The city stands on the very beach. The sea at full tide washes its battlements, and many of the houses overlook the water. On almost every side a plain of sand extends to a mile’s distance from the walls, where it terminates in those lofty white sand-ridges9 that form a feature of the shores of the Mexican Gulf. During high tides and “northers” the sea washes over the surrounding sand-plain, and Vera Cruz appears almost isolated11 amid the waves. On one side, however, towards the south, there is variety in the aspect. Here appear traces of vegetation—some low trees and bushes, a view of the forest inward into the country, a few buildings outside the walls, a railway-station, a cemetery12, an aqueduct, a small sluggish13 stream, marshes14 and stagnant15 pools.
In front of the city, built upon the coral reef, stands the celebrated16 fortress-castle of San Juan de Ulloa. It is about one thousand yards out from the mole, and over one of its angles towers a lighthouse. Its walls, with the reef on which it stands (Gallega), shelter the harbour of Vera Cruz—which, in fact, is only a roadstead—from the north winds. Under the lee of San Juan the ships of commerce lie at anchor. There are but few of them at any time.
Another large fort (Concepcion) stands upon the beach at the northern angle of the city, and a third (Santiago) defends it towards the south. A circular bastion, with heavy pieces of ordnance17, sweeps the plain to the rear, commanding it as far as the sand-ridges.
Vera Cruz is a pretty picture to look at, either from the sea or from the sand-hills in the interior. Its massive domes18—its tall steeples and turreted20 roofs—its architecture, half Moorish21, half modern—the absence of scattered22 suburbs or other salient objects to distract the eye—all combine to render the City of the True Cross an unique and striking picture. In fact, its numerous architectural varieties, bound as they are into compact unity23 by a wall of dark lava-stone, impress you with the idea that some artist had arranged them for the sake of effect. The coup24 d’oeil often reminded me of the engravings of cities in Goldsmith’s Epitome25, that used to be considered the bright spots in my lessons of school geography.
At break of day, on the 10th, the army took up its line of march through hills of sand-drift. Division lapped upon division, regiment26 upon regiment, extending the circle of investment by an irregular echelon27. Foot rifles and light infantry28 drove the enemy from ridge10 to ridge, and through the dark mazes29 of the chaparral gorge30. The column continued its tortuous31 track, winding32 through deep denies, and over hot white hills, like a bristling33 snake. It moved within range of the guns of the city, screened by intervening heights. Now and then the loud cannon34 of Santiago opened upon it, as some regiment displayed itself, crossing a defile35 or pushing over the spur of a sand-hill. The constant rattling36 of rifles and musketry told that our skirmishers were busy in the advance. The arsenal37 was carried by a brilliant charge, and the American flag waved over the ruins of the Convent Malibran. On the 11th the Orizava road was crossed, and the light troops of the enemy were brushed from the neighbouring hills. They retired38 sullenly39 under shelter of their heavy guns, and within the walls of the city.
On the morning of the 12th the investment was complete. Vera Cruz lay within a semicircle, around its centre. The half circumference40 was a chain of hostile regiments41 that embraced the city in their concave arc. The right of this chain pitched its tents opposite the isle42 of Sacrificios; while five miles off to the north, its left rested upon the hamlet Vergara. The sea covered the complement43 of this circle, guarded by a fleet of dark and warlike ships.
The diameter hourly grew shorter. The lines of circum-vallation lapped closer and closer around the devoted44 city, until the American pickets45 appeared along the ridges of the nearest hills, and within range of the guns of Santiago, Concepcion, and Xjuoa.
A smooth sand-plain, only a mile in width, lay between the besiegers and the walls of the besieged47.
After tattoo-beat on the night of the 12th, with a party of my brother officers, I ascended48 the high hill around which winds the road leading to Orizava.
This hill overlooks the city of Vera Cruz.
After dragging ourselves wearily through the soft, yielding sand, we reached the summit, and halted on a projecting ridge.
With the exception of a variety of exclamations49 expressing surprise and delight, not a word for awhile was uttered by any of our party, each individual being wrapped up in the contemplation of a scene of surpassing interest. It was moonlight, and sufficiently50 clear to distinguish the minutest objects on the picture that lay rolled out before us like a map.
Below our position, and seeming almost within reach of the hand, lay the City of the True Cross, rising out of the white plain, and outlined upon the blue background of the sea.
The dark grey towers and painted domes, the Gothic turret19 and Moorish minaret51, impressed us with the idea of the antique; while here and there the tamarind, nourished on some azotea, or the fringed fronds52 of the palm-tree, drooping53 over the notched54 parapet, lent to the city an aspect at once southern and picturesque55.
Domes, spires56, and cupolas rose over the old grey walls, crowned with floating banners—the consular57 flags of France, and Spain, and Britain, waving alongside the eagle of the Aztecs.
Beyond, the blue waters of the Gulf rippled58 lightly against the sea-washed battlements of San Juan, whose brilliant lights glistened59 along the combing of the surf.
To the south we could distinguish the isle of Sacrificios, and the dark hulls60 that slept silently under the shelter of its coral reef.
Outside the fortified wall, which girt the city with its cincture of grey rock, a smooth plain stretched rearward to the foot of the hill on which we stood, and right and left along the crest61 of the ridge from Punta Hornos to Vergara, ranged a line of dark forms—the picket46 sentries62 of the American outposts, as they stood knee-deep in the soft, yielding sand-drift.
It was a picture of surprising interest; and, as we stood gazing upon it, the moon suddenly disappeared behind a bank of clouds; and the lamps of the city, heretofore eclipsed by her brighter beam, now burned up and glistened along the walls.
Bells rang merrily from church-towers, and bugles63 sounded through the echoing streets. At intervals we could hear the shrill64 cries of the guard, “Centinela! alerte!” (Sentinel, look out), and the sharp challenge, “Quien viva?” (Who goes there?)
Then the sound of sweet music, mingled65 with the soft voices of women, was wafted66 to our ears, and with beating hearts we fancied we could hear the light tread of silken feet, as they brushed over the polished floor of the ball-room.
It was a tantalising moment, and wistful glances were cast on the beleaguered67 town; while more than one of our party was heard impatiently muttering a wish that it might be carried by assault.
As we continued gazing, a bright jet of flame shot out horizontally from the parapet over Puerto Nuevo.
“Look out!” cried Twing, at the same instant flinging his wiry little carcase squat68 under the brow of a sand-wreath.
Several of the party followed his example; but, before all had housed themselves, a shot came singing past, along with the loud report of a twenty-four.
The shot struck the comb of the ridge, within several yards of the group, and ricocheted off into the distant hills.
“Try it again!” cried one.
“That fellow has lost a champagne69 supper,” said Twing.
“More likely he has had it, or his aim would be more steady,” suggested an officer.
“Oysters70, too—only think of it!” said Clayley.
“Howld your tongue, Clayley, or by my sowl I’ll charge down upon the town!”
This came from Hennessy, upon whose imagination the contrast between champagne and oysters and the gritty pork and biscuit he had been feeding upon for several days past acted like a shock.
“There again!” cried Twing, whose quick eye caught the blaze upon the parapet.
“A shell, by the powers!” exclaimed Hennessy. “Let it dhrop first, or it may dhrop on ye,” he continued, as several officers were about to fling themselves on their faces.
The bomb shot up with a hissing71, hurtling sound. A little spark could be seen as it traced its graceful72 curves through the dark heavens.
The report echoed from the walls, and at the same instant was heard a dull sound, as the shell buried itself in the sand-drift.
It fell close to one of the picket sentinels, who was standing73 upon his post within a few paces of the group. The man appeared to be either asleep or stupefied, as he remained stock-still. Perhaps he had mistaken it for the ricochet of a round shot.
“It’s big shooting for them to hit the hill!” exclaimed a young officer.
The words had scarcely passed when a loud crash, like the bursting of a cannon, was heard under our feet; the ground opened like an earthquake, and, amidst the whistling of the fragments, the sand was dashed into our faces.
A cloud of dust hung for a moment above the spot. The moon at this instant reappeared, and as the dust slowly settled away, the mutilated body of the soldier was seen upon the brow of the hill, at the distance of twenty paces from his post.
A low cheer reached us from Concepcion, the fort whence the shell had been projected.
Chagrined74 at the occurrence, and mortified75 that it had been caused by our imprudence, we were turning to leave the hill, when the “whish” of a rocket attracted our attention.
It rose from the chaparral, about a quarter of a mile in rear of the camp, and, before it had reached its culminating point, an answering signal shot up from the Puerto Nuevo.
At the same instant a horseman dashed out of the thicket76, and headed his horse at the steep sand-hills. After three or four desperate plunges77, the fiery78 mustang gained the crest of the ridge upon which lay the remains79 of the dead soldier.
Here the rider, seeing our party, suddenly reined80 up and balanced for a moment in the stirrup, as if uncertain whether to advance or retreat.
We, on the other hand, taking him for some officer of our own, and wondering who it could be galloping81 about at such an hour, stood silent and waiting.
“By heavens, that’s a Mexican!” muttered Twing, as the ranchero dress became apparent under a brighter beam of the moon.
Before anyone could reply, the strange horseman wheeled sharply to the left, and drawing a pistol, fired it into our midst. Then spurring his wild horse, he galloped82 past us into a deep defile of the hills.
“You’re a set of Yankee fools!” he shouted back, as he reached the bottom of the dell.
Half a dozen shots replied to the taunting83 speech; but the retreating object was beyond pistol range before our astonished party had recovered from their surprise at such an act of daring audacity84.
In a few minutes we could see both horse and rider near the walls of the city—a speck85 on the white plain; and shortly after we heard the grating hinges of the Puerto Nuevo, as the huge gate swung open to receive him. No one was hit by the shot of his pistol. Several could be heard gritting86 their teeth with mortification87 as we commenced descending the hill.
“Did you know that voice, Captain?” whispered Clayley to me, as we returned to camp.
“Yes.”
“You think it was—”
“Dubrosc.”
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1
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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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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pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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cemetery
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| n.坟墓，墓地，坟场 | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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15
stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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17
ordnance
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| n.大炮，军械 | |
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18
domes
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| n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 )；像圆屋顶一样的东西；圆顶体育场 | |
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19
turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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turreted
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| a.(像炮塔般)旋转式的 | |
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moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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epitome
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| n.典型，梗概 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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echelon
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| n.梯队；组织系统中的等级；v.排成梯队 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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29
mazes
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| 迷宫( maze的名词复数 )； 纷繁复杂的规则； 复杂难懂的细节； 迷宫图 | |
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30
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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tortuous
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| adj.弯弯曲曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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defile
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| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
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36
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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37
arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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41
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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42
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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43
complement
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| n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足 | |
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44
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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47
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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50
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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51
minaret
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| n.（回教寺院的）尖塔 | |
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52
fronds
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| n.蕨类或棕榈类植物的叶子( frond的名词复数 ) | |
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53
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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54
notched
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| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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consular
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| a.领事的 | |
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58
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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59
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
hulls
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| 船体( hull的名词复数 )； 船身； 外壳； 豆荚 | |
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61
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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65
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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66
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
beleaguered
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| adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰 | |
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68
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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69
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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71
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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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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74
chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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76
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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77
plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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78
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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79
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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80
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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81
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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82
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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83
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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84
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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85
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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86
gritting
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的现在分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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87
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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