THE GOLD-SEEKER OF GUAZACOALCO.

CHAPTER I.

THE START AND THE STORM.

mined character. Aware that in every part of Mexico there is a probability of gold being found, the gambusino quits home, family, future peace-all-to wander everA SMALL schooner lay sleeping calmly on the waters of lastingly in search of the precious metal. The mountains the Bay of Galveston, in front of the custom-house of the and valleys, the hills and brooks, the deepest recesses of principal seaport of the young Republic. Her low, black caverns, and the precipitous rocks of this splendid country, hull, taut masts, her rake aft, her long jib-boom project- are all ransacked by these men. Do they succeed? No ing far out upon the waves, her long streaming pennant, man can say, for a gambucino rarely returns. He beand a brass swivel gun upon her deck, gave her something comes a wild and wandering being, lives apart from man, of the appearance of a pirate. She carried a huge square- and, if he finds treasure, makes no use of it. sail forward, for times of favourable wind; but her chief Don Rafaele Zacara was a gambucino. For fifteen strength lay in the huge mainsail, now laying idly wrapped years had this man, a native of Minatitlan on the Guazaround the swinging boom, that, like the jib, projected aft coalco, followed his perilous trade, and always with over the stern. She looked like a black bird with white success. Every year he came to his native town to rehead upon the sunny waters, rising and falling with the pose, and, it afterwards appeared, to bury his golden treaswell, and holding against the flood-tide by one anchor.sures, found in the innermost recesses of the mountains,

But not a living soul could be seen in or about her. Like a phantom-ship, she was tenantless.

in some safe place. At last he had given up, just at the time when Santa Anna succeeded in revolutionising the It was about eight o'clock in the morning. The ne- country for his own private purposes. Don Rafaele at groes were working on the wharfs, and the free and enonce declared himself a federalist, and opposed the proud lightened citizens of the juvenile Republic of Texas were Napoleon of the West, as this somewhat over-conceited enjoying refections in the shape of coffee, steaks, corn general modestly styled himself. The excitement of pododgers, stewed venison, oysters, and the other delicacies litics seemed to replace with him the excitement of goldwhich belong to the woods, wilds, bays, and forests of that seeking. He threw himself, with energy and desperate favoured land, where I spent a short, but to me charming, || valour, into every insurrection; and one fine morning had part of my existence. It was in the month of March, to run for his life from his own troops, who had been and the weather, which had been favourable for some days, bought over by General Santa Anna, the largest dealer in was calm and lovely. The warm sun darted its rays ob- promises in all Mexico, which is saying much, and the liquely on land and water, while a gentle south-east wind worst fulfiller, which is saying a great deal more. seemed to give promise of rain.

Suddenly two men appeared on one of the long jetties of the port. These wharfs or jetties are the means used to unload vessels without using boats. They consist of cedar posts firmly imbedded in the sand, and supporting a floor of planks some two hundred feet in length. There were three when I was in those diggens, which did great credit to the artistic talents of their makers.

Texas had just revolted--that is to say, the tent housand and odd citizens of the Mexican colony, trusting to their distance from the metropolis, and to the great difficulties in the way of an army of repression, as well as to the disturbed state of politics, had declared war on the six million other inhabitants of the Republic; and it must be said they went to work conscientiously, like men determined to be free, or to die in arms. Don Rafaele saw at once that a federalist must in Texas be a welcome man,

The two men presented a very different appearance one from the other. The one was a handsome, young, Eng-simply because General Santa Anna was a centralist; just lish-looking sailor, of about five-and-twenty, in the uniform of the Republic. He was of middle height, with flaxen hair, and an open, gentle expression of countenance, which at once prepossessed you in his favour, while the other did not present any features nearly so pleasant. He was a Mexican. His broad sombrero, his poncho or blanket, his gay trousers, were all of rich materials; but the expression of his face was bad. He was dark, with thick projecting eye-brows, an aquiline nose, a closely-compressed mouth, and a pair of eyes black as coals, and which shone peeringly on every person who looked at him.

as if had Santa Anna been a federalist, a centralist would have been the popular character. The gambucino, who had a few dollars and a dozen quadruples about him, accordingly sloped to Texas, and demanded to be received a citizen of the free and enlightened Republic of the Lone Star.

The one was Lieutenant Bruce Harris, of the Texan navy; the other, Don Rafaele Zacara, formerly the most celebrated gambucino, or gold-seeker, of Mexico.

As long as his money lasted, Don Rafaele was contented enough; but soon his exchequer, like that of the state, began to ebb low, and the Don felt pretty considerably puzzled. Work he neither would nor could; and there was very little to steal, even if a gentleman of pure Castilian race could have indulged with propriety in so delicate an amusement, the occupation, in very recent times, of all who claimed to be of "race," as is said The gambucino of New Spain is a man apart from all in the aristocratic slang of certain sons of Adam. Don other men. He is a treasure-seeker of the most deter- Rafaele, however, had made numerous friends and acLet nobody suppose that I recommend Texas to English-quaintances, and amongst his familiars was Lieutenant men. It is wholly unsuited to them in climate and productions, Bruce Harris. while those who recommend it as a road to California are purely S-W-I-N-D-L-E-R-S. But I was twenty-one when I went there; and a roving, wandering life in the woods had then charms which compensate for heat, yellow fever, fever, and ague, and all the other ills which are sure to fall to the lot of an Englishman in

Texas,

This young man was English. Having entered the navy very young, he found himself at twenty-three still a midshipman, with no chance of promotion. He was bold, clever, well read, perfect in his practical and theoretical knowledge, and a far better sailor than his captain; but

he had no friends-that is to say, nobody rich enough, or powerful enough, or influential enough at elections, to be worth pleasing; and so his merits were useless. Why should he be promoted? What was anybody to get by it?

And so my friend, Lieutenant Bruce Harris, left the English navy, entered that of Texas, and was now commander of a war schooner, with nine guns and forty-five men. To this young man the gambucino told his secret; and, as he had given up all hope of returning to dwell on the waters of the Guazacoalco, he offered him half the proceeds if he would dare an expedition to recover the hidden treasure. Harris accepted at once, got three months' leave of absence, borrowed the revenue-cutter Santa Anna, and was about to tempt fortune.

"Schooner a-hoy!" cried the young officer, in a full|| sails flapped loosely, and the schooner was tossed upon the rich voice, that went far over the sleeping vessel. turgid waters without power of guidance. Gradually the waves subsided, and in half an hour the sea was almost as calm as the wind. At this moment the water in the dis

"Who hails?" replied a man, rising from a sleeping posture on the deck.

"A boat," answered the lieutenant, satisfied that the tance seemed discoloured: a bank (a huge ripple) came man would recognise him.

In an instant, two men had leaped into the small jollyboat of the forty-five ton schooner, used as a revenue-cutter, and were pulling, with regular and steady stroke, for the wharf. They soon touched, and received their officer and his guest.

In ten minutes more, Lieutenant Bruce Harris trod the deck of his little man-of-war.

"All hands up anchor!" he cried merrily.

Eight men the boat's crew-started forward, and began to heave at the chain with their hands. In a few minutes, the chain was right up and down, and four men flew to the halyards. The mainsail and jib were hoisted, and then, the little schooner being ready, the anchor received another pull, and the Santa Anna flew back with the flood tide, which was beginning to slacken. In a few minutes, however, the wind told upon her hitherto fluttering sails, and she took a plunge forward. The journey was commenced.

The schooner, under the skilful guidance of the captain, who himself directed the helmsman, was not long in clear-| ing the awkward and difficult port of Galveston. They stood out to sea for some time; and then, shifting the boat's course, steered along the land, which the helmsman was directed to keep in sight, without approaching it. This general direction given, Harris and the gambucino sat down to smoke and talk over their plans. They had agreed on a most bold and daring act.

The river Guazacoalco, to the east of Vera Cruz, flows from south to north. It takes its rise near Tehuantepec, a town built upon a small lake which flows towards the Pacific.

The Guazacoalco is in Vera Cruz State. Like all the rivers of this coast, its mouth is closed by a bar, which vessels above three hundred tons cannot cross; while they can, once over, ran up as far as sixty miles. Above this nothing but canoes are available. The mouth is about a mile wide, but it soon narrows.

It was the intention of Lieut. Harris to cross the bar in the night, afterboldly examining the bar, under cover of an audacious trick, and then to sail up the river, conceal the schooner in a deep unfrequented

creek, known to Don Rafaele, near which the treasure was hidden.

So bold an act was not unaccompanied with danger, and the lieutenant and Gambucino accordingly discussed it in all its bearings. They were thus occupied when the mate of the schooner approached the young officer.

sweeping on. This was the edge of the wind bearing down with fearful rapidity.

"Hard a-lee!" thundered Harris, just in time; for the wind came upon them like a thunder-clap, and the schooner, after a terrific shake, lay down, rose again, and then plunged madly into the roaring waves. The storm was of a most severe and serious character, and had not the Santa Anna been a vessel of sturdy make, manned by bold and experienced men, nothing could have saved her. The whole scene darkened; night seemed coming on; from warm the temperature fell to bitter cold,* and all prepared for a long and terrible struggle. For twelve hours the cutter and her gallant crew battled with the tempest, and it was only at dawn the next day that, the wind subsiding, the reef-points were let out, and the usual amount of canvas was displayed to the breeze.

On the evening of the third day they passed close to Vera Cruz, and the night found them lying off near the Guazacoalco.

CHAPTER II.

FORT GUAZACOALCO.

mouth of the river Guazacoalco, under English colours.
AT break of day next morning a schooner lay off the
On her deck was an officer in the costume of the British
navy, while four sailors sat in the jolly-boat belonging to
her, and which lay alongside.
the officer, was on the deck, and he stood at the helm.
A solitary man, besides
light breeze, floating like a duck upon the water,
It was a lovely day; and the schooner lay-too in the warm,

Don Rafaele was carefully concealed in the cabin, as his betrayed the trick which Lieutenant Harris was about to presence on deck, in Mexican costume, would have at once play upon the Mexican commander.

In a few minutes everything was ready, and the young Englishman stepped into his launch, and pulled for the shore. The direction in which he headed was for the fort of Guazacoalco. Half an hour took the party within the mouth of the river, and towards the left bank, on which the fort is situated. Not a soul was on the bank; and Lieutenant Harris at once advanced in the direction of the It was a queer-looking building enough. Four * From 85 to 45 in the course of an infinitely short space of

fort.

time.

thick brick walls supported a roof of bamboo and palm || can palm waved high and majestic, divided the river into leaves. Towards the sea were four doors, wide open. In two, while to the left a third channel showed itself, within front of these was a little esplanade, floored with bricks, on which it was proposed to conceal the schooner. Harris which rested ten pieces of cannon, of somewhat heavy metal. gazed with delight upon the romantic scene. The sandy A tower to the left supported the national flag, and at the hillocks, surmounted by rare trees, aquatic birds by thoufoot of these were two cannon more. sands waving their varied plumes o'er land and water, the One sentry walked up and down in the local costume. || yellow-headed parrot with squealing cry, the solemn tucana He had a ragged loose shirt over his trousers, a hat of in reflective contemplation on the immensity of its own palm leaves, an old cartridge belt, a prodigious gun with nasal projection, the sighing dove, the canvas-back duck, an antique bayonet of huge length, and wore neither shoes the myriads of little squalling and cooing choristers, the nor stockings. On perceiving the officer, followed by three blue waters of the river, sparkling and spangled by milmen, he made a signal; and fifty men, in a similar uni-lions of fish darting to the surface in search of food, all form, rushed forth just in time to do honour to the costame of the British navy. The commander, who wore a blue cloth coat and heavy silver epaulettes, advanced with raised hat.

"Welcome, caballero!" he cried.

After bowing to the ragged regiment, our hero entered, and accepted the commandant's offer to sit down.

The accommodation was scanty, and rough enough; but there were some fresh fruits and tortillias, which the young Englishman accepted with readiness.

"The Signor smokes?" said the governor, politely. "Anything," replied Lieutenant Harris.

formed a scene which could not fail to touch the heart of a romantic young Englishman.

But the objects of the expedition were not forgotten; and Harris at once entered his boat, and prepared to guide the schooner into her place of concealment. The creek "I thank you," said Lieutenant Harris, with much po- was narrow, and without current, while the trees which liteness. "I come on behalf of her Majesty's frigate shaded its banks joined thickly overhead, so thickly as to Samson, now in the offing at some distance, to ask if she render the entrance of the Santa Anna within its shelter can find a supply of fruits and fresh water in this quarter." || a matter of difficulty. The yards and booms were at once "Water in abundance, and fruits as much as you can removed, leaving nothing but the two naked masts, each of wish," answered the half-caste governor. one solid piece of wood. These were immovable. This done, the whole crew and Lieutenant Harris began towing up the river, Don Rafaele standing at the helm. She entered the creek bravely, but a few minutes sufficed to stay her course. Her topmasts had caught in the fall of a tree. The mate, Perry, a light, active fellow, immediately returned to the schooner, and climbed, by the aid of a halyard, to the summit of the mast, axe in hand. Securely look-fastened, he set to work, and, as the schooner advanced, cleared it of all obstructions. A sudden and rapid turn in the stream soon brought them to the kind of place they sought. Harris now issued rapid orders, which showed the quickness of his eye. The boat was drawn up close beneath the shelter of a high bank, the branches of which projected right over its deck. Boughs were then cleared away, and three trees quickly felled, which, by means of their voluminous foliage, completely hid the schooner. A judicious use and arrangement of hanging boughs of the abundant creeping parasites soon so concealed the Texan privateer, that it was impossible for a careless eye to divine that behind that green curtain lay a dangerous and formidable foe. The swivel gun guarded the exit and

"Do you eat tobacco?" continued the governor, ing curiously at him.

"No," said Harris, with a look of disgust. He knew the meaning and force of the question. The cunning Mexican wanted to be sure his guest was not an American; and as all the American sailors chew, while few English naval officers do, this answer appeared to satisfy the swarthy governor. After an hour spent in mutual politeness, and in taking refreshments, Lieutenant Harris returned to his boat, and having rejoined his schooner, stood out to sea, as if in search of the Samson.

But, while going and returning, the young sailor had taken soundings, and he was now confident of being able to run his schooner into the river during the darkest night. As soon as night fell, the schooner headed once more towards the Guazacoalco.

It was very dark, and with the utmost difficulty did the keen eye of Lieutenant Harris realise to himself the shadowy outline of the coast. He approached, however, the very mouth of the river, thanks to the marked outline of the brick fort on the top of a small hill. The lead was then used, and, under the skilful hand of its commander, the gallant schooner soon floated on the still waters of the river. The wind was fair, and a boat being put ahead to sound, the Santa Anna continued her course boldly until lofty and projecting trees screened her from curious eyes. The anchor was then raised, and the weary crew sought rest. At dawn of day they found themselves about six miles up the river, and at once continued their journey. By dint of tacking, sails, and poles, in about two hours they had reached the station which Don Rafaele considered fit for a halt.

An island thickly wooded to the very water, where the gum tree, the cedar, the laurel, the mahogany, and the sapota rivalled each other in verdure, where the Ameri

entrance.

"Now, Don Rafaele," said Lieutenant Harris, turning to his guest, and speaking in French, a language which none understood but themselves, "I am at your service."

"I thank you. We will begin operations at once. Leave Don Perry in command, and let us take the piriqua."

The two adventurers, having first thrown a poncho over their shoulders and assumed the vast sombrero, entered the canoe drawn from the hold. Both were armed with rifles, pistols, and dagger. Harris recommended extreme caution to his men, prohibited the landing of more than one at a time, the firing of shots near head-quarters, and recommended fishing in preference to hunting. This done, he departed.

The Mexican, who was grave and solemn, took the guidance of the canoe, and ascended the creek. Not a word was spoken. Don Rafaele was no doubt anxiously speculating on the existence of his money-bags. Lieutenant Harris was admiring the rich vegetation, the deep green of the trees, and the varied plumage and notes of the forest birds. Suddenly the Mexican stopped and spoke.

"My friend,” said he, "here we part. I go to seek my treasure through dangers known only to myself. Wait for me here alone. Wait three days. If I am not returned by the dawn of the fourth, depart; for then all will be lost."

Lieutenant Harris, though surprised enough at this sudden separation, said nothing, but shook hands with his companion, and let him land. The Mexican took his arms and three leathern sacks of rather large dimensions, and, burying himself in the forest, was soon out of sight.

CHAPTER III.

MARIA.

'Stay, lovely creature!" said Harris, in a soft, low voice, "fear me not."

The Mexican girl looked up to the handsome face of the young sailor, and though her terrified lookdid not fade away, she no longer sought to fly.

Harris made her sit down beside him, asked her questions of the country, of the people, of herself, of her family, and soon discovered that she was as artless, charming, and innocent in talk as she was beautiful in Harris remained alone in his canoe. He was floating feature. Between two young people, both handsome and over a sandy and shallow part of the stream, evidently serv- heart-whole, acquaintance soon proceeds, especially in ading as a ford. This he hastened to leave, and, concealing vanced climates, where the sensations are quick; and his canoe in the usual way, returned along the opposite before long Bruce Harris and Maria del Gonde were the bank by which Don Rafaele had departed, in search of the best friends in the world. To their utter astonishment pathway. It was narrow and sandy, with marks of recent the sun suddenly set, in the middle of a merry meal they footsteps, and our hero saw that it led either to the milpas || were making on the contents of the young sailor's havreor canals of the neighbouring village. The ardent and sack. bold young sailor reflected that the Mexican women were extremely lovely, and, his curiosity once excited, he determined to indulge it.

His gun on his shoulder, and his heart light and merry,|| Lieutenant Harris trod gaily on beneath the thick shade of the trees, now ascending, now descending, grassy hil- || locks, now buried in massive foliage, now enjoying cool breezes in open glades. The dry leaves cracked beneath his feet, and land-crabs hurried away from his steps in alarm.

Suddenly the path divided into two branches. One was hard and beaten, and open overhead; the other turned away, and buried itself in the thick of the wood. Huge trees mingled from side to side their splendid verdure in vaults impenetrable to the rays of the sun; now huge corded convolvuli drew them together, now it held them back, while there again it formed of itself a shady canopy,|| presently hanging loosely from the boughs in rich festoons, they touched the heads of the passers-by. Soft and perfumed odours rose from the tropical flowers that bordered the path, and Harris hesitated not a moment to follow the windings of this mysterious pathway.

Save the singing of the birds upon the waving boughs, all was still.

On walked our young hero along this tract, the turnings of which seemed interminable, when suddenly it became straight, terminating evidently by the light upon a small clearing. The eye of the young sailor dilated as he caught sight of a female form. Against a tree leaned a half-naked Mexican, a native Indian girl. She was about sixteen. A blue cotton cloth was bound round her waist, and reached to two or three inches above her knees. Except this she wore nothing. Her complexion was dark; her form tall and perfect; her eyes were jet black, and added to the expression of a face the features of which were regular and beautiful. bosom would have served as would her bare legs and feet. hair hung down her back.

Her neck, shoulders, and models for a statuary, as Two long tresses of black

She was by a fountain. A pitcher was at her feet, and yet she moved not. She was doubtless dreaming one

* Milpas, maize plantations; canals, sugar-cane plantations,

"My God!" cried the girl, "it is night. I must back to the casa."

"But I shall never find my way to my boat," said Harris.

"I can let you sleep in a shed near the casa," replied the girl, after a moment's reflection.

The young sailor accepted gladly, and followed his lovely guide with pleasure.

Maria del Gonde was an orphan. She owned a little property, a hut, and a field which a servant cultivated. She had an old aunt, almost bed-ridden, residing with her, who, however, was about to leave her to be present at the marriage of a daughter. A boat from Minatitlan was to fetch her on the fourth day. Lieutenant Harris was deeply in love. He had drank in deep draughts of intoxicating pas sion from the beaming eyes of the lovely Mexican. She was, however, as innocent as she was beautiful; and as both were for the first time in the trammels of the malicious god, their intercourse was not troubled by a thought which either would have blushed to confess.

The hut was about a quarter of a mile off. It was composed of four upright posts, cane walls, and mud, with a thatched roof. It had only one room, containing a bed and a hammock. The bed contained the old aunt, and the hammock was the sleeping place of Maria. The old Mexican, hideously ugly as the hot and unwholesome climate of the Guazacoalco could make her, received her niece crossly, but a few kind words soon dissipated the storm, and in a few moments she was introducing the stranger. Harris was delighted. He sat down, glad of the opportunity of further conversation; and, while Maris proceeded to manufacture tortillias (the native hot bread), he talked with the old lady.

It was late when the young officer went to his shed, to sleep and dream of the beautiful girl whom chance had thrown in his way in the wilds of Guazacoalco.

At early dawn he awoke; and Maria was standing beside him, gazing at him with curious satisfaction. Harris leaped up from his hammock, and kissed the lovely Mexican's hand, who then offered him breakfast. He accepted; and the day began again, in company with his charming friend. Breakfast over, Maria offered to guide him through the forest; and the young sailor accepted