the days of my life-第70章
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r； we saw nothing of these brigands； perhaps because of the warlike reputation of our race。
On our return to Mexico City I undertook a longer journey to the State of Chiapas； then rarely visited by Europeans； where Jebb was interested in a certain mine； in which； to my sorrow； I had shares。 The original arrangement was that we were to have travelled to the marvellous ruins of Palenque； which were built by some preAztec race。 But this was given up for the same reason that we gave up digging for Montezuma’s treasure。 In place of it it was settled that Jebb and I should make the journey to the Chiapas mine and； returning thence at a certain date； meet our wives on the New York steamer off the port of Frontera； where she called； and thence proceed with them to the States and England。 Of course it miscarried； as most things do； or did； in Mexico； as I shall tell presently。 Indeed； as I can see now； the whole expedition was of a somewhat crack…brained order； but at the time I cared little what I did。
Jebb and I proceeded from Mexico to Vera Cruz by the wonderful railway which winds from the 7000 feet high tableland； past the glorious mountain of Orizaba to the coast。 Then the train only ran in the day…time in charge of an armed guard； for fear of brigands who could be relied upon to throw it off the line at night。 I recall one town or village which we passed where there were； I think； thirteen churches and twelve houses； or so I was told。 The churches were said to have all been built by successful brigand captains when they retired from business in the neighbourhood in order to expiate their not inconsiderable crimes。 By the way； I think it was on my journey to Pinal that I passed through a place of some size where we saw only a few sullen old men and some women and children。 The rest of the male population had recently been killed out by the rurales； or mounted guards； I forget for what cause。 Indeed all my recollections of Mexico are somewhat fragmentary； for at the time I made no notes of my experiences； and after a lapse of over twenty years the memory is apt to retain only such occurrences and scenes as struck it with peculiar force。
At Vera Cruz； a beautiful but； at that time； unwholesome town； for yellow fever was still prevalent there and the vultures were the chief safeguards of the public health （they sat on the scavengers’ carts as these went their rounds）； we caught the steamer which was to land us at Frontera。 I had left Mexico City with the worst cold I ever experienced； contracted originally through my folly in opening the window of a stifling Pullman car； not knowing that we were to run over high mountains in the night。 It was so bad that I had to pull my eyelids open in the morning； and even my ears were stopped up； nor could I shake it off in the piercing atmosphere of the central Mexican tableland。 The mild and beautiful climate of the coast； however； acted on me like magic； and before I had been twenty hours at sea I was almost well again。
On the day after leaving Vera Cruz we reached Frontera； at the mouth of a great stream that I think was named the Tobasco River。 Frontera was a village with a long wide street of which the population appeared to me to show many traces of white blood。 It was a horrible hole。 The inn； if it could be so called； in which we slept； if I remember right； stood partly on piles in the water like a lake dwelling； in the garden or yard great hogs rummaged； while vultures sat upon the railing of the verandah。 Mosquitoes buzzed about by millions； and the face of the boy who waited on us was covered with open sores； resulting； I was told； from fever。 Many of the children； also； were fever…stricken； since here malaria seemed to have a favourite home。 Only the great river； with its palm…clad banks； was beautiful。
On the following day we started up this river； lying in a canoe towed by a naphtha launch； in which canoe we slept； or tried to sleep； all night。 Never in all my life — no； not even at Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee — did I meet with so many or such ferocious mosquitoes！ I tied my trousers and my sleeves round my ankles and wrists with string； but they bit through the cloth； and when I looked in the morning where the dogskin gloves ended on the wrists were great bracelets of white bumps。 Then there were little grey flies called gehenn； or some such name； which were worse than the mosquitoes； since the effect of their bites lasted for days； and； when one went ashore； garrapatas or tiny ticks that buried themselves in the flesh and； if removed； left their heads behind them。 Perhaps these were the greatest torments of the three。 Altogether the banks of the Tobasco River cannot be remended as a place of residence。
In due course we arrived at a town called St。 Juan Bautista； where we stopped for a night or two with some Mexicans who had an interest in the mine we were to visit。 They were kind in their way； but what I chiefly recollect about the place are the remains of an ox that had been slaughtered within a yard or two of the verandah； just beyond a beautiful Hibiscus bush in flower； and some soup posed apparently of oil in which livid cocksbs bobbed up and down。 Thence we proceeded up the river in the naphtha launch； of which the machinery continually broke down。 This was the pleasantest part of the journey。
At length； leaving the launch； we came to a village of which the name escapes me； a straggling place whereof the central street was paved with rough cobbles。 Here we slept in a house belonging to some lady who was a great personage in the village； and beautifully situated upon a cliff at the foot of which ran a sparkling river that reminded me of a salmon stream in Scotland。 Here also Jebb and I very narrowly escaped being murdered。 It came about thus：
We had in our charge a mule…load of silver of the value of three thousand dollars； which we were conveying to a mine whither went more bullion than ever came out of it。 The knowledge of our possession of this treasure came to the ears of the inhabitants of this place； among whom were a goodly proportion of brigands and cut…throats and； as we discovered afterwards； some of these made a plot to kill us and steal the silver。 It happened that Jebb and I were alone in the house of which I have spoken； save； I think； for the widow lady and one or two Indian servants who slept in a different part of the big place。 Our rooms （mine was half filled with Indian corn） were at either end of a large eating…chamber which overlooked the valley。 They were fitted with latchless or broken French windows。 The plan of attack was； as someone confessed afterwards； to climb up a sloping wall built of loose stones； kill us with machetes； find where the silver might be （as a matter of fact it was under Jebb’s bed） and retire with the spoil。 As police were lacking and our own folk were camped at a distance； in the Mexico of those days this scheme seemed easy of acplishment； since two men surprised at night could not have done much against a band of armed assassins。
About midnight an attempt was made to put it into operation。 The robbers arrived and began to climb the wall； afterwards we saw their footprints on the mosses and the displaced stones。 For some reason； however； Jebb was suspicious and； when he was disturbed by the furious barking of the dogs belonging to the house； he rose and went to the boltless window； whence he overheard the thieves whispering together at the bottom of the wall。 I also was awakened by the barking of the dogs； but； after making sure that my pistol was at hand under my pillow； went to sleep again。 For the rest of the story I will quote what I wrote in my introduction to Mrs。 Jebb’s Life of her husband：
Retreating to the bed he ＇i。e。 Jebb＇ seated himself on the edge of it； holding a wax match in one hand and his long…barrelled Colt cocked in the other。 This was his plan： to wait till he heard the thieves push open the French windows； then to strike the match （for the night was pitch dark）； and by its light to fire at them over it before they could attack him。
For a long while he sat thus； and twice he heard the loose stones dropping as his assailants began to climb up the wall beneath the window； but on each occasion they were frightened by the clamour of the dogs； which at length grew so loud that； thinking our Indian servants； who slept at a distance from the house； would be aroused； the thieves took to flight without the dollars； leaving nothing but some footprints behind them。
“And why did you not e and wake me？” I asked when he had finished his tale。
“Oh！” he answered； “I nearly did so； but I knew that you were very tired； also there was no use in both of us handing in our checks； for there were a dozen of those devils； and； had they got into the room； they would have made a clean sweep of us。”
I did not make any reply； but I remember thinking； and I still think； that this conduct showed great courage and great unselfishness on the part of Mr。 Jebb。 Most people would have retreated at the first alarm； but this； with the utter fearlessness which was one of his characteristics； he did not do； since the dollars in his charge were too heavy to carry； and； before men could be found to assist him； they would have been s
