Despite his rapid military promotion1 and the ill-gotten wealth he has acquired, Colonel Gil Uraga is anything but a happy man. Only at such times as he is engaged in some stirring affair of duty or devilry, or when under the influence of drink, is he otherwise than wretched. To drinking he has taken habitually2, almost continually. It is not to drown conscience; he has none. The canker-worm that consumes him is not remorse3, but disappointment in a love affair, coupled with a thirst for vengeance4.
There are moments when he is truly miserable5, his misery6 reaching its keenest whenever he either looks into his mirror or stands before a portrait that hangs against the wall of the sala. It is a likeness7 of Adela Miranda; for he has taken possession of the house of his predecessor8, with all its furniture and pictures, left in their hasty retreat, the young lady’s portrait as the rest.
The Lancer colonel loves Adela Miranda; and though his love be of a coarse, brutal9 nature, it is strong and intense as that the noblest man may feel.
In earlier days he believed there was a chance of his obtaining her hand. Humble10 birth is no bar in Mexico—land of revolutions—where the sergeant11 or common soldier of to-day may be a lieutenant12, captain, or colonel to-morrow. His hopes had been a stimulant13 to his military aspirations14; perchance one of the causes that first led him into crime. He believed that wealth might bridge over the social distinction between himself and her, and in this belief he cared not how it should be acquired. For the rest he was not ill-looking, rather handsome, and fairly accomplished15. Like most Mexican militarios, he could boast of his bonnes fortunes, which he often did.
These have become more rare since receiving the sword-thrust from his American adversary16 in the duel17 at Chihuahua, which not only cost him three front teeth, but a hideous18 scar across the cheek. The teeth have been replaced, but the scar cannot be effaced19; it remains20 a frightful21 cicatrix. Even his whiskers, let grow to their extremest outcrop, will not all conceal22 it; it is too far forward upon the face.
It was after this unfortunate affair that he made proposal to Adela Miranda. And now he cannot help thinking it had something to do with her abrupt23 and disdainful rejection24 of him, though the young lady’s little concealed25 disgust, coupled with her brother’s indignation, had no reference to the physical deformity. But for his blind passion he might have perceived this. Fancying it so, however, it is not strange that he goes half frantic26, and can be heard giving utterance27 to fearful oaths every time he glances in his looking-glass.
After returning from his secret expedition of murder and pillage28, he can gaze with more equanimity29 into the glass. From the man who caused the disfiguration of his visage he has exacted a terrible retribution. His adversary in the Chihuahua duel is now no more. He has met with a fate sufficient to satisfy the most implacable vengeance; and often, both sober and in his cups, does Gil Uraga break out into peals30 of laughter, like the glee of a demon31, as he reflects on the torture, prolonged and horrible, his hated enemy must have endured before life became extinct!
But even all this does not appease32 his malevolent33 spirit. A portion of his vengeance is yet unappeased—that due to him who was second in the duel. And if it could be satisfied by the death of Miranda himself, then there would still be the other thought to torture him—his thwarted34 love scheme. The chagrin35 he suffers from this is stronger than his thirst for vengeance.
He is seated in the sala of Miranda’s house, which he occupies as his official headquarters. He is alone, his only companion being the bottle that stands upon a table beside him—this and a cigar burning between his lips. It is not wine he is drinking, but the whisky of Tequila, distilled36 from the wild maguey. Wine is too weak to calm his perturbed37 spirit, as he sits surveying the portrait upon the wall.
His eyes have been on it several times; each time, as he takes them off, drinking a fresh glass of the mezcal and igniting another cigar. What signifies all his success in villainy? What is life worth without her? He would plunder38 a church to obtain possession of her—murder his dearest friend to get from Adela Miranda one approving smile.
Such are his coarse thoughts as he sits soliloquising, shaping conjectures39 about the banished40 commandant and his sister.
Where can they have gone to? In all probability to the United States—that asylum41 of rebels and refugees. In the territory of New Mexico they cannot have stayed. His spies have searched every nook and corner of it, their zeal42 secured by the promise of large rewards. He has dispatched secret emissaries to the Rio Abajo, and on to the Provincias Internas. But no word of Miranda anywhere—no trace can be found either of him or his sister. “Chingara!”
As if this exclamatory phrase, sent hissing43 through his teeth—too foul44 to bear translation—were the name of a man, one at this moment appears in the doorway45, who, after a gesture of permission to enter, steps inside the room.
He is an officer in full uniform—one whom we have met before, though not in military costume. It is Lieutenant Roblez, Uraga’s adjutant, as also his confederate in crime.
“I’m glad you’ve come, ayudante,” says the Colonel, motioning the new-comer to a seat. “I’m feeling a little bit lonely, and I want some one to cheer me. You, Roblez, are just the man for that; you’ve got such a faculty46 for conversation.”
This is ironical47; for Roblez is as silent as an owl48.
“Sit down and give me your cheerful company,” the Colonel adds. “Have a cigar and a copita of this capital stuff; it’s the best that Tequila produces.”
“I’ve brought other company that may be more cheerful than mine,” returns the adjutant, still keeping his feet.
“Ah! some of our fellows from the cuartel? Bring them in.”
“It is not any of the officers, Colonel. There’s only one man, and he’s a civilian49.
“Civilian or soldier, you’re free to introduce him. I hope,” he adds, in an undertone, “it’s one of the ricos of the neighbourhood, who won’t mind taking an albur at montè or a throw of the dice50. I’m just in the vein51 for a bit of play.”
“He I’m going to introduce don’t look much like a rico. From what I can see of him in the darkness, I should say that the blanket upon his shoulders and his sheepskin smallclothes—somewhat dilapidated by the way—are about all the property he possesses.”
“He’s a stranger to you, then?”
“As much as to yourself, as you’ll say after seeing him—perhaps more.”
“What sort of man is he?”
“For that matter, he can hardly be described as a man. At least, he’s not one of the gent-de-razon. He’s only an Indian.”
“Ha! Comanche?”
As he utters this interrogatory, Colonel Gil Uraga gives a slight start, and looks a little uneasy. His relations with men of the Indian race are of a delicate nature; and, although keen to cultivate their acquaintance whenever occasion requires it, he prefers keeping all Indians at a distance—more especially Comanches, when he has no particular need of their services. The thought has flashed across his mind that the man waiting to be ushered52 into his presence may be a messenger from the Horned Lizard54; and with the Tenawa chief he desires no further dealings—at least for a time. Therefore, the belief of its being an emissary from his red-skinned confederate somewhat discomposes him.
The reply of his subordinate, however, reassures55 him.
“No, colonel, he’s not a Comanche; bears no resemblance to one, only in the colour of his skin. He appears to be a Pueblo56; and from his tattered57 costume, I take him to be some poor labourer.”
“But what does he want with me?”
“That, colonel, I cannot say; only that he has expressed a very urgent desire to speak with you. I fancy he has something to communicate, which might be important for you to hear; else I should not have taken the liberty to bring him here.”
“You have him at hand?”
“I have. He is outside in the patio58. Shall I usher53 him in?”
“By all means; there can be no harm in hearing what the fellow has to say. It may be about some threatened invasion of the savages59; and as protectors of the people, you, ayudante, know it’s our duty to do whatever we can for warding60 off such a catastrophe61.”
The colonel laughs at his sorry jest; the adjutant expressing his appreciation62 of it in a shrug63 of the shoulders, accompanied by a grim smile.
“Bring the brute64 in!” is the command that followed, succeeded by the injunction.
“Stay outside in the court till I send for or call you. The fellow may have something to say intended for only one pair of ears. Take a glass of the mezcal, light cigarrito, and amuse yourself as you best may.”
The adjutant obeys the first two of these directions; then, stepping out of the sala, leaves his superior officer alone.
Uraga glances around to assure himself that there are weapons within reach. With a conscience like his, a soul charged with crime, no wonder.
His sabre rests against the wall close to his hand, while a pair of dragoon pistols, both loaded, lie upon the table.
Satisfied with the proximity65 of these weapons, he sits upright in his chair and tranquilly66 awaits the entrance of the Indian.
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1
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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7
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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8
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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10
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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11
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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13
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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14
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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15
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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16
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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17
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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18
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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19
effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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20
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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21
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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22
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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23
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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24
rejection
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| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
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25
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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26
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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27
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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28
pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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29
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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30
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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31
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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32
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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33
malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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34
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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35
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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36
distilled
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| adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华 | |
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37
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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39
conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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40
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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42
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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43
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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44
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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45
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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46
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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47
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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48
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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49
civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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50
dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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51
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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52
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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54
lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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55
reassures
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| v.消除恐惧或疑虑，恢复信心( reassure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56
pueblo
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| n.（美国西南部或墨西哥等）印第安人的村庄 | |
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57
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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58
patio
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| n.庭院，平台 | |
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59
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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60
warding
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| 监护，守护（ward的现在分词形式） | |
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61
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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62
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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63
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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64
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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65
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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66
tranquilly
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| adv. 宁静地 | |
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