CHAPTER ELEVEN.
A CAMP WITHOUT OCCUPANTS.
The _gambusino_ has guessed everything aright, if words spoken in theconfidence of knowledge can be called guesses. True they prove, to thespirit as the letter; for it is just that unaccustomed spectacle ofwheeled vehicles with their white canvas covers that caused the Indiansto keep their deploying line so far aloof, and bring it to a halt fordeliberation. Notwithstanding their being masters of all that desertcountry, lords of the _llanos_, they themselves do not always traverseit without difficulties to encounter and dangers to dread. The wagonsproclaim the camp occupied by white men; and knowing these to beordinary travellers, miners on the move, or _commerciantes_ on a tradingexpedition to the frontier towns, the Coyoteros would little regardthem--certainly not enough to have made that long _detour_ with so muchdelay in approaching them. But it may be a _military_ encampment; andif so, will need to be dealt with differently--hence their unwontedcaution.
Soon as the two bands became conjoined, El Cascabel had summoned hissub-chiefs around him, to take their opinions upon this point. Foramong Indians the head chief is not armed with despotic authority, butmust submit his intended course of action to the approval of hisfollowing, even when on the _maraud_. And as the _gambusino_ rightlyconjectured, this it was which occupied them at that temporary halt.
A question without difficulty, and soon decided. In the negative asregarded the camp being occupied by soldiers. Were it so, men inuniform would be observable around it; whereas none such are seen. Norhuman form of any kind; only animals--horses, and mules, with hornedcattle commingled--all careering madly about as if masterless, orescaped from their masters' control.
This might seem an odd circumstance, yet it does not to the savages.From experience they know that all animals belonging to the palefacesbecome affrighted at their own proximity--often to break from theirfastenings, however secure. Such a scare is likely what they see now.
All the more does it assure them they will not have to deal with_soldados_. These would have their horses under better discipline,would indeed by this time be on their backs, at least some of them.
Satisfied of its being a camp of civilians, at a signal sent along theirline the red horsemen make a move forward, their files becoming thickeras the cordon contracts into nearer and narrower curve. Still theyadvance slowly, not through fear or want of confidence, but because theyfeel sure their enfiladement is complete, and their victims enclosed.But another idea rules their cautious approach. A splendid prize isbefore them in that large _ca Callada_, and to ride hurriedly in mightlead to the loose animals breaking through their ranks, and scatteringoff over the plain, with after difficulty of capturing them. For justthen they might have enough to do with their owners. Besides, there canbe no surprise. The occupants of the camp, whoever they be, must haveseen them long since, and are watching them now, though not one ofthemselves can be seen. Nothing so strange in this; they are inside thewagon enclosure, screened by the ridge of _alparejas_ that form a sortof breastwork around it. And the ruck of frightened animals rushing toand fro between further prevents view of them. The more reason fordeliberate approach, this attitude of the white men telling of anintention to stand upon the defence.
Becoming convinced of this, the Indians give up thought of immediateattack. They will wait for the night's darkness to give them a betteropportunity; and when at such a distance as they deem beyond longest gunrange, they again come to a halt.
They would dismount, holding their horses in readiness; and some arealready on the ground. But before all alight, a word is sent alongtheir circular line, ordering them up again. Something has transpiredto give cause for a change of purpose.
Soon they know what, seeing that the camp animals have retreated backbeyond the wagons up into an embayment of the cliff, where they stand ina clump, cowering and still showing scare, but at rest. It is not that,however, which has made the Coyoteros re-mount, but because their viewof the camp now being clear they still cannot see human beings in oraround it. With eyes bent in keenest quest between the corralledwagons, through the spokes of their wheels, all along the periphery ofpack-saddles, nothing in the shape of human form or face can they makeout. Yet the sun is in their favour, and if such was there they couldnot fail seeing it. Puzzled are the savages now, and for the firsttime--since it is the first time for them to have such an experience.For the moment it even mystifies them, and thoughts of the supernaturalcome creeping into their minds. They know Nauchampa-tepetl to be aplace of weird repute, so figuring in many a record and legend of theirrace. And now to see a camp there, a camp of the palefaces, with everyappointment appertaining, wheeled vehicles drawn up in _corral_ with agrand tent inside--for the marquee, still standing, is conspicuousthrough a break between the wagons--with all the animals that should bethere, and yet no man, no one seeming to own or control them, that iscertainly strange, to the point of astonishment--even awe!
And for a time it so affects the savage warriors, their chief notexcepted. But only for a time. Notwithstanding his ghostlycoat-of-arms, El Cascabel is but little the slave of superstition; and,after a moment's reflection, feels satisfied there are palefaces in thecamp, though invisible to the view of him and his. In that, as thereader knows, he is wrong; but right in the way he takes to test it.
It may seem the veriest _grotesquerie_ here to introduce that veneratedweapon, known as the "Queen Anne musket," yet the truthfulness of thisrecord requires its introduction.
For strange as it may appear, this historical piece, with all itsimperfections, has found its way to every corner of the world; even intothe hands of the Apache Indians. How they became possessed of it needsbut a word of explanation, which is, that they had it--took it--fromtheir hereditary enemies, the Mexicans--from the _infanterio_ of thatnation, armed with the old condemned "Queen Anne's" of London Towercelebrity.
Leaving this necessary digression, and returning to the Coyoteros--moreespecially to their chief, we hear him call out to those of hisfollowers who carry the ancient firelock, giving them orders to advancesome paces and send shots into the white man's camp.
Dismounting, they do so, aiming at the wagons and tent inside, socorrectly that their big bullets, an ounce in weight, are seen to hitthe mark. But without effect following, any more than if their shotswere meant for the _facade_ of cliff beyond, whose rocks echo back thereports of the antiquated pieces, as if in hilarious mockery.