A short while only did this irksome silence continue. It was terminated by the voice I had before heard, this time in the utterance of a different speech.
Soy moriendo! Lola Lolita! a ver te nunca mas en este mundo ! (I am dying, Dolores dear Dolores! never more shall I see you in this world!)
Nunca mas en este mundo ! came the words rapidly re-pronounced, but in a voice of such different intonation as to preclude the possibility of mistaking it either for an echo or repetition by the same speaker.
No, never! continued the second voice, in the same tone, and in a similar patois . Never again shall you look upon Lola you, Calros Vergara, who have kept me from becoming her husband; who have poisoned her mind against me
Ah! it is you, Rayas! What has brought you hither? Is it to torture a dying man?
Carajo ! I didnt come to do anything of the kind. I came to assure myself that you were dying thats all. Vicente Vilagos, who has escaped from this ugly affair, has just told me youd got a bit of lead through your body. Ive sought you here to make sure that your wound was fatal as he said it was.
Santissima ! O Ramon Rayas! that is your errand?
You mistake I have another: else I shouldnt have risked falling into the hands of those damnable Americanos , who might take a fancy to send one of their infernal bullets through my own carcass.
What other errand? What want you with me? I am sore wounded I believe I am dying.
First, as
Ive told you to make sure that you are dying; and secondly, if that be the case, to learn before you do die, what you have done with Lola.
Never. Dead or living, you shall not know from me. Go, go! por amor Dios ! do not torment a poor wretch in his last moments.
Bah! Calros Vergara, listen to reason. Remember, we were boys together scourged in the same school. Your times up; you cant protect Lola any more. Why hinder me I who love her as my own life? Im not so bad as people say, though I am accused of an inclination for the road . Thats the fault of the bad government weve got. Come! dont leave the world like a fool; and Lola without a protector. Tell me where youve hidden her tell me that, and the n
No! no! Leave me, Rayas! leave me! If I am to die, let me die in peace.
You wont tell me?
No no
Never mind, then; Ill find out in time, and no thanks to you. So, go to the devil, and carry your secret along with you. If Lola be anywhere within the four corners of Mexico, Ill track her up. She dont escape from Rayas the salteadur !
I could hear a rustling among the hushes: as if the last speaker, having delivered his ultimatum , was taking his departure from the spot.
Suddenly the sound ceased; and the voice once more echoed in my ear
Carrambo! exclaimed the man now known to me as Ramon Rayas, I was going away without having accomplished the best half of my errand! Didnt I come to make certain that your wound was mortal? Lets see if that picaro Vilagos has been telling me the truth. Through what part of the body are you perforated?
There was no reply; but from certain indications I could tell that the salteador had approached the prostrate man, and was stooping down to examine his wounds.
I made a movement forward in the direction in which I had heard the strange dialogue; but checked myself on again hearing the voice of Rayas.
Carajo ! ejaculated he, in a tone that betokened some discovery, at the same time one causing disappointment. That wound of yours is not mortal not a bit of it! You may recover from it, if
You think I have a chance to recover? eagerly interrogated the wounded man willing to clutch at hope, even when offered by an enemy.
Think you have a chance to recover? Im sure of it. The bullet has passed through your thigh what of that? Its only a flesh wound. The great artery is not touched. That Im sure about, or youd have bled to death long ago. The bone is not broken: else you could no more lift your foot in that fashion, than you could kick yonder cofre from the top of Peroté. Carrambo ! youd be sure to get over it, if
There was an interval of silence, as though the speaker hesitated to pronounce the condition implied by that if. The peculiar emphasis, placed on the monosyllabic word, told me that he was making pause for a purpose.
If what, Capitan Rayas?
The interrogatory came from the wounded man, in a tone trembling between hope and doubt.
If, answered the other, and with emphatic pronunciation, if you tell me where you have hidden Dolores .
There was a groan; and then in a quivering voice came the rejoinder.
How could that affect my recovery? If I am to die, it could not save me. If it be my fate to survive this sad day
It is not , interrupted the salteador , in a firm, loud voice. No! This day you must die this hour this moment, unless you reveal to me that secret you have so carefully kept. Where is Dolores?
Never! Rather shall I die than that she should fall into the power of such a remorseless villain. After that threat, O God!
Die, then! and go to the God you are calling upon. Die, Calros Vergara !