On one side was Dona Joaquina, holding in her hands a golden rosary with its crucifix. The girls were kneeling in front of a picture—a portrait of Dolores with the fatal dagger3; and the “Lady of Grief” looked not more sorrowful from the canvas than the beautiful devotees that bent4 before her.
With their heads slightly leaning, their arms crossed upon their swelling5 bosoms6, and their long loose hair trailing upon the carpet, they formed a picture at once painful and prepossessing.
Not wishing to intrude7 upon this sacred sorrow, we made a motion to retire.
“No, Señores,” said Don Cosmé, interrupting us. “Be seated; let us talk calmly—let us know the worst.”
We then proceeded to inform Don Cosmé of the landing of the American troops and the manner in which our lines were drawn8 around the city, and pointed9 out to him the impossibility of anyone passing either in or out.
“There is still a hope, Don Cosmé,” said I, “and that, perhaps, rests with yourself.”
The thought had struck me that a Spaniard of Don Cosmé’s evident rank and wealth might be enabled to procure10 access to the city by means of his consul11, and through the Spanish ship of war that I recollected12 was lying off San Juan.
“Oh! name it, Captain; name it!” cried he, while at the word “hope” the ladies had rushed forward, and stood clinging around me.
“There is a Spanish ship of war lying under the walls of Vera Cruz.”
“We know it—we know it!” replied Don Cosmé eagerly.
“Ah! you know it, then?”
“Oh, yes!” said Guadalupe. “Don Santiago is on board of her.”
“Don Santiago?” inquired I; “who is he?”
“He is a relation of ours, Captain,” said Don Cosmé; “an officer in the Spanish navy.”
This information pained me, although I scarcely knew why.
“You have a friend, then, aboard the Spanish ship,” said I to the elder of the sisters. “’Tis well; it will be in his power to restore to you your brother.”
A ring of brightening faces was around me while I uttered these cheering words; and Don Cosmé, grasping me by the hand, entreated13 me to proceed.
“This Spanish ship,” I continued, “is still allowed to keep up a communication with the town. You should proceed aboard at once, and by the assistance of this friend you may bring away your son before the bombardment commences. I see no difficulty; our batteries are not yet formed.”
“I will go this instant!” said Don Cosmé, leaping to his feet, while Dona Joaquina and her daughters ran out to make preparations for his journey.
Hope—sweet hope—was again in the ascendant.
“But how, Señor?” asked Don Cosmé, as soon as they were gone; “how can I pass your lines? Shall I be permitted to reach the ship?”
“It will be necessary for me to accompany you, Don Cosmé,” I replied; “and I regret exceedingly that my duty will not permit me to return with you at once.”
“Oh, Señor!” exclaimed the Spaniard, with a painful expression.
“My business here,” continued I, “is to procure pack-mules14 for the American army.”
“Mules?”
“Yes. We were crossing for that purpose to a plain on the other side of the woods, where we had observed some animals of that description.”
“’Tis true, Captain; there are a hundred or more; they are mine—take them all!”
“But it is our intention to pay for them, Don Cosmé. The major here has the power to contract with you.”
“As you please, gentlemen; but you will then return this way, and proceed to your camp?”
“As soon as possible,” I replied. “How far distant is this plain?”
“Not more than a league. I would go with you, but—” Here Don Cosmé hesitated, and, approaching, said in a low tone: “The truth is, Señor Capitan, I should be glad if you could take them without my consent. I have mixed but little in the politics of this country; but Santa Anna is my enemy—he will ask no better motive15 for despoiling16 me.”
“I understand you,” said I. “Then, Don Cosmé, we will take your mules by force, and carry yourself a prisoner to the American camp—a Yankee return for your hospitality.”
“It is good,” replied the Spaniard, with a smile.
“Señor Capitan,” continued he, “you are without a sword. Will you favour me by accepting this?”
Don Cosmé held out to me a rapier of Toledo steel, with a golden scabbard richly chased, and bearing on its hilt the eagle and nopal of Mexico.
“It is a family relic17, and once belonged to the brave Guadalupe Victoria.”
“Ha! indeed!” I exclaimed, taking the sword; “I shall value it much. Thanks, Señor! thanks! Now, Major, we are ready to proceed.”
“A glass of maraschino, gentlemen?” said Don Cosmé, as a servant appeared with a flask18 and glasses. “Thank you—yes,” grunted19 the major; “and while we are drinking it, Señor Don, let me give you a hint. You appear to have plenty of pewter.” Here the major significantly touched a gold sugar-dish, which the servant was carrying upon a tray of chased silver. “Take my word for it, you can’t bury it too soon.”
“It is true, Don Cosmé,” said I, translating to him the major’s advice. “We are not French, but there are robbers who hang on the skirts of every army.”
Don Cosmé promised to follow the hint with alacrity20, and we prepared to take our departure from the rancho.
“I will give you a guide, Señor Capitan; you will find my people with the mulada. Please compel them to lasso the cattle for you. You will obtain what you want in the corral. Adios, Señores!”
“Farewell, Don Cosmé!”
“A dios, Capitan! adios! adios!”
I held out my hand to the younger of the girls, who instantly caught it and pressed it to her lips. It was the action of a child. Guadalupe followed the example of her sister, but evidently with a degree of reserve. What, then, should have caused this difference in their manner?
In the next moment we were ascending21 the stairway.
“Lucky dog!” growled22 the major. “Take a ducking myself for that.”
“Both beautiful, by Jove!” said Clayley; “but of all the women I ever saw, give me ‘Mary of the Light’!”

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1
woe
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n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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2
atmospheric
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adj.大气的,空气的;大气层的;大气所引起的 | |
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3
dagger
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n.匕首,短剑,剑号 | |
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4
bent
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n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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5
swelling
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n.肿胀 | |
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6
bosoms
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胸部( bosom的名词复数 ); 胸怀; 女衣胸部(或胸襟); 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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7
intrude
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vi.闯入;侵入;打扰,侵扰 | |
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8
drawn
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v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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9
pointed
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adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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10
procure
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vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条 | |
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11
consul
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n.领事;执政官 | |
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12
recollected
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adj.冷静的;镇定的;被回忆起的;沉思默想的v.记起,想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
entreated
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恳求,乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
mules
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骡( mule的名词复数 ); 拖鞋; 顽固的人; 越境运毒者 | |
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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
despoiling
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v.掠夺,抢劫( despoil的现在分词 ) | |
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17
relic
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n.神圣的遗物,遗迹,纪念物 | |
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18
flask
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n.瓶,火药筒,砂箱 | |
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19
grunted
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(猪等)作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 ); (指人)发出类似的哼声; 咕哝着说 | |
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20
alacrity
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n.敏捷,轻快,乐意 | |
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21
ascending
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adj.上升的,向上的 | |
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22
growled
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v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说 | |
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