Lesba had brought me to this place only to desert me, and it was not difficult to realize that she had sent me to the rear of the house to get me out of the way while she wheeled the carriage around and dashed away unheard over the soft moss1.
Well, I had ceased to speculate upon the girl’s erratic2 actions. Only one thing seemed clear to me; that she had returned to rescue her brother from the danger which threatened him. Why she had assisted me to escape the soldiery only to leave me in this wilderness3 could be accounted for but by the suggestion that her heart softened4 toward one whom she knew had learned 227to love her during those bright days we had passed in each other’s society. But that she loved me in return I dared not even hope. Her answer to my declaration had been a laugh, and to me this girl’s heart was as a sealed book. Moreover, it occurred to me that Valcour also loved her, and into his eyes I had seen her gaze as she never had gazed into mine during our most friendly intercourse5.
The carriage had vanished long since, and the night air was chill. I returned to the porch of the deserted6 house, and curling myself up on one of the benches soon sank into a profound slumber7, for the events of the day had well-nigh exhausted8 me.
When I awoke a rough-looking, bearded man was bending over me. He wore a peasant’s dress and carried a gun on his left arm.
“Who are you, senhor,” he demanded, as my eyes unclosed, “and how came you here?”
I arose and stretched myself, considering who he might be.
“Why do you ask?” said I.
228“There is war in the land, senhor,” he responded, quietly, “and every man must be a friend or a foe9 to the Republic.” He doffed10 his hat with rude devotion at the word, and added, “Declare yourself, my friend.”
I stared at him thoughtfully. War in the land, said he! Then the “torch of rebellion” had really been fired. But by whom? Could it have been Paola, as Valcour had claimed? And why? Since the conspiracy11 had been unmasked and its leaders, with the exception of Fonseca, either scattered13 or imprisoned14? Did the Minister of Police aim to destroy every one connected with the Cause by precipitating15 an impotent revolt? Or was there a master-hand directing these seemingly incomprehensible events?
The man was growing suspicious of my silence.
“Come!” said he, abruptly17; “you shall go to Senhor Bastro.”
“And where is that?” I asked, with interest, for Paola had reported that Bastro had fled the country.
229My captor did not deign18 to reply. With the muzzle19 of his gun unpleasantly close to my back he marched me toward the edge of the forest, which we skirted for a time in silence. Then the path turned suddenly into a dense20 thicket21, winding22 between close-set trees until, deep within the wood, we came upon a natural clearing of considerable extent.
In the center of this space was a large, low building constructed of logs and roofed with branches of trees, and surrounding the entire structure were grouped native Brazilians, armed with rifles, revolvers, and knives.
These men were not uniformed, and their appearance was anything but military; nevertheless there was a look upon their stern faces that warned me they were in deadly earnest and not to be trifled with.
As my intercourse with the republicans had been confined entirely23 to a few of their leaders, I found no familiar face among these people; so I remained impassive while my captor pushed me past the guards to a small doorway24 placed near a protecting angle of the building.
230“Enter!” said he.
I obeyed, and the next moment stood before a group of men who were evidently the officers or leaders of the little band of armed patriots26 I had seen without.
“Ah!” said one, in a deep bass27 voice, “it is Senhor Harcliffe, the secretary to Dom Miguel.”
I have before mentioned the fact that whenever the conspirators28 had visited de Pintra they remained securely masked, so that their features were, with a few exceptions, unknown to me. But the voices were familiar enough, and the man who had brought me here had mentioned Sanchez Bastro’s name; so I had little difficulty in guessing the identity of the personage who now addressed me.
“Why are you here, senhor?” he inquired, with evident anxiety; “and do you bring us news of the uprising?”
“I know nothing of the uprising except that your man here,” and I turned to my guide, “tells me there is war in the land, and that the Revolution is proclaimed.”
“Yes,” returned Bastro, with a grave nod.
231“Then,” I continued, “I advise you to lay down your arms at once and return to your homes before you encounter arrest and imprisonment29.”
The leaders cast upon one another uneasy looks, and Bastro drew a small paper from his breast and handed it to me. I recognized it as one of the leaves from his note-book which Paola had attached to the carrier-pigeon, and upon it were scrawled30 these words, “Arise and strike!”
It was the signal long since agreed upon to start the Revolution.
With a laugh I handed back the paper.
“It is from Francisco Paola, the traitor,” I said.
“Traitor!” they echoed, in an astonished chorus.
“Listen, gentlemen; it is evident you are ignorant of the events of the last two days.” And in as few words as possible I related the occurrences at de Pintra’s mansion31, laying stress upon the arrest of Piexoto, the perfidy32 of the Minister of Police, and the death of Treverot.
They were not so deeply impressed as I 232had expected. The discovery of the empty vault33 had aroused no interest whatever, and they listened quietly and without comment to my story of Paola’s betrayal of his fellow-conspirators to the Emperor.
But when I mentioned Treverot’s death Bastro chose to smile, and indicating a tall gentleman standing34 at his left, he said:
“Permit me to introduce to you Senhor Treverot. He will tell you that he still lives.”
“Then Paola lied?” I exclaimed, somewhat chagrined35.
Bastro shrugged36 his shoulders.
“We have confidence in the Minister of Police,” said he, calmly. “There is no doubt but General Fonseca, at Rio, has before now gained control of the capital, and that the Revolution is successfully established. We shall know everything very soon, for my men have gone to the nearest telegraph station for news. Meantime, to guard against any emergency, our patriots are being armed in readiness for combat, and, in Matto Grosso at least, the royalists are powerless to oppose us.”
233“But the funds—the records! What will happen if the Emperor seizes them?” I asked.
“The Emperor will not seize them,” returned Bastro, unmoved. “The contents of the vault are in safe-keeping.”
Before I could question him further a man sprang through the doorway.
“The wires from Rio are cut in every direction,” said he, in an agitated37 voice. “A band of the Uruguayan guards, under de Souza and Valcour, is galloping38 over the country to arrest every patriot25 they can find, and our people are hiding themselves in terror.”
Consternation39 spread over the features of the little band which a moment before had deemed itself so secure and powerful. Bastro turned to pace the earthen floor with anxious strides, while the others watched him silently.
“What of Francisco Paola?” suddenly asked the leader.
“Why, senhor, he seems to have disappeared,” replied the scout40, with hesitation41.
“Disappeared! And why?”
234“Perhaps I can answer that question, Senhor Bastro,” said a voice behind us, and turning my head I saw my friend Pedro, the station-master at Cuyaba, standing within the doorway.
“Enter, Pedro,” commanded the leader. “What news do you bring, and why have you abandoned your post?”
“The wires are down,” said the station-master, “and no train is allowed to leave Rio since the Emperor reached there at midnight.”
“Then you know nothing of what has transpired42 at the capital?” asked Bastro.
“Nothing, senhor. It was yesterday morning when the Emperor’s party met the train at Cuyaba, and I handed him a telegram from de Lima, the Minister of State. It read in this way: ‘General Fonseca and his army have revolted and seized the palace, the citadel43, and all public buildings. I have called upon every loyal Brazilian to rally to the support of the Empire. Return at once. Arrest the traitors44 Francisco Paola and his sister. Situation critical.”
“Ah!” cried Bastro, drawing a deep 235breath, “and what said the Emperor to that message?”
“He spoke45 with his counselors46, and wired this brief reply to de Lima, ‘I am coming.’ Also he sent a soldier back to de Pintra’s mansion with orders to arrest Francisco and Lesba Paola. Then he boarded the train and instructed the conductor to proceed to Rio with all possible haste. And that is all I know, senhor, save that I called up Rio last evening and learned that Fonseca was still in control of the city. At midnight the wires were cut and nothing further can be learned. Therefore I came to join you, and if there is a chance to fight for the Cause I beg that you will accept my services.”
Bastro paused in his walk to press the honest fellow’s hand; then he resumed his thoughtful pacing.
The others whispered among themselves, and one said:
“Why need we despair, Sanchez Bastro? Will not Fonseca, once in control, succeed in holding the city?”
“Surely!” exclaimed the leader. “It 236is not for him that I fear, but for ourselves. If the Uruguayans are on our trail we must disperse47 our men and scatter12 over the country, for the spy Valcour knows, I am sure, of this rendezvous48.”
“But they are not hunting you, senhor,” protested Pedro, “but rather Paola and his sister, who have managed to escape from de Pintra’s house.”
“Nevertheless, the Uruguayans are liable to be here at any moment,” returned Bastro, “and there is nothing to be gained by facing that devil, de Souza.”
He then called his men together in the clearing, explained to them the situation, and ordered them to scatter and to secrete49 themselves in the edges of the forests and pick off the Uruguayans with their rifles whenever occasion offered.
“If anything of importance transpires,” he added, “report to me at once at my house.”
Without a word of protest his commands were obeyed. The leaders mounted their horses and rode away through the numerous forest paths that led into the clearing.
237The men also saluted50 and disappeared among the trees, and presently only Bastro, Pedro, and myself stood in the open space. “Come with me, Senhor Harcliffe,” said the leader; “I shall be glad to have you join me at breakfast. You may follow us, Pedro.”
Then he strode to the edge of the clearing, pressed aside some bushes, and stepped into a secret path that led through the densest51 portion of the tangled52 forest. I followed, and Pedro brought up the rear.
For some twenty minutes Bastro guided us along the path, which might well have been impassable to a novice53, until finally we emerged from the forest to find the open country before us, and a small, cozy-looking dwelling54 facing us from the opposite side of a well-defined roadway.
Bastro led us to a side door, which he threw open, and then stepped back with a courteous55 gesture.
“Enter, gentlemen,” said he; “you are welcome to my humble56 home.”
I crossed the threshold and came to an abrupt16 stop. Something seemed to clutch 238my heart with a grip of iron; my limbs trembled involuntarily, and my eyes grew set and staring.
For, standing before me, with composed look and a smile upon his dark face, was the living form of my lamented57 friend Miguel de Pintra!
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1
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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5
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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7
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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8
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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9
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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12
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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13
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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14
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
precipitating
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| adj.急落的，猛冲的v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的现在分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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19
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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20
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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22
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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27
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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28
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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29
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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30
scrawled
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| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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32
perfidy
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| n.背信弃义，不忠贞 | |
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33
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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34
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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35
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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36
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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37
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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38
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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39
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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40
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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41
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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42
transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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43
citadel
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| n.城堡；堡垒；避难所 | |
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44
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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45
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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46
counselors
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| n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师 | |
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47
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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48
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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49
secrete
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| vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘 | |
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50
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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51
densest
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| 密集的( dense的最高级 )； 密度大的； 愚笨的； （信息量大得）难理解的 | |
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52
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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53
novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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54
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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55
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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56
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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57
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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