The Pearl of the Andes: A Tale of Love and Adventure Read online

  Produced by Camille Bernard and Marc D'Hooghe athttps://www.freeliterature.org (Scans generously madeavailable by the Hathi Trust)

  THE PEARL OF THE ANDES

  A TALE OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE

  BY

  GUSTAVE AIMARD

  AUTHOR OF "THE ADVENTURERS," "TRAIL-HUNTER," "PIRATES OF THE PRAIRIES,"

  "TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER," "TIGER SLAYER," ETC.

  REVISED AND EDITED BY PERCY B. ST. JOHN

  NEW YORK

  JOHN W. LOVELL COMPANY

  14 AND 16 VESEY STREET

  1884

  CONTENTS

  I. IN THE CABILDO XXIII. PLAN OF CAMPAIGN II. JOAN XXIV. A DISAGREEABLE MISSION III. THE PURSUIT XXV. THE KITE AND THE DOVE IV. SERPENT AND VIPER XXVI. THE END OF DON RAMON'S JOURNEY V. AN INDIAN'S LOVE XXVII. THE AUCA-COYOG VI. PREPARATIONS FOR DELIVERANCE XXVIII. THE HUMAN SACRIFICE VII. A COUNTERMINE XXIX. THE KING OF DARKNESS VIII. EL CANYON DEL RIO SECO XXX. THE BATTLE OF CONDERKANKI IX. BEFORE THE FIGHT XXXI. CONQUEROR AND PRISONER X. THE PASSAGE OF THE DEFILE XXXII. AFTER THE BATTLE XI. THE JOURNEY XXXIII. FIRST HOURS OF CAPTIVITY XII. INFORMATION XXXIV. THE ULTIMATUM XIII. THE AMBUSCADE XXXV. A FURY XIV. THE FORTRESS XXXVI. A THUNDERCLAP XV. PROPOSALS XXXVII. UPON THE TRACK XVI. THE MESSENGER XXXVIII. THE LYNX XVII. IN THE WOLF'S MOUTH XXXIX. THE BLACK SERPENTS XVIII. THE CAPITULATION XL. THE HURRICANE XIX. THE APPEAL XLI. LA BARRANCA XX. THE COUNCIL XLII. THE QUIPU XXI. DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND XLIII. THE ROCK XXII. DELIRIUM XLIV. CAESAR

  THE PEARL OF THE ANDES

  CHAPTER I.

  IN THE CABILDO

  While Dona Rosario effected her escape by the assistance of Curumilla,as recorded in the "Adventurers," Don Tadeo was not long in regaininghis senses. On opening his eyes he cast a bewildered look around him,but as soon as memory threw light into his brain, he let his head sinkinto his hands, and gave a free vent to his grief.

  Don Tadeo wept! Don Tadeo, the King of Darkness, who a hundred timeshad smilingly looked death in the face--who had had such a miraculousescape--the man whose iron will had so rapidly crushed everything thatopposed the execution of his projects; who by a word, a gesture, afrown, governed thousands of men submissive to his caprices, wept.

  But Don Tadeo was not a man whom grief, however intense, could depressfor a length of time.

  "Oh, all is not ended yet," he cried. "But courage! I have a people tosave before I avenge my daughter."

  He clapped his hands, and Don Gregorio appeared. He saw at a glance theravages which grief had made in the mind of his friend, but he saw thatthe King of Darkness had subdued the father. It was about seven o'clockin the morning.

  "What are your intentions with regard to General Bustamente?" Gregorioasked.

  Don Tadeo was calm, cold, and impassive; all traces of emotion haddisappeared from his face, which had the whiteness and rigidity ofmarble.

  "My friend," he replied, "we yesterday saved the liberty of ourcountry, which was on the verge of ruin; but if, thanks to you andto all the devoted patriots who fought on our side, I have for everoverthrown Don Bustamente, and annihilated his ambitious projects, Ihave not on that account taken his place."

  "But you are the only man--"

  "Do not say that," Don Tadeo interrupted, "I do not recognise in myselfthe right of imposing upon my fellow citizens ideas and views which maybe very good, or which I believe to be so, but which, perhaps, are nottheirs. The right of freely choosing the man who is henceforward togovern them."

  "And who tells you, my friend, that that man is not yourself?"

  "I do!" Don Tadeo observed in a firm voice.

  Don Gregorio gave a start of surprise.

  "That astonishes you, does it not, my friend? But what is to be said?So it is. I am only anxious to lay down power, which is a burden tooheavy for my worn-out strength, and to return again to private life."

  "Oh! do not say that," Don Gregorio replied warmly; "the gratitude ofthe people is eternal."

  "All smoke, my friend," Don Tadeo observed, ironically. "Are you surethe people are pleased with what I have done? But let us end this; myresolution is taken, and nothing can change it."

  "But--" Don Gregorio wished to add.

  "One word more," said Don Tadeo. "To be a statesman, my friend, a manmust march alone in the way he has marked out for himself; he must haveneither children, relations, nor friends. The man who is in power oughtto be only human in appearance."

  "What do you mean to do, then?"

  "In the first place to send General Bustamente to Santiago: althoughthe man merits death, I will not take upon myself the responsibilityof his condemnation; enough blood has been shed by my orders. Heshall depart tomorrow with General Cornejo and the senator Sandias,sufficiently escorted to secure him from a _coup de main_."

  "Your orders shall be punctually obeyed."

  "They are the last you will receive from me."

  "But why?"

  "Because this very day I will transfer my power to your hands."

  "But, my friend--"

  "Not a word more, I beg of you. Now come with me to this poor youngFrenchman, who has so nobly defended my unfortunate daughter."

  Don Gregorio followed him without reply.

  The count had been placed in a chamber where he had received thegreatest attention. His situation was satisfactory, and excepting greatweakness, he felt himself much better. Loss of blood alone caused theweakness. Don Tadeo went towards him, and said warmly--

  "My friend, it is God who has thrown you and your companion uponmy passage. I have only known you a few months, and I have alreadycontracted towards you a debt which it is impossible I can everdischarge."

  "Why attach so high a value to the little I have been able to do, DonTadeo." said Louis. "Alas! I would have given my life to preserve DonaRosario."

  "We shall find her again!" Don Tadeo observed, energetically.

  "Oh! If I were able to get on horseback," the young man cried.

  At this moment the door opened, and a peon who entered said a few wordsin a low voice to Don Tadeo.

  "Let him come in! let him come in!" the latter cried, and turningtowards Louis added, "We are about to hear some news."

  An Indian entered; it was Joan, the man Curumilla had been unwilling tokill.