THE FILIBUSTERS OF VENEZUELA; OR, The Trials of a Spanish Girl.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 212, 8 September 1896, Page 6

THE FILIBUSTERS OF VENEZUELA; OR, The Trials of a Spanish Girl.

BY SBWABD W. ROPKINB. , A^thMOf 4 In tie China Sea,'' Two GentleMen of Hawaii,' 'Emmett'a Gi*V Btc, etc CHAPTER lIL TUB OAfittE fillS. W» have already spoken of Pedro Franeisoo, the wealthy planter, the lover of fi«norita Jacinba, and the confidant and agent of Ferdinand Gomez. Francisco was a man about thirty years of age, and had inherited from his father, a Spaniard of the type of Don Juan Garza, Bob only the broad landi that) made him Wealthy, bub the fierce and haughty spirit of the brae Spaniard, and the love of the pomp and display of royalty that Don Juan possessed. The hatred of tho Republican Government; was an strong an emotion in the hearfi of Franoiaao as hie love for Jacinta fialvarez. He had thrown himself into the Conspiracy with fervour. The success of Philip of Aragon would doubly reward him. With Salvarez in power, he conld not hops to win Jacinta. If the Republican power was crashed, he would not only see feia beloved court and courtiers, royal glory and military pomp, bat he would have Salvarez in his power and Jacinta should be hit.

The plan of Gomez to begin the war in the* valley of the Coroni, and his selection of Francisco as his chief organiser there, was bob another proof of the boundless genius of the man. There was nob in all Venezuela anobher region where the friends and enemies of the Republic were to unevenly divided as here. . „ In Caracas the army was strong. All through the Northern Sbates the frienda Of the Republic were in the ascendency. At no place on the coasb could Gomez have landed and met bo many friends as here.

General Salvarez had under his com' taand at this point, bb we have seen, less than three hundred men. These included aboub all the friends of the Republic that Were able to bear arms. There was not another company of armed supporters of the Government within three hundred miles.

On the other hand, the country was largely peopled by Indians, half-breeds and negroes, who worked, if they worked ab all, on the plantations of men like Pedro Francisco, and imbibed the political •pinions of the men who paid them wages. The abrength of a country lies in its prosperity. Norbh of bhe Orinoco bhe towns were larger. Capibal had been introduced, trade was alive and manufactures and agriculture were on the upward road. This condition was entirely lacking iv the region south of the Orinoco. Great consideration must be given to the large class already mentioned, bhe Zambos, who were shiftless, miserable, too indolenb to work, boo ignorant to know right from Wrong, and ready to join any movement that offered them for a time a little money, •xcibemenb and an opportunity bo pillage and rob.

Of these there were, in the region aboab the Coroni, aboab four hundred families, nettled mostly on the stream or in the mountains, where, by hunting or fishing, they could keep body and soul, if they, had any, together. All the cupidity of this class had been well worked Upon by Gomez and Francisco, •nd obey were" organised, ready for "the revolt) againao the Government, having been promised a rich bounty for their services. These creatures were under bhe immediate command of one Mattazudo, a half breed, but not a Zamho. Mattazudo was half white, that is, Spanish, and halt Indian. Ho was as shrewd, unscrupulous and cruel as Gomez could have wished him to be. Moreover, be had unlimited sway over the Zambos, and they were ready to follow him in aay movement that he said would pay them well. FißQcisco was wonderfully well informed of events of which General Salvarez was entirely ignorant. He bad received full instructions from Gomez, and knew just when and where to meet the Turtle. Ten miles down the Orineco from the mouth of the Coroni, the southern bank of the river had a peculiar formation. In the midst of miles of swamp and lagoon, ona high and dry ridge rose like a great bog's baqk from the river to the dry land beyond the lagoons. Gomez, who knew the geopraphy and topography Of bhe country perfectly, had selected from the very Grab that hog's back M the point on which to land his arms. Hit) orders, therefore, to Pedro Francisco Were to assemble a larere force—as many of their adherents as could be gathered without aroußing the suspicions of General Salvarez—on the hog-bank to meet him and his fellow • conspirators from the Turble. This was made easy by the orders Salvarez bad received from President Greepo, in obedience to which he had withdrawn moab of his force to Bolivar to meet the Agostura.

Ib was, therefore, a strangely wild and animated scene thab was spread out before Lola Garza when the Turtle anchored off bhe hogback, and the unloading of firearms began. Boats and rafts of every description surtounded (he Turtle, and the poor girl shrank as ahe taw the dark-skinned, evil-looking moo who seized upon the guns with 9 ehttckling sound as of triumph, and hurried with their prizes to shore, thero to await the Arrival of the ship's boats with tho main portion of the cargo. When tho guns and stores had been removed, a boat was pulled alongside the Tnrtle, and Gomez, accompanied by Philip of Aragon and followed by Don Juan and Lola, stepped into ib and they were taken ashore. When they had stepped upon land, Gomez held up his band to command silence. * Behold your king !' be said. A loud shout) came from the multitude, littd many knelt before their monarch. Preparations did not lag. Every man was armed, and, having given orders to the captain of the Turtle to take the ship out further into the stream and await a message from him, Gomez gave the order to march. A mule had been ridden by one of the men, and this was given to Lola, who mounted, and her somewhat ungainly steed was led by her father. * Where shall w» go first ?' asked Philip •! GOTBBZ. * To the Castle of Salvarez,' said Gomez. ■The army of tha Republic—that portion of

it south of the Orinoco—is commanded by Salvarez, who has most of the men ab his castle. They are now at Bolivar watching the unloading of the Agosbura, and his castle will be an easy prey. ' I see now bhe depths of your ruae, said Philip. • You are a skilful manager.' • It is easy to manage where all are ready to obey. You have seen how eagerly you were expected. The warmth of your reception will be the same all over Venezuela.' «It la gratifying,1 replied the Spaniard. •The ovilb of a republic musb be many.' That was a etrange army thab Gomez led. First, with Gomez on his right hand, rode Philip of Aragon, both mounted^ on horses brought from Francißco's plantation. On Philip's lefb, also mounted on one of i Pedro's horses, rode Don Juan, leading Lola's mule. The first division of the army followed. This consisted of half-breeds of the better class, to the number of % two hundred, officered by men, like Francisco, of Spanish blood, and commanded by Francisco himself. The Becond division was composed wholly of Zambos, to the number of two hundred, under Mabfcazudo, ready for any deeds of violence that might satisfy their own greed, and no more loyal to Philip than to Salvarez, when .Philip's money became exhausted.

Ab tho Caßtle of Salvarez two women were growing anxious. The prolonged absence of Salvarez filled bis wife and daughter with alarm. Rumour had reached the caßtle thab the errand of Salvarez to Bolivar would be worse than useless, for the enemies that) were expecbed had already landed in an unexpected way, and the Coroni flowed between the friends and the enemies of the Republic. Dona Maria and Jacinta heard these rumours with alarm, for if the insurgents should cross the Coroni and attack the castle, the pitiful handful of thirty men left by Salvarez would not be sufficient to protest them. Therefore, they lived in constant! terror, and Jacinta spent much of her time tn the watch-tower, looking anxiously tor her father's returning troops, or fearfully for the approaching enemy. At last one day her fears were verified. Dona Mafia, who was reading near her, was startled to hear Jacinta crying out to her in alarm. •Mother! Mother !' she cried. * The enemy is upon us 1 Look I' The General's wife rushed to her daughter's side. On the east bank of the Coroni she saw an army twice as large as the forces under her husband. 1 They will use the flat-boats !' cried Dona Maria. * Alas! that we did not think to cut them loobo.' General Salvarez had an invention of his Own on use in two flat boats uaed to convey cattle or produce across the riv«r. These boats could be pulled across the river from either side. Francisco understood them well, and already the strained eyes of Jacinta and her mother saw a boat-load of the enemy crossing the river. The few men in the garrison began firing, but frightened by the seemingly endless throng that was coming to conquer them, threw down their arm and fled. IWe aro lost!' cried Dona Maria. • Deserted by the few we had, whab can we do ? Even the servants have left ua. We cannot escape.' < The secret passage !' exclaimed Jacinta. ' There is not a man unfaithful to my father who knows it. Come ; we can escape them there.' •Of what use is it ?' asked Dona Maria. • We can, it is true, leave the castle by the secret passage, but what shall we do then ?' ' Time enough to think of thab when we are safe,' said Jacinta. 'Come.' They ran to their rooms, hastily packed up a. few articles, seized their jewels, and entering a room on the ground floor, left it again, disappearing completely and leaving : no trace of the manner in which they went.

An hour later the followers of Philip and Gomez had all crossed the Coroni, and the standard of the new king, Philip of Aragon, floated from the flagstaff of bhe Castle of Salvarez.

(To be continued.)