United States or Turks and Caicos Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Twenty times had this modern Brutus directed his blows against his son, without being able to reach him, and twenty times Martin had turned away the weapon about to strike his father. Suddenly the ferocious Manangani, covered with blood, appeared beside the Sambo. "Thou hast sworn," said he, "to avenge the treason of a wretch on his kindred, on his friends, on himself.
Let my brethren separate in silence; let each return to his post, look, watch and wait!" The Indians went out and dispersed; the Sambo alone remained with Manangani, who asked him: "Does the Sambo know what sentiment conducted his son to San Lazaro? The Sambo, I trust, is sure of his son?" The eyes of the Indian flashed, and the blood mounted to his cheek. The ferocious Manangani recoiled.
But the young Indian had just stooped and no longer heard him, for an Indian had whispered these words in his ear: "They are pillaging the house of Don Vegal, perhaps assassinating him!" At these words Martin Paz recoiled. Manangani seized him by the arm; but, repulsing him with a vigorous hand, the Indian darted toward the square.
"My son had then no pity on my tears," said the Sambo, "since he suffered me for so long a time to believe in his death?" "Is it on the eve before a revolt that Martin Paz, our chief, should be found in the camp of our enemies?" Martin Paz replied neither to his father, nor to Manangani. "So our most important interests have been sacrificed to a woman!"
"Traitor! infamous traitor!" exclaimed Manangani, discharging his pistols at Martin Paz. At this moment the cannons were fired, and the grape swept the Indians on the steps. "This way, brethren," cried Martin Paz, and a few fugitives, his devoted companions, joined him; with this little company he could make his way through the soldiers.
Then, resuming with fire: "And our brethren of the mountains, brave Manangani, if they have all a heart of hatred equal to thine, a courage equal to thine, they will fall on Lima like an avalanche from the summit of the Cordilleras." "The Sambo shall not complain of their boldness on the day appointed.
The young Indian was not mistaken; the Sambo had descended the Madeira three miles, then had landed with the young girl and his numerous companions, among whom might be numbered Manangani, still covered with hideous wounds. The company of Sambo had increased during the journey.
The Sambo crushed the billet in his hand. "The unhappy boy," said he, "has suffered himself to be caught by the eyes of a woman." "Who is this woman?" asked Manangani. "It is not an Indian," replied the Sambo, observing the billet; "it is some young girl of the other classes. Martin Paz, I no longer know thee!" "Shall you do what this woman requests?"
I am expecting some of our brethren, who have descended the river to its mouth, perhaps they will have found the body of Martin Paz." "He was a good chief," said Manangani, a ferocious Indian, much dreaded; "but why was he not at his post on the day when the schooner brought us arms?" The Sambo cast down his head without reply.
The bandage which had covered his eyes was taken off. He looked around him, and saw himself in the lower hall of that tavern where his brethren had organized their approaching revolt. The Sambo, Manangani, and others, surrounded him. A gleam of indignation flashed from his eyes, which was reciprocated by his captors.
Word Of The Day