CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
TO THE RESCUE.
In an instant after Henry Tresillian is inside the room, warmly receivedby both the Colonel and _ganadero_; less so by the young officer, thoughthe two had been formerly bosom friends. The coolness of Cecilio Romerocan be easily understood; but in the scene which succeeds, with hastyquestioning, and answers alike hurried, no one takes note of it.
"You bring news--bad news, I fear?" says the Colonel.
"Bad, yes. I'm sorry having to say so," returns the messenger. "Thisis for you, senor--from Don Estevan Villanueva. 'Twill tell you all."
He pulls a folded paper from under his jacket, and hands it to theColonel.
Breaking it open, the latter reads aloud; Romero standing by andlistening, for its contents concern them all.
Thus ran it:
"_Hermano mio_, (brother),
"If Heaven permit this to reach your hands, 'twill tell you how we aresituated--in extreme peril, I grieve to say, surrounded by ApacheIndians, the most hostile and cruel of all--the Coyoteros. Where andhow I need not specify. The brave boy who bears this, if successful inputting it into your hands, will give you all details. When you've gotthem, I know how you will act, and that no appeal from me is necessary.On you alone depends our safety--our lives. Without your help we arelost.
"Estevan Villanueva."
"They shall not be lost," cries the Colonel, greatly agitated--"not oneof them, if the Zacatecas Lancers can save them. I go to their aid;will start at once. Away, Cecilio! down to the _cuartel_! Bring MajorGarcia back with you immediately. Now, senorito," he adds, turning toHenry Tresillian, "the details. Tell us all. But, first, where are ourfriends in such peril? In what place are they surrounded?"
"In a place strange enough, Senor Colonel," answers the youngEnglishman. "On the top of a mountain."
"On the top of a mountain!" echoes the Colonel. "A strange situation,indeed. What sort of mountain?"
"One standing alone on the _llanos_, out of sight of any other, 'Tisknown as the Cerro Perdido."
"Ah! I've heard of it."
"I too," says the _ganadero_.
"Up somewhere near the sources of the Horcasitas. A singular eminence--a _mesa_, I believe. But how came they to go there? It must be someway off the route to their intended destination."
"We were forced thither, senor, through want of water. The guideadvised it, and his advice would have been for the best, but for the illluck of the savages chancing to come along that way."
"_Muchacho_, I won't confuse you with further questioning, but leave youto tell your tale. We listen. First have a _copita_ of Catalan brandyto refresh you. You seem in need of it."
"There's one needs refreshing as much as myself, Senor Colonel; ay,more, and more deserves it."
"What one! Who?"
"My horse out there. But for him I would not be here."
"Ah! that's your grand steed," says the Colonel, looking out; "Iremember him--Crusader. He does seem to need it, and shall have it._Sargento_!" This in loud call to an orderly sergeant in waitingoutside, who, instantly showing his face at the door, receives commandto see the black horse attended to.
"Now, _muchacho mio_! proceed."
Henry Tresillian, still speaking hurriedly for reasons comprehensible,runs over all that has occurred to the caravan, since its departure fromthe worked-out mine near Arispe, till its arrival at the Lost Mountain.Then the unexpected approach of the Indians, resulting in the retreat tothe summit of the Cerro, with the other incidents and eventssucceeding--to that, the latest, of himself being lowered down thecliff, and his after-escape through the fleetness of his matchlesssteed.
"How many of the Indians are there?" asks the Colonel. "Can you tellthat, senorito?"
"Between four and five hundred, we supposed; but they were not all therewhen I left. Some days before half their number went off on a maraudingexpedition southward; so our guide believed, as they were dressed andpainted as when on the war-trail."
"These had not returned when you came away?"
"No, Senor Colonel; no sign of them."
"I see it all now, and pity the poor people who live on the lowerHorcasitas. That's where they were bent for, no doubt. The more reasonfor our making haste to reach the Cerro Perdido. We may catch theseraiders on return. _Sargento_!" This again in call to the orderly, whoresponds instantly by presenting himself in the doorway.
"Summon the bugler! Give him orders to sound the `assembly' at once.We must start without a moment's delay. How fortunate those Yaquis keptquiet, else I would be now operating around Guaymas."
"We must, Requenes. But will your regiment be enough? How many men canyou muster?"
"Five hundred. But there's the battery of mountain howitzers--fifty menmore. Of course, I take that along."
"And of course I go too," says the _ganadero_; "and, to make sure of ourhaving force sufficient, can take with me at least a hundred good men,the pick of my _vaqueros_. Fortunately they're now all within easysummons, assembled at my house for the _herradero_" (cattle branding),"which was to come off to-morrow. That can be postponed. _Hastaluego_, Colonel; I ride back home to bring them; so doubt not my havingthem here, and ready for the route soon as your soldiers."
"_Bueno_! Whether needed or not, it will be well to have your valiant_vaqueros_ with us. I'll welcome them."
Instantly after the _plaza_ of Arispe displays an animated scene, peoplecrowding into it from all parts, with air excited. For the report,brought by the young Englishman, has gone forth and all abroad,spreading like wildfire,--Villanueva and Tresillian, with all theirpeople, surrounded by savages! "_Los Indios_!" is the cry carried frompoint to point, striking terror into the hearts of the Arispenos, asthough the dreaded redskins, instead of being at an unknown distanceoff, were at the gates of their city.
Then succeeds loud cheering as the bugle-call proclaims the approach ofthe _lanzeros_, troop after troop filing into the _plaza_, and formingline in front of their colonel's quarters, all in complete equipment,and ready for the route.
More cheering as Don Juliano Romero comes riding in at the head of hishundred retainers; _vaqueros_ and _rancheros_, in the picturesquecostume of the country, armed to the teeth, and mounted on theirmustangs, fresh, fiery, and prancing.
Still another cheer, as the battery of mountain howitzers rolls in andtakes its place in the line. Then a loud chorus of _vivas_! as themarch commences, prolonged and carried on as the column moves throughthe street; the crowd following far beyond the suburbs, to take leave ofit with prayers upon their lips for the successful issue of anexpedition in which many of them are but too painfully interested.