The Jalapenos did not receive us inhospitably—nor the Jalapenas either. They expected, as a matter of course, that we would sack their beautiful city. This we did not do, and their gratitude2 enabled our officers to pass their time somewhat agreeably. The gay round that always succeeds a battle—for dead comrades are soon forgotten amidst congratulations and new titles—had no fascination3 for me.
The balls, the tertulias, the dias de campo, were alike insipid4 and tiresome5. She was not there—and where? I knew not. I might never see her again. All I knew was that they had gone up the country—perhaps to Cordova or Orizava.
Clayley shared my feelings. The bright eyes in the balconies, the sweet voices in the orange-shaded patios6 of Jalapa, had neither brightness nor music for us. We were both thoroughly7 miserable8.
To add to this unhappy state of things, a bad feeling had sprung up among the officers of our army—a jealousy9 between the old and the new. Those of the old standing10 army, holding themselves as a species of military aristocracy, looked upon their brethren of the new regiments11 as “interlopers”; and this feeling pervaded13 all ranks, from the commander-in-chief down to the lowest subaltern.
It did not, however, interest all individuals. There were many honourable14 men on both sides who took no part in a question so ridiculous, but, on the contrary, endeavoured to frown it down. It was the child of idleness and a long spell of garrison15 duty. On the eve of a battle it always disappeared. I have adverted16 to this, not that it might interest the reader, but as explaining a result connected with myself.
One of the most prominent actors in this quarrel, on the side of the “old regulars”, was a young officer named Ransom17, a captain in an infantry18 regiment12. He was a good fellow in other respects, and a brave soldier, I believe; his chief weakness lay in a claim to be identified with the “aristocracy.”
It is strange that this miserable ambition is always strongest where it should exist with the least propriety19. I have observed, in travelling through life—and so has the reader, no doubt—that parvenus20 are the greatest sticklers21 for aristocratic privilege; and Captain Ransom was no exception to this rule. In tumbling over some old family papers, I had found a receipt from the gallant22 captain’s grandfather to my own progenitor23, acknowledging the payment of a bill for leather breeches.
It so happened that this very receipt was in my portmanteau at the time; and, nettled24 at the “carryings-on” of the tailor’s grandson, I drew it forth25 and spread it out upon the mess-table. My brethren of the mess were highly tickled26 at the document, several of them copying it off for future use.
A copy soon reached Ransom, who, in his hour of indignation, made use of certain expressions that, in their turn, soon reached me.
The result was a challenge, borne by my friend Clayley, and the affair was arranged for the following morning.
The place chosen for our morning’s diversion was a sequestered27 spot upon the banks of the river Zedena, and along the solitary28 road that leads out towards the Cofre de Perote.
At sunrise we rode out in two carriages, six of us, including our seconds and surgeons. About a mile from town we halted, and leaving the carriages upon the road, crossed over into a small glade29 in the midst of the chaparral.
It was as pretty a spot for our purpose as the heart could wish for, and had often, we were informed, been used for similar morning exercises—that was, before chivalry30 had died out among the descendants of Cortez and the conquerors31.
The ground was soon lined off—ten paces—and we took our stands, back to back. We were to wheel at the word “Ready!” and fire at “One, two, three!”
We were waiting for the word with that death-like silence which always precedes a similar signal, when Little Jack32, who had been left with the carriages, rushed into a glade, calling with all his might:
“Captain! Captain!”
Every face was turned upon him with scowling33 inquiry34, when the boy, gasping35 for breath, shouted out:
“The Mexicans are on the road!”
The words had scarcely passed his lips when the trampling36 of hoofs37 sounded in our ears, and the next moment a band of horsemen came driving pell-mell into the opening. At a single glance we recognised the guerilla!
Ransom, who was nearest, blazed away at the foremost of the band, missing his aim. With a spring the guerillero was over him, his sabre raised for the blow. I fired, and the Mexican leapt from his saddle with a groan38.
“Thank you, Haller,” cried my antagonist39, as we rushed side by side towards the pistols.
There were four pairs in all, and the surgeons and seconds had already armed themselves, and were pointing their weapons at the enemy. We seized the remaining two, cocking them as we turned.
At this moment my eye fell upon a black horse, and, looking, I recognised the rider. He saw and recognised me at the same moment, and, driving the spurs into his horse’s flanks, sprang forward with a yell. With one bound he was over me, his white teeth gleaming like a tiger’s. His sabre flashed in my eyes—I fired—a heavy body dashed against me—I was struck senseless to the earth!
I was only stunned40, and in a few moments I came to my senses. Shots and shouts rang around me. I heard the trampling of hoofs and the groans41 of wounded men.
I looked up. Horsemen in dark uniforms were galloping42 across the glade and into the woods beyond. I recognised the yellow facings of the American dragoons.
I drew my hand over my face; it was wet with blood. A heavy body lay across mine, which Little Jack, with all his strength, was endeavouring to drag off. I crawled from under it, and, bending over, looked at the features. I knew them at a glance. I muttered to my servant:
“Dubrosc! He is dead!”
His body lay spread out in its picturesque43 attire44. A fair form it was. A bullet—my own—had passed through his heart, killing45 him instantly. I placed my hand upon his forehead. It was cold already, and his beautiful features were white and ashy. His eyes glared with the ghastly expression of death.
“Close them!” I said to the boy, and turned away from the spot.
Wounded men lay around, dragoons and Mexicans, and some were already dead.
A party of officers was at the moment returning from the pursuit, and I recognised my late adversary46, with our seconds and surgeons. My friend Clayley had been wounded in the mêlée, and I observed that he carried his arm in a sling47. A dragoon officer galloped48 up.
It was Colonel Harding.
“These fellows, gentlemen,” cried he, reining49 up his horse, “just came in time to relieve me from a disagreeable duty. I have orders from the commander-in-chief to arrest Captains Haller and Ransom.
“Now, gentlemen,” he continued with a smile, “I think you have had fighting enough for one morning, and if you will promise me to be quiet young men, and keep the peace, I shall, for once in my life, take the liberty of disobeying a general’s orders. What say you, gentlemen?”
It needed not this appeal. There had been no serious cause of quarrel between my adversary and myself, and, moved by a similar impulse, we both stepped forward and grasped one another by the hand.
“Forgive me, my dear Haller,” said Ransom, “I retract50 all. I assure you my remarks were only made upon the spur of the moment, when I was angry about those cursed leather breeches.”
“And I regret to have given you cause,” I replied. “Come with me to my quarters. Let us have a glass of wine together, and we shall light our cigars with the villainous document.”
A burst of laughter followed, in which Ransom good-naturedly joined; and we were soon on our way to town, seated in the same carriage, and the best friends in creation!
Some of the soldiers who had “rifled” the body of Dubrosc found a paper upon him which proved that the Frenchman was a spy in the service of Santa Anna. He had thrown himself into the company at New Orleans with the intention of gaining information, and then deserting on his arrival at Mexico. This he succeeded in doing in the manner detailed51. Had he been in command of the “Rifle Rangers”, he would doubtless have found an opportunity to deliver them over to the enemy at La Virgen or elsewhere.
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1
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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patios
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| n.露台，平台( patio的名词复数 ) | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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8
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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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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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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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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13
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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adverted
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| 引起注意（advert的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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parvenus
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| n.暴富者( parvenu的名词复数 )；暴发户；新贵；傲慢自负的人 | |
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sticklers
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| n.坚持…的人( stickler的名词复数 ) | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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progenitor
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| n.祖先，先驱 | |
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nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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sequestered
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| adj.扣押的；隐退的；幽静的；偏僻的v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 )；扣押 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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38
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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41
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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42
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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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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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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45
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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48
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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49
reining
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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50
retract
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| vt.缩回，撤回收回，取消 | |
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51
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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