CHAPTER XXXI.
WHITE GAZELLE.
The night passed quietly.
As soon as the sun appeared on the horizon, all were in motion in thecamp, preparing for departure. The horses were saddled, the ranksformed, the two females left the hut, placed themselves in the middle ofthe detachment, and only the order to start was awaited. Nathan, thenacting in conformity with his sorcerer's character, took a calabash,which he filled with water, and dipping a branch of wormwood in it, hesprinkled the four winds, muttering mysterious words to exorcise thespirit of evil; then he threw the contents of the calabash toward thesun, shouting in a loud voice, three different times--
"Sun, receive this offering; regard us with a favourable eye, for we arethy children."
So soon as this ceremony was ended, the Indians joyously set out. Thesorcerers incantation had pleased them, the more so as at the moment ofstarting, four bald-headed eagles, unfurling their wide wings, hadslowly risen on their right, mounting in a straight line to heaven, whenthey soon disappeared at a prodigious height. The omens were, therefore,most favourable, and the sorcerer suddenly acquired immense importancein the eyes of the superstitious Comanches.
Still, two persons felt a prejudice for this man which they could notovercome: they were Sunbeam and the hunter's mother. Each moment theyinvoluntarily looked at the sorcerer, who, warned by a species ofintuition of the scrutiny of which he was the object, kept at arespectful distance, walking at the head of the party by the side ofSpider, with whom he conversed in a low voice to keep him by him, andprevent him joining the two females, who might have communicated theirsuspicions to him.
The party ambled through a grand and striking scenery; here and therethey saw, scattered irregularly over the plains, spherically shapedrocks, whose height varied from two to four, and even five hundred feet.On the east rose the spires of the Sierra de los Comanches, among whichthe travellers now were. The denuded peaks raised their white summits tothe skies, extending far north, until they appeared in the horizon onlya slight vapour, which an inexperienced eye might have taken for clouds,but the Comanches recognised very plainly as a continuation of the RockyMountains. On the left of the travellers, and almost at their feet,extended an immense desert, bordered on the distant horizon by anotherline of almost imperceptible vapour, marking the site of the RockyChain.
The Indians ascended insensibly, by almost impracticable paths, wheretheir horses advanced so boldly, however, that they seemed rooted to theground, so secure was their foothold. As they got deeper into themountains the cold grew sharper; at length, about nine o'clock, aftercrossing a deep gorge let in between two tall mountains, whose massesintercepted the sunbeams, they entered a smiling valley about threemiles in extent, in the centre of which the tents rose and the campfiressmoked.
So soon as the vedettes signalled the approach of Spider's detachment,some sixty warriors mounted and rode to meet them, firing guns, anduttering shouts of welcome, to which the newcomers responded by blowingtheir war whistles, from which they produced sharp and prolonged sounds.
They then entered the camp, and proceeded toward Unicorn's hut; thechief, already informed of the arrival of the reinforcement he expected,was standing with folded arms before his calli, between the totem andthe great calumet. Unicorn inspected the warriors with a rapid glance,and noticed the two females and the strange sorcerer they brought withthem; still he did not appear to see them: his face revealed no sign ofemotion: and he waited stoically for Spider to give him a report of hismission.
The Comanche warrior dismounted, threw his bridle to one of hiscomrades, crossed his hands on his chest, bowed deeply each time he tooka step, and on arriving a short distance from the sachem, he bowed alast time as he said--
"Spider has accomplished his mission: he put on gazelle's feet to returnmore speedily."
"Spider is an experienced warrior, in whom I have entire confidence.Does he bring me the number of young men I asked of the nation?" Unicornreplied.
"The elders assembled round the council fire, they lent an ear toSpider's words. The twenty young warriors are here, boiling withcourage, and proud to follow on the war trail so terrible a chief as myfather."
Unicorn smiled proudly at this compliment; but assuming almostimmediately the rigid expression which was the usual character of hisface, he said--
"I have heard the song of the centzontle, my ear was struck by themelodious modulations of its voice. Am I mistaken, or has it reallyformed its nest beneath the thick foliage of the oaks or pines in thisvalley?"
"My father is mistaken; he has not heard the song of the nightingale,but the voice of the friend of his heart has reached, him and caused himto start," Sunbeam said softly, as she timidly approached him.
The chief looked at his wife with a mixture of love and sternness.
"Soul of my life," he said, "why have you left the village? Is yourplace among the warriors? Ought the wife of a chief to join him on thewar trail without permission?"
The young squaw let her eyes fall, and two liquid pearls trembled at theend of her long eyelashes.
"Unicorn is severe to his wife," she replied sadly; "winter is coming onapace, the tall trees have been stripped of their leaves, the snow isfalling on the mountains, Sunbeam is restless in her solitary lodge; formany moons the chief has left his squaw alone, and gone away; she wishedto see once more the man she loves."
"Sunbeam is the wife of a chief, her heart is strong; she has often beenseparated from Unicorn, and ever awaited his return without complaining;why is her conduct different today?"
The young woman took Madame Guillois's hand.
"Koutonepi's mother wishes to see her son again," she simply answered.
Unicorn's face grew brighter, and his voice softened.
"My brother's mother is welcome in Unicorn's camp," he said, as hecourteously bowed to the old lady.
"Is not my son with you, chief?" she anxiously asked.
"No, but my mother can be at rest; if she desire it, she shall see himbefore the second sun."
"Thanks, chief."
"I will send a warrior to tell Koutonepi of his mother's presence amongus."
"I will go myself," Spider said.
"Good! That is settled. My mother will enter my lodge to take the restshe needs."
The two females withdrew, and only one person now remained beforeUnicorn, and that was the feigned sorcerer. The two men examined eachother attentively.
"Oh," the chief said, "what fortunate accident brings my father to mycamp?"
"The messengers of Wacondah go whither he orders them without discussinghis will," Nathan answered drily.
"That is true," the chief went on; "what does my father desire?"
"Hospitality for the night."
"Hospitality is granted even to an enemy in the desert; is my fatherignorant of the customs of the prairie, that he asks it of me?" thechief said, giving him a suspicious look.
Nathan bit his lips.
"My father did not quite understand my words," he said.
"No matter," Unicorn interrupted him authoritatively; "the GreatMedicine man will pass the night in the camp; a guest is sacred to theComanches; only traitors, when they are unmasked, are punished as theydeserve. My father can retire."
Nathan shuddered inwardly at these words, which apparently indicatedthat the sachem had his suspicions. Still, he shut up his fears in hisheart, and continued to keep a good countenance.
"Thanks," he said with a bow.
Unicorn returned his salute, and walked away.
"Hum!" the American muttered to himself; "I fancy I did wrong to ventureamong these demons; the eyes of that accursed chief seemed to read methrough. I must be on my guard."
While making these reflections, Nathan walked slowly on, with headerect, apparently delighted at the result of his interview with Unicorn.At this moment, a rider entered the valley at full speed, and passed twopaces from the sorcerer, exchanging a glance with him. Nathan started.
"
If she recognised me, I am a gone 'coon," he said.
It was White Gazelle, whom the Comanches saluted as she passed, and sheproceeded to Unicorn's lodge.
"I am in the wolf's throat," Nathan went on; "my presumption will causemy ruin. There is one thing a man cannot disguise, and that is his eye;the Gazelle knows me too well to be deceived; I must try to get awaywhile there is still time."
Nathan was too resolute a man to despair uselessly; he did not lose amoment in idle lamentations; on the contrary, with that clearness ofperception which danger gives to courageous people, he calculated in afew moments the chances of success left him, and prepared for adesperate struggle. He knew too well the horrible punishment thatmenaced him, not to defend his life to the last extremity.
Without stopping, or altering his pace, he walked on in the previousdirection, returning the salutes the warriors gave him. Thus he reached,undisturbed, the end of the camp. He did not dare turn his head to seewhat was going on behind, him; but his practised ear listened for everysuspicious sound; nothing apparently confirmed his apprehensions, andthe camp was still plunged in the same repose.
"I was mistaken," he, muttered; "she did not recognise me. My disguiseis good, I was too easily frightened. It would, perhaps, be better toremain. Oh no, it is not," he added almost directly; "I feel convinced Iam not safe there."
He took a step to enter the forest; but at this moment a heavy hand fellon his shoulder. He stopped and turned; Spider was by his side.
"Where is my father going?" the warrior asked, in a slightly sarcasticvoice, well adapted to increase the American's alarm; "I think he mustbe mistaken."
"Why so?" Nathan asked, striving to regain his coolness.
"In the way my father is going, he is leaving the camp."
"Well, what then?"
"Did not my father ask hospitality of the sachem?"
"Yes, I did."
"Then, why is he going away?"
"Who told you I was going, warrior?"
"Why, I fancy the direction you have taken leads to the forest."
"I am well aware of that, for I was going there to pluck some magicplants, in order to compose a great medicine, which I wish to offer thechief to render him invulnerable."
"Wah!" the Indian said, with sparkling eyes; "when you tell him that, Ido not doubt he will let you go wherever you please."
"What, am I a prisoner, then?"
"Not at all; but the order has been given that no one should leave thecamp without permission; and as you did not ask for it, I am forced, tomy great regret, to stop you."
"Very well; I remain, but I will remember the way in which the Comanchesoffer hospitality."
"My father does wrong to speak thus; the honour of the nation demandsthat this matter should be settled without delay. My father will followme to the chief; I am certain that, after a short explanation, allmisunderstanding will cease."
Nathan scented a trap. Spider, while speaking to him, had a soothingway, which only slightly reassured him. The proposal made him was not atall to his taste; but as he was not the stronger, and had no chance ofevasion, he consented, much against the grain, to follow Spider andreturn to Unicorn's lodge.
"Let us go," he said to the Indian.
Nathan silently followed Spider. Unicorn was seated before his lodge,surrounded by his principal chiefs; near him stood White Gazelle,leaning on her rifle barrel. When the pretended sorcerer arrived, theIndians did not give the slightest intimation that they knew who he was.The American took a sharp look round.
"I am done," he muttered to himself, "they are too quiet."
Still, he placed himself before them, crossed his arms on his chest, andwaited. Then White Gazelle fixed on him an implacable glance, and said,in a voice which made his blood run cold:--
"Nathan, the chiefs wish you to perform one of those miracles of whichthe sorcerers of their tribes possess the secret, and of which they areso liberal."
All eyes were curiously turned to the American; all awaited his reply tojudge whether he was a brave man or coward. He understood this, for heshrugged his shoulders with, disdain, and answered, with a haughtysmile:
"The Comanches are dogs and old women--the men of my nation drive themback with whips. They pretend to be so clever, and yet a white man hasdeceived them, and had it not been for you, Nina, deuce take me if theywould have detected me."
"Then you confess you are not an Indian sorcerer?"
"Of course I do. This Indian skin I have put on smells unpleasantly, andoppresses me; I throw it off to resume my proper character, which Iought never to have left."
White Gazelle turned with a smile to Unicorn.
"The chief sees," she said.
"I do see," he replied, and addressing the American, he asked--"Is mybrother a warrior in his nation?"
The other grinned.
"I am," he answered, dauntlessly, "the son of Red Cedar, the implacablefoe of your accursed race; my name is Nathan. Do with me what you like,dogs, but you will not draw a complaint from my lips, a tear from myeyes, or a sigh from my lips."
At these haughty words a murmur of satisfaction ran round the audience.
"Ah!" Unicorn said, to whom White Gazelle had whispered, "What was RedCedar's son doing in the camp of the Comanches?"
"I should be greatly embarrassed to tell you, chief," the young mananswered, frankly; "I was not looking for you, but only wished to crossyour lines and escape. That was all."
An incredulous smile played round White Gazelle's lips.
"Does Nathan take us for children," she said, "that he tries so clumsilyto deceive us?"
"Believe me what you please, I do not care; I have answered you thetruth."
"You will not persuade us that you fell unwittingly among your enemieswhile thus disguised."
"You have done so too, Nina; one is not more extraordinary than theother, I presume. However, I repeat accident did it all."
"Hum! that is not very probable; your father and brother are in thevicinity through the same accident, I suppose?"
"As for them, may the devil twist my neck if I know where they are atthis moment."
"I expected that answer from you; unluckily warriors have scattered inevery direction, and will soon find them."
"I do not believe it; however, what do I care? All the better for themif they escape; all the worse if they fall into your hands."
"I need not tell you, I fancy, the fate that awaits you?"
"I have known it a long time; the worthy redskins will probably amusethemselves with flaying me alive, roasting me at a slow fire, or someother politeness of that sort. Much good may it do them."
"Suppose they spared your life, would you not reveal where your father,brother, and that excellent Fray Ambrosio are?"
"I would not. Look you, I am a bandit, I allow it, but, Nina, I amneither a traitor nor an informer. Regulate your conduct by that, and ifyou are curious to see a man die well, I invite you to be present at mypunishment."
"Well?" Unicorn asked the girl.
"He will not speak," she replied; "although he displays greatresolution, perhaps the torture you will make him undergo may overcomehis courage, and he consent to speak."
"Hum!" the chief went on, "my sister's advice is--"
"My advice," she quickly interrupted, "is to be as pitiless to him as hehas been to others."
"Good!"
The chief pointed to the American.
"Take him away," he said, "and let all the preparations be made fortorture."
"Thanks," Nathan replied; "at any rate you will not make me languish,that is a consolation."
"Wait before you rejoice, till you have undergone the first trial,"White Gazelle said ironically.
Nathan made no answer, but went away whistling with two warriors. Theyfastened him securely to the trunk of a tree, and left him alone, afterassuring themselves that he could not move, and consequently flight wasimpossible. The young man watched them go off, and then fell on theground, carelessly mutter
ing--
"The disguise was good for all that; had it not been for that she-devil,I must have escaped."