CHAPTER XV.
THE AMBUSCADE.
The European traveller, accustomed to the paltry landscapes which manhas carved out corresponding with his own stature and the conventionalnature he has, as it were, contrived to create, can in no way figure tohimself the grand and sublime aspect presented by the great Americanforests, where all seems to sleep, and the ever open eye of God alonebroods over the world. The unknown rumours, without any apparent cause,which incessantly rise from earth to sky like the powerful breathing ofsleeping nature, and mingle with the monotonous murmur of the streams,as they rustle over the pebbles of their bed; and at intervals, themysterious breeze which passes over the tufted tops of the trees, slowlybending them with a gentle rustling of leaves and branches--all thisleads the mind to reverie, and fills it with a religious respect for thesublime works of the Creator.
We fancy we have given a sufficiently detailed account of the village ofthe Antelope Comanches, to be able to dispense with further reference toit; we will merely add that it was built in an amphitheatrical shape,and descended with a gentle incline to the river. This positionprevented the enemy surrounding the village, whose approaches wereguarded from surprise by the trees having been felled for some distance.
Loyal Heart and his comrades advanced slowly, with their rifles on theirthigh, attentively watching the neighbourhood, and ready, at theslightest suspicious movement in the tall grass, to execute a vigorouscharge. All, however, remained quiet round them; at times they heard acoyote baying at the moon, or the noise of an owl concealed by thefoliage; but that was all, and a leaden silence fell again on thesavannah. At times they saw in the bluish rays of the moon indistinctforms appear on the banks of the river; but these wandering shadows wereevidently wild beasts which had left their lurking places to come downand drink.
The march continued thus without encumbrance or alarm of anydescription, until the adventurers had reached the covert, when a densegloom suddenly enveloped them, and did not allow them to distinguishobjects ten yards ahead. Loyal Heart did not consider it prudent toadvance further in a neighbourhood he did not know, and where he saw therisk at each step of falling into an ambuscade; consequently the littleband halted. The horses were made to lie down on their side, their legswere fastened, and their nostrils drawn in with a rope, so that theycould neither stir nor make a sound, and the adventurers, concealingthemselves, waited while watching with the most profound attention.
From time to time they saw horsemen crossing a clearing, and all goingin different directions; some passed close enough to touch them withoutperceiving the hunters, owing to the precautions the latter had taken,and then disappeared in the forest. Several hours passed thus, thehunters being quite unable to comprehend the delay, the reason for whichthe reader, however, knows; the moon had disappeared, and the darknessbecome denser. Loyal Heart, not knowing to what he should attributeBlack-deer's lengthened absence, and fearing some unforeseen misfortunehad burst on the village, was about to give the order for returning,when Tranquil, who, by crawling on his hands and knees, had reached theopen plain where he remained for some time as scout, suddenly returnedto his comrades.
"What is the matter?" Loyal Heart whispered in his ear.
"I cannot say," the hunter answered, "I do not understand it myself.About an hour back, an Indian suddenly sprung up by my side as ifemerging from the ground, and leaping on a horse of whose presence I wasequally ignorant, started at full speed in the direction of thevillage."
"That is strange," Loyal Heart muttered; "and you do not know who theIndian is?"
"Apache."
"Apache, impossible!"
"That is just the point that staggers me; how could an Apache venture tothe village alone?"
"There is something up we do not know; and then the signals we heard?"
"This man answered them."
"What is to be done?"
"Find out."
"But in what way?"
"Why, hang it, by rejoining our friends."
Loyal Heart shook his head.
"No," he said, "we must employ some other method, for I promisedBlack-deer to help him in this expedition, and I will not break myword."
"It is evident that important events have occurred among the tribe."
"That is my opinion too, but you know the prudence of the Indians, so wewill not despair yet; stay," he added, as he tapped his forehead, "Ihave an idea, we shall soon know what is taking place; leave me to act."
"Do you require our help?"
"Not positively; I shall not go out of sight, but if you see me indanger, come up."
"All right,"
Loyal heart took a long rope of plaited leather, which served him as apicquet cord, and laying down his rifle, which might have impeded him inthe execution of the daring plan he had formed, lay down on the groundand crawled away like a serpent. The plain was covered with dead treesand enormous stones, while there were wide trenches at certain spots.This open ground, so singularly broken up, offered, therefore, all thefacilities desirable for forming an ambuscade or a post of observation.
Loyal Heart stopped behind an enormous block of red granite, whoseheight enabled him to stand up, in shelter on all sides save in thedirection of the forest. But he had no great risk to run from anyenemies concealed in the chaparral, for the night was so dark that itwould have been necessary to have followed the hunter's every movement,to discover the spot where he now was.
Loyal Heart was a Mexican; like all his countrymen, whose skill isproverbial in the management of certain weapons, from his youth he hadbeen familiarized with the lasso, that terrible arm which renders theMexican horsemen so formidable. The lasso or reata, for this weapon hastwo names, is a strip of plaited leather, rendered supple by means ofgrease. It is ordinarily forty-five to fifty feet in length, one of theends terminating in a running knot, the other being fastened to an ironring riveted in the saddle; the rider whirls it round his head, sets hishorse at a gallop, and on arriving within thirty or five-and-thirtyyards of the man or animal he is pursuing, he lets the lasso fly, sothat the running knot may fall on the shoulders of his victim. At thesame time that he lets the lasso go, the rider makes his horse suddenlyturn in the opposite direction, and the enemy he has lassoed is, inspite of the most strenuous resistance, hurled down and dragged afterhim. Such is the lasso and the way in which it is employed on horseback.
Afoot, matters are effected much in the same fashion, save that, as thelassoer has no longer his horse to aid him, he is obliged to displaygreat muscular strength, and is often dragged along for a considerabledistance. In Mexico, where this weapon is in general use, peoplenaturally study the means to neutralize its effects, the mostefficacious being to cut the lasso. This is why all horsemen carry intheir boot, within arm's length, a long and sharp knife; still, as thehorseman is nearly always unexpectedly lassoed, he is strangled ere hehas had time to draw his knife. Of one hundred riders lassoed thus in acombat or chase, seventy-five are inevitably killed, and the others onlyescape by a miracle, so much skill, strength, and coolness are needed tocut the fatal knot.
Loyal Heart had the simple idea of forming a running knot at the end ofhis picquet rope, and lassoing the first rider who passed within reach.On getting behind the rock he unrolled the long cord he had fastenedround his body; then, after making the slip knot with all the care itdemands, he coiled the lasso in his hand and waited. Chance seemed tofavour the project of the bold hunter, for, within ten minutes at themost, he heard the gallop of a horse going at full speed. Loyal Heartlistened attentively; the sound approached with great rapidity, and soonthe black outline of a horseman stood out in the night. The directionfollowed by the rider compelled him to pass within a short distance ofthe block of granite behind which Loyal Heart was concealed. The latterspread out his legs to have a firmer holdfast, bent his body slightlyforward, and whirled the lasso round his head. At the moment when thehorseman came opposite to him, Loyal Heart let the lasso fly, and itfell with a whiz on the shoulders of
the rider, who was roughly hurledto the ground ere he knew what was happening to him. His horse, whichwas at full speed, went on some distance further, but then perceivingthat its rider had left it, it slackened its pace, and presently halted.
In the meanwhile Loyal Heart bounded like a tiger on the man he had sosuddenly unsaddled. The latter had not uttered a cry, but remainedmotionless at the spot where he had been hurled. Loyal Heart at firstfancied him dead, but it was not so; his first care was to free thewounded man from the running knot, drawn so tightly round his neck, inorder to enable him to breathe; then, without taking the trouble to lookat his victim, he pinioned him securely, threw him over his shoulders,and returned to the spot where his comrades were awaiting him.
The latter had seen, or at least heard, what had happened; and far fromdreaming of the means employed by the young man, although they were wellacquainted with it, they knew not to what they should attribute therough way in which the rider had been hurled from his horse.
"Oh, oh," Tranquil said, "I fancy you have made a fine capture."
"I think so too," Loyal Heart answered, as he deposited his burden onthe ground.
"How on earth did you manage to unsaddle him so cleverly?"
"Oh! In the simplest way possible. I lassoed him."
"By Jove!" the hunter exclaimed, "I suspected it. But let us see thenature of the game. These confounded Indians are difficult to tame whenthey take it into their heads not to unlock their teeth. This fellowwill not speak, in all probability."
"Who knows? At any rate we can question him."
"Yes--but let us first make sure of his identity, for it would not bepleasant to have captured one of our friends."
"May the Lord forbid!" Loyal Heart said.
The hunters bent over the prisoner, who was apparently motionless, andindifferent to what was said around.
"Oh," the Canadian suddenly said, "whom have we here? On my soul,compadre, I believe it is an old acquaintance."
"You are right," Loyal Heart answered, "it is Blue-fox."
"Blue-fox?" the hunters exclaimed, in surprise.
The adventurers were not mistaken; the Indian horseman, so skilfullylassoed by Loyal Heart, was really the Apache Chief. The shock he hadreceived though very rude, had not been sufficiently so to make himentirely lose his senses; with open eyes and disdainful countenance, butwith not a word of complaint at the treatment he had suffered, he waitedcalmly till it should please his captors to decide his fate, notconsidering it consistent with his dignity to be the first to speak.After examining him attentively for a moment, Loyal Heart unfastened thebonds that held him, and fell back a step.
"My brother can rise," he said: "only old women remain thus stretched onthe ground for an insignificant fall."
Blue-fox reached his feet at a bound.
"The Chief is no old woman," he said, "his heart is large; he laughs atthe anger of his enemies, and despises the fury which is impotent toaffect him."
"We are not your enemies, Chief, we feel no hatred or anger towards you;it is you, on the contrary, who are our enemy. Are you disposed toanswer our questions?"
"I could refrain from doing so, were it my good pleasure."
"I do not think so," John Davis remarked, with a grin, "for we havewonderful secrets to untie the tongue of those we cross-question."
"Try them on me," the Indian observed, haughtily.
"We shall see," said the American.
"Stop!" said Loyal Heart. "There is in all this something extraordinary,which I wish to discover, so leave it to me."
"As you please," said John Davis.
The adventurers collected round the Indian, and waited anxiously.
"How is it," Loyal Heart presently went on, "that you, who were sent bythe Apaches to treat for peace with the Comanches, were thus leaving thevillage in the middle of the night, not as a friend, but as a robberflying after the commission of a theft?"
The Chief smiled contemptuously, and shrugged his shoulders.
"Why should I tell you what has passed? It would be uselessly losingprecious time; suffice it for you to know that I left the village withthe general consent of the Chiefs, and if I was galloping, it wasprobably because I was in a hurry to reach the spot I am bound for."
"Hum!" said the hunter; "You will permit me to remark, Chief, that youranswer is very vague, and anything but satisfactory."
"It is the only one, however, I am enabled to give you."
"And do you fancy we shall be satisfied with it?"
"You must."
"Perhaps so, but listen; we are awaiting Black-deer at every moment, andhe shall decide your fate."
"As it pleases the Pale hunter. When the Comanche Chief arrives, mybrother will see that the Apache Sachem has spoken truly, that histongue is not forked, and that the words that from his lips aresincere."
"I hope so."
At this moment the signal agreed on between Black-deer and the hunterswas heard: the hunter said at once to his prisoner.
"Here is the Chief."
"Good," the latter simply answered.
Five minutes later, the Sachem indeed reached the spot where theadventurers were assembled. His first glance fell on the Apache,standing upright with folded arms in the circle formed by the hunters.
"What is Blue-fox doing here?" he asked in surprise.
"The Chief can ask the Pale warriors, they will answer," said theApache.
Black-deer turned to Loyal Heart; the latter, not waiting till he wasaddressed, related in the fullest detail what had occurred; how he hadcaptured the Chief, and the conversation he had had with him: Black-deerseemed to reflect for a moment--
"Why did not my brother show the sign of recognition I gave him?" heasked.
"For what good, as my brother was coming?"
The Comanche frowned.
"My brother will be careful to remember that he has passed his word, andthe mere appearance of treachery will cost his son's life."
A shudder passed over the Indian's body, although his features lost noneof their marble-like rigidity.
"Blue-fox has sworn on his totem," he replied; "that oath is sacred, andhe will keep it."
"Ocht! My brother is free, he can start without farther delay."
"I must find my horse again which has escaped."
"Does my brother take us for children, that he says such things to us?"Black-deer replied angrily. "The horse of an Indian Chief never abandonsits master; let him whistle, and it will come up."
Blue-fox made no reply; his black eye shot forth a flash of fury, butthat was all; he bent forward, seemed to be listening for a few moments,and then gave a shrill whistle, almost immediately after which there wasa rustling in the branches, and the Chief's horse laid its fine andintelligent head on its master's shoulder. The latter patted the nobleanimal, leaped on its back, and digging in his spurs, started at fullspeed without taking further leave of the hunters, who were quitestartled by this hurried departure. John Davis, by an instinctivemovement swift as thought, raised his rifle, with the evident intentionof saluting the fugitive with a bullet, but Black-deer suddenly clutchedhis arm.
"My brother must not fire," he said; "the sound would betray ourpresence."
"That is true," the American said, as he took down his gun. "It isunlucky, for I should have been very glad to get rid of thatill-favoured scoundrel."
"My brother will find him again," said the Indian with an accentimpossible to describe.
"I hope so, and if it should happen, I assure you that no one will beable to prevent me killing that reptile."
"No one will try to do so, my brother may rest assured."
"Nothing less than that certainly was needed to console me for themagnificent opportunity you make me lose today, Chief."
The Indian laughed, and continued--
"I will explain to yon at another moment how it happens that this man isfree to retire in peace, when we are threatened by an ambuscade formedby him. For the present, let us not lose preciou
s time in idle talk, forall is ready. My warriors are at their post, only awaiting the signal tobegin the contest; do my Pale brothers still intend to accompany us?"
"Certainly, Chief, we are here for that purpose, you can count upon us."
"Good, still I must warn my brothers that they will run a great risk."
"Nonsense," Loyal Heart replied, "it will be welcome, for are we notaccustomed to danger?"
"Then to horse, and let us start, as we have to deceive the deceivers."
"But are you not afraid," Loyal Heart observed, "lest Blue-fox haswarned his comrades that their tricks are discovered?"
"No, he cannot do so, he has sworn it."
The hunters did not insist further, they knew with what religiousexactness Indians keep oaths they make to each other, and the good faithand loyalty they display in the accomplishment of this duty. The Chiefsanswer consequently convinced them that they had nothing to apprehendfrom the Apache Sachem, and, in truth, he had gone off in a directiondiametrically opposite to that where his companions were hidden.
The horses were immediately lifted on their legs, the cords removed, andthe party set out. They followed a narrow path running between tworavines covered with thick grass. This path, after running for a mileand a half, debouched on a species of cross roads, where theadventurers had halted for an instant. This spot, called by the Indiansthe Elk Pass, had been selected by Black-deer as the gathering place ofsome forty picked warriors, who were to join the white men and act withthem. This junction was effected as the Sachem arranged. The hunters hadhardly debouched at the crossroads, ere the Comanches emerged frombehind the thicket which had hitherto concealed them, and flocked up toBlack-deer.
The band was formed in close column, and flankers went ahead, precedingit but a few yards, and attentively examining the thickets. For many anhour they marched on, nothing attracting their attention, when suddenlya shot was fired in the rear of the band. Almost simultaneously, and asif at a given signal, the fusillade broke out on both sides of the warpath, and a shower of bullets and arrows hurtled upon the Comanches andwhite men. Several men fell, and there was a momentary confusion,inseparable from an unforeseen attack.
By assent of Black-deer, Loyal Heart assumed the supreme command. By hisorders, the warriors broke up into platoons, and vigorously returned thefire, while retreating to the crossroads, where the enemy could notattack them without discovering themselves; but they had committed theimprudence of marching too fast--the crossroads were still a long wayoff, and the fire of the Apaches extended along the whole line. Thebullets and arrows rained on the Comanches, whose ranks were beginningto be thinned.
Loyal Heart ordered the ranks to be broken, and the men to scatter, amanoeuvre frequently employed in Europe during the Vendean war, andwhich the Chouans unconsciously obtained from the Indians. The cavalryat once tried to leap the ravines and ditches that bordered the pathbehind which the Apaches were hidden; but were repulsed by the musketryand the long barbed arrows, which the Indians fired with extremedexterity. The Comanches and Whites leaped off their horses, beingcertain of recovering them when wanted, and retreated, shelteringthemselves behind trees, only giving way inch by inch, and keeping up asustained fire with their enemies, who, feeling certain of victory,displayed in their attack a perseverance far from common among savagenations, with whom success nearly always depends on the first effort.
Loyal Heart, so soon as his men reached the clearing, made them form acircle, and they offered an imposing front to the enemy on all sides. Upto this moment, the Apaches had maintained silence, not a single waryell had been uttered, not a rustling of the leaves had been heard.Suddenly the firing ceased, and silence once again brooded over thedesert. The hunters and Comanches looked at each other with a surprisemingled with terror. They had fallen into the trap their enemies hadlaid for them, while fancying they could spoil it.
There was a terrible moment of expectation, whose anxious expression nopen could depict. All at once the conches and chichikoues were heardsounding on the right and left, in the rear and front! At this signal,the Apaches rose on all sides, blowing their war whistles to excitetheir courage, and uttering fearful yells. The Comanches weresurrounded, and nothing was left them but to die bravely at their posts!At this terrible sight, a shudder of fear involuntarily rose alongthose intrepid warriors, but it was almost instantaneously quelled, forthey felt that their destruction was imminent and certain.
Loyal Heart and Black-deer, however, had lost none of their calmness;they hoped then, still, but what was it they expected?