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Meanwhile my comrades had crept into the magueys to wait for me. I raised my head cautiously and looked in. It was a room somewhat elegantly furnished, but my eye did not dwell long on that. A man sitting by the table engrossed my attention. This man was Dubrosc. The light was full upon his face, and I gazed upon its hated lines until I felt my frame trembling with passion.
Officers in bright uniforms, and amongst these I recognised the elegant person of Dubrosc. Ladies in rich dresses, and amongst these . Her sister, too, was there, and the Dona Joaquiana, and half a dozen other ladies, rustling in silks and blazing with jewels. Several of the gentlemen young officers of the band wore the picturesque costume of the guerilleros. They were forming for the dance.
"Clane gone, yer honner," replied Chane. "Gone?" "Yes, Cap'n; that's so as he sez it," answered Lincoln. "Gone! What do you mean?" I inquired. "Desarted, Cap'n." "How do you know that?" "Because they ain't here." "On the island?" "Searched it all every bush." "But who? which of the French?" "Dubrosc and that 'ar boy that was always with him both desarted." "You are sure they are missing?"
This was a young cotton-planter a free, dashing spirit, who had sacrificed a fortune at the shrines of Momus and Bacchus. "Why, Haller, old fellow! glad to see you. How have you been? Think of going with us?" "Yes, I have signed. Who is that man?" "He's a Creole; his name is Dubrosc." It was a face purely Norman, and one that would halt the wandering eye in any collection.
I muttered to my servant: "Dubrosc! He is dead!" His body lay spread out in its picturesque attire. A fair form it was. A bullet my own had passed through his heart, killing him instantly. I placed my hand upon his forehead. It was cold already, and his beautiful features were white and ashy. His eyes glared with the ghastly expression of death. "Close them!"
"Did you know that voice, Captain?" whispered Clayley to me, as we returned to camp. "Yes." "You think it was " "Dubrosc." On reaching the camp I found a mounted orderly in front of my tent. "From the general," said the soldier, touching his cap, and handing me a sealed note. The orderly, without waiting a reply, leaped into his saddle and rode off.
Dubrosc had fired the shot and struck the blow that had left me senseless. But who could the woman be whose voice I had heard pleading in my behalf? My thoughts reverted to the boy who had gone off with Dubrosc, and whom I had often observed in the company of the latter.
By heavens!" he added, with an earnestness unusual in his manner, "I have been far more uneasy about the other side those half-brigands and that villain Dubrosc." "On! on!" I ejaculated, digging the spurs into the flanks of my horse, who sprang forward at a gallop. I could say no more. Clayley had given utterance to my very thoughts, and a painful feeling shot through my heart.
"No, not to-night, dearest!" said Dubrosc, grasping her rudely by the arm. "I have my reasons for keeping you here. I noted you to-day speaking with that cursed Yankee, and you're just traitor enough to help him to escape. I'll look to him myself, so you may stay where you are.
Amidst the laughing of the guerilleros, Jack was swung out, and fell in a bed of shrubs and flowers, where we saw no more of him. As he was bound, we concluded that he could not help himself, and was lying where he had been thrown. My attention was called away from this incident by an exclamation of Chane. "Och! blood, turf, and murther! If there isn't that Frinch scoundhrel Dubrosc!"
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