The Tiger Hunter. Майн Рид

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ Seven.

       Chapter Forty Eight.

       Chapter Forty Nine.

       Chapter Fifty.

       Chapter Fifty One.

       Chapter Fifty Two.

       Chapter Fifty Three.

       Chapter Fifty Four.

       Chapter Fifty Five.

       Chapter Fifty Six.

       Chapter Fifty Seven.

       Chapter Fifty Eight.

       Chapter Fifty Nine.

       Chapter Sixty.

       Chapter Sixty One.

       Chapter Sixty Two.

       Chapter Sixty Three.

       Chapter Sixty Four.

       Chapter Sixty Five.

       Chapter Sixty Six.

       Chapter Sixty Seven.

       Chapter Sixty Eight.

       Chapter Sixty Nine.

       Chapter Seventy.

       Chapter Seventy One.

       Chapter Seventy Two.

       Chapter Seventy Three.

       Chapter Seventy Four.

       Chapter Seventy Five.

       Chapter Seventy Six.

       Chapter Seventy Seven.

       Chapter Seventy Eight.

       Chapter Seventy Nine.

       Chapter Eighty.

       Chapter Eighty One.

Prologue.

       Table of Contents

      During one of many journeyings through the remote provinces of the Mexican republic, it was my fortune to encounter an old revolutionary officer, in the person of Captain Castaños. From time to time as we travelled together, he was good enough to give me an account of some of the more noted actions of the prolonged and sanguinary war of the Independence; and, among other narratives, one which especially interested me was the famed battle of the Puente de Calderon, where the Captain himself had fought during the whole length of a summer’s day!

      Of all the leaders of the Mexican revolution, there was none in whose history I felt so much interest as in the priest-soldier, Morelos—or, as he is familiarly styled in Mexican annals, the “illustrious Morelos”—and yet there was none of whose private life I could obtain so few details. His public career having become historic, was, of course, known to every one who chose to read of him. But what I desired was a more personal and intimate knowledge of this remarkable man, who from being the humble curate of an obscure village in Oajaca, became in a few short months the victorious leader of a well-appointed army, and master of all the southern provinces of New Spain.

      “Can you give me any information regarding Morelos?” I asked of Captain Castaños, as we were journeying along the route between Tepic and Guadalaxara.

      “Ah! Morelos? he was a great soldier,” replied the ex-captain of guerilleros. “In the single year of 1811, he fought no less than twenty-six battles with the Spaniards. Of these he won twenty-two; and though he lost the other four, each time he retreated with honour—”

      “Hum! I know all that already,” said I, interrupting my fellow-traveller. “You are narrating history to me, while I want only chronicles. In other words, I want to hear those more private and particular details of Morelos’ life which the historians have not given.”

      “Ah! I understand you,” said the captain, “and I am sorry that I cannot satisfy your desires: since, during the war I was mostly engaged in the northern provinces, and had no opportunity of knowing much of Morelos personally. But if my good friend, Don Cornelio Lantejas, is still living at Tepic, when we arrive there, I shall put you in communication with him. He can tell you more about Morelos than any other living man: since he was aide-de-camp to the General through all his campaigns, and served him faithfully up to the hour of his death.”

      Our conversation here ended, for we had arrived СКАЧАТЬ