A DISAGREEABLE MISSION.
Instead of taking a few hours of repose, Don Tadeo, as soon as he was alone, seated himself at a table, and began to send off orders.
Several hours had passed away thus; the morning was advanced, and Don Tadeo had despatched all his couriers. At this moment Don Ramón Sandias appeared.
"Well, Don Ramón," Don Tadeo said in a friendly accent, "you are still among us."
"Yes, Excellency," the senator replied.
"Have you cause to complain, Don Ramón?" asked Don Tadeo.
"Oh, no!" said the senator, "quite the contrary."
"I am ready to weep tears of blood when I reflect that I have allowed myself to be seduced by a silly ambition, which—"
"Well, what you have lost, if you like, I will restore to you," said Don Tadeo.
"Oh! speak! speak! what would I not do for that?"
"Even return among the Aucas?" said Don Tadeo.
"Why, no—"
"Stop a moment!" Don Tadeo interrupted; "this is what I expect of you: listen attentively."
"I listen, your Excellency," the senator replied, bowing humbly.
Don Gregorio entered.
"What is the matter?" asked Don Tadeo.
"The Indian named Joan, who once served you as a guide, has just arrived."
"Let him come in! let him come in!" cried Don Tadeo, rising.
Joan now entered.
"What brings you here?" asked Don Tadeo. "Speak! my friend!"
"The white chiefs are preparing to set out upon the track of Antinahuel."
"God bless them! they are noble hearts!" Don Tadeo exclaimed.
"My father was sad last night when he parted from us."
"Yes, yes," the poor father murmured.
"Before taking the track, Don Valentine felt his heart softened at the thoughts of the uneasiness you would doubtless experience; he therefore made his brother with the dove's eyes trace this necklace."
Saying these words, he drew out the letter which was carefully concealed under the ribbon that confined his hair, and presented it to Don Tadeo.
"Thanks!" cried the father as he placed the letter in his bosom and held out his hand graciously to the warrior; "thanks to those who sent you, and thanks to you, my brother: you shall remain with me, and when the moment arrives you shall conduct me to my daughter."
"I will do so; my father may depend upon me."
"I do depend upon you, Joan."
"I am at the service of my father, as is the horse which the warrior mounts," Joan replied, respectfully.
"One instant," said Don Tadeo, clapping his hands, to which a servant responded.
"I desire," he said, in an emphatic manner, "that every respect he paid to this warrior: he is my friend, and is at liberty to do just as he likes; let everything be given to him that he asks for."
The Indian warrior left the apartment.
"A noble nature!" cried Don Tadeo.
"Yes." said Don Ramón, "for a savage."
The King of Darkness was recalled to himself by the voice which thus mingled its harsh notes with his thoughts; his eyes fell upon the senator, whom he no longer thought of.
"Ah!" said he, "I had forgotten you, Don Ramón."
The latter bit his tongue and repented too late.
"Did you not tell me," Don Tadeo resumed, "that you would give a great deal to be at your hacienda?"
The senator shook his head affirmatively.
"I will offer you," Don Tadeo continued, "a chance of regaining the happiness you sigh for. You will set out immediately for Concepción. One would think you did not like the mission."
"I will go."
"That is well; a pleasant journey to you."
The senator asked—
"If the Araucanians surprise me, and get possession of this paper?"
"You will be shot—that's all," said Don Tadeo.
"Why, this is a trap!" the terrified senator exclaimed.
"You have but twenty minutes to make the preparations for your departure."
The senator seized the letter eagerly, and, without replying, rushed out of the room like a madman. Don Tadeo could not repress a smile at his extreme terror, and said to himself—
"Poor devil! he little suspects that I should be highly pleased if the Araucanians obtained the paper."
"Everything is ready," said Don Gregorio, entering.
"That is well. Let the troops be drawn up in two bodies just outside the city. Where is Joan?"
"I am here," the latter replied, coming forward.
"I wish to confide to my brother a mission of life and death."
"I will accomplish it, or die in the attempt."
"Deliver this necklace to the Spanish general, Fuentes, who commands in Concepción." Don Tadeo drew from his breast a dagger of a curious shape, the bronze knob of which served as a seal. "My brother will also take this dagger; on seeing it the general will know that Joan comes from me."
"Good," the warrior replied, taking the weapon.
"That weapon is poisoned—: the slightest scratch will inflict certain death."
"Oh—oh!" said the Indian, "that is indeed a good weapon! When shall I set out?"
"A horse shall be given to my brother, to whom I have only one more word to say: let him take care not to get killed; I would have him return to me."
"I shall come back again," said the Indian, confidently. "Farewell."
Don Tadeo and Don Gregorio left the cabildo. The orders of the King of Darkness had been executed with the greatest punctuality and promptitude. Two bodies of troops were drawn up; one, of nine hundred men, was charged with the attack on Arauca, the other, of nearly two thousand, under the immediate orders of Don Tadeo himself.
In addition to a numerous troop of cavalry, the Chilians took with them ten pieces of mountain artillery. The troops filed off at a quick step before the inhabitants, who saluted them with hearty shouts.
When they were about to separate, Don Tadeo took his friend aside.
"This evening, when you have established your camp for the night, Don Gregorio," he said, "you will give up the command to your lieutenant and rejoin me."
"That is understood; I thank you for the favour you confer upon me."
After a last shake of the hands the two leaders separated, to place themselves at the head of their respective troops, which were advancing rapidly into the plain.