Les scalpeurs blancs. English. Page 9

  CHAPTER VII.

  THE ATEPETL.

  Texas is intersected by two lines of continuous forests, which run fromthe north, near the sources of the Rio Trinidad to the Arkansas river.These forests are called the "Cross Timbers;" behind them commence theimmense prairies of Apacheria, on which countless herds of buffaloes andwild horses wander about at liberty.

  In the centre of a narrow valley, enclosed on three sides by the denudedand serrated crests of the mountains--and on the banks of the RioSabina, a little above its confluence with the Vermejo, where it stillflows wide and transparent between undulating banks, bordered by clumpsof cotton-wood trees and dwarf palms--an Indian village was deliciouslyscattered among the trees. The latter formed a dense dome of foliageover the callis, which they sheltered from the hot beams of the southernsun, and protected from the cold gusts which at times descend from themountains in the winter season. This village was a winter atepetl of theComanche Indians, belonging to the Antelope tribe. We will describe in afew words this village, where several important scenes connected withour narrative will take place.

  Although, built to the fancy of the Redskins, the callis affected acertain regularity of construction, as they all converged on a commonpoint, which formed a species of grand square in the heart of thevillage. In the centre of this square could be seen a large unhoopedbarrel, deeply buried in the ground, and covered with lichens andstonecrop. It was the "ark of the first man." It was here that the warstake was planted before the great medicine lodge; and here, under gravecircumstances, the Sachems lit the council fire, and smoked the sacredcalumet ordinarily placed before the entrance of the calli of the chiefSachem, and supported on two forked sticks, as it must never touch theground.

  The Indian callis are generally constructed in a spherical shape, builton piles covered with mud, over which buffalo hides sewn together, anddisplaying numerous pictures of animals painted in vermilion, arethrown. On a scaffolding standing in front of the calli, Indian corn,forage for the horses, and the winter provisions of each inhabitant werestored. At intervals could be seen tall poles, from which waved, at theslightest breath of air, blankets, harness, and fragments of stuffs ofevery description, the homage raised by the superstitious Redskins tothe Master of Life, a species of _ex voto_ torn from them by theirfears, and named the "Medicine of Hope."

  The village, excepting on the side turned to the Sabina river, wassurrounded by a strong palisade about fifteen feet high, made ofenormous trunks of trees, fastened together with strips of bark andwooden cramp hooks. At about five or, six hundred yards from the atepetlwas the cemetery, the exhalations from which, by disagreeably affectingthe traveller's sense of smell, advised him that he was approaching anIndian tribe. The natives of America, like most of those in Polynesia,have a very singular mode of burial. As a general rule, they do notinter their dead, but suspend them between earth and sky. After wrappingthem carefully in blankets and buffalo robes, they place them onplatforms supported on four poles some fifty feet high, and leave themexposed to the rain and sun to decompose gradually. The birds of preyincessantly hover over these strange tombs, uttering shrill anddiscordant cries, while making a disgusting meal on the putrefyingflesh.

  Two months after the battle of the Cerro Pardo, on the day when weresume our narrative, and about an hour before sunset, on a deliciousafternoon of September,--which the Indians call the Moon of the WildOats--several riders, mounted on fiery mustangs, harnessed in the desertfashion, that is to say, painted of several colours, and adorned withplumes and bells, were following, while conversing together rathereagerly, a winding path, which runs for several leagues along thewinding course of the Rio Sabina, and terminates at the winter atepetlof the Antelope Comanches, which we described at the beginning of thischapter.

  These horsemen, five in number, were armed with rifles, tomahawks, andmachetes. They wore the cotton hunting shirt of the wood rangersfastened round the waist, _mitasses_, or trousers, in two pieces tied atthe ankles, fur caps, and Indian mocassins. Still, although this costumewas almost identical with that worn by the majority of the Indiantribes, in whom constant contact with the Americans has produced a sortof bastard civilization, it was easy to recognise these riders as whitemen, not only through the ease of their manners, but also through theclearness of their complexion, which the hot sunbeams had been impotentto render so dusky as that of the aboriginals.

  About two hundred yards behind the horsemen, came a sixth, mounted anddressed like them, but who was assuredly a Redskin. His head, instead ofbeing covered by a fur cap, was bare; his hair, pulled up at the top ofhis head, and stained with red ochre, was fastened with strips ofsnakeskin; a falcon feather stuck in above his right ear, near hiswar-scalp lock, indicated his claim to high rank among his countrymen,while the numerous wolf tails fastened to his heels, proved that he wasa renowned warrior; in his right hand he held a fan made of the entirewing of an eagle, and in his left he waved the short-handled andlong-lashed whip, peculiar to the Comanche and Sioux Indians.

  These riders employed none of the precautions usual on the prairie toavoid surprises, or foil the enemies generally ambushed in the track ofhunters. From the way in which they conversed together, and the absentglances they at times took across the country, rather through habit thanany prudential motive, it might easily be guessed that these men werereaching a spot perfectly well known to them, and where they feltcertain of not falling into a trap. Still, had they not been absorbed intheir conversation, and could their glances have pierced the densecurtain of verdure that formed a fragrant wall on their right, theywould have seen amid the shrubs and lower branches of the trees anagitation not at all natural, and doubtless produced by the passage of awild beast; at times, too, they might have noticed two eyes flashingamong the leaves, which were fixed upon them with a savage expressionof passion and hatred.

  But, we repeat, these men, who, however, were wood rangers, renowned inthese parts for their almost miraculous sagacity and skill, were socompletely absorbed in their conversation; they felt so sure of havingno snare to apprehend, their eyes and ears were so thoroughly closed,that they appeared blind and deaf, although ordinarily not the slightestnoise, or the most futile object escaped their notice, but was analyzedwith the searching and investigating spirit of individuals whose lifemay hang on a false step or a badly calculated movement.

  On coming within pistol shot of the village, the horsemen stopped togive the Indian behind them time to rejoin them. So soon as the latterperceived this halt, he whipped his horse, and almost immediately rangedup alongside his comrades. He stopped his horse, and waited silently andcalmly till he should be addressed.

  "What are we to do now, Chief?" one of the travellers asked. "So soon aswe have passed that projecting point we shall be at the valley."

  "Our Pale brothers are brave; the Antelope Comanches will be happy toreceive them and burn powder in their honour. A Chief will go alone tothe village to announce their arrival to the Sachems."

  "Go then, Chief, we will await you here."

  "Wah! My brother has spoken well."

  The Indian vigorously lashed his horse, which bounded ahead and speedilydisappeared behind the peak to which the hunter had pointed. Thehorsemen drew up in line and waited motionless with their hands on theirweapons. In a very few minutes a noise was heard resembling the rollingof thunder, and suddenly a crowd of mounted Indians appeared, coming upat full speed, brandishing their weapons, discharging their guns,howling and whistling in the long _iskochettas_ made of human thighbones, which they wore hanging from their necks.

  On their side, the hunters, at a sign from the man who appeared to betheir leader, made their horses curvet, and discharged their weaponswith repeated shouts and demonstrations of joy. For half an hour therewas a deafening noise, augmented by the yells of the squaws and childrenwho flocked up, blowing shells and rattling _chichikoues_, and thebarking of the thousands of savage and half-tamed dogs which the Indiansconstantly take about with them. It was plain that the s
trangers to whomthe Redskins, generally so haughty and retiring, offered so warm andfriendly a reception, were great friends of the tribe; for, had it beenotherwise, a deputation of Chiefs would have met them at the entrance ofthe village to do them the honours of the atepetl, but the brave andrenowned warriors would not have thought it requisite to get under arms.

  All at once the noise ceased as if by enchantment, and the Indianhorsemen ranged themselves in a semicircle in front of the whitehunters. A few paces before the line, four principal Chiefs, mounted onmagnificent mustangs, formed a separate group. These warriors,completely armed and painted for war, wore the great cap of featherswhich only renowned warriors who have raised many scalps are entitled toassume; their shoulders were decked with superb necklaces of grizzlybears' claws, five inches long and white at the tips; behind themfloated the wide white buffalo robe, painted red inside, and on whichtheir exploits were designed; in one hand they held their guns, in theother a fan made of the wing of a white-headed eagle. These Indianwarriors, clothed in such a magnificent costume, had something majesticand imposing about them that inspired respect.

  For some ten minutes the Indians and hunters stood thus, motionless andsilent, in presence of each other, when suddenly a fresh horsemanappeared, coming at full speed from the village. He was evidently awhite man; he was dressed in the garb of a wood ranger, and twomagnificent _rastreros_, or greyhounds, leaped up playfully on eitherside of his horse. At the appearance of the newcomer the Indians burstinto yells of joy, and shouted--

  "The great brave of the Antelope Comanches! Loyal Heart, Loyal Heart!"

  The warrior was really the Mexican hunter, who has already made hisappearance several times during the course of our narrative. He salutedthe warriors by a wave of the hand, and took his place among the Chiefs,who respectfully made way for him.

  "My brother Black-deer has informed me of the arrival of great friendsof our nation," he said, "and I have hurried up in all haste to witnesstheir reception and bid them welcome."

  "Why has not the Black-deer accompanied our brother the great Brave ofthe tribe?" one of the Chiefs asked.

  "The Sachem wished to remain in the village and watch the preparation ofthe medicine lodge."

  The Chief bowed, but said nothing further. Loyal Heart then put hishorse at a gallop and advanced toward the hunters, who, on their sides,made a move to meet him.

  "You are welcome here, Tranquil," Loyal Heart said; "yourself and yourcomrades were impatiently expected."

  "Thank you," Tranquil answered, pressing the hand the hunter offeredhim; "many events have happened since our separation, and it certainlydid not depend on us that we did not arrive sooner."

  The five white hunters were all old acquaintances--Tranquil, Lanzi,Quoniam, John Davis, and Fray Antonio. How was it that the American andthe Monk had joined the three wood rangers! We shall explain that to thereader in the proper place. Loyal Heart took Tranquil's right hand, andboth advanced at an amble towards the Chiefs.

  "Sachems of the Antelope tribe," he said, "this Pale hunter is mybrother; his heart is good, his arm strong, and his tongue is notforked; he loves the red men; he is renowned as a great brave in hisnation, he is wise at the council fire; love him, for the Master of Lifesustains him and has removed the skin from his heart, in order that hisblood may be pure and the words he utters such as a wise warrior oughtto pronounce."

  "Wah!" one of the Sachems answered, with a graceful bow to the hunter;"the Comanches are great warriors; who can tell the extent of thehunting grounds the great spirit has given them? They are the masters ofthe red man because they are all great braves, whose heels are adornedwith numerous wolf tails. My Pale brother and his warriors will enterthe atepetl; they will receive callis, horses, and squaws to clean theirarms and prepare their food, and the tribe of Antelope Comanches willcount five braves more. I have spoken; have I said right, powerfulChiefs?"

  "Chief," Tranquil replied, "I thank you for the hearty reception you arepleased to offer me. My brother, Loyal Heart, has told you the truthabout my feelings towards your nation. I love the Red men, andespecially the Comanches, who, of all the nations dwelling on theprairies, are the noblest and most courageous, and rightly callthemselves the Queen Nation of the prairies, because their war horsesand braves traverse it in all directions, and no one dares to opposethem. In my own name and that of my comrades I accept your frank andcordial hospitality, and we shall requite so great a favour by our wiseand moderate conduct."

  The principal Sachem then took off his buffalo robe, with a gesture fullof dignity, and placed it on the shoulders of the hunter, while theother Chiefs did the same to his comrades.

  "Warriors and braves of the powerful Antelope tribe," he said, turningto the Indians, who were still motionless and silent, "these Palefacesare henceforth our brothers. Woe to the man who insults them!"

  At these words the shouts and yells recommenced with fresh vigour, andthe Indians displayed signs of the liveliest joy. Possibly this joy wasnot so real as it appeared, and was not equally shared by all present.But those who might feel annoyed at the admission of the wood rangersinto the tribe, carefully concealed their displeasure, and were,perhaps, the very men whose demonstrations of delight were the mostvociferous.

  Indian policy, very logical in this as in many other things, orders thenatives to seek at any price an alliance with the whites, whoserecognized skill in the management of arms, and profound knowledge ofthe manners of their countrymen, may at a given moment be of greatservice to the Indians, either in the interminable wars they wageagainst each other, or to defend them against the soldiers, _civicos_,and armed colonists, whom the civilized governments surrounding themfrequently send to take vengeance for incursions on the territories ofthe White men, incursions in which the Indians indulge only toofrequently, and during which they are guilty of deeds of unheard-ofcruelty, and cause irreparable misfortunes.

  After the final ceremony we have described, the Indian Sachems took theWhite hunters in their midst, and placing themselves at the head oftheir warriors, started at a gallop for the village, which they reachedin less than a quarter of an hour. At the entrance Black-deer waswaiting for them, surrounded by the most important and wisest Sachems ofthe tribe. Without uttering a syllable, he took the head of the columnand led it to the centre of the village, near the Ark of the first man.On reaching it the Indians suddenly halted, as if the feet of theirhorses were imbedded in the ground. Black-deer then stationed himself atthe doorway of the medicine lodge, between the hachesto, who held in hishand the totem of the tribe, and the pipe bearer, who supported thesacred calumet.

  "Who are the Pale men who thus enter as friends the atepetl of theAntelope Comanches?" he asked, addressing Loyal Heart.

  "They are brothers, who ask leave to sit by the hearth of the Red men,"the latter answered.

  "It is well," Black-deer continued; "these men are our brothers. TheCouncil fire is lighted; they will enter with us the lodge of the GreatMedicine, sit down by the fire and smoke _morichee_ from the sacredcalumet with the Sachems of the nation."

  "Let it be as my brother has decided," Loyal Heart responded.

  Black-deer gave a wave of the hand, upon which the hachesto raised thecurtained door of the lodge, and the Chiefs entered, followed by thehunters. The medicine lodge, much larger than the other callis of thevillage, was also built with greater care. The buffalo skins thatcovered it entirely were painted red with a profusion of black designs,a species of sacred hieroglyphics, only understood by the medicine menand the most renowned Sachems of the tribe, who possessed the scent ofthe war trail. The interior of the lodge was perfectly empty. In thecentre was a round hole dug in the earth to a depth of about two feet;in this hole the requisite wood and charcoal were prepared.

  When all the Chiefs had entered the lodge, the hachesto let the curtainfall again that formed the entrance. A band of picked warriorsimmediately surrounded the lodge to keep off the curious, and insure thesecrecy of the deliberations. The Indians are e
xcessively strict aboutthe laws of etiquette; with them everything is regulated with aminuteness we should be far from expecting among a semi-barbarousnation; and each is bound by the severest penalties to conform to theceremonial. In order to make our readers thoroughly understand theirstrange manners, we thought it best to give them in their fullestdetail.

  Thus Black-deer was perfectly well aware who the Palefaces were thatreached the village, since he had acted as their guide. But etiquettedemanded that he should receive them as he had done, for otherwise theother Chiefs might have been scandalized by such a breach of custom, andthe strangers would, in all probability, have questions to discuss. Inthe first place, it was proposed to organise a great expedition againstthe Buffalo Apaches, a plundering tribe, who had several times stolenhorses from the very villages of the Comanches, and on whom the Sachemsdesired to take exemplary revenge. Secondly, Tranquil, through themedium of Loyal Heart, whose influence was great with the tribe,requested that a band of picked braves, amounting to fifty, and placedunder the command of Loyal Heart, should be entrusted to him for anexpedition, the object of which he could not divulge at the moment, butits success would benefit his allies as much as himself.

  The first question was, after several speeches, unanimously resolved inthe affirmative. The council was proceeding to discuss the second, whena loud noise was heard outside, the curtain of the medicine lodge wasraised, and the hachesto walked in. Let us shortly explain what thehachesto of an Indian village is, and the nature of his duties. Thehachesto is a man who must be gifted with a loud and powerful voice. Herepresents among the Redskins the town crier, and his duty is to makenews public, and convene the Chiefs to council. When he made hisappearance in the lodge, Black-deer gave him an angry glance.

  "When the Chiefs are assembled in the Medicine lodge, they must not bedisturbed," he said to him.

  "My father, Wah-Rush-a-Menec, speaks well," the Indian answered with arespectful bow; "his son knows it."

  "Then, why has my son entered without the orders of the Sachems?"

  "Because five warriors of the Buffalo Apaches have arrived at thevillage."

  "Wah! And who is the brave that has made them prisoners? Why has he nottaken their scalps? Does he prefer fastening them to the stake oftorture?"

  The hachesto shook his head.

  "My father is mistaken," he said; "these warriors have not been madeprisoners by any of our braves, they are free."

  "Ooehst!" said Black-deer with a degree of surprise he could notentirely conceal; "How then did they enter the village?"

  "Openly, in the sight of all; they call themselves ambassadors."

  "Ambassadors! And who is the Chief that marches at their head?"

  "Blue-fox."

  "Blue-fox is a great brave. He is a terrible warrior in fight; his armhas raised many scalps belonging to my sons; his hand has robbed them ofmany horses. But his presence is disagreeable to the Comanches. Whatdoes he want?"

  "To enter the Medicine lodge, and explain to the Sachems the missionwith which he is entrusted."

  "It is well," said Black-deer, giving an enquiring glance to the membersof the council.

  The latter replied by a nod of assent. Loyal Heart rose--

  "My Pale brothers, I must not be present at the deliberation that isabout to take place," he remarked; "will the Chief permit me to retire?"

  "Loyal Heart is a son of the Comanches," Black-deer answered; "his placeis among us, for, if he be young in years, his experience and wisdom aregreat. But he can do as he pleases--the Pale hunters can retire. If theChiefs require Loyal Heart, they will request his return."

  The young man bowed ceremoniously, and withdrew, followed by thehunters, who, we must confess, were delighted at getting away from theMedicine lodge, for they felt the need of rest after the fatigue theyhad undergone in making a long journey by almost impracticable roads.