Les scalpeurs blancs. English. Page 10

  CHAPTER VIII.

  HOSPITALITY.

  We have said that some callis had been got ready for the hunters. Thesecallis, built like those of the Indians, were, however, comfortableenough for men who, accustomed to desert life, despise the superfluitiesof towns, and are contented with what is strictly necessary. On quittingthe Medicine lodge, Loyal Heart led the travellers to two calliscommunicating with each other; then, making Tranquil a sign to followhim, he left the four hunters to make themselves as jolly as they could.

  "As for you, my friend," he said to Tigrero, "I hope you will accept thehospitality my modest abode permits me to offer you."

  "Why put yourself to trouble for me?" the Canadian replied, "theslightest thing suffices me. I assure you that I should be all rightwith my comrades."

  "I do not put myself out at all; on the contrary, I feel a real pleasurein giving you a place at my fireside."

  "As it is so, I no longer insist: do what you please with me."

  "Thanks! Come on then."

  Without further remark, they crossed the village square, which wasalmost deserted at this moment, for night had fallen some timepreviously, and most of the Indians had retired to their wigwams. Still,from the interior of the callis, songs and laughter could be heard,proving that if the inhabitants had shut themselves up, they were notthe less awake for all that. We will remark in passing, that manytravellers who have only seen Indians, and have not been in a positionto study their character, represent them as gloomy, mournful men,speaking but little, and never laughing. This is a grave error; theRedskins, on the contrary, are generally very jovial when together, andare specially fond of telling stories. But with the strangers, whoselanguage they do not understand, and who do not understand theirs, theymaintain a reserve, and only speak when absolutely compelled, because,as they are extremely susceptible, they fear giving their listeners anopportunity of ridiculing them.

  Loyal Heart, after walking for some minutes through the streets, stoppedbefore a calli of sufficiently singular appearance to surprise Tranquil,although he was not easily astonished. This calli, which anywhere elsewould have been quite commonplace, justly appeared strange in an Indianvillage. It was a rather large rancho, built in the Mexican fashion, ofplanks painted of a dazzling whiteness. It formed a parallelogram, theroof was flat, and in front of the door was a porch formed of sixenormous trees fastened together, and covered with an azotea. On eitherside the door, three windows were pierced in the frontage, and thesewindows had glass panes, a most singular thing at a spot so remote fromall towns.

  A man of about fifty years of age, tall and thin, and dressed in theMexican garb, was smoking a cigarette as he sat on an equipal in theporch. This man, whose hair was turning grey, had the placid thoughresolute look of men who have suffered greatly. On seeing him, therastreros, which hitherto had not left Loyal Heart a yard, rushed towardhim with a joyous bark, and leaped up at him caressingly.

  "Ah," the man said, as he rose and bowed respectfully to the hunter, "itis you, mi amo! You return home very late."

  These words were uttered in that affectionate tone which is so pleasingin the mouth of an old and faithful servant.

  "That is true, No Eusebio," the young man answered with a smile, as hesqueezed the hand of the old man, whom those of our readers who haveperused the "Trappers of Arkansas" have doubtless recognised, "I bring afriend."

  "He is welcome," No Eusebio answered; "we will try to give him as heartya welcome as he deserves, to the best of our ability."

  "Oh, oh, gossip!" Tranquil remarked, gaily; "I am no troublesome guest,I shall not put you out of your way much."

  "Come in, my friend," said Loyal Heart; "I should not like to keep mymother waiting any longer."

  "The Senora is so restless when you are out late."

  "Announce us; No Eusebio, we follow you."

  The servant turned to obey, but the rastreros had long ago announced thehunter's return to his mother, by rushing madly into the house, hencethe lady appeared in the doorway at the moment when the three menprepared to enter. At the moment when we meet Dona Garillas again, shewas no longer the young and charming woman, with such pure and softbeauty, whom we saw in the prologue of the "Trappers;" eight years hadpasted over her; eight long years of agony, alarm, and grief. She wasstill young and lovely, it is true, but this beauty had ripened beneaththe burning blast of adversity. Her pale forehead and calm features wonthat expression of crushing resignation which the old sculptor succeededin rendering on the admirable bust of Melancholy. When she saw her sonher eyes sparkled, but that was all.

  "Caballero," she said, in a gentle and melodious voice as she smiled onthe Canadian, "enter this modest abode, where you have been impatientlyexpected for a long time. Although our hearth be small, we always keep anook for a friend."

  "Senora," the hunter replied with a bow, "your reception overcomes mewith joy. I trust I shall prove deserving of the kindness you show me."

  They entered the rancho, whose interior corresponded exactly with theexterior. A candil, suspended from a beam, illumined a rather largeroom, the furniture of which consisted merely of a few equipals, twobutacas, and a chiffonier, all clumsily made with the hatchet. On thewhite-washed walls hung four of those coloured engravings with whichParisian commerce inundates both hemispheres. The first representedNapoleon at the St. Bernard; the second, Iturbide, that Mexican generalwho was for six months emperor, and died, like Murat, shot by his ownsubjects; the third, our Saviour on the cross between the two thieves;and the fourth, Nuestra-Senora-de-los-Dolores. Before the last two hunglamps that burned night and day.

  During our lengthened wanderings we have been enabled to discover asingular fact; it is, that in Asia, America, Africa, and the heart ofPolynesia, among the most savage tribes the name of Napoleon the Firsthas not only penetrated, but is venerated like a god; and I even foundhis portrait among the Botocudos, that untameable horde hidden in theforests of Brazil. What is the magic influence exerted on humanity bythis extraordinary man? It is vain to seek the solution of this problem,vain to try to discover by what remarkable concourse of events the nameof the great Emperor penetrated beneath the grand domes of foliage,where all the rumours of civilization expire without an echo.

  A European rarely visits an Indian tribe in which the Chiefs do not askhim news of Napoleon, and beg him to tell anecdotes about his reign; andstrangely enough, their primitive natures will not allow that the greatman is dead. When told so, the Chiefs content themselves with smilingcunningly. One day, after a lengthened hunt in Apacheria, I demandedhospitality of a party of Opata Indians. The Chief, on hearing that Iwas a Frenchman, did not fail to speak to me about the Emperor. After along conversation, I concluded by describing, in a way that the men whosurrounded and listened to me with the most profound attention couldunderstand, the death of the great man after long and painfulsufferings. The Chief, an old man of venerable appearance, interruptedme, and laying his left hand on my arm to attract my attention, whilewith the right he pointed to the sun, whose fiery disc was sinking inthe horizon in clouds of vapour, asked me with a most significantsmile--

  "Is the sun about to die?"

  "Certainly not," I answered, not knowing what the Redskin was drivingat.

  "Wah!" he continued, "If the sun never dies, how can the great paleChief be dead, who is the son of that planet?"

  The Indians applauded this conclusion; I tried to alter their opinion invain, and at length grew so tired, that I allowed them to be right. Allmy efforts had only produced the result of convincing them still more ofthe immortality of the hero whom they are accustomed to regard as adivinity. However, I believe that if a person would take the trouble toseek carefully, he would find in France peasants whose opinion isprecisely similar. Asking the reader's pardon for this long digression,we will resume our narrative at the point where we interrupted it.

  By the care of Dona Garillas and No Eusebio, a frugal meal was preparedfor the travellers, who now sate down to table. Tranquil, espe
cially,who had made a long journey, experienced that feeling of internalcomfort which is produced after long fatigue, by finding, during adesert halt, a fugitive reflex of civilisation.

  The meal was most simple; it consisted of pigoles with pimento, a lumpof venison, and maize tortillas, the whole washed down with smilax waterand a few mouthfuls of pulque, a wonderful luxury in these regions, andamong the Comanches, the only Indians who never drink strong liquors. NoEusebio sate down with the hunter. The lady waited on them, and did thehonours of her house with that kindly and graceful attention so rarelymet with in our civilized countries, where everything is so expensive,even a kind reception. When the meal was ended, which was not longfirst, the three men rose from table and seated themselves round acopper brasero full of hot ashes, when they began smoking. The dogs,like vigilant sentries, had lain down across the door, with outstretchedheads and pricked-up ears.

  The greatest silence prevailed in the village; the songs and laughterhad gradually died out; the Indians were asleep or appeared to be so.Dona Garillas had made in the corner of the room a bed of furs, whichwould seem delicious to a man accustomed, during the course of hisadventurous life, to sleep most nights on the bare ground, and she wasabout to invite the hunter to rest his weary limbs, when the dogs raisedtheir heads sharply and began growling; at the same instant, two slighttaps were given on the door of the rancho.

  "Tis a friend," Loyal Heart said; "open, no Eusebio."

  The old servant obeyed, and an Indian stalked in; it was Black-deer. TheChiefs face was gloomy; he bowed slightly to the company, and, withoutsaying a syllable, sat down on an equipal placed for him near thebrasero. The hunters were too conversant with the Indian character toquestion the Chief, so long as he was pleased to keep silence. Tranquil,however, drew his pipe from his lips, and handed it to Black-deer, whobegan smoking, after thanking him with one of those emphatic gesturesusual with the Redskins. There was a long silence, but at last the Chiefraised his head.

  "The Chiefs have left the Council lodge," he said.

  "Ah!" Loyal Heart replied, for the sake of saying something.

  "No determination was formed, no answer given the Envoy?"

  "The Sachems are prudent, they wished to reflect."

  The Sachem nodded in affirmation,

  "Does my brother Loyal Heart wish to learn what happened at the Councilafter his departure?" he asked.

  "My brother is thoughtful, his heart is sad; let him speak, the ears ofa friend are open."

  "The Chief will eat first," Dona Garillas remarked, "he remained late atthe Council; the squaws have not prepared his evening meal."

  "My mother is good," he replied with a smile, "Black-deer will eat; heis here in the wigwam of the brother of his heart: the warriors haveexchanged horses and weapons."

  Who taught the Indians this affecting custom, which makes them select afriend, with whom they exchange arms and horses, and who, from thatmoment, is dearer to them than if blood ties attached them? Black-deerand Loyal Heart had really made the exchange referred to by the Sachem.

  "My mother will retire to sleep," said Loyal Heart. "I will wait on mybrother."

  "Be it so," the Redskin answered; "my mother needs rest--the night isadvanced."

  Dona Garillas understood that the three men had to talk about secretaffairs, so, after bidding her guests good-night, she withdrew withoutoffering any objection. As for No Eusebio, considering his presenceunnecessary, he went to bed after the Indian's arrival, that is to say,lay down on a hammock, suspended in the porch of the house, with the tworastreros at his feet, so that no one could enter or leave the housewithout awakening him. After hurriedly eating a few mouthfuls, ratherthrough politeness than want, Black-deer spoke again.

  "My brother Loyal Heart is young," he said, "but his wisdom is great;the Chiefs have confidence in him, and would not decide anything tillthey had heard his opinion."

  "My brothers know that I am devoted to them. If my brother will explain,I will answer him."

  "Blue Fox arrived at the village today."

  "I saw him."

  "Good; he came on the part of the Chiefs of his nation; Blue-fox has puton the skin of the timid asshatas, his words are gentle and his mouthdistils honey; but the buffalo cannot leap like the elk, or the hawkimitate the dove. The Chiefs did not put faith in his words."

  "Then they answered him in the negative?"

  "No, they wished first to consult my brother."

  "Wah! On what subject?"

  "My brother will listen. The Palefaces on the other side of theMeche-chebe dug up the war hatchet against each other some moons ago, asmy brother is aware."

  "I know it, Chief and so do you. But how does it concern us? A quarrelamong the whites cannot affect us in any way. So long as they do notinvade our hunting grounds, do not steal our horses or burn ourvillages, we can only congratulate ourselves at seeing them destroy eachother."

  "My brother speaks like a wise man; the Sachems are of the sameopinion."

  "Good; I cannot understand, then, what reason can have determined theChiefs to discuss such a subject."

  "Wah! My brother can speedily understand if he will listen."

  "Chief, you Redskins have an unhappy knack of wrapping up your thoughtsin so many words, that it is impossible to guess the point you areaiming at."

  Black-deer broke into that silent laugh peculiar to Indians.

  "My brother knows how to discover a trail better than anyone," he said.

  "Certainly; but to do so I must be shown a footstep or trace, howeverfeeble it may be."

  "And my brother has discovered the trail, which I merely indicated tohim?"

  "Yes."

  "Oh! I should be curious to know my brother's thoughts."

  "Then, listen to me in your turn, Black-deer--I shall be brief. Blue Foxwas sent by the Buffalo Apaches to the Antelope Comanches to propose tothem an offensive and defensive alliance against one of the two nationsof the Palefaces which have dug up the hatchet against each other."

  In spite of all the phlegm which nature and Indian training had endowedhim with, the Chief could not conceal the amazement he experienced onhearing these words.

  "It is well," he said; "my brother is not only a great, brave, anddaring warrior, but is also a man inspired by the Wacondah. His medicineis irresistible, he knows everything. Blue Fox made this proposition tothe Sachems."

  "And have they accepted it?"

  "No; I repeat to my brother that they would not give any answer tillthey heard his opinion."

  "Very good, then. This is my opinion, and the Chiefs can follow it ornot, as they please. The Comanches nation are the Queen of the Prairies;the most invincible warriors assemble beneath its totem; its huntingground extends over the whole earth; the Comanches alone areindomitable. Why should they ally themselves with the Apache thieves?Are they desirous of exchanging their lances and guns for weavers'shuttles? Are they tired of being redoubtable warriors? Do they wish toput on women's petticoats? Why should they league with their mostobstinate enemies against men who are fighting to obtain their liberty?Blue Fox is a renegade from the Snake-Pawnees; my brother knows him,since he is his personal enemy. Any peace proposed by such an ambassadormust conceal a trap; sooner war than such an alliance."

  There was a rather lengthened silence, during which the Chief reflecteddeeply on what he had just heard.

  "My brother is right," he said at last; "wisdom resides in him, histongue is not forked, the words he utters are inspired by the Wacondah!The Comanches will not treat with the plundering Apaches. The councilhas asked for three suns to reflect on this grave question; in threesuns Blue Fox will return with a categorical refusal to those who senthim. The Comanches will dig up the war hatchet sooner than allythemselves with their enemies."

  "My brothers, if they do that, will act like wise men."

  "They will do it. I have now to speak to my brother on a matter thatinterests me personally."

  "Good. Sleep does not yet weigh down my eyelid
s, so I will listen to mybrother.

  "Loyal Heart is a friend of Blackbird," the Chief continued, with somehesitation.

  The hunter smiled knowingly.

  "Blackbird is one of the most renowned braves of the tribe," heanswered; "his daughter, Bounding Fawn, will count fourteen autumns atthe fall of the leaves."

  "Black-deer loves Bounding Fawn."

  "I know it; my brother has already confessed to me that the virgin ofthe first love placed, during his sleep, a four-leaved shamrock underhis head. But has the Chief assured himself as to Bounding Fawn'sfeelings?"

  "The young virgin smiles when the Chief returns from an expedition withscalps hanging from his girdle; she trembles when he departs; she feedshis horse in secret, and her greatest pleasure is to clean his weapons.When the maidens of the tribe dance at night to the sound of the drumand chichikoue, Bounding Fawn gazes thoughtfully in the direction ofBlack-deer's calli, and forgets to dance with her companions."

  "Good! And does the maiden recognise the sound of my brother's warwhistle, and run joyfully to the meeting the Chief grants her? Tonight,for instance, were the Chief to call her, would she rise from her bed toobey his summons?"

  "She would rise," the Chief answered, laconically.

  "Good! Now, what does the Chief wish to ask of me? Blackbird is rich."

  "Black-deer will give six mares which have never felt a bit, two guns,and four hides of the white she-buffalo; tomorrow the Chief's motherwill give them to my brother."

  "Good. And does my brother intend to carry off the woman he loves thisnight?"

  "Black-deer suffers from being so long separated from her; since thedeath of his well-beloved wife, Singing-bird, the Chief's calli issolitary. Bounding Fawn will prepare the venison for the Chief; whatdoes my brother think of it?"

  "My horse is ready; if my brother say yes, I will accompany him, if itbe that he desires, as I suppose."

  "Loyal Heart knows everything; nothing escapes his discernment."

  "Let us go without loss of time. Will you accompany us, Tranquil? Twowitnesses are required, as you are aware."

  "I wish for nothing better, if my presence be not disagreeable to theChief."

  "On the contrary; the Pale hunter is a great brave. I shall be pleasedto know that he is by my side."

  The three men rose and quitted the house. No Eusebio raised his head.

  "We shall return in an hour," Loyal Heart said, as he passed.

  The old servant made no objection, and fell back in his hammock. TheChief's horse was tied up near the rancho; he leaped into the saddle andwaited for the two hunters, who had gone to fetch theirs from thecorral. In a few minutes they arrived. The three men slowly traversedthe village, whose streets were completely deserted at this late hour ofthe night. At times, however, dogs got up as they passed, and barkedfuriously after their horses' heels. Like all the winter villages, thisone was carefully guarded. Numerous sentries, placed at differentpoints, watched over the common safety; but, either that they recognisedthe three horsemen, or for some other motive, they did not challenge,but allowed them to pass apparently unnoticed.

  After leaving the village, Black-deer, who rode in front, made a sharpturn to the right, and the horsemen almost immediately disappeared in athick chaparral, where men and horses concealed themselves with theutmost care. The night was magnificent, the sky studded with a profusionof glistening stars; the moon shed a pale and soft light, which, owingto the purity of the atmosphere, allowed objects to be distinguished fora great distance. A solemn silence brooded over the forest, and a gentlebreeze sighed through the treetops.

  Black-deer advanced to the edge of the covert, and, raising his fingersto his lips, imitated the cry of the raven thrice with such perfection,that the two hunters concealed in the rear looked up mechanically todiscover the bird that uttered the note. A few minutes after, the cry ofthe Blue-jay, borne on the breeze expressed like a plaintive sigh on theears of the attentive hunters. Black-deer repeated his signal. This timethe note of the sparrowhawk was mingled almost instantaneously with thatof the jay. The Indian started, and looked in the direction where hisfriends were concealed.

  "Is my brother ready?" he said.

  "I am," Loyal Heart simply answered.

  Almost immediately, four riders could be seen leaving the village at agallop, and advancing rapidly toward the spot where the Chief stoodmotionless. The rider who galloped at the head of the band was a woman;she made her horse bound with feverish impatience, and compelled it togallop in a straight line, clearing all the obstacles that were in itsway. The three other riders were about a bow-shot behind her. This racehad something fantastic about it in the night, amidst this grandscenery. Bounding Fawn, for it was she, fell panting into Black-deer'sarms.

  "Here I am! Here I am!" she cried in a joyous voice, choked, however, byemotion.

  The Indian pressed her lovingly to his wide chest, and lifting her fromthe ground with that irresistible strength that passion produces, heleaped with her on to his horse, into whose flank he dug his spurs, andstarted at full speed in the direction of the desert. At the samemoment, the horsemen arrived, uttering yells of anger, and brandishingtheir weapons; but they found before them the two hunters, whoresolutely barred their passage.

  "Stay, Blackbird," Loyal Heart shouted; "your daughter belongs to mybrother. Black-deer is a great Chief, his calli is lined with scalps--heis rich in horses, arms, and furs; Bounding Fawn will be the _cihuatl_of a great brave, whose medicine is powerful."

  "Does Black-deer mean, then, to carry off my daughter?" Blackbird asked.

  "He does mean it, and we his friends will defend him. Your daughterpleases him, and he will have her. In defiance of you, and all who mayattempt to oppose it, he will take her as his wife."

  "Wah!" the Indian said, turning to the horsemen who accompanied him, "Mybrothers have heard: what do they say?"

  "We have heard," the Redskins answered; "we say that Black-deer is trulya great Chief, and since he is powerful enough to seize the woman heloves in spite of her father and relatives, he ought to keep her."

  "My brothers have spoken well," Loyal Heart remarked. "Tomorrow I willcome to Blackbird's calli and pay him the purchase money for the maidenthe Chief has robbed him of."

  "Good! Tomorrow I shall expect Loyal Heart and his friend, the otherPaleface warrior," Blackbird said with a bow.

  After these remarks, the three Indian, warriors returned to the village,closely followed by the two hunters. As for Black-deer, he had buriedhimself with his booty in the thickest part of the forest, where no oneattempted to disturb him. The preliminaries of a Comanche marriage hadbeen strictly carried out on both sides.

  A strange nation this Comanche, whose warriors love like wild beasts,and who think themselves obliged to carry off the woman they love,instead of obtaining her by the voluntary consent of her family! Isthere not something grand and noble in their haughty and indomitablecharacter?

  As Loyal Heart told No Eusebio, he was hardly an hour absent.