It was an image too firmly fixed in my memory, and too deeply engraven upon my heart, to be ever more mistaken.
I had just time to see that her dress was torn, her hair tossed, and hanging like a cloud about her shoulders--just time to note that she looked wan and woe-stricken--when the voice of Carrasco, rising above the sibillation of the torrent, summoned us to a parley.
"Caballeros!" he cried out, "in the darkness I have no chance to know who you are; but, from your mode of making approach, I take it you are our enemies. Furthermore, from the fact of your being armed with rifles, you should be _Americanos_! Am I right?"
I had not sufficiently recovered coolness to make reply. My eyes, my thoughts, were still fixed upon Mercedes.
"What else should we be?" answered the stage-driver by my side, "That same we air, an" no mistake about it."
"Why have you come here?"
"To capter the cussdest cut-throat in all Mexiko: for that same ye air, Mister Capting Carrasco."
"_Hola, amigo_! You"ve made a mistake this time? You appear to take me for the noted Carrasco; and my people, no doubt, for a cuadrilla of salteadores? We"re nothing of the sort, I a.s.sure you. Only a band of honest _patriotas_; who, loving our country, have continued to fight for it--as you know, after our grand army has seen fit to forsake the field.
_Por Dios; senores Americanos_! You"re not the men to blame us for that? Just now we acknowledge ourselves vanquished; though still only besieged. But as we have no supplies in our castle here--you will give me credit for some candour in confessing it?--moreover, as we believe it hopeless to hold out against you, we have made up our minds to capitulate. All we ask for ourselves is an honourable _cartel_ of surrender."
Surrender! The word fell sweet upon my ears--and for a particular reason. It promised safety for Mercedes.
"Come then, caballeros!" pursued the robber-chief; "state your terms; and let me entreat you not to be too exacting!"
For some seconds I refrained from making reply--partly astounded by the audacity of the robber--partly considering the answer that should be returned to him.
Had it been any other man I might have talked about terms. But it was the wretch Carrasco; and just then I remembered the deception practised upon me in Puebla. I thought of Francisco Moreno lying on his death-bed below, and of my artist friend, who, in all probability, had fallen by the same hand.
With the remembrance there sprang up in my mind, not only suspicion, but a fresh feeling of revenge; and by these, not prudence, was my answer inspired.
"Terms!" I shouted back, in a tone of undisguised scornfulness; "We make no terms with such as you. Surrender; and then trust to such mercy as may be shown you!"
"_Mil demonios_!" screamed the bandit, now for the first time recognising me. "_Carajo! you_, it is! You, my saintly friend, whose devotions I had the pleasure of witnessing, and the pain of disturbing, in the Cathedral of La Puebla! May I ask why I am honoured by this early call--in a mansion so remote from the ordinary walks of life?"
"Come, Captain Carrasco," I replied, "if such be your t.i.tle. I don"t intend to lose time in talking to you. I call upon you to surrender, and at once!"
"And suppose I don"t choose to take it in that way, what then?"
"You need expect no mercy."
"From you, caballero, I have no idea of asking it?"
"You have need, then, unless you desire to die. You have no chance of escape--not the slightest. I tell it you in all seriousness, and without thought of triumph. My men are stationed, so as to command every path that leads from the place. They are all armed with rifles and revolvers."
"Listen to reason!" I went on almost entreatingly, having now become convinced of the mistake I had made, in doing what might drive the brigand to desperation. "Give up your captives, and I promise to spare the lives both of yourself and your comrades."
"_Ay, Dios_! how generous you are! Ha! Ha! Ha! Is that all you can promise, n.o.ble captain?"
"No--not all," I answered, stung by the taunting speech. "Something more. If you reject the terms offered, I promise that in ten minutes from this time your soul will be in eternity, and your body hanging from the branch of yonder tree!"
I pointed to one of the pines that stood conspicuous on the cliff.
"What, so soon?" was the cool rejoinder. "It will take you more than ten minutes to force an entrance into this citadel of ours. Don"t mistake it for a _jacale_. Though our fortress be of wood, it is stronger than you suppose, senor captain."
"We can set fire to it!"
"Ah! you won"t do that. I"ve no fear of being burnt up, or smoked out, so long as I am in such goodly company."
The sneer with which the speech was accompanied goaded me to frantic rage--at the same time that it made me feel my impotence to carry out the threat I had so boastingly p.r.o.nounced.
"We shall not need to set the house on fire," was my reply; "we shall get at you without that. My men are provided with axes. They are backwoodsmen, and know how to use them. It won"t take us ten minutes to break open your door."
"Open it!" interrupted the robber, "and one half of you will never live to stride across the threshold. Those who do, will be witnesses to a scene which I know, n.o.ble captain, _you_ won"t love to look upon."
"What scene?" I involuntarily asked, as a horrid fancy flashed across my brain.
"A woman--a beautiful woman--with a poignard in her breast! By the Holy Virgin, you shall see _that_!"
I felt as if a dagger had been plunged into my own. I knew it was no idle vaunt. There was a terrible firmness in the tone of the brigand"s voice that told of his being in earnest.
"Let me take a shot at him," whispered the sergeant by my side. "I think I can fetch him "ithout touchin" the gurl."
"No--no!" I hastily answered, "Leave it to me. For your life, don"t fire--not yet!"
I stood trembling--uncertain what course to pursue. I had my own rifle in hand, and was considering whether I should not risk taking a shot at the ruffian. Under other circ.u.mstances I should have been confident enough of making a sure one; but just then I felt my nerves shaking through the throes of my excited heart. It was a terrible crisis. The sinews of Tell could not have been more severely tried, as he adjusted his arrow to the string.
The bandit seemed thoroughly to comprehend my hesitation.
There was something fiendishly exultant in the laugh with which he followed up his last speech.
"Now, senor Yankee!" he went on, without waiting for a reply. "I hope you are ready to accede to my request. If so, state your terms for our release; and remember! make them easy, or it will be impossible for us to accept them. I don"t wish to hurry you. As it"s a matter of some importance to both of us, and to _her_ as well,"--I could see him nod towards Mercedes--"I beg you will take time to consider. Meanwhile, we shall retire, and patiently await your answer."
Saying this, he receded from the parapet--as I supposed, still staying on the azotea.
The white shield was drawn back along with him: and once more Mercedes was out of sight--leaving me to fell fancies, more torturing than the sting of the _tarantula_.
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.
THE SWING BRIDGE.
I stood for some time chafing, irresolute.
There seemed no help for it, but complying with the brigand"s request.
The log cabin could not be successfully stormed without a fearful sacrifice of the lives of my men--which I was unwilling to make.
Not but that _they_ were willing--one and all of them. Stung by the insulting tone of the robber-chief, they were ready to rush forward, defiant of death, and die in the act of obtaining vengeance.
The vile threat still ringing in their ears alone restrained them--as it did myself. No one doubted that the monster meant what he had said; and we knew that, if driven to desperation, he would carry out his atrocious design.
There was no alternative but to make terms with him--the best we could obtain.