FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  
t is best that no one should know our intention, you and Costal must hang a lantern on the bridge of Hornos. That is to be the signal for our approach to the gate." Saying this, the commander-in-chief dismissed his captain--who strode forth out of the marquee, with no very sanguine anticipations of obtaining a tranquil night's rest. CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. THE SECRET SIGNAL. The fortress castle of Acapulco stands at some little distance from the town, commanding the latter. It is built upon the summit of the cliffs that inclose the Acapulco Bay--against whose base the waves of the South Sea are continually breaking. On each side of the fortress a deep ravine or barranca pierces the precipice down to the depths of the ocean--so that the castle stands upon a sort of island promontory or _voladero_. The cliff upon the right flank of the castle is called the _Voladero de los Hornos_; and over the ravine between it and the citadel stretches a narrow bridge called _El Puento de los Hornos_. Early in the following morning--while the insurgent camp was in some confusion consequent upon an unexpected order from the commander-in-chief; and while a strong detachment was getting under arms, not knowing where they were to be conducted--Captain Don Cornelio Lantejas and Costal the Indian were seen gliding silently along the sea-beach in the direction of the fortress. The night was still dark--for it wanted yet two hours to sunrise--and both the town and castle were wrapped in the most profound slumber. The only sounds heard distinctly were the continuous murmuring of the waves as they broke along the beach. The two men, after cautiously advancing towards the black cliff, on which stood the fortress, commenced climbing upward. It was not without much exertion, and danger too, that they at length succeeded in ascending to the bridge of Los Hornos. The Indian now struck a light; and kindling a resin candle, which he carried inside his lantern, he hung the latter to a post that stood near the middle of the bridge, fixing it in such a manner that the light should shine in the direction of the fortress. It was the signal agreed upon by the Gallician; and as their part of the performance was now over, the two men sat down to await the attack which was soon to be made by the General in person. The position which they occupied commanded an extensive view--taking in the town, the castle, and the ocean. Of the three,
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143  
144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
fortress
 

castle

 

bridge

 

Hornos

 

Acapulco

 
stands
 
ravine
 

direction

 
Indian
 

called


signal

 

Costal

 
lantern
 

commander

 
murmuring
 

position

 
profound
 
slumber
 

wrapped

 

distinctly


person

 

sounds

 

continuous

 

taking

 

gliding

 

silently

 

Lantejas

 

Cornelio

 

General

 

occupied


wanted

 
extensive
 

commanded

 

sunrise

 

attack

 
struck
 

Gallician

 
agreed
 

kindling

 
Captain

performance
 

manner

 
candle
 
carried
 

inside

 

fixing

 
middle
 

ascending

 
succeeded
 

advancing