CHAPTER XLIX.
THE MEETING.
On reaching a spot where the trail they were following formed a speciesof fork, Curumilla stopped, and the two gentlemen imitated him.
"That is your road," the Araucano chief said. "At the end of that pathyou will see Koutonepi's bivouac fire. I must leave you here."
After uttering these words, Curumilla turned his horse and started,after giving them a parting wave of the hand. The Unicorn was not muchof a talker naturally; generally, he did more than he said. His friends,convinced that urgent necessity could alone have forced him thus tobreak through his habits, made no observation, but let him go. When theywere alone, they gently relaxed the pace of their horses, and proceededat a canter.
General Ibanez was radiant. He inhaled the fresh air Of the desert,which dilated his wide chest, revelling in his liberty. He thought ofnothing but enjoying the present, regardless of the past, which, withhis careless character, he had already forgotten, only to dream of thefuture, which he gazed on through a prism of brilliant hues. Don Miguel,on the contrary, felt, during the last few moments, a sad melancholyinvade his mind. Not able to account for the emotion he experienced, hehad a species of secret presentiment that a misfortune was suspendedover his head. In vain did he try to dispel these ideas, but theyconstantly returned more obstinately than ever and it was with a sort ofdread that he advanced in the direction where he was to meet Valentine,although he was his best friend, so much did he fear that he would greethis arrival with evil tidings.
The two gentlemen went on thus for nearly half an hour withoutexchanging a syllable; but, just as they turned a corner in the path,they saw a horseman about thirty paces in front of them, barring theroad, and apparently waiting for them. The Mexicans examined himattentively. He was a tall man, well armed, and wearing the garb of therich hacenderos; but, singularly enough, a black velvet mask preventedthem distinguishing his features. By an instinctive movement Don Migueland his friend moved a hand to their holsters, but they were empty.
"What is to be done?" the hacendero asked the general.
"Go on, of course. We have just escaped too great a peril for us to fearthis. Even in the event of the mysterious being planted there before us,like an equestrian statue, trying to play us a trick, which is notimpossible."
"Let us trust to Heaven," Don Miguel muttered, and pushed on.
The distance separating them from the stranger was soon cleared. Oncoming within five yards of him, they stopped.
"_Santas tardes_, caballeros," said the stranger, in a friendly voice.
"_Santas tardes_!" the gentlemen answered, in accord.
"I salute you, Don Miguel Zarate, and you, General Ibanez," the strangerthen said. "I am happy to see you at length safe and sound out of theclaws of that worthy General Ventura, who, if he could, would certainlyhave played you a trick."
"Caballero," Don Miguel made answer, "I thank you for the kind words youaddress to me, and which can only come from a friend's lips. I should bepleased if you would take off the mask that conceals your features, sothat I may recognise you."
"Gentlemen, if I removed my mask you would be disappointed, for myfeatures are unfamiliar to you. Do not be angry with me for keeping iton; but, be assured that you are not mistaken with regard to me, and Iam really your friend."
The two Mexicans bowed courteously to each other, and the stranger wenton.
"I knew that so soon as you were free you would hasten to join thatworthy hunter Valentine, whom the trappers and gambusinos along thefrontier have christened the 'Trail-hunter.' I placed myself here, whereyou must infallibly pass, in order to make you a communication of theutmost importance, which interests you extremely."
"I am listening, sir," Don Miguel responded with secret alarm; "and Ibeg you to accept, beforehand, my sincere thanks for the step you havetaken on my behalf."
"You will thank me when the proper time comes, Don Miguel. Today I onlywarn you: at a later date I hope to aid you, and my help will not proveuseless."
"Speak, sir! You excite my curiosity to the highest pitch, and I amanxious to learn the news of which you have condescended to be thebearer."
The stranger shook his head sadly, and there was a moment's silence.This meeting of three horsemen, one of whom was masked, in this desertedplace, where no sound troubled the imposing silence of solitude, hadsomething strange about it. At length the mask spoke again.
"Two months have elapsed, Don Miguel, since, through the treachery ofRed Cedar, you were arrested and made prisoner at the Paso del Norte.Many events of which you are ignorant have occurred since then; butthere is one I must inform you of at once. On the very night of yourarrest, at the moment you laid down your arms, your daughter was carriedoff by Red Cedar."
"My daughter!" the hacendero exclaimed; "And Valentine to whom Iconfided her, and who was responsible for her safety?"
"Valentine attempted impossibilities to save her; but what can one maneffect against twenty?"
Don Miguel shook his head mournfully.
"After researches, long, sterile, and extraordinary efforts, a manprovidentially aided by Father Seraphin, at length succeeded last nightin taking Dona Clara from her ravishers; but Red Cedar, advised by someextraordinary chance, entered the house where the maiden had soughtshelter, and carried her off again."
"Oh! I will avenge myself on that man!" the hacendero shouted,passionately.
The stranger's eyes flashed with a lurid light though the holes in hismask.
"You will find your son and Father Seraphin with Valentine. Red Cedarintends to start this evening at the head of a band of gambusinos, to gointo the deserts of the Rio Gila in search of a placer, which hisaccomplice, Fray Ambrosio, had indicated to him."
"Fray Ambrosio!" the hacendero repeated, in stupor.
"Yes. Your former chaplain, who served as spy to the squatter, revealedyour plans to him, and provided him the means to enter the hacienda andcarry off your daughter."
"Good," Don Miguel said, in a hollow voice. "I will remember."
"Red Cedar, I know not with what design, is taking your daughter withhim into the desert."
"I will follow him, were it for a thousand leagues," Don Miguel said,resolutely. "Thanks to you for having instructed me so fully. But whencecomes the interest you take in me so gratuitously, since, as you say, Ido not know you?"
"You shall learn at a later date, Don Miguel. Now, before I leave you,one last word--an earnest warning."
"I listen attentively, caballero."
"Do not tell anyone--not even the French hunter, not even your son--ofour meeting. Let this secret be buried in your breast. When you reachthe far west, if you see before you, at one of your bivouacs, a piece ofmahogany bearing the impress of a horse's shoe, rise at midnight, andleave the camp, not letting anyone see you. When you have gone onehundred paces in the tall grass, whistle thrice; a similar whistle willanswer you, and then you will learn many things important for you toknow, but which I cannot tell you today."
"Good. Thanks. I will do what you tell me."
"You promised it?"
"I swear it on my word as a gentleman," Don Miguel said, as he took offhis hat.
"I accept your oath. Farewell."
"Farewell."
The stranger dug his spurs into his horse's sides and the animal startedoff as if impelled by a tornado.
The two gentlemen looked after him for a long time, admiring the graceand ease of his movements; at length, when horse and rider haddisappeared in the distance, Don Miguel went on again pensively, whilesaying to the general--
"Who can that man be?"
"I know no more than you do. _Viva Cristo_!" his friend answered, "but Iassure you I will know, even if to do so I have to search all thethickets and caverns in the desert."
"What," Don Miguel exclaimed, "do you intend to come with me?"
"Did you ever doubt it, Don Miguel? If so, you insulted me. You willneed all your friends to go in search of your daughter, and inflict o
nthat demon of a gringo squatter the chastisement he deserves. No, no; Iwill not leave you under such circumstances, for that would becommitting a bad action; besides, I shall not be sorry," he added with asmile, "to get out of the sight of the government for a time."
"My friend, I thank you," the hacendero said, as he took his hand. "Ihave long known that you were entirely devoted to me; I am pleased toreceive this new proof of your friendship."
"And you accept it?" the general asked gaily.
"Most heartily; the help of an iron arm like yours must be most usefulto me under the painful circumstances in which I am placed."
"That is settled, then; we will start together, _Mil rayas!_ and I swearwe will deliver Dona Clara."
"May Heaven grant it," the hacendero said, sadly.
The conversation then dropped, and the two friends proceeded in silence.A quarter of an hour later they reached the Trail-hunter's bivouac.