The Eternal Adam and other stories Read Online Free Page B

carcase into the sea.’
    And as usual his order was obeyed.
    The two ships, keeping close together, made
for the Mexican coast.
    Next day an island came into sight abeam.
The boats of both vessels were lowered, and, with the exception of the
midshipman Pablo and the boatswain Jacopo, who had both submitted to Martinez,
the officers were marooned on its desert shore. But fortunately, a few days
later, they were picked up by an English whaler and taken to Manila.
    But why had Pablo and Jacopo gone over to
the mutineers? Wait awhile before judging them.
    A few weeks later the two vessels anchored
in Monterey Bay, in the north of Old California; here Martinez explained his
plans to the military commander of the port. He offered to hand over to Mexico
both the Spanish ships, with their stores and guns, and to put their crews
under the Confederation’s orders, but, in return, the latter must pay the
crew’s wages since they had left Spain.
    In reply,
the governor declared that he lacked the necessary authority. He advised
Martinez to go on to Mexico City, where he could soon settle the whole
business. The lieutenant followed this advice; he left the Asia at
Monterey and, after a month of jollifications, he put out to sea in the Constanzia. Pablo, Jacopo, and José formed part of the crew, and the brig,
with a following wind, hoisted all sail to reach Acapulco as quickly as
possible.

2 -From Acapulco to Cigualan
    Of the four ports on the Mexican coast,
Acapulco has the finest harbour; surrounded by lofty cliffs, it looks like a
mountain lake. It was at that time protected by three forts and a battery,
while another fort, San Diego, armed with thirty pieces of artillery, commanded
the whole anchorage, and could at once have sunk any ship which tried to force
an entrance.
    But though the town had nothing to fear, a
general panic seized its inhabitants three months after the events just
described.
    A vessel had been sighted off the coast.
Doubtful about its intentions, the townspeople were not easily to be reassured.
Indeed, the new Confederation still feared, not without some reason, a return
of Spanish domination. In spite of the commercial treaties it had signed with
Great Britain, which had recognised the new republic, and although a charge
d’affaires had arrived from London, the Mexican government had not even a
solitary ship to protect its coasts!
    Whatever else it might be, this vessel was
obviously some daring adventurer, driven with shivered canvas before the north
westerly gales of winter. So the townspeople did not know what to think and at
all events they were getting ready to repel an attack by this stranger, when
the vessel they so much suspected unfurled at her peak the flag of Mexican
independence.
    Arrived at half a cannonshot from the
harbour, the Constanzia, whose name was plainly visible on her stern,
suddenly anchored. Her sails were furled, and a boat was at once lowered and
soon arrived in the harbour.
    Once ashore, Lieutenant Martinez went to
the governor and explained the circumstances which had brought him there. The
governor fully agreed with the lieutenant’s decision to go to Mexico so that
General Guadalupe Vittoria, President of the Confederation, could ratify the
bargain. Hardly was the news known in the town when the people broke into
transports of delight. The whole of the population turned out to admire the first
vessel of the Mexican navy and saw in its possession – with evidence of the
indiscipline that prevailed in the Spanish service – a means of more
effectively opposing any new effort of their former masters.
    Martinez went back on board, and a few
hours later the Constanzia was anchored in the harbour, and her crew
were being welcomed by the townsfolk.
    But when Martinez called the roll of his
followers, Pablo and Jacopo had vanished.
    Mexico is noteworthy among the countries of
the world for the extent and height of its central plateau. Between Acapulco
and Mexico City, about eighty