CHAPTER XVI.

BLAS EL GUERRILLERO--_continued_.

Every thing, thus far, had succeeded to the utmost of my wishes. I had now but to frame an excuse to Beltran for my unexpected visit to his quarters, and for my delay in reaching them; lull his suspicions; and wreak my vengeance upon him and his accomplices.

A good horse had been provided for me, and I soon reached Gaucin. I found Alonzo and Beltran in deep consultation: the former was much surprised and pleased at my unexpected visit; the latter pretended to be so.

Having expressed their hopes that nothing had happened to thwart our projected plans, and assured me that every thing on their parts was going on prosperously, Alonzo asked me jokingly what had occasioned my unlooked for visit, for he thought I had merely come to see his sister.

I told him (keeping my eye upon Beltran all the time) I had received information that a force had been moved from the French camp before Cadiz, towards the mountains, as if for the purpose of reopening the communication with Ronda, which had been closed by the recent capture of Grazalema; and I had, therefore, come to say, that either I must abandon that post, and consequently our concerted project, (since I should find myself between two fires,) or, that we must carry our plans into execution without further delay.

Beltran looked very blank; and to my proposal of proceeding to work immediately, stammered out some objection about want of time. But this Alonzo overruled,--observing that his brother Melchor and myself were the two who would feel inconvenience on that score, since our bands were the most distant from the field of action; and as Melchor was then at Gaucin,--having, Alonzo observed to me, arrived unexpectedly, "as if sent by Providence," the preceding night,--the whole affair might be at once settled.

Accordingly, a messenger was despatched for his brother; whilst waiting for whom, I took the opportunity of stating that I had met with an accident on the road, which had retarded me considerably; having, I said, in consequence of the fall of my mule soon after leaving Grazalema, been obliged to proceed to Cortes on foot, and, arriving there in the dead of the night, had experienced great delay in procuring a horse.

Beltran's countenance brightened on hearing this little explanation, and he then, with affected carelessness, asked after his old friend Jacobo. I replied, that I had left him quite well at Grazalema; a piece of information that seemed to puzzle him amazingly.

Melchor did not keep us long waiting, and our final dispositions were soon made. It was settled that he should proceed with all speed to join his band at El Burgo, and at daybreak on the following morning make the projected foray into the eastern part of the vale of Ronda, to draw upon him a portion of the garrison of the fortress. Beltran, meanwhile, was to march immediately with his troop, (which was already assembled at Gaucin) and gain the valley of the Guadiaro below Montejaque; whilst I should post back to Grazalema, to conduct my _quadrilla_ to the pass in the chain of Sierra to the left of that same village. Our two bands would thus be so situated as to be able to form a junction, and fall upon the defenceless city, the moment the favourable opportunity presented itself.

Although, as chieftain of the largest band, the direction of the operations devolved upon me, yet, out of compliment to Beltran, I invited him to meet me at the village of Montejaque, as soon as he had conducted his troop to its assigned position; whence we could watch the movements of the enemy in the plain below, and put the necessary "_ensemble_" in our movements. I then remounted my horse, and lost no time in rejoining my band.

My first care, on regaining Grazalema, was to send for Pépé. The scoundrel confessed every thing. Beltran, Melchor, and himself, had entered into a plot to betray me into the hands of the French. Alonzo, he declared, knew nothing of it. A French force was, that very night, to occupy the narrow pass between the lofty Sierras of Endrinal and San Cristoval, in our rear, to intercept me, when--on discovering that our plan to entrap the enemy had failed--I should attempt to escape by that issue to Ubrique.

Alarmed at my sudden determination to visit my coadjutors at Gaucin, and yet more at the hint I had thrown out of the possible disarrangement of our plans, Pépé rightly conjectured that I had received some hint of impending danger, and had despatched a hurried epistle to Beltran, (who, he knew, was then at Ronda, making final arrangements with the enemy,) acquainting him with my proceedings. My _faithful_ Pépé furnished me, moreover, with a list of six of my own men, who were engaged in the plot. It was, however, with the greatest difficulty I brought him to confess what had moved him to engage in this treacherous plot; the more unpardonable on his part, since, in all our intercourse, he had received nothing but benefits at my hands. At length, he acknowledged that he had been worked upon by that strongest and strangest of all human passions, _jealousy_--that uncontrollable phrenzy, which, of all our weaknesses, is the only one that fails not with our declining years, and that--strange to say--ofttimes causes the very feeling, the suspicion alone of which gave it birth!

Such was the case in the present instance. The wife of Pépé was a dark _Gitana_,[227] in the full bloom of woman's beauty; and, with a form as graceful, and passions as unrestrained, as those of the wild deer that bounded through her native forests, she possessed, as I soon discovered, a spirit that ill assorted with the clownish and imbecile character of her husband.

The source whence the mysterious warning sprung was now evident; but, until that moment, I had not even been aware that Pépé's wife had accompanied him to Grazalema.

I solemnly protested to him that I had never looked upon _Paca_ with the eyes of love, and that his jealousy was, consequently, quite unfounded--a declaration which, at that time, was not more solemn than true; and Pépé's jealousy ceased precisely at the moment when cause for it commenced.

For his unreserved confession of the plot I granted the wretch his life on one condition; a condition which I will hereafter specify, and to the performance of which he bound himself in the most solemn manner. I knew him sufficiently to trust to his superstition, what I no longer could to his honour.

Without taking any further notice of this conspiracy, I assembled my troop, and, towards nightfall, put it in motion for its allotted position; which we reached towards midnight. I now sent for Jacobo, and, communicating to him my secret, directed him to proceed on, whilst yet the shadows of night would conceal his movements, towards Ronda, and, with the earliest dawn, to make the demonstration _I_ had arranged with the French Governor of the fortress. This done, I proceeded myself to Montejaque, to give the meeting to my confederate Beltran.

He came about an hour before day-break, armed up to the teeth, but was evidently very nervous and uneasy, which I remarked to him, and asked, jestingly, if he had a presentiment of death. He affected to laugh too, but his teeth chattered in the vain attempt; and, to take off my attention, he remarked that it was time we should be on the alert. We accordingly left the village, which is nestled between two cragged peaks, that protrude from the mountain like the tusks of a _javali_,[228] and, ascending to the summit of the northernmost pinnacle, stationed ourselves on the look out.

The sun had not yet risen above the eastern mountains ere we heard some distant straggling shots. "That firing must be the skirmishing of Melchor's party," observed Beltran; "had we not better move on?"

"Our attack would be premature," I replied; "Let him draw the garrison off some distance further, and then we shall.... _Valgame Dios!_ the sounds appear to come nearer! there must indeed be some treason here!"

"Treason!" he exclaimed, shuddering.

"Ay, treason, _Carajo_!" I repeated. "See! do you not distinguish the blue jackets of the French dragoons!"

By this time a slight mist, which hung over the course of the Guadiaro, had gradually dispersed under the influence of the rising sun, and we were enabled distinctly to perceive Jacobo's party, scattered amongst the olive groves, retiring slowly before a detachment of about equal strength of French dragoons. At the same moment we heard the distant roar of artillery; and _Beltran_, starting back from the edge of the precipice, exclaimed, "There is indeed, treason somewhere; I shall forthwith rejoin my band, and there await your orders."

"Do so," I replied quickly; "but the way through the village is circuitous. Here, Pépé--Andres,--show my good friend Beltran a shorter way down to the river:--but let me have his ears first."

At my first word, Pépé and another stout fellow, darting from behind a rock, seized Beltran by the arms, and, holding the traitor whilst I robbed him of his ears, then pitched him headlong down the precipice.

I now hastened to my troop. Jacobo and his party had by this time reached the spot where the Guadiaro, leaving the fertile basin of Ronda, enters a narrow, tortuous valley; and, crossing to the right bank, kept down the stream; thereby passing along the front of my position, and drawing the enemy on towards the spot where Beltran's troop was posted.

The enemy imprudently suffered themselves to be enticed into the trap thus laid for them, and, when sufficiently advanced for my purpose, I rushed down the side of the mountain, cutting off their retreat by the road along the edge of the river, whilst, at the same moment, Jacobo's detachment, reinforced by the whole of Beltran's band, attacked them vigorously in front.

They did not attempt to resist such fearful odds, but, plunging into the stream, endeavoured to escape amongst the vineyards that clothe the rough hills bordering its left bank. Few, however, escaped. One prisoner only (according to my orders) was made. He happened to be the very corporal who commanded the piquet which had stopt me on going into Ronda two nights before.

I congratulated him on his lucky escape. "Your saint takes good care of you," said I, "to throw you into the hands of so generous an enemy. You threatened to handcuff _me_--now I am about to liberate _you_. You must, however, be the bearer of some more _important disclosures_, which I have to communicate to your governor. They are contained in this letter and parcel;--as you value your life, deliver them safely." I then sent him about his business.

The letter was as follows:--

"_Mon General_, "When recently honoured with an interview, I pledged my word that, within eight-and-forty hours, your excellency should have the ears of Beltran Galindiz, _if not_ the head of Blas El Ratonero.

"In performance of this promise, I herewith send the _former_; for I find that I have still further occasion for the services of the _latter_.

"Pray assure Monsieur Lavater (your sagacious secretary) of the high consideration in which I hold his extraordinary penetration; and, for yourself, accept the assurance of my earnest desire, that one so talented "may live a thousand years," to command the forces opposed to "BLAS MALDONADO."

I will not weary you, _Caballeros_, with any further account of my military adventures, except to tell you that some eighteen months after this affair, whilst pursuing the enemy on his retreat from before Cadiz, a French officer was captured by my troop, and brought up for judgment.

"Monsieur," said he, addressing me in his native tongue, and not without some little surprise in his countenance, "_il me parait que votre figure me revient_."

"Very likely, _Monsieur Leboucher_," I replied in Spanish; "probably you again recognise _Blas el Ratonero_, and have come for your reward. Here, _compañeros_," I continued, addressing my attendants; "pay this worthy gentleman the thousand crowns reward due to his penetration. Let them be put up in a bag, the bag tied to his heels, and he by the neck to the next tree."

"Savage!--Monster!"--exclaimed my old acquaintance, as my orders were carrying into execution; "order your ruffians at all events to shoot me, that I may die like a French soldier."

"You are a bold fellow," said I, "to beard the tiger in his lair; and I like a brave fellow although an enemy; so get ye gone, and read a lesson on humanity to your generals, for many of them stand much in need of it."

He thanked me like a brave man, without expressing such extravagant gratitude as his nation is wont to do; and I felt an inward satisfaction at having spared him. Nevertheless, I had my reasons for it, be assured; for, since the Ronda affair, I knew not what dependence to place on my fellows, and thought I might perchance have need, some time or other, of a friend in the enemy's camp.

I must now, _caballeros_, hurry on to the conclusion of my tale; for though the day is not yet dawning, the cocks are giving notice of its approach, and, like yourselves, I purpose being on horseback by sunrise.

The true manner of Beltran's death was never known, and his corpse was left to furnish a meal to the vultures. I knew I could depend on the secrecy of my Montejaque bravo, Andres; and Pépé swore that he had seen Beltran fall dead from his horse, whilst attempting to rejoin his troop after leaving me. Not the slightest suspicion, therefore, fell upon me.

It was some years, however, ere Engracia could be persuaded to become my wife. She has since told me that it was her brother Melchor who always dissuaded her from it; but he was killed in a skirmish with the French in the Pyrenees, and her brother Alonzo never recovered from the _Tertiana_ that laid him up at Gaucin.

_Paca_, on her side, opposed my marriage, with all her most impassioned rhetoric; but its influence was no longer felt, and our intimacy broke off with a violent explosion. I have never seen her since, but understand she absconded from her disconsolate Pépé soon afterwards.

On the termination of our glorious war of independence, and the elevation of Ferdinand the Seventh to the constitutional throne, as established by the National Cortes, in 1812, I proceeded to Madrid to swear allegiance to the sovereign for whose return I had fought and bled, and claim the reward of my long services. But instead of surrounding himself with the valiant chieftains who had driven the vile _gavachos_ across the Pyrenees, and placed the crown of the two worlds upon his head, the imbecile monarch had hedged himself round with the same impotent old grandees, intriguing priests, and other parasites and _bribones_, who, but for the in-born valour of the Spanish _people_, would have been now fawning with the same abject _servilism_ at the feet of the usurper Josef. At length, however, by dint of perseverance, I obtained an audience. The king received me in his usual graceless, gracious manner--regretted my wounds--presented me with a cigar--referred me to his ministers--and wished me good morning.

His ministers--true jacks in office--had the impudence to tell me, that my services, like those of the _Empecinado_, and so many other gallant _guerrilla_ chieftains, amounted to little more than highway robberies, and that my proper reward, if I had it, would be the gallows.

Was it astonishing, _caballeros_, that such black ingratitude should meet with a heavy punishment? The favourable opportunity for inflicting it did not, however, as you know, occur for several years. But the mine which was for ever to lay the throne of absolutism prostrate, was preparing, and at length the explosion took place. I need not tell you that I was amongst the first to declare for the constitution, and my patriotism was rewarded by the lucrative post I now hold. The miserable serviles and _anilleros_[229] are still contriving plots to subvert the glorious fabric we liberals have raised. But they will find us too strong for them; and the vigour we shall exhibit will effectually deter the French from effecting their long talked of intervention. Indeed, as our old Spanish _refran_ says, "_Olla que mucho hierve, mucho pierde_;"[230] and I suspect they will find their army assembling to watch Spain, fritter away by desertion, until nothing but its well-paid _Etât-Major_ remains.[231]

_Pues!_[232] _Señores_, added our _hero_, after a short pause; I have now related all the most remarkable events of my eventful life. You must, I think, admit that I have had much to contend against in raising myself to my present prosperous condition, and that what little _peccadillos_ I have committed were--if not purely accidental--forced upon me by uncontrollable circumstances. _Conque, amigos!--le beso las manos._ I will now leave you for a few moments to see to the feeding of my horse, who has a long journey before him, and I will take the opportunity of desiring our hostess to prepare us some chocolate. _Si se oferece algo..... ustedes no tienen que mandar_,[233] and if you can be persuaded at any future time to visit ----, be assured, _mi casa, mi muger, mis criados--todo está a lá disposicion de ustedes_.[234]

With this most liberal invitation, Señor Blas left us.