CHAPTER XIV.
THE MYSTERY.
On leaving the Rancho del Coyote, Red Cedar dug his spurs into hishorse's flanks, and galloped in a south-western direction. So soon as hewas out of the town he turned to the left, took a narrow path that ranround the walls, pulled up his horse, and advanced with the utmostcaution. Throwing suspicious glances on either side, he went on thus forabout three-quarters of an hour, when he reached a house, in one of thewindows of which burned three wax tapers.
The lights thus arranged were evidently a signal for the squatter, forso soon as he came to the house he stopped and dismounted, attached hishorse to a larch-tree, and prudently concealing himself behind athicket, imitated thrice at equal intervals the hu-hu of an owl. Thelights burning in the window were extinguished, as if by enchantment.
The night was gloomy, only a few stars studded the vault of heaven; aleaden silence brooded over the plain, which appeared quite solitary. Atthis moment a voice could be heard from the house which Red Cedar waswatching so carefully. The squatter listened; the speaker leaned for asecond out of the window looked cautiously round, and disappearedmuttering loud enough for the American to overhear--
"All is quiet in the neighbourhood."
"Still," the squatter said, without showing himself, "the coyotes prowlabout the plain."
"Are you coming or going?" the man at the window continued.
"Both," the squatter answered, still hidden behind his bush.
"You can come on, for you are expected."
"I know it; hence here I am."
While making this answer, the squatter left his hiding place, and placedhimself before the door with folded arms, like a man who has nothing tofear.
The door was cautiously opened; a man emerged, carefully wrapped up in,a wide cloak, which only allowed eyes to be seen, that flashed in thegloom like a jackal's. This person walked straight up to Red Cedar.
"Well," he asked, in a low voice, "have you reflected?"
"Yes."
"And what is the result of your reflections?"
"I refuse."
"Still?"
"More than ever."
"Take care."
"I do not care, Don Melchior, for I am not afraid of you."
"No names!" the stranger exclaimed, impatiently.
"We are alone."
"No one is ever alone in the desert."
"That is true," Red Cedar muttered. "Let us return to our business."
"It is simple--give and give."
"Hum! You get to work very fast; unfortunately it cannot be so."
"Why not?"
"Why, because I am growing tired of constantly taking in my nets game bywhich others profit, and which I ought to keep as a safeguard."
"You call that girl a guarantee?"
"By Heaven! what else do you mean to make of her?"
"Do not compare me with you, scoundrel!"
"Where is the difference between us? I am a scoundrel, I grant; but, byheaven, you are another, my master, however powerful you may be."
"Listen, caballero!" the stranger answered, in a cutting voice. "I willlose no more of my time in discoursing with you. I want that girl, andwill have her, whatever you may do to prevent me."
"Good; in that case you declare war against me?" the squatter said, witha certain tinge of alarm, which he tried in vain to conceal.
The stranger shrugged his shoulders.
"We have known one another long enough to be perfectly well acquainted;we can only be friends or foes. Is not that your opinion?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, hand Dona Clara over to me, and I will give you the paperswhich--"
"Enough!" the squatter said, sharply. "Have you those papers about you?"
The stranger burst into a laugh.
"Do you take me for such a fool?" he said.
"I do not understand you."
"I will not insult you by believing you. No, I have not those papersabout me. I am not such an ass as to risk assassination at your hands."
"What would your death profit me?"
"Hang it all! If it were only my scalp you would be sure to receive atleast fifty dollars for it."
At this mournful jest the squatter began laughing.
"I did not think of that," he said,
"Listen to me, Red Cedar, and print the words on your memory."
"Speak."
"In a month from today, hour for hour, day for day, wherever you may be,I shall present myself to you."
"For what purpose?' the squatter asked impudently.
"To repeat my demand with reference to the prisoner."
"Then, as now, I shall reply No, my master."
"Perhaps so. Live and learn. Now good-bye, and may the devil, yourpatron saint, preserve you in good health until our next meeting. Youknow that I have you tight; so consider yourself warned."
"Good, good! Threats do not frighten me. _Demonios_, since I have beentraversing the desert, I have found myself opposed to enemies quite asdangerous as you, and yet I managed to get quit of them."
"That is possible, Red Cedar; but believe me, meditate carefully on mywords."
"I repeat that your threats do not frighten me."
"I do not threaten, I warn you."
"Hum! Well, then, listen in your turn. In the desert, every man armedwith a good rifle has nothing to fear from whomsoever."
"What next?" the stranger interrupted him, in a sarcastic voice.
"Well, my rifle is excellent, I have a sure aim, and I say no more."
"Nonsense, you are mad! I defy you to kill me!"
"Hang it, though, what can be your motive for wishing to have this girlin your power?"
"That is no affair of yours. I have no explanations due to you. Enoughfor you to know that I want her."
"You shall not have her."
"We shall see. Good-bye, Red Cedar."
"Good-bye, Don Melchior, or whatever be the name you please to bear."
The stranger made no reply, but turned his head with a gesture ofcontempt, and whistled. A man emerged from the house, holding a horse bythe bridle; at one bound the stranger reached the saddle, and orderedthe servant to withdraw.
"Farewell, _Compadre_, remember our appointment."
And loosing his reins, the stranger started at a gallop, notcondescending even to turn his head. Red Cedar looked after him with anindescribable expression of rage.
"Oh," he muttered in a low voice, "demon! Shall I never free myself fromyour clutches?"
And with a motion rapid as thought he shouldered his rifle, and aimed atthe departing man. All at once the latter turned his horse, and stoodright opposite Red Cedar.
"Mind not to miss me!" he cried, with a burst of laughter that caused acold perspiration to bead on the bandit's forehead.
The latter let his rifle fall, saying in a hollow voice: "He is right,and I am mad! If I only had the papers!"
The stranger waited for a moment calm and motionless; then he startedagain and soon disappeared in the darkness. Red Cedar stood with hisbody bowed forward, and his ears on the watch, so long as the horse'shoofs could be heard; then he returned to his own steed, and boundedinto the saddle.
"Now to go and warn the dragoons," he said, and pushed on.
The squatter had scarce departed ere several men appeared from eitherside; they were Valentine, Curumilla, and Don Pablo on the right;Unicorn and Eagle-wing on the left. Valentine and his friends wereastonished at meeting the Comanche chief, whom they believed gone backto his camp; but the sachem explained to them, in a few words, how, atthe moment he was crossing the spot where they now were, he had heardRed Cedar's voice, and concealed himself in the shrubs in order tooverhear the squatter's colloquy with his strange friend. Valentine haddone the same; but, unfortunately, the party had been greatlydisappointed, for the squatter's conversation remained to them anenigma, of which they sought the key in vain.
"'Tis strange," Valentine remarked, as he passed his hand several timesa
cross his forehead. "I do not know where I have seen the man just nowtalking here with Red Cedar, but I have a vague reminiscence of havingmet him before, where and under what circumstance I try, though in vain,to recall."
"What shall we do?" Don Pablo asked.
"Hang it, what we agreed on;" and turning to the chief, he said, "Goodluck, brother, I believe we shall save our friend."
"I am sure of it," the Indian replied, laconically.
"May heaven hear you, brother," Valentine continued. "Act! While, onyour side, you watch the town for fear of treason. We then will ambushourselves on the road the gambusinos must take, in order to knowpositively the direction in which they are proceeding. Till tomorrow,chief!"
"Stop!" a panting voice exclaimed, and a man suddenly appeared in themidst of them.
"Father Seraphin!" Valentine said in a surprise. "What chance brings youthis way?"
"I was looking for you."
"What do you want with me?"
"To give you some good news."
"Speak! Speak quickly, father! Has Don Miguel left his prison?"
"Alas! Not yet; but his daughter is free!"
"Dona Clara free!" Valentine shouted joyously. "Heaven be blessed! Whereis she?"
"She is temporarily in safety, be assured of that; but let me give you awarning, which may perhaps prove useful to you."
"Speak! Speak!"
"By order of the governor, Red Cedar has gone to meet the regiment ofdragoons, coming up to reinforce the Santa Fe garrison."
"_Caramba_," Valentine said, "are you sure of your statement, father?"
"I am: in my presence, the men who carried off Dona Clara spoke aboutit."
"All is lost if these soldiers arrive."
"Yes," the missionary said; "but, how to prevent it?"
Curumilla lightly touched the leader's arm.
"What do you want, chief!"
"The Comanches are warriors," Curumilla answered, curtly.
"Ah!" Valentine exclaimed, and tapping his forehead with delight, "thatis true, chief; you save us."
Curumilla smiled with pleasure.
"While you go in pursuit of the soldiers," said Don Pablo, "as I can beof no service to you, I will accompany Father Seraphin to my poorsister, whom I have not seen so long, and am eager to embrace."
"Do so," Valentine answered. "At daybreak you will bring Dona Clara tothe camp, that I may myself deliver her to her father."
"That is agreed."
Valentine, Curumilla, and Unicorn rushed out in the plain, while FatherSeraphin and Don Pablo returned to the town. The two gentlemen, anxiousto join the girl, did not perceive that they were closely watched by anindividual, who followed their every movement, while careful not to beseen by them. It was Nathan, Red Cedar's eldest son.
How was that man there?