The Queen of the Black Hand

Front matter

BY HUGH COLEMAN DAVIDSON, AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ADAM," "CAST ON THE WATERS," " THE GREEN HILLS BY THE SEA." ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. |frmbirrt : TRISCHLER AND COMPANY, 18, NEW BRIDGE STREET, E.C. 1890. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. CONDEMNED TO DEATH . . . . 1 II. THE WARNING . . . . . .11 III. ERIC AND ESTRELLA MEET .... 20 IV. LOVERS ....... 27 V. THE OUTRAGE ON THE VICE-CONSUL . . 35 VI. THE PAINTER'S STUDIO .... 44 VII. THE BEGINNING AND END OF A REVOLUTION 54 VIII. ERIC RUNS AWAY . . . . .63 IX. ERIC GETS INTO TROUBLE ". . . .70 X. TRACKED . ... ... 78 XI. THE EVE OF THE DUEL .... 87 XII. THE DUEL ....... 96 XIII. ESTRELLA GOES TO THE INN . . .104 XIV. MABEL FOLLOWS ESTRELLA . . . .113 XV. FOUND 121 XVI. ESTRELLA'S WAY OF SAVING ERIC . .129 XVII. ANOTHER MEETING OF THE BLACK HAND . 137 XVIII. PAQUITA SHOWS HER TEETH . . . 145 XIX.

ERIC RECEIVES LATE VISITORS . . .153 XX. THE FIESTA DE TOROS .... VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE XXI. PAQUITA'S PLOT SUCCEEDS . . . .173 XXII. SEPARATED . . . . . .179 XXIII. OUTCASTS . . . . . . .187 XXIV. THE CHOLERA AT LAS DIAS. . . .195 XXV. THE CHOLERA REACHES ALMIREZ . . . 203 XXVI. A GARDEN OF EDEN . . . . .120 XXVII. A NEW ARRIVAL '..... 220 XXVIII. ERIC'S MOTHER . . . . . .231 XXIX. BACK IN ALMIREZ ..... 242 XXX. THE MASKED BALL .....

Chapter I. Condemned To Death

IN a low, barely furnished room, a score of men — whose faces were concealed by black crape masks — sat, or lounged around a table lighted by flickering candles. All of them wore brown capas over their shoulders, and — slouched round their heads so as to cover what little of their faces the masks left uncovered — grey sombreros, enor mously broad in the brim, and with scarcely any perceptible crown. The chair at the end of the table was vacant, and while waiting for the rjerson who was to occupy it, they carried on a desultory conversation. On the left of the vacant chair stood a tall man, whose haughty bearing seemed to indicate that he belonged to a higher rank than the rest. True, he was addressed as Pedro without a prefix of any B sort, but that was merely in accordance with the rules of the Black Hand, the most restless of the many secret societies which keep Spain in con tinual ferment.

As a matter of fact, he was a noble by birth. He owned a small estate in Andalusia, and lived in a picturesque old castle, in wliich solemn state and abject poverty had an incessant struggle. Opposite Pedro sat a much shorter man, the secretary, with his papers spread out before him. His coarse thick hands, with their stunted fingers, bore manifest, signs of toil. Jose, as he was called by his companions, was a member of the artisan class. Nevertheless, he considered himself as good as the best of them, for it was their fundamental principle that all human beings, both men and women, were equal ; a principle from which the society had already departed, however, by choosing leaders to rule over it. These leaders, or rather the leaders of the Almirez branch, were the men now assembled together.

Pedro and Jose took no part in the conversation around them. They were evidently ill at ease. Sometimes, when they could do so unobserved, they looked at one another, their eyes glittering through the holes in their black masks ; sometimes, in the same furtive way, they glanced at the door. Presently it opened, and a girl, masked like the rest, came swiftly in — a slender little creature, as graceful in her movements as a young panther. She was attired in the ordinary Spanish fashion, a black dress and a mantilla drawn over a high comb. She was greeted with a general burst of welcome : "Sola, Estrella!" Pedro's eyes had brightened at her entrance, and he bowed low before her, his sombrero sweeping the tiled floor. But they darkened again the next moment, for his companions, true to their principles, were still sitting covered around the table.

Pedro had already discovered that the grand principle of equality had some draw backs. • " Have I kept you all waiting . " asked Estrella lightly, as she walked to the chair at the end of the table. " I am sorry, but my father is unwell, and I have been nursing him." " Can the moon keep the stars waiting . " said the courtly Pedro. " They are true to their tryst whether she comes or not, but without her they cannot shine." Estrella made him a mock curtsy. " Shall we pronounce sentence upon him _ " she asked, turning to the others. " Compliments are against our laws ; we are sworn to speak only the truth — except when it is not for the good of our cause. But come, let us commence our business." She had dropped her gaiety in a moment. " Jose, will you read the reports ?" But before the secretary was ready with his papers, a man lower down the table rose and said, " I have a request to make.

There is staying at Almirez a young Englishman named Eric Baines. He has been sent to our country by a London newspaper in order to gain information about our movement, and he is well disposed towards it. He asks to be allowed to attend our meeting." '* Where is he now V asked Estrella. " He waits at the corner of the plaza." "Does he belong to the Society of the Black Hand _ " asked the secretary. " No, but he is a friend." At this there was a general shaking of heads. " Don't you know, Lopez," said Estrella, " it is against our rules for an alien to attend our meetings _ Take him his answer and see that you are discreet." Lopez left the room, and, doffing his mask at the door, went away upon his errand. He returned about a quarter of an hour later. Meanwhile, the ordinary business of the meeting was being transacted.

First came the reading of reports from the various branches of the society, or from kindred societies in Paris, Moscow, Geneva, London, and other towns. According to them, although money was badly wanted, the Socialist movement was making rapid progress. Here a tyrant was tottering upon his throne ; there a wealthy landlord had been stabbed or shot ; somewhere else a prominent statesman had been marked out as a victim. Now and again the reading was interrupted by a murmured " Bueno!" but for all that it was dull work, and they were anxious to get it over. It was not easy to have a lively sense of fraternity with these distant people whom they had never seen, and, for the matter of that, never wished to see. When the reports were concluded, Estrella rose to speak, and immediately a complete change came over her companions.

Not a word that she uttered Avas lost upon them ; they drank in every sj'llable. She spoke in a soft and musical voice, rather low at first, but growing in volume as she became more absorbed in her subject, until at last she seemed lost in a sort of ecstasy, the words pouring forth as if she were the mouthpiece of a superior intelligence rather than the actual originator of them. It was no Avonder that these Spaniards, with their chivalrous notions of woman as a creature to be petted and pitied, should regard Estrella as a prophetess. She dreAv for them a beautiful picture of that millennium which was to be the result of an. equal division of Avealth. When that time came, every one of them would have his own homestead and his own vineyard or orange grove, a minimum of toil would produce a maximum of comfort, and the close of every day would be croAvned by the dance and the fiesta.

Was not this a prospect well worth struggling for, even though it cost much shedding of blood? They must strip themselves of all human feelings ; they must, if necessary, forsake father, mother, children, and friends ; they must be prepared to sacrifice eATerything, even their lives, for the cause — the grand cause of humanity. Then Estrella, no longer confining herself to generalities, went on to specify and to denounce those whom she considered the enemies of their Cause, and the mention of every name drew forth a shout from her audience. Their enthusiasm reacteduponher. NamefolloAved name Avith startling rapidity, until it seemed as if no citizen of note was to be left in Almirez. Suddenly, after one of the loudest of these outbursts, there Avas heard a noise at the window, as of some one softly tapping* at it.

" Treachery ! " cried Jose, springing up. In an instant all the masked conspirators were on their feet. Daggers leaped from beneath their capas and flashed in the candle light. EA^en Estrella had drawn one of these weapons from the folds of her dress. After a pause, a rush was made to the Avindow. " Take care," said Estrella, now the most com posed of the Avhole party. "Keep out of sight. The police may be in the street." So the blind was cautiously raised and the Avindow opened. But, to the general surprise, there AATas nobody on the balcony. This was as plain to those Avho stood far back in the room as it was to the two Avho pushed their heads out. Not a sound came up from the street beloAV ; the only signs of life Avere the lights in the houses opposite. But a more careful search reATealed a rope ladder hanging doAvn from the roof.

It passed close to the balcony and stopped a few feet below. In consequence of this disquieting discovery several of the party hastened upstairs, and so made their Avay out upon the flat roof. There was a stone balustrade back and front ; at the tAA-o other sides the walls of the adjoining houses, which were some eight or nine feet higher, served as a division. Over this division, however, it was easy for an active person to climb, and if such a person had been there he had already escaped. Though the moon had not yet risen, the sky Avas filled Avith stars of immense size and brilliancy, and these afforded enough light to shoAV that nobody lurked among the pots of jasmine and carnations which scented the cool night air. But an exclamation from one of the party dreAv all the others round him.

He had found a small note book. At first this did not appear very promising, for the pages were covered Avith hieroglyphics which none of those present could understand, and it Avas carried downstairs to be examined. Jose took it in hand, and not Avithout result. " See," he exclaimed, pointing to one of the pages, "here is the owner's name ! Eric Baines." When the clamour that folloAved this announce ment had subsided, Pedro demanded that the young Englishman should be formally tried by the Black Hand. But the proposal found no favour with the majority, least of all with Jose, Avho spoke in the loud self-assertive voice Avhich he always used tOAvards Pedro, as if the doctrine of universal equality needed propping up. " By our rules he must die," he said. And the applause that greeted his words shoAved that no other A'iew had a chance of acceptance.

" Jose is right," said Estrella. " Our rules must be adhered to." He Avas already tearing a sheet of paper into narrow strips. Upon two of them he wrote the letters "A" and "B" respectiA*ely, and the rest he left blank. Upon the person who dreAv the letter " A " Avould devolve the task of "removing" this venturesome young Englishman, Eric Baines ; if for any reason he failed to accomplish it, the person Avho drew the letter " B " was to take it up. The secretary rolled up all the slips, put them into his sombrero, and, commencing at his right-hand neighbour, offered them to each in turn. The drawing was a very matter-of-fact pro ceeding. It Avould have been impossible for an onlooker to have guessed that the question to be decided was, who should assassinate one of his felloAA'-creatures in cold blood.

If any face changed colour behind its black mask, there was no evidence of the fact. There were no trembling hands ; there Avas an utter absence of all excite ment. Sometimes the drawing of a blank Avas followed by a muttered expression of disappoint ment, but that Avas all. The two letters were long in coming. At length, Avhen Jose had almost completed the round of the table, " B " was draAvn by Pedro. Only one slip remained, and only one person — Estrella. In spite of Pedro's protests she claimed her right. She took the last slip, and upon it was the letter " A." " It is mine ! " she cried, with a Avild burst of exultation. " Before Ave meet next, this young Englishman — Avhat is his name ? — shall die. Long live Fraternity ! "

Chapter II. The Warning

It was a cheerful room looking out upon the plaza Avith the fountains playing in the centre, Avhile a flood of sunlight poured through the windoAv this beautiful spring morning. Pictures decorated the Avails, an unusual feature in a private sitting-room in a Spanish hotel, and a bowl of magnificent roses stood upon the table, Avhich AA*as laid for breakfast. As incongruous articles may be mentioned the pipes, cigar cases, and papers streAvn about the marble top of the ebonized cabinet, and also the pair of boots, con spicuously placed upon the matting which partly covered the white tiles. The latter — the boots — were evidently not of foreign make. Nor was that a foreign voice Avhich came through the glass door leading into the bed room. There was an unmistakably English ring about those rich deep tones as they trolled out cheerily — King Death was a rare old fellow, He sat where no sun could shine, And he lifted his hand so yellow, And poured out his coal-black wine.

Hurrah ! for the coal-black wine." Then came the sound of great splashing ancl panting, as if the singer was in his tub. But presently the voice broke out again — " There came to him many a maiden AVhose eyes had forgot to shine, And widows with grief o'erladen, For a draught of his coal-back wine. Hurrah ! for his coal-black wine." The third verse followed later. It was sung in a lower key — so low as to be almost inaudible — and gradually died away into silence. But the singer could not long restrain his feelings. After another pause came the final burst, trolled out as if it Avere the merriest ditty imaginable — All came to the rare old fellow, AVho laughed till his eyes dropped brine, And he gave them his hand so yellow, And pledged them in Death's black win?. Hurrah ! for the coal-black wine !

" The song was scarcely finished when the door opened and the singer appeared, a comely young Englishman, not tall by any means, but strongly built, with no superfluous flesh on his shapely limbs, and muscles like iron. His face Avas decidedly THE WARNING. 13 attractive, not merely from the regularity of the features and the curly fair hair that clustered round the temples, but also from the frankness of the expression, the firmness of the mouth, and the humorous twinkle in the clear blue eyes. Upon the table lay three letters addressed to " Eric Baines, Esq., Fonda de Madrid, Almirez, Spain." And to them he turned his attention. The first letter that he opened was from his mother. She wrote from an English vicarage situated in a remote country parish, beyond which she had scarcely been during the course of her uneventful life, and she gave this young but experienced traveller a number of very precise directions for his guidance.

She warned him especially against damp feet ; he was to wear a belt of red flannel (the "red " underlined), for she had heard that described as a preventiA'e against cholera ; aboAre all, he was to hold aloof from those misguided people, the Roman Catholics, Avho, the Vicar told her, were so dreadfully numerous in Spain, though of course if he could drop a good word into their ears — Avithout coming too closely into contact with them — he would be amply repaid hereafter. The young man smiled as he finished this letter, but his eyes were moist as he mur mured, "The dear old mother, God bless her!" The second letter was from the editor of the journal for which he was acting as special correspondent. It contained only a few hasty lines, almost illegible, acknowledging the receipt of his last despatches, and congratulating him upon the manner in which he had so far performed his task.

A postscript said, " By all means let us have something about the Black Hand — a good atrocity, if possible, and upon an Englishman. The public must have an atrocity e\rery morning upon their breakfast tables, and they Avould sooner read of one Englishman slaughtered than a hundred Spaniards." The last letter was in an unknown hand and bore the local postmark. Eric carelessly tossed it aside and sat down to his breakfast. It was not until he had concluded his meal and had lighted a pipe that he tore open the envelope. " Hullo ! Avhat's this % " he exclaimed, staring at the paper before him. It was a square sheet of rough paper, and in the centre Avas a hand rudely sketched in ink. Below was an intimation, very courteously Avorded, that he had been condemned to death. Partly, no doubt, because he did not fully realise his danger, Eric was disposed to treat the warning lightly.

THE AVARNING. 15 " They Avill be glad of this at the office," was his first comment upon the document. " A fac simile headed, ' Sent to our Special Correspondent' should help to sell the paper. It shall be in Fleet Street the day after to-morrow." But presently it occurred to him that somebody with a A-ein of grim humour might have played a practical joke upon him. As the agent of a responsible journal, it behoA*ed him to act Avarily. So, before posting the document, he showed it to Captain Bassano, Avho happened to call during the course of the morning. Captain Bassano Avas an imposing-looking man, wearing the uniform of the artillery — dark blue tunic Avith gold facings, dark blue trousers, sword and spurs. Although the artillery is considered the most loyal corps in Spain, he had come into contact with several of the secret societies, and knew a good deal about them.

He instantly pronounced the document to be genuine. " I have seen others like it," he said, " and I assure you I have neArer known a man escape Avho had one. .If you are here another twenty four hours you will be assassinated. You must pack up your things and leave by the first train." " You would not have me desert my colours," said Eric. "You a soldier, too ! " " Well, if you Avill persist in staying," said Cap tain Bassano, after further argument, " I must endeavour to help you in some other way. You carry weapons, of course 1 " " These," said Eric, laughingly holding up his fists. "I can use them better than any others." The Spaniard boAved. This Avas his polite way of com^eying that the young Englishman Avas a fool. He told him, however, how assassins, armed to the teeth, would dog his footsteps day and night; how if he killed one he would still have all the others to contend against ; and how, sooner or later, they would steal upon him unawares and stab him in the back.

" Whatever you do, don't let a strange man get close behind you. A Dios, Don Eric." These were Captain Bassano's last words at parting. Under the circumstances, Eric thought it only prudent to do Avhat he had to do at once. So he sat doAATi and wrote a cheery letter to his mother, telling her of some of the Avonderful things he had seen, but saying not a Avord about the Black Hand. Then he AATote a long article for his journal, and enclosed Avith it the document he had received, and also a private letter, in which he explained his position, and, as Avas his way, at the same time made light of the danger. Finally, THE AVARNING. 17 he wrote a third letter, Avhich he addressed to Miss Thornton, the daughter of the English Vice consul. The two first he gave to a waiter to post, the last he placed on the cabinet already alluded to — for delivery only in case of an acci dent to himself.

By this time it was nearly four o'clock. He could see from his AvindoAV that the period allotted to the siesta Avas OA'er. On the opposite side of the pilaza several ladies were already sitting on their balconies, enjoying existence in the same placid Avay as the tatterdemalions who lay on the flags around the fountains, while other ladies Avere Avalking tOAvards the mole where the usual afternoon, or rather evening, promenade took place. Eric prepared to go in the same direction, for he hoped and expected to meet Mabel Thornton. Outside, Captain Bassano"s Avarning grew un pleasantly obtrusive. A fair fight in the open he Avould not have minded, but the feeling that at any moment a dagger might be plunged in his back made him regard with distrust every person he met, from the grey-capped con\*icts engaged in repairing the road to the sleepy shopkeepers sunning themselves in their doorways.

He could not help laughing at himself, this distrust of every C sound behind having its humorous aspect, and yet the temptation to glance over his shoulder Avas irresistible. Passing the casino he remembered that he had met there, on the previous evening, a certain Lopez de Cuesta, who professed to be acquainted Avith the secrets of the Black Hand. He looked for him now among the croAvd sitting at the little marble tables before the door, but could not see him. This Avas unfortunate, as he had hoped to gain some trustworthy information. The mole of Almirez is situated outside the Avails, and is reached by means of a massiATe gate, cruarded bv sentries. In front lies the Mediter ranean; on the right is a narrow bay ; on the opposite promontory, and indeed on every side, forts occupy the lofty heights Avhich command the town.

Eric, still thinking of the dagger, Avas not sorry to escape from the mendicants Avho, as usual, crowded round the gates. A band Avas playing on the mole, near the baths, and around were a number of Avell-dressed people, listening or talking. A glance showed him that Mabel was not among them ; he fetched a chair and sat down to Avait. A few minutes later he noticed the man he had THE WARNING. 19 looked for at the casino. Unfortunately, De Cuesta Avas not alone ; he Avas accompanied by a lady, and was strolling about with her. As they passed he bowed to Eric, and for some reason stopped at the same time, though still talking to his companion. It might have been fancy, but it seemed to Eric that dark eyes were instantly flashed upon him from all quarters. He saw, or belieA-ed he saAV, quite a dozen men staring at him earnestly, all of them apparently unconnected with one another, if not entire strangers. But he did not see the girl Avho, attended by a servant, glided to a chair close beside him.

Chapter III. Eric And Estrella Meet

Upon the mole were at least tAvo of the men Avho had been present at the meeting of the Black Hand on the preA'ious night. Pedro, easily recognisable by his tall thin figure and dignified moA-ements, formed one of a party Avho stood in front of the band, while Jose, short, swarthy, and low-browed, skulked by himself among the wooden sheds which contained the baths. The eyes of both were directed towards the same spot — the spot where Lopez de Cuesta had stopped with his companion — but they remained there after the tAvo had moved on ; they Avere fixed upon Eric as if they Avould master every line in his face. If by any chance they Avandered to the girl sitting near him, it was only for a moment. His attention wras first draAvn to her by hearing two men who happened to be passing, say to one another in true Spanish fashion, " How lovely ! how elegant !

" Turning to asce rtain to whom these outspoken compliments Avere meant to apply, ERIC AND ESTRELLA MEET. 21 he beheld a pair of fascinating dark eyes watching him curiously. Between them and the eyes of English girls there was as much difference as there is betAveen the large and Avonderfully brilliant stars in the Spanish sky and those to Avhich he Avas accustomed. They were set in a face of a clear brown colour, not perhaps beautiful as some people reckon beauty, yet decidedly interesting, a face which, although quite young, bore traces of thought and trouble, brimful of conflicting emotions Avhich gave to the expression a singular charm. Not that Eric noticed all these things at once. At first the girl's face was demurely bent towards the ground, and he saw only her eyes which were turned up toA\*ards him.

Then a fan slipped from her hand and fluttered almost to his feet. Regardless of Captain Bassano's warning, which indeed he had forgotten, he stooped down to pick it up. At that moment Eric Baines was at the mercy of the girl who had SAvorn to take his life, and whose own life would, by the rules of the society to which she belonged, be forfeited if she failed to carry out her oath. Pedro and Jose Avatched the scene Avith breathless interest, each Avith v*ery different feelings. When the latter saAV Estrella let the opportunity slip, he ground his teeth ; the former, who cared more for her than for the cause Avhich they were bound to support, breathed a sigh of relief. With a bow Eric returned the fan to its owner. Under ordinary circumstances the matter Avould have ended there, but he was strangely attracted towards this girl Avhose history was so plainly different from that of others.

She was a coquette, no doubt, or she Avould have belied her nationality, but the coquetry had the appearance of being merely a veneer OA^er the stronger passions which lay beneath. To become better acquainted Avith such a puzzling specimen of human nature Avas surely the bounden duty of any young journalist, especially when this could be done Avithout any gross breach of projoriety owing to the presence of the sei*ATant, an old Avoman ugly enough to have made a capital witch; So .Eric, after cudgelling his brains for some suitable and grammatical opening, declared the Spanish weather to be delightful, and Estrella, smiling, replied that she knew no other. This was his chance ; he went on to speak of all things Spanish Avith an enthusiasm which could not but be flattering to a native. Estrella's face brightened as she listened; a wonderfully soft look came into her eyes; the fan ERIC AND ESTRELLA MEET. which she had wielded with a certain vigour now moved to and fro with languid grace.

But Eric, being wholly free from conceit, was quite unconscious of the effect he had produced. And seeing Mabel Thornton and her mother in the distance, he sprang up, took off his hat to his companion, and so marched away without another thought of her. The change that SAvept over Estrella then Avas as sudden and as A*iolent as a tropical storm. Her face darkened, and out of the darkness her eyes flashed with passionate menace. As she looked after the retreating figure of the young Eng lishman she held her fan as if it Avere a dagger. Pedro was at her side in a moment, his hat sweeping the ground. "At your feet, Estrella," he said. "What do you want?" she asked petulantly. " Why do you watch me? Morning, noon, and night it is always the same. I will not be Avatched, I tell you, Pedro." " I Avish only to be of some service," he replied.

" I ask for nothing more. Let me help you in some way, however small." " I don't want your help." " Not in dealing with this English spy ? That is a man's work — a work Avhich I AA-ould take upon myself with pleasure." She looked up quickly and saAV that, in spite of his outward calmness, he was deeply moved. " With pleasure ! Why ?" she asked. And Pedro answered, still in the same cautious manner, " Because nothing would please me better than to see him die." " Take care," said Estrella, Avarningly. " Touch a hair of his head if you dare. His life has been given into my hands. I am responsible for it. If you interfere, by the laAvs of the Black Hand, you shall die." "I need no other law than your wishes, Estrella," said Pedro, bowing. But there Avas a suspicion of malice in his tones as he added, nodding in the direction of Eric and Mabel, " See, he loves her; she will spoil her eyes weeping for him."