CHAPTER XXIII.
THE EXPIATION.
Outside the rancho the yells of the Comanches still went on. After amomentary silence, Loyal Heart continued his narrative, which emotionhad compelled him to interrupt.
"It was in vain," he said, "that I implored my mother to leave me to thecare of Heaven, and return to the hacienda with No Eusebio. Herresolution was formed--she was inflexible.
"'Ever since I married your father,' she said to me, 'however unjust orextraordinary his demands might be, he found in me rather a submissiveand devoted slave than a wife, whose rights were equal to his. Acomplaint has never passed my lips; I have never attempted to oppose oneof his wishes. But today the measure is full; by exiling you as he hasdone coldly repulsing my prayers, and despising my tears, he has atlength allowed me to read his heart, and the little egotism and cruelpride by which he allows himself to be governed. This man, who coldlyand deliberately had the barbarity to do what he has done to thefirstborn of his children, possesses not a spark of good feeling. Thecondemnation he pronounced against you I pronounce, in my turn, againsthim. It is the law of retaliation, the law of the desert in which we aregoing henceforth to live. Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'
"Like all timid natures, accustomed to bow their heads timidly beneaththe yoke, my mother, when the spirit of revolt entered her heart,assumed an obstinacy at the least equal to her ordinary docility. Theway in which she uttered those words proved to me that all my prayerswould be useless, and that it was better to yield to her determination.I therefore turned to No Eusebio; but at the first word I addressed tohim the worthy man laughed in my face, saying distinctly andperemptorily that he had seen me born, and meant to see me die.
"As there was nothing to be gained on this side, I gave up the contest.I merely observed to my mother that, so soon as my father noticed herdeparture, he would probably start, at the head of all his tenants, inpursuit of her, and that we should be inevitably discovered, if we didnot start at once. My mother and No Eusebio had come on horseback, butunhappily one of the animals had foundered, and was incapable offollowing us; saddle and bridle were removed, and we left it to itsfate; my mother mounted the other horse, No Eusebio and myself followingon foot, while the rastreros cleared the way.
"We knew not whither we were going, and did not trouble ourselves at allabout it; plains succeeded forests, streams rivers, and we continued ourforward march, hunting to support life, and camping wherever nightsurprised us, without regret for the past or anxiety for the future. Weadvanced thus straight ahead for nearly a month, avoiding, as far aspossible, any encounter with the wild beasts, or the savages, whom webelieved to be as ferocious as them.
"One day--a Sunday--the march was interrupted, and we spent it in piousconversation, and my mother read the Bible and explained it to NoEusebio and myself. About three in the afternoon, when the great heat ofthe day was beginning to yield, I rose and took my gun, with theintention of killing a little game, as our provisions were nearlyexhausted, and I was absolutely compelled to renew them. My mother madeno objection, though, as I have stated, Sundays were generallyconsecrated to rest: and I went off with the two rastreros. I went onfor a long distance without seeing anything deserving powder and shot,and was thinking of turning back, when my two dogs, which were runningon ahead, according to their wont, came to halt, while evidencingunusual signs of terror and restlessness.
"Although I was still a novice in the wood ranger's art, I judged itnecessary to act with prudence, as I did not know what enemy I mightfind before me. I therefore advanced step by step, watching theneighbourhood closely, and listening to the slightest noise. Myuncertainty did not last long, for terrible cries soon reached my ear.My first impulse was flight, but my curiosity restrained me, and,cocking my rifle, so as to be ready for all events, I continued toadvance in the direction whence the cries came, now louder and moredesperate than before.
"Ere long all was revealed to me; I perceived through the trees, in arather spacious clearing, five or six Indian warriors, fighting with thefury of despair, against a threefold number of enemies. These Indianshad doubtless been surprised in their camp, for their horses werehobbled, their fire was just going out, and several corpses, alreadyrobbed of their scalps, lay on the ground. These warriors, in spite ofthe numerical superiority of their foes, fought with desperate courage,not yielding an inch, and boldly replying with their war yell to thatof their opponents.
"The Indian who appeared the Chief of the weaker party, was a tall youngman, of twenty, at the most, powerfully built, with a leonine face, andwho, while dealing terrible blows, did not cease exciting his men toresist to the death. Neither of the parties had firearms, they werefighting with axes and long barbed lances. All at once, several menrushed simultaneously on the young Chief, and, despite his desperateefforts, succeeded in throwing him down, then a hand seized his longscalp lock, and I saw a knife raised above his head.
"I know not what I felt on seeing this, or what dizziness seized uponme, but, by a mechanical movement, I raised my rifle and fired; then,rushing into the clearing with loud cries, I discharged my pistols atthe men nearest me. An extraordinary thing occurred, which I was farfrom expecting, and certainly had not foreseen. The Indians, terrifiedby my three shots, followed by my sudden apparition, believed that helpwas arriving to their adversaries, and without dreaming of resisting,they began flying with that intuitive rapidity peculiar to Indians, atthe first repulse they meet with.
"I thus found myself alone with those I came to deliver. It was thefirst time I had been engaged in a fight, if such a name can be given tothe share I took in the struggle, hence I felt that emotion inseparablefrom a first event of this nature; I neither saw nor heard anything. Iwas standing in the centre of the clearing, like a statue, not knowingwhether to advance or retire, flanked by my two bloodhounds, which hadnot left me, but showed their teeth with hoarse growls of anger.
"I know not who was the first to say that ingratitude was a white vice,and gratitude an Indian virtue; but, whoever he was, he spoke the truth.The Chief I had so miraculously saved, and his comrades, pressed aroundme, and began overwhelming me with marks of respect and gratitude. I letthem do so, mechanically replying as well as I could, in Spanish, to thecompliments the Indians lavished on me in their sonorous language, ofwhich I did not understand a syllable. When a little while had elapsed,and their joy was beginning to grow more sedate, the Chief, who had beenslightly wounded in the fight, made me sit down by the fire; while hiscomrades conscientiously raised the scalps of their enemy who hadfallen, and he began questioning me in Spanish, which language he spokeclearly.
"After warmly thanking me, and repeating several times that I was agreat brave, he told me that his name was Nocobotha, that is to say, theTempest; that he belonged to the great and powerful nation of theComanches, surnamed the Queen of the Prairies, and was related to arenowned Sachem called Black-deer. Having set out with a few warriors tochase antelopes, he had been surprised by a detachment of Apaches, thesworn enemies of his nation, and if the Master of Life had not broughtme to their help, he and his comrades would infallibly have succumbed,an opinion the justice of which I was compelled to recognise. The Chiefthen asked me who I was, saying to me that he should henceforth regardme as his brother, that he wished to conduct me to his tribe, and thathe would never consent to separate from the man who had saved his life.
"Nocobotha's words suggested an idea to me; I was greatly alarmed aboutthe existence I led, not for myself, for this free and unrestrainedlife charmed me to the highest degree, but for my poor mother, who,accustomed to all the comforts of civilization, would not, I feared,endure for long the fatigues she undertook through her affection for me.I immediately resolved to profit by the gratitude and goodwill of my newacquaintance, to obtain my mother an asylum, where, if she did not findthe comfort she had lost, she would run no risk of dying of want. Itherefore frankly told Nocobotha the situation I was placed in, and bywhat accident I had providentially arrived just in t
ime to save hisscalp. The Chief listened to me with the most earnest attention.
"'Good,' he said with a smile, when I had ended, and squeezed my hand.'Nocobotha is the brother of Loyal Heart. (Such was the name he gave me,and I have retained ever since.) Loyal Heart's mother will have twosons.'
"I thanked the Chief, as I was bound to do, and remarked to him that, asI had now left my mother for some time, I was afraid she might feelalarmed at my lengthened absence, and that, if he permitted me, I wouldreturn to her side to reassure her, and tell her all that had happened;but the Comanche shook his head.
"'Nocobotha will accompany his brother,' he said; 'he does not wish toleave him.'
"I accepted the proposition, and we at once started to return to myencampment. We did not take long in going, for we were mounted; but onseeing me arrive with six or seven Indians, my poor mother was terriblyalarmed, for she fancied me a prisoner, and menaced with the mostfrightful punishment, I soon succeeded, however, in reassuring her, andher terror was converted into joy on hearing the good tidings I broughther. Moreover, Nocobotha, with that graceful politeness innate inIndians, soon entirely comforted, and managed to gain her good graces.Such, my dear Tranquil, is the manner in which I became a wood ranger,trapper, and hunter.
"On reaching the tribe, the Indians received me as a friend, a brother.These simple and kind men knew not how to prove their friendship. For mypart, on growing to know them better, I began to love them as if theyhad been my brothers. I was adopted by the Sachems collected round thecouncil fire, and from that moment regarded as a child of the nation.From this time I did not leave the Comanches again. All longed to instalme into the secrets of desert life. My progress was rapid, and I wassoon renowned as one of the best and bravest hunters of the tribes. Inseveral meetings with the enemy, I had opportunities to render themsignal service. My influence increased; and now I am not only a warriorbut a Sachem, respected and beloved by all. Nocobotha, that noble lad,whom his courage ever bore to the front, at length fell in an ambuscadeformed by the Apaches. After an obstinate struggle, I managed to bearhim home, though covered with wounds. I was myself dangerously wounded.On reaching the village, I fell senseless with my precious burden. Inspite of the most devoted and assiduous care my mother lavished on mypoor brother, she was unable to save him, and he died thanking me fornot having left him in the hands of his foes, and having kept his scalpfrom being raised, which is the greatest disgrace for a Comanchewarrior.
"In spite of the marks of friendship and sympathy the Sachems did notcease to bestow on me for the manner in which I had defended my brother.I was for a long time inconsolable at his loss; and even now, though solong a period has elapsed since that frightful catastrophe, I cannotspeak of him without tears coming into my eyes. Poor Nocobotha! Kind andsimple soul! Noble and devoted heart! Shall I ever find again a friendso certain and so devoted?"
"Now, my dear Tranquil, you know my life as well as I do myself. My kindand revered mother, honoured by the Indians, to whom she is a visibleProvidence, is happy, or at least seems to be so. I have completelyforgotten my colour, to live the life of the Redskins, who, when mybrethren spurned me, received me as a son, and their friendship hasnever failed me. I only remember my origin when I have to assist anyunhappy man of my own complexion. The white trappers and hunters ofthese regions affect, I know not why, to regard me as their Chief, andeagerly seize the opportunity to show me their respect, whenever itoffers. I am therefore in a position relatively enviable; and yet, themore years slip away, the more lively does the memory of the events thatbrought me to the desert recur to my mind, and the more I fear never toobtain the pardon of my crimes."
He was silent. The hunters looked at each other with a mingled feelingof admiration and respect for this man, who confessed so simply a crimewhich so many others would have regarded at the utmost as a pecadillo,and who repented of it so sincerely.
"By Jove!" Tranquil exclaimed all at once, "Heaven will be careful notto pardon you if it has not been done so long ago. Men like you aresomewhat rare in the desert, comrade!"
Loyal Heart smiled gently at this simple outburst of the hunter.
"Come, my friend, now that you know me thoroughly, give me your advicefrankly; whatever it may be, I promise you to follow it."
"Well, my advice is very simple; it is that you should come with us."
"But I tell you I am a Mexican."
The Canadian burst into a laugh.
"Eh, eh," he said; "I fancied you stronger than that, on my honour."
"What do you mean?"
"Hang it, it is as clear as day."
"I am convinced, my friend, that you can only offer me honourableadvice, so I am listening to you with the most serious attention."
"Well, you shall judge; I shall not take long to convince you."
"I ask nothing better."
"Well, let us proceed regularly. What is Mexico?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well; is it a kingdom or an empire?"
"It is a Confederation."
"Very good; that is to say, Mexico is a republic, formed of severalConfederated States."
"Yes," Loyal Heart said, with a smile.
"Better still; then Sonora and Texas, for instance, are free States, andable to separate from the Confederation, if they think proper?"
"Ah, ah," said Loyal Heart, "I did not expect that."
"I thought you did not. Well, you see, my friend, that the Mexico oftoday, which is neither that of Motecuhzoma nor that of the Spaniards,since the first merely comprised the plateau of Mexico, and the second,under the name of New Spain, a part of central America, is onlyindirectly your country, since you were born neither in Mexico norVeracruz, but in Sonora. You said so yourself. Hence, if you, aSonorian, assist the Texans, you only follow the general example, andare no traitor to your country. What have you to answer to that?"
"Nothing; save that your reasoning, though specious, is not without acertain amount of logic."
"Which means that you are convinced?"
"Not the least in the world. Still, I accept your proposition, and willdo what you wish."
"That is a conclusion I was far from expecting, after the beginning ofyour sentence."
"Because, under the Texan idea, there is another, and it is that I wishto help you in carrying out."
"Ah!" the Canadian remarked, in surprise.
Loyal Heart bent over to him.
"Have you not a certain affair to settle with the White Scalper, or haveyou forgotten it?"
The hunter started, and warmly pressed the young man's hand.
"Thanks," he said.
At this moment Black-deer entered the rancho.
"I wish to speak with my brother," he said to Loyal Heart.
"Is my brother willing to speak before my friends the pale hunters?"
"The pale hunters are the guests of the Comanches; Black-deer will speakbefore them," the Chief answered.