CHAPTER XVIII.
THE CAPITULATION.
Let us return to the hut of council, into which the count had beenintroduced by the general. Don Bustamente had too much personal couragenot to like and appreciate that quality in another. Bowing he said,"Your observation is perfectly just, senor----"
"Count de Prebois-Crance;" the Frenchman finished the sentence with abow.
"Before any other question," said Don Pancho, "permit me, count, toask you how you have become personally mixed up with the men we arebesieging?"
"In the simplest way possible, senor," Louis replied, with an archsmile, "I am travelling with some friends and servants; yesterday thenoise of a battle reached our ears; I naturally inquired what was goingon; after this, several Spanish soldiers, running away along the crestor the mountains, intrenched themselves on the rock where I had myselfsought refuge. The battle begun in the defile was continued on theplain; the soldiers, listening to nothing but their courage, fired upontheir enemy."
The general and the senator knew perfectly what degree of faith toplace in the veracity of this narration, in which, nevertheless, as menof the world, they had the appearance of placing the utmost alliance.
"So then, count," the general replied, "you are head of the garrison?"
"Yes, senor--"
"General Don Pancho Bustamente."
"And is this garrison numerous?" he resumed.
"Hum! tolerably so."
"Some thirty men, perhaps?" said the general, with an insinuating smile.
"Thereabouts," the count replied, without hesitation.
The general rose.
"What, count," he exclaimed, with feigned anger, "do you pretend, withthirty men, to resist the five hundred Araucano warriors who surroundyou?"
"Any why not?" the young man replied coolly.
"Why, it is madness!" the general replied.
"Not at all, senor, it is courage."
The general knitted his brow, for the interview was taking a directionnot at all agreeable to him: he resumed, "these are my conditions; you,count, and all the Frenchmen that accompany you, shall free to retire;but Chilians and Aucas, whoever may be found among your troop, shall beimmediately given up."
The count's brow became clouded; he, however, bowed to all present withgreat courtesy, but then walked resolutely straight out of the hut.
"Where are you going, senor?" the general said, "and why do you leaveus thus suddenly?"
"Senor," the count remarked, "after such a proposal reply is useless."
Whilst speaking thus the count kept walking on, and the five personshad left the camp, in some sort without perceiving it, and foundthemselves at a very short distance from the improvised citadel.
"Stay, senor," the general observed; "before refusing, you ought, atleast, to warn your companions."
"You are right, general," said the count.
He took out his pocketbook, wrote a few words on one of the leaves,tore it out, and folded it.
"You shall be satisfied on the spot," he added. "Throw down a lasso!"he cried, with a loud voice.
Almost immediately a long leathern cord passed through one of thecrevices, and came floating to within a foot of the ground. The counttook a stone, enveloped it in the sheet of paper, and tied the whole tothe end of the lasso, which was quickly drawn up.
"You will soon have an answer," he said.
All at once the moveable fortifications heaped upon the rockdisappeared at if by enchantment, and the platform appeared coveredwith Chilian soldiers armed with muskets; a little in advance of themstood Valentine and his dog Caesar.
"Count!" Valentine cried, in a voice that sounded like a trumpet,"in the name of your companions, you have very properly rejectedthe shameful proposals made to you; we are here a hundred and fiftyresolute men, resolved to perish rather than accept them."
"That is understood," he cried to Valentine; then addressing thechief--"You see," he said, "my companions are of my opinion."
"What does my brother wish then?" Antinahuel demanded.
"Pardieu! simply to go away," the young man replied.
Antinahuel, Black Stag, and the general consulted for a moment; thenAntinahuel said--"We agree to your terms; my young paleface brother isa great heart."
"That is well," the count replied; "you are a brave warrior, chief, andI thank you; but I have still one favour to ask you."
"Let my brother explain; if I can grant it I will," Antinahuel observed.
"Well!" the young man replied; "you yesterday took many prisoners--givethem up to me."
"Those prisoners are free," the Toqui said with a forced smile; "theyhave already rejoined their brothers."
Louis now understood whence the unexpected increase of the garrison hadcome.
"I have nothing more to do, then, but to retire," he continued.
"Oh! your pardon! your pardon!" the senator exclaimed, "I was one ofthe prisoners!"
"That is true," Don Pancho observed; "what does my brother say?"
"Oh! let the man go," Antinahuel replied.
Don Ramon did not require this to be repeated; he followed the countclosely. Louis bowed courteously to the chiefs, and regained the summitof the rock, where his companions awaited him with great anxiety.
A few hours later the gorge had fallen back again into its customarysolitude, which was alone troubled at intervals by the flight ofcondors, or the terrified course of guanacos.