The Queen of the Savannah: A Story of the Mexican War Page 2

  CHAPTER II.

  REDSKINS AND WHITESKINS.

  Don Anibal de Saldibar was gifted with a most energetic character andiron will; obstacles, instead of checking, only impelled him to go onat all risks, until he had carried out what he once resolved to do.In no case could any interference, however powerful its nature, haveinduced him to hesitate in accomplishing his plans, much less make himgive them up. Possessing great physical strength and unusual skill inthe management of weapons, he was courageous after the manner of wildbeasts, through an instinct for evil and to smell blood. Still he hadas much contempt for his own life as for that of his opponent, andhe never tried to avoid peril, but, on the contrary, felt a secretpleasure in looking it in the face.

  The soldiers who accompanied him had assuredly furnished proofs oftheir courage long before. Still it was with a start of terror they sawhim advance calmly and carelessly toward this barricade of verdure,which rose silent and menacing before them, and behind which theyexpected at each moment to see spring up a band of enemies, exasperatedby long sufferings, and resolved to defend themselves to the lastextremity. In the probable event of a collision, the position of theMexicans was most disadvantageous.

  The soldiers, grouped on a path only three feet in width, having ontheir right a perpendicular granite wall, and on their left a deepbarranca, into which the slightest false step might precipitate them,with no shelter of any description to fight men hidden behind a thickbarricade, were almost certain of being defeated, if a hand to handfight began with the Indians. Hence the old officer who commanded theescort shook his head several times with a dissatisfied air, after hehad hastily examined the probable fighting ground.

  The juez de letras and the two alguaciles who served him as a guardof honour, evidently shared the lieutenant's opinion, for they hadstopped out of gunshot and dismounted, under a pretext of tighteningtheir mules' girths, but in reality to convert the carcases of the poorbrutes into a rampart.

  As for Sotavento, sitting motionless on his horse about ten yards atthe most from the felled trees, he was carelessly rolling a cigarettebetween his fingers, while pinching up his thin lips, and letting aviper's glance pass through his half-closed eyelids.

  He seemed, in short, to take but very slight interest in what was goingon around him, and was prepared to be a spectator rather than actor ofthe events which would in all probability occur.

  The hacendero had approached the barricade. His face was unmoved;with his left hand resting on one of the branches, and his body bentslightly forward, he was trying to peer through the intertwinedbranches and leaves at some of the enemies whom he supposed to beambuscaded there.

  Still, although this examination lasted for several minutes, and DonAnibal, through bravado, prolonged it far beyond what was necessary,the deepest silence continued to prevail, and not a leaf stirred.

  "Come," the hacendero said in a sarcastic voice, as he drew himselfup, "you are mistaken, Sotavento, there is no one here. I was a foolto believe for a moment that these brutes would attempt to dispute ourpassage."

  "Well, well," the majordomo said with a grin, "?quien sabe? mi amo,?quien sabe? These brutes, as you very correctly term them, have notleft their prairies so long as to have completely forgotten theirIndian tricks."

  "I care little," the hacendero answered drily, "what their intentionsor the tricks they have prepared may be; dismount and help me to rollover the precipice these trees which obstruct the path; at a later datewe will proceed to punish the persons who have thus dared to barricadethe king's road."

  Sotavento hung his head without replying, and prepared to obey; butbefore he had drawn his foot out of the stirrup the branches parted,and in the space thus left free appeared a man wearing a gold-lacedhat with a military cock, and holding in his right hand a longsilver-knobbed cane.

  As this individual is destined to play a certain part in thisnarrative, we will draw his portrait in a few lines.

  He was a man of lofty stature, with marked features and an intelligentphysiognomy. His black eyes, sparkling like carbuncles, and full ofcunning, had a strange fixity, which gave him, when any internalemotion agitated him, an expression of cold ferocity impossible todescribe. His complexion, which was of the colour of new red copper,allowed him to be recognized as an Indian at the first glance; althoughhe had passed midlife, it was impossible to decide his age, for heseemed as vigorous and active as if only twenty years old; not awrinkle furrowed his brow, not a single gray hair was perceptible inthe thick black masses which fell in disorder on his shoulders.

  Excepting his gold-laced hat, and his silver-mounted cane, which werethe emblems of his rank as cacique or alcade of the aldea, his dresswas very simple, and only consisted of worn velvet calzoneras, whichbut half covered his bare legs, and a gaily coloured zarape, which wasthrown over his shoulders.

  Still, in spite of this miserable garb, this man had about him such anair of haughty dignity and innate superiority, that, on seeing him, hisridiculous attire was forgotten, and involuntary respect was felt forhim.

  This person was, in fact, the chief of the Red Buffaloes, theircacique, to whom the governor of the province had given the title ofalcade.

  His name was Mah-mih-kou-ing-atl, not a very euphonious name; but, likeall Indian titles, it had a meaning, and signified literally "RunningWater."

  The hacendero and the cacique examined each other for a momentsilently, like two duellists, who, before falling on their favouriteguard, try to discover their opponent's weak point, and thus rendertheir attack, if possible, decisive.

  It was the first time they stood face to face, and hence the fixednessof their glance had something strange and fatal about it. Still, DonAnibal's machete, raised against the barricade, fell without striking.The cacique, satisfied with this triumph, turned his head away with agloomy smile. Each of these men had measured his foe, and found him aworthy one. The spectators, dumb and motionless, anxiously awaited whatwas about to take place. Don Anibal was the first to break the silence.

  "What is the meaning of this?" he asked, in a voice that betrayed dullpassion; "By what right do you obstruct the king's highway?"

  "Who are you, first, who question me in so haughty a fashion, and whoauthorizes you to do so?" the cacique answered drily.

  "Who I am?" the Spaniard continued passionately, "Do you not know?"

  "Whether I know or not is of no consequence; I wish to learn the factfrom you. I am not acquainted with you, and do not wish to have anydispute with you."

  "Do you think so, my master?" the hacendero retorted with a mockingsmile, "If unfortunately you are mistaken, as you will speedilydiscover."

  "Perhaps so," the Indian replied disdainfully; "but, in the meanwhile,as you have no right to enter my village with soldiers, in my qualityof magistrate, I order you to withdraw, rendering you and yoursresponsible for the consequences of your disobedience in the event ofyour refusing to obey my orders."

  While Don Anibal listened to these words, with his arms crossed on hischest, and head thrown back, a smile of imperceptible meaning playedaround his lips.

  "I fancy," he said ironically, "that you attach greater importance toyour dignity of alcade than it really possesses, my master; but I havenot come here to discuss with you. Will you, yes or no, let me pass?"

  "Why do you not try to force a passage?" the cacique said.

  "I am going to do so."

  "Try it."

  Without replying, Don Anibal turned to the leader of the escort.

  "Lieutenant," he said to him, "order your men to fire on thatscoundrel."

  But the old officer shook his head.

  "Hum!" he remarked, "What good would that do us? It would only cause usto be killed like asses. Do you imagine that man to be alone?"

  "Then you refuse to obey me?" the hacendero said with concentratedpassion.

  "iCanarios! I should think I do refuse. I was ordered to defend youfrom attack; but not to sacrifice the men I command in satisfying awhim. This individual, the
deuce take him! Were he ten times the Indianhe is, has the law on his side, iRayo de Dios! You waste your time inarguing with him, instead of coming to an end at once."

  Don Anibal listened to this remonstrance with ill-restrainedimpatience. When the lieutenant ceased speaking, he said with ironicaldeference, as he bowed to him--

  "Pray what would you have done in my place, Senor Lieutenant?"

  "iCanarios! I should have acted in a different way. It is evident thatwe are not the stronger, and that if we attempt to pass as you propose,those red devils will only have to give us a push to send us rollingover the precipice, which, I suppose, would not exactly suit yourviews."

  "Well?" the hacendero interrupted with an impatient gesture.

  "One moment, hang it all! Let us act legally since it is necessary. Thealcade's cane is at times stronger than the soldier's sword, and tobreak it you require a stronger cane, that is all. Have you not broughtwith you a sort of writer or juez de letras, flanked by two alguaciles?The scoundrel must have some sort of authority in his pocket. Butwhat do I know? Well, let the two black birds settle matters betweenthemselves. Believe me, it is the only thing we can do in the presentposture of affairs; we will see if these picaros dare to resist arepresentative of his majesty, whom may Heaven preserve!"

  "iViva Dios! you are right, Lieutenant; I perceive that I acted like anass, and we ought to have begun with that. Give those persons orders tocome up, if you please."

  The cacique had listened to the conversation, leaning carelessly onhis cane in the trench behind the barricade; but, on hearing theconclusion, which he doubtless had not anticipated, he frowned andlooked anxiously behind him.

  At a sign from the lieutenant, several soldiers went in search of thejuez de letras and his two acolytes. But it was no easy task to bringthem to the front: officers of justice have this in common with thecrow, that they smell gunpowder a long distance off.

  The poor devils, entrenched, as well as they could manage, behindtheir mules, were trembling all over, while waiting for the action tobegin; when they saw the soldiers galloping toward them, they fanciedtheir last hour had arrived, and they began commending their souls toHeaven, while repeating all the prayers they could call to mind, andbeating their chests powerfully, as they invoked all the saints of theinterminable Spanish calendar.

  At the first moment the soldiers were greatly amused at their terror,and laughed heartily at their pale faces and startled glances. Onhearing the lancers laugh, the juez de letras, who, apart from hispoltroonery, was a clever and sensible man, began reflecting, andsuspected that the danger was not so great as he had at first supposedit.

  He got up, carefully arranged his attire, and asked the soldiers fornews, which they gave him, laughing most heartily the while. The juezthen drew himself up in a dignified manner, mounted his mule, andaddressed his alguaciles, who were still hidden behind a bend in thepath--

  "Well, scamps," he said to them, while attempting to reassume animposing air, as became a magistrate of his importance, "what is themeaning of this? Heaven pardon me, but I believe you are afraid. Isthat the way in which you sustain the honour of the gown you wear?Come, come, mount without further delay, and follow me smartly."

  The alguaciles, abashed by this sharp reprimand, got on their mules,offering the best excuses they could, and ranged themselves behindtheir superior officer.

  Still the worthy juez de letras was not so reassured as he wished toappear, and we are forced to confess that the nearer he drew to thebarricade, the more formidable it seemed to him, and the less at easedid he feel as to the results of the mission he had to carry out.

  Still, hesitation was no longer possible, he must bravely go throughwith the affair; and pluck up a heart. No one is so courageous as apoltroon driven into a corner; fear in him takes the place of bravery,and he becomes the more rash in proportion to his former terror.

  The juez de letras gave a proof of this, for instead of halting areasonable distance from the barricade, he advanced till he couldalmost touch it. Perhaps, though, this did not result entirely from hisown will, for the soldiers had maliciously given the poor mule severalvigorous blows with their chicotes, so that it pricked up its ears anddashed madly onward. The fact is, that, whether voluntarily or not, thejuez found himself side by side with Don Anibal.

  The lieutenant's advice was, as he had said, the only mode of puttingan end to the cacique's resistance. At the period when this story takesplace, the liberal ideas which overturned and regenerated the old worldhad not yet reached the Spanish colonies, or, if they had reached them,had not penetrated to the lower classes, who, besides, would not haveunderstood them.

  The King of Spain, owing to the system adopted by the Peninsulargovernment, was revered, feared, and respected like a god; the lowestof his representatives, the mere flag hoisted over a conducta de plata,were sufficient to protect the millions that traversed the entirelength of Mexico to be embarked on board the ships; in a word, it wouldnot have occurred to anyone in New Spain that it was possible to rebelagainst the mother country or disobey the lowest or most insignificantof the officers of the sovereign beyond the seas.

  Still, in spite of the knowledge of their power, the Spaniards wereslightly alarmed by the coldly resolute attitude of the Indian cacique;the more so, because this man belonged to that haughty Comanche racewhich preferred to return to the desert sooner than bend beneath theSpanish yoke. It is true that Running Water, on settling on this sidethe border, had recognized the suzerainty of the King of Spain; butit was so recently that this fact occurred, that there was reason tofear lest the Red Buffaloes, driven to extremities by the countlessannoyances they had endured, might be resolved to take an exemplaryvengeance on their enemies, even though that vengeance entailed theirutter ruin.

  Such instances as this had already occurred several times in thecolony. Another reason also heightened the apprehensions of Don Anibaland his companions; in spite of the secrecy in which his plans werearranged and his rapidity of action, the Indians had been warned ofwhat was being prepared against them, which was superabundantly provedby the measures they had taken to defend themselves against an attackwhich nothing could have led them to suspect.

  The hacendero had, then, been betrayed; but who was the traitor?

  At a sign from Don Anibal, the juez de letras prepared withconsiderable assurance to exhibit his titles and quality. Aftersecuring himself firmly in his saddle the magistrate drew a paper froma portfolio one of the alguaciles handed him, the contents of which heread in a loud, firm voice.

  This document was to the effect that the Comanche Indians, called theRed Buffaloes, who had sought shelter on the Spanish territory, andto whom the government of his majesty had deigned to grant asylumand protection, had rendered themselves unworthy this protection bytheir misdeeds, a long list of which was quoted. The Viceroy of NewSpain, listening to the repeated complaints which were made from allsides against them, recognizing them as ungrateful and incorrigiblefelons, withdrew the hand he had hitherto extended to protect them,and ordered, in consequence, that they should be compelled by alllegal means at once to abandon their place of residence, and repassthe border, after their village had been utterly destroyed in theirpresence. Any disobedience would be punished with death, etc., etc.

  This document was listened to in religious silence by the cacique, withdowncast head and frowning brow, but without the slightest mark ofimpatience, anger, or sorrow. When the judge had finished he raised hishead, and looked at him like a man awakening from sleep.

  "Have you ended?" he asked him in a gentle voice.

  "Not yet," the magistrate answered, amazed and emboldened by thismildness, which he had been far from anticipating.

  "Do so," he said.

  The judge continued:

  "Consequently I, Don Ignacio Pavo y Cobardo, juez de letras of the townof Mondovo, by virtue of the powers conceded to me by the most sereneGovernor of the Intendancy, summon you, alcade of the aldea of the RedBuffaloes, in the name of h
is Majesty, whom may Heaven preserve, toobey this order at once without any resistance."

  Running Water drew himself up, gave the spectators a glance of strangemeaning; then, without uttering a word, he took off his hat, whichhe threw over the precipice, broke his cane across his knee, let thepieces fall at his feet, and said to Don Anibal--

  "You wish for war, be it so! I accept. You can now pass, and no onewill oppose you."

  He fell back a step, shouted in a thundering voice, "We shall meetagain," and then disappeared.