CHAPTER XIV.
TWO ENEMIES.
In the high American latitudes, night comes on almost suddenly, andwithout sensible transition; there is no twilight, and when the sun hasdisappeared on the horizon, it is perfect night; now, at the period ofthe year when the events occurred which we have undertaken to describe,the sun set at seven o'clock. Half an hour later, Tranquil and LoyalHeart, mounted on excellent mustangs, left the rancho, followed by NoEusebio, who insisted on joining them, and whom no entreaties orexhortations could keep back. They had only gone a few yards across thesquare, however, when the Canadian laid his hand on the young man'sbridle.
"What do you want?" the latter asked.
"Shall we not take our comrades with us?"
"Do you think it necessary?"
"Well, with the exception of the monk, who, I fear, is not worth much,they are stout fellows, whose rifles might prove very useful to us."
"That is true; warn them in a few words, and rejoin me here."
"Do you not think the departure of so large a party may arouse thesuspicions of Blue-fox, who is doubtless prowling about theneighbourhood?"
"Not at all, they are white men; if he saw Indian warriors departingthus, I am sure his doubts would be aroused; but he will never supposethat hunters have discovered his treachery."
"You may be right, but in any case it is better to run the risk; waitfor me, I shall be back in ten minutes."
"All right, go along."
Tranquil went off rapidly, while Loyal Heart and No Eusebio halted a fewyards further on. The adventurers gleefully accepted the proposalTranquil made them; for such men, a battle is a festival, especiallywhen they have Indians to fight; ten minutes scarce elapsed, therefore,ere the Canadian rejoined the young man. The little band set out, andsilently left the village.
Loyal Heart was mistaken in supposing that Blue-fox would not be alarmedon seeing the white hunters leave the atepetl. The Redskin, like all menwho meditate treachery, had his eyes constantly open to the movements ofthe inhabitants of the village, and his watchful mind took umbrage atthe most insignificant matters. Although the Comanche Chiefs had actedwith the greatest prudence, the Apache Sachem speedily perceived that hewas watched, and that, though honourably treated, and apparently free,he was in reality a prisoner. He pretended not to suspect what was goingon, but redoubled his attention. During the past day, he had seenseveral warriors mount their horses one after the other, and set out ingroups of two, three, and even four, to bury themselves in the forest.
Not one of these warriors having re-entered the atepetl by sunset, thiscircumstance caused the Redskin Chief deep thought, and he even came tothe conclusion that his plans were discovered, and that the Comancheswere attempting a countermine, that is to say, were trying to surprisethe persons who desired to lay a trap for them, and the departure of thewhite hunters would have removed the Chief's final doubts, had any suchremained. The situation was growing not only very critical, but mostperilous for him; his scalp was extremely compromised; it was plain thatthe Comanche warriors on their return would perform the scalp dance, andthe finest ornament of the feast would be the Apache Chief who had triedto lead them into a cleverly-prepared trap.
Blue-fox was a warrior renowned as much for his wisdom in council as forhis bravery in fight; instances of extraordinary audacity and temerity,were narrated about him, but the courage with which the Chief was giftedwas calm, reasoning, and ever subordinate to events; that is to say,Blue-fox, like a true Redskin, would never hesitate, when circumstancesdemanded it, to substitute craft and trickery for courage, consideringit highly absurd, and very useless, to expose his life without any hopeof profit.
Blue-fox was sitting in front of the entrance of the calli of honour theComanches had given him during the period of his stay with them, calmlysmoking his pipe, when the white hunters passed before him. He displayedneither surprise nor curiosity at the sight of them, but by an almostimperceptible movement of his head and shoulders, he looked after themwith a flashing glance till they disappeared in the darkness. We havesaid that the night was dark, the village already appeared completelydeserted, the Indians had withdrawn to the interior of their callis,while at lengthened intervals an isolated Redskin hastily crossed thesquare, hurrying homewards.
Blue-fox still sat before his calli smoking; gradually the arm thatsupported the calumet fell on his knees, his head bowed on his chest,and the Apache Sachem seemed, as so often happens to the Indians, tohave yielded to the narcotic influence of the morichee; and a long timeelapsed ere he made the slightest movement. Was the Chief really asleep?No one could have answered the question. His calm and regular breathing,and his careless attitude, led to the supposition that he had beenovercome by sleep; but, if any sound suddenly smote his ear, an almostimperceptible tremor ran over his limbs, and his eyelash rose, probablythrough that instinct of personal prudence peculiar to the Indians, butmore probably through a desire of investigation, as we think, and asanyone else would have thought who was in a position to see the piercingglances he at such moments darted into the obscurity. All at once thecurtain of the calli was raised, and a hand was roughly laid on thesleeper's shoulder. The Chief started at this touch, which he did not atall expect, and sprang up as if a serpent had stung him.
"The nights are cold," said an ironical voice, which smote unpleasantlyon the ear of Blue-fox; "the dew is profuse, and ices the blood; mybrother is wrong to sleep thus in the open air, when he has a spaciousand convenient calli."
Blue-fox, by a powerful effort, extinguished the fire of his glance,composed his features, and answered in the gentle voice of a man who isreally waking--
"I thank my brother for his affectionate observation; in truth, thenights are very cold, and it is better to sleep in a calli than in theopen air."
He rose without further discussion, and re-entered the hut with the calmstep of a man delighted with the warning he has received. A great firewas kindled in the interior of the calli, which, besides, was illuminedby a torch of ocote wood stuck in the ground, whose ruddy andvacillating glare imparted a blood-red hue to surrounding objects. Theman whose charitable advice surprised Blue-fox, let the curtain fallbehind him, and entered after the chief. This man was Black-deer,without uttering a syllable, he sat down before the fire, and beganarranging the logs with a certain degree of symmetry. Blue-fox gazed onhim for a moment with am undefinable expression, and then walked up andstood by his side.
"My brothers, the Antelope Comanches," he said, with an almostimperceptible tinge of irony in his voice, "are great warriors; theyunderstand the laws of hospitality better than any other nation."
"The Antelope Comanches," Black-deer answered, peaceably, "know thatBlue-fox is a renowned Chief, and one of the great braves of the BuffaloApaches; they are anxious to do him honour."
The Chief bowed.
"Does this honour go so far as to compel so great a warrior as mybrother to watch over my sleep?"
"My brother is the guest of the Antelopes, and in that quality has aclaim to all possible attention."
Like two experienced duellists the Chiefs had crossed swords; havingfelt their blades, they perceived that they were of equal strength, andeach fell back a step to continue the engagement on new ground.
"Then," Blue-fox continued, "my brother will remain in the calli withme."
The Chief gave a nod of assent.
"Wah! I know for what reason the Comanche Sachems treat me thus: theyare aware that Black-deer and Blue-fox, though each adopted by adifferent tribe, are yet brothers of the great and powerful nation ofthe Snake Pawnees; hence they suppose that the two Chiefs would bepleased to converse together and recall their early years. My brotherwill thank the Sachems of his nation for Blue-fox; I was far fromexpecting so great a proof of courtesy on their part."
"My brother is rightly called the Fox," the Comanche replied, briefly,with a bitter accent; "his craft is great."
"What does my brother mean?" the Apache went on with the greatest air o
fsurprise he could assume.
"I speak the truth, and my brother is well aware of it," Black-deeranswered; "why should we thus try to deceive each other? We have beentoo long acquainted. Let my brother listen to me: the Antelope Comanchesare not, as the Apaches suppose them, inexperienced children, they knowfor what purpose my brother has come to their winter atepetl."
"_Ohe!_" the Chief said, "I hear a mocking-bird singing in my ears, butI do not at all understand what it means."
"Perhaps so, but to remove my brother's doubt I will speak to himfrankly."
"Can my brother do so?" the Apache continued, ironically.
"The Chief shall judge:--For some moons past the Buffalo Apaches havebeen trying to take a brilliant revenge on the Comanches for a defeatthe warriors of my nation inflicted on them, but the Apaches arechattering old women who possess no craft; the Comanches will give thempetticoats and send them to cut wood for them in the forests."
The Chief's eyebrows were almost meeting at this crushing insult; aflash of fury burst from his eyes, but still he managed to overpower hisfeelings. He drew himself up with supreme majesty and folded himself inhis buffalo robe.
"My brother, Black-deer, forgets to whom he is speaking," he said;"Blue-fox is the envoy of his nation to the Comanches, he has soughtshelter under the totem of the Antelopes and smoked their sacredcalumet; his person must be respected."
"The Apache Chief is mistaken," Black-deer replied, with a disdainfulsmile; "he is not the envoy of a brave nation, but only the spy of apack of savage dogs. While Blue-fox tries to deceive the ComancheSachems, and lull them to sleep in a treacherous serenity, the Apachedogs are hidden like moles in the tall grass, awaiting the signal whichwill surrender their defenceless enemies into their hands."
Blue-fox looked round the calli, and bounding like a jaguar, rushed onhis foeman, brandishing his knife.
"Die, dog!" he shouted.
Since the beginning of their singular conversation Black-deer had notstirred, he had remained tranquilly crouching over the fire, but hiseyes had not lost one of the Apache's movements, and when the latterrushed madly at him he started aside, and springing up with extremerapidity, seized the Chief in his nervous arms and both rolled on theground, intertwined like serpents. In their fall they fell on the torch,which was extinguished; hence, the terrible and silent conflict went onbetween the two men by the uncertain gleam of the fire, each striving tostab his enemy. They were both of nearly the same age, their strengthand skill were equal, and an implacable hatred animated them; in thishorrible duel, which must evidently terminate in the death of one ofthem, they disdained the usual tricks employed in such fights, as theycared little about death so long as their enemy received the mortal blowsimultaneously.
Still, Blue-fox had a great advantage over his adversary, who, blindedby fury, and not calculating any of his movements, could not longsustain this deadly contest without himself becoming a victim to theinsensate rage which had urged him to attack the Comanche. The latter,on the contrary, completely master of himself, acted with the greatestprudence, and by the way he had seized his enemy had pinned his armsand rendered it impossible for him to employ his weapons; all theefforts of Black-deer tended to roll the Apache into the fire burning inthe centre of the calli.
They had been wrestling thus for a long time, foot against foot, chestto chest, and it was as yet impossible to guess which would gain theupper hand, when suddenly the curtain of the hut was raised, and abrilliant light inundated the interior. Several men entered; they wereComanche warriors. They arrived later than they should have done, forall that took place at this moment had been arranged beforehand betweenthem and Black-deer, but they had been delayed by circumstances beyondtheir control. Five minutes later their interference would have beenuseless, as they would probably have found one of the two combatantskilled by the other, or perhaps raised two corpses, such fury andvindictiveness were displayed in this atrocious struggle.
When Blue-fox saw the help that arrived for his enemy he judged theposition at a glance, and felt that he was lost; still, the cunning andcoolness innate with Indians did not abandon him at this supreme moment;for Redskins, whatever may be the hatred they feel, do not kill an enemywho openly allows that he is conquered. The Apache Chief, so soon as heperceived the Comanches, ceased his efforts, and removed the arms whichhad hitherto held Black-deer as in a vice; then, throwing back his headand closing his eyes, he stood motionless.
Blue-fox was aware that he would be regarded as a prisoner and kept forthe stake of torture; but until the hour marked for his punishmentarrived he retained the hope of escaping, with whatever care he might beguarded. This chance was the last left him, so he did not wish to loseit.
Black-deer rose, greatly shaken by the rude embrace; but, instead ofstriking his enemy, who lay disarmed at his feet, he returned his knifeto his belt. The Apache's calculations were correct: until the hour ofpunishment arrived he had nothing to fear from his enemy.
"Blue-fox is a great brave, he fought like a courageous warrior," saidBlack-deer; "as he must be fatigued he will rise, and the Comanche Chiefwill show him all the consideration he deserves."
And he offered his hand to help him in rising. The Apache made nomovement to pick up his weapons, but frankly accepted the offered handand rose.
"The Comanche dogs will see a warrior die," he said, with an ironicalsmile; "Blue-fox laughs at their tortures; they are not capable ofmaking one of his muscles quiver."
"Good! My brother will see," and turning to the Sachems, who stoodmotionless and silent a few paces off, the Chief added; "when will thiswarrior die?"
"Tomorrow at sunset," the most aged of the Indians laconically answered.
"My brother has heard," Black-deer continued; "has he any remark tomake?"
"Only one."
"My brother can speak, our ears are open."
"Blue-fox does not fear death, but ere he goes to hunt on the happyhunting grounds, beneath the powerful eye of the Wacondah, he hasseveral important matters to settle on this earth."
The Comanches bowed in assent.
"Blue-fox," the Apache Chief continued, "has a necessity to returnamong the warriors of his nation."
"How long will the Chief remain absent?"
"One whole moon."
"Good! What will the Chief do to insure his word, and that the ComancheSachems may put faith in what he says?"
"Blue-fox will leave a hostage."
"The Sachem of the Buffalo Apaches is a great brave; what warrior of hisnation can die in his stead, if he forget to liberate his pledge?"
"I will give the flesh of my flesh, the blood of my blood, the bone ofmy bone. My son will take my place."
The Comanches exchanged a very meaning glance. There was a ratherlengthened silence, during which the Apache, haughtily folded in hisbuffalo robe, stoically waited, and it was impossible to read in hismotionless features one of the emotions that agitated him. At lengthBlack-deer spoke again.
"My brother has recalled to my memory," he said, "the years of ouryouth, when we were both children of the Snake Pawnees, and hunted incompany the elk and the asshata in the prairies of the Upper Missouri.The early years are the sweetest; the words of my brother made my hearttremble with joy. I will be kind to him; his son snail be my substitute,though he is still very young; but he knows how to crawl like theserpent and fly like the eagle, and his arm is strong in fight. ButBlue-fox will reflect before pledging his word. If on the evening of thetwenty-eighth sun my brother has not returned to take his place at thefoot of the stake of torture, his son will die."
"I thank my brother," the Apache replied in a firm voice, "on thetwenty-eighth sun I shall return: here is my open hand."
"And here is mine."
The two enemies clasped in cordial pressure the two hands which, a fewminutes before, had been seeking so eagerly to take each other's life;then Blue-fox unfastened the cascabel skin that attached his long hairin the form of a cap on the top of his head, and removed the whi
te eagleplume fixed above his right ear.
"My brother will lend me his knife," he said.
"My brother's knife is at his feet," the Comanche answered cautiously;"so great a warrior must not remain unarmed. He can pick it up."
The Chief stooped, picked up his knife, and thrust it in his girdle.
"Here is the plume of a Chief," he said as he gave it to Black-deer,cutting off a tress of the long hair, which, being no longer fastened,fell in disorder on his shoulders; he added, "My brother will keep thislock, it forms part of the scalp that belongs to him: the Chief willcome to ask it back on the appointed day and hour."
"Good!" the Comanche answered, taking the hair and the plume, "Mybrother will follow me."
The Comanches, unmoved spectators of this scene, shook their torches torevive the flame, and all the Indians leaving the calli, proceeded inthe direction of the Medicine Lodge, which stood, as we have seen, inthe centre of the square between the ark of the first man and the stakeof torture. It was toward the latter that the Chiefs proceeded with thatslow and solemn step they employ in serious matters. As they passed infront of the callis, the curtains were raised, the inhabitants came out,holding torches, and followed the procession. When the Chiefs reachedthe stake, an immense crowd filled the square, but it was silent andreflecting.
There was something strange and striking in the scenes offered at thismoment by the square, under the light of the torches, whose flame thewind blew in all directions. The Chiefs halted at the foot of the stakeand formed a semicircle, in the centre of which Blue-fox stationedhimself.
"Now that my brother has given his pledge, he can summon his son," saidBlack-deer; "the lad is not far off, I dare say."
The Apache smiled cunningly.
"The young of the eagle always follows the powerful flight of itsparent," he replied; "the warriors will part to the right and left togrant him a passage."
At a silent sign from Black-deer there was a movement in the crowd,which fell back and left a passage through the centre; Blue-fox thenthrust his fingers in his mouth, and imitated thrice the call of thehawk. In a few minutes a similar but very faint cry answered him. TheChief renewed his summons, and this time the answer was shriller andmore distinct. For the third time the Apache repeated his signal, whichwas answered close at hand; the rapid gallop of a horse became audible,and almost immediately an Indian warrior dashed up at full speed. Thiswarrior crossed the entire square without evidencing the slightestsurprise. He stopped short at the foot of the stake, dismounted, andplaced himself by the side of Blue-fox, to whom he merely said--
"Here I am."
This warrior was the son of the Apache Chief, a tall and nobly-built ladof sixteen to seventeen. His features were handsome, his glance washaughty, his demeanour simple, and noble without boasting.
"This boy is my son," Blue-fox said to the Comanche Chiefs.
"Good!" they replied, bowing courteously.
"Does my son consent to remain as a hostage in the place of his father?"Black-deer asked him.
The young man bowed his head in assent.
"My son knows that if his father does not come to liberate his pledge,he will die in his place?"
A smile of contempt played round the boy's lips.
"I know it," he said,
"And my son accepts?"
"I do."
"Good!" the Chief continued, "Let my son look."
He then went up to the stake and fastened to it the feather and lock ofhair Blue-fox had given him.
"This feather and this hair will remain here until the man to whom theybelong returns to claim them," he said.
The Apache Chief answered in his turn--
"I swear on my totem to come and redeem them at the appointed time."
"Wah! My brother is free," Black-deer continued; "here is the feather ofa Chief; it will serve him as a recognition if the warriors of my nationwere to meet him. Still, my brother will remember that he is forbiddencommunicating in any way with the braves of his nation ambushed roundthe village."
"Blue-fox will remember it."
After uttering these few words without even exchanging a look with hisson, who stood motionless by his side, the Chief took the featherBlack-deer offered him, leaped on the horse which had brought the youngman, and started at a gallop, not looking back once. When he haddisappeared in the darkness, the Chiefs went up to the boy, bound himsecurely, and confined him in the Medicine Lodge under the guardianshipof several warriors.
"Now," said Black-deer, "for the others."
And mounting his horse in his turn, he left the village.