The Free Lances Part 18

But on this also appeared rescuers--a pair of them--not street promenaders, but two of the chain-gang! All muddy as these were, they were advancing with as much apparent eagerness as the others--more in reality--to release the imperilled senoritas. A proof that humanity may exist even in the breast of a gaol-bird; and the spectators, pleased with an exhibition of it, so rare and unexpected, were preparing to applaud them enthusiastically.

Their admiration, however, received a rude and almost instantaneous check, changing to wild astonishment, succeeded by equally wild indignation. The _forzados_ got their door open first; but the ladies, apparently terrified at the rough, unclean creatures, refused to go out that way, and only shrank back. Luckily, the other was by this also opened, and they made through it into the street. But not before the two scavengers had leaped up into the carriage beside them, and, as if angry at their earlier offer being declined, given them a rude shove outward!

That was not all the spectators saw to astonish them. Other incidents followed equally unlooked-for, and with lightning rapidity. One was indeed of simultaneous occurrence; a second couple of the scavengers-- the _gigante y enano_--rus.h.i.+ng towards the coachman's box, clambering up to it, Rock flinging the dwarf before him as one would an old carpet-bag, and mounting after. Then, jerking the reins and whip out of Josh's hands--letting him still keep his seat, however,--he loosened the one, and laid the lash of the other on the horses' hips, so sharply and vigorously, as to start them at once into a gallop.

Meanwhile, the uncouth couple inside had pulled-to the doors, shutting themselves in, and taken the seats late occupied by the elegantly dressed ladies--a transformation so grotesque as to seem more dream than reality. And so off all went, leaving behind a crowd as much amazed as any that ever witnessed spectacle on the streets of the Mexican metropolis.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

THE POOR LADIES.

Quite a combination of circ.u.mstances had favoured the escape of the four _forzados_--the balking of the horses, the absence of Dominguez, and the relaxed vigilance of the guards--from their brains bemuddled with drink.

But there was yet another lucky chance that stood them in stead--the point from which they had started. The line of sentries ended at the Alamedas Gate, and, as the one posted there was he who had them in particular charge, once past him they had only to fear a single bullet sent after them.

As it turned out, they did not even get that, fortune favouring them in every way. This sentry, though last on the line outward, was the first encountered by the people returning from the ceremony at San Corme; therefore made most of by pa.s.sing friends, with the bottle oftener presented to his lips. As a consequence, when the carriage whirled past him he had but an indistinct idea of why it was going so fast, and none at all as to who were in it. With eyes drowned in _aguardiente_ he stood as one dazed, looking after, but taking no measures to stop it.

When at length some one bawled the truth into his ear and he brought his flint-lock to an unsteady level, it would have been too late--had the piece gone off. Luckily for those on the sidewalk, it did not; missing fire by a flash in the pan, as might have been antic.i.p.ated.

Never were sentries more completely taken by surprise than they guarding the chain-gang. Nor more disagreeably. They knew they had been neglecting their duty, and might expect severe punishment! possibly set at the very task they were now superintending! Still, they made no attempt to pursue. They were not cavalry; and only mounted men could overtake that landau with its curious load, soon to vanish from their sight. So they stood gazing after it in helpless bewilderment, their faces showing a variety of expressions, surprise, anger, fear, mingled in a most ludicrous manner. Deserting their posts they had gathered into a knot, and it was some time before they had so far recovered their senses as to think of despatching one of their number to the Plaza Grande after cavalry sure to be there.

It was a fine opportunity for others of the gaol-birds to make a bolt; but for the obstructive coupling-chains no doubt some would avail themselves of it. These, however, hindered the attempt. There were no more restive horses, nor blundering coachmen to bring another carriage near enough for a rush.

But the most interesting group now on the ground was that which had collected round the ladies left carriage-less; some offering services, others speaking words of sympathy. "_Las senoritas pobres_!"

"_Pobrecitas_!"--("The poor young ladies!" "Poor things!") were exclamations uttered over and over again.

It was a trying situation for the "poor things" to be in, sure enough.

But they acquitted themselves admirably; especially the Condesa, who, young though she was, for courage and coolness had few to equal her. In that emergency no man could have shown himself her superior. Her look of still untranquillised terror, the intermittent flashes of anger in her eyes as she loudly denounced the ruffians who had carried off their carriage, was a piece of acting worthy of a Rachel or Siddons. He would have been a keen physiognomist who could have told that her emotions were counterfeit. Little dreamt the sympathising spectators that while being pushed out of the carriage she had contrived to whisper back to the man so rudely behaving: "Look under the cus.h.i.+ons, _querido_! You'll find something. _Dios te guarda_!"

Still less could they have supposed that the other young lady, looking so meek, had at the same time spoken tender words to the second ruffian who had a.s.sailed them.

The part the _pobrecitas_ were playing, with the sympathy they received, seemed to themselves so comically ludicrous that, but for its serious side, neither could have kept countenance. Alone the thought of the lovers not yet being beyond danger hindered their bursting out into laughter.

And lest this, too, might cease to restrain them they seized upon the earliest pretext to get away from the spot.

Glad were they when some of their gentlemen acquaintances, who chanced to be pa.s.sing the place, came up and proposed escorting them home. A service accepted and, it need not be said, offered with as much alacrity as it was received.

Their departure had no effect in dispersing the crowd which had gathered by the Alamedas Gate. A spot signalised by an episode so odd and original, was not to be forsaken in that quick inconsiderate way.

Instead, the throng grew quicker, until the street for a long stretch was packed full of people, close as they could stand. Only one part of it remained unoccupied, the central list showing the open sewer with its bordering of black mud. In their holiday attire the populace declined invading this, though they stood wedging one another along its edge; their faces turned towards it, with hilarity in their looks and laughter on their lips. It was just the sort of spectacle to please them; the sentries in a row--for they had now sneaked back to their post-- appearing terribly crestfallen, while those over whom they stood guard seemed, on the contrary, cheerful--as though expecting soon to be released from their chains. With them it was the _esprit de corps_ of the galley slave, glad to see a comrade escape from their common misery, though he cannot escape himself.

All this, however, was tame; but the winding up of the spectacle in a quiet natural way. It would soon have been over now, and the sightseers scattered off to their homes; but just as they were beginning to retire, a new incident claimed their attention. A scene almost as exciting as any that had preceded, though only a single personage appeared in it.

This Dominguez, the gaoler, who had been absent all the while at his _pulqueria_, and only just warned of the event that had so convulsed the Calle de Plateros, breaking through the crowd like an enraged bull, rushed along the sewer's edge, nouris.h.i.+ng his whip over the heads of the _forzados_, at the same time reviling the sentries for their scandalous neglect of duty! To tell the truth, he was more troubled about his own.

He had received particular instructions to be watchful of four prisoners--the very ones that had escaped. Well might he dread the reckoning in store for him on return to the gaol. However could he face his governor?

For some time he strode to and fro, venting his drunken spleen alike on soldiers or scavengers. Some of the former would have retaliated; but they knew him to have authority in high places, and therefore kept silent, sullenly enduring it. Not so the spectators, many of whom, knowing, hated him. Possibly, more than probably, some of them had been under his care. But to all he was now affording infinite amus.e.m.e.nt.

They laughed at his impotent anger, and laughed again, one crying out, "He's as good as a bull in a ring!" another exclaiming, "_Viva el Senor Dominguez rey de las bastoneros_!" ("Hurrah for the Senor Dominguez, king of the turnkeys!")--a sally which elicited roars of applauding laughter.

If angry before, he was now infuriated. Purple in the face, he was making a dash at the man whom he suspected of mocking him, when his foot slipped and down he went into the drain head foremost.

He had altogether disappeared, and was for some seconds out of sight; the laughter, which had become a yelling chorus, all the while continuing. Nor did it cease when he re-appeared; instead, was louder and more uproarious than ever. For his face, late blue with rage, was now black with a limning of the sewer liquid.

But he was less mad than sad, after the ill-timed tumble. The _douche_ had tamed, if not sobered him; and his only thought now was how to get away from that place of repeated discomfitures, anywhere to hide and wash himself.

Luck declared for him at last, in the approach of a squadron of Hussars, drawing off from him the eyes of the spectators; who had now enough to do looking out for themselves and their safety. For the Hussars were coming on at a gallop, with drawn sabres.

A crush and a scampering followed, as they forced their way through the crowd, shouting, and striking with the back of their blades. After they had pa.s.sed, the people were no longer in a humour for laughing at the "King of the turnkeys," nor any one else; neither was he there to be laughed at.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

A TRANSFORMATION.

While the ladies set down upon the street were still plaintively appealing to those around, the carriage from which they had been so unceremoniously ejected was tearing along the Calle de San Francisco, going direct for the Acordada! But nothing could be farther from the thoughts of those in it than a return to that grand gaol, or even approaching its door. All of them knew there was a regular guard there; and instead of a single musket missing fire, they would more likely be saluted with a full volley, sending a shower of bullets about their ears. Bad marksmen as the Mexican soldiers are, they could not all miss. But even if they pa.s.sed through that unscathed, beyond was the _garita_ of San Cosme, with another guard there. Indeed, go what way they would, there was none leading out into the country without a _garita_ to be got through--and for the country they were aiming.

In these gates, however, there was a difference as to the strength of their guard detail, and the possibilities of their being pa.s.sed. All of which one of the fugitives well understood--Rivas, who, as a matter of course, had a.s.sumed direction of everything relating to their flight.

When opposite the old convent, which gives its name to the street, he leaned his head out of the carriage window, and said to the _cochero_:--

"Take the route by El Nino Perdido. You know the way; show it to him."

The "him" was Cris Rock, who still had hold of the reins, and who, not understanding Spanish, could not be addressed direct.

The result of the order was, that shortly after, the horses were headed into a side street, indicated to the Texan by a nod perceptible only to himself. It would not do for the real coachman to appear as aiding their escape; though there was no danger of the dwarf observing it--the latter having been crammed down into the boot--where he was held with his head between Rock's huge thighs, as in a vice.

The street into which they had turned was a narrow one running along a dead wall--that of the ancient monastery, which occupies acres of ground. And in its strip of sidewalk just then there was not a pedestrian to be seen--the very thing Rivas had been wis.h.i.+ng for. Again speaking out, he said:--

"Slowly for a bit. I see a _seraph_ out there. Tell the Tejanos to put it on."

For the next hundred yards or so--along the dead wall--the horses went at a walk, they inside the carriage, as also one on the box, all the while busy as bees. And when they came out at the end of the quiet street entering upon a more frequented thoroughfare, the brisk pace was resumed; though no one could have believed it the same party, seen but a minute or two before driving at a racecourse speed along the Calle de Plateros. Jose alone looked the same, in his sky-blue livery and c.o.c.kaded hat. But the big man by his side had so far effected a change that his mud-stained habiliments were hidden under an ample _seraph_, which covered him from neck to ankles; while the little one was altogether invisible, and under a threat of having his skull kicked in if he attempted to show himself.

Alike quick and complete had been the transformation of the "insides."

There now sat two gentlemen, decently, indeed rather stylishly dressed-- one wearing a blue cloth cloak with velvet collar; the other a scarlet "manga," with gold bullion embroidery from neck to shoulders.

About the equipage there was little now to make remark upon, or cause it to be regarded with suspicion. Some rich _haciendado_, who had been at the laying of the foundation-stone, on return to his country house, taking a friend along with him. The strapping fellow on the box might be mayor-domo of the estate--they are usually tall men--who had taken a fancy to try his hand at driving, and the coachman had surrendered him the reins. All perfectly natural, and _en regle_, even to the rapid speed at which the horses were put. The driver not accustomed to handling the ribbons would account for this. Besides, the sun was getting low, the _casa de campo_ might be a good distance from town, and such a splendid turnout, belated on a country road would be like tempting Providence, and certainly the _salteadores_!

How little would its occupants have regarded an encounter with highwaymen. Perhaps just then they would have welcomed it. Nor much did Rivas antic.i.p.ate further trouble in the streets of the city. He was familiar with those they were now driving along, and felt no fear of being obstructed there--at least by the people. Had they hung their chain out of the carriage window and exposed the prison dress, no one in that quarter would have cried "Stop thief!" The man who should so cry, would run the risk of having his clamour suddenly silenced.

For all they had apprehensions of the keenest. If they were in no danger while in the streets, they would be when parting from them--at El Nino Perdido. That gauntlet had yet to be run.

But while thinking of it, they had not been idle; instead, all the while planning and preparing for it; Rivas instructing the others as to how they should act.

"A _garita_ of the usual kind," he said to Kearney, making known the nature of the antic.i.p.ated obstruction; "a gate across the road, with a guard-house alongside. There's sure to be a sergeant and eight or ten files in it. If, by good luck, the gate be open, our best way will be to approach gently, then go through at a gallop. If shut, we'll be called upon to show our best diplomacy. Leave all that to me. Failing to fool the guard, we must do battle with it. Anything's better than be taken back to the Acordada. That would be sure death for me; and, if I mistake not, for yourself, Senor."

"I'm sure of it. If we can't get through without, let us fight our way, whatever the result."

"Take this pair, then. They seem the most reliable. You _Americanos_ are more skilled in the use of fire-arms than we. With us steel is preferred. But I'll do the best I can with the other pair."

This had reference to two pairs of pistols discovered under the carriage cus.h.i.+ons. Nor were they the only weapons there; besides them were two long-bladed knives, and a pearl-handled stiletto--the last a tiny affair, which looked as though taken from the toilet case of a lady.