The Freebooters: A Story of the Texan War Page 14

  CHAPTER XIV.

  THE PROPOSAL.

  On the same night, almost at the same hour, the Jaguar, seated on amodest oak equipal in his tent, with his elbow leaning on the table andhis head on his hand, was reading, by the light of a candle that emittedbut a dubious light, important despatches he had just received. Absorbedin the perusal, the young Commander of the insurgents paid no attentionto the noises without, when suddenly a rather sharp puff of wind causedthe flame of the candle to flicker, and the shadow of a man was darklydefined on the canvas of the tent.

  The young man, annoyed at being disturbed, raised his head angrily, andlooked toward the entrance of the tent, with a frown that promisednothing very pleasant for his inopportune intruder. But at the sight ofthe man who stood in the door-way, leaning on a long rifle, and fixingon him eyes that sparkled like carbuncles, the Jaguar restrained withdifficulty a cry of surprise, and made a move to seize the pistolsplaced within reach on the table.

  This man, whom we have already had occasion to present to the readerunder very grave circumstances, had nothing, we must confess, in hisappearance that spoke greatly in his favour. His stern glance, his harshface, rendered still harsher by his long white beard, his tall statureand strange attire, all about him, in a word, inspired repulsion andalmost terror. The Jaguar's movement produced a sinister smile on hispale lips.

  "Why take up your weapons?" he said, in a hoarse voice, as he struck thepalm of his hand against his rifle barrel; "had I intended to kill you,you would have been dead long ago."

  The young man wheeled round his equipal, which brought him face to facewith the stranger. The two men examined each other for a moment with themost minute attention.

  "Have you looked at me enough?" the stranger at length asked.

  "Yes," the Jaguar answered; "now tell me who you are, what brings youhere, and how you reached me."

  "Those are a good many questions at once, still I will try to answerthem. Who am I? No one knows, and there are moments when I am myselfignorant; I am an accursed, and a reprobate, prowling about the desertlike a wild beast in search of prey; the Redskins, whose implacableenemy I am, and in whom I inspire a superstitious terror, call me theKlein Stoman; is this information sufficient for you?"

  "What?" the young man exclaimed utterly astounded, "The White Scalper!"

  "I am the man," the stranger quietly answered; "I am also known at timesby the name of the Pitiless."

  All this had been said by the old man in that monotonous and hoarsevoice peculiar to men who, deprived for a long time of the society oftheir fellow men, have been restricted to a forced silence, and hencespeaking has become almost a labour to them. The Jaguar gave a start ofrepulsion at the sight of this sinister man, whose mournful reputationhad reached him with all its horrors. His memory immediately recalledall the traits of ferocity and cruelty imputed to this man, and it wasunder the impression of this recollection that he said to him with anaccent of disgust he did not wish to conceal--

  "What is there in common between you and me?"

  The old man smiled sarcastically.

  "God," he answered, "connects all men to each other by invisible bondswhich render them responsible one for the other; He willed it so, in Hissupreme omniscience, in order to render society possible."

  On hearing this wild, solitary man pronounce the name of Deity, andutter so strange an argument, the Jaguar felt his surprise redoubled.

  "I will not discuss the point with you," he said; "everyone in lifefollows the path destiny has traced for him, and it does not belong tome to judge you either favourably or unfavourably; still, I have theright of denying any connection with you, whatever may be your feelingstoward me, or the motives that brought you hither; up to the present, wehave been strangers to each other, and I desire to remain so for thefuture."

  "What do you know of it? What certainty have you that this is the firsttime we have been face to face? Man can no more answer for the past thanfor the future; both are in the hands of One more powerful than him, ofHim who judges of actions immediately, and for whom there is only oneweight and one measure."

  "I am astonished," the Jaguar answered, involuntarily interested, "thatthe name of Deity should be so often on your lips."

  "Because it is deeply engraved on my heart," the old man said with anaccent of gloomy sorrow which spread a veil of melancholy over hisaustere features. "You said yourself that you would not judge me;retain, if you will, the evil impression which the probable falsestatements of others have made on you. I care little for the opinion ofmen, for I recognise no other judge of my actions but my conscience."

  "Be it so; but permit me to remark that time is rapidly slipping away,night is advancing. I have serious business to attend to, and need to bealone."

  "In a word, you show me the door; unluckily, I am not disposed, for thepresent, to accede to your request, or, if you prefer it, obey yourorders; I wish first to answer all your questions, and then, if youstill insist on it, I will retire."

  "Take care, for this obstinacy on your part may lead to dangerousconsequences for you."

  "Why threaten a man who does not insult you?" the old man replied withundiminished coolness; "Do you fancy that I put myself out of the wayfor nothing? No, no, serious motives bring me to you; and if I am notmistaken, ere long you will allow that the time you are unwilling togrant me, could not be better employed than in listening to me."

  The Jaguar shrugged his shoulders impatiently; he felt a repugnance toemploy violence against a man who, after all, had in no way infringed onthe laws of politeness, and, spite of himself, a species of secretpresentiment warned him that the visit of this singular old man would beuseful to him.

  "Speak then," he said a moment after, in the tone of a man who resignshimself to endure a thing that displeases him, but which he cannotelude; "but pray be brief."

  "I am not so used to speaking as to find pleasure in making longharangues," the Scalper replied; "I will only say things strictlyindispensable to be properly understood by you."

  "Do so then without further preamble."

  "Be it so. I now return to the second question you asked me: What reasonbrought me here? I will tell you presently, but first answer your thirdquestion--How I got here?"

  "In truth," the Jaguar exclaimed, "that seems to me extraordinary."

  "Not so extraordinary as you suppose; I might tell you that I am too olda hand on the prairies not to foil the most vigilant sentries; but Iprefer confessing the truth, as it will be more profitable to you. Youhave this night confided the guard of the camp to Apache dogs, who,instead of watching, as they pledged themselves to do, are asleep ontheir posts, so thoroughly that the first comer can enter your lines ashe thinks proper; and this is so true, that scarce two hours back aparty of eight went through the whole length of your camp, and enteredthe hacienda, without encountering opposition from anyone."

  "Viva Dios!" the Jaguar exclaimed, turning livid with passion; "Can itpossibly be so?"

  "I am the proof of it, I fancy," the old man answered simply.

  The young Chief seized his pistols, and made a hurried movement to rushout, but the stranger restrained him.

  "What good will it do," he said, "to pick a quarrel with your allies? Itis an accomplished fact, so it is better to undergo the consequences.Still, let it serve you as a lesson to take better precautions anothertime."

  "But these men who crossed the camp?" the Jaguar said sharply.

  "You have nothing to fear from them; they are poor devils of hunters,who were probably seeking a refuge for the two women they brought withthem."

  "Two women?"

  "Yes, a white and an Indian; although they were dressed in male attire,I recognized them the more easily, because I have been watching them fora long time."

  "Ah," said the Jaguar thoughtfully, "do you know any of these hunters?"

  "Only one, who is, I believe, tigrero to the hacienda."

  "Tranquil!" the Jaguar exclaimed with aft expression impossible
torender.

  "Yes."

  "In that case, one of the females is his daughter Carmela'"

  "Probably."

  "She is now, then, at the Larch-tree?"

  "Yes."

  "Oh," he burst out, "I must at all hazards carry that accursedhacienda."

  "That is exactly what I came to propose to you," the Scalper saidquietly.

  The young man advanced a step.

  "What do you say?" he asked.

  "I say," the old man replied in the same tone, "that I have come topropose to you the capture of the hacienda."

  "You! It is impossible."

  "Why so?"

  "Because," the Jaguar went on with agitation, "the hacienda is wellfortified: it is defended by a numerous and brave garrison, commanded byone of the best officers of the Mexican army, and for the seventeen daysI have been investing these accursed walls, I have been unable, despiteall my efforts, to take one forward step."

  "All that is correct."

  "Well?"

  "I repeat my proposition."

  "But how will you effect it?"

  "That is my business."

  "That is not an answer."

  "I can give you no other."

  "Still?"

  "When force does not avail, stratagem must be employed; is not that youropinion?"

  "Yes; but one must have the necessary means in his hands."

  "Well, I have them."

  "To seize the hacienda?"

  "I will introduce you into the interior--the rest is your affair."

  "Oh, once inside, I will not leave it again."

  "Then, you accept?"

  "One moment."

  "Do you hesitate?"

  "I do."

  "When I offer you an unexpected success?"

  "For that very reason."

  "I do not understand you."

  "I will explain myself."

  "Do so."

  "It is not admissible that you have come to make such a proposal for mysake, or that of the cause I serve."

  "Perhaps not."

  "Let us deal frankly. Whatever your character may be, you have a mannerof looking at things which renders you perfectly indifferent to thechances, good or bad, of the struggle going on at this moment in thisunhappy country."

  "You are quite correct."

  "Am I not? You care little whether Texas be free or in slavery?"

  "I admit it."

  "You have, then, a reason for acting as you are now doing?"

  "A man always has a reason."

  "Very good; well, I wish to know that reason."

  "And suppose I refuse to tell it to you?"

  "I shall not accept your proposition."

  "You will be wrong."

  "That is possible."

  "Reflect."

  "I have reflected."

  There was a moment's silence, which the old man interrupted--

  "You are a suspicious and headstrong boy," he said to him, "who,through a false feeling of honour, risk losing an opportunity which youwill probably never find again."

  "I will run the risk; I wish to be frank with you; I only know you fromvery ill reports; your reputation is execrable, and nothing proves to methat, under the pretext of serving me, you may not be laying a snare forme."

  The old man's pale face was covered by a sudden flush at these rudewords, a nervous tremor agitated all his limbs; but, by a violenteffort, he succeeded in mastering the emotion he experienced, and aftera few minutes, he replied in a calm voice, in which, however, thereremained some traces of the tempest that growled hoarsely in his heart--

  "I forgive you," he said; "you had a right to speak to me as you did,and I cannot be angry with you. Time is slipping away, it is nearly onein the morning; it will soon be too late to execute the bold plan I haveformed; I will therefore only add one word--reflect before answering me,for on that answer my resolution, depends. The motive that urges me tooffer to introduce you to the hacienda is quite personal, and in no wayaffects or concerns you."

  "But what guarantee can you offer me on the sincerity of yourintentions?"

  The old man walked a step forward, drew himself up to his full height,stamped with an accent of supreme majesty--

  "My word, the word of a man who, whatever may be said about him, hasnever failed in what he owes himself; I swear to you on my honour,before that God in whose presence you and I will probably soon appear,that my intentions are pure and loyal, without any thought of treachery.Now, answer, what is your resolve?"

  While uttering these words, the old man's attitude, gestures, and racewere imprinted with such nobility and grandeur, that he seemedtransfigured. In spite of himself, the Jaguar was affected: he felthimself led away by this accent, which seemed to him to come straightfrom the heart.

  "I accept," he said in a firm voice.

  "I expected it," the old man replied; "in young and generous naturesgood feelings always find an echo. You will not repent the confidenceyou give me."

  "Here is my hand," the young man said passionately; "press it withoutfear, for it is that of a friend."

  "Thanks," the old man said, as a burning tear beaded on his eyelashes;"that word repays me for much suffering and sorrow."

  "Now, explain your plan to me."

  "I will do so in two words; but, ere we discuss the plan we shall adopt,collect noiselessly three or four hundred men, so that we may be able tostart immediately we have come to an understanding."

  "You are right."

  "I need not advise you to be prudent; your men must assemble in theutmost silence. Take no Redskins with you, for they would be moreinjurious than useful. I am not desirous to be seen by them, for youknow that I am their enemy."

  "Do not trouble yourself, I will act as you wish."

  The Jaguar went out, and remained away for about a quarter of an hour;during that time the White Scalper remained motionless in the centre ofthe tent, leaning pensively on his rifle barrel, the butt of whichrested on the ground. Soon could be heard outside something like theimperceptible buzzing of bees in a hive. It was the camp awakening. TheJaguar came in again.

  "Now," he said, "the order is given; within a quarter of an hour, fourhundred men will be under arms."

  "That is a longer period than I need for what I have to say to you; myplan is most simple, and if you follow it point for point, we shallenter the hacienda without striking a blow; listen to me attentively."

  "Speak."

  The old man drew an equipal up to the table at which the Jaguar wasstanding, sat down, placed his rifle between his legs, and began--

  "For very many years I have known the Larch-tree hacienda. Owing toevents too long to tell you, and which would but slightly interest you,I was resident in it for nearly a year as Major-domo. At that period thefather of the present owner was still living, and for sundry reasons hadthe greatest confidence in me. You are aware that at the period of theconquest, when the Spaniards built these haciendas, they made themfortresses rather than farmhouses, as they were compelled to defendthemselves nearly daily against the aggressions of the Redskins; now,you must know that in such a fortress there is a masked gate, a secretsally port, which, if necessary, the garrison employ, either to receivereinforcements or provisions, or to evacuate the place, should it be tooclosely invested."

  "Oh," the Jaguar said, smiting his forehead, "can the hacienda have oneof these sally ports?"

  "Patience, let me go on."

  "But look," the young man objected, "here is the detailed plan of theLarch-tree, made by a man whose family have lived there for threegenerations from father to son, and there is nothing of the sort markedon it."

  The old man gave a careless glance at the plan the young man showed him.

  "Because," he replied, "the secret is generally known to the owner ofthe hacienda alone; but let me finish."

  "Speak, speak."

  "These sally ports, so useful at the time of the conquest, becameeventually perfectly neglected, owing to the long peac
e that reigned inthe country; then, by degrees, as they served no purpose, therecollection of them was totally lost, and I am convinced that themajority of the hacienderos at the present day are ignorant of theexistence of these secret gates in their habitation; the owner of theLarch-tree is one of the number."

  "How do you know? Perhaps the gate is blocked up, or at least defendedby a strong detachment."

  The old man smiled.

  "No," he said, "the gate is not stopped up, nor is it guarded."

  "Are you certain?"

  "Did I not tell you that I have been prowling about the neighbourhoodfor some days?"

  "I do not remember it."

  "I wished to assure myself of the existence of this gate, which anaccident led me to discover in former days."

  "Well?"

  "I have sought it, found it, and opened it."

  "Viva Dios!" the Jaguar shouted joyfully; "In that case the hacienda isours."

  "I believe so, unless a fatality or a miracle occur--two things equallyimprobable."

  "But where is this gate situated?"

  "As usual, at a spot where it is the most unlikely to suspect itsexistence. Look," he added, bending over the plan, "the hacienda, beingbuilt on a height, runs a risk in the event of a long siege of seeingits wells dry up--does it not?"

  "Yes."

  "Very good. The river on this side runs along the foot of the rocks onwhich its walls are built."

  "Yes, yes," said the young man, who was eagerly following theindications made by the old man.

  "Judging rightly," he went on, "that on this side the hacienda wasimpregnable, you contented yourself with establishing on the river banka few outposts, intended to watch the enemy's movements."

  "Any flight on that side is impossible--in the first place, owing to theheight of the walls; and next, through the river, which forms a naturaltrench."

  "Well, the gate by which we shall enter is among those very rocks,almost on a level with the water; it opens into a natural grotto, theentrance of which is so obstructed by creepers, that from the oppositebank it is impossible to suspect its existence."

  "At length," the Jaguar exclaimed, "this redoubt, which has hithertobeen one of the links of the heavy chain riveted round Texas, will betomorrow one of the most solid barriers of her independence. May Heavenbe praised for permitting so brilliant a triumph to crown our efforts!"

  "I hope to see you master of the place before sunrise."

  "May Heaven hear you!"

  "Now, we will start whenever you please."

  "At once, at once."

  They then left the tent. According to the Jaguar's orders, John Davishad roused four hundred men, chosen from the boldest and most skilfulfellows of the force. They were drawn up a few paces from the tent,motionless and silent. Their rifles, whose barrels were bronzed lestthey might emit any denunciatory gleams in the moonbeams, were piled infront of them.

  The officers formed a group apart. They were conversing together in alow voice, with considerable animation, not at all understanding theorders they had received, and not knowing for what reason the Chief hadthem awakened. The Jaguar advanced toward them, and the officers fellback. The young man, followed by the Scalper, entered the circle, whichat once closed up again. John Davis, on perceiving the old man, whom heat once recognised, uttered a stifled cry of surprise.

  "Caballeros," the Jaguar said, in a low voice, "we are about to attempta surprise, which, if it succeed, will render us masters of the haciendaalmost without a blow."

  A murmur of surprise ran round the circle.

  "A person in whom I have the most entire confidence," the Jaguarcontinued, "has revealed to me the existence of a secret gate, not knownto the garrison, which will give us access to the fort. Each of you willnow take the command of his men. Our march must be as silent as that ofIndian warriors on the war trail. You have understood me fully, so Icount on your aid. In the event of separation, the watchword will be_Texas y libertad_ To your posts."

  The circle was broken up, and each officer placed himself at the head ofhis men. John Davis then went up to the Jaguar.

  "One word," he said to him, bending to his ear to speak. "Do you knowwho that man is, standing close to you?"

  "Yes."

  "Are you sure?"

  "It is the White Scalper."

  "And you trust to him?"

  "Entirely."

  The American tossed his head.

  "Was it he who revealed to you the existence of the sally port by whichwe are to enter?"

  "Yes."

  "Take care."

  In his turn, the Jaguar shrugged his shoulders.

  "You are mad," he said.

  "Well, that is possible," John replied; "but for all that, I will watchhim."

  "As you please."

  "Well, let us be off."

  The American followed his Chief, casting a parting look of suspicion onthe old man. The latter did not seem to trouble himself at all aboutthis aside. Apparently indifferent to what went on around him, hewaited, quietly leaning on his rifle, till it pleased the Jaguar to givethe command for departure. At length, the word "march" ran from rank torank, and the column started.

  These men, the majority of whom were accustomed to long marches in thedesert, placed their feet so softly on the ground, that they seemed toglide along like phantoms, so silent was their march. At this moment, asif the sky wished to be on their side, an immense black cloud spreadacross the heavens and interrupted the moonbeams, substituting, almostwithout transition, a deep obscurity for the radiance that previouslyprevailed, and the column disappeared in the gloom. A few paces ahead ofthe main body, the Jaguar, White Scalper, and John Davis marched side byside.

  "Bravo!" the young man muttered; "Everything favours us."

  "Let us wait for the end," the American growled, whose suspicions, farfrom diminishing, on the contrary were augmented from moment to moment.

  Instead of leaving the camp on the aide of the hacienda, whose gloomyoutline was designed, sinister and menacing, on the top of the hill, theScalper made the column take a long circuit, which skirted the rear ofthe camp. The deepest silence prevailed on the plain, the camp andhacienda seemed asleep, not a light gleamed in the darkness, and itmight be fancied, on noticing so profound a calm, that the plain wasdeserted; but this factitious calm held a terrible tempest, ready toburst forth at the first signal.

  These men, who walked on tiptoe, sounding the darkness around them, andwith their finger placed on the rifle trigger, felt their hearts beatwith impatience to come into collision with their enemies. It was asingular coincidence, a strange fatality, which caused the besiegers andbesieged to attempt a double surprise at the same hour, almost at thesame moment, and send blindly against each other men who on either sideadvanced with the hope of certain success, and convinced that they wereabout to surprise asleep the too confident enemy, whom they burned tomassacre.

  So soon as they had left the camp, the insurgents drew near the river,whose banks, covered with thick bushes and aquatic plants, would haveoffered them, even in bright day, a certain shelter from the Mexicans.On coming within about half a league of the entrenchments, the columnhalted; the Scalper advanced alone a few yards, and then rejoined theJaguar.

  "We shall have to cross the river here," he said; "there is a ford, andthe men will only be up to their waists in water."

  And, giving the example, the old man stepped into the bed of the river.The others followed immediately, and, as the Scalper had announced, thewater was only up to their waists. They passed threes in front, andclosing up the ranks, so as to resist the rather strong current, which,without these precautions, might have carried them away. Five minuteslater, the whole band was collected in the interior of the grotto, atthe end of which was the secret door.

  "The moment has arrived," the Jaguar then said, "to redouble ourprudence; let us avoid, if it be possible, bloodshed. Not a word must beuttered, or a shot fired, without my orders, under penalty of death."Then, turning
to the White Scalper, he said, in a firm voice--"Now, openthe door!"

  There was a moment of supreme anxiety for the insurgents, who awaitedwith a quiver of impatience the downfall of the frail obstacle thatseparated them from their enemies.