We had continued for some time, when Dona Dolores leaned forward and said, "I will not pretend to be ignorant as to who you are. You desire to speak with me; and I am willing to see you. You are welcome to come in, with your young friend, whose voice I recognise."
Don Juan poured out his thanks, and expressed his readiness to take advantage of the permission given him.
Dona Dolores had said nothing of Mr Laffan; perhaps she had not perceived him, or in the dark had mistaken him for me, as I had been concealed under the wall--although our figures were very different. At all events, it was very evident that he would be one too many. Of this he was perfectly well aware himself, and as we went round to the front entrance he whispered,--"I"ll go back and tell Don Ricardo that you have the honour of an interview, and will soon return;" and without another word he hastened along the road.
We made our way to the front gate, which was opened as we arrived by Senora Ortes, who had been directed by her mistress to let us in.
"Dona Dolores awaits you in her sitting-room," she said; "you are welcome."
She led the way into the house. We found Dona Dolores with a female friend, somewhat older, seated in a well-furnished room, with a couple of guitars on a sofa beside them. Some books were on a table, very seldom to be seen in a lady"s apartment in that country; while one of the walls was ornamented with swords and daggers, guns and pistols-- giving a somewhat odd appearance to a lady"s boudoir.
Dona Dolores looked handsomer than ever, and I could not be surprised that she had won my friend"s heart. She smiled as we approached and saluted her. Don Juan having told her where we were staying, and a little ordinary conversation having taken place, they both looked, I thought, as if they wished that the other lady and I were at a distance.
We, at all events, supposing such to be the case, retired to the other end of the room, to examine some artificial flowers, which the young lady told me she had learned to make at the nunnery of the Encarnacion at Popayan. She then confided to me that she had once intended to be a nun, but, after a little experience of a conventual existence before she had taken the vows, thought better of it, and had returned to her friends; adding, "And perhaps some day I may accept a husband, should a suitable one be presented to me."
While we were speaking, she saw my eye directed towards the arms on the walls.
"They are all in good order, and intended to be used," she observed.
"My friend thinks it a good place to keep them in, as no one would imagine that they were placed there otherwise than for ornament. The time may come, however, and that before long, when they may do good service to our country."
Although my companion continued to speak, as if to engage my attention, I could not help hearing the conversation that was going on between Don Juan and Dona Dolores. In ardent tones he declared his love and devotion, and vowed that his happiness in life depended on her becoming his wife.
"I will not deny, Don Juan, that I return the love you bestow on me; but this arises from the weakness of my woman"s nature. Notwithstanding this, I tell you that nothing shall induce me to marry a man who is not ready to sacrifice his life and property to obtain the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of our beloved country from the tyrannical yoke of her oppressors. You have hitherto led an indolent life, regardless of the sufferings of our people. Not until I see you boldly come forward and n.o.bly devote yourself to the cause of freedom, will I promise to become your wife.
When that freedom has been won, and the Spaniards, the hated G.o.dos, have been driven into the sea--"
"But that may not be for many years, my beloved Dolores!" exclaimed Don Juan; "am I to wait so long before I enjoy the unspeakable happiness of calling you mine?"
"If you and other young men of wealth and position in the country, who ought to set the example to other cla.s.ses, hang back, that glorious object may never be accomplished, and I shall die a maiden; for I swear to you I will never wed while our country remains enslaved," exclaimed Dona Dolores in a firm tone.
My companion"s tongue here went rattling on at such a rate, that I did not hear what more was said for some time; but it was evident that Dona Dolores was expatiating on the duty of all patriots to struggle on, in spite of every difficulty, until the power of the Spaniards was overthrown.
At length Don Juan exclaimed,--"Your arguments have prevailed, Dona Dolores: from henceforth I will emerge from the useless life I have hitherto led, and will devote my life to the cause of Freedom. You shall have no reason to complain of your pupil. I trust that you will hear of such deeds as you would have me do; and you may be sure that I shall ever be found in the van of the battle, when the foe are to be encountered. Your approval, and the reward I look for, will spur me on to acts of valour."
As he spoke I looked round. Dona Dolores had given him her hand, which he was pressing to his lips; and I heard her say,--"I will trust you, Juan; and you may rest a.s.sured that I will not depart from my promise."
As my companion had no longer any excuse for remaining where we were, she returned to the side of her friend. Dona Dolores had taken up her guitar, and running her fingers over the strings, sang a few verses of a patriotic song, which greatly affected Juan, and at the same time roused in my heart a desire to take a part in the struggle for freedom in which all cla.s.ses throughout the country were eager to engage. It was well-known that, when once it began, it would be to the knife, as the Spanish generals showed no mercy to those who fell into their power-- neither s.e.x, rank, nor age were spared. As we spoke of the atrocities which had been committed, the eyes of Dona Dolores flashed fire. She pressed her lips together, and looked towards the wall on which the weapons hung.
"Every man and youth--ay, every woman who has a spark of patriotism-- must take a part in the glorious work!" she exclaimed. Rising from her seat, she took a sword from the wall. "Here, my Juan, let me gird you with this weapon; and when once you draw it, swear that it shall never again be sheathed until the standard of Liberty waves throughout the length and breadth of the land, and every Spaniard is hurled into the ocean which bore him to our sh.o.r.es."
Don Juan, kissing the jewelled hilt of the weapon, swore as Dolores wished, and with a triumphant smile she buckled it to his waist.
My enthusiasm being aroused, I dare say I too looked as if I wished to be presented with a sword.
"You must wait a while," observed Dona Dolores, divining my thoughts; "you are not yet your own master, and I would not compromise your excellent father."
The remark showed that the speaker possessed good sense and judgment as well as patriotism.
At last I reminded Juan that Don Ricardo would be expecting us, and we took our leave of the two ladies--my admiration for Dona Dolores greatly increased by the visit we had paid her.
I expected that Juan would break out enthusiastically in her praise, but he did not utter a word during our walk home; his thoughts were evidently occupied by the new duties he had undertaken. He had hitherto pa.s.sed his time in superintending his mother"s estate, or enjoying such amus.e.m.e.nts as offered. He would now have to lead a life full of dangers and hardships.
"I congratulate you on finding Dona Dolores at home," observed Uncle Richard when we arrived.
"Yes, we had that honour," said Juan, endeavouring to hide the sword which he had received--he had given me his to carry. I observed that he placed it carefully against the wall, and covered it with his cloak.
Supper was now announced, but Juan spoke very little during the meal.
Mr Laffan, however, conversed for all the party; rattling away, as he could do when he had had a gla.s.s or two of good wine to raise his spirits, and listening, apparently with rapt attention, to Uncle Richard"s sea stories and jokes, though he had heard them fifty times before. Dona Maria, too, spoke English very fairly, having learned it from her husband; and Juan could understand what was said, though he was bashful about speaking.
We retired at an early hour to our hammocks, as we were to start betimes the next morning, on our expedition.
CHAPTER THREE.
A SHOOTING EXPEDITION--SNARING PARROQUETS--THE DOMINIE AND THE TIGER-CAT--A DEER SHOT--THE DOMINIE PROVES THAT HE IS A MAN OF COURAGE-- BLOW-PIPES AND POISONED ARROWS--A JAGUAR HUNT--STORIES ABOUT JAGUARS--A FEARFUL THUNDERSTORM--THE STRICKEN TREE--REACH HOME--A DISCUSSION ON LIBERTY--SET OUT ON A SECOND EXPEDITION--REACH A HOT SPRING--VISIT TO AN OLD CACIQUE--THE LAST OF HIS RACE--PROMISES TO AID THE PATRIOT CAUSE-- VINEGAR RIVER--THE DOMINIE TASTES THE WATER--UNCLE RICHARD"S FARM-- RETURN HOMEWARDS--PAUL LOBO MEETS US WITH BAD NEWS--OUR NIGHT-RIDE TO POPAYAN--DONA DOLORES ENLISTS THE DOMINIE--WE REACH POPAYAN-- ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY--THE DOMINIE AND I REMAIN WITH MY FATHER.
I was in doubt whether Juan would accompany us. When I asked him, he replied that he wished to have some conversation with Don Ricardo, and that he should have an opportunity of speaking to him as we rode along.
Leaving our own horses in the stable, we were supplied instead with active little mules, better calculated for climbing up and sliding down the steep declivities. We had a dozen couples of dogs, not quite as large as greyhounds, but of the same species.
"They will run down any of the wild animals found in these forests, as well as the danta, or wild a.s.s--the black bear, red leopard, tiger-cat, the deer, and fox; though it is necessary to follow them closely, since, not being well broken-in, they will devour their prey, if they have an opportunity, before the hunter comes up," observed Uncle Richard, as we were about to start, our canine companions barking and yelping round us.
We had not gone far when we saw an Indian in a large field of maize near the road, engaged in snaring the red-headed, green parroquets, which are here very numerous, and do much mischief to the crops of corn. The snares are very simple, being composed of a line of horse-hair, a slip-knot, and a loop, in the centre of which a little maize is sprinkled as a bait. As soon as the bird pitches on the grain, the Indian draws the line with a sudden jerk, and catches the bird by the legs. Just as we arrived he had caught one, which Hugh cried out he should like to have. On this the man brought it to him; but the bird fought so vigorously to obtain its liberty, and gave Hugh so severe a bite on the finger, that he was glad to let it go.
We had dismounted in order to enjoy a draught of water from a fountain which bubbled out of the hill-side, and to pluck some oranges from a grove irrigated by it. Mr Laffan had gone to a little distance, and we saw him stretching up to reach some fruit from a bough overhead, when he uttered a cry, or rather a howl to which an Irishman alone can give vent; and his foot slipping on a root which projected above the soil, down he came stretched at full length. But he was not inclined to lie long on the ground; and springing up, off he scampered. At the same instant a tiger-cat leaped out of the tree; while a covey of partridges, which had been nestling in the gra.s.s close by, rose with a loud "wurr,"
still further alarming the dominie.
"Get your guns! get your guns!" he shouted. "There"s a huge tiger, or a jaguar, or a beast of some sort, close at our heels; he"ll be after seizing some of us, if we are not on our guard."
As he spoke we saw the tiger-cat, quite as much frightened as Mr Laffan, scampering off in the opposite direction; and a hearty laugh, in which we all indulged, a.s.sured our friend that no danger was to be apprehended. Before we could get our guns ready, both partridges and tiger-cat had disappeared.
The air was pure and invigorating, and the scenery, made up of forests, mountains, and streams, was magnificent.
At length the dogs found a deer, to which, as it started off along the side of the hill, we all gave chase. Over fallen logs, gullies, and streams we galloped, finding it no easy matter to keep up with our nimble four-footed companions. Juan was the most active among us; holding his rifle in his hand ready for a shot, he at length got ahead.
I saw him lift his weapon and fire, and as he did so the deer leaped several feet in the air and fell over dead. We soon had it flayed and cut up, when it was placed on the back of one of the mules brought for the purpose.
Several other deer were started, and I had the satisfaction of killing one with my own rifle; but Juan was the most successful.
The dominie, although he did not at first quite recover his nerve, had before long an opportunity of displaying his skill and courage. The dogs, which were ahead, were heard barking loudly.
"That"s not deer," observed Uncle Richard; "it must be some savage animal at bay."
We were hurrying forward--having, I should have said, dismounted from our mules--the dominie on this occasion leading, when, with a loud roar, a huge jaguar leaped from its covert, scattering the dogs on either side, and making directly toward us. Mr Laffan, dropping on his knee, and holding his rifle like an infantry soldier about to receive a charge of cavalry, waited until the jaguar was within twelve yards of him, when he fired. The creature bounded on, and I trembled for our friend"s safety; but in an instant, rising, he sprang on one side, and drawing his hunting-knife he struck it into the shoulder of the savage animal, right up to the hilt, when the jaguar rolled over with one convulsive struggle and was dead.
We all congratulated the dominie on his skill and coolness.
"I"m not in the habit of howling when I see a beast, but I was just now thinking to pick an orange, when the tiger-cat sprang at my throat.
Faith! it was a little more than I bargained for," he answered, laughing.
"It is certainly what any of us would have done; though few would have met a jaguar with the same coolness as you have exhibited," observed Uncle Richard.