; although these oars, judging from the sound, wapee muffed, and employed with the utmost cau- on, In fact, the boat itself, ore long became visible. Its long black outline stood cut in the luminous line traced by the moon on the waves, as it yr ge the jetty at rene speed, The two officers bent forward cu merge A, ut did not leave the post of ob- servation they selected. On coming within pistol-shot, the boat stopped. Suddenly, a rough voice, lowered prudently, however, rose in the silence, singing the first verse of a song well known in these parts; ** Que rumor Lejos suena, e el silencio En ol serena Negra noche interrumpio?"’ * The man who was singing had scarce finished these five lines ere one of the officers took up the song in a sonorous voice; doubtless replying to the signal made him by the steerer of the t; ** Es del caballo la veloz carrera, naeeee en el emape veer aspero rugir de hambrienta flera, O el sibido tal vez del aquilon?”’ t¢ There was a delay of a few seconds, during which no other sound was audible. The boat pulled up alongside the jetty; the officers had left their place of shelter, and hurried to the end of the jetty. There a man, dressed in sailor's garb, with an oil-skin souwester, whose large brim concealed his features, was standing motionless, with a pistol in either hand. “ Patria!"’ he said, sharply, when the officers were only two es from him. ** Libe I they answered, without hesitation. ‘* Viva Dios!"’ the sailor said, as he returned his pistol to the leather belt that passed round his hips; : that brings you, Don Serapio, and you too, Don Cristoval,”’ ‘** All the better, Ramirez,’’ said the officer address- ed as Serapio. “Have you any news, then?’’ his comrade asked, curiously. “Excellent, Don Cristoval, excellent,’’ Ramirez answered, as he rubbed his hands gleefully. **Oh, oh!" the two officers muttered, as they ex- changed a glance of satisfaction; “ tell us it, then, Ramirez."’ The latter took a suspicious glance around. *T should like to do so,” he said, ‘* but the place where we are does not seem at all propitious fora conversation of the nature of the one we have before us.”’ “That is true,’’ said Don Serapio: ‘* but what pre- vents us getting into your boat? There we can at ease.” But Ramirez shook his head. ‘* Yes,” he said; ** but then weshould have to push off; and I am no more anxious than I presume you to be, to be discovered and hailed by some guard- boat.”’ “That is true,” Don Cristoval objected; ‘*we must | the Ww find other and less perilous means for conversing, without fear of indiscreet ears.” ‘* What o'clock is it?’’ Ramirez asked. Don Serapio struck his repeater. “* Just ten,’ he answered, “‘Good: in that case we have time, since the affair does not come off till midnight. Follow me. 1 know a pulqueria where we shall be as safe as on top of the Coffre de Perote.”’ ‘**But the boat?’’ Don Cristoval objected. ‘Be at your déase—it is commanded by Lucas. However clever the Mexicans may be, he is the man to play at hide-and-seek with them for the entire nigbt; besides, he has my instructions.” he officers bowed, but made no further remark. The three men then set out, Ramirez walking a few paces in advance of his companions. Although the — was so dark that it was impossible to distin- gu ag ge ten paces off, the sailor proceeded hrough the narrow and winding streets of the town with as much certainty and ease as if traversing it in broad daylight, in the t sunshine. Close to the Cabildo, the corner of the Plaza Mayor, stood a species of cabin, built of ships’ age eg | nailed together, which offered, in he stifling 1 Cay hours,a precarious shelter to the leperos and idlers of all sorts, who collected there to smoke, drink mezcal, or play at monte, that game so beloved by Spanish-Americans of all c ; The interior of this suspicious rancho, honored with the name of pulqueria, corresponded perfectly with the miserable aspect of the rior. a room, only lighted by the dubious gleam of a smo candil, a number of individuals, with ferocious countenances, dressed in filthy rags, and armed to the teeth, were collected round a few planks laid across empty barrels, and serving as atable. These men were drinking and playing with that Mexican coolness which no event, however serious it may be, succeeds in disturbing, and staking piles of gold, which they drew from their patched calzoneras. It was in front of this unclean pot-house, from the with pestilential emanations, that Ramirez stopped. ‘Where the deuce are you taking us?” Don * What rumor resounds in the distance which interrupts the placid silence of the dark night? t Can it be the rapid o— of a horse urged along a narrow road—or the ferocious howling of a starv- ing beast of prey—or, perchance, the whistling of the north-west wind? ‘ é ‘. . - + on > 2 <-eats 4 2 72 — i LT ee St ——-Sseesssteceseseee ' Serapio asked him, with an ni of disgust he could not master at the repulsive appearance of this den. The sailor laid a finger on his lip. “Silence!” he said, ‘you shall know. Wait for me here an instant, but be careful to keep in the shade, so as not be be seen; the customers of this honest establishment have such numerous reasons to distrust spies, that if they saw you suddenly ap- pear among them, they might be capable of playing you & -" ‘*Why enter such a den as this?” Ramirez smiled craftily. ‘*Do you fancy, then,"’ be said, “that if I had only some news to tell you, I should have brought you here?” ** Why else, then?”’ * You will soon know; but I can tell you nothing at this moment.”’ = on, then, as it is so; still, I beg you not to eae us too long at the door of this disgusting ouse.”’ ‘‘ All right, I will only go in and come out again.” Then, after again fetonimending the officers to be prudent, he pushed the door of the pulqueria, which at once cpenes. and he went in. In the darkest corner of the room two men, almost completely hid- den by the dense cloud of smoke that rose over the heads of the Lege carefully wrap in their zarapes of In manufacture, with the brim of their hats pulled down over their Cres, and leaning on their long rifles, whose butts re on the floor of the room, were whispering in each other's ear, while taking, at intervals, anxious glances at the leperos assembled a few paces from them, e gamblers, fully engaged, did not dream of watc the strangers, who, however, from their martial demeanor, and the cleanliness of their at- tire, formed a striking contrast to them, and evi- dently did not belong to the company that usually assembled at this rancho; hence the s had very unnecessa taken their precautions to es- cape from inquisitive looks, supposing such were their object. Eleven o'clock struck from the Cabildo; at the same moment a form appeared in the doorway. This man stopped, took Teg « glance round the room, and then, after a slight hesitation, doubtless caused by the difficulty of in the crowd the persons he wished to see, he entered the rancho, and walked hastily toward the strangers. The latter turned at the sound of his footsteps, and gave a start of joy on recognizing him. e need a say it was Ramirez. The three men shook han with an expression of pleasure which proved that with them it was not a mere act of politeness, such as are so greatly abused in what is called the civilized life of towns. ** Well,”’ Ramirez asked, “‘ what have you done?"’ ‘** Nothing,’’ one of the men answered, “we were waiting for you,” ‘“‘And those scoundrels?”’ ; ‘Are already more than three ruined.”’ ‘All the better; they will march with greater im- petuosity.”’ “They must soon see the bottom of their purses.” ‘**Do you think so?” “Tam sure of it; they have been playing since eight in the morning, so the nr, apa says.” ** Without leaving off?” the sailor said, in surprise, “They have not ceased for an instant.”’ ‘* All the better.” ‘““By the by,’’ one of the strangers, remarked, “have you come alone? Where are the men you promised to bring?”’ > al are here, and you will see them in a mo- ent.” “Very good.” ‘*I was obliged to employ stratagem to induce em to follow me here.”’ os did you not bring them in at once?” “IT should be very sorry to do so, at least for the present. They are cool and steady naval officers, whose smile, under all circumstances, re- sembles a grimace, so close do they keep their lips. The free-and-easy manner of our worthy associates,”’ he added, ‘‘ might possibly displease them." “ But when the master arrives?” ‘Oh, then the affair will rest with him alone,” At the same moment a sharp whistle was heard outside, and the gamblers sprung up as if they had received an electric shock. Ramirez bent down to the two men, * Here he is,” he said; “I shall be back di- rectly.” “Where are you going?’ one of the strangers asked, s ; ‘*To join those who are waiting for me.” And winding through the groups, the sailor left the pulqueria unnoticed. Ramirez had hardly left the room, ere the door was burst open by a violent blow, and a man rushed in. All present took off their hats, as if by common agreement, and bowed respecttully. > “a will give, in a few words, a portrait of this new personage, who is destined to play a most im- rtant part in this narrative. The stranger seemed ng be twenty, or two-and-twenty at the most though he was probably older; he was siim and delicate, but perfectly proportioned, and all his movements were marked by indescribable fs g~ and nobility. His beardless face was surrounded by magnificent black ringlets, which escaped in profusion from un- - his hat, and fell in large clusters on his shoul- ers. This man had a lofty and wide forehead, intelli- gent and pensive, and a deep and well-opened eye, | an aquiliné nose with flexible nostrils, and a | | a | } | , . : ie 2 * — - A ODN. eS —_ — : . = dainful and mocking lip. All bis features made up strange, but commanding countenance. He might be loved, but he must be feared. His feet and hands were small, and evidenced good-breeding. Dressed in the picturesque costume of Mexican broken door of which escaped a reddish steam, laden _ campesinos, he wore his rich clothes with inimitable grace and ease. He was commonly called El Alferez by his friends and enemies. This word, which in Spanish literally signifies sub-lieutenant, had become the name of this singular person, which he had accepted, and to which he answered. - After taking a haughty and assured glance at the persons collected in disorderly groups around him, the young man leaned against a barrel, and, with affected carelessness, said to the individuals who com cS a( JOOKS. > Weer ah? eae tied —— a ene - g oe ee 2 co - — ’