“Volontiers,” said he, taking it and a piece of burning yesca,[197] that I offered him on the flat side of my flint.—“Volontiers! I am a true dragoon.”
In receiving the flint back, I purposely let it fall, and, begging he would not trouble himself, dismounted to pick it up, drawing near to the corporal, as if to see how he got on with his work. My companion now, also, alighted to tighten the girths of his saddle, and, at the instant, an explosion took place, the young dragoon was thrown on his back, and the two horses, disengaged from his hold, started off in a fright, pitching the corporal forward on his head. I instantly pinned him to the earth with my knee, and plunged my knife into his neck; whilst my comrade despatched the young dragoon—asking him how it was he had not recognized us by our backs, and what he thought of un cigarro bomba.[198]
We secured the despatches and horses, and made off for our bivouac with all speed. On our arrival, I found the band at Toros y cañas;[199] the followers of my late coadjutor, Rodriguez, insisting that another captain should be joined with me in the command.
Having had sufficient experience of the inconveniences attending this divided form of government, and being now so situated as to insist on having my own way, I determined to cut the matter very short, exclaiming “à otro perro con ese hueso!”[200] “Let those who choose turn back, and God be with them! and I think—judging from the despatches that have this day fallen into my hands—they will stand in great need of his protection! Those who prefer following my fortunes shall obey no orders but mine.”
Alarmed at what I had hinted about the despatches, all but the aspirant to the joint dictatorship and two of his relatives, joined my standard. These three desgraciados determined to leave the band. In vain I pointed out the danger of such a proceeding—the impossibility of their making their way across a country with which they were unacquainted, and that was now beset with enemies. They, sneeringly, replied that the same road they had followed in coming would conduct them back. This, however, for a reason which I shall hereafter explain, I determined that it should not do.
Detaining them, therefore, until the morrow, on the plea of receiving their due proportion of the booty we had made, I despatched a trusty messenger to Granada, who, presenting himself to the French governor, informed him that the greater part of my troop had passed close under the walls of Alhama, directing its march towards Velez, after having killed the two dragoons bearing his despatches to the commandant of that town; but adding, that he had heard, on very good authority, a detachment of three men, conveying important communications from me, was to return, on the following day, into the eastern provinces of the kingdom, and that he had come to offer himself as a guide, to intercept the party.
On the following morning, our seceders took their departure, having, I may truly say, “el despeñadero a los ojos, y lobos à las espaldas.”[201] The next day my messenger returned, and informed me of the result of his mission, giving out, however, that he had obtained intelligence that a valuable convoy was about to proceed immediately from Granada to Motril. The temptation was irresistible, and a rapid counter-march on Alhendin was determined on that very night.
We reached our destination by dawn, where I was told (what I was already fully informed of) that the convoy had already passed by, and that our quondam companions had been seized and hung up on the road-side. There they were, sure enough, dangling from the trees like espata-lobos,[202] and on the forehead of each was nailed the following notice in the French language.
“The undersigned, Lieutenant General of the Imperial French Army, and governor of Granada for his Catholic majesty Joseph Napoleon, &c. &c. &c., hereby gives notice, that the band of factieux, under the infamous traitor Blas Maldonado, having appeared in the military division under his command, all persons who may be persuaded to join, harbour, or furnish information or provisions to the same, will, on conviction thereof, be deemed equally traitors to their country, as the aforesaid Blas and his band, and will meet with the condign summary punishment due to their crimes; in witness whereof, he has this day caused to be hanged the rebel hereunto annexed.
“—— ——.”