OBeNOCO CHIEF;

OR,

THE FORTUNES OF A DIAMOND LOCKET.

A Story of Addenture in South America.

By J. THOMAS WARREN.

LONDON AND NEW YORK:
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS.

 
 
THE ORONOCO CHIER

CHAPTER I.
THE ARRIVAL.

Our anchors plunge in the dark-blue sea,
And we rest, our voyage o’er ;
While with merry hearts, and shouts of glee,
We gaze on the welcome shore.
Ar daybreak upon the 2nd of May, in the year of Our Lord
1821, a squadron of four vessels cast anchor at the mouth of
the Oronoco, off the eastern coast of Venezuela.

These four vessels were the British 44-gun frigate ‘‘ Kury-
dice,” and three transport ships. They had on board 1,500
British troops, composed of parts of several British regiments
of the line, the entire body being styled ‘‘The British Le- —
gion,” and under the command of Sir William De Courcey.
Having received an appointment as Aide upon the Staff of
Sir William, I accompanied the expedition in that capacity.
These troops were designed as reinforcements to the patriots
who, under the leadership of the celebrated Bolivar, were
waging a war for independence against the power of Spain.

Thirteen years previous, Ferdinand VII., King of Spain,
was inveigled by shameful treachery into the power of Napo-
leon, and cowardly surrendered for ever all claim for himself —
and. descendants to the throne of Spain, and Joseph Buona-
parte succeeded to the vacant crown. When the tidings of
the imprisonment and abdication of the king reached Spanish
America, it shook and unsettled the whole social system in
those quarters,

Most intense antipathy toward the French prevailed.
Under Napoleon they overran Spain, and, consequent upon

 
   
 
 
 
   
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
   
     

6 THE ORONOCO CHIEF. i
4

this, resistance broke out against their agents in the colonies,
which finally culminated in an organized effort on the part of
the colonists to establish their own independence. With
varying fortunes the strife had now continued for nearly
a dozen years, with the final settlement apparently as far
distant as ever. The Royalists possessed the northern sea-
coast to a great degree, and the principal ports and fortified
cities ; while the interior of the country was mainly under ol
the control of the patriots. This, in brief, was the situation |
of affairs upon our arrival in the province.

Our anchor had scarcely grated upon the pebbly bottom of -
the sea, when a puff of light-blue smoke arose from the bow
of the frigate, followed by the report of a carronade. As the

slight breeze that flapped the snowy canvas against the masts d
bore from our sight the circling wreaths of smoke, there was }
a similar response from a small fortified earthwork, situated ‘
with the sea, and in an instant the patriot flag rose to the

top of a small staff erected upon a bastion of the fort.
Communication was thus opened, and a boat left the shore,
containing an officer and several marines. As soon as he
reached the quarter-deck, the officer saluted Sir William,
and handed him a small packet. It was a request from
Bolivar that the officer commanding the expedition would
proceed at once up the river to Angostura, the capital city of
the Republic. After a few hours’ delay, we weighed anchor,

upon a point of land formed by the junction of the river‘ 4-
|
|

 

and, under the charge of a competent pilot, the squadron
entered the delta of the river, the ‘‘ Hurydice” leading the {
way.

The scenery was exceedingly beautiful. It was a cloudless |
morning, and a gentle breeze ruffled the waters of the river,
while the surface of the sea shone like a polished mirror
under the brilliant rays of the warm tropical sun, whose
broad disk was now slowly climbing the eastern sky. As we
ascended the magnificent stream, the scene changed into a
most glorious panorama. Green meadows, towering palms
with their fan-leafed crowns, and verdant groves of laurel
   
 

 

    

HOW TO TAKE A FORT. i

and amyris lined the banks, while masses of shrubs, bearing
various coloured blossoms, made the air fragrant with sweet
perfume. Vast flocks of aquatic birds sported upon the
placid water.

My attention was equally divided between the luxuriant
vegetation of this tropical clime and the pilot of our vessel,
who was standing near the wheel, issuing an occasional order
to the helmsman in charge. He was a diminutive fellow,
with a swarthy, bronzed face, bushy hair, fierce moustaches,
and black eyes. He wore a light-coloured sombrero, trimmed
with red ribbon, which sat jauntily upon one side of his head.
A jacket of green cloth, and buff-coloured breeches completed
his attire. A group of soldiers were gathered around hin,
whom, contrary to ship regulations, he was entertaining with
various stories and jokes.

- “Come,” said I to Licutenant Haversham, an intimate
friend of mine, and a capital good fellow, “ let’s hear what
the chap has to say.”

W: approached the small group. At this time the vessel
was just abreast of the ruins of a small fortification, that
stood upon the left bank of the stream, and to which the
pilot called our attention.

‘*D’ye see yon ruins, senors ?” he asked, addressing Haver-
sham and myself. ‘Well, captain, that’s where I saw my
first fight,” continued the pilot, ‘anda right handsome little
scrimmage it was, too; and, moreover, it was just yonder
that the patriots found out that they could have their inde-
pendence, if they wanted it.”

“¢ Some time ago, I judge?” said I.

“Si, senor, a matter of some ten years or so. We captured
that fort, and afterward, with our cavalry, we took a gun-
boat too.”

°° Oh, blathers !” ejaculated Haversham, as he burst into
an incredulous laugh, ‘took a gunboat with cavalry! ell
that to the marines.”

‘*Senor, it is true, ver Dios,” returned the pilot, evidently
much disconcerted at Haversham’s disbelief.

  
 

8 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

“By St. George,” said Haversham, with another hearty
laugh, and evidently enjoying the pilot’s confusion, “that’s
either a mighty tough yarn, or else you have a confounded
queer way of fighting in this heathen country.”

_ ‘Caramba, senor captain,” added the pilot, fiercely, “we
are not heathen, but honest Christians.”

“ Honest Christians !” returned Haversham with a smile.
‘‘Tiucky you told us, else we had never suspected it.”

*¢ May be, senor, if you heard my story, you would believe
me,”

“Well, drive ahead, senor pilot, and we'll listen.”

“You see, senor captain,” began the pilot, stowing away
a fresh quid in the corner of his capacious mouth, and gra-
dually recovering his good-humour, ‘‘ the thing happened in
this way : Some dozen years ago, there were stationed in yon
fort a company of the king’s soldiers, Diabolus take them
all, under the command of one Captain Oviedo. A rich old
Spaniard, by the name of Don Hermoso, owned a fine plan-

tation a few miles inland. The Don, in additivn to his fat.

purse, had avery pretty daughter, called Olivia. Now, it
‘soon came to pass that Captain Oviedo fell in love with
- Donna Olivia, or, it matters little which, with her father’s
yellow onzas, and proceeded to pay assiduous attention
to her.

‘Neither she nor the Don, however, received these visits
with favour, for the captain was a brainless, conceited fel-
low, with an immense thirst for agwardiente, and, as rumour
caith, could beat Satanas himself at cards and dice. So the
old man forbade him the house. This was regarded by the
captain as a mortal insult, and he laid his plans for revenge.
Taking advantage of Don Hermoso’s temporary absence, he,
with a squad of his soldiers, assailed the: hacienda, and car-
ried off Donna Olivia. The old Don returned the next day,
and was in high dudgeon over the affair. He raved like a
mad bull, swore a string of oaths as long as a bower-cable,
and vowed by all the saints in the calendar that he would
hang every soul concerned in the outrage. He armed his

ae
eh

in)

"THE PILOT’S STORY. 4g

servants, and, aided by his neighbours, who made common
cause with him, surprised the fort that night, and at day-
break the corpses of Captain Oviedo and twenty of his men
were dangling from the ramparts.

‘¢ News of these troubles reaching head-quarters, a. gun-
boat was despatched down the river to retake the fort. The
haughty old Don rejected all terms of surrender, when the
gunboat opened fire. A few minutes’ fight convinced the
Don that the place was getting uncomfortably hot. He soon
evacuated the fort, with colours flying, however. The
Royalists at once took possession of the works again.

‘Now, Don Hermoso had a son, Fernando, who was a
reckless, dare-devil sort of a blade. This scion of a noble
house groaned in spirit over the discomfiture of his illustrious
father. He determined, therefore, to retrieve the reputation.
of the family. For this purpose he assembled all the kindred
spirits within his reach, mounted them upon smart nags, and,
under cover of night, reached the river, where the boat lay
at anchor in the middle of the stream.

‘We (for I was one of the party, senors) dashed right into
the water, and urged our beasts toward the boat. The occu-
pants, few in number, and unprepared for a night attack,
were speedily overpowered, and at daylight we in turn
banged away at the fort. The garrison, poor devils, were
frightened to death at béing fired upon by their own friends,
as they supposed, and succumbed at once.”

‘Well, blow me,” exclaimed Haversham, ‘‘ that Fernando
was a trump, anyhow.”

“ How did the matter end ?” I inquired.

‘*Oh, senor captain,” said the pilot, with a chuckle, ‘it’s
not ended yet. Ha, ha! but maybe you'll live to see the end
some day—at least, per Dios, I hope so.”

“Did the Government submit to this outrage upon ita
dignity ? I asked, with some curiosity.

“‘Caramba, no, senor. They sent another gunboat down,
and a regiment of lancers, who recaptured the fort and the
lost boat.”

 
 

 

10 THE ORONVUCO CHIEF.

** What became of Fernando ?” asked Haversham

‘¢ Poor fellow, he fell upon the deck of his prize, fighting
bravely even to the last,” replied the pilot, with a sigh.

_ And Don Hermoso ?” I queried.

* Oh, he was thrown into prison, and his property all con-
fiscated to the Crown.”

‘¢ Their rebellion was cut short, then?’ I added.

** Diabola, senors, the affair set people to thinking, and
when they thought a while, per Dios, they took up arms, and
the abduction of Donna Olivia bids fair to result in our
independence.” The pilot’s story was ended.

Thus, time passed along, and in due season our squadron
anchored off the pretty little city of Angostura. The next
day we received orders to disembark, much to the satisfaction
of all concerned, as we were heartily weary of the long and
tiresome passage.

The soldiers were billeted in various parts of the city, while
Sir William and staff, including myself, engaged quarters at
the ‘‘San Marco,” the principal hotel in the city.

 

CHAPTER II.
ROUGE-ET-NOIR.

i Aye! men do risk
And stake their very fortunes ’pon the throw
Of coloured dice, or cards and games of chance.
These ivory cubes and bits of paper
Have kingdoms crushéd, and desolation wrought
Both at the fireside and in public walks
Of life. The dire results that from them spring
Are only known in vast eternity.

Onz warm, sultry evening, a fortnight after our arrival in
Angostura, I was seated in front of the hotel ‘*San Marco,”
quictly enjoying my cigar. The street presented an animated
appearance. The entire population of the city seemed to be
abroad. Gay cayaliers, and dashing senoritas with picturesque
mantlos and dark bewitching eyes, Llaneros with brilliant

red and blue ponchos, swarmed by ; while occasionally the

lively scarlet uniform of our own corps enlivencd the scene.

4,

Kh
4,

AP

-+—

THE GAMING HOUSE. : ae:

Opposite the ‘‘San Marco” stood a building of some
architectural pretensions, from whose windows and open door
poured forth a brilliant flood of light. A constant stream of
visitors entered and departed.

“ Really Ned,” said Lieutenant Haversham, who was
sitting on the balcony near me, as he sent a whiff of fragrant
smoke curling upward in delicate wreaths, “these Spaniards
beat the very deuce at gaming, don’t they ?”

“CA favourite institution of theirs, I should judge,” I
replied, smiling at the sudden and energetic exclamation of
my friend. ‘‘ Been victimized any, eh?”

“Thank you, not at all,” returned Haversham, with
another vigorous pull at his cigar. ‘‘ How in the dickens do
you imagine that a simple lieutenant, who is serving our
most gracious Majesty for the moderate compensation of a
few pounds, shillings, and pence per annum, could indulge
in so expensive a luxury? Far more danger that I shall
lose my heart in a flirtation with some of these captivating
senoritas, than that any of the avaricious Dons will fatten off
my purse! Have you ever visited the salon opposite?”

** Never,” I replied.

*¢ Shall we go?”

** I’m agreed.”

We crossed the street and entered. The salon was the
most fashionable and best patronised in the city. The wealth
and élite of Angostura often assembled there, for gambling is
a national passion of the Spaniards and their descendants,
and to visit such places of resort did not detract from, but
rather added to, one’s social position. To be ignorant of
“monte,” ‘‘faro,” or ‘‘rouge-et-noir,” was equivalent to
being under the ban in fashionable society.

Our uniform gained us a ready admittance, and, ascending
a broad staircase, we entered a magnificent room. A dozen
richly-ornamented chandeliers gave forth a blaze of light.
There was a great profusion of statuary, vases, coloured
lights, frescoes, and gilding. A gay assemblage was present.
Our eyes were dazzled with rich dresses, sparkling gems, the

 
 

 

 

12 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

glitter of jewellery, epaulettes, stars, and badges of dis-
tinction.

We passed into another room. Here were faro-tables, and
tables for rouge-et-noir, and heaps of glittering doubloons
and yellow English sovereigns, which rapidly changed owners.
Everything moved along briskly and quietly, with an occa-
sional outburst of anger or joy as some won and others lost.
As we promenaded the room, we found that our gay uniforms
attracted much notice, winning us furtive glances from dark-
eyed maidens. We stopped at a small table near a stand
where a pretty waiter girl was selling wine, ice, and fruits.
Two persons were engaged in a game of cards. Much inte-
rest appeared to centre upon this game, and quite a number
of gentlemen and ladies had gathered around the table,
anxious spectators of the scene. The players were a young
man of very prepossessing appearance, who had won fre-
quently from the other during the evening, and, excited.
over his good fortune, had now staked all his winnings,
amounting to one thousand doubloons, and his entire pro-
perty in addition, upon the result of this game. His oppo-
nent was a man apparently several years his senior, with hard,
repulsive features, bronzed by constant exposure to the
weather. The most remarkable feature was his eyes. Black
as night, they pierced through one at a g’ance, and glittered.
like the eyes of a serpent. He wore the uniform and badge
of a captain in the patriot army. He was cool and even
composed, while the hands of, the young man trembled with
excitement,

As the game progressed, a dozen pair of eyes watched its
advance with absorbing interest, and none with more anxiety
than my own. At first a dim suspicion flitted across my
mind. Another and astronger one was experienced. I drew
nearer the captain and watched more narrowly than before
every move of the players. My suspicion assumed a more
tangible form, and ripened into a conviction, The captain
played with most provoking coolness. I knew the reason.

He was winning by foul play !

A,
<2

FOUL PLay!

The game was finished. The captain won.

“My God! I’m-undone!” groaned the young man, as he
shoved back his chair from the table. ‘‘He has won my last
real. I staked all, and have lost.”

“The greater fool, then, for playing so high,” impudently
chuckled the captain, as he rose and swept the coin from the
table. ‘‘Does any other one wish to stake his last real?”
No response to the challenge. ‘‘ No one stands a chance to
win from me in the last game,” he boastingly added, as he
placed the cards in his pocket.

‘An honest man seldom stands a chance when he plays
with a knave,” I said, my indignation getting the better of
my discretion.

“ Caramba !” exclaimed the captain, turning quickly
around upon his heel, ‘‘ who calls mea knave?” He cast a
rapid, fierce glance over the adjacent company. His eyes
moved along and rested upon me. Intuitively he seemed to
recognise in me the speaker. I had gone too far to recede,
and met his fiery gaze with an eye that quailed not. The
blood coursed like lightning through my veins, my flesh
seemed on fire. I felt that the attention of all was concen-
trated upon me, as, ina voice tremulous with rising excite-
ment, I said—

* Tam the offender, Sir; and I repeat it, you are a villain !”

The captain’s face grew dark as night, his eyes glistened like
a basilisk, and he made a move as if to spring uponme. We
were standing a few feet apart. I threw myself into a pos-
ture favourable for repelling an assault, and stood upon the
defensive. The captain’s demeanour changed instantly, and
with a sneer he asked—

“And who, pray, senor, are you, that dares impute vil-
lany to me?”

‘“My name, Sir, is Ellesmere, Aide to Sir William De
Courcey,” I answered, maddened by the sarcastic tone of the
audacious captain ; ‘‘ and I furthermore say, that you won
the last game with this youth by foul play.”

“ Miiles tonitres !”’ ejaculated the captain, again losing his

 
 

14 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

temper. ‘It is false! There was no foul play. You have
insulted me ;” and he ground his teeth with rage.

‘Tf to tell the truth isio insult you, then perhaps I have,”
I added quietly.

“ Hl Demonio!/” screamed the infuriated man. ‘I demand
satisfaction. You must fight me at daybreak !”

‘¢T have no objections, Sir,” I said.

‘Have you a friend with whom my second can confer?”
asked the captain, moderating his tone somewhat upon my
ready compliance.

“J think I can count upon Lieutenant Haversham, can I
not?” said I, turning to my companion, who stood at my
elbow.

“To the last drop of blood, Ellesmere,” quickly answered

the generous and impulsive fellow; ‘‘and if the scoundrel
harms a hair of your head, by Joye, Ill run him through
myself !”

‘Where can Lieutenant Haversham be found, an hour
hence?” continued the captain. =,

‘Our quarters are at the ‘San Marco.

‘‘The thing is settled, then,” rejoined the captain, as he
turned haughtily away, preparatory to taking his departure.

“One moment, Sir,” I added.

“How,” be sneeringly asked; ‘‘do you already repent
your acceptance to fight with me?”

‘¢ T desire one thing further, Sir,” I quietly replied, not
noticing his insinuation.

“‘ And what, pray, is that?” he asked, with an air of
surprise.

“J wish you to play a game of rouge-et-noir with me.”

“ Diabolo!” he fairly shouted... ‘* Play with the man
whose throat I shall cut at day-break ?”

*‘ You decline then ?” I suggested.

‘¢ No, by all the gods; no,” roared the enraged captain.
*¢ Oarrai, I will take your last maravedi, and then send you
to Satanas! That will be my revenge.”

We sat down at the table. The exciting affair had brought

999

<i
«Al

AN EXCITING GAME. 15

around us a large portion of those present. At my right
hand stood the. youth, whom my opponent had fleeced so
unfairly, his eyes staring wide open with astonishment at the
unforeseen results of his game. The acting banker was the
proprietor of the salon, and, I thought, was in all probability
a friend of my opponent. The croupicrs assumed their
proper positions.

‘* A thousand Spanish doubloons is my stake,” said I.

‘¢ Make it two thousand, or I'll not play,” the captain
replied.

“¢Two thousand let it be, then,” I answered; ‘it is
immaterial to me which.”

I told the truth when I-said that, although in a far different
sense than my opponent understood it. The amount was,
indeed, immaterial to me, for fifty guineas covered all my
available resources, and, if I lost, L subjected myself to the
ridicule and disgrace of the exposure. But the excitement
of the occasion, and a certain confidence that I should win,
urged me on. He staked the gold, and I staked my word of
honour as an oflicer, which was accepted. The game pro-
ceeded. The excitement in the throng increased rapidly.
The room became excessively hot. The air was close and
oppressive. The crowd jostled each other, and surged to and
fro. The cards were dealt out so slowly, that it seemed to
consume an age. I thought the game would never end. My
brain whirled with excitement and I grew dizzy. A shout of
exultation from the crowd recalled my thoughts.

The game was miiie !

I was rising from the table. With a furious oath, the
captain declared | must play again. Overcome by my good
fortune, I rashly consented.

‘¢ A thousand pounds sterling, is my stake this time,”
said the captain, in a voice hoarse with anger, as he
plunged his hand into his bosom, and drew forth a capacious
wallet, which he opened. His face instantly changed colour
and assumed an ashy paleness, his hand trembled, and the
book fell to the floor.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

16 THE OKONOCO CHIEF.

** Madre de Dios !” he screamed, with uncontrollable fury.
“* Tt’s gone! T’ve been robbed !”

“¢ What have you lost ?” anxiously inquired the banker.

“* A bill of exchange, on London for one thousand pounds,
is gone, Sir. I had it here in this wallet,” replied the
captain, greatly distressed.

“*T keep an honest house, captain ; and you did not lose it
here, I am confident,” said the banker.

“‘ Don’t let his pretended lgss trouble you, senor,” I said
to the banker. ‘‘ We all understand his game. He is playing
bluff, and is afraid to try another run with me, that’s all.”

“ Scoundrel,” exclaimed the captain, turning upon ~me
a look of concentrated fury and malice, as stung to the quick
by my taunt, he resumed his seat, “ we willsoon see whether
I flinch or not.”

He tore open his scarlet vest, and drew forth a golden-
cased locket, which he opened and laid upon the table. It
was a lady’s picture, encircled with gems.

“That is my stake, then. It is worth one thousand
pounds, cash, any day.”

“Ah ! your lady love, set in diamonds of paste, probably,”
I suggested, ‘‘ and worth, perhaps, a dozen crowns.”

“The setting is genuine, and the case is very heavy, at
least twenty carats fine,” said the banker, examining it care-
fully. ‘* No doubt it is valuable.”

“ Well, then,” said I, with an air of condescension, “ we'll
accept as a stake this portrait of his lady love.”

“ Peste, lady love !” exclaimed the captain, with a look of
supreme disgust, “‘ my hatred of her ig only equalled by what
I now bear toward you. Play on.”

_My winnings in the last game constituted my stakes in this,
and the play proceeded. The result was announced amid a
burst of applause from the interested spectators.

I had won again !

“My turn comes at daybreak !” hissed the captain, through
his compressed lips, as he rose. suddenly from the table and
rushed from the salon.

 
ah

 

 

UNEXPECTED GENEROSITY. 17

The applause increased, as I turned to the unfortunate
youth, who had previously lost what I had just won, and J
told him it was again his property, and advised him in ]
the future to play only with honest men. So lavish were his
thanks, and so profuse his demonstrations of gratitude, that
I was overwhelmed thereby and glad to escape. Placing the
miniature in my breast-pocket, and taking Haversham’s arm,
I left the room.

The night air was cooling to my fevered brow. The streets §
were nearly deserted. We repaired to my room at the ‘San |
Marco.”

“ By Jove, what a splendid game you played, Ned,” said |
Haversham, breaking the silence.

“¢ Say, rather, that I had a run of good luck,” I answered. |

“¢ The thing was magnificently done, anyway, Ned,” con- |
tinued Haversham, ‘‘ except one item.”

‘¢ What do you allude to ?” I queried, in some surprise.

*¢ Why, confound it, Ned, I didn’t exactly see the use of
handing over the proceeds of your skill to that white-livered
young Spaniard. If the youthful jackanapes hadn’t sense |
enough to keep it before you restored it to him, my word for
it, he will lose it again within the week; and then, how much
will your generosity avail hin? You _— a nee Iq
think, in not keeping the winnings yourself.”

“I only played, Haversham,” I replied, ‘because I
wished to make that swindler disgorge his ill-gotten gains.
I had faith that justice would enable me to triumph, and
you see she did. Besides, Hxversham, I am opposed from
principle to gambling for money. Wealth gained in such a
manner would only be a curseto me. My conscience would
goad me continually.”

** Can’t see the point, Ned,” ee Haversham, laugh-
ingly ; perhaps it’s all right. I never could chop logic
successfully, even when I was at Eton. Inever attempted to
argue any question that I didn’t get flayed in the operation ;
and it’s not worth while to begin logic at this hte day.
Besides, my conscience was never over tender, Ned; and a

   
 

18 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

tender conscience, you know, goes a great way, often, in
deciding knotty points in a particular direction. Still, there
is one thing in your argument that isn’t so clear to my mind.”

“ What’s that ?”

“Why, I thought you were a lover of consistency, Ned.”

peo leamn,-.. paid. L,

“Well, then, why don’t you practice what you preach ?”
asxed Haversham, with a broad grin.

*T don’t understand what you are talking about, Haver-
sham,” said I, with some curiosity. ‘‘Do you mean to say
that I act inconsistently ?”

“ That’s it, exactly.”

“How 1”

se Why you see,” continued Haversham, ‘‘ this is what
bothers me. You claim that it’s wrong to gamble, and, if
you win property in that way you ought to return it. Now
you returned the money you won, to its original owner, but
you didn’t offer to give back the locket to the captain! Why
keep it? Has its beauty so shaken your principles that you
| can be content to retain it? Eh, Ned, what’s the matter ?”

At this point Haversham burst into an uncontrollable fit
of laughter, which continued for several moments.

“‘T wasn’t laughing at you, Ned,” he resumed, ‘‘ but at
the recollection of what our worthy old teacher used to tell
me whenever I rose in my place to recite. ‘ Haversham,
you would make a splendid logician, if you were not
continually violating every rule of logic that has been estab-
lished since the days of Aristotle.’ Glorious old professor,
with his huge wig and long pigtail, and steel spectacles !”

‘You forget, Haversham,” I replied, ‘‘that the captain
gaye me no opportunity to return the locket to him, for he
left the room hurriedly. I shall return it, on the first con-
venient occasion.”

“The devil! You don’t propose to return it to the cap-
tain ?”? asked Haversham, his eyebrows rising with surprise.

“¢ Assuredly, I do. Why not? I must to be consistent,”
aad T laughed in turn,
THE DIAMOND LOCKET. +59

“Why not? Confound consistency !” ejaculated Haver-
sham. ‘By St. George, I’d see the dog of a Spaniard well
on his way to Tophet first! Faugh, Ned, don’t do it,” con-
tinued he, with a look of ineffable disgust at the very thought.
*¢ But, let’s take a look at the locket.”

I drew it forth, and throwing ourselves on the lounge we
examined it attentively. It was of an oval shape and a trifle
larger than an ordinary time-piece. The case was of gold, of
very fine quality, heavy, and elaborately engraved. A vase
of flowers was exquisitely carved upon the back of the locket,
while upon the front was a beautiful dove with pinions
spread, and carrying an olive-branch in its beak. .A small
silken cord and a ring were attached, evidently for the
purpose of carrying it conveniently about the person. The
interior arrangements of the locket were very rich and
ornamental. It contained upon the under side of the lid,
neatly coiled together, several tresses of dark hair, soft as
the finest silk. On the other side was a female head and
bust of the rarest beauty. The complexion was very fair—
too much so I thought for a Spaniard. The eyes were very
dark, and very soft, and shaded with the most delicate lashes.
The mouth was small and finely formed. The forehead full
and high ; and the entire contour of the face was classic, and
a model for an artist. A profusion of rich, dark hair flowed
over a neck and shoulders, for whiteness as though chiselled
from purest Parian marble.

‘Pride of Venus!” ejaculated Haversham. ‘ What
surpassing loveliness ! ”

I was silent. The wondrous beauty of the face subdued
all trifling feelings, and filled my soul with emotions too deep
and overpowering for utterance.

There was a knock at the door. A waiter handed a note
to Haversham, and retired. It was brief, and ran thus :—-

“CA friend of Captain De Alvaro awaits Lieutenant Haver-
sham in the office, to arrange for the meeting at daybreak.”

This note recalled us, as it were, from the visions of dream-
land to the stern realities of the present,

 
 

, 20 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

** Well, the scoundrel is prompt, anyway,” said Haver-
sham, gaily ; ‘‘ and now, as you are the party challenged, it
remains for you to decide upon the weapons with which you
desire to slay this dog of a Spaniard.”

**Oh, you know that I use the pistol to better advantage
than any other weapon,” I replied.

“Well, pistols let it be,” said Haversham, “‘and the time
_ daybreak ?”

“Yes,” said I; ‘have it over as soon as possible.”

The lieutenant departed, and soon returned in high glee
over the prospective meeting. Everything was arranged to
_ his entire satisfaction. We were to fight at daybreak, on
the river road a mile from the city—weapons, pistols—
distance ten paces,

Haversham retired to enjoy a sound nap, while, without
E ‘Undressing or extinguishing the light, I threw myself upon
_ the bed.

The excitement consequent upon the events of the evening
having subsided, I was enabled to review the incidents of the
_ past few hours with that degree of calmness and reason

‘which their importance demanded. I was not long in ar-
-riving at the conclusion that I had got myself into a con-
founded unlucky scrape. The natural impetuosity of my
temper, joined to a morbid sympathy for the misfortunes
of another, whom I should in all probability never see
again, and who, doubtless, would not remember me a fort-
night, had inveigled me into a quarrel with a second stranger,
with whom I was to engage in mortal combat. I was vexed
and annoyed with myself and my folly beyond measure.
The affair was so public that our corps would soon get wind
of it, and thus I should become the butt of jokes and
ridicule without end. Moreover, should the general hear of
it, I stood a reasonably good chance to be cashiered and sent
home, for the duello was strictly forbidden, and the regula-
tions upon this point were rigidly enforced to the fullest
extent.
This was, however, only one view of the possible results.
  

   

  
  

SERIOUS REFLECTIONS. 21

 

There was another possible issue, which it was by no means
agreeable to contemplate. It often happens that when men
shoot at each other with pistols at ten paces somebody is
killed ; and in this case that somebody might be myself /

This was the most unpleasant feature in the affair.
Doubiless, unless my usually correct aim should fail, my
opponent had but a few hours to live. But this was small
consolation ; and if I escaped unhurt, it would be but little
gratification to remember that I had taken the life of a
fellow-being who had really done me no harm whatever, and
with whom I should have had no quarrel, had I not inter-
fered in that which was not exactly my business. But affairs
were now in that advanced stage that all means of honour-
able retreat were denied, and nothing remained except to
stand up like a man, and brave the consequences.

Haversham had taken my pistols in charge, a capital pair
by the way, purchased in the Strand, London, and which had
seen much service, and with which I had won the reputation
of being a splendid shot. It lacked still three hours of day-
break, but I had not and could not sleep. Most persons in
my situation would have consumed the time in writing aftee-
tionate remembrances and last missives to the dear ones at
home, to be delivered in case of any fatal accident. I had
no home. Left an orphan at an early age, for years I had
struggled for the bare right of existence. Finally a better
forturie dawned upon me, and I prospered. Being of an
adventurous turn of mind, I enlisted in the military service
of Great Britain, and, after seeing much active duty in
foreign parts, had, by constant good behaviour, been
gradually advanced in rank. Shortly before our expedition
sailed from England, I had been appointed an Aide upon
the staff of Sir William De Courcey, and in that capacity was
now serving.

Sir William had apparently conceived an attachment for
me, and had intrusted to my care, at various times, much
important business, which, I flattered myself, I had per-
formed to his entire satisfaction. With a spirit invariably
 

23 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

kind toward his subordinates, he was, nevertheless, a strict
disciplinarian, and I had no hesitation in believing that, if
he thought the good of the service required it, he would
cashier in disgrace even his own son. There was, therefore,
no chance of my misdemeanor being overlooked, should he
by any means become acquainted therewith.

Agitated by such thoughts, I threw myself upon the lounge,
and finally dropped off into a fitful, unrefreshing slumber.

CHAPTER III.
A QUEER DUEL AND A CAYMAN.

Look ye, sirs!
ead The breath of murder loads the air to-night-—
‘Be watchful and be wary. --OLD PLAY.

Two men marched out in all their stately pride,

And ranged themselves upon the river side :

Each in his hand a fatal weapon bore,

More deadly than Toledo blade of yore.

While one stood firm, the other ran away,

And thus both lived to fight another day. —Dumars.

A Loup rap at the door, followed immediately by the
entrance of Haversham, aroused me from my reverie. My
friend was dressed, and ready for the expedition.

“Heigho, Ned!” he exclaimed, in a cheery voice, “‘ you
are up to time, I see.”

“ Has the hour arrived ?” I quietly asked.

“Wants just thirty-five minutes of five, which is the
appointed time.”

“¢Then we must start.”

“‘Yes ; the carriage is at the door.”

I threw on my great-coat, and in a few minutes we were
being rapidly driven along the Calle Real. There were four
of our party—our two selves, my coloured servant Okra,
and a surgeon, whose services Haversham had impressed for
the occasion. Okra was a stout, neatly built, and good-
looking negro, who had attached himself to me during a
campaign in Egypt, and had persistently declared that he
would never forsake his ‘‘ Massa Capt.,” as he always called

ae
ae

HAVERSHAM’S DUELLING EXPERIENCE. 23

me. He had given many proofs of devotedness, and I prized
him highly, as he was a very faithful, willing, and obedient —
servant.

The horses, a pair of noble iron-grays, dashed along at a
furious rate. The day had already dawned, and ruddy
streaks of light were tinting the eastern horizon.

‘¢A fine morning for such an excursion,” remarked the
doctor.

I remained silent. Haversham took up the conversation
with the disciple of Esculapius, and acknowledged that the
state of the weather suited his ideas of propriety exactly.

‘“‘Hiver engaged in such an affair before?” persistently
continued the doctor, who was evidently determined to talk.

“‘ Only twenty-eight times,” replied Haversham, with the
utmost gravity, while I conld not help smiling at the
monstrous falsehood the fellow uttered, for, to my certain
knowledge, he had never witnessed but two duels in his life.

‘¢ Ah!” said the worthy doctor, as he bestowed a look of
surprise and admiration upon the hero of so many combats,
“it’s an old story to you, then?”

“Td rather fight than kiss a pretty damsel, any day,”
continued Haversham.

“Tt is just one year ago to-day,” said the doctor, “since I
participated in my last transaction of this nature, and a
decidedly interesting time we had of it, too.”

“¢ Ah!” said Haversham ; ‘‘ happen here ?”

‘“No,” replied the doctor, who was evidently a loquacious
fellow, and had now acvomplished what he desired—that is,
a chance to narrate his experience; ‘‘ it happened around
on the coast, at Porto Cabello. Captain Doblado, as genuine
a scoundrel, by the way, as lives on this side of the salt
water, had a dispute with a fellow officer named Loriquez,
and, having been drinking, became so insulting that Loriquez
was compelled to call him out. The result was that Loriquez
received a ball through his brain, and the captain was dis-
missed the service. Enraged at his disgrace, Doblado at
once went over to the Royalists, and has since been exceed-

 
 

24 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

ingly active and successful in their employ. Have you
heard his name mentioned since your arrival ?”

“T have heard Captain Doblado, a guerilla chief, fre-
quently spoken of,” answered Haversham. ‘‘ He was lately
skirmishing beyond the river with the lancers of General
Paez, was he not ?”

“¢ Hxactly ; that is the same person,” proceeded the doctor.
“From a most ardent patriot, he has became an active
enemy to their cause. Acquainted with the country and the
people, he is enabled to render valuable assistance to our
enemies. He has gathered around him a band of desperadoes
and renegades, as bold and bad as himself, and, under the
cover of a captain’s commission in the Royalist army, he
often perpetrates many wanton and unprovoked cruelties.
So atrocious, indeed, were the outrages perpetrated by this
leader, that, by a special order of the commandant of the
- district, he was pronounced an outlaw, and a reward of a
hundred doubloons offered for his arrest—which reward is
still oucstanding ; the cunning and activity of the fellow
rendering thus far futile all attempts to capture him.”

By this time we came within sight of the rendezvous, and

found ourselves the first on the ground. The place selected —

for our meeting was a broad, open field, flanked on the left
by a grove of palm trees, while the still placid waters of the
Oronoco washed the opposite side. The carriage stopped
under a palm tree, and we alighted. Haversham drew forth
from beneath his cloak my pistol-case, took therefrom the
weapons and examined them. He pronounced them in fine
order, having loaded and prepared them with his own hands.
Ten minutes elapsed. No signs yet of our opponents. I
drew out my watch. The hands indicated ten minutes to
five. Five minutes more passed away. No arrival. Five
o'clock came. Not a sound disturbed the deathlike stillness
of the scene. The doctor became very impatient. The sun
rose higher into the vault of heaven, scattering broadcast
over river and field and grove his cheering rays. A few
small boats, with broad lateen sails, moved slowly along the
ae

AN AFFAIR OF HONOUR. 25

opposite side of the river, the gentle breeze that urged them
on. seareely stirring a ripple upon the placid surface of the
water. Haversham paced the ground uneasily.

“The cowardly whelp has disappointed us, I fear,” he
suddenly ejaculated, in a tone of bitter disappointment.
«¢ We shall lose our breakfast, and have our ride for
nothing.”

To confess the truth, I really began to hope it might be
so. Not that I felt any fear, for the incidents of many a
hard-fought battle-field had taught me long since that no
cowardly blood flowed in my veins. But the cause of our
quarrel. was so trifling that my better judgment disapproved
entirely of the meeting.

‘¢ We have waited fifteen minutes beyond the time,” said
Haversham ; ‘‘ we may as well return to the city.”

**T fully coneur with you, senor,” added the doctor.

“*T leave it entirely to your decision, gentlemen,” I
answered.

*¢Then we'll return,” said Haversham.

We entered the carriage, the door closed, Okra mounted
the box, and cracked his whip, and the carriage rolled
away. We had not proceeded a dozen yards, when the
sharp report of a pistol rung out upon the still morning
air. The horses came to a sudden stop.

‘What in the devil’s to pay now !” shouted Haversham,
excitedly, as he threw open the door of the vehicle and
sprung to the ground, followed by the doctor and myself.

“Dar, mass’r, see um!” said Okra, pointing with his
whip toward the river.

Our eyes were instantly turned in the direction indicated.
A small boat was approaching the shore. It contained four
persons. Two were seated at the oars, a third was reclining
in the stern, while the fourth stood at the bow, waving a
white handkerchief to attract our attention. We instantly
surmised that they were the opposite party, who had come
by water instead of the road. This supposition was corro-
borated by their arrival on the spot.

 

 
   

 
 

26 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

“‘You are late, gentlemen,” said Haversham, in a tone
of severity, “‘and we are under no obligations to fulfil the
engagement.”

“‘We were unavoidably delayed by the breaking of an
oar,” answered the captain’s second ; ‘‘ but, if you desire to
back out, you have undoubtedly the right to do so.”

“Do not flatter yourself, Sir,” replied Haversham, his
temper rising at the sneering tone of the other speaker,
“that we purpose doing anything of the kind. We came
here to fight, and that’s just what we intend todo. I only
mentioned your tardiness to convince you that we waive al!
such technicalities in your favour.” °

“Oh, of course,” returned the other, in the same aggra-
vating tone ; ‘‘ we understand all that.”

“Then, Sir, as it is already late, let us to business at
once.”

“Certainly, Sir, with pleasure,” said the captain’s second.
‘+Shall I step the distance ?”

fVies.%2
_ Ten paces were measured off, and we proceeded to take
our proper positions. The captain had not condescended
to speak to any of our party, but maintained a stiff, dignified
silence. As he strode to the position assigned him, a fiendish
expression covered his face, otherwise he exhibited no out-
ward signs of emotion.

Are you ready ?” asked his second.

‘No, Sir, we are not,” replied Haversham.

*¢ What is wanting ?”

““T object to the position in which you have placed my
friend,” said Haversham,

“Why so ?”

“He faces the sun, and is in direct line with yonder tree
to the rear.”

These objections were soon obviated by a change of place.
The other incidentals were speedily arranged. It was agreed
that Haversham should count three, and at the word
“Three ” we were to fire.

 

:t-
FF

THE DUEL INTERRUPTED. 27

Stepping back a few paces, Haversham began slowly and
deliberately to count :—

“¢ One—two—”

A loud and confused shouting in the direction of the palm
groye arrested his count. I glanced that way. <A sergeant,
followed by a dozen soldiers, wearing the blue uniform of
the patriots, was seen emerging from the grove, and running
at full speed toward us. The sergeant was screaming at the
top of his lungs, and gesticulating vehemently. We were
all taken aback at this sudden and unexpected interruption.
I was:totally at a loss to account for it. My first impression
was that the soldiers were a detachment from the city,
ordered to arrest us for attempting to fight a duel. This
idea, however, vanished instantly when I recollected that
there were no regulations existing in this strange country for
restraining indulgences of this kind; but that, on the
contrary, single encounters were an everyday occurrence
among a people naturally hot-tempered and passionate.
Again, had an arrest been contemplated, it would have been
executed by order of Sir William, and by British soldiers.

My opponent, however, did not appear so much at a loss
in conjecturing the object of this raid upon our privacy.
Without awaiting the time to fire, he no sooner caught a
glimpse of the approaching soldiery, than he raised his
pistol and discharged it full at my head. The hall severed a
lock of hair above my left ear. Then turning, the captain
started at the top of his speed for the boat, with the balance
of his party close upon the heels of their valorous leader.
By this time the troops were nearly abreast of us, and with
a furious twirl of his sword in our direction, the sergeant
shouted—

«Tt is the guerilla Doblado! Seize him! Seize him!”

I was so completely overcome with surprise as the truth
burst upon me, that my opponent of the previous evening
and the man who had just fired at me was no other than the
villain whose atrocities had been so lately detailed to us by
the doctor, and whose very name was a terror to all, that I

 

 
 

28 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

did not at once respond to the urgent appeal of the sergeant.
- The captain and his friends had such a start, and ran with
such celerity, that they were fairly embarked and already
some distance out, before the sergeant reached the shore.

“ Fire at them! fire !” he shouted frantically to his men.

A seattering volley from the carbines of the soldiers was
discharged. None of the shots seemed to have taken effect—
some falling short, while the greater part went far beyond
the boat, pattering upon the distant water like hailstones,
About one hundred and fifty yards from the shore lay a
small-island, densely covered with thickets of dwarfish
pushes, chiefly a species of the mimosa, and shrubs bearing
bright, canary-coloured blossoms, while occasionally the
broad-leafed crown of the palm-tree towered above. The
island was perhaps seventy-five yards in length, and a third
as wide. Doblado, who had grasped the tiller of the boat,
was striving to direct their course so as to secure the protec-
tion offered by the dense foliage of the island.

Before the tardy soldiery could reload their pieces, the
boat disappeared from view and gained the wished-for shelter.
The sergeant swore furiously, but seemed at a loss how to
proceed, as he had no boat with which to pursue the foe.

‘“‘By Jove!” shouted Haversham, in ecstacy, ‘this is
getting exciting! Come, let us take a hand in it ourselves.”

“There is no time to lose, then,” said I, as we both ran
hastily to the water’s edge. The cowardly act of the guerilla,
in firing upon me before he ran, gave an additional reason
for my desiring to see the villain receive his just deserts, and
I participated in the effort to securé the offender with much
zeal.

“The dog of a Spaniard will push directly across the river,
protected from our fire by the island,” said I energetically to
the sergeant. ‘‘We must not stand here idle a moment
longer.”

‘* Peste, what can we do without a boat ?” he replied.

**Do!” I exclaimed, losing my temper at the fellow’s list-
lessness. ‘‘ Follow my directions, and I will tell you.”

eo
THE GUERILLAS AT BAY. 29°

Like the majority of those who are clothed with brief and
limited authotity, the sergeant seemed very much indisposed
to accept any advice upon the subject, but only swelled the
more with a sense of his own dignity.

“¢ Per Dios!” exclaimed Haversham, furiously, shaking
his fist under the sergeant’s nose, ‘I'll report you at head-
quarters if you permit Doblado te escape.”

“‘Gorra mity! He be big fool to loose dem hundred
dubbledoons, w’at de doctor tole ’bout. Dat’s so! He!
he!” chuckled Okra, with a broad grin, who had left the
horses and joined the party.

Okra’s argument seemed to strike the sergeant even more
favourably than that of Haversham, and he consented to
follow my directions. I perceived at once that a very simple
disposition of our forces, which consisted of eighteen men,
could prevent the guerilla from crossing the river except from
a severe cross-fire from the soldiers. Iselected two points upon
the river-bank, one being some two hundred yards above,
and the other the same distance below the island. At each
of these pointy I stationed three men, with orders to fire at
the boat should it appear. The fire from these two points
crossed at a spot in the river fifty yards beyond the island, thus
exposing the boat, in any attempt to leave the island, to the
converging fire of both parties. This plan compelled the
guerillas to remain, for the present at least, prisoners upon
the island as we thought they would scarcely venture out
under the cover of six carbines.

The next move was by no means so apparent. Although
driven into close quarters, the game was beyond our reach.
The channel, over a hundred yards wide, and very deep, lay
between us and the island, while the Oronoco, at this point,
was a mile at least. We held a council of war, to determine
upon the best course to pursue. Every one had an opinion to
offer, but nothing practicable was presented. We thought
of constructing a raft upon which to float over, but the want
of proper tools put that plan out of the question. Haversham
proposed that we should swim over; but there being only

 
  
  
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
     
 
 

crest-fallen over my objections ; “ but s’pose it mus’ be fac’,

30 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

four of us who possessed the requisite ability, that project
was dropped.

‘¢ There’s nothing but a siege in prospect,” growled Haver-
sham, who was fast becoming restive under our inaction.

“Perhaps a boat may be found somewhere along the
stream,” suggested the doctor, who was out of humour for not
being able to recognize Doblado before the soldiers arrived.

“At all events,” said the sergeant, ‘‘we will institute a
search for something that will float.”

A soldier was sent up and another one down the stream,
with orders to impress into service any craft that promised
to assist us.

‘‘ Meanwhile,” continued the sergeant, ‘‘ I believe I'll trya
volley among the bushes over there. A stray shot sometimes
will do execution.”

I regarded this as a mere waste of powder, but made no
reply.

“Aim low among the bushes,” ordered the officer, ‘‘and
blazeaway!” .

The twigs and blossoms flew in every direction, and great
flocks of ducks rose in huge circles and slowly flew up the
stream with loud outcries. No sign of our enemies appeared,
and we subsided into peace again.

‘‘Gorra, mass’r Capt.,” suddenly exclaimed Okra, springing
to his feet, *‘ me t’inks ob good plan!”

«Well, Okra, enlighten us,” I replied, smiling, for although
I knew the black to be a smart, quick-witted fellow, I felt no
confidence that any other plan than by boat was possible.

‘¢Why, mass’r Capt., my plan'am dis. I'll jist gwine up
an’ unhitch dem hosses, and we’ll make um boat ob de coach,
an’ paddle him ober yonder.”

The hearty laugh which greeted this proposition rather
disheartened the black, and he looked much dispirited.

‘‘Why, Okra, the confounded old vehicle is half iron, and
would go to the bottom like a stone.”

“Didn't tink ob that, mass’r Capt.,” answered Okra,
bead

  

 
 
 

   
 

 

- HOW WE INVADED THE ISLAND. Gi

Although my servant’s plan was impracticable, it set me
upon a train of thought that finally worked out a new expe-
dient. We could not use the coach, but might we not bring
the horses into requisition? I thought a while, and then
remarked—

“J think, Haversham, I have it now.”

‘Have what, Ned?” quietly asked the latter, who had
stretched himself out at full length, and was enjoying his cigar.

“ What do you suppose, Mr. Laziness?” I replied. ‘I
have thought of a feasible plan of crossing the channel.”

‘¢ Well,” said Haversham, puffing away quietly, ‘ pro-
pound it ; I’m all ears.”

‘We have two good horses hitched to yonder carriage.”

“‘No doubt of that. Go on,” said Haversham.

“¢ Horses are good swimmers, you know,” I continued.

* Another axiom, too.”

‘*They can each carry three, and six of us can manage
those fellows on the island,” I added.

“Ha! ha!” laughed Haversham, sitting up and indulging
inaheartylaugh. ‘‘ Why you are crazy, Ned. Three men
on one horse would reach the bottom of the river sooner
than Okra’s vehicle.”

‘J didn’t propose that they should all mount the horses,”
said I, with a smile at Haversham’s outburst of merriment.
‘Let one ride the horse, and the other two can cling to the tail,
and thus obtaining support, we’ll soon reach the island.”

“The devil,” roared Haversham, jumping into the air;
*‘a glorious plan! Just the thing. Perfectly feasible.
Okra, unhitch the animals, and bring them here instanter.
Come, fly, you ace of spades !”

Thus urged, Okra trotted off at a lively pace, and soon
returned with the two animals, from which he had removed
the harness, save the bridle on each. Throwing off our hats,
coats, and boots, Haversham and I mounted the horses. Ou
pistols, with sufficient ammunition for a dozen rounds each,
were placed in our belts. We then rode into the stream a
few yards until the water reached the breasts of the beasts.
 

82 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

The sergeant and five of his men, upon further consultation,
decided to gowith us. They were partially divested of clothing,
and in their belts wore the long slender sword, peculiar to the
soldiers of that country. Owing to the difficulty of carrying
ammunition and keeping it dry, their carbines were left
behind. We anticipated a close hand-to-hand struggle, and
relied upon our knives, and such pistol-shots as Haversham
and myself might be able to give, to carry us through suc-
cessfully,

The sergeant and two men seized hold upon the tail of my
horse, resting a hand also upon his rump. Three others
attached themselves in a similar manner to Haversham’s
horse, and we plunged into the deep stream. The surface of
the water was very smooth, and there was scarcely any per-
ceptible current. The horses were powerful swimmers, and
struck out boldly for the island.

Things worked finely. We reached the middle of the
channel, when a scream of terror was heard from the main-
Jand.

“El cayman! el cayman! Per Dios, camarades, come
back, come back! El cayman!” shouted the doctor, in a
frightened tone.

As I turned my head toward the shore, a sight met my
gaze that froze the blood in my heart. A huge cayman, or
crocodile, had risen to the surface of the water, and with
jaws widely extended was gliding quietly but rapidly toward
our party.

A single glance revealed the fact that it was not a black
cayman, more commonly known by the name of alligator,
but a veritable “yellow cayman,” the most ferocious and
bloodthirsty of all the saurian species.

The crocodiles of the Oronoco always have been noted for
their savage natures and boldness, while in size and form
they bear a striking resemblance to those found in the rivers
of Africa. They possess a remarkable degree of cunning,
and will often plunge beneath the water as soon as the hunter
points his gun toward them. So ferocious, moreover, are

 
A FIGHT WITH A CROCODILE.

they, that they not unfrequently attack persons upon the
river’s bank, or pursue canoes for miles.
From experience in eastern countries, I knew it was almost
impossible to kill them, the only vulnerable points about
these creatures being the nape of the neck and the armpit.
Such was the monster that had risen to the surface some
twenty-five yards only from our party, and at ence moved
toward Haversham’s horse, which happened to be the nearest
tohim. I seized my pistols, and taking a rapid aim, fired
directly at the reptile’s neck. At the same instant two car-
bines were discharged from the shore by Okra and the doctor.
The balls seemed to glance harmlessly from him, and did
not tend in the least to impede hisadvance. With desperate
energy, Haversham strove to turn his horse’s head toward
the shore, but the poor animal, apparently aware of the
danger, and overcome with fright, snorted and plunged, and
became unmanageable, filling the air with piercing outeries.
The unfortunate soldiers were speechless with terror, and
clung convulsively to the horse, fearing to lose their hold
upon the beast, lest they should be drowned.
The crisis had now arrived. The cayman, raising its body
partly from the water, seized the horse in its open mouth,
and as the ponderous jaws closed upon the quivering flesh,
the crushing sound of breaking bones was plainly heard.
With a shriek of mortal agony the doomed horse and the
cayman sunk together. A violent plash of the monster’s tail,
as he disappeared, threw enormous jets of water high into the
air.
The surface was red with blood for the space of several
yards around the scene of conflict. As the waters became
quiet again, I anxiously looked for Haversham. Not aman
of the four could be seen. The agony of mind and thrill of
horror that T experienced for a moment completely prostrated
me. My horse, left to himself, swam rapidly toward the

- point from: which we had started, with the sergeant and the
mon gill reteining their hold upon him. :

* Gorrs mity!” exclaimed Okva, dancing with delight as

 
    

THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

he pointed down the stream. ‘‘ Dar he be, mass’r Capt., dar
be Habbysham !”

I felt wonderfully relieved to see Haversham swimming
vigorously toward the shore. All parties were soon landed.

“Thank God, Haversham,” I exclaimed, rushing up and
grasping him by the hand. “Thank God, you're safe.
Hurt at all?”

“Not a scratch, I think, Ned,” said Haversham ; ‘ but
confoundedly scared I must admit, and half drowned,
. too.” ree

‘¢ A narrow escape, truly.”

“*T thought my campaigning was finished, certain.”

“‘ Three poor fellows have found watery graves; I fear,” I
added.

** Caramba! yes,” ejaculated the sergeant, whose teeth
still chattered with the fright he had received. ‘ Good
fellows, too, they were; but, Diabolo! they ought to have
known how to swim.”

“CA mighty bad joke on them, that they couldn’t,” said
Haversham. ‘‘ I may thank my stars that I learned the art.
This is the third time that a knowledge of that delightful and
useful accomplishment has extended my furlough in this

- mundane sphere.”

*‘ And the horse, too,” added the doctor, “is past all
surgery. Santa Maria! What a clean bite el cayman
made !”

“‘ A queer time to mention the loss of a hones,” said I,
testily, for it seemed an insult to the memory of the poor
fellows who had perished, to be considering the loss of a
paltry beast.

‘¢ Not so very queer, after all,” returned the doctor, with
a long face ; “* for bow are we to return to Angostura ?”

“ Curse Angostura, and you too for that matter,” angrily
rejoined Haversham, “and your whole abominable country
in addition. Even your rivers swarm with infernal reptiles
seeking ‘ whom they may devour,’ to say nothing of gamblers
and cut-throats that overrun the dry land like the frogs of

*

_ he ~

    
 
 
    

 

 
  
  

 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  

  
%

Ma,

A CONSULTATION, 35

Egypt. Don’t talk of returning to Angostura, until we
have captured those scoundrels over on the island.”

The doctor looked very glum and spitefully toward
Haversham at this summary reply, but had the good sense
to say nothing.

“J think myself, with the doctor, that we had better give
the matter up, for I can see no way to effect our object,” said
the sergeant.

“Give it up!” cried Haversham, turning y haieely upon
him. ‘‘ Pretty talk, truly, for an officer in the patriot army !
Let those four villains over there balk a dozen of us! By
St. George, Ned,” continued Haversham, turning to me,
“we'll have to report this sergeant as derelict in duty,
shan’t we ?”

“‘But I’ve lost four men already, and accomplished no-
thing,” whined the sergeant in self-defence.

‘¢ Bah! Weren’t you sent out here for some purpose ?”

‘¢Si, senor, I was, of course.”

‘¢ You were ordered to arrest Doblado, weren’t you?”

*¢ Assuredly.”

‘¢ Well, ain’t you going to obey orders?” continued
Haversham.

“But, how can I perform impossibilities ?”

“<Impossibilities!” exclaimed Haversham, scornfully ;
“don’t call a thing impossible until you have fairly tried
and failed.” :

‘¢ And lose more men, I suppose, too,” growled the sergeant.

“‘He, he!” chimed in Okra, ‘‘and lose dem ec: dubble- -
doons, too.”

The greedy eyes of the avaricious Spaniard emitted a _
bright light that indicated how sensitive a spot the black’s
joke had touched.

“‘Confound the doubloons !” ejaculated the sergeant, with
avery poor effort to appear vexed, while he exhibited his
anxiety concerning the money, by adding: ‘‘They are
nothing among so many.”

“ As for that,” said Hayersham, now thoroughly es

 
36 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

with the miserly fellow, ‘you are welcome to the reward for
all we care. We wish none of your filthy lucre. <A far
different motive than a desire for gold actuates us in our en-
deavours to secure the arrest of this miscreant.”’

The Spaniard’s countenance grew lighter. This last re-
mark of Haversham had greatly mollified him. His ap-
parent unwillingness to make further efforts vanished, and
he expressed a desire to aid us to the extent of his abilities
in any new plan we might, devise.

At this moment we were electrified by the report of three
carbines fired in rapid succession by men stationed above the
island. There could be but one explanation of such conduct.

The boat was leaving the island !

Catching up a carbine that belonged to one of the dead
soldiers, I bade the others follow, and ran at full espeed
toward the party which had just fired.

“‘Where is the boat, men?” I called out as I neared the
spot. ‘‘ Load again quickly, and fire.”

“There is no boat in sight, senor captain,” was the answer.

“No boat! Carajo! what in heaven’s name ‘were you
firing at then?” I asked, thinking the fellows were only
trifling.

“At yon thing, senor; I don’t know what to call it,”
answered a soldier, pointing with his ramrod out into the
river.

There was some kind of a craft floating in the water, but
it was not the boat at all. It somewhat resembled a raft,
being composed of large logs, covered with green bushes.
From the centre arose a large palm-branch with its fan-
shaped leaves, evidently designed to answer the purpose of
a sail. The gentle breeze that blew off shore was slowly
carrying this nondescript craft away from the island. There
were no signs of persons on board. We were sorely puzzled
what to make of it,

“Blast it!” said Haversham, coming up, ‘‘ what do you
think of that craft, anyhow, Ned?”

“It’s ahead of me entirely,” I answered. .

 
THE MYSTERIOUS RAFT. ~ : 37

“J can’t fathom the thing at.all,” added Haversham, with
a shake of the head. ‘‘ But it’s rather mysterious.”

“Depend upon it, it bodes no good to us,” I continued.
‘¢ Pm afraid our enemies are aboard the craft, though where
they could conceal themselves on it from our sight is difficult
to discover.” ;

‘© Why in the devil should they leave their boat and
betake themselves to such a nondescript craft as that?”
queried Haversham.

‘*Load up, men,” said the sergeant, ‘“‘and blaze away at
it anyhow.”

By this time the men at the lower station had discovered
the strange raft, and also opened fire. A continuous volley
was kept up for several minutes from both stations. We
could distinctly see pieces of twigs and branches flying into
the water as the balls struck the craft. Slowly and surely,
however, it floated away from us, until I ordered the men to
cease firing as they were accomplishing nothing.

A shout from the lower station now attracted our attention.
A man was swinging his cap and signaling us. Another
object met my eye, which caused my heart to leap with joy.

“By heavens, Haversham, there comes a boat for us,” I
exclaimed.

Sure enough, a small boat containing two men was nearing
the shore, adjacent to the lower station.

“Now is our chance,” I shouted. ‘Forward every man
of you!”

My enthusiasm was immediately imparted to the others,
and we dashed toward the boat. The soldier whom we had —
despatched down the stream had found a canoe, capable of
carrying a dozen men, which, with its owner, he had im-
pressed into our service. Not more than five minutes were
consumed in embarking the men, and with a shout we pushed
from the shore. .

«Pull together men,” I shouted, and obeying my order,
we were soon gliding swiftly along, dashing the spray in
showers from the bow. We soon passed the end of the island,

 
 

38 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

whence we had an uninterrupted view of the northern shore.
My eyes ran anxiously along the water’s edge.

The boat was gone !

There was no longer room to doubt that our enemies had
departed, and were probably on board the mysterious craft.

_  Whathave they done with their boat ?” asked Haversham.

No one could answer. Perhaps they had sunk it, but why
they should do so, and substitute the great unwieldy raft was
past divination. The raft was now near the opposite side of
the river. We could still reach it by a little extra exertion,
as it was propelled solely by the action of the wind upon the
broad palm-branch, and, being shapeless for sailing purposes,
necessarily made very slow progress.

“Give way lively, men,” I ordered, grasping the tiller
myself ; ‘* we'll catch the villains yet!”

Tne men bent to the oars with a will, and our fragile craft
fairly trembled as we swept through the water.

“ Hi! hi! mass’r Capt.,” exclaimed Okra, his great eyes
opening wider than ever with surprise, as he stood upright
in the boat ; “‘ what de debbil dat mean? De non’scrip’
bust up! He’s done gone all to a t’?ousand pieces !”

The black was correct. The mysterious craft had
separated. Several large palm-logs and a profusion of green
bushes were floating upon the water, the sail had disappeared,
and a small boat containing four persons pushed out from
the débris of the raft.

The mystery was explained !

The guerillas had surrounded their boat with several large
logs to protect its sides from our bullets, had covered the
entire thing with green bushes, and erected a large branch
for a sail, secreting themselves in the bottom of their boat
beneath the branches, and a favourable breeze had blown
them nearly across the stream.

Surprised and enraged at being outwitted, we gave way to
greater efforts. Our foes had discovered us, and knowing
that their disguise could avail them no a a they uncovered
the boat and seized the oars.

 

 
  

  

——-

a sp ne ae ii = a
 

THE PURSUIT ABANDONED. 39

Now came the final struggle. Both parties plied the oars
with great rapidity. We were slowly gaining upon them.

“‘ They will reach the shore before we overtake them,”
shouted the sergeant. ‘‘ Fire, men!”

Three of the soldiers raised their carbines and fired.

The balls struck the water near the boat.

“Try again, men, quick!” roared the sergeant, much
excited, as he began to discover the hundred doubloons
slipping through his fingers. Again they fired. Several balls
struck the boat. The aim of one of the soldiers proved
better, and a man rolled from the boat into the water.

“Hurrah !” I shouted, “now wehavethem. Pull bravely,
men !”

A blinding smoke arose directly in front of me, followed by
aloud report. The frail canoe trembled from stem to stern.

“ Santissima Maria!” screamed a voice of agony, “ ’m
killed, I’m on fire !”

A puff of air scattered the smoke, and revealed the cause
of the shock and the piercing screams. One of the soldiers
in his haste to load and fire had dropped a bit of burnt
wadding into his powder-flask, which was lying in the
bottom of the canoe. The result was an explosion that had
blown his hand to atoms, and unluckily for us had also
shattered the side of the boat to such an extent that the
water began to come in rapidly.

It was now apparent to me that all further pursuit of the
foe was useless, as the other boat was near the shore, and it
would require all our energies to return to the south bank of
the river while our canoe was still able to float. With much
chagrin, therefore, I gave the order to return. There was no
opposition, as our desperate situation was apparent to all.
As we turned our bow southward, an exultant shout of
defiance from the guerillas came floating across the waters,
and I ground my teeth in silent anger, vowing fearful re-
venge in the future, should the villain Doblado ever cross my
path.

We soon reached the shore, two men being kept bury

 
 

 

 

 

40 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

ailing out the boat with their caps. It was now past noon,
and the heat of the sun was intense. There was nothing
left us to do, except to return on foot to Angostura; and
' bidding our sergeant adieu, whose duties lay in another
direction, we started for the city, Okra trotting ahead of us
upon the remaining horse, for the purpose of procuring help
to remove the carriage.

Late in the afternoon we arrived at our quarters, foot-
sore, weary, and disappointed at the unsuccessful and queer
result of our first duel in South America.

 

° CHARTER INV.
DOBLADO IN HIS TRUE CHARACTER.

Mal.—By heavens! we'll burn the castle to the ground,
And in its ruins bury all its inmates.
A lasco.—Sir ! let us fight like men, in the fair field.
Strike where our liberties demand the blow—
But spare, where only cowards would inflict it.
Mal.—Too magnanimous, my lord.
Alasco.—Nay, do not hold that maxim! Of all traitors,
The worst is he who stains his country’s cause
With cruelty : making it hideous in
The general eye, and fearful to its friends.

—OLD TRAGEDY.

“¢ Caraso! who dares dispute my authority ? If any one

says aught against my will, T’ll give his mangled flesh to
carrion vultures, and the winds of heaven shall bleach his
bones upon these rocks. He shall be accursed for ever.”
This furious imprecation, uttered in a voice hoarse with
passion, was spoken by a powerful man, the central figure
of a crowd of dark-visaged and swarthy desperadoes. They
were assembled upon the broad surface of an elevated
mountain plateau. The time was one week subsequent to
the events narrated in the last chapter. In the rough voice,
harsh features, and flashing eye of the exasperated speaker,
we recognize our quondam acquaintance, Captain Doblado.
The animated scene presented a picture for the pencil of
the artist. The motley group were clothed in costumes of

Fie stepasmateimeeti > Smit
sensed Somme

THE GUERILLAS’ FASTNESS. AL

the most variegated and picturesque appearance. Some wore
the loose, buff-coloured breeches and green jackets trimmed
with yellow, so common in Spain and her provinces. Over
the shoulders of others were thrown the scarlet and blue
ponchos, or flowing mantles, the pride of the dwellers in the |
vast pampas. Others were dressed in close-fitting garments -

. of gray, with tall, conical-shaped hats, sporting immense

broad brims. Heavy whiskers and fierce moustaches pre-
dominated.

There were a hundred individuals, comprising all atl
of colour, from the ruddy Anglo-Saxon to the jet-black
features of the native African. Their weapons, which were
of a uniform character, consisted of a short carbine, a dagger
in the belt, a pistol, and pouches for ammunition. The
leader wore a doublet of dark cloth, slashed with red, a low-
crowned, slouched hat, and high-topped boots with yellow
facings. A heavy cavalry sabre, and a pair of silver-mounted
pistols completed his outfit.

The day was drawing to a close. The red sun was slowly
sinking behind the tops of the distant hills, casting a flood
of golden and saffron-hued light over the landscape, while far
away beyond the intervening fields and palm-groves sparkled
the wavelets of the broad Oronoco, as its waters flowed
grandly and peacefully toward the ocean.

The sudden outburst of ill-temper on the part of Capiisin
Doblado, with which this chapter opens, was attributable to
certain mutinous expressions dropped by his lieutenant;
Gaspar Gomez, in relation to a projected expedition then
under contemplation.

While a majority of the guerillas had no compunctions of
conscience as to the character of the operations in which
their strength and skill were to be employed, there were a
few who, not being able to perceive how the cause of the
Royalists could be promoted by a warfare upon non-
combatants, and by constant robberies and wanton murders,
frequently manifested an indisposition to take part in those
expeditions which belonged to the latter class. Their ow

 
 

 

42 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

tions, however, had never assumed so open a form as upon
the present occasion. The captain had assembled his com-
mand and notified them that an expedition was on foot to visit
the hacienda or estate of a wealthy planter, who was known
to be an ardent patriot. Anticipating the usual scenes of
pillage and robbery, Gaspar had ventured to expostulate in

a mild tone with the captain upon the propriety of these .

proceedings. The captain replied curtly, and harsh words
followed, ending in the fierce threat with which this
chapter opens.

**By St. Jago,” returned the lieutenant, spiritedly, ‘I
protest against any repetition of these disgraceful scenes.
They are a foul blot upon the arms of Spain.”

“Ha! open mutiny, is it? By the holy mass, we'll see
who is leader here,” roared Doblado, the hot blood crimson-
ing his face. ‘‘ Arrest the rebel dog, and convey him to the
dungeon ! ”

There was a stir among the men, but no one seemed
inclined to lay hands upon Gaspar, who was a heavy-built,
powerful fellow, and moreover somewhat of a favourite.

*¢ Milles demonios!” yelled the captain, stamping his foot
with rage as he beheld the evident disinclination to obey his
order. ‘Are ye all cowards? Sergeant Rodrero, I command
you to arrest Gaspar Gomez.”

- Thus directly addressed, the sergeant had no resource left
but to obey. He advanced toward Gaspar to execute the
order. The latter threw himself into a posttire of defence,
and the sergeant hesitated.

“Infernal cowards! White-livered whelps!” cried Do-
blado, now maddened beyond all control, as he himself
rushed upon his lieutenant. Gaspar stepped back, and the
next instant the swords of the two men were crossed in
deadly conflict. The guerillas stood aghast at the sight, and
held their breath in anxious suspense. Stroke followed
stroke with the rapidity of lightning. Every thrust was suc-
cessfully parried. Doblado possessed much more skill in
the use of his weapon than his antagonist, while Gaspar

at
MUTINY AMONGST THE GUERILLAS. 43

made up in superior physical strength what he lacked in
skill, Gaspar was comparatively self-possessed, but the
captain was beside himself with rage. It was doubtful
which would be the victor. A sharp snapping sound was
heard. Gaspar’s sword had broken near the hilt.

“Die, villain!” hissed the captain, as perceiving his ad-
vantage he lunged ferociously at his opponent.

Gaspar sprung aside with great agility, catching the ci
of the captain’s sword upon the basket of his own weapon,
while with his left hand he planted a ponderous blow
upon the side of the captain’s head. This sudden change of
tactics upon Gaspar’s part produced two instantaneous
results. Doblado dropped to the earth like a felled ox. His
men with a shout of ‘foul play,” rushed upon Gaspar and
bore him to the ground, wherehis limbs were quickly pinioned.

While the captain was recovering his lost breath and sense,
Gaspar was hurried away with many a kick and cuff to the
dungeon. This place, dignified with the name dungeon, was
eminently worthy of the designated title. It was a dark,
square chasm in the rocks, some twelve or fifteen yards in
depth, and six or eight in diameter, strongly resembling a
large water-tank orcistern. It was situated some distance from
the entrance of an extensive cavern, which the guerillas often
used for a rendezvous, and for the storage of the plunder
obtained from their frequent raids into that section of the
province. The sides of this chasm were perpendicular and
quite smooth. Formed by some convulsion of nature, it
afforded a suitable place for the incarceration of insub-
ordinate guerillas and captives. Into it the light of day
seldom shone, while its walls were moist with the damp of ages,

As there was no possible chance for a prisoner’s escape,
Gaspar’s limbs were unbound, and he was very uncere-
moniously lowered by a lasso into the loathsome place, there
to await the further orders of his enraged and discomfited
leader, who would, doubtless, upon bis return from the ex-
pedition, gratify his revenge in a cruel manner.

Having thus disposed for the present of his rebellious

 
  

 

44. THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

lieutenant, the captain and his band mounted their horses,
and slowly descended the mountain road until they debouched
upon the open plain, when, putting their animals into a brisk
trot, they rapidly pursued their journey.
* * % * * * *
We will now turn our attention to the hacienda, the desii-
nation of the guerillas. ;

. The estate or plantation of Don Felix de Montessa was
situated some two or three leagues south of the Oronoco. It
was one of the largest and richest in the province, under a
comparatively good state of cultivation, and devoted mostly
to the production of sugar, coffee, and tobacco. The hacienda
was a one-storey building, built principally of adobes, or sun-
burnt bricks. A portico ran along the entire front of the

‘building. A large hall extended through the centre of the

house, separating the family apartments from those of the
servants. The former consisted of four rooms—one general
sitting-room or salon, and three sleeping chambers. On the
other side of the hall were a dining-room, kitchen arrange-
ments, and sleeping apartments for the domestics.

Some three hundred yards from the hacienda were the
barracoons, or. negro quarters, consisting of a long row of
low, palm-thatched cottages. To the rear of and adjoining
the main house was a flower garden, enclosed by a low thorny
hedge.

Late in the afternoon of the day.upon which our chapter
opens, there were three persons assembled within the sitting

oom of the hacienda. Reclining upon a lounge covered with
soft Cordova leather was a venerable looking man of a lofty
martial bearing. His form was finely proportioned, and his
features were well defined in firm lines, indicating courage
and an unbending will. There was, moreover, an aristocratic
character impressed upon his person, incident to the pure
blood of Castile. This was Don Felix, owner of the estate.
He was an ardent Republican, and physical disability, pro-
duced by old age, alone prevented him from taking up arms
in defence of his principles. Possessing great wealth, he

 

  
 
    
   
 
 
 
 
    
   
 
  
 
    
  
 
 
    
  
   
 

+

  
 
DON FELIX AND INEZELLA. 45

contributed freely of material aid to the cause of liberty.
His wife had died years before, leaving him two sons and
one daughter. His eldest son was now serving in the armies
of the Republic. The second, a mere youth of nineteen,
but possessed of a noble, chivalric nature, had two years
before fallen on the bloody banks of the Apure, offering up
his tender life a willing sacrifice upon the altar of liberty.
The daughter was sitting near her father. She possessed
extraordinary beauty. She was slightly above the medium
height, with a clear white complexion, large black eyes of
languishing softness, and lips that vied with the ruby. A
wreath of rich, glossy black tresses added infinitely to the
loveliness of her appearance. Her delicate fingers were en-
gaged upon a piece of embroidery work, in which she was
assisted by a bright-looking waiting maid, who sat at her
mistress’s feet, upon a low ottoman covered with crimson
velvet. The maid was a mestizo, sprightly and vivacious,
with fine form and agreeable features. 1
‘‘What an unhappy state our poor country is in!” re- _
marked the daughter, looking up from her embroidery work.
“Truly, a sad state ; but I think a better day is about to
dawn upon us soon,” replied Don Felix. ‘‘Our forces are
meeting with some successes now, and I learn, furthermore,
that the long-promised aid from England has arrived at
last.”
‘‘Have the troops actually arrived ?” inquired the danghter
eagerly. :
“Yes, some fifteen hundred, under command of Sir Wil- —

“liam De Courcey.”

‘A valuable assistance,” said the daughter. ‘‘ The brave
fellows, to cross a thousand leagues of sea to help us fight
our battles! I love them already,” exclaimed the enthu-
siastic girl.

‘You are joyful, Inezella,” remarked Don Felix.

A pause ensued. JInezella’s fingers flew rapidly. An hour
or more passed in pleasant conversation. ;

There was a sound of footsteps in the large hall,-followed

 
 

THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

by a quick, energetic knock upon the door. Zala, the wait-
ing-maid, responded to the summons. It was Ramon, the
principal overseer, or manager of the estate. He was a
small, active man, very shrewd, honest, and devoted to the
interests of Don Felix. He removed his sombrero, bowed
very low, and said :—

“Can I speak with Don Felix ?”

“Certainly. Come in, Ramon,” said the Don, in a milc
tone.

““My communication is of a private nature, senor,” re-
turned Ramon in an anxious voice.

The Don arose and stepped into the hall. After he had
closed the door, Ramon continued :—

“‘There are a number of strange horsemen in the quebrado
(ravine), senor, and 1 deemed it best to inform you of it.”

*¢Strange horsemen ?”

‘¢ Si, senor.”

*¢ Who are they?”

*¢Guerillas, probably,” answered the overseer.

“‘Scarcely. They have not visited this side of the great
river this season at all.”

‘Who do you think they are then, senor ?”

“ Per Dios, Ramon, that’s just what I’d like to know.” '

There was a pause, when the the Don continued :—

“How learned you this ?”

‘From two of our people.”

*¢ Did they see them ?”

‘¢Si, senor, and came directly to tell me.”

“Who were these men that informed you ?” x

“* Mesa, the mestizo, told me,” replied Ramon,

‘Where is he now ?” asked the Don.

* He is in the corral with the cattle.” ‘

“‘T must see him. Go for him.”

‘*Si, senor.”

The mestizo was speedily found.
“Tell me exactly what you saw, Mesa,” said Don Felix.
“*Si, senor,” began the servant, removing his sombrero,

   
 
  
 
    
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    

*

“ar
os 0

THE HACIENDA WARNED. 47

and coughing to clear his throat. ‘* Me and Jose had been
down to de lagoon, huntin’ for som’ ob de cattle, wot’s been
lost. Well, as we cum ’long by de r’vine, we see’d a hull lot
ob g’rillas. Dey had stopped to rest, s’pose.” :

‘¢ Had they horses with them ?”

‘¢ Si, senor, a hull drove on’em.”

“‘ Why do you think they are guerillas ?” asked the Don.

“Cos, senor, dey had on dem yaller breeches, un Gem
tall hats, just like um g’rillas had wot I saw’d hung at
*gostura onct.”

‘How many were they at the ravine ?”

© Can’t say, ’zactly.”

‘‘ How many do you think ?”

“‘ Well,” said Mesa, pausing and scratching his head, ‘I
spec’, senor, dar be a t’ousand ob ’em.”

‘¢A thousand!” exclaimed Don Felix, a smile of incre-
dulity gathering upon his face. ‘‘ Why, Mesa, that is
impossible.”

‘¢ Well, mebby only a hundred, senor; I’s not good in
figgers.”

“ Quite a reduction, truly, my good fellow,” said the Don
laughing. ‘‘Are you certain there were even a hundred ?”

‘¢ Hi! hi! senor,” chuckled the mestizo; ‘‘me sure ob
dat, anyhow. Hundred, sartin.”

‘¢ Had they any arms ?”’ asked Don Felix.

‘‘Hab any arms?” repeated Mesa, his eyes winking
rapidly, and his honest face wearing a sorely puzzled look,
as if in great doubt as to his master’s meaning. ‘“‘Hab any
arms? Why yes, senor, ob course dey did! Ebery feller,
’cept one brack cuss dat had one cut off.”

“You don’t understand me, Mesa,” said Don Felix, greatly
amused at the servant’s simplicity, while Ramon laughed
outright. ‘‘1 meant to ask if they had any weapons of
warfare with them ?”

‘¢ Weapons ob warfar’! No, senor, dey had nuffin’ wid
dem ’cept carbines an’ big knives. So dey had—’cept de
capt., and he hab sword.”

 
 

 

 

48 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

“ Did you see the captain ?”

«Si, senor.”

“Did you ever sze him before

*¢ Si, senor, me t’ink so.”

«¢ When ?”

“Bout year or so ’go,” answered the mestizo.

‘Where was it ?”

“On dis plantation, senor.”

“On my estate here ?”

‘¢Si senor.”

“Who in heavens 1s he ?” asked Don Felix, anxiously,

“Him be de feller wot bot de tobacco, and wot we druv
off de ’state and chucked into de hoss-pond,” said Mesa.

 Oaramba! you don’t mean that it was—”

“Si, senor. It was Capt. Dubble-da-doo !” interrupted
the servant.

“Doblado, you mean, Mesa ?” asked the Don.

“Si, dat’s w’at I sed.”

“Great God, can it be?” exclaimed Don Felix, in tones
of some alarm. ‘It does not seem possible, though. What
say you Ramon ?”

“That it is not he at all. Every nigger on the plantation
sees that villain by day and by night. He is a perfect
bugaboo to these superstitious fellows.”

“T do not think Captain Doblado is in this region at all at
present,” said Don Felix; ‘‘but wo had better send out
trusty scouts to ascertain the truth. Tf half Mesa says is
true, we have reason for alarm.”

“J will despatch two men immediately,” said Ramon.

* Do so,” replied Don Felix.

Two trusty vaqueros were ordered to mount their horses,
and ride cautiously in the direction of the ravine, and report
45 £00n 4$ possible the result of their observations. Ramon
watched the movements of the horses untii they disappeared
in the bright moonlight, and then paced the ground benesih
the shade of a tall aleornoque-tree, awaiting the retzra of
his messengers,

ee
PREPARING FOR THE DEFENCE. 49

“‘T didn’t want to alarm the Don,” he soliloquised ; “but
1'll wager the best mule on the plantation that Mesa is right, -
and that we shall have a visit before morning from that
infernal villain Doblado. And a precious lively time we'll
have of it too. We must resist to the last, if we lose every
nigger on the estate. Caramba! it will go hard with
Inezella if the scoundrel should get the better of us, for
they say he has a penchant for handsome faces.”

He continued his walk for a time, and then resumed :—

“Pll look to things myself.”

He entered the hacienda, and taking up a small oil lamp,
passed through the apartments assigned to the domestics
until he reached a heavy oaken door, which he unlocked and
entered.

Jt was a miniature arsenal. Not less than thirty carbines,
and a few old Spanish muskets, stood upon a rack made for.
the purpose, while several tin canisters of powder and ball
were lying upon a shelf, which ran along the wall.

After a few minutes spent in examination, he concluded
that the arms were in a reasonably good condition, and re- —
tired, closing the door after him.

He next proceeded towards the barracoons, roused up the
negroes, and assembled every available man and boy cipable
of bearing arms. He informed them that they would doubt-
less be attacked by guerillas before morning, and expected
them to do their duty, and they should receive valuable pre-
sents and extra rations for the next month. ‘The majority
announced their willingness to stand by their master and de-
fend the hacienda, while those who at all hesitated were svon
brought up to the fighting point by a liberal distribution of
aguardiente,

A clatter of hoofs announced the return of the vaqueros.

‘* Any news?” inquired the Don, who had come out to
meet them.

“Si, senor; there are g’rillas in the quebrado.”

“How many, think you ?”

‘‘ Forty-eight,” was the answer.

 
 

 

 

50 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

“‘ Forty-eight ? How can you speak so definitely ?”

‘We counted them, senor.” :

“Were you so near them?”

‘Si, senor,” replied one of the men.

“¢ How was it ?”

‘* We left our horses in the palm-grove near the lagoon,
and crept carefully toward the quebrado. We soon reached
a point from which we obtained a view of the ravine, without
being discovered. The g’rillas had kindled a fire, and were
broiling meat upon the coals. We counted forty-eight, when,
perceiving signs of breaking up camp, we regained our horses
and returned.”

‘*Do you think they will visit us?” continued the Don.

“Oan’t say, senor; but I think they mean mischief, for
they were all well armed.”

“* What think you now, Ramon ?” asked the Don, turning
with a troubled look toward the overseer.

“We will see them, ‘fore daybreak, senor,” replied
Ramon.

“Do you really think so?”

“‘T am sure of it.”

‘* Well, we must prepare for them.”

“« Exactly.”

“ Barricade the hacienda, and make a vigorous defence,”
said Don Felix, the martial fire of early days beginning to
show itself,

- What will you and Inezella do !” asked the overseer.

“What did a Montessa ever do when attacked, but stand
and give as good as he got ?”

“¢ But Inezella—” continued Ramon.

“Her own room is as safe as any place that I know of,”
returned the Don.

“«Si, senor, if we drive off the villains, she will be safe in
the hacienda ; but if not—”

“¢ Peste! Ramon,” interrupted the old Don. ‘‘ We can
whip twice forty-eight such villanous renegades as these.”

“Time is precious, senor.”

cared

 

 
 

 

THE PARLEY AND ATTACK. 61

“Enough! Let us to work,” said Don Felix, as he en-
tered the hacienda to inform the inmates of the anticipated
troubles. »

Inezella, nothing daunted by the alarming intelligence, at
once, with the chivalric spirit of her race, engaged actively
in assisting, to the extent of her ability, in placing the
hacienda in a state of defence, and encouraged all by her
bold spirit and example.

Two servants were stationed down the road to give prompt
news of the nearer approach of the guerillas, while the
others aided in preparations for the siege. Many and
willing hands made light work. The windows were hastily
barricaded with rough board shutters, loopholes being left
for carbines, while huge bales of tobacco were rolled into
the hacienda from the out-houses, and piled against the
doors at each end of the great hall,

Two blacks, armed with carbines, were stationed at each
window, and the remainder, with Ramon and Don Felix,
were assembled in the hall. The lights were all extin-
guished, save one hanging-lamp in the hall, and a single wax
candle in the room occupied by Inezella and her maid.

These temporary defences were scarcely completed when
the sentinels returned, announcing the approach of the
guerillas up the road. The troop soon made its appearance,
their bright carbines glittering in the clear moonlight.
Dashing up at a rapid gait, they halted in front of the
hacienda. Everything in and about the building wore such
a look of undisturbed repose, that the guerillas began to
imagine their surprise was complete.

Two troopers dismounted, and advancing to the door, dealt
it a succession of knocks that resounded throughout the
entire hacienda.

‘Who is there ?” asked Ramon, in a sleepy tone of voice,
after a moment’s delay.

‘¢ Friends.”

‘¢ What do you want ?”

“ Admittance.” ‘

 
i
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Saas

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52 _ THE ORONOCO CHIEF, -

“ What for ?”

¢ Open the door, senor.”

“Rather not,” answerd Ramon.

‘We will break it down, if you don’t.”

There was a pause, and apparently a short consultation
going on within the hall.

“Come, hurry up,” urged the guerillas ; ‘‘or down goes
the door.”

“You can’t do it,” returned Ramon, in a defiant tone.

There was a pause, and the men returned to their friends.

“ By St. Peter !” exclaimed Doblado, ‘‘ does the Don defy
us thus! Forward men, and force an entrance.”

The entire troop now dismounted, and fastened their
horses to a row of palm trees. A score of them sprung
forward to obey their leader’s command. They reached the
edge of the portico.

There was a sudden gleam of red light from the transom
over the door and the windows adjoining. The sharp report
of a dozen carbines awoke the echoes of night, and five
guerillas fell, two of them with ounce balls buried in their
brains.

A howl of agony arose from the wounded, and the crowd
fled precipitately.

‘¢ A good beginning,” exclaimed.Don Felix.

“ Pll burn six wax candles to my lady of San Stephano,
the first time I visit Caraccas, for another such chance,”
said Ramon, in high glee over the successful repulse of their
enemies.

The guerillas were evidently much surprised at the recep-
tion they met with, and were talking together in loud tones

~ and with vehement gestures. In a few moments they divided

themselves into four squads and separated. They intended
to assault each side of the hacienda simultaneously.
“¢ Watch closely now, men,” said Don Felix; ‘‘be cool
and fire low.” m
A yell from the assailants, and a rush from all sides, was
the answer the Don received. To their exceeding great

/
 

 
  

‘6 OUT OF POWDER !” 53

regret they found the windows closed against them, and
several more were added to their list of wounded.

‘¢ El demonios !” roared the fiery captain, maddened beyond
all control by the unexpected and determined resistance
offered him. “‘ By all the furies, we’ll tear the house down
over their heads.” ;

He withdrew his men into the garden, where the hedge
and the broad-leafed trees concealed them fron the view of
the besieged. : :

An hour passed. No further demonstrations from the .
guerillas. What did it mean? Had they given over the
attack ? Evidently not, for their beasts in charge of a few
of the party were still beneath the shade of the palm trees.

The suspense was soon relieved.

A dozen balls, composed of some inflammable material
which burned furiously were suddenly hurled from behind
the hedge upon the palm-thatched roof of the servants’
apartment. In a moment the dry roofing began to smoke
and burn. :

“Fire ! fire!” screamed the domestics.

“Water! bring water!” shouted Ramon. ‘The devils
have set fire to the hacienda.”

His orders were promptly obeyed, and the fire extinguished,
but not until quite an aperture was burnt, and two blacks
were shot by the guerillas as their heads appeared above the
roof. More balls were thrown, but the energetic. Ramon’
foiled all their efforts to fire the roof successfully.

Silence ensued again. The moon went down. Darkness
spread over the face of nature, and offered advantages to
the guerillas which they were not long in embracing. No
longer exposed to the unerring fire of those within the
hacienda, they could mature their plans with greater deli-
beration.

‘¢ Madre de Dios!” exclaimed Ramon, rushing into the
hall with intense alarm depicted upon his countenance,
‘we are out of powder !” :

“ Out of powder ?” asked Don Felix, hurriedly, a feeling

   

  
 

 

 

 

54 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

of despair creeping into his heart. “ How canthatbe? We
had six canisters.”

“ We have powder left, but—”

“But what? speak quickly,” interrupted the excited Don.

** Tt is wet?” said Ramon.

**Who wet it ?”

“Tn our efforts to extinguish the flames, we unfortunately
saturated the ammunition chest, nntil its contents are
worthless.” .

“Santa Maria,” groaned the poor Don, “then I fear we
are indeed lost.”

‘Something may yet occur in our favour” said Ramon en-
couragingly. _

‘How much powder have the men ?” asked the Don.

‘¢ Only one or two rounds each.”

“Let them use it carefully, then.”

The sudden trampling of many feet upon the gravel-walk
interrupted this conversation and announced a new attack.

‘¢God protect thee, Inezella,” murmured the Don, as he
grasped his sword more firmly and encouraged his men.

A volley from the besieged did not seem to retard the
advance of the foe. They reached the portico. A huge log
of timber, used as a battering-ram, was dashed against the
door. It flew fromits hinges. An opening was effected. The
bales of tobacco proved ineffectual in checking the entrance
of the guerillas, and a desperate struggle commenced in the
great hall. Few shots were fired, as the besieged had no am-
munition, and the others no time to load.

Sword in hand, the Don led on his men, and strove to drive
back the guerillas. With clubbed carbines the devoted
blacks boldly assaulted them, while the sword of the heroic
Don clove the heads of several ruffians, even to the shoulders.
Ramon, with his long, thin rapier, thrust vigorously right
and left. Thus vigorously assailed, the guerillas wavered
and slowly retreated toward the door, when a new danger
startled the besieged.

While the main assault was directed against the front door,

Se
—

=

THE GUER(LLAS ARE SUUCESSFUL. 55

as just described, Captain Doblado with a dozen picked men
had succeeded in effecting an entrance through the aperture
burnt in the roof, and at once began a fierce attack upon the
rear of his opponents. Thus hemmed iw, further defence
was useless, and many of the servants tarew down their arms
and cried for quarter.

Don Felix, perceiving the hopelessness of their case, dis-
appeared through a side door, leading to his daughter’s apart-
ment, followed by Ramon. They had scarcely closed the
door after them, ere it was burst open, and Captain Doblado,
with a half-a-dozen men, entered the room.

Donna Inezella was upon her knees before a marble statue
of the Virgin Mary, clasping to her bosom a tiny golden
crucifix. Her maid was crouching near for safety, while
interposing their persons between the females and the in-
truders stood Don Felix and Ramon.

** Back, ye cowards,” fiercely cried Don Felix: ‘Do ve
war on helpless females ?”

‘‘Assuredly not, senor Don Felix,” replied Doblado,
coolly, ‘‘we love helpless women. It is only their foolish
defenders that we war against.”

“Villain,” hissed Don Felix between his compressed lips,
as he rushed upon the captain, ‘*touch my daughter at
your peril.”

“* Oh, old age is impulsive, is it?” sneered Doblado, as he
parried the thrust of the enraged parent.

But few blows were exchanged. The aged noble was no
match for his athletic adversary, who disarmed him in a
moment and hurled him heavily to the floor. A ball from
Ramon’s pistol grazed Doblado’s temple, and buried itself in
the opposite wall. In an instant, he too was overpowered.

Inezella had swooned as her father fell, The aged Don
was still sensible, although bleeding profusely.

“ Shall I run him through?” brutally laughed one of the
guerillas.

“Caramba! no,” sneered Doblado. “If he had enough
life in him to enjoy it, [think I'd duck him in the horse-

 
 

 

 

 

56 THE ORONOCO CHIEF,

pond ; but as he is too far gone to appreciate that, I think
we'll hang him.”

The words were scarcely spoken before a lasso was noosed
around his neck, thrown over a lamp hook in the ceiling,
and the body of Don Felix swung from the floor.

Donna Inezella soon recovered from her swoon, but ap-
peared as one bereft of sense. Overwhelmed with the sad
calamity overshadowing her, she lay in the arms of Zala,
moaning hysterically.

Day was just breaking in the east. The horses of the
guerillas were heavily laden with booty. Everything that

they could not transport was destroyed. A pack-mule was _

provided and the two females placed thereon.

The incendiary torch was applied to the fine old mansion,
and as the red jets of flame and showers of sparks shot up
into the heavens, completing the work of devastation,
the guerillas mounted their horses and set out upon their
return. :

 

CHAPTER V.
ON THE WING.

Then, quick! we have but a second,

Fill round the cup while you may ;

For Time, the churl, hath beckon’d,

And we must away, away ! —Moorz.

“Sr, Guorge for ever,” gaily shouted Haversham, as, all
excitement, he burst into my room at the “San Marco.”

“ Marching orders at last, Ned.”

“The deuce, you say,” I exclaimed, rising and giving my
friend a grasp of the hand. “Capital news! When do we
leave ?”

* Orders say Friday morning at seven o’clock,” said Haver-
sham, who, as his eye rested upon the golden locket lying
open upon my table, continued : “ By Jove, Ned, you seem
infatuated with that lady’s picture. Always poring over it.
Not in love, eh ?”

“ Never having enjoyed that ecstatic state of the feelings

ea
HAVERSHAM’S NOTIONS ON ‘‘ LOVE.” 57

which you term ‘falling in love,’ I am not competent to
answer you understandingly upon that point,’ I replied,
with a philosophical air.

“ Heigho, never in love !” ejaculated Haversham ; “ tell
that to the marines, Ned. Why, I’ve been in love with some
pretty face monthly, ever since I cut loose from the apron-
strings. Never in love! Why I’d die outright in a week,
without some charming piece of dimity whereupon to set
my tender affections.”

‘You have a reputation for fickleness, I believe,” said I.

‘¢ Tt’s infinitely mean in you to say so,” grumbled Haver-

sham; ‘you never had a warmer or more steadfast friend

than I have been.”
* That’s true, Haversham,” said I, with a softness in my
voice, for I loved him as a brother. “I only jested, and

_ take it all back.”

“* There, that’s just like me,” exclaimed Haversham, draw-
ing a note from his pocket. ‘‘ I came mighty near forgetting
what I came for. Read that.”

The note ran as follows :— i

“* Plaza de Angostura.

“My Dear Etiusmure,—We have received marching
orders. The troops move up the river day after to-morrow.
I have received permission to visit my family for a few days,
and join the army ata certain point of its advance. You
must go with me. We will have a gay time. Haversham
declares I may count on him. Let me know your decision
at once. Remember that I won’t take ‘No’ for an answer.
We start this evening. My company of lancers will go
with me.

‘* Yours very truly, ‘Tui:

‘“* You'll go, of course?” said Haversham, as I finished
reading the note.

“ Yes, if Sir William ail consent,” I answered.

‘* Read that,” quietly replied Haversham, drawing forth a
second note from his pocket. I read it aloud :—

 
 

 

 

58 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

*¢ Head-quarters British Legion, Angostura,

“This may certify that Captain Edward Ellesmere, A.D.C.
on my staff, has a furlough for six days, at the expiration of
which time he will report to me in person.

Str Witn1am Dz Courcey,
Gen. Commanding.”

“‘ Why, Haversham, you’ve left me nothing to do,” said
J, witha laugh. ‘‘ You are quite a model of promptness,
I see.”

“* Nothing left but to pack your traps and be off.”

Don Luiz, the writer of the above note, was a young
Spaniard of noble birth, commanding a company of lancers
in the patriot army. First brought into contact with him in
the discharge of official business, his genial temperament,
winning manners, and genuine politeness won my admiration.
Our official acquaintance had rapidly ripened into friendship.
Much of my leisure time since our arrival in Angostura had
been spent in his company, until we had come to regard each
other in the light of intimate friends, With joy, therefore,
I accepted the kind invitation to accompany him to his
plantation, and anticipated therefrom much pleasure.

Justas the clock in the tower of the church of San Michael
struck three, our cavalcade rode out of the Plaza, and we
bade farewell to the fair city of Angostura. Our retinue
presented a very dashing appearance. At the head of the
company, riding abreast, were Don Luiz, Haversham, and
myself. ‘We were mounted upon spirited horses that pranced
and curveted in anticipation of once more snufting the
bracing air of the plains.

No more gallant cavalier ever bestrode a steed than Don
Luiz. He was tall and comely, and magnificently dressed in
the rich uniform of a Spanish cavalry officer. Over his
- shoulders hung an elegant manta of pure white, and exqui-
sitely embroidered, which served the double purpose of orna-
ment and protection against the fierce rays of a tropical sun.
The bright scarlet uniform of the “British Legion,” which
both Haversham and I wore, afforded a brilliant contrast.

.

aa
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ay

THE LLANEROS OF SOUTH AMERICA. 59

‘One hundred Llaneros, riding four abreast, followed.
Each man wore the universal red and blue poncho, high-
topped boots, and dark slouched hat, or sombrero ; while
their arms consisted of a lance, a trabuco, or light carbine,
and a sword.

The Llanero of South America is the finest horseman. in
the world. Inhabiting the vast plains, or Ilanos, his life is
spent in the saddle, and he entertains the greatest affection
for his horse. In the words of Victor Hugo, ‘‘He would
not fight but on horseback ; he forms but one person with
his horse ; he lives on horseback ; trades, buys, and sells on
horseback ; eats, drinks, sleeps, and dreams on horseback.”
‘Hardy, vigorous, athletic men, inured to danger from birth,
they have no superiors as cavalry.

This fine company of men, recruited among the wild plains
and cattle-farms south of the Apure river by Don Luiz him-
self, and armed and equipped at his own expense, were to
him a source of the greatest pride. They had followed him
through many a rough campaign, and were devotedly at-
tached to his fortunes.

As we dashed rapidly along the ‘Calle Real,” with a
clatter of hoofs, ponchos flowing in the breeze, and a thou-
sand gleams of sunshine glinting from polished lances and
carbines, we created quite asensation. From many a latticed
window and cottage concealed amid vines and shrubbery
dark-eyed senoritas waved their snowy-white kerchiefs in
token of farewell. :

Our route lay along the southern bank of the Oronoco.
The road, which would have been difficult for wheeled vehi-
cles, was passable for cavalry, and we trotted along merrily.
On our right flowed the broad river in silent grandeur.
Upon the banks were groups of huge lizards, basking in the
sunshine. So wary, however, were they, that they invariably
rushed into the water on our approach. Occasionally an im-
mense crocodile appeared floating upon the surface like a log ;
or toninas, a species of fresh-water porpoise, spouted jets of
water into the air like miniature whales.

 
 

 

€0- “THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

Hiver-verdant meadows extended far as the eye could reach,
Shady groves of broad fan-leaved palms invited to repose,
while frequent clumps of laurel and other balsamiferous
trees skirted the road. Leguminous trees, bearing immense
pods, from one to three feet in length, presented a strange
appearance to the eye. Thickets of acacias, the manirito,
with its delicious pulpy fruit, the lemon-coloured madrona,
interspersed with the bright scarlet berries of the paujil
shrub, gave variety to the scene.

As we came upon more stony or gravelly soil, we found
the thorny mimosa growing in great luxuriance.

Occasionally we passed coffee, sugar, and indigo planta- _
tions ; but owing to the unsettled state of the country, many

of them were not in a thrifty condition.

The cool, refreshing breeze that blew from the river, added
to our enjoyment as we rode briskly onward. Night comes
on rapidly in the tropics ; but a clear sky and bright moon
induced us to prolong our ride far into the nocturnal hours.
About midnight, as our horses began to show signs of fatigue,

and the moon sunk into the western sky, we drew rein, and .

made preparations to encamp for the balance of the night.

The place selected was a grassy spot at the edge of a palm
grove. The horses were picketed in the grove. We lunched
on tasajo, or jerked beef, avrepas—small corn-cakes, corres-
ponding to the tortillas of Mexico—washed down with a
draught of guarapo, a pleasant beverage made from the juice
of the-sugar-cane. We threw ourselves upon the ground,
with our saddles for pillows, and a poncho for a covering. —

Although much fatigued with the afternoon ride, it was
impossible to compose myself to sleep. The handsome fea-
tures of the ‘portrait constantly flitted through my brain.
The wildest visions of beauty that haunted my youthful days
fell far short of the surpassing loveliness of this unknown
face. It possessed for me a strange, weird fascination, that
I had no power to resist. It was my vision by day and my
dream by night ; I was infatuated. 1 was desperately in love
with my unknown charmer.
MY REFLECTIONS UPON THE LOCKET, OL

Who was she ? .
I would have given worlds to know. How could I find

her? That I could not divine, although I solemnly vowed
to travel the wide world over in the search. There was no
doubt of her Spanish origin. This fact, however, did not
indicate her probable residence with sufficient definiteness to
satisfy my anxiety. Nor was the fact that I obtained the
locket in Venezuela any proof that the fair owner was a
native of this clime. That Captain Doblado knew the owner

_did not enlighten me upon the subject, for he was a roving
character, and might have obtained the miniature as well in
Spain or Mexico as in South America.

What relation could possibly exist between this scoundrel
and the beautiful unknown? Thank God! he said once that
he hated her more than me. They are, therefore, bitter
enemies. Strange complication! I felt intuitively that the
captain, this female, and myself had a destiny closely inter-
woven, and I awaited with the utmost impatience its ful-
filment.

The mysterious future! How it is hidden from mortals!
Oh, that I could tear away the veil that shrouds it! But
destiny is imperative and inexorable, and we must abide its
march and consequences. Chafing under these reflections,
which wonld not yield to any philosophising, I determined
to show the portrait to Don Luiz on the first favourable
opportunity that presented itself. A vague hope possessed
ray mind that he might assist me in some possible way to
discover the original of the portrait, and the soothing
influences of this frail hope quieted my excited sensibilities
to such a degree that I fell into a slight slumber.

We broke camp before the dawn of day, and pushed for-
ward, expecting to reach our destination by ten o’clock, or
noon at latest. The road soon diverged from the river and
struck into the interior. The scenery much resembled that
of the previous day, except that the face of the country was
more uneven, and the number of small streams increased.
Beautiful little lagoons or lakes frequently appeared, sur-

    

 

  
  
   
  
  
   
   
  
   
  
 
 
  
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
   
  

   

 

 

62 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

rounded by vine-clad trees, and abounding in ducks and
other aquatic birds.

An occasional pulperia, or wayside inn, was passed, offering
accommodation of evidently a not very inviting character.

The country was sparsely inhabited, the population being
mostly gathered near the widely-separated ranches and
haciendas. .

We conversed freely, Don Luiz enlivening the journey by 2
graphic sketches of the history of the country, and narrating
interesting incidents of his own adventurous life ; in return
for which, Haversham and I spun yarns of our campaigns in ©
foreign parts.

“Do you see that tall balsam-tree, yonder?” asked the
Don.

“¢ Yes,” I replied.

‘ From that point we can see the hacienda whither we are
journeying,” continued he. \

“ Glorious!” cried Haversham, ‘‘ for I’m getting con- >
foundedly tired of this long-continued equestrianism. Pd
rather march on foot.”

“No accounting for tastes,” returned Luiz, laughing.
‘Wor my part, 1’d rather ride than eat.” ;

“ What's that ?” asked Haversham, as we halted over a
scarf lying in the road. 1 raised. it with my sword and
handed it to Don Luiz, who exclaimed :—-

‘< By heavens, it’s my sister’s scarf? Madre de Dios,
bloody, too!” +

‘¢ Strange ! what means it?” said Haversham.

“ And the road is torn up with horses’ tracks,” I remarked.

“ Santissima Maria!” groaned Don Luiz, in great agony,
“¢ there has been foul work here, I fear. Forward, men.”

We put spurs to our horses, and rode rapidly forward, our
minds disturbed with fear and anxiety.

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THE OUTRAGE DISCOVERED. 63

CHAPTER VI.
ON THE TRAIL.

We swear to revenge them! No joy shall be tasted,
The harp shall be silent, the maiden unwed ;
Our halls shall be mute, and our fields shall lie wasted,
*Till vengeance is wreaked on the murderer’s head.
—Tom Moorz.

We reached the crest of the hill. The hacienda was
not there! In its place was a heap of smouldering ruins, and
blackened, }alf-charred timbers.

“Oh, gracious Dios!” groaned Don Luiz, in a tone of un-
utterable agony, scarcely able to retain his seat in the saddle, —
“what a calamity is here! My father! Inezella! Inezella !”

We dashed at headlong speed down the descent toward the
ruined hacienda. The smoking embers, the trampled lawn,
and broken shrubbery testified of wanton outrage.

Throwing himself from his horse, Don Luiz ran about the
ruins like a madman, alternately vowing vengeance upon the
perpetrators of the deed, and calling by name upon his father

_and sister.

Unable to console him, we remained silent but anxious
spectators of his anguish. Suddenly a thought seemed to
strike him, and turning he ran at full speed toward the bar-
racoons, which the guerillas had left unharmed. He burst

_open the nearest door and entered ; but in a moment re-

appeared, swinging his sombrero and calling us to him.

On entering the room, we found Don Luiz bending over
the form of a venerable-looking man, reclining upon a rude
couch, They were clasped in each other’s arms, and uniting
their tears and sobs. The person thus embraced was Don
Felix. Ina corner of the room lying in a povl of blood,
was Ramon, the overseer. He was still alive, but weak from
excessive loss of blood. :

“* Water, for the love of God, water !” he gasped, in scarcely
audible tones. Water was quickly brought in a calabash,
and the overseer drank freely. Its reviving effects were soon
apparent, He sat up, and pointed out his wounds, which were

 
 

“64 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

soon bandaged. The Don, though not able to sit up, was
apparently not severely injured, a bad gash upon the forehead
being the only serious wound.

“Thank God, your life is spared, dear father,” said Don
Luiz, as soon as the hurry of the occasion had somewhat
subsided. ‘‘ But where is my sister ?”

The parent groaned and covered his face with histhin hands.
As it was with the greatest difficulty he could speak at all,
he turned to Ramon, and motioned him to tell us of the
disaster that had so unexpectedly befallen them.

Ramon in a brief manner narrated the events of the day
previous as we have already described them, and continued :

“The guerillas left me bleeding and senseless upon the floor
of Donna Inezella’s chamber. I soon revived, and saw Don
Felix suspended by a lasso froma hook in the ceiling, With
much labour and difficulty I succeeded in severing the cord,
and he fell heavily to the floor, cutting that frightful gash
in his forehead. The bleeding therefrom, however, restored
the circulation in his veins, and he revived. Having bound
up our wounds as well as we could, we lay quietly upon the
floor, almost helpless, and fearing a return of the villains,
whom we heard carousing and plundering in other parts of
the hacienda. Finally they departed. We crawled into
the main hall. A crackling, snapping sound was heard, ac-
companied by a noise as of distant roaring. The building
was on fire! The flames spread rapidly, and we barely
reached the garden when the roof fell in with a crashing
sound, sending a cloud of sparks and cinders heavenward.
After repeated and wearisome efforts, we reached the shelter
of these baracoons.”

“ But my. sister, Inezella ? you say nothing of her,” in-
terrupted Don Lmiz, in accents of such sorrow as made my
heart ache.

“Alas, Don, we know silt of her fate,” said Ramon,
sadly. ‘She was in the chamber when I last saw her, but
when I revived she was nowhere to bé seen. In all proba-
bility, Captain Doblado carried her off with him.”

”

 
 

THE PURSUIT OF THE GUERILLAS. 65,

‘Captain Doblado! Milles tonitres,” shouted Don Luiz,
springing to his feet in‘an ungovernable passion, and seizing
Ramon by the shoulder. ‘‘ Did that outlaw perpetrate this
outrage? Speak !”

‘¢ Even he,” answered Ramon.

‘Great God !” groaned the Don, covering his face with his
hands. ‘Poor Inezella! What a fate !”

My friend seemed overpowered by the alarming intelli-
gence that his beloved sister was in the hands of this
unprineipled and reckless desperado. Suddenly starting up,
Luiz clutched the hilt of his sword convulsively, and
exclaimed—

*¢ Per omnes Dios! thou shalt be avenged, Inezella !”

He became apparently composed, spoke a few words of
comfort to his parent, and ordered two men to remain with
the wounded and look after their necessities. He then
addressed the overseer—

“Which way did these villains go ?”’

“Toward the river, whence they came.”

“ How long since ?”

“They left about five o’clock.”

‘* Diabolo, and it’s now ten! The guerillas have five hours’
start,” ejaculated Don Luiz; ‘but, as they are heavily
laden, and move slowly, I think we can overtake them
speedily.”

«“They carried away everything,” said Ramon.

‘“‘ How many were there ?? asked Luiz.

‘About fifty at first. I think they returned with a dozen
less, at least.”

“‘T shall at once pursue,” said the Don, turning to me.
‘¢ Will you aid me ?”

“Yes, Don Luiz, to the last drop of my blood,” I an-
swered.

““Caramba! I’m dying to have a shot at Doblado himself,”
ejaculated Haversham, “and I’d go a dozen leagues to get it,
too.”

“Let us proceed, then,” said'Don Luiz, as he bent over the

 
 

 

 

66° THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

prostrate form of his venerable parent and imprinted an
affectionate kiss upon his brow. ‘‘ We will restore you
Inezella, dearest father. Rest easy. Farewell.”

Don Luiz announced to the Llaneros his determination to
follow the guerillas. They received this information with
shouts of applause, and a twirling of lances that boded no
good to their enemies, should they be so fortunate as to
overtake them.

¢ Tot we’d got to journey’s end, mass’r Capt.,” said Okra,
with considerable surprise, as I bid him tighten my saddle-
girths and remount his horse.

“We are starting on another one, Okra,” I said. ‘‘ We
are going after Captain Doblado.”

“Hi! hi! Dubble-da-doo agin? What’s he bin an’ done
now ?”

‘He has burnt the hacienda and carried off Don Luiz’s
sister.”

“De debbel !” ejaculated Okra, his mouth expanding into
a grin, and exposing a magnificent array of ivory. “He
be bigger cuss dan I tot he was. Stole a woman! Faugh,
he’s wusser dan a brack nigga ! ”

Haversham and I could not suppress a laugh at Okra’s
ideas of Doblado’s character.

In a few moments the troop was mounted and on its way.
The numerous tracks leading toward the river were a
sufficient indication of the route pursued by Doblado, and
we dashed rapidly along in the pursuit.

After leaving the hacienda a league to the rear, the roads
forked. The road leading to the north-east was the one over
which we had passed early in the morning ; the other turned
of to the north-west. This latter was the one taken by the
guerillas.

‘¢ How far is it to the river?” asked Haversham.

‘Half a league to the ferry,” replied Don Luiz.

We again relapsed into silence. .

The sparkling waters of the river soon: flashed ‘pete our
sight. We approached the bank.

 

 
 

THE FERRY-BOAT GONE! ~ aeey

The ferry-boat was gone !

We looked at each other in surprise and perplexity.

“‘Caramba !” ejaculated Don Luiz.

‘Gunning devils,” said Haversham. ‘‘They have used
the ferry-boat, and then properly sunk it.”

Don Luiz was lost in thought, and doubting what to do.

‘Plunge in and swim the horses across,” suggested
Haversham.

“Have you forgotten the last time we tried that experi-
ment, and the result of it?” said I.

“Rather think not,” Jaughed Haversham. ‘I was too
badly scared to forget it so soon ; but Mr. Cayman couldn’t
eat but a few of us this time, and we must cross, you know.’

“* Suppose you were one of the few?” said I.

“‘T’ll stand my chance with the rest,” replied Haversham,
jocutarly. ‘I don’t think my danger is imminent, for ‘the
man that was born to be hanged ’—you know the adage.”

‘*Shall we swim across?” I asked Don Luiz.

“‘Swim across!” he answered, with an exclamation of
surprise. ‘ Santa Maria, it would be certain death to half
of us at least. The river is a quarter of a league wide, and
swarms with crocodiles.” :

*¢ What then can we do ?”

“* Go to the ferry above,” was the answer.

‘¢ How far is it?”

“* Half a league.”

“¢ Three miles in all out of our way,” said I.

‘¢ And an hour’s time lost,” remarked Haversham.

“* There is no help for it,” said Don Luiz.

We turned our faces westward, and galloped on in silence.

We reached the ranche of the canvero, or ferryman, and to
our joy found his boat in good condition. It was only an
uncouth, flat-bottomed ‘scow, propelled by paddles, vigcr-
ously les by himself ‘and a pair of ha ulf-grown sons, It

‘required considerable time and several trips to take our

party to the opposite side. However, by exercising patience,
and encouraging the canoeroes by the sight of a handful of

£ 3

 
68 | THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

glittering reals, and stimulating them with copious draughts
of aguardiente, we accomplished the transit in safety.
Several ferocious-looking caymen, who watched our move-
ments with a hungry look and an ominous snapping of
sharp teeth from the wake of the boat, did not escape
our notice ; and I involuntarily felt thankful that we had
not been so foolhardy as to attempt a passage by swimming.
We soon regained the road we had left, and our horses,
‘somewhat refreshed by the delay in crossing, were pushed on
rapidly.

It was now noon. There was little wind stirring, and
the air became very hot and oppressive. The guerillas,
doubtless, not fearing any pursuit, had taken no pains to
conceal their route, which was easily discovered by the
multitudinous tracks left upon the road by their horses.

A league from the river, the surface of the country became
uneven, and increased rapidly in roughness as we approached
the mountain range that now loomed up in the distance.

“What’s that?” ejaculated Haversham, reining in his
horse.

A broken junk-bottle lay in the road.

“ Santissima !’”? joyfully cried Don Luiz. “The villains
are not far ahead.”

‘‘ How do you know that ?” asked I.

“They probably dropped that bottle, which broke as it
fell, and they did not stop to pick it up,” replied the Don.

‘Well, suppose they did—it may have been hours ago,”
said I.

* No, that cannot be.”

“Why not ?”

“Tf much time had elapsed, the sun would have dried up
the contents of the bottle, but the earth is even yet moist
around it.” :

I admired the shrewdness of the Don’s reasoning and
admitted its cogency. Again we spurred on our beasts, full
of hope, dashing along the road, which now wound round
he foot of the mountain range.

 
THE TRAIL LOST AND* REGAINED, 69

‘¢ Whar am de tracks, mass’r Capt. ?” asked Okra.

There were no longer any tracks upon the road before us.
We had not cared to watch the ground closely, and had not
noticed that the track of hoofs had ceased to be visible.

“San Juan! we've lost the trail,” exclaimed Don Luiz,
with a look of perplexity. ‘“‘ We must turn back and find it.”

The troop which had halted, now began to retrace their
steps, examining carefully to discover the point where the
trail had been lost. Finally, at a point where a broad,
shallow stream, flowing rapidly over a smooth, pebbly
bottom, emerged from a ravine and crossed the road, we
obtained the desired information. The trail coming up the
road from the Oronoco, was lost upon the left bank of this.

**El Diabolo!” said Don Luiz, ‘‘the scoundrels have
taken to the water.”

“Gone up this ravine?” I asked.

** Yes, or down the stream,” said Haversham.

‘* More likely up-stream,” said Don Luiz.

‘“Why so?” asked Haversham.

‘* Well,” replied the Don, ‘‘in the first place, to follow the
stream south would simply be to return toward the Oronoco,
whence we came; and secondly, the ravine leads into the
mountains where they would be more secure in their retreat,
and so I think they have gone up this stream.”

“ Well, we'll soon see,” cried Haversham, dashing boldly
into the stream. The water, which rose only to the horses’
knees, was clear and cold, and the bottom of the stream was
quite smooth,‘so that the change from the hot, dusty road
was delightful, especially as a refreshing breeze blew softly
down the ravine.

Steep rocks covered with vines and running creepers arose
like walls on both sides. After proceeding a few rods the
stream tumed from its onward course, and wound abruptly
around a rocky ledge. We had scarcely passed this ledge of
rocks, when we discovered a smooth bridle-path, which left
the right bank of the stream, and extended by easy ascent
up a ravine, running at right angles with the stream.

 
 

70 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

The path was of sufficient width to permit two horsemen
to ride abreast, and had the appearance of being much
travel-worn,

The body of a dead horse lay at the water’s edge. It had
been shot, and the blood curdling in little pools, and the
carease scarcely yet cold, told of recent death. The bridle
and saddle were still upon the beast.

We were now evidently approaching the rendezvous of the
outlaws, and caution was necessary.

We halted for consultation.

Mh CHAPTER VII.
1 THE MOUNTAIN FASTNESS.

Hark! the horn of combat calls —
Ere the golden evening falls, :
May we pledge that horn in triumph round !
Many a heart that now beats high,
In slumber cold at night shall lie,
Nor waken even at victory’s sound. —Moorz.

He loves—but knows not whom he loves,
Nor what her race, nor whence she came ;
Like one who meets in Indian groves,
Some beauteous bird without a name,
Brought by the last ambrosial breeze,
From isles in the undiscovered seas. —Isip.

WE sat upon our horses in the middle of the stream.

There was a look of deep anxiety and disquietude upon the
countenance of Don Luiz. Haversham had drawn from his
case a cigar, and was pufling incessantly, as if to induce
thought. As I cast my eyes up the ascending bridle path,
and viewed the surroundings, I became satisfied that we had
a difficult task before us.

A dozen men, warned of our approach, and properly sta-
tioned, could defy successfully a regiment of soldiers. There-
fore, there was need of excessive caution in any further ad-
vances we might make. Haversham seemed to have arrived
at the same conclusion, for he removed his cigar from his
mouth, emitted a cloud of light-blue smoke, and turning to-
ward us spoke :—_

oe

 
Lr

See!

RECONNOITRING THE ENEMY’S POSITION. a

“¢ A confounded tough place that to storm, if the rascals
make any attempt at defence.”

“We can never ascend that path by mere physical piste
against the will of the guerillas,” I replied.

“ Garamba! no, senor,” added Don Luiz; “ we must take
them by surprise, if we hope for success.”

In this decision we all agreed.

‘* Besides,” continued the Don, “‘if we cannot drive them
into close quarters, and cut off their retreat, they will assur-
edly carry off Inezella with them when they fly. Moreover,
we are ignorant of their strength. They may outnumber us _
greatly for aught we know, as they are now within reach of
reinforcements, doubtless.” iors

“‘ Why not send forward scouts to examine the path?” I
suggested. 3

“A good idea,” said Haversham ; ‘I'll go for one.”

“Caramba! no, indeed,” interrupted Don Luiz, “ we
can’t spare you; but I -have two men whom I will send.
They are used to such business, and I would match them for
cunning against all the devils in the mountains.”

He called out from the ranks two Llaneros, who were the
very antipodés of each other in their outward appearance.
Pedro was a tall, stout fellow, with light hair, heavy features,
and of powerful strength. Nuna was short and spare, but
very active and wiry, with black hair and eyes, and appar-
ently a very shrewd little fellow.

“¢You will leave your lances, carbines, and horses behind,”
said Don Luiz, addressing them, “‘ taking with you only your
knives.”

“*Si, senor captain,” replied the men, respectfully.

‘You will ascend that path, and ascertain whither it leads,
and whether there be any guerillas near us. Exercise the
utmost caution, and in no case permit the enemy to discover
you. We will await your return.”

The scouts at once commenced the ascent. They moved
slowly, Numa in the advance, keeping a keen look-out for any-
thing suspicious. They were soon lost from our view. No

 
 

72 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

signs of the enemy were discovered. A few horse-tracks only
were seen, which was not to be wondered at, as the path was
over a stony foundation. After proceeding a short distance,
the path grew more level, and finally terminated upon a broad
piece of table-land.

As the scouts emerged carefully upon this plateau, the
distant neigh of a horse struck upon their ears. They halted,
and exchanged looks of satisfaction.

*¢ Did you hear that ?” whispered Nuna.

“* Yes, it was a horse,” replied Pedro ; “but a great way off.”

“¢ Peste, no ; it is near by.”

Tt was too faint to be near.”

“‘No. These rocks broke the force of the sound,” said
Nuna.

“Then we must go slowly for awhile.”

Sitting down upon the rock they conversed awhile in low
whispers, when at length Nuna began to crawl upon all fours
toward a rocky ledge that abutted upon the plateau. Reach-
ing this, he was followed by Pedro. By means of shrubs and
vines they slowly clambered upward.

_ This ledge was crowned with a thicket of thorny mimosas,
_ through which the two men made their way with great diffi-
| culty, frequently being obliged to cut away and remove en-
_ tire shrubs with their knives to facilitate their progress.
_ Suddenly, Nuna, who was in the advance, gave a sign of
| warning to Pedro, and they both knelt upon the ground.

| Nuna placed his ear upon the surface of the rock, and re-
_ mained in that position for several minutes. He then began
_ to creep forward again with much caution, Pedro remaining
| stationary. A few rods were traversed in this manner, when
_ he again dropped down, and began to work his way backward.

Santos,” he whispered, the devils are just ahead of us!”
“How many ?”

“ Fifty or more.”

‘¢ What are they doing ?”

‘A little of everything, I guess,” was the reply. ‘It’s a
_ mighty promiscuous sort of a crowd.”
THE RETURN OF THE SCOUTS. %3

Aiter a few moments of hurried consultation, the scouts
crept forward to obtain a better view. Beyond the rocky
ledge upon which the scouts were concealed, was a broad
ravine, through which ran a small streamlet. The mouth of
this ravine opened upon a part of the plateau which Nuna
and Pedro had just left previous to climbing up the ledge.
Along the bottom of this ravine were the brigands.

Their horses were picketed near by, while the guerillas
were reclining in various postures, resting themselves from
the fatigues of the expedition. Some were gathered in
groups playing cards, others were lunching on tasajo and
arepas, while others were getting boisterous over their
aguardiente. They evidently had no fears of pursuit or
surprise, as no indications of sentinels were seen, and their
carbines were stacked near the stream.

On the opposite side of the creek, beneath the shadow of
a mimosa bush, were seated three persons—Inezella De
Montessa, Zala her maid, and the guerilla chief. The
captain was evidently making some proposition to Inezella,
which she repelled with scorn, weeping all the time. Zala
was sitting close by her mistress and holding one of her
hands, encouraging her in her refusals.

Captain Doblado rose to his feet, and shaking his clenched
fist at the females, was about to depart.

“* Per Dios !” whispered Pedro, ‘‘ I’d give my horse to have
a crack at that scoundrel yonder, threatening the senorita.”

“Or one thrust of my knife,” added Nuna.

After afew moments’ longer delay the scouts began to
feel their way back, which they accomplished without
discovery.

** Bl Demonios,” whispered Don Luiz, rising in his stirrups,
as the scouts detailed their information ; “‘and Inezella is
there?”

“There were two females, senor,” replied Nuna.

“The elder one with dark hair and eyes ?” hurriedly asked.
the Don.

‘° Si, senor.”

 
 

74 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

“ Gracios Dios! it is she beyond all doubt,” exclaimed
Don Luiz.

‘*By St. George! you’re a trump,” said Haversham,
delighted, as he gave Nunaathump on the shoulder, ‘if
you are a little fellow.”

‘Si, senor,” replied Nuna, as he winced beneath the
heavy hand of Haversham, well pleased at the compliment,
though he but half understood its import.

We now made preparations to attack the camp of the
guerillas. Deeming it good policy to leave our horses behind,
as they would be comparatively useless, and as a single neigh
from them would suffice to alarm the enemy, the entire troop
dismounted, and the animals were left in charge of half-a-
dozen Llaneros.

The rest of us slowly began the ascent, Nuna acting as
guide. Arriving upon the edge of the plateau, we again
came to a halt. Twenvy men, under lead of Pedro and
Nuna, were ordered to ascend the ledge and conceal them-
selves among the mimosa bushes. Upon hearing a carbine
discharged, they were to fire a volley into the ravine and
assault the guerillas upon the flank. Mvcanwhile, the rest of

the party were to advance along the plateau toward the |

mouth of the ravine, and make a simultaneous attack upon
the enemy’s front. We hoped by these means to surprise
and overwhelm the robbers without much difficulty. Pedro
and Nuna were, moreover, directed to push forward vigor-
ously after the first volley, and prevent the carrying off of
the females, should it be attempted.

At this important juncture of affairs occurred an unlucky
accident that, as the sequel will show, was peculiarly unfor-
funate. The last of the Llaneros under Pedro had nearly
reached the top of the ledge, and our party was just on the
eve of advancing to the assault, when the Llanero missed his
hold upon a shrub, and rolled backward down upon the pla-
teau, his carbine striking against a rock and being discharged.
The report reverberated loudly from rock to rock, and reached
the guerillas.

och
   

  

UVC Avia aauldy

 

main troop In person.

In a moment we were under way, and dashed toward the
mouth of the ravine, trusting to Pedro to do his part to the
best of his ability. On reaching the opening of the quebrado
another surprise awaited us. A barricade of rocks and trees,
which had escaped the notice of the scouts, extended across
the ravine, and prevented our further advance.

The report of the Llanero’s carbine had given warning to
the robbers of danger at hand, and although not fully pre-
pared for so vigorous an attack, they nevertheless offered
stout resistance at this point. A score of carbines were dis-
charged at us as we emerged from the plateau and came in
full view of the barricade. Twice that number replied from
our side, and a dense cloud of smoke so filled the ravine, as
to conceal both parties for a few moments. Several of our
party fell, either killed or wounded.

“«'There is no barricade where the stream flows through,”
shouted Haversham, swinging his sword and drawing a pistol
from his belt.

“That is our point, Don Luiz,” I exclaimed, excitedly,

for my blood was now up, and I felt ready for anything.

“Follow me, Llaneros,” cried the Don, as he plunged into
the stream, the waters of which were about two fect deep,
and ran with a strong current.

As the smoke lifted, threescore men were wading up the
stream, loading and firing as they advanced. The guerillas
gave us another volley, and rushed towards the edges of the
stream to dispute our passage. The opening in the barricade,
toward which both parties were tending, was about six yards
in width.

The next instant we were engaged in a hand-to-hand en-
counter in the middle of the stream, the swift current carry-
ing away and dashing against the survivors the bodies of the
dead and woundde: My eye was searching for the tall form
of Captain Doblado. He was not to be seen. The leader of

  

 

  
 

   
 

  

y 3
kept up the most appalling yellmg Iever neara.
the lungs of a Stentor, and uttered a profusion of oaths that
would have made a sea-pirate blush for very shame.

‘What a devilish howling that brute keeps up,” said
Haversham. ‘The villain actually makes me nervous.”

“Shoot him,” said 1.

“‘May I always be on half-rations, if I haven’t fired at
him three times already,” growled Haversham.

*¢Can’t you spot him ?” I asked.

“No! blow me; I think I’ve got a bead on him, when he
utters one of those infernal yells, and so disarranges my
nerves, that I invariably miss the whelp.”

“Pll try him one shot,” said I, as I took deliberate
aim at the villain’s bushy head.

“ He’s squat dis time, swre, mass’r Capt.,” chuckled Okra,
who was at my side all the time.

Sure enough the red-headed scoundrel had disappeared.

“* Laus Deo!” screamed Haversham with delight. ‘‘ Now
we can fight like Christians since that devilisu yelling has
ceased.” ;

Just then a sharp firing was heard from the ledge ; with
a shout, Pedro and his men attacked the guerillas upon the
left flank ; they gave us a parting volley, and scattered in
various directions, taking shelter behind rocks and trees
upon the sides of the ravine, and keeping up a desultory
firing.

A junction of our two parties was nowmade. We had not
yet discovered the females ; nor, indeed, had we seen Captain
Doblado.

From the chief’s absence from the fight, I at once inferred

_ that our plans for the recovery of Inezella and her maid had
miscarried.

“Where is my sister?” asked Don Luiz, rushing up to ;

Pedro.
“¢T cannot say, senor.”

 

&
MY LIFE SAVED BY THE LOCKET.

“¢ Haven’t you seen her ?”

“There were no females in sight when we reached the
brow of yon ledge,” replied Pedro.

“¢ Madre de Dios !” exclaimed Don Luiz ; “‘ can that villain
have escaped with her? Is all this blood spent for nothing ?”

‘‘Not so,” said I. ‘* Those scoundrels are not concentrat-
ing over there without an object.”

“‘T wager my life,” said Haversham, ‘‘that Doblado is
somewhere on yon hillside yet, where the ruflians are
gathering.”

‘‘There is an opening in the rocks like a cave,” said Pedro.

“Caramba, yes,” said Luiz, ‘and a villain has just
entered.” ‘

‘That is their stronghold, and there we shall find the
females,” added Haversham.

‘¢ Then we must take it,” said Don Luiz.

*°’Twon’t take long to do that,” continued Haversham,
“for your Llaneros fight magnificently. By Jove! with
ten thousand such fellows, I could march from Calais to
Marseilles and back again.”

The guerillas kept up a constant scattering fire upon us all
this time, and it was proposed that we should withdraw
behind a clump of trees until further measures were decided
upon. From this point we replied occasionaly to the fire
of the guerillas, which was not severe but very annoying.
Don Luiz, Haversham, and myself withdrew a little way
from the troop, and held a short consultation. I was leaning
against the trunk of a small alcornoque tree, with my som-
brero in my hand. I felt a quick, sharp blow, a heavy cloud
of darkness seemed to cast its shadow over me, and I sunk
unconscious upon the ground.

A stray ball from a guerilla’s carbine had struck my left
breast. When I recovered my senses, 1 was lying upon the
ground, my head supported by Don Luiz, who was bathing
my temples with cold water from the stream, while Haver-
sham was kneeling at my side fanning me with his sombrero,
much agitated.

 
 

78 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

~ “Thank God ! he lives,” ejaculated the poor fellow, who
was nearly frantic over my misfortune, as I opened my eyes
and sighed.

_ ‘How exceedingly fortunate,” said Don Luiz, ‘that it so
happened. It is the hand of God.”

- I turned a bewildered look upon him, as I endeavoured to
comprehend his meaning, and said: ‘‘ Fortunate that I have
been wounded! It is not a mortal wound, is it?”

“No, no, thank God,” said Haversham, in joyful tones ‘
‘tyou are not hurt much, only stunned.”

“Tt saved your life though,” remarked Don Luiz.

‘What saved my life?’ I asked, sitting up, and regaining
my strength rapidly.

“This miniature, which, in searching for the wound, we
found in your breast-pocket,” said Don Luiz.

‘What say you?” I asked eagerly, as I felt the hot blood
mounting to my temples.

Don Luiz held up to view the diamond locket which I
prized so highly. I took it in my hand, but could not open
it, as the spring had been broken by the guerilla’s ball.

“JT trust the picture is not injured,” I said. Then turning
to Luiz, I continued —“ You can open it with your knife.”

“The portrait of your affianced, eh?’ asked the Don,
laughingly, as he proceeded to insert the edge of his blade
beneath the broken spring.

“Your supposition is wrong,” I answered. ‘‘She is not
my affianced, though I worship her—in fact, I have never
seen the original at all.”

The spring snapped, and the locket opened.

Madre de Dios!” exclaimed the Don, with a look of
utter bewilderment and surprise, as the opening case revealed
to his gaze the lovely features of the portrait. ‘‘ Where, in
the name of the blessed Virgin, did you get this? Speak,
speak quickly, senor.”

‘The story is too long to tell you now,” I replied, as the
crimson hue spread rapidly over my face. ‘Do you know
her ?”
A JOYFUL DISCOVERY. 79

“Know her? By all the saints in the calendar, I think
Waa”

“ Who is she?” I asked eagerly, my heart beating with
increased rapidity.

“¢ Santa Muria! don’t you know ?” replied the Don.

‘No, as I hope for heaven,” I replied.

“« Tt is the portrait of my sister !”

“ Tnezella ?” I ejaculated, trembling with emotion.

‘Si, senor, my sister Inezella.”

“Found at last, thank God!” I exclaimed, overwhelmed
with joy and surprise, as I sprung to my feet, forgetting my
weakness and everything else in the tumultuous whirl of
emotions that swept over my brain at this happy discovery. |
“‘ As you value my friendship, Luiz, don’t mock me with
false hopes.” :

“Mock you, Ellesmere, heaven forbid! Dearest sister,”
continued the Don, pressing his lips again and again upon
the precious lockct, as if he would devour it in the excess of
joy which its recovery enkindled. Suddenly he paused, and
his brow grew somewhat darker and sad as he turned and
addressed me in slow and deliberate tones, that evinced much
and deep feeling— 2

“You said, Edward Ellesmere, that you worshipped this
lady, who proves to be my sister. You have-never seen her,
but I trust you soon may have the opportunity. If your
love for her proves a pure and holy affection, I have nought
to say ; but beware, senor, for if you trifle with her, heaven
help you!” He paused, and then, as if repenting of his
harsh tone, he grasped my hand warmly and said : ‘‘ Forgive
mae, Ellesmere ; I spoke harshly. I can trust everything to
your honour. Let it pass.’ :

“Tf it please you, senor captain,” said Pedro, advancing,
sombrero in hand, ‘‘the guerillas are getting bolder by
our delay, and have just wounded Nuna and killed another
man.”

“ Par Diaz!” exclaimed Luiz, ‘we are indeed wasting
time. Keep the locket now, Ellesmere, and we will hear the

 
 

80 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

story again. Let us at once to business, which your fall in-
terrupted. What course shall we pursue ?”

‘¢ The villains won’t stand a vigorous charge,” said Haver-
sham, who was always in favour of blows rather than
strategy. ‘‘ They are badly frightened already, and a bold
dash would put them to flight instanter.”

“But that is just what we don’t want,” said Don Luiz.
“¢ Wor then they will carry off my sister with them.”

“Our plan must save her, or it’s not worth trying,” I said,
energetically. ‘‘ We must have her, if we cut the windpipe
of every loon on the hillside yonder.”

“ What is your plan?” asked the Don.

“¢ Well,” replied I, ‘‘T think Haversham’s plan a good one,
provided we follow the villains closely. They can’t run and
carry off two females expeditiously enough to prevent our
overtaking them; so I favour Haversham’s plan.”

“Perhaps you are right. At all events,” said the Don,
‘*any more delay here gives them time to prepare for defence,
and to recover their lost wits. Besides, I think we shall
find the females in yonder cave, near the group of trees.”

A broken ledge of rocks, and two clumps of small trees
near the foot of the opposite ascent, offered three secure
resting-places, when once reached, from which we could meet
the foe on more equal terms. After a short consultation, we
divided the troop into three companies, commanded respec-
tively by Don Luiz, Haversham, and myself. A level piece
of land lay between us and the opposite hill. While crossing
this plain we would be exposed to the fire of our foes, but,
once over, the trees and rocks afforded a shelter; as we
agreed to pause there for a few moments to regain breath
before endeavouring to ascend the hill.

At a given signal we all pushed forward, scattering as much
as possible to avoid danger, and again concentrating as we
approached the opposite side of the plain. Not expecting us,
we were half way across the level space before anything like
a well-directed fire was received. The enemy were concealed
behind trees, rocks, and hillocks.

 
v

STORMING THE STRONGHOLD. 81

Our plan to rest in the shelter of the trees was completely
frustrated by the impetuosity of Haversham. No sooner
had he reached the spot where he was expected to halt, than,
overcome by the ardour of his nature, he waved his sword
and shouted to his party :—

“¢ Up the hill, my hearties, and at them !”

The brave Llaneros needed only the word, and springing
forward they dashed up the steep ascent. It was a rash
undertaking, but Don Luiz and I could not prevent it. In
fact, so electrical was the effect of this gallant conduct upon
our respective commands, that we were swept along with the
men like straws upon the whirling current of a rushing ©
stream.

In an instant the guerillas and Llaneros were engaged in a
fierce and close encounter. Few carbines were fired. Knives
glistened in the sunlight, and pistol-shots rung out clearly on
the air. Powerful men grasped each other, and with arms
intertwined, rolled down the hillside into the ravine below,
where such as had any strength left, exhausted themselves in
further efforts to destroy their adversaries. Some too ex-
cited to reload, dashed out the brains of others with their
clubbed carbines, and blood flowed like water.

Nothing could withstand the vigorous assault of our men.
They swept away their opponents like chaff before the wind.
Those guerillas who escaped unhurt turned to fly, but their
pursuers were close upon their heels, dealing out fatal blows.
We pushed as if by common consent toward the cavern. A
half-dozen bandits were putting forth superhuman efforts to
roll a huge stone before the entrance, but abandoned their

attempt on our approach, and ran into the cave.

We dashed in after them, Haversham leading the way.
The sudden exit from bright sunlight into comparative dark-
ness was so blinding, that we were forced to come to a sudden.
halt. A few moments accustomed us to the change, and,
aided by a glimmering light that found entrance through a
long narrow crevice in the roof, we pushed slowly along.

The excavation could not properly be termed a cavern, but

 
 

82 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

was rather a long, narrow, crooked hall, or passage way,
lighted dimly by cracks in the roof. We traversed several
hundred yards in this manner, discovering no living thing,
although an occasional garment or canteen gave evidence of
previous occupation. As we turned a corner of rock, we saw
ai a distance a circle of light, which soon proved to be the
termination of the hall or passage way. Emerging from this
natural viaduct, we entered at once upon a well-beaten path,
leading along the side of a mountainous crag.

A short distance from the outlet of the cavern, we came
upon the dead body of a guerilla, lying in the middle of the
pathway. He had been stabbed to the heart, and the white
ivory handle of a dirk was still protruding from his waistcoat.
The moment Don Luiz saw the weapon, he sprung forward
and drew it from the wound, exclaiming fiercely—

“ Oaramba, this belongs to Inezella! My sister is near.”

A faint groan was heard from an adjoining thicket of
mimosas. In an instant several Llaneros darted into the
bushes, and drew forth a female form.

It was Zala, the waiting-maid of Inezella.

She was nearly insensible, and so utterly prostrated and
exhausted as to be unable to speak. There was blood upon
her face, proceeding from a slight scratch on the forehead.

 Suntissima Maria!” exclaimed the Don, bending over
her, “ where is your mistress ?” _

The poor mestizo, with a look of unutterable misery, shook
her head, and endeavoured to raise her hand. The effort was
futile, and her arm fell to her side.

‘Give her some aguardiente,” said Haversham.

His suggestion was followed. Her face also was bathed
with the liquor, and she revived and sat up. Again Don
Luiz inquired for her mistress. This time, after several
efforts, Zala succeeded in speaking faintly—

“ Gone yonder,” pointing along the path we were pursuing.

“ Alone?” continued the Don.

“CNo, senor; with the Captain Doblado,” whispered the

girl.

}

 

 
perce ealticireecen cena HR:

 

PERILOUS SITUATION OF INEZELLA. &3

“¢ How long since ?”
. * Fifteen minutes, perhaps.”

“‘How happened this?’ continued the Don, pointing to
the dead guerilla and Inezella’s dagger.

“He insulted us in the temporary absence of Doblado,
and Inezella killed him in self-defence.”

‘« By heavens,” shouted the Don, “we have nearly reached
them. On, men !”

Full of hope and encouragement, we dashed ahead.

Pedro, who was in advance of the rest of the party, sud-
denly halted, and threw up his sombrero with a shoub,

In an instant we were at his side.

et

CHAPTER VIII.
THE MOUNTAIN STRUGGLE.

Timon—Prithee! what success, my lord ?
Hen.—-Our success grows apace ; each hour but adds
To its accomplishment. Methinks I yet
Shall win the maiden, though ’twixt the present
And such result, be perils both of flood and sword.
Timon—Heaven grant thou may’st.
Hen.—The Fates have so decreed ; I feel it in
My very inmost soul. -—OLD Pray,

Tux cause of Pedro’s shout was apparent.

Before us lay a broad ravine, at the bottom of which
rushed a mountain torrent, between precipitous, rocky
banks. Across this stream extended the trunk of a large
tree, answering the purpose of a bridge. The stream was
here about thirty yards wide.

Crossing upon this temporary bridge, and three-quarters
of the way across, was Captain Doblado, bearing Inezella ia
his arms. Her dress had become entangled in some of the
branches, and the guerilla chieftain was endeavouring to tear
it loose, that he might proceed. A dozen carbines were in-
stantly levelled at him.

‘*Hold, men ! don’t fire !” exclaimed Don Luiz, inextreme
agitation. “‘ You will kill my sister, too.”
~ ‘‘ Let me give him a shot,” said Haversham ; ‘ll wager

 

 

 
 

84 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

my head that I can put a bullet through his brain, and never
harm your sister.”

** No, no, caramba, senor,” cried Don Luiz. ‘‘If you kill
hin, he will fall into the stream, and drag Inezella with him.”

So evident was this to the minds of all, that while the
Llaneros still covered the villain with their carbines, no one
dared to fire. The guerilla perceived the movements of our
party, but not hearing the conversation, was unaware of our
decision not to fire. Fearing instant death, he waved his
sombrero, and called out—

“T know you, Don Luiz De Montessa. You have me in
your power now, but if you harm me I will plunge your
sister into the stream below, where she cannot live a moment.
Will you listen to a proposition from me ?”

“Speak on, dog of a Spaniard,” answered the Don ; ‘‘ but
talk fast.”

The guerilla ground his teeth with rage at the epithet be-
stowed upon him, but suppressing his anger, he replied—

“Permit me to cross alone in safety, and ascend yon
mountain’s side, and I willleave your sister here unharmed.”

For a moment silence ensued, the desire for vengeance
upon the bandit and anxiety for Inezella’s safety each con-
tending for the mastery in Don Luiz’s bosom. The hesita-
tion was only momentary, however, for affection triumphed,
and he answered— ;

“<T accept your offer. Go now, but beware of the future.
I will pursue you to the world’s end, and visit upon your
foul head the vengeance your heaven-defying crimes deserve.”

The guerilla did not pause to reply, but abandoning Ine-
zella upon the bridge, where she supported herself by the
branches, he bounded like a chamois up the steep ascent be-
yond. Impulsively, several carbines were raised, but Don
Luiz exclaimed —

‘No firing ! The word of a Montessa is as good as a bond.
Let the villain go this time.”

Scarcely had the robber left the log before I sprung for-
ward to have the honour of aiding Inezella to return. I was
A MOMENT OF TERROR ! 85

half-way across the bridge when a cry of mingled terror and
surprise arose from the Llaneros upon the right bank of the
stream. I paused to learn the reason, and perceived my
friends pointing terror-stricken toward the opposite moun-
tain.

Turning my gaze in that direction, I beheld a scene that
froze the blood in my veins, and paralyzed all my nerves.
The reason of the bandit’s willingness to release Inezella was
now apparent. He hoped to save his own life and yet
destroy Inezella. Half way up the height, and beyond the
reach of the carbines, he had paused. Seizing the stout
branch of a fallen tree, which he used ag a lever, he had-suc-
ceeded in starting from its insecure resting-place an immense
rock weighing several tons.

The ponderous stone had already started from its bed, and
was descending directly toward the log-bridge !

With a yell of defiance, the guerilla watching its descent.
On it came with a crashing, roaring sound, like an Alpine
avalanche, gathering momentum as it proceeded. I stood
rooted to the spot, incapable of motion, holding my breath,
and expecting instant destruction, while poor Inezella pressed
a golden crucifix to her lips, and murmured an Ave Maria for
protection. —

The vast stone bounded like a ball from rock to rock, fill-
ing the air with flying splinters of tree and rock, as it swept
everything before it.

Will it strike the bridge?

One fiend in human form hopes it will ; while thr 2escore
brave hearts are invoking all the saints in the caleadar to
avert so dire a calamity. We are saved! The moving
body strikes a hillock and deviates from its course. We re-
joice too soon, for, reaching a worn channel that terminates
opposite the end of the bridge, the rock dashes along it, as
unerringly as a locomotive on the track.

‘*Gracios Dios! A terrific crash—a fearful scream from
our friends upon the bank—a cry of exultation from the
mountain’s side! Rock, bridge, Inezella, and myself are

 

 
 

85 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

precipitated with the rapidity of thought into the abyss of
whirling waters beneath.

I arose to the surface unharmed. A dark object swept by
me, but in the blinding spray I could recognise nothing. As
a drowning man grasps a straw, so I convulsively clutched at
this. It was the form of Inezella!

There was no time for congratulation. The wild waters
hurried us along. Although a strong man and a powerful
swimmer, and induéed to every exertion by the hope of
saving the life of her already dearer to me than life, all
efforts to breast the current were unavailing. The stream
dashed along with the velocity and force of a mill-race, and I
found I was exhausting my strength to no purpose.

A ledge of rocks jutted out into the rapids. I clutched it
with a desperate grasp. For a moment I steadied myself
and threw the form of Inezella over my shoulder. I could
dono more. A fierce serge of waters loosened my hold, and
we'again shot down the ravine. Directly ahead of us I saw
asmall tree growing out of the rocks at the water's edge.
We were swept by the seething, boiling current, against the
brancl.es of this tree, which were buried in the waters.

Bidding Inezella, who, though very weak and much
frightened, was still conscious of passing events, to cling
closelj: to me, I grasped a stout branch with both hands and
held firmly to it. My feet, which the force of the current
whirled around against the bank below, struck upon a slight
project.on, and gave me such powerful aid that I felt able to
retain ny position for some time.

Could our friends reach us in time ?

Not long were we subjected to doubt. A shout from the
top of the bank, which was precipitous and thirty feet
high, announced the arrival of help. I answered back with
a wild whoop which rose clear and shrill above the roar of
‘waters.

“My God, they’re here!” called out an excited voice,

which I instantly recognized as Havershamn’s.
‘Hold fast five minutes, and you’re saved,” he shouted.
RESCUED FROM DEATH BY OKRA. 87

“¢ Lose no time,” I answered, ‘‘ for my strength is failing.” ~

There was a hurried tramping of feet above us, and con-
fused voices, and then Haversham called out again—

“¢ Shall we lower you a lasso ?”

‘¢ Yes, aud hurry.”

In an instant a strong lasso, that ever-present convenience
of a Llanero, was dangling before my eyes. Releasing my
hoid with one hand, I endeavoured to slip the noose beneath
Inezella’s arms, but in vain. My strength was too far gone
to retain my position with one hand only, and I was com-
pelled to desist from all such attempts. I threw the lasso
from me, and again seized the branch.

‘* What's the matter?” cried Don Luiz.

“¢ T am too weak to fasten the lasso,” I replied.

There was a hurried consultation on the bank. The lasso
was drawn up. Again it descended. This time the welcome
form of Okra descended with it, the lasso firmly bound around
his waist.

‘“T’se a comin’, Mass’r Capt.,” said the generous fellow,
whose countenance still wore traces of receut tears, although
now wreathed with joyful smiles.

“ You.are a good fellow, Okra,” said I, ‘‘ and Pll reward
you for this.”

“ Don’t say nuffin, Mass’r Capt., not *nudder word,” in-
terposed the noble black, his eyes moist with tears of joy,
“* Y’se so glad to find ye ’gin—t’ank de Lov’, mass’r.”

“Take the lady gently in your arms, Okra,” said I, “and
they will draw you up.”

The powerful black raised her in his brawny arms as if she
were a child. Willing hands above drew them up rapidly ;
and a second trip deposited my exhausted frame upon the
smooth rocks above. A few drops of aguardiente revived us
both.

The sun, meantime, had sunk from sight in a bank of dark
clouds, and night was fast approaching. Darkness comes on
rapidly in the tropics, and it was necessary to decide quickly
upon what course to pursue.

 

 
 

88 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

“We cannot get out of these mountains before dark,” said
Don Luiz, ‘‘ and we cannot remain here.”

“¢ Suppose we return as far as the cave, at all events, and
then decide,” suggested Haversham.

‘* A good idea,” I rejoined, as I rose to my feet and en-
deavoured to steady myself, “I can easily walk that distance
if Haversham will give me the aid of his arm.”

‘We must carry Inezella upon a litter,” remarked Haver-
sham. At the mention of her name, Inezella, who was re-
clining with her head resting on Don Luiz’s shoulder, said :

*¢T think, brother Luiz, that I can walk.”

She essayed to arise, but found herself unequal to the task.

“Do not weary yourself by trying, dearest,” kindly inter-
posed the Don.

A rude litter of branches, over which were thrown a
poncho or two, was soon improvised, and Donna Inezella was
placed thereon. Two stout Llaneros lifted each end, while
Don Luiz walked by the side, conversing in low tones with
his sister.

Our return was much slower than the advance, and by the
time we reached the cave complete darkness so enveloped the
earth, that any further progress was out of the question.
We therefore halted, and began preparations for the night.

A huge fire was speedily kindled, near the rear entrance of
the cave, from the pieces of dry wood and faggots that

strewed the ground in great abundance. To our joy, we
found Zala in the cave, whither she had crawled after our
hurried departure. She was much recovered, and took an
active part in assisting her mistress. The night air grew so
chilly, that we feared lest the damp clothes of Inezella might
cause illness, she being of a delicate constitution. A small
fire was therefore kindled within a recess of the cavern,
under the personal supervision of Don Luiz himself. This,
together with a temporary curtain, consisting of several
ponchos, made quite a cozy little apartment, which was
devoted to Inezella and her maid. ‘The generous little
mestizo, moreover, insisted upon her mistress assuming her

 
 

WHALE VERSUS CROCODILE. 89

dry garments, she, in turn, with natural skill and ingenuity,
making for herself a tasty dress from a couple of ponchos,
until her mistress’s clothes should dry before the fire.

As for wyself, the immersion did me no harm, and the
blazing fire soon dried my garments. Under the direction of
Pedro, guards were stationed in proper positions, and the
rest of the company, after partaking of what little tasajo
and aguardiente remained in their possession, disposed them-
selves in various comfortable nooks.

Don Luiz, Haversham, and myself, wrapped ourselves in
our cloaks and sat down a little apart from the rest.

“ A very eventful day,” said Don Luiz.

‘¢ Stirring times,” said Haversham, in reply, as he handed
us each a cigar, and continued : ‘‘ How did you enjoy in-
voluntary baptism to-day, Ellesmere ?”

‘Not so badly scared as if there had been crocodiles in the
stream,” I retorted.

Haversham took the joke, and indulged in a hearty laugh
over the remembrance of his own adventure in the Oronoco.

“Yes, yes, Ellesmere,” interrupted the Don. ‘ Tell us
about the locket, now, for ’m dying to hear how you ob-
tained it.”

“Oh, I got it from our mutual friend, Doblado,” I replied.

**From Doblado?” asked Don Luiz, in surprise. ‘‘ Why
how, in the devil’s name, did it come into his hands ?”

*“Caramba! that I can’t pretend to explain,” said I,
smiling.

“Well, then, tell us how you got it.”

‘*T won it from him at a game of rouge-et-noir, when at
Angostura. . We had a duel, you remember,” said I.

“And a mighty queer duel it was too,” chimed in Haver-
sham. ‘‘ One might better call it a general engagement, or a
regular campaign for that matter. Instead of Ellesmere and
the captain doing up their own fighting, as, being good
Christians, they were bound to do, they lugged your humble
servant and some twenty others into the affair—a big
crocodile included—and a right handsome little scrimage it

 
 

$0 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

was too—barring always the part that abominable water
varmint took in it; for you see, Don, the heathen critter,
with no more manners than a Chinese, stuck his nose into
business that no way concerned him.”

“¢Tmpolite, wasn’t it ?” laughed the Don.

“Rather think it was,” added Haversham. ‘‘ And the
beast up and swallowed a horse that cost me twenty pounds,
just as easily as Jonah took in the whale.”

“¥ou mean as the whale swallowed Jonah—not Jonah
the whale,” said 1, with a hearty laugh.

“Well, perhaps yow’re correct,” replied Haversham,
scratching his head; “Tm not quite so familiar with
Scripture as I ought to be, but the comparison is just as good
anyway—only I wish the horse had swallowed the crocodile,
and then it wouldn’t have mattered a bit. The crocodile
wasn’t as honest though by half as the whale.”

“How do you make that out?” asked I. “TZ can’t see
any honesty or dishonesty involved in either case.”

«Well, I can,” replied Haversham. ‘‘ The whale was an
honest fish, but the crocodile was a dishonest varmin.”

“¢ How does it appear ?”

“Now, look here, Ned,” answered Haversham, with a
broad grin ; “if you are good at Scripture, you are dull at
seeing a clear point anyhow. You see that Jonah swallowed
—no, I mean the whale swallowed Jonah, but the very
minute he was convinced he had swallowed the wrong man
he threw him up again, so that he could return to his wife
and children; but this pesky crocodile don’t return the horse.”

“I give it up,” I said, as we all three burst into a loud
laugh over Haversham’s logic.

After our merriment had somewhat subsided, I asked
Jamia

_“ Was Doblado intimately acquainted with your family ?”

“< Somewhat so,” replied Don Luiz. ‘‘ Perhaps I may as
well tell you briefly how it came about, and why the villain
entertains such bitter hatred toward all our family.”

“Do so,” said both Haversham and myself.

 
 

DON LUIZ’S STORY. 91

Cac. ti Bly ke:
THE DON’S STORY.
I tell it as ’twas told told to me—
A plain, unvarnished tale.” —ADDISON.

Dow Luiz stretched his limbs, drew his mantle closer
around him, and began :—

“Two years nearly have now elapsed since I first met
Captain Doblado. I was at Maracaibo, awaiting the arrival
of the steamer from New Orleans, by which we expected my
sister Inezella. She had been spending a year in that city
at a young ladies’ seminary, perfecting herself in the various
accomplishments of refined society. At the same hotel with
me was the captain, then simply Senor Doblado, who repre-
sented himself as the travelling agent of a London firm, for
whom he was empowered to purchase large quantities of
sugar and tobacco.

“ Being at a loss for something to do to while away the
time, and the captain having apparently considerable leisure,
we quite naturally struck up an acquaintance. We played
monte, drank champagne occasionally, and enjoyed ourselves
amazingly. The man was very polite in manner, agreeable
in conversation, and winning in his ways. Moreover, he
negotiated with my father, through me, for several hundred
hogheads of tobacco, to be delivered at Angostura.

‘““T extended to him an invitation to return with my sister

‘and myself to our estate, which offer he accepted, as I had

afterward reason to remember, with apparently great satis-
faction, although at the time I not notice it.

“The steamer soon arrived with Inezella. Much to
my surprise, I then learned that the captain had met my
sister in New Orleans, and had already a slight acquaintance
with her. They had met at a soirée given by the Spanish
Consul, and the captain had called upon her soon afterward,
apparently much pleased with her.

“ She, however, took a dislike to him from the beginning
and avoided his society whenever she could do so.

 
 

92 _ THE ORONOCO CHIEF,

“‘ He had suddenly disappeared, and she had heard no-
thing of him until she arrived at Maracaibo, on her way
home.

“Upon learning these facts, I regretted that an invitation
had been given him to accompany us home ; but it was too
late to retract without offending the captain, and, as he was
likely to prove a good customer for the products of our es-
tate, and supposing that Inezella’s dislike was only a whim of
the moment, I decided to drop the subject for the present,
trusting to the future to right matters. The sequel proved,
however, that Inezella was a better judge of the man than
myself. j

‘‘The captain remained a fortnight at the hacienda, en-
joying our hospitality, until the tobacco was properly packed.
and ready for shipment down the river to Angostura. Ine-
zella’s dislike to him seemed to increase daily, and in the
direct ratio of the pointedness of the captain’s attentions,
until I concluded to speak to our visitor upon the subject,
unless an early departure rendered such a course unnecessary.

‘One afternoon, on my return to the house from a trip to
a distant part of the plantation, I found my sister in tears.
After urgent and repeated inquiries, I ascertained that
Captain Doblado had actually had the impudence to offer
himself to her, and had only left the room after repeated
refusals on her part to listen to his proposals, and threats to
call her maid, unless he withdrew from her presence.

‘¢My anger knew no bounds. . This was the return the
ungrateful scoundrel was making for all my kindness and
hospitality toward him. I was proceeding with rapid strides

his apartment, determined to eject him summarily from
the house, when I overheard loud words upon the piazza.
I stopped to listen, and recognised the voices of Don Felix

and Captain Doblado in violent altercation. I stepped out’

on the portico. The captain’s hand was clenched and raised
as if about to strike my father. Before he was fairly aware
of my presence, I gave the villain a powerful blow upon the
side of the head, beneath which he reeled and staggered,

AM
nats

DOBLADO DUCKED IN A HORSEPOND. 93

‘“‘We immediately closed, but the captain was more
than my equal in physical strength, and I was likely to be
overcome in the struggle, as Don Felix, just recovering from
an attack of illness, was unable to assist me. The scoundrel
endeavoured to draw a dirk from his bosom, to prevent
which it required all my efforts. Ramon, the overseer, who
was fortunately near at hand, heard the noise of the scuffle,
and ran to my aid. We soon had the captain secured and
his wrists bound with a thong. I was in doubt what to do
with the miscreant, but finally decided. I ordered the
entire population of the estate to be assembled, and stated
the ungrateful conduct of the captain. I told them how he
had wormed himself into my confidence, had abused it, had
insulted my sister, threatened Don Felix, and even endea-
voured to take my life. I informed them that I intended to
punish the criminal, not by taking his life, though in such a
course I might be justified ; but by disgracing him in the
eyes of all present. I then ordered three stout blacks to seize
the captain and carry him to the adjacent horsepond and
give him a thorough ducking. This the servants did with a
hearty good-will, amid the jeers and hootings of the entire
plantation. The captain swore furiously, and raved like a
madman, vowing all kinds of fearful vengeance; but in
vain.

‘¢ After the miserable wretch was half drowned, I ordered
whips to be given to some twenty of the servants, and bid
them drive the culprit from the place, first giving him some
good advice, and a warning not to be caught in our neighbour-
hood again. The dog of a Spaniard at first rebelled, and
actually showed fight, but a powerful darkey, grasping him by
the collar, gave him such a good shaking, that he begged for
quarter. Upon being released, he bounded off across the
lawn like an affrighted deer, pursued by the servants, who
plied their lashes most vigorously and successfully, as the
continued howls of pain uttered by the wretch fully testified.

‘The tobacco had not been shipped, luckily for us, as we
soon after learned that the captain was a swindler, and was

 
 

94 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

in reality purchasing on his own account, and payiug there-
for in forged bills of exchange on London.

“The next time I heard of Doblado, he was a captain in
the patriot army at Puerto Cabello, which he doubtless joined
for purposes of plunder and revenge. .He soon after
quarrelled with a fellow-soldier, shot him in a duel, and was
dismissed the service. He now holds a captain’s commission
in the Royalist army.”

“ As arrant a knave as walks unhung,” said Haversham,
as the Don concluded his narrative.

“ But how did he get this locket?” I asked.

‘¢ J think he must have stolen it from my apartment,” re-
plied the Don. ‘* The case was originally my mother’s, and
was manufactured in Florence. It was a present to her, when
a young girl from the Vicomte Sismondi, a friend of the
family. The portrait of Inezella was painted by an Italian
artist in New Orleans, and I prized it exceedingly. Soon
after the captain’s exit from the hacienda I missed it, but
never connected its logs with his departure, until I saw it to-
day in your possession, and learned that you obtained it from
him.”

There was a pause in the conversation. Haversham’s hard
breathing indicated that he had succumbed to the fatigues of
the day, and was fast asleep.

Don Luiz was the legitimate owner of the locket, and I de-
bated in my own mind whether I ought not to return it to
him at once. True, he had not asked for it, but that was no
proof that he did not expect it. I resolved, therefore, much
as I prized it, that the owner should have it, and I drew it
from my bosom. é

‘* Here, Don Luiz,” said I, handing it to him, ‘is your
locket; I take pleasure in restoring it to its original and
proper owner.”

Don Luiz gave me an earnest look as he replied : —

**No, Ellesmere, Vil not take it from you. I think you
have earned a claim to keep it. Besides you know it pre-
served your life, and on that account you ought to prize it.”
AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. 95

“T do not deny, Luiz, that it would confer great pleasure
upon me to retain the miniature, not only as a remembrancer
of my own providential preservation, but as a precious
memento of the friendship of yourself and Inezella,” I re-
plied.

Pen Keep Iv.

“On one condition only can I consent to do so,” was my
answer,

‘¢ What is that?” asked the Don.

‘That Donna Inezella gives her free and unreserved per-
mission for me to do so,” I continued.

‘* Keep it then. I will guarantee that,” said Don Luiz.

“Pardon me, my friend, I may appear a stickler for tech-
nicalities, but her own consent is necessary, which, of course,
you cannot give at present,” said I.

‘‘How know you that ?” asked the Don, quizzically.

“Why, you haven’t spoken to her at all yet on the
subject.”

“Yes, but I have Ellesmere, ” replied the Don.

‘When and where, pray tell ?

“Oh,” said Don Luiz, with some indifference, ‘as the
litter was borne hither, we conversed about you.”

‘* About me ?’ I asked, with no little gratification as well
as suspicion.

“Certainly, about you. Caramba why not?” said Luiz,
with a laugh.

‘I did not suppose she was cnough interested _n a com-
parative stranger,” I answered,

“* Pshaw, not think of the man who had just perilled his
own life to rescue her ? Who, in heayen’s name, would she

think of, if not of her preserver ?”

“¢ And she knows that I have this locket ?”
“Yes. I told her so myself ; and added that it had saved

your life lately, and that you prized it both on that account

and for her sake, too,” said the Don.
“Why, Don lait you didn’t repeat what I iid you to-
day ?” :

 
 

 

96 : THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

‘What did you tell me?” asked Luiz, with a smile.
*¢ Come, Ellesmere, what’s the matter ? I declare your face is
crimson already.”

“Oh, nothing,” I replied, striving to conceal my feelings.
“You know what I alluded to. On the impulse of the
moment, I said to-day that I loved your sister, Inezella.”

‘Do you wish now to retract that assertion ?” asked the
Don, his face growine gloomy a:d sid. “If it was only
the exclamation of ay°ssing thought—then, indeed, have I
committed a grievous error in informing Inezella of it ; but
I supposed you were in earnest, and meant what you said.”

“You misunderstand me, Luiz,” I replied, quickly and
with earnestness. ‘* I desire to retract nothing. On the con-
trary, I now repeat, deliberately, what I said hastily this
morning—that I love Inezella, I worship her.”

“You relieve my mind greatly,” said the Don.

‘* But you didn’t tell her that I said I loved her, did you ?”

* Yes, Ellesmere, I did,” replied the Don.

“May I ask you what she said ?” I eagerly inquired.

“Well,” answered the Don, with a yawn of drowsiness,
“she said, ‘Good soul, let him keep the locket, for he de-
serves it.’ ”

The Don gave another yawn, and manifested such unmis-
takeable indications of sleepiness, that I made no reply, but
drew my mantle closely around me.

A sensation of exquisite satisfaction and pleasure diffused
itself through my mind, as I thought of Inezella, dearer and
more precious now than ever, after the late perils undergone
in her behalf. Overcome with the fatigues of the past forty-
eight hours, my eyelids grew heavy, and the misty shadows
of dreamland darkened my weary brain, as I sunk into the
embrace of Morpheus. Bright visions of future joy flitted
before me, over all of which the ideal object of my love, the
fair-faced and dark-eyed Inezella cast radiant beams of in-
effable happiness. How long I slumbered I know not, but I
was awakened by the sound of approaching voices and the
trampling of many feet.

 
GASPAR GOMEZ AGAIN. 97

Don Luiz had arisen and was conversing apart with Pedro,
the lieutenant. Between the fire and myself were severai
Llaneros, and near them stood a large-framed, dark-visaged
man, dressed in a green jacket and buff-coloured breeches,
with high-topped boots, and wearing a slouched hat with a
black plume. He was unarmed, and apparently awaited
the termination of Pedro’s conversation with Don Luiz. He
was not of our troop, and I began to wonder who he was
and whence he came. My doubts were soon dissipated.
Don Luiz beckoned to him to approach. The stranger
complied with the order, and advanced toward us, hat in
hand.

‘‘You say you belong to the band of Captain Doblado,”
said the Don.

“‘T did, senor, belong to his band this morning, but am
no longer a member,” replied the stranger, in a firm voice.

“Your name ?”

** Gaspar Gomez.”

** From your dress, I might suppose you were an officer,”
continued Don Luiz.

*¢Si, senor, I was his lieutenant.”

“Ha! say’st thou so? Why did you leave him?”

‘¢He abused and maltreated me, senor. Besides, I am
an honest man, and have always opposed the captain’s cruel-
ties and robberies. I was formerly a sergeant in the army™
of Morillo. Six years since we sailed hither from Cadiz.
Lately, I was ordered to report to Captain Doblado and
assigned to a lieutenancy. I volunteered, senor, as a
Christian, to fight for King Ferdinand, and not to murder
defenceless women and children and sack haciendas.”

“You speak fair, my man, and your tongue is smooth,”
continued the Don, ‘‘but answer me one question ere we
go further.”

‘¢ Well, senor.”

‘Did you aid in sacking the hacienda of Don Felix de
Montessa ?”

‘‘No, senor. 1 opposed that expedition ; wherefore I. was
x

 
  

98 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.
thrown into a dungeon, whence your men, hearing my calls
for help, liberated me.”

“My lieutenant, Pedro, has informed me that you are
willing to aid us, in order that you may be revenged upon
Doblado ; is this true ?” asked the Don.

“Per Dios! I crave for his heart’s blood,” responded
Gaspar, with a fierce oath.

“Tis well. For had you participated in the ruin of my
father’s house, and still belonged to that accursed gang, I
should hang you in the twinkling of an eye.”

¢ And I should have deserved it,” was Gaspar’s response.

*¢ The fellow has an honest look and fair speech,” said the
Don, in a low voice, tome. ‘ Would you trust him ?”

“Yes,” I replied, ‘‘for he can aid us greatly if he is

honest ; and if he attempts to deceive us, why put a ball |

through his treacherous skull—that’s my advice. Trust him,
but watch Lim.”

“JT will try you, Gaspar Gomez, and if you serve us well
and truly, you shall be at liberty to return to the Royalist
army unharmed. But, mark my words, if you are playing
us false, and assume this tale to deceive, by all the saints in
the calendar, P11 cut your head from your body, and leave
you as food for the beasts.”

‘ Pedro! take charge of this man ; and, on the first indi-
eation of treachery, put a ball through him,” continued the
Don.

“Si, senor!” answered Pedro, stroking his moustache.
‘* May I stay in purgatory for ever, if I don’t do as you bid
me.”

Again the camp relapsed into silence, and naught was
heard save the heavy breathing of the weary sleepers, and
the regniax, distant tread of the sentinels,

 

 
   
   

a

4 wee

,

aT

a

4

  
WE COMMENCE OUR RETURN. 99

og CHAPTER X..
THE RETREAT AND THE FRUITS OF IT.
And.—Oh, they are villains, every pesky wretch—
_ Practised to stab and smile; to stab the babe
\ That smiles upon them.
\ _-Wal.— Food only for black _owder, my lord.
And.—Powder which, rightly applied, would blow them
Tothe devil—where they belong. —BROOKE.
< Tue grey streaks of early dawn found activity prevalent in-
the camp. The slowness of our advance, impeded as we were
¥ by the two females and several wounded Llaneros, would

consume several hours in reaching the foot of the mountains.

Our rations were consumed, and we must fast until our
horses were reached, which we had no doubt we should find
grazing upon the luxuriant herbage along the stream, under
the charge of the faithful Llaneros detailed for that purpose.

At the word of command the troop fell into column, the
females and wounded bringing up the rear. Don Luiz and
Haversham rode in the advance, while the former, who had
much regard for my inclination, suggested that I should re-
main with the ladies. This arrangement was very agreeable
to me, and I flattered myself that it was not particularly ob--
jectionable to Donna Inezella, whose heightened colour, as I
approached, revealed evident satisfaction.

In a voice of great tenderness and earnestness, she ex-
pressed to me the gratitude she felt for my interest in her
welfare, as proved by the events of the last few days. My
reply was checked by the report of a carbine some distance
in advance of us. Don Luiz came hurriedly to the rear, ex-
claiming, excitedly—

“There are guerillas near us. We must move with
caution.”

. “There can’t be many, I think,” said I, ‘‘ for we whipped
them badly yesterday.”

‘Tam by no means sure of that,” replied the Don, with
anxiety. ‘‘ Pedro declares he saw a large number of yellow

_ breeches among the rocks and trees a few moments ago.”
_ There was no longer any doubt on the subject. A volley

or Se ae a

=e

2 ~—.

- 2. ~~

 

 
100 : THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

of balls rattled around us, while banditti started up fron
behind trees, stumps, and rocks on both sides of the ravine.

“ Diabolo,” shouted Haversham, as he came bouncing up
tous. ‘‘ Where the devil did all these villains come from ?
There are at least two hundred of them, and as rantankerous
and saucy as musquetos down at Angostura.”

“We must fall back to the cave at once,” said the Don.
“Do you, Ellesmere, see to the ladies and wounded, while
the rest of us give these rascals a check.”

Under these directions we began a retrograde move-
ment, the Llaneros skirmishing constantly with the guerillas,
who, encouraged by our retreat, grew very bold. We were
outnumbered three to one, and fought strictly on the defen-
sive. At length the shelter was reached, and we breathed
easier. But we had little time or reason for relaxation.
The guerillas, with desperate daring, threatened to assault
usin this new position. To our great dismay, Pedro an-
nounced that our ammunition was beginning to get low, not
more than one or two hundred loads remaining in the entire
troop. Our situation now became really alarming, and our
capture or destruction seemed by no means impossible.

We could not hold this position any length of time
against the superior numbers of the enemy; and we knew
of no means of escape except through the ravine, now in
their possession. At this moment of our extremity, Gaspar
Gomez came forward, sombrero in hand, and said—

“Tf senor captain will listen to me, I can assist him.”

Don Luiz, with a look of satisfaction, which, however,
gradually changed into an incredulous smile, replied—

‘¢ How can you help us, pray tell ?”

‘¢ By showing you a way of escape, senor.”

“ Santa Maria, Gomez, lead us out of this infernal trap,
and you shall have not only your freedom, but one hundred
doubloons besides.”

‘‘T want no gold, senor ; only trust me.”

‘‘ Well, then, lead on; but no treachery, or, caramba,
you're a dead man.”

 
RETREATING FROM THE GUERILLAS, . fOr

Gaspar grinned, and continued—

“By pursuing the path in the rear of this place in a
southerly direction, we shall soon arrive at the stronghold of
these guerillas, which is less than a quarter of a leaguo
hence. There you can supply yourselves with ammunition
and pr visions, and make, if need be, a stout resistance.
The entire band is in our front now, and the way must be
clear.”

*¢ Will not the villains attack us on the route ?”

‘“Impossible. There are only two roads leading hence to
their stronghold. The one we pursue is short—the other
compasses two leagues, and they cannot scale the mountain
range that separates the two paths.”

After a short consultation, we decided to follow Gaspar’s
guidance and at once took up our journey, leaving half-a-
dozen Llaneros at the mouth of the cave to make such
demonstrations as might deceive the guerillas and conceal
our departure.

After leaving the cave, we took a direction opposite to
that pursued in reaching the log-bridge, and moved as rapidly
as the circumstances of the case permitted. The path
wound along the mountain’s side, gradually descending
until it reached the bottom of the valley, and then ascended
the opposite side.

We had just begun the ascent, when a number of shots
were fired in the direction of the cave, and we saw the
Lianeros whom we had left behind running down the
declivity, followed by a host of yelling guerillas.

Our party was now urged on expeditiously, in hopes of
reaching our new place of shelter before we were overtaken
Occasionally a stray shot fell near us, which servec
quicken our movements. Gaspar performed his part wel,
and was fast gaining our confidence, when to our dismay he
stumbled, and fell forward upon his face, exclaiming—

‘ Santissima, I’m shot !”

We raised him up, and found the blood | pouring profusely
from a wound in the back.

 
 

    

 
 

MODE. THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

“Leave me and push ahead, I can’t live but a moment,”
he gasped, and overcome by pain and loss of blood, fainted
away. .

The bandits were now in the ravine below us in close
pursuit, and we were compelled to hurry on. We therefore
drew the body of Gaspar into the bushes, and pressed
forward. The death of our guide appalled us, as we needed
1.ow more than ever his directions and words of cheer. We
supposed that the path we were treading led directly to
the stronghold, but were not altogether certain of this.
Moreover, the scattering fire of the pursuers was becoming
very serious.

Haversham finally volunteered to take command of thirty
Lianeros, and endeavour to check the audacity of the
bandits. Stationing his men behind a large fallen tree, he
succeeded in checking their advance for some ten minutes,
when he was compelled to fall back to prevent being captured.

This momentary repulse was our salvation.

We reached an open plateau, with the entrance to a large
cavern in full view before us, which we hastened to enter.
After passing the entrance, the cavern increased rapidly in
width and height. At the rear of the first vault a narrow
passage-way began, extending some half-a dozen yards, when
it again widened into a second vault. This second apartment
communicated with a third, which latter was entered by an
opening from the side of the second one. From the ceiling
was suspended a rude metal lamp, which emitted a faint
light, and a disagreeable odour of fish oil.

It was a large vault, capable of containing one hundred
persons comfortably. The floor was strewn with blankets,
various weapons, and several packs of cards, and its general
appearance indicated an unexpected and sudden -departure
of its former occupants. Considerable arepas and tasajo was
also found upon a swinging shelf in the corner, but no am-
munition. An opening in the side wall of this apartment
indicated additional passages and vaults, but a damp, noise-
some air that came up from it forbade our entrance.
 
   

OUR DEFENCE OF THE CAVE. 103

  
  
 

  

The females were at once placed in this inner room, and
we cast about for a method of defence. There was no time

to be lost, for the ruffians were already swarming over the
plateau, evidently half inclined to rush into the cavern.
There was this advantage on our side, that, while we from
within the cavern could distinctly observe the movements of
our foes, we were invisible to them. A dozen Llaneros
with carbines were stationed in the first apartment, which
disposition had scarcely been made, before the guerillas
dashed at the entrance, but started back in terror as the
twelve carbines vomited forth a leaden tempest, directly in
their faces. Ten bodies lay near the doorway, and the rocks
grew red with their blood. The assailants retreated tumul-
tuously a short distance.

Twice this attempt was repeated with the same result ; and
the devils appeared as ready as ever to renew the attack,
while, to our horrcr, Pedro announced that our powder was
now entirely exhausted. My own. pistols were each loaded,
and I determined to reserve them as a dernier resorte, in case
of extreme necessity.

Don Luiz was nearly frantic with als idea that we might
yet be overpowered by the guerillas ; while Haversham was
ransacking every nook and corner of the three apartments,
vowing a dozen wax candles to any saint or heathen god that
would enable him to find a few loads of ammunition. Ine-
zella, with Zala at her side, was commending us all to
the Blessed Virgin, in whose protective power she seemed to
place abiding confidence.

Again our foes showed signs of hostility, but also greater
caution. Suddenly the report of a carbine resounded
through the cavern, followed by an exclamation of joy.

“Fe’s dun fur, mass’r Capt. I’se kill’d him!” shouted
Okra, as he ran up to me, greatly excited.

‘¢ Killed whom ?”

“Why, yon debbil of a capt’n, w’at you call um—
Dubble-da-doo.”

“ That is a mistake, I think,” said I.

 
     
   
   
   
 
 
 
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
   
 
  
 

      
   
 

 

104 . THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

‘Yah, yah, mass’r Capt., I shot an’ see’d um fall, and
see’d um carry um off.”

From the commotion visible among the guerillas, it was
evident to us that some accident had occurred of a serious
nature.

They were hurrying to and fro, and an officer was lying
upon the ground at the foot of a small tree, who we hoped
might be Doblado, but were not certain thereof.

Our foes were now more furious than ever, and adopted a
new plan. Gathering up all the faggots and dry brush they
could find, they began to pile them up against the mouth of
the cavern. We were to be smoked out!

To this pile theg applied a match, and in an instant dense
volumes of thick smoke came rolling into our retreat. As
the smoke filled the first apartment, it poured into the next,
and soon became almost insupportable, so that we were
driven for safety into the third apartment.

“ Carrai !” exclaimed Haversham, ‘‘ blow me to flinders,
if ’m going to be cured like a ham in this way. Let me die
like a Christian, or not at all.

With this ejaculation he lighted a lamp and darted into the
damp, gloomy opening in the side of the rock. Ten
minutes passed, when Don Luiz remarked—

“‘T think the density of the smoke is decreasing ; the fire
must be dying out.”

“Go and see,” said I, to Okra.

Okra dropped upon his knees, knowing that the nearer the
floor he kept the less smoke he should find, and crawled
into the second vault. ‘lhcre was perfect silence. Five
minutes elapsed, and the darkey did not return.

“‘Caramba ! ” said the Don, “ the smoke has strangled him.”

*“No danger of that,” I replied. ‘‘ His lungs can stand
anything ; he will be back shortly.”

“By St. George,” shouted Haversham, gaily, as he
emerged with a bound from the dark passage-way, ‘‘ we'll
circumvent the heathen this time, sure.”

‘What have you discovered ?” I asked, anxiously.

 
 
  

ee

 

    

HARD PRESSED BY THE ENEMY. 105

“ Lous Deo! what do you think? That passage-way leads
through the mountains, out into the fresh air.”

“¢ Glorious news !” exclaimed several.

‘¢ And better yet,” continued Haversham. ‘‘ Per Santos,
the powder-chest of these rapscallions is stowed away in a
nice little grotto in there, and the devil only knows how
much plunder of various kinds besides. A genuine sub-
treasury with a heap of deposits !”

‘¢ Bravo !” shouted the group.

“Oh, de Lord save us, mass’r,” grunted Okra, as he
crawled in from the second apartment, coughing and sneezing,
and half suffocated by the oppressive smoke. ;

‘¢ What’s the matter?’ I asked; ‘is the smoke in-
creasing ?”

“No, mass’r, tain’t dat, fur de fire’s gone out ’most ; but:
de debbils wid yaller breeches be ’centratin’ in de fust cave,
and is talkin’ ob comin’ in yer right ’way—so dey is.”

“Santa Maria!” exclaimed the Don. ‘‘ We must hurry
the females off at once. Here, Inezella, you and Zala, with
Ellesmere and half a dozen Llaneros, must proceed with all
haste through that passage. And Ellesmere,” hs continued,
addressing me and grasping my hand, ‘‘ into your keeping I
intrust my sister, if anything befall me. Go and await us at
the further end of the passage.”

In an instant we were groping our way along by the dim
light of an oil-lamp, carried by a Llanero who took the lead.
The passage was narrow, and scarcely high enough to permit
me to stand erect, while great drops of water continually
trickled down the sides or fell. from the roof. I followed
next to the guide, and Inezella next to me, in order that I
might assist her over the more difficult places. After pro-
ceeding one hundred yards in this manner, we paused a
moment to rest in the little grotto mentioned by Haversham.
There was a great profusion of articles gathered together in
this little apartment—ammunition, weapons, several bags
of coin, clothes, provisions, and, in fact, the accumulated
spoils of many expeditions.
 
  
 

THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

  

| As we arose to continue our course, two Llaneros burst
|| into the grotto, grasped each a canister of powder, and
hastily disappeared in the direction we had come.

| Another hundred yards, and the welcome light of day
| opened upon our longing eyes. The terminus of the passage
\) was upon a beautiful plateau, covered with a short growth of
I green grass, and concealed from view by small trees, fes-
| tooned with hanging vines. At one side of the plateau were >
i picketed several mules. From the outer edge of the plateau, |
| we could see spread out before us the verdant plains, stretch-
| ing away southward, and in the dim distance beheld the

) bright waters of the Oronoco.

 
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 

Inezella, Zala, and myself, seated ourselves upon a grassy |
knoll, to enjoy the beauty and quietness of the scene, which
were most refreshing to us all, after the excitement and toil
of the past two days.

| ‘While we were thus enjoying comparative ease, our friends

behind us were in a fever of excitement and industry. The
} guerillas were preparing to force a further entrance into the T
| cavern, while the Llaneros were labouring to give them a
| warm reception.
| The two canisters of powder were placed upon the floor of :
the third apartment near the outer passage-way. Over them
were piled all the pieces of rock, and timber, and refuse
matter that could be gathered together quickly. From this
pile a small train of powder was laid, extending some twenty
yards into the passage-way. These arrangements having ;
been fully completed, the entire party left the vault, and pro-
ceeded toward the grotto. Okra was detailed, or rather
volunteered, to fire the train at the proper moment.

The faithful black knelt at the terminus of the train, and
and in silence awaited the approach of the guerillas, whose
voices were now distinctly heard in the second apartment.
A bandit thrust his head into the third vault, cast a hurried
glance around, and withdrew. Immediately the guerillas
swarmed into the chamber with several torches, uttering
fieroe oaths and imprecations. There were at least forty

 

   

 

    

    
 

zs

°

THE GUERILLAS ANNIHILATED. — 107
within the apartment, when they seemed to have arrived at
the conclusion that we had made our exit through the side
passage-way. This idea had no sooner occurred to them,
than several rushed in that direction.

” Seeing the huge pile of rubbish near the entrance, they
paused and hesitated to advance. At this auspicious moment
Okra sprung to his feet, threw out his long arms, uttered an
infernal yell, and touching his match to the train, fled
toward the grotto.

The long serpentine flame ran along the floor like light-
ning toward the canisters. With a scream of terror they
drew back in affright.

They were too late !

A terrific explosion, like thunder, a bright sheet of flame,
and the air was filled with rocks, timbers, mangled limbs,
and bodies. Great pieces of stone were detached from the
sides and roof of the vault, which in their descent crushed to
death many of the guerillas. The very mountain itself
seemed to tremble beneath the force of the explosion, and to
rock to its foundation.

In a few moments our party were all assembled in safety
together upon the little plateau, congratulating ourselves
upon our providential escape. As our enemies were nearly
annihilated by the explosion, we felt in no danger of pursuit.
The contents of the grotto were brought out upon the plateau,
each man helping himself to what he liked. The coin, of
which there were three bags, was poured out in a pile upon
the greensward, and counted by Don Luiz, Haversham, and
myself. It consisted mainly of Spanish doubloons and Eng-
lish guineas, with a few French Louis d’ors, and amounted -
to eight thousand doubloons, or about twenty-six thousand
pounds.

Don Luiz counted out five hundred doubloons each, for
Haversham, himself, and me, dividing the balance equally
among the remainder of the troop, except five hundred
doubloons, which he set aside for Don Felix, as a compensa-
tion for the loss of his hacienda,

 
      
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
    
    
     
   
 

 

 

 

108 . THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

The distribution gave general satisfaction, and the Llane-
ros were greatly rejoiced over their good fortune. Having
satisfied the cravings of hunger from the abundant provi-
sions of the grotto, the treasure was carefully put up in

separate parcels and returned to the larger bags, which were |

in turn placed upon one of the mules.

Saddles were thrown upon the other two, and Inezella and
Zala were seated thereon.

The descent of the mountains was now begun over a
rough and narrow path. This task consumed an hour, and
we fitally debouched into the plain. To our surprise and
joy, we discovered a troop of horses near by, which upon
closer inspection proved to be the balance of our company.
The roll was now called, and to our sorrow we learned that
the expedition had cost us the lives of thirty men. This
loss occasioned a depression of spirits for a time, but the
natural vivacity of the Spaniard soon resumed its sway, and
we took up our journey for the river.

As we approached the great river, whose course was
indicated by groves of palm and balsamiferous trees upon.
its banks, we rejoiced over the speedy termination of our
expedition.

“Halt,” exclaimed Don Luiz, suddenly.

The troop drew rein, and came to a pause.

‘¢What’s the matter?” I asked, with surprise.

“Did you hear nothing ?” asked the Don. £

ce No.”

We all sat quietly upon our horses and listened intently.

The silence was broken. "

The distant notes of a bugle came softly to us upon the
gentle breeze. It was a plaintive English air, that recalled
to mind happy scenes of my distant sea-girt home.

“By St. George,” shouted Haversham, as he swung his
cap in the air, ‘‘it’s McPherson himself! Ill wager my
hopes of heaven that the gallant 61st is not far distant.”

“ You’re right, my boy!” I gaily answered.
We plunged our spurs into the horses and dashed rapidly

*

 
=

 

I REJOIN THE ARMY. . 109

forward, Inezella and her maid keeping alongside, and
proving themselves capital riders. We swept over the brow
of a small hill, and saiv a scene that caused the flush of pride
to mantle our cheeks, as Haversham and I with one voice
shouted—

** Hurrah ! Old England for ever !”

The broad surface of the grand old Oronoco was covered
with barges, heavily laden with troops. As the little flotilla
of sails and oars moved slowly and gracefully along, it pre-
sented an imposing appearance. Music filled the air;
banners floated upon the breeze, and polished bayonets and
bright uniforms glittered in the sunshine.

From the staff of alarge barge flaunted a red and blue
pennant, indicating at once the presence of Sir William De
Courcey.

As we reached the bank we hailed the nearest boat.

‘* Who are you?” was the response.

“Captain Ellesmere, of Sir William’s staff, and Captain
Montessa, of the Dragoons. Report me to Sir William
at once.”

‘Ay, ay, sir,” was the answer, as the little craft dashed
toward the flag-ship.

In a few moments the. barge of Sir William swept in
toward the shore, and the canoeros rested on their oars. A
few moments were consumed in giving the commander a brief
statement of affairs that had lately transpired. The heart of
the brave old soldier was visibly affected, and he expressed
much sympathy with Don Luiz and Inezella in their misfor-
tune, saying that he himself would take the liberty of
granting the Don an additional leave of absence, in order to.
right matters at home; and promised to make all needful
apologies to Don Luiz’s superior officer.

Don Luiz announced his intention of returning to the
hacienda to look after affairs there, and probably to convey
Don Felix and his sister to Angostura for safety; and I
doubt not that Sir William would have also permitted me to
accompany the Don, had I so requested ; but deciding that

 
    
 
 
 
 
   
    
  
 
 
 
    
  
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
  

  

 

 

 

 

 

110 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

my duty called upon me to attend the General in the
expected campaign, I preferred no request upon the
subject.

Giving my hand to Inezella, who was standing a little
distance apart from the others, and who seemed to me more
lovely and enchanting than ever, now that we were to sepa-
rate, I said in a voice of much feeling :

“Duty compels me to leave you, Inezella—to leave you, I
trust, however, only for a brief period. I must rejoin the
staff of Sir William. It will, however, lighten the hardships
of campaigning to know that I have in you a friend anda
well-wisher. Adios, cara Inezella !”

* 4dios, mon amigo,” returned the fair girl ‘My
thoughts will ever follow you, my preserver.”

My heart grew lighter as I felt the warm pressure of her
gentle hand in mine.

And thus we parted.

She to the ruins of the desolated home ; and I to join in
the fatigues of a soldier’s life, and the dread carnage of the
battle-field. But beyond the clouds and sorrows of parting,
the brightness of the distant future threw athwart the sky of
hope radiant beams of golden hue.

 

CHAPTER XI.
VIVA INDEPENDENCIA!

Duke I’.—Good monsieur Charles, what’s the news ?
Char.—Great news, my lord. <A victory!
Duke I'.—A victory | Zounds! I must off and see my
lady love. —OLp Pray.
Victory! The brilliant and decisive battle of Carabobo
had been fought and won. Venezuela was secured to the
patriots by this engagement, in which the Republican forces,
under Bolivar and General Paez, defeated the Royalists under
La Torre, whose shattered army was falling back, routed and
panic-stricken, toward the fortifications of Puerto Cabello,
closely followed by their victorious enemies.

 
 
   

a

 
 
: OUR ARMS VICTORIOUS. 11
\

The ‘British Legion” had taken a prominent part in tha
complete and magnificent victory, and had covered itself with
glory. Bolivar upon the field had complimented Sir William
De Courcey upon the heroic valour of his troops, and as a
slight testimonial of his gratitude and appreciation of our
services, had assigned to Sir William the privilege of choos-
ing from his own staff the messenger who should have the
honour of bearing the gratifying news of our success to the
National Congress, then in session at Angostura.

Sir William’s choice fell upon me!

The clock in the tower of ‘‘San Michael” was striking the
hour of three in the afternoon of the 30thof June, 1821,
as my wearied and foam-flecked steed dashed along the
“Calle Real” of Angostura, and I drew rein before the hall
occupied by the National Congress.

Throwing the reins to a peon, who stood on the curb-
stone, I quickly ascended the broad steps and entered the
legislative hall. There wero present some sixty members.
At the further end of the hall sat the venerable President of
the Assembly, and upon his right was the clerk. Advancing,
up the aisle, and removing my cap, I handed him the packet
containing the full despatches of the General commanding
the patriotic army.

** Whom have I the honour of addressing, senor captain.
and what is this message?” inquired the President, in a
bland tone of voice.

**¥ am Captain Ellesmere, Aide upon the staff of Six
William De Courcey, and bearer of despatches from General
Bolivar to your Honour.”

*“Despatches from the General ; and by special messengex,
too! They must be important.*

Quite a commotion and stir was visible among the mem-
bers at my announcement, j

“The clerk will open the despatches and read,” continued
the President, in a dignified tone.

The latter officer arose, and in a clear, audible voice, read
the following despatch :—-

 
 

 

 

 

112 TIIE ORONOCO CHIEF,

“To his Honour the President, and the Members of the
National Congress.
“ Fead-quarters, Field of Carabobo, June 25, 1821.

“We have met the enemy, and Almighty God has
vouchsafed to our arms a most signal victory! Upon the
24th instant, we assaulted the enemy in his chosen position,
and after a fierce engagement, lasting the entire day, we
drove him, routed and flying, from the field.

** He is now retreating rapidly toward Puerto Cabello, and
our cavalry are in pursuit.

“*Great honour is due to the cavalry of General Paez, as
also to the ‘ British Legion,’ for their unsurpassed valour and
endurance, and to which divisions of the army our victory
is chiefly owing.

* Full despatches accompany this communication.

‘Yours with great respect,
i ‘* Borrvar.”?

At this point, a thrill of excitement ran through the
house. Universal joy pervaded the Assembly. Sedate,
dignified members lost all control of their feelings, and
swung their hats with shouts of applause. The air was filled
with cries of—

© Viva Independencia |”

‘Viva Republica ! ”

“Viva Bolivar !”

On all sides the most tumultuous and uproarious de-
monstrations of joy were indulged in. For a time, all
parliamentary rules and usages were ignored in the excited
slate of good-feeling that prevailed. Members left their
seats to congratulate each other, and many crowded around
the Speaker’s chair, and overwhelmed me with their questions
and exclamations.

As the tumult began to subside, I saw a venerable-looking
man, with hair white as the driven snow, approaching me.
Many stepped aside to permit him to pass, while all treated
him with marked respect. Although I had seen him but once
before, and then but for a moment, I immediately recognised
—

AT ANGOSTURA AGAIN. 113

him. No person could see the commanding form and
dignified carriage of Don Felix De Montessa and ever forget
him.

‘‘ Permit me to congratulate you upon your safe return,
Captain Ellesmere,” said the Don with a warm grasp of the
hand.

«Thank you, sir,” I replied, respectfully.

“* Know you aught of my son?” continued the Don, in a
tone low and sad, and quivering with anxiety.

** He passed through the battle unharmed, and, as usual,
Don Luiz was the bravest of the brave.”

‘“‘Thank God for his safety,” replied the Don, with a
sigh of relief. ‘‘We are staying in the city now, captain,
and sball expect to see you at your earliest convenience,” he
continued, handing me a card and withdrawing.

A hurried motion for adjournment was put and carried,
and the members began to separate, to spread the glad
tidings throughout the city.

Remounting my horss, I was soon installed in my old
quarters at the ‘‘San Marco.” After a capital lunch, I
proceeded to perform my ablutions and make my toilet,
preparatory to calling upon Inezella, whom, it is super-
fluous to say, I was exceedingly anxious to see, both on
my own account, and to deliver in person a note from Don
Luiz. ;

After our separation, five weeks previously, Don Felix had
removed with Inezella to Angostura, taking his seat in
Congress, and leaving Ramon, the faithful overseer, to
attend to matters at the estate. Don Luiz returned to the
army, and was present at the decisive victory at Carabobo.
He was overjoyed to meet me, and had delivered to me a
note from his sister, full of gratitude for my kindness
toward her, and ‘well-wishes for my prosperity, and urging
me to call upon them, should I return to Angostura.

The day was drawing to a close as I left the hotel. The
last rays of the departing sun poured a flood of mellow
light over the city, tinting the roofs of the houses and

 
 

 

114 ‘ THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

church spires with a golden hue. The card handed me by

Don Felix ran thus— ‘
Don Fetrx De Monrussa,
Villa Cara,
Calle del Rosario.”

This direction was sufficient, and I leisurely pursued my
way towards the ‘‘Street of the Rosary,” one of the most
aristocratic avenues in the city. The Don’s residence was a
moderate-sized mansion, well proportioned and very tasty in
design. There was a verandah in front, and a baleony sup-
ported by several fluted columns. The windows reached to
the floor and opened upon the verandah. The building stood
a few rods from the street, with a beautiful lawn in front,
studded with luxuriant trees and shrubs. <A gravelled walk
led from the gate to the entrance-door. I gave a gentle
knock,

“Quien es?” asked a voice within, as a little wicket-door
was opened and the shriveled hand of an aged domestic was
thrust out to receive my card. Upon seeing it, and hearing
my inquiry for Don Felix, the servant seemed satisfied, and,
opening the main door, ushered me into an apartment to the
left of the large hall and withdrew.

The room was high and spacious, displaying both elegance
and comfort. The ceiling and walls were painted in panels,
and the floor was composed of small brown tiles. Neat
white curtains, exquisitely embroidered, huhg from the
windows. The furniture was mostly of some dark-coloured
wood. <A small table, with a rich crimson cover, stood in
one corner, and upon it a guitar and several books. I was
admiring the taste and refinement everywhere visible, when
a light step was heard on the threshold, and a lady entered
the apartment. I advanced to meet her.

*¢ Inezella !”

* Captain Ellesmere! Welcome to Angostura,” said Inez-
ella, in a tone full of tenderness and joy.

‘‘T am overjoyed to meet you again, Inezella,” I replied.

As she stood before me, her hand still resting in mine, and

 

aa Decent

 
 

 

 

MY INTERVIEW WITH INEZELLA, 115

her dark cycs looking up expressively at me, I felt that she
was surpassingly beautiful. A slight flush suffused her cheek,
and there seemed to be a halo of glory all about her lovely
face. It required a great effort to repress the wild tempest
of passion that possessed my soul. Perhaps a suspicion of
the love that glowed within me crossed her mind, for she
gently withdrew her soft white hand, and seating ourselves,
she continued :—

“You left my brother Luiz well, I understand ?”

‘‘ He escaped all harm, as if by a miracle,” I replied,

**Was he exposed to much danger ?”

“In the thickest of the battle always,” I returned.

“T might have known that,” added the spirited girl, ‘for
Luiz is as brave as a lion, though tender-hearted as a dove.”

There was a moment’s pause, which Inezella broke by
saying

“Don Felix dexized me to excuse him for a few moments,
when he would be at liberty.”

Scarcely were these words spoken, before the Don appeared,
and greeted me with much cordiality, Lights were brought
andthe time passed very pleasantly for several hours. I
found the Don a man of fine talents and great conversational
powers. Though born in Venezuela, his early years had
been principally spent in Spain. At the age of twenty-five,
having made the tour of Europe, he married the woman of
his choice, and retired to his family estate to assume the
responsibilities of his station.

In return for the many little episodes of the Don’s life that
he narrated, I gave him full accounts of our campaigning
since leaving Angostura. Inezella seated herself upon a low
ottoman at her father’s feet, and listened with intense in-
terest to all the conversation, in which she frequently pat:
ticipated.

After partaking of a slight repast of fruit, cake, and wine,
I arose to depart, receiving an urgent invitation from both
Inezella and the Don, to call as often as it suited my con-
venience, Promising to avail myself of the generous invila-

 
 

116 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

tion, and bidding them good night, I threw my military cloak
about me and retired.

The weather had changed during my visit. The sky had
become overcast with gloomy clouds, which hurried rapidly
across it, revealing only an occasional star, while the wind
swept along the deserted streets in fitful gusts, and with a
mournful cadence. The dim street-lamps flickered in the
breeze and nearly went out.

I walked along rapidly, my thoughts wandering back to
the cheerful room I had left and the charming Inezella.
With my mind thus absorbed, I had not noticed a man, who,
as I left the villa, arose from behind an acacia shrub, and
followed my footsteps. The man moved with a soft, stealthy
tread, aud kept close to my heels.

I do not know how to account forit, but it is no less a fact,
that oftentimes one is aware that another is watching or
following him, even though one does not see the other person.
Gradually it seemed to impress my mind that I was followed.
At first I paid no attention to the impression; but so strong
became the conviction, that just as I passed an old-fashioned
gateway, with a high arch and pillars, and through which
flickered out upon the street the faint light of an oil-lamp,
I turned suddenly around.

Within three paces of me stood a dark figure in a mantle,
with a slouched hat pressed down over his brow, so that the
face was partly concealed.

‘¢Die, you cowardly friend of the Montessa,” hissed a
rough voice, as, with the rapidity of light, the assassin dis-
charged a pistol so near me that the smoke for a moment
blinded my vision.

The ball whizzed by my cheek, dashing to pieces a small
piece of statuary standing near the gateway.

‘‘Wretch! assassin!” I exclaimed, springing forward to
close with him before a second shot.

But, with a cowardice consistent with the brutal assault,
the ruffian turned and ran swiftly down the street. I
dashed after him, but so impeded were my movements

a
a

9

AN ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION, 117

by my heavy cloak that the villain gained upon me, and
turning into a dark alley, disappeared from view.

Giving up the pursuit, I turned my face toward the “ San
Marco,” wondering what could have induced go foul an
attack upon a stranger like myself, in a strange city. The
whole thing was shrouded in mystery, and was inexplicable
upon any reasonable hypothesis. I was confident that I had
made no enemies during my brief sojourn in the capital ;
but, on the contrary, reckoned upon a large number of
friends.

The most probable solution of the affair that occurred to
me was, that the villain had mistaken his victim, and, recog-
nising his error upon hearing my voice, had hastily fled to
escape detection. Having arrived at this conclusion, and
devoutly hoping no such mistake might again occur, I was
about to dismiss the subject from my thoughts, when I
remembered distinctly the exclamation uttered by the
villain—

** Die, friend of the Montessa !”

“ Strange,” said 1 to myself. ‘This bravo must have
known at least that I was a friend of Don Felix ; and, more-
over, the villain must be an enemy of the Don.”

A wild thought flashed through my brain! Could it be
Doblado ?

The same height, general appearance, and, yes, by heavens,
there was a similarity of voice, too! I was now almost
positive that the assassin was Doblado himself. The idea
startled me, I must confess. I had hoped that the scoundrel
was killed among the mountains; but on recalling to mind
the occurrences of that eventful period, I was obliged to
acknowledge to myself that this belief was founded solely on
the fact that Okra had shot some guerilla officer, whom he
supposed to be Doblado.

The black might readily have been mistaken, and the
captain be yet alive. In this uncertain state of mind, and
with many misgivings, I arrived at the hotel and retired for
the night.

 
 

113 THE ORONOCO CHIEF,

CHAPTER XII. .
SOMETHING NOT DOWN IN THE PROGRAMME.

On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined.
No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.
—Byron.

Tue fashionable circles of Angostura were in a fever of
excitement,

The President of the National Congress was to give a ball
in honour of the great victory. Three hundred invitations
had been extended, and the affair was to be the most magni-
ficent and recherché ever witnessed in the city. Although
large, the party was to be very select, comprising the élite of
Angosturian society, and was appointed for the ensuing
Wednesday evening. Expectation was on tiptoe, and no
one awaited the coming event with greater impatience than
myself.

The evening finally arrived, and according to previous
arrangement, I called with a carriage to escort Inezella to
the sotrée. We had anticipated having the pleasrre of Don
Felix’s company, but indisposition rendered it imprucent for
him to venture out. Assisting Inezella to the carriage, T
ordered the coachman to drive on.

We soon reached our destination.

The residence of the President was built in the usual style
of architecture prevalent in Angostura, with a verandah in
front and balcony supported by pillars, and extensive wings
on either side of the main building. The mansion was situ-
ated upon one side of asmall plaza, or square, and as we
drove up, the street in front presented an animated appear-
ance. The bright glare of light that streamed from every
window revealed well-filled carriages, with prancing horses,
footmen, and servants in gay livery, and fair women and bold
cavaliers,

T alighted, and, offering Inezella my arm, passed up tho
broad steps to the main entrance. We entered a hall, the
sides of which were decorated with statuary and frescoes.

&

ty
~My

THE PRESIDENT’S BALL. 119

The saloons were magnificent, revealing evidences of wealth,
luxury, and refinement, beyond any thing I expected to see
in Angostura. Many guests had already arrived, and fresh
groups came constantly pouring in, adding life and animation
to the scene.

There was a rustling of silks and sparkling of jewels, while
gay uniforms and stars shone resplendent in the dazzling
light. For some time we promenaded the apartments,
chatting merrily, criticising this dress or that uniform, or
nodding familiarly to an acquaintance. A burst of exquisite
music floated upon the air from the, large saloon, and sets |
for a quadrille began to form. Then followed a waltz, in
which I joined with Inezella.

What dance more enchanting than the waltz? As we
glided along to the sweet notes of the music, my arm en-
circling the slender form of Inezella, while her soft, dark
eyes, liquid with joy, were raised to mine, the gentle flush of
excitement tinging her cheeks, and long, dark tresses floating
over her snowy shoulders, I seemed to be in a fairy land.

We took no note of passing time. The voice of Inezella
sounded surprisingly soft and musical, and I felt instinctively
that every cadence, as it reached my ear, awoke in my heart
inspirations of love.

Soon we passed from the crowded saloon into the quiet
garden. It was a glorious night, bespangled with stars
glittering in all the lustre of a Southern latitude. — Fire-flies,
emitting a bright phosphorescent light flitted from leaf to
leaf. The air was soft and balmy, and fragrant with the
delicious odour of the orange and acacia. The music, as it
came floating out in gushing streams upon the stillness of
night, added to the enchantment of the hour.

Oh! it was a glorious night for love !

Slowly moving along smoothly gravelled walks, bordered
with sweet-scented shrubs and rich tropical plants, we held
sweet converse, until, like two fleecy clouds upon a summer’s
sky, our spirits seemed to mingle into one. I was charmed
with Inezella’s wonderful conversational powers, her lively

 
   

 

|
|

THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

wit and piquant manners. Never, in our previous inter-

course, had she so completely thrown off all reserve, and
revealed in its true light the amiability of her nature and
the winning sweetness of her disposition.

Our conversation paused for a moment, when Inezella
said—

** Would that Luiz were here! How he would enjoy this
festive occasion.” 5

“Poor fellow!” I rejoined, “he enjoys society, does
he not?”

“ Oh, it is his delight,” replied Inezella. ‘* We expect
him next week.”

“* So soon ?”

“Yes; Don Felix received a message from him this after-
noon to that effect. I intended to tell you, but forgot it
until now.”

*‘ That reminds me, also,” said I, ‘‘ of some information
I have to communicate to you. I received a note from Sir

William this afternoon, stating that he had received orders:

from the War Office, requesting him to return to Enyland at
once, as the aes desires to assign him to a different
sphere of action.”

“¢ Indeed,” replied Inezella, ‘“‘ how you will miss 2 hrs 172

“¢ Miss him 1” I asked, with some surprise. ‘‘ What do
you mean ?”

“* That you will regret to be separated from him.”

“There will be no separation. When a commanding
officer is ordered home, his staff always accompanies him.”

“¢ Are you, then, going with him?” asked Inezella, in a
voice of much earnestness.

“Certainly. Orders are imperative, and military men

~have no choice in such matters.”

There was a pause in the conversation.

“You never visited Europe, Inezella?” I asked.

“Never. You love England, do you not?” she replied.

“Yes, indeed! Glorious old England! Merry old Eng-
land! There is no place in the world more desirable for a

——
THE LOVERS. _ 121

residence. A good government, a healthy climate, refine-
ment, wealth, civilisation, and all their attendant blessings
are there. And London! a gay and brilliant metropolis,
full of pleasure, life, and gaiety.”

“And there, too, are all your relatives and friends, and
those you love,” suggested Inezella, in a tone tinged, I
thought, with sadness.

“You have awakened gloomy feelings, Inezella,” I replied,
“for, though I count many friends, as the world styles
friendship, in yon sea-girt isle, I have no relatives. From
my early youth, I have been the child of fortune. My
present position I owe mainly to my own efforts, aided by a
lucky star of destiny, or perhaps rather by Providence—

That shapes our ends,

Rough hew them how we may.
But it is a dreary thing to be alone upon the sea of life.
Often in the tumult of battle the thought comes over me
with thrilling power, who would mourn my loss should I
fall? Iimagine, as my name is read upon the list of the
killed, some acquaintance might say : ‘ Ah, and so he’s dead,’
and, passing on to other names, the memory of mine would
glide away for ever. Ah, Inezella, truly itis said: ‘ Every
heart knoweth its own bitterness,’ and this want of kindred
is my well-spring of grief.”

**You are scarcely generous, Edward, to your friends ; for
I am confident that neither Luiz nor myself could grieve
more over a lost brother than we would should any such
misfortune befall you.”

This was the first time that Inezella had ever addressed
me in any other manner than as Captain Ellesmere. That it
caused a thrill of intense satisfaction to hear my name thus
pronounced by her, I need not say. We turned our steps
along a secluded walk and ¢éontinued our conversation.

Reader, were you ever in love? desperately, wildly, madly
in love? If not, you can but faintly realise the emotions
that swayed my inmost being at that moment. I could no
longer restrain my feelings, but raising her fair hand, I

 
 

 

 

 

122 f THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

pressed it to my burning lips with all the devotion of a
worshipper.

There was no resistance, and I pressed it fervently. Was
I dreaming? Could it be mere fancy? I thought the pres-
sure was returned. My heart leaped with joy, and I felt a
flush of hope upon my cheek. We had just entered a little
arbour, formed by the overhanging branches of citron trees,
and covered with thickly-hanging festoons of vines. There
were tivo small benches, upon which we seated ourselves,
Inezella remarking that she felt wearied.

‘Oh, I’ve lost my bracelet,” she suddenly exclaimed, in
a voice of anxiety.

‘Not the beautiful emerald one?” I asked, with
solicitude.

eBY es.”

*¢ Where did you lose it?”

Only a moment ago I felt it on my arm.”

“Sit still in this arbour, and I will procure a light from
the house and search for it,” said I, hastening toward the
mansion.

My form had scarcely receded from Inezella’s view in the
darkness, when a heavy step was heard and a jarring of the

bushes. Affrighted, Inezella arose and stood in breathless’

expectation, while she pressed her hand to her fiuttering
heart. A rough grasp tore away the hanging vines, and the
tall form of a man emerged from their clusters with a bound.
“Ah, my pretty bird! now I have you,” exclaimed a
gruff voice, as the intruder laid one hand upon her shoulder,
and with the other endeavoured to place a handkerchief over
her mouth. 2
“Unhand me, villain!” said Inezella, indignantly, as she
shrunk back in alarm. ‘‘ Who dares treat a lady thus?”
“<Qaramba! my enchanting idol,” continued the man,
“don’t disturb your sweet temper! Methinks « Spanish
Donna might as well permit one of her own nation to kiss
her ruby lips, as to yield to the embraces of a dog of a
Briton.”

12?

ee
 
  
 

 

 

ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION OF INEZELLA. 123

 Santissima Maria,” faltered Inezella, ‘*saye me, save
me!”

“‘Oh, rest casy, my bird of Paradise!” continued the
villain, ‘‘I would not harm thee for a thousand doubloons.
Thou wilt yet be mine. You scorned me once; si, peste, a
dozen times! Your infamous brother disgraced me before
his servants ; and your cowardly lover, that dastard Briton,
insulted me as no man does and lives. Carajo, you know
me now, methinks !”

As he said this, the ruflfian removed his plumed hat, and
revealed the scowling features and hated visage of Captain
Doblado.

‘Oh, Luiz! oh, Edward! save me from this fiend,” cried
Inezella, now desperate with fright, as she strove to release
herself from the ruffian’s grasp. She was successful, and
with great agility attempted to dart from the arbour ; but the
villain was too quick and powerful, and again he clutched
the frantic girl, exclaiming—

‘¢Silence, pretty fool! or, diabolo, I'll thrust this kerchief
down your little throat. Ha! ha!” he laughed diabolically,
“it might hurt thy little gullet, perchance ; but, carrat, it
would stop thy screeching at all events! Come with me,
my beauty, or, Satanas, T'll be obliged to carry you.”

There was a struggle for escape, but the fierce grasp
of the guerilla closed tighter upon the quivering form of
Inezella, as the brute forced the handkerchief into her
mouth, and lifting her in his brawny arms like a child, again.
entered the shrubbery.

Buta moment elapsed ereI entered the arbour, accompanied
by a servant carrying a lantern. I had quickened my steps,
for I thought I had heard a noise and a faint scream.

Inezella had gone! There were marks of heavy footprints
upon the smooth gravel.

*¢Tnezella! Inezella !” I called aloud.

There was no response, but beyond the arbour I imagined
that 1 heard the cracking of branches and retreating foot-
steps. I darted in that direction, followed by the servant.

  
 

 

 

124 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

The garden was surrounded by a stone-wall, some ten feet

high, one part of which we were rapidly approaching. A
large orange-tree, laden with golden fruit, stood against the
wall. As we came beneath this, I saw something white
among the bushes further one.

My feet tripped in the shrubbery and 1 fell to the ground,
Most fortunate for me that I did so, for the report of a pistol
broke the stillness of the air, and I heard the whiz of the
ball above my prostrate form, and the sullen “‘ thud” with
which it buried itself in the bark of the orange tree.

I sprung to my feet. There was a rustling of the bushes
and the sound of retiring steps. With immense strides I
pursued, darting roughly over beautiful acacias and other
valuable plants. Just before me was a dark figure, bearing
in his arms a smaller form. With a shout I sprang forward,
and the next instant I had crossed swords with the tal
figure, who dropped his burden and turned upon me wits
great ferocity.

“Hound of miscreants!” I exclaimed, ee “ sug
render, or you die!”

The bravo laughed scornfully, as he parried my vigorous
assault. We were evidently both masters of our weapony
and fought resolutely and determinedly, fecling it was a
struggle for life. With a sudden whirl the villain whispes
my sword from my hand, and it flew against the wall. With
a fiendish howl of exultation, my opponent exclaimed, as he
thrust at me wickedly—

“Die, dog of an Englishman ! ”

I sprung lightly aside, while the momentum my adversary
had acquired laid him prostrate upon the greensward.
Availing myself of this opportunity, I drew forth a pistol,
and as he arose fired at his breast. The villain sunk upon
his knee with a groan of intense agony.

There was an outcry and the trampling of many feet close
at hand.’ I.felt that we were saved, and turned toward
Inezella. ‘With a cry of joy, the poor girl sprung toward me
exclaiming—
a

MY LAST RENCONTRE WITIL DOBLADO, 125

¢ Are you hurt, dearest Edward ?”

“No! but how is it with you?”

‘¢ Thank heaven, unharmed.” .

I threw my arm around her waist and pressed her to me,
while she nestled her face on my bosom, sobbing as if her
heart would break.

‘There, dearest Inezella, compose yourself,” I whispered.
‘The danger is all over.”

Several armed servants and a dozen guests from the saloons
now made their appearance, and at once seized Doblado, who
had risen to his feet and attempted to escape.

“*Carajo, it is Doblado, the Spy!” exclaimed an officer,
wearing a colonel’s uniform. ‘‘Hold him fast! Place him
in prison at once.”

Leaving the group, Inezella and I made our way back by
another path, and entered the mansion at a private entrance,
to escape observation and remark. Shortly afterward I or-
dered the carriage, and we proceeded homeward.

With that light-heartedness and exuberance of spirits co
natural to Spanish females, Inezella rapidly recovered from
the shock and fright consequent upon the attempted abduc-
tion, and by the time we reached the residence of Don Felix
was as lively and vivacious as ever. Dismissing the coach
at the gate, and giving Inezella my arm, we sauntered slowly
along the walk toward the house.

A gentle breeze rustled among the leaves and shrubbery.
A thousand bright stars glistened in the blue vault above;
while the motonous hum of various insects alone disturbed
the surrounding quiet.

“‘How much I am indebted to you, Edward. This is the
second time you have rescued me from the grasp of this man
Doblado,” remarked Inezella, in a voice full of gratitude.
*¢ How shall I repay you for all your kindness ?”

‘¢Shall I tell you, Inezella?” I asked, in a low and fervent _
tone. Then, without waiting for her answer, I placed her
hand in mine, and drawing her toward me, said—

‘Dearest Inezella, I must unburden my overflowing

 
 
  

 

125 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

heart. I worshipped your lovely features, as revealed to me
in this diamond locket, and vowed to search the wide world
over until 1 found the owner. Heaven threw her in my
path without any exertions on my part, and I believe the
hand of destiny is in it all. I became acquainted with you
only to admire, revere, and adore all the lovely qualities of
mind and heart which you possess. The more intimately I
have known you, the more have you won my affections, until
you are now the guiding-star of my future. Permit me,
dearest Inezella, to be your protector hereafter as in the
past, to cherish you, and to lavish upon you the wealth of
love untold. Accompany me to my distant island home,
where, amid the luxuries and enjoyments of English life,
you may preside over my household as you now sway the
sceptre of my heart. Believe me, Inezella, I love you truly,
devotedly, passionately. Dear to me beyond the power of
language to express, I lay my heart and affections at your
feet, a willing and a pure offering. Will you accept them,
and render me the happiest of mortals ?”

Tnezella had not withdrawn her hand from mine, and, as I
finished speaking, I gently pressed her to my breast. Her
head rested upon my shoulder, and I felt that she indeed
was mine.

How long we remained entranced and happy in the
knowledge of our mutual love, I know not.

The bell in the cupola of San Michael tolled the hour of
two, as I gave Inezella a parting kiss and hurried onward to
my hotel. :

 

CHAPTER XIII.
ONE AND ONE MAKE ONE.
“All's well that ends well.”

THERE was a festive scene in the church of St. Aloysius.

A hundred waxen candles threw a brilliant light over a
group of fair women and brave men. Every aisle and
corner was gleaming with light, and. the frescoes and marble
columns and mosaic floor reflected a sea of brightness.

 
 

    
   
   
    
   
   
    
 
   
    
  
   
 
 
  
    
  
 
 

7?

-

   
JUR MARRIAGE—CONCLUSION. - 127

\| 1t was our wedding night.

The priest was there, arrayed in his sacerdotal vesture,
and before the chancel stood Inezella and myself, while
upon either side were grouped our friends. Don Felix
looked more dignified and noble than ever. Beyond him
were Don Luiz and several female friends, On the left
stood Sir William De Courcey and his staff, who shone
resplendent in their gay scarlet uniforms. Quite a number
j of invited guests occupied various parts of the church.

The bride appeared even more lovely than usual. The
glowing words of the poet could alone describe her radiant
beauty. There was a.blush of loveliness upon her cheek,
her large, dark eyes shone with a magnificent lustre, long
tresses of dark silken hair flowed over her snowy shoulders,
[> diamonds sparkled among her raven locks, and there was
such a calm purity of perfect innocence upon her brow, that
it seemed as if a halo of glory surrounded her. Love lent an
} x additional grace and beauty to her figure. She was iI.

very richly and with exquisite taste.
: The ceremony began, and proceeded without interruption
4 to the end. As I gave Inezella the first joyous kiss
wedded love, my heart throbbed with ecstatic pleasure, and a
I devoutly thanked a propitious Providence that had vouch-
safed to me the possession of my soul’s idol, and br ought to
realization my wildest dreams of earthly happiness.

The solemn and interesting exercises being concluded, wa

> left the church to receive the congratulations of our friends
at the residence of Don Felix, which was thrown open for
the occasion.

After an hour’s reception, the company withdrew, and
matters assumed their wonted quiet at ‘ Villa Cura.”

; * * * ¥ * % ¥ * 28g *

One week subsequent to the events narrated in the pre-

| ceding lines, the British frigate Halcyon weighed anchor at
the mouth of the Oronoco, spread her white canvas to a fa-

¢ vouring southerly breeze, and stood out to sea.

} Upon her os were assembled a group of a dozen persons

>

>

 

 

 
 

128 THE ORONOCO CHIEF.

gazing wistfully at the rapidly receding shores of Venezuela.
They were Sir William De Courcey and staff, Inezella and
myself. The thoughts of leaving her early home for a foreign
land cast a slight tinge of sadness over Inezella’s spirits, but
the glorious scene that surrounded us, and her husband’s
smiles, soon dissipated all gloom from her brow, and restored
her natural buoyancy and vivacity of temperament.

There was a fresh breeze from the land, and the distant
shore with its rocks and trees gleamed in the bright morning
sun. The sky was blue and cloudless, and the diminutive
waves of the Caribbean Sea danced and sported their white
crests in the radiant light.

A distant sail, far away on the horizon, welcomed us on
our course, as, with light hearts and happy faces, we glided
swiftly through the curling waves, en route for the shores of
‘* Merry England.”

Tis EVD,