Beadle's Dime Library No. 151 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

4 past risked their lives twenty times in a mad | Ss had struggle, and who only lived yet through a miracle, huddered on thinking of the horrible danger they had escaped by a providential accident. ‘*Oh!”’ the Jaguar exclaimed with an expression impossible to render, “it is evident that Heaven is on our side, and we shall succeed. Follow me, - prothers, for you must be as anxious as myself to We hold the clew of this enigma.” All followed him. The cave took several windings, but, contrary to what is generally found in most natural grottos, it did not appear to have any other arteries save the one in which the conspirators found themselves. The latter went on, following their leader step by step. The deeper they got into the cavern, the ruder became the ascent. The Jaguar advanced with extreme caution and doubt, for it seemed to him impossible that this passage should be unknown tothe commandant of the garrison. On reflection he supposed—and with some semblance of truth— that th $s cave had been excavated, in earlier times, by human hands, and that the abyss into which he and his comrades had all but fallen, was naught else than a well, intended to supply the garrison in the event of a siege. He soon obtained a proof that his surmises were correct, for after marching for a few minutes longer the conspirators were arrested by an iron-bound door, w barred their way. At a sign from the Jaguar, they remained motionless, with their hands on their dagger-hilts, The moment for action arrived; this door evidently opened into the ort. The Jaguar examined the lock for an instant, and then ordered the lights to be put out, which was im- _ mediately obeyed, and the conspirators were again in darkness. This door, which was very old, and probably had not been opened for a long series of Sears, could not offer any serious resistance. The | chieftain thrust the point of his dagger be- veen the bolt and the staple, and pressed on it, The vale fell to the ground, but the door still re- sisted; it was fastened on the other side by strong ’ There Was a moment of extreme anxiety and dis- couragement for the conspirators. How was the door to be opened? must they turn back, and lose all the profits: of such perils overcome, and difficul- ties incurred? The position was serious; but, as we have said, the Jaguar was a man who only took a delight in impossibilities. He lit a candle again, 7 and examined the door with the most minute atten- H tion; fhe wood, acted upon by age and damp, fell anny A pe tl scales, and melted into dust at the slightest bat O When the candle had been again extinguished » +the young man knelt down before the door, and ; ‘ai cutting it with his dagger, taking the great- | care to make no noise for fear of alarming the garrison; for, though he was convinced that this _. door opened into the fort, he could not know to . what point it led. After ten minutes of slow and gontinued toil, the whole lower part of the door i -. was removed. The Jaguar crawled through the orifice, and, not trying to discover where he was, he ‘got up, felt for the bolts, drew them, one after the * er, and quietly opened the door, through which his comrades aiiently slipped. The conspirators then groped their way along the _- walls, not wishing to light a candle, for fear of giv- & an alarm, and trusting to chance to lead them - inthe right road. They were justified in sone SO, for Lanzi reached a door, which he mechanically pushed, and which was ajar. This door opened into @ long corridor os hy by a lamp, and the insurgents bo entered the passage, after taking the os 22 ag ga to take down the lamp and put it Jt was now about half-past four in the morning, and day was beginning to break. At the end of the | the Jaguar perceived a motionless shadow Feaning against the wall. At an order from his chief, the half-breed glided like a serpent up to this shadow, which was nothing less than a_ sentry, who ‘was quietly asleep, with his musket by his side, and coming within reach, the half-breed bounded ea tiger at the throat of the sleeper, whom he threw down without giving him time to utter a ayy _ The poor fellow was bound and gagged ere he of Ra ee epee awake to understand what was of fh g to him. his sentry was stationed at the entrance of a _ guard-room, in which some fifteen soldiers were sleeping. e post was carried, without a blow, b the insurgents, who bound the soldiers, and too he ossession of their arms. The expedition was going on famously; but unluckily, while the scene we have - yeferred to was taking place in the guard-room, the gentry in the Lrvenig WA who had been neglected, suc- - eeeded in loosing his bonds and giving the alarm, The position had become serious, SS Shee 4 Rbasaeg said, quickly, “it seems as if we shall have a fight of it. ell, several of you are | ed; comrades, remember my orders—no im) pet ents, not at all anxious to be besieged inthe hea) -room, then went out. At the moment when they appeared in the passage, they perceived gome thirty soldiers, at the head of whom three ot v1 “ rs in uniform marched, coming boldly to meet ’ 7 ~ m, i. Fire!” the Jaguar thundered, “and then for- fen muskets were discharged, the three officers _ fell, and the Texans rushed ferociously on the sol- _ diers. The latter, terrified by this furious attack, and seeing their leaders dead, offered but a weak _- resistance; after a few minutes of hand-to-hand ms sabting they surrendered, - During the short fight, the Texans had lost eight _ men killed at the bayonet point. The fort of the Point, which was supposed to be impregnable, had urprised by twenty-five men only armed _ withdaggers. But these twenty-five fought fora be ‘4 great idea—they were resolved to conquer orperish. The Jaguar had accomplished the task ¥.. had been allotted to him in the vast plan con- _- e@ived by the Texan insurgents, and the capture of _ the fort must inevitably lead to the surrender of the master of the Libertad corvette. _ . We have seen how, on his side, that chief had be- _ haved, and what result he had achieved, fh ’ Sul 74 + ~ Te . >, J wf e. af . a ae a & ; ¢, 7 " , ‘ « - & ‘ * . ‘ s q *% , fa ‘ re 1 re ow < ’ . - — ys ass 2 } y, i i. ?* ee CHAPTER XXIII. EL SALTO DEL FRAYLE. THe Jaguar's first care, so soon as he was in pos- session of the fortress, was to have John Davis in- | stalled in a comfortable and airy room; then he at this moment, and the two vessels appeare sent several men to the creek whence the expedi- tion had started, to fetch the clothes and anything the conspirators had left there. During the work necessitated by the new occu- pation and an exact inspection of the important for- tress the Texans had succeeded in seizing, day had broke, and the sun risen. The Jaguar, after oe all the necessary Name gra to prevent himse being surprised in his turn, took a telescope, and went - to the platform of the castle. From this point the eye surveyed an immense landscape, and a magnificent ei eg wasunrolled. On one side were the undulating Texan plains, which lofty mountains inclosed on the horizon; on the other, the sea with its grand and mysterious immensity. The Jaguar first looked carelessly through the telescope at the town of Galveston, which was be- ginning to wake up, and whose streets were growipg gradually peopled; next at the mainland, and the entrance of the Rio Trinidad, which was still Sey Ns ina mournful solitude, Then, turning, be xed the glass on the sea, and attentively examined the horizon. Lanzi, carelessly lounging on a gun- carriage, was rolling a husk cigarette with all the serious attention he generally devoted to this im- portant operation. , a '* the Jaguar suddenly said, as he hurried to him. “Well!” he answered, raising his head, but not otherwise disturbing himself. ! “Do you know what has become of the Mexican flag we found in the commandant’s room?”’ * Indeed'I do not.” “You must go and inquire at once, my good fel- low. So soon as you have got it, bring it to me.” “Very Ss The half-breed rose and left the platform; in the meanwhile, the Jaguar, who was leaning over the parapet, seemed deeply interested. In fact, the chase of the privateer by the corvette was beginning under full sail. “Oh, oh,”’ the Jaguar muttered, ‘‘ how will it end? the brig is very small to carry so large a vessel by storm! Nonsense,” he added, after a little reflec- tion, *“‘ we have seized the fort, then why should they not capture the corvette?” “1 see nothing to prevent it,’’ a voice said at his elbow. The Jaguar turned, and saw the half-breed stand- ing by his side, with a roll of bunting under his arm. “Well,”’ he asked him, “ where is the flag.” ‘* Here it is,” **Now, my friend, you will hoist the flag on that staff; but, in order that our comrades may not mis- take our meaning, mind and fasten a dagger to the top of the flag. he inhabitants of Galveston will not notice this addition, while our friends, who have an interest in carefully examining what goes on mre will immediately understand what it sig- nifies. Lanzi punctually carried out the order given him and five minutes later, the Mexican ; surmounted by a da ig was majestically floating from the flag- staff. e Jaguar soon obtained the certainty that his signal was understood, for the brig, closely pur- sued by the corvette, waited till it had come within pistol-shot of the fort ere it tacked, which it as- suredly would not have done had there been any cause of fear. During the greater part of the day, the Jaguar followed with the greatest interest the progress of the two ships, and witnessed the final incidents from his observatory. At about two in the after- noon, however, he went down in the interior of the fort, and, after recommending the greatest vigilance to his friends, he armed himself, threw a zara over his shoulders, and quitted the castle. y Lanzi’s care, a horse had been prepared for him near the foot of the rock; the Jaguar bounded into the saddle, and after giving one glance at the fort- ress, he dug in the spurs, and started at a Mie 9 The Jaguar was proceeding to the Salto del Frayle where, on the previous evening, he had appointed to meet Don Juan Melendez de Gongora. The coasts of Mexico are probably the most varied of all those in the New World. The seaboard of Texas especially is so strangely broken up that the mind loses itself in trying to discover what accident or antediluvian cataclysm could have been Shab ol ful enough to produce the bold gaps and sudden fis- sures in the tall cliffs that border it. Not far from Galveston, on the seashore, there is arather wide road, whose capricious windings fol- low for a considerable distance the crest of the cliffs. This road is usually followed by the muleteers and travelers of every description proceeding to Mexico. Being wide and convenient, it might justly pass as excellent in a country where the highways of com- munication are—or, at le st, were—completely un- known, for at the piesiag day, Texas possesses fine carriage roads, and long iron way. But at one spot, the road to which we allude suddenly breaks off; the cliff, cleft as if by a giant’s saber-stroke, dis- plays a yew ning abyss, about ten feet wide, and some seven hundred feet deep. At the base of this fissure the sea constantly breaks in fury, producing a hollow and monotonous sound. On the other side of the gap the road begins again. This spot is called the Monk’s Leap, and it was here that the Jaguar had given the meeting to Colo- nel Don Juan Melendez. The sun had sunk almost level with the horizon when the young man reached the gap. He looked around him; the road was de- serted, so he dismounted, hoppled his horse, lay down on the ground, and waited. He had been there about a quarter of an hour, when the sound of a horse galloping reached bis ear; he rose and looked round. He soon saw a horse- man t a corner of the road and recognized the colonel. On reaching the Jaguar he bowed and leaped to the ground, ‘*Pardon me, my friend,’ he said, “‘for having ror you waiting, but it is a long distance from Galveston to this spot; and you and your comrades give us so much to do, that, an t to ourselves.” iva Dios! we have not The young man smiled. “You are quite forgiven, colonel,’ he said; *‘ have you received any more bad news?” “Neither good nor bad, but in truth very dis- agreeable; we learn that a corps of Freebooters has been formed, of which you are strongly suspected to be the chief, and which at this moment is ravag- ing the whole country.” ‘‘ Have you heard no more than that?’’ ** Not to the present.”’ “Well, before we part, I will give you some news which, if I am not mistaken, will deeply annoy you.” am hat do you mean, my friend? explain your- self.’” | ‘‘Not at this moment. We have not come here to discuss politics, but our own affairs. Let us pro- ceed regularly. We shall always have time enough to return to politics.” ‘*That is true; but answer me one question first.”’ ** What is it?” ‘Is the news you have to tell me really serious?” The Jaguar frowned and stamped his foot on the ground with suppressed violence, ‘* Extremely serious,’ he said. There was a moment's silence; at length the young man walked up to the colonel and laid his and on his shoulder. **Don Juan,” he said to him in a kindly voice, ‘listen to me for a moment,” * Speak, my friend.” “Don Juan,” he continued, “why do you so obsti- nately defend a lost cause? why shed your generous blood in the service of tyranny? Texas wishes to be free, and will be so! Count the capable men who serve in your ranks; with the exception of two, per- haps three, there is not another you can mention; Mexico, exhausted by the revolutions which inces- santly overthrow it, has at its disposal neither men nor money enough to assume a vigorous offensive; the very name of Mexican is odious to the Texans. On all sides the ple are rebelling against you; it is a constantly rising tide which breaks down every dyke. You are surrounded: within a mouth your army will be disgracefully expelled from our terri- tory. Reflect, my friend, for there is yet time; re- turn your sword to its scabbard, and leave fate to accomplish its task.”’ * Listen tome in your turn, friend,” the colonel answered, in a mournful voice. “What you have just said to me I knew as well as you do. 1 have felt for along time past that the ground trembles be- neath our feet, and that we shall ere long be swal- lowed up by the revolution: I thefefore form no il- lusion to the fate that awaits us. But lam a soldier, my friend; 1 have taken an oath: that oath I must keep, at all risks. Moreover,] am a Mexican—do not forget that fact; I must, therefore, regard this question from a point of view diametrically opposed. to yours. Besides,’ he added, with feigned gayety, “we are not yet in the state you imagine. You have certainly taken from us a f w pueblos, but we still have the towns and hold the sea. You sing vic- tory too soon; the Texan revolution is as yet only in the state of insurrection. At a later date, when it holds a strong town, and its government is co.sti- tuted, we shall see what is to be done; but for the present there is no cause to despair, my friend, and you have not made the progress you fancy.” ‘Perhaps so,” the Jaguar answered, with an equivocal accent that caused the colonel to reflect. ‘| thought it my duty to speak to you asa friend and give Age some disinterested advice; if you will not take it, Poe, are quite at liberty to neglect it.” “Do not feel annoyed; my remarks can have noth- ing to wound your feelings. I had no intention of vexing you when I spoke as I did. But put yourself fora moment in my place; if I had made you the same proposals you offered me, what would your answer have been?” “1 should have refused, by Heaven!” the young man exclaimed, impetuously. The colonel began laughing. “Well, I acted as you would have done. What harm do you see in that?’’ “That is true; you were right, and I am an ass! Forgive me, my friend. Besides, was it not agreed that political questions should never separate us? Let us, therefore, return to the object of our inter- view, which is of much temporarily leave the matters as they can.” For some minutes the colonel’s eyes had been fixed ‘on the sea, and he had listened to his friend’s re- marks with a véry absent air,” “Why,” he suddenly said, “look there, my friend.’ ‘What is it?” “Do you not see?” ** What do you see, let me ask in return?” “Hang it! Isee the Libertad corvette, which has first anchored under the guns of the Point fort, bringing with hera privateer brig, which she has, in all probability, captured off the coast.” **Do you think so?” the Jaguar asked, sareastie- ater importance to us, and exicans and Texans to settle ally. Look for Pg nasa ‘My friend, I am rather like St. Thomas.” - meas a¢ you ae o “That as long as | am not completely convinced, I shall attach but very slight faith to the earimonty ot oy, eyesight.” hese words were uttered with such a singular in- tonation, that, in spite of himself, the colerel felt ashamed, ‘What can you mean?” he asi. ¢. m Nothing but what I say,” the Jaguar answered. _ Still, I faney [cannot be mistaken. Lean wry distinctly see the Mexican flag over the reversed Texan colors, * “itis true,’ the Jaguar said, coldly, “but what does that prove?” Lake do you say?—‘* What does that prove?’ ” es. “Are you so ignorant of naval matters, then, as not to know what takes place on board a vessel after an engagement?” _ “T beg your pardon, friend, but I know all about it. But [ know, too, that what we see may be the result of astratagem, and that the brig, after captur- ing the corvette, may have an interest in concealing the fact.”’ ‘*‘Come, come,"’ the colonel said, with a laugh, ‘that is carrying optimism a little too far. Let us leave the corvette and brig, and return to our own (E Eom ve