The Infidel; or, the Fall of Mexico. Vol. I., Page 3

  CHAPTER III.

  As the Castilians followed the eyes of Najara, they beheld, approachingthem from behind, three men, in whom, but for the direction given totheir thoughts by the exclamation, they would have seen nothing but thepersons of Indians, belonging to some tribe more wild and savage thanany which inhabited the valley. Their garments were coarse and singular;their gait--at least, the gait of two of them,--not unlike to that ofbarbarians; and the look of wonder with which they surveyed the longtrain of the rear-guard, in which the high penachos, or plumes, and thecopper-headed spears of Tlascalan chiefs, shone among the iron casquesof Spanish cavaliers, was similar to the childish admiration of natives,unused to such a spectacle. Their dark countenances and long hair, theirvestments and arms, were all of an Aztec character; yet a second andmore scrutinizing glance made it apparent, that one, at least, if nottwo of them, was of another and nobler race.

  The foremost, or leader, of the little band, was undoubtedly a savage;as was seen by the depressed forehead, the high cheek-bones, the eye ofa peculiar form, and the skin of even uncommon swarthiness, whichdistinguished him from his companions. His stature was short, almostdwarfish; his toes were turned inwards; and as he moved along with ashuffling gait, with advanced chest, and head still more protruded, hislong locks, grizzled as with extreme age, fell from either side of hisface, like patches of gray moss from the bough of a tree, and almostswept the ground. A coarse cloth was wrapped round his loins; another ofa square shape,--its opposite corners tied round his neck,--hung like amantle, or rather a shawl, from his shoulders, over which were alsostrapped a bow and quiver of arrows; and a thick mat of cane-work wassecured by thongs to his left arm, in the manner of a buckler, and swungat his side, or was laid upon his breast, as suited his mood orconvenience. In other respects, he was naked,--though not without thenative battle-axe of obsidian. This weapon consisted of a rod, orbludgeon, of heavy wood, (it was sometimes of copper,) at the extremityof which, and on either side, were fastened six or seven broad blades,or flakes, of volcanic glass, standing a little apart from each other.Its native name, _maquahuitl_, was speedily corrupted by the Spaniardsinto _macana_,--a name that is applied, in Castile, to a sabre of lath;and which, being more practicable to civilized organs of speech than theoriginal title, is worthy of being preserved. The appearance of thisaged warrior presented none of the infirmities of years. His stoopingcarriage was rather the result of habit than feebleness; his step wasquick and firm, though ungainly; and his eye rolled with the piercingvivacity of youth over the scene, which occupied so much of theattention of his followers.

  Of these, that one whom the Castilians at the cypress-tree hesitated,for a moment, whether to esteem an Indian or a Christian man, was of afigure more remarkable for sturdiness than elegance. The roll of clothround his body extended from his waist, where it was secured by aleathern girdle, to his knees. The mantle about his shoulders was morecapacious than his fellow's, but it left his brawny chest in partexposed, and thereby revealed a skin fairer than belonged to the nativesof Anahuac. His hair, though very long, was of a reddish-brown colour,and waving rather than straight; and a rough beard of a ruddy hue,though so short that its growth seemed to have been permitted for notmore than the space of a week, was another phenomenon not to be lookedfor in a barbarian. But the indications of civilized origin offered bythese characteristics, were set at naught by the step and bearing of thestranger, which were to the full as wild and peculiar as those of hismore ancient companion; like whom, he carried a buckler and macana,though without the bow and quiver. His eye rolled with a like wildness;but his features were European; and instead of being entirely barefoot,like the senior, his feet were defended by stout sandals of untannedskin.

  The third, and by far the most remarkable of all, was he who had firstcaught the eye of Najara, and upon whom was now concentrated the gaze ofthe whole party. A figure of the most majestic height, and nobleproportions, though, at the present moment, greatly wasted, was ratherset off to advantage than concealed by a costume as spare and primitiveas that of the red-bearded man. His skin was much tawnier than hiscompanion's; indeed, it was of the darkest hue known among the southernprovinces of Spain and Portugal, where the blood of Europe has mingledharmoniously with the life-tides of Africa. His lofty stature was moreobvious, perhaps, since he adopted not the bearing or gait of theothers, but moved along erect, with a graceful demeanour, and a step ofnatural ease and dignity. He had but one characteristic of a Mexican;and that was the long hair, straight, and of an intense blackness, thatfell from his temples to his breast, with much of a wild and savageprofusion, concealing, in part, a cheek of the finest contour, thoughsomewhat hollowed by hardship, and, perhaps, suffering. The puffs ofwind, blowing aside this sable curtain, disclosed an elevated forehead,crowning a visage in which every feature was of the mould of Castile,and after the happiest model of that order of beauty, each beingsculptured with a touch that preserved delicacy, even while givingboldness. His age would have been a question wherewith to puzzle aphysiognomist: there was much in the smoothness of his brow, and theunaltered freshness of a mouth, over which was sprouting a mustache,short and bushy, as if as lately submitted to the tonsure as the beardof his companion, that spoke of youth just verging into maturity; while,on the other hand, the complete developement of his frame, and theseriousness of his countenance, would have conveyed the impression of anage many years farther advanced. This seriousness of expression was,indeed, more than mere gravity; it indicated a melancholy, or evensadness, which, though of a gentle cast, was become a settled andpermanent characteristic.

  As he approached, his eyes were, like his companions', fixed withcuriosity upon the long and dense body of Tlascalans, from whom theywere only withdrawn, when the exclamation of Najara attracted themsuddenly to the group at the cypress. The confusion of these personageswas so manifest, and they handled their arms with an air so indicativeof hostility, that the old warrior and the red-bearded man came to aninstant halt, and looked, as if for instructions, to their taller andmore noble-visaged companion. He instantly stepped before them, andwaving his hand to Najara, who was hastily fitting a bolt to hiscrossbow, and to the historian, who presented his partisan with greateralacrity of decision than would have been anticipated from his sluggishappearance, cried aloud,

  "Hold, friends! We are not enemies, but Christians and Castilians."

  "Art thou Juan Lerma? and art thou truly alive? or do I look upon thyphantom?" cried the hunchback, with an agitated voice.

  "Out, fool! we are good living men," exclaimed the red-bearded man,angrily; "and with flesh enough upon our bones, to cudgel thee intobetter manners, I trow. Is this the way you receive old friends,returning from bondage among infidels? What, Bernal Diaz, thou ass! dostthou not know Gaspar Olea, thine old townsman of Medina-del-Campo, thybrother-in-arms and sworn friend? nor yet the senor Don Juan Lerma, mycaptain and friend in trouble? nor Ocelotzin, the old Ottomi rascal, ourguide here?"

  "Ay, oho! old rascal, old friend; all friends, all rascals," cried theIndian, looking affectionately towards the Castilians, who still stoodin doubt, and using the few Spanish words with which he was familiar;"good friends, good rascals,--Castellanos, Cristianos;--friends,rascals."

  While the rest were hesitating, the cavalier Don Francisco de Guzmansuddenly stepped out from among them, and, advancing towards the youngman Lerma, with a smiling countenance and extended hand, said,

  "Though I am not thought to be the most loving of thy friends, I will bethe first to bid thee welcome, senor Lerma, in token that old feuds donot mar the satisfaction with which I behold a Christian man rescued sohappily, and as it appears to me, so marvellously, from the grave."

  The emotions and changes of countenance with which the young man heardthese words, were various and strongly marked. At the first tones ofGuzman, he started back, as if a serpent had suddenly crossed his path,and grew pale, while his eyes flashed a ferocious and deadly fire. Atthe next, the blood rushed over his visage, and throbbed w
ith a visibleviolence in the vessels of his temples; while he half raised the macana,which he carried, in lieu of a better weapon, as if to cleave thespeaker to the earth. The next instant, the angry suffusion departed,his brows relaxed their severity, the deep melancholy gathered again inhis eyes, and he surveyed the cavalier with a patient and graveplacidity, until the latter had finished his salutation. Then, bendinghis head, and folding his hands upon his breast, he replied, mildly, andwithout a shadow of anger,

  "I have, as thou sayest, returned from the grave, in the sight of whichI strove, as a Christian should, to make my peace with man as well aswith heaven. I have done so; I am at peace with all; I am at peace with_thee_--But I cannot give thee my hand."

  The cavalier Don Francisco received this rejection of his good-will withno sign of dissatisfaction, that was distinguishable by others, beyond asmile or sneer; but inclining his head towards Lerma, he muttered in hisear--

  "The strife is unequal; but I accept thy defiance. Thou art but abroken-legged wolf, and wilt fight a fatted tiger--I am content."

  So saying, or rather whispering, for his words were only caught by theears of Juan, the cavalier turned upon his heel, and withoutcondescending to exhibit his mortification in the vain air of pride andscorn, assumed by ordinary men on such occasions, he began to walktowards the city. He was presently followed by the senor Camarga; who,having fastened upon Juan, for a few moments, a look of intensecuriosity, flung, when he had satisfied himself, his cloak over thelower part of his visage, and thus departed.

  "You give me but a cold welcome, good friends," said Juan, looking afterthe retreating man with a sigh. "Will no one else in this company offerhis hand to one who burns with joy at the sight of Christian faces?"

  "When thou art better acquainted with the bounty of the compliment,doubtless, but no sooner," said the hunchback, who had surveyed theyouth with an interest which was belied by his present scorn. "A goodday to you, senor Juan Lerma, and God keep you well. There is a goodpath over the mountains, northward, by the way of Otumba. If you likenot the company of heathens, there are fair maids enow in Cuba."

  With these hints, which the young man listened to with a disturbedaspect, and which the hunchback accompanied with sour and contemptuouslooks, he turned away, and began to hobble after his companions.

  "Now God be our stay!" exclaimed Juan, with some emotion, "there is nota man who has a tear for our sorrows, or a smile for our joy. It werebetter we had perished, Gaspar!"

  "_I_ am not ashamed to give thee my hand," said Bernal Diaz, shaking offhis amazement, and advancing, "though I know not how far thou artdeserving of such countenance. But I must first claim to embrace my oldfriend and brother, Gaspar; whom, by my faith, I can scarce believe thatI see living before me! How didst thou thus learn to turn thy toes in,Gaspar?"

  "Away, thou dog-eared, ill-blooded block!" cried the red-bearded Gaspar,who had watched the turn of proceedings with indignation, and now pouredforth his accumulated wrath upon the worthy historian. "Ashamed!--_thou_ashamed!--_thy_ countenance!--deserving of _thy_ countenance, thouill-mannered, bog-brained churl and ass! Thou wilt give the young senorthy hand! If thou dost but lift it, I will smite it off with mybattle-axe. Curmudgeon! _I_ thy friend and brother?--I discard thee andforswear thee; I do, marry--"

  "Peace, Gaspar," said Lerma, mildly; "quarrel not with thy friend on myaccount; thou hast no offence on thine own. It is plain, there is butcold cheer in store for me: make none for thyself."

  "Oh, senor!" said Gaspar, sharply, for his anger was waxing hot andunrespective, "I am no servant, no grinning lackey, to be told, 'do methis,' and 'do me that,' by your excellent favour; no, by your leave,no;--I am your soldier, not your foot-man. I will quarrel when I like,and I will not be chidden. I am your soldier, senor, your soldier--"

  "My friend, I think," said the young man; "though thou dost now afflictme more than those who seem my enemies."

  "Afflict!--enemies!--_I_ afflict!" cried Gaspar, fiercely; "I quarrelwith your enemies!--ay, _a outrance_, as the Frenchmen, say. I havefought them in Italy. Fuego! enemies!--call this knave by the name, andif I do not smite him to the chine, townsman though he be--"

  "Peace, Gaspar, if thou art my friend, as, I trust this good Bernalis,--"

  "Go to," said Bernal Diaz, in high dudgeon, addressing himself toGaspar, "thou art turned heathen, or thou wouldst not so abuse me. Icare for you not; I have nothing to do with you, nor with any of yourcompanions. By and by you will repent. God be with you, and make youwiser."

  With these words, the historian followed the example of the others, andwas straightway stalking, with impetuous strides, towards Tezcuco.

  "Now art you not ashamed, Gaspar, to have given way to this boy's wrath?Wilt thou be womanish, too?"

  "Ay," said Gaspar, shaking his head with the fury of a mastiff, rendingsome meaner animal, and thus dashing away certain tears of rage ormortification, that were starting in his eyes: "it doth make a woman ofme, to think we have escaped from dangers such as were never dreamed ofby these false traitors,--from infidel prisons and heathen maws, andcome, at last, among Christian men, whom I could have hugged, every illloon of them all; and not one to stretch forth his hand, and say Godbless me! You were right, senor; it were better to have remained slaveswith the King of the Humming-bird Valley, than to have left him for suchhangdog welcome."

  "Thou wouldst have had nothing to complain of, hadst thou bridled thyimpatient temper. These men meant not to provoke _thee_."

  "Bad friends, bad rascals!" said the Ottomi, who, during these severalpassages, had been staring from one Christian to another in unconcealedamazement: "bad friends! no good rascals!" he muttered in Spanish; theninstantly changing to Mexican, which though not his native tongue, wasmore familiar to him, and was besides well understood by Juan, hecontinued,

  "Itzquauhtzin, the Great Eagle," (for thus he chose to designate theyouth,) "has settled upon the hill of kites. Where are his wings?Malintzin is angry; he sends his young men to frown. Here is another: helaughs with his eyes.--Ocelotzin is an old tiger,--Techeechee is a dogwithout voice; but the _itzli_[6] is sharp in his hand. Shall hestrike?"

  [Footnote 6: _Itzli_, the obsidian or volcanic glass.]

  The wild eyes of the barbarian (for the Ottomies, or mountain Indians,were the true savages of Anahuac,) were bent with the subtle andmalignant keenness of the tiger whose name he bore, upon the Alguazil,Villafana, who, standing a little aside, and for a time unseen, hadwatched the salutations, and, finally, the departure of his companions,without himself saying a word. He now stepped forward, disregarding theevil looks of the Indian, as well as those of Gaspar, whose feelings ofmortification were thirsting for some legitimate object whereon toexpend their fury: and stretching forth his hand in the most friendlymanner, said to Juan,

  "How now, senor? drive this old cut-throat dog away.--I claim to be anold acquaintance, and, at this moment, not a cold one. The foxes beinggone, the goose may stretch her neck.--Here am I, one man at least,heartily glad to find you coming alive from the trap, and not afraid tosay so.--Does your favour forget me? Methinks you have the gift ofrejecting the hands that are offered, howsoever you may covet those thatare withheld."

  "You do me wrong--I remember you well," said Juan, taking the hand, fromwhich he had first recoiled with a visible reluctance: "I thank you foryour kindness. Yes, I remember you," he repeated, with extreme sadness:"Would I did _not_."

  "Come, senor Gaspar," continued the Alguazil, turning to Olea. "You andI were never such friends as true men should be; but, notwithstanding, Igive you my true welcome and most Christian congratulations."

  "I ever thought you a knave," said Gaspar, clutching Villafana's hand,with a sort of sulky thankfulness, "being but an eternal grumbler andreviler at the general. But I see you are more of a Christian and manthan any other villain of them all. Fire and blood! why do they treat usthus?"

  "Oh, you shall soon know. But how now, senor Lerma, what is your will?Will you walk with me to the ci
ty? We have royal commanders now: 'tis amatter for the stocks, and, sometimes, the strappado, to loiter beyondthe lines, after the trumpet's call. Will you walk to Tezcuco? or do youchoose rather to betake you to the hills, as Najara advised you? Cortesis another man now, senor, and somewhat dangerous, as you may haveinferred from the bearing of his favourites. If you would be wise, gonot near him. It is not too late."

  "Senor Villafana," said Juan, "what I have seen and heard has filled mewith trouble; for, like Gaspar, I looked for such reception as might beexpected by men returning from among heathen oppressors, to Christianassociates and old friends. I know not well what has happened during thefourteen months of my absence from the army, save what was darkly spokento me by a certain king, in whose hands I have remained, with mycompanions, many months in captivity. He gave me to believe that mycountrymen had all fallen in a war with Montezuma, whom I left in peace,and in strong, though undeserved, bonds. I perceive that I have beencajoled: I rejoice that you are living men; but I know not why I shouldfear to join myself again among you. I claim to be conducted to yourgeneral."

  "It shall be as you choose; but, senor, you are no longer in favour. Asfor Gaspar and the Indian, it will be well enough with them: a goodsoldier like Gaspar is worth something more than hanging; and such aknave as this old savage can be put to good use. Senor, shall I speak aword with you? Bid the two advance: I have somewhat to say to you inprivate."

  The young man regarded the Alguazil with an anxious countenance; andthen, desiring his companions to lead the way towards Tezcuco, followed,at a little distance, with Villafana.