CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT OF Pres. J. G-. Sclrarman Cornell University Library PS 2459.M985H9 Humbled pride :a story of the Mexican Wa 3 1924 022 029 874 All books are subject to recall after two weeks Olin/Kroch Library DATE DUE IIRf Tl TTSS*^ ' craD GAYLORD PRINTED IN U.S.A. The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022029874 HUMBLED PRIDE A STORY OF THE MEXICAN WAR BY JOHIT E. ;^TJSIOK AUTHOR OP "COLUMBIA," "BSTEVAN," "ST. APGUSTINB," "POCAHONTAS," ETC., ETC. ILLUSTRATED' BY F. A. CARTER "Neia ¥orfe FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY London and Toronto 1893 PHnied in the United States f\A%Z\ was expected soon to join it. The young American was very much concerned about the young Mexican who had saved his life, and whose sister he had escorted beyond the lines. Now Arthur would not have admitted it, yet he was exceedingly interested in the senorita. He had only caught a glimpse of her face, but that glimpse, that passing glance, as her carriage whirled by, forever fixed in his mind a bright, celestial vision, a fairy image, indescribably beau- tiful. He had heard her voice but once, as she said an " Adios" to her brotber; but the recollec- tion of that voice was a memory of the softest music. After the storming of Monterey, his first thought was for the senorita's brother, and he set out to search for him among the dead. Through broken walls and battered ruins, among despoiled gardens and shattered houses, he sought him, and among the slain, and when the dead were gathered , up to be buried, but he could not recognize him among them. Then he went among the wounded, but he was not there. With lighter heart,he sought him among the prisoners, but he was not there. ARTHUR AT BUENA VISTA. 217 He knew not his name, so he could not inquire for him ; but from one old grim-visaged lancer he learned that a party of cavalry and some infantry had escaped. Arthur hoped he was among them. He made earnest inquiry about the carriage, and the senorita, but the Mexicans either could not or would not tell him anything about her, and he gave up seek- ing her, and followed the fortunes of the anny whose movements we have just described, and on February 21, 1847, he was encamped at Buena Vista. Around a small bivouac fire sat three or four soldiers and One-eyed Mike, the sedate guide. Pat McKune was among them. Pat's humor sel- dom deserted him, and he was entertaining the crowd with stories of how he and Dr. Trunnels used to chase runaway negroes in Kentucky. " And divil a one did we iver git ayther, " said Pat. "Why?" Mike asked. " Begorra, it was the docthor as once tould me he didn't want to find 'em. He offered me a bot- tle of whiskey to ax Shackleford's Bill if he didn't want his liberty, an' ye may belave it or not, but in three weeks Shackleford's Bill disappeared." Arthur took no thought of what the garrulous Irishman was saying then; but in after years the 218 HUMBLED PRIDE. snatches of conversation wliicli he heard were vividly recalled. Pat soon changed the subject by saying : " Santa Anny, the blackguard, is comin' with all his divil's own crew on ns in the morning, and thin we'll hev more fun than a Donnybrook fair, begorra. " On the morning of February 22, 1847, Santa Anna and his army were within two miles of Tay- lor's line of battle. The Mexican chief sent the following note to the American leader: "You are surrounded by 20,000 men, and cannot, in any human probability, avoid suffering a rout and being cut to pieces, with your troops, but as you deserve consideration and -particular esteem, I wish to save you from such a catastrophe, and for that purpose give you this notice in order that you may suiTender at discretion, under the as- surance that you will be treated with the consideration belonging to the Mexican character, to which end you will be granted an hour's time to make up your mind, to com- mence from the moment that my flag of truce arrives at your camp. With this view, I assure you of my partic- ular consideration, for God and Liberty ! "Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna." It did not take " Old Eough and Eeady" five minutes to consider the matter, and he immediately answered : " Sir— In reply to your note of this date, summoning me to surrender my forces at discretion, I beg leave to say that ARTHUR AT BUENA VISTA. 219 I decline acceding to your request. With high respect, I am, sir, your obedient servant, "Z. Taylor." Taylor drew up his troops with great skill. Captain Washington's battery was posted to com- mand the road, while the first and second Illinois regiments, with the second Kentucky and a com- pany of Texas volunteers, occupied the crest of the ridges on the left and rear. The Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry were posted on the extreme left, near the base of the mountain. The reserve was composed of the Indiana brigade, the Mississippi riflemen, the first and second dragoons, and the light batteries of Sherman and Bragg. The little army had scarce been formed when the vast columns of the Mexicans appeared in sight, and when night fell, their interminable lines were still visible, stretching far back to the utmost horizon. The sight would have appalled ordinary hearts; but the Americans reflected that the day was the anni- versary of the birth of Washington, and with this thought returned the heroism of the best age of the republic. Santa Anna, on receiving the resolute reply from Taylor, deemed it best to await the arrival of his rear columns, as well as to allow a body of troops under General Minon, which had been sent by a mountain pass, to get between Buena Vista and 320 HUMBLED PRIDE. Saltillo, and cut o£E the retreat of Taylor. In the evening of the 22d, however, the Mexican light troops engaged a portion of the American left, keeping up a sharp fire, and climbing the moun- tain-side, evidently bent on gaining the flank of the Americans. Three pieces of "Washington's battery and the second Indiana regiment being detached to strengthen this point, the enemy was checked, though desultory musketry discharges, enlivened by an occasional shell thrown from the enemy, continued until night set in. Being now satisfied that no serious attack would be made until morning, Taylor retired in person to Saltillo, for he was anxious respecting the defence of that place. He took with him the Mississippi regiment and a squad of the second dragoons. The remain- der of the army slept on the field, without fire, though the night was intensely cold. While Arthur Stevens lay on the frozen ground, endeavoring to snatch a little sleep before the mor- row's struggle, the low hum of thousands came, from the enemy's camp, borne on the wind that wailed through the gorge of the mountain as if foreboding disaster and death. Many a brave man heard the sad requiem on that night for the last time. The dawn of the 23d had scarce broken, when long columns of Mexicans were seen creeping along ARTHUR AT BUENA VISTA. 331 the mountain-side on the American left, obviously with the intention of outflanking it. Instantly the ridges in that quarter began to sparkle with the fire of American riflemen, and for two hours a desultory, but obstinate conflict was maintained, neither party perceptibly gaining ground. To cover his real intentions, Santa Anna now advanced a strong column against the American centre, but this attack was soon repelled by the rapid dis- charges of Washington's battery; while it was going on, however, he proceeded to execute his main design, which was to pierce the American left, by pouring his columns in overwhelming and unintermitted numbers upon that point. Succes- sive waves of infantry and cavalry accordingly came beating against it. For a while nothing could resist the tide. In vain the artillery, gal- loping within musket range, swept the advancing columns; as fast as one Mexican fell, another took his place; and the living torrent rolled forward, apparently undiminished in volume. Soon the sea of assailants reached the artillery, broke around it, and threatened to engulf men and guns. A corps of infantry, ordered to the support of the artiller- ists, was involved in a cross fire and driven back with immense slaiighter. The wild surge now came roaring on. The second Indiana regiment, mistaking a command, retreated in confusion; the 233 HUMBLED PRIDE. artillerists were swept away, leaving one of their pieces behind ; and an ocean of lancers and infan- try, pouring resistlessly along the base of the mountain, bore back the American arms and, spreading over every available point of land, flowed even to the rear of the Americans. The stoutest hearts quailed at the sight. Victory seemed ir- revocably gone. At this eventful crisis, Taylor arrived on the field from Saltillo; his approach having been hastened by the increasing roar of battle. His veteran eye instantly comprehended the imminency of the peril. The Mississippi regi- ment, which accompanied him, was ordered to the extreme left, where the fight hung quivering in the balance; and the noble band of heroes, ad- vancing with loud shouts, for a time checked the onslaught. The second Kentucky and a portion of Bragg's battery had already been detached by Wool to this point. Bragg, in conjunction with Sherman, firing from the plateau, was now tear- ing huge gaps in the flanks of the advancing enemy. The conflict soon became terrible. The shrieks of those wounded by the artillery; the crashing and hissing of grape, the sharp rattle of musketry ; the yells of the Mississippians, and the wild huzza of charging cavalry, combined to make a scene of excitement and horror indescribable. Foremost in the charge were the Mississippians, ARTHUR AT BUENA VISTA. 323 ■who, on this day, performed prodigies of valor. At last, surrounded by overwhelming numbers, they were on the point of being borne down, when they were reinforced by the third Indiana regiment and one piece of artillery. The tide of battle was now checked ; then fluctuated , and then began to turn. The enemy made desperate efforts to re- deem the day. Again and again the Mexican lancers swooped down on the infantry, but, met by a galling lire, wheeled and fled, a hundred riderless horses galloping wildly away at each repulse. Again and again the infantry, charging with levelled bayonets, fell back staggering from the wall of fire and steel. At last the Mexican column was severed in two, and that portion in front of the American line began to retreat. The van, however, having reached the rear of the Americans, made a bold effort to still secure the day, by attacking the camp at Buena Vista, hop- ing thus to strike terror to the army of invaders and call it from its position to the defence of its stores. The main body of Americans, however, kept its station, but May, with the Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry, supported by two pieces of artillery, hastened to defend the threatened point. The assailants were soon repulsed and driven to the mountains. May now returned to the left, where the other portion of the enemy's line was still 324 HUMBLED PRIDE. struggling to retire. The Americans, from being the conquered, had now become the conquerors; and were making efforts, which promised to be successful, to cut ofE the whole column, five thou- sand strong. The retreating masses, hemmed in among the ravines, presented a fair mark for the artillery, which slaughtered them in heaps. When May, with his victorious troops, came rushing upon them, they abandoned all hope, and would have surrendered at discretion, but that Santa Anna, perceiving their peril, hastened to send a flag of truce to Taylor, who ordered the firing to cease. When Wool, however, who rode forward to inquire the meaning of this message, had par- tially traversed the distance between the American and Mexican positions, he noticed, to his surprise, that the enemy had not ceased firing, and that the column was availing itself of the parley to retire along the mountain. He saw at once the disingen- uous trick of which the Americans had been made victims. But it was now too late, the enemy had extricated itself; and Wool, unable to reach Santa Anna, returned to Taylor. The grand effort of the day had thus signally failed ; and for a space there was a lull in the conflict. The Americans, wearied by so many hours' fighting, and expecting fresh columns of the enemy to make a new attempt on their left, ARTHUR AT BUENA VISTA. 235 were directing all their attention to tliat quarter, when Santa Anna suddenly concentrated his re- serves in front and hurled them on the centre of the invading army, their weakest point. Amid a tremendous fire of artillery, this splendid column, five thousand strong, advanced to the attack. Well aware that on this last effort hung the for- tunes of the day, and knowing that the immediate eye of their leader was upon, them, the Mexicans rushed to the onset with an intrepidity that even surpassed that of their bravest displays of the morning, and all had been courageous. The Americans, wholly unprepared for this demonstra- tion, stood aghast at the endless line of lancers and infantry. The first shock fell on the second Ken- tucky and first Illinois, supported by O'Brien's artillery. For a few moments, which seemed ages, these heroes bore up against the tempest, but were then driven wildly before it; the infantry flying in confusion and the artillerists abandoning their guns, which remained in possession of the foe. Again the Americans made a stand; but nothing could prevail against the overwhelming numbers of the Mexicans. Like a mighty tempest they rushed along ; and the little bands of Hardin and McKee were whirled from their path like leaves before a hurricane. For a while the day seemed irretrievably lost. All that could be done 15 226 HUMBLED PRIDE. was for Washington's battery, from a neighboring plateau, to pour in a close and well-directed fire on the advancing foe, and thus cover, in part, the retreat of the Americans. At this terrible crisis the calm heroism of Gen- eral Taylor saved the army. He had left the plateau, just before, but the sharp detonations of the artillery now recalled him ; and he saw, with a glance, that ruin was imminent. The dyke was already breached, and the water rushing in. He threw himself, as it were, into the gap. Ordering up Bragg's artillery, that officer approached at a gallop and, thundering ahead into the smoke, un- limbered within a few yards of the enemy. The spectators held their breath at the fearful prox- imity. Opening with grape and canister, Bragg for a moment staggered the Mexicans ; but it was only for a moment. With howls of rage, they rushed on, and in another minute would have trodden the brave artillerists under foot. Alarmed for his guns Captain Bragg galloped back to where Taylor was riding leisurely forward and cried: " General — general, send me support for my guns ! They are in danger ! " " Support ! " cried Taylor, " I have not a man to spare from anywhere ; give them more grape. " Bragg did so, and the Mexicans trembled under the fierce onslaught. General Taylor, who was ARTHUR AT BUENA VISTA. 337 now near the battery, and saw the signs of weaken- ing on the part of the enemy, issued his memorable order: "Give them a little more grape. Captain Bragg. " A second discharge opened lanes through the enemy, and at the third they fled in dismay. Tears ran down Taylor's cheeks at the happy sight. The day was won. Defeat, he knew, not only meant disgrace, but death. Defeat meant the annihilation of the Americans. It only re- mained to finish the victory. The gallant Missis- sippi regiment which had hurried up at the first alarm, reached the plateau at this crisis and, pour- ing in a m;irderous volley, helped to complete the rout of the foe, leaving the Americans undisputed masters of the field. Captain Arthur Stevens was in the hottest of the fight all day long. For the first time he ap- preciated the heroism of Mexican women, whom he saw everywhere caring for the wounded, re- gardless of friend or foe. It was when the lancers were sweeping forward to seize a battery, that he saw a noble young offi- cer's horse go down. That large horse, white as the driven snow, he recognized even amid the fire and carnage. The beautiful side was now gushing a purple torrent, staining the grass beneath. The rider rose coolly with sabre in hand. His 338 HUMBLED PRIDE. followers had retreated in the mad flight. With a hoarse yell a score of Kentuckians leaped forward with thirsty bayonets, eager to drink the life- blood of the young Mexican ; but with wonderful skill he parried thrust after thrust, knocking three bayonets from their guns. He could not long resist such overwhelming numbers, and began to retreat with his face to the foe. He stumbled over his dead horse, and three sol- diers with fixed bayonets rushed on him. "Surrender!" they cried. " Never ! " was the defiant answer in excellent English. In another instant he would have been pinned to the earth had not Captain Stevens leaped madly forward and, with a backward stroke of his sword, swept away the bayonets. " Don't harm a hair of his head!" he shouted. The young Mexican whose life he had saved sprang to his feet and, with a wave of his hand, leaped over a pile of stones, disappearing just as the last grand charge was made by the Mexicans. Arthur's lines were swept back, and for a few moments participated in that terrific struggle which proved victorious to the Americans. Night, a welcome blessing, fell on the awful scene, and though the thermometer was again below freezing ARTHUR AT BUENA VISTA. 229 point, Arthur Stevens, completely exhausted, lay down on the hard ground and slept soundly. The American loss was two hundred and sixty- > seven killed, four hundred and fifty-six wounded The eider bosk coolly with sabre in hand. and twenty-three missing. Among the slain were Colonels Clay, Yell, Hardin, McKee, and Captain Lincoln, assistant adjutant-general. The loss of the Mexicans was estimated at from fifteen hun- dred to two thousand. CHAPTEE XI. THE MEXICAN BEOTHER. On that sad, dark, cold night, while many gal- lant hearts lay stilled forever on the battle-field at Buena Vista, and while the noble Mexican women were still hovering over the field of death like angels of mercy giving aid to wounded friends and foes alike, a solitary horseman rode along the San Luis Potosi road. He was a Mexican officer, but his once brilliant, gavidy uniform was now dust- stained and dilapidated. He had lost his hat, and a handkerchief bound about his head covered a slight wound above his right brow, and at the same time afEorded his only protection. The road betrayed evidences of flight and re- treat. Broken gun-carriages and supply-wagons were everywhere abandoned, and the road was strewn with muskets, belts, cartridge-boxes, swords and broken lances. "Defeated!" gasped the horseman sadly. " Ee- treating! Alas, poor Snowflake, you lie dead upon the battle-field; but your fate is no worse 230 THE MEXICAN BROTHER. 231 than your master's. You died for victory; I live for defeat. " A. mile further the horseman came upon the rear of the retreating army. A sad spectacle it presented. There were wounded men staggering along to keep up, clinging to the ends of wagons or endeavoring to get upon the gun-carriages and escape the enemy, whom they thought near. Sometimes they were knocked down, trampled upon and crushed, their cries mingling with the shouts and curses of the teamsters. The further he went the more dense became the vast columns of retreating soldiers, until the road was one mass of moving humanity. On, on, and on pressed Captain Estevan. His second horse since Snow- flake fell was comparatively fresh, and he passed the foot soldiers, leaving them far behind. " Where is Santa Anna?" he asked of a group of officers. "I don't know." " What does he intend doing?" "We don't know." "Will they halt to-night?" " We have no knowledge, seiior. " He could not afford to waste his time with men so poorly informed, and pressed on. The retreat- ing army densely packed the road, and Captain Estevan was compelled to ride outside the thorough- 232 HUMBLED PRIDE. fare, which was not easy to do. The retreating army seemed wholly disorganized. There were no brigades, regiments or companies, only a min- gled mass of retreating humanity, hurrying they knew not whither. Dispirited and wearied with conflict, the Mexicans only sought shelter from the fierce northern barbarians. Many deserted that night and the country was overrun with rancheros and guerillas. At last in the darkness, the Mexican captain came upon a second group of officers, and asked : " Do you know where General Santa Anna is?" " He is but a short distance ahead, senor, " one answered. He pressed on and soon came up with the fa- mous general, whom he recognized seated in his carriage. "General, where are you to halt?" Captain Bstevan asked. " At Agua Nueva, " he answered. The wearied army reached this point next morn- ing and went into camp. Hospitals were prepared for the sufEering and wounded and some effort was made to reorganize the army; but Santa Anna, that boasting, scheming politician and officer, seemed overwhelmed by the disaster, and utterly unable to turn defeat into victory. Santa Anna was not fruitful in resources, nor had he the te- THE MEXICAN BROTHER. 333 nacity of a nortliern soldier. Had he remained on the ground with his army and assaulted Taylor as fiercely next day as he did the day before, he must have crushed his little army. But he lacked the power of long continued effort. His full force expended itself in the wild charges of one day, which failing, the field was lost. It is a fault with southern troops that, while they are brave, they expend their force in one wild dash, and then lose all they gain by their impetuosity. Next day, Felipe heard the rumor that they were to retreat to San Luis Potosi. He hastened to the tent of the general, whom he found walking about by aid of his cane. The gener-al was quite lame, for, as the reader knows, he wore a cork leg. " General Santa Anna, " said Captain Estevan, " are you going to retreat?" The general paused and fixed his dark, fierce eyes on the young captain of lancers. That he did not like Felipe is quite evident. He had not forgotten the day when he entered his room dis- guised as an American and threatened to blow out his brains if he entered into a compact with the United States to betray his country. " You are Captain Felipe Estevan of the lancers. " " I am, general," the young patriot answered. " I remember you. " " At Havana, general, " interrupted Felipe, " but 334 HUMBLED PRIDE. we need not discuss that now. Are you going to retreat?" " It has been so decided. " "But, genera], why retreat? We can defeat Taylor. He suffered almost as badly as we, and we can surround him. The whole country will be with us." Santa Anna pressed his thin lips together firmly, and shook his head. " No, senor, it has been decided otherwise. " "General, we can redeem Mexico.- Listen; I was last to leave the field, and I know that an hour longer would have seen the overthrow of the Americans. " Gnashing his teeth, Santa Anna, with his black eyes flashing, answered : " Those northern barbarians fight like devils, senor. " " But they can be defeated. Eemember you did it at the Alamo. " The general shook his head and said : " It is no use ; we will retreat. " Pleading and appealing were in vain. Captain Estevan at last said : " I trust, general, you will delay the march long enough for me to find my sister." " Where is she?" asked Santa Anna, with a keen glance of his on the young Mexican. THE MEXICAN BROTHER. 335 " In the hills near Potosi at a convent. " " I cannot halt the army to hunt for women," said Santa Anna. " General, there is no need to retreat, the enemy will not pursue us. " " Senor, you do not know them." With a polite bow, Captain Felipe answered: " I beg your pardon, general ; but I do know them. I can assure you. General Taylor will not advance a mile. In fact he will fall back to Sal- tillo. Think, general, of the demoralizing effect of a retreat at this time. It will be construed into a defeat, and we are not defeated. The enemy repulsed, but did not defeat us. It was folly to attack him so well posted; but, general, let us hold the ground. " " We must retreat and get reinforcements, " de- clared Santa Anna. " Hold your ground. General Santa Anna, and reinforcements will come to you. " But all appeals to Santa Anna were in vain. The once proud, boastful Mexican seemed now thoroughly humbled and would listen to nothing but retreat. We wrong Santa Anna by charging him with cowardice. He was a brave man ; but he lacked the bull-dog tenacity found in the Anglo- Saxon race, so essential to a good general. He had not the patriotism nor ability of a Washing- 236 HUMBLED PRIDE. ton, -who, flying before a vastly superior foe, could wheel suddenly upon them and gain two brilliant victories. Santa Anna was not a patriot, he lacked judgment and principle, not courage, or he would have died at Buena Vista, sooner than yielded the field to an enemy. Captain Estevan soon learned that it was folly to waste further time with Santa Anna, who was determined on retiring to San Luis Potosi, conse- quently, he must alone set out to find his sister and conduct her to their home, and then hasten to join the rallying hosts of Mexicans, whom he hoped would yet be able to eject the invaders. The reader may be curious to know why Made- lina Estevan did not take advantage of the long armistices after the fall of Monterey to return to her native town and home of her father. After the fall of Monterey, the whole country became overrun with prowling bands of guerillas, like Morillo, who were more dangerous than the inva- ders. Captain Estevan knew that the peons would be little better than no guard at all, should his sister be attacked, and as he was personally en- gaged in recruiting for the army, he had not time to accompany her to Puebla. It was supposed she would be safe at the con- vent. The " northern barbarians" would not molest her, and the worst of the guerillas would THE MEXICAN BROTHER. 237 scarce desecrate a convent. The padre in charge was a -warm friend of Bstevan's father, and prom- ised to take excellent care of the senorita. Cap- tain Estevan tarried at headquarters until the army began the retreat. Finding that anything he might do would not avail to alter the plan of Santa Anna, the captain mounted a dark horse, and rode away to the hills. He had to pass dangerously near to the American army in order to reach the convent where the senorita was staying; but by taking advantage of a dark night, while a cold, mist-like rain was falling, he managed to get by without difficulty ; and as soon as dawn appeared pushed on toward the convent. When within two miles of it, he saw a man coming toward him. He seemed greatly agitated, and no sooner did he see the armed horseman than he uttered a strange howl and fled as fast as his legs could carry him into the chaparral. The young Mexican felt some uneasiness at this, and pressed on, urging his horse to a gallop. In a few moments he came in sight of the convent and found the gate torn from its hinges, a part of the wall knocked down, and the whole place in confu- sion. The little chapel near had been plundered of its gold candlesticks and ornaments, and the place was deserted. Not a soul living or dead could be found and his fears for his sister increased. 238 HUMBLED PRIDE. The wliole place bore strong evidence of violence and robbery. Captain Bstevan threw himself on the ground, and in his despair beat his breast, and tore his hair. " Oh! Madelina, Madelina, my sister, where are you?" he cried in the anguish of his soul. A light footstep was near him, and looking up he saw a female peon standing at his side. " Do you belong here?" the young officer asked. " I did, senor, " the peon answered. " Where are they ? " She pointed along the long road which wound among the vast ranges of hills and sharp peaked mountains. " Were they captured?" " No. " "Did they fly?" She nodded " Yes. " "Who despoiled the chapel and convent?" he asked. " It was the work of the mountain guerillas, " she answered. " Had they gone before the guerillas came?" " Yes, senor. The northern barbarians affrighted them," said the peon, "we hear their great guns, and we see the Mexicans fly before them. Then the padre, he fly and take the senorita and nuns THE MEXICAN BROTHER. 239 with him. They be gone not long when the gue- rillas come and ask for the seflorita. " Captain Estevan felt his anxiety increasing again. " Did you direct them aright?" he demanded. " No, seiior, " the peon answered. " It is well for you, you did not, or by the saints I would slay you." " By the Holy Virgin, senor, I did not. " " Now I will find the lamb before the mountain wolves have set their eyes on her." In that day and even later it was not an uncom- mon thing for the guerillas to seize persons, of both sexes, of rank or wealth and hold them for ransom. Captain Estevan had been told by his sister of the frequent avowals of love on the part of Miguel Morillo, and knowing the scoundrel was at large and principal chief among the guerillas, he felt considerable uneasiness. Should she fall into his hands he could but tremble at the result. The old priests and the servants could make little or no resistance against the guerillas, .who were desperate villains. " Oh, Madelina — sister, where are you?" he re- peatedly asked himself, as he spurred his horse along the mountain defile. The day began to wane. The sun hung low in the slate-colored sky, and, through the dim blue mists, which clung 340 HUMBLED PRIDE. about the distant mountains, looked like a ball of sullen fire. The scenery was grand and pictu- resque in the extreme. Wild cataracts, yawning chasms and steep hillsides, with valleys, dark ravines mingled in a heterogeneous mass, all went to make up a scene of such splendor as would be calculated to delight the eye of an artist. The long, winding road which wended its way about through the mountains, sometimes hovering on the brink of some precipice and at others entering a narrow pass, was followed by the brother at a full gallop. In places where the road-bed had a partial covering of earth, he found the imprint of carriage wheels which encouraged him to hurry on. But at one place from a by-path entering into, the main road, there being more than the usual amount of. soil, he noticed that half a score of horses had suddenly entered the narrow defile obliterating the prints made by carriage -wheels. "Holy Virgin, save her!" gasped the young Mexican. "It is the guerillas; Jesu, pity her!" Then leaning over low in his saddle he spoke words of encouragement to his jaded steed, stung his flanks with his cruel spurs and thundered down the canyon into which the gathering shadows were fast blending into darker night. No word now escaped the lips of the Mexican brother, which were nevertheless parted in anxiety, as he thun- THE MEXICAN BROTHER. 241 dered on into wilder scenes and darker shadows of night, his horse's hoofs leaving a stream of flashing sparks in his rear. Meanwhile Madelina and her little group had been pressing on in wild flight. She had been one of the noble women whom Whittier calls the Angels of Buena Vista. On the day of the battle she was on the field giving aid to the wounded, friend and foe. She had seen Mexico humbled, and had returned to the convent. When it be- came known that Santa Anna was to retreat, the whole country became alive with marauders, and the priest of the convent determined to abandon it and go further south. Madelina's carriage was guarded by four mule- teers, who were faithful enough as servants, but the most arrant cowards that ever lived. Like cowards they were given to boasting, and assured the senorita she need have no fears of danger. One fellow called Pietro, the chief boaster and liar of the four, as they began the retreat, declared : " By the mass, senorita, it will be a sad day for the guerillas or Americanos if they follow us. I have loaded my horse-pistol and carbine, and I could slay a score with my sabre. " Then Pietro proceeded to narrate some of his marvellous ex- ploits, all of which the senorita knew to be false. Juan next came to encourage the senorita by assur- 16 243 HUMBLED PRIDE. ing her that he had slain a score of enemies with his good sword alone. Juan had a brace of Ameri- can pistols and a carbine with which he was quite sure he could conquer a host of Americans or guerillas. Knowing full well what little confidence could be put in any of the boasts and protestations of the peons, she rode in silence, occasionally count- ing her beads or offering a prayer to the Virgin for aid. Night fell in that awful wilderness, and still the carriage rolled on. Father Agatone seemed de- sirous of pressing on as far and as rapidly as pos- sible ; but it soon became evident that travelling further in that darkness was impossible, and he called a halt at the foot of some mountains in a wild, rocky ravine, surrounded by bluffs, broken masses of rock and deep umbrageous forests from the depths of which there occasionally issued forth the deep fierce growl of the deadly cougar. " Pietro, have you your carbine ? " asked Seno- rita Madelina. " Yes, senorita, and I am sure to hit the mark with it. " " Then take it, go into the thicket and shoot the cougar. It will carry off some of the mules to-night. " Pietro heard the distant growl of the fierce animal, and began to tremble with dread. Shak- THE MEXICAN BROTHER. 343 ing his head and crossing himself reverently, he answered : " No, no, senorita, he would make but one mouthful of me. Pietro will build up a great fire from the pine branches and frighten them away until morning ; then, when he can see to shoot, he will kill it. » " But Father Agatone thinks it best not to have fire to-night ; it might reveal our hiding-place to the guerillas. " With a look of defiance, and a voice filled with proud boasting, the cowardly peon declared that he would like nothing better than to have the gueril- las come. He could annihilate them with his car- bine and pistol, and if those failed he had his trusty sabre with which he had slain scores of enemies. Pietro had, in fact, never slain any one. He was afraid of his shadow, and had he thought there were any guerillas in the valley, he certainly would have fled and risked the jungle with the cougar in preference to meeting them. He pre- vailed on Father Agatone to have a small fire built, especially as the night air was cold and disagree- able, it being February. The priest having dis- posed of the women who slept in the carriages, appointed Pietro and one of his own servants named Leon as guards for the first half of the 244 HUMBLED PRIDE. night. The guard became sleepy ere the hour of eleven approached, and returning to the camp threw on some pine logs and sat down. "Leon, why should we sit there in the dark?" asked Pietro. " No use, — the cougar eat us up. " " Diablo ! I prefer the fire, " and placing his back against a large tree he stretched his feet toward the fire. His companion followed his ex- ample, and the two were soon snoring. The night air was sharp, cold and frosty, the peons were tired, and the generous heat from the camp fire soothing to their tired frames. Midnight passed and they were still in the land of slumber. There was a movement down the canyon. One of the mules threw up his head, pricked up his ears and sniffed the air, then pawed the earth. There came from the narrow pass by which the party had entered this dark vale, a solitary human being. His slow, cautious steps as he glided from stone to stone could not be heard by a common ear, and' it must have been the keen scent of the mule which warned him of the approach of a stranger. Stooping low and gliding from shadow to shadow, the unprepossessing individual came nearer and nearer, until at last he was at the camp and stood by the fire, gazing on the snoring guards. The spy was Morillo himself. There was a wicked THE MEXICAN BROTHER. 245 smile on his face, and his hand rested on the handle of his ugly machete which he half drew from the scabbard. " Poor boasting fools, " he hissed beneath his white, sharp teeth, "you are hardly worth it." Then his eye wandered to Senorita Estevan's car- riage. He knew it at sight, and with blazing eyes he hissed, " Proud beauty, I'll humble you! By the mass, your rich father shall pay a thousand doubloons if he sees his daughter again." The mule began to sniff the air and stamp un- easily, for the presence of the half-breed was dis- tasteful to him. The noise awoke the seQorita, who with her maid occupied her carriage, which had been converted into a sleeping apartment. She softly rose and glancing through the partially open door by the dull red glow of the firelight, espied the hated form of Morillo. The carriage of Father Agatone was just opposite from the fire, and she struck the door of it a sharp rap with her knuckle. Morillo heard the priest stirring and turned to retreat to his men, who were to attack the camp at once. Morillo forgot the angry mule, which detested the new-comer, and inadvertently got too near the irate animal, which by one well- directed kick sent the bandit head first through the camp fire, scattering the burning brands in every direction. The sleeping guards awoke with yells 346 HUMBLED PRIDE. of amazement, for burning sticks were scattered all over them, and in a moment every peon was on his feet. One seized a lance, another his carbine, one a whip and another a stout staff. As Morillo rose like the Phoenix from the flames and ashes, he was struck a blow by the whip of a muleteer, and a ranchero gave him a serious whack over his head with his lance. The stunned guerilla staggered away a few steps and recovering himself ran. By this time the boastful Pietro, having partially re- covered from his fright, and realizing that the un- welcome visitor was retreating, without having any very clear idea of what he was about, fired his car- bine at him. The shot went wide of the mark, and Morillo disappeared into the pass from which he had emerged, where his men, ten in number, were waiting to attack the camp as soon as their chief should return and report. " "What was it?" asked Father Agatone, hurry- ing from his carriage to the scene. "Guerillas, guerillas!" cried the peons, now that the danger was gone becoming quite boast- ful. Senorita Estevan alighted from her carriage, to reprove the guard for sleeping, and allowing Mo- rillo to enter the camp. Pietro, who had wholly regained his courage, said : " By St. Anthony ! senorita, you see how I THE MEXICAN BROTHER. 347 drove him off. St. Miguel, he hath a bullet from my carbine in his back even at this moment. " " Cease your boasting, Pietro, " cried the seno- rita. Then turning to the priest she added: " Father Agatone, I saw the man and recognized him. He is the guerilla chief Morillo. " " My daughter, this is serious, if you are quite sure. " " I am not mistaken. Father. " " If it was Morillo, he has companions near. " " Doubtless he has. Look to the mule. " The long-eared animal, whose angry heels had played such a noble part in defending the camp against the guerilla, was still stamping the earth uneasily and sniffing the air. Pietro was boasting of his exploits with his carbine, when the priest commanded him to reload his gun at once. " You may soon have good use for it again, my son." " By St. Anthony ! I can fight all the guerillas in the mountains," declared Pietro, putting a charge in his gun. "Look to yourselves, — they come!" cried the priest. The guerillas, eight or ten in number, headed by Morillo in person, dashed into the little valley from the dark and narrow pass. The peons uttered a shout of dismay, and would have fled without 248 HUMBLED PRIDE. firing a shot, had not the priest and senorita seized them and cried: " Why fly ? — you will be murdered unless you defend yourselves. There come the enemy; de- fend yourselves. We will stay with you." Being thus urged and encouraged, the peons, seven in number, fired their carbines at the gue- rillas as they rode forward at a gallop. One sad- dle was emptied, and one horse fell. This fire checked the outlaws for a moment; but Morillo who was at their head shot one of the peons, and the others, taking fright, fled to the chaparral. " We have them ! we have them now ! " roared Morillo. " Camp, gold and all are our own. " With wild cries, the guerillas dashed forward on their horses into the camp. The priest, as brave as he was pious, seized a burning stick of wood and hurled the heavy firebrand with such precision at the foes, that it knocked one from the saddle. The mule again attested his gallantry by sending his heels with such force and precision into the side of one of the horses, that both horse and rider were sent sprawling upon the ground. Morillo was enraged at this unexpected resist- ance. " By the mother of Jesus, shoot both mule and priest!" he cried: "Aha, senorita, I now have you!" THE MEXICAN BROTHER. S49 He sprang to the ground by the side of Made- lina, and made an effort to seize her. "Have a care, Senor Miguel!" cried the seno- rita, her eyes flashing with fire, as she suddenly drew from her bosom a small dagger. " I will drive this into your breast if you do not go away. " " What, by the mass, here is a beauty in arms, " and the brigand gave vent to a wild laugh. Two of his men had seized the priest, and he was about to order them to disarm the defiant senorita, when there suddenly came on the night air from out the dark pass, the wild echoes of horse's hoofs, accom- panied by a hoarse cry, and next moment, like a meteor there shot forth into the valley a single horseman, leaving a trail of sparks behind him. Another hoarse cry, and he was among the brigands. Bang ! Bang ! went a pair of pistols. Two flashes accompanied the reports, and an outlaw fell. Then there flashed in the faint glow of the firelight a bright sabre, cutting right and left, until the terrified guerillas, unable longer to with- stand the storm of this single man's assault, wheeled about and fled. Morillo, clinging to one side of his horse, fled for dear life down the valley, his followers scattered in every direction. Four of them were left lying on the ground. One dead and three placed hors du combat. The new arrival was the Mexican brother, who, 350 HUMBLED PRIDE. leaping from his reeking steed, seized his fainting sister in his arms and bore her to a spring where he bathed her face until she recovered. By this time some of the female attendants crept from the carriages, and the frightened peons, returning, re- leased Father Agatone. Pietro, quite crestfallen, picked up his carbine, which he had not even discharged, and began to boast once more what he would do should the enemy come in sight, when the good priest ordered him to keep silent. " You cowardly knave, you deserved to be scourged!" said Father Agatone. CHAPTEE XII. NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. For the present it will be necessary to the har- monious development of our story to take a short adieu of our friends in Mexico and return once more to the peaceful scenes in Boone County, Kentucky. There were many anxious mothers and fathers in Boone County who read the war news in the Louisville papers with avidity. Gap- tain Arthur Stevens' company had been raised chiefly from Boone County, as the reader is aware, and there was scarce a family in the entire county who had not some relative oj acquaintance, with Taylor first, and then with Scott, for whom they felt the keenest anxiety. Dr. Trunnels was greatly interested in the war with Mexico. When not busy making sick calls he rode over to the home of Mr. Stevens almost every evening and held long discourses with him on the subject, usually branching ofE on the depre- dations of the abolitionists whom he declared would surely take every " nigger" out of Boone County. 251 253 HUMBLED PRIDE. " You have never heard from your man John, have you, Major Stevens?" he asked one evening while at the home of Arthur's father. "No," answered the major. " And you never will, " sighed Dr. Trunnels. " I feel sorry for you, major, yet you must not blame me. " " I do not, doctor. " " I warned you. I advised you to sell the ras- cal. None of them can be trusted ; they may be devoted to you now, while you are their master and have power to flog them, even though you don't; but let the black rascals have a chance, and they will turn the tables and become your masters. " Major Stevens could say nothing. He had told the doctor that he would risk his purse, his wealth, his life with John, and yet John had run away. "Major, why don't you sell your niggers?" asked the doctor. " I cannot, doctor, I cannot part with the faithful creatures. " " Faithful creatures!" hissed the doctor angrily. " Faithful devils, you had better say. There is no dependence to be put in them. The best of them will run away. " " Doctor, tell me why you own no slaves your- self?" asked the major. NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 353 " Because I know they would slip through my fingers ; they would escape. " " But not owning any, why do you hate them ? for I believe you are a negro hater. " An expression of pain swept over the doctor's face, and for a moment he was silent. Dr. Trun- nels had once been a handsome man ; but the evil passions which he had of late years indulged so freely had transformed his features, until he was almost ugly. After a few moments' silence he said: " Major, painful subjects should be avoided, especially when they lacerate the heart, as this one does. I had almost begged you to spare me this ; but my conduct has been so strange, I know it needs some explanation. With your religious views, I know you would teach forgiveness and love instead of hate, but there are cases which your religion does not reach. Yes, I see the ex- pression on your face, but I am an unbeliever, an infidel, so let us not argue questions of theology, but hasten on to the story, which I assure you is by no means a pleasant one. I am a native, as you are aware, of Virginia. There were but two of us, myself and a sister five years older. I lost my mother in infancy and was never loved by any one save my sister. I saw little of my father, who was a trader in slaves and spent most of his 254 HUMBLED PRIDE. time away from home. My sister married when I was but eleven. Father did not approve the match, for her husband was a poor fellow, with only a small plantation which he partially worked himself, aided by a few slaves ; but I loved my sister, and her husband was a good man. She had two bright little children, a little girl and a boy, one five and the other three years of age. " There was talk of negro insurrections ; some did kill their masters, and runaway negroes com- mitted the most horrible depredations. There was a vicious negro from one of the lower counties, named Big Casey, who was induced by some of the abolitionists to run away, even if he had to murder his master. Big Casey killed the over- seer and escaped to the woods. My sister's hum- ble little home was situated at the edge of a dense wood, which came almost to the door, and those bright little children often made the dark wood their playground. " One day, while at the spring near the house, Big Casey, who was hiding from his pursuers, came upon the children and, filled with the devil, as all niggers are, he dealt each of them a blow with his stout club crushing out two sweet little lives in as many seconds. The blows and a half- uttered shriek alarmed the mother, who ran to her little ones in the forest and was met by their mur- NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 355 derer.* His eyes were now gleaming like a sav- age devil's, and all his barbaric African blood was on fire. He scented blood and it maddened him as the scent of it maddens a hungry tiger. " My poor sister found herself confronted by this monster and cried : " 'Where are my babes?' " With a burst of demoniac laughter, he seized her and with a keen knife which he carried stabbed her again and again, until she fell dead at his feet. There we found her. A little lame boy, who had been crouching in the bushes near enough to see and hear all, told us the terrible story. Big Casey was chased for many days and committed other murders, but finally got across into the free States, and there the abolitionists concealed and harbored him, with all the blood and guilt on his hands. They hurried the black devil across the State into Canada, where he was a free man, and for aught I know a respected and honored citizen. This, major, is only one incident among a thou- sand where the black savages have been instigated to murder ; but this came near home to me. Run- away negroes killed my father, but for that there might be some excuse. Father was a slave-dealer *Iii the ante-bellum days runaway negroes were a great dread. The above incident is the record of an actual event of a runaway slave. 256 HUMBLED PRIDE. and sold niggers. For the murder of my sister they might claim some excuse, for she was the daughter of a slave-dealer ; but for the murder of those two helpless children — those precious babes — I can never forgive the race. Men, for a like desolation and murder, have sworn vengeance against a whole tribe of Indians. Are not the Indians as humane and honorable and far more noble than the cursed niggers?" Here the doctor drove his heel into the ground with such force that Major Stevens never for a moment dreamed that he could be acting a part. A few days after this, Tom Flynn, one of the most cruel slave-owners in Boone County, a man who had sold most of his negroes into southern markets, suddenly discovered that his two remain- ing slaves had run away. He at once set out to find them. The slaves had robbed a house near Anderson's ferry and killed a child to keep her from informing on them. Her body was found several days after. The father of the child was a poor squatter living in a miserable hut, but an honest man. He searched long for his child alone, while the whole country turned out to find the negroes. Major Stevens, when informed by Flynn of the disappearance of the negroes, asked if Dr. Trun- nels had been notified. He had not. The major NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 357 went himself and told the doctor, and never did he see a more astounded man. The doctor could hardly speak for several minutes and then said: " Well, this is strange ! " " Is it any more strange than any other cases, doctor?" " No, no, no. " " Let us bring them back. " " We will- — -we'll hang the infernal abolitionists, too!" Then the doctor once more became wild with enthusiasm, and saddling his horse, headed the party of searchers and unerringly traced the negroes to the river. " They never crossed at Anderson's ferry, that is sure, " said the doctor. It was soon ascertained that they had crossed on a log. A little white boy had seen them on one dark night. One of them could not swim and he mounted the log while the other swam across push- ing him over. They were in Ohio, and not having the advan- tage of the underground railroad, they were pur- sued and overtaken about twenty miles from the river. The guilty wretches tried to fly ; but Dr. Trunnels brought his gun to his shoulder and cried : "Halt! don't you run a step, or by I'll 17 258 HUMBLED PRIDE. bore a hole through each of you, that I can run my fist through." The trembling wretches fell on their knees and began to beg for mercy. " I didn't do it — swar I didn't kill de chile — et war Jim, " said one. " No, massa, he am lyin' — he done et hisself, " Jim declared. " Come here!" cried the doctor, in a firm, stern tone, keeping the runaways covered with his deadly rifle. " If you try to run I will kill you both." The trembling darkies, bewailing their fate, crept forward and fell on their knees before the doctor, who handcuffed them together, and drove them to Anderson's ferry. " Don't say Dr. Trunnels never catches runaway niggers, " said the doctor boastingly, as he brought the two half -savage barbarians to their master. The dark hints they had thrown out led to the finding of the little girl. This aroused the worst blood of the Kentuckians, and the runaways were lynched under the supervision of Dr. Trunnels himself. The active part the doctor had taken in the cap- ture of the runaways for a long time put a quietus to a certain rumor that he was not sincere in his pretensions and efforts. NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 259 The lynching of the negroes intimidated others -who had thoughts of escaping, and if the " Under- ground Eailroad" men were at work, they did not accomplish anything for several months. A meeting of citizens assemhled at the" school- house, shortly after the lynching, in which many incendiary speeches were made. The mob who had hung the negroes was of course in the ascen- dency. Major Stevens, at last gaining the floor, appealed to the reason of the people. They had laws he said to punish ofEenders; murder was a terrible crime, and the murder of a little child, such as the negroes had committed, was so heinous as to make one shudder; but they had strict laws. The cul- prits deserved death ; yet it should have been ad- ministered by the law. If one took the law into his own hands in this case he might in any other. The very act of trampling the established rules of society under foot was tending toward anarchy. He was not defending the criminals, for a crime more heinous than theirs he could not conceive ; but he was defending the law. After he sat down, Dr. Trunnels rose and re- plied : In the abstract Major Stevens was correct. He meant well by all he said; but there were ex- ceptions to all rules, and this was a case where an 260 HUMBLED PRIDE. exception would apply. The law was slow in its course. There were many technical delays and loopholes made to protect the guilty, rather than to bring them to justice. While they were wait- ing for the trial of these victims, their crime would have been forgotten, and other blacks instigated to commit murder by the abolitionists. A speedy retribution would have a wholesome effect upon the others. If mob law were ever excusable, it certainly was in this case. Hang the wretches at once and prevent more crime. Then the doctor arraigned the abolitionists who were instigating the negroes to murder their masters, and who were morally responsible for this offence. " "We know not any night that we close our eyes, that we will not be murdered before morn- ing. Oh, that we could lay our hands on some of those meddlesome cowards of the North, — we would not wait for the law ; no, we would hang them higher than Haman. " And he brought down his fist with a tremen- dous whack on the teacher's desk, which made the ink-horn and papers rattle. Two weeks after this event. Major Stevens went to the post-office. There was a letter from Arthur, which told of the terrible battle at Buena Vista in February, two months before. The letter was written the second day after the battle when it NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 261 was known that Santa Anna was in full retreat to San Luis Potosi. It gave a detailed account of the fight, also of his saving the life of the young Mexican who had rescued him from the lance of the Comanche. As Arthur's letter would contain nothing new to the reader, we need not give it in detail; but by the same mail Major Stevens received a letter which was a great surprise to him. It was written in a scrawling, cramped hand, unused to handling the pen, on a piece of wrapping-paper. The envelope was rudely constructed of the same material and sealed with a blue wax. That strange missive was written with a piece of lead, and was as follows: " haverna kuby "february 10th, 1847 " Dere moster, i tak this chanse to rite yew a letter, i have to rite slow because if i was seen, and it was known i rote to you it would cost me my lyfe. I hav bin several days ritin this to yu. i am in kuby a slave, doctor trun- nels hee come to me ann hee told me i could be free hee sed he was a abylishonist settin niggers free, directed uv goddlemity too free slaves, i give him all my muny to free me an nelly, i would not a dunit but for nelly. She had a bad moster & i wanted to go with hur. he said we would go to andersons feny in covered wagons quakers with big hats an knee briches wuld tak us in wagins an keep us. tha did tak us and travil al nite in wagons hiden us in cellers al da untel we kum to watur whur wus a ship i wus put on bord ship & chained, beat with a whup. tha brot us al to kuby an sol us al. doctur trunnels he got the 263 HUMBLED PRIDE. muny fur us and he has run of lots ov niggers heer an sold them. "mi deer moster ef yu kan doo anything fur me fur god- sake doo it. coz i wil di heer in a f u months i aint seen nelly but wunst sins i kum heer. she was then almost ded. wunt yu kum an tak me horn i wunt never run of nor be free evun if the Abylishunists want me to : gud bi "John." Major Stevens read this badly scrawled letter half a dozen times before he could make out all its contents. He sat down on a bench on the veranda or porch in front of the village post-office and read it again and again. The major knew that John could write. Arthur had taught him some of the rudiments of education ; but the busy planter was wholly unacquainted with John's chirography, and he could not say if this was his writing or not. " So John is in Cuba, it seems," the major said, folding the letter and putting it in his pocket. He went thoughtfully to the hitch-rack under the old oak, where his horse stood and rode slowly home. Major Stevens was in a quandary. If he believed this letter to be genuine, he must believe Dr. Trunnels to be an impostor and an outlaw. He was not in a hurry to accuse any one who stood so well in society as the doctor did. Eeach- ing home, he turned over the mare to a negro boy, and went to his wife's room. "Have you , letters from Arthur?" asked Mrs. NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 263 Stevens, her face expressing alarm, for the face of the planter was grave and serious. "Yes, mother, Arthur is well and hopeful. They have fought another great battle, at a place called Buena Vista and utterly defeated the Mexi- can army, under Santa Anna. " " Let me see his letter, " cried the mother. Her husband's face expressed such a look of seriousness that she feared he was deceiving her, and she could hardly believe him until she had read the letter herself, from beginning to end. When she had done so, she again fixed her eyes on her husband's face and asked: " What has gone amiss, Fernando?" " Nothing, mother, " the major answered. " Why are you so serious?" He answered her question by asking : "Could John write?" "John— what John?" " Our mulatto boy, who ran away. " " I believe he could. " "Would you know his handwriting?" " No; Arthur would; but why do you ask?" " I have a letter purporting to be from him, " and Major Stevens took from the improvised en- velope the long strip of wrapping-paper on which was John's letter. He read it through to his wife and asked : 264 HUMBLED PRIDE. " What do you think of it?" She was silent for a few moments as if trying to form an unbiased decision, and then said: " I believe it is true. " " Morgianna, if this letter be true, Dr. Trunnels is a scoundrel and a law-breaker. " Mrs. Stevens made no answer. " Is there no one who knows John's handwrit- ing?" the major asked. " None but Arthur. " " And he is in Mexico ; we know not when he will return." Major Stevens pored over the scribbled sheet again and again, then said : " I wish I knew if this be true. " "Think well, Fernando," said his wife, "before you make your decision. Don't you know there has been a strange mystery all along attached to Dr. Trunnels?" " What you say is true, Morgianna. I can't understand him, that's a fact. Dr. Trunnels is an enigma, yet he has recaptured negroes that ran away. " " It may all be a blind. " " So may this letter be a blind, " sighed the major. " I wish Arthur was home. " In his perplexity, the major decided for the present to let the matter rest. If Dr. Trunnels NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 265 were guilty, he should be punished according to the laws of the State and to the full extent. Next day, while giving directions to his field hands, he heard a voice calling to him from the front fence, and turning his eyes in that direction discovered that it was Mr. Warren sitting on his gray horse. " Won't you alight and come in, Mr. Warren?" asked the planter. "No, thank you, I haven't time," Warren answered. " As soon as you have set your nig- gers to work, I want to talk with you a little, major. " "In just a moment I will be through," the planter answered, and turned to the black band of laborers, making a great to-do harnessing horses and mules and looking after ploughs, he said : " Jim, you and Moses can plough the south quar- ter field to-day." " Yes, sah. " "Ike." "Yes, sah." " Your collar is too tight, it's choking your horse. " " What must I do, mossa?" " Loosen it at the top ; unbuckle and let it out as far as you can. " " Yes, mossa. " 266 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Jim, one of your trace chains is too long; you will make your horse's shoulder sore. " The slave shortened the trace. Slaves took little care how they worked. They exercised no judgment. " I doan think 'bout nuffin, " Jim la- conically said. " Mossa, he tell me to do de workin' an' he'll do de thinkin'." This was a principle followed by most of them, and when the boon of freedom came, their thinking faculties were undeveloped. When the planter had given the last order, and seen that the harnesses would not gall the horses and mules, he went to the stiles, where his neigh- bor still sat on his gray horse tapping the fence with his cowhide riding-whip. " Won't you dismount and come in, Mr. War- ren?" " No ; it is pleasant out here. Have you heard from Arthur since the battle of Buena Vista?" " Yes, we had a letter from him yesterday. " " We got one from Tom. I suspect that was the biggest battle ever fought, from what Tom says. " " Both he and Arthur came out all right, but George Shaw was killed — poor George," sighed the major. " Arthur says he was th6 only one whom we know that was killed." " I didn't come to talk with you about that, NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 267 major, " said Mr. Warren. " I want to know what we are to do with the Martins. " " Are they making trouble again ? " " Yes ; Bill went to Gunpowder last night, got blind drunk and fired a pistol into the schoolhouse door as he passed. " " "Was any one in the schoolhouse?" " No ; the children had gone home. Then there are Jane and Kate and Christine Martin, the shame-faced creatures. I believe we will have to drive all of them out of the country. " " Whose house do they live in?" " Some fellow across the creek. I've a mind to raise a mob and burn them out. Eush Martin says he'll shoot any man who tries to drive them out ; but no one is afraid of him. " " Eush and Bill are both desperate fellows. They once tried to drive them out and shot Bill in the leg." " The strangest thing of all is that Dr. Trunnels is the friend of these Martins. " "Their friend!" " Yes, don't it seem a little odd that a man — a gentleman of his standing should espouse the cause of such people?" " I would hardly have thought it of the doctor ; yet he cannot defend disreputable people. Unless the Martins mend their ways, they must go. " 268 HUMBLED PBIDE. Mr. Warren answered: "I don't like to ofEend Dr. Trunnels, he has been very kind to me and when my niggers ran away did all he could to help recapture them, though we never found them. " This remark recalled to the mind of Major Stevens his letter from John, and he said: " Mr. Warren, I want to speak to you in confi- dence about a certain matter. " " What is it, major?" asked Mr. Warren. " I heard from John. " " What! not your colored man John?" "Yes— John." "Why, how?" " I had a letter purporting to be from him, and if it really be from him, there is a wonderful revelation in it. " "What is it?" " I will bring his letter. and read it." Major Stevens went and brought the piece of wrapping-paper on which were scrawled the lines with a piece of pointed lead. He read it through from beginning to end and asked: " Well, what do you think of it?" " I think it is all a lie from beginning to end," was the unhesitating answer of Mr. Warren. " Well, I am at a loss to know what object there could be in the lie. " NEWS FROM TBE RUNAWAY. 269 " CoTild your John write?" "Yes." " Do you think that his handwriting?" " I do not know, Mr. Warren. I thought John could write better than that. " " "Whether John wrote it, or didn't write it. Major Stevens, it's all an abolition dodge, to throw us off the right track. Dr. Trunnels has caught too many runaway niggers and has helped hang too many abolitionists, for me to believe him a nigger thief. " " If Arthur were at home, he would know John's handwriting. " " What difference does it make, whether John wrote it or not? " I don't think John would deceive me. " " Wouldn't deceive you ! Didn't he run away?" " Yes " " Well, any nigger will deceive you; you can't trust any of them." " That is true ; John did deceive me, " returned the major sadly. " I didn't believe he would run off." " The abolitionists had him write that letter to fix suspicion on Doctor Trunnels, who is so earnest and successful of late in bringing back runaways, to throw us off the guard. " " Perhaps you are right. " 270 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Have you ever mentioned it to the doctor?" "No." "Why?" " I thought it best not to do so. " " I'd go right to him with it." " I will. " Next day Dr. Trunnels came to the plantation of Major Stevens. He looked very sad and care- worn. " Pardon me, major, " said the doctor, " I know it isn't right to take my cares and woes to others, but I cannot help it. I have no wife to sympa- thize with me, so I must trespass on my friends. " " What have you to say, doctor?" "It is this, major: there is poor old Martin, an inoffensive, helpless old fellow, very indolent to be sure, and what makes it worse for him, he has two sons who are drinking, ruffianly sort of. fellows, and three daughters, who are a disgrace to their sex. But, major, should the innocent be made to suffer for the guilty? These helpless old people are threatened with mob violence, if they do not move out of the country. Because I es- poused the cause of the helpless old people, I have aroused the righteous indignation of many of my neighbors. Major Stevens, I am not understood, I feel quite sure of it. What would you advise me to do in this matter? Obey the combined in- NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 271 junctions of reason and conscience, or would you have me follow the advice prompted by prejudice of friends?" " Dr. Trunnels, I cannot advise any one to act contrary to his judgment and conscience. " " Especially when these instincts are prompted by humanity. " "Yes." Then the major said he had something to show the doctor. He went to a secretary and took from it John's letter, which he handed him to read. The writing was not very legible and quite diffi- cult to decipher. The major watched the doctor's face closely, while he was deciphering the letter. He changed countenance half a dozen times during the reading. At one moment he was perplexity, next dismay, at last doubt and uncertainty. He read the document through slowly and carefully three or four times before he spoke, whether it was to get the sense out of the b^dly scrawled let- ter, or to give himself time to collect his faculties and frame a good defence, the major was not able to tell. At last, folding the document coolly, and with a half -sneering smile which did not part his lips, asked : " When did you get that?" " A few days ago. " " Have you the envelope?" 273 HUMBLED PRIDE. "Yes." " Does the postmark show that it was mailed in Cuba?" " Yes. " He was silent for a few moments when he asked: " Can John write ? " "Yes." "Do you think it is his handwriting?" asked the doctor. He was not the least moved, but was apparently as unconcerned as if discussing an ordinary business matter, and wished to get at the truth. " I cannot say, doctor, whether it is John's handwriting or not. No one but Arthur would know. " " Yes ; I have at my house a note written by John, now that I remember, in which he asked something about a bee-tree, he had discovered on my land. " " "What is your opinion about the letter, doc- tor?" asked the major. " I believe your man John wrote it, " was the grave, serious answer. "What?" cried the amazed planter; "do you admit to it?" " Not the charges in the letter, major," said the doctor, with a calm, assuring smile, which almost convinced Major Stevens that he was the most NEWS FROM THE RUNAWAY. 373 honest and the purest man living. After giving the doctor a puzzled look, the major said: "Explain yourself, doctor." " This is the shrewdest, most ingenious scheme I ever knew. I believe John wrote the letter, for I think, as near as I can remember, it will corre- spond with his handwriting. He either took it to Cuba, or sent it to be mailed to you. " " But it is not like John to be guilty of such a deception. " "Don't blame John; it is the plan of some shrewd abolitionists. Of late we have been suc- cessful to a remarkable degree in bringing back runaway negroes. It has become necessary for them to . destroy the influence of Dr. Trunnels. " He fixed his gray eyes on Major Stevens and seemed the most innocent man living. " Major Stevens, do you believe that letter?" he asked. " No. " " I was quite sure you did not, " and with a harsh muffled laugh at the cunning trick of the abolitionists. Dr. Trunnels bade the major adieu and took his departure. 18 OHAPTBE XIII. A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. For three days after the battle of Buena Vista, Captain Arthur Stevens was like one in a maze. It all seemed a horrible dream, a nightmare. He was disgusted and tired of war. The heroic Chris- tian conduct of the Mexican women convinced him that the people he was fighting were not the brutal, heartless ruffians he had supposed. In truth, the Americans have never understood the Mexican people. They have judged the entire race by the peons, half-breeds and Indians in New Mexico and Texas. Even with these, they have been harsh in their judgment. The Mexican or Greaser of Texas has long been the scapegoat on whose shoulders were laid the sins of vicious white men. The Greaser is not without his own faults, yet he is not so bad as he has been painted. Captain Stevens could not but feel some anxiety for the young officer whose life he had saved. Men are so constituted, as philosophers say, that they hate those whom they have wronged. If this 374 A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. 375 be true, it is also true that they like those whom they have befriended. At any rate, Arthur had good reason to be solicitous about one who had saved him from the lance of a savage. The army was still lying at Saltillo, when he learned from one of the Mexican nurses, that a young captain of lancers was lying at a hacienda in the mountains, dangerously wounded. From the description. Captain Stevens came to the conclusion it must be his unknown and gener- ous friend. He found One-eyed Mike dressing a wound his mustang had received on the hip from a Mexican lance, and asked him if he was ac- quainted with the hills on the northwest. "Somewhat, Captain!" the guide answered, while his single eye roamed over the person of the young ofBicer. " I want to go over there. " The old scout, having washed out the wound thoroughly, gathered the skin together and began sewing it. Wodin, unaccustomed to the stings of pain, stamped the ground and flinched to the right and left ; but the old man went on with his work as he asked: " Why do you want to go over there, captain?" " To see a friend who saved my life. He is dying. " " Do you mean the young lancer?" 376 HUMBLED PRIDE. "Yes." The old scout and guide shook his shaggy gray head, as he answered: " No ; he will have the best of care. These Mexican women are not the persons to neglect their own. Better not risk your life among the hills. " " Nevertheless, Mike, it is my duty to look after him." " Very natural. " The old man put the finishing touches to Wodin's wound and released the little fellow, very much to his satisfaction. " He will be well in a week, " said the scout. " Mike, tell me something of the country over there ? " said Captain Stevens. " Are you determined to go?" "lam." " It is a succession of hills and valleys ; some of the valleys are cultivated, with fine haciendas, others like the hills are a wilderness of .chaparral, cactus and palms. It's a dangerous place to travel. " Captain Stevens, with a smile, answered : " What is to be feared? The Mexican army has been driven to San Luis Potosi. " " We don't know how many guerillas are in the wilderness, " and he reminded him of the fate of Colonel Cross. A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. 277 But tlie warning of the guide was of no avail to Captain Stevens, and two days later, procuring a short leave of absence and a horse, he hastened to the distant hills. Nothing is more deceptive than distance. The hills which did not seem more than four or five miles distant were eighteen, and the day was well nigh spent when he reached the large hacienda which nestled at the foot of them. The inmates of the house could not speak a word of English, and he was compelled to converse with them mainly by signs, for he had picked up few Spanish words. He, however, made out to ask them about the wounded seiior, and an old man pointed across the hills. He mounted his already jaded horse and started along the narrow pass, riding as rapidly as he dared ; for he realized that night woxild soon be on him, and even his stout heart quailed at the thought of passing a night in that wilderness. The sun had set, and the mountains, bleak and gray, were drawing the sable cloak of night about their heads, when he reached the hacienda to which he had been directed. He saw a priest at the door and heard people going softly about within. The priest, who spoke English quite well, in- formed him that the seBor was dying. "Could he see him?" 378 HUMBLED PRIDE. "Yes." Softly he entered the hall of death, in which lay a noble-looking young man. Two monks propped up his pillows, while a priest, with prayer-book in one hand, held before his dimming vision the sacred symbol, that his last expiring gaze might rest on the emblem of salvation. Another priest in sacerdotal robes, knelt at the foot of the bed, his head bowed in his hands, while his lips moved in prayer. One glance at the dying man, and Arthur saw it was not the lancer of the white horse ; yet he was enchained to the spot by the scene. The hero was dying. His breath grew shorter every mo- ment, and his eye already had the glassy stare of death. Three or four servants were at the doors gazing into the apartment where all was silence, save that awful death rattle more terrible than the roar of a cannon. In a few moments he passed away, and Captain Stevens bowed his head and thought : " He was a hero, — he died for his country!" He turned to go. It was night now and the mountain pass, was bleak and wild. The priest at the door asked : " My son, why did you come so far from your own army alone? Do you not know your danger?" " Good father, I have a friend among the enemy. A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. 379 one who saved my life. I was told of this dying man and feared it was he. I came to see him. " " It was folly to risk your life thus. " " Had it been my friend I would have been re- paid to have held his hand in mine once more, even had I lost my life. " " Where are you going?" " Back to Saltillo. " "Surely not to-night?" " Why not? I cannot stay here." The priest's kind face wore a look of deepest anxiety. Though a Mexican he was a Christian and looked on all mankind as brothers, and he knew full well the dangers of a night journey in the mountains, and, shaking his head, he said: " It won't do, my son. The country is in an un- settled state, and it would be death to venture across the mountains to-night, for the guerillas and rancheros are in the hills. A league and a half to the west is a monastery, where you will find four monks. You will be safe there until morning. Then return to your friends and venture no more so far away. " The moon had risen, and the broad, plain road to the westward, Arthur was told, would lead to the monastery. He was given some tortillas and pulque for his supper, and his horse some carrots and oats, and then he set out on his journey. 280 HUMBLED PRIDE. The moonlight streamed on the broad white path, bordered on each side by shrubbery. Over half the distance had been traversed, when Arthur was suddenly startled by the ring of hoofs in his rear. His cheek grew a little paler ; but his nerves were steady. Hastily examining the priming of his pistols to assure himself they were in good condi- tion, he resolved to sell his life as dearly as possi- • ble, should he be assailed by mountain robbers. His pursuer came on at an easy canter and seemed making no effort to overtake him. At this junc- ture Arthur came to a place where the road forked, and was puzzled which path to take. The priest had forgotten to mention this divergence, and while Arthur was hesitating whether to go to the right or left, a voice behind him called : " Quien es ? A donde vive, senor f " (Who are you? Where do you live, sir?) " No intinde Mexicano, senor !" answered Ar- thur, summoning up all the Mexican he knew, to inform the horseman he could not speak the lan- guage. A moment later he was astonished to find himself addressed in tolerably fair English. " So, senor, you are an Americano. Why are you alone in the mountains?" " I came to seek a friend among the lancers, whom I heard was wounded here," Arthur answered, keeping his hand on the butt of a pistol. A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. 281 " Where are you going?" " To the little monastery. Which of these roads leads to it?" The horseman had come closer now, and Arthur, though he seemed peaceable, kept his hand on his pistol ready to shoot at the least sign of treachery. "I think I can mend the ill, sertor, " said the stranger. " I am going to my hacienda, come with me!" There was something so frank and open in the man's manner, that Arthur felt that he could trust him. The night air on the mountains was sharp, and they galloped along the road for some distance without a word. Arthur felt sure they had gone twice the distance to the monastery, and yet they had not come in sight of it. He was on the point of declaring he would not go any further, when the Mexican pointed to a house across some jutting crags and said: " We can rest there. " " That is not a monastery, " said Arthur. "No, senor; it is my house. The monastery be across the chasm, and it be dangerous to go to- night. Tarry here until daylight, and I be glad to go with the senor and show him the way. " Arthur did not like the looks of the man, yet he seemed peaceful and honest. He rode with him to the front of the house and dismounted. 283 HUMBLED PRIDE. The building was of stone and the walls were mastjive. Unlike most country houses in Mexico, this building was two stories in height. He saw an ox-cart and rude farming implements under a shed, and tried to persuade himself that the place was safe. Arthur Stevens was at the mercy of the Mexican, for in this wilderness he could not possibly find his way out during the night. He went with the Mexican to tie the horses under the shed, and then they entered the house or hacienda. The apartment was large, though the ceiling was low. A single tallow dip candle but dimly lighted the room. Sitting about on the elevation which ran around the room, was a middle-aged woman, a handsome young senorita, and two or three peons, dark and swarthy as Indians. The Mexican who seemed the owner of the house spoke some words in Spanish to the Mexican elder woman, who was " mucho-mucho" avoirdupois, and supported a mustache and " gal ways" that would make many a young fellow envy her hirsute charms. She rose and growled out some words in Mexican to the peons and they retired to another apartment. All the while the fair senorita with the sad, dark eyes sat gazing at the pale stranger from the North. The candle-light showed that the Mexican had a most villanous-looking face. His black, A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. 383 snake-like eyes and sallow complexion surmounted by coarse hair, with his fierce expression gave to him a diabolical appearance. About his waist was a belt supporting a huge pistol and an ugly-looking machete. Arthur sat in one corner of the apart- ment caressing the butts of his pistols as his only friends. The Mexican spoke some low words to the senorita, who retired, and a few moments later he followed her. Then the American was alone in the apartment, his mind harrowed by many con- flicting doubts and fears. His fertile imagination was abundantly stored with accounts of travellers beguiled into peaceful -looking habitations in the mountains and murdered. He had read Count Fathom's adventures and the story of Jonathan Wild and Jack Sheppard in his boyhood, and this adventure seemed so like some of them, that his blood ran cold. He even persuaded himself that the Mexican had brought him to this bouse, which was, perhaps, the rendezvous of a band of robbers, who would murder him in his sleep. He now saw with wonderful force the folly of leaving the American camp, -and he asked himself again and again why he had been guilty of such an act. Was it simply gratitude or friendship for the young lancer of the white horse, or was it rather the glimpse of the sweet face and those star-like 284 HUMBLED PRIDE. eyes of the seaorita, which impelled him to make the journey to the hills? Though Arthur would not admit it, even to himself, it was the hope of finding Madelina at the side of her wounded brother, which inspired him to brave the dangers of the mountains. Now that all had failed, his disappointment, embittered by anxiety and dan- ger, made him desperate. Harrowed by these apprehensions, he had almost resolved to quit the hacienda and entrust himself to the mercies of the howling wilderness as the least of two evils, when he suddenly became aware that some one had entered the apartment, and look- ing up, beheld the pretty senorita. She was com- ing softly across the room with her finger to her lips to enjoin silence. " Senor," she said in a whisper. He rose, but she motioned him to be seated, and went on in excellent English : "Senor, why did you come here? Don't you know this is a death house?" " What do you mean?" he asked. " Sh — not too loud, senor. This is the home of Pedro Fuero, the mountain robber. He has only induced you to come that he may murder you in your sleep. " Such an announcement could not fail to fill the breast of Arthur with unspeakable horror. In the A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. ' 385 first transports of dread, he turned his eyes toward the door; but the fair senorita gently laid her hand on his arm and whispered : "It's too late, senor; that avenue of escape is guarded." Then his heart began to palpitate, his hair to bristle up, and his knees to tremble. His thoughts teemed with death and destruction; his conscience rose up in judgment against him, and he underwent a severe paroxysm of dismay and distraction. His spirits were agitated into a state of fermentation which produce an inspiration in desperate men to die as calmly as they go to din- ner, and, by an impulse that seemed supernatural, he turned coolly upon the senorita and asked : " What would you advise?" "Do not eat or drink anything while in this house, for everything is drugged." Arthur was neither hungry nor thirsty. " But how am I to escape?" " Wait. Pedro Fuero is now on guard in front with his carbine to shoot you if you emerge from the door. He has sent a peon to his men who are in the mountains not over two miles away. When the senora comes and offers you a mug of pulque, tell her you will take it to your room and drink it there. She will then show you up the stairway to a room where you are to sleep. Pour the pulque upon the floor and hand back the mug to the 386 HUMBLED PRIDE. senora. I will provide a rope, by which you may climb down from the south window, which is broken, and I will bring your horse under some trees not far; mount and ride for your life." " And you, senorita?" "Nevermind me, senor; they will never harm me; I am too useful to them. I never saw one before, whose life I cared to save; but, senor, I will save you," she said, her beautiful eyes gleam- ing with a strange fierceness. At this moment, the footsteps of the corpulent senora were heard coming, and the senorita again placed her fingers to her lips to enjoin silence, darted to a far corner of the room as swiftly and gracefully as a ballet dancer skims across the stage, and sank . upon the seat. The senora asked the American in very broken English if he would take a drink of pulque. He answered that he would as soon as he was in his room ; he was very sleepy and wanted to retire. She pointed to the stair- way, and he ascended, the fat senora following him, while the senorita disappeared from the apartment. At the top of the landing, she handed him the mug, and, entering the apartment, he pre- tended to drink the liquor, which had a very pungent odor; but he poured it upon the floor, handed out the mug and closed the door. By the aid of a wax taper he surveyed the apartment. A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. 287 There was a cot at one side on which were some skins and a miserable dirty bed. The young American once more looked to his pistols and then calmly went to the windows. Both had been strongly barred with iron ; but he found at one of the windows the bars loosened, so that he was able to remove them without much difficulty. Taking a lariat which he found lying on the floor he tied one end to a solid beam, and threw the other out of the window. It was long enough to almost reach the ground. He waited a short time, listening, then crept to the front part of the building and looked out. There was Pedro Fuero squatting behind a cactus, his carbine in his hand, waiting to shoot him. Arthur went to the window on the South, and climbing through the broken bars began to de- scend by means of the rope. His escape was per- ilous. The least noise might attract the senora within, who would notify her husband on the opposite side of the house, or one of the peons might come that way and discover him; then it would be a death struggle, with chances greatly against him. He gained the ground, however, without mishap and set out for the tree, according to direction, and found the senorita holding his horse ready saddled and bridled. 388 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Mount, senor and fly. Go to the South ; you may thus escape," she said. "One moment, senorita," said Arthur gazing into the beautifully sad eyes. "Who are you? I must know who my deliverer is!" " JSTo, no, sonor; don't ask me to explain; go!" " But I must know whom to thank. " " Thank the Virgin Mary, not me, senor. Think no more about me, senor. This danger, this one good act is the only ray of happiness that has illuminated my dark soul for many years. Pray do not tarry longer, for you know not these fiends. Mount and ride to the South for seven leagues. Go slowly until you are beyond ear- shot; then put spurs to your horse and fly." Captain Stevens was constrained to obey the fair Mexican. He mounted his horse and rode down the hill toward a mesquite grove. Just be- fore he plunged into it, out of sight of the fair unknown forever, he turned in his saddle and glanced toward her. She was weeping as if her heart would break. Arthur rode on, and the mystery of her life awaits the final judgment when all thoughts must be known. Half a mile further he increased the speed of his horse to a gallop. The animal was already greatly jaded. Any other than a Mexican horse would have given out hours before, but A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. 289 Arthur managed to put several miles between him and the enemy before daylight. When day dawned, he found himself in one of those lovely valleys common in tropical mountain countries. Early as the season was, the valley was covered with verdure on which he allowed his horse to graze, while the exhausted rider reclined beneath a tall palm. He had slept none the night before and despite the dangers by which he knew himself to be surrounded, he fell into a long and refreshing sleep. The sun beamed warm upon the valley, driving away the chill air. When he awoke, he was astonished to find the sun almost vertical. He felt a gnawing at his stomach which reminded him he had failed to supply its demands. Hungry as he was, he was compelled to go without food. There was a sort of red berry growing on some wild vines, but he dared not eat of them lest they should turn out to be the poison toloachi, or some other terrible vege- table of the tropics, so after slaking his thirst at a clear, cool spring, he mounted his horse and rode away. Had he gone the required distance southward? he asked himself. He believed he had, and once more turned his course toward Saltillo. An hour's riding brought him to an impassable barrier of rocks and mountain 19 290 HUMBLED PRIDE. walls, and he was compelled again to turn east- ward. He held this course until the sun became obscured by clouds, and he lost his way, but continued to wander until night came. Late in the evening he shot a hare with his pistol, and kindling a fire broiled part of the meat for supper. Making a small fire to keep comfortable and at the same time frighten away the wild beasts, he sat by it and dozed and slept at intervals through the long night, while his horse, which was picketed near him, grazed unmolested. At early dawn he rekindled the fire, cooked the remainder of the hare for breakfast, and resumed his journey. He was now hopelessly lost. The day was so cloudy, he had no advantage of the sun, but rode first in one direction and then the other. The road grew dimmer and dimmer, until it at last gave out altogether, and he found him- self in a broken, untraversed wild, froni the laby- rinthiun mazes of which it seemed wholly impossi- ble to extricate himself. He did not despair, but continued his wandering. As yet, not a human being had been seen since leaving the mountain hacienda. On the third day he came suddenly upon a broad path leading from the north and winding into a valley southwest. He entered the road, hoping it would take him to some convent, mon- SUDDENLY A LASSO CAME WHIZZING TBEODGH THE AIE. A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. 291 astery or hacienda where he might hire a guide for Saltillo. Again the day was almost spent, and he had almost reconciled himself to pass rn- other night in the mountains, when he suddenly heard the loud clatter of hoofs behind him. Glanc- ing over his shoulder, he espied a pair of mounted Mexicans, whom he took for harmless rancheros, come galloping up toward him. Notwithstanding they seemed so innocent and harmless, and scarce took any notice of him what- ever, he laid his hand on his pistols, determined not to be taken by surprise. The horsemen seemed as if they would gallop by him without even so much as the customary Mexican saluta- tion. He drew his horse a little aside and they went dashing by. Suddenly a lasso came whizzing through the air with scarcely a perceptible motion from the Mexican throwing it. Arthur saw it coming and tried to dodge it; but it was hurled with wonderful precision, and a motion too quick for the eye. The noose encircled his head, and fell over his shoulders in a second, before he could even draw a pistol, and the guerillas, galloping on at full speed, jerked the American from his saddle, hurling him upon the ground with a force that almost knocked the breath out of his body. He was dragged almost a hundred yards over the rough uneven ground, before his captor stopped 392 HUMBLED PRIDE. his horse. Then his companion dismounted and ran to tie the hands of the captive behind his back. Gasping for breath and almost insensible, he was set down at the root of a tree while his captors talked in the Mexican tongue, not a word of which Arthur could understand. His head had suffered a severe contusion from its contact with a stone, and he was confused in his ideas. He had an in- distinct idea of other outlaws joining the captors. He heard the name of Miguel Morillo spoken and knew that he was the captive of this terrible bri- gand chief ; but Arthur was too much stunned to feel alarmed. He was lifted to the back of his own horse and securely tied to the animal, then with his captors six or eight in number set out southward at a gal- lop, every movement producing the most excruci- ating pain, for, in addition to the contusion on his head and face, his shoulder was dislocated. At last his groans became shrieks, and one of the Mexicans raised a machete to dispatch him, when the sharp report of a carbine rang out on the air, and a bullet shattered the man's arm. With a yell, he fled, followed by his companions, while Captain Felipe and some peons dashed up to where Arthur's horse stood with his insensible master on his back. The American was removed from the A FRIEND AMONG THE FOES. 293 saddle and carried a short distance to the Senorita Madelina's carriage. " How far is it, Father Agatone?" asked Felipe. "Not half a league." " Let us get there at once, for the seSor may be worse injured than we suppose. " The carriages rolled away; but to Arthur all was a blank. CHAPTEE XIV. MADELINA. When Arthur awoke to consciousness, it was nearly noon. The awakening came slowly, accom- panied by pain. In all his past life he had never experienced such mental and bodily exhaustion as now oppressed him. Every muscle and tendon was aching a bitter complaint against the abuse of the day before. Dull, pulseless pain smoldered in some ; in others it was a keen throb like the toothache. Continued lying in one position was unendurable, — changing it a thrill of anguish. His brain was an aching mass, so that any attempt to recall who he was, or where he was produced only pain and confusion. Thinking was torture, for every organ of thought was bruised and sore ; yet by degrees the fearful events of the past few days continued to crowd themselves upon his mind. To put them out required a painful effort ; to re- call and comprehend them was worse. Eeflecting upon them now with unstrung nerves made them seem a hundredfold worse ; for all was a confused 294 MADELINA. 295 mass of horrible visions, a terrible nightmare, in ■which Buena Vista, a dying hero, cowled priests, the hacienda, mountain robbers, and a soft-eyed senorita mingled in a heterogeneous mass. At last, by a stupendous effort aiid with the most excruci- ating pain, he threw off the feeling and slowly regained consciousness. He was lying on a bed or cot, soft, downy, clean and white as the virgin snow on the distant mountain peak. Sunny peace and contentment reigned. The door stood wide open, and, as it faced the South, the noonday sun pushed in — clear to the opposite wall— a broad band of mellow light, vividly telling of the glory he was shedding where roof nor shade checked his genial glow.- On the smooth, hard floor, in the centre of this bright zone, sat a motherly cat, giving with tongue and paw dainty, finishing touches to her morning toilet; at the same time watching with pride a pair of kittens playing at hide and seek in the door. The softest sounds were borne by the balmy air to the room, which was fragrant with tropical flowers. The old Mexican passion for flowers seemed to have reached its climax in this house, hacienda, chapel or convent, or whatever it might be. The view from the doorway was a grand one. It was a picture set in that frame of white stone 296 HUMBLED PBIDE. such as no artist ever painted. Far oS to the South were distant mountain peaks, whose blue tops seeming to pierce the rain clouds, were capped with eternal snow. Lying between the mountain ranges and the door, were miles on miles of green valleys, sparkling cascades, deep forests, palms, cactus, mesquite and the ever useful maguey plant, which grows alike on the richest soil or most bar- ren plain. The scenery was interspersed with crags, peaks, and delightful shady glens. The whole country save the mountain peaks, was densely covered with verdure. As yet he had seen no living object save the cats and some large birds soaring in the distance. He had not seen a single human being, though at last there came on the air a masculine voice singing in a not unmusi- cal tone: " Sabe que es pulque — Licor divino ? Lo beben los angeles En Yez de vino. " * When the singer ceased his wild carol, Arthur hoped to get sight of him, for there was something strange and enchanting in his voice. He was not disappointed, for in a few moments there appeared * Know ye not pulque — That liquor divine? Angels in heaven Prefer it to wine. MADELINA. 397 at tlie door one of the strangest, weirdest-looking human beings he had ever seen. It was an old man, filthy beyond description, barefooted, bare- headed, clad in scanty rags that left breast and limbs uncovered; yet he had a refined grace of politeness characteristic of a Castilian, while his face, still handsome, betrayed the fact that it once possessed more than ordinary intelligence. Under his arm he had a bundle of rags and papers, which he had gathered from the by-ways, and as he paused at the door and gazed on the invalid he murmured the characteristic " por Dios ! " of the Mexican beggar, while he extended his hand for a favor. Arthur made an effort to answer him, but was unable to do so; and the harmless lunatic, seeing his condition, said: " Pardonez me, senor!" and went away. He had been gone but a few moments, when the door was again darkened, and this time, to Arthur's joy, he saw the captain of the white horse. " Good morning, senor, " he said with a glad siliile on his face. Arthur made an effort to answer, to take his hand ; but the room was rock- ing and his voice failed him. Everything was again swimming before his eyes, and he was in a' moment unconscious. His swoon was a slight one. 298 HUMBLED PRIDE. In a moment he was again conscious and realized that there was another in the room besides the young lancer. An old Mexican doctor, with a pair of goggle-eyed spectacles, was at his side, and felt his pulse, temples and feet, grunted profes- sionally and made his diagnosis in Mexican, which Arthur could not understand, then said : " Caraja 1 Tres dies y noches ! " He made this out to mean that he would be better in three days and nights ; but his knowledge ol Mexican was limited. If that was the opinion of the old Mexican, it was correct, for on the third day Arthur was vastly improved. His illness was not so much from injury as from long expo- sure, fatigue and loss of sleep, which all combined to prostrate his nervous system, so that when he was assailed by the guerillas he broke down under the shock. The fourth day, he was able to sit up and talk with the young captain, who told him how he had found him by the merest accident in the moun- tains, and rescued him from the bandits. That he had just rescued his sister from the gang a few hours before, as she was going south to Puebla, and had brought her to the monastery. " Are we at a monastei-y?" Arthur asked. " Yes, senor, a monastery and the mission of the Sacred Heart. " MADELINA. 3i>9 " Is your sister here?" " Yes, seQor. " Arthur's cheek flushed with inexpressible joy. He was unable to explain even to himself why he should be delighted to find himself under the same roof with the sister of his young friend. He had caught but a passing glimpse of her face and had only an indistinct idea of a perfect contour and great, soft, dark eyes ; yet to him it was loveliness. He was about to speak, when he again heard the voice of the wretched old man singing his fa- vorite air: " Sabe que es pulque — Licordivino?" etc. A moment later he glanced in at the door and, extending one miserable hand, whined : "PorDios!" Captain Felipe answered him in the Mexican tongue, went to another apartment and brought him a handful of rags and scraps of paper, with some bits of bread and cold tortillas. The odd old man was quite profuse in his thanks, more especially for the rags and paper than for the food. Adding the former to his already large bundle he went away singing. Captain Felipe watched the old fellow for a few moments and, returning to Arthur's side, said: " Poor old Antonio ; he is worthy of compassion. " 300 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Does he live here? " " He lives everywhere. That bundle of rags and paper and his dog are his only property. He usually sleeps in the chaparral 'or under some sheep shed." " Is he a lunatic?" " Yes, senor. " Before he could ask more, the Mexican doctor, accompanied by Father -Agatone and one of the monks entered. The priest said in English : " I am pleased to find you so much improved. " " Thank you, good father, " Arthur feebly an- swered. " Have you forgotten I am your enemy?" The priest with a smile on his face answered: " Nay, my son, I never knew it ; you are one of God's creatures and God is no respecter of persons, we care alike for friends and foes ! " Arthur took his hand while tears started to his eyes, as he muttered: " Grand, noble Christian!" The doctor, exercising his authority, hushed every one and proceeded to examine his patient, and dish out more of his nostrums, talking all the while in the Mexican tongue. The priest, acting as translator, told Arthur he must be quiet ; he administered a dose of medicine, which had the effect of an opiate, for he was soon dozing. Then, sleeping and dreaming, or half MADELINA. 301 awake and half asleep he could not tell which, he was conscious of a great cloud of blue mist over- spreading him like a canopy, and through this ap- peared the sweetest face he had ever gazed upon. The voice, when she spoke, was music itself. He did not fully wake until late next day, yet all through the night he was conscious of the face hovering over him. When he awoke, it was gone, yet he knew it had been a reality. He was very much better this morning. Felipe came in sat at his bedside and talked with him about his return to the American army. " Is Taylor still at Saltillo?" he asked. "Yes." " I had orders to join Scott at Vera Cruz. " At this, he noticed his friend start. For a moment he was silent and then with a sigh said: " So, senor, you Americans intend to invade from the South. " " Yes ; but let us not talk of that, captain. Personally, we are friends, — nationally, enemies. Was I very ill last night?" "Slightly delirious." " Were you with me?" "AH the time." " You were not alone?" "No." 303 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Where is she? Was she your sister?" " Yes, senor. " '' The one I granted the escort to from Monterey ? " " The same, senor. " He expressed a wish to meet her, and the brother said that Madelina would come and sit by his side that evening, while he went down the mountain to reconnoitre. " Is there danger, captain ? Are the Americans coming into the mountains?" " No, senor ; there is no danger from the Ameri- cans. We have the guerillas and brigands to fear more than the invaders just now. " Arthur had little dread of guerillas. His mind was too full of the anticipated pleasure of meeting with the beautiful Madelina to think or care about guerillas. Arthur was given some nourishing food, cooked to suit his American taste by a skilled hand, which he conjectured was the diamond-eyed seno- rita. The rice and milk were not only palatable, but wholesome and nourishing. He felt so much stronger he wanted to rise, dress and walk about; but Father Agatone would not permit it. Ac- cording to the doctor's instructions, he was to re- main another day at least in bed. Though he chafed under the order, when he heard the sound of a musical voice in an adjoining MADELINA. 303 apartment and instinctively knew it was the seno- rita, he was partially repaid for his forced confine- ment. Captain Felipe and Father Agatone had gone away suddenly and mysteriously. He lis- tened to a voice. Now he heard her talking in the gentlest, softest rippling music of her beautiful native tongue, giving some orders to the peons. Then she was heard on the veranda, then in the hallway, — a whisper of soft robes and she was present. He knew, — he felt her presence, even before he raised his eyes to meet the face of one of whose beauty he had dreamed. " Is the Senor Americano better?" she asked in excellent English, coming and taking his hand. " I am; Senorita Madelina, is it not?" " It is, senor." " Your brother is Captain Felipe?" " He is, senor, " and he thought he observed a glow of pride at the mention of her brother. " He has gone away and left me ? " " I will sit with you, senor, until my brother returns. " " Thank you, senorita — you are very kind. " " I would be guilty of the basest ingratitude were I not, for you saved my brother's life at Buena Vista. " " In that, senorita, I but repaid a debt I owed him. He saved me from the lance of a Comanche. " 304 HUMBLED PRIDE. She looked at him steadfastly for a moment and asked: " Senor, had he not saved your life, had -he been an utter stranger, would you have permitted your bar — pardon, senor — soldiers to slay him?" "No, senorita, I don't believe I would. All soldiers are more or less barbarous, and in a battle there is little time for reason or humanity; but still I believe, even had he been an utter stranger, I would have done all I could to save his life. I hope I would. " " Thank you, senor." " Do you know whither your brother is gone?" " Down the canyon. There is a rumor that the guerillas are concentrating under Miguel Morillo to attack this monastery. " " Have they no respect for sacred places ? " " None, senor. They are as dangerous to Mexi- cans as Americans. Morillo is a personal enemy to us, which makes him more dangerous. " " Morillo? I have heard of him, I believe. Was he not in Texas?" " He was one of the chief agitators in the Texan trouble, was Santa Anna's guide at the Alamo and in the fight and massacre of Fannin's men. " " I would not think Santa Anna would trust a man so unscrupulous. " The senorita's face flushed as she answered. MADELINA. 305 " Senor, you do not understand the Mexicans. There is too much ambition and too little patriot- ism among them. When your people gained their independence, they entrusted the reins of govern- ment to safe patriots whose judgment was equal to their patriotism. They loved their country more than themselves. When Mexico threw o£E the Spanish yoke, it became a quarrel among her pa- triots who should be greatest. There is too much devotion to self and too little to the nation. Our people are brave, but not united. " " I can attest to their bravery, senorita, " said Arthur. " Let us not talk of Mexico, " she said at last. " It is a painful subject ; let us talk of your home. " "My home?" "Yes, seQor." " Would it be interesting to you?" " It would; have you a father?" " I have, senorita. " " And a mother?" " I have. " " When did they hear from you ? " " I wrote them a letter just before setting out from Saltillo. " " They have not received the letter yet. " " No, and will not for some weeks. " " Your mother's anxiety must be very great." 20 306 HUMBLED PRIDE. " No doubt it is ; yet what care ambitious gen- erals or politicians for the anxiety of mothers?" " Nothing. I have travelled in the United States. I was in New York, St. Louis and New Orleans. It is a great nation, and, " heaving a sigh, " I greatly fear our people cannot resist the Americans; there are too many of them, and they never tire. " Arthur made no answer. He could not wish disaster to befall the arms of his country, nor could he express to the senorita a hope that her country- men would be defeated. They did not discuss the causes of the war, or the rights of either parties.. Eight is right, and war as often enthrones wrong as it replaces right. Though to Arthur the over- throw of the Mexicans was inevitable, still he felt that the result would not settle the question of right. Since he had met and conversed with the senorita, he could not refrain from asking himself why he was fighting the Mexicans. "What cause had he to quarrel with them? They had never invaded American soil. If Houston and Austin saw fit to plant colonies in the territory claimed by Mexico, should they not be left to fight their own battles? To him it had the appearance of a gigantic swindle to rob Mexico of a large part of her territory. He was still indulging these painful thoughts. MADELINA. 307 when he heard the voice of the beggar Antonio singing a snatch of Italian opera. The beggar he knew was coming, and in a moment he appeared with a large bundle of rags and scraps of paper under his arm. There was a smile on his still somewhat handsome face, as, extending one hand toward Madelina, he whispered: " Por Dios, senorita!" The senorita was expecting him and had pre- pared a small bundle of rags and papers which she gave him. He never entered the door, but always stood respectfully without, his dog at his side. No beggar in Mexico is ever without his dog. The senorita asked him if he would not have some tortillas and alboudigas, or stufEed red peppers. He thanked her kindly, he would, and receiving the food went away singing his favorite songs. When he was gone, the senorita returned to her seat by the side of the wounded captain. Arthur asked: " Who is that unfortunate man?" " He is called Antonio. " "Insane?" " Yes, senor, he was made to drink of the poison toloachi. " " Does it produce death ? " "No, worse than that; it acts immediately on the brain, producing at first violent madness and then hopeless idiocy. " 308 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Who did this, senorita? Who was so cruel as to give him this poison?" " It is a sad story, senor, but if you would like to hear it, I will tell it to you. " " I should very much like to hear it, senorita. " The senorita was doing some light fancy work, with which Mexican women amuse themselves, while she gathered up the threads of the story she wished to tell. " It has been a long time since I first heard it, senor, " she began, " for, though I never saw An- tonio until within the last week, I have known his sad story many years. He is a native of Mon- terey and was highly educated at the college of Mexico and gave promise of being one of the great men of the nation ; but long ago he went to Texas. The Americans were coming into the country and settling there, and among them a family named Blunt from some of the eastern States. They had once been wealthy, so the story goes, but had met changes of fortune and came to Texas in the early days, with Austin. Antonio met the daughter of Senor George Blunt. Her name was Caroline, and he became desperately enamored of her. At the same time, Miguel Morillo, the half-breed guerilla, met the American senorita, and was in love with her. She rejected the half-breed, but looked with favor on the suit of Antonio, who was honest, in- MADELINA. 309 telligent and brave. Some say they were be- trothed; but I doubt the truth of that part of the story, though there is every reason to believe she was favorably impressed with the Mexican. " Your American women are slow to make their choice of a husband, and while she might have ex- pressed a preference, still their vows probably were not plighted. Antonio was not only handsome, intelligent, highly educated and brave, but im- mensely rich, for at that time he owned thousands of acres of land on the Nueces River, on which grazed thousands of cattle. It was while on a tisit to these possessions, he by accident met the daughter of George Blunt. " Antonio was called to Monterey by a myste- rious and deceitful letter, penned no doubt by Morillo himself. Morillo is an educated man, which enables him to carry out his villany. His mother was an Indian and his father a Spanish captain in the regular army, who had his son Miguel educated in Spain. From his Indian mother he learned of the terrible toloachi. A few drops of the tasteless juice of this harmless-look- ing plant, which resembles the milkweed in America, mixed with pulque, wine or food, does its diabolical work with inexorable certainty, and it cannot be detected save in its effects. " It is said that Antonio, before leaving the 310 HUMBLED PRIDE. beautiful Caroline Blunt to go to Monterey, told her lie would return in a fortnight as he had much to say. Caroline was making herself a new frock, and he begged her for some of the waste pieces which he put in his pocket before setting out for Monterey. At Monterey he met with a hired tool of Miguel Morillo, an American named Giles, who for two hundred doubloons agreed to do the dia- bolical work. He was a shrewd man and told Antonio he had come to purchase lands in Mexico or Texas and wanted to procure some from him. In the course of the evening he had drawn Antonio into a public house, where he asked him to take a drink of pulque with him. " Then he produced the poisoned phial which Morillo had prepared for him. From an arbor of flowers, through an open casement, the hateful Morillo watched him pour the fatal drug in An- tonio's goblet, and as they quaffed their bumpers, he was in glee. The effects were soon to be seen. At first it was thought Antonio was only drunk ; but next day and next week showed that he grew worse and worse, and every one began to suspect that he had drunk the fatal tohachi. He was hopelessly insane, and ever since has wandered about the country gathering up bits of rags and paper, prizing them as of more value than so many diamonds. He often talks of going across the Eio MADELINA. 311 Grande with his treasures to Caroline, for he imagines that he is gathering them for her. You perhaps ask why the man who caused his woe was never punished ? He had escaped before suspicion had become a conviction, and as for Morillo, from his complicity in the awful afEair, he fled to the mountains, then the frontier, where he has ever since been at the head of a band of desperate men, soldiers in war and robbers in peace. That is the story, seBor, so far as I know it." " But, senorita, did you never learn what be- came of the fair Caroline on the Nueces?" " True, I had forgotten that part; her fate was even more tragical than Antonio's. It is said that one year after Antonio became insane, a former lover came from the States and married Caroline. He was poor but manly, brave and strong. He built them a little home in the forest and was happy. They had four fair, bright children. In an evil hour, Morillo learned of their happiness and, with a band of half-breed cut-throats, joined a party of Comanches and, during the father's absence one day, swooped down upon the little home — this part of the story is too terrible, — don't ask me to tell it. " The senorita covered her face with her hands and for a long time was silent, and then said, " I know something of the truth of that part of the 312 HUMBLED PRIDE. story, we were in Texas when it happened; but do not recall it, senor. " An hour before sunset, Captain Felipe and Father Agatone returned. There was an anxious, careworn look about the face of each. Arthur knew they had some bad news. He arose, dressed himself and went out on the veranda, where the young Mexican and a group of half-frightened peons were. " Senor, I fear you are doing too much, " said Felipe. " I assure you I am better, I believe the open air will do me good. You hdve news?" " Yes, senor. " " It is not good. " " You are correct, senor. The guerillas have assembled in the mountains and are not five leagues away, a hundred strong. " " That is alarming. " " It is, senor, and we have no soldiers nearer than San Luis Potosi. " " How far are we from Saltillo?" " It is fully as far to Taylor as to Santa Anna. " " Of course you prefer going to your friends?" said Arthur with a smile. "Certainly, senor; but you shall return to the American army. Your coming was an act of friendship and charity, you shall not sufEer by it. MADELINA. 313 If we escape the guerillas, you can return without parole. " The doctor came along at this moment and de- clared that Arthur must go to bed. He went to his apartments leaving Felipe, the peons, doctor and Father Agatone with the monks discussing flight and defence. They put the monastery in a state of defence for the night, and as soon as morn- ing came began to get ready to leave. All the gold candlesticks, images, and crucifixes of the little chapel, were placed in Father Agatone's car- riage, and the other things that could be moved were loaded in carts by the servants. They had fifteen male servants armed with carbines. Arthur declared himself well enough to take part in the defence, and Father Agatone, though a man of peace^ declared he would smite the guerillas him- self. It was noon before all were ready to begin the retreat for San Luis Potosi. In the hurry of de- parture, poor old Antonio the beggar had been for- gotten. On that morning Antonio had failed to put in an appearance, and every one supposed he had strolled away to another part of the mountains. Only two miles from the monastery, some of the peons who were in the advance discovered him at the roadside, his poor gray head thrown backward among the flowers, the pitiful bundle still clasped 314 HUMBLED PRIDE. in his stifiened arms. He was stone dead ! He had come to his death by violence, for he had a pistol bullet in the region of his heart. His faith- ful dog lay near him, stabbed and hacked to death by machetes. Felipe gazed on the scene a moment and then muttered : " Caraja ! the devils are at their work. Miguel Morillo has ended his vengeance at last." Imminent as the danger was, the good fathers insisted on halting an hour to give Antonio Chris- tian burial, and vowed to say masses for his soul. They hurriedly anointed his body while the peons dug his grave, then knelt and prayed. A rude wooden cross was left to mark the spot where the unfortunate man slept. Then the party went on. It was growing late, when, as they neared the mountain pass, Pietro and Juan, who had ridden ahead as they vowed to clear the path of the enemy, should they be so for- tunate as to find them, came galloping back as rapidly as their horses could bring them. " What is the matter?" asked Felipe. They informed him that the guerillas were strongly posted in a pass not more than a mile away. Felipe and Arthur rode ahead to reconnoi- tre and found the statement correct. The carriages and carts came up and the party halted for consul- tation in a small valley. Suddenly wild shouts in MADELINA. 315 tlieir rear announced an enemy there. Affairs had assumed a desperate appearance. Arthur knew that the peons could not be relied upon, and that Felipe and the priests, who seldom make good war- riors, with himself would stand but small show against those warlike mountaineers. Suddenly Morillo with a white handkerchief rode forward to within a pistol-shot of where the travellers were, and said : " You are surrounded by a hundred brave men ; you can't escape, and if you resist, you shall every one be killed. Will you surrender?" Felipe wanted to know on what terms they were to surrender. The guerilla said at his own terms. The sun was setting, and while Felipe was parley- ing with the brigand chief, Arthur had the carts and carriages parked, or formed in a hollow square in the valley and the horses and oxen tethered just on the outside. A camp fire was built in the mid- dle of the camp, and sentries set to watch the camp. Felipe continued to parley until dark, and then asked a delay until morning and entered the camp where the monks, priests, Arthur, Mexican women and peons were. The young Mexican captain sur- veyed the disposition of the camp with admiration, and turning to Arthur said : " You are a military genius, senor. " 316 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Did you accomplisli anything with that fellow?" " He has agreed to wait till morning. " "Will he do it?" " No; his word is worth no more than the whis- tle of the wind through the pines. He will attack us at any moment he thinks he can do so safely. " CHAPTEE XV. SEUNITED AFTER TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY- FIVE YEARS. In all his army experience, even while lying on the frozen ground at Buena Vista, Arthur never passed such a night as the one in the valley. It was very dark, a cold rain began to fall, and the men were soon wet to the skin. The two carriages, which had covered tops, were given up to the women. Arthur had not fully recovered from the fever, and being still weak he was soon chilled by the cold mountain air and drizzling rain. The con- stant strain on his nervous system was trying. There was no sleeping that night by any one. All understood that an attack was expected at any moment, and even the Senorita Madelina sat, wide awake in her carriage, holding in her hand the silver dagger her brother had given her. At her feet sat her two maids alternately weeping and wringing their hands, and counting their beads. The fire was put out shortly after dark as it 317 318 HUMBLED PRIDE. would be a beacon light to direct tbe enemy. Arttur stood most of tlie night by the side of his sleepy horse, dripping with water, shivering and aching in every bone and nerve. " Senor, this is trying on you ! " said Captain Bstevan. " I wish they would come and have it over with!" he answered. " That is like you Americans ; you are always ready to take desperate chances. " " If I only had one dozen of my Kentucky rifle- men here, I would laugh at twice as many guerillas by day or night, " said Arthur. " I wish you had them, senor," said the Mexi- can. " I care not for my own fate, but my sister — mother of Jesus! I dare not think of her — I will go mad ! " " Captain Felipe, I am weak, — unable to do muchjbut I will yield my life defending her before a hand of the guerilla shall touch her. " " Thank you; may the saints bless you!" Captain Stevens had never seen the young lancer so greatly excited before. Partially realizing his anxiety for Madelina he could understand his agitation. Often during that long night which seemed to have no end, he heard him mutter: "Oh, that she was in Puebla! Oh, that she was at home!" REUNITED. 319 About midniglit as near as they could determine, there came a report from a peon on picket duty that the guerillas were advancing. " From which side?" asked Felipe. " From every side, senor. " " Caramba ! Va maladiiio, " hissed Pietro at this moment running against a burro tied to one of the carts. The men were all drawn within the enclosures made by the vehicles and animals, and waited for full two hours with cocked carbines; but the threatened attack proved a false alarm for no gue- rillas made their appearance. The long night wore slowly away, and day began at last to dawn. Could it be, after all, that Morillo was going to keep faith with them? The band of shivering wretches watched the pass, the bluffs, and every point from which an at- tack would be possible; but day broadened, night fled, and yet not a guerilla made his appearance. Captain Estevan turned his eyes anxiously toward the dread pass, from which he expected every moment a discharge of carbines, but the pass was silent. Not a living being could be seen save a broad-winged vulture soaring aloft above the tallest crag, on the mountain side. " Where can they be?" asked the young Mexican. 330 HUMBLED PRIDE. As the sun rose and still they made no appear- ance, he determined to ride down to the pass and reconnoitre. Arthur's head was aching and he sat shivering over a fire Pietro had kindled, caring very little for surrounding difficulties. Felipe rode down to the pass. Not a guerilla was in sight. He passed on through it. They were gone ! A thorough search proved that they were no- where to be seen; they had stolen away during the night, leaving the mountain pass and neigh- borhood. " This is extraordinary, " thought the Mexican captain. He returned to the camp to hurry up his people, when suddenly the blast of a bugle smote his ears, and then came a tramp of horses. Arthur, though freezing with ague and burning with fever, sprang to his feet, waved his hat and uttered a shout of joy, as twenty-five mounted blue-coats rode through the pass and galloped up to their camp. It proved to be a party under Lieutenant Warren sent out to search for the miss- ing captain, and nearly all of them were of his own company. " Begorra, here's the boss himsilf wid the hay- thin, bad luck to thim!" cried the impulsive Pat McKune, riding up with his musket slung over his back. REUNITED. 331 " Surrender, or we will cut you to pieces, " cried Lieutenant Warren to Felipe, for the lieutenant was under the impression that Arthur was a prisoner. "Hold, Lieutenant Warren," cried Arthur. " These people are my friends. They saved my life and must be free to come and go as they please. " " Very well, captain. That is a horse of an- other color," returned the Kentuckian. "But what's the matter? You look sick. " " I am. " " Why are you here?" "This gentleman," laying his hand on Felipe's arm, " will tell you all. I am burning with a fever. " Arthur went to the fire and Madelina, seeing his condition, insisted that he should get into her car- riage which he did. Felipe explained to the lieu- tenant the circumstances under which he had met Arthur the last time, and told of the expected at- tack from the guerillas, whom they found at the pass, but who mysteriously disappeared during the night. When the lieutenant explained that his party had come up about ten o'clock in the night to the opposite' side of the pass, and gone into camp, it threw some light on the sudden stealing away of the guerillas. Being naturally 31 323 HUMBLED PRIDE. cowardly, they would not dare attack the camp with twenty -five Americans within hearing of their carbines. It now became a serious question what should be done with Arthur. The Mexican doctor said there was a relapse of the fever, and declared he could not go as far as Saltillo, for three days. He must have rest. Beyond the mountains not more than a league, Felipe said there was a large ha- cienda where the sick man could remain until he was able to travel, and the senorita offered to share her carriage with him to the hacienda. This was the best that could be done, so the party set out, Arthur, Madelina and the doctor occupying the senorita's carriage. "When the house was reached, the sick man was soon lying on a bed sleeping under the effects of a soothing potion administered by the old Mexican M. D. The doctor being a graduate of the university of medicine at Seville in Spain, was one of the ablest physicians of his time. For one day Senorita Madelina remained at the hacienda; then an op- portunity presented itself for her to have a safe escort direct to Puebla, and her brother sent her, while he lingered behind. Lieutenant Warren detailed ten men under a sergeant to escort the senorita and her friends to the San Luis Potosi road. REUNITED. 333 Arthur was sleeping under the effects of the powerful medicine of the doctor when Madelina entered to bid him good-by. She looked about the apartment and, finding herself alone, went softly to his bedside and, kneeling, raised her clasped hands in silent appeal to the Virgin for the sufferer. After her prayer for the health and peace of the enemy of her country, she rose and stood by his side, a queen of matchless grace and beauty. She was alone with the sick man, the door was closed and she thought no eye save God's saw her. He alone knew how pure her heart, and how noble her soul. Mexican women are im- pulsive. She bent over the sleeping man and pressed her soft, warm lips to his dry, fevered cheek and, leaving a crystal tear-drop on the hair of the sleeping man, turned and left the apartment. The second day after her departure, Arthur Stevens was once more fairly on the road to re- covery. He was able to sit up and look out of the broad window at the beautiful scenery by which he was surrounded. The doctor said that in another day he could return to Saltillo, and Felipe and Lieutenant Warren had procured a car- riage from a wealthy old Mexican in the valley to convey him to the American army. It was in the afternoon of that day, as Arthur was sitting in an easy-chair Felipe entered, his 324 HUMBLED PRIDE. face beaming with joy and hope at the recovery of his friend. " You are looking so much better, sertor, that you make me both glad and sorry. " "Why?" asked Arthur." " To-morrow we must part, perhaps never %o meet again!" An expression of sadness came over Arthur's face, and with a sigh he said: " It is true, Captain Felipe, we must part and may never meet, but I shall always cherish your memory. You have been a brother to me, and though our countries may fight, we will be friends. In the hottest of battle my hand shall never be raised against you. I could no more strike you than a brother. " Felipe was silent. Brave and generous Felipe — his heart was stirred with emotion. After a short silence Arthur asked : " "Where is your sister?" "Gone." " Gone, where?" "ToPuebla." Arthur's chin sank upon his chest and his eyes rested on the floor. An expression of deep disap- pointment and sadness swept over his face. Sev- eral times he essayed to speak, but his voice was husky and his articulation failed him. After REUNITED. 335 several efforts lie murmured in a voice so low that Felipe could scarce hear him : " Gone — gone without even saying farewell. " " You wrong my sister, senor, if you think she did not bid you farewell. She came to your room, but you were sleeping." " Sleeping! — why did they not wake me?" " The doctor left orders that you must not be disturbed. " "Disturbed — thunder!" ejaculated the. angry American. " What do I care for being disturbed on such an occasion?" " Senor, it might have been at the risk of your life." " I would risk my life a hundred times rather than she should have gone away without — with- out " He hesitated a moment and blushed like a school- boy. " If you have any message to send to my sister, senor, I will bear it. " " Yes, tell her— tell her that— tell her that I must see her again, for I have something to say to her." Felipe thought he understood what that some- thing would be. He smiled and for a moment was silent. At last he said : " Senor captain, does it occur to you that we 326 HUMBLED PRIDE. have known each other a long time not to know our names in full?" " Are you not Captain Felipe?" " Yes, senor, but Felipe is not my surname. What is your name in full?" " Arthur Stevens, of Kentucky; and yours?" " Felipe Estevan, of Puebla." " Estevan, Estevan!" cried Arthur. "Let me see, what is that name translated in English?" "Stevens." " I know it, father told me that. Did you know my name was Stevens?" " Not until your officer told me you were Gap- tain Arthur Stevens. " "Captain Estevan," said Arthur, grasping the young Mexican's hand. " Is there a tradition about your family?" " Yes. " " How far back can you trace your family ? When did they leave Spain?" " Our first ancestor came with Columbus on his first voyage. " Arthur's cheeks were glowing and his eyes sparkling with excitement. " Good heavens, it is true!" he gasped. " Don't get excited, senor, you injure yourself." " I am not excited ; I am as calm as a May morning. " REUNITED. 337 " Have you a tradition of your family ? " "Yes." " Are you of Spanish descent?" "We are. Our great ancestor from Spain, Hernando Estevan, came in the Santa Maria as the cabin boy of Columbus, who was his friend. " " We are descended from the same branch. " " Did your ancestors come with Cortez?" " Our traditions say not, but that he came later in 1561." "From Havana, Cuba?" " Yes, senor. " " Tell me the story ; were there two brothers ? " " There were, senor. One was Francisco, conse- crated by his parents to the church, and sent to Spain to propagate the Catholic religion. " * "And the other?" " His name was Eodrigo Estevan and a soldier. " " Do you know whose sons they were?" " Two sons of Christopher Estevan, the first namesake Columbus ever had, and they were grandsons of Hernando Estevan, Columbus' cabin boy. There is a tradition that on the morning they parted, one to go to Spain and the other to Mexico, they pledged themselves to brotherly friendship, and that their descendants should never wage war against each other. " * See " St. Augustine, " pages 1 to 16. 328 HUMBLED PRIDE. Arthur shook his head and answered : " Captain Estevan, the tradition cannot be true. One, being a priest, could not marry. " " He was not a priest, only consecrated to the church, and designed for a priest ; and the tradition says he never became one, but that going to France he became enamored of a beautiful French Huguenot. That he followed her to Florida and married her. " " That tradition is true. " " Then you are a Frenchman. " " No, an Englishman. " "How?" " Of the marriage of Francisco Estevan to Hor- tense De Barre in Florida there were born two sons, Philip and Mathew. When Sir Francis Drake ravaged the coast of Florida and destroyed St. Augustine, according to our tradition, these boys were carried to England, where their names were changed to Stevens. Philip subsequently settled in Jamestown, Virginia, while Mathew went to New England, 1620, in the Mayflower. We trace our ancestry from Philip and the Vir- ginia branch, though our family have for genera- tions fluctuated from North to South." Captain Estevan fixed his fine dark eyes on Arthur's face in silent wonder for a moment, and said: REUNITED. 339 " Then, senor, you are a descendant of that brother i'rancisco Estevan who two hundred and eighty-five years ago left Cuba for Spain?" "lam." " And I am a descendant of his brother Eodrigo Estevan, the soldier, who came to Mexico." The two gazed upon each other a moment in silence. Then they clasped hands, and Arthur said: " We are kinsmen." With a smile, Felipe Estevan answered : " Many times removed, senor ; yet we are de- scended from the same noble branch. " " There can be no doubt, Captain Estevan, that the old tradition is true. " " I have often thought, Captain Stevens, that there was more truth in the traditions we hear, than people suppose. A tradition is seldom if ever without some foundation." " I have thought so, yet this is an age of scepti- cism. People do not believe anything they can- not see or hear for themselves, or of which they have no record testimony. " " And yet there is no testimony more liable to be maliciously false than records. If records are destroyed as they usually are, or if the recorder is prejudiced, as he often is, the record is misleading,' while the general current of a tradition down from 330 HVMBLJED PRIDE. generation to generation, without having to pass the critical revision of some prejudiced official, is more nearly correct than the record. For instance, all Mexico depends on the official statement of Santa Anna, for a correct account of the battle of Buena Vista. I have not seen his report, yet I will venture the assertion it will be false. Many a soldier in the ranks can give a more truthful history of the battle than he will, yet his official report goes down as history, and is to be believed by future generations. But tell me, did you know there were Estevans living in Mexico?" " We had heard there were descendants of Eod- rigo Estevan in Mexico, but supposed it was like other traditions, unreliable. " " I knew there lived many families in the Stai,es called Stevens, for I travelled through the country. " " Did you believe the tradition?" " Yes, senor. " After a moment he asked Arthur : " Are you superstitious?" " Somewhat, all people are. " " Then I will tell you what I have always been told about our ancestors. It is said after the brothers left, one to the east, the other to the west, the mother, Inez Estevan, prayed long for both. She was of course a devout Catholic and little dreamed that he whom she had designed for a REUNITED. 331 priest, was to be the bead of one of tbe largest families of Protestants in tbe future, wbile tbe de- scendants of ber warrior son, were all to live in tbe boly Catbolic faitb. Sbe was old and bad long given up Francisco for dead, wben sbe learned that be still lived, and had married a Protestant. The news almost broke her heart. "With the eye of a prophet it is said she seemed to pierce tbe veil of the future, and saw that her beloved Francisco would be tbe father of a long line of Protestants. She read wars in tbe future whereby the Protestant and Catholic would be arrayed against each other, and she wept, fasted and prayed continually. " At a little chapel long since fallen in ruins, and replaced by business houses of tbe city, she went and prayed standing, and kneeling, it is said by tbe tradition, for many days, and burned can- dles at the shrine of the mother of tbe Immaculate Conception, until tbe Holy Virgin appeared to ber in a vision, and in a voice ineffably sweet said: " 'Weep no more, daughter, thy prayer hast been beard. Thy sons shall never meet in mortal combat nor shall their descendants ever spill each other's blood. When they meet, which shall not be for hundreds of years, they shall be powerless to barm each other, but the links of love which bound thy sons shall be more strong in their de- scendants, than even the love of brothers. ' 333 HUMBLED PRIDE. " You may smile at this tradition, but it was firmly believed a few generations ago, and the Bstevans of the South looked for the Estevans of the North as earnestly as they look for the second coming of the Saviour. " Arthur Stevens was buried in deep thought for a few moments, and said: " Whether the tradition be false or true, the prophecy is fulfilled. " " Fulfilled, senor, what do you mean?" " The Estevans of the North have met the Este- vans of the South. " " But in battle — enemies. " " True, in battle and as enemies, but yet it seemed as if some divine hand guided us, some unknown- power through strange circumstances made us friends. " " But the love of those brothers can never be equalled by our own, senor " " Not by ourselves, " said Arthur, " but had your sister remained until I could have told her all — the love might have been stronger — I believe in the tradition, in the prophecy and the fulfil- ment. " Captain Estevan started up with an expression of surprise and pain. Though unknown to Made- lina, he had been a witness to her parting from the American, and he saw in such a love only grief REUNITED. 333 and misery. He knew Madelina's pride, patriot- ism and bigotry better than she knew it herself. Though she loved the white barbarian from the North more than her own life, she would die rather than wed an enemy of her country. It was the Norseman of old mediaeval times and the Sara- cen. How could his sister, with all her instincts and pride, wed one so opposite in politics, religion and even in domestic thought? Yet, when Felipe recalled the legend, which he now almost believed, and remembered the promise made to the mother of Eodrigo and Francisco, that the descendants of her sons should be reunited in firmer bonds of love than brothers, he was con- strained to believe the union must be through Arthur and Madelina. He fancied that through all these strange events he could see the working of the hand of destiny, bringing about the inevi- table. Captain Estevan was still pacing the apartment when Arthur said : " Captain, when will you see her?" " In a few weeks. " "Will you tell her all?" "Yes." But his answer was made after a few seconds of hesitation, which Arthur could not fail to notice. After a while. Captain Estevan threw himself on 334 HUMBLED PRIDE. a seat in front of Arthur, having gained complete control over himself. " Captain, " said Arthur, '' you were educated in English schools, do you believe in the philoso- phy of fatalism?" "Yes." "I do now." " Captain Stevens, what you have said, at this time, is a serious matter. From no other Ameri- can would I have heard an intimation of love for my sister, who is the joy and pride of one of the proudest families of Mexico. Perhaps this is fatalism, but remember that fate brings misery, the bitter as well as the sweet. " To this Arthur answered : " I am willing to take the bitter with the sweet, to endure the misery that I may enjoy the happi- ness. " Captain Estevan seemed to recall some past event and asked : " Are you from Kentucky?" " Yes, captain, my father Major Stevens is well known in the State. " " Major Stevens — that's the name." "What do you mean? Were you ever in Kentucky?" " No, senor. Did you have a negro slave to disappear some time ago?" REUNITED. 835 " Yes, John — John ran away. " " That is the name, John. Now I know I am right," said the Mexican, proceeding with care, and recalling one event after the other by the law of association of ideas. "T saw John." "When?" " Last Autumn. " " Where?" " Not where you expect him to be. But first let me describe him so you will know I am not mistaken. He is a tall, yellow, slender man, about twenty-four years of age. He has lost one front tooth, is about five feet eight or nine inches, and is rather good looking and intelligent for a darkey. " " Captain Bstevan, that is our runaway, where did yoa see him?" " He is not a runaway, he is a slave. I saw him in Havana, Cuba." He then proceeded to tell how, being sent on a secret mission of bis country to thwart a scheme of President Polk and Santa Anna, he had travelled as an American and Anglicizing his name, called himself Mr. Stevens of Baltimore. That while lingering about the sugar houses pretending to be a sugar merchant, and being known only as Mr. Stevens, the Ameri- can, he was accosted by a negro calling himself John, who told how he had been abducted by a 336 HUMBLED PRIDE. man wlioni he called a doctor somebody, he could not just then call the name. Arthur Stevens was far more interested in this story than the legend of their ancestors. " Captain, can't you think of the doctor's name?" " No, senor, but it was a doctor, a prominent man who lived in Boone county and was well known there, who professed to the people that he was a strong slavery man, and made speeches and declared the negro liberators ought to be hanged. At the same time he secretly represented himself to the negroes as an abolitionist trying to liberate them. He thus induced them to raise the money to pay their own transportation, and pretending to run them off to Canada, kidnapped them and sold them in the West Indies. " " Captain Estevan, would you remember the doctor's name if you heard it?" " I might — ^though the negro talked hurriedly with me ; yet I think I should remember the name of his kidnapper. " "Was it Dr. Trunnels?" " By the mass, that is the name, senor!" " Captain, you have made a most wonderful revelation. What you have told throws a great light on a mystery of years. " Next morning Arthur rose, expecting to bid Captain Estevan farewell, but learned that he and REUNITED. 387 his friends had departed two hours before. He set out with Lieutenant Warren and the escort for Saltillo, which place they reached, remained one day, when Arthur with his company and three other companies set out for Matamoras, where they embarked in a sloop and sailed for Vera Cruz, to which point General Scott was hastening with an army. Taylor's services in Mexico were at an end. In fact the old general's military glory had reached its zenith, though his popularity never waned to the day of his death. 22 CHAPTBK XVI. ■ WITH SCOTT AT VESA CRUZ. While Taylor was fighting the battles of Mon- terey and Buena Vista, General Stephen W. Kearney and Captain John 0. Fremont were carry- ing victory into New Mexico and California. June 15, 1846, Fremont captured a Mexican post at Sonoma Pass and routed the Mexicans under General Castro, driving them from that region. Fremont gathered about him the American set- tlers, and on the 5th of July they declared them- selves independent and placed Fremont at the head of public afEairs. Two days later. Commodore Sloat, in command of our American squadron on the Pacific Coast, bombarded and captured Mon- terey ; and on the 9th Commodore Stockton arrived at that station and succeeded Sloat in command. On the 17th of August he and Fremont took pos- session of the City of Los Angeles (city of the angels) , near the Pacific coast, now the capital of Los Angeles County, California. 338 WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 339 General Kearney with sixteen hundred men marched from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Santa F^, New Mexico, nearly nine hundred miles. The governor and about four thousand men fled, leaving the six thousand inhabitants to surrender the city. Kearney took formal possession of the city, appointed Charles Bent, who was afterward murdered, governor, and pushed on toward Cali- fornia. These invasions were conquests, and the law of right was not considered so much as that of might. Soon Kearney and Fremont became in- volved in a quarrel over who should govern Cali- fornia, and Kearney being the superior officer ordered Fremont home to be tried for disobedience. Fremont's commission as lieutenant-colonel was taken from him; but the- president offered to re- store it. He refused to receive it, and again went into the wilderness to engage in explorations for which he deserves most credit. Kearney remained on the Pacific coast until May, 1847, when he returned home, leaving Colonel Matson as military governor of California. While Kearney was on his march to the Pacific Coast, A. W. Doniphan, a citizen of Missouri, raised a regiment of Missouri volunteers, all ex- pert marksmen, and set out overland to New Mexico. He made a treaty with the Navajo In- dians in November, 1846, and at Braceti, in the 340 HUMBLED PRIDE. valley of the Eio del Norte, he defeated a large Mexican force under General Ponce de Leon. Two hundred were slain. He marched on to Chi- huahua, where he defeated an army of four thou- sand and entered the city in triumph, and in a city, . amid a population of forty thousand unfurled the American flag. After a rest of six weeks, he joined General Wool at Saltillo, from whence they took shipping to New Orleans, having made a march of about five thousand miles. An insurrection in New Mexico, in which Governor Bent was murdered, was quelled by Colonel Price, and a permanent peace was secured. By these conquests, New MexicOj one of the places in th& interior earliest visited by the Spaniards, became a portion of the United States. It was first traversed by the white race in the persons of Cabega de Vaca and the remnant of those who followed Narvaez to Florida. They reached New Mexico some time in 1636, when de Yaca sent a report of what he had seen to the viceroy of Mexico. Expeditions were sent into that region from Mexico, and one of them penetrated to the Eio Grande. Those were the first Europeans who saw the bison or buffalo of the North American continent. Castaneda, the historian of the expedition, calls the animal " a new kind of ox, wild and fierce, whereof the first WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 341 day they killed fourscore, wliich sufficed the army with flesh."* After February, 1847, the war drifted to the South. Before Captain Arthur Stevens with the remainder of his regiment reached Vera Cruz, General Scott had already invested that city. On the 8th and 9th of March Scott landed twelve thousand men and after some skirmishing had thrown up entrenchments and by the 12th the investment was complete. The steamer Spitfire opened a cannonade on the castle, which was re- turned with spirit. Storms delayed the siege, and it was not until the 22d that it began in earnest with seven mortars on shore in the American trenches and the fleet. Scott had summoned the city on this day to surrender, notifying them that he intended bombarding it and offering to give all European consuls, their families and the Mexican women and children an opportunity to leave the beleaguered city. Strange to say his offer was not accepted. On this morning, Arthur entered the harbor and was at once sent on shore with the other land troops. Here were many friends to greet him. Among them was One-eyed Mike the scout and guide. Pat was in his glory, for he predicted that they would soon have " the divil's own sport." *Lossing's "Our Country," Vol. V., p. 1367. 342 BUMBLED PRIDE. Soon after Arthur reached the trenches, the bat- teries opened, and the earth shook under the fear- ful concussions, while the air was traversed hy bombs, which, crossing each other incessantly, darkened the sun. The siege was now pushed with the greatest vigor. Colonel Totten of the enginieers superin- tended the advances, and never perhaps was such skill so bravely seconded. Scott rode daringly along the lines examining the progress and inspiring the men. By the 25th, the batteries had been increased to ten heavy guns, nine mortars and two howitzers. The bombardment was now terrible. The incessant thunder of the artillery, the whiz- zing of bombs, the plunging of round shot in the streets of the city, the crash of falling houses, and the roar of conflagrations from buildings set on fire by shells conspired to produce a scene of the most awful yet sublime character. The American ships kept up a tremendous fire on the town and castle of San Juan de Ulloa ; but that strong for- tress, mindful of its former glory, maintained the combat without flinching, and, had it not been short of supplies, it was doubtful if it could have been captured. Firing on the fleet from its sea- front and on the army from its landside, it blazed a centre of continual flame. Night added new terrors to the scene. The darkened sky was bril- WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 343 bant with burning houses in the city; while bombs, whizzing and whirling on high, tracked the heavens with a hundred trails of fire. The shells from the castle were gigantic ones, thirteen inches in diameter, and traversed the air with a hum and screech that made the soldiers gaze with awe on the terrible missiles. "When exploded, they were like an earth -tearing volcano. On the 25th, the European consuls in the city applied to Scott for permission to leave the town and take with them the women and children. Scott refused, saying he had given them warning and offered them an opportunity to leave and they would not accept, concluding with, "Now my guns are hot, and by G — d I intend to keep them so until the town surrenders." From a military standpoint the answer may have been proper; but it was neither genteel nor humane. However, gentility and humanity are seldom con- sidered in time of war. Historians say the de- cision " was just though distressing. " The me- morial of the consuls betrayed that the city was half in ruins. This, indeed, could be seen par- tially from the batteries. It was evident that the siege was approaching its end. All that night, accordingly, the bombardment went on with in- creased vigor. There were few sleepers either in the castle or in the lines. In the city, women 344 HUMBLED PRIDE. rushed through the streets, frantically dragging their children, in vain seeking a shelter, for the houses were crashing all around them. Some who remained at home were buried by falling ruins ; others who fled to the church were driven out by the crumbling of the dome ; and still others, who thought to find safety in deep cellars, were killed by shells that plunging through the roof and floor, exploded in these underground recesses. Mothers fell mangled upon their babes. Infants were killed in their mothers' arms all because General Scott's guns were hot, and he did not propose to let them cool. This is civilized Christian war- fare. We are glad to say that Arthur had little to do with the siege. As his line of duty was more pleasant, we will follow him and leave the details of the Yera Cruz horrors to the ambitious, who delight in the glory of American arms. On the very day of his arrival, March 22, 1847, Arthur Stevens with his company was detailed to make a scout about Vera Cruz and secure some prisoners from whom the general hoped to gain some infor- mation. He . took with him One-eyed Mike, Taylor's guide, and a dapper little Frenchman named Eaoul, who had joined the army at Vera Cruz where they found him. He had been a sort of market gardener for the plaza, and knew the WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 345 back country perfectly. He had fallen into bad' odor witli the rancheros of the Tierra Caliente^ and owed them no good will. The coming of the American army was a perfect godsend to Eaoul, who volunteered, and did good service for the invaders. Hours before day, Captain Stevens and his party were treading the mazes of the chaparral. The moon glistened on their bayonets. Their path lay in a southwesterly direction, near the old road Orizava. Here it passed through a glade or open- ing, where the moonbeams fell upon a profusion of flowers ; there it re-entered dark valleys among clustering trees, where the " trail arms" was given in a half whisper. The boughs met and locked over- head, and the thick foliage hid the moon from sight. Now a bright beam, entering through some chance opening in the leaves, quivered along the path and scared the wolf in his midnight wanderings. Out again upon the open track through the soft grass, and winding around the wild maguey, or under the clam-shaped thorns of the mesquite. A deer sprung up from his lair among the soft flowers, looked back for a moment at the strange intruders and, fright- ened at the gleaming steel, dashed off into the thicket. The woods were not silent by night, as in the colder regions of the North. The southern forest has its voices, moonlight or dark. All through 346 HUMBLED PRIDE. the livelong night sings the mocking-bird and screams the loreto. A halt was made, and silent and catlike, on his hands and knees, Mike stole Silent and catlike, on his hands and knees, Mike stole nearer and nearer, through the thorny brambles. nearer and nearer throiigh the thorny brambles, until the true nature of the apparition betrayed itself, in the shape of a huge column of prickly WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 347 pear. He returned to his comrades, and the ob- stacle was passed ; some one, as he passed, with a muttered curse, slashed his sabre through the soft trunk of the harmless vegetable. When day broke, Arthur was ten miles from camp — ten miles from the nearest American picket, and with only thirty men ! They were concealed in a thicket of aloes and mesquite. This thicket crowned the only eminence for miles in any direc- tion. It commanded a view of the whole country southward to the Alvarado. As the sun rose, the forest echoed with sounds of song. The leaves moved with life, as a thou- sand bright- plumed birds flashed from tree to tree. The green parrot screamed after his mate, uttering his wild notes of endearment. They were seen in pairs flying high up in the heavens. The troupiale flashed through the dark foliage like a ray of yellow light. Birds seemed to vie with each other in their songs of love. Amidst these sounds of the forest, the ears of Arthur caught the frequent crowing of cocks, the barking of dogs, and other well known sounds of the settlement. These were heard upon all sides. It was quite evident that the country was thickly settled, though not a house was visible above the tree tops. The thin columns of blue smoke as they rose above the green foliage proved the existence of dwellings. 348 HUMBLED PRIDE. At some distance westward, an open plain lay like an emerald lake. The woods that bordered it were of a darker hue than the meadow grass upon its bosom. In this plain they saw horses feeding. They were picketed, and some of them had pulled up the pickets and were straying from the group. There were in all about a hundred, and it was quite evident that their owners were not far away. A thin blue smoke that hung over the trees on one side of the meadow led Arthur to suspect that a camp was near. Then came the baying of dogs, mingled with many human voices. They had evi- dently stumbled upon a camp of guerillas. Suddenly a bugle sounded the saddle-up call, wild and clear above the voices of the singing birds. The horses flung up their heads and neighed eagerly, looking toward the encampment. In a moment a crowd of men were seen running from the woods, each carrying a saddle. The few strays that had drawn their pickets during the night, came running in at the call of the well known voices of their masters. The saddles were thrown on and tightly girthed — the bits adjusted and the lariats coiled and hung to the saddle-horns, in less time than an ordinary horseman would have put on his bridle. Another blast of the bugle, and the troops were in the saddle, galloping away over the green sward, and meadow in a WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 349 southerly direction. To Arthur it did not seem that the whole transaction occupied five minutes, and it was more like a dream than reality. He could not but admire their horsemanship. A long shot might have reached the guerillas; but even if Arthur had ventured this, it would have been with doubtful propriety. Rumor had fixed the existence of a large force of the enemy in this neighborhood. It was supposed that at least a thousand men were on the Alvarado road, with the intention of penetrating the American lines, with beeves for the besieged Vera Cruzanos. As Arthur watched them through his glass, he let his glance fall on their leader and started. He was Miguel Morillo. Controlling himself as well as he could, he said to Mike who was at his side : "They got off well, Mike! Had they waited but half an hour longer — oh, for a score of Har- ney's horse!" " Captain, may I offer an opinion?" asked Mike, who had raised himself and stood peering through the leafy branches of a cacuchou tree. " Certainly, Mike, any suggestion- — ^— " "Well, then — there's a town," Mike lifted one of the leafy boughs and pointed toward the south- east. A spire and cross, a white wall and the roofs of some cottages were seen over the trees. " Frenchy here" — meaning Eaoul — " knows the 350 HUMBLED PRIDE. place and says it's Medellin. He's been to it and there's no good road for horses direct from here; but the road from Vera Cruz crosses the meadow far up. Now, captain, it's my opinion, those thieving guerillas are bound for that place. Raoul says it's a good sweep round. If we could get across this step, we'd head 'em off, sure." The guide swept his hand toward the South, to indicate the strip of woods that he wished to cross. The plan seemed feasible enough. The town, which, in the rarefied atmosphere, seemed quite near, was five miles distant, while by the road which the guerillas would have to follow, it was much further. Could Arthur and his party meet them on this road by an ambuscade, they might gain an easy victory, although inferior in numbers, and Arthur wanted to carry back a Mexican pris- oner. The men were all wild with excitement and eager for a fight. "Eaoul," said Arthur, "is there any path through these woods?" "Close teccket, monsieur," answered the Frenchman and when the opening of the foliage was closed, continued : " There be von road, I make ver sure, by that tree. Vot you call him, big tree. " Raoul pointed to some live-oaks that formed a dark belt across the woods. " Take the lead, Raoul." WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 351 The little Frenchman sprang up and began the descent ijto the dark woods beneath. The party were soon winding through the shadowy aisles of a live-oak forest. At first the woods were open and easy. After a short march they came to a small stream, bright and silvery; but what was the surprise of Arthur to find that the path here gave out, and on the opposite side of the rivulet the trees grew closer together, and the woods were almost woven into a solid mass, by the lianas and other creeping plants, covered with blossoms. In some places a wall of snow-white flowers rose up before them. Pyramidal forms of foliage, green and yellow, over which hung myriads of vine blossoms, like a scarlet mantle. Still there was no path — at least to be trodden by human foot. Birds flew around, scared in their solitary haunts. The armadillo and the wolf stood at a distance with glaring eyes, while the fearful looking guana scampered ofE upon the decaying limbs of the live oak, or the still more fearful cobra di capella glided almost noiselessly over the dry leaves and brambles. Eaoul confessed that he had been deceived. He had never travelled this belt of timber before. The path was lost. This was strange. A path had conducted them thus far, but on reaching the stream had suddenly 353 HUMBLED PRIDE. stopped. Soldiers went up and dowo the water course, peeping through the trellis of vines, but to no purpose. In all directions they were met by an impenetrable chaparral. Chafing with disappointment, the young officer was about to retrace his way, when an exclamation from One-eyed Mike recalled him. The back- woodsman had found a clew to the labyrinth. An opening leading into the thicket had been concealed by a perfect curtain of closely woven vines, covered with thick foliage and flowers. At first it appeared to be a natural door to the avenue which led from this spot, but a slight examination showed that these vines had been trained by human hands, and that the path itself had been kept open by the same agency. Branches were here and there lopped off and cast aside, and the ground had the marks of footsteps. The track was clear and beaten, and Arthur, ordering his men to follow noiselessly in Indian file, took the lead. For at least two miles they traced the windings of this narrow, secret path, through a dark wood occa- sionally opening out into green, flowery glades. The bright sky began to gleam through the trees. Farther on, and the breaks became larger and more frequent. An extensive clearing was near at hand. They reached it, but to their astonishment, instead of a cultivated farm, which they expected, Arthur, obderinb his men to follow noiselessly in Indian file, took the lead. 23 354 HUMBLED PRIDE. the clearing assumed the appearance of a vast flower garden. The roofs and turrets of a house were visible near its centre. The house itself, a strange oriental structure, at last appeared half buried amidst groves of brightest foliage and flowers. Several huge old trees spread their branches over the roof, and leaves hung and flut- tered about the fantastic turrets. What should have been fields were like a suc- cession of huge flower beds and large shrubs, covered with sheets of pink-white blossoms that resembled wild roses. This shrubbery was high enough to conceal the approach of Captain Stevens and his party, as they followed the path — appar- ently the only one leading to the house.. - On nearing this, Arthur halted his men in a little glade, and taking Mike and Pat with him, proceeded to reconnoitre the strange-looking habi- tation. A wall of ivy, or some perennial vine, lay be- tween him and the house. A curtain of green leaves covered the entrance through this wall. This appeared to have grown up by neglect. As Arthur lifted this festoon, to pass through, the sound of female voices greeted him. These voices reached his ear in tones of the lightest mirth. At intervals came a clear, ringing laugh from some throat of silver, which seemed strangely familiar, WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 355 and tlien a plunging, splashing sound of water. Arthur conjectured that some females were in the act of bathing and, not wishing to intrude upon them, sent back his two companions and sat down outside the wall. The sounds of merriment con- tinued, and among the soft tones the officer imag- ined he could distinguish the coarser voice of a man. Curiosity prompted him to enter. More- over, he reflected that if there were men already there, it would be no act of impropriety to investi- gate the matter, and perhaps gain some of the desired information. Drawing aside the curtain of leaves, he looked in. The interior was a garden, but evidently in a neglected state. It appeared to be the ruin of a once noble garden and shrubbery. Broken foun- tains and statues crumbling among weeds, and un- trained rose vines, met his eye. The voices were more distinct, but those who uttered them were hid- den by a hedge of jasmins. Arthur went silently up to this hedge and peeped through an opening. The picture presented was indeed an enchanting one. A large fountain or basin of stone, filled with crystal water, lay between him and the house. In this fountain two young girls were plunging and diving about in the wildest abandon of mirth. The water was not more than waist deep, and the shoulders and busts appeared above the surface. 356 HUMBLED PRIDE. There was a marked contrast in their color. The face, neck and arms of one seemed carved by a master sculptor from snow-white marble, while the other was of a bright dark red, as any Aztec. There were the same cast of features, the same ex- pression in both countenances, and their graceful forms as they sported like dolphins in .the crystal water were just alike. Their long hair trailed after them black and luxuriant, on the surface of the water, as they plunged and swam from one side of the basin to the other. A huge negress sat on one edge of the basin, evidently keeping guard over the bathers. It was the voice of the negress that Arthur had mistaken for a man's. He caught but a momentary glance of them; but the fairest of the two he recognized at once as Madelina Estevan. Angry with himself at the intrusion, Arthur withdrew without their being aware of his presence. He was determined how- ever to speak with Madelina before leaving the neighborhood. They stole across the flowery field to the road which led to the town and had barely time to form an ambuscade when about twenty guerillas, the advance of the party, galloped up. A boy named Gerry, becoming excited, could not be restrained from firing his musket, and thus warned the main body a fourth of a mile back, and they fled. WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 357 Arthur, seeing that the mischief already done could not be undone, ordered an attack and they poured in a volley emptying four saddles, and' charged the bandits. "Americanos! Americanos!" cried the guerillas and fled in every direction. Two whose horses had been shot from under them were captured. When the short fight was over, Arthur found Mike leaning on his rifle, his usually stolid face expressing some disappointment. " "What has gone amiss, Mike?" Arthur asked. " It was a great blunder, captain. I think we should have let the main body come up. " " We would, but for the boy Grerry. He got too nervous. " "Yes." Arthur then called to the Frenchman. " Oui, Monsieur ^^^ responded the little fellow, hastening to his side. "Do you know that house, Eaoul? Can you tell me who lives there?" The dapper little fellow shook his head. Arthur was convinced that he would meet with no men, and after marching his force to within, a hundred paces of the door halted them and went alone. When he reached the house, which he approached this time from the front, he found it 'silent as if 358 HUMBLED PRIDE. deserted. He stepped upon the long veranda, which, like most Mexican verandas, was a pro- fusion of flo-9yers, and struck the door three times with the hilt of his sword. He heard some one stirring within, and a moment later the negress ap- peared. "Where is the young lady from Puebla?" he asked. " No intinde, senor ! " the negress answered. Arthur now mustered up all the Spanish he knew, and asked for Senorita Madelina Estevan of Puebla. Before the negress could answer, he heard a soft tread from within, and next moment Madelina appeared, dressed in spotless white. She was as much amazed to find Arthur as he was to find her. " When did you come?" she asked. He explained that he was from Vera Cruz, whither he had been transferred as soon as he was able to join his regiment. " So you barbarians are destroying our city of the True Cross, and murdering the women and children there?" she said bitterly. " Senorita, that is war, and all wars are cruel. Let us not speak of it," he answered sadly. " Have you seen your brother since you left him at the hacienda?" "No." WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 359 Ste still remained witbin the door and did not Invite him to enter. Arthur thought : " She has not seen him and knows nothing of the strange story, or my love. " Her reception was so cold that it chilled him, and he almost regretted he had come. " Let us not be enemies, senorita. I owe such a debt of gratitude to your brother and your- self " " Senor, do not mention that," she interrupted. " "We did only what was our duty. "We are Mexi- cans and Christians, and the worst enemy we have will receive kind treatment from us when he is sick or wounded. I did no more for you than I would for the humblest slave, seQor. '.' This was certainly not encouraging. Arthur felt his heart sink within him. She who had been so gentle and kind while he was sick and in her power was now cold, proud and defiant when he came as a conqueror. Arthur's hopes sank many degrees below zero. At last he said : " Senorita,, I have not come to humble your pride. I came to tell you that a mutual enemy is in the neighborhood. I just met the advance as they were coming to your house and drove them away, but Miguel Morillo is in the neighborhood and you are not safe near Medellin. I wish you would go to Puebla. I would willingly risk my 360 HUMBLED PRIDE. life for you; but I can't always be near to guard you." There was something in his voice more than his words, that touched the tender heart of Madelina. She came on the veranda where he stood and said : " I thank you, senor, for your interest in me, and hope you will forgive my coldness. I will return to Puebla this very night. My father will be here this evening with a company of soldiers and Morillo will not dare molest me. " " I don't want to meet your father while the war lasts, so I will go, Madelina, " he said. She bade him adieu and as he turned away his eyes fell on the array of geraniums and other luxuriant flowers. "Won't you give me one?" he asked. "I shall keep it as a remembrance. " She plucked a white rose. " Won't you give me a red one?" "No; a red rose means love, or war; a white rose means peace and purity. Let us hope that peace will some day dawn on Mexico. " Even as they spoke they could hear the distant thunder of cannon at Vera Cruz. As Arthur turned to go, he cast one more glance at Madelina and was quite sure that he had never seen such an entrancingly beautiful creature in his life. SHE PLUCKED A WHITE ROSE. WITH SCOTT AT VERA CRUZ. 361 ■' Madelina, when you see your brother he will tell you something that will be strange to you. Believe it ; it is true. Adieu ! " He extended his hand, and she clasped it lightly in her own, which trembled. He joined his company, and they marched back to Vera Cruz, without meeting with any other ad- venture. CHAPTEE XVII. FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. Arthur was a witness to the capitulation of Vera Cruz on Marcli 29t]i, ISiT, and saw the Mexican general and bis soldiers when they marched out and laid down their arms. It was a grand iight, a great triumph for American arms; but in Arthur's eyes it was a disgrace on one side and a humiliation on the other. The loss on the part of the Americans in this siege was very slight, ten officers and several privates. The exact loss of the enemy has never been known; but it fell chiefly among the non-combatants, mainly women and children. It was this slaughter of the inno- cent which caused the early capitulation of Vera Cruz. Historians say the " whole siege was a monument of the skill and valor of an American army." This is true, and we are proud as an American to say the conquered people met kind- ness and sympathy from their conquerors. General Worth was appointed governor of the captured city. The desire of the commander-in- 362 FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 363 chief was to advance immediately into the interior at the head of a column eight thousand strong; but he was compelled to delay for a fortnight, awaiting the arrival of wagons from the United States. On the 8th of April the van of the army, which consisted of Twiggs' division, began its march. The other divisions followed rapidly. The route of the American army was almost the same as the march of Hernando Cortez the founder of Vera Cruz and conqueror of the Aztecs. The road was a great highway, constructed by Mexican merchants before the revolution, but since broken up in many places and out of repair. At the dis- tance of a day's ride from Vera Cruz, this road crossed an immense stone bridge, known as the Puente Nacional ; and here it was expected that the army of the enemy, which was advancing from the capital, would make a stand. This pass might have been made the Thermopylae of Mexico ; but it was left undefended and was immediately taken possession of by the invaders, which opened to them a direct highway to the interior. Captain Stevens was assigned to Twiggs in the beginning, and was in the van during nearly all that long bloody march. After the third day, when they left the plains, their march was through some of the most picturesque scenery in the world. The road rose gradually, winding along the side of the 364 HUMBLED PRIDE. mountains. High cliffs ascended on either hand ; deep abysses yawned below ; and far in the dis- tance inland Orizaba towered eighteen thousand feet above the sea. The stifling atmosphere of the low sandy plains around Vera Cruz disappeared, and with it all fear of the vomito. Tropical plants began to be scarce, and ' the well known vegetation of the temperate latitudes supplied their place. Mountain torrents leaped from the rocks and roared into the ravines below. These delight- ful visions increased in frequency as the army ad- vanced, until at Xalapa, seventy miles from Vera Cruz, and at an elevation of four thousand feet above the sea, the invaders reached the most beau- tiful point of their march and rested in what is literally the garden of the world. Strange emotions swayed the breast of Arthur Stevens on that memorable march. He recalled that march of over three hundred years ago, when his great progenitor, the friend of Christopher Columbus, an officer under Hernando Cortez, marched along that same route to the same city to humble the pride of the Montezumas. He was now marching to conquer the descendants of the former conquerors. It is ever thus, nations spring up in waste places and overrun the haughty em- pires of the world. But before advancing into this higher country. FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 365 and immediately on leaving the plains, the Ameri- cans met and defeated the enemy at Cerro Gordo, a strong position, forty-five miles from Vera Cruz. Hither hastened Santa Anna, after his defeat at Buena Vista, traversing the intermediate country with great rapidity, and arrived in the early part of April with an army of fifteen thousand men. The highway winding along the face of the moun- tain is commanded by numerous elevations, rising one above another; Cerro Gordo, with its tower at the further extremity, overlooking all. At every favorable point Santa Anna had constructed batteries. Twiggs arrived in front of this appar- ently impregnable position, and made a reconnois- sance, on the 12th of April. He determined to attack on the following morning; but Patterson coming up in the interval, the latter concluded to await the approach of Scott. The commander-in- chief made a new reconnoissance, and discovering that an assault in front would only lead to useless sacrifice of life, determined, if practicable, to turn the enemy's position, by cutting a road to his right, which should wind around the base of Cerro Gordo and debouch into the national road in the rear of the enemy. On the 14th, this laborious undertaking was begun. It was nearly completed, when, on the 17th, the Mexicans discovered it, and immediately opened a tremendous fire of grape 366 HUMBLED PRIDE. and musketry on the working parties. Twiggs seized a hill just below Cerro Gordo, which not only conamanded the new road, but all the Mexican batteries except the great one erected on tbe key of their position. That night, as soon as dark- ness had closed in, a thousand men from his divi- sion were detailed to drag a twenty-four pound gun and two twenty-four pound howitzers up this almost precipitous hill, a task which ttey performed after eight hours' incessant labor. "When morning dawned, the adventurous Americans, who had sunk exhausted to slumber, were roused by the reveille in the neighboring fort at Cerro Gordo, and, cutting away the brushwood which concealed their battery, suddenly presented themselves to the astonished Mexicans. At the same time they opened a heavy fire on all the enemy's batteries; and, as the stunning reverberations echoed through the mountains, their companions in arms below, who had only awaited this signal, advanced to execute the several parts assigned them in the approaching battle. Twiggs, with his division of regulars, was ordered to proceed along the road cut to the right, storm Cerro Gordo, and get the enemy's rear. He was supported by General James Shields with two volunteer regiments; while Worth, with his division, acting as a reserve, was to follow the FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 367 same route. No sooner was Twiggs seen advanc- ing, than the Mexicans opened a fire on him from Gerro Gordo. Colonel Harney was ordered to storm that position, which was done after great loss. General Vasquez of the Mexican army fell bravely fighting at head of his men. His fall pro- duced a panic among the Mexicans. Sergeant Henry, plunging through the smoke, reached the great flagstaff and, hauling down the standard of Mexico, ran up the American flag. At the same time a neighboring ascent was gallantly car- ried by the first and second infantry and fourth artillery. Pillow's assault on the front was repulsed; but General La Vega, finding himself cut ofl: and de- serted by Santa Anna, surrendered with his troops, after having made a brave but useless defence. Captain Stevens, who served immediately under Shields, was with that officer of the volunteers when they pushed forward toward Jalapa, in order to prevent the escape of Santa Anna. Santa Anna and General Almonte had fled with about eight thousand men after the fall of Cerro Gordo. A fort soon loomed up before the Americans. One-eyed Mike, who had gone in advance of the Americans, mounted on Wodin, returned as Gen- eral Shields rode forward and cried : " There is a fort over the hill, general. Don't 368 HUMBLED PRIDE. ride to the brow, or you will get the fire of a whole battery. " General Shields, who was brave as a lion, dasbed forward to reconnoitre, and had scarce reached tbe crest of the hill, when there came a shower of can- non-balls and grape-shot about him. A grape- shot passed through his lungs, and he fell, supposed to be dead. A wild, angry shout went up from the American volunteers. They had lost their leader, but, being volunteers, needed no leader to act. Eegulars would have stood still to await orders or retreated; but volunteers are men who think and act for themselves. As one man they rushed forward and captured the fort, leaving General Shields, as was supposed, dead on the field.* Arthur pressed forward with Pat on one side, and One-eyed Mike on the other, in hot pursuit, to cut oil Santa Anna. "What the divil is that beyant?" asked the * General Shields was reported in the official reports as killed, and so stands the record, though thirty years after the battle the author heard him in a lecture, describe the battle. In the course of his lecture, he humorously re- marked : " I may not be able to make as good a speech as some of you, but I do say I can make as good a speech as any man who has been shot through the body with a cannon ball. If you don't believe it, try it. " General Shields died about fifteen years ago at Carrolton, Mo. FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 369 short-legged Irishman, who panted as he ran. He pointed with his left forefinger to a dark object at the side of the road. One-eyed Mike, who rode his mustang, being higher said: '-'^^^jr "What's that ? A wooden leg, begorba! " " It's a carriage overturned." "Hold, Mike, let me reach it first," cried Arthur. He discovered that the carriage was an elegant vehicle, and no doubt owned by some wealthy person or general. He reached it with Pat and Mike at his side. " What's that? A wooden leg, begorra!" cried 24 370 HUMBLED PRIDE. Pat, seizing Santa Anna's cork leg, which, becom- ing loosened from its hold, he had been forced to leave behind. As the reader knows, Santa Anna and General Almonte escaped on the mules which they tinharnessed from the carriage and fled to the mountains. Arthur ordered the carriage righted and inside it found some papers, a coat belonging to' the General, and a lady's satin slipper. He took the slipper and gazed at it for a moment. It had a delicately embroidered flower on the toe, and he fancied he had seen the toe of that slipper peeping out beneath Madelina's skirt, as she stood on the broad veranda of the hacienda near Medellin. " Can it- be?" he thought. He secured the pa- pers of Santa Anna and turned them over to his commanding officer ; but the slipper he placed in his pocket. It was the only trophy of war he asked for. The victory of the Americans was complete and decisive. The trophies were three thousand pris- oners who were paroled, forty-three bronze pieces of artillery cast in Seville, five thousand of arms (which were destroyed), and a large amount of munitions of war. On the other hand, the Ameri- can loss, according to best authority, was about four hundred and thirty-one. The fugitives were pursued with vigor toward Jalapa. FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 371 By this time, General Worth had joined the army, and with his division led the onward march. On the 19th they entered Jalapa, and a few days afterward (April 22d, 1847) Worth unfurled the American flag over the strong castle of Perote, on the summit of the Cordilleras, fifty miles beyond Jalapa. This fortress was regarded next to San Juan de Ulloa the strongest fortress in Mexico. These places had been captured without resistance, for the Mexicans were appalled by the suddenness of the invasion, and the swiftness of the conquests of the invaders. At Perote, the spoils were fifty- four pieces of artillery and an immense amount of munitions of war. Onward the victors swept along the great na- tional road over the Cordilleras, and on May 15, 1847, entered the city of Puebla (Puebla los Angelos, or city of Angels). The inhabitants, one hundred thousand in number, were struck with astonishment at the boldness of the act. They had been expecting an army of at least ten thousand men. Instead of this, ninety dragoons rode into the plaza alone, where they halted to await the advance of the army, in all not number- ing four thousand men. Hundreds of Mexicans counted the soldiers as they crossed the bridge of " Noche Buena, " and the feeling that existed in the breast of the Pablanos after the entry of the 372 HUMBLED PRIDE. Americans into their city was one of shame that they had permitted such a handful of men to take the old, warlike town of Puebla without a blow being struck in its defence. It seemed as if they might have stoned the " northern barbarians" to death. History repeats itself, and how like the march of Cortez with his handful of steel clad warriors, three centuries ago, this seemed. Santa Anna, repulsed at Amozoc, had retreated upon San Martin, and now held that fair district with his rabble soldiery. On finding that it was not in the power of the American commander to advance beyond Puebla for a time, Santa Anna determined to rouse the national pride once more in defence of their capital. He consequently crossed the mountains at Eio Frio, and commenced fortifying the ancient city of the Aztecs, leaving, however, a large guerilla force, roaming at will over the western plain of Puebla and occupying San Martin, Tlaxcalla and Atlixco. These at first commenced hostilities by stopping the supplies of the Puebla market, which depended altogether on the fertile regions of the West. Finding, however, that the American gold received in exchange for the fruits and vegetables of San Martin served their purposes better than revenge, the guerillas after awhile permitted the FBOM VICTORY TO VICTOBY. 373 produce to pass, levying a lieavy tariff on each article. Tlie hated " alcabala" was abolished at the city gates, and the Indians and rancheros of Oholula, San Pueblo and San Martin flocked to the grand plaza of Puebla. It was a rare sight in the bright mornings of June, this plaza of Puebla. Hun- dreds of Indian girls seated in groups under their awnings of " petates, " gayly chatting with one another, or laughing merrily at the bad Spanish of the American soldier. The Indian marketers were by no means a melancholy race. The great plaza was adorned with happy faces. The slightest witticism or a mispronunciation of any of their wares by a foreign tongue would elicit peals of laughter from the merry market girls, while the almost constant display of their small, pearly teeth and sparkling eyes evinced the lightness of their hearts. The remnants of several nations exist in the plains of Puebla. These may be easily distin- guished on the streets of the city by a singular custom. A few strands of worsted thread, blue, crimson, or purple, twisted into the plaits of their luxuriant black hair, mark the tribe of a village to which the wearer belongs ; so that at a glance one might tell an Indian girl from Tlaxcalla or San Pueblo from one of the Oholultecas. 374 HUMBLED PRIDE. Captain Arthur Stevens, who was among the first Americans to enter the city, took great in- terest in the scenes on the market or plaza. The strict discipline of the American general in com- mand would not permit him to leave the city- limits. Arthur had picked up some Spanish and frequently purchased fruits of the pretty Aztec .market girls. One day as he was going through the plaza the face of one of the Cholultecas maidens struck him so familiarly that he paused to gaze at her. " Will senor buy some fruits ? " she asked. He would. He bought almost unconsciously, while trying to fix in his mind where he had seen that face before. She was the age, height and shape of Madelina, but her skin was the dark red of the Aztec. " Does the senorita live in the plain?" he asked. " Yes, senor. " "Were you ever at Medellin?" he asked, for now he remembered the two girls he had seen bathing in the great stone basin, while scouting about Vera Cruz. " I have been there, senor. " "Do you know Senorita Madelina Bstevan?" The girl opened her great dark eyes, and with a gaze of wonder answered: " I do, senor. " FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 375 " You were with her at Medellin?" " Yes, senor ; I saw you when you came to the hacienda; but how did you see me? I was far in the house. " He did not explain, but asked at once: " Where is the Senorita Madelina Bstevan?" Pointing toward the great Cordilleras of the Eio Frio, she said : " Gone. " " And her hacienda?" " You can see the top from the city gates. It is deserted now, save old Pietro, who takes care of the senora's birds and flowers. " " When will she come back?" " When the Americans leave the valley. " Arthur then asked if she was near Cerro Gordo during the battle. The Aztec maiden said her father's regiment was in the conflict, and she was near him. " Then, " he thought, " the slipper I found in the carriage must be hers. " With a party of soldiers, guided by One-eyed Mike and a Mexican, he paid the deserted hacienda a visit. It bore every evidence of hasty abandon- ment, and lying on the floor of one of the rooms was another slipper, a mate to the slipper he had found at Cerro Gordo. Arthur would permit noth- ing to be disturbed and left even the satin slipper lying on the floor. 376 HUMBLED PRIDE. While the American army lay at Puebla, an opportunity was given to the Mexicans to treat for peace. At Jalapa, General Scott issued a procla- mation to the Mexican people very conciliatory in character, but closing with this significant para- graph : " I am marching on Puebla and Mexico, and from those capitals I shall again address you. " The government also sent Nicholas P. Trist as a diplomatic agent, with letters to certain persons in ^ Mexico, and clothed with power to treat for peace. He reached the army just as Scott left Jalapa, and went forward with it. All his overtures for peace were rejected by the proud sons of old Castile, who boasted that they could not be con- quered. General Scott was reinforced at Puebla by fresh troops, sent by way of Yera Cruz. His principal officers were Generals Worth, Quitman, Pillow, Twiggs, Smith, Cadwallader and Shields, who had recovered from his wound sufficiently to join ths army. On the 7th of August the march on the capital was resumed. The American army was now seven thousand strong. The road lay nearly along the line of march of Cortez, more than three hundred years before, over the Anahuac range of mountains, and up the slopes of the great Cordil- leras. The region was beautiful and picturesque, well watered, clothed with the richest green inter- FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 377 spersed with all the gaudy hues of wild flowers such as Mexico alone can produce, Avith the softest and most salubrious of climes. From the lofty summits of these mountains and almost upon the spot where Oortez stood, General Scott's army beheld, as the Spanish conquerors before them had done, the great valley of Mexico, with its inter- vales and lakes, cities and villages, and the waters of Tezcuco embracing the Mexican capital — the ancient metropolis of the Aztec Empire — now pre- senting lofty steeples and spacious domes. Down into that valley the invaders continuously pressed, for resistance was expected at the mountain passes. General Twiggs' division led, and on the 11th of August he was encamped at St. Augustine, with the strong fortress of San Antonio before him. Close upon his right were the heights of Churu- busco, crowned with embattled walls covered with cannon, and to be reached in front only by a causeway exposed at every point to a raking fire from the batteries. Not far off was the strongly fortified camp of Contreras, containing about six thousand Mexicans under General Valencia ; and between it and the capital was Santa Anna with twelve thousand men who were held in reserve. By the 15th, the whole invading army was concen- trated in the valley with headquarters on the Acapulco road. 378 HUMBLED PRIDE. The general disposition of forces was made, and the Americans only awaited the arrival of Gen- eral Scott to commence hostilities. He came on the morning of the 18th and, after surveying the whole scene, made arrangements for attacking the enemy and fighting his way to the gates of the city. That was a difiicult task, for the capital was strongly defended at points nearer than those already mentioned, and approach to it could only be made over narrow causeways, through oozy ground, as In the time of Montezuma. Near the city was the hill of Ohepultepec, which was strongly fortified and covered by a Military Insti- tute, and at the foot of it, at the King's Mills (Molino del Rey) , was a fortified stone wall and a citadel capable of great resistance. Every avenue to the city was guarded, and no point had been neglected. Ohepultepec would have to be carried by storm, and so would the position at Molino del Eey, and the strongholds of Contreras; but first San Antonio and Churubusco must be carried, ere the others could be reached. General Scott at once addressed himself to the important business in hand. Confronted by the victorious Americans, those invincible northern barbarians, whom they had pretended to despise, the Mexicans prepared for a desperate struggle. With the courage and skill of patriots they made FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 379 every effort possible to defend their country and national capital. But the Mexicans were divided among themselves. The opponents of Santa Anna never acted in full accord with him. Many would not serve under him, and many who did only gave him a half-hearted support. The Americans actively prepared for the coming conflict with great skill under the imme- diate direction of General Scott, ably assisted by Cap- tain Eobert E. Lee (after- ward the commander of the Confederate forces in the great civil war), the chief engineer of the army, whose services at Cerro Gordo and before Mexico won for him the commissions of major, lieutenant- colonel, and colonel, in rapid succession. The Americans were ready for the attack by the evening of August 19th, 1847. The day had been spent in indecisive skirmishing. The night was very dark, rainy, and cold, and as Arthur stood at the head of his company drenched and waiting for daylight he thought that the coming dawn might be the last he would ever witness. At dawn of day the great struggle would com- mence. All others had been small compared to what this would be. 380 HUMBLED PBIDE. As lie passed slowly up and down his line, lie heard a voice in the darkness whisper: " Captain, is it yersilf as is walkin' ferninst us?" " Yes, Pat. " " Begorra, this is worse than an election day in ould Kentucky. One can git a taste of whiskey there to kape out the wet. " "Silence, Pat." Day dawned slowly. The rain ceased, clouds partially cleared, and, after the soldiers had been permitted to eat a breakfast from their rations, the order to advance came. The grand struggle began at sunrise. It was brief and sanguinary. In the darkness the Americans had gained a position close upon the Mexicans, in rear and flank, before they were discovered, and, springing up suddenly from behind the crest of a hill, they delivered volleys in quick succession, and with wild yells rushed into the intrenchments, captured the batteries, drove out the army of Valencia, and pursued its flying remnants on the road toward Mexico. The conflict lasted only seventeen minutes. Eighty ofiicers and three thousand Mexican soldiers were made prisoners, and among the trophies were thirty -three pieces of artillery. Meanwhile, Generals Shields and Pierce (the latter afterward president of the United States) had kept Santa Anna's powerful reserve at bay. FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 381 A similar movement was made against San Antonio and Churubusco. Santa Anna advanced with his numerous followers to defend them, and very soon the whole country became a battlefield. The en- tire American and Mexican armies were engaged. It seemed as if all the powers of darkness had suddenly been let loose in that valley. On one side battled the fierce invader of the North, on the other the fierce cavalier of the South. One fought for patriotism and territory, the other in defence of his native land. The invaders dealt heavy and successful blows. San Antonio yielded; Churubusco was taken, and the forces of Santa Anna were sent flying toward the capital like chaff before the gale. Prisoners and spoils glutted the American army, and the day was memorable in the annals of Scott's military career. In the course of a single day, a Mexican army full thirty thou- sand strong had been broken up by another less than one -third its strength and number; fully four thousand Mexicans had been killed and wounded ; three thousand were made prisoners, and thirty- seven pieces of fine artillery had been captured, with a vast amount of munitions of war. The American loss in killed and wounded was nearly eleven hundred men. Though they might have easily passed on while" the Mexicans were panic-stricken and taken pos- 382 HUMBLED PRIDE. session of the capital, Scott preferred to once more try negotiations for peace. He advanced to Tacu- baya on the 21st, within three miles of the capital, and on the way he was met by a proposition from Santa Anna for an armistice preparatory to nego- tiations for peace. It was acceded to, and Mr. Trist went to the capital on the 24th for the pur- pose. At the palace of the Archbishop at Tacu- baya, which Scott made his headquarters, the general impatiently awaited the return of Mr. Trist. ■ On the 5th of September, he came with the information that the proposition for peace had not only been rejected with scorn, but that Santa Anna had violated the armistice by strengthening the defences of the city. General Scott, disgusted with the vacillating conduct, to say nothing of the treachery, of Santa Anna, declared the armistice at an end on the 7th of September and prepared to storm the capital. That formidable castle at Chepultepec, the walls and stone citadel of Molino del Eey and the forti- fied gates of Mexico manned by thousands of Mexicans yet stood between the American army and the capital. The invading army was on one of the main causeways, in full view of the city. General Worth was sent with between three and four thousand troops to attack Molino del Eey, and they were at first repulsed with great slaughter. FROM VICTORY TO VICTORY. 383 Gallantly rallying and returning to the assault and fighting desperately for an hour, they drove the enemy before them. Nearly one thousand Mexi- cans were left dead on the field, while the Ameri- cans lost about eight hundred. Attention was now turned to Chepultepec, the site of the " Halls of the Montezumas, " and then the only defence of the city left outside its suburbs. Oq the night of September 11th, Scott erected four heavy batteries, the guns of which might be brought to bear upon the hill. Early on the morning of the 12th, these opened with a furious cannonade, which was kept up throughout the day, and on the morning of the 13th the Ameri- cans made a furious charge upon the works and carried them. The occupants were not only driven out but routed with great slaughter and fled to the city along the aqueduct, pursued by General Quitman to the very gates. The pursuers were continually engaged in sharp skirmishes with the fugitives, and the whole valley resembled a battle field or skirmish line. The Mexican army was hopelessly shattered, and Santa Anna, thoroughly alarmed, fled from the city with the remnant of his troops before day- light on the morning of the i4th. At dawn a deputation came from the municipal authorities, begged General Scott to spare the town, and pro- 384 HUMBLED PRIDE. posed terms of capitulation. General Scott refused to make any terms, but ordered Generals Quitman and Worth to move forward and unfurl the flag over the national palace. At ten o'clock, General Scott, escorted by dragoons, rode into the city in full uniform on his powerful white charger and made his way to the grand plaza. Arthur Stevens and his company had entered an hour before and stood within a few paces of the general, when he dismounted, took off his hat and, drawing his sword and raising it on high above his head, proclaimed in a loud voice the conquest of Mexico. The young captain could not refrain from smiling when he heard the well known voice of Pat say : " He's gone a divil ov a long way and been to a sight o' throuble to say thim words. " CHAPTEE XVIII. REJECTED. The glitteriflg pageant of Scott's entrance was over, and the soldiers, subsiding from tlieir excite- ment, were beginning to break ranks for their quarters, when the population of the streets, com- prising the leperos and discharged convicts, secret- ly instigated by emissaries left behind by Santa Anna, began to fire on the troops. At this con- duct, so base, considering his forbearance, Scott issued orders for severe retaliation. The artillery cleared the streets. Parties were sent to break open the houses from which shots had been fired and slay all arrned within. The soldiers were not required to give quarter. A terrible but desultory street fight ensued. In some sections of the city the insurrection was speedily put down ; in others, it continued during the whole day, and even ex- tended into the night. At last the Americans drove the insurgents from every refuge and, be- coming tired of slaughter, refrained from the bloody work. It was ascertained after the riot 25 385 386 HUMBLED PRIDE. that it had been instigated for the purpose of plun- der and that Mexican citizens had suffered as much from the leperos if not more than the Americans. The fall of the capital struck dismay into the hearts of the Mexicans, and though there was some skirmishing on the part of Santa Anna, there were no more great engagements. While Generals Worth, Scott and Pillow were mixed up in their disgraceful quarrel, which followed the capture of Mexico, Arthur Stevens with his company, under the guidance of old One-eyed Mike, was scouting through the country in quest of guerillas. They were at the battle of Huamantla, on October 9th, where the Mexicans were again defeated; and on the 18th of the same month Arthur was with the force that defeated the Mexicans at Atlixco. Arthur was hastening to Puebla, which the Mexicans were besieging, with his own company and two companies of Missouri volunteers. The valley or plain of Puebla was reached, and the Americans were preparing to go into camp, when Mike scented danger ahead. He went to Captain Stevens and said: " Captain, if I may venture a word with you, I would state that it would be as well to look into that valley. " " Mike, you may go!" Mike needed no second permission, but, whis- REJECTED. 387 tling softly to his wonderful mustang, quickly mounted and melted away into the increasing darkness which surrounded the Americans, while Arthur quietly lit a cigar. "Hold, Pat, build no fires!" said Arthur sternly. " Make no fires, yer honor?" said Pat in amaze- ment. " I'd like to know how the divil a man's to cook supper. " " We will have to go without fire. " " Thin we must go without supper. " " Yes. " " Begorra, it's without dinner we've gone, and now I'd like to know how we're goin' to live on air. " At this moment, Sergeant Tuttle, who with four men had been scouting on their right flank, came into the camp at a gallop. " Hello, sergeant, " cried a soldier with the free- dom of a volunteer, " we're uncommon glad to see you ; but 'pears to me it's hardly wuth while to kill yer hoss an' come tearin' down on us as though a thousand devils were arter ye. " " A thousand devils, " gasped the sergeant, dis- mounting and tightening his saddle girth, "ye may say that. An' if ye put it at two, ye won't be far out o' the way. We followed their trail for a mile or two, till it struck off toward the 388 HUMBLED PRIDE. river, where they're camped most likely by this time, not half a dozen miles from here. " " And the tracks were fresh?" put in Captain Steveils. " Not three hours old. " " Some body of guerillas on a marauding expe- dition, " said the captain carelessly. " I'll be cussed if it was," the sergeant declared. " We followed 'em sharp for a mile or two, and they keep step like regulars. " " How many did you say?" Captain Stevens threw away his cigar and came nearer the sergeant. " Five hundred, — a thousand, — ten thousand, — as many as you'll want to see, I reckon; we forgot to count 'em." And without waiting to be questioned further, the Missourian drew his arm through the rein and led his mustang away among the men. They were a feeble force of fighting men ; all told they did not number one hundred and fifty. The Mis- souri officers and Arthur's lieutenants assembled about him, as he was in command, and Lieutenant Warren said: " Captain, what do you think we had best do?" " Wait until Mike returns. " " Have you sent him?" " Yes. " " Then you knew of this before?" REJECTED. 389 "Certainly, — have your men ready and wait." Then a silence of death fell on the scene. The most acute ears might then have caught the sound of hoofs, and a tall man on a small horse came galloping up to the group. It was Mike. He held a whispered consultation with Arthur, who then conferred with the officers, and, leaving the soldiers in charge of Captain Gordon, one of the Missouri cavalrymen, he and Mike set out to reconnoitre. As they approached the crest of the hill two miles from camp, they dismounted and leaving their horses, made the ascent on foot. Arthur imitated every motion of the old scout, falling on the ground and crawling to the top. The grayness of night was deepening about them. The swelling land behind was but an indistinct outline, and their own camp was invisible, as the two men lay side by side on the coarse, scorched grass, while One-eyed Mike pointed away toward' the Southwest where there was a dull red glow, which at first might have been mistaken for the reflecting rays of a sun long since set but still lighting the sky. Like mighty steps the hills rose to meet it, the last seeming hardly a mile away. A faint gray cloud lay against the flame-colored sky, — a fixed base, hardly perceptible, moored it to the earth. "Smoke, by Jupiter 1" and Arthur had started 390 HUMBLED PRIDE. to his knees, when the cautious Mike laid hia hand on his arm and said; " Lie low, captain. Do you see the valley to the South?" "Yes." " It is not guarded. It would be a surprise, and they would be caught like rats in a trap. " " I'll do it, " said Arthur with all the ardor of a young soldier. In five minutes they were again flying back to the American camp, where the men silently sad- dled and bridled their horses, and following Mike set out for the valley. The distance was consid- erable; but the point was reached about two o'clock in the morning, when they halted and waited for daylight. Day dawned, revealing a scene of wonderful brilliance and beauty. Stretched out below them was the loveliest of vales with a stream of crystal winding through it and palms and maguey and many wild flowers growing in a meadow of brightest green. The scene was all animation and stir. Tethered horses were all over the plains, camp fires and hundreds of Mexican lancers and guerillas could be seen. The usually dull eye of Mike flashed with fire as he gazed on a guerilla not three hun- dred paces away. Clutching the captain's arm, he hissed through his teeth : ONB-EYBD MIKE POINTED AWAY TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST WHEllE THEKE WAS A DULL RED GLOW. REJECTED. 391 "At last!" Mike had always been a mystery to Arthur, and now his strange, half-incoherent, half-muttered "at last!" only intensified the mystery. Arthur glanced at the guerilla chief and recognized him as Miguel Morillo. For a moment Mike's ex- citement bewildered him; but it was only for a moment, then recovering, in a voice as calm as the morning, he said : " Captain, we can get to within a hundred yards unseen." Arthur glanced at the old scout and in an under- tone answered: " We wiH have to move verj' cautiously. " The old man's single eye rolled like a ball of fire in its socket as he responded : " You are correct, for those greasers have keen ears, and the scent of greyhounds. Satan, their guardian angel, seems to always hover about them, and warn them when danger is nigh. " " Can we surprise them?" The old man's eye again rolled in the direction of the camp and he answered : " Yes, it may be done. " " If it can be done we will do it. " " You have great confidence in your men. " " I can rely on every one of them. " The old man nodded his head, 392 HUMBLED PRIDE. " When had we better start?" Arthur asked. " The sooner it is done the better, " was the an- swer. Arthur's military judgment told him that a sur- prise was essential to defeat a force so vastly superior to his own. Consequently he whis- pered : "Lead the way!" The Americans stole in double file down a ra- vine, winding about the base of a hill and came up behind a thicket of chaparral within easy rifle range of the camp. As the wind was toward them, the Mexican horses did not scent them, and the guerillas, supposing that all the Americans in the vicinity were shut up at Puebla, had not even taken the precaution to put out pickets. Under cover of the bushes, Arthur formed his men and from the backs of their steeds they poured in a volley and charged. Wild yells broke on the air, and through and through the camp the Americans charged, leaping their horses over the ghastly struggling forms on the ground. Wheel- ing about, they again dashed through the enemy, shooting and cutting right and left. The guerillas, being taken completely by surprise, made no re- sistance, but fled in every direction. They numbered over six hundred, but were pursued and shot down by the soldiers, until fully REJECTED. 393 half lay on the field. Most of them were half- breeds, and the others were desperadoes, of whom Mexico was thankful to be rid. When the con- flict was over, Arthur looked about for Mike, and found him standing by the body of a dead guerilla, whose costly velvet doublet and silver mounted "Well, 'tis ovbr. The end has come at last I" sabre and pistols proclaimed him to be a chief among the brigands. There was a hole in the cen- tre of his forehead made by a rifle ball from which his life blood had poured forth upon the earth. Arthur recognized the villanous face of the dead man as Miguel Morillo. Leaning on his rifle, the scout gazed strangely and solemnly, yet with satis- faction on the fallen man, as he muttered : " Well, 'tis over. The end has come at last!" 394 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Mike, did you know liim?" Arthur asked. He started as if lie had been detected in some guilty act and answered: "Yes." Arthur felt a delicacy in approaching the sub- ject, yet his curiosity had long been at its height. After gazing on the fallen man for a moment, he remarked : " Mike, there is some strange mystery about your life and this man. Can you tell me — will you tell me why you, an educated, refined man, have adopted the life of a hunter and rough fron- tiersman?" " Captain, I will tell you all at the first oppor- tunity ; but not now ; we have all we can attend to at present. " His idea of duty recalled Arthur to the fact that he was in command of a very small army in the midst of a very powerful enemy. It was the fourth night after the victory in the valley that Arthur Stevens found himself with his little army encamped in a narrow valley. Sentries had been posted and the main body of tired sol- diers lay about their smouldering camp fires, buried in slumber, their trusty rifles at their sides. The captain and the faithful guide sat by a small bivouac fire apart from the others. Arthur re- minded him that this was as good an opportunity REJECTED. 395 as he would have to narrate his history. After a short solemn silence, Mike began in his mysterious tone of voice : " I am not a Texan born, as my speech might seem to indicate, but a native of Vermont. In my early life I did not dream that I should ever be a frontiersman, for the romantic glamour of the life of a hunter or scout had no charms for me, as it has for most boys. I loved books, and my greatest ambition was to be a scholar. I graduated at Yale at twenty-three, and became a school teacher. I was thirty years of age, when I accepted the chair of languages in a female college in In- diana. There I met with a young lady — a pupil, with whom I became enamored. Her father was a small merchant in Chillicothe, Ohio, and sud- denly failing resolved to go to Texas where Austin, Houston and others had planted colonies. The bright-eyed pupil disappeared, and for some time I did not inquire for her, fearing that my passion which I had striven to conceal had become known, and she was removed on my account. " It was two years after they had been in Texas, that I learned the truth, and at once throwing up my position, I went there, found her, wooed her so earnestly that six months after my arrival we were wed. My life in Texas was a varied one. The romance of a living heart is wilder than aught 396 HUMBLED PRIDE. of fiction. The early struggles witt savage neigh- bors, the little clearings so carefully guarded and so tenaciously adhered to, with all the trials of a border life, are known full well. Such a life I led, happily contented with wife and little ones in this western wild, thankful to God for those price- less treasures of afiection, and asking no more. Nor did I once pine for the civilization and com- panionship of men of letters, whose society had once been my charm. " I learned that my wife had had admirers in her new home before I came to wed her. Among them was Miguel Morillo, the tawny-skinned Mexican, who had been at one time a source of annoyance to her, but it was thought that now she was wed, he would never pester her again. But, alas! we little knew the devil's hatred which is never exhausted in the breast of a half-breed. " One autumn morning I left my family for a day's hunting, by which to replenish our larder; but, as never before, I went with an unaccountably heavy heart. My wife remarked it, and with a light jest essayed to cheer me, and my little ones fondled me lovingly, yet I left most unaccountably sad and heavy-hearted. • " All that day my eyes were dim, and game escaped me, and long before sunset I retraced my homeward path with only a few birds, but no REJECTED. 397 larger game. A power unseen, forced me home- ward. For hours I resisted it as the folly of a weak brain, but it conquered. Alas! it was too late!" From this time on to the end of his narrative, his voice was husky, and oftentimes his strong emotions choked his utterances. " My blood alternately froze and boiled. My very veins swelled with the desolation reigning in my late happy home. What did I see? She who had left father, and mother, and home, to follow me over that rugged path of life, — she who had come to me in blooming youth, and faithfully loved, honored and obeyed me as my wedded wife — she who had borne to me fair children, and nursed and bred them into loveliness lay a gory corpse at my feet. Three little forms were there, — all lifeless too, their merry prattle hushed by savage violence, — the silver cord not loosed, but wrenched in twain; and one was missing, — the pet, the darling, the three-year-old, the only boy. Could I hope? — oh, no! — I knew too well the fearful certainty, for clutched in the mother's grasp was a fragment of a little frock. You can imagine the feelings of a father searching among the smouldering ruins for the missing one. With brains dashed out against the wall, lay all of hope " Here the brave old scout was com- 398 HUMBLED PRIDE. pelled to pause. After two or three minutes, he resumed : " At last, with what feeble strength I had re- maining, I reverently gathered together and laid side by side all that was left to me, and in a grave dug broad and deep placed wife and children side by side. Then over them I raised a mound higher and higher. All night I labored, and all day I toiled ere the task was complete. Kneeling on the blood -soaked sod, with face toward the setting sun, I prayed for vengeance deep and broad as the grave I had dug, high as the mound I had raised ; then, rising and lifting my hand red with the life blood of all this heart held dear, I swore an oath, dark and strong, that for every hair on the beloved head of each slaughtered dead, should fall a Mexi- can or Comanche. " Arthur Stevens was strangely moved by his graphic recital of the terrible story. The scout's striking figure with its hoary front, his flashing eye and swelling breast, his powerful arm upraised, and his deep, woe-fraught tones were to him like an avenging angel. At this point of his story, his voice lost its huskiness and assumed a deep sepulchral tone, which rang in Arthur's ear to the day of his death. " At the approving nod of the great Jehovah, all the hosts of heaven shouted a responsive amen REJECTED. 399 to my vow. I listened. The thunder rolled its mighty echoes over me. I heard it and knew the answer to my prayer had come. I had prayed on bended knees for an answer from the artillery on high, and it was now vouchsafed me. My work of woe is now complete; the bloody account is settled in the death of the cause of all my woes, thanks to the God of vengeance. " The old man resumed his seat by the fire, and his features once more relaxed into their dull, ex- pressionless appearance. Arthur was first to break the silence. After a long while he asked : " What was your wife's maiden name?" " Caroline Blunt. " He started. Like a blast there came to his recollection the story Madelina Estevan had told of Caroline Blunt and poor old Antonio, the vic- tim of Morillo's jealousy and the deadly ioloachi. But he never told the story to One-eyed Mike, and that personage perhaps died in ignorance of the tragic story of his wife's former lover. Santa Anna having retired from before Puebla, the siege languished until the 12th of October, when it was raised. By the time Arthur reached the town, he found the Americans ia undisputed possession of it. Indian market girls again thronged the plaza, and he found among them the pretty Cholultecas whose name was Eemedios, and 400 HUMBLED PRIDE. asked her if the old senor had returned to the hacienda. A look of sadness came over her face as she answered : " Ay, Senor Americano, it is a sad family group you will find there." "Why, senorita?" " The young senor. Colonel Felipe, lies there sadly wounded and at the point of death. " " And she— Madelina ?" he asked eagerly. " The senorita is there with her brother. " Arthur's soul was tormented by a thousand conflicting passions and regrets. An Estevan, a descendant of his beloved progenitors wounded and dying ! " Who knows but that he might have been wounded by my own hand? Oh this accursed war, — would to Heaven it would cease!" he thought. Despite the unsettled conditions of the country, and the fact that predatory bands of rancheros and guerillas still roamed over the country, dangerous alike to Mexican and American, Arthur deter- mined to go to the hacienda. Felipe was more like a brother than an enemy, and he resolved to see him or die. He went alone one morning. He knew the road, as he had visited the grand old mansion when Scott's army was resting at Puebla. REJECTED. 401 In Arthur's inside pocket wrapped in tissue paper was the dainty little velvet slipper found at Cerro Gordo. He had carried it through all these long months in the heat of the most terrible bat- tles, Churubusco, Molino del Eey and Chepultepec. While exposed to the death-dealing slaughter of the enemy, he had kept the slipper next to his heart. The day was fine and the road pleasant. He met many of the market girls whom he had seen on the plaza, and all greeted him with smiles and pleasant bows. Some gave the bold Americano a stare of wonder, while they shook their heads at his recklessness in riding out alone at such a time. Arthur's heart was heavy, for he feared the senor might be dead ere he could reach him. His large black horse carried him rapidly along the beautiful San Martin road, with its tall palms, its blooming cactus and maguey plants, and thousands of flowering shrubs. At last the great old hacienda was in sight. The mansion house, with its many peon cottages, out-houses and stables, looked like a small village. The young American dashed up to the hacienda and, calling to a peon who sat half asleep under a shed near an ox cart, gave him his rein and said in the best Spanish he could muster : 36 403 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Care for my horse until I shall want him, and I will give you two silver dollars. Ill-treat him and I will serve you likewise. " The peon was all smiles, bows, and salutations, assuring him that he would care for the horse as if he were his own brother. Whether he meant if the horse or Arthur were his brother, the Ameri- can's knowledge of Spanish was not sufficient to determine. On the great veranda, Arthur was overjoyed to meet with Father Agatone. " Senor Americano, my son!" cried the amazed priest. " Where have you come from ? " "Puebla!" " And why have you come hither?" Arthur was too eager to learn the condition of his friend to answer his question. "Is he alive yet?" " Yes, " answered the priest. " Thank God!" he fervently ejaculated, clasping his hands. " Have you come to see him, my son?" " I have. Do not tell me I cannot, for I must. You think me foolish to venture so far alone ; but I would go any distance and brave any danger to be at Felipe's side in such an hour." The priest's face was grave, and, with his lips firmly clasped, he said: REJECTED. 403 " My son, I fear your visit will greatly displease General Estevan, Felipe's father." "Can I see him?" "The general?" "No, Felipe." "Not now, senor — not now," said the priest slowly and solemnly. " It would not do now. " " Can I see the sefiorita ? " The priest shook his head for a moment and answered : " Not yet ; come with me and I will show you to a room. You have a friend in me, and per- chance I can do something toward reconciling the old don. " He conducted Arthur to the hacienda and thence to a room, which was in the northwest wing. It was a lovely room ornamented with Spanish fres- coing and paintings. Fresh flowers were in the vases, and there was a delightful view from the windows. Arthur was instructed to take up his abode in this apartment, and wait until the priest should call for him. At six, Father Agatone came for him to come and dine with him. They were alone in the great dining hall. He saw no one save the peon servants who attended on them. Then the priest and Arthur took a short stroll in a little flower garden near, and he asked about Felipe. He was better, but he could not see him 404 HUMBLED PRIDE. yet. He asked for Madelina and learned she was at the hacienda ; but as yet she was unaware of his presence. That night, as Arthur lay tossing restlessly on the bed, he could not but think this the most singular of all adventures that had ever befallen him. Here he was the guest of an enemy, under the same roof with the being he loved so madly, and she wholly unconscious of his presence. Next morning he and Father Agatone dined to- gether, and he almost fancied himself a living character in one of the Arabian Nights' tales. He went with the priest on another walk into the garden, and when he returned to his room found it made sweet with fresh flowers, yet he saw no one save the priest and servants. At noon, the priest ushered into the apartment a Mexican past middle age, — a tall, fine looking old gentleman, with an expiessive face and keen, piercing eyes, whom he introduced as General Estevan. The proud old Mexican gave him a scornful stare and said in English : " So you have had the temerity to come to my hacienda. I had hoped the saints would leave one spot free from the profanation of the accursed northerners ; but it seems that even the sanctity of home is to be invaded. " REJECTED. 405 " General Estevan, I come as a friend, not an enemy. " " A friend ! Saints preserve me from friends who come with fire and sword to destroy our people and nation ! " " General Estevan, Felipe your son is my friend — my brother. He is wounded — dying — I came at risk of life and everything to see him and know that he lived." "Your friend? your brother? It is false — he is your enemy!" cried the proud Mexican, stamp- ing his foot on the floor. " Enemies in war cannot be friends. " " General, have you not read how General Put- nam of the American army and Major Small of the British army, although national enemies were per- sonal friends — how Putnam saved Small's life at the battle of Bunker Hill?" "No!" roared the angry Mexican. "I never read American history. I know nothing of your Generals Small or Putnam." The priest explained that Arthur had saved Felipe's life on the battlefield, and that the young American was a descendant of the Estevan family, which caused an instantaneous change in the gen- eral. Arthur laid his weapons on a richly carved antique table, and asked ; 406 HUMBLED PRIDE. "Can I see Felipe?" " I will talk with the doctor, " said the general. It was thought best that he should not see him for twenty-four hours; but Arthur received the gratifying assurance that Felipe was improving. In due time, he was admitted to the sick man's room, and as he held the hand of the brave young Mexican, and gazed on his wan features, the tears stole down his cheeks. General Estevan left the room, perhaps to conceal his own emotion. Arthur begged so earnestly to come and sit by the bedside of his friend, that he v/as permitted to spend half his time with him. He was a very careful nurse, and never excited the patient. A, week had almost gone by, and yet he had not seen Madelina. She seemed to be avoiding him ; but every day during his absence some one brought fresh flowers to his room, which were tastefully arranged in vases. " Who can the fair donor be ? " he thought, as he gazed upon the flowers. He instinctively knew it was Madelina's hand which placed them there. He had not spoken to Felipe about his sister yet, but as he was growing stronger all the time, he resolved to do so the next day. He did so, and Felipe said she was in his room every day and asked if Arthur would like to see her. Certainly he would. He would hardly have made the dangerous journey, much as he liked REJECTED. 407 ^Felipe, had lie not expected to meet Madelina. She had not been out of his mind since the hour of his arrival. Felipe said he would probably see her the next day. He did. She was at her brother's bedside when he came, and when the old surgeon and profes- sional nurse entered, Arthur and Madelina retired. " Can I talk with you, senorita?" he asked. " Certainly, Captain Stevens. Let us go into the conservatory. " The conservatory of the Se- nora Bstevan was a wonder of beauty and mag- nificence. Arthur had seen many elegant flowers, gardens, bowers, greenhouses and beauties of the floral world, but nothing like this. The flowers of the tropics mingled with the vegetation of the temperate zone. Fortunately, this beautiful home had escaped the ravages of the war. The old hacienda still stands not two leagues from Puebla, and is the wonder and admiration of all who see it. Arthur and Madelina were soon sitting on a rustic bench surrounded by tropical luxuriance. At last he asked : " Were you at Cerro Gordo?" "Yes," she answered, "I was returning from Medellin when the American army attacked Santa Anna. " " Permit me then to return this, " and he drew 408 HUMBLED PRIDE. the satin slipper taken from Santa Anna's car- riage. She took it and, blushing, asked : " Was this your only trophy of war?" " To me it was of more value than banners and cannon. " He then told her how he found it. She explained that as she was flying, her father, who commanded a division of the Mexicans, secured her a place in the carriage of Santa Anna, but that the carriage was upset in the rocky pass, and she mounted a horse and came just ahead of the Mexi- cans to Puebla. In that first interview, Arthur dared not men- tion the subject nearest his heart, but gained per- mission for a meeting next day. As they sat on the same seat, he asked: " Did your brother tell you of our strange tradi- tions?" "Yes." "He told you all?" " He did. " " And of the prophecy of the vision of the Virgin ? " " He told me everything, " and her face was pale as death and cold as marble. Arthur would have given worlds to know what effect that narra- tive had had upon her. From all appearances, it seemed to have had none. He realized hat his REJECTED. 409 happiness, his life, his all, depended on the result of the avowal, but if she had heard it, she was utterly unconcerned. "Seiiorita!" he at last began in a low, deep, earnest voice, " let me hope that you see the same interpretation of the vision and legend I do. I am the Bstevan of Francisco, you of Eodrigo ; let us hope that the line of those progenitors may be united in us. Senorita, — ^Madelina, I am an American ; but I never loved until I met the fair flower of Mexico, yourself. Consent, — oh Made- lina — be mine!" " Captain Estevan, you forget." "What?" " We are enemies. " " No, no, and we never were." " How can we be aught but enemies ? You are an American, a conqueror of Mexico. I hate all Americans ! " and the pretty face seemed a thou- sand times more beautiful in its anger. " Senorita, I hope you will not treasure such feelings in your heart; it is unlike the good Chris- tian maiden you are. The good father tells you to forgive your enemies. " She quickly interrupted him with : " It is very well for you to talk of forgiveness, you who are the victor, who know not defeat, — you who are the conqueror and have nothing to 410 HUMBLED PRIDE. forgive; but place yourself in our position — the humbled, conquered Mexican. See your soil in- vaded, your rights trampled upon, homes and altars desecrated and innocent women and children slaughtered, and then ask me if I can forgive. " She had worked herself up to a passion, which ended with tears of mingled pity, humiliation and rage. In vain Arthur told her those things were the result of war. In vain he repudiated any part personally with these wrongs, yet he was an American, an invader and an enemy. He asked her forgiveness, he plead his strong love, but all in vain ; she would listen to nothing. A sense of hospitality alone made her tolerate his presence. He hoped this feeling would wear away, and he lingered as long at the hacienda as he dared, and even when he returned to his command had not wholly abandoned all hope. Felipe was convales- cent and sat on the veranda to bid him return again. He was pale, and his smile was sad and humbled. The war with Mexico was over. Santa Anna, deserted by the people, who had never had full confidence in him, was flying for personal safety to the shores of the Gulf. The president of the Mexican congress assumed provisional authority; and on the 2d of February, 1848, that body con- cluded a treaty of peace with commissioners of the REJECTED. 411 United States at Guadaloupe Hidalgo. It was ratified by both governments, and President Polk proclaimed it on the 4th of the following July. That treaty stipulated the evacuation of Mexico by the American army within three months, the payment of three million dollars in hand and twelve millions in four annual instalments by the United States to Mexico for the territory acquired by conquest, and, in addition, the assumption by the United States of debts due certain citizens of the American republic, amounting to three million five hundred thousand dollars. Boundary and other disputes were settled, and New Mexico and California, those vast territories from which other States and territories have been made, became the acknowledged territories of the United States. Arthur Stevens had not yet abandoned all hope of winning the fair Castilian. The American army was to leave Puebla next day, and he was at General Est'evan's hacienda for the last time. He and Madelina stood within the embowered conservatory of senorita's mother, alone. He had plead his suit, as never had lover plead before, but all in vain. " You have humbled the pride of Mexico, seQor, and I cannot wed you. " After a long silence, he asked : " Madelina, if we had met under other circum- 412 HUMBLED PRIDE. stances — if there had been no war with Mexico — could you have returned my love?" " It is useless to answer that. We know not what strange events other circumstances might have wrought. The events which have happened ' estrange us forever. " " Madelina, do you forget I am an Estevan and descended from the sa.rae noble people as yourself?" '" I can only remember that you are an Ameri- can, and that as such you humbled our flag and slew women and children. " Arthur shuddered, and then in a voice of de- spair asked : " Oh, Madelina, can you not forgive me?" " Certainly, I forgive, but never forget, senor. " " I believe you return my love, but in your pride will not admit it. Heaven have mercy on me ! will nothing change your resolve ? " "Nothing!" This cold answer was final. He felt that in six months she whom he loved more than life would be enclosed in the walls of a convent. Slowly and sadly he turned away and went to Puebla. Next day the army took up its march to Vera Cruz, where it embarked for New Orleans, and Arthur went home, a conqueror, yet sad, broken- hearted and humbled. CHAPTER XIX. JOHN. In the very month that the treaty was signed at Guadaloupe Hidalgo, gold was discovered at Cap- tain Sutter's mill on the American Fork of the Sacramento Eiver in California. This caused a tide of emigration to the Pacific coast, which has never ceased to this day. Since the discovery of gold there, the yield of the precious metal has been enormous. In May, 1848, Wisconsin was ad- mitted as a State into the union, making the number of States thirty. President Polk was suc- ceeded in March, 1849, by General Taylor, who had made himself very popular by his democratic ideas, and his bravery in the war with Mexico. His cabinet advisers were John M. Clayton, secre- tary of state; William M. Merideth, secretary of the treasury; George N. Crawford, secretary of war; William B. Preston, secretary of the navy; Thomas Swing, secretary of the interior, a de- partment which had just been created; Jacob Collamer, postmaster-general, and Eeverdy John- son, attorney -general. 413 414 HUMBLED PRIDE. The rush of emigration into California early entitled it to become a State. That admission brought up the eternal wrangle on slavery. As often as our foi-efathers thought by compromise or any other way, that the slavery question had been settled, it came up again. Mr. Clay came for- ward with a measure in congress known as the " omnibus bill," a compromise act, which only de- ferred for awhile the inevitable blow at the nation. Even while the discussion of the question was shaking the country with its thunders, threats of disunion were loud, violent and numerous; and opposition to the compromise took the shape of a political party, first in Mississippi, with Jefferson Davis, President Taylor's son-in-law, as leader. It spread to other slave holding States, and at one time seemed formidable; but the time had not arrived. The great blunder was deferred. During President Taylor's short administration, some events occurred, which, as they subsequently had a bearing on our story, we will narrate. General Narcisso Lopez, a native of Cuba, led an expedition to that island from the United States, backed, it is claimed, by many men in the southern part of the United States who in less than fifteen years after were actively engaged in the attempt to destroy the union. The avowed object of the invasion was to stir up the Creoles, or native Cu- JOHN. 415 bans, to a revolt for the purpose of overthrowing the local government, casting ofE the Spanish yoke and forming an independent State. It is claimed by some that the chief object of the Americans engaged in the enterprise was to seize Cuba, and make it a part of the great slave empire of the South, as had been done with Texas; but there were as many anti-slave as there were slave fanat- ics in those days, and we are inclined to accord to Lopez the intent of securing the independence of his native island. The expedition of Lopez proved a failure, and he returned to the United States. The introduction of the compromise act, the first invasion of Cuba, the admission of California as a State and New Mexico, Utah and Minnesota as territories were the prominent features of President Taylor's administration. He died July 9, 1850, of bilious fever, in the 65th year of age, after having served the people as chief magistrate, one year four months and five days. Millard Fillmore succeeded Taylor. His consti- tutional advisers were Daniel Webster, secretary of state ; Thomas Corwin, secretary of the treasury ; Charles M. Conrad, secretary of war; William A. Graham, secretary of the navy; Alexander H. H. Stuart, secretary of the interior; Nathan K. Hall, postmaster-general, and John J. Crittenden, attor- ney-general. 416 HUMBZED PRIDE. At this period of American history, there had sprung up a sect in the United States so singular and so powerful as to deserve a word of mention. This sect, known as Mormons, which has given the country so much trouble came into existence about 1830. Their founder Joseph Smith, a native of Vermont, pretended to have revelations from Heaven. In one of these he was directed to go to a hill near Palmyra, New York, where he would find a record of the ancient inhabitants of America and a new gospel for mankind, written centuries before, on. plates of gold, in unknown characters and languages. From these plates (it was "alleged) Smith, sitting behind a blanket to prevent their being seen by profane eyes, read the inscriptions, which were written down by a scribe who was not permitted to see the " leaves of gold." This copy was published under the name of " The Book of Mormon." It is said that investigation proved that the Eev. Solomon Spaulding, many years be- fore, wrote a work of fiction, founded upon the theory that our continent was peopled by the " lost tribes of Israel;" that the manuscript came, by accident, into the hands of Smith, and that he read to his amanuensis from the manuscript, and not from any plates containing mysterious char- acters. He established the "Mormon church," which at first had but thirty members. He was JOHN. 417 assisted by Sidney Eigdon, who, it is claimed, became possessed of Spaulding's manuscript, and placed it in the hands of Joseph Smith. They established themselves first in Kirtland, Ohio, then at Farwest, Missouri, from which place they were driven, finally settling at Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois. While at Kirtland, they were joined by a shrewd young man named Brigham Young, who in after years became the great Mormon ruler. Their peculiar religion, their intense bigotry and, it is said, utter disregard for the rights of property of others brought down upon these deluded people the indignation of their neighbors, who killed their prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hiram and drove them out of the country. They finally crossed the Mississippi and penetrated to the valley of the great Salt Lake, where, in 1848, they seated themselves in a most picturesque region, founded a city, built a temple and increased by thousands, and have proved an element of disturbance to the government ever since. When Arthur Stevens returned home after the Mexican war, he had many remarkable stories to tell to his father. Among them, of course, he did not forget the meeting with the Estevans. He and Felipe began a correspondence, which was kept up during their lives. In all his correspond- ence, Felipe never mentioned his sister, directly or 37 418 HUMBLED PRIDE. indirectly. His letters indicated sadness- and hu- miliation. He frequently spoke of going to Cuba, and gradually let out to Arthur a plan which some Mexicans and native Cubans had of liberating the island. Arthur had been home several weeks before he met with Doctor Trunnels. The doctor iiad been off to capture some runaway negroes. Meeting him recalled to his mind what Felipe had told him of John, and John's story, which he related to his father. "Do you believe it, Arthur?" Major Stevens asked. " Yes. Felipe would not tell a falsehood. Whatever you may say of Mexicans generally, this family is the soul of honor and truth." " Then Dr. Trunnels is an outlaw and a villain, yet hearsay evidence cannot be taken to convict him, and we can't prove it. We must let him go unpunished, for Doctor Trunnels is decidedly popular with the masses. " He then told Arthur of the letter he had re- ceived from John, which corroboi'ated the Mexi- can's story. Arthur realized how helpless they were to aid the unfortunate slave, and how hopeless a task it would be to bring Doctor Trunnels to justice. The story of a far-away Mexican would be re- JOHN. 419 garded more as a tradition than truth, and John's letter could not be admitted as evidence. The young captain, having retired from army life, was restless and inclined to rove. A letter from Felipe informed him that friends of Cuba were going to organize a force in the United States to free the island from the Spanish yoke. Felipe had relatives in Cuba, who kept him posted. Gen- eral Lopez was even then in New York organizing an army for a second effort to liberate the island. This was of course done secretly, as the United States government was watching their movements with jealous eyes. Felipe wrote he had decided to join the expedition. When Arthur read that letter, a strong desire seized him to join it also. It promised wild ad- venture, and he reflected that Lafayette, a for- eigner, had come to assist the Americans gain their freedom, and why should not an American aid the Cubans? He said nothing to any one of his re- solve; but under the pretence of going to Cali- fornia, where the gold excitement was at its height, he set out for New York. Letters from Felipe admitted him to a conference with General Lopez, and he was amazed to find over five hundred Americans enlisted under him, among them Colonel W. L. Crittenden, son of the attorney-general of the United States. This was in July, 1851. 420 HUMBLED PRIDE. General Lopez's Bahia-Honda or second expedi- tion, as it is known in history, was ready to start for Cuba. Arthur found the general a tall, hand- some man with dark, piercing eyes, and soul burn- ing with republicanism. Colonel Crittenden, who acted as his lieutenant, was filled with enthusiasm. The mustering took place on a part of Long Island shore which was thinly populated. Arthur was quite sure he never saw a more motley crew. Almost every nationality on earth was represented. At midnight they embarked in boats and were rowed to the vessel in which they sailed. The general met them off Sandy Hook and came aboard. The greatest secresy was requisite, for United States cruisers were on the watch for them. Off Florida Keys they were met by a schooner, on board of which were Mexicans, Frenchmen and negroes. To Arthur's joy, he found Felipe Estevan among the Mexicans. They had been rendezvous- ing there for some time to await General Lopez. Arthur, at his request, was transferred to the schooner, where he might be with his friend, and they talked over the old war times, when they fought, yet were friends. Arthur longed to ask him about Madelina, yet dared not do so. He was sure she had long since been immured in a convent and lost to the Avorld forever. JOHN. 421 There was little time for discussing the past or the future. General Narcisso Lopez, whose force was now swelled to several hundred persons of all nationalities, landed at Morrillo, near Havana. Never, perhaps, did an expedition evince more madness, for there were forty thousand Spanish soldiers at Havana. Lopez depended on the native Cubans rising in revolt, which they did not do. Fear of Spanish tyrants kept them in subjection, and the madness of the expedition soon became apparent to both Arthur and Felipe. Leaving Colonel Crittenden at Morrillo, Lopez with the remainder went to Las Pozas. They had scarce left Crittenden, when he was surrounded by an overwhelming force, captured and shot. Arthur and Felipe had accompanied Lopez and so escaped capture and death ; but the young men soon real- ized that the expedition was a failure. " Felipe, this is madness, " said Arthur, on the very day they reached Las Pozas. " The Creoles will not rebel. " Grinding his teeth, the handsome young Mexican answered : " The cowards dare not assert their freedom. " "When the fierce struggle came at Las Pozas, Arthur and Felipe fought side by side, and right . good work their muskets did that day. The over- whelming force of Spaniards was repulsed with 432 HUMBLED PRIDE. loss. It was late that night when Arthur and Felipe were summoned to the headquarters of the insurgent chief. They found him pacing back and forth in his small tent, his face expressing the deepest anxiety and apprehension. " We must retire to the mountains, " he said. " The few Cubans who did join us are about to desert, or have done so. True, we repulsed the Spaniards to-day ; but they will come in force to- night. " When the retreat began, Arthur at once saw that the insurrection was doomed. They were pursued by Spanish dragoons, hunted and fired at, and their ranks decimated, until immolation seemed inevitable. The retreat became a flight. They were fugitives. Arthur said to Felipe: " Let us separate from the others ; and as we both speak Spanish fairly well, we may escape. " " It is the best we can do, senor. " At night they deserted the little party of Lopez, which a few hours later was captured. General Narcisso Lopez was taken to Havana with six others, where the general was garroted, September 1, 1851, and so toded the second Cuban revolt under Lopez. When morning dawned, Arthur and Felipe found themselves alone in the deep woods, which are the most fascinating part of all Cuba. Ameri- JOHN. 423 cans and Europeans can form little conception of Cuban forests. One has to see them to realize their wonder. Perhaps the noblest of them are in the region along the northern coast. There the stateliness and grandeur, as well as value of these forest trees are almost incredible. The fugitives wandered amid the guabrahaca, the colossal ma- hogany, the gueso, the guayco and a hundred different varieties of mammoth vegetation, forming deep and solemn shades in which they found friendly shelter. On the third day's ramble, they came to one of those quaint, rural Cuban homes, occupied by an interior sugar planter. So far as Arthur could see, the structure itself and the daily life within and around this home, had not been affected by the uprising and revolution. He fancied it could have been seen just as it then was, centuries ago. Like most rural houses in Cuba, this was built of the porous Cuban stone, which hardens from ex- posure. It was immensely large in ground area, with but one lofty story in height; though under the centre of the roof, there was a guardilla, or garret, which the great New England hipped roof could not anywhere equal. Set up a few feet from the ground on large, square stone pillars, permitting free passage of air underneath, as with many southern plantation houses, huge beams of 434 HUMBLED PRIDE. guabraliaca rested on these, and upon this founda- tion the walls were laid. There was something pleasant about the planta- tion which seemed to whisper of peace and security to the adventurers. They found the planter, a corpulent Cuban past sixty, a good-natured, jolly old fellow, talking with his confessor. He assured the young men that they could stay at his house as long as they wished, and no questions asked ; and he gave them a significant wink. When they had feasted, he said he had a healthy apartment in the guardilla (garret) where they could rest undis- turbed as long as they desired. The priest who was with them accompanied them to this apartment and for three weeks they lived here while Spanish horse, foot and dragoon were scouring the country in quest of the filibusters. The old Cuban's pretty daughter Inez soon learned of the hiding-place of the young men and became their voluntary waiting-maid, also their scout and spy to report danger. That Felipe was impressed with her beauty and gentleness was quite apparent, and his love was returned. Cuban revolts, like the tornadoes of the tropics, fierce as they may be, are soon over, and at .the end of three weeks the fugitives could go and come without danger. One day Felipe saw a letter addressed to Antonio Estevan. Could the old JOHN. 435 Cuban's name be the same as his own? He asked him and learned that he was Estevan, a descendant of the Hernando Estevan who came with Columbus. Would wonders never cease? Here were men of three nations, descendants from the same branch. It seems that there was a large family of Estevans in Cuba, descendants from Christopher Estevan, by a son born after Francisco and Eodrigo had de- parted from Spain and Mexico. This old sugar grower was one of them. Since Felipe had become acquainted with the fair Inez, Arthur saw little of him and frequently wandered about the woods alone with a light fowl- ing-piece shooting small birds. One day while in the forest, he was started by the baying of dogs and heard an exclamation of horror, with tearing and crushing of bushes near, and next moment a miserable creature came through the bushes and fell at his feet. The thing was scarcely clothed at all. The upper body was entirely naked; the head was covered with an almost brimless hat ; short trowsers of coarse cotton came almost to the knees ; while the lower limbs were naked, and the feet were bare and bleeding from running through the bushes and woods. He could hardly tell whether it was human being or an animal, as it came out of the thicket on its hands and knees. As soon as the miser- 426 HUMBLED PRIDE. able creature discovered Arthur, he fell at his feet crying in English : " Oh, moster — moster, God has sent you to save me!" " Who are you ? " asked Arthur. " Moster, doan yo remember me, moster Arthur? It's John— John!" " John !" cried Arthur in amazement. " What ! can it be possible?" He gazed for a moment at the once handsome young mulatto, his father's favorite slave, and could hardly believe that this frightful -looking creature, whom misery and ill- treatment had made revolting to look upon, was the same person. But the voice of John convinced him. " Moster, it's I — it's John, 'fore God, I is yo' nigger John. Save me, moster; I escaped, but they set the dogs after me. They are coming. " Arthur could hear the deep, terrible baying, not half a mile away, and he knew that the owner of the dogs was not far behind them. He was quick to think and act, for whatever was done, must be done quickly. " John, get upon my shoulders — I must carry you." " Carry me, moster?" " In no other way can we throw the dogs off the scent. " 'oh, moster— moster, god has sent you to save me V JOHN. 427 " But they'll scent yo- footsteps. " " It will be a new trail and mislead them. Come, quick." In a moment he had his father's slave on his shoulders, and hurried away along a narrow path. It was an odd sight at that age — a man carrying his own slave on his shoulders, assisting him to escape from a slave hunter. Arthur had no clear idea how he would get John away. In fact, he had vei'y little hope of succeeding at all. He in- stinctively sought a place beyond immediate dan- ger, and trusted to fate for the balance. He went as rapidly as possible, with the fugitive on his shoulders, wading streams, walking on stones and doing everything in his power to throw the dogs off his trail. After half an hour, he paused by the side of a large mahogany tree and listened to the far-off baying. "They are at fault now, John," he said in a tone of some encouragement. " Let me walk, moster. " " Not yet ; we must go a mile further. " They went two miles further, and sat on a fallen tree by the side of a small cataract to rest and listen. The dogs were so far away, they could scarce be heard. The plan seemed to be working; but the danger was not wholly over. 428 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Let me walk, moster — they would not scent me now. " " They would ; wait, I have it ! " and Arthur began to pull ofE his boots. " What do yo mean, moster?" " Put these on ; then the dogs will be wholly at fault. " " And yo walk barefoot?" " Yes, it is the only way. Come, make haste. " John asked no questions. He quickly donned the boots and, with Arthur limping along at his side over sticks and stones which bruised his ten- der feet, unaccustomed to such travel, they hurried on. The day was spent in trying to escape the dogs and •hunters, and when evening came, they were at one of the cowsheds of the old planter, a short distance from the house. " You must crawl in under the loft, John, and stay there for awhile, " said Arthur. " Moster, yo will save me? Promise me yo will save me, good moster. " "Alas, John, your poor master will hardly be able to save himself," said Arthur with a sigh. " Like you, I am a fugitive in this island, and I am hunted as yourself; but trust in heaven, and I will do all I can, " answered Arthur, putting on the boots which John returned. John crept into the shed among some mild-eyed JOHN. 429 COWS, that gave him a curious stare, sniffed the air, shook their heads in disapprobation of the intrusion and then resumed chewing their cuds in perfect contentment. Meanwhile, Arthur had gone to the house of the Cuban. He took Felipe into his confidence and told him of the runaway, and expressed a de- termination to take him from the island. " By the mass, my friend, I fear we will have enough to do to get away from the island our- selves. " " Dare we speak to Senor Bstevan about him?" " I will talk with Inez first about it. Senor Estevan has Spanish blood in his veins, and a Spaniard will risk almost anything. " He spoke to Inez and through her the father was reached. His sympathy was enlisted for the unfortunate John, and his young master, and he consented to dare and do all he could. John was transferred from the cowshed to one of the negro quarters, where it was made believe among the slaves that he was a newly purchased negro. The affair was managed with consummate care and skill, and the Cuban master and hunters were thrown completely off the trail. One day, Arthur had John sent to him, and asked him about running away. He told him all. The duplicity of Dr. Trunnels was laid bare by 430 HUMBLED PRIDE. the negro, and the horror of Cuban slavery of which he had had a taste, would shock the reader. " What has become of Nelly, John?" At mention of her name, the poor fellow broke down and wept. " Poor Nelly, moster — she is in Heaven now, " sighed John. " It was hard for me to know she was dyin' ; she was all I cared for on earth. For her I left the best moster in the world to go we thought to freedom ; but it was to an awful death. I only saw her once or twice after we came to Cuba; we never got to talk much, for the mosters were 'round with whips to beat us. It's been a year ago now, as I was passin' a miser'ble hut, some one called my name. I went in, though I knowed I'd get a beatin'. There she lay, moster ■ — -black skinned — ignorant — dyin' — what did the world care if she lay there on that pile o' damp straw dyin'? They passed her door, and laughed and talked just the same, and the children on the corner never stopped playin'. 'John!' she called me. I was there. Old before her time, bruised and swollen, her heart ached, her poor dim eyes were full o' tears, moster. As I knelt at her side, I took her poor hand in mine. " 'John, how long was it?' she asked. " 'It's nigh onto four years, Nelly,' I answered, for I knowed her mind went back to the old Ken- JOHN. 431 tucky honie where we used to be so bappy, and sung the same old songs to my banjo. " 'An' de others, John?' " I knowed she was talkin' about them as come with us, and I said: " 'Dead — all dead. It's been twelve months since de last was brung back from de woods dead. ' "'An' yo is alone, John?' " 'No, not while you live.' " 'But I am goin', John; I'll soon be gone, an' den you may call Nelly, — Nelly, — Nelly, but she will be dead, and can't come back. An' de time has been long for you, John?' " 'Yes, honey. I has been pinin' an' longin' for to go de same way; but it can't be far to de end of de road. ' " 'An we has been poo' and lowly?' " 'De same. Hunger, cold an' heat has been our companions, Nelly, since we left our old Kentucky home. ' " 'John, John!' an' she spoke kinder peart like, for one who was dyin', 'de good Lawd who takes me will punish Doctor Trunnels for de way he deceive us. — but no — no, lam dyin', John, an' I — forgive — Dr. Trunnels.' " She didn't say no more for a long time, mos- ter, but lay there holdin' my hand ; den in a voice like some one floatin' off in the air, she said : 433 HUMBLED PRIDE. "'Good by, John, — good by, — good by,' an' she was gone. " John could tell no more. He sobbed, and even Arthur's eyes were not free from moisture. As he reflected on all this misery, he was constrained to say : " This is one of the evils of the accursed systems of slavery. " Next day, Felipe proposed that they venture to Havana. As he and Arthur were strangers, they might go in safety. Senor Bstevan had a brother in the city to whom he sent a letter. John was left behind with the assurance that Arthur would endeavor to get him out of the country. They went to the city, and the recent insurrection seemed wholly forgotten. General Lopez and the ring- leaders were dead, and the search for the others was ended. Arthur wrote a letter to his parents apprising them of his whereabouts and how he came there, and of finding John, which fact he asked them to keep a profound secret for the present. He assured thera that the wanderer would soon return. One day as he was strolling in the suburbs of the city, he espied a volante coming at a furious pace toward him. The driver had fallen from his saddle, and the frightened mule was running at full speed. He leaped before the ungainly animal. JOHN. 433 struck at him with a stick, and checked him so that he seized his bit, and held him until the owner, an awkward negro, came up with many apologies in Spanish, half of which Arthur did not understand. The young American glanced at the fair occu- pant of the volante and cried : " Madelina, you here ! " "Captain Stevens!" she answered, as much amazed as himself. " Will you permit me to ride with you ? " he asked. " Certainly, senor. " Seating himself at her side he asked : " Why are you here, senorita?" " I am searching for my brother, " she whispered. " He joined the insurgents, and our parents are ill from anxiety and grief. I came to learn his fate. " What joy to Arthur to set her heart at ease! He did so in just four words : " Your brother is safe!" Then he told her all, how, at Felipe's request, he had joined the insur- gents. Their drive was a long one, and they talked over all the past and far into the future. She had not, as he supposed, entered a convent, or taken the black veil. He told her of Felipe's love affair, and as the volante finally halted to let the senorita out at the home of her friend, he said : 38 434 HUMBLED PRIDE. " Now, senorita, the branches of the Estevans of the South are reunited ; let me once more im- plore you to reconsider your rejection of my suit. Let us fulfil the prophecy to the mother of our progenitors ! " She blushed, was silent for a moment and said : " Wait ! meet me in Puebla. " CHAPTEE XX. CONCLUSION. Arthur felt a hope, long since dead, revived in his breast. Madelina's request to meet her at Puebla, he construed into a favorable answer to his long urged suit. Felipe met his sister, and plans were laid for an early departure. As it was not known that either Felipe or Arthur had had any part in the insurrection they were in little danger. The sister and brother determined to set sail in three days for Yera Cruz, while Arthur decided to first go to New Orleans, to which place his father had sent him some remittances, and from thence sail for Vera Cruz and travel as rapidly as possible by private or public conveyance to Puebla. He bade Felipe an adieu. He did not see Made- lina, who purposely avoided him. Felipe, learn- ing" of Arthur's determination to go to Puebla to again woo his sister, encouraged him. A bold smuggler on the coast, for a liberal re- ward, promised to take John to New Orleans, 485 436 HUMBLED PRIDE. where Arthur would find him. This the smuggler did, and when Arthur landed at the wharf, he found the delighted mulatto awaiting him. Ar- rangements were soon made for John to stay as an employee in a large sugar house until his master should call for him, and Arthur set out for Puebla. We will skip over the long journey and come to the beautiful " city of the angels. " The city still showed some of the ravages of war. Arthur tarried long enough only to get some needed rest and change his clothes, and set out for the haci- enda in the best conveyance he could procure. The old hacienda, with its profusion of flowers and delightful scenery, soon loomed up before him, and when he reached it, he found Felipe awaiting him, an eager smile on his face. Even the old general met him on the veranda, and greeted him kindly. The senora, a most excellent Mexican lady, hastened to welcome him. " I can scarce believe you are an American, " said the general. " We seem of the same family. " "After all, general, is not all the world akin? Our antipode brothers, though unlike us in any particular, are still our brothers, as we are de- scended from the first parents. " " True — -true — but let us not discuss those ques- tions ; come in and have some refreshments. " The old general had some excellent wine brought, CONCLUSION. 437 and the traveller could not but contrast his present visit with his former one. He did not see Made- lina until late in the evening, and then she appeared on the veranda arrayed in her most becoming cos- tume. They strolled once more to the beautiful flower garden, and their voices were low and earnest, quivering with emotion. When he took her hand, it trembled within his own ; when his arm encircled her slender waist, the beauty of the sunny land forgot that he was a cold barbarian from the North, and did not ask him to remove it. When he poured the sweet story of love into her ears, she listened to it trembling with silent delight. They were alone, when finally he drew her to his heart, and their lips met in raptu- rous love kisses. The prophecy of the old Spanish senora was fulfilled, the descendants of Francisco and Eodrigo were united in firmer bonds of love than the brothers of old. Arthur pleaded an early wedding so earnestly, that his wishes were respected, and the marriage was celebrated at the great cathedral. Father Agatone solemnized it according to the Catholic church. With his bride, accompanied by her brother Felipe, he returned to New Orleans and, taking John with them, boarded a steamboat for Louisville. 438 HUMBLED PRIDE. Here John was left with some friends, for Arthur was determined to bring Dr. Trunnels to justice, and John's presence in Boone County might be detrimental to his plans. Of Arthur's return home, the welcome he and his young and beautiful bride received'at the old homestead, and how people came far and near to see the wonderful beauty from the South we may omit the details. Among those who came to see Madelina was Dr. Trunnels, whose ready wit and powers as a conversationalist would have turned a head less evenly balanced than hers. "Arthur, your wife is a jewel," the doctor de- clared, when he and Arthur were alone. " I never met a woman possessing so many rare qualifica- tions. Her mind is well stored with useful knowl- edge, she is charming and vivacious. Her brother, too, is a remarkable man ; but he seems to avoid me. All my advances toward friendship are treated with absolute coolness. " Arthur could easily have explained why Felipe disliked the doctor. Although he tried himself to keep the doctor from suspecting his feeling, he found it impossible to do so. The doctor noticed his conduct and asked: " Arthur, why are you so cold and strange? I never did you wrong in word or thought. People don't understand me, and I cannot explain myself. I am the creature of un- CONCLUSION. 439 fortunate circumstances ; I have been maligned by designing men, Arthur, and for some reason, I know not what, I have lost your friendship. I would I could regain it, but I know not how I can. " Such consummate skill did the villain exercise, that Arthur could . but sympathize with him, though he knew full well he was guilty. He con- sulted with his father in regard to prosecuting the doctor. The next thing to do was to get positive evidence against him. Neither a slave nor a slave's statement could be taken as evidence, they must have a white witness. One of Major Stevens' negroes called JefiE told his master that Dr. Trunnels had persuaded him to run away. Major Stevens told Jeff he would give him one hundred dollars if ■ he would bring about an interview between himself and Dr. Trun- nels, so that white witnesses could hear it. That might be done, as the place of meeting was the stiles near the old house. Arthur learned that the doctor had lost some of his popularity on account of having espoused the cause of the Martins. The doctor had thwarted every effort to indict the Martins, and Bill and Usher had terrorized the county, while the girls lived such shameless lives, that the people drove them from the house in which they lived and burned it down. The doctor put them in a vacant 440 HUMBLED PRIDE. house on one of his farms, which so iiicensed the populace that they warned him they must go out of Boone County, or that house should burn over their heads, and his " elegant brick should follow suit. " Acting on the advice of the now thoroughly alarmed Dr. Trunnels, the Martins moved over into Ohio. Je£E was a shrewd darkey, and he made an ap- pointment with Dr. Trunnels at the stiles of the vacant house to meet after the rising oi the moon. He informed his master of the arrangements, telling him that five or six other negroes would be there also, to listen to the proposition to leave Kentucky and slavery for Canada and freedom. " Our course is very easy now, " said Arthur. " "We can conceal ourselves under the stiles and hear all that is said. " Arthur took his brother-in-law Felipe and Lieutenant Warren with him. They went shortly after dark, before the rising of the moon, and reached the stiles before the doctor came. Prying off a board at the side, all three crept under and sat down to wait and listen. Arthur replaced the board, so that the suspicions of the doctor would not be excited. Half an hour passed, and they heard footsteps approaching. The aroma of a fragrant Havana reached the men in ambush, and the doctor walked CONCLUSION. 441 leisurely along to the stiles, and unsuspicious of danger took his seat. The moon rose in the cloud- less sky, round aiid full, and while the doctor sat watching it, quietly smoking, he saw dark forms stealing from the woods. The watchers under the stiles a few moments later heard him say : "You have come, Jeff?" " Yes, massa, " JefE returned. " De others am comin'." In a moment more, the spies beneath the stiles were conscious of the presence of half a dozen per- sons above. They scarce breathed now for their eagerness to hear what he said. " Well, boys, you are all here now, " began Doctor Trunnels. " To what decision have you come?" "Don' know, massa," Jeff answered. " It is time you were making up your mind which you prefer, slavery or freedom." "We mought be cotched and hunged, massa!" ventured one. The doctor laughed a reassuring chuckle, as he responded : " Have no fears, if you go with me. I have been running negroes out of Boone County for ten years and never yet has one who tried to escape by my underground railroad been caught or brought back. The colored people don't understand me. 442 HUMBLED PRIDE. — no one understands me. I have lived liere at the risk of my life, pretending to hunt runaways and bring them back, but at the same time at the head of the largest association of abolitionists in the world. I have run off scores of niggers whom you know, " and he named several who had mys- teriously disappeared in the past few years. "Where are these? All safe in Canada, happy and free. Major Stevens' John, whom you all remember, is free, happy and on the road to wealth. There it is one eternal jubilee. There is no master to order you to work, you need not labor, you live to sing, to enjoy life, to dance. Who would not give up slavery for such freedom?" " But how 'bout de money, massa?" one asked. " How much must we git?" " Twenty -five dollars is required of each nigger." " Twenty-five dollars each, — Golly, massa, dun know how I'll git dat much." " Hasn't your master got it?" " Yes, but he won't gib it to me to run off on, yah, yah, yah!" laughed the negro. "Can't you take it?" "How?" " When he don't know it. " "Steal it?" " You earned the money for him, and now that you are making a noble stroke for liberty, you are CONCLUSION. 443 entitled to it. You would be justified in taking it while he slept ; but be careful not to have sus- picion follow you. " The watchers under the stiles heard the plan from beginning to end. They waited until the conspirators had departed, and then emerged from their place of concealment. Arthur's face was very pale and firm, and next day he swore out a warrant against Dr. Trunnels, charging him with inciting slaves to run away, kidnapping, and conspiring to rob persons. The arrest of Dr. Trunnels and the return of the negro John, which followed almost immediately after, produced a profound sensation throughout Boone and adjacent counties. The papers at Louisville contained columns concerning the affair, and, as usual, people were divided in regard to the guilt of Dr. Trunnels. The doctor failed to give bond, and he was taken at once to Burlington and incarcerated in jail. The grand jury, being then in session, indicted him. To every one he declared : " I am wronged and persecuted by my friends. This is all an unrighteous conspiracy to punish me, because I befriended the Martins. It is no use for me to be tried here, for I could not get justice in Boone County. " And acting on the theory that the whole county 444 HUMBLED PRIDE. was so prejudiced against him, that he could not get a fair trial, he made an affidavit for a change of venue, and his case was sent to another county, and he transferred to a jail on Licking Eiver. Dr. Triinnels, from the time of his incarceration, began the exercise of those peculiar talents which denoted, more than any other act of his life, the genius of the man. He was in a close place, and it required all his skill and diplomacy to extricate himself from the dilemma. The jailer named Dawes was a poor man, but thought to be honest. As is often done, he had been given the office as a matter of charity. Dr. Trunnels at once began to study the people with whom he had to deal, the jailer and his wife. On first being incarcerated, he seemed in excel- lent spirits, but the weeks which rolled by told on him, and he grew melancholy. He won the con- fidence and the sympathy of the jailer and his wife, who soon granted him liberties which other prisoners did not enjoy. Knowing that the best way to reach a parent's heart is through their chil- dren, he made the acquaintance and gained the special friendship of the jailer's four little sons and one daughter. Professing some knowledge of phrenology, he examined the heads of the children during one of the evenings that the jailer permitted him to leave his cell and come to the rooms which CONCLUSION. 445 his family occupied. The reader will understand that a part of the jail building was used as a prison and a part as the home of the jailer. Mr. Dawes "He has the forensic acitmen requisite to a great LAWYER. " frequently let Dr. Trunnels come to his room. It was during one of his visits that the doctor called the children to him one at a time, and, passing his 446 HUMBLED PRIDE. fingers through their flaxen hair, proclaimed each a prodigy in his line. " This boy will make a great lawyer," said the doctor, passing his hand through the urchin's tan- gled locks. " A great lawyer. He has the forensic acumen requisite to a great lawyer." The urchin winced and grinned. The next he examined he declared would make a great physi- cian. A third would be a great financier, and the fourth a statesman. Wealth and honors awaited the Dawes family. He made the children numerous presents and on the birthday of little Henry Clay Dawes, he purchased for the child a toy fish, so charged with magnetism that it would follow the magnet across a bowl of water and seem to have life, while he edified the little folks with an im- promptu lecture on magnetism and electricity. But the doctor who had evinced so much interest in the Dawes family continued to repine and grew very low in spirits. Mrs. Dawes, whose tender heart was touched at the melancholy of the doctor, sought to encourage him. " Your trial will come soon, doctor," she said, "and then you will be acquitted. " He shook his head and with another sigh answered : " No, no, good woman, I am innocent, but there is a conspiracy to ruin me. Because ray heart CONCLUSION. 447 was touched with sympathy for poor old Martin and his wife, so that I overlooked the sins of their children, I have brought all this persecution on myself. " It was evening, and Dr. Trunnels and Mr. and Mrs. Dawes were alone. " Doctor, do you fear a trial?" she asked. " Mrs. Dawes, as sure as my case comes to trial, I will be convicted," said the doctor. " I feel it, I know it; but I am not the only innocent man who has suffered from prejudice. Even the Saviour of man was persecuted and convicted, innocent as he was. " " I wish you were out of it, " said the jailer. "Do you?" "Yes, I do." " Are you willing to help me out of it?" " Yes, any way I can, so I don't get into trouble myself. " " I am always careful not to get my friends into trouble, " said the doctor, drawing from an inside pocket of his coat a letter, sealed and stamped. " Here is a letter ; post it. " The jailer did as he was requested. A few days later, a new doctor came' to the town and opened an office. He called himself George Ferryman, M.D. The prisoner soon became ill, and sent for the new doctor. The news was given out, that 448 HUMBLED PRIDE. Dr. Trunnels was dangerously ill, yet no physician save Dr. Ferryman visited him. One morning the news was spread all over the town that Dr. Trunnels was dead. A coffin was procured, and the body placed in it. Many who got a peep at the corpse said it did not much re- semble the doctor, yet its being considerably emaciated accounted for lack of resemblance. The body was interred, and a few days later the new doctor disappeared. Now comes the strangest part of the story. Mr. Dawes, the honest jailer, a few weeks after the death and burial of Dr. Trunnels, expressed a de- sire to emigrate, and, being poor a,nd respected, the good people raised funds and bought a flat boat with a cabin and furniture for him to leave in, and moored the boat on the banks of the river, until his family could go aboard. Uncle Billy JSTeff, an old Kentuckian who was addicted to periodical spells of intoxication, and who had been in one of his spells for several days, swore that at midnight he saw Dr. Trunnels leave the jail and go aboard the flat boat. This story caused many to smile. The more superstitious, having faith in Uncle Billy's verac- ity, thought that he must have seen a spirit, while the incredulous declared it was the spirits Uncle Billy had imbibed. As the boat left during the CONCLUSION. 449 night, gained the Ohio and proceeded on its voy- age, no one knew where, the matter could never be fully inquired into. The most sceptical could not but admit that there was something strange in the death and burial of Dr. Trunnels. Major Stevens, who had long studied the pecu- liar genius and talents of the doctor, believed that he was still alive. John, the returned slave, was a sad negro. He advised his fellow slaves to stay with their masters and be content with their lot, declaring : " You might make it a mighty sight worse, ef yo' try to do better. " Captain Arthur Stevens became one of the most prosperous farmers in Kentucky. His lovely wife was thoroughly Americanized in a short time. Her gentle disposition won many friends, and those who at first thought Arthur had gone a long dis- tance to get a wife afterward declared he had been paid for going. Felipe remained a few weeks with his sister, after she had become domiciled in her new Ken- tucky home in one of the fairest regions of the State, then he bade her adieu, and boarding a steamer at Louisville, went to New Orleans, where he sailed for Havana. There he met the fair Inez and was married. The. great gold excitement in California was at- 29 450 HUMBLED PRIDE. tracting the attention of the people of all nations, and a letter from Felipe apprised Arthur of the fact that he was going to try his fortune in the land of gold. Weeks rolled on into months, and then Arthur received a letter from his brother-in-law, which settled beyond a doubt the question of Dr. Trun- nels' death. In his letter Felipe said: "Dr. Trunnels is alive. I have seen him, also the Dawes family, and talked with young Dr. Fer- ryman. They are all here. The body buried in Kentucky was a subject purchased for dissection from some medical college or hospital at Louisville. Dr. Trunnels planned the whole affair. " TJ'he subsequent fate of Dr. Trunnels is not known. There was a rumor, that a man answering to the description ol the doctor was seen in San Diego tending bar. It is said that an old acquaint- ance from Kentucky, who had wandered to the land of gold, sauntering into the bar-room at San Diego, cried: " Hello, Dock, how air ye?" Upon which, the bar-tender fixed his eyes on his face and said : " Depart from me, ye worker of iniquity, I know ye not. " A few words more in regard to the development of the country whose history is indissolubly con- CONCLUSION. 451 nected with the Stevens family, and we will close. Shortly after Arthur Stevens' return, this country added millions of acres to her territory by the Sioux purchase in the territory of Minnesota. Territories and States were increasing in number and swelling the volume of representatives in the national legislature. To accommodate these, the halls of legislation had to be enlarged, and in the summer of 1851, the corner-stone of the extension to the capitol was laid by President Fillmore, with appropriate Masonic ceremonies, on which occasion Daniel Webster delivered one of his famous ora- tions. In the year 1852, there was some slight trou- ble with Great Britain, in consequence of the al- leged violation by American fishers on the coast of British America, of the Ashburton treaty. The president sent a naval force to protect the fisher- men of the country, and for awhile trouble seemed imminent; but the matter was patched over. Every one knows, however, that the fishery ques- tion is still an open dispute. In 1853, Commodore M. C. Perry succeeded .in establishing friendly relations with Japan, and ever since intercourse between that country and our nation has been free and cordial. The sympathy manifested by a large portion of the people of the United States in the efliorts of 452 HUMBLED PRIDE. Lopez in Cuba gave rise to suspicion in Europe that it was the policy of the United States to ulti- mately possess that island and assume control over the Gulf of Mexico (the open door to California) and the West India Islands, which were owned chiefly by France and England. To prevent such a result, the governments of these two countries asked the United States to enter into a treaty with them, which should secure Cuba to Spain, by agreeing to disclaim " now and forever hereafter all intentions to obtain possession of the Island of Cuba, " and " to discountenance all such attempts to that effect, on the part of any individual or power whatever. " To this invitation Mr. Edward Everett, secretary of state, replied, in the spirit of the " Monroe Doctrine, " that the question was an American and not an European one, and not prop- erly within the scope of the interference of Euro- pean cabinets; that the United States did not in- tend to violate any existing neutrality laws; that the government claimed the right to act in relation to Cuba independently of any other power, and that it could not see with indifference " the island of Cuba fall into the hands of any other power than Spain. " Mr. Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire was elected successor to Mr. Fillmore, with William R. King of Alabama vice-president. The whigs CONCLUSION. 453 nominated General Winfield Scott and William A. Graham, but were defeated. The administration of Mr. Pierce was peaceful and the country prosperous. The acquisition of California opened the way for an immense com- mercial interest on the Pacific coast, and in the spring of 1853, congress sent four armed vessels to the eastern shores of Asia, by way of Cape Horn, to explore the region of the Pacific Ocean, which it was evident would soon be traversed by American steamships plying between the ports of our western frontier and Japan and China. About this time, the government of the Sandwich Islands was making overtures for the annexation of that ocean-empire to the great North American republic, as similar overtures are being made to-day. This aroused the jealousy of France and England, who felt disposed to interfere in the matter; but a change of rulers on the islands put an end to the discussion. In 1854, Stephen A. Douglas presented a bill in the senate for the creation of two vast territories in midcontinent to be called, respectively, Kansas and Nebraska. The bill provided for giving per- mission to the inhabitants of those territories to decide for themselves whether slavery should or should not exist within their domain. This re- vived the old slavery question again with tenfold 454 HUMBLED PRIDE. more force than before, and in Kansas especially, civil war prevailed. The worst element of both parties swarmed in this unfortunate territory. Murder and rapine were so common that the terri- tory was called the bleeding Kansas. William Walker, a Calif ornian, organized an in- vasion into Nicaragua in 1855, which at first was unsuccessful, but at last he succeeded in getting a foothold and had himself elected president, but was finally driven from the isthmus. The Walker expedition, some Indian troubles in Washington and Oregon Territories, with the continual trou- bles on the border of Kansas and Missouri be- tween the jay-hawkers on one side, and red-legs, or border ruffians, or guerillas on the other, each guilty of the worst atrocities, were all that dis- turbed the otherwise peaceful administration of Franklin Pierce. But there were premonitions. The very air seemed full of warning, and the friends whose career we have followed so long, living in their peaceful Kentucky homes, felt that the bolt would strike soon ; — but where or when ? They who had humbled the pride of one nation, might soon wit- ness their own humiliation. Who could tell? THE END. HISTOEIOAL IITDEX. PAGE Adams, John Quincy, president of the United States. . 29 Adams, John, death of 31 Alamo, the fall of 106 American army returns to Palo Alto 180 American army advancing on Monterey 204 American army at Buena Vista 216 American army leaves Vera Cruz 363 American army advances toward Jalapa 370 American army, position of, in Valley of Mexico 377 American manufactures ruined for want of a protective tariff 38 Americans enter City of Mexico 383 Americans in Texas, trouble with Mexicans 106 Anaericans leave Corpus Christi 164 American system, or protective tariff, inaugurated. ... 81 Amozoc, Santa Anna repulsed at 373 Ampudia succeeds Arista 164 Ampudia orders Taylor to retire from before Matamoras. 174 Ampudia at Monterey with 10, 000 men 196 Arkansas admitted as a State 42 Arista, General, defeated at Eesaca de la Palma 187 Ashburton treaty 47 Atlixco, battle of 386 Austin, Moses, gets permission to plant a colony in Texas ; dies and is succeeded by his son Stephen, 105 Battle of Atlixco 386 455 456 HISTORICAL INDEX. PAGE Battle of Braceti 339 Battle of Buena Vista 320 Battle of Cerro Gordo 365 Battle of Chepultepec 383 Battle of Cherubusco 381 Battle of Chihuahua 340 Battle of Huamantla 386 Battle of Molino del Rey 382 Battle of Palo Alto 183 Battle of Kesaca de la Palma 186 Battle of San Antonio. 380 Bent, Governor, murdered 840 Black Hawk War 35 Book of Mormon written by Rev. Solomon Spaulding. . 416 Bowie, Colonel, killed at the Alamo 106 California ceded to United States by treaty with Mexico 411 California, gold discovered in 413 California becomes a State — Slavery question 414 Calhoun, John C. , vice-president of the United States, 32 Canadian revolt causes ti-ouble with the United States, 45 Caroline burned by the English 46 Castro, General, defeated at Sonoma Pass 338 Cerro Gordo, battle of 365 Chepultepec, battle of 383 Chembusco, battle of 881 Cherokees removed from Georgia to Indian Territory. . 33 Clay, Henry, defeats Andrew Jackson for president of the United States 30 Congress of American republics 31 Corpus Christi, General Taylor at 187 Creek and Cherokee Indians, trouble with 30 Creeks helping Seminoles 39 Crittenden, Col. W. T. , aiding in Cuban revolt 419 Crittenden, Colonel, shot 431 HISTORICAL INDEX. 457 PAGE Crocket, David, killed at the Alamo 106 Cross, Colonel, murdered by Mexican guerrillas 175 Dade, Major, and nearly one hundred men slain by Florida Indians 39 Davis, Jeflferson, heads disunion slave party 414 Desert, the American army on 168 Doniphan, Col. A. W. , and his regiment of Missourians march to New Mexico 339 Doniphan and Missourians capture Chihuahua 840 Emigration to the West 38 Equal Rights Party 48 Erie Canal built 80 European consuls ask leave to remove women and chil- dren from Vera Cruz 843 Fannin, Colonel, and command massacred 107 Fillmore, Millard, president of the United States ; his cabinet 415 Financial panic caused by Jackson's stubbornness 38 Fishery question, trouble with Great Britain over 451 Florida war begins, 1835 89 Fremont, John C. , captures Sonoma Pass 338 Fremont retires from army owing to a quarrel with General Kearney 839 Gaines, General, attacked at Withlacoochee 39 Guerrillas harassing American army 174 Gold discovered in California 413 Hard cider campaign of 1840 58 Harney, General, storming Cerro Gordo 367 Harrison, William H., nominated for president 51 Harrison, William H. , elected president 74 Henry, Sergeant, raises American flag over Cerro Gordo, 367 Hermitage, Jackson's home in Tennessee 44 Herrera overthrown by Paredes 164 Huamantla, battle of 386' Indian Territory, Cherokees removed to 34 458 HISTORICAL INDEX. PAGE Iturbide places himself on Mexican throne 104 Iturbide executed 105 Jackson, Andrew, president of the United States, his inauguration 33 Jackson re-elected president of the United States 37 Jackson's foreign policy 42 Jackson's specie circular 44 Jalapa, Americans at 371 Japan, Commodore Perry establishes peace with 451 Jefferson, Thomas, death of 31 Jumper John captured and sent to the Indian Terri- tory in chains 41 Kansas, Territory of, established 458 Kansas, war in 454 Kearney, General, captures Santa Fe 204 Kearney and Fremont quarrel about the government of California 389 La Vega refuses to let Worth enter Matamoras 172 Lee, Capt. Robert E., assisting Scott in plan of attack. 879 Leperos firing on American soldiers in streets of Mexico, 385 Loco Focos 43 Lopez, Gen. Narcisso, first Cuban Invasion 414 Lopez, Gen. Narcisso, second, or Bahia Honda, expe- dition 420 Lopez, Narcisso, capture and execution 422 Los Angeles captured by Fremont 338 March of Americans into Mexico 167 March to Monterey 204 March on to Mexico capital 376 Matamoras, Worth sent to 172 McKenzie fails to make terms with Santa Anna 116 McLane, Louis, minister to England 33 Mejia, General, warns Taylor not to advance 170 Mexico, beginning of trouble with 76 Mexico, first revolution in 104 HISTORICAL INDEX. 459 PAGE Mexicans reject offers of peace 376 Mexico, City of, Americans in siglit of 377 Mexico, City of, captured by Americans 383 Mexican Congress concludes treaty with United States. 410 Michigan admitted as a State 43 Minnesota Territory organized 415 Missouri applying for admission to Union 14 Molino del Eey, battle of 383 Monterey, storming of 309 Mormon Church, founding of 416 Nebraska Territory organized 453 New Mexico added to United States territory 411 New Mexico Territory organized 415 New York City, great fire in 1885 45 New York City, gi-eat panic of 1837 45 Nicaragua expedition by Walker 454 Omnibus Bill, the 414 Orizaba, American army in sight of 364 Osceola, Seminole chief, wages war on whites 39 Palo Alto, Americans at 171 Palo Alto, battle of 183 Paredes overthrows Herrera 164 Perote, castle of, Worth unfurls American flag over. . . 371 Perry, Commodore, treaty with Japan 451 Pierce, Franklin, president of the United States ; his cabinet 453 Pillow, General, quarrels with Scott 886 Point Isabel, Taylor sends supplies to 171 Polk, James K., elected president of the United States on the issue of war 77 Ponce de Leon, General, defeated at Braceti 340 President of Mexico declares war 176 Price, General, restores peace in New Mexico 340 Proclamation of Taylor to Mexican citizens 164 Puebla, Mexico, description of 97 460 HISTORICAL INDEX. PAGE Puebla, American army enters 371 Puente Nacional, Americans crossing 363 Quitman, General, pursues Mexicans to gates of Mexico, 383 Eesaca de la Palma, battle of 186 Eigdon, Sidney, aiding Joseph Smith in founding the Mormon Chiurch 417 Ringgold, Major, mortally wounded at Palo Alto 184 Rio Grande, Americans in sight of 173 Rio Grande, Mexicans concentrating on 164 Salt Lake City, Mormons at 417 Sandwich Islands in 1853 make overtures for annexa- tion to the United States. — France and England object 458 San Juan de Ulloa bombarded 343 Santa Anna agrees to betray Mexico to United States for a large sum of money 109 Santa Anna forms a republic 105 Santa Anna collecting army at San Luis Potosi 313 Santa Anna elected president of Mexico 815 Santa Anna demands Taylor's surrender 318 Santa Anna's retreat from Buena Vista 330 Santa Anna's carriage found upset — his cork leg and a lady's slipper found 869 Santa Anna repulsed at Amozoc retreats to San Martin, 873 Santa Anna flies from capital 383 Santa Anna flying for personal safety to shores of the gulf 410 Scott, General, in command of army in South 40 Scott, General, sent to Vera Cruz 314 Scott, General, at Vera Cruz 841 Scott reinforced at Puebla 876 Scott sends an armistice to Santa Anna from Tacuba. . 383 Scott declares the conquest of Mexico 884 Seminole war in Florida 39 Shields, General, aiding Twiggs at Cerro Gordo 366 HISTORICAL INDEX. 461 PAGE Shields wounded at Cerro Gordo 368 Slavery agitation on the admission of Missouri 14 Sloat, Commodore, captures Monterey 338 Smith, Joseph, founder of Mormon Church 416 Spitfire, the, opens bombardment at Vera Cruz 841 Sutter's Mill, California, gold discovered at 413 Talmadge's amendment to the bill admitting Missouri as a State ; . 14 Tampico regiment, destruction of, at Eesaca de la Palma, 188 Taylor, Col. Zachary, succeeds Jesup in commiand in Florida 41 Taylor, General, ordered to frontier of Texas 108 Taylor's democratic ideas 188 Taylor leaves Corpus Christi 164 Taylor leaves Garrison at Fort Brown and falls back to Point Isabel 176 Taylor at Monterey 307 Taylor at Walnut Springs 211 Taylor recommends an invasion at Vera Cruz 318 Taylor leaves Monterey 315 Texas a misnomer — the disputed territory 108 Texas annexed to the United States 107 Thornton, Captain, and men captured 175 Treaty with Mexico 411 Trist, Nicholas P. , sent to make a treaty of peace with Mexicans 376 Twiggs, General, leading van of the American army. . 863 Twiggs, General, leading attack on Cerro Gordo 864 Tyler, John, succeeds Harrison as president ; his stub- bornness 7 Tyler's pocket veto 77 Tyler, death of 77 United States Bank, Jackson's war on 34 United States refuses to make a treaty not to seize Cuba, 453 Utah admitted as a territory 415 463 HISTORICAL INDEX. PAGE Van Buren, Martin, president of the United States .... 44 Vasquez, General, slain at Cerro Gordo 367 Vera Cruz, Scott at 341 Vera Cruz, bombardment of 342 Vera Cruz, capitulation of 362 Views on slavery fifty years ago 9 Walker, Captain, sent to reconnoitre Fort Brown 178 Walker's Nicaragua expedition 454 West Point Military Academy, how controlled by mem- bers of Congress 122 Wilkes, Charles, return from South Sea explorations. . 79 Wisconsin admitted asa State 413 Wool, Gen. John E. , recruiting at San Antonio 212 Wool, General, at Saltillo 340 Worth, General, crossing the Rio Colorado 170 Worth, General, appointed governor of Vera Cruz 862 Worth, General, joins the American army 371 Xalapa, American army at 364 Young, Brigham, Mormon ruler 416 Zachary Taylor on Texas frontier 108 CHRONOLOGY. PERIOD XI.— AGE OF SUPREMACY ABROAD. A.D. 1824 TO A.D. 1854. 1825. John Quinoy Adams inaugurated president; "era of prosperity, " — March 4. 1826. Death of two ex-Presidents, Adams and Jeffer- son, — July 4. 1828. Ameeican System or Protective Tariff becomes a national policy. 1829. Andrew Jackson inaugurated president, —March 4. Partisan appointments in the civil service began. 1830. Accession of William IV. to the throne of Great Britain, —June 26. Peter Cooper's engine on Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the first to transport passengers, — Aug. 38. 1831. Death of ex-President Monroe,— July 4. 1832. BLACK Hawk War in Wisconsin and Illinois. " Nullification " in South Carolina ; convention met at Columbia, — Oct. 85. 1 833. Jackson began second presidential term, — March 4. 1834. Indian COUNTRY formed,— June 30. 1835. Seminole War began in Florida. General Thompson and others killed at Fort King, Fla.,— Dec. 28. 463 464 CHRONOLOGY. Major Dade and 100 men massacred in Florida, —Dec. 38. 1836. Texas became independent of Mexico, — April 23. Arkansas admitted into the Union, — June 15. Wisconsin Territory formed, — July 3. Creek War began in Georgia. 1837. Michigan admitted into the Union, doubled the original thirteen, — Jan. 36. Martin Van Btjren inaugurated president, — March 4. Accession op Victoria to the throne of Great Britain, — June 20. Battle op Okeechobee, Fla. ; Taylor defeated the Indians, — Dec. 35. 1838. Canadian Rebellion ; attempt to gain indepen- dence. Iowa Territory formed, — July 3. 1841. William Henry Harrison inaugurated presi- dent, — March 4. Death of President Harrison, — April 4. John Tyler inaugurated president, — April 6. 1842. Close of the Seminole War; peace proclaimed, — Aug. 14. Dorr's Rebellion in Rhode Island ; attempt to obtain a constitution. 1844. Morse's telegraph established between Balti- more and Washington. 1845. Florida admitted into the Union,— March 3. Iowa admitted into the Union,— March 3. James K. Polk inaugurated president, —March 4. Naval Academy opened at Annapolis, Md., — Oct. 10. Gun- Cotton invented. Texas admitted into the Union,— Dec. 29. 1846. Mexican War ; Thornton's party captured east of the Rio Grande, —April 26. CHRONOLOGY. 465 Fort Bkown bombarded from Matamoras,— May 3-9. Taylor marched from Point Isabel to relieve Fort Brown, — May 7. Battle of Palo Alto; Taylor defeated 6,000 Mexicans under Arista, — May 8. Battle of Resaca de la Palma ; Taylor captured La Vega, — May 9. Congress declared war to exist by act of Mexico, —May 13. Matamoras captured by Taylor,— May 18. Oregon boundary established by treaty with Great Britain, — June 15. Fremont defeated Calif omians, at Sonoma, Oal. , —June 35. Kearney's march fronx Fort Leavenworth, Kan., began, — June 80. California declared independent by American settlers at Sonoma, — July 4. Monterey, Cal. , captured by Commodore Sloat, — July 7. California declared a part of the United States at Monterey, — July 7. Yerba Buena, Cal. (now San Francisco), cap- tured by Commodore Montgomery, — July 9. Commodore Stockton arrived at Monterey, Cal., July 33. Wilmot Proviso offered, prohibiting slavery in acquired territory, — Aug. 8. Santa Ffi, N. M., occupied by Kearney, — Aug. 18. Monterey, Mexico, under Ampudia, captured by Taylor,— Sept. 34. Doniphan's March from Santa Fe to Saltillo. Tampico, Mexico, possessed by Commodore Con- nor, — Nov. 14. 30 466 CBRONOLOGY. Battle of Bracito, N. M. ; Doniphau victori- ous, — Dec. 35. El Paso, Mexico, occupied by Doniphan, — Dec. 37. Iowa re-admitted into the Union with present boundaries, — Dec. 38. 1847. Battle or San Gabriel River, Cal. ; Kearney de- feated Calif ornians, — Jan. 8. Yerba Buena named San Francisco, — January. Battle op Buena Vista (Taylor's last battle) ; Santa Anna defeated, — Feb. 33. Battle of Sacramento, Mexico; Doniphan vic- torious, — Feb. 38. Vera Cruz and Fort San Juan d'UUoa surrendered to Scott,— March 37. Battle of Cerro Gordo Pass; Scott defeated Santa Anna, — April 18. Puebla taken without a battle ; Scott remained three months, — May 15. Mormons, under Brigham Young, arrived at Salt Lake Valley,— July 34. Battle op Contreras ; Mexicans defeated in twenty minutes, — Aug. 30. Battle op Churubusco; Mexicans retreated,— Aug. 30. Worth captured Molino del Key, outer defense of Chapultepec, — Sept. 8. Fortress op Chapultepec captured, — Sept. 13. City of Mexico entered by Americans under Scott,— Sept. 14. Lane defeated Santa Anna at Huamantla, — Oct. 9. 1848. Gold discovered on a branch of the Sacramento, Cal.,— Jan. 19. Treaty op peace signed at Guadaloupe Hidalgo, — Feb. 3. (First Mexican cession ceded to the United States.) CHRONOLOGY. 467 John Quincy Adams died,— Feb. 20. Wisconsin admitted into the Union,— May 29. Oregon Territory formed,- Aug. 14. Ex-President Van Buren, first candidate of the Free Soil party. 1849. Minnesota Territory formed,— March 3. Zachary Taylor inaugurated president,— March 5. 1850. Death of President Taylor,— July 9. Millard Fillmore inaugurated president, — July 10. Compromise of 1850, or "Omnibus Bill, "passed, — Sept. 9. (Repealed Missouri Compromise of 1820.) California admitted into the Union, — Sept. 9. Utah Territory formed,— Sept. 9. Fugitive Slave Law passed,— Sept. 13. Slave Trade prohibited in the District of Colum- bia,— Sept. 17. Texas cession of territory to the General Govern- ment, — Nov. 25. Present unorganized territory a part of the Texas cession, — Nov. 25. New Mexico Territory formed,'— Dec. 13. 1853. Washington Territory formed, —March 2. Franklin Pierce inaugurated president, — March 4. Death of Vice-President William R. King, at Cahawba, Ala., — April 18. Gadsden Purchase from Mexico, —Dec. 80. THE GOLUliBIM HISTORICAL NOVELS. A Complete History of Our Country, from the Time of Columbus down to the present Day, in the form of Twelve Complete Stories. By John R. Musick. Uniform Size and Style; 8vo, Half Morocco, and Cloth Bind- ings, One Hundred Half-Tone Plates, Maps of the Period, and numer- ous Pen and Ink Drawings by F. A. Carter. Vol. I. Vol. n. Vol. in. Vol. IV. Vol. V. Vol. VI. Vol. VII. Vol.VIII. Vol. IX. Vol. X. Vol. XI. Vol. XII. TITLES : Columbia: A Story of the Discovery of America. Estevan : A Story of the Spanish Conquests. St. Augustine : A Story of the Huguenots. Pocahontas : A Story of Virginia. The Pilgrims; A Story of Massachusetts. A Century Too Soon : A Story of Bacon's Rebellion. The Witch of Salem ; or, Credulity Run Mad. Braddock: A Story of the French and Indian Wars, Independence : A Story of the American Revolution. Sustained Honor: A Story of the War of 1812. Humbled Pride : A Story of the Mexican War. Union : ^^ A Story of the Great Rebellion and of Events down to the Present Day. The Historical Divisions are : ist. Age of Discovery ; 2d. Conquest ; 3d. Bigotry ; 4th. Colonization ; 5th. Reason ; 6th Tyranny ; 7th. Superstition ; 8th. Contention of Powers for Supremacy ; 9th. Independence ; loth. Liberty Established ; nth. Supremacy Abroad ; 12th. Union. FUNK & WAQNALLS COHPANY, Publishers, 30 Lafayette Place, New York. LONDON; TORONTO, CAN.: 44 Fleet Street. ii Richmond St., W.