CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.
THE RESCUERS EN ROUTE.
"Son! that's the Lost Mountain, is it?"
"It is, Colonel."
"_Gracias a Dios_! Glad we've sighted it at last. How far do you thinkwe're from it, senorito? Nigh twenty miles, I take it; though it looksnearer."
"'Tis all of twenty miles, Colonel; so our guide said when we first sawit from the place."
"I can quite believe it. On these high plains distances are verydeceptive; but my experience enables me to judge pretty correctly."
The dialogue is between Colonel Requenes and Henry Tresillian; thelatter acting as guide to the expedition _en route_ to release thoseimprisoned on the Cerro Perdido. Others are beside them; Don Julianowith his son, the young aide-de-camp, and several officers of the staff;their escort forming an advanced guard. Not far behind it, the howitzerbattery, followed by the lancer regiment in open order; then Romero'sirregulars, closed by a troop of lancers as rear-guard, completing themarching column.
All are at halt, brought to it as soon as the Cerro was sighted. Theyhave been on march from an early hour by moonlight, and as the sun, nowrising, has lit up the plain afar, the solitary eminence can be clearlyseen. As may be deduced from the young Englishman's words, the pointthey have arrived at is the same where the caravan had temporarily cometo a stop--the very spot itself; for close by is the tree bearing theinitials of the _gambusino_.
"Well, _caballeros_," continues the Colonel, "we've done our best sofar; pray God to good purpose. Let us hope we're in time. I wonder howit is? What's your thought, Romero?"
"I have none, Requenes--only hopes that they've held out."
"I wish," pursues the Colonel, in half soliloquy, "we but knew forcertain; 'twould make an important difference as to how I dispose of myforce. Should they be still there--"
"Senor Colonel," interposes the youthful guide, "if you'll let me have alook through your telescope, I think I can settle that point."
This, as he sees the commanding officer drawing his field-glass from itscase.
"In welcome, senorito. Here!" and he hands him the telescope.
Instantly it is brought to his eye, and eagerly--his fingers tremblingas they hold it out. What he hopes to see will tell him that his fatherand friends still live; if he sees it not, he will know they are dead;and _she_, dearer than all, condemned to a fate far worse!
What a change comes over his countenance almost on the instant of hisraising the glass to his eye! Hitherto grave to apprehension, all atonce it lights joyously up, as from his lips proceed the words, "They'restill on the mountain; Heaven be praised!"
"If it be so, Heaven deserves praise--all our thanks. But how know you,senorito?"
"By the flag!"
"What flag?"
"Take the glass, Colonel; look for yourself."
Receiving back the telescope, and adjusting it to his sight, Requeneslevels it at the Lost Mountain.
"At the nearest end, up on the summit," pursues Henry Tresillian,instructingly, "you'll see it. It is the flag of Mexico. Don Estevanintended to have raised it over his new mine, and had it hoisted yonderin the hope it might be seen by some white men, and lead to oursituation being made known. It has proved of service now; telling usour friends are still in the land of the living. If they were not itwouldn't be there."
"You're right, senorito, it wouldn't. And it is there--I see it!--yes,can even make out the national insignia--the eagle and nopal. We maythank Heaven, indeed."
"And we do!" exclaims the _ganadero_, raising his hat reverentially, allfollowing his example.
A thrill of exultation runs like wildfire backward on to the extremestrear--a joyous excitement, as the soldiers learn they have not madetheir long march in vain, and that the foe is before them, not far oft.For the banner waving above proclaims the siege still continued, and theIndians keeping it up.
"They _are_ there," affirms the Colonel, after gazing some time throughhis glass. "I can see the smoke ascending from their camp fires. Nodoubt by this they'll be cooking their breakfasts. Well, we won't be intime to hinder their having that meal; but if they eat dinner this day,without my leave, I shall be willing to throw up my commission ascolonel of the Zacatecas Lancers. Now, gentlemen!" he adds, turning tohis staff, and summoning his chief officers around him in council ofwar, "the enemy is yonder; no doubt of it. 'Tis a question as to how weshould advance upon him. Give your opinion, Major Garcia."
"How many are there supposed to be, Colonel?" asks the major, a sage,grizzled veteran. "Our mode of approaching them should much depend uponthat."
"Unluckily I can't tell," says the Commander-in-chief; "there werewellnigh five hundred all told when together; but it appears that halfwent off on a raid down the Horcasitas, the other half remaining tocarry on the siege. If the raiders are returned and are now among thebesiegers, then we'll have their full force to deal with, and may expecta sharp fight for it. I know these redskins of old, the band of theRattlesnake; though, as our young friend informs me, that worthy hasceased to exist, and the Vulture reigns in his stead. All the worse forus, as Zopilote was the master of Cascabel in tactics, cunning,courage--everything. Never mind, we should only be too glad to meet therenowned warrior, if but for glory's sake."
While the Colonel is still speaking a voice is heard to rearward, withexclamations telling of excitement there. Immediately after a subalternofficer of the rear-guard advances rapidly to the front, conducting astrange horseman, whose dress, travel-stained, with the sweat and dustupon his horse, betokens him just arrived from a journey long andhurriedly made. A messenger on some errand, which his wan, woebegoneface bespeaks to be of the saddest.
"Whence come you, _amigo_?" demands the commanding officer, as thestranger is brought face to face with him.
"From Nacomori, on the Horcasitas, Senor Colonel," is the answer.
"On what business?" asks Requenes, more than half divining it.
"Oh, senor, the Indians have been there; killed scores of our people--children as grown men; plundered and burnt our houses; carried off allour young women; made rack and ruin of everything. I rode to Arispe,hoping to find you there, but you were gone, and I've hastened hitherafter you."
"What Indians? Where did they come from?"
"From the north, senor; down the river. Apaches, we thought; but it wasin the night they came upon us, and no one could be sure. When morningcame they had gone off with everything."
"What night? How long since this occurred?"
"The night of _Lunes_--just four days ago."
"The raiding party of the Coyoteros, gentlemen," says the Colonel to hissurrounding. "The time corresponds, the place--everything; and likelythey've got back, and are now by the Cerro yonder. If so, we haveothers to rescue beside our own friends; with chastisement to inflict onthe red-handed marauders, to say nothing of revenge. So much the morereason for our not losing time. Major! order the regiment to close upand form line. Let the others be drawn in also; I want to say a word tothem."
With a quickness due to thorough discipline, the lancers are broughtinto battle line; not for fight now, but to receive an address. Thrownforward on one flank, and facing inwards, are the light artillerists;while on the other in file form are Romero's irregulars.
Placing himself in a position to be heard by all, the Commander-in-chiefcries out:
"_Camarados_! at the base of yonder hill, where you see smoke rising, isthe enemy. Apaches--Coyoteros--as we know, knowing them also to be thecruellest of all the savages that infest our frontier. To say nothingof the glory gained in conquering them, 'twill be doing humanity aservice to destroy them; and never more than now has there been reason.
"This gentleman,"--he points to the newly-arrived messenger, still onhorseback and near by--"has brought news of a bloodthirsty massacre theyhave just committed at Nacomori, on the Horcasitas, where women, scores,have been carried off. Like enough they're all over yonder now, and wemay be in time to
release these prisoners, and avenge the murders thathave been done. The only fear is of the Indians getting away from us.Mounted on their swift mustangs, and leaving all encumbrances behind,that is still possible enough. But to prevent it, I intend dividing myforce, and sending detachments around to intercept and cut off theirretreat on every route they may take. We must deal them a death-blow,and I now call on you--every man to do his best. Remember how many ofour people, perhaps many of your own relatives, have fallen victims tothe ferocity of these ruthless marauders. Think of the crime we havejust heard of at Nacomori. Think of it, _camarados_, and strike home!"
An enthusiastic cheer hails the Colonel's speech; and while it is stillringing commands are issued for the disposition of the advance--themovement soon after commencing.