As is known, Hamersley’s suspicions about the treachery of the peon are not without cause. On the contrary, they might seem second-sight. For, almost at the moment he is communicating them to Colonel Miranda, the native is telling his tale to Uraga.
Nor does the latter lose much time in acting1 upon the information gained—only that short interlude given to exultation2 as he stepped up to the portrait of Adela Miranda, and stood triumphantly3 regarding the likeness4 of her he now looks upon as sure to be his. He has no hope to get possession of her by fair means; foul5 are alone in his thoughts.
After delivering his half-frenzied apostrophe to the painted image, he returns to the table, beside which Roblez has already taken a seat.
They re-fill their glasses, and drink the toasts specified6, with a ceremony in strange contrast to the hellish glee sparkling in the eyes of the Lancer-Colonel. His countenance7 beams with triumph, such as might be shown by Satan over the ruin of innocence8. For he now feels sure of his victims—alike that of his love as well as those of his revenge.
Not long does he remain over his cups in the company of his subordinate. He has an important matter upon his mind which calls for reflection—in silence and by himself.
Though often admitting his adjutant to a share in his criminal schemes, the participation9 is only in their profits and the act of execution. Despotic even in his villainies, he keeps the planning to himself, for he has secrets even Roblez must not know. And now an idea has dawned upon his mind, a purpose he does not care to communicate to the subaltern till such time as may be necessary or seem fit to him. Not that he dreads11 treachery on the part of his fellow freebooter. They are mutually compromised, and long have been; too much to tell tales about one another. Besides, Roblez, though a man of undoubted courage, of the coarse, animal kind, has, neverthless, a certain moral dread10 of his commanding officer, and fears to offend him. He knows Gil Uraga to be one whose hostility12, once provoked, will stop short at nothing, leave no means untried to take retribution—this of a terrible kind. Hence a control which the colonel holds over him beyond that drawn13 from his superior military rank. Hence, also, his receiving but a small share in the proceeds of their various robberies, and his being satisfied with this, or, at all events, seeming so.
On his side, Uraga has several motives14 for not letting his subordinate into the knowledge of all his complicated schemes; among them one springing from a moral peculiarity16. He is of a strangely-constituted nature, secretive to the last degree—a quality or habit in which he prides himself. It is his delight to practice it whenever the opportunity offers; just as the thief and detective officer take pleasure in their respective callings beyond the mere17 prize to be derived18 from their exercise.
The intelligence just received from the traitorous20 mule-driver, unexpected as pleasing, has opened to him the prospect21 of a grand success. It may enable him to strike a coup22 covering all—alike giving gratification to his love, as his hate.
But the blow must needs be dealt deftly23. There are circumstances to be considered and precautions taken, not only to prevent its failing, but secure against a publicity24 that might cause scandal to himself, to say naught25 of consequent danger.
And it must be struck soon—at once. It is too ticklish26 a matter to admit of delay, either in the design or execution.
Already has the matter flitted before his mind in its general outlines; almost soon as receiving the report of the peon.
It is only the details that remain for consideration; and these he intends considering alone, without any aid from his adjutant.
As time is an object, he speedily terminates his carousal27 with the subaltern; who, dismissed, returns to the military cuartel.
Soon as he is gone the colonel again seats himself, and lighting28 a fresh cigar, continues smoking. For several minutes he remains29 silent, his eyes turned upwards30, and his features set in a smile. One might fancy him but watching the smoke of his cigar as it rises in spiral wreaths to the ceiling. He is occupied with no such innocent amusement. On the contrary, his grim smile betokens31 meditation32 deep and devilish. He is mentally working out a problem, a nefarious33 scheme, which will ere long bear evil fruit.
As the cigar grows shorter he seems to draw nearer to his conclusions. And when at length there is only the stump34 between his teeth, he spits it out; and, taking a hand-bell from the table, rings until a domestic appears in the doorway35 in answer to the summons.
“Call in the guard-corporal!” is the order received by the servant, who withdraws without saying a word.
Soon the soldier shows himself, saluting36 as he enters the door.
“Cabo! Bring your prisoner before me.”
The corporal retires, and shortly after returns, having the Indian in charge. He is commanded to leave the latter, and himself remain waiting without. Directed also to close the door; which he does on getting outside.
Thus closeted with the peon—still wondering why he has been made a prisoner—Uraga submits him to a process of examination, which elicits37 from the scared creature everything he seeds to know. Among the rest, he makes himself acquainted with the situation of the valley, where the exiles have found temporary asylum38; the direction, distance, and means of access to it—in short, its complete topography.
With all the Indian is familiar, can correctly describe it, and does so. In that imposing39 presence he dare not attempt deception40, even if inclined. But he is not. Between questioner and questioned the aim and end are similar, if not the same. Besides, the peon’s blood has again been warmed up, and his tongue set loose, by a fresh infusion41 of aguardiente—so that his confessions42 are full as free. He tells about the life led by the Mexican refugees, as also their American guests—all he knows, and this is nearly everything. For trusted, unsuspected, he has had every opportunity to learn. The only thing concealed43 by him is his own love affair with Conchita and its disastrous44 ending, through the intrusion of the Texan Ranger45.
This, if told, would give his listener slight concern, alongside the grave impressions made upon him by another affair; some particulars of which the peon communicates. These points refer to tender relations existing between the young prairie trader and Adela Miranda, almost proving their existence. Confirmed or not, on hearing of them Gil Uraga receives a shock which sends the blood rushing in quick current through his veins46; while upon his countenance comes an expression of such bitter malignity47, that the traitor19, in fear for his own safety, repents48 having told him.
But Uraga has no spite against him—no motive15 for having it. On the contrary, he intends rewarding him, after he gets out of him certain other services for which he is to be retained.
When his cross-questioning is at length brought to a close, he is once more committed to the charge of the guard-corporal, with orders to be returned to the prison. At the same time a hint is given him that his incarceration49 is only precautionary, with a promise it will not be for long.
Immediately after his removal, Uraga seats himself before an escritoire, which stands on one side of the room. Laying open the lid, he spreads a sheet of paper upon it, and commences to write what appears an epistle.
Whatever it is, the composition occupies some considerable time. Occasionally he stops using the pen, as though pondering what to put down.
When it is at length completed, apparently50 to his satisfaction, he folds the sheet, thrusts a stick of wax into the flame of a candle, and seals the document, but without using any seal-stamp. A small silver coin taken from his pocket makes the necessary impression. There does not appear to be any name appended to the epistle, if one it is; and the superscription shows only two words, without any address. The words are “El Barbato.”
Again ringing the bell, the same servant answers it.
“Go to the stables,” commands his master, “or the corral, or wherever he may be, and tell Pedrillo I want him. Be quick about it!”
The man bows and disappears.
“It will take them—how many days to reach the Tenawas’ town, and how many back to the Pecos?” soliloquises Uraga, pacing the floor, as he makes his calculations. “Three, four, five. No matter. If before them we can wait till they come. Pedrillo!”
Pedrillo has put in an appearance. He is an Indian of the tame sort, not greatly differing from the man Manuel, with a countenance quite as forbidding. But we have seen Pedrillo before; since he was one of the two muleteers who conducted the atajo transporting the spoil from the caravan51 of the prairie traders.
“Pedrillo,” directs the Colonel, “catch a couple of the best roadsters in the corral—one for yourself, the other for José. Have them saddled, and get yourselves ready for a journey of two weeks, or so. Make all haste with your preparations. When ready, come here, and report yourself.”
The muleteer disappears, and Uraga continues to pace the floor, apparently yet busied with a mental measurement of time and distance. At intervals52 he stops before the portrait on the wall, and for a second or two gazes at it. This seems to increase his impatience53 for the man’s reappearance.
He has not a great while to wait. The scrip and staff of a New Mexican traveller of Pedrillo’s kind is of no great bulk or complexity54. It takes but a short time to prepare it. A few tortillas and frijoles, a head or two of chile Colorado, half a dozen onions, and a bunch of tasojo—jerked beef. Having collected these comestibles, and filled his xuaje, or water gourd55, Pedrillo reports himself ready for the road, or trail, or whatever sort of path, and on whatever errand, it may please his master to despatch56 him.
“You will go straight to the Tenawa town—Horned Lizard57’s—on the south branch of the Goo-al-pah. You can find your way to the place, Pedrillo. You’ve been there before?”
The Indian nods an affirmative.
“Take this.” Here Uraga hands him the sealed paper. “See you show it to no one you may chance to meet passing out from the settlements. Give it to Barbato, or hand it to the Horned Lizard himself. He’ll know who it’s for. You are to ride night and day, as fast as the animals can carry you. When you’ve delivered it you needn’t wait, but come back—not here, but to the Alamo. You know the place—where we met the Tenawas some weeks ago. You will find me there. Vaya!”
On receiving these instructions Pedrillo vanishes from, the room; a strange sinister58 glance in his oblique59 Indian eyes telling that he knows himself to be once more—what he has often been—an emissary of evil.
Uraga takes another turn across the floor, then, seating himself by the table, seeks rest for his passion-tossed soul by drinking deep of the mescal of Tequila.
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1
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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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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6
specified
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| adj.特定的 | |
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7
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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11
dreads
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| n.恐惧，畏惧( dread的名词复数 )；令人恐惧的事物v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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13
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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14
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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15
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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16
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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17
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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18
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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traitorous
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| adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 | |
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21
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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22
coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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25
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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26
ticklish
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| adj.怕痒的；问题棘手的；adv.怕痒地；n.怕痒，小心处理 | |
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27
carousal
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| n.喧闹的酒会 | |
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28
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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29
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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30
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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betokens
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的第三人称单数 ) | |
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32
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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33
nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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34
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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35
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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36
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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37
elicits
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| 引出，探出( elicit的第三人称单数 ) | |
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38
asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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39
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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40
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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41
infusion
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| n.灌输 | |
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42
confessions
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| n.承认( confession的名词复数 )；自首；声明；（向神父的）忏悔 | |
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43
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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44
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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45
ranger
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| n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员 | |
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46
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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47
malignity
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| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
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48
repents
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
incarceration
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| n.监禁，禁闭；钳闭 | |
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50
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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51
caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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52
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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53
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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54
complexity
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| n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物 | |
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55
gourd
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| n.葫芦 | |
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56
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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57
lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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58
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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59
oblique
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| adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的 | |
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